Saturday Night Owen and Nathan took the three older kids out for the night. Nikki and Megan came upstairs for girls night.
"Not quite how I imagined our first girls night the three of us," Meghan teased.
"What didn't you expect," Teddy asked.
"Lack of wine," Meghan replied, "and I didn't expect both of you to be feeding and cuddling babies."
"There is wine," Teddy said, "once the babies are asleep."
"I have movies," Nikki said.
"What do you have," Teddy asked.
"Pitch Perfect 1,2 and 3," Nikki said.
"Nikki," Teddy groaned, "not those again. Didn't you watch those on repeat for months."
"That was the Harry Potter series," Nikki replied, "what's your plan for the rest of the weekend?"
"A couple birthday parties, first soccer practice for Amber and hopefully getting to the gym," Teddy listed.
"I need to go to the gym," Nikki said, "I still feel fat."
"It's only been a few months and Nikki I can't tell you had a baby," Teddy said, "I haven't lost the baby weight yet. I have a mom tummy."
"Try having a stranger's abs," Meghan said.
"I'll go back to the gym soon," Nikki said, "I just don't have time. I need to figure out time because when I can go to the gym child minding is closed."
"I'm starting a yoga class tomorrow at 9 for the completely unfit," Meghan said.
"Where," Nikki asked, yoga was something she could do.
"Just the rec center nothing fancy," Meghan replied, "Nate is working so I have to put Faroke in the child minding room. He can help Tyler if you want to come."
"I do," Nikki said, "I like yoga."
"We're going," Meghan said, "you drive."
"You don't have a car yet," Nikki reminded.
"That's on the list after get a job," Meghan replied, "and get my license back. It's a lot of work to prove I'm you know not dead."
"Have you eaten," Teddy asked.
"No," Meghan and Nikki said together.
"Good pizza is coming," Teddy replied, "and I have wine. Nikki a glass is okay."
"You know how I feel about drinking," Nikki said.
"You don't drink," Meghan said.
"Maybe once or twice a year I'll have a glass of wine with Teddy but that's it," Nikki said, "we had a glass a few weeks ago."
"Nikki craziest night out," Meghan prompted.
"I'm always DD. I mean it when I say I don't drink," Nikki said, "I'm really good at corralling drunk people. My friends appreciate my aversion to alcohol. It also made hiding that I was pregnant easy. Me not drinking wasn't weird."
"I hadn't thought of that," Teddy said, "I used being on call or an early surgery as my excuse."
"How long did you hide it," Meghan asked.
"Family knew about a week after I did," Nikki said, "then I told Julie the Friday before school started because she teaches next door to me and we have a pass door that I needed her to leave open when I had to run to the bathroom. It was family and Julie until thanksgiving when it got harder to hide my bump."
"Why did you leave it so long," Meghan asked.
"Perception at work with me being single," Nikki replied, "education is really conservative. I had parents ask that their kids get pulled from my class because I wasn't setting a good moral example."
"That's bullshit," Teddy said.
"It wasn't staff it was parents," Nikki replied.
"Parents suck," Teddy said.
"Says the mother of three," Nikki replied.
"Other parents suck," Teddy tried.
"Better," Nikki agreed.
"Your school really pulled kids from your class," Meghan asked.
"No," Nikki said, "Catherine wouldn't go for it. But it was a problem for a few families. There were a lot of negative comments online. Some parents aren't happy I'm back."
"But you're a good teacher," Meghan said.
"Doesn't matter here," Nikki said, "I'm hard for parents to take anyway because of my very hands on, playful, student centered methods. Parents don't get it; they want to sit in rows face forward and do the textbook page. But kids don't learn that way. Kids need to be up, moving and interacting. It has to be real. My class is hands on and playful because that's how children's brains are wired. My sixth graders are 11 and they are children who need to play. We're designed to connect with each other and to play."
"Do they know you almost have your masters," Teddy asked.
"No but they know about the post-grad certificate in math Ed," Nikki replied.
"What's that," Meghan asked.
