When I walk into Addison's exam room, she's already got everything ready. She hands me a gown.
"Take it," she says, holding it out, as I stand and stare at her.
"This is crazy," I raise an eyebrow. "You realize that, right?"
"There's nothing crazy about having a thorough exam once you're...sexually active."
"Please don't use that...phrase," I make a face, taking the gown and turning to go into the en suite bathroom.
"You find a better term and I'll use it," she calls as I close the door.
Annoyed, I roll my eyes and peel my clothes off, slipping on the ridiculous gown.
"Or we could just not talk about my business like it's the daily news," I grin sarcastically, exiting the bathroom.
"What is with you?" she asks, eying me as I hop onto the table.
"Nothing," I exhale, settling in.
"Yeah, right. You're ultra touchy about this. And you're a terrible liar," she says, beginning the exam.
"So are you," I reply, not giving in to this Kati's A Little Girl spiel.
"Kate," she sighs. "Suffice to say that you were born into a family where you have three aunts who look out for you like you're their own daughter...try not to look at it as a bad thing."
I make a face.
She finishes the exam quickly.
"You can sit up," she says, tossing her surgical gloves. "Everything looks fine."
I nod slowly, raising my eyebrows. Obviously everything is fine.
"Look, honey, I know you're getting annoyed with...us," she says, tucking hair behind my ear. "But if you need anything...have any questions...please ask. Your mom, or me, or Amelia. Violet. One of us, okay?"
"Yeah," I exhale.
"Alright, go get dressed," she says, turning to write in my file. "And stop being mad at me."
"No way," Dad tilts his head, as we set the table.
"Totally serious. I couldn't make this up. And if I did, I definitely wouldn't choose Nicolas Cage as the look-alike," I reply, placing the silverware.
"You have to take a picture," he replies. "Crazy professors are the best."
"He's not crazy, Dad," I laugh. "He's pretty awesome. Just a little behind on his fashion. But really, who needs to be when you can toss Organic Chemistry out like it's the alphabet."
"Ugh, I never did like that class," Mom says, setting a salad on the table. "What was your best class today?"
"Spanish," I reply with a laugh. "It's the only one that's not completely daunting."
"Daunting? Sugar, what could you possibly have to be worried about?"
"Failing," I reply immediately. "These are the most important marks I'm gonna get. I have to maintain my 4.0."
"You will," Dad replies obviously.
"Well some of the bio I have coming up, and the genetics class, are looking pretty intense," I reply, taking a cucumber slice from the salad.
"And you'll do just fine, in all of 'em," Mom replies, as though this is just common knowledge.
"I dunno," I reply nervously. "I'm kinda wishing I'd opted for furthering my singing career instead."
"Over my dead body," Mom replies, going back to the stove.
I glance at Dad, who just raises his eyebrows, offering a smile.
"She's looking pretty healthy these days, huh?" I say drily, eating the cucumber.
He nods, stealing a tomato. "Guess that singing career is gonna stay on the back burner."
I laugh as he makes a face, before taking my place at the table.
The next day goes by a little more smoothly. Now that it's not my first time walking the halls and finding my way around, and I've met a few people, it doesn't feel as intense.
I make myself focus on every class, but as soon as my final class is over, I hurry to my car.
Mom texted me an hour ago to let me know that Amelia "and everyone" landed safe and sound.
Who "everyone" is, I'm not sure, aside from Mark and Lexie.
When I open the front door, I hear the sounds of lots of chatter.
I drop my bags and wander to the patio doors.
"There she is!" Amelia cries, rushing over and hugging me.
"Everyone" appears to be...well, everyone.
Mark and Lexie are seated next to each other at the patio table. Meredith and Derek (sans Zola) are beside Dad, and Cristina, of all people, is beside Mom.
"Hey," I say, surprised, hugging Amelia back.
"How's my college girl?" she grins, leading me over to the table.
"Tired," I reply honestly.
"That doesn't go away," Cristina puts in, and then holds up her beer bottle. "Kate, nice to see you."
