I do not own any characters, plots, or anything else pertaining to "Grey's Anatomy". This chapter is going to be an emotional one and there will be a significant time jump. At this point in the story, April's been in a coma for five years, and Jackson is a single father raising Harriet. As always, thanks for following/favoriting and commenting.

Chapter 6

Five Years Without You

Jackson finishes the last surgery on his schedule and heads towards the hospital daycare. He's had a long day and he's sure Harriet will be bursting with energy. She reminds him of her mom in that way. April. He tries his best not to think about her because every time he does, his heart breaks a little more. April hasn't opened her eyes in five years and everyone in his life has told him that the likelihood of her waking up is very slim. Jackson hasn't been listening to them because he knows that April wouldn't have given up hope, if he was lying in that bed. She'd continue to be hopeful for him, so he's doing the same for her.

As Jackson reaches the daycare, he peeks into the window, and sees his beautiful six-year-old daughter laughing with her friends. That smile of hers makes him smirk because it's the same way April used to smile. Harriet has her mother's light and he's thankful for it. Jackson opens the door to the daycare and takes a few steps in. Harriet quickly spots him and starts running towards him with a grin. He opens his arms and she crashes into them. "Daddy, you're early." Jackson leans back and gives her a smile. "I know, sweetheart. I was able to finish my last surgery early. So, what do you say, we go get an ice cream?" Harriet's grin widens as she backs away from him. "Yeah, let's go, daddy." He gives her a smirk. "Go get your backpack and we'll go." With that, she takes off across the room, and Jackson smiles at how excited she is. He's glad that he can spend the rest of the day with his daughter, he just wishes April was here spending it with them.

Jackson holds onto Harriet's hand, as they make their way down the hospital hallway. She waves to the passing doctors and nurses, having known most of them her whole life. With a pang in his heart, he realizes that no girl her age should know the hospital staff that well. Harriet squeezes his hand, as they make their way through the lobby, and out the automatic doors. She's humming to herself again, which is something she's been doing a lot lately. "Daddy, what was mommy's favorite ice cream?" He stops suddenly, thrown by his daughter's question.

Over the years, they've talked a lot about April, especially when they visit with her. However, she's never talked about April in the past tense. Jackson's heart clenches at her words, as he kneels to her level. He meets her eyes and all he sees within them are her innocence and sadness. "Harriet, we've talked about this. Mommy has been sleeping for a long time, she's still here with us." Confusion suddenly floods her eyes. "But I heard Judy and Ellie say that she wasn't gonna wake up ever." Jackson feels his heart stop, as he tries to figure out what to say. After a few moments, he says the first thing that comes to his mind. "Your mom likes double chocolate mint ice cream, it's the only thing she would eat when she was pregnant with you." He can't help but smirk at the memory of April calling him in the middle of the night and begging him to buy her some ice cream. "So, she's gonna be okay?" His eyes focus back on his beautiful daughter, their filled with so much hope, it warms his heart. "Yeah, your mom is going to be okay." Jackson gives her a kiss on the forehead before getting to his feet. "You promise, daddy." He looks back down at his daughter and nods. "I promise." With that, the two continue towards their car, and head to the ice cream shop.

Fifteen minutes later, Jackson brings two ice cream cones to the table. He looks over at Harriet and she has this excited look on her face. It's the same one she has every Christmas morning when she wakes up. "Here you go, sweetheart." Jackson hands Harriet the cone and she immediately starts eating it. He can't help but smile as he takes a seat across from her. When he had asked her what kind of ice cream she wanted, she had said double chocolate mint. "Is it any good?" Harriet nods her head. "It's awesome, I can see why mommy likes it." Jackson gives her a smirk and then he starts eating his own ice cream.

It's been awhile since he's been here and even longer since he's had an ice cream cone. April had loved this place and they had gone on a few dates here right after they had gotten married. That was when things were good between them before everything got screwed up. Jackson regrets now how he handled things with April and he's been suffering with that guilt ever since she went into her coma. "Daddy are you okay?" He pushes away his thoughts and looks across the table at his daughter, who's staring at him with concern. "I'm fine, just thinking about your mom." She gives him a sad smile and reaches her tiny hand across the table to grab his. "We should get mommy her favorite ice cream and bring it to her. Maybe she'll wake up." Jackson gives her an appreciative nod and a smile. "I think she'd like that." The two spend the next few minutes finishing their ice cream, before heading to the counter, and ordering their favorite person one too.

When they get back to the hospital, Harriet goes straight towards the elevators. They get in and she presses the button. As the door closes, Jackson looks down at his daughter. She's holding the cone with both hands and he smiles at her determination not to drop it on the floor. When the elevator stops, and the doors slide open, Harriet slowly walks out. He watches as she starts to make her way down the hallway, stopping every few steps to make sure she doesn't drop the cone.

Nearly ten minutes pass, before they finally reach the room. Harriet opens the door and quietly walks in. Most of the time when they come in, Harriet goes towards April's bed, and immediately starts talking. Harriet usually goes on for nearly an hour before it's his turn to talk to April. So, it surprises him, when she decides to stand quietly at her bedside. Jackson watches as she stares at the mother she's never known, and he feels his heart ache. "This is for you, mommy." Harriet holds the cone out to April and after a few minutes it starts to melt. Jackson's heart drops, as tears form in his daughter's eyes. There's nothing in this world he wants more than for April to open her eyes again.