I am so sorry guys that I'm updating so late; I've had one hec of a week and I just hadn't had the time to devote myself to this chapter. I hope that you enjoy and again thanks for all the reviews and follows. R/R

April awoke to the sound of her cellphone vibrating on her bedside dresser. She couldn't remember why she had chosen such an annoying ring tone, but at the time it had seemed like the better choice considering its alternative. She reached over to grab her cellphone- her face still buried deep in her pillow. She peeked at its screen with one eye open, thankful that it had only been her alarm and not someone calling her, and hit the snooze button. She was still so exhausted and since the hospital was only just a few blocks away she thought it'd be nice to sleep a few extra minutes.

She rolled over towards the other side of her queen sized mattress-hoping to spread out a little further so that her legs could get comfortable, but was forcefully stopped by the warm body that held its place. She felt around for further confirmation that there was actually someone else sharing her bed- her eyes still closed as she appreciated the hardness of her companion's biceps. She smiled softly admiring just how fit her mystery man had been, deciding that she had to have been dreaming. To justify her thoughts she pinched his side hoping that this time she would only feel the sleekness of her satin sheets.

"Ouch, What the hell," a familiar voice called out to her. April sat up straight in bed- her eyes wide open as she scowled at the man lying beside her.

"Jackson?" she questioned taking note of her shirtless best friend smiling back at her. This was definitely not a dream she concluded, looking down at her own body wrapped delicately in her sheets. She wasn't naked, thank goodness. She was wearing Jackson's dress shirt and the blue cotton socks she had worn the night before.

"Good Morning," he said while turning over to face a disheveled April. He had forgotten how adorably sexy she looked in the mornings; he couldn't control the need to kiss her lips as she gazed innocently into his eyes.

"No. No. No. No. No.," April shrieked slapping a confused Jackson on the arm and jumping out of the bed to put some distance between them. Jackson followed her wearing only but an exclusive pair of Calvin Klein's boxer briefs.

"April calm down. What's your problem?"

"Isn't it obvious," she asked pointing a finger at an undressed Jackson. She stalked around the room in search of her belongings finding a t-shirt wedged in between her mattress.

"April I really don't know what you're talking about." She began to unbutton Jackson's dress shirt, feeling his eyes on her as she revealed a glimpse of her emerald satin bra strap. She was right; Jackson could hardly take his eyes off of her let alone control what was happening to him downstairs. She was on the third button when she realized her bra strap was showing.

"Turn around," she commanded as she placed her hand on his shoulder and spun him around so that his back was opposite her. Jackson stood idly in place as he had been told to, although he found April's desire not to dress in front of him a moot point. It's not like he had never seen her before; he could remember a time when he had been privileged enough to explore every crescent of her body and he could remember her enjoying every second of it.

"April don't you think this is a little ridiculous," he snickered turning around to face her. She had managed to slip on one of her old Ohio State t-shirts from when she attended college there and a pair of old navy sweat pants she had grabbed from her dresser drawer.

"Of course it's ridiculous Jackson, haven't you learned by now that I am a very complicated woman?" She grabbed his shirt from the corner of her bed and shoved it in his arms. "Here, go get dressed."

Jackson obliged stepping into her bathroom to dress himself. He couldn't believe he had let time get beside him last night. It had not been his intention to stay the night with April especially since he knew Stephanie had been waiting for him back at his apartment. He had just been having so much fun with April last night at Joe's that he couldn't bring himself to say no when she asked him to come back to her apartment with her. He pulled out his cellphone from his jean pocket and checked his messages. He had six missed calls, five of them belonging to his hot headed girlfriend and the other had been from Karev.

He and Alex had kind of a peculiar friendship; they had only grown closer after the shooting- after he had lost Charles to that maniac gunman. Before they had literally despised each other; Karev had never seemed to like Jackson's appeal with the ladies. He felt as though he was competing for every girl's attention when Jackson was around. Jackson had even had to beat him up once after he tried to take advantage of April. They weren't all that close then, but somehow he felt the need to protect her from their douche of a colleague.

He dialed Alex Karev's number hoping his friend could shine some light on his day. He needed to hear good news because he knew once he stepped out of the bathroom to face April the outcome would not be nice. After three rings the Ped's surgeon answered the phone, letting out a long yawn before saying hello.

"Hey man, you called?" He could hear Alex fumbling with the phone as he got out of bed.

