There is a teensy bit of smut near the end!
The morning of April's wedding arrived without much further incident with Jackson's father or anyone else, other than the arrival of her crazy family. Her sisters, their significant others, and all the children arrived in time for the rehearsal dinner, along with her parents. Everyone had chatted, had fun, and wished her and Jackson all the best for their wedding and marriage before she was swept away for the night to spend apart from Jackson. Her sleep was fitful, at best, because she was so used to curling up next to him, but she managed to get a few hours of sleep before the big morning arrived and her mother, Libby, Kimmy, and Alice descended upon her room to help her get ready.
"April you are going to be the most beautiful bride," Alice said, working on her makeup while Libby and Kimmy tended to her hair.
"Jackson won't be able to keep his eyes off of you when we're done," Libby chimed in.
"I think that's already a given," Lexie laughed from where she was seated in the room with Josh happily nestled in her arms, still asleep. "You guys haven't seen them around the hospital…it's like Jackson's seen an angel or something when she walks by."
"Lexie…that is…not all the time!" April said, fumbling through her words as she blushed.
Her friend smirked and winked. "It's not a bad thing, trust me. He adores you and only has eyes for you."
Settling into that thought, April smiled and let her sisters work on her hair and makeup some more while she thought about how lucky she was to be marrying her best friend today. She and Jackson had been friends for seven years now and together as a couple for just shy of a year, but today was a whole new beginning for her as they were getting married. It was going to be an adjustment going from fiancée to wife, but she knew that she and Jackson were going to face that together as a couple. They were going to be husband and wife, which made her giddy with excitement and nerves as she stood up and got helped into her dress.
"How do I look?" she asked once her shoes were slid onto her feet and she had the last pieces of her jewelry put on.
"Beautiful," her mother said, hugging her tightly.
"The most beautiful bride I've ever seen," her father called from the doorway, standing there in his tuxedo.
"Daddy," she said with a smile as he came over and hugged him.
He kissed her forehead and smiled. "You look stunning."
She smiled. "Thank you…is everything…are we ready?"
Everyone was gathering up the flowers while Lexie got her veil and gently slid it into her hair, careful not to ruin the careful hairstyle that was perfectly placed. Her sisters and Lexie were bridesmaids, so Lexie handed off Josh to Meredith's waiting arms before they went to find the groomsmen, which were Mark, Alex, Derek, and one of Jackson's cousins that he had been close to growing up. April waited with her father while the procession started and took a deep breath. They had decided to get married in Jackson's childhood home because the wedding was so small and because his grandfather would have an easier time getting around here, so she was going to descend the stairs into the bigger room where the ceremony was taking place.
"I'm a little nervous Dad," she admitted while they waited.
"I was too, when I married your mother," her father said, smiling. "But that feeling goes away when you see the one you love at the end of the aisle."
"Here goes," she said when it was their turn to go down the stairs. "Don't let me fall."
"Never would," her father assured her as they made their way down the stairs.
Just as her father promised, when the doors were opened and she looked down the aisle to see Jackson waiting for her…the worry, fear, and anxiety went away. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo and she could tell that he was surprised by her gown and the way she looked…he seemed so in awe of her, which made her blush a little as they walked down the aisle. When they reached the end, her father lifted her veil and kissed her cheek before giving her away officially to Jackson, placing her hand in his. When everyone was seated, they began.
"We're all here today to celebrate the relationship of April and Jackson and to be witnesses and supporters of the commitment they share with one another. Together we're a group of the most important people in their lives and they've brought us here to publically recognize that we've all played some special part in the love they share today," the minister began.
"Marriage gives permanence and structure to a couple's love. It's a way to tell one another that no matter how much you snore or how much you spent while out at the shopping mall, we're still in this together. It's more important than silly little fights or coming from two separate worlds, as Jackson and April have. Marriage is telling the person you love that you're not going anywhere and that's a powerful commitment for two people to make to one another.
A good marriage must be built on the foundation of this commitment. In marriage the 'little' things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, 'I love you' at least once a day, no matter how hectic or crazy your day gets at work. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together and facing the world. It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right partner — it is being the right partner .
The road that has brought April and Jackson here today hasn't been easy. It's been filled with challenges that they weren't necessarily prepared for. But together they've taken each one on and have used those experiences to strengthen, not weaken their love."
April kept her eyes on Jackson as the minister made his opening remarks and smiled as she realized that after today, she would be married to her best friend. He was the only man she had ever been with and it hit her that she had saved herself for the man she was going to marry, but only did things a little out of order.
The minister went on with the reading. "In the Bible, first Corinthians chapter 13, verses four through eight tells us: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
That verse was one of April's favorite and she knew that Jackson was the one who had personified all of those things for her and through her through their love and their relationship. Love was never perfect, but the kind of love she had for him and with him was real.
