Hello Everyone,

I am truly sorry for the long hiatus I've taken between chapters. For those of you who have remained patient with me and have continued to follow this story I really appreciate your support and reviews. I hope you enjoy!

-sdwash27

Chapter 12

"Who is this guy?" Jackson intervened glaring at the other man in the room.

It didn't take long to conclude that there was something going on between the two of them. He could sense the tension between his fiancé and her unidentified guest the moment he entered her apartment. He let his eyes wander back to the love seat that appeared out-of-place. The pillows were not neatly arranged as they should have been and a few had even taken to the floor peeking out from underneath the couch. This was not typical of April; she was OCD when it came to tidiness in the home. Something was very wrong here and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had walked in on that very something.

He watched April as she quietly fumbled with the sleeves of her sweater top. She was nervous, he noticed as she shifted her gaze the moment she felt his eyes on her. He directed his attention to the gentlemen who was standing protectively behind April as if Jackson had been the intruder. He was dressed very casually wearing a pair of khaki board shorts , a forest green t-shirt stamped with the words "Virgin Mary" in bold black letters, and his hair was messily hidden under a Seattle Seahawks cap. Jackson was not that impressed deciding that the taller less attractive male was no comparison to his obvious charms.

"April aren't you going to introduce me to your guest?" Jackson asked this time more tactful of his words. He had grown a little frustrated with the lack of explanation he so rightfully deserved.

"I'm sorry," she offered tenderly hoping Jackson would not notice how absolutely frightened she was.

She faced Matthew who had stood so close to her that she collided right into his chest. Matthew out of care and habit gently grabbed her shoulder where she had carelessly strained the ligament. This did not go unnoticed. Jackson angrily watched the exchange waiting to be acknowledged.

"Are you alright?" Matthew asked while gawking at the beauty that was his fiancé. He genuinely cared for her in a way that he had never cared for another woman. He only hoped she knew just how much he loved her.

"I'm fine, "she said feeling dazed from the reflection in Matthew's chocolate eyes. She turned to Jackson who looked deterred by the closeness between the two of them. He was leaning back against the bar with his hands folded in one another and he was not smiling.

"Jackson this is Matthew," she said finally peering at both men as they acknowledged each other's presence with a silent nod. Matthew took a few steps backwards allowing April to maneuver herself around him so that she could pick up the couch pillows that had fallen to the floor. She neatly arranged the pillows on her sofa as they had belonged and slowly made her way over to the front door.

"Matthew why don't I walk you out," April offered after opening the front door. Jackson observed as Matthew reluctantly followed behind her looking back to make eye contact with him. He gave him a dark glare although fleeting before exiting the apartment.

"What the hell was that about?" Jackson said aloud after the pair had already left the apartment.

"I'm sorry Matt; I had no idea Jackson had been released or that he would just show up at my apartment unannounced," April explained after she had reached the parking garage and was sure their conversation would go unheard.

She couldn't believe the utter mess she had gotten herself into by agreeing to this charade. She was screwing with two innocent men's lives, their hearts, and hers too and for what reason? So that Jackson could regain his true memories on his terms, Derrick Sheppard that was a load of crap and you know it her thoughts cried out in frustration.

"April do you remember where we were earlier, before Jackson interrupted us?

"Yeah we were fooling around and then we weren't," she said unable to dismiss the disappointment in her voice.

She had wanted it to go a lot further even though she knew it would have been a mistake and Jesus would have never forgiven her for devirginizing one of the purest of them all. Still she couldn't help herself from wanting him, she was full of pinned up frustration and desire and she was in dire need of a release.

"Yeah I'm sorry about that," Matthew said once more truly ashamed of himself for allowing things to get out of hand with her.

He didn't want to mislead her in any way; he just couldn't go through with it. It wasn't that he was afraid or that he didn't want her. He did want her; so bad that it hurt, but he didn't have it in him to break his commitment of abstinence or hers either.

"April tonight I made a decision to move forward, to not look to the past for reasons not to pursue the very thing I want most in life," he continued taking hold of her petite hand and interlocking their fingers together.

