Anonymous: "Prompt suggestion! After someone breaks into Japril's apartment, Jackson goes overboard getting security systems and bars on the windows and stuff."

First of all, as is happening often lately, I must apologize for the year-long wait. But I try to be a keeper of promises. So it feels good to come through, even a year later. Next, I hope it's alright with you that I changed the context of this. I kept it because it was so unique. But most of the time, even in my fluff…I try to write if not a plot…than a thread. And as a MARRIED couple, I don't see Jackson letting this happen at all. THAT'S why it took me so long.

And then one day I was talking to averybody, needing some inspiration and she was liiikke…"You could do this BEFORE they were together…" And bam…suddenly an idea came that strays just a bit from the prompt.

100 Encore, Day 35: "Secure"

"….Pl-pl-lease come! Please!"

Jackson was awakened by his cell phone in the middle of the night. He was suddenly alert when he heard the utter panic on the other end of the line. "April? April, calm down…what's wrong?"

"M-M-Matthew is away and I just got home and s-s-omeone b-b-b-roke in to my place. I don't know…I don't know what to do I…"

"Calm down, take a breath. I'm coming OK? I'll be there in 15 minutes. Wait by the door, and call the police, April…..I'll be right there."

"I'm sorry…I would've called Matthew but…" She wrapped her arms around him as soon as she walked in the door, though she was mid-interview with the police.

"Shhh…shhh…he's away…I know. Finish talking to the police. I'm glad you called me. I'm gonna take care of you. I promise."

April nodded and went back to the interview. There wasn't anything Jackson could do around the house, they were in the middle of documenting everything. But Averys never stood idle in a crisis.

"I took off from work tomorrow to do the insurance claims and stuff…and I called Matthew. Told him I'm fine. Thanks, for everything." She smiled, accepting the cup of tea he offered her before joining her on the couch.

"No problem. I made up my bed for you. How long is Matthew away?"

"A week."

"You should stay…all week. I can take off tomorrow too, you shouldn't be alone."

"Thanks, but I'll be OK Jackson. I was just scared at first."

"I know you will be, but that doesn't mean you should be alone. There's a lot of things you have to do tomorrow."

April shrugged. "Not really…I mean, the insurance stuff, yeah. And maybe look into a security system but…"

"Oh, you don't have to do that. But…you do have to call and make a time for them to install it," Jackson tried to drop it casually.

"What?"

"I err….I ordered you one. The one I have actually, it's the best."

"Why would you do that? Just add an extra bill to my life without asking me? Jackson, we're not even together. You're with Stephanie and I'm marrying Matthew. Marrying!"

"I know you are, April. But until the wedding, I'm going to pay for the security system I ordered…"

She slammed her tea down angrily, causing the liquid to jump. "Are you kidding me? That's even worse! I'm a doctor too, you know! I can pay for my own security system! Geez, I just didn't want to be alone the first night after the break in and I had nowhere to go! You didn't need to swoop in and act like my savior!"

She got up to leave, but Jackson reached for her hand. "April, please! Don't go…I'll cancel it tomorrow or transfer your information over or…You can't leave! You can't stay there tonight. Just…stay."

April really didn't have anywhere to go. Jackson was her person. Messy history with him or not she didn't feel comfortable knocking on Meredith Grey's door at midnight.

"Fine. But I don't need your bed. The couch is fine," she insisted.

"Whatever."

They went to bed shortly after that, barely saying a word.

But April couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning and the unfamiliar shadows in Jackson's living room startled her. Even the quiet felt stranger than it did at her house.

Desperate, she knocked on Jackson's door at 2 a.m. "Jackson…I'm sorry…I can't sleep…I don't think I an be alone. Can I…"

"Of course." Immediately, Jackson pulled back his covers and April climbed in. She tried to casually build a pillow barrier in between them, just for extra security.

But when they woke up the morning, April found herself in Jackson's arms. She remembered sweet dreams and peace after falling asleep next to him, but not slipping into his arms. She knew she should feel upset about it, even though no one was at fault. She was marrying another man, after all; one whom she never let sleep in her bed overnight. But April didn't feel any shame. She felt secure.

"Good morning sunshine," Jackson yawned. And then he looked at her in his arms, wide awake and kissed her forehead. Again, she didn't pull away.