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“Sorry, sorry.” Jackson apologised profusely against her mouth, tugging her bottom lip and then soothing the sharp nip with his tongue, and she moaned because of it. 

He rubbed the side of April's hip when she caught her footing, and he kicked the front door closed with his foot as they ventured further into his apartment.

“You could turn a light on,” April advised, her eyes crinkling as he moved from her lips to her neck. She indulged him for a moment, her hands roving under his sweater to grip the muscles in his back, and he pushed her jacket from her shoulders. “You've been talking about this new apartment since I got back. I’d like to actually see it.”

“And take my hands off you? Not happening.” Jackson groaned when her nails scratched down his back, reminding him too much of what was to come. Against his own wishes, he took his hands off her to remove his shirt and started to unbutton hers, their breaths growing ragged. “Just take my word for it. I promise, it's really nice. The door locks and the walls are… stable.”

April giggled as he led her around in the darkness, and they stumbled around the edge of his console table as they kissed.

She caught a few glimpses of items here and there when her eyes did open. High art on the walls, a huge flatscreen television in the corner and the balcony that gave them a gorgeous view of the city. 

Jackson's building was much nicer than their old one. Along with the panoramic view, it came with a polite doorman who opened the door and greeted them upon entering the swankily decorated lobby.

April squealed when he tucked his hands under her thighs and carried her off to his bedroom. He'd left the curtains open, revealing the balcony wrapped around the next corner and allowing more privacy, but since they were so high up, April doubted there was much anyone could even see.

He set her on the floor again as they discarded their shoes, followed by their pants. April wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him closer until the back of his knees hit the bed, and she pushed him down on the mattress.

Jackson chuckled and tugged at her wrist. “Get over here.”

“So impatient…” April appeased him by climbing onto the spacious bed, straddling his lap.

“Can you blame me?” Jackson gripped her butt and squeezed, raising his head to kiss her neck. “You said no more on-call rooms. I was going crazy all day.”

April tilted her head to one side, her hair dropped like a heavy curtain over his shoulder as he nipped and sucked at her sensitive skin. “Mm, I-I don't want…people saying things…”

“Like that matters.” Jackson rolled his eyes and rubbed his palms up her thighs and over her stomach until they were high around her back. He unfastened her bra and tossed the scrap of material behind her to the floor. 

With one hand cupping her breast and the other lightly gripping her neck, Jackson brought their lips together again. He couldn't get enough of her mouth. He slowly teased her lips until she opened up and let his tongue inside. April held his face and kissed him back.

People would talk no matter what they did or didn't do. They existed in that building more than they did outside of it, so it was no wonder their coworkers gossiped about whatever and whoever they could. If anything, they'd be doing Jackson a favour, and maybe if the interns talked loud enough about their trysts, then that damn paramedic would stop lingering by the trauma bay doors when April was on shift. 

Not that he was jealous or anything. 

When they murmur pure filth into your ear while they’re touching you.

“Don’t you think…that it matters more what you're gonna say?” Jackson whispered against her lips and then moved to her ear.

He squeezed her breast, and she arched her back further into his hold so he rewarded her by pinching her nipple and lavishing her with soft kisses. “Especially now, we can do whatever we want, where you can get as loud as you want. And you tell me exactly what you want when I'm fucking you…”

“Jackson…” April gasped and held onto the back of his head. 

His hair was a little longer and curlier compared to when she'd left for Ohio. He usually wore a close-shave cut. The soft coils tangled between her fingers, and for a second, she lost herself in how his lips danced across her skin, and a random strand at the nape of his neck looped around her index finger.

She tugged at the hair there while adjusting her posture in his lap, and he responded by sucking languidly on her neck. Their stomachs pressed together as he pushed his hand on the small of her back to her even closer. “I think you'll enjoy it, baby.”

“Please, Jackson….” April moaned and rubbed herself against his crotch to find some friction.

Jackson buried his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet scent, and chuckled when she whined his name.“There we go.” 

“Stop, remember how terrified of Bailey we all were then?” April whispered and pressed her nails into his skin, creating small indentations. "You said all the interns call her Booty Call Bailey now.”

Jackson cracked up at the nickname, losing his train of thought as he was transported back into that moment. Karev had revealed it to Bailey so bluntly, and the sound that left his throat was so unlike her that he had to laugh until she stared him down.

April wasn't here to see that, but he remembered wanting to tell her as soon as he escaped the awkward moment.

“I can give you a nickname if you want,” Jackson leaned back to look her in the eye and ran his hand down her arm suggestively. “But if I'm honest, I don't think I'd want anyone using it, especially those interns.” 

“Shut up,” April smacked his bicep as he continued to laugh, smiling even wider than before, glimmering in the low light. April stared back, almost mesmerised. 

Jackson leaned in and then nuzzled her cheek - softness of the moment breaking apart the slow, simmering heat between them.

“Your freckles are cute.” April traced his skin with her palms, and Jackson watched her every move, even in the low light; his irises pierced right through her. 

Jackson relished the soft touch of her fingers gliding across his cheek, then down the side of his neck. She leaned forward and expressed her sentiments in action; her soft lips pressed on the freckles on his cheekbones, the bridge of his nose, until he captured her mouth in his. The tempting warmth of her centre pressed right over his lap was too much to take.

Her breath hitched when he continued to undress her. He unzipped her jeans and slowly pushed them down as far as he could get them down her legs in this position.

“I like yours better,” Jackson confessed, gently tracing the marks on her upper thigh. His eyes traced over the delicate waistband and the silk trim. Before they started sleeping together, he'd never have guessed April wore such sexy underwear.

His fingers dipped inside the silk trim and disappeared inside her slick warmth.

“Oh…” Her eyelids flickered as he sank his fingers inside of her and started a purposeful exploration.

Jackson watched her face flush and her lips part, her breath came in sharp puffs until she collapsed onto his shoulder, and she was moaning loudly against the crook of his neck.

Suddenly, April lifted her shoulders and eased off him to shove her pants and her panties down her legs and carelessly kick them to the floor. 

He reached for her waist before she joined him on the bed, and their haste made him fall backwards further into the bed. Jackson scooted with his hands on her hips until his head was inches from the headboard, but he continued to urge her forward until her knees dug into his downy pillows.

“What are you doing?” April asked incredulously, her eyes wide.

All Jackson does is chuckle and blindly elbow one pillow behind him so it's propped up behind his head. 

“You'd feel more comfortable if you sat,” Jackson looked up with an easy grin. 

Her eyes almost popped out of her head at his suggestion, and she gripped the headboard to keep her balance. “On your face?”

Her panicking side imagined her making a fool of herself somehow. What if she slipped on his slick sheets and banged her head on his nightstand? She'd arrive in the emergency room, concussed and more humiliated than usual. The interns had only just stopped giving her crap about having to retake her boards, and the last thing she needed was people whispering about her sex life or attempts at being adventurous. 

“Hey, it's not like whatever you're already thinking,” Jackson guessed, squeezing her thigh in a comforting gesture. Her brows had furrowed so tensely, he could tell she was thinking a mile a minute. “Or overthinking.”

April gasped weakly, a little offended that he had her so figured out. “I-I'm not overthinking. It's just we haven't done it like this before.”

The first time he had gone down on her was her very first time, back in that hotel in San Francisco, and he turned her into a quivering mess before they had even gotten started. When she had been away, she thought about it more than she’d ever dare to admit. The marks he’d left on her thighs or right below her belly button, his hands holding her firmly in place and the intensity of his gaze from where he rested between her legs made so much of that night unforgettable. 

“I know,” Jackson groaned playfully. His eyes were fixed on her centre, and she almost shuddered at how dark his eyes looked now. She couldn't stop herself from being curious and turned on. Jackson looked at her like no other man had before. 

The come that dried on the inside of her thighs from earlier was soon moistened with more, and her c

Both of his palms settled on her thighs, rubbing the tension out until she was relaxed again, and he looked her in the eye. “It’ll make you feel good, but we don't have to do anything you don't want to. You're in good hands, trust me.”

April released a short, breathless-sounding laugh. Even with the change in their dynamic, he remained her always reassuring best friend. 

“Okay, we can try it. Just let me uh,” April shifted, flipping a corner of the comforter back to prevent a preemptive slip occurring. 

