Part 1
Japril
Disclaimer: I stopped watching several years ago after they got rid of April. I recently started watching again with the return of Patrick Dempsey. The rumor is this may be the last season of Grey's Anatomy. In this version, Jackson never had a relationship with Vic or slept with Jo. I believe that Jackson and April should be endgame before the show ends. This is my take on how that could happen. I should mention I have nothing against Matthew, but he was wrong for April and neither is the type to get a divorce. To follow the timeline of Grey's dealing with COVID, this continues the story. Meredith had slipped into a coma after risking her health to help a patient so everyone was on high alert to take extra precautions.
Jackson made it home after having to wait 45 minutes to get his COVID vaccine that arrived that morning. He wanted to be sure to remind April that she and Matthew needed to get one since they are treating the at-risk patients they see every day. After a long shower, he wipes down all the surfaces with disinfectant and prepares for a nice weekend with his daughter. He is waiting for April to drop off Harriett and she is late. April is never late. He calls her cell and it goes straight to voice mail. He tries Matthew's number and it goes straight to his voice mail. He calls his mother to see if Harriett is with her and April just forgot to tell him. She picks up on the 2nd ring. "Sweetheart is everything okay? Did you get your first shot today?"
"Yes, mother", he replies. "I even did a photo-op for the hospital. I was calling to see if Harriett was with you. April was supposed to drop her off, but she's late and I thought maybe she'd take her to see her grandmother first."
Catherine says, "no dear, I haven't seen Harriett or April in a couple of weeks. I'll make a few calls, I know some people on the committees they volunteer, maybe someone there knows something."
Jackson thanks his mother and decides to call the area hospitals. Grey Sloan's ER was full and they were diverting all overflow cases to Seattle Presbyterian. It had been over an hour and still no word from April. He takes a deep breath and calls one of the persons who hate him the most. Matthew's friend and former partner Nicole. She says "oh my God, Jackson, I should have called you sooner. Matthew collapsed and was taken to Pac North. April is with him and Harriett and Ruby are with Matthew's mother."
Worried Jackson asks if April is okay.
" I think so", she replies, but Matthew is not doing well."
Jackson says he will be there as soon as he can. Jackson speeds over to Pac North hoping not to be pulled over. He valets the jeep and rushes to the ER showing his Grey Sloan badge and he's a doctor looking for Matthew Taylor and April Kepner. They point him to where April is sitting and she is in tears. She looks up and he rushes to her holding her as she sobs. "He's gone, Jackson. Matthew died. He wasn't feeling well so we sent the girls to his mother and he collapsed while in the shower. I called 9-11 and they brought him here. He was gone in an hour."
Jackson holds his ex-wife letting her sob and listens. He wasn't friends with Matthew but he was a good person and Harriett liked him. "What can I do? What do you need?" he asks
April takes a deep breath and says, "could you make some calls? His mother needs to know and Nicole too. I need to make arrangements, but I don't know if I can do it right now."
Jackson says he will take care of everything and help her home and get some things and come stay with him. April just nods and sits next to Matthew while Jackson makes some calls and signs all the necessary paperwork. He helps her to the jeep half carrying her and buckles her into her seat driving to his place in silence. He calls his mother asking her to pick up Harriett and keep her at her place while April quarantines.
Ten days later April tests negative for COVID and gets her vaccination shot. During this time April videos with Harriett every day and Ruby when her grandmother lets her use the phone. A couple of days after her first shot, April went back to the home she shared with Matthew. Jackson offered to go with her, but she told him to go back to work and pick her up later. She walked around grabbing some things for herself and for Harriett who she would be able to see soon. She thought about Ruby and if Matthew's mother might give her shared custody. April has been the only mother Ruby has known even though she is often told about her mother Karin who died. She cleaned everything and packed a few more suitcases, adding more of Harriett's things. She also packed a couple of suitcases for Ruby. She takes a deep breath when she turns on the bathroom light expecting to see towels on the floor and paramedic supplies. She refused to go into that room almost two weeks ago when Jackson helped her grab a few things. Everything was clean, folded, and put away. She realized Jackson must have found someone to clean everything up so she wouldn't have to see it.
She checks her watch and Jackson should be there shortly and she carries everything to the front door and waits. Jackson arrives, kisses her forehead, hugs her, and takes everything to the car. She hates relying on Jackson, but she can't think of doing it by herself right now. He unloads everything for her and she unpacks Harriett's things in her freshly cleaned room. She smiles and laughs for the first time in days. Jackson watching from the door asks what is so funny. April replies, "you remembered how tidy I like things. Thank you." She kisses him on his cheek and his hand goes up to touch it feeling the old feelings from before he saw her marry Matthew. He remembers going on his spiritual quest after she married Matthew and finally understood what April's faith meant to her, but it was too late and she was with Matthew and happy. He thinks him telling Maggie was one of the reasons things ended with them.
Jackson set up his room for April and had sheets and blankets for himself on the couch. His mother was dropping Harriett off in the morning and he knew April wanted everything in its place for when she arrived.