CHAPTER 14

After several months filled with extreme tiredness, morning sickness, mood swings, heartburn, cravings, regular ultrasounds and monthly check-ups, April gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby boy. The parents, who were filled with utter joy at the arrival of their son, had decided way earlier that they would name their son Adrian. Jackson and April had also arrived at the conclusion that they would get married in a big, churchy, traditional wedding only after Adrian was born. The couple had invited their parents and their friends over to their apartment for a rehearsal dinner.

Owen (raising his glass): I'd like to propose a toast. To two extraordinary people. May your married lives be overfilled with love, happiness and joy. To April and Jackson.

All (raising their glasses): To April and Jackson.

All of a sudden, the people present in the room heard Adrian's cries through the baby monitor.

April: I'll go get him. Excuse me.

Catherine (seeing her baby grandson yawn): Aww, Adrian couldn't be cuter if he tried.

April: Mom, you haven't had a chance to hold him yet.

Camilla: No, no, that's all right. Thank you though. I'm eating.

Everyone else watched on in an awkward silence as April's face lost it usual cheerful expression. Camilla was a very religious and conservative woman. She was uncomfortable with the whole affair of Adrian's existence as he was born out of wedlock. She was a grandmother who didn't want anything to do with her own grandson. Later that night, April and Jackson sank down into bed, exhausted after juggling work, Adrian and wedding preparations throughout the day.

Jackson: Two more days. We can handle two more days.

April: And then they'll be gone and our lives would go back to normal.

Jackson: We just need to focus on the big picture which is, you and I are getting married.

April (smiling): We're getting married.

The next afternoon, April wanted to surprise her mother by showing the veil she would be wearing at her wedding. She brought Camilla over to the apartment, made her sit down on the couch and told her to close her eyes.

April: Okay, so just pretend my dress is a white gown and open your eyes. What do you think? I had it made to look like yours. I loved your wedding photo since I was a little girl. Plus, I wanted to surprise you. Do you like it?

Camilla: It's nice.

April (disappointed): That's it?

Camilla: What else would you like me to say?

April (angrily): I'll tell you what I would like you to say, mom. I would like you to say something more than just 'nice'. I would also like you to appreciate the efforts your daughter has been making since you first got here just to make you feel comfortable.

Camilla: I didn't ask you to do anything for me. Don't you dare imply that there is anything about a baby out of wedlock that's for me.

April: Wow, okay. I should have seen that coming. So my bastard child is the thing that is bothering you? So much so that you can't even muster up the effort to hold your own grandson in your arms?

Camilla: Do you know how devastating it is to raise a child, to love a child and to know you won't see that child in heaven? This doesn't feel right to me. I just can't be here. I'm going to ask your father to take me home right now. I'm sorry to say that we will not be attending your wedding.

Meredith, Cristina and Lexie heard about what had happened. They knew that April would be greatly upset by the events that had unfolded in the past few days. So, the next morning, which was coincidentally the day of the wedding, they decided to go to her house to pay her a visit.

Meredith: You do realize that your door is unlocked.

Cristina: We could be anyone. We could be burglars coming to burgle you. We could be baby nappers trying to baby nap your son.

Lexie: Where is Adrian anyway?

April: He's fast asleep in the nursery. The babysitter will be here in another 20 minutes.

Meredith: Are you okay?

April (crying): No, I'm not. When I was a little girl, I used to have these fantasies about how my wedding would be. I would have the perfect dress, my prince charming by my side and my parents dancing so hard out of happiness. My dreams are coming true. But my parents are not here. They are missing it just because of my mother's stubborn and arrogant nature. I know that I'm late. But I just need a minute to miss them both.

After having a moment to herself, April got ready for her wedding with the help of her bridesmaids, comprising Meredith, Cristina and Lexie. She slipped on the beautiful white gown and veil. She also managed to reach the church right on time. Jackson, who was looking dapper in a black formal tuxedo, was waiting patiently at the altar for his fiancée's arrival with his groomsmen, comprising Derek, Owen and Mark, by his side. Madison and Susan, the adorable flower girls, were scattering petals all along the bridal path. The church had been beautifully decorated with hordes of flowers and candles. When April heard the bridal chorus, she knew that it was her cue to start walking down the aisle. At the last moment, Alex had offered to give her away in the absence of her father. The guests rose from their seats as the two of them proceeded to walk down the aisle. After what seemed like ages, they finally reached the altar. Alex placed April's hand in Jackson's and officially gave her away. This marked the beginning to the wedding ceremony.

Minister: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the wedding of Jackson Avery and April Kepner. As April and Jackson prepare to join their lives, it is important to understand that everyone present has played a part in shaping their lives and will continue to play a role in their future. We are here to celebrate love, happiness and loyalty. We are here not only to witness their vows to each other, but to bestow on them our blessing. And now the couple will read their wows.

Jackson (slipping a wedding ring onto her finger): All my life, I've just been the pretty boy of the family. Today I become a man. Today I become a husband. Today, our life together begins. Together, no matter what happens, I'll be ready for anything and everything. I take you, April Kepner, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part. I love you.

April (slipping a wedding band onto his finger): All this while, I thought I wasn't ready for any of this. But, in this moment, standing here at this altar, with you in front of me, I know that I am ready. I am ready to take on life and love. I am ready to take on possibility and responsibility. I am ready to take on our future and whatever life has in store for the two of us. I take you, Jackson Avery, to be my lawfully wedded husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. I love you.

Minister: By the power vested in me by God and the state of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

At the reception, Jackson and April proceeded to the dance floor for their first dance. After a while, Zola, Sophia, Chris, Madison, Mason and Susan also ran to the dance floor to join their favorite babysitters in dancing. Derek, Meredith, Owen, Cristina, Mark and Lexie were all seated at a table nearby, watching on as their children and the newly married couple seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot. The six of them were feeling very reminiscent. The three couples were smart, independent and strong willed. They had survived shootings, plane crashes, misunderstandings and various other problems of all sorts. All this had only made their love for each other stronger. They began to voice their thoughts aloud.

Owen: The universe is absurd at times. Just when we think we've figured things out, it throws us a curve ball.

Cristina: But somehow, things always seem to work out in the end.

Mark: We find happiness in unexpected places.

Lexie: We find our way back to the things that matter the most.

Derek: In fact, the universe is funny in that way.

Meredith: It just has a way of making sure we wind up exactly where we belong.