Jackson bit his cheek to keep himself from laughing as she straightened herself up and raised her hands to ensure she had a firm grip on the headboard.

He rested on his elbows and held onto her hips again. “You want a helmet or something? I might have one stashed around somewhere.”

“Oh shut up! Like, you still even use a bike?” April retorted, or tried to. With a firm grip, Jackson yanked her down by the hips and sucked hard on the crease of her thigh. 

April gasped when she felt the bite of his teeth on her skin. “Uh, I…oh!”

Jackson greedily opened his mouth on her outer lips, and her responding yelp morphed into a desperate whimper when he followed up with his tongue and then stuck it inside.

Words were lost to her as base instinct took over, and she rode his face, scooping her hips back and forth. She almost laughed about how right he was about how good it felt. Each broad stroke of the marvellous muscle pushed her higher and higher. She could barely hold in her moans, and then she remembered that he didn't even want her to. In fact, he was moaning too as he switched things up and sucked on her swollen clit.

In her haze, April looked down at him, her lips pink and parted, but his eyes were closed in pleasure and seeing that allowed her to completely lose herself in the moment.

Jackson helped her along, his strong grasp never unchanging, even as his hands moved lower to fondle her ass. Her head dropped forward to rest on the cool leather of the headboard as she realised she had started to perspire. She couldn't stop the lewd noises coming from her mouth.

“Oh god, oh god. Fuck me, Jackson. I need it…” April moaned with her forehead pressed into the leather of the headboard as he fucked her with his tongue.

Jackson grunted, hearing her curse and moan her need for him like that just did something to him. She only did it for him when they were together like this. The sounds went straight to his dick, growing harder and harder underneath his boxers.

Encouragingly, Jackson smacked her ass, making her jolt forward and grab onto the pillow beside his head. The material bunched and wrinkled in her hand as he fucked her with his tongue.

Her hips moved out of her control, rolling jerkily, and he knew that she was close to her orgasm. Opening his eyes, Jackson slid his arm up her body until his hand wrapped gently around the slender column of her throat.

“I'm gonna- Jackson! I'm almost-.” April threw her head back, her hair wild as it tossed over one shoulder. 

Her entire body tensed as her orgasm hit her in waves, building up and up until her limbs twitched uncontrollably. Jackson kept his mouth on her throughout it all, kissing or lapping at her folds until her cries turned to soft mewls.

She came so hard that she fell forward into the headboard, unable to hold her body up any longer. Jackson caught her by the waist, stroking her sides and rubbing her back to help her come down from the high.

April climbed off of him and flopped onto her back, regaining her breath as her chest heaved to take in more air.

Jackson climbed over her and made room for himself, the cool air hitting her there made her sticky thighs twitch in anticipation. He placed a hand on her stomach and buried his face between her legs anyway.

He pressed small, sweet kisses over her already sensitive clit and parted her legs as wide as they would go. He alternated between lapping at her folds and sucking already swollen nerves, his head moving side to side as he went. April bit her lip and blinked the tears out of her watery eyes. He was going at her again with so much passion that she couldn't take it. 

It didn't take very long for another wave of pleasure to unfurl from deep in her stomach. Her legs collapsed weakly at his sides as the taut grip she had on his hair lessened until she was stroking his shoulders.

“You need a minute?”Jackson asked, and she saw the satisfied smirk he wore at her undoing. Yet, the last straw for her was when he backed away and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. 

“No, I want you inside me…right now,” April replied, a hoarseness to her voice, and pulled him to her. She hoisted a leg around his waist to push his underwear down his legs. 

“Shit. Mm, fuck April.” Jackson groaned into her mouth when she captured his lips in a searing kiss, when she wrapped a hand around his dick and stroked him how he liked. Her 

He leaned over her to pull the drawer open in the nightstand and find a condom. His hand clumsily knocked against the back wall as he clutched the wrapper, but once he secured it in his hand.

“Please,” April squirmed underneath him as he sheathed himself and spread her legs wider.

“You don’t have to beg, baby. I’ll give it to you.” Jackson replied gravelly, his eyes rolled closed when her muscles clenched around him, and he snapped his hips once. When he spoke again, his words were gruff. “God, you feel incredible. Always do.”

April arched her back, feeling him slip further inside and filling her to the hilt. Her voice sounded airier as he pushed forward and deeper. “Mmm, so do you…”

Jackson ran his hands up her body, slowly caressing the soft curve of his hip and along the flat plane of her stomach. His nostrils flared and his chest heaved as he watched her breasts bounce temptingly. He covered them with his hands, her nipples flushed, pink and rose to peaks just pleading to be sucked.

“Oh, baby!” April purred after he pressed her breasts together and flicked her nipples with his tongue as he continued to move inside of her.

The sounds of their skin slapping together and their moans bouncing off the walls of the apartment. April reached around him to press on his lower back. His muscles flexed with exertion, but with the way his eyes rolled closed, April knew he was in bliss. 

He pounded into her like it was their last night together, and he needed to make sure she never forgot how it felt.

"You like it when I fuck you like this?” Jackson pulled out and then eased back in. She nodded desperately as her breath caught in her throat from the force of his thrusts. “Yeah, you do. Say it.”

“I like it, Jackson!” April responded, raking her nails down his back. Her inner walls massaged him, tighter and tighter.

“Fuck baby, you sound as good as you feel,“ Jackson growled in her ear and then nibbled the shell of it before his jaw went slack. The sensation of her nails digging into his skin only fueled his desire more. “As you taste. I fucking love how wet you get for me, you feel around me. We were made for this…”

“Jackson! Do that again- Shit!” April gasped, her face pressed against his as she found the energy to return his kisses. 

Jackson buried his face into her neck.  The headboard smacked rhythmically against the bedroom wall, in time with the force of his thrusts. 

Only Jackson could make her feel like this. He gave her his all every single time, not only in the way he moved inside of her but in the manner he cared and gazed into her eyes, like he truly knew her. That was the reason why April gave herself to him over and over again.

“You just make me feel so…so good.” April whimpered, throwing her head back, and he moved to kiss her throat.

She lost it then, and that familiar, warm feeling flooded her body. April clung to him even as his hips bucked and jerked erratically when he finally succumbed to his orgasm.

When he felt the blood rush back to the rest of his limbs, Jackson sat up to remove the condom, tie it off and throw it into the wastebin beside the bed.

April trailed her hand down his strong arms; she couldn't stop touching him. He must have felt the same because he looped an arm around her back and brought her over to his side of the bed.

She curled into his side, her head on his pillow, so she faced the balcony window, and her gaze was drawn to the gorgeous cityscape.

“The view is great, right?” Jackson asked and tucked her hair to one side. “Once I saw it, I knew that I had to get this place.”

April looked up at him and then out again. “I don't blame you. You must have the best view of the city from up here.” 

“I might have found a better one tonight,” Jackson commented, pointedly staring at her, and April felt her face warm up. 

“Stop,” April laughed and turned over to straddle his waist. She sat up, and he shifted to meet her.

“After what we just did,” Jackson chuckled softly and dipped his head to kiss her shoulder. “You're really blushing, right now?”

April rolled her eyes at the fact that he made her shy suddenly. She shrugged and

“We should get some sleep,” Jackson advised, but the firm grip he had on her hips hinted that he may have a little more energy in him.

“We will…” April giggled, rocking her hips over his and felt him harden against her inner thigh. “Later.”

Jackson hummed and wrapped his arms around her back. “Mm, later?”

April nodded, staring intensely into his eyes. “Much later.” …..

Later that night, April felt the absence of warmth from her back and the bed dipping beneath her. She turned onto her side to see Jackson with his back to her, halfway dressed. 

“Jackson?” 

He turned to her with a sympathetic wince and reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “Crap. I didn’t mean to wake you.”  

“Where are you going?” April gathered the comforter close and covered herself as she sat up. 

“The hospital. I got a call about an incision,” Jackson explained, slightly distracted as he put his shoes on one at a time. “A simple task that I gave to a damn intern and they still managed to mess it up.”