"It's a one year online program I did my first year teaching focusing on the philosophy and methods for teaching 21st century math. It took me from being a regular teacher to a math specialist," Nikki said, "it's a bridge between teacher education and my masters. It cut five courses off my masters."
"Fellowship in math Ed," Teddy said, making a quick comparison.
"Then why your masters," Meghan pushed.
"Stepping stone to what I really want," Nikki said, "plus it lets me be the principal and the raise is pretty good."
"What is the end goal," Meghan asked.
"PhD in education," Nikki said, "Dr McRae."
"Do it," Meghan said, "what's stopping you?"
"Masters first and work a bit. I need a few more years in the classroom before I can even apply and Tyler. It's not fair to him," Nikki said.
"To see you get your masters and PhD as a single mom that's inspirational speaker material," Teddy said.
"I don't do performances anymore," Nikki said, "I present when I have to for school but that's it."
"Maybe not single for long," Meghan teased, "want to tell Teddy why I babysat last night."
"Now you have to," Teddy said.
"I had dinner with Brett," Nikki blushed, "just dinner as friends. Meghan I told you I don't date. I just needed a night out with a friend without my son. I know that sounds awful and I love Ty to pieces."
"But you wanted a grownup night," Teddy said, "how many times have you babysat so Owen and I could have adult time?"
"Lots," Nikki said, "but that's you and your husband."
"You are still 25," Teddy said, "at 25 I hadn't even met Owen yet."
"I'm not you," Nikki said.
"No you're not," Teddy agreed.
"Don't decide now you'll never love a man again," Meghan said.
"I have to put Tyler first," Nikki said.
"You are," Teddy said, "but you can be happy. You had an unplanned baby with a guy you should never have been with. You should have left Jeff years before you did. Don't punish yourself for that. You should be loved and find a guy that will love you."
"I'm happy with dinner once in a while and the odd coffee after school, lunch in one of our rooms," Nikki said.
"Why not more," Teddy asked.
"Ty spends so much time with mom or Meghan when I'm at school I feel guilty having him spend more time with a babysitter," Nikki said.
"He's always with family," Teddy pointed out.
"But he's not with me," Nikki said, "my baby should be with me. I love coming home with him right after his nap and he's all happy and ready to play."
"I know you do," Meghan said, "but dinner after he goes to be is fine. Meet a guy at 7:30 when your son goes to bed at 7."
"Who ever gets involved with me has to know that Tyler always will come before him," Nikki said, "I can't ask a man do do that."
"He'll decide if he wants that or not," Teddy said, "I dated a guy with kids in residency and it was a bit of juggling when he had them but it worked. I liked the kids but Tom and I just wouldn't work. It wasn't the kids it was that he was the most arrogant man I've ever met."
"Nathan is making it work," Meghan said, "he calls Faroke our son."
"Wedding plans," Nikki asked, changing the subject.
"Two bridesmaids," Meghan said, "my sisters."
"Really," Nikki asked.
"You were always going to be part of it," Meghan replied, "I knew that the first time Nate proposed. I want the two of you."
"Second time as a bridesmaid," Nikki smiled.
"Which of your friends are married," Meghan asked.
"Our wedding," Teddy said.
"Nikki will you be my maid of honour," Meghan asked.
"Yes," Nikki squealed, hugging Meghan.
"Any ideas for your dress," Nikki asked.
"White and girly," Meghan said, "small wedding. I'm 39 Nate is 42."
"We weren't exactly young to get married," Teddy said.
"Colours," Nikki asked.
"Not pink," Meghan said, "doesn't go with our hair."
"Blue," Teddy suggested.
"Blue would work," Meghan mused, "or purple. I love purple."
"Purple then," Nikki replied.
"And I think mom to walk me down the aisle," Meghan said.
"I'd ask Owen," Nikki replied.
"Mom," Meghan said, "and he's Nate's best man."
"I just walked," Teddy said.
"I like the idea of someone walking with me," Nikki said, "my brother is the best fit."
"With your age gap it works," Meghan said.
"You and Nathan do you want more kids," Teddy asked.
