themoonorchid: "I don't know if you're ready for this conversation, but I would love for April to flat out ask Jackson, "if Chloe wasn't in the picture, would you still be trying so hard?" I know Jackson has said in the past he is in love with April and doesn't want to live without her, but I think it's a valid question. (MIMB prompt)"

This prompt actually goes very well with the prompt I was planning to do tonight, which was the miscarriage story. So, dear noni who asked for that, this one's for you, too. I actually don't know where this will end…so even though these are always little pieces, this one more than any other might call for a "Part 2″

Also, noni…keeping your ask just in case I do the other prompt but I'm not sure that April is dating through this. It's a suuuper complicated dynamic, actually unhealthy, and neither of them has actually ever let go. Even April, despite the betrayal. We'll see though, it totally intrigued me.

100 Encore, Day 36: "Untitled for now"

"You know what, that's it…I'm…I think I'm done with this for now." She hastily grabbed her bag and stood up, avoiding eye contact with Jackson.

But he grabbed her hand anyway, panicked. "Done with what, April.

"Therapy. And let's just….separate. Let's call this what it is…the road to a divorce! Let's just…see other people and be civil for Chlo. Don't worry, I don't expect anything from you except that you're in her life. I know you will be."

"No, April please! We were doing so well. Last week, Chloe's appointment went so well. That whole night was…"

"Wonderful! It was wonderful! And I had no problem waiting until today for answers….but you don't have any real ones. I know you. I know how you are. I'm never gonna know your biggest failure and your biggest concern in all of this is still being Chloe's superman but…"

"April, that's not true!"

"Really? Because you're not trying very hard to save this marriage right now and she is a big reason why both of us are trying so hard. It makes me wonder…if not for our daughter, would you be trying to fight for us at all?"

He stood up and faced her, hands on her shoulders. "Yes, sweetheart! Yes! I promise you. I will always fight for you. I know I don't have to fight for Chloe. You'd never take her from me. We'll still be a family. I'm fighting for you! I love you!"

"Do a better job, Jackson. Fight harder. I'm not coming next week, but you should. Spend the time coming up with real answers. This pregnancy is not a get out of jail free card. It might break me but I will leave you and I will put myself back together. I gotta go pick up our girl!"

With that, April left looking forward to some intense cuddle time with her daughter. Jackson remained, starting at a stone faced Dr. Crowe. In all his years, he'd never encountered a situation quite like the Avery's. This session he'd pretty much sat back and let them figure it out themselves. They weren't great at following rules, as was evident from the pregnancy.

April clearly wished her husband never told her about the infidelity at all. She wanted to forgive him so badly, but was battling with her self-respect. Because Jackson was not very forthcoming at all. He was sorry. He'd made a huge mistake and adored his wife. He'd spend his life making it up to her and that was what was important, in his mind. He wasn't used to the introspection all of April's questions required. But he was going to have to get over it if he was serious about saving his marriage.

"Daddy will have loved dat dinner mama!"

"Silly girl, why are you still talking about dinner? It's bed time girly!" April tickled her daughter when she finished brushing her teeth, lifting her up in her arms.

"He love boat-atos an' chicken an' boob-berry shortcakes, mom."

"When did you eat blueberry shortcake with daddy?"

"I didn't," Chloe giggled. "But I know he will love it."

"Well remind me soon and we will have it at family dinner."

Family dinner. It used to happen every three or four times a week. For two surgeons, balancing family and career was difficult. But both Jackson and April made sacrifices at work to make sure their daughter was not raised exclusively by daycare workers. His last name made that a lot easier for the family, but even so, before the cheating April was so proud of her husband. He made sure to develop a relationship with Chloe. He hadn't known the true meaning of the word family before marriage, but he made sure his child did. So after the disaster that was her third birthday, they restarted family dinners.

"OK mama! Time fer story? We can call him?"

"Not tonight, princess, daddy's working." She was thankful it was true, she hated lying, liars, lies of omission…but after the argument today, she wasn't in the mood for his funny commentary over the phone during story time tonight.

"But there is one important rule you must follow, Cinderella…listen carefully. You must return from the ball by midnight or you will turn into a…ow…"

April gritted her teeth and held her breath as she felt another cramp, so strong this time she had to express her pain and show it on her face. "She won't turn into an ow mama, she will turn into a pubkin."

"A pumpkin, I know sweetheart…give me a second, mommy's feeling a little dizzy." She let the book fall to the floor, unable to hold it open anymore.

"Oops…Mama, why you pants turnin' red?"

"Mommy's bleeding, honey…I need you to call your daddy for me." It was a gamble, Jackson or 911. But she knew what was happening and she didn't want to scare Chloe. "Call daddy and tell him I'm bleeding, OK? Then I want you to run to the door and open it up…Mama might take a nap in a sec…"

Chloe reached for the phone on her bedside table and found her daddy's picture. "Daddy…mom is bleedin' and she taked a nap…story's not finished…"

"Daddy's coming sweetheart. I'll be right there…"