"Road trip," Brett said, buckling his seat belt.

"The last time I did this Owen was finishing Med school," Nikki said.

"So you were how old," Brett asked.

"Nine maybe," Nikki guessed.

"You really need one," Brett said.

"Vacations weren't a thing," Nikki said, "mom had two in college or med school then Pac Rim was private and not cheap."

"You went to ballet school," Brett said , "the actual full day program or just danced after school there they have both. Alicia Rose wants to go my sister wanted me to look into it. I told we her to talk to you."

"Its private for the full day programs. Dance and academic. The fact that it's private is one reason I wouldn't teach there," Nikki said, "I had a needs based scholarship for a lot of my tuition but it didn't cover uniforms, pointe shoes, costumes, competitions, travel to competitions summer programs. Instead of vacations mom educated us. We went camping for 4 or 5 days every summer."

"We went to summer camp through the church and we always took a road trip," Brett said, "Kenya was the first time I left North america."

"Me two," Nikki said, "I always wanted to go to London and see the Royal Ballet but that's for another lifetime now."

"Next summer," Brett said, "Ty will be two we could go. Take this year and plan a couple weeks in Europe. I want to go to Rome and Paris."

"I like the idea but I don't know how it works to take Ty out of the country," Nikki said, "I had to get permission to take him across state lines. The response I got was do what you want."

"This winter lets try something out of America but that we can drive to," Brett suggested.

"Whistler," Nikki tried.

"Do you ski," Brett asked.

"Mom made sure we all could," Nikki replied, "I haven't since before Ty. You talk about snowboarding. Again if we do a ski trip who will be with Ty?"

"Weekend and he stays with your mom," Brett suggested, "Meghan?"

"We can't do that to him," Nikki said.

"We agreed to have Faroke when Meghan and Nathan go on their honeymoon," Brett said.

"It's their honeymoon not a casual weekend away," Nikki argued, "I know it's hard for you and sometimes I really would like those weekends away. I have a son."

"We have a son," Brett corrected.

"We," Nikki asked.

" I'm moving in I want to be a father to him. Not mom's boyfriend I want to be his dad," Brett said, "I love him Nikki. And not just because he's yours. I love our son. We're talking about forever. Ty is part of that. We're a family of three. Can I be his dad?"

"You are in all the ways that matter," Nikki said, grabbing Bretts hand that wasn't on the wheel, "he looked for you this morning when you were loading the truck."

"I heard him coming down the side," Brett said, "I love when he comes looking for me."

"He only does that for you and I," Nikki said, "you already do all the dad things with him. He goes to you like his dad already. You're the only dad figure he knows."

"I'm around every day and we're a family," Brett said, "if you're okay with it I'd like to be called dad."

Nikki thought before responding, "I like the idea, I'm just worried what could happen if we don't work. He's already had his sperm donor abandon him. I grew up knowing my dad didn't want me. I don't want him to ever think two people didn't want him."

Brett hadn't thought of that, "I hadn't thought that part through. Nikki I want forever with you. Not six months or five years. I want to get old and wrinkly and race wheel chairs in a nursing home together with you showing off your physics skills and calculating our velocity and the velocity needed to take out the grumpy nurse."

"Can I think about it," Nikki asked.

"Of course," Brett answered, "I didn't expect a right this second decision."

"With you moving in I want you more involved in his day to day stuff," Nikki said, "you're amazing at the fun stuff and playing with him. Sometimes I need some help with the routine things like bath time, when he's fighting me to go to bed, morning routines. There's going to be three of us to get up and ready in the morning. Brett I need help."

"I want to do all of that," Brett said, "I've been waiting for you to tell me you want my help. I didn't want to step on your toes. Three of us up and out at the same time is hectic."

"And I like to come in early and leave early," Nikki said, "Daycare opens at 7 and so does the school building," Nikki said, "I've always met mom in the parking lot at 7:10 because its a good time for him then I can pick him up right after afternoon nap. And leave school early."

"I like to work later," Brett said, "you always come and go before me. What if I took Ty to daycare in the morning. Give him that half hour of time with me in the morning?"

"I can't ask," Nikki said.

"I'm offering," Brett said, "Nikki we're a family. The three of us, this, is our family. I want to do all the day to day things with Ty. You like to work early, you're a morning person. Let me do the morning with Ty so you can have that time for yourself. When do you take time just for you?"

"When we go out and can get a babysitter," Nikki said, "I play my violin after he goes to bed. We go for walks or I run with my siblings."

"Just to relax," Brett said, "let me take Ty in the mornings and give you some quiet on your way to school. I want to do this with you."

"I want forever," Nikki said, "I want our family. I'm scared. I've been through the worst case scenario once and I can't do that again."