"Yeah, Dude. Things got a little crazy last night?" Jackson furrowed his eyebrow curious as to what his friend was talking about.

"What do you mean got a little crazy? Did something happen at the hospital last night?"

"No Dude. The hospital is the least of your worries; Stephanie showed up last night looking for you." Jackson felt his stomach turning in knots; he knew he would be treading on thin ice with his new girlfriend after standing her up so that he could spend the night with April. "Yeah I'm just glad Jo was there to listen to all her crap. She was crying and carrying on about some big mistake and how she didn't know how she was going to tell you."

"Tell me what, man."

"Dude I don't know, but it sounded kinda serious. Jo wouldn't even spill when I asked her what was going on." Jackson had no clue what Stephanie could have been talking to Jo about, but he knew he was going to have to get to the bottom of it.

"Thanks man. I should probably call her and see what's going on. I'll see you at the hospital." Jackson hung up the receiver after sharing a quick goodbye with Alex and stepped out into April's bedroom.

She was sitting on the bed twisting her engagement ring on her finger obviously in deep thought over something. She had pulled her long locks up in a tight ponytail leaving her bang out so that it swept over her right eye, Jackson noticed. He walked around the bed and placed his cell phone on the bedside dresser before sitting down next to her. He looked at her closely; her eye lids had begun to swell and her cheeks had turned a bright red. It was pretty obvious to him that she had been crying.

"Are you alright," he asked covering her hand with his own. He could feel her engagement ring pressed against his index finger as he held her hand. She looked up at him, finally, after spending several minutes in silence.

"Jackson, did we sleep together last night?"

The Night Before

"Do you remember that time you punched Karev? That was the most awe-some-ness thing anyone had ever done for me," April confessed her speech a little slurred after consuming three pink panthers and a shot of Jackson's scotch. Jackson smiled at her; it was astounding just how fast she had gone down when he had managed to stay above shaky ground.

"I remember, but from what I can tell Karev was asking for it." April let out a soft giggle while giving him a pat on the back. "You probably could of handled him ok yourself; that guy in San Francisco can attest to that."

"Yeah with a few drinks in my system I'm a force to be reckoned with," she agreed remembering that incident in San Francisco. That guy had been a complete jerk-insinuating that she had been offered a fellowship because she had slept with one of the examiners on the board. Jackson had been about to knock his lights out after overhearing what he had said but April took control of the situation and went ballistic on him.

It had actually been a turn on for Jackson although he refused to admit it. They had slept together that night; it had been all April's idea and even though he knew she was a virgin and that she would probably regret sleeping with him, he couldn't resist being with her. She was incredibly beautiful and after being intimate with her it was obvious that he had already begun developing feelings for his quirky narcotic best friend.

"That night changed everything for me," he confessed taking on a more serious tone as he lost himself in her eyes. She bashfully shied away from him taking that moment to take another sip of her beverage.

"Yeah those boards were a pain in the ass but you certainly made an impression. I on the other hand totally screwed things up."

"April I wasn't talking about the boards', I think you know that." He turned to face her admiring the subtle look of comfort in her eyes. "And you didn't screw anything up, you had a minor setback but this time you're going to blow those examiners away," he said reassuringly while placing his arm around her shoulders to bring her in for a tight squeeze.

She didn't know what she was thinking being here with Jackson especially since all she'd wanted to do since they arrived at Joe's was take him back to her apartment where they could be alone. She felt like such a horrible person- wanting Jackson. Her fiancé was probably at home waiting for her nightly phone call; she had made it a habit to check in with him whenever she worked late and to remind him just how much she loved him. She felt disgusted with herself as she snuggled deeper into Jackson's chest- listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat.

"Thank you," she breathed. "It means a lot to me that I have your support." Jackson looked down at her unable to resist the urge to gently stroke his hand against her flushed cheekbone.

"Always and forever," he simply replied- his heart swelling at the conviction of his words. He knew that no matter what he would always be there for her; he only hoped that she had faith in his words.

Jackson could hear Katy Perry roaring in the background over the loud speakers and he just knew April was going to go wild once she recognized that one of her favorite songs was now playing. It didn't take long before the Trauma surgeon was out of his arms and on top of the bar crooning the words to "Last Friday Night" as she danced drunkenly for the crowd of howling men who had formed a small circle around Jackson.

