Chapter 23

Four weeks later Jackson and Maggie were back into their weekly routine. Maggie was getting bigger and Carina had recently determined the sex of their baby. At Catherine's urging, they agreed to have a big gender reveal. Maggie thought that it was cheesy, but she secretly loved the idea as well.

They were having the gender reveal party in Catherine and Richard's garden. Bill had even come to Seattle for the event. The party was going to take place that afternoon and Maggie was excited because both her sisters, Jo, Carina, and some other friends were all able to attend.

Jackson and Maggie were at the penthouse getting ready. It was April's week with Harriet, but she was due to drop Harriet off at any moment so that she could be present for the reveal of her soon to be sibling.

Maggie was in the bathroom mirror working on pulling her curls up into a bun. Jackson was downstairs on the sofa watching a game he had previously recorded as he waited for his daughter to arrive. As Maggie reached up to insert another bobby-pin she felt a sharp pain in her ribs. She gasped so loudly that Jackson had heard her from downstairs and took the stairs two at a time to see what had happened.

He walked into the bathroom asking, "Babe, are u ok?"

Maggie winced massaging the area. She said, "I don't think we have another doctor on our hands. I think we might actually have a soccer player. Your child just kicked the crap out of me."

Jackson leaned on the counter next to her and smiled down at his soon to be fiancée. Every day he had to pinch himself to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. He had a hard time believing that he was actually in a relationship with Maggie Pierce, he cohabitated with Maggie Pierce and he had a baby on the way with Maggie Pierce.

When they had first gotten together those were indeed the things that he had envisioned for them in the future, but when they broke up he had let go of those dreams. He wasn't sure that he would ever be able to get her back, let alone get to the place where they were now, but here they were and unbeknownst to Maggie they were about to take another step forward.

Jackson was about to comment on the baby's kicking when he heard the doorbell. He asked, "Are you okay? That's Harriet."

Maggie inspected herself in the mirror saying, "Go. I'm fine."

Jackson stared at Maggie for a moment longer before leaving to answer the door.

Jackson opened the door with excitement. He looked down at his curly-haired little girl. He said, "Hey, Baby! You ready to go to grandma's?"

The little girl bobbed her head. She said, "Maggie!"

Jackson looked thinking that maybe Maggie had made it downstairs, but when he didn't see her he knew that Harriet was just excited at the prospect of seeing his girlfriend. He watched as Harriet rushed up the stairs calling Maggie's name. He said, "Harriet, slow down and be careful."

He turned back to April saying, "Thank you so much for allowing her to come today."

April smiled up at him. She said, "Of course. Maggie's baby is going to be Harriet's sibling. Of course, she should be there. I'm happy for you two. How is Maggie? I can imagine that this all may be a bit overwhelming for her. I don't peg her as the spontaneous pregnancy type. She likes to be in control."

Jackson stepped into the hall closing the door behind him. He answered, "Believe me when I tell you that she isn't. That news came as a shock to her. We weren't even together when she became pregnant. Things were so up in the air about us, but when it dawned on me that she was pregnant I knew what I wanted."

April gave him a half-smile. She asked, "So, when is the wedding?"

Jackson folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against his door. He said, "I plan to propose tonight."

April said, "I figured as much. Good luck and congratulations. Who would have thought that our lives would end up like this? Matthew and I are talking about expanding our family and you're expanding yours."

Jackson nodded. He said, "Yeah, our lives definitely didn't turn out as we each planned, but it all worked out for the best."

Jackson and April shared a friendly hug. April pressed the button to call the elevator. She turned back to Jackson saying, "I'm happy for you and I hope she says yes."

Jackson nodded and turned to go back inside. As he walked in he saw Maggie and Harriet descending the stairs. Maggie was absolutely beautiful in a flowy baby pink and baby blue maxi dress with flat gold sandals on her feet that he could see as she gathered the dress so that she wouldn't step on it as she came down the staircase.

Everything about Maggie was perfection. From the way she had her hair piled into a bun atop her head, to the gold stud baby-shaped earrings in her lobes. One wrapped in a baby blue blanket the other in a baby pink blanket. To the delicate barely-there gold chain around her delicate neck that held the bold gold capital D for her mother. To her subtly made-up face.