"You never have to do that again," Brett promised, "I know you're scared. Nikki we can do this."

"I want to," Nikki said, "I want to do this with you. I want to have forever and race wheel chairs with you when we're grey and wrinkly. Can we do this? Do you want this?"

"I want this," Brett said, "we can do this. Nikki you are my forever."

"Forever," Nikki agreed, "on our first family vacation."

"Our first family vacation," Brett smiled squeezing Nikki's hand, "how's our son?"

Nikki looked behind her to the mirror over Ty's car seat, they still had him rear facing in his toddler seat for safety.

"He's out," Nikki said, "but it is morning nap time."

"He's going to sleep a lot of the drive," Brett observed.

"Please no," Nikki said, "then he doesn't sleep at night."

"He'll wake up at rest stops and we'll get him running around," Brett said.

"I have bubbles," Nikki smiled.

"Do we both get bubbles," Brett asked.

"I have like 6 containers," Nikki laughed, "bubbles, chalk, balls."

"His kitten," Brett asked.

"In his car seat," Nikki said, "he's using it as a pillow."

"Where did that come from," Brett asked.

"Nate the day he was born," Nikki said, "the white bear is from Owen. The bear is just something between Owen and I."

"Why a white teddy bear," Brett asked.

"Owen was 17 when I was born," Nikki said, "the day I was born he dropped Meg off at volleyball and killing time before he picked her up went into a toy store and bought a white teddy bear to take to meet me at the hospital. I still have Mr. Bear in the bins in my closet. So I' ve bought each of his kids a white stuffed animal when I go meet them the first time. Allison has a bear, Amber's is a bunny and Daniel has a dog. Owen brought the bear to Ty the first time they met."

"Why a kitten," Brett asked.

"It was one of my nicknames as a kid, kitty cat," Nikki said, "I've known him my whole life. He was Owen's best friend in highschool before Nate and Meg were a thing. They don't know who started calling me kitty cat or why but it lasted until I was about 10. My siblings got me my cat when I was 12. She's old."

"I like Abbie," Brett said.

"So do I," Nikki said, "I still don't know how they convinced mom to let them get me a cat for Christmas. It was two for sure but I think all four had input."

"Your siblings are confusing sometimes," Brett commented.

"Which one," Nikki asked.

"Your brothers," Brett said.

"Tell them to knock it off," Nikki said, "just call Owen Eeyore when hes in one of his moods. I know they are protective, I've told them to knock it off."

"Meghan says what she thinks," Brett said.

"Meghan asks too many very personal questions," Nikki laughed.

"Not Julie," Brett said.

"No she doesn't know you're moving in yet," Nikki smiled, "we only decided two days ago."

"I've lived with you all summer," Brett replied.

"True," Nikki said.

"When will Auntie Nikki be home," Allison asked Teddy.

"They were going for two weeks," Teddy replied.

"Is Uncle Brett living here now," Allison asked.

"He is," Teddy said, "when did you start calling him uncle Brett?"

"Dance camp," Allison replied, "Alicia was calling auntie Nikki auntie so I thought we could call him uncle Brett."

"What did he say," Teddy asked.

"He said I could," Allison replied.

"It would be polite," Teddy agreed.

"Will Auntie Nikki marry uncle Brett line auntie Meghan is marrying Uncle Nathan," Allison asked.

"Maybe one day," Teddy said, "they haven't been together a year yet."

"Auntie meghna has only been home a year," Allison said.

"Yes," Teddy said, "but auntie Meghan and uncle Nathan were engaged before she went away. He waited ten years for her. They knew each other when she wasn't too much older than you."

"Is auntie Nikki leaving," Amber asked.

"She's gone for two weeks," Teddy said, "they will be back. They went to see Brett's family. "

"Is she moving out," Allison asked, "will Auntie Nikki and Tyler leave?"

"No," Teddy said, "Brett is going to move in."

Teddy pulled out a stool and sat with her girls before continuing.

"When auntie Nikki moved in before Amber was born, Nikki, daddy and I talked that it was always to be temporary," Teddy said, "that was 7 years ago she was 19. She was going to move into her own house when she got a forever teaching job. Then Tyler came and she felt better here. Then moving out on her own with a new baby would have been hard. I think this might be the last school year she's here. Auntie Nikki is an adult and ready to move out of our basement. It was always the plan that our basement was a step between grandmas and on her own. You're really lucky that she lived here for so long and is such a huge part of your lives. Most kids don't get that with their auntie right there."

"But who will stay with us when both of you go to surgery in the middle of the night," Allison asked, "it's always been auntie Nikki."

"We'll figure that out," Teddy promised, "you will always have an adult we trust."

"Why did they go with out us," Amber asked.

