I have made some updates and additions to this chapter and hope to have the story completed before the season finale
Chapter 6
Jackson calls Katherine to let her know everyone will be out for the board meeting and he knows she will want to see Harriett. Katherine tells him she will send the jet, but it will be a full house. "While Christina shares have she has changed hands a few times, and Jo now owns them, Callie and AZ will be there. While she holds no shares Addison Montgomery, she is still in town on a consult. I don't know if you remember her"….her voice trails off.
Jackson replies, "vaguely. She helped save Callie's and Sophia's life. April was good friends with AZ, and Callie left right after April gave birth to Harriet. "We keep meaning to plan a visit with Callie, AZ, and the kids since we all live so close now, but with the foundation and the new jobs, our priorities got in the way. I'll let April know. I know she will be happy to see everyone".
After work, Jackson arrived first and was making pasta and letting a bottle of wine breathe as April walked in the door. "Something smells good. What's the occasion? You know I can't drink?" She asks.
Other than I love my wife to be and I am determined to cook more and eat in more, I thought I'd bring you up to date on Seattle. Harriet is having a sleepover at Betsy's next door, but we will be leaving the day after tomorrow." He fills her in and they playfully argue who will do the dishes since normally whoever cooks, the other cleans, but April reminds Jackson, that she is a more organized packer. April is excited to be seeing AZ, Callie, and Sophia.
Later that night laying in each other's arms after a spirited lovemaking, April asks if they are getting married in Seattle where more people know them, and they won't have a lot of planning time as she doesn't want to make multiple trips out before the baby is born.
Jackson explains that is what Zoom is for. April is still insistent on waiting until after the first trimester to tell everyone, which won't happen until a week after they return home. Jackson laughs and says, "my mother will be out a couple of weeks after our first-trimester visit and you can you imagine everyone will know the news before she touches back down in Seattle." April adds, "I'll need to hold off telling AZ as she can't keep her mouth shut that long and it nearly ruined our friendship before we had Harriet." Jackson asks, "what about your family?" April sighs and says, "to think your mother is difficult, my mother will insinuate herself into this pregnancy and will want to move here until he or she is born. I can't go through that stress again, especially if all of us are not on the same page like with Samuel'. Jackson assures her he will support her whatever her decisions are.
The following morning, April has completed most of the packing and the neighbor brings Harriet back home. Before heading to the hospital they tell her everyone is going to Seattle and she can see nanna and grandpa. Many friends she hasn't seen in about a year or more will be there too.
The foundation and hospital were notified and the Jet will arrive mid-afternoon the following day. April still can't get used to having all her luggage loaded for her, but she has her hands full with Harriet and can't complain much. She hopes she will sleep for most of the long flight.
After checking into the hotel, they take a town car to GSMH. They both make their rounds saying hi to those they remember and getting introduced to the new batch of interns. Jackson has quite the admirers with those piercing blue eyes of his, but even when they were residents, that never bothered April. After the board meeting, everyone wants to go out for a mixer, but Jackson and April beg off saying it's been a long day and they want to get settled in before the next day. It would be easier this way not to have to explain why April is not partaking in her shot of scotch.
The next day is more staff meetings and April excuses herself back to Boston early with Jackson to stay one more day. She promises to connect AZ soon.
Flying home with Harriet and despite getting some sleep on the plane they are both tired. She calls Jackson so he can say good night to his daughter. He tells her he has a few more meetings but will be back the next afternoon. April made their first-trimester appointment before they left town and she reminded him not to forget. Harriet feels lonely after seeing everyone and she crawls into bed next to April she hears strange noises. She wakes up her mother and asks if her stomach is "gurgling" and if she is hungry. April wanted to wait until Jackson returns says, "yes, let's see what's left in the fridge".
April is still recovering from jetlag and still feeling the effects of morning sickness which she did her best to hide while back in Seattle. She calls in sick and keeps Harriet home with her. She calls Jackson and lets him know how she is doing, but he can't make it back any earlier than planned, so she will send Harriet next door and stay in bed until he gets back. As soon as he lands and calls ahead for soup and crackers, he rushes home. April is lying in bed and he gets a wet washcloth and cools her down, before feeding her soup and helping her into the shower. April protests. "it wasn't like this before. I tried my best to hide it in Seattle, but I'm too tired now.". Jackson feels helpless, he's never seen her like this before except when she was being warmed up from being out in the cold.
The next day she wakes up and after some crackers, she feels well enough for their doctor's appointment. They drop Harriet off at daycare and head to their Obgyn. The ultrasound and blood workup shows a healthy baby boy. He brushes her hair away from her face and says, "maybe, it's time to call our parents." April replies, "do you mean Robert too?" Jackson, said, "after my last visit, I got a better insight into who he was and why he left. Without you that couldn't have happened. But he made me see I don't want to end up like him, which is still a work in progress, but the door is open."
Jackson helps April get dressed, picks up Harriett from daycare, and takes them both home. He makes the necessary phone calls and invites everyone out at different times so as not to overwhelm April. April calls AZ herself. They sit Harriett down to tell her the news she will be getting a new sibling. They want her to let sink in before everyone starts calling.
Jackson plays the doting father-to-be. Soon the flowers and the calls start flooding in, which they both ignore. They look at a calendar and determine the best time for a wedding would be one month before the doctors say she shouldn't be traveling. She schedules Zoom meetings with ministers and Justices of the Peace just in case. April has changed a lot over the years as has Jackson. Before heading out to the foundation she buys some brides' books for ideas about ideas for dresses. She wants something simple, off-white, and tea length. Before the meeting, she drops off the dog-eared pages on Jackson's space. He opens the magazine and he smiles…..