- I move out, I guess.
Jackson's mind stopped. What the hell? I just said "we have to figure out a way to exist together" as in TOGETHER! And she suggest she moves out.
- What?
- Well, Arizona says that I can, I mean, I'm healed, so… I will, I guess.
Dammit, Arizona. He knew he had suggested she stayed until she recovered, but that was before. Things were different now, weren't they? Well, April didn't seem to be sure, she said "guess" after all. He didn't want her to move out. He wanted to find a way to make this work. But how was he supposed to explain that to April without her freaking out over boundaries? Though she hadn't actually mention boundaries lately.
April got distracted, Harriet was miraculously still sleeping. Jackson sat down. He put his hand on Harriet's blanket, next to April's hand, without daring to touch it. He wanted to hold her. Let her know they got this. They would be great parents. He looked at their beautiful baby girl and then looked up to the beautiful mother of his child. Just say it, Jackson, all the problems always start because neither of us say it.
- I don't want you to move out.
In fact I want to live with you and Harriet, watch her grow together, help you on the tough nights, be there when she gives her first step. But that would be too much to confess right now.
- I don't want to move out either.
Jackson felt his lungs fill up with joy. He let what she had said sink in. They were in the same page, at least on this.
- I'm scared I may never sleep again, she's stronger than I am, she could defeat me.
Jackson smiled. April had always had her dramatic side.
- There's two of us, we got her outnumbered.
Yes. They should be together. They should raise her together. They could figure out the rest. They just had to be a team. Their hands had gotten closer, but they were still not touching. He moved his hand away, and put it on Harriet's head. Their little miracle.
- You two are staying.
It wasn't a question. They had their little family, they should stay together.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Something else good came out of this. No more mandatory coffee on the mornings.
Jackson was in the sofa, playing with Harriet, when April came, and stood right in front of him.
- Tomorrow is your rest day, right?
- Yeah, do you need me to do anything?
- No, I… I was wondering if you would like waffles for breakfast? I… was thinking about making waffles.
- You don't have to…
- I know! ... I know. I, I want to.
Jackson looked at her. She seemed a bit nervous, but happy.
- Waffles sound great.
April smiled and turn around. She went to the kitchen, to check if she had everything she needed, Jackson guessed.
She seemed to like the kitchen. She had started to cook again. Not daily, but he no longer cared if he ate leftovers of the same thing for 4 days in a row. Her cooking was so good. He would do the groceries, with her very specific instructions. He had actually taken some of her food today on a tupperware container, much to her amusement.
They had agreed on living together. They hadn't actually talk about how long that meant, but for now they were going to live together indefinitely. They moved the rest of April's stuff to the house, but they didn't talk about what she would do with the apartment. If any on their friends were concern over that arrangement, he didn't know, no one had actually mention it to him.
Was it weird that he wanted to live with his ex? They had a child together, and Harriet was too small to live in two different houses. And he didn't want to miss anything important. It wasn't that strange that they lived together, was it? Also, April and him were friends way before they actually dated, and they had lived together before. They could be roommates. Co-parents and roommates. That didn't mean they didn't have boundaries. They weren't like together, together. Maybe he was overthinking it. He was definitely too tired to think straight. He would think about it later.
