Amber Karev

April gasps in wonder, “Hi baby boy. Oh, wow look at you; you look just like your daddy.”

“And with your mommy’s eyes to boot.” Jackson croons to his blanket wrapped baby brushing a finger over his soft cheek, “Is it just me or does he look like…”

April knows what’s causing him to pause and nods, “He looks just like his brother did when he was born.”

Jackson feels a ping in his heart at the reminder of what they lost, “I wish Samuel was here to meet his baby brother.”

“Me too.” April kisses the top of their baby’s head, “We’re gonna tell you and your sister all about your big brother someday. And no matter where you go your gonna know that we love all three of you with all of our hearts.”

“And we’re never gonna forget.” Jackson promises with tears in his eyes, “We can move on and smile and laugh but that doesn’t mean all of you kids aren’t the first thing we think about when we wake up and the last before we go to sleep.”

The couple continue to stare at their baby with smiles and tears overcome with emotions. Jackson wondered if holding another son would be triggering for them but now he sees he was wrong. It wasn’t bringing up painful memories; it was a reminder of what they loved even if it was only for a short time. It was a bittersweet pill to swallow but one he’s gladly taking once he laid eyes on their healthy son.

April smiles up at Jackson, “We still need a name. I choose the last two so this one is yours, do you have any ideas?”

Jackson grins at the name he had set for months now, “…Mark, I want his name to be Mark.”

April’s eyes widen in surprise, “You want to name him Mark? After Sloan?”

“Yeah. I’ve had the idea ever since we looked at that photo in the nursery and traded memories about him.” He looks down at the baby who blissfully sleeps while his parents talk, “And when we found out he unknowingly got us together I knew I owed him for life. So, I decided the best way to do that is to name our son after him, that way he can be named after a great man who’s the reason he exists in the first place. If you’re okay with that of course, I’m not married to it.”

April grins tearing up at her husband, “It’s perfect. Mark Avery, it’s got a nice ring to it.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Jackson agrees as well playing with their son’s tiny hand, “Yeah Mark Avery that’s you little man. You’re gonna be a rock star trauma surgeon with a cool name like that.”

“Or a member of the infamous Plastics Posse.” April chuckles at the silly moniker.

“The middle name is yours like we agreed.” Jackson reminds his wife, “Do you have any ideas?”

April smiles, “Alexander.”

He chuckles dryly, “Oh god Karev is never gonna shut up when he finds out our son is named after him.”

“Different Alex honey.” Jackson furrows his eyebrows before remembering another Alex in their life, “I would name him Alexandra or Lexie, but I don’t think he would ever forgive us so if Karev tries to take credit you have my permission to punch him again.”

“Are you sure?” Jackson asks surprised by her name choice.

“I can’t think of two greater people I want our son to be named after.” She confirms before he grins and kisses her sweetly, “But don’t tell your mother I said that, she’ll never forgive me.”

Jackson chuckles kissing her again, “Our little secret.”

April grins sweetly at him before slightly frowning as a thought comes to her head, “He’s gonna ask us where we got his name from you know that right?”

Jackson gives a bittersweet grin, “I know and I’m gonna tell him all about the man who helped me get to where I am today and the woman who was taken from us before becoming the fantastic surgeon, she was supposed to be.”

His grin begins to fall and he looks at the baby with a somber expression. It’s a day that reminds him of what’s gained but it’s also a reminder of what he’s lost, of who he’s lost. April recognizes his expression and knows what’s running through his head giving him a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.

“I know.”

Jackson sighs, “I can’t believe he’s not here for this. If he knew we named our son after him he would be over the moon declaring himself the Godfather.”

“And we’d let him be his actual Godfather just to get him to stop bugging us.” April shares jokingly before speaking with a longing for a moment that will never come, “And there wouldn’t be a moment we would regret that choice.”

Mark Avery opens his eyes looking up at both of his parents who gaze at him in wonder.

Despite his fears Jackson wanted Harriet to have what he didn’t growing up, a little brother or sister to play with. He also acknowledges that as heart wrenching it was to watch his son die, he wouldn’t trade the little time they had as a family for anything. And he wants his new life with his family to grow and their love to expand.

Now they’re in what used to be a storage room at their five-bedroom Tudor revival looking at paint on the wall that April eagerly picked out. Jackson would let her have free range of the room as long as it has a chair and bed, but his wife wants his opinion.

“Um…” He struggles with the choice fearing it’ll be the wrong one, “Blue.”

April furrows her eyebrows at him, “Really? I would go with the gray owl it’s very soothing and calm to look at.”

Jackson is stumped as a man whose only knowledge of interior design is a few HGTV episodes when he was channel surfing.

“Which one is the owl? Is it the one that looks like fungus or vomit?” April glares at his choice of words, “Hey you wanted my opinion, I told you I’ll support however you decide to decorate the room just as long as the essentials are here.”

