April only had one more week until she had to take her boards again. She was studying everyday, but thoughts of Jackson filled her head every now and then. Somehow April managed to stay focused. She had been walking on eggshells around Jackson and Stephanie since the chiefs weddings. April had been in her office studying in-between patients and hardly had time for anything. Her last patients tumor had eroded and she just wanted to be away from it all. Her office was her safe place. As she was looking through her books, Jackson walked in.
"So you're taking your boards in a week huh?" Jackson asked.
"Yea I mean I feel prepared, but I thought I was prepared last time and well.." She stopped.
"Well I can help you study, if it's what you want." He offered.
"What happened to us staying away from each other? I uh, I can do this on my own. You should probably get back to your girlfriend." She responded.
"Okay let me be a little more precise - I want to help. I mean it was kind of my fault you failed in the first place." He sighed.
"I know I said that and I believed that for a really long time but I just needed someone to blame. It wasn't your fault, and I'm sorry. So you're free to go." April responded avoiding eye contact.
"April I want to help." He argued
"Jackson it's okay, I mean-" April argued back.
"You're still my best friend." Jackson interrupted. April smiled softly at him. He sat next to her and together they filled out index cards so she could study. This was nice, April thought. For things to be like they used to be for once, but they weren't. Because every time she looked at him all she could think about was how much she wanted to kiss him. After a while, Jackson's pager went off and he ran out the room.
"I have to go." He shouted as he ran into his patients room.
April stood in her office studying. Many of the attendings passed by and offered her help. Callie passed by, as did Meredith while they taught her the "Callie method." Even Cristina and Alex passed by and helped her study. Alex wasn't the type to help, but he remembered when he failed his test and everyone helped him study regardless of the circumstances.
The week flew by and before she knew it, April had to leave to the hotel it all started at. Her nerves were eating at her. She had the day off from work and spent the whole morning studying. She had Callie drive her to the airport and she was waiting on her flight to leave. As April was sitting and waiting, she saw a familiar face at the airport. It was Owen.
"Kepner." He yelled as he walked towards her.
"Hunt what are you doing here?" she asked the chief.
"I know I've been a lousy mentor and I won't use being the chief as an excuse. But I believe in you, and I know you're going to do great. I just wanted to wish you well. Remember you're a soldier." He told her.
"Thank you . If it wasn't because of you, I wouldn't have came back to retake the boards. I won't let you down." She smiled. He waited with her until it was time for her to board her plane.
"Get lots of rest, you're going to do fine." He said as he patted her back and walked away. April got on her plane and couldn't believe she was on her way to take her boards again. Her phone rang - it was Jackson.
"Hello." She answered surprised that he called.
"Good luck April. You're a great surgeon and you're going to kick this tests ass." He told her.
"Thank you." She said as she smiled and hung up. She was already feeling a big more confident.
Back at the hospital, Jackson had a breast augmentation he was prepping for. It hadn't even been a full day with her gone, but he missed April. Although they didn't talk much anymore, it was nice to have her around. He could never keep his eyes off of her when she was around. Jackson was about to prep his patient for surgery when he bumped into his mom.
"Baby you know that when I meddle it's because I care about you." She said. Jackson was already annoyed.
"Richard told me- she began until she saw the look on his face. "Oh come on, we're married. Of course he was going to tell me. Honey you and April?" Catherine asked him.
"Mom I don't want to talk about it and I have a surgery." He said as he walked away.
"Jackson." She said as she walked towards him. " I never really thought of you and April as a couple, but if what Richard told me is true then you need to tell her honey. I like April. I also like Stephanie. But what I really want is for you to be happy baby. What made you go for plastics even though I think it's an easy way out?" She asked him. Jackson ignored her question so she responded for him.
"You followed your heart." She said. "You need to do the same thing right now." She told him as she kissed his forehead. This was one of the few conversations with his mom that didn't mother him as much because he knew she meant well. Jackson stood there pondering as his mom left when Stephanie walked up to him.
"Movie at my place tonight?" She asked him.
"Um.. Yea, sure." He said still thinking about what his mom said. She gave him a kiss and walked off.