"Nice to see you, too," I reply, confused, as several people get up to hug me.
"Lexie's trip down turned into a little vacation for everyone," Amelia explains, pulling me to sit next to her at the table.
"Well that's...festive," I reply, awkward.
"No, it's good," Lexie pipes up. "I like having friends around."
She smiles, glowing.
"How've you been doing, Kati?"
"Great," I reply, not interested in talking about college or my life. "How are you? Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Lexie assures me. "A little stressed, but...I mean, that's normal."
"She means she's doing a really great job of acting like she's okay," Cristina says.
Meredith swats her, and Cristina looks at her indignantly, and then rolls her eyes.
"I'm fine," Lexie repeats. "Really. Addison and a spina bifida case is just...a walk in the park for her."
"Definitely," I nod. "She'll have it fixed up seamlessly."
I smile.
"So what's new, kid," Mark asks, drinking his beer.
"Well," I sigh, as Mom passes me, touching my hair and mumbling that she'll get me something to drink. "Nothing, really. It was only my second day today, so...the most exciting part was getting some new syllabuses."
"I love syllabuses," Cristina grins.
"You're drunk," Meredith says quietly, shaking her head.
"It's okay," Cristina replies, holding up her hands. "It's been brought up, we've got it out in the open. I was cheated on and my husband is a bottom-feeding, brain-dead, disgusting ass. I am allowed to drink."
"Graphic," I reply quietly, nodding slowly. "So, your friends figured bringing you to the land of sun, surf and superficial people would...put you in a better mood?"
"No," Cristina sighs. "My mother lives here. She's making me visit her."
"Oh, are you guys close?" I ask sarcastically.
She laughs. "Ohhhh, I forgot how much I liked you."
I take the Pellegrino Mom hands me, and thank her.
"Maybe you can take Cristina out and help her...vent her frustrations," Mark grins.
"Ah," I nod. "Yes."
"What?" she asks, confused.
"Paintball," Mark replies.
"I don't...paintball," she replies.
"You will after this trip," Dad replies. "Kati'll have you sucked right in. Did you settle on dinner, honey?"
"I figured we'd just have a BBQ here. Addison and Jake are bringin' whatever we don't have," Mom replies.
"This will be a high point for my vacation," Cristina nods, grinning. "Addison and Derek meet again, Round...92."
"I've seen Addison plenty of times over the years, Cristina," Derek laughs good-naturedly.
As they continue to chat, as Meredith and Mom get into the conversation, Lexie leans over and squeezes my hand.
"How've you been? How's that boy of yours?"
"He's good," I can't help but smile. "I'm sure he'd race right over at the mention of BBQ."
"Oh, invite him over," she insists. "I've love to meet him."
"Anything interesting happening in Seattle?" I ask pointedly, while texting Axel, and she knows I mean Cristina.
"Well," she rolls her eyes. "Owen's trying to...I dunno, do something. They confuse me, as a couple. Actually Cristina confuses me as a human being, but..."
She shrugs.
"She is certainly a puzzle," Mark nods. "So when are we going paintballing?"
"Um," I think. "Tomorrow night?"
"Sold," he agrees. "I haven't played in years."
"That's because you're old now, buddy," Derek passes on his way inside, slapping Mark on the shoulder.
"You're an inch behind me!" Mark calls back to Derek.
"So when's your appointment?" I ask Lexie.
"Saturday morning," she replies.
"Well just think," I smile. "In a few months you'll have a perfectly healthy baby. All of this will seem like years ago."
Lexie smiles gratefully, and everyone greets a newcomer.
We turn and see Violet, Pete and Lucas arriving.
"Aw, a kid," I hear Cristina groan.
"Gonna have to watch your mouth," Meredith replies, teasing.
"Then I have nothing to say," Cristina replies, taking a swig of her beer.
"Jeez, we really have to get Cristina out of this...whatever this is," I turn to Amelia.
"Oh we will," she grins, and then winks and takes a drink of beer