A/N: Hi, everyone. I just wanted to wish you all a happy Memorial Day Weekend. I hope you enjoy this story. In this chapter we learn a little about Jackson when he was in college. Now we're going to be switching gears. Now we're going to start seeing Jaggie operate as husband as wife. Sometimes things are easily resolved, other times not so easily. Please leave comments and let me know what you think, and if you think I'm staying true to the characters.

Chapter 21

"Dr. Pierce-Avery, I put in the orders for those patients you told about, but the system won't approve them without your approval." Dr. Qadri said to Maggie.

Maggie turned towards the intern taking the tablet. Maggie was standing at the nurses station in the ER. She looked over the orders that Qadri had entered and entered in her password to confirm them.

Maggie handed Qadri the tablet back saying, "There you go, Dr. Qadri. You should be good to go."

"Thank you, Dr. Pierce-Avery." Qadri said as she walked away.

Maggie was about to turn back to the nurse's station when a woman approached her. She said, "Did she just call you Avery? If so then you might be able to help me."

Maggie smiled at the beautiful woman. She was tall at least five feet nine inches. She was thin and she had a head full of long brown hair. Her skin was a beautiful golden brown. Maggie said, "Yes, I'm Dr. Pierce-Avery. I can try and help."

"Do you know where I can find Dr. Jackson Avery. Are you like his cousin or sister? I don't think he has a sister, but who knows what his dad did after he left Jackson's mother." The woman babbled on.

Maggie squinted her eyes. She was wondering who this woman was. She said, "Actually, I'm Jackson's wife."

At that exact moment Jackson walked into the pit. He exclaimed, "Alexis is that you? Alexis Jones!"

Maggie's eyes widened at seeing her husband so animated. As Jackson walked up to the woman picking her up spinning her around. Amelia walked up next to Maggie asking, "Who is that in your husband's arms?'

Maggie's eyes flashed at her sister. She said, "Don't start, Amelia. Obviously her name is Alexis. That's all I know."

Jackson placed the woman on her feet reaching for Maggie. He said, "Babe, this my friend from undergrad, Alexis Jones. She was my best friend for the longest. She comes from a legacy law family, so she understood the pressure I was under as an Avery."

Maggie smiled saying, "Wow. Nice to meet you Alexis."

Jackson said, "Lex, this is my wife Maggie. Oh my God, how long are you in town? I have a daughter. Wait until I tell my mother you're in town. We should have dinner to catch up. My mom remarried. Babe, can you make reservations somewhere? This is going to be fun."

Alexis laughed at Jackson saying, "Slow down Jackson. I'll be around for a while. I would love to have dinner," She then took a business card out of her purse and placed it in Jackson's pocket. Both Maggie and Amelia tilted their head to the side at the gesture.

Alexis said, "Just text me and let me know. I can't wait to see Catherine again, and your daughter. Your wife is beautiful and you're beautiful I'm sure your daughter is a dream."

Jackson said, "Oh no, Harriet is a beautiful child, but Maggie's not her mother. Not biologically anyway. Wow. We have a lot of catching up to do. You have no clue what I've gone through."

Maggie looked at Jackson. Then she looked at her sister who raised her eyebrow. Maggie looked back at Jackson again. He noticed nothing.

Jackson looked at his watch. He said, "I actually have a patient coming in, I have to go," Jackson leaned over kissing Maggie on the cheek saying, "Thanks babe for making those reservations."

Maggie looked at Amelia and then back at Alexis. She gave her a tight smile before saying, "Is there anything you don't eat."

She answered, "Are there any good vegan restaurants?"

Amelia snorted, trying to hold in her laughter. She knew that while Maggie generally ate healthy, she knew her sister wasn't a big fan of vegan food."

Maggie nodded, "Yup, vegan it is."

Alexis hugged Maggie. She said, "Great! I can't wait. I have to go. Don't forget to text me the details."

When she walked away Maggie turned to Amelia. She asked, "When did I become Jackson's personal assistant?"

Amelia laughed, "Welcome to wifehood."

