As he was about to knock again, Jackson watched the door swung open.

"Daddy, you're late" Lydia stood in the door way looking up at her father with frown

"I'm sorry, surgery went late" he apologized walking in picking her up from the floor.

He entered April's apartment and closed the door behind him. He dug into coat pocket and pulled out a clear plastic box with a cupcake in it.

"But I bought you an apology cupcake" he said watching the grin appear on her face "Don't tell your mom" he whispered

"I heard that!" April yelled walking into the living room "And no cupcakes before dinner" she added

Lydia frowned.

"You'll eat it later for desert ok?" April said getting nod from Lydia before taking the cupcake from Jackson

"Hey" he greeted her

"Hey" she said back with a smile

"So, what are we having for dinner?" he asked placing Lydia back on the floor

Lydia had called her dad and told him that they needed to have a family meeting, and he promised he'll be over if he got dinner in return.

"Macaroni and Cheese" Lydia announced, it was her favorite

"Of coarse" Jackson smiled remembering the last time he had dinner with them

"I would have made something else but she insisted" April said

"Is it done mom?" Lydia asked eager to eat her dinner, to get her cupcake

"Yes, it's done. Your dad can help you set up the table" April said

"Come on daddy" Lydia said grabbing Jackson's hand leading him over to the table

A few minutes later the three were at the table, digging into their food.

"So, what's this "family meeting" about?" Jackson asked before putting a fork full of the cheesy pasta into his mouth

"My party requirements" Lydia smiled

"Requirements?" Jackson asked surprised by her choice word

"Yep, let me go get my list" she said jumping off her chair running to her bedroom

"She has a list?" Jackson asked

"mmhmm" April answered

Lydia returned handing her opened pink notebook to Jackson and headed back to her seat. Jackson looked down at the page, on which Lydia wrote her list in purple colour pencils. Each point had a little box next to it.

"I see that there are check boxes here......." Jackson said

"Yeah so you can check them off to make sure you have everything" Lydia informed

Jackson read through the list.....

"A mermaid themed party....." he began

"I already had a fairy birthday party last time so I wanted to do something different" Lydia said

"A huge chocolate mermaid cake......" Jackson read

"Because I love chocolate!" Lydia said

"Lots of presents....." Jackson said

Lydia looked at him and grinned. He shook his head at his daughter and continued down the list.

"Lots of ice cream, except strawberry flavored ice cream" he read then looked up at her "Why no strawberry?" he asked

"Because Mr. Avery Bear is allergic to it, remember?" Lydia said

"Oh yeah" he answered remembering a long conversation he had with his daughter talking about her teddy bear, he continued down the list "A bouncy house.........a clown........a performance by One Direction, wait hold up..." Jackson paused

"What?" the little girl asked

"What makes you think I'll get you all of this?" Jackson asked

"Because I'm your daughter and you love me"  she said putting on her 'pouty face'

"Uh Oh" April laughed

Jackson had yet to master resisting Lydia's pouty face and would give her what ever she wanted when she did it. Lydia knew this and would use it every chance she got.

"No, not the face" he frowned

"Pleeeeease daddy" Lydia pouted more, adding the quivering lip

He sat there for a few seconds, trying to resist.

"Ok fine, I'll see what I can do" he gave up with a sigh

Lydia's face quickly changed into a huge grin. She jumped off her chair and ran to her dad hugging him.

"Thank You!" she squealed

She ran back to her seat and dug into her Mac n Cheese, with the huge grin still on her face. Jackson looked over at April, who was giving him that "seriously?" look.

"What?" he asked

"You fell for it again" she said

"I can't help it, Ok" he said

April shook her head, as they both went back to eating their dinner and Jackson continued reading his daughter's demands, or "requirements" as she put it.
________________

It was the day of Lydia's party and Jackson's apartment was filled with kids running around.

"Why did I agree to this?" he whispered to himself as he stood by the kitchen, looking around at the decor in his apartment

The "Under The Sea" mermaid theme had turned his bachelor pad into kid central . There was the huge cake and ice cream she wanted along with the many gifts close friends and family had gotten her. The Bouncy house was out of the question, there was no way that would fit in his apartment. And the whole One Direction thing had to wait until the next month, since he bought tickets to their concert in Seattle. The clown thing had to be crossed off the list when Lydia found out that clowns were more scary than funny, when one visited her class a few days ago. But other than that, Lydia got everything that was on her list.

"I like what you've done with the place Avery" Jackson heard

He looked to the side and spotted Alex walking up to him with a grin.

