Jackson and April find out that Noah is going to be a boy.

"Do you really want to know?"

"I do. Of course, I do!" April replies, watching her husband approaches the bed where she's lying. "I wanted to find out with you. So..." So when he couldn't meet her for the ultrasound consultation earlier that day due to an unexpectedly long surgery, she asked the doctor to write down the baby's gender.

"Are you ready?" Jackson asks, sitting on top of the covers next to his wife on the bed. She nods, while holding a folded white piece of paper in her hands. He can tell she's nervous, though. Finding out Hannah's sex was a priority back then. Since what happened during her first pregnancy and with Samuel, they decided to find out everything they possibly could about the baby. They decided to do the same thing with this pregnancy just for precaution. "April?"

"It's okay. I'm okay." She hesitates, before sitting straight on the bed and handing him the thin piece of paper. "Let's do this."

"Yeah?" He asks again, sensing her anxiety before placing a gentle kiss on her temple and one hand on her growing baby bump.

She can feel his grin as he gently traces a pattern along her stomach, trying to calm her down while also controlling his excitement. There's a new life growing inside of her. A new life they made together, and she couldn't be happier. But the ghosts of the past still haunt her and it's never easy to deal with the pain, even after all that time. "What do you think it is?"

He looks at her, raising one brow, thinking for a second. "I don't know. As long as it's healthy, I'm happy with whatever we get." Jackson replies. "Hannah, on the other hand, wants a baby brother."

"She does!" She chuckles. Hannah is two and a little opinionated princess. "So, we're ready to find out?"

"Together?"

"Together." April retorts, watching as her husband sits straight on the bed too. He looks at her again, smiling, before taking a deep breath. She closes her eyes, praying silently for a second that seems to last a long minute that whatever it is, it is a healthy baby. That's all she wants… a healthy baby.

He finally unfolds the page, moves his eyes to read the handwritten word that lays on the thin sheet. "Boy." Jackson says, re-reading it again just to be sure.

"We're having a boy."

Jackson hears her say it too, say it out loud with a slight enthusiasm on her tone. The last time he heard her pronounce those words, it was the night she fell into his arms, sobbing, afraid to lose their baby boy. It was a long time ago, but scars like that are never completely healed and even though their circumstances are different now, the fresh memories are still there and will always be.

"Jackson? Are you okay?" It's only then that he takes his eyes off the paper, moving them back to his wife. She shakes her head, confused, because she thought he'd be happy. In his eyes, though, she sees his doubts and his fears, and she understands them. "Are you thinking about him?"

"How could I not?" Jackson retorts, lowering his eyes to her baby bump and putting the paper to the side.

"I know." Placing one hand on his cheek, she smiles, because despite the uncertainty of the future, she knows the best is yet to come and with this baby, their family is complete. "But I'm happy right now."

He smiles back, finding hope in her hopes and peace in her words. Fact is, he's never been this happy in his life, and it's all because of her. She makes him happy. And even though he wasn't able to protect Samuel, he's ready now, he's prepared for whatever battle life decides to throw at them, and he knows they will be fine.

Finding a position on the bed, Jackson slowly moves on the mattress, lying down on his stomach. Then, placing both hands on her loving bump, he gently pushes her pajama top up, exposing her pale skin. "I love you, buddy!" Jackson mumbles, before licking his lips and resting them against her stomach. "Daddy loves you."

April rests her hands on the back of his head, nestling herself deeper into his arms. With her eyes closed, she lets out a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his kiss against her skin, completely content and excited about the future.

They're having a boy.

..

Requested by make-a-memory-drink-it-up