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she-karev · 5 months ago

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Playing Cupid (Japril Season 16 Imagine)

Previous Part Here

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: One of Two

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Ship: Jackson Avery x April Kepner

Canon Episode: Season 16 Episode 20

AN: I decided to shift the focus to Japril because I strongly believe they missed an opportunity to bring April in after Jackson was shot. Amber in this story represents all of us Japril shippers and she is basically gonna be Cyrano to this couple that deserved better writing. The next chapter will be posted tonight so be prepared.

Summary: April is surprised to find Amber at Jackson’s apartment and learns what happened to him. They talk about their relationship problems where April reveals her impending divorce to Amber.

Words: 2541

Amber holds the door open still looking at April Kepner in mute shock who looks at her in visible shock with her mouth wide open. In a stroller between them is Harriet who looks at Amber with a smile happy to see her. Amber snaps out of it and remembers her place.

“April I didn’t expect to see you here…in Jackson’s apartment.” Amber suddenly remembers something, “Wait is it Jackson’s weekend already?”

April blinks before answering, “Um I took some night shifts at the clinic Jackson and I switched the dates, I am sorry I am trying not to be judgmental but what are you doing here in one of my daughters’ homes?”

“No, no it is not like that.” Amber tells her with a straight face practicing this speech she did with Maggie and Andrew when they questioned the nature of her and Jackson’s relationship, “Andrew broke up with me and kicked me out.” April’s face morphs to sympathy, “I needed a place to stay and his is roomier than my brothers. It’s just a friend helping a friend I swear. I thought he told you this.”

“He didn’t. I’ve been busy with clinic and I guess he wanted to figure out the best way to tell me.”

Amber chuckles lightly, “Well it’s an interesting way to find out I guess.”

April looks behind her, “Where is Jackson?”

Amber’s slight grin falls at that question, “They didn’t call you to tell you?”

April suddenly gets worried, “Tell me what? Is Jackson, okay?” Amber realizes she is still holding the door open and talking to her out in the hall. She steps aside and April quickly enters the living room with Harriet in the stroller while she sits in the armchair. Amber takes a seat across from her on the couch.

“Um…there was a shooting today.” April’s face falls at that word shooting and she looks down in silent shock not registering what Amber says next, “He was working with Warren at the PRT but he is fine. A drug addict tried to rob them at point blank and shot Jackson in the leg. The patient died and so did the shooter but everybody else made it out safe. They applied a tourniquet so there was no major blood loss, bullet went through so they just had to debride in the trauma room. The bone isn’t too damaged but Link thinks he should do PT just in case-”

“PT?” April looks up confused just now latching on to the one word that doesn’t make sense. Her mind was paralyzed by shock and growing grief that she didn’t pay attention to what Amber said, “What are you talking about?”

“Ortho doesn’t think it’s too bad.” Amber says on an exasperated edge, “Haven’t you been listening? It’s a bullet through the calf they had to debride in the trauma room but he should be okay after a few weeks.”

April gasps clutching her stomach like it was gonna drop, “He’s-He’s alive?”

Amber quickly nods, “Yes he is, weren’t you listening?”

April exhales in a relieved manner and looks close to tears, “I-I just…when you said shooting, I thought…I thought I lost him like we lost Reed and Charles. Reed and Charles were-”

“No, I know Jackson told me about them and how you two were there during the hospital shooting.” Amber sighs with regret, “I’m sorry I should’ve tread more carefully and lead with he’s okay. I didn’t realize it would bring all of that back for you. Are you okay?”

April swallows and nods, “I am, I am now that I know he’s okay. How did this happen?”

Amber groans at that reminder, “It was a junkie with a gun, she stopped the PRT for drugs and I guess she shot Jackson to make a point. She’s dead so we can’t get our revenge.”

“Well, I believe she’s earning a well-deserved punishment from the red guy downstairs so I’m good.” April gets Harriet out of her stroller and puts her in the play mat with her toys before coming back to talk to Amber, “How long is he gonna be at the hospital?”

“Assuming everything goes well, he should be out with a cast by the end of the weekend. Jesus, I swear with this and Dr. Webber the whole world is going upside down.”

“I saw the video.” April nods in understanding, “How are you holding up?”