Maggie went about the rest of her day in a mood. She was sitting in her lab not working, sulking in her annoyance when Jackson walked in. He said, "Babe, did you make the reservation? I need to text Lex and let her know the time."

Maggie looked up at him saying, "I made reservations for eight at Harvest Beat."

Jackson leaned over kissing Maggie on the lips. He said, "Oh, vegan. That's a nice change of pace."

Maggie squinted her eyes at her husband as he left. He knew that she didn't care for vegan food, and she half hated that restaurant, but he seemed completely oblivious.

Maggie went in search of Catherine. She needed to invite her mother in law to dinner and she needed to get some insight into this relationship that Jackson had with this Alexis person.

She found Catherine in a conference with a laptop in front of her and files spread out all over the table. She knocked before entering. Once inside she closed the door behind her. Catherine looked up, "Maggie, what is? I'm kind of busy here."

Maggie said, "Well, Jackson's college friend, Alexis Jones is in town. She and Jackson wanted to invite you and Richard to dinner at Harvest Beat tonight at eight."

Catherine sat back in her seat with a smile on her face. "Wow, Alexis. Alexis Jones. I wonder when the last time Jackson has spoken to her. You know I always thought that he and Alexis would have a thing, but as far as I'm aware it never happened. Doesn't matter now because he met his soulmate in you."

Maggie came further into the room sitting next to Catherine. She said, "Before she showed up looking for Jackson I had never heard of Alexis before. They seemed so close. I wonder why Jackson never mentioned her to me."

Catherine rolled her eyes and shook her head. She said, "Maggie, don't do this. Jealousy isn't very becoming on you. You know that boy loves your dirty bath water."

Maggie laughed at Catherine's analogy. She knew that Jackson loved her, but there was something about this Alexis woman that she didn't like. If she were speaking honestly, she felt like she was an afterthought in Alexis' presence. She wasn't used to feeling that way because Jackson always saw her.

She said to Catherine, "I know that, but-"

"But nothing. Jackson is excited to see Lex because it's been a long time. Nothing more. They never had anything going on. They were simply friends. Two kids who came from royalty so to speak. Jackson from medical royalty and Lex from legal royalty. They bonded over both having big shoes to fill." Catherine explained.

Maggie sat quietly, "So, you're telling me that I shouldn't find an excuse to get out of this dinner?"

Catherine said, "Maggie get out. Don't you have a child to pick up or something?"

Maggie nodded as she stood. She turned back to Catherine, "I'm pregnant and fat. I don't have anything to wear."

Catherine said, "Goodbye, Maggie. I will see you later."

When Maggie left the conference room Catherine giggled. She found her daughter in law quite comical. Maggie may have been pregnant, but she was fat nowhere. She wasn't even showing yet.

Later that evening Maggie was getting Harriet dressed while Jackson finished getting dressed. He had been talking about Alexis ever since he walked in the door from work. He was still going at it. Jackson said, "Babe, we used to get into so much trouble back in the day. It's amazing that we even made it out of undergrad and that we are as successful as we are today."

Maggie stood taking Harriet's hand as they headed for the bedroom door. She said, "Great. You guys used to have a lot of fun. Maybe you should've looked her up and married her."

Maggie walked out of the bedroom and downstairs with Harriet. It took him a while to register what Maggie had just said. Grabbing his shoes, he went downstairs. He asked, "Maggie, why would you say something like that? I could've looked her up, but I didn't want her. I'm where I want to be. I'm offended that you would suggest otherwise."

Harriet asked, "We go? I hungry."

Maggie said, "We're just waiting for daddy to finish getting dressed."

Jackson eyed Maggie. He knew that there was an insult lying beneath the surface of her comment. He said, "I'm putting on my shoes. I'm ready."

Jackson, Maggie and Harriet were the last to arrive for dinner. Maggie carried Harriet as they were led to the table. As soon as Harriet saw Catherine and Richard she began to squirm saying, "Maggie, I want down."

Maggie laughed putting the little one on the floor. Harriet ran over to her grandparents sharing hugs and kisses with them.

