A week later

Maggie and Jackson were seated as they waited for the therapist; Jackson sat quietly as he started remembering the last time he was in such an environment. He took Maggie `s hand and kissed it as he looked at her. She smiled at him, he was still not sure if they really needed this but for Maggie he had found himself there

''Well, well, aren't you two adorable'' an elderly looking man said as he walked in finding them with their hands interlocked. He shook their hands introducing himself as Rajesh Khan. He looked a little bit younger than Dr Carr and he seemed to be a man who took care of himself for his age. They exchanged their pleasantries and then settled down as he sat behind his desk across them.

''First of all congratulations on your engagement, you two set a date yet''

''Thank you, we actually haven't done that yet'' Jackson said

''Is that problem?'' Maggie asked

''Oh no, I was just trying to see the time frame we have. As explained over the phone, there is a way that I work so, by seeing you here I take it you are accepting this as probably our first session''

Jackson and Maggie exchanged a glance as they smiled at each other nodding their heads holding their hands together again.

''Okay then, firstly this is the best decision that you two made'' the two smiled as Maggie looked at Jackson and Mr Khan noticed the glance ''I take it someone wasn't very keen on the idea ''

''Well, technically, it was her decision but nevertheless I am here so that`s all that counts right?'' Jackson said letting out a little chuckle.

''That`s all right, I get it, I want you to picture this: you two are already on your dream honeymoon location, you can see your toes in the sand of a five-star resort '' Khan said looking at Jackson who was envisioning the perfect scenario in his head ''here is the catch, you're not just going to end up there without a little planning and preparation to make sure everything goes just right. You'll either take the time to painstakingly research places on your own or you could work with a travel professional that can help you through the process and ensure you'll have the honeymoon of your dreams. I want you to take this a bit like planning your honeymoon with a travel agent; while you'd most likely still have a great honeymoon you planned on your own, we both can agree that if you work with a professional it can take the experience to the next level''

''Okay, that`s a very interesting way of looking at it, it`s actually not bad'' he said as he glanced at Maggie who gave him a warm smile

''I understand the two of you are doctors, I just want you to know that these sessions will take a chunk out of your schedule so it will probably be a challenge to make and keep appointments or be fully present or engaged at times. In spite of this, I promised Walter I will go out of my way for you two so I will do that if you two promise to put effort''

''Of course'' Maggie said as they nodded their heads

He then asked them to tell him about their relationship from how long they had known each other so just he could get a basic overview. The two relayed their love story as Khan listened to each detail.

''Looks like you've known each other for a while, I am glad to hear that you're both determined to make this marriage work. Most couples spend a lot of time talking, yet they may not know each other as well as they think they do''

''Really? And why is that?'' Maggie enquired

''This is because a relationship before marriage, let`s say dating is designed to hide information away, not expose it. Each person puts his best foot forward; they do their best to conceal those things that they are not proud of'' the two listened as Maggie slowly separated her hand from Jackson`s. Her mind started to drift away as she thought of the things she might not know about Jackson. She started rubbing her hands, something she did when she needed to calm her nerves. Jackson knew his woman well; he then put his hand on her back rubbing it a little like someone giving her assurance. ''The good thing is you two are engaged and are already living together so transitioning to marriage shouldn't be as hard.'' With that statement she felt a little relief. Dr Khan looked at the two and could see that there was a sense of anxiousness with Maggie but Jackson seemed rather calm. He jotted on his note pad. He was trying to see if it was a personality thing or if there was more to it so he asked ''is this going to be your first marriage?'' with his head still buried on his notepad

''It`s my first and it`s his second'' Maggie responded looking at Khan who raised his head to look at the two

''I see'' he said as he scribbled again, ''why don`t you two tell me about yourselves prior to getting together''

''What was that?'' Jackson asked showing a little annoyance

''Why don`t you two first tell me about yourselves then we will take it from there''

''Okay, babe do you want to go first'' Jackson said to Maggie

''What exactly do you want to know'' Maggie asked Dr Khan

''Everything, maybe before that, you two need to understand that this is a safe place and there is confidentiality in all this. It is going to be challenging at times and you need to understand that the goal is not to "win." Both of you need to keep an open mind and be willing to change things that aren't working. So Dr Pierce you can go for it''

The two did as told sharing their past.

''Thank you for that, so I presume you already knew all this about each other''

''I pretty much knew almost everything'' Jackson said smiling at her

''Same, I think there is nothing he said that I didn`t already know'' Maggie said with confidence

''That`s good then''

''Does that mean we are doing great or what?'' Maggie asked

''Like I said, this is not about winning okay but it's good that you two know all this about each other''

''I am sensing a but in your statement'' Jackson said with a little scowled face

''No but, I would have been worried if you didn't know all this about each other while contemplating marriage so no but okay, I can safely say I know enough about you two for us to get started''

''Okay, so what is it that you think you know about us now'' Jackson asked

''Jackson!'' Maggie said nudging him a little

''That`s okay, here is the thing Maggie is more anxious about this whole marriage thing because she has no idea what she is about to get into. She likes to be in control of situations but the fact that she can`t be in control of this upcoming marriage gives her anxiety. She likes to weigh and measure but it looks like she has no scales for this so it scares her, this counselling is more like a scale for her and she wants to see those measurements. You on the other hand are rather calm, firstly you have this faith thing going for you which Maggie doesn't have but mostly it`s because you have been there. For your case it`s normal to probably think this whole thing is unnecessary. You are free to interject if I am wrong'' Jackson said nothing as he listened to him.

