First of all, thank you all so much for your reviews. This is my first Japril fic and I've really been enjoying writing them, so it means a lot that you're enjoying them too. As you can tell, I was pretty inspired by Jackson's confession and have a pretty clear vision of how I hope the aftermath plays out. Hopefully, this little fic can tide me (and you) over until the real story unfolds.

"Dude, Stephanie was pissed at you. I think if she carried a gun, you'd be dead right now," Alex needled his friend who was still sitting in the barn nearly two hours after Matthew, April and Stephanie had all stormed out of the wedding ceremony.

"Yep," is all that Jackson offered in reply.

"Did she even talk to you before she took off with Jo?," Alex asked.

"Nope," Jackson answered.

"And all of it over freakin' Kepner," Alex said as he shook his head.

"Shut up, Karev," Jackson said plainly. He didn't even have it in him at that moment to fight with Alex for picking on April.

"Oh, c'mon, I'm just giving you shit," Alex said as he hit Jackson's shoulder. "But really, you love her? When the hell did that happen?"

Jackson sighed. Yeah, when did that happen? He didn't even know the answer to that question himself. I mean, it was April they were talking about. He'd loved her for years as his friend. But when did it turn into something more? San Francisco had definitely opened his eyes to seeing her in a whole new light. And then when she came back from Moline, it just kind of grew without him even realizing it. So much so that it broke his heart when he saw how happy she was that they didn't need to get married. But Alex didn't even need to know all that. So instead, Jackson just replied, "I don't know, man. It just sorta happened somewhere along the way."

"Hmm… I never saw that coming. I thought you two were just fuckin'," Alex said as he took a swig of beer. Clearly he had wasted no time in raiding the reception tent set up next to the barn.

"Really classy, Karev," Jackson admonished. He then added, "You know, I'm good here by myself if you want to go."

"I'm sorry, man," Alex said as he sat down next to Jackson, "I'll knock it off. Really, I'm here if you need to talk."

Jackson gave a small smile in return. The times when Alex was willing to listen to him were few and far between, so Jackson at least appreciated the effort. "Yeah, I'm not so sure I'm up for talking. I think I've probably done enough of that today," he replied.

Alex opened another bottle of beer and handed it to Jackson. "Well at least have a beer then. You look like you could use it."

The two men sat next to each on the bench for a few minutes, drinking their beers and not saying a word to each other.

Finally, Jackson broke the silence, "You know, what I don't get? Somebody says they want you and then when you tell them you want them back, they run. How does that make any sense?" His voice had an edge to it now. It was obvious that his emotions were running the full gamut since the ceremony and he was now starting to enter the anger phase.

Alex scoffed, "Just a guess, but it could have something to do with your timing."

Jackson rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But it's not like her timing has been much better," he said as he took another swig of beer.

Alex gave him a quizzical look and then asked, "Okay, I know I was giving you shit before. But seriously, what the hell has been going on with the two of you? As far as I knew, the two of you were just fuckin…," Alex stopped himself when he caught Jackson's glare before continuing, "Okay sorry, you two were making love. Better?" he asked sarcastically. Jackson just rolled his eyes again, so Alex kept going. "And then next thing I know, you thought she might be pregnant and then you were over. So really, where did this love thing come from?"

Jackson gave a sad smile at Alex's genuine concern about him and April. Alex would never admit it, but the three of them had developed a kind of bond when they were living together. And Jackson knew as much as April annoyed Alex, he did care about her. So he decided to open up, just a little.

"It actually did just start out at sex," Jackson admitted. "But you can't really start having sex with your best friend without some intense feelings happening pretty quickly. I never told her until today, but I fell in love with her back then."

Alex nodded quietly and considered what Jackson told him. Then he offered, "Yeah, I know I love to make fun of her, but I get it, man. I've been around the two of you enough to get how you fit together. It's like her crazy matches your calm."

"Yeah," Jackson smiled. "It does."

"So what are you going to do now?" Alex asked.

Jackson wrinkled his brow as he admitted, "I don't really know. I just burned my world to the ground so I guess I'll just go from there." As he saw the confused look on Alex's face, he added, "Sorry, just something Sloan said to me once upon a time."

"Got it," Alex said as he finished off the last of his beer. He stood up to go, but not before asking Jackson if there was anything else he could do.

"No man, I'm okay. I just need to sit here for a little while longer," Jackson replied.

Then Alex did something he rarely did and gave his friend a quick hug before walking out the door.

Jackson was once again alone with his thoughts. And his thoughts were definitely not a good companion in this moment. He just kept asking himself why did he have to do it? The look of anger on April's face… the look of pain on Stephanie's face… the look of embarrassment he knew was on his own face when April ran after Matthew. Those images kept swirling through his mind on an endless loop. No wonder he hadn't said something before. He knew that if he had taken even ten seconds to think about it, he would've realized this would be the outcome. He should've never stood up. He should've just nodded along and promised "we will" like everybody else there. Damn that preacher and his damn question.

Jackson had been freaking out little by little all day long. First when he remembered Mark's words. And then when he listened to his patient's confession. And again when he saw the butterflies. But despite the little moments, he had managed to hold it together. But then something happened when April had turned to smile at him as the preacher asked him to promise to support her marriage. And in that moment, he couldn't get the words out. He just simply couldn't agree. And then it was like somebody else took over his body - probably the ghost of Mark Sloan. Jackson couldn't help but give a little laugh at that image.

But suddenly Jackson's laugh was interrupted by an accusing voice behind him. "Well, I'm glad you find the whole thing amusing."

He didn't even have to turn around to know that April was standing at the back of the barn, with her arms folded across her chest and anger flashing in her eyes.