Doing The Dance (Jackson Avery Fanfic)

twenty-nine

2016

Jackson's arms around me were the last thing I remember last night and the first thing I remembered this morning as he untangled them from me. I opened my eyes and saw him sitting up and stretching.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked, his eyes flicking down to me. He smiled and laid back down.

"Not bad actually. How about you?" I shrugged.

"Better than I have been" I admitted.

"Good, I'm glad."

"I'm sorry I came in here" He shook his head.

"Don't worry about it, Tay. I'm just glad you had a good sleep"

"Thank you" He checked the time and a groan interrupted his smile.

"I have to get ready for work. I start at 7" The alarm clock read 6:15 and I nodded, also climbing out of bed as he did. "You don't have to get up as well" I shrugged.

"I feel better and need coffee"

"Of course you do" He teased as I shoved him.

"I haven't had a single cup since it happened"

"You not drink coffee?" I nodded.

"I know weird right? I couldn't do it. Morning coffee was always our thing and it felt wrong almost."

"But not now?" I shrugged.

"I mean, yeah kinda. But I think I've finally begun to let go of those little things and live life as normally as I can. I'm hoping after another two or so weeks of therapy I can come back to work"

"Things have changed since I sat with the blank stared girl in her apartment yesterday"

"Things have, and things haven't. But my head is finally clearing of it all, thanks to you"

"You say thank you more often than you unnecessarily apologize these days" Jackson said with a roll of his eyes.

"Fine. I'll stop. But I'll never stop being grateful" I flashed him a grin and he returned it, setting a cup of coffee down in front of me. "What time does Harriet usually wake up?" He shrugged.

"She seems to be sleeping well. I began to hate mornings like these because I'd have to wake her up and take her to work upset. Sometimes she's up before me, sometimes she can sleep later. On my last day off she didn't wake until 8:30." I nodded.

"I'll get dressed soon and be prepared" He shook his head.

"Don't worry about it too much. Read your book, watch tv, and make some breakfast. She's cruisy, hard to believe considering she lived with April until now"

"Watch what you say. She's my boss and a good friend of mine" I teased.

"Noted. If it's a quiet day, I might be able to get home early"

"I'll get some more groceries for dinner stuff when I take Harriet out for my therapy session"

"You can always drop her off for an hour or so while you go if you'd like?" I shook my head.

"I'm not ready to be back there just yet Avery" He nodded in understanding.

"Of course, take some of her toys with you so she's not super upset. And her stroller is in my boot in case she falls asleep or you don't want to carry her."

"I'm sure we'll be fine. Do you want me to make you something for breakfast?"

"You're already looking after my daughter and cooking me dinner, as well as the fact that you cleaned my entire apartment including the laundry. I'll get a muffin on my way in" I nodded as he finished his cup of coffee and put the empty mug in the sink before double thinking and placing it in the dishwasher. I grinned.