She couldn't help herself from losing her footing and falling directly into his arms. She took a slow breath as she enveloped his scent. He smelled as he always did, warm but masculine with a hint of spice. She dared to look into his eyes. Watching. Waiting. Waiting for them to speak to her and tell her what was on his mind. He placed his hands on her shoulders for a short while his eyes never leaving hers and then his fingers outlined the nape of her neck where the chain of her necklace could be seen. He tugged on it pulling it up to reveal the engagement ring he had given her. He smiled at her, at the ring, admiring how it glistened in the palm of his hand. He didn't know how he knew she would be wearing it, but he knew just like he knew he would never give up on her.

"Matthew," she said softly still trying to catch her breath.

He reached behind her neck and unfastened the chain and the diamond ring dropped right into his hand. He grabbed her hand gently and placed the ring on her ring finger without a word. For a moment April felt almost as if she had finally found her peace, reveling in the promise of love and a future with the sweetest man she had ever known. She imagined they'd have three kids, two boys and one girl, each of them brown-haired and brown-eyed like their parents and just maybe one of them would inherit a single dimple just as their mom had. They'd raise at least two dogs, a golden retriever or a lab would work and they'd live just outside of Seattle's city limits where they could raise their little family in a quiet welcoming suburban neighborhood. All of it seemed perfect and it was all within her grasp, but she knew she couldn't very well shout out to the world that her wedding to Matthew was back on, not until Jackson regained his memories or she finally broke down and told him the truth herself.

"Matthew I don't know what to say," April chirped her voice sounding like a high-pitched squeal.

"You don't have to say anything. All I'm asking you to do is wear the ring."

"And what about Jackson?" she questioned. "How do you think he's going to react when he gets a look at this ring?"

"Who cares about Jackson? You want to marry me right?"

"Of course I do, but I made a promise to Derrick to follow through with this. Jackson needs me and I really don't want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship."

Matthew removed his cap from his head and combed his fingers through his thick mane letting out a deep sigh. He was definitely growing more and more frustrated as the conversation continued to focus on a certain plastic surgeon. This whole make believe thing was really starting to piss him off and it didn't help that April was so blinded by her feelings for the guy that she couldn't see straight.

"April this is ridiculous. Why should we have to put our lives on hold to placate some Dr.'s theory. If you ask me it is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. We should just tell the guy the truth? Don't you think it's going to hurt him more once he regains his memories and realizes that everyone has been lying to him?"

"Derrick is a wonderful neurosurgeon, one of the best. Why would I not trust his judgment?" she refuted taking a step away from her fiancé. She was so freaking sick of arguing about this and as much as she wanted to marry him and she would, she could never back out of something she agreed to do.

"Is that the only thing you heard? April you really need to think clearly about this before you wound up hurting your friend much deeper. You need to tell him the truth, in fact let's tell him together RIGHT NOW," he reasoned heading towards the stairwell.

April stalked behind him catching him before he reached the stairwell leading out of the parking garage and back into the building. She could not let him tell Jackson the truth, not while he was so angry. If he had to be told then she had to be the one to do it. She tugged on his shirt sleeve in hopes that he would stop and listen to her. He did turning around to face her petite frame.

"April he needs to know the truth or so help me GOD I don't think I can continue dating you," Matthew indignantly stated meaning every last word.

April felt her lungs caving in and her need to breathe quickly became non-existent. His words pierced through her heart like the blade of a Knight and she felt herself slowly losing it. She could never forgive herself if she lost either of the two men, because they were two of the most important guys in her life.

"Don't say that," she said after the air had returned to her lungs and she was able to breathe again.

"What else am I supposed to do? You haven't given me much choice in the matter and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of this thing he has over you and I refuse to fall second to another man. So what are you going to do April?"

Matthew gazed heavily into her eyes as he awaited her answer. He loved this woman so much and he was fully committed to spending the rest of his life with her, but he would not sit still like a pawn waiting for her to make a choice between him and the surgeon. He had finally had enough.

"You're right. He should know the truth," she said uncertainly fighting off the tears that were settling in the corners of her eyelids.

