Grey’s Anatomy: Jackson & April’s Relationship Timeline Explained

April Kepner and Jackson Avery are a hugely popular couple on Grey’s Anatomy. Their relationship, played by Sarah Drew and Jesse Williams, was full of ups and downs, just like the iconic romance between Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd. They first appeared in season 6, and their connection developed beautifully over years of friendship before becoming a romantic relationship.

Even though they weren’t always the center of attention, this couple had several memorable moments on the show, including Jackson’s dramatic wedding objection and their spontaneous decision to run away and get married.

Jackson and April loved each other deeply, but they faced challenges at first due to their differing religious and personal beliefs. Bad timing also played a role, as they often confessed their feelings when one of them was already in a relationship. Over time and after a lot of personal growth, though, April and Jackson came to realize they were truly meant for each other.

Jackson & April Arrive At Seattle Grace Mercy West And Become Close Friends

Season 6, Episode 5 – Episode 24

April and Jackson first appeared in season 6, episode 5, titled “Invasion,” when Seattle Grace Hospital merged with Mercy West. They started as new colleagues, but as they both adjusted to life at Seattle Grace, they began to connect (episode 6, “I Saw What I Saw”).

Although season 6 of the show didn’t feature many memorable episodes focused on ‘Japril’, the writers effectively established the beginnings of their connection. They showed hints of their fun, flirty chemistry, like when Jackson playfully teased April about her feelings for Derek in episode 20, ‘Hook, Line and Sinner’.

Grey’s Anatomy Episode Jackson And April’s Relationship Milestones
Season 6, Episode 5, Invasion Jackson and April are introduced
Season 7, Episode 1, With You I’m Born Again Jackson and April have grown closer and are living at Meredith’s house
Season 8, Episode 21, Moment of Truth Jackson and April first sleep together
Season 9, Episode 3, Love The One You’re With Jackson and April begin a casual relationship
Season 9, Episode 7, I Was Made For Lovin’ You Jackson and April split up
Season 9, Episode 23, Readiness April gets engaged to Matthew Taylor
Season 10, Episode 12, Get Up, Stand Up Jackson confesses his love to April at her wedding
Season 10, Episode 13, Take It Back Jackson and April secretly get married
Season 10, Episode 21, Change of Heart April learns she’s pregnant
Season 11, Episode 22, We Are Never Getting Back Together April and Jackson decide to induce labor for their son, knowing his condition is fatal
Season 12, Episode 11, Unbreak My Heart April and Jackson divorce
Season 12, Episode 12, My Next Life April learns she’s pregnant again
Season 12, Episode 24, Family Affair April gives birth to Jackson and her daughter, Harriet
Season 13, Episode 16, Who He Is (And What He Is to You) April and Jackson have a one-night stand
Season 14, Episode 24, All of Me April leaves Grey’s Anatomy and strikes up a relationship with her ex-fiancé, Matthew
Season 17, Episode 14, Look Up Child Jackson left Grey’s Anatomy and moved to Boston, where April reveals that she and Matthew divorced. Jackson and April move in together
Season 18, Episode 19, Out for Blood Jackson and April are happily back together

Their lives were forever altered when a shooting occurred at the hospital, tragically claiming the lives of their friends, Charles and Reed (Season 2, Episodes 23 & 24, “Sanctuary/Death And All His Friends”).

Jackson & April Become Roommates And Their Friendship Continues To Grow

Season 7, Episode 1 – Season 8, Episode 20

Jackson and April first appeared on Grey’s Anatomy in season 6, but their relationship didn’t begin immediately. They started developing romantic feelings after becoming roommates. By the start of season 7, they were living together at Meredith’s house and had become closer, as seen in the episode “With You I’m Born Again.”

Jackson and April developed a close friendship, supporting each other through job interviews (Season 7, Episode 20, “The Girl with No Name”). While the main storylines focused elsewhere, their friendship provided heartwarming and humorous moments, showcasing the fantastic chemistry between actors Drew and Williams.

Jackson & April’s Relationship Takes A Romantic Turn, Leading To Them Starting A Casual Relationship (Which Quickly Backfires)

Season 8, Episode 21 – Season 9, Episode 7

Jackson and April’s romantic connection began to develop in season 8 of Grey’s Anatomy. Specifically, in the episode “Moment of Truth” (season 8, episode 21), they started a relationship after sleeping together while taking their medical board exams.

April was initially nervous when she and Jackson started casually dating (Season 9, Episode 3, “Love The One You’re With”). However, their relationship didn’t last, as a possible pregnancy and differing views on their future led them to separate (Episode 7, “I Was Made For Lovin’ You”).

Despite later criticism of how the show handled April’s storyline about losing her virginity, the idea of a relationship between Jackson and April was exciting and gave Grey’s Anatomy a renewed sense of originality.

Jackson & April Struggle To Repair Their Friendship & Continue Fighting Their Feelings For One Another

Season 9, Episode 8 – Season 10, Episode 11

The ‘will they/won’t they’ dynamic is common in TV shows, and Jackson and April experienced this after breaking up. Despite wanting to be friends, their lingering feelings for each other made it difficult (episode 8, ‘Love Turns You Down’). They revisited the possibility of a relationship when Jackson began dating Stephanie (episode 10, ‘Things We Said Today’).

April got engaged to paramedic Matthew Taylor in episode 23, “Readiness.” However, the show suggested their relationship wasn’t completely resolved, as April nearly canceled her wedding after Jackson had a life-threatening experience in the season 10 premiere, “Seal Our Fate.”

Jackson appeared to be reconsidering his relationship with April, even telling Matthew he might skip the wedding (episode 11, “XX”). This created a compelling storyline, leaving viewers wondering if Jackson and April would ultimately reconcile.