“This is gonna be our baby’s room, we should do this together it’s what normal parents do.”

“Normal parents don’t come home after 12 hours of slicing and sewing human bodies. In fact I think that’s what gets CPS on the phone.”

April chuckles, “If you’re not gonna pick the color or the furniture you can at least help me get some of these boxes out of here so we can make room.”

“Tell you what I will take all of these boxes to the other room and assemble the furniture if you never ask my opinion for paint and anything else that you can Skype Arizona for.”

April sighs at the cop out but knows it’s probably for the best, “Fine but you don’t get to complain when I send you to the store for emergency ice cream.”

“Since when is ice cream an emergency?”

“Since I got cravings from carrying your baby, he’s demanding rocky road and lots of it.”

“At least our son has good taste, just like his old man.” Jackson gives a quick kiss to April’s belly before moving to the stacks of boxes in the corner. He opens the first at the top and pulls the bubble wrap out exposing the contents.

The first sight inside the box freezes Jackson for a moment before chuckling and grinning sadly, “Oh wow.”

“What?” April asks moving towards him to see what is inside the box.

He pulls out a framed picture of him and his dear mentor, Mark Sloan, who has his arm around him giving a thousand-watt smile to the camera. Both men were wearing funny hats with Jackson wearing a sash that said ‘OFFICIALLY A DOCTOR’ and grinning embarrassed at the attention. The background shows them at Joe’s Bar where he and Mark went to celebrate Jackson passing his boards.

April smiles as a bittersweet aura passes both of them, “When was this?”

“It was after I passed my boards.” Jackson explains grinning despite the grief panging his heart, “He insisted I go out with him that night even when all I wanted was to go home and pass out. He threatened to bury me in scut until I start my fellowship if I didn’t go to Joe’s. I went and it was a surprise party Mark single handedly organized, and by that I mean he got decorations from the dollar store and paid for everybody’s round.”

April chuckles at the extravagant plastic surgeon, “He even paid Joe to take like 80 photos of us that night while we got drunk. I was ready to double that so no photos would be taken but Mark told me that documenting important moments like these immortalize them and that I’ll be grateful to have something to look back on…it turns out he was right like always.”

Jackson sniffles and wipes a tear that escapes his eye socket. April sees the pain he’s in and rubs his back in circles sniffling as well, feeling her eyes watering.

“You know before Webber married my mom; he was the closest thing I had to a father figure. The guy did more for me than my own biological dad ever did. I just wish he could be here so I can tell him that and let him know…let him know I wouldn’t be where I am without him there to bug me and lift me up when I needed it.”

“I know you were closer to him than I was, but I want you to know I miss him too.” The couple look at the photo like it’s a portal to all of their memories with the man who mattered to so many even when he felt he was a nuisance.

April laughs suddenly wiping her cheeks of ongoing tears as a memory makes her smile, “You know that he tried to convince me to sleep with you?”

Jackson is astonished hearing this for the first time facing her with wide eyes, “Excuse me?”

“Yeah.” She confirms with a smile, “You were really stressed about the boards, and he tried to encourage me to take your mind off it by taking off your pants. He never actually said it but with Mark Sloan he didn’t need to and I was absolutely mortified saying he was sexually harassing me and he claimed it was sexual encouragement.”

“Oh my god I am so sorry.” Jackson says despite the smile escaping him.

“No, it’s fine it’s one of those ‘we’ll look back and laugh someday’ moments.” April looks at the photo in gratitude, “You know what he kind of put the idea in my head because I actually did sleep with you right after when we took our boards…so in a way I have to thank him.”

Jackson grins before a memory comes to his mind, “You know the day you and Matthew were gonna get married I thought of Mark. I thought about what he told me before he died. He told me that if I loved someone like he loved Lexie, I should tell them, no matter what the cost. His words were ringing in my ears that day and I tried to pretend like everything was fine. I really tried to pretend like I was okay with you marrying another man right in front of me. I had no intention of standing up that day doing something I would regret…but I also know if I didn’t say anything I would regret that too. It was right there I took his advice and stood up declaring my love for you even at the possibility it would wreck everything. I needed you to know right then and there that I loved you, that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I wanted you and the world to know I don’t care how selfish it would make me look, you needed to know you were the one and only person for me.”

Jackson sees that she is surprised as well as moved by this story she’s hearing for the first time. It’s the same face she had the day he told her he loved her, it was a face stunned silent with love.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that?”

He shrugs, “I guess it was really hard to talk about him back then. I never stopped thinking about him and there were times I wished he was there for all of the important moments of my life, of our life.”

“Me too.” April sighs at the possibilities, “I wish he and Lexie were around. I’d like to think they would go on double dates with us, get married together and raise our kids together. It was really hard to imagine my life without the two of them here, watching them avoid their inevitable true love until finally they lived happily ever after with us.”