She yawned and nodded in understanding. The interns were still learning, but they needed hands-on experience to progress. Surprisingly, April really enjoyed teaching them when they weren’t being sloppy know-it-alls, but the others seemed to be having issues. Cristina was doing her best to instil fear while failing to teach, as Alex thought flirting was the best way to go. A lot of them didn’t take Jackson seriously - the ladies easily swooned when he entered, and though he didn’t say, April could tell it bothered him since he was actually excited about teaching. 

“It shouldn’t take too long.” Jackson chuckled to himself. “Maybe after this, the kid will actually listen to me?”

She smiled and hoped that he was right.

Before he could ask her to stay and before she even had the presence of mind to think about what she was doing, April wished him luck and rolled over onto her side again to get a restful sleep. ….

Jackson kicked himself for rushing home.

They never discussed what they were to each other. There was a bout of awkwardness after her return, but then they couldn't keep their distance from each other, and their hands and mouths followed suit. 

He had spent most of the summer buried in his work, throwing himself into his fellowship and with Mark slowly recovering, much of the burn unit work relied solely on him, and so he didn't have the time to see anyone. 

He told himself that was the only reason why. That he didn't have the time, and that Karev needed to stop pushing the new interns his way. If he found out the real reason, then he'd probably think he was pathetic.

When he walked into the attending’s lounge that day with his vomit-stained scrubs and saw his best friend standing there, it felt extremely awkward, but he was happy to see her again.

April's arrival was a sudden bright spot in the bleakness he'd been experiencing lately. Their friendship had always been easy-going and supportive; it threw him for a loop that the sex was incredible, too. They agreed that it wouldn't happen again, but then it did, and they couldn't stop. 

Sometimes he wondered why he didn't see sooner that there could be something more between them. He didn't believe in a higher power, but if there was one, then he must have wronged them, and this was some kind of cruel punishment.

Furthermore, April had determinedly told him she had re-virginised. He thought the idea was ridiculous, especially since she was still having sex with him. It might have been a selfish move on his part, but mentioning that could change things, and he didn't want to stop.

And like April had said a few months ago, if something felt good, then it couldn't be bad.

He felt good, lighter with a spring in his step when he returned to his apartment building later that night.

Even the doorman noticed, which made Jackson slow down his walk between here and the elevator.

And yet still he breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped into the bedroom and he saw the outline of her body present under the sheets.

She hadn’t snuck out after he left. He realised that he had been standing there in the doorway for a little too long and shook his head. 

Jackson shook his head at himself and started to take off his clothes. When he climbed into bed next to her, he felt more than content.

…

April woke up on the cool side of the pillow and heard the sounds of the water running. She smiled and lazily stretched her feet. Unlike the lumpy cots they had in the hospital on-call rooms, Jackson's bed comfortably accommodated her.

Her eyes widened when she remembered where she was and why she now knew the difference between an on-call room cot and Jackson's hybrid mattress. 

April gathered the bedspread up to her chest and sat up. The moonlight and evening sky that bathed and highlighted them last night were replaced by the bright sunlight streaming in from the new day. 

She really did plan to check out the apartment. Jackson has been talking about it nonstop, so what kind of friend would she be if she didn't see for herself where he lived now? Yesterday had been a good day; her first solo surgery in fellowship went successfully, which would shut the gossipy interns up for the next 48 hours, and Dr Hunt had given her more reign than she expected.

After all of her bad luck, it seemed like things were turning around for her. Rekindling her friendship with Jackson was reassuring. April felt conflicted about missing him so much after how they left things; she didn't handle things the best way. She hated that he didn't call her and even more that she didn't leave without saying goodbye.

April was never great with her feelings; they usually seemed to overwhelm her, which led to judgment or ridicule despite her earnestness. Sometimes she wondered if that would ever change, but then she had gone and broken her promise and had been stupid enough to involve her best friend. 

She might have given herself credit for lasting two days around him before they practically ripped each other's clothes off in an old supply office if they didn't keep going at it every day since.

They needed a fresh start, a do-over. April firmly nodded to herself and slipped out of his bed. It would benefit their friendship in the long run if they put a stop to it now. 

At least, that's what she told herself as she passed by the bathroom door and still heard the shower on. In the past, when he walked into their shared quarters with a towel low on his waist, she'd always avert her eyes or make up some excuse to leave. 

April could only imagine how he looked, glistening and wet, standing underneath the persistent spray of the shower. The vision in her mind of the water running down all his hard, defined muscles and edges did enough to tip the scales of her curiosity.

….

Jackson smiled with his eyes closed as he heard the shower door open and close behind him.

“Good morning,” Jackson murmured and turned his neck and was rewarded with the soft press of her lips on his. He held the back of her head and opened his mouth, licking at her tongue.

“Hi,” April smiled, her arms wrapped low on his waist and moved closer so there were no gaps between them. “I thought I'd come in and keep you company.”

He smelled woodsy fresh, and the suds from his body wash tickled her face and neck.

He turned around and stepped backwards, pulling her under the flow of water. Her breasts pressed deliciously against his slick chest, and he held her by the hips.

“I’m glad you did,” Jackson replied and tipped her chin so their lips could join again.

Her left arm came around his back as he swallowed her wanton moans, and the water ran over them. The head of his cock poked her in the stomach as all his blood rushed south. His hands were never shy, even in the light of day, first tangling in her wet locks before moving further down until he had two fistfuls of her ass.

April whimpered, making just enough space between them to reach down and take a hold of his hard dick. His breath hitched in her mouth, resting his forehead on hers as her fingers traced the surging veins along his proud, thick length. 

She kept up her efforts, using both hands to cover him and dipped her head to kiss his chest.

Jackson moaned with closed eyes. “What's gotten into you this morning, babe?” 

April sank her teeth into his pectoral muscle, and he hissed. “You. I hope.”

He soon responded by sticking one hand between her legs and rubbing her from the inside. April faltered for a moment and widened her legs, her mind turning to mush as his fingers curved in her wetness and found her spot.

She grabbed his wrist to stop him completely, shaking her head to imply that wasn't what she meant when his eyes fluttered open. Before he could ask for clarification, April dropped lower until her knees hit the shower mat.

Using her hands and lips together on him now, April took the tip of him into the warm cavern of her mouth and kept full eye contact. They hadn't tried this yet, but with the increasing time they were spending together, she grew more curious about how she could make him feel.

With a smile, Jackson fought to keep her gaze, reflexively contracting his abdominal muscles so he didn't abruptly thrust into her mouth. He had thought about her doing this far too much, but nothing compared to actually feeling her lips around him. 

He had no words for it.

She dragged her tongue down the veiny underside of him until she reached the tip and swirled her tongue around him. 

“April…” His hands slipped into her wet hair, tugging slightly.

Feeling exhilarated at the power she had over him, April went further and sucked his dick. 

“Fuck, April…I love your mouth.” Jackson moaned and held off from pushing his hips into her face.

Her lips slid past his shaft, which caused his knees to buckle, and she noticed. April hollowed her cheeks and continued moving along his impressive length, bending forward to take more of him into her mouth.

Suddenly, Jackson bucked into her face, and he hit the back of her throat, and she gagged, withdrawing her mouth.

“Sorry.” April apologised, coughing a little, but he comfortingly rubbed her shoulders. She had no reason to feel embarrassed. 

“It’s alright,” Jackson soothed her and was thankful that she didn't take her hands off him. “That was me, sorry. I should have warned you.”

April nodded, releasing a shaky breath as she apologised again, but he wouldn't hear it.

He cupped her cheek tenderly, and she looked up at him. “Don't be. Hey, that only happened because of how good you make me feel. I got carried away.”

“I just-” April took a sharp breath, which concerned him.

“You didn't do that because you thought I that I-”

“No, no, I wanted to. I guess…I guess I just need some guidance,” April coyly lifted one shoulder as her initial embarrassment subsided. 

Her eyes flitted between his legs, where he was still very hard, standing at attention. 

Jackson chuckled, curling a wet lock of her hair around his finger. “I can help with that. Start at the tip like you did before.”

April did as she was told and circled her tongue around and stroked what she couldn't fit in her mouth at the same time.

“Just like that, good girl.” Jackson moaned through the compliment, brushing her hair out of her face. Caressing her flushed cheek, Jackson noted her sigh at the praise he was giving her and kept going. 

