A/N: The mention of Samuel in JTS triggered me. I'm very afraid of what Shonda has in store - we know happiness is probably not it. In the meantime, have another chapter. :)

"San Francisco? That's an... unexpected choice."

Jackson shrugged. He wasn't surprised by the apprehensiveness in his mother-in-law's voice. When April first brought it up he wasn't too convinced, either. But she eventually won him over. As usual.

"We couldn't choose between city, hiking and the beach, so we decided to just do it all", he said.

The expression on Karen Kepner's face reminded him of April whenever she wasn't convinced. Scarily he'd noticed Samuel's brow starting to furrow in the same fashion a few months ago. Especially when he dressed him. It almost made Jackson re-consider his ability to make good fashion choices for their baby until his wife ever so kindly reminded him that it was probably the trousers, which irritated their son after he'd only been wearing legless onesies before. Which was all his life. In an afterthought she added that babies frequently replicate their parents' expressions without a specific meaning, too. This left Jackson wondering whether Samuel disapproved of the trousers or just liked to be April's little parrot. However, it didn't stop him from buying new baby clothes without her.

"It's only a two hour flight, which we think is a good start. Just to see how he reacts to the experience. Especially since we want to head over to Moline for Thanksgiving", April put in, knowing this was what her mother was actually wondering about. "Sammy absolutely loves his swimming classes, so the beach is mandatory. But in case the weather doesn't play along or something else comes up, there's a lot of things we can do in San Francisco."

Something else obviously referred to their son being in a cast that kept him from swimming. April went on without explaining. Her mother was still very sensitive about it all. She wouldn't want to upset her. Not when she was trying to win her over on the idea. "They've got a lot of great family friendly museums, most of which don't want entrance fee for children Sam's age. There's an aquarium and a zoo..."

"Museums? But he's only turning one tomorrow", Karen reminded her of the occasion that had them all gathered here in the first place.

"We read some really good reviews."

April did. Jackson took care of the hotel and flight in exchange. However, he didn't mind that she made him appear better than he was in front of her parents. Although their elopement was over two years old now, he still felt a bit jumpy around them. "This is a good place for us to go to, as a family."

The emphasis on family did nothing to convince the Kepner matriarch. Karen had three more daughters, all of which had not only involved her in their weddings but also consulted her in their daily life troubles. Compared to Kimmy, who once called to ask how to clean a mirror, or Alice, who once sent an essay length e-mail on the pro and cons of going to Hawaii with a young puppy, April was far too independent in Karen's book.

As a child that had been useful, because she was second born to Libby, queen of teenage disaster, and offered a constant source of no extra trouble and charge free babysitting. As an adult Karen couldn't care less for April to be independent like that. First she went to university, albeit still in Ohio. Then med school, also in Ohio, still. But then she topped it all off by moving to Seattle, which was five hours by plane plus another hour and a half driving from Moline, eloping with an non religious man on her supposed wedding day to a devout Christian, and now planning her vacation without any of Karen's input. For the retired teacher this behavior was close to unacceptable.

"Well, I don't know... don't you think that's too much excitement? What if he hurts himself?"

"No worries. San Francisco's got a great ortho children's clinic. Great reviews", her son-in-law deadpanned.

"Jackson!" April raised an eyebrow at him, and she wasn't the only one. All eyes were on him. For the first time this evening he was glad April and he were sitting opposite of each other. If they were sitting side by side she probably would have pinched his thigh or something.

He took a deep breath. This building headache wasn't doing mission 'survive dinner with the parents' any favors. "What I'm trying to say is we really thought about this. In every way possible." Seeing the unchanged expressions on his parents-in-law's faces, he added: "Besides, like April said, it's a good test run to see how comfortable Sam's with flying without being too much of a stretch. If necessary we could head back to Seattle by car in a day."

"You really did think about this", Richard Webber acknowledged, which reminded Jackson of his presence and only added to his headache.

"April is thorough like that", Jackson praised. When he realized his compliment could easily be taken down the wrong pipe he quickly added: "In the best way possible." And a kiss on the cheek – difficult enough considering he had to get up from his seat for that -, just to be sure.

Blinking and blushing April said: "Oh, it's nothing. Merely a habit that seems to come in handy for like... the first time in my life."

"Nonsense. The way you organized the ER? Genius", Richard added to the praise-fest making April blush even harder.

She looked pretty like that. Jackson allowed his mind to wander for a moment. Just to take his mind off the pain. Obviously.

Maybe, after their parents left they could-

Yeah, no. Because April's parents were staying in the guest room in order to not miss any minute of the first birthday of the grandson they almost lost the same time last year. And because, honestly, it would be stupid for them to get a hotel room when there was a perfectly usable barely used guestroom available.

Jackson could hardly suppress the sigh that threatened to ruin the mood of the evening as he faced reality again. Dinner with their parents (plus Richard Webber, go figure) on the night before their baby's first birthday. Great.