Jackson nods looking at the picture once more, “I miss her too, I would have her in my life in any way just as long as she was in it. Plus let’s be honest I never had a chance with her; I knew it even if she didn’t. At first, I was pissed but now I know it was for the best for both of us, her heart belonged to Sloan all along. She was the love of his life and he was hers.”

April nods in agreement and Jackson asks, “Do you think they found each other? In the afterlife I mean, do you think they’re having their happily ever after up there instead of here?”

“I think so. I mean I know they were the love of each other’s life, but who says love has to stop after that? I really think that when it came to those two nothing was gonna keep them apart, in life and death.”

Jackson feels bittersweet at that statement, “I really wish he was there when Harriet and Samuel were born. I really wish he was here for this baby. The kids would have loved him and he would have spoiled all of them rotten.”

“Oh he would have been their favorite uncle.” April agrees with a smile, “And he would have teamed them up against us and we’d be on the losing side.”

Jackson chuckles at that image, “One hundred percent. And you know he would lord it over us that he was the reason those kids existed to begin with and we’d get tired of hearing it.”

“It’s not exactly an exaggeration, is it?” She pointed out, “I mean you said it yourself he was the reason you stood up when I was about to marry another man and he planted the seed that got us started. Do you think it was all a coincidence? Or do you think he somehow knew before we did that we had a love as great and powerful as his and Lexie’s?”

Jackson thinks for a moment looking at Mark’s face in the picture, “I think Mark Sloan was a person who could never mind his own damn business. And it was for the best because a lot of great things got started because of him. This family is one of many.”

April grins placing her head on his shoulder looking at the photo with him. He continues to look at the goofy smile of his dear friends face that he misses every day.

“What color is your dress?” Jo Wilson asks Amber Karev as they walk down the park carrying their own cups of coffee. The intern sips her Americano carrying her dry cleaner bag over her shoulder that contains her dress for tonight.

“Red. I wanted to do black, but I figured I’d entertain my boyfriend for the night and pretend this isn’t a fake holiday we’re celebrating.”

“You’re such a romantic.” Jo chuckles at her future sister-in-law, “What are your plans for tonight?”

“I don’t know, Andrew said it’s a surprise and to meet him outside in my dress.” She muses in half worry, “Honestly I’ll be happy with a cheeseburger on a plate over a candlelight he should know that by now.”

“He wants to celebrate Valentine’s Day right, now that he has a girlfriend and like it or not, you’re that person. A lot of girls would be happy their boyfriend’s got them a card meanwhile yours is planning surprise dates and your both residents that is serious dedication right there.”

“No I know I shouldn’t complain and I’m not it’s just…” Amber struggles to find her words, “It’s usually a few months in they leave when they get a glimpse at the dark side that is my personality and I adjust back to single life. It’s been seven months and he hasn’t run not even when he found out my brother is the same guy that beat him up. Most guys would run at full speed after that but not him no he just stays and showers me with great sex and Italian cooking.”

Jo furrows her eyebrows perplexed, “And that’s a bad thing because…?”

“Because the longer he stays the more anxious I get for the other shoe to drop.” Amber groans, “I mean have you seen him?”

“Today?”

“No, I mean have you laid eyes on him?”

Jo chuckles amused, “He is hot yeah you struck gold.”

“No, I hit the lotto.” The pair enter the building, “I mean he’s sweet, he listens, he plays guitar, he’s amazing in bed and he looks like he stepped out of a Men’s Health magazine. He could have any woman he wants literally he could walk into a fashion runway and pick a model so what is he doing with me?”

“Am I supposed to answer or listen while you spiral?”

“Ugh what am I doing coming to you with this? You wouldn’t get it your engaged now and left the rest of us single women to gripe.”

“Ah gripe!” Jo smiles to Amber’s confusion, “Maybe that’s why he’s with you because who needs a dictionary when he can date you.”

“Shut up.” Amber chuckles and looks up to find her boyfriend approaching her clad in his scrubs.

“Hey Happy Valentine’s Day.” Andrew greets with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. Amber smiles back with Jo next to her observing the couple.

“Happy Lupercalia Day.”

Andrew furrows his eyebrows confused, “Um what?”

Amber explains, “Lupercalia it’s the real Valentines Day celebrated in pagan tradition. The St. Valentine thing is just evolved from that event. It was a pagan ritual where the men of the town ran down the streets naked beating unmarried or infertile women because they thought it would cure them of their ‘illness’. And then they would sacrifice a dog or a goat so the pagan priests could bathe in the blood while laughing.”

Andrew and Jo look disturbed by this dark historical lesson with Amber explaining, “I did a report on Valentine’s Day for 5th grade, and I read up on it at the library. For some reason the teacher sent me to a counselor after school.”