Catherine said, "Well, this is a surprise. I didn't know little Miss Harriet was coming. It's past her bedtime."

Harriet said, "I not have din din, grandma. I hungry."

Catherine said, "Well, let's get you a seat so that we can get you something to eat."

Jackson scooped Harriet up and walked over to where Alexis was sitting quietly observing everything. He spoke close to Harriet's ear saying, "Baby, I want you to meet daddy's friend. Harriet this is Alexis. Alexis this Harriet, one of the apples of my eye."

Alexis said, "Hello, Harriet. It's great to meet you. Your daddy is one of my favorite people on the entire planet. Can I have a hug?"

Harried curled further into her father's arms. He said, "It's ok, baby."

Harriet then looked over her father's shoulder seeing Maggie she said, "I want Maggie."

Maggie felt her chest swell at the fact that Harriet wasn't easily charmed by Alexis. She said, "Come, baby girl. You can sit next to me."

Jackson squinted at Maggie. He knew that if Maggie had encouraged Harriet to interact with Alexis that Harriet would have done so. Maggie knew it to, but she didn't do it. Jackson made a mental note to discuss it with her when they were alone.

Jackson took seat next to Alexis with Harriet on his other side.

Dinner consisted of Jackson and Alexis telling stories of their antics in college. Maggie tried her best to stay upbeat and engaged in the conversation and to not look bored. Maggie noticed that Harriet was getting sleepy. She said, "Jackson, I think we need to go. Harriet is struggling to stay awake."

Catherine and Richard stood as well. Richard said, "Alexis it was lovely meeting you, but we must be leaving. If you have time before you leave town make sure you reach out so that we can set up dinner at the house."

Catherine hugged Alexis then kissed Harriet. She leaned over hugging Maggie. She whispered in Maggie's ear, "Stop it. Your jealousy is showing. You look good in a lot of different colors, but this shade of green isn't becoming. Who is Jackson going home with tonight?"

Maggie turned to look at Catherine she whispered back, "But she was obviously fli-"

Catherine cut her off saying, "I know. I saw it, but what did I just say? Who is he going home with tonight? Who is he married to? Who is carrying his child right now? If he wanted her he knew where to find her. So, stop it, Maggie. I never took you as the insecure type."

Maggie stood helping Harriet out of her seat. She said, "I'm not."

Catherine said, "Could've fooled me. Stop acting like it then."

As Catherine and Richard walked away Maggie knew Catherine had been right. Women like Alexis could smell insecurity and they prayed on it. Maggie asked, "Alexis how long are you in town? We can have dinner with Richard and Catherine on Saturday if you're still here. That's the best day for us all."

Alexis looked at Maggie then back at Jackson she said, "That's perfect. I'm here for another week. So, Saturday is great."

Harriet was standing next to Maggie holding her hand. Alexis leaned over to attempt picking up the child. When she touched Harriet, she let out a piercing scream. Both Maggie and Jackson looked down at her in shock.

Jackson quickly picked up the crying child. He said, "Shhh, princess. You're ok."

Alexis said, "Wow, she's not friendly, huh?"

Maggie gave a humorless laugh. She said, "Generally she is, this is completely out of character."

Jackson managed to quiet Harriet down. He said, "It's probably just because you're new. Everyone else has been around her since birth."

Maggie said, "Yeah. I'm sure that's all it is."

They walked out of the restaurant. Jackson hugged Alexis saying, "It's been so good to catch up with you. I'll be in touch about dinner at my mom's this weekend. Jackson was turning towards Maggie and Harriet when Alexis splayed her hand on Jackson's shirt covered chest. She said, "Whoa, Dr. Avery, when do you find time to work out?"

Maggie stared at Alexis' hand on her husband's chest with squinted eyes. She said in a stern voice, "I help him out with that."

Jackson took a step back so that Alexis was no longer touching him. Noticing the look on Maggie's face Alexis said, "Maggie, it's nothing Jackson and I are like siblings. We used to play like this all of the time."

Jackson said, "Yeah, but I'm a married man now. It's not really appropriate."

Maggie said, "I'm going to get little Miss Harriet in the car."