"I wouldn't say no to one more," Meghan said, "one with him. But my injury and age I don't know."
"I'm 43 next week," Teddy said, "and we just had our third."
"Any more," Meghan asked.
"We're done," Teddy said, "I'm done having babies now. I don't want to do that again."
"One is good," Nikki smiled.
"On your own yes," Meghan agreed, "I want one more with a man that loves me."
"It helps," Teddy said, "Nikki and I were complaining about a lot of the same symptoms but it was easier for me because I had Owen."
"Mom got a lot of my rants," Nikki said, "more than you know. I would go over there after school, cry on her couch and eat ice cream."
"You just needed mom," Meghan said.
"I did," Nikki agreed.
"There were alot of days I just needed mom," Meghan said.
"What did you do," Nikki asked.
"I'd close my eyes and picture her face," Meghan said, "her smile and imagine her laugh. I'd tell Faroke about her. Anything to keep her close. I did it with all of you."
"It was hard," Nikki said, "ten years with no clue what had happened. Owen, Teddy and Nate told me about that day but there was no closure."
"I had two updates while I was gone," Meghan said, "I couldn't reach out but I saw photos."
"What," Teddy asked, "you didn't try to tell us you were alive."
"I couldn't," Meghan said, "I would have been killed if I had."
"What did you find," Nikki asked full of curiosity.
"First was an article Teddy and Nathan published," Meghan said, "that had you and Owen listed as contributors. What did you do?"
"Number crunch," Nikki replied, "I did all their stats and graphs. It paid decently."
"That article," Teddy said, "what did you think?"
"I only read the bios and looked at the pictures. I had no idea you had married Owen when it said your husband and two daughters," Meghan said, "two girls. I thought you looked happy Teddy. I kept it, hidden under my mattress."
"To stare at Nathan," Nikki teased.
"Yes," Meghan blushed.
"Love you two," Teddy said giving Meghan a playful shove.
"I missed him," Meghan said, "as much as I missed my mom and siblings."
"Not me," Teddy asked.
"Siblings includes big sister," Meghan replied covering her but. Her thoughts had been Nathan, Nikki, Owen, Mom then Teddy."
"You said you found two things," Nikki said, "what else did you find?"
"I was left alone with an open laptop about three years ago," Meghan said, "I googled you. Expecting to see some amazing dance career a soloist or a principal somewhere. But I found your facebook. It was a college graduation you, Owen and Mom, I could only see profile pictures. There was one of you with Allison and Amber that confused me."
"Why would it confuse you," Nikki asked.
"The caption about being an auntie told me they weren't yours which was my initial thought of you with two little girls but you would have only been about 22," Meghan said, "then I had the article saying Teddy had two girls so were they Teddy's kids, would you two be that close to be auntie Nikki to her children? It made most sense for them to be Owen's kids."
"How about both our kids," Teddy replied.
"It crossed my mind but I wasn't going to play with that he always told me you were his best friend," Meghan said.
"Still am," Teddy replied.
"I'm going to put Ty in his bed," Nikki said.
Once Nikki was out of ear shot Teddy asked, "she really went on a date?"
"She says dinner," Meghan replied.
"How did she not tell us," Teddy asked.
"She didn't tell me who she was with until she got home," Meghan said, "I didn't know it was a date until afterwards. I don't think she wants to label it as a date or anything."
"Her and Jeff didn't really date," Teddy said, "they hung out then he was staying over."
"So she hasn't dated," Meghan asked.
"No she was 18 her first semester on campus when she met Jeff," Teddy said, "english class I think. I've dealt with every guy related thing since I came home."
"She told me it was a friend when she asked me to babysit," Meghan replied, "I only found out because when I asked how her night was she said his name."
"She called me after a date her junior year of highschool to tell me her boyfriend kissed her," Teddy said, "I was in the OR."
"You got all the fun," Meghan fake pouted.
"What did I miss," Nikki asked coming back up with the baby monitor in her hand.
"You told no one you were going on a date," Teddy teased.
"Julie," Nikki replied, "she knew who I was with, Meghan knew where I was going."