“I can think of a couple of reasons why.” Jo says under her breath before speaking to Andrew to change the subject, “So Amber tells me you have big plans tonight, are you gonna tell us what they are?”

“Telling you would spoil the surprise but don’t worry it’s not gonna be a dog sacrifice. At least not tonight.” Amber grins, “I get off at 6 what about you?”

“Schedule says 6 but you know how intern year is, odds are I’m gonna get called in for the night.”

“Well luckily for you, your future sister-in-law is the chief resident, and I say you’re off the hook.” Jo chimes in to Amber’s annoyance, “She will see you tonight and don’t you be late or I will bury you in scut.”

“Meet you out front at 7?” Andrew asks hopeful of a peaceful night unaware of the inner dilemma his girlfriend is keeping to herself.

She smiles at him keeping up appearances to spare his feelings, “Yeah I should be ready by then, I’ll meet you right outside by then.”

“Great I can’t wait. I’ll see you tonight.” He kisses her goodbye and walks away to go to work.

Amber narrows her eyes at Jo who grins innocently, “Come on I needed to do something after that whole dog sacrificing speech. By the way it’s not a great conversation starter for Valentine’s Day.”

“Lupercalia Day.” Amber corrects, “And there is a reason I never celebrate February 14th, it’s a test whether the relationship lasts or not. All of that pressure and anxiety is suffocating, and I don’t need that with my panic attacks. I don’t want to upset Andrew if I don’t react the right way and I don’t want to be disappointed after he built up the suspense.”

“Oh, come on it might not be bad, and he knows you’re not high maintenance, so he won’t do anything over the top.”

Amber groans still antsy over tonight causing Jo to look at her in sympathy, “Okay how about we spend the rest of the day in the ER stitching up people? Maybe some blood and guts will ease your worries.”

“God that is depressing.” Amber reflects before shrugging it off, “but so is Valentines Day, let’s go.”

After two hours of stitching and labs Amber feels less relaxed than she was this morning. She wonders if it’s a reaction from her anxiety or a defense mechanism from being hardened by bad relationships in the past. It’s precisely why she avoids this fake holiday all together.

The intern draws back the curtain greeting a young couple talking in low voices. The young man in his late 20’s is sitting up in bed with an expression towards the doctor like she’s slowly coming towards him with a scalpel. For some reason he has his jacket laid out over his lap and he grips it tighter like it’s a lifeline. His female companion is standing next to him relieved at the sight of a doctor.

“Finally, a doctor, what took so long?”

“So sorry for the wait ma’am but Valentine’s Day is just as chaotic as it is romantic.” She takes her tablet out, “I’m Dr. Karev and are you Lewis Grant?”

“Y-Y-Yeah I am.” He stutters before clearing his throat, “Look I hate to do this but can I get another doctor a…a male doctor?”

“Oh for god sakes, seriously?” His friend admonishes him before Amber can even process his question.

“Rita come on it’s not like that.”

“You’re asking for a guy like this lady doesn’t know a heart from an ass. Women can run for president now I’m sure they can read a medical textbook or two.”

“It’s not about that!” He turns to Amber who narrows her eyes curious on his explanation, “I have three sisters and I wore those pink hats at the Women’s March I swear it’s not because I don’t think women can be good doctors.”

“I should hope not.” Amber crosses her arms, “Studies show patients have a lower risk of dying and readmission if their seen by a female physician. Also, I was salutatorian of high school, graduated magna cum laude from Iowa State University and was top of my class at NYU med. And I did all of that while under financial aid and serving burgers to legacy premeds. But hey if you want someone with a Y chromosome who probably skated by state school with a C average that’s totally fine by me.”

Rita grins at that guilt trip, “Oh your good.”

“I grew up with two brothers this is nothing new trust me.”

“Look I swear if it was anything else I would be happy to let you treat but see my uh my…my problem needs to be seen by a guy.” Lewis mutters under his breath before moaning in pain, “Oh god there it goes again.”

Amber finally answers his question, “Mr. Grant our ER is slammed and most of our guy doctors are with their own patients. Now you can wait here until the next available man comes on but my guess is it’ll be two hours before that happens at which point your pain could increase and potentially cause permanent damage.”

“Oh god no permanent damage please.” Lewis begs like a child causing Rita to step in gripping his shoulder in comfort.

“Lewis has a little problem. I-I mean not little definitely not little.” She reassures her boyfriend who despite his pain grins amused, “I-It’s a big problem, not big though I mean not too big because too big or too little either way it’s gonna be-”

“How about you tell me what the problem is and we can debate how big or little it is?” Amber says impatient, “Now show me the problem please.”

Lewis sighs before slowly lifting the jacket off his lap. The intern looks down and the last few minutes make sense so suddenly at the sight of a jean tent. Her expression is kept numb despite the amusing thoughts running through her head right now.

