Jackson makes a visit

Jackson nervously knocked on the door, adjusting his shirt & shuffling slightly. He wasn't sure if this was a good idea but felt that he needed to do this, no matter the outcome. It was inevitable and also sort of long overdue but no matter how much he tried to rationalise it, to calm himself down, he was nervous & he didn't want to make things worse than they already were. He heard a slight noise on the other side of the door & steadied himself, forming a small smile on his face. The door flung open & Jackson found himself face to face with someone he hadn't seen in years now.

The momentary surprise quickly turned to formality, "Dr Avery."

He had expected the coldness so he didn't let his expression fall & replied warmly, "Hi Mrs Kepner."

April had just finished loading up the dishwasher when she felt Jackson's arms encircle her waist & he rested his chin on her shoulder. She relaxed back into him & covered his arms with her own as he kissed cheek & neck.

"I love you.", he whispered softly & continued down her shoulder, causing her to shiver.

"Even now that I'm an old lady?", she quipped in return.

"Hey! You're my old lady. A very hot one at that. Don't make me sing to you again..", he chuckled, before starting, "Haaappppyyy birrrr-"

"No, please don't.", she laughed, turning around & wrapping her arms around him, rising on her toes & kissing him deeply, "I love you too. Thank you for tonight."

She had insisted they don't do anything over the top, she just wanted to be with him & Harriet. It was the first time she was celebrating a birthday with them actually together as a family & that in itself made it special but Jackson still made sure she had a great day. She felt more at peace & whole than she had in years & no amount of nagging thoughts would take that away from her.

"Anytime.", he smiled back, scanning her face & realised immediately she had something on her mind, "What?"

"Nothing.", she shook her head slightly & moved to kiss him again but he held her back.

"April.. Tell me."

She sighed deeply. "It's just.. She didn't call."

Karen & April had been having tension for a while. It apparently started when April went for Joe's funeral - he hadn't made it through Covid. When Matthew didn't accompany her, Karen realised that things between them weren't going great & made April promise that she'd work things out with him. April agreed, not wanting to stress her mother out more & she really did try but when things eventually ended with Matthew, Karen felt slighted. That April hadn't kept up her end of the vows, no matter how much April insisted that the decision was mutual. Things got worse when she revealed that she was moving to Boston for Jackson & the final blow was the reveal that they had reunited. That call which happened 2 months prior, was the last time April & Karen spoke. Fought. April had hoped that her birthday would be the time they could finally resolve things but it ended up being the first time her mother hadn't called to wish her.

Jackson wasn't sure what to do. He only found out about all of it a few weeks back because April had been keeping it from him. She didn't want him to feel responsible for the friction but no matter her assurances, he did feel like it was on him. Karen wasn't like his mother. Catherine understood the complexities that come with modern relationships & she was more in tune with Jackson & April's history. She had pretty much predicted that they inevitably get back together. Karen, on the other hand, was more set in her ways. Even if she had eventually given them her blessing after the elopement, after Samuel & the divorce, she was adamant that everything about their relationship had been a mistake. Jackson knew how important family was to April & especially after losing her dad, she needed her mom, no matter how much she tried to downplay it. Any time he tried to ask her about it, her reply was always in the same tune -

"I have my family. I'm happy. Of course Id' prefer if she was a part of it too but if she doesn't get it, I can't do anything about it. I've tried to smooth things over but she can't get past it so that's that."

But not calling for her birthday? Jackson wasn't okay with that & knew it hurt April & knew it was because of him. So here he was. Moline, OH. Hoping to make some progress with his former (maybe again-in-future) mother in law.

Karen handed Jackson a glass of water & sat across from him in the living room, the silence enveloping them. He cleared his throat after keeping the glass aside & attempted to start the conversation.

"I'm sorry about Joe."

"Thank you.", Karen replied, curtly.

"You know I had sent flowers but-"

"Why are you here, Dr Avery?", she cut him off.

Jackson sighed, "Can you atleast call me Jackson?", he replied softly but she just leaned back on the couch & folded her arms.

"I actually have something for you.", Jackson reached into the bag he was carrying & took out a bound album, handing it over to her.