He watched her- tuning out the screams from the other onlookers standing behind him; it was as if she had only been dancing for him. She playfully pranced around the countertop knocking over empty beer bottles with the sole of her shoe before lying down in front of Jackson, who at this point found it difficult to comply with her desire to just be friends. She leaned towards him-grabbing his shirt collar with her teeth and pulled him towards her. She could feel the sexual tension building between them as she gazed seductively into his eyes. She released him and jumped down from the counter to face her audience who were already whistling and applauding her for her sexy musical number. She felt a sudden rush of adrenaline as she took her bow and sat down next to Jackson.

"Wow! That was pretty damn impressive Dr. Kepner." Jackson offered unable to take his eyes off of her. He had seen so much of the woman he first met when they were back in San Francisco in April tonight. She showed confidence- something that Jackson found to be irresistibly sexy.

"Thank you Jackson, I guess I'm just full of surprises," she said brushing up against his arm with her chest. Was she flirting with him, Jackson thought taking note of her single dimple as she smiled teasingly at him.

"Yes you are, he agreed. Don't I look surprised?" He made his best attempt to appear stunned by her actions- widening his eyes to legitimize his claim.

"Why yes, of course you do," April responded exchanging a smile with him. Jackson glanced at his watch alarmed by how much time had passed; he was supposed to meet up with Stephanie tonight at his apartment. He wrinkled his brow upset that he had stood up his girlfriend yet another night; he didn't know how many times he's had to beg for her forgiveness.

"Hey what's wrong?" April lifted up his chin so that she was staring directly in his eyes.

"Nothing, really, it's just late; I should probably head home."

"Oh, she paused. I understand." Jackson could see the look of disappointment in her eyes and he felt horrible that he had to leave when they were actually having a good time and were finally on speaking terms. "Would you mind giving me a ride back to my apartment, I've been drinking and I don't want to take the risk," she asked hoping that he would agree to her request.

"So have I, you know. Why don't you give Matt a call or I could call you a taxi if you want." Going back to her apartment would be the wrong move for the two of them. He knew if he was alone with her he wouldn't be able to keep his hands or his lips to himself. April frowned at him a little embarrassed that he had turned her down. Why couldn't he see that she wanted him?

"Jackson I asked you, if I wanted to call Matt I would have done so already." She locked her arm in his and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You're taking me home Avery and I'm not going to take no for an answer."

April found herself sitting in the attending's lounge listening to Callie rant about her wife's proposal that they make cuts in Orthopedics in order to support she and Alex's Africa project. If it had been a year earlier she would have found it odd that she and Callie had formed such a budding friendship. Back then Mark had served as the orthopedic surgeon's confidant, and April had been just an annoying resident who had like her snagged the role of Chief Resident.

"She knows how much Ortho means to me. Why would she choose my department; she could of easily chosen something less innovative like plastics." April sat down next to the Latino native who was almost in tears and put her arm around her shoulder.

"Callie it's just a suggestion, right? Arizona doesn't make all of the decisions for the board, there must be some type of vote," April explained rubbing tiny circles in her friends back. Callie looked up at her with swollen eyes unable to fight back her tears.

"Yeah but you don't know my wife. Arizona is perky and witty and she has this way of getting exactly what she wants. I might as well kiss my department goodbye and find a new calling. What do you think about Trauma?" As much as she cared for her friend she didn't want her anywhere near her department. Trauma was her baby and she had no intentions in sharing it with anyone other than her mentor Chief Hunt.

"Callie everything's going to be fine, no one's going to cut your budget. Just talk to the other board members; make them see the importance in funding Orthopedics." Callie wrinkled her brow as if she had just put on her thinking cap.

"That's perfect, April. I'll talk to Meredith, and Christina and you can talk to Jackson for me."

"No way am I talking to Jackson Callie. I am not a board member; I can't just go around talking board business," April shrieked getting up from the couch that she and Callie had been sitting on. She hated that she had lost her nerve but after everything that had happened between her and Jackson, she didn't think she should be around him. They had sex, although he couldn't confirm it to be true. He didn't remember much about last night and neither did she; the two had been drinking.

"Why not, are you two still at each other's throats?" she asked giving April a look of discontent. April adjusted her engagement ring; it felt a little loose and was in desperate need of resizing. She'd have to make a point to do so before the wedding.

"Not, exactly."