Matthew's demeanor softened just enough to wrap his arms around her and pull her into a suffocating embrace. He found himself twisting her red locks between his fingers as he held her in place. He could feel her emotion pouring into him as she let out a soft whimper. It was obvious this was becoming unbearable for her and he hated himself just a pinch for pushing her but he would never admit it to anyone.

"What do you need?" he asked ready to give her the world if she had asked for it.

"I need to be alone," she revealed through swollen eyes and a cracked voice. "Can I call you tomorrow?"

"Of course you can, but what about Jackson?"

"Jackson will know the truth and that's all you need to worry about," she said through clinched teeth.

Matthew kissed the top of her forehead and looked at her once more.

"I'm sorry I pushed you," he offered. "But it needed to be done."

"Its fine," she responded wiping the corners of her eyes with her sleeve. "Goodnight," she called to him before stepping into the stairwell that would lead to her apartment. She didn't even have the energy to watch him drive off instead she tackled the stairs with thoughts of Jackson and how hurt he'd be once she told him the truth.

April entered her apartment to find Jackson standing over the bar which held a bottle of Pinot and two wine glasses on its surface. The lights had been dimmed and she could hear the smooth sounds of Sade playing subtly throughout the apartment. Jackson had even changed his attire settling into a lilac dress shirt and a pair of charcoal gray slacks. He had left the collar of his shirt unbuttoned so that it revealed just a peek of caramel which made April shiver as she took in the sight of him. It amazed her that he could look this good after being involved in such a horrific accident just a few weeks before, but she remembered it was Jackson and nothing could ever break this man.

Jackson heard the creak of the door open as someone entered the apartment. He looked up to meet April's gaze and was appalled to see that she had been crying. She was upset and that was the last thing he wanted her to be. He naturally walked over to her feeling the burn in his leg as he sealed the opening between them. Although he was virtually fine, he still felt the effects of the accident.

"Are you alright," he asked peering down at her fragile frame.

"I'm fine," she answered back trying to form a smile but her smile had looked more to Jackson like someone who had just eaten a lemon. Sour.

"Jackson what is all this?" she asked.

He smiled warmly at her before providing an answer. He could admit that he had been upset when he had stumbled upon another man in his fiancé's apartment but after getting a good look at the guy he decided that there was no way that his relationship to April was anything other than platonic. Call him arrogant but Jackson didn't see a reason to doubt his fiancé's fidelity.

"This is a celebration," he playfully stated taking hold of her hand and twirling her around the apartment in an intimate slow dance.

"What are we celebrating?"

"Life, us, new beginnings," he revealed letting his hands position themselves at her waist as they continued to dance.

He was pleased to see a soft smile appear on the red head's face meeting her smile with one of his own. This was absolute bliss he thought to himself taking note of how beautiful his girl was swollen eyes and all. He would have to ask her what was bothering her, but now was not the time. All he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and enjoy the intimacy between the two of them.

"I have a surprise for you," he announced putting an end to their dance as he gestured for her to follow him to the bar.

"Jackson I don't like surprises," April whined feeling exasperated after the night she'd had.

She reluctantly took her seat at the bar awaiting whatever it was that Jackson had in store for her. She had every intention of telling him the truth as she had promised Matthew, but he was making it rather difficult for her to stick to the plan. She watched as he filled both wine glasses mid-way before handing her a glass.

"To Us, To Love, and to spending the rest of our lives together," he expressed passionately making an effort to look into her eyes as if she was the only woman for him.

He took a sip of wine relishing the sweet but bitter taste of the beverage as it sizzled down the back of his throat. He looked at April who hadn't taken a single sip. She was really being a downer which had made all that he had done seem like a big waste of time. He finished off his glass in one large gulp and placed the slender glass on the counter top. He was tempted not to let April's untouched glass go to waste, but decided she'd drink it when she was ready to.

"So are you ready to tell me what's bothering you?" he asked.