“…Like I said I have two brothers.” Amber states again in comfort, “When did this happen?”

“I had an erection last night and woke up with one this morning. It hasn’t stopped since and it’s getting more painful the longer it’s…”

“Standing at attention?” Lewis nods.

“I was the one who dragged him here.” Rita explains, “He thought it would go away on its own but while he was making breakfast it just kept staring at me and the longer it stared the more, I wanted it to go away.”

“That’s not what you thought last night.” Lewis chimes in grinning.

“This kind of thing hasn’t happened before for you two?”

“Last night was our first time. Lewis and I have been dating for two weeks, and we decided to celebrate Valentines Day early. We stayed in, he made dinner, we watched a movie and then…”

“I get the picture.”

“It’s not hard to miss on my lap.”

Amber struggles to not laugh, “What you have is called priapism it’s…well it’s exactly what’s happening to you now. It’s usually a reaction to medications most commonly an overuse of erectile dysfunction drugs.”

Rita’s eyes shoot up at that looking at Lewis scandalous, “Wait did you…?”

“No!” Amber rolls her eyes at the horrible lie as he continues to try to salvage his dignity, “I swear it was all natural between us I didn’t take anything. It has to be something else.”

“Lewis have you ever seen the show House MD? Well, I have and its unrealistic 90 percent of the time but here’s two words Gregory House lives by that applies to every doctor and their patient. Everybody lies. And you are a terrible liar and if I can see that so can your girlfriend here.”

Lewis sighs looking at Rita who purses her lips nodding in agreement.

“Now there could be an underlying cause, but if we don’t know then we’ll have to find one so we can get to the treatment. Do you know what that means Lewis?” The young man shakes his head, “It means there’s gonna be a lot of labs and procedures. Painful and agonizing procedures that will make me glad I was born a woman. Now unless you want to waste my time and your insurance deductible, so your ego is still intact you better be absolutely honest with me about what happened to make the rooster crow or it’s probably gonna be its last sunrise. Now are you sure you don’t want to change your story?”

He groans rubbing his face in torment, “…I took a couple of Viagra before we…”

Rita pinches the bridge of her nose feeling embarrassed for him while Amber nods entering the information on the chart.

“When you say a couple how many is that really? Three? Four?”

“Five.”

“Five?” Rita asks astounded, “What were you trying to do? Go at it till Christmas?”

“I-I just I was nervous and it was our first time and it’s Valentines Day! It’s a lot of pressure for a guy and he wonders what he should do for a girl he’s barely dated a month. I was worried I would…shoot too soon so I borrowed some helpers from my friend’s grandpa.”

“Well clearly they didn’t help.” Rita points out, “Why didn’t you just tell me you were nervous?”

“It’s not something guys talk about and I didn’t want to disappoint you. If I knew this would happen, I would have opted for a chastity belt.”

“Okay.” Amber smiles, “Let me get my chief resident and she can decide the course moving forward. Just wait here and I’ll be back.”

Amber leaves the couple closing the curtain to give them privacy before approaching her future sister-in-law by the nurses station.

Jo looks up greeting Amber, “Hey what’s up?”

The dam bursts at the unintentional inuendo that seems appropriate for this situation. A stifled giggle escapes her mouth that she covers so that they don’t attract attention. Amber leans against the station afraid she’ll collapse from laughing too much. Jo furrows her eyebrows, confused about why her future sister-in-law is giggling in the middle of the pit.

After labs confirmed Lewis’s story Jo told the couple the best course of action was a needle aspiration. The chief resident and intern explained the consequences to Lewis when he understandably panicked at a needle in his most personal extremity. Rita excused herself from the room saying she was needed at work with Lewis not convinced thinking she left for good.

The doctors were able to successfully aspirate the blood and the long-standing soldier was finally at ease. Lewis is lying back in bed clad in a hospital gown and relieved for the first time today as he holds an ice pack to his groin.

“God I never knew something that was supposed to be pleasurable could cause so much pain.”

Jo chuckles, “Well pleasure is best enjoyed in small doses. Now your vitals look good, and your friend is relaxed so you should be out of here in a few hours. We can schedule you for a follow-up. Now I can’t stress this enough you should refrain from sexual activity for the next six weeks so you can heal completely.”

Lewis groans at that reminder, “I think my sex life is officially dead after today. Rita probably took a train to Canada when she found out what a loser I am. I’m the guy who couldn’t keep it down after our first time on Valentine’s Day, that’s what she’s gonna tell her friends at dinner parties from now on.”

“This reaction is actually more common than you think. Every guy says this has never happened, but it most likely has.” Amber comforts the patient, “Besides it would have to take a lot of conversation starters to get to this story.”