Taking Maggie's queue Jackson said, "Yeah, we should get going. We need to get Harriet into bed. I'll be in touch, Lex."

By the time Jackson made it over to their car Maggie had already put Harriet into her car seat. When Jackson got behind the wheel, Maggie was staring at Jackson with her head cocked to the side. Jackson started the car trying to ignore Maggie's stare. He was aware of how that last display looked.

Maggie said, "Can you just agree that she was flirty? She touched you inappropriately. In my face. Don't make me out to be crazy."

Jackson said, "She's never tried anything like that before. The only thing I can think of is that she did that because you were a little cool to her all night."

"Oh, I see. I'm to blame for your little friend being disrespectful. I'm also going to be the blame for you not sleeping in your own bed tonight." Maggie said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Jackson looked at his wife. He said, "Maggie, I wasn't saying that you were to blame. No matter what her reasoning is she had no right to be disrespectful. You weren't the only one who was disrespected. By disrespecting you she disrespect me. I will handle that, but you need to calm down."

Maggie said, "Oh, I need to calm down. I'm not uncalm yet. I didn't even say anything to her yet."

Jackson said, "However, you did put me out of my own bed. You think that's uncalm behavior?"

Maggie stared at Jackson. "You think that you're going to defend this woman's disrespectful behavior and still sleep in my bed? You think you're going to allow her to touch you and not correct her and still sleep in my bed?"

"Our bed. It's our bed. I told you that I'm not defending her. I'm just explaining to you-"

Maggie cut Jackson off saying, "I don't need anything to be explained to me, Jackson. You need to correct your friend. Period."

Jackson parked the car. Maggie immediately got out of the passenger's side and went to retrieve a sleeping Harriet. Jackson came around to the passenger's side of the car. He said, "Babe, I got her."

Maggie ignored Jackson pulling Harriet from her car seat and walking towards the elevator leaving Jackson to lock up the car. He caught up to Maggie and slipped into the elevator before the doors could close. He looked at her. He said, "Really. So, you're mad. You're so mad that you can't hold the elevator."

Maggie snorted. She kissed a sleeping Harriet's curls before saying, "Ask Lex to hold the elevator for you, since you love to defend her so much."

When the elevator opened on their floor Maggie stepped off waiting by their front door for Jackson to unlock the door and let them in. Once inside Maggie took Harriet up to her bedroom. She undressed the child, put on clean pajamas and tucked her into bed. She kissed the sleeping child whispering, "Maggie loves Harriet."

She turned on the fairy shaped night light. She turned off the room light. Closing the door partly. As she walked down the hall to her bedroom she released her curls from its ponytail. As she walked into her bedroom she rubbed her barley protruding baby bump.

Jackson asked, "You feeling alright?"

Maggie threw the elastic bands on her nightstand as she walked into their bathroom to start the shower. Jackson followed his wife into the bathroom. He said, "So you're not speaking to me? This is very mature, Maggie."

Maggie rolled her eyes as she started to remove her clothing. Jackson stood leaning against a wall as he watched his wife undress. He was annoyed with Maggie's behavior, but that didn't temper the desire he felt rising as he watched her disrobe.

Maggie opened the glass shower door and stepped inside closing the door behind her. Jackson seeing the opportunity before him quickly removed his clothes and joined her. Maggie didn't turn to face her husband. She simply said, "You have got to be kidding me. Jackson, we aren't cool right now. If you want sex go find Lex. I'm sure that she will be more than willing."

"You don't want me having sex with Alexis and I don't want to have sex with Alexis. The only woman I want to have sex with is you Margaret Pierce-Avery." Jackson whispered in her ear.

Maggie turned to face him. Big mistake. The desire that she saw reflected in her husband's eyes was contagious. She tried hard to hold onto the anger she felt with him in that moment. "You can't blame me for her blatant disrespect and then expect me to open my legs for you."

Jackson gently pulled his wife closer to him burying his nose in her soap scented neck. He whispered, "Maggie you and I are a team. We can't allow outside factors to infiltrate us, babe."