"So then what's the problem? I really need this favor from you," Callie pleaded hoping April would agree to help her.

"I really don't think it's a good idea, that's all." April darted her eyes towards the floor intentionally avoiding eye contact with her fellow colleague. Callie observed the petite surgeon noticing how uncomfortable she was now that they were on the subject of a certain plastic surgeon.

"Oh my freakin god, you didn't?" Callie asked covering her mouth with her hand.

"What?" April shrugged her shoulders wanting to remain an innocent party in whatever Callie was suggesting she'd done.

"Avery, you two did the nasty, didn't you?" April had been outed and denying her guilt now would only delay the inevitable. Sooner or later someone was going to find out about her indiscretion with Jackson, better it had been Callie and not one of her other peers.

"Yes, she admitted biting her nails. I mean, I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know, either you had sex or you didn't. Wait a minute was he bad or something?"

"Callie, gosh no," she said striking her on the back with her stethoscope. "It's complicated."

"Ouch," the orthopedic surgeon cried after feeling the sting of her fellow surgeon's scorn. "So what's so complicated?"

"We were drinking, and neither of us has any recollection of what actually happened last night, although the evidence insinuates that we slept together. I don't know what I'm going to tell Matt, he's never going to be able to forgive me for this. He barely forgave me for lying to him about my virginity. I'm doomed, Callie what should I do?"

Callie gave her a comforting hug. "You're going to keep your mouth shut; you don't remember what happened so leave it at that."

"But," April began to say but was interrupted by Dr. Robbins as she entered the lounge. Arizona took in the image of her wife caught in a compromising position with Dr. Kepner- her wife's hands placed firmly on her colleague's shoulders.

"Callie what's going on here," she couldn't stop herself from asking. Callie quickly lowered her hands and greeted her wife with a warm smile.

"Nothing we were just talking." She turned to April, "Dr. Kepner remember what I said, stick to it and don't deter from your plan."

"Of course Dr. Torrez, thanks again for the advice. I should be going now." She walked towards the direction of the door stopping in front of Arizona. "Dr. Robbins," she greeted before making her exit leaving the two women alone. Arizona winked at her gorgeous wife relieved that they were now alone.

"I thought she'd never leave," she said while taking the initiative to lock the door.

"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry before you cut me some slack," Jackson yelled closing the blinds to his newly afforded office. Stephanie had been avoiding him all day and he had finally been able to persuade her to talk to him. He wanted to make amends for standing her up last night and she just wasn't being receptive to his apology.

"Jackson how many times do I have to tell you that I'm sorry isn't going to cut it anymore. I am not someone you can call your girlfriend only when its convenient for you. I have feelings just like any other human being."

"Babe it's not like that, I care about you," he confessed grabbing her hand and intertwining it in his.

Stephanie rolled her eyes completely fed up with Jackson's so called proclamations of love and gratitude. She was in love with him and she didn't want to play second to April Kepner. Not Anymore.

"So where were you last night?" Jackson knew that this question was coming and had even prepared for it, but now he seemed at a loss of words.

"I had to work late; you're a doctor and you know as much as I do about the hours we have to uphold here."

"Jackson how stupid do you think I am; the hospital was the first place I went looking for you last night." Stephanie turned her back to him not wanting him to see the tears that had begun to fall and wiped her face with the palm of her hand.

"You were with her," she said in between sobs. Jackson stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I don't know what you're talking about; I wasn't with anyone last night. I worked late so I slept here at the hospital." Stephanie turned around to face him; she wanted him to see the pain he had caused her. He looked at her deeply ashamed that he had hurt her in this way; he needed to make things right.

"Jackson I love you but I can't be with someone who is in love with someone else."

"I'm not in love with anyone Stephanie; you are the only woman I care about." Jackson grazed her lips gently with his own and gazed into her warm chocolate eyes.

"Just tell me the truth, where you with her last night?" Jackson nodded- his eyes dropping their gaze and settling on the floor; he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye after his admission of guilt.

"Did you sleep with her," she bellowed- her heart breaking as she waited for his response.

"No, he said initially before cowering his head in defeat. I don't know."

"You don't know, Jackson we're through, she yelled slapping him on the face and exiting his office. Jackson grabbed the side of his face wanting to go after her but the shame he felt made him feel otherwise. This thing that he had with April was clearly unhealthy for him and it was making his life a living hell. He had to move on or else Stephanie wouldn't be the last woman to walk out on him.