"Don't even start" Jackson said knowing his friend had a lot of jokes up his sleeve, he hadn't stopped teasing about the party since he told him about it

"It's like the little mermaid took over your apartment" Alex laughed

"Laugh all you want, it won't be funny when Paige wants a My Little Pony party" Jackson teased

"She's a Karev, Karev's don't do that my little pony crap" Alex said defending his now two month old daughter

"Yeah, that's what you think" Jackson said "Where is she anyway?"

"Jo has her, they're over on the couch with the women" he said pointing to them

On the couch sat Jo, with tiny Paige in her arms. Next to her was April and Arizona. Meredith, Callie and Cristina were all standing around the couch, gushing at the baby.

Jackson noticed the visible bags under his friend's eyes.

"You look like crap" Jackson commented

"Paige never sleeps, she's always awake and crying" he quickly answered "You're lucky you didn't have to deal with that with Lydia"

As the two men talked, there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it" April said getting off the couch

April ran to the door and opened it. She smiled when she saw who it was.

"Lydia......" she called out ".....someone's here to see you"

Lydia ran through the living room to the door. Her eyes widened when she saw who it was.

"Auntie Natalie!" Lydia yelled in excitement

"Hey Birthday girl!" Natalie smiled kneeling down opening her arms out

Lydia grinned and ran right into them, giving Natalie a tight hug.

"I missed you so much" Natalie said hugging Lydia's tiny body back

"Me too" Lydia said pulling out of the hug. She spotted a bag in Natalie's hand "Is that my birthday present?" she asked

"Yes it is" Natalie smiled handing it to her

"Yay!" Lydia cheered taking the bag

"Go put them with your other presents" April told her daughter "We'll open them in a few minutes"

"Ok" Lydia said leaving the two, running over to her "Present Table"

"So, where is this hot baby daddy of yours?" Natalie asked getting on her feet looking around

"He's over there" April pointed, rolling her eyes

Natalie turned, spotting Jackson over by the kitchen talking to Alex.

"That's him?" she asked

"Yep" April answered

"Mmmm, Oh I would definitely make a love child with him" Natalie stared

"Nat!" April whispered nudging her

"What in the world possessed you to leave him and come to Ohio with Matthew?" Natalie scolded

"Nat stop" April said

"Better question is, what possessed you to marry Matthew in the first place, when you had all this hotness?" she teased pointing at Jackson

April rolled her eyes looking away. Just then, Lydia came back.

"Hey Lydia, why don't you introduce me to you daddy" Natalie said with a smile

"Ok" Lydia said grabbing Natalie's hand pulling her towards her father

"Don't embarrass me!" April said to Natalie as she left

"I'll try" she called back

The two walked up to Jackson and Alex.

"Daddy..." Lydia began getting his attention "This is Auntie Natalie, Auntie Natalie, this is my daddy" Lydia introduced the two

Jackson smiled extending his hand "Nice to finally meet you Natalie"

"Nice to finally meet you too" she said shaking his hand

"And this is Dr. Alex, he's mean" Lydia said looking up at Alex

Natalie giggled "Nice to meet you Dr. Alex"

"Nice to meet you to" Alex said frowning down at the little girl who grinned up at him

They suddenly heard a baby crying.

"Aaaaaaleeeeeeeex" Jo called from the couch

"Duty calls" Alex said leaving the two going towards his wife

"Daddy, Aunt Natalie got me a present!" Lydia grinned

"She did?"

"Mmhmm" the little girl nodded

Just then there was another knock on the door. April opened the door and her eyes widened once again. Not at who, but what! Standing there was a mailman holding a big cardboard box. April signed and took the box from the man after thanking him. She back herself back into the apartment, then closed the door with foot. Lydia's eyes widened as she saw her mother with the large box in her arms.

"Is that for me?" she asked approaching April

"It is" she answered

"From where?"

"Boston" she smiled

Jackson shook his head knowing exactly who it was from.

"Who lives in Boston?" Natalie asked confused

"My mother" Jackson answered

Catherine Avery had wasted no time spoiling Lydia, once the little girl knew who she really was. There was no telling what was in that box, but if it was from Catherine, there was no doubt that it was something Lydia would love.

"Can I open my presents now, pleeeeeeease?" Lydia pleaded, getting all excited after seeing the box

"Uh, sure, why not" Jackson answered

"Yeeees!" Lydia cheered as she ran over to the spot where her gifts were "Time to open presents!" she yelled out

Everyone quickly gathered around the table as Lydia began ripping through the wrapping paper of her gifts.
________________

"Bye Lydia" Natalie whispered to a almost sleeping Lydia

Lydia's sugar rush was finally dying down, and after all the running around with her friends, she collapsed on Jackson's couch

"Bye" Lydia sleepily answered

Natalie bent over and kissed her cheek "I'll see you later"

Natalie then followed April to the front door.