April sat her glass next to his on the counter and gave him a long hard stare. Was this really the right thing to do she questioned. Yes he did deserve to know the truth but wouldn't it be better for him to learn them on his own terms. He hadn't once asked about his life before the accident. He had to know that he had suffered a huge loss of time. She wouldn't tell him, at least not tonight she decided.

"I'm fine Jackson; I've just had a crazy and enduring night," she said agreeing that what she said had been true.

"I know you April and you don't just cry for no apparent reason. Was this about that Matthew guy? What did he do to you?"

"Matthew didn't do anything. I'm just a little emotional these days," she lied through her teeth hoping that he would accept her answer and leave it alone.

Jackson furrowed an eyebrow not sure if he did in fact believe her response. He was a little curious about the dork that had just left her apartment. He had given him the strangest look as he was leaving and it almost seemed territorial.

"So you never told me what he was doing in your apartment."

"We were talking, that's all. He's a friend that I met in an abstinence support group at my church," she fibbed again feeling a pinch in her chest every time she told Jackson another lie.

"I see," he said.

"Jackson it's really late, why don't we call it a night?" she asked almost pleadingly.

She did not want to discuss Matthew, his accident, or anything that would lead to her telling Jackson the truth. She just wasn't ready to crush his heart, not tonight after he had made such a sweet gesture.

"And what about my surprise," he asked using his gentleman charms and the appeal of his soft blue eyes on her.

"Jackson," she purred finding it hard to say no to him. "You have one minute."

"A minute is all I need," he said reaching into his back pocket to retrieve a little black box.

He walked over to her and kneeled on one knee. He was very inexperienced when it came to this sort of thing, but Jackson did not feel intimidated. He felt encouraged as he locked the image of her face in his mind to remain always.

"I know the first time I asked you this, you had a pregnancy scare and I wanted to do the right thing," he went on to say.

"Jackson Get up," April said to him aware that he was going to give her a proper proposal. "You don't need to do this; we're already engaged remember?"

"April Let me finish please," he asked of her.

"Jackson Don't be ridiculous," she began again tugging at the sleeves of his dress shirt.

"Damn it. I got you a ring this time," he spat opening the box to reveal a large diamond princess cut ring lined in white gold.

"Jackson this is too much. You did not have to do this"

As he carefully placed the ring on her finger he was bombarded with a number of images that sent him spiraling to the floor. April went to him immediately frantic that something was wrong.

"Jackson are you ok?" she asked holding his dazed face in her hands.

"You never said yes"

"Jackson what are you talking about? You fell; are you sure you're ok?" she asked again the doctor in her feeling the need to examine him.

"You never wanted to marry me, he continued on. You didn't say yes then and you're never going to say yes now," he continued on remembering the relief April had felt when she had found out she was not pregnant. She had immediately dismissed the idea of marriage without ever considering how Jackson must have felt.

He recounted an image of April standing in the hall of the hospital. She was crying and chasing after him. She'd said he was her person and he'd shunned her and walked away from her.

"Not anymore," he mumbled aloud recounting the words he had said to her. They were not together. They had not been together for some time and by the looks of things they weren't even friends. So what was he doing here and why was she misleading him?

"What?" April asked baffled by Jackson's confused state. Was he remembering?

She locked her arms underneath his armpits so that she could help him up from the floor and lifted him up and on to the couch.

"Do you need some water? Let me get you some water," she decided disappearing into the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of water she had retrieved from her fridge and handed it to Jackson.

"Drink," she said simply observing him closely.

He took a sip of water but not without any lip. He was confused, tired, and weak and the hardest thing for him was that April, the woman he loved, was lying to him.

"Why have you been lying to me?" he asked after finishing the entire bottle of water. He must have also been dehydrated and he was starting to think maybe he was released from the hospital prematurely.

"Jackson you just need to rest," she said averting the question all together.

She was worried about him yes, but most importantly she was not ready to tell him the truth. She knew that by telling him everything it would only make things worse for him and her.

"April you are hiding something. I know you are. So just tell me the truth. We were never engaged, were we?" he demanded finding the energy to pull himself up from the couch.

"Jackson, where is this coming from?"

"I remember," he said to her vaguely. "I remember everything."