“You got it, baby. That feels incredible.” Jackson praised, slack-jawed. “I…I gotta move.”

Jackson coached her through it, this time rocking his hips, and she moved her head in time with him.

“Just like that, good girl.” Jackson moaned and brushed her hair out of her face. Caressing her flushed cheek, Jackson noted her sigh at the praise he was giving her. 

“You got it, baby. That feels incredible.” Jackson praised and let his head drop back on the damp shower tile.

“You’re so… big.” April hummed as she twisted her hand around him.

“And you take me so well.” Jackson moaned when she wrapped her mouth around again.

He didn't expect to last long, not with her like this and tugged at her hair to warn her that he was close to release. April finished him off with her hand, pumping relentlessly until he spilt his seed. It spurted on her chest and stomach in bursts as the lines on his forehead evened out.

He slumped against the wall, and she rose to her feet, laughing when she saw his face.

“Good morning.” Jackson grinned and gathered her closer by looping an arm around her waist.

“You said that already,” April laughed as he nuzzled her nose and his hands wandered. 

“I really mean it,” Jackson chuckled softly before tasting himself on her tongue.

“Sure you do,” April smiled into the kiss as she kept her balance on her toes. Jackson pulled her closer against him. “After that.” 

“Mm uh. Always,” Jackson replied affectionately as he rubbed her back.

When his lips claimed her neck, her pulse thrummed wildly, and she clung to his shoulders. “We should get out of here soon. We have work, you know?”  

“We'll make it in time.” Jackson turned around so her back was against the shower door glass and lifted her legs, dangling at his sides. “Just need to clean up first.”

…

“Fuck, marry, kill. Brooks, go!” Wilson banged her palm on the table.

Brooks jumped awake. She’d been running on fumes and coffee. All of the interns were, but no one wanted to admit to suffering from burnout. “Who, me?”

“Yes, you. Your name is Brooks, isn't it?” Wilson repeated.

“And we already know who she'd fuck.” Ross laughed.

“Shut up!”

“Should have told Karev that last week. He was bragging about your hook-up at the bar.” Ross informed her. “ Guess we know how you got to his surgery now.”

Brooks rolled her eyes but said nothing as Ross laughed and got Murphy to join in. Everyone loved to pick on her, and it'd just make things worse if she said anything. Sleeping with Dr Karev didn't seem like a big deal at the time; they were two consenting adults, but if her skills were going to be called into question, then she would have thought twice about it.

“Whatever.” Brooks rolled her eyes and turned to answer Wilson. “Marry Shepherd and kill Ross. I gotta go.”

Brooks walked out of the locker room and didn't look back.

“Hey. Hey!” Ross called after her, laughing obnoxiously before turning to the rest of them. “Was it something I said?”

“She's gone. Just leave her alone, she's sensitive.” Edwards poked him in the back of the head so he’d sit down.

Ross rolled his eyes. “You can't be a sensitive surgeon.”

“You also can't be stupid,” Edwards replied. “Which you're being right now.”

“Whatever. It's just a game.” Ross said and then turned to Wilson. “I’d fuck, Yang-”

“Ha!” Wilson laughed in his face, and Edwards avoided eye contact, opting to stare ahead at the first row of lockers. 

“What?”

“Like that would ever happen,” Wilson gawked at him, brows raised. 

Shane rolled his eyes. “We're playing a game. She's an option.”

“Only in your dreams,” Edwards muttered, and Wilson offered her hand for her to high-five. 

“You asked me,” Shane replied with a shrug. “It's not like it's completely unattainable. I heard Hunt and her on the rocks.”

“Oh, really?” Stephanie leaned forward at the tidbit. “That's perfect.”

“Why? You want to get into Hunt’s pants.” Wilson tickled her side, and she batted her away playfully. “The guy is so grumpy all the time. He needs it.”

“No. Ew. No,” Edwards’ face crumpled at the very thought of it. “If they're on the outs, then Yang will be throwing herself into her work. I heard she's working on some big research project. If I can get in good with her, show my skills, then maybe she'll ask me to be her assistant.”

Wilson excitedly poked her again. “Oh my gosh, that's…that's…” 

“Sneaky?” Shane offered an adjective.

“No, it's brilliant and I wish I thought of it first. I'm stuck with Grey, and I think she hates me.”

“She hates everyone. I don't see the issue,” Edwards shrugged and then pinched her cheek. “As for your game, I’d kill Hunt, marry Warren and fuck….Avery.”

“Avery? No way.” Wilson gasped as if that was the last person she expected her to pick, while Shane glanced to the side with downturned lips, seemingly upset that she didn't pick him. 

“Absolutely,” Edwards answered, dropping her shoulders on the back of the chair. “On the bed, on the floor, in the shower. Yes to it all!”

Wilson snorted with laughter, and even Murphy joined in from across the table from behind her laptop.

“Well, that's about as realistic as me and Yang hooking up,” Shane grumbled, petulantly sticking out his bottom lip. 

“If that's what helps you sleep at night.” Murphy scoffed and resumed typing as Wilson and Edwards giggled at him.

Shane placed his hands on the table and leaned forward like he had a big secret to share. “I'm serious. Avery's fucking the dud.”

“What?”

“Yup,” Murphy confirmed, peering over her laptop at Edwards. “Per your earlier phrasing, in the on-call rooms, the second-floor supply closet and most recently in the front seat of his car, which was quite revealing.”

The ladies turned to gawk at her while Ross snickered into his styrofoam cup. 

“Don't ask me how I know that last one,” Murphy cleared her throat guiltily. 

“Kepner?” Wilson squawked finally, and Shane jumped at the sharp pitch of her voice. 

“Please, you didn't know?” Murphy kept talking with her hands on the keyboard. “They're always whispering and sneaking off somewhere when they think no one is looking. I was on his service all last week, and he always got a page from her when he finished his meetings at eleven.”

“And she always got one right before I turned my charts at the end of the shift,” Ross added and then tapped his face like he remembered something. 

“Oh yeah,” Murphy laughed and shut her laptop. “And he always came back with the biggest grin on his face. It's so obvious, I don't get why they think no one's figured it out yet.” 

“Probably because no one else cared enough to stalk them to their vehicle,” Shane said teasingly, and Murphy kicked her leg out at his knee, but missed. 

“I guess I just wouldn't have put them together.” Edwards shrugged and picked her magazine back up. “She's so…and he's so… you know?”

“Wow, with a vocabulary like that, Yang’s gonna snatch you up.” Wilson chuckled, but Edwards ignored him.

“You never gave your answer.” 

“Uh, I don't know. Kill Grey, marry Sloan and fuck Hunt, I guess.”

“Hunt? Ugh, wrong answer.” Edwards is shoving her thumb down in the air.

“What do you mean, wrong answer?” Wilson looked at everyone, but they were still laughing. She balled up a tissue and threw it at Murphy. “There are no wrong answers in this game.”

“Well, you just gave one!” 

“Ha ha!”

“Hello!” Bailey’s voice snapped everyone to attention, her figure looming in the open doorway. Murphy shot up out of her chair while Ross lost his footing and fell to the floor in a heap. "We're not paying you to sit on your asses. Get back to work.”

The interns stumbled out, one after the other, as Bailey watched on in thinly veiled glee. 

She still had it.   ….

“Dr Kepner! I have Mr Whitmore’s blood test,” Brooks handed the images to April behind the emergency room desk.

April studied the papers over and nodded. “Okay, everything looks good. You can take him upstairs and get him settled.”

“Okay, great,” Brooks turned around, but stopped at the last second and went back. She couldn't take the teasing any longer and needed some advice. “Can I ask you a question?”

April smiled and stood with her hands in her pockets, happy to have her brain picked about anything related to medicine. “Sure. Fire away. ”

“How do you handle everyone talking about you sleeping with Dr Avery?” Brooks asked sincerely and placed her hands on top of the desk, not noticing the light in April's eyes flicker or her smile strain. “Dr Karev said it wouldn’t be a big deal, but all the other interns keep on reminding me, and it was only one time. It's not like I'm sneaking off every minute like you are!”

Her voice rose an octave at the end, which caused a few of their coworkers to turn around and stare at them. Nearby, a scrub nurse, Lexie, had been talking to giggled behind a raised hand, and April sharply turned away.