He really loved every single thing about this woman, and he hoped like hell that what he had planned for the day would go off without a hitch.

Catherine, Richard, and Bill were at the Fox/Webber home on hosting duties as the guest started to arrive. Catherine was flitting around giving out last minute orders to the staff while Richard and Bill shared a drink in the garden.

Bill asked, "So, he's going to pop the question today?"

Richard sipped his sparkling water saying, "Yes, he's incorporated it into today's reveal. You've noticed the royalty theme. Well, that huge envelope over there contains a card. If it's a boy it will read: Mommy, this prince wants you to be the queen to my daddy's king. If it's a girl it read: Every princess needs a queen to look up to, will you be my daddy's queen?"

Bill sat his drink down saying, "Wow, Jackson must really be in love to get that creative."

Chuckling Richard said, "No, that was all Catherine. The royalty theme was because she believes this baby is the next generation of surgical royalty. Jackson told her that he wanted to propose, and she took it from there. The only thing he got to do was to think of what to say after the reveal and Maggie realizes what he's asking her and choosing the ring. Everything else was my very strong-willed wife."

Bill chuckled at that. He said, "Well, from what I can tell your wife is good at organizing things. Maggie's going to get what she deserves with Catherine at the helm."

Richard said, "Well, just so you know, that even if Jackson had planned everything on his own, it still would've been perfection. He loves Maggie just that much and he would not have spared any expense or sentiment to make this as memorable for Maggie as he could."

The two men nodded clinking glasses as Alex and Jo entered the garden. Over the next hour, close friends and family all began to trickle in as they waited for the guests of honor to arrive. Catherine glided into the garden saying, "They're pulling up now."

Jackson and Maggie made their way to the back of the house with Harriet in tow. Harriet wore a baby pink A-line princess dress with pink sandals on her little feet. Jackson wore dark jeans with a baby blue polo and custom-designed baby blue and white Nike Air Max 97s.

When Maggie first saw how the garden was decorated, she had to fight back tears. Everything was baby pink or baby blue. She was generally a lover of deep colors, not so much the frilly pastels, but she was indeed getting caught up in the moment and the festiveness of all the baby blue and baby pink.

There were gold tiaras and scepters on tables. Guest were to make their guess as to the baby's gender by selecting one or the other. There was also an open bar and there were tables with tea snacks. It was as classy as she would think a Catherine planned event would be. Catherine approached her and Maggie opened her arms to hug and kiss the older woman. She said, "Catherine thank you so much for this."

Catherine shooed her away. She said, "Oh chile, please. This was nothing. I didn't get to be excited with my baby Harriet. That girl and Jackson had just gotten divorced and we found out she tried to conceal the pregnancy. It was a mess."

Maggie was grateful that Harriet had scurried away when she spotted Ellis across the garden. Maggie said, "Yes, I'm glad that everyone gets a different experience this time. Jackson deserves to have at least one happy pregnancy."

Catherine's eye's flew to her son's and they softened. This is how she knew that Maggie was the perfect person for her son. Maggie truly cared for him and that statement proved it. Jackson hadn't really had the chance to enjoy a pregnancy due to the situation around Samuel's health and due to his divorce from April. However, this time was different, and Maggie knew and respected the situation. Only a woman in love with a man could be sensitive to that.

Catherine reached over hugging her son as Bill walked up embracing his daughter. He said, "Maggie you look radiant. You look happy."

Maggie squeezed her father. She replied, "I am. Surprisingly so. You know that I am normally thrown off when things don't go according to a plan, but even with all of the unexpected, unplanned things I have learned things and I feel better for it. Such as, there can be beauty in the unknown, unplanned. I'm not going to start living life on a whim. I am still going to think through things, but I am also learning to deal with the unexpected and I feel happier for it."