Maggie wound her arms around his neck. She kissed his lips before saying, "You let her infiltrate. She has been flirting with you since you introduced me as your wife. You should have said something to her in the beginning and you definitely shouldn't have blamed me for her poor behavior."

Maggie allowed Jackson to kiss her. He said, "I'm sorry, baby. You know I would never disrespect you. You're the love of my life and there is no one more important to me than you and Harriet."

Jackson pressed her back against the cool marble of the shower wall. Maggie arched her back when her back hit the cool wall. Jackson lifted her off her feet and her legs as if on autopilot wrapped around his waist.

Maggie kissed his collar bone saying, "I'm still mad at you Jackson."

"Shhh. I know. I'm sorry. We'll talk about it later." Jackson said as he used his fingers to play with her clit.

Maggie grabbed his face with both of her hands. She said, "There isn't anything further to discuss. You need to get your friend in line Jackson."

Jackson was hard as a rock and all he wanted was to be inside of his wife already. All of this talk about Alexis was threatening all of that. He said, "I'll handle it babe, but-"

Before he could finish his statement, Maggie lifted herself and lowered herself back down onto his hardness.

The next day was Friday and it was a busy one. Maggie had been in constant rotation in the OR. She was on constant cut, paste and repeat. Jackson had been busy, but he had received a phone call from Alexis asking if he had time for lunch. He accepted because lunch would be the perfect time for him to mention her behavior towards Maggie before they had dinner at his mother's house on Saturday night.

Jackson left Jo in charge of his post-ops for an hour and quickly left the hospital to meet Alexis at the restaurant at her hotel. He walked in and spotted her immediately. As he approached the table he said, "Hey, Lex. I'm so sorry. It's been crazy at the hospital today."

"No need to apologize. You're a big shot surgeon. I completely understand. I got to check some emails and check in with my office while I waited. I'm just glad you were able to spare your bestie some free time away from your wife and kid. How're you Jackson? I mean really. You mentioned that there was more to your story, but we didn't get to discuss it last night." Alexis said.

Jackson was a little taken aback by the statement that she was glad to see him without Maggie and Harriet. He also didn't like that she had referred to Harriet as his kid. Jackson shook off his misgivings and proceeded to tell Alexis about marrying April, losing Samuel, the traumatic way in which Harriet came into the world, falling in love with Maggie and losing April.

She finished chewing the salad in her mouth before saying, "Whoa, Jackson. You really have been through a lot. Now you're responsible for raising your kid and now Maggie is pregnant."

Frowning Jackson said, "Well, don't make it sound all bad. I have always been very active in Harriet's life even before April passed away, so I don't think I'm doing anything special as far as she's concerned. I'm just taking care of my baby. As far as Maggie's pregnancy goes I am extremely happy about that. I never wanted my child to be an only child. I was an only child and I am all too familiar with how lonely that can be."

Alexis nodded. She said, "Your life looks very different from what you used to imagine in college. You were going to be a cardiothoracic surgeon with women waiting for you all over the globe. You'd attend board meetings to pacify Catherine, but you'd be living your best single life. Now, you're tied down to one place, with one woman. Are you happen with your life?"

"I know what I said in college. However, I hadn't lived at that point. I hadn't experienced love. I didn't know what was out there. I chalk all of that up to me being young and dumb. Now I've lived a little. I've loved and I've lost and then loved again. I see things completely different than I did back then. I can honestly say that I am immensely happy with my life right now. I love Maggie and Harriet. I'm closer with my mom. I have a great relationship with Richard. My children will have grandparents who fawn over them. These are all the things I always wanted but was too afraid to verbalize." Jackson said passionately.

Alexis took a sip of her wine looking at him over the rim of her wine class. She said, "Wow, so like I just don't know you at all."

Jackson chuckled, "Oh come on. You know me. I haven't changed that much. I'm still the same Jackson. I've just matured, and I now know what's important."

Playing with the stem of her wine glass Alexis said, "You know I always thought that you might eventually realize that you had feelings for me."

