"Okay, so I know we agreed that-"

Maggie held out her pointer finger towards Jackson, signaling him to wait. She took a step back and looked over the bright pink pancakes that she had spent the past 10 minutes trying to shape into small hearts.

They were as whimsical as she had hoped they would be. She placed her hands on her hips and smiled. Maggie slid the pancakes onto a Minnie Mouse plate and topped them with a dollop of whipped cream and a pinch of pink sprinkles.

Satisfied, she walked over to Harriet's high chair and placed the pancakes in front of her.

"Happy Valentine's Day, sweet girl!"

Harriet's light brown eyes lit up at the sight of her breakfast, causing Maggie's heart to leap. Before Maggie could instruct Harriet to use her utensils, Harriet dove her little hands into the whipped cream and gleefully licked them clean.

Maggie chuckled before spinning on her heels to face a smiling Jackson.

"Now what were you saying?"

He shook his head as he pulled out an envelope, she had not realized that he was holding.

"Open it."

"You know I hate Valentine's Day," she groaned.

She took the envelope out of Jackson's hand and studied it intently.

"Says the person who just made cotton candy pink pancakes in the shape of perfect tiny hearts."

"They are pretty perfect, aren't they?" she drawled.

Maggie let out a giggle as she tore through the seal of the envelope. She pulled out the two pieces of paper and looked up at Jackson who had a senseless grin plastered on his face.

Tickets.

She shot Jackson a confused expression and averted her attention. Putting her focus back on the tickets in her hands.

Not just any tickets, tickets to Boston.

"Let's go home," he declared.

"Jackson when in the world would we ever find time to go to Boston?" she asked in disbelief.

Jackson waved his hands dismissively.

"I spoke to Karev, it's all set. We'll be out for a week. Arrangements have been made and your dad has been called. No excuses, Pierce."

"Y-you called my father?"

Maggie felt her heart drop in her chest. She had not seen her dad since her mom passed away almost 2 years ago. She had spoke to him, sure. But between her work schedule and his need to be in the face of every woman in Boston, they just had not found the time to meet up.

Jackson gently grabbed her waist and pulled her into him.

"Yes, I called your dad. You always have reasons as to why you have not seen him, I wanted to make this easy for you. Besides, I want to meet him under less strenuous circumstances. I will be with you the entire time Maggie."

Maggie released a breath she had not realized she was holding. It wasn't just her dad, it was her mom too. Jackson had called Boston their home and it was at one point. But her mother was no longer there, and she knew that she'd feel her absence the moment she stepped foot off the plane. She'd feel it so deeply that it would cripple her. Grief comes in waves. One moment you are swimming and feel as if you can go on, and the next you are overcome by a surge of water and you are struggling to find the air to take your following breath. Maggie was just starting to feel as if she had touched the shore, and she was not sure if she was ready to navigate the sea when she had just found safety.

As if he had read her mind Jackson added, "I know it won't be easy to return without Diane being there, but I think it will give you closure that you do not realize that you even need."

He gently caressed her cheek and despite her conflicting emotions, Maggie smiled. One look at him and it was abundantly clear that this trip was not about him wanting to go home. He had planned this trip for her, to give her something that he thought she needed.

This man.

Her man.

He used to terrify her. Before Jackson, Maggie's heart had been a hotel. A heart with corridors and no reverence. A place to sojourn but never settle. And she had gotten used to entrances but mostly exits. And at first, she had regarded him as a tenant and not a soulmate. That is, until he proved otherwise.

She removed his hand from her cheek and placed a gentle kiss on his palm.

"Okay," was all she said in response. The response was weak, and had he been standing farther from her, Jackson may not have even heard it. She was not sure how she would face her father again after so much time. She was not sure how she would hold herself together when she reached a Boston that her mother did not reside in. But she was sure that regardless of what happened, Jackson would be there for her. And in that moment, that was enough for her.

The smile he gave her in response was blinding.

"Okay," he replied in agreeance.

He wrapped his arms around around her shoulders and brought her tiny body into to his chest, giving her a tender kiss on her forehead. She reveled in the moment. This love, the love they shared, the love that he gave her was something that she could not articulate with words. It was easy. Easy like a Sunday morning easy. And she concluded that it was supposed to be that way. Love was not meant to be so hard, we were created to love.

Jackson had made a home of her hotel heart, became acquainted with its furnishings. Had left covers and cushions inebriated with his scent. She was used to being all journey and no one's destiny. But she was sure she was his.

She let out a blissful sigh and disentangled herself from his embrace.

"I guess I will leave you and Harriet to it. I'm going to take a quick shower before I go in for a consult. It shouldn't take long. Happy Valentine's, baby."

Maggie playfully rolled her eyes at his self-satisfied smirk. He knew she hated Valentine's day, just as he knew she hated surprise gifts. And she had been defeated this morning.

Jackson- 1

Maggie- 0

Jackson placed a kiss on Harriet's whip cream covered cheek and began to retreat to their bedroom. Maggie smiled to herself before calling out behind him, "Hey, for the record, Boston is not my home. You are the only home I know."