"They need time to be their family," Teddy said, "like we go do things the five of us. Tomorrow we're going camping in Canada for a week."

"Is Brett Ty's dad," Allison asked.

"No," Teddy said, "he's auntie Nikki's boyfriend. Brett is really good with and loves Tyler."

"Does tyler have a dad," Allison asked.

"Do you remember when I told you that dad helped Danny start growing my tummy," Teddy said, "Jeff helped Tyler start growing in Nikkis."

"But Jeff has been gone a long time," Allison said.

"Just about two years," Teddy replied, "he's not around. So Tyler has a dad scientifically but not a dad that he sees everyday."

"Will Brett be his dad," Amber asked.

"Maybe," Teddy said, "that's up to auntie Nikki and Brett what they want to do."

"When we go camping can we have smores," Amber asked.

"And hot dogs," Allison questioned.

"We will have both," Teddy promised, "I need to go grocery shopping after nap time. But we can only take some things with us. I need to buy meat, fruit and vegetables in Canada. We can't take them across the border."

Meghan was texting with Nikki.

Meghan, "hows the road trip?"

Nikki, "sleepy baby and good play list so far so good. Almost out of Washington."

Meghan, "hows Brett?"

Nikki, "he wants to be Ty's dad. Like be called dad."

Meghan, "so did Nate."

Nikki, "you were engaged. You had been for years."

Meghan ," he's moving in what's stopping you?"

Nikki, "if we were engaged I would have said go for it. But until he proposes I don't want to set Ty up for another person to reject him."

Meghan, "do you think he will?"

Nikki, "it's too soon. It's not a year yet."

Meghan, "we started over and lived together within six months. We had been appart 10 years. It was almost back to square one. You know him, you love him."

Nikki, "I do. I'm trying to protect myself and my son."

Meghan, "trust him."

Nikki, "this trip and moving in is a huge step for me. Holding off on Ty calling him dad."

Meghan, "i understand that. Go be a family. Nikki you can build your family with him."

Nikki, "Owen?"

Meghan, "I'm working with him tonight. I'll calm him down. I think he's okay though. He would have pulled something with Brett moving in."

Nikki, "he tried with Jeff and jacked up the rent."

Meghan, "has he done any of that?"

Nikki, "up slightly but two adults and a child is more on the utilities and wear and tear."

Meghan, "moving out?"

Nikki, "if things are looking good in the spring I want to talk about a house."

Meghan, "you're 26 you could."

Nikki, "when we're ready."

Meghan, "mom's boyfriend any thoughts?"

Nikki, "you're the guinea pig this time? She introduced me to Scott before she let Owen meet him."

Meghan, "Scott?"

Nikki, "broke up just after Jeff and I did. I wasn't having a great week and had gone to moms after school sick and miserable and just needing mom. I was laying on her couch crying when Scott showed up with his son Liam. Liam was high as a kite and mom told them

It wasn't a great time and that she would see Scott the next day but that wasn't good enough for Scott. Mom told Scott I wasn't feeling well and why. But he wouldn't listen. So I left because the pot smell from Liam was making me feel worse. Then a couple days later mom told Owen and I it was over with Scott."

Meghan, "who else did I miss?"

Nikki, "none that Owen and I met. She likes this guy."

Meghan, "do you know anything?"

Nikki, "met him on the cruise. He knows about us and the kids. You have to report back. Tell me everything."

"Everything okay at home," Brett asked.

"Meghan is meeting moms boyfriend tomorrow," Nikki said, "she wanted to know if I knew anything. And what happened with Scott."

"What happened with Scott," Brett asked.

"They had been on and off for a few years. I was about 19 until the fall before Ty was born," Nikki said, "I think I scared him off. But I never like him or his son. Neither did Owen."

"So Meghan has less history," Brett said.

"She was always the peace maker," Nikki laughed, "between Eeyore and Tigger."

"They called you tigger," Brett said, "your family liked Winnie the Pooh."

"For me and Owen," Nikki replied, "like you don't have weird nicknames?"

"No," Brett said.

Meghan walked though the hospital hallway and was greeted by Batool.

"Meghan," Batool said, "how are you?"

"Good," Meghan answered in english refusing to use arabic.

"Why aren't you talking to me," Batool asked.

"I've been busy," Meghan lied.

Nathan walked towards them and put his arm around Meghan's waist.

"Who is this," Batool asked.

"Nathan this is Batool," Meghan introduced, " Batool this is my fiance Nathan. We get married in three weeks."

"The Nathan," Batool asked.

"My Nathan," Meghan agreed, putting her arm tighter around Nathan's waist, she needed him close.

"Did you know each other well," Nathan asked.

"Yes," Meghan replied, "Nate should we check on that patient from this morning?"