Amber chuckles darkly sipping her drink, “Is that a rhetorical question? Because with the bipolar ex, squatting at a penthouse, my teacher possibly having dementia and my brother figure in the hospital with a bullet wound I’m gonna need more whiskey.”

April looks at her in sadness knowing her pain, “I’m sorry. You said that DeLuca is bipolar? Are you sure about that?”

Amber swallows the lump in her throat, “Yeah, I have been on this ride before and I know how it looks even with a manic and not a psychotic. I never knew what it was to be in a relationship with someone with mental health issues but for the last two months I now understand that you don’t matter to them. Their problems become your own because they feel the need to take it out on you because your close targets. It gets frustrating to the point where you just want to get out and leave them to suffer from their own delusions.” Amber sighs with April giving her a sympathetic nod, “I think I understand why my father left my mother.”

“Hey come on.” April starts with a motherly tone, “Just because you fell in love with someone with mental health issues doesn’t make you your dad and it doesn’t make him your mom it just…it makes it a rough patch you can either work through or not.”

“I’m not sure there’s anything left to work through.”

“Listen I’ve seen mental illness with soldiers in Afghanistan. They take on a whole new personality, it’s like somebody else took over. It’s the same thing that’s happening with Andrew only instead of war its genetics causing this.”

Amber sips her whiskey, “I know I’ve repeated that mantra with my mom and brother. I know he didn’t ask for this like I didn’t but he is ignoring it and making it worse. I know you think that’s selfish and I’m projecting my family problems on him.”

April shakes her head, “No that’s not what I think. Neither of you are being selfish here, you’re just tired of repeating this pain. As for Andrew the illness doesn’t make him inherently selfish, what makes him selfish is refusing to do anything before it’s too late.” Amber nods as her eyes begin to glisten. April looks at her in sympathy, “Are you really sure it’s over? There’s nothing to mend at this point?”

“No I made it more than clear he lost the right to beg for forgiveness when he showed up to help Webber instead of trying to fix himself and us.” Amber starts to tear up, “I thought I found the one. He was it for me. He was sweet and kind and handsome and he could handle my crap. He knew what it was like to grow up with a parent who neglected their mental health. I thought I hit the jackpot. Instead, I was so worried I would get my mother’s illness I never for one second considered he could get his father’s. And now he has and he refuses to do anything about and I feel…I feel like I’m broken and there’s nothing I can do to fix it.”

April pulls out a travel tissue packet and hands it to Amber who takes it and wipes her tears, “Thanks I know this isn’t how you envisioned your night going, taking care of a heartbroken resident sleeping in your ex’s guest room.”

“Well, it’s definitely more interesting than what I had in mind.” Amber chuckles while April grins.

“God I am such a mess, not even a hot paramedic asking me out can cheer me up.” April raises an eyebrow, “Wren Jones, I gave her a cast with my number after she asked me out.”

“I’ve met her, she brings patients to my clinic, she’s pretty.”

Amber wipes another tear, “She’s freaking gorgeous but I can’t April. I’m too screwed up to date and I want it to be because I like her and I do but…a part of me thinks about the look on Andrew’s face when he see’s me with someone after he dumped me and the satisfaction it will give me to beat him. But Wren deserves more than to be a weapon in my relationship war. And I don’t know if I can give her what she really deserves. I don’t know if I can jump back in the game so soon after what I’ve been through.

April squeezes Amber’s knee in comfort, “There’s nothing wrong with taking some time for yourself and regrouping and healing. It would be wrong for you to jump into another relationship so soon after your breakup because that will just make things worse for you. Maybe this is a sign for you to get your priorities in order and connect with yourself.”

Amber nods, “Yeah I know I need to step back from the dating game indefinitely…it still sucks though.”

April grins, “Look for what it’s worth I completely understand where you are at right now.”