''This is what we are going to do; I want you to try and forget all the preconceived notions you had coming here, I know it won`t be easy but it`s doable. Do you two have any questions?''

''Yeah, I get all that and you are right. I am scared out of my mind and all I want to know is do you think we can make it? Do you think we at least know each other enough? I just want to hear something okay because not knowing is not my thing okay?''

''Babe, like he said...''

''That`s okay, here is the thing that I meant when I said that people talk and they think they know each other; I always work on four quadrants when it comes to getting to know your partner, firstly there are things that you both know about each and the two of you are both aware of them. So these are things like his favourite colour, her eye colour. Secondly there are things that Jackson knows and is aware of about himself that Maggie does not know and is not aware of, thirdly there are things that Maggie knows about herself that she is aware of but Jackson does not know and is not aware of, lastly there are things about you two that you both do not know about yourselves and you are both not aware of. Does that make sense?''

''It does'' Maggie said

''My point is you never stop learning about the other person so as you are about to enter marriage you must have an open mind when you discover knew things you didn't know about your s/o''

''Okay, what about a situation where they hide things from you''

''Like I said, these are more about getting to know each other. I think you are talking more along the lines of transparency am I right''

''Something like that''

''Okay, can we look at that at our next session because our time is almost up. What I can say briefly is there are different scenarios with this, if they are purposely hiding things then that`s a problem that is unacceptable but if you think they are doing it when on the other hand they don`t think that they are doing that then that`s different generally men and women communicate on different wavelengths if I could put it that way

''Really, like how?'' Jackson asked

''Let`s say you are suppose to go out and your friend calls you to say they have nothing to wear, what comes to your mind''

''That is why we send our clothes to laundry'' Jackson answered with a chuckle

''Hmmm, well to me that means she needs to go shopping'' she said giving Jackson a look

''Exactly because he thought that person meant they had nothing clean to wear but you understood that that your friend needs something new to wear so they need to go shopping. Neither of you was wrong, it was just a difference of interpretation that would have been an argument'' the two looked at each other and smiled.

''I want you to go home, remember that you can never stop learning about each other. I want you to always move from those four quadrants I told you earlier about knowing the other person. Take time to always be moving from one to the other and remember that sometimes the things you find out about each other won`t always be pretty''

The session ended for the day and they had to make their home. They picked some food along the way

...

''What did you think about the first session'' Maggie asked as she put the food in plates

''It was good actually, I didn't expect it to be like that'' Jackson said while sending a few emails on his laptop.

''Oh yeah'' Maggie said as he looked at him ''do you remember that day you found out that I was once engaged? We kind of spoke about baring everything on the table''

''Yeah, yeah and we never got around that'' Jackson said closing his laptop

''I think we should do that''

''Really, like now?''

''Yeah, I mean it wouldn't hurt, would it''

''I think we have had enough talk about knowing each other for the day, right now I just want to know you in another way'' he said as he hugged her from behind placing a kiss on her neck

''Babe, I am serious'' she said not attempting to stop him

''Okay, what do you want to know?'' he said as he buried his head on her hair

''Okay'' Maggie said turning to face him ''let me think a little, okay so when was your first and who was it with''

''What?'' he said nearly choking on his own saliva because that was not the question he saw coming

''I said when was your first and who it was?''

''It was junior prom and I don`t remember, I think we should eat before the food gets cold'' he said avoiding the topic as he planted a kiss on her mouth

''Hmmm, funny you remember when but not who'' she said after breaking off from the kiss

''I don`t think this is what Khan meant when he said we should get to know each other''

''So you do remember?'' Maggie said with her hands still around his waist

''That is not what I am saying'' he dropped his eyes because he remembered it vividly.

''Okay, so you don`t remember?''

''Promise me you won`t get worked out by this'' he said as he gazed into her beautiful brown eyes

''I promise'' Maggie said with a little smirk

''Junior prom, Sarah Richardson and Penn Caraway''

''So who was your first between them?''

''Both of them'' he said squinting his eyes a little to avoid Maggie`s ones

''Together!'' Maggie exclaimed removing her hands around his waist

''Hmmm"

''Oh my god! -How old were you? -Did you even know what you were doing?''

''Yep, I knew exactly what I was doing'' he said with a smirk

''This is not funny''

''Come on, you promised you won`t get worked up by this''

''I am not, -I am just, -I, -I think I need to shower'' she said ducking away from him walking upstairs