“God things were going so well.” He dwells, “She’s nice, she’s hot, she doesn’t play games, it’s hard to find somebody like that. I was nervous and a wreck because she’s the first person I’ve really connected with in a while and it was like…”

“Being hit by a train at full speed?” Amber finishes sharing his pain as well.

“Yeah exactly. And it’s Valentine’s Day today which is…it doesn’t matter, it’s just a fake holiday invented by Mad Men to sell chocolate and flowers anyway. It’s probably for the best I spend it in a hospital bed…icing my junk…alone.”

Jo pouts her lips sad for the young man before looking up at the doorway that causes her to grin, “Maybe not, you have a visitor.”

Lewis turns his head shocked to find Rita slowly entering the room carrying a stuffed puppy holding a heart. She looks at him with regret before stopping at the bed.

“Hey.”

“Hey…is that my ‘I’m glad your penis is okay’ puppy?”

Rita grins, “They were all out of ‘I’m glad your penis is okay’ bears.”

Lewis chuckles before falling silent, “…Rita I’m sorry I ruined our first Valentine’s Day.”

“At least it was a memorable one.” Amber stifles a giggle stopping after a glare from Jo as they observe the couple, “I’m sorry I walked out but my boss really did want me to come into work. I totally would have stayed even with a needle in your…you know.”

“I painfully know yeah.” Lewis closes his eyes still feeling the sting and embarrassment, “I know I shouldn’t have used those pills but I just…the last girl I was with told me I was a minute man and that kind of thing can take a guy down a peg. I didn’t want to chance being done before you got started so I thought a few helpers wouldn’t hurt but I guess I was wrong. I didn’t want to scare you off or anything. I mean the beginning of a relationship is a lot of pressure and with this fake holiday around the corner it was the perfect storm.”

“A perfect storm for anxiety and wondering if your gonna live up to someone’s expectations.” Rita shares, “There should be a rule when you start dating you put all your baggage on the table and see if either one of you will leave. It would solve the problem of hookup culture.”

He chuckles lightly, “Well I already showed you mine so maybe show me yours? Sorry, that sounded way better in my head.”

“…This one time on a date I tripped and pulled his pants down when I fell.” Jo and Amber are silently shocked at that looking at each other with raised eyebrows, “And he decided to go commando that day and I didn’t get a second date.”

Lewis is shocked silent at that, “Wow that is bad, almost as bad as when I clogged the toilet at my old girlfriends place and when I tried to use the plunger it ended up overflowing and I had to clean it up before she kicked me out.”

Amber snorts trying not to giggle and Jo hushes her with an elbow nudge.

Rita chuckles feeling relaxed, “Oh god remind me to stock up on Draino.”

“I had a bad burrito that day.” He defends with a smile before a silent moment passes between them and understanding fills the air, “Can we start this fake holiday over? Baggage in the air and all of that?”

Rita grins, “Yeah I would love that.”

Jo coughs interrupting the moment before using her doctor voice, “Sorry to interrupt this romantic moment but I should tell you Lewis needs to refrain from sexual activity for the next six weeks otherwise he’ll have this problem again or worse. I’m just throwing it in the air in case you’re getting any ideas.”

“Good to know thanks.” Rita looks back at Lewis with a smile, “Do you want to spend Valentine’s Day in my cramped apartment with my fat tabby cat, Simba, watching a marathon of G rated movies?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He replies looking at her like she’s the most precious thing in the world. The doctors excuse themselves out in the hall where Amber lets out a low laugh.

“Wow and I thought Valentine’s Day was a tragedy before.” She leans against the nurse’s station updating the chart, “I give them two months what about you?”

“I’m hopeful they’re in it for the long run.”

“Yeah, you would miss engaged.” Amber checks her watch, “Do you want me to help you in the pit tonight? God knows there’s gonna be other love casualties.”

“No, I’ll take it from here your done for today.”

Amber raises an eyebrow at her, “You’re actually letting me have Valentine’s Day off? I was hoping it was just a ‘if things aren’t as busy we’ll see but odds are it’s gonna be busy’ subtext.”

“Okay I’m gonna be your sister soon so I feel it’s my sworn duty to get your head on straight and tell you to stop getting in your own way and tell that beautiful Italian you love him.”

Amber’s eyes widen in shock at that suggestion before Jo continues, “Oh come on it’s as obvious as Lewis’s flagpole this morning. You’re not anxious because you’re expecting him to leave your anxious because you’re falling for him and you don’t think he can fall for you. I am here to tell you that boy is over the moon otherwise he wouldn’t be busting his ass to spend this hideous holiday with you.”

“Technically it’s not a holiday the banks are still open.” Amber retorts but Jo ignores it.

“Amber your smart, your funny and you look like you were made in a lab run by 14-year-old boys.” Jo points out to Amber who looks down on the floor in half doubt, “You are a complete catch even with all the baggage your family dumped on you. Any other guy or girl that made you think otherwise is either blind or brain damaged. DeLuca isn’t either and he loves you even if he hasn’t said it, he’s shown it.”