"Why didn't you tell me," Teddy asked.
"It was just dinner with a friend," Nikki shrugged, "I like him but I'm not getting my hopes up."
"See what happens," Meghan encouraged.
"Get to know him away from school," Teddy pushed.
"Maybe," Nikki agreed, "slowly."
"Wine," Teddy asked grabbing the bottle off the counter.
"Please," Nikki said.
"Meghan," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Meghan agreed.
Teddy poured three glasses and handed them out.
They chatted and sipped their wine, it shocked Teddy when for the first time ever Nikki wanted a second glass.
"Two," Teddy asked.
"That one's good," Nikki replied, "and I'm home with my sisters."
"Ty will need a bottle later then," Teddy said.
"That's fine we have a few," Nikki said, "or maybe he will finally sleep through the night. We're soo close."
"How many times is he up," Meghan asked.
"Once around 1 am," Nikki said, "I get 7:30-1 then 1-5:30."
"It's improving," Teddy said.
"It is," Nikki replied, "I'm going to move him to his room soon. He's rolling. I want him in the crib."
"Daniel moved a couple weeks ago," Teddy said, "I move them when they sleep through the night."
"I didn't have the chance to move Faroke to not be in my room until we came home," Meghan said, "he was in my bed until he was 4."
"No way," Teddy said, "our bed is ours."
"I don't mind cuddling and reading to him in my bed but everyone sleeps in their own bed," Nikki said.
"Didn't say I agreed with it," Meghan replied, "I would have moved him but culturally it's different and I had to shut up and blend in. it was safer for both of us to sleep in the same room."
"He didn't like being put in a room by himself," Nikki said, "took me two weeks to get him to settle on his own in there."
"How did you figure it out," Meghan asked.
"Your routine you had with him then adding what I needed," Nikki said.
"And you know kids," Meghan said, "I've seen it when I've come to bring Ty to you with mom."
"I like them," Nikki replied, "I get middle school kids. It's relationships with kids. I get them everyday for a year so we make it as positive as possible. It's what I'm trained to do. I'm as much of a specialist in middle school math as you are in hearts and trauma."
"You are," Teddy agreed.
"Is there more wine," Meghan asked.
"One more bottle," Teddy said.
"I'm in," Nikki agreed.
"Whoa are we getting Nikki drunk," Meghan laughed.
"Never been drunk," Nikki said, "but I'm starting to feel giggly."
"You're tipsy," Teddy said, "this is good for you to relax. It's the most you've ever had. Do you want a third glass?"
"I do," Meghan said, "it's the most I've had in ten years."
"Third bottle it is," Teddy said, "thats a bottle each."
They poured the last bottle and sat around chatting about life, catching up and figuring out how to be sisters.
It was late when everyone went to their rooms.
Owen slipped into bed around 2:30 after a late surgery, "how was your night? Why did you ask me to bring a banana bag?"
"We got Nikki drunk," Teddy said.
"You got Nikki drunk and I missed it," Owen said.
"First time in her life," Teddy said, "she wanted to. I was shocked when she asked for a second glass of wine and even more surprised by the third but I think it's what she needed."
"Home with her sisters," Owen said.
"She felt safe enough to relax," Teddy said, "but part of her only ever having a glass at home with me wasn't her accident."
"Her ex," Owen asked.
"Jeff would drink to get drunk most days," Teddy said, "she knew one of them had to be in control."
"Riggs is here," Owen said.
"Meghan was drunk two," Teddy said.
"So you got my sisters drunk," Owen chuckled.
"And both to their own beds," Teddy replied, "their children were sound asleep."
"Meg asked Riggs to come," Owen said.
"I know she was texting him," Teddy said.
"He's here," Owen said.
"You sleep in tomorrow I'll get up with the kids and make everyone breakfast," Teddy said.
"Why are you awake," Owen asked.
"You turned off the alarm and woke me up," Teddy said, "now I need a hug."
"I'm going to shower," Owen said, "then I can hold you."
"Go fast," Teddy said.
"I will," Owen promised.