Hi!
Thanks for all the feedback (this fic just crossed 100 reviews! tysm!)

April & Jackson were dating. Dating. DATING? D-A-T-I-N-G. April somehow couldn't reconcile that in their very rich, very complicated history where their relationship went through pretty much every possible phase, this pretty basic one had gotten skipped over. Unless you count the few days between accepting feelings & having a pregnancy scare or the few hours between ditching your wedding & proposing marriage at the side of a road. She chuckled, shaking her head slightly, as she made her way to a meeting room for her weekly checkin with Greg. Maybe that's why we fell apart that first time, there should be a checklist of the steps to be followed.

She stopped short as she entered the room, her heart thudding when she saw the man who had been invading her thoughts for the past how many ever hours, seated in the room.

"Uhh… Hi.", she stammered.

Jackson looked up from his laptop, "Hey."

"Sorry, I thought umm my meeting was here but maybe I got the room wrong-"

"No. You didn't. I.. Uhh.. Well..", he scratched his head lightly, looking at the desk, "Told Greg that he didn't need to proxy for me anymore.. Is that.. okay?", he looked up, sheepishly.

April felt her face heat up & knew she'd be blushing, "Yeah, I mean.. Umm you know.. That makes sense. Right." She was unable to look away from him & started remembering all the things they said, and did, after the gala.

She shook herself out of it, clearing her throat, "Sorry, Yeah, I'll just..", she walked in & started setting up her laptop.

Things were awkward. Jackson knew this, he could feel it. It was weird for him as well. They had finally accepted their still-feelings for each other but falling back into it wasn't going to be seamless & he knew she still had some reservations so he was okay with taking things slow so she could be fully sure of his feelings for her & vice versa.

"So I have a few data points to discuss..", April started.

"Sure."

April started explaining a few advancements that had been in the works for the past week that she needed him to sign off. A few minutes in, he looked over at her as she tucked her hair behind her ear & bit her lower lip, thoughtfully & the sight mesmerised him - he couldn't look away.

She felt his eyes on her & not on the screen & felt the blush creep back on.

"Jackson.. Focus!", She smiled bashfully, without looking at him.

She heard him chuckle, "Sorry! Continue."

They continued the meeting & were able to discuss some key points without getting distracted.

"Is that all?", Jackson asked, when he saw her wrap up.

"Yeah.. I usually needed to set aside more time with Greg, it would take him longer to grasp some of the details but we.."

"Have a shorthand with each other", he finished.

"Kinda.", she replied softly, looking at his smiling face, her expression mirroring his. Her smile quickly turned into a disbelieving laugh as she shook her head again, "This is so.."

"I know.", he chuckled, biting his lip, "But you're still.."

Still on board?

"On board? Yeah. I just..", she breathed in deeply, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way.

"We have a lot to still figure out. I know. But I'm really..", Jackson reached out & covered her hand with his, "really glad you're giving this a chance.", he finished, solemnly with a spark in his eye that caught April's attention.

She grasped his hand in return & lifted her other hand to stroke his face when a notification sound on his laptop interrupted them.

"Sorry, I have a call in a few minutes.", he said, apologetically, "I'll probably need to go set up for that."

"Don't worry. That's.. Expected.", & they both chuckled.

They both collected their belongings to leave when Jackson stopped her, "Hey, we're still.. On for tonight? Right?"

Their first (first?) date. He wanted them to dress up & go have a meal & really talk. Without the filters & awkwardness. All cards on the table.

"Yeah. We are.", she replied, as they stood up.

"Ok great.", he tried not to sound too eager, "I'll pick you up tonight."

Jackson looked around & checked the vicinity of the room outside the glass door & when he was sure there were no prying eyes, he quickly gave April a kiss on her forehead before heading out.

She smiled, blushing again, and left for her office.

"Are you serious?!", April guffawed, opening the door to her place & entering as Jackson followed.

"Why is that so funny?"

"You just said the phrase 'sex bridge'. Did you expect me not to laugh?", she raised her eyebrows with an amused expression.

Their date had been really great. They were both a little nervous in the beginning but after a glass of wine, they relaxed & the conversation flowed like it had never stopped. They kept the topics light as neither wanted to get into heavier topics in a restaurant but all the awkwardness dissipated & they felt the ease they had before.. everything.

"Hey it was not my phrase, it was Wilson's and.. Yeah I'm not making this any better, am I?", he laughed at her expression.

"You're really not.", she couldn't stop laughing at his.. whatever it was with Jo.

"Stop laughing! I really shouldn't have told you.."

"Hey I needed the laugh, so thank you.", she giggled as he pulled her in & snaked his arms around her waist.

April circled her arms around his neck & finally stopped laughing, just a smirk remaining on her face.

"I guess I was just a bit.. lost at the time.", he said seriously, his eyes roving over her face, finally settling on her lips.

Jackson lowered his face & captured her lips in a fierce kiss that took April by surprise. But she reciprocated with equal ferocity as he sought entry in her mouth. His hands moved up from her waist to her face & he pulled her into him with his tongue tasting every bit of her. They were lost in each other as their lips moved in sync till her moan pulled him out of his trance & he pulled back, kissing her softly & ending with a peck before resting his forehead against his, eyes closed.

