Hi everyone! So this is the last chapter. I didn't know it when I wrote it, but it felt right...so I want to take a little writing space and say thank you for reading my story and for all of your support.

Enjoy the ending and let me know what you all think! Thanks!

Never Saw It Coming

Chapter 18

Jackson

Jackson and April sat in the restaurant, waiting for his mother and Webber to arrive. They had arrived early for a drink to steady their nerves. April looked to Jackson, shooting him a nervous smile. He reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it reassuringly, even though he was nervous too.

His mother was strange about marriage. She was all for commitment and grandkids, but her marriage to Jackson's dad had given her mixed feelings about getting married, especially at a young age. Jackson and April weren't that young, but his mother wouldn't see it that way.

Jackson spotted his mother and squeezed April's hand and glanced their way.

Catherine squealed as she approached the couple with Richard trailing behind her.

"Oh babies! How was your vacation?" she asked as she hugged Jackson and patted his cheek lovingly. She then turned to April and hugged her and said, "Congratulations on passing your boards, honey. I knew you could do it."

April thanked Catherine as Richard also congratulated her. Once they had all settled down, they sat and ordered a bottle of wine.

"We are so glad to have you back in Seattle. What a nice idea to have dinner together," Catherine said as she sipped her wine.

April smiled and Jackson squeezed her hand and said, "We are glad to be back. We actually have some exciting news."

Catherine lifted a perfectly sculpted and arched eyebrow, looking briefly at April before refocusing on Jackson.

Jackson took a deep breath and said, "April and I are engaged."

Catherine's mouth dropped open and Jackson squeezed April's hand anxiously while his mother processed what to say. Webber was excitedly smiling and congratulating them, but Jackson's eyes were focused on his mother.

"Mom?" he asked, nervously prodding a reaction from her.

Catherine stood and Jackson feared the worst, but she walked around the table and embraced April. She whispered something in April's ear and whatever she said made April tear up and give her a watery smile.

When they pulled away from each other, Catherine looked to her son and whispered, "Congratulations baby."

Jackson smiled as he hugged his mom tightly. It meant everything that she approved.

They enjoyed the rest of their dinner and afterwards April and Jackson went home to her apartment. They made love twice and afterward Jackson asked a satisfied and tired April, "What did my mom say to you?"

April smiled, her eyes still closed as she said, "She said…she could only let you go knowing it was me and that she was excited to have me as her daughter."

Jackson smiled and kissed on top of her head as he pulled her closer. Her arms tightened around him before they both fell asleep, with smiles on their faces.

April

April carried a box of Jackson's into her apartment, setting it down in the corner of the living room. It was the last box in his car and April sighed as she sat in her living room…their living room littered with his boxes.

He carried in the last laundry basket full of clothes and she smiled as she looked up at him. His shirt was off and he was sweating from moving all the big stuff. He walked over and rested his hand on either side of her head on the back of the couch, boxing her in. She really didn't mind, especially since the look he was giving her made her want to pull him down on top of her and have her way with him on the couch.

He leaned forward and kissed her slowly as April reached forward and rested her hands on his shoulders. He broke the kiss, but his lips hovered over hers as he smiled.

"There is one more box in the truck. Can you grab it for me?" he asked.

April sighed, feigning exhaustion before she nodded and kissed him softly once more. She went to the car, spotting the box. It wasn't heavy at all. Must be bedding or something.

April carried it in and set it on the coffee table. She reached for the box she had been unpacking and found it empty. She frowned in confusion but reached for the box she had just carried in. She reached for the scissors and easily got through the tape.

As she undid the flaps of the box she frowned when she encountered another cardboard box.

April called out, "Jackson? Is this a fragile box or something?"

"Yeah," he called from what sounded like the shower.

April frowned and took out the next box gently. She opened the box only to find another small one. Who the hell packed like this?

April went through three more boxes until she found one full of pink and white tissue paper. April squinted at it in bewilderment. She tentatively picked through the tissue paper, looking for whatever was breakable. That's when she saw it…a little black velvet box.

Tears filled her eyes as a small smile touched her lips. She reached in and looked up to see Jackson in his boxers and a t-shirt. April gave him a watery smile as he smiled and walked towards her. He leaned down and reached in the box and took the black velvet box out. It was a beautiful 1.6 carat cushion diamond with a halo of diamonds surrounding it, trailing down the sides of the thin platinum band ( /product/1-6-carats-cushion-cut-moissanite-diamond -wedding-band-proposal-ring-engagment-ring/).

Jackson gently took her hand in his and slid the ring on her ring finger. She looked down at it, feeling the tears course down her cheeks.

"Beautiful," he murmured, looking from the ring to her face. He leaned forward and kissed her gently.

"Do you like it?" he asked, looking at her nervously.

"I…I love it. It's more perfect than I could ever have imagined," she said, her eyes transfixed on her ring. Jackson chuckled and sat next to her and pulled her into his side, kissing her temple.

"It feels so real now…so official," she said, wiggling her fingers to see the light dance on the sparkly ring.

Jackson smiled and said, "So…should we set a date now that it's official?"

April looked up at him and asked, "When do you want to get married."

"Soon," he whispered, leaning down and touching his lips to hers.

April smiled and said, "Me too."

They married three months later. A small chapel wedding in Seattle followed by a beautiful outdoor wedding reception at twilight, candles everywhere, illuminating the small party. It was small, and intimate, just what both of them wanted. There were even butterflies.

So that's the end…I hope you all liked it. Thanks for reading and please be sure to leave me with a review!