"Jackson and April have chosen to recite their own vows today as a commitment to one another and a token of their love for each other," the minister said, looking to April.
She took a deep breath. "Jackson…the first time I met you, I had no idea that you would become the man I fell in love with. We were just interns at Mercy West and you were the first person that actually spoke to me. And through the years you have become my best friend, the person I can talk to about anything, and the man I cannot imagine my life without," she said sincerely. "You make me laugh and can comfort me in the darkest of days. And with you, my life has new meaning it didn't before. I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, faithfully, as your wife."
When it was Jackson's turn, he smiled. "The first time I saw you, I had literally no idea that I would be standing here about seven years later, marrying you. But that first day, when we spent forty hours working together, I knew you were a force of nature to be reckoned with and was in awe of you…especially since you were still smiling after being on duty for almost two days straight," he chuckled. Every surgeon in the room had to agree with their own chuckles. "But through the years, I saw how wonderful you were and how deeply I cared for you, especially after we lost friends and you were all I had left. I fell in love with you and knew you were the one person I couldn't live my life without and never want to. I love everything about you…even the things I don't like, I love. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making you happy as best as I can as your husband."
After the vows were recited, April reached to Lexie for Jackson's ring as he did the same to get her ring from Mark.
"Ladies and gentleman, a vow is sealed with the exchange of the rings. A ring is a circle with no true beginning and no end, much like Jackson and April's love. They exchange these as tokens of their affections for one another. April, please take Jackson's hand and repeat after me: I give you this ring, as a symbol of our love, for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come. Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day, and know that my love is present, even when I am not."
April repeated the words and slipped the ring onto Jackson's hand.
"Jackson, please take April's hand and repeat after me: I give you this ring, as a symbol of our love, for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come. Wear it as a sign of what we have promised on this day, and know that my love is present, even when I am not."
He did the same and slipped her ring onto her hand, making her smile as they were one step closer to being a married couple. The next step was to combine the unity sand, which was an idea that April had so they would have something special from their wedding to bring back into their home. One color, the purple, would represent her, while the other, blue, would be Jackson.
"By sharing your vows and exchanging rings here today you both have decided to share the rest of your lives together. You are no longer two separate people but one couple together. This unity is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand. One, representing you, April and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, Jackson, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be, united as one for all of your days."
They stepped over together and began pouring their individual colors into a larger jar, one shaped like a sphere. Looking at Jackson, she smiled as she poured her sand and knew that he had indulged her in this little thing…because this was the only wedding she would ever have or wanted to have. When they were done, they stepped back over to the minister and held hands again in front of him.
"April and Jackson you have professed your love by exchanging your vows. You have symbolized your commitment by exchanging rings. And you have expressed the end of your individual lives by the pouring of the unity sand. With all of this there is just one more question I need each of you to answer and then we're off to the reception to celebrate.
April – do you take Jackson to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
She nodded, "I do."
"Jackson – do you take April to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Jackson replied, squeezing her hand lovingly.
"By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jackson you may kiss your bride," the minister declared.
Without hesitation, April grinned and wrapped her arms around Jackson's neck as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. There were several cheers and whistles from those around them, but she didn't care as she was now married to the man of her dreams and the only one she loved.
"It's my great honor and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Avery!" the minister said as they pulled apart from their kiss.
Going back down the aisle, April held onto Jackson's arm and walked until they were behind closed doors for a few moments of privacy with one another as husband and wife for the first time. Grinning happily, she leaned up and kissed him again, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her forehead to his, breathing a sigh of relief mixed with happiness and love.
"Hi Mrs. Avery," Jackson murmured against her lips, making her smile.
"Hi Mr. Avery," she replied with a grin.
They kissed for a while before they were called back for professional photos with their families. April was on cloud nine as she took pictures with her new husband and their family members, elated that so many people could make it to the wedding on such short notice. But the photos that she knew meant the most to Jackson were the ones they took together with his grandfather, who was sitting in his wheelchair in a suit of his own.
"Welcome to the family, sweetheart," Harper said warmly as April hugged him and kissed his cheek. "My grandson is a lucky man."
"I'm the lucky one," she said softly.
Once the photos were done, they were all off to the reception, which was held in the ballroom that was adjacent to the dining room of the house. It didn't surprise April that there was one here given Catherine's affinity for throwing parties, but it was gorgeous nonetheless. She spent most of the evening dancing with Jackson and mingling with their family members before they were sent on their way as husband and wife, leaving the house in a limo toward a hotel and a honeymoon suite for the night, all booked by Jackson to surprise her. In the limo, they drove around Boston for a while and did things in the back that would make most men blush, but didn't feel one ounce of guilt for it because they were married.
But when they arrived to the hotel, they got out and he escourted her in before they checked in and went up to their suite.
