April tells Jackson she's pregnant with Noah by using a "World's Greatest Dad" T-Shirt.
"Happy birthday!" She says, crawling on top of the covers to meet him on the bed.
Jackson smiles, noticing the way she seems to be hiding something with one hand behind her back. "Thank you for dinner. It was nice just the three of us." It was a small dinner party, nothing fancy, with his baby girl Hannah and his wife. A time to reflect and appreciate his family even more.
April settles on his lap, placing her legs on each sides of his body, and her free hand on the crook of his neck. Slowly playing her thumb across his jawline, she feels the roughness of his unshaved scruff. Then, she leans forward, taking her finger and placing one tender kiss on its place. "Guess I didn't give you my present yet."
"Oh really?" He grins, moving his hands up her thighs. It's his birthday and he can only ask to get lucky tonight.
"Yes." April replies, pausing before taking a long breath. Staring into his deep eyes, she can't help but to smile.
She's happy, he can see she's finally happy and he thanks God for that, wondering why. "What's my present, then?"
April licks her lips, takes another deep breath and shows him what she's been hiding behind her back. It's a small package, wrapped in a shiny silver wrapping paper with a big yellow bow on it. Jackson looks down, raising one brow, actually surprised. He already has everything he needs, so a present is definitely unnecessary. He has a healthy, smart daughter, an amazing wife, a strong marriage, the job that he loves… What else does one man need?
Nevertheless, he takes the package, rips it off the paper like a curious child unwrapping a present. Then, putting it to the side, he unfolds a grey t-shirt that reads World's Greatest Dadon the front in big black letters. "Is this from Hannah?" He asks, tilting his head to right and looking again at his wife. She simply smiles, giving him time to read the sweet message again.
"You're a great dad to Hannah. She loves you." April retorts, feeling slightly emotional saying those words. He was a great dad from the very start, but has been proving every day he was simply born to be a father. When she sees him with Hannah, she knows he is meant to be a dad. "You're amazing, Jackson. You're the best dad anyone could ask for and I'm so proud of you but…" She pauses, shaking her head and slowly reaching out for his hand. "But no. It's not from Hannah."
"April?" He questions, giving him a curious look as she places his hand on her stomach. A big smile appears on her face, when his eyes sparkle and he finally understands what she means. Resting one hand on her cheek, Jackson pulls her closer for a kiss.
This is what she wanted back then, to tell her husband she was pregnant with a t-shirt that said World's Greatest Dad. The first time around she wasn't pregnant at all. The first time she was pregnant indeed, they were fighting. The second, they were both just scared after everything that happened with Samuel.
She was pregnant again, for the third time. It was a time of joy. They were happy, settled, life was good. And maybe, just maybe it's true what they say: Third time's a charm.
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Requested by iamthawingiwasperfect