Month Two
"They loved you." April grinned, linking hands with her husband as they left the restaurant.
Her husband rolled his eyes, squeezing their fingers tightly. "I wouldn't go as far as to say 'loved' April." He replied, sighing heavily as the events of the evening rolled continually through his mind. How could April think that any of that, was a sign that her parents adored him. It seemed their perception of the talented, tall, dark and handsome surgeon that had previously met, was much different now he happened to be their daughter's husband.
"It was just take them time to get used to the whole, us being married thing. They don't like you any less than before, when we were just friends." April tried to reassure him.
It was growing darker now. The sun had settled beneath the cover of clouds lacing the skyline of the city. All that remained was a strong of orange, glowing warmly across the street and road that stretched before them. It was certainly a beautiful evening for a walk and was almost certainly helping to ease the tension in every inch of Jackson's being.
Tonight had consisted of terror, interrogation and a large amount of awkward silence. April's father and mother had been present, alongside her sisters, their husbands and children, including Kimmie's recent addition to the family, Miley. Knowing her entire family had made the intentional trip across the country, just to spend time with April and her new husband, had filled him with utter dread. In fact, he hadn't been particularly filled with joy right from the moment April had announced the impending visit of her parents a few weeks previous. It didn't matter that April had been honest with, told them every detail of what had happened when they had raced from the ceremony because he knew, to them, he was always going to be the man who crashed their daughter's wedding. No cosy family meals, or Thanksgivings in Ohio were going to erase that fact. It wasn't even going to be enough that he had married April, despite all reason and sense. Maybe even the unwavering, powerful love he felt for their daughter was simply going to fall on deaf ears.
It took an entire five minutes during their meeting that evening, to establish that all he thought, was in fact true.
"Why don't you think it went well?" April asked, confused by Jackson's mood on their departure.
"I…" He started, stuttering a little on his words. Where to begin?
April cocked her left eyebrow, awaiting an answer with an almost teasing curve in her lips. Jackson knew his wife well enough, to know she was going to mock him and continue her questioning, if he was unable to provide an answer to her question.
Swallowing hard, he started up again. "For starters, Miley spit up on my shirt. I'm a doctor, and the first thing I did, was pass her to you."
April spluttered laughter at his words. "And you think they hate you based on that?"
"Not just that, April. I-"
"Jackson, Miley's barely three months old. If you'd failed to notice, babies do tend to spit up without warning. Hazard of the job." She teased, directing them from the bustling streets towards the greenery of the local park that had caught her attention.
"I know… but it wasn't just that. They were… off with me. Normally your mum doesn't stop talking to me, asking me questions. Tonight, it was like she was just talking to me to be polite." He continued, trying to explain the 'off' feeling he had received from their interactions with Karen and Joe Kepner.
"Jackson," April sighed, suddenly pausing their movements and breaking free from her husband's grip. "Am I going to have to hear about this for the entire walk home?"
"I-" He started but stopped at the sudden sight of his wife, stood before him one hand on hip, glaring with the type of eyes she only used to get what she wanted.
"Am I?"
Too afraid to fire her up any further, Jackson sighed and shook his head, which only caused his wife to giggle in response before reaching out to re-take his hand. Smiling to himself, well aware he had allowed his wife to win once more, he squeezed tightly to her fingers and recommenced their footsteps through the twilight.
It was only at this point, that their surroundings came to his attention. April must have stolen them from the bustle of the city, in favour of the quietness of the green that surrounded them. It was certainly a much more wonderful place to pass the time as they walked towards their apartment as few blocks from the hospital. He mused over just how much he seemed to allow his new wife to make the decisions, and to gain her own way when she was unhappy with the current situation.
"Jackson?"
The sudden sound of her voice snapped him from his thoughts and he turned to her, smiling softly as her beauty caused his heart to skip a beat.
"April?" He shot back, causing a smile to slip into her lips in response.
"You think Miley's cute right?"
He laughed softly, the stain on his shirt from the small child's spit up still evident from the corner of his eye. "Yes… despite the little mishap."
"Do you think our babies would be cute?"
April thought the question might surprise him, cause him to stumble on his words. Yet his serene, soft smile remained as he pursed his lips to speak.
"Not that I'm pregnant or anything." She quickly added. It was easier to clear up that confusion from the off, considering the previous situation that had imploded from her suspicions she may have been carrying his child.
"No… I was just going to say, yes. Yes I think they will be cute."
April seemed surprised at his statement but continued to smile all the same. "They will? You mean, we're going to have children… one day?"
Jackson stopped their movements for the second time that hour, releasing her hand before quickly replacing both of his hands on each of her hip bones, bringing her close to his chest.
The sudden closeness with was a surprise but it was welcoming to April. She wasn't sure she was ever going to tire of his warmth against her skin, or the lingering smell of his cologne. Tilting her head upwards, she caught his gaze and lingered for a moment, drinking in the strength of his bright blue eyes. He continued to smile down at her, in awe of just how wonderful she was.
"I can't wait to start a family with you, Mrs Avery." He murmured after a few moments of comfortable silence.
The meaning of his words were like a melody to his wife's ears. For most of her life, marrying a wonderful man and starting a family had been the one thing she had dreamt of, besides becoming a kick ass surgeon of course. Now it was here, and she was immersed in the moment, it was almost too impossible to believe. Especially considering that wonderful man, had been just her best friend, two years previous to this exact moment. April could simply not understand what she had done in her life, to deserve to love of such an exceptional man, who loved her back in equal proportions. It was tonight, she realised for the first time, marriage to Matthew could not have been in any way, like the marriage she shared with Jackson.
"Why did you ask? Did you not think I want what you want?" He asked her. He was unsure of why she would feel that he would not want to have a child with her. What better woman to be the mother of his children?
April bit her lip with caution, chewing on the reason before she finally plucked up the courage to explain her uncertainty.
"After what happened with you mom, and the whole pre-nupt argument… she has all these plans for the children that we're going to have and… and I was scared it had put you off, in some way."
Quickly, Jackson shook his head and instantly drew her closer to him. Their lips were almost touching, and she could feel his warm breath on her lips. "We are going to have hundreds of wonderful babies, April. Each one happy, healthy and raised in the way we decide, not in the way my mother does. Just in our own time, ok?"
April nodded, her lips widening further before she spoke. "I could wait ten years, Jackson Avery. Just the promise that we'll have each other, and one day a baby to complete us… that's enough for me." Every last word expressed with the greatest endearment and tenderness.