"So we're still on for lunch tomorrow?" she asked April

"We are" April smiled

"Well, see you tomorrow then" Nat said hugging April "Goodnight"

"Goodnight" April said pulling out of the hug

"Goodnight Jackson" Natalie said as she spotted him entering the living room

"Goodnight" he nodded before going into the kitchen

Natalie left and April gave a little wave down the hall before closing the door. She then turned to her daughter on the couch and smiled. She was asleep now, and a slight snore could be heard coming from her. April walked to the couch picking her up. She then brought her to her room and placed her on the bed. Jackson had officially turned his guest bedroom into Lydia's room, so she'd have somewhere to sleep when she spent the night. After leaving the room and closing the door, she went back into the living room, where Jackson was beginning to clean up.

"Where's Lydia?" he asked noting her come in

"She fell asleep, so I put her in her room" she answered

"I thought you guys were about to leave" he said

"We were, but" she began, looking around at the untidy apartment "It looks like you'll need some help cleaning up"

"I do need help" he smiled "It's like Sabastian had a party in here"

"Sabastian?" April asked

"Yeah, that little lobster crab thing in the Little Mermaid" he answered

"How do you know about him?"

"Lydia made me watch it. She said I needed to do some research about mermaids"

April giggled. Lydia was very determined to get her party the ways she wanted it, and if it meant making her father the Little Mermaid, then so be it.

"So what do you need help with?"

"Uh...you can clean up the gift paper your daughter shredded" he said pointing to the table her presents were on

"She's your daughter too you know" April said walking over to the table

"Yeah but she looks like you more"

"But she acts like you more" she shot back with a smile
__________________

"This is the first and last birthday party I ever throw for Lydia" Jackson said plopping down on the couch, April followed right after

"Yeah right, wait until she gives you those cute eyes again" April said

"I'm not gonna fall for that again"

"I'll believe it when it happens" she smiled

"Just wait, you'll see" he said

April took in the breath before pushing herself off the couch "I better go get Lydia, I don't want to leave here too late"

"She can spend the night you know" Jackson said

"What about school?" April said

"She has cloths here right? I can drop her off tomorrow" she answered

"Are you sure? You don't have to get to the hospital early tomorrow?"

"No, I don't"

"Ok, well, I'll go get her in some PJ's" April said leaving the living room and going into Lydia's.

After getting Lydia out of her party cloths and into her PJ's, she tucked her in, pecked her cheek and quietly stepped out of the room. She slowly closed the door and turned around, spotting Jackson standing there, in front of his bedroom door.

"Ok, so she's sound asleep. I already picked out her outfit for school, I hanged on the closet door. And for breakfast...."

"No sugary cereal, I remember" he smiled cutting her off

"Good" she smiled "I better get going then"

As she turned to walk away, Jackson quickly placed his hand up on the wall behind her, blocking her way.

"You know.........you can spend the night too.......if you like" he said giving her a lustful look

April looked up at him. She knew that look anywhere! It was the same look he gave her in the men's bathroom during the boards.

"Don't...........do that" she whispered

"Do what?" he asked giving her that look again

"That!" she said pointing to his face

"What's wrong with this?" he asked closing the space between them

"You know exactly what's wrong" she said as her back hit the wall behind her

He placed his other hand on the the side, against the wall, blocking her in the small space. He leaned forward, their faces inches apart.

"We said we wouldn't do this....." April whispered as his nose brushed past hers

April was right, they had made a deal to keep their feelings out of their co-parenting Lydia. But after spending a lot more time together than expected, the tension between them both grew. Long glances would occur between them on opposite sides of the couch, while Lydia sat in between them. There was almost kisses and almost hook-ups, but they had never went as far as having sex, and Lydia was to thank for that.

But now, Lydia was fast asleep, unable to interrupt them this time. The opportunity was right there, and they both wanted to reach out and grab it. And April, being more impatient, took the first step and captured his lips in hers.

Jackson's hands moved from the wall to her waist as kissed back. April's hands quickly found the back of his head and neck. Their tongues danced around each others mouth as he hands started to roam lower. He then pulled her backwards, to his opened bedroom door, and led her in, pushing the door close behind her back.

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Merry Christmas readers!! What's #1 on your Christmas list? Japril is at the top of mine ;D.