Last Night 1:00am

April struggled to unlock her door fumbling with three sets of keys before she was able to finally open the door. Jackson waited patiently behind her debating whether or not he should say his goodbyes and go back to his car or follow her inside. He watched her as she walked into her apartment leaving the door open as she walked out of view.

"Aren't you coming in," she hollered at him from inside her apartment. Jackson hesitantly entered her apartment and closed the door behind him. He had never been inside of her new place and still it was everything he would of imagined it to be. The space was small, but she definitely made it her own. There were various photos of her family back in Moline hanging on her walls and memorandums from her time at Ohio State. He picked up a frame that held a picture of her siblings. Kimmie and Libby were hand in hand and little April Kepner stood in the center of the two girls barely carrying her baby sister Alice. She was adorable even then as she played the role of the protective older sister.

"What are you doing?" April asked as she entered the living room carrying a glass of wine. Jackson gently put down the photograph and turned around to face his host. She was wearing a smug look on her face as she took a sip of wine.

"I was just looking around. You're place is nice." He glanced at his watch a little afraid to see the time; it was after one in the morning.

"Thank you," she said while taking a seat on her loveseat. Jackson followed her taking his place beside her. He grabbed her glass of wine from her and placed it down on her glass coffee table.

"Do you really think you should be drinking that? You've had way too much to drink as it is."

"So what are you now my babysitter," she retorted- her face forming an unwelcomed frown.

"No, I'm just the man who cares enough about you to see you well than to allow you to be hospitalized for alcohol poisoning because you had way too much to drink," he fought back finishing off her glass of wine- not wanting it to go to waste.

"Fair enough, Jackson can I ask you something?" April knew that she was going to be entering unnamed territory and their conversation could end badly but she didn't care. Jackson nodded waiting for her to continue. "Do you believe in second chances?"

"I do, but not everyone deserves one." April scooted a little closer to him so that there was little to no space between them.

"Do I deserve a second chance Jackson because I can't help but think I've ruined things between us?" Jackson pulled her close to him bringing her head to his chest as he held her firmly in place.

"April you deserve whatever you want," he said gently stroking his fingers through her hair. God he was still so in love with her, he thought as he stared down at the woman in his arms. Even after all of the hurt she caused him, he still found himself wanting to give April her heart's desire.

She looked up at him wanting to look in his eyes as she expressed what was truly on her mind. "What if I want you?" Jackson grabbed her face and kissed her fiercely pulling her on top of him as he picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. He could no longer fight the urges he had been having all evening, and neither could she taking the initiative to unbutton his dress shirt as he laid her back against her mattress. She sat up for a moment lifting her shirt up over her head and letting it fall somewhere on the floor of her bedroom.

"Are we really about to do this," Jackson questioned staring down at her exposed chest. She was wearing an emerald satin bra and it looked perfect against her milky complexion. She smiled at him momentarily before rolling over to puke on the floor. Luckily her clothes had been there to catch the remnants of her food which made for an easy clean up.

"Sorry," she said humiliated that she had thrown up at a time where it was least appropriate. She had been just about to make love to the man of her dreams and it had been a very long time since she had succumbed to her sexual urges.

"It's alright." Jackson got out of bed and balled up her damaged clothing. "Where should I put this?"

"The wash room is down the hall, there should be a dirty hamper at the entrance," she said getting up to walk to the restroom. She was in desperate need of a mouth gargling.

Jackson entered the quaint space she called a wash room and placed her garments in her dirty clothes basket. He took a quick detour stopping at the hall bathroom so that he could wash the filth from his hands, after all he had been handling vomit stained clothing. By the time he returned to her bedroom April had managed to slip on his dress shirt and was fast asleep underneath her satin sheets. She was so damn adorable lying there in a fetal position- he couldn't stop himself from snuggling in beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and positioned himself in a spooning position loving how good it felt to hold her in his arms.

"I love you," he whispered softly before nodding off to sleep, unable to imagine sharing another moment with anyone other than her.

I had a hard time writing this chapter but I hope that it was still somewhat enjoyable. I will try to get the next update in by Friday but please dont hate me if I cant reach the deadline. I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled Friday morning so I might be going on a mini hiatus after my next update. Thanks again for all your support. Until next time...