Japril on the drive back from Lake Tahoe.
They're finally on their way back from Lake Tahoe, after spending a few days locked inside their hotel room in marital bliss. Neither of them really wanted to leave, but they knew that they couldn't hide out there forever. They had jobs to get back to, and patients to help, and unfortunately, the hospital wasn't going to run itself.
Jackson had managed to buy them a few things to wear on the trip back, although it had been hard to find anything good on such short notice. They're currently decked out in Lake Tahoe t-shirts and sweatpants from a souvenir store he'd managed to find, which has them looking and feeling like a couple of dorky tourists. April thinks it's slightly adorable, though, and thats enough to make him feel a little less dorky and a little more like the luckiest man in the world. (Not that he needs reminding)
As he pulls over at a gas station so he can fill up his car, April hops out out of the passenger side, slipping her cheap flip-flops back on first, "I'm gonna grab some snacks. Do you want anything?"
"Coffee would be great. We've still got a few hours to go. Some chips too."
"'Kay. Be right back."
He can't help but watch and smile as she practically skips off inside the 7-Eleven store, making a quick stop at the cash register to get the keys to the restroom first. He's not sure he'll ever get used to the fact that she's his wife now, that they'd actually taken a chance and done this, and that she'd actually said yes when he stood up at the barn and poured his heart out to her. There'd been a moment only last year when he'd told her that he definitely wasn't ready to be anybody's husband, and that she definitely wasn't ready to get married either, and now here they were. Those versions of themselves would probably laugh if they saw themselves now, and yet, he couldn't imagine his life being any different. The only thing he wished was that they hadn't wasted so much time and had done this sooner.
After he finishes filling up the tank and pays on the machine, he temporarily locks the car, noticing that her back is turned to him as she scans the chip aisle and tries to make a decision on what to buy. He can't help but seize the opportunity to spook her a little (partially because he finds that he hates being away from her for even a few minutes now), so he enters as quietly as he can, wrapping his arms around her once he's behind her.
"Tanks all filled," He says softly, planting a quick kiss on her cheek before leaning over to grab a bag of Doritos. She finally decides on what she wants, going for some classic Lays, before paying for everything and making their way back to the car.
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive the rest of the way?" April asks, feeling guilty over the fact he's done most of the driving so far.
"No. I'd kind of like to get us back in one piece."
"Hey! I'm not that bad of a driver."
"You forget that Alex and I carpooled with you for months, babe. I've witnessed your road rage up close. It's scary."
"You called me babe..." She says, and he wonders for a moment if she hates it, and also how ridiculous it is that he hasn't before when it feels so natural, "You've never called me that before. It's nice."
"Yeah? Then I'll remember to use it more often." Jackson grins at her for a moment, watching as she she takes a chip from the bag and nabbing it before she can eat it.
"Hey!"
"Whats mine is yours and what's yours is mine, babe, remember?" He teases, earning him a light swat across the chest and a roll of those beautiful olive green eyes.
It doesn't take long for them to finish up their snacks and get on the road again, but he finds that at some point between all the teasing and reminiscing on the past weekend, she drifts off to sleep. Catching her out of the corner of his eye, he can't help but smile to himself again, feeling grateful that he'll get to wake up to the sight tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. They have a whole lifetime of road trips and mornings together ahead of them, and he can't wait.