Jackson Interrupts April’s Wedding & They Get Married

Season 10, Episode 12 – Episode 13

Okay, so I’ll admit, I thought I had April and Jackson’s story figured out. For seasons, it felt like we were heading in one direction. But season 10 totally surprised me! It took their relationship in a completely unexpected direction, and honestly, it was a good surprise. Usually with Grey’s Anatomy, you brace yourself for heartbreak, but this twist was actually… delightful. It was a genuinely welcome shock, and I was thrilled to see them avoid the typical tragic storyline.

The tenth season of Grey’s Anatomy featured a standout episode, “Get Up, Stand Up,” where Jackson and April faced a pivotal moment in their relationship. Right before April was set to marry Matthew, Jackson admitted his feelings for her and asked to rekindle their romance. Fans eagerly awaited months to discover what would happen after this dramatic turn of events.

When the show came back in February, fans were surprised to learn April and Jackson had secretly gotten married, leaving the church together to do so. The writers also suggested this wouldn’t stay a secret for long, as the hospital had just put a new rule in place forbidding relationships between coworkers.

Jackson & April Adjust To Married Life And Discover They Are Expecting A Baby

Season 10, Episode 14 – Episode 21

Season 10 of Grey’s Anatomy featured significant development for April and Jackson, marking a particularly memorable period in their relationship. In episode 14, “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” they surprised their friends by revealing they’d gotten married and then began navigating the challenges and joys of married life.

The couple was happily falling in love, but they hit their first big challenge in episode 16, “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place,” when they disagreed about how to raise their future children. Considering they had gotten married quickly, this argument wasn’t entirely unexpected.

But the writers of Grey’s Anatomy had other ideas. In episode 21, “Change of Heart,” April revealed she was pregnant with Samuel. Because Jackson and April still weren’t resolving their issues, the show promised more emotional turmoil and conflict ahead.

Jackson & April Come To Terms With Being Parents, But Complications Soon Arise After Learning Their Baby Has A Fatal Condition

Season 10, Episode 22 – Season 11, Episode 11

Despite fixing their relationship in the season 10 finale, “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” Jackson and April soon learned they were facing difficulties with their pregnancy.

In season 11, episode 11 of Grey’s Anatomy, titled “All I Could Do Was Cry”, Jackson and April discovered their baby, Samuel, had a serious bone condition called Type II Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This condition caused his bones to break before birth and was ultimately fatal; doctors determined he likely wouldn’t survive more than a few hours after being born.

The news was heartbreaking, especially because Jackson and April had recently been overjoyed about expecting a baby and now faced the incredibly tough choice of whether to start labor artificially.

Watching Jackson and April grapple with their grief and shock was incredibly sad. After a series of difficult and emotional talks, they made the heartbreaking decision to induce labor, hoping to end Samuel’s suffering and have a chance to say goodbye.

Jackson & April Struggle In The Aftermath Of Samuel’s Death – Especially After April Joins The Army

Season 11, Episode 12 – Episode 23

Jackson and April’s relationship began happily—even for a show like Grey’s Anatomy—but their quick, surprise wedding didn’t last. They soon found themselves at the center of one of the show’s most dramatic and emotionally charged storylines.

Following the death of their son, Jackson and April (in season 11, episode 12, “The Great Pretender”) requested privacy from their colleagues to cope with their grief. Though they eventually went back to work a few months later, both surgeons were visibly struggling and searching for ways to heal.

After April enlisted in the army (first shown in episode 22, “She’s Leaving Home [Part 1]”) and kept extending her service, her relationship with Jackson became increasingly difficult. Jackson shared his feelings of confusion and loneliness with their friends (episode 23, “She’s Leaving Home [Part 2]”).

Although it was sad to see April and Jackson struggling in their relationship, it wasn’t unexpected. Both of them really needed to prioritize their well-being, and they’d already been apart for a year, suggesting further difficulties were likely.

Jackson & April Struggle To Reconnect After She Returns From The Army, Leading To Them Getting A Divorce

Season 11, Episode 24 – Season 12, Episode 11

April and Jackson initially appeared to be a solid couple on Grey’s Anatomy, particularly after their impulsive decision to get married. But as season 11 revealed, their relationship wouldn’t have a happy ending.

Following difficulties in rebuilding their connection (Season 11, Episode 24, “Time Stops”) and April’s consideration of returning to Jordan (Season 11, Episode 25, “You’re My Home”), Jackson made the decision to divorce her.

Despite April’s desire to save their relationship, the couple was unable to resolve their issues and ultimately divorced in season 12, episode 11, titled “Unbreak My Heart.” Because they had been together for so long, the split felt like a significant moment, and many people were shocked that they broke up.

I was totally shocked at the end of the episode! Just when I thought things were settling down, April dropped a bomb – she told Arizona she’s pregnant. Seriously, no one could have predicted that!

April Keeps Her Pregnancy A Secret From Jackson, But The Relationship Turns Tense After Arizona Tells Him

Season 12, Episode 12 – Episode 15

Even though Jackson and April got divorced, their story on Grey’s Anatomy wasn’t over. They’d already faced a lot of challenges as a couple, and the show’s writers had more difficult experiences planned for them.

I was completely stunned by the season 12 finale! April deciding to keep her pregnancy from Jackson felt so dramatic, but then it got even worse. I couldn’t believe how Jackson found out – it was awful, hearing it from someone else instead of April. Episode 15, “I Am Not Waiting Anymore,” was just heartbreaking to watch.

Looking back at Grey’s Anatomy, one scene really stuck with me. It was especially impactful because it happened right when April was finally trying to tell Jackson herself. Honestly, her decision to wait was one of her biggest mistakes on the show. Jackson didn’t take it well at all, and it really damaged their otherwise good relationship. It was just painful to watch!

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2025-10-22 04:05