“…You really think so?” Amber responds hopeful for the first time today.

“Yes because the man was beaten to a bloody pulp by your brother, and he still took you out to dinner.” Jo recaps that dark moment, “Now either he’s a psychopath working a long angle which let’s be honest he’s not devious or strategic enough for that or…he’s so crazy about you that everything else is just background noise.”

Amber shuffles back and forth looking enticed by her explanation but still keeping her guard up, “Okay now as your future sister-in-law and boss I’m ordering you to go put on that dress you brought it, do your makeup, make your hair real pretty and enjoy your boyfriend. Go!”

Amber chuckles quietly at Jo’s bossy attitude before walking away to do as instructed.

Andrew DeLuca tugs the collar of his white shirt feeling constricted in this dark grey suit and matching tie he hardly wears. If the place he was taking Amber didn’t have a dress code he would be in jeans and a shirt right now. But he wanted to do something as special as he thinks Amber is even if she associates February 14th with a dog sacrifice.

He never made a big deal about Valentine’s Day; he always thought it was an invented day from chocolate companies to boost sales. He never had to put too much thought into setting up a date with his girlfriend partly because his serious relationships were scarce and mostly because none of his other significant others bewitched him like Amber Karev.

From the moment she started singing Stevie Nicks in a seedy bar he has felt a pull towards her like he’s a fish caught in a hook. She is a fascinating mystery wrapped in beauty and the longer he’s with her the more he wonders where this woman came from.

As if his thoughts called to her he hears the click clacking of heels on the cement pathway behind him. Andrew turns around and is once again frozen in captivation just like when he first heard her enchanted siren voice.

The red dress has a bustier that shows off her lean and toned upper body while her lower is covered by a tulle skirt that stops just above her ankles. Her long blonde hair is pulled back halfway with the rest falling in relaxed waves. The red lipstick she’s wearing matches the rest of her ensemble and Andrew wants to kiss her perfect mouth now more than ever.

“Oh, wow you look really beautiful.”

Amber grins twirling around for effect, “Thanks straight from the clearance rack at Saks Avenue. You look really handsome.”

“Thanks, its…some store in the mall I think.” Amber chuckles, “Are you ready to go? Our reservations are up.”

“I need to say something before we go and I need to do it now while I’m still brave so bare with me please and I can let you know when you can respond.” His eyebrows furrow but waves his hand indicating she can start, “…I wrote Harry Potter fanfiction until I went to college.”

His eyes widen at that random fact that was the last thing he expected to hear from her, “Yeah I know but you know I love fantasy books and I’ve read the books religiously and every time I think ‘god Remus and Sirius were perfect for each other, what was JK thinking?’. So, if she wasn’t gonna make Wolfstar happen I might as well…I also got Harry and Draco Malfoy to confess their undying love masked by hatred and prejudice installed by his asshole parents.”

Andrew stifles a laugh hiding his grin behind his hand, “Hey I was questioning my own orientation at the time, and I had a major crush on Tom Felton. What else is there? Oh! I’ve been to comic con every year for six years, I run a red light like once a week, I can be a feral animal when there’s buffalo wings in front of me.”

“Amber.” Andrew pitches in confused with an amused grin, “What is this about?”

“I’m trying to do what my patients did and put all of my baggage out there so you can decide for yourself if you still want this to keep going. I mean if they can have a happy ending when his magic wand almost ruined everything then maybe we can because…I want this to go further than just some casual fling.”

He is taken aback by this display of vulnerability he rarely sees in the guarded intern, “I have gone over about a hundred different reasons why you and I should not be together, and I’ve always said we should take a slow pace. But the truth is I was just afraid I was gonna get my heart broken either because you realized you couldn’t get past what my brother did or because you saw what a mess I am.”

“I totally get it and-”

“Shh! I’m still talking.” She silences him, “I am afraid to put myself out there because the options are slim pickings for smart women and dating apps are just a gateway to baby serial killers or unsolicited dick pics. And then I met you at that awful bar that night and despite every hurdle telling you to dump me and move on you stayed and that…that scares me. And the more time I spend with you the more I get scared because…b-because I um…”

Andrew steps forward, “Amber I’m not-”

“I think I’m in love with you Andrew.” She blurts out at last. Andrew looks completely surprised at those words he never expected her to say first in their relationship. Meanwhile Amber looks beet red with embarrassment, taking a slow and steady breath to keep herself from panicking as she lays her heart out.

“I-I think I am I don’t know fully because the only people I said those words to were my brothers so they mean something. All I know is that when I’m with you…I can be myself and you don’t run away when you see all the good and worst parts of me and it scares me because I can’t remember the last person who made me feel as good or loved as you have. You are the first person I can actually see a future with, and it scares me because…I don’t think I’m a girl anyone wants to be around for the long haul.”

