Anonymous: "you can do a one shot about how april said to jackson that she was to de war. I think he was ver surprise, angry and sad."

I got interesting "missing scene" cannon prompts in the beginning of this. This is one of them. Sorry it's taken so long…I just got an OK idea…plus cannon stuff is depressing to go to. Still is, but I thought of something so….yeah here it is, hope you like it!:)

100 Encore, Day 69: "Red (Honesty)"

"Hi honey, welcome home! Dinner's ready, come sit down." April kissed Jackson's cheek and took his jacket, all the while avoiding his eyes.

"Wow…this looks….great. I'm not dressed for this babe. I wish you would've told me."

She quickly dismissed his reaction to the romantically lit dinner table, complete with a candle and rose centerpiece. She was wearing a little red dress. He loved her in red. "It's a surprise, you look fine. Just sit. Will you pour the wine, please? I think I got your steak perfect…it's just a little red.. And I made green beans and mashed potatoes from scratch, Caesar salad…." she said, back to him as she headed to the kitchen to get the food. "Oh and garlic bread with cheese on it too…I forgot about that…"

Jackson poured the wine as he was told, and then went to help her get the food. "Babe, I said sit. I've got this." But he saw her hands shaking.

"I don't want you serving me all night…you worked hard. You should enjoy this too." But he knew he was in for…something. April didn't have the best pokerface to begin with, but the shaking pretty much confirmed it.

"Sweetie, take a deep breath and a sip of wine and just…tell me…" Jackson said, when they were sitting down.

"Wh-wh-what?" she took a sip.

"I can tell you have something to say, I don't want you to hold it in all night, scared." He put his hand over hers.

"Ok…Promise you won't get mad?"

"I'll try my best but that's all I can promise, you know that…" Their promises were not made lightly these days.

"I'm going to war with Owen," she whispered to his wedding ring.

"What was that?" He'd heard her, but put a finger underneath her chin, forcing her to tell him.

"In two weeks. I'm going to war with Owen. Jordan. I just don't feel like I'm helping anyone here. I want to help save lives."

"You do that everyday in Seattle. Right here, with me." He concentrated on his steak, stabbing it too hard with his fork.

"I run an E.R. I pull water bottles off of idiots' tongues," April rolled her eyes, looking past Jackson. "I want to save the lives of the people putting their lives on the line for me!"

"You mean you want to talk about it and make a decision together?"

"No. I mean I'm going."

"April, you're talking about going to a WAR zone. This is not a decision to make lightly."

"I didn't make it lightly. I'm going with Owen. I thought about it all day yesterday. Made a list."

"Are you married to this list? Usually people make choices like this with the person they married."

"Jackson, I don't want to go. I have to. I'm dying here. I'm losing myself!"

"So let me help you! Don't go put your life on the line. I already lost my son. I need my wife!"

"And you'll have me. I'm not going to be in active combat. I'm going to be a trauma surgeon. It's just three months Jackson. Three months." She reached for his hand but he pulled away and started shoveling food in his mouth.

April sighed. "Jackson, don't be like this."

"Like what? This steak is supposed to make everything OK with me, right? I'm just enjoying my dinner. Maybe after I eat this magic steak the thought of you going to war won't make me so sick."

"It wasn't supposed to make everything better. I was hoping I could help you understand."

"I understand perfectly that nothing I say is going to change your mind. Am I right?" She nodded, reluctantly. "You didn't talk your choice out with me, I'm not going to talk any more of my feelings out with you."

"Jackson, just…I want to help you understand…please"

But he was done, he wouldn't look at her. She knew if she pushed too much harder he would just leave. So they finished the rest of the meal and the bottle of wine in silence.

But he still left, wordlessly getting up and heading to the bedroom without helping her clean up. April didn't mind. She expected him to react this way and knew he just needed time to cool off.

"I made chocolate-covered strawberry mouse cake," she said, twenty minutes later, cautiously tiptoeing into the room with a piece for them to share.

"Don't want it…"

She shrugged. "OK, more for me. But I'm gonna lay here and eat it, just in case you change your mind."

"Is there a chance I can change your mind?" he asked, after two minutes of silence.

"No…babe I'm sorry. But I'm gonna come back stronger, better."

"And you're gonna come back to me?"

"Of course!"

"Three months?"

"Three months."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Can I have a bite of that?"

"Yes, of course!" April smiled, feeding him a piece.

"Did you wear red on purpose because you knew I'd start thinking about sex?"

"Mmmmhmmm!" She nodded, mouth full of chocolate.

"Same with the lipstick?"

"Yup!"

"I respect your honesty."

"Thanks, babe," she reached down and intertwined her fingers with his. "I respect that you feel….."

"Seduced against my will."

"OK then…seduced against your will. Sorry. Next time I'll ask your input on my seduction techniques."

"You need to…or else we're not gonna…"

"Shhh…I know, I know…can I make it up to you?"

"Yeah, I can think of something. But I'm really not happy about this."

"I know. But I'm not gonna change so…maybe we can just make the best of the red dress for now?"

Jackson shrugged, but reached behind her back to pull down the zipper. "I love you as you are, without the red, you know that, right?" He kissed her.

"Yeah, but right now…I need it to help me feel…different….I wish I didn't, but I do."

"OK."

"OK."