Jackson heard what Maggie had said and added, "If's funny that you've learned that. I have learned things throughout this situation as well. Like the importance of slowing down and communicating. Living life on a whim can sometimes leave you without a recourse when unexpected things happen. Planning doesn't always mean boring, but it gives you a little control of your destiny. Controlling one's destiny is important. I don't want life to just happen to me. I want to happen to life."

Maggie placed her hands on either side of his face pulling it down towards hers. She said, "I'd say that we learned a little bit from one another."

Jackson pecked her twice on the lips before saying, "I think you're right Maggie Pierce."

They moved throughout the party greeting their guest and seeing what gender everyone suspected while they waited for a few last-minute guests. After a while, the music lowered, and Catherine appeared with a mic. When everyone realized that Catherine was waiting for them to stop talking so that she could give a speech everyone quieted down.

Catherine said, "I want to thank you all for coming. I am so happy to have been able to host something like this. You all know I only have one son and I love that boy with every fiber of my being even though he gives me a hard time at times. However, being a grandmother has only brought me so much more joy. I am happy to be able to celebrate a pregnancy for once, so although some of you may feel that this is a little over the top, you're right. However, after all that Jackson has been through to get here, it's all more than warranted. Bill, did you want to say anything?"

Bill came up taking the mic from Catherine. He said, "I know that some of you don't exactly know who I am. I'm Maggie's father. I will keep this brief. When Maggie lost her mother, I worried about her. I worried about if she would ever reach the levels of joy she had while her mother was alive. I believe that Diane left knowing that Maggie would be just fine. She expanded her family by finding her biological father, her sisters and their children. She also met the man who loves Maggie for who she is. She deserved nothing less and I am happy to be able to share on this day. I know for a fact that girl or boy the baby that Maggie is carrying is a little gift from Diane."

It was safe to say that there wasn't a dry eye in the garden after Bill's speech. Maggie needed a moment as Jackson held her while she cried thinking about her mother.

Richard was on the mic this time. He said, "Now for the moment that we have all gathered here for. Maggie, Jackson come on over. Let's find out if you're having a little prince or princess."

Amelia helped dry Maggie's face with a tissue. Then Jackson took Maggie's hand and they walked over to where Catherine, Bill, and Richard stood. Catherine handed Jackson the envelope and Maggie took the mic from Richard. Maggie said, "So how it's going to be revealed is in the envelope Jackson is holding. If it's a boy it's going to say that the prince invites you to his royal induction with my due date. If it's a girl it will say the princess invites you to her royal induction with my due date. Ok so let's take one more poll. If you think it's a little prince move to the left. If you think it's a little princess move to the right."

Maggie and Jackson watched on as everyone split up. Her sisters were split, and Carina stood to the side because she said she shouldn't get a vote since she in fact knew the sex.

Maggie passed Catherine the mic and she and Jackson a side of the oversized envelope.

When they opened the flap, they noticed the color of the card inside. Jackson was ecstatic, although he would've been happy either way. He held onto his excitement as they removed the card and watched as Maggie read it. Giving her a moment to comprehend."

Maggie's hands shook as she held the card. Jackson placed the envelope on the table. He took out the ring and dropped down on one knee before her. Maggie's eyes searched the garden looking at all of the smiling faces. Then her eyes Met Jackson's. He said, "Maggie, we've had our ups and we've had our downs. But nothing has been clearer to me through it all than loving you is something that I was placed on earth to do. Loving you and loving our children. You are already my world, would you do me the honor of being my wife? My queen?"

Maggie looked back down at the pink card that read: Every princess needs a queen to look up to, will you be my daddy's queen?

The tears began to fall as realization finally hit Maggie. She nodded her head and then said, "Yes, Jackson. Yes, I'll marry you."

Jackson took the card and handed it to a teary-eyed Catherine as everyone else around them cheered. That's when Maggie noticed the rose gold Cartier love band with the solitaire diamond. The ring may have looked simple, but Maggie knew Jackson. He had spent a pretty penny on it, but he knew her and kept it simple for her. Maggie extended her shaky left hand as Jackson slid the ring into place.

Jackson stood taking her into his arms whispering, "We're having a baby girl and we're getting married."

Maggie said, "And I couldn't be happier."