Andrew sighs looking at his girlfriend in sympathy knowing how low her self-esteem can be behind an armor of intellect. She motions him to now speak and he clears his throat.

“Look I’ll admit I’ve never been the kind of guy who envisions where his relationship is headed or plan anything in advance. I just go with the flow and see what I can build in the moment. Every girl I dated it either died out or it never gets to a second date because the first date usually ends in sex.”

Amber snorts, “Must have been so hard for you.”

“It was actually very traumatizing.” He jokes back, “Anyways dating sucks I mean I don’t have to tell you that and I almost gave up on it…until I met you.”

Amber looks hopeful at this as he continues with a nostalgic grin, “You in that sketchy bar looking like you came straight from a college campus and belting out Stevie Nicks…I thought I was dreaming. And yeah, I’ve seen a lot of your baggage but guess what you’ve seen mine and you didn’t run away because neither of us get scared easily. I mean you told me your entire horror show of a family history after our first date and after I found out your brother is the same guy who beat me up and I stayed. I stayed because you are the kind of person worth being around for the long haul. And…I know better than to walk away from a person I’m falling in love with.”

Amber inhales sharply being both relieved and stunned by his confession, “Yeah that’s right you’re not the only one falling in this relationship Amber Karev. And you are worth every effort it took for me to plan this romantic evening and reservations that we need to get to in the next ten minutes…if your up for it of course.”

She grins at him before taking his hands and allowing him to lead her to their destination.

“Your surprise is a jazz club?”

The couple gain entry into a gorgeous room with intimate lighting and live music filling the air from the stage on their left. On the right side of the club is an old-style bar complete with highchairs around the edges.

There are small wooden tables and chair set up across the floor giving room for the dance floor in front of the stage where a curvy woman in a red dress belts out a jazz number. Red petals and hearts cover the bar and tables with the red and pink lighting over the ceiling truss setting the romantic mood. The intern made a lot of guesses on what Andrew had planned this evening, but he truly took her by surprise.

He smiles putting his hand on the small of her back guiding her towards the hostess who seats them at one of the tables. They take a seat across from each other and are given menus.

“I had a patient last week at the pit he’s the bass player on stage right now his name is Brad.” Andrew points out causing Amber to look and spot Brad playing beside the guitar player, “He came in with stomach pain, Seattle Pres sent him away said it was just ingestion, but he said it wasn’t going away so I ran tests. It turned out he had a bowel obstruction, and I got him admitted and hooked up to IV fluids. He was really grateful and said he could hook me up with a table. I told him I was looking for ways to celebrate Valentines Day with my girlfriend and Brad got me a reservation tonight and promised me the fried calamari is addicting.”

“Well then, I’ll have to take Brad’s word for it.” Amber smiles looking over the menu being enticed by the live music, “God I love live music.”

“Me too.”

“So a perfect Valentine’s Date venue just fell in the ER, and you were coincidentally the doctor who treated it and got a reservation in return? Did you spot a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow too?”

Andrew chuckles, “I guess St. Valentine decided to give you a great date with your boyfriend and change your mind about his holiday.”

“Technically it’s not a holiday the schools are still open, and it originated from a dark pagan tradition…but I guess February 14th can have some nice moments too.”

Andrew smiles at her before they place their orders. After an hour of drinking, eating and laughter in between long conversations Amber sits back exhaling a long breath feeling full from the dinner.

Just as she feels relaxation take her a familiar guitar strum and piano keys call her attention knowing the start of this folk pop ballad too well. Andrew gives her a knowing grin that she retorts with an embarrassed blush and smile as the singer starts the lyrics to Leather and Lace that Amber can guess was a request from Andrew due to how she sang the same song in front of him when they first met.

“Do you ever stop being so damn perfect?” She asks half joking and half touched he remembered such a small detail from that night that to her seemed so long ago.

“Do you ever stop being so damn lovable?” He retorts with a grin before standing up in front of her holding his hand out to her, “Would you like to dance?”

“I would.” Putting her delicate hand in his masculine one the pair head to the dance floor where other couples slow dance to the singers majestic voice and they join them.

Amber follows his lead with his left hand clasped in her right with his other hand is spread out across the top of her back touching her skin in a way that gives her goosebumps. She returns the intimate gesture wrapping her arm across his back touching the material of his jacket trusting him to guide her in this dance.

They sway and swing around the floor careful not to hit the other couples losing themselves in this song and each other. Their bodies are lightly pressed together and Amber lays her head on his shoulder allowing him to nuzzle her hair enjoying this closeness. Even with the entire restaurant and workers around them, Amber and Andrew feel like they’re the only two people in the world content in only each other.

“I love you.” Amber says quietly for only Andrew to hear and smile over her shoulder.