“No, you don’t.” Amber sniffles, “I know your divorce from Jackson was messy but you found your true love after him.” April frowns as Amber continues, “Your one is perfect, he’s cute, he’s in the business of saving lives, he worships the ground you walk on, he doesn’t make you feel like crap. I mean you pretty much hit the jackpot after your divorce while I-”

“We split up.” Amber freezes and looks up in shock registering April’s fallen face. April sighs and takes a moment before explaining, “We kept trying to tell ourselves that our whole winding road was God's plan to bring us back together. But he was still so angry and so hurt. I mean, I left him at the altar, and then his wife died. You know, you don't just stop feeling hurt 'cause it's a better story if God brought us together in our pain.” Amber looks at April feeling sympathetic, “He denied it for so long. You know, he tried so hard not to hate me. I think loving me, making us a full circle was the story he was writing. I mean, I guess it was the story we were both writing. I mean, I was trying to get past my guilt. He was…He was trying to forgive God for the loss of Karin…but y-you know, ultimately, we learned that…” April bitterly chuckles, “Life just isn't always so tidy. And God's plan isn't always so easy to understand. He's always been so good with Harriet, and I adore Ruby, but we both started working longer hours, just avoiding coming home. And then, his sister got sick. She lives in Philadelphia. So, he and Ruby went to Philadelphia to be with her, and…now she's better, uh, but they're still in Philadelphia. And…they are not coming back.” Amber looks down in guilt over her previous assumption, “So yeah, I get how it feels to be broken beyond fixing. I am about to be divorced for a second time and a single mother again and according to the bible and my family I am a sinner in the eyes of the lord. I am doing about as great as you I think.”

Amber holds out her expensive whiskey, “Here you need this more than anyone I’ve ever met and that’s a lot of people.”

April chuckles, “Thanks but I’m working tonight. Speaking of which I gotta get to the clinic.” April stands up grabbing her purse and Amber stands up to lead her out, “Are you good to take of her tonight?”

“Don’t worry it’s not my first time with her it’s just double the diapers without Jackson around. If it’s okay with you I can take her in to see him tonight before she sleeps, maybe a visit from his little girl will be good for him.”

“Yeah of course, he needs a good end to a day of being shot.” April chuckles darkly, “I swear it’s day like these I could kill him for being so brave and so stupid.”

“You and me both sister and thanks for the talk I think I needed some girl to girl talk with someone who get’s where I’m coming from.” Amber smiles at April gratefully.

“Of course, and if you want, I can help you unleash your rage the right way.” Amber raises an eyebrow, “Gun range, shooting a paper target is very cathartic trust me.”

Amber chuckles, “I’ll think about it. Hey, does Jackson know about you and Matthew? I mean he never mentioned it.”

“No, he doesn’t I’ve been busy and so is he. Plus, he thought it was crazy what I was doing he didn’t say it but I could see it and I’m really not in the mood for an ‘I told you so’ my family already got their share after I told them.” April sighs, “Amber, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t tell him before I did. This is still new, it just happened and I want to figure out how to tell him myself. Can you please keep this between us and Harriet who I already swore to secrecy? Please?”

Amber looks at the pleading face on April and despite wanting to tell Jackson knowing his lingering feelings for April decides to keep a promise after April helped her with her emotional turmoil, “Yes I can keep this between us. I mean it’s not like it’s gonna change his life in any way.” Amber grins to sell it knowing it would be the opposite for Jackson.

April grins, “Okay thank you so much I already fed Harriet so your good there, you just take her to see daddy, read her to bed and she should be out like a light.” April goes to the play mat with a wide smile for Harriet, “Okay ladybug mommy has to go but your gonna see daddy and then you get to have a sleepover with auntie Amber is that fun?”

“Yay!” April laughs at Harriet’s joy as does Amber who can’t believe intern year that little girl hated her and now, she’s the designated aunt.

“Yay! That’s right I love you so much ladybug I’ll see you soon.” April gives Harriet a lot of kisses before walking to the door with Amber leading her out, “Okay call me if you need anything seriously.”

“Don’t worry I will, have a good shift.” April nods and leaves. Amber closes the door before making a raspberry sound and lifting Harriet in her arms so she can get her ready to see her dad. Amber sighs as she carries Harriet down the hall to her room, “Harriet it’s days like this I wonder what my life has come to being thrust into other people’s problems.” Amber closes the door in Harriet’s room.

Next Part Here

#greys anatomy #grey's anatomy #greysedit #greysanatomyedit #jackson avery #april kepner #amber karev #season 16 #head canon #liz gillies #elizabeth gillies #sarah drew #headcanon #mine #japril #jackson and april #jackson x april

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