At least, their parents had restricted themselves to bombard their children with questions rather than talking to each other.

Karen and Catherine had only met once on the day April and Jackson got Samuel's diagnosis. The two very different women had gotten along fine that day, united in sorrow. If given actual time to talk about actual topics though, Jackson doubted they'd get along very well. His mother only tolerated April's faith, because she genuinely adored her even before she became a part of their family. But he knew his mother. She only invested into relationships if she deemed necessary. In her book there would be little reason to get along with the Kepners as they would rarely see each other any way. She'd pick a fight if she was in the mood, which would most likely, check that - definitely, bother April.

Therefore, Jackson had answered all questions and would continue to answer all questions without an eyeroll or audible sigh. April was excited to have them all together for Sam's birthday and he didn't want to ruin it for her. Even though he would have been perfectly fine celebrating it just the three of them.

Talking of the man, or rather boy, of the hour Samuel seemed to get quite drowsy in his highchair. He was not fuzzy yet, but his eyelids kept on falling shut before he'd blink them furiously in an effort to stay awake. Much like his mother he was always excited for company. Jackson easily replaced the cloud inside his head with a smile on his face as he watched his son fight to stay awake.

"Awww, are you tired, baby?", Catherine gushed. She'd claimed the seat on the other head of the table giving her the best view possible of her grand baby.

"Are you?", April asked her husband, eyebrow lifted in worry. She knew he wasn't all into this family gathering thing. Then she realized. "Oh, you mean Sam. Yeah, it's way past his bedtime..."

The blush was slowly returning to her cheeks. Mistaking 'baby' as a nickname for Jackson after hearing his mother call him that for years wasn't that bad of a mistake, but she still felt silly for asuming it. To avoid confusion like that in the future, they'd already decided they'd stop calling Sam baby come elementary school. Or when another actual baby came along, which was a topic they had not discussed at all and likely should not start discussing in front of their overly opinionated parents.

"I can take him", Catherine volunteered happily. "I don't mind at all!"

"I bet you don't, mom, but right now I think-"

"Fiddlesticks! We can take him", Karen put in, already leaving her seat. "That's what grandmas are for. You two probably need a break anyway..."

Suddenly April and Jackson found the view of their child blocked by their mothers. It was quite amazing actually. As if they had granny super powers. It was also scary.

"It's just his legs are very fragile right now, and we wouldn't want you to-"

"Jackson." He looked down to meet April's eyes and find her hand on his arm. "Give it a rest. He's already in his pajamas. They only have to put him down in the crib. How much damage can they do?"

A lot, he thought. He sat down anyway. Sat down and let them go. Next to him someone cleared his throat.

"If you don't mind I could oversee the whole deal. Make sure they don't break him or nothing", Joe Kepner offered.

April's eyes widened in surprise. This was as far as her father would go with actually expressing feelings. He was a quiet man and usually let her mother gush all over their offspring, but had always been a bit different with April. It seemed this special closeness had passed on to her son as well.

"Of course, dad. That would be nice, thank you", April approved with a big smile.

They watched in silence as Joe disappeared into the nursery behind their mothers. For a while they remained like this, staring at the slightly ajar door with the colorful letters spelling out their son's name. (Only the first name, April had insisted nobody need know his -partially ridiculous- middle name.)

Eventually she turned to her husband and said: "He really did change everything, didn't he?"

Jackson didn't need any further explanation as to whom she was referring to. "Still does", he confirmed in awe.

He met April's eyes and wondered whether she was thinking about the same things he was thinking about – how happy she made him, how lucky he was to have them both, how scared he was at times and how glad she held his hand through those, also how pretty she looked tonight and the money with which he could easily buy her parents a hotel room, or even better a hotel room for themselves while their parents watched Sam... - yeah, probably not.

The sound of key rattling pulled them out of their moment. They turned around to see their chief typing away on his blackberry.

"Don't mind me", he said, "Just don't want to destroy their moment... or moments in general."

April smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry we didn't quite make it to dessert." The one thing Webber had brought to the party, save for himself. "Mom was kinda excited so she outdid herself... it's like her nervous habit."

"No worries, it will still be edible tomo-" Their boss was interrupted by a high pitched shriek emerging from the nursery. Webber raised an eyebrow. Jackson and April immediately went into flight mode, rising from chairs and crossing the room to get to their baby. However, it wasn't necessary. Before they even reached the door halfway their mothers stepped out into the hallway, Catherine holding her crying grandson.

April crossed her arms in front of her chest and Jackson finally let go of his sigh. Audibly, this time. "Spit it out", he heard his wife demand, "Who broke our baby?"

A/N: I always wondered about the combination of them having a huge house/apartment (still confused as to where they're living right now... April got the old apartment after the divorce, but now they're staying at a house that looks a lot like the old apartment in some places with at least three bedrooms?) and all their guests staying in hotels. I mean... I dunno. I'd let my parents stay in my guestroom.