Karen looked at it briefly & looked back up at him, "What is this? Repurposing the wedding album from last time? Did you both elope again?"

"No, we didn't elope."

She smirked, "Yeah why bother with the formality of marriage anymore, right? Not like it means much to either of you. It's just easier to continue living in sin.", she said, taking the album from him.

Jackson stilled, his face hardening & swallowed roughly, "With all due respect, there's nothing sinful about our relationship. We love each other."

Karen rolled her eyes & opened the album, her expression softening considerably when she saw Harriet in her ballet outfit.

"She had her first recital recently.", Jackson said, seeing the small smile on her face & tears forming in her eyes as she saw Harriet's pictures, "We'd have loved for you to be there."

"She misses you.", he added softly, "They both do."

Karen continued to scan through the album & he let her in silence. She finally closed the album & kept it aside, turning to face him.

"Jackson, what is it that you want from me? I'm sure you didn't come all the way here to give me this album.", she said, exasperated.

"Mrs Kepner.. Karen. I know you're upset & don't agree with April's choices but she loves you. And wants you in her life, in Harriet's life. I'm just here to ask you to not cut her out. I know how hard it can be when a parent gives up."

"I'm not giving up. She made her choices. Choices that I begged her to not make. But she chose her spot. Told me that she has the family she needs so I'm not sure why you're saying this when she's made it clear what her priority is. You. Not the mother who raised her & supported her through the years but the man who repeatedly wrecked her chance at leading a godly, happy life."

Jackson blinked rapidly & tried to control his emotions - he knew how Karen felt about him, that she held him responsible for everything that's gone wrong in April's life & he had expected her to say so when he decided to visit but that didn't make hearing the words any easier.

"I'm not saying that you're a bad person, Jackson. You're a good man, a good father. But you're not right for her.", she finished.

"I understand why you feel that way.", he started, but quickly continued, "but you're wrong."

"Jackson…"

"We went through a lot in the past & we made mistakes, I know that. But we've learned from them, grown since then. She grounds me, makes me better, whole. I know her better than anyone in the world. I know what she needs & I'm going to make sure she gets it, no matter what. If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that we don't work without each other. No matter how hard we tried."

"All of this is just words. I know you believe them now. I'm sure you believed them years ago when you eloped too. How did that work out?", Karen responded, solemnly.

Jackson nodded, "My words don't mean much to you. I get it. But we can't really prove the truth in my words if you cut us out of your life. Maybe you're right, maybe things don't ultimately work out with me & April. And if that's the case, I'm sure you don't want to make a decision now that you can't come back from."

She looked over at him & sighed & Jackson knew he had gotten through to her, at least a little. Even though he himself was sure he & April would make it work this time.

"You & your relationship is very important to her. Don't let me get in the way of that. Don't make her choose. It's breaking her heart to.", he pleaded.

"I envisioned a very different life for her. But she made her own choices every step of the way. But at no point did I ever stand in her way because I believed that she was making the right decisions for her happiness. That's all I've ever wanted for her. I know your background is very different & you might not think so but it's true.", Karen replied.

"I know. I'm not going to assume that I understand everything but I've never doubted that your intentions lay with her best interests."

"But with you.."

"You don't have to accept me till you're sure. I'm just asking you not to let that get in the way of your relationship with April. I know this must be affecting you just as much."

He kept a firm eye contact for a few moments & then got up, knowing this was all he could say & it was best he didn't push further. He was already unsure how April would react to him visiting but this was something he felt he needed to do. For her, for them.

Karen followed him towards the door & Jackson turned, smiling slightly.

"Thank you for your time, Karen. Truly."

She nodded.

"I meant every single word I said here today. April & Harriet are everything to me."

"So you've said. We'll see.", Karen responded but without the iciness of before.

Jackson smiled wide & nodded, "I really, really hope that you do."

Hi again. I'd been thinking of doing this for a while. Just one shots of things we've missed or should've seen (you know since half of Japril's story happened off screen for some reason). I have a few other chapters in mind but I'm open to potential suggestions :)