“I wouldn't say it's every minute,” April cleared her throat and handed the scans back. “Please file these.”

“Oh, okay,” Brooks frowned and took the scans back under her arm. “But I thought that you were going to-”

“Please!” April shrieked suddenly, and Brooks backed away before running off to do as she had been instructed. 

April plopped back down in the desk chair and tried to look busy at the computer.

“She wasn't too far off base, you know that, right?” Lexie chuckled and sat next to her. 

April gasped. 

“I’m just saying I was cool with you moving back into the house since it's just me now,” Lexie glanced over her shoulder to see the scrub nurse still lingering close to the filing cabinet behind them, eavesdropping. 

She lowered her voice when she spoke again. “You didn't come home. Were you with Jackson last night?”

April narrowed her eyes. She didn't want to lie to her, plus she was a grown woman, and Lexie couldn't punish her. “Yes, we were just catching up. He wanted to show me his apartment.”

“Is that all he showed you?” Lexie asked. 

April shrugged and pretended to type something. “Like I said, we were catching up. Two old friends are just catching up.”

“Ha! You two passed 'just friends' about 20 fucks ago,” Cristina added as she walked past the desk.

“Cristina!” April scolded her as she cackled and ran down the hall.

Lexie snapped her mouth shut, but her laughter escaped in wheezes and squeaks.

“It's not funny.”

“I didn't say anything!” Lexie gasped, and April openly glared at her.

“You were thinking it!”

“Look, it's really not a big deal. People had a lot to say when they found out about me and Mark. We spend too much time here not to talk about everyone else's business. It's just your turn.”

“You mean again.”

“What?”

“You mean it's my turn again.” April turned to her. “Everyone teased me about the virgin thing, and now everyone thinks they can just gossip about my sex life too. It makes me uncomfortable, and I have to focus. I've been given a second chance with my fellowship, and it's important to me, Lexie. I can't mess it up.”

“You won't. Hunt went and got you for a reason. He knows he made a mistake in not hiring you in the first place. You should have seen how it was after you left.”

She wanted to ponder this, but refused to dwell on it. Owen was dedicated to teaching her properly, but in his own way. She doubted anyone else would let her have a level of reign over the trauma department as a new fellow, but she was determined not to let him down.

“You don't have to answer to anyone, especially the interns,” Lexie said, rolling her eyes. 

“I know, but,” April sighed, shaking her shoulders slightly. “I guess I just feel like if I answer their questions, then I'd have to think about what I'm doing and how I'm truly feeling.”

“Oh,” Lexie leaned forward. 

“Oh, what am I even… You used to date him. Should we even be talking about this?” April asked, genuinely confused by her nonchalant attitude.

Lexie tempered her features as it seemed that April wanted to have a serious discussion.

“Jackson took really good care of Mark and the department,” Lexie mentioned, regaining her attention. “It wasn't as awkward as you think it would have been, considering the state of everything. I was a mess but grateful. The least I could do was listen. We talked a lot, actually.”

“Oh,” April chewed on the inside of her cheek. “What about?” 

“You should really ask him,” Lexie replied with a subtle wink as she got up from her chair. 

….

“What do you think, Sofia?” Jackson asked the little girl in front of him, who seemed more preoccupied with trying to roll over backwards with her legs in the air.“You think that your old man can make any progress today?” 

“Don’t bring my kid into this, Avery. You're playing dirty,” Mark accused from his seat.

Jackson laughed and placed his hands on his hips. “So you're admitting that you're up for the challenge?”

Mark waved him off with more strength than he would have been capable of a month ago, which made Jackson feel a certain sense of pride. His recovery had been strenuous but worth it to watch.

“You're standing now, but we gotta get you walking if you want to get discharged in time,” Jackson crouched down to Sofia's level and waited for her to look at him. “Don't you want your Daddy home in time for Christmas?”

Sofia squeaked and laughed at the mention of his, turning around onto her front to clap her hands in front of her father. 

Mark chuckled and eased up slowly to stand, using the bar attached to the wall. “Alright, kid. Let's do this.”

Jackson lifted Sofia from her playpen and into his arms so she could watch from a better view.

“Alright, eyes over here, Sofia,” Mark called out to his daughter. 

She twisted and turned in Jackson’s arms, and he bounced on his feet to settle her down. 

“You sure you don't want me to call Torres back in here?” Jackson asked in concern when he noticed Sloan grit his teeth and sag against the wall. 

“No, no, I got it,” Mark grunted as he put one foot in front of the other. Slow but steady. He inched forward, limping on his weaker leg and using his upper body strength to carry him most of the way, but eventually he made it to the other side to Sofia. 

Sofia clapped her hands again as her father grinned happily back at her. Jackson bounced her around as they cheered him on until Mark felt the need to sit down. 

They walked him back to the wheelchair, and Mark lowered himself down. 

“You look good with a kid, Avery,” Mark smirked at them across the room.

“Me?” Jackson almost laughed as he set Sofia down gently. “I'm hardly ready for that.”

“You sure?” Mark asked and scratched his chin. “From what I hear, you and Kepner are working on it quite vigorously.” 

Jackson choked on air and was deeply thankful that he wasn't holding Sofia at this moment. “I- uh, where did you hear that?”

“I sleep here now so I get all the gossip first-hand,” Mark laughed at him. 

“And you're bringing it now because you want to get into my business?” Jackson raised his eyebrows. 

“I was hoping you'd come to your senses and ask me for some advice.” Mark slapped the stool beside him, and Jackson shook his head but sat down.

“Is this an appropriate conversation to have while your daughter is in earshot?” Jackson tried to stop him, but Sloan's grin deepened. 

“In that case, I'll make this quick. You like wasting time?” Mark asked him.

“I- Excuse me,” Jackson blinked.

“I'm not getting any younger, and I almost died. Twice.” Mark held up two fingers for emphasis as if Jackson couldn't count. 

“- I thought you were giving me the…How is this about you exactly?” Jackson raised his arms.

“I'm watching you make the same mistakes I did,” Mark answered “I know there's something more going on between you two, even before Lexie blabbed about it last week.”

“She said she wouldn't tell anyone!” Jackson's raised voice alerted Sofia, and her little head popped up from the mat.

“Sorry, uh.” Jackson sat down again.

“I'm not just anyone,” Mark chuckled smugly, and this time Jackson did roll his eyes. 

“I did want to tell her how I felt. I asked her to meet me at Joe's, but Jackson rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “I didn't know how, and then she left, and now she's back. I mean, we've been friends for so long that I felt like I was doing the right thing.”

“Is it when it's eating you up inside?” Mark asked him and reached out to pat his shoulder. “Trust me, Avery. You don't want to be the one to leave things when it's too late.” ……

Jackson didn't believe in God or fate or a higher power. However, since Mark had almost died multiple times and fought with all his strength to get back to the other side, he figured that he indeed owed it to himself to try. 

He mustered up some courage to seek April out to have a conversation. He expected to find her eating lunch at the usual table, but when he spotted her, she wasn't alone.

“Taylor,” Jackson said tersely, and April looked up at him. 

“Jackson,” April swallowed quickly but didn't move.

“Oh, hey man,” Matthew greeted him calmly, but even that irked him as if he was the newcomer and he was the intruder. “Want to join us?”

“Uh, no, I actually would like to speak with Dr Kepner,” Jackson motioned to her, successfully maintaining a professional tone of voice. “I need her advice on a consult.”

Mathew narrowed his eyes at him, as if he didn't believe this, but took a sip from his water bottle instead of challenging him.

“Alright,” April stood and pushed the chair out.

They exited the cafeteria and walked the short distance over to the pharmacy entrance, where foot traffic wasn't as frequent. A mother collecting her child's prescription and a few outpatients were their only audience. 

April whirled around and stopped him before he even opened his mouth to speak. “Before you say anything, I just want to say I can't do the casual sex thing, okay,” April started, her hands straight at her sides. “I’m not built for it. Maybe it's the guilt cycle or the fact that I'm used to being alone since the entire male population finds me annoying, but I can't ignore how it makes me feel.”

“April-” Jackson tried to interrupt, but she insisted, putting her arms out to keep him away.