Jackson's eyes flew to hers. He cleared his throat. He said, "Uh, wow. I don't know what to say, Lex. I never thought of you like that. You were always the homie. More like a sister really. I never had any romantic feelings for you."

"And now?" She asked.

Jackson's brows rose. He shook his head thinking to himself that Maggie was always right. Why did she always have to be right. To Alexis he said, "And now, I'm completely and irrevocably in love with Maggie. I'm where I want to be."

She looked at him saying, "Jackson, I'm a highly attractive woman. You're a plastic surgeon so you know that more than anyone. Maggie is pretty. She cute. I can tell she takes care of her body, but Maggie is a wallflower. What could she possibly offer you sexually that I can't?"

Jackson stood reaching for his wallet taking out a few bills. He placed them on the table saying, "She offers me every single thing I could need or ever want. She has way more class than someone who would try and hit on a married man. Lex, I loved you and you were my rock in college, but I think I've outgrown our friendship. If I were you I wouldn't show up for dinner at my mother's house tomorrow. You won't be welcome."

"Wow, just like that. You cut off a long-standing friend because of what? Because I challenged what you told me you wanted out of life? Wow, I guess our friendship didn't mean as much to you as it did to me." Alexis said with a smirk.
Jackson turned back towards her. He said, "Let's be honest. We are no longer friends. We were friends in college. However, I haven't spoken to you in years and the first thing you do is try and question my life choices, make fun of me for evolving, insult my life and on top of everything my daughter doesn't like you. Yes, I said she doesn't like you. She screamed bloody murder when you touched her. Harriet is a friendly child. I should have known. Furthermore, my mother isn't feeling you either. You remember that whispered conversation she had with Maggie last night? That was about you and how she saw what you were doing. Goodbye Alexis. I hope you grow up one day."

Jackson left the hotel and went back to work. As soon as he got back to the hospital he went to the OR floor. He noticed that Maggie's name wasn't on the board, so he went to look for her in her lab.

He walked in saying, "Hey, babe!"

Maggie looked up from the textbook that she was reading. She said, "Hey, where were you? I was looking for you. I saw Jo working on your post-ops and she said that you had to step out for a while."

Jackson came to stand next to her leaning against the table. He said, "I went to have lunch with Alexis."

Maggie sat up straight looking at Jackson. She was making a mental note not to respond until after she heard everything that he had to say.

He said, "You were right and no nothing happened. You told me last night to get her in line. So, when she called me about lunch I felt like that was the perfect time to go do just that. I went to her hotel and-"

Maggie stood abruptly. She stood so fast that the chair she had been sitting in hit the floor. She said in a strained voice, "Jackson! You went to her hotel?"

Jackson lifted the chair from the floor. He guided her back to sitting. He said, "Babe, I met her at the restaurant. I never went anywhere near her room, and I wouldn't have either. We ate and she did reveal her true motives, and I let her know about herself. I uninvited her for tomorrow night and I came back here."

Maggie sat back further in the chair crossing her arms over her chest. Jackson said, "What? Maggie, I told you everything that happened. Why are you looking at me like that babe?"

"I'm just thinking of some type of gift you can get me. You never want to listen to me Jackson, but I'm always right." Maggie said smugly.

Jackson laughed. He said, "Believe it or not babe the entire time I was thinking to myself why is she always right."

Maggie shook her head. She said, "You should really just listen Jackson. I'm on your team remember. I won't steer you wrong."

Jackson laughed saying, "You don't have to gloat, babe."

They sat in silence for a moment when Maggie asked, "Truth?"

Jackson looked at her with hearts in his eyes. He said, "Truth."

"Did you ever have feelings for her? Before you answer, I know that you love me, and you are where you want to be and all that crap. I'm just curious. Humor me." Maggie said.

Jackson said, "I have never had any romantic feelings for Alexis. I never even so much as dreamed about her and now I only have my eyes on the Cardio surgeon that I'm married to. The one who is going to give me my first gray hairs."

Maggie leaned over kissing Jackson on the lips. She said, "You wouldn't have it any other way."

Jackson kissed her back saying, "You got that right."

Maggie said, "Now, about my gift."