"Sorry I.. got carried away, I was just waiting to do that all night.", he whispered.

April moved her hands to his face & held it tenderly, "So was I.. So nothing to apologise for.", she gave him a soft kiss that made him open his eyes & smirk slightly.

"How soon do you have to get home to relieve Cara?", April asked. Harriet was with the nanny at Jackson's place.

"I uhh..", he looked at his watch, "Have some time."

"Do you want some coffee? Maybe we could talk?"

"Too late for coffee.", he chuckled, "But I'd love to talk.", he nodded as they made their way to the couch.

"I had a really great time tonight.", April started, genuinely.

"I'm glad. I did too."

They were sitting across from each other on the couch & she knew the kind of things they needed to talk about, there couldn't be any formality or awkwardness.

"I want us to be open with each other. If there's anything we need to say, we should feel comfortable enough to say it.", she stated firmly.

"I agree.", he replied & it was followed by silence, seeming like April was trying to collect her thought before speaking so he took initiative, "Look. I know you still have doubts & don't want to go too fast or rush into anything. I get it. And I'm fine with taking things as slow as you like but..", he exhaled roughly, "I want us to be on the right path.. I just feel like we've.. already lost so much time and.."

"Jackson..", she interrupted, "We can't.. go into this trying to make up for lost time. That's a recipe for disaster."

"I know. I know. I just don't want there to be any.. avoidable detours anymore. As long as we're going in the same direction, I don't mind if the pace is slow. I mean that."

"Thank you. I really think that's the best way forward. Our situation is.. complex & it's safer if we're sure every step of the way. So even if at some point we realise this.. isn't working, the fallout would be minimum, you know.", she rationalised as Jackson gulped. He didn't want to consider that option at all but knew she was right intellectually.

"Yeah, you're right."

April noticed the strain in his voice & saw him looking at his lap.

"Hey..", she nudged him, forcing him to look at her. She reached out, stroking his face & he turned his face slightly to kiss her palm, "I'm not saying this because I have a foot out the door or anything. I just.. I do want this to work."

"Me too."

They were quiet for a few minutes as April tried to collect her thoughts & articulate what she wanted to.

"Jackson, I've known you a long time. And I like to believe that I get you.."

"Probably better than anyone else.", he finished for her.

"But even so.. Sometimes I can't read you.", she murmured, looking at her feet.

He frowned at that. She was the person who could read him better than most. "April.."

"Let me.. What I mean to say is.. Through a lot of our relationship, you bottled things up & then eventually when that exploded..", she looked at him guiltily, "It seemed like you would get mad that.. I didn't see it or figure it out sooner."

He cleared his throat, "I didn't.. mean to."

"No I know.. You need to stop hiding or covering your feelings to protect me. Or yourself. If you feel like I'm not seeing or understanding what you're thinking? Tell me.", she almost pleaded, "And if I still don't get it? Then you can get mad.", she giggled.

He smiled too, "You know it's not easy for me. To be in touch with my feelings all the time but you're right. Expecting that of you isn't entirely fair. I'll try.", he whispered the last bit.

"And I will.. not shut you out.", she exhaled roughly, looking at him, suddenly feeling very exposed, "I will be better at considering you.. & your feelings for decisions that affect us."

She blinked rapidly, & looked away, her eyes not being able to maintain eye contact, "I'm sorry I wasn't good at that before.", she whispered.

Jackson sighed, his eyes trying to hold hers but she kept avoiding the eye contact so he held her face till she finally looked back, "April.. Don't apologise. We've both made mistakes in the past & sucked at communicating. We're both responsible for what broke us & I don't want there to be any guilt anymore. Fresh start, right?"

She nodded against his hand & Jackson smiled softly, biting his lip when he realised, "You prepared these points, didn't you?"

April's serious expression cleared & she broke into a small laugh, "I didn't want to miss out on anything. It's not like I.. made notes.."

He narrowed his eyes, "Yeah, you did."

April bit her lip, "Yeah I did.. But just like cliff notes."

They both laughed softly, the tension from before melting away.

"Come here.", Jackson beckoned her closer so she could rest her head on his shoulder as he held her close & reclined on the back of the couch.

He rubbed her shoulder lightly & turned to kiss her head.

"I don't want Harriet to know until we're absolutely sure.", April said, softly.

"Yeah, me neither but for what it's worth, I believe in us."

She shifted slightly & turned to look at him, "You're really sure, aren't you?"

He looked straight at her & replied without taking a beat, "Yes. I know what I want & what I need. I'm all in."

She smiled, but he could see that she was holding back tears & he caressed her cheek softly.

"You don't have to say it till you believe it.", he murmured, bending slightly to kiss her softly on the lips.

She tucked her face in his neck, wanting to keep them in that moment because she knew she was all in with him too. She just needed time to gather the courage to say it without feeling like she was drowning. Again.

I'm genuinely glad that this story is resonating with you all. Yeah we're nearing the end but I still have a few chapters in mind.

Now, I know many may not agree with the 'shortcomings' that I've mentioned for them both this chapter but for me, I really felt their breakdown boiled down to Jackson bottling his feelings & April being dismissive (Even though I love the 1507 scene, the religion thing that Jackson mentioned, I dont really agree with. I think they'd mostly worked that out.)

Thanks for all the love, pls keep reviewing.