"Okay...promise you won't laugh?" April sighs, holding the large photo album she'd plied out from her parent's cupboard in her hands as she sat down on the couch next to him.
"I promise."
She nods slightly, apprehension spread across her face, yet she gradually plucks up the courage to open the album anyway.
They flick through the album together, and she comments on certain periods of her life, but makes an effort not to linger over the more agonising stages - her high school years, in particular.
She watches his face on occasion as he examines each photo, almost as if she's worried as to how he'll react. He's aware of Duckie: the 'ugly duckling' with glasses and braces and acne, but he's never actually seen that version of her. The most he's seen of her in her more awkward state was the brown hair dye she'd insisting on using in an attempt to blend in, and her somewhat uncomfortable crush on Dr. Shepherd. It makes her feel vulnerable - almost like he won't find her attractive anymore if he sees them, but at the same time, he's her best-friend-turned-husband, and she wants him to really know her.
Jackson lingers on a photo of her beaming whilst stood next to one of her science projects, wearing long denim overalls and a floral henley tee, and he can't help but smile. Its so April, even with the much-longer hair and the things she saw as flaws, that he can't help but feel fond of it.
"You were cute," He says earnestly, looking up to make eye contact for a moment, and he notices her roll her eyes.
"I know I said don't laugh, but you don't have to lie," April scoffs.
"I'm not!" Jackson continues, "I'm being serious...and you know, the glasses - they were kind of sexy. You should bring those back...and those overalls...bet you wore those all the time around the farm, huh?"
She eyes him, and the growing smirk on his face tells him that he's definitely teasing her about that part, causing her to abruptly close the album and place it on the coffee table.
"It was the 90s!"
He chuckles at that, and she gently smacks his chest, before he pulls her closer to him and kisses her gently.
"Hey, thanks for showing me these." Jackson knew it had taken a lot for her to do so, and he wanted her to know that it meant a lot, "I love you."
"You're welcome. I love you, too."