“No, I have to get this out, alright. I thought I could do it. Have sex with you and not think about what it means, but that's literally all I've been doing since I got back here. I think about it. I think about it a lot. More than I should,” April admitted, and he wished that she'd look at him. “Which is crazy because you seem to be just fine, and my brain is just like ‘You're having sex with your best friend and it's amazing, which is awful because you shouldn't be doing this, but you've already broken your promise, so why not? He doesn't care-”

“Hey, what makes you think that I don't care?” Jackson questioned, suddenly offended. “I care 

April paused and then opened her mouth to speak. “Well…I-”

“You’re so sure that I'm not affected by this whole thing, April. And that's not true.” Jackson started to blink rapidly as he struggled to think clearly. “It's been driving me crazy and not just for a couple of weeks. Since that damn night in that hotel room, I wanted to tell you.’

April scoffed, wrapping her arms around herself protectively to defend herself from his accusatory tone. ”Well, there was time. Why didn't you? You had plenty of opportunities to tell me.”

“I wanted to. I tried, but there were the board results. You felt guilty, and I didn't want to make it about me when I was still trying to make sense of things myself,” Jackson said, and she seemed to soften. He moved a step closer.  “I wanted to say something. That's why I asked you to wait for me at Joe's. Kinda thought I'd need some liquid courage to admit I was falling for you.” 

“But then I went home,” April finished with a sigh, reaching for his hand. 

“That messed with my head a little,” Jackson chuckled, but squeezed her hand, holding onto it tightly.

“Is that why you didn't call me?” April implored.

Jackson nodded. “But I thought that you didn't want to see me, let alone hear my voice.”

“Nah, I would've loved it. Sometimes I talked to myself and pretended you were there,” April chuckled softly, and he shook his head.

“I gotta say it was weird not hearing your voice every day,” Jackson said with a half smile. “It was weird being on a 6 am shift with people who were also asleep.”

“Oh, whatever,” April rolled her eyes, but returned his smile with even more enthusiasm. Her dimple popped in her cheek as his gaze lingered over it. “You missed me.”

“I did,” Jackson felt himself leaning in before he realised it. 

She was lost in his eyes and disarmed by his words, but there was still something else they needed to hash out. 

She pulled back at the last second. “Okay, okay, but if we're really gonna do this, then we need to take things slowly.”

“Alright. How slowly?” Jackson questioned.

“Holding off on sex for a while,” April clarified and bit her lip as she waited for him to respond. 

“Okay,” Jackson didn't fill the silence with anything else. “You and I are more than just sex, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy it.”

“I know. I know that.” April ran her hands down his chest. “But we’re going from just friends to friends who have sex to a couple. I just don't want to rush things. Well, more than we already have.”

Jackson nodded his head, seemingly in agreement, but the lines on his forehead showed his contemplation. “Okay, okay if you think that's best.”

“Try not to look so disappointed,” April responded sarcastically.

“Actually, I'm thinking about that thing you did to me in the shower this morning,” Jackson answered, and she nudged him hard in the stomach. “Ow, I'm kidding!” 

“Uh-huh,” April raised her eyebrow, but her lips quivered at one side to dull the sternness of her stare. “Glad to see we’re on the same page with this.” 

“We’re good, but we can still do this, right?” Jackson grinned when he leaned in to kiss her, and she didn't pull away.

“I’d say so.” April grinned back.

“Good to know.” Jackson traced the curve of her bottom lip with his thumb. “What about this?” 

He intended it to be a quick kiss, but she obliged him with the welcome caress of her tongue. The sudden emptiness of the hall and the admission of their feelings heightened the need to give into each other a little more than either of them had planned. 

“Mommy, look! Kissing!” 

They sprang apart to see the young girl from before pointing and laughing at them. Her mother blushed and snatched the paper medication bag from the counter and tugged her along with her other hand. 

“You see,” April gasped as the little girl only repeated her observations louder as she was pulled away. “You're gonna get us in trouble.”

“Hey! You were a willing participant,” Jackson reminded her with a sly grin. He noticed she didn't untangle herself from him as speedily as she usually did when they were around each other in public. 

He smiled when her hand found space on his back, and she bit her lip. “Can you really blame me?”

Jackson leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Guess not…”

“Seriously, I should go,” April laughed, but began to pull away. 

“Wait, I have one more question.” Jackson drew her back towards him.

The alcohol burned as it went down her throat. She sat the shot glass down on the table and threw her arms over her head as Cristina and Izzie cheered her on. She felt a pair of delicate strong arms wrap around her waist and bring her closer. She giggled and turned her head to receive the sloppy kiss that Addison had come over to give her. "Our omega is very pretty," the alpha slurred.

"I know," she laughed in reply. It was amazing to her that she was still so close to her party years around college that she could handle her liquor much better than these doctors that had been drinking for longer than her.

"Do you wanna go out to the car with me? I wanna show you all the things that our pretty boy does to us," Addison giggled as her hands went exploring down her lover's front.

Cristina made fake vomiting noises as she walked away from the two of them to get another drink. Izzie let out a mournful little whimper as she slouched over the table they had been drinking at. She mumbled something about wanting a mate of her own into the wood.

"I don't think that's a great idea, Addy," she chuckled, running her fingers to the now short locks of her mate. "Why don't you go and show our omega how pretty you think he is?"

"Mm, yeah, good plan," she nodded before she drunkenly stumbled back to where Derek was sitting, blinking amusedly at their other alpha mate.

Meredith reached over and rubbed gentle circles on the blond omega's back as she continued to whine and lament her lack of a love or sex life. "I mean," Izzie huffed as she turned her head to the side so her words could actually be heard, "I modeled to get through school! I should have people throwing themselves at me left and right. You're dark and twisty inside and you have three mates. How is that fair? Alex is Evil Spawn and he has a mate and a pup on the way!"

"Well, you had a chance with Alex and you threw it away for Denny," Meredith reasoned. Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, because a mournful sob then erupted from the omega's mouth. "Okay, well, I'm going to leave you here and go find Cristina so you don't kill my buzz."

"Yeah, okay. I'm going to text George so he'll make me feel better," she sniffled, now unable to stop the tears from falling.

Meredith had gotten halfway across the bar when she heard something that made her stop moving altogether. The voice of her half sister, who she had desperately been trying to avoid for the better part of this year, rang in her ears. The beta turned to see the tiny omega folded in on herself so that her mating gland was squeezed against her shoulder and inaccessible. Her hands were up in front of her defensively and she was forced up against a wall by the person that was harassing her. "Stop, please stop! I said no," Lexie called. 

She took a step closer to her half-sister, trying to see what was happening and what she could do to stop it. The smell of distressed omega was already beginning to spread across the bar. Mark noticed what was happening and left a very drunk Addison in the hands of Derek. He stood next to Meredith, barely able to contain the growl of protection in the back of his throat as he watched what was happening.

"You can't say no to me," the alpha standing above her little sister growled down at her, releasing a scent that made Meredith, a beta, want to vomit.

She charged forward, placing a hand on his shoulder and growling darkly. "Get your hands off of her."

The alpha turned on her then, giving Lexie time to dart away from him and into Mark's open arms. She was crying, her shoulders shaking with the force of her sobs. "You can't tell me what to do. She's my courting partner and an omega, so she has to do whatever I want her to. You're just a beta, there's nothing that you can do to me."

"Excuse me? Lexie is a human being, if she says no to you then you can be charged with sexual assault," Meredith snarled.

"That's bullshit. We all know that alphas are just looking out for the best interests of the omega," he smirked as he growled at her again.

The blond responded with a growl so fierce that he actually stopped releasing his scent to try and intimidate her. "I'm her pack leader, so she's actually my responsibility and I don't want you fucking with what's mine to protect! You will leave this bar right now and never talk to her again. Do you understand me?" Cristina, her pack second, had moved to stand by her side and growl darkly as well.

"She wasn't that good of a lay anyway," he grumbled as he turned and stormed out of the bar. 

Mark carefully led the little omega in his arms over to the booth that they had been sitting at. Meredith and Cristina shot a look at the other bar patrons, causing them to look away and go back to their own drinks. When they were all back in the booth, Lexie pulled away from Mark despite how evident it was that she was touch starved and wanted affection from potential pack mates. She wiped at her face but the tears refused to stop coming. "Thank you for making him go away. I know that you don't like me very much but I think that would have gone a lot worse if you didn't step in. Um, I'll just, I'll go now. Thanks again."

