It's always been you, April Kepner

gala

puttin' on the ritz
season 10 ep 4

🎵Jealousy, Jealousy-Olivia Rodrigo🎵

"and I see everyone getting all the things I want "

~~~~~

"Hey! Ross. Edwards. It's just the two of you down here tonight, so if you find yourselves in over your head, call a grown-up" April says

Alex walks over "Kepner, kid in bed 8 has abdominal pain and vomiting. If C.T.'s negative, give him fluids and send him home"

Madelyn also walks into the ER "Don't we look spiffy" the redhead says

"Yeah, I do. You look like crap. And i'm late" Madelyn replies

"I haven't had a chance to freshen up yet, you ass" April mumbles

"I'm kidding, you always look good" Madelyn says as she rushes out to the gala

~~~~~

Madelyn looks around at the gala thinking what is going on until she sees a familiar face "Oh! Meredith Grey, as I live and breathe. I haven't seen you in ages. How's, uh... Derek liking maternity leave?" she asks the blonde

"He's on paternity leave" Mer replies

"Yeah, okay" Madelyn says

"We have a deal. I don't work. Neither does he. It's working out well" Meredith  says

"I live in your house. You're bored out of your minds" Callie interrupts "Yeah, they've got all this pent-up surgical energy and now everything's a competition"

"It is not" the blonde defends

"And he's winning" Callie says

Meredith shakes her head "Oh. He is not winning. He couldn't even get Zola to put her shoes on tonight. I did that. I got her to put her shoes on. So I'm winning"

"Yeah, that-that is why I will not be having children" Madelyn says

"I need to come back to work" Mer sighs

A waiter with face paint walks by "Drink?"

"Ooh" Madelyn says grabbing one

"That's the creepiest waiter I've ever seen. Bailey's gonna lose her mind. She can't stand clowns" Callie says

"This is gonna be hilarious" Cristina adds

"Bailey's not coming" Mer says

"What?! Wait, we can do that? Okay, I have been dreading having to be in the same room with Arizona. If this isn't mandatory, I'm going home" Callie says

"Wait, nobody's going home" Jackson says overhearing the conversation "I'm giving 10% of tonight's take To the department that raises the most money. Spread the... word"

"Derek is really good at this kind of thing. It's the Shepherd charm, so Mads will be good too. I should get started before he does" Mer says

"Oh, I think he already has" Callie says pointing to Derek juggling amidst a crowd of onlookers

"Oh, come on" Mer and Mads say at the same time

~~~~~

"Hey, Madelyn! Champagne? This is amazing! Oh, the magician...incredible" April says excitedly

"This is warm" Madelyn frowns

"Oh, yeah, big bird said there's no ice" April says "Apparently, a miscommunication between the caterer and the venue"

"Cooling blankets. We have some back at the hospital. They can bring a patient's temperature down in minutes, right? No reason those can't chill a bottle" Madelyn says

April scoffs "That's ridiculous"

"Then it's on theme for the night" Madelyn mutters "And I can't leave. Um... could you please run back and grab 'em?" she asks the redhead

"What?" April exclaims "No, but, uh, the magician is the..."

"Please?" Madelyn smiles

April rolls her eyes "Fine"

"Thank you, you're the best!" Madelyn calls after her

~~~~~

While she waits for April to get back Madelyn decides it's time to start what she came for, so as you do she walks towards the oldest richest man she can find and works her charm, she a drink from a tray on her way over, stopping directly next to the man

"Madelyn Shepherd" she introduces sticking her hand out for him to shake

The man takes one look at her and immediately take she hand in his "Oscar Brown" he says "What can I do for you darling?" he asks making Madelyn cringe internally and almost externally

"What do you have to offer" she asks

"For you, anything you wish" the man replies eagerly

As much as Madelyn wanted to let him know she herself did not need nor want anything from him, the hospital did, her hospital, and besides she'd do anything to win a competition

"Well then I-"

Her words were interrupted by someone behind her obnoxiously clearing their throat, they brunette turns and comes face to face with April "Hi" she says

"I hope i'm not interrupting" April says insincerely

"Not at all" Madelyn replies

"Sir" April says to the man "You wouldn't mind if I borrowed  Dr. Shepherd for a moment would you?" she asks

"Only if you bring her back" he says

"Of course" April replies forcing a smile and grabbing ahold of Madelyn's arm dragging her away "You're not going back to that disgusting vile-"

"April" Madelyn says stopping the girls rambling "Where are we going?" she asks as the girl continues to pull her until they're outside the venue

"We are going to Joes, and we are going to get drunk and we are going to spend all night together just like we did when we were friends, before the boards, before the sex, before everything. Because I miss you, and i'm getting married and i'm going to need a friend to help me. No one else likes me, you're the only one, so please Maddy, can we just go back to how it was" April finally finishes

"You had me at Joes"