forty-eight

throughout the whole drive, Allison and Jackson had their hands interlaced with one another, not wanting to let go. It was a bliss, it felt like a dream, she was waiting for her to wake up, but she never did. This was reality, she is with Jackson, and they are on their way to get married to one another.

Once the car pulled up to the hotel, they got out of the car. Luckily, it was around midnight, no one could see them, no one would question Allison in her wedding dress. Jackson made his way towards his now fiancée, walking inside the inn to grab a room.

"Separaterooms." Allison told Jackson, "I want our wedding night to be special."

Jackson was opposed to the idea, he wanted to hold her in his arms—forever. Jackson eventually agreed. After all, he'll have a lifetime to hold her in his arms.

***

Allison walked down the hallway, when she noticed the familiar face of her husband. Her eyes traveled down to his hand to make sure, he wasn't wearing his wedding band—seeing as no one knew their status.

Once she reached him she gave him a soft glare, "Take it off." Jackson furrowed his brows at her statement, causing her to speak again, "Take off your ring."

Jackson gasped remembering about it before he let out a smile, as she stood beside him, sliding the ring off and quickly putting inside his lab coat pocket.

Allison cleared her throat, "Thank you, Dr. Avery."

She pretended to talk about medicine, so knowing would know something was up between the two. Once the pair reached the main lobby, the two parted ways.

Jackson stood on the third step of the stairs, while Owen and Derek were at the middle, Cristina and Allison stood at the bottom.

Meredith walked up to them, moving her hair out of the way, "What did I miss?"

Cristina cleared her throat, "Owen and Emma are moving in together."

"He holds a meeting for that?" Meredith questioned, causing Allison to cover her mouth to hold in a laugh that was threatening to come out.

"Thank you for coming. I know you're all busy, so this won't take long." Owen spoke, clearing his throat, as he looked down at the black binder he had in his hands, "The board has just approved a new non-fraternization policy. This hospital has to be a safe work environment where our focus remains clearly on providing the best patient care possible. Moving forward, all relationships with co-workers will be discouraged and all relationships between superiors and subordinates is strictly prohibited." Everyone began to talk quietly about the new rule, "You will all receive a copy of the new rules. Your supervisors will arrange meetings to go over the details. And that's it. Let's get back to work."

***

Late at night, Jackson and Allison walked inside a store to find a new wedding dress for Allison for their wedding. Allison felt that the wedding dress she has on would make Jackson uncomfortable, seeing as this was the dress she was supposed to marry Micheal in.

The two looked through rackets of dresses, not finding one that was white, they were all an ugly cream color. Allison was never picky, but she at least wanted to look decent for the wedding.

Jackson creeped up behind her as she looked through a dress, his arms wrapping around her waist causing her to smile.

"I can't find one decent white dress." Allison complained, leaning her head against his chest.

"I still think the one you are wearing is fine." Jackson assured her, kissing her forehead.

Allison turned to face him, bringing her hands around his neck, "Jackson, this was the dress I wore when I thought I was going to marry Micheal." She softly spoke, "I want a new dress, it could be short not long as long as it's new."

Jackson nodded, knowing she was being considerate of his feelings. "Okay, I'll look there, and you'll look here."

Allison nodded, pecking her lips to his, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

The both of them would never get tired of saying those three words, and eight letters, because it meant that they were each others. Always.

***

"You're back?" Allison raised a brow, seeing Derek walking towards her, Derek who was supposed to be in Washington D.C. for a final interview to work for the president, as she begins to untie her scrub cap, "What happened, you're not supposed to be here until tomorrow."

"I should start clipping aneurysms again." Derek nodded, as he reached her, "What do you got?"

"I just finished clipping an aneurysm." Allison informed him, "Good to have you back, Shep. But what happened?'

"They cancelled my interview." Derek revealed, nodding.

"Oh."

"I'm gratefulfor the opportunity, I mean they're looking for answers to questions I've been asking my whole career and to know that, that project is out there—I mean, how do I go back to being satisfied doing Neurosurgery again?" Derek shrugged.

"Your standards have changed." Allison softly said. "But maybe it was because something came up, I-I don't have the answers."

"Yeah."

***

"You can't steal all my fries." Jackson shook his head, playfully glaring at the girl in front of him.

Once Allison found a white dress that she loved, the two made their way to the hotel room, but not before ordering some fast food.

"Sure, I can. What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine." Allison grinned.

Jackson chuckled, "We're not even married yet."

"You know, I never imagined our wedding to be like this, but it's perfect." She whispered. It's true, she didn't expect to be eating fries, and burgers with milkshake on the night before she gets married to the love of her life, but she wouldn't trade it for anything.