"Lexie, wait," Meredith said, catching her sister's elbow and bringing her back. "I meant what I said. You really are my little sister and a member of my pack. I didn't realize it until now since we already spent so much time together at the hospital, but I do want to keep you safe. You don't have to accept the pack invite, and we should probably wait to talk to everyone when they're sober, but I would feel better if you came back to the pack house and slept there for tonight at least."

The brown-haired beta glanced at Cristina, who just shrugged. "I think you're intelligent but you're definitely in need of some people to keep you safe. I trust that Meredith will only bring the best into our pack," the alpha answered.

"You need some people to look out for you, kid," Mark nodded in agreement. "I know it's not common for adults to have family members in their back but you and Mer didn't grow up together so it's a little different."

"I, um, I'll think about it. For now I really do need a place to stay. I'm being kicked out of my apartment so my landlord can sell it," she admitted, sniffling again.

"Come on, I'm taking you back to the house. You can have some pumpkin bread and then go to sleep in a warm, clean bed," Mark said, his paternal senses in overdrive.

"I will make you so much pumpkin bread, or chocolate zucchini bread," Izzie said drunkenly as she wrapped her arms around the other omega to comfort her. Lexie giggled as she leaned back into the other doctor, releasing her old book scent. She let herself be led away by the people that had basically just become her new pack members to be taken care of.

She pushed the door to the residents lounge open and then walked over to where Jackson was working at one of the tables. She tried to hide the smile on her face as she set down the candybar in front of the papers that the beta was working on. He smiled when he caught sight of the brown-haired omega. He reached out and picked up the candybar and then asked, "What's this for?"

"Well, two things," she giggled as she sat down on the chair on the other side of the table. "One, it's a thank you for helping me out the other day when my dad showed up. I know that I pretty much overreacted to it and my response was kind of uncalled for. Second, it's a potential courting gift." She felt her cheeks turn a little bit red once she finished.

Jackson opened his mouth as he looked down at the candy and then back up at her. He felt a smile begin to cross his face and then he nodded. "If you want to be my courting partner then I'm all for it. I'd love to court you or date you."

She smiled so hard that her cheeks hurt. She got up and then tilted his chin up before she pressed their lips together in an adoring kiss. He reached up and then cupped the back of her head to bring her a little bit closer. The omega let out a little giggle when his other hand moved to her hips and brought her down onto his lap. Lexie then threw her arms around his neck so that she could keep them as close as they could be.

"We should not have our first time having sex be in the resident's lounge," she whispered, breaking the kiss just as his hands began to wander a bit further down.

He turned his head to the side and bit back a little whine. "You're right. I hate that you're right, but you are," he sighed. He leaned forward and then gave her another brief kiss before he released her from his lap. She smiled at him, her cheeks still a beautiful color of pink as she walked from the resident's lounge, almost running directly into her pack leader and sister as she went on her way.

Meredith turned and looked after the young omega while she walked away. She then turned to look at the beta, her eyes intense. "What did you do to my sister?"

"I didn't do anything to your sister," he shook his head. "I helped her a couple of days ago when your dad was in the hospital and she came and gave me a courting gift."

"Did you make her cry?" she asked, a little bit hostile.

Jackson blinked at her for a moment. "No! I said yes. We're courting," he gestured at Meredith with the candybar that Lexie had brought him. "Why would you think that I'd make her cry?"

"I just saw that her face was red and she didn't stop to say hi or anything," Meredith replied. "I thought that she'd be freaking out a little bit since I had the baby so recently."

Jackson just cleared his throat as he shifted in his chair. He didn't want to tell her brand new girlfriend's pack leader and older sister what they had been doing and why she was so flustered. Meredith took his silence as a moment to intimidate him. She walked forward and then placed her hands on his shoulders so that he was forced to turn his head and look up at her. "I'm glad that Lexie has finally found someone that will be kind to her and treat her well since all of her exes are garbage, but that being said if you do hurt her or upset her I will not hesitate to make sure that you feel every ounce of pain you give her plus some. Beta to beta," she gave him a tight smile before she released him and then grabbed her lab coat from her locker. Jackson didn't even say anything as she left the resident's lounge and he was left completely by himself.

He smiled after the redheaded omega as she walked further into the hospital so that she could attend to her next patient. He turned around and then felt his heart jump into his throat in panic for just a moment. He calmed down when he saw that it was his mentor instead of the pack leader that he had been trying to avoid for a while. "You good, Avery?" Mark asked, raising a brow at him.

"Of course," he nodded, clearing his throat before he turned back to the chart in his hands. They existed in the same space as the alpha looked over the surgery board and Jackson continued to make notes about the patient he was caring for.

After a moment, Lexie quickly walked over to them. She grasped his hand and threaded their fingers together, "Hey Jackson! Can I talk to you for a second?"

He glanced towards Mark and the alpha made a motion towards them to get them to leave. Jackson then turned back to his courting partner and they began to walk away from the alpha. "So, what's going on with you and April?"

"Excuse me?" Jackson asked, his voice breaking with panic. "Nothing. What made you think that there was something going on with April and I?"

She turned so that they were standing while facing each other. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously and she began to search over her face. "That's too bad, because there totally should be something going on between the two of you," she shrugged.

"Wha- excuse me?" Jackson asked, having to chase after her when she darted down the hall. He knew Lexie pretty well since they had been hanging out for some time before they started courting each other. That meant that he knew she was hiding something that she wanted to tell him and wasn't feeling confident enough to yet. He reached out and grabbed the omega's arm just as she moved into the empty skills lab. "Lexie, you have to tell me what's going on in that beautiful head of yours," he whispered as he trailed one of his hands over her temple.

She glanced over to April, who was so focused on completing her lab that she hadn't even noticed that they had come in. "I want to bring April into our relationship. She's already in my pack and I really like her, and I think that you like her too."

"Of course I like her. She's one of the most adorable and compassionate people I've ever met. She's also not that bad looking," Jackson chuckled. He made sure that he kept his voice low while his eyes darted over to where the redhead was working diligently in the corner.

"So you wouldn't be mad if I brought her into our relationship? We could both court her and see if we could work with her," Lexie smiled.

Jackson looked over his omega for a moment. He had a couple of worries in the back of his head about how he, as someone that didn't have an estrus, was going to be able to please two omegas in heat, and if he would be able to handle being in Meredith's pack. Just seeing how excited and eager she was to ask out the other omega, let those thoughts drift out of his mind in a brief second. "Okay," he nodded. "Let's do it."

She let out a small squeal, her eyes flickering over to where April was sitting. She brought out a small stuffed pig from her pocket and handed it over to Jackson. In her own hands she had a palm sized stuffed rabbit. She then grabbed her beta's hand as she tugged him over to the corner where April was. "Hey! Do you have a second?"

"Give me just a moment," the redhead murmured as she finished tugging the thread through the silicone she had been working with. She then snipped it with the scissors next to her and looked up at them. "Hey! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, or well, it should be," Lexie giggled as she adjusted the stuffed animal in her hand. "We, um," her cheeks turned bright red and she glanced towards her courting partner in the hopes that he would help her.

Jackson placed a hand on her back but kept his eyes towards the other omega. "We were hoping that you would consider courting us," he finished for Lexie.

"Oh," April's cheeks turned red and she smiled widely. "I would- I would love that," she nodded. "Are you sure that you want me, though?"

Lexie nearly shoved the bunny at her before she continued, "Of course we want you. You're so sweet and cute and I know that everyone else tells you that you're annoying but honestly I just think that you're spirited and know who you are. I also know that it's not common for omegas to give other omegas courting gifts but I wanted to make it kind of official and get you one and I'm rambling because I feel nervous."

April giggled as she took the stuffed bunny. She brushed her fingers over the soft fur on the ears. "Thank you, this is so sweet," she cooed. The beta then took the moment to hand her the stuffed animal Lexie had provided for him and April literally chirped as she took it. "Thank you so much," she glanced between them both.

"I know that you don't want to have sex until you're mated and married, but is it okay if I kiss you?" Jackson asked, placing his hands into his lab coat pockets so that he didn't do anything impulsively.

