Hearts Align

Chapter 3

"I know you and I also know that you told me you weren't seeing anyone else when we saw each other in LA. You don't lie, its your one, most important rule. Why the hell would you keep something like that from me?"

"Why would I have told you, Jackson? You always said that you didn't want kids and after everything we went through why would I tell you? For you to think that I was just trying to tie you to me in some way? No, I took care of my daughter with my mom's help and that's the way it had to be. I didn't want your handouts or for you to feel pressured or obligated into anything."

"I still don't understand why, you should've told me." He angrily said.

"When I saw you in LA we talked about family Jackson, you told me that you didn't have time for kids. You didn't want kids because you wanted to concentrate on your career. So when I found out I was pregnant I made the decision to keep it to myself. It was the best choice for both of us, you're no family man, Jackson." I said softly.

"This is just fucking hilarious, karma is making fun of me." He said, laughing a dry, harsh laugh.

"I guess you're wanting me to ask why so go ahead and humor me Dr. Avery."

"I'm married, Kiara." he deadpanned, raising his hand.

"Thanks for letting me know but I'm not interested anyway so you don't have to worry." I replied, noticing the ring for the first time in two weeks.

"That's not what I meant. I got married and then I found out that my wife was pregnant."

"Oh, um, congratulations?" I said, not knowing where he's going with this.

"Yeah, I was surprised, to say the least. As you said, I didn't want kids, didn't think I did anyway."

"Where's your wife?"

"She left."

"Left you?"

"I don't know, she just needed to leave. We found out that our baby was sick, osteogenesis imperfecta. I got to hold my son for a few hours before he died. April left with Owen Hunt last week."

"Oh! Your wife is the redhead! I'm so sorry, Jackson. I'm so very sorry for your loss." I said, not being able to imagine that type of pain.

"The only reason I'm telling you this is because having Samuel made me realize that I want a family. I want kids, maybe a dog or two, I want it all Kiki."

"She knows who you are." I told him.

"What?"

"My daughter, I talk about you to her, I told her that you were off saving lives somewhere. She has a picture of you, an old one that I found, in a locket. I wanted her to have her father, to see where she came from in a way that I can't."

"Have you gone searching for your real parents?" He asked softly, knowing about my adoptive situation.

"Closed adoption, no information to be found. I stopped looking because it's just exhausting. I didn't want my daughter to feel this way."

"What's her name?"

"Katherine, with a K. We call her Katie."

"Even hating my mom, you named our daughter after her."

"I thought it was fitting, the stubborn little girl didn't want to come out. Hard-headed too, just like her grandmother."

"Where is she?"

"At the hotel with my mom."

"She's here, in Seattle?"

"Of course, I didn't know that you were working at this hospital. If I did, I probably wouldn't have taken the job."