"Ahem," she said, nudging Jackson as they reached the door. "Someone has to carry me over the threshold for good luck."
"As if I would forget tradition," he teased back before scooping her into his arms and carrying her through the door.
Giggling as she held onto his neck, April looked around the room and gasped in awe. It was beautiful…candles and rose petals everywhere…like every fantasy she had ever had about her wedding night. Jackson had really outdone himself and made sure that everything was perfect for her and for them.
"Oh Jackson…" she said softly as he set her down on her feet again. "This is perfect."
"I knew that tonight was an important night for us, so I had them fix it up," he told her as he shut the door.
Smiling, she came over and pulled on the lapels of his coat and brought him in for a kiss. "You are a wonderful husband."
"You haven't even seen the best part," he teased, kissing her back before taking her over to the sliding glass door that lead to the balcony.
On the balcony, out in the frozen air of February, was a Jacuzzi that had champagne setting out for them. It was freezing, but April knew that once they were in the water, it wouldn't even matter.
"Secret romantic husband," she said, turning to kiss him. "But I don't have my suit."
"Already packed," he smirked, nodding to their bags that were already waiting in the room.
"So you have thought of literally everything," she laughed, kissing him one more time before going to the bag. "Jackson…unzip me?"
Her husband came over and started to unzip her dress, planting kisses along her neck and shoulder as his hands worked the zipper down her spine. A shiver came over her as she turned around with her suit in her hands, kissing him once.
"Patience Mr. Avery…and you will be rewarded," she smirked, holding up her dress as she went to the bathroom to change. "Put your suit on and meet me in the hot tub."
April slipped into the bathroom and put on her bikini, which was a darker green color with a few rhinestones on the top. She honestly didn't get the big deal about wearing one, but it seemed to turn Jackson on a lot when she did, so she had bought it for his sake some months ago and had only worn it a few times. Thankfully, it wasn't a string-bikini and she felt a little more comfortable wearing it than she would have the other option. Looking in the mirror, she smiled and took down her hair, shaking it into the messy curls it fell into before she was satisfied and took a robe to wrap around her body.
She walked out into the room and to the balcony, where Jackson was already in the hot tub waiting for her. Her husband's bare chest was sticking above the water, making her smile at the thought of how many times she had kissed it or laid on it post-sex.
"You look comfortable already," she laughed as she slid her robe down and left it on the side of the balcony, stepping down into the hot tub.
"Just waiting for you," he said with a huge grin once he saw her bikini before she slipped into the water beside him.
"Oh this feels nice…" she said, relaxing by his side before taking the glass of champagne from him to drink. "Can you believe it? We're married…"
"That feels good to say," he added, kissing her temple before tilting her head up to kiss her lips. "My wife."
"My husband," she said, kissing him back.
For a while, they relaxed in the hot tub and talked about their wedding, the honeymoon they were leaving on tomorrow, and plans to look for a house once they returned to Seattle now that they were married. April retreated from the tub when she got too hot and Jackson followed behind, both of them laughing and making out as they came in like horny teenagers before he shut the door and curtains behind them. As he was shutting the curtains, April smiled and slid out of her suit quickly and slid under the sheets naked.
"Jackson?" she called.
"Yeah?" he asked as he turned around, seemingly surprised to see her suit on the floor and her naked in the bed.
"Come make love to me," she said, offering him a smile as she bit her lip.
Jackson wasted no time in dropping his trunks and joining her on the bed, slipping beneath the covers and pulling her close to him as they kissed hungrily. Their kisses were greedy and wanting as she pinned him to the bed and straddled him. Reaching down, she pumped him a few times before guiding him to take her, lowering herself onto him with a deep moan. They made love slow and took the time to appreciate one another as husband and wife as she leaned in and kissed him sweetly while rocking up and down on him. When she came, she shivered and collapsed into his arms with him following behind her a few strokes later.
"I love you," she murmured, kissing his chest before she felt his fingers tracing along her spine.
"I love you too," he said, holding her close.
April fell asleep in her husband's arms, feeling like she had just been given the greatest gift in the world through her husband. When she woke, she had moved off to the side and saw Jackson sleeping on his stomach, his muscled back peeking out from the sheets. Leaning over, she pushed her hair back and planted some soft kisses along her husband's shoulders before she heard her phone buzzing. She shimmied out of bed and grabbed the robe to throw on before finding her phone to see she had four missed calls from Jackson's mother, meaning something was wrong.
Calling the number back, she listened to it ring and heard Catherine on the other end.
"Baby…is Jackson awake?" Catherine asked solemnly.
"No…he's still asleep, what's wrong?" she asked tentatively in a quiet voice.
"His grandfather…passed away early this morning," Catherine said.
All at once, April's heart dropped.
A/N: Thank you all again for all the support so far...keep with me because it's going to get good! Let me know what you think!