Her cheeks turned a little bit pinker but then she nodded. The beta cupped the back of her neck as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. Once they had broken apart, Lexie snuck a kiss onto their new courting partner's lips as well.

"I think that we should mate during this heat," Lexie said absentmindedly. She was sitting on the floor of their bedroom with the study cards that her partners were using for their boards scattered around her. 

"But we're not married," April said. She was leaning back on their bed with a couple of cards in her hands that she was shuffling through.

"April," Jackson sighed as he leaned back on the bed so that she fell into his side. "I know that you wanted to get married first but none of us have enough money to put in a big wedding like Izzie and Callie did."

"It doesn't have to be a big wedding, just a little one," April whined. "Something with our pack and a priest and that's it."

Lexie dropped the cards that she had been using and then crawled up on the bed. She dropped down so that she was on the other side of April and wrapped her arms around the other woman's waist. She pressed a kiss to the redhead's shoulder. "We could do something like that. Maybe we could get a priest and then page everyone down to the hospital chapel and be married there."

"You want to be married in the same place that people go to pray that their friends and family don't die?" Jackson asked, raising a brow at his girlfriend.

She flushed a little bit, hiding her face away in April's hair. "I didn't mean it like that. I just thought that it would be easier to get them there than it would be to get them to an actual chapel or anyone to city hall."

"We can ask Mark to come and be our witness when we get married. But you two have to give me a date because polyamorous marriages are messy when it comes to paperwork," the beta said as he looked them both over.

The redhead let out an excited squeal as she wiggled free from Lexie's arms and flung her arms around Jackson. She pressed their lips together for just a moment before she rubbed their necks together and covered the beta in the smell of bergamot, which blended perfectly with his own ocean spray scent. Lexie giggled as well, pushing her head closer to them both and then covering them in her own old book scent.

They had gotten married a week before the boards and a month before the omegas went into heat. Mark and Meredith tagged along to their wedding as the witnesses, but everyone was waiting to celebrate with them when they came back. They didn't have enough money for a honeymoon either, so they just drank with their friends and went back to their routines.

Finally, they were getting ready to all have sex with each other and become mates. Lexie and April had already been sent home on estrus leave, Jackson was just getting home. Everyone other than Arizona, Callie, George, and Alex were all too close to having mates with kids to go into estrus so there weren't a lot of scents today. All of the rooms were also scent proofed, just to be safe during estrus season and when pups were being born.

Jackson was able to get up to the room that he was staying in with his mates just in time to see the two omegas finish with their nests. April nervously clambered into the circle of blankets and pillows that she had made, toying with the edge of her shirt. Lexie just walked over to him with a happy chirp. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders while their lips connected together in a kiss.

The beta responded by placing his hands on her ass in such a way that he lifted her up. She hooked her legs around his waist so that he was holding her while walking them towards her nest. "Can I get in?" he asked April, Lexie nibbling on his neck while her temperature began to rise since her heat was really setting in.

"Please," the omega whimpered, the red in her cheeks standing out more when her eyes flickered closed.

He felt his stomach tighten up as he began to worry about how he was going to handle both of these omegas without being in an estrus himself, especially since they were mating after the heat had started instead of before. If they had mated before, like he was hoping they would have, then their heats would have been a lot less so that they wouldn't have possibly gotten hurt since he couldn't knot them.

Jackson snapped out of his thoughts and worries when he heard April whine on the bed. He moved Lexie so that she was sitting on the inside of the nest as well. Before he got in himself, he grabbed a dildo out of the drawer next to them. "Lex, I need to take care of April first, okay? I'll be with you as soon as I can, but I know you know how to take care of yourself," he said softly as he passed the dildo over.

She was still coherent enough that she was able to understand what her omega mate needed. Jackson fished two false knots from the drawer as well, though he kept them on the nightstand instead of passing them over. He got into the nest after shedding the few clothes that he was wearing. April was on him in a second, ridding herself of her own clothes while mumbling about how hot she was and how they were hurting her skin.

As soon as she was naked, Jackson brought her up onto his lap so that she was straddling his hips. He reached down and caressed her dripping wet cunt while he distracted her with his mouth. She whimpered at first, nervous, but then began to moan and rock into his fingers as he brushed the pad of his forefinger against her clit. "Is it okay if I enter you, baby?" he asked softly against her lips.

"Please, please, please, beta, I need you," she whispered. Her hips continued to rut down onto his hand, and she let out a distressed whine when what she had been using to pleasure herself was removed entirely. Jackson wiped his hands on the blanket next to them before he moved them up so that he was holding onto her hips.

"Okay, this might hurt baby," he murmured as he raised her up so that she was kneeling around him instead of sitting. He carefully moved his cock around so that it was on the edge of her opening before he pressed carefully into her. She was so heavily into her heat that the pleasure overwhelmed her urge to be embarrassed about this being her first time having sex. As soon as the head was entirely inside of her, she dropped down entirely so that the cock was nestled deep inside of her cunt. She mewled and threw her head back while her nails dug into his back and shoulders.

Jackson groaned in pleasure as he felt her wet, hot cunt wrapping tightly around him. He leaned forward and then licked all the way up her neck. She shuddered, her cunt clenching around him a couple of times. Jackson then bit into her mating gland as hard as he could so that he broke the tough skin.

"Jackson!" she cried out, orgasming around him due to the rush of happy chemicals and pleasure that came with being mated.

"Holy fuck, holy fuck," he shouted in response. He had to tighten his grip on her hips and make a conscious effort to keep from orgasming. He had only just mated her, he had to make sure that he was able to keep her sated during the rest of her heat.

Soon, the omega on his lap began to rut against the hard cock inside of her again. She began to lick up and down his mating gland for a moment before she bit into the gland as well. She had to bite a couple of times until she actually got it. Jackson groaned into her neck and fucked up into her once before he was orgasming deep inside of her.

Once he finished striping her insides with his thick white seed, he pulled out of her and then carefully worked in the fake knot. April let out a little whine that it wasn't him inside of her anymore, but the silicone toy nestled in her was keeping her temperature down enough that she wouldn't lapse into an overheated cold spell.

"Hey baby, how are you doing?" Jackson asked as he moved over to Lexie. She was on her hands and knees with one arm wrapped around her while she plunged the dildo he had given her into herself over and over again.

"Need you, want you, want to be mated by you," she whispered into the blankets of the nest. 

"You're going to get me, you'll be okay," he whispered. He stroked his cock again and thanked whatever being that made them that the heat pheromones let him get turned on again faster than he would have without them. Once he was hard he pulled her hand away from where she was fucking herself. The dildo slipped slowly out of her cunt and then tumbled down onto the bed. 

Jackson grabbed her hips so that she was sitting on his thighs. Lexie rocked back on his cock over and over before she was able to catch it in her cunt and then quickly pushed herself back onto it. As soon as he was inside of her, she collapsed back against his chest and exposed her neck to him. Jackson licked up the scent gland before he bit into it like he had with April.

She mewled and began to quiver as she orgasmed around him. "Oh, beta," she whimpered. 

"I've got you, just let it out, you're so good," he praised as he reached one hand up to pet her hair while the other held onto her waist so that she wouldn't fall. "Tell me what you want, beautiful."

"I want your cum, please, please, fuck," she chanted as she already began to ride him again. "Jackson, please," she pleaded.

The beta grabbed her thighs and then quickly and expertly moved them around so that she was laying on her back in the nest and he was on his hands and knees above her. He moved down so that his forearms were pressed flat against the bed on either side of his head. His neck was available to her, so she quickly began to lick up and down his scent gland before she bit the spot above April's mark.

Jackson groaned as he began to fuck into her a little bit harder. He only allowed himself to orgasm after she had cummed around him again. He fucked his cock forward so that he was balls deep while he began to shot ropes of white cum deep inside of her. As soon as the barrage of hormones had washed out of his system enough for him to think, he inserted the second synthetic knot into her so that the cum was stuck inside of her cunt.

"That was nice," Lexie said tiredly as she began to fall down into a cold spell. Her heat didn't seem to be anywhere near as aggressive as April's, which reassured him a little about how the rest of their estrus session would go.