"It can wait a bit," Nathan said.

"I'd rather do it now," Meghan said, "make sure they're still stable."

"You don't look like you," Batool said.

"This is the real me," Meghan said, "my real life. I wear leggings and skinny jeans, leave my hair down at home, make up, dresses above my knee and heels. I'm American. I did what I did to blend in and stay alive. Everything I did there was to keep myself and Faroke alive until we could get home. I've spent the last year getting to know my family again, helping Faroke adjust."

"Your squirt," Batool said.

"Away for two weeks," Meghan said, "she's a math teacher so is on summer vacation. Her and her boyfriend went to see his family."

"Her father is okay with that," Batool asked, looking shocked.

"Her dad isn't in her life," Meghan said, "Nikki and Brett took her 1 year old son Tyler for his first road trip. They were really excited. She doesn't need anyone's permission."

"When I'm out of here we should get the kids together," Batool said.

"I don't know," Meghan replied, "I have a lot of wedding stuff to do. Then our honeymoon trip for a week and back to school. Faroke goes to fourth grade it's almost middle school. He's made friends, he's happy. He's happy with his cousins, aunts and uncle."

"Please," Batool asked.

"No," Meghan said, "I have to move forward. You were a good friend there but for me and Faroke to be as healthy and happy as possible I have to move forward. I have to focus on my family."

"Meg," Nathan said, "lets go see that patient."

"We do have a job to do," Meghan said, "best of luck."

The next day Meghan met Evelyn and Don for coffee.

"Mom," Meghan greeted with a hug.

"Don this is my middle daughter Meghan," Evelyn introduced, "Meg this is my friend Don."

"Its good to meet you," Meghan said reaching to shake Don's hand.

"You as well," Don said shaking Meghan's hand, "your mom talks about her kids a lot."

"Mom," Meghan said.

"Good things sweetheart," Evelyn promised, "I have your tea."

"Thank you," Meghan said.

"Meghan what do you do," Don asked.

"I'm a trauma surgeon," Meghan replied, "what did you do?"

"I was a highschool math and shop teacher," Don said.

"My little sister teaches middle school math," Meghan said, "she loves it."

"Evelyn mentioned it," Don said, "do you have kids?"

"My son is 9," Meghan said, "he's amazing. What about yours?"

"Andrew is 30 and Amanda is 26," Don said, "she's a teacher and he's an engineer. Both are single and no kids. They're both young."

"Nikki was 24," Evelyn said.

"Did she have her teachers already," Don asked.

"She had taught a year," Evelyn said, "she had her continuing contract in May of 2016 and Ty was born in April 2017."

"Math specialists are few and far between," Don said, " Meghan your mom says you've had some adventures with the army."

"None worth telling," Meghan replied, "Owen's been treating some one I knew but I'm trying to avoid as much as possible. It's his patient but sometimes nurses and interns get their Hunts mixed up."

"Is that okay," Evelyn asked with a look of concern.

"It's fine mom," Meghan said, "Owen or Nate were with me. Right now I want to focus on wedding planning and talking Nikki off her panic ledge."

"She was fine last night," Evelyn said.

"I'm sure she'll tell you later," Meghan replied, "but it's positive in the long run just caught her off guard."

"Brett," Evelyn checked.

"Yes," Meghan said, "Nate was telling me some good stories about Nikki and Brett on their Kenya trip. I wish I could have seen that. My needle phobic sister who needs some one to come with her when her son gets vaccinated giving vaccines."

"It's not the needle that bothers Nikki," Evelyn said, "it's seeing Tyler in pain."

"Who are Brett and Nate," Don asked.

"Nate is my fiance we get married in three weeks," Meghan beamed.

"Brett is Nikki's boyfriend. It's been almost a year now," Evelyn said.

"But her son is only about one you said," Don replied.

"Brett is not Tyler's father," Evelyn said, 'Ty's father walked away when they found out. Nikki and Brett did the GTEP program at UW together and both teach a Blue Pine their friendship grew into more after Ty was born."

"My brother and his wife were friends and coworkers a long time before Owen and Teddy realized they wanted more," Meghan said, "it seems like Nikki's learned a lot from Owen."

"Are you close to your siblings," Don asked.

"Most of the time," Meghan agreed, "are your kids close?"

"No," Don said, "I wish they were but they are polar opposites and just don't connect. I wish they did."

"I'm sure with time they will," Evelyn said, "Nikki and Owen used to be quite explosive for a few years. I remember her screaming at him in the ER at Grey Sloan and throwing anything she could reach at him."

"What happened," Don asked.

"She was 16," Evelyn said, "had been brought in after an injury at school and it was the first time they had been face to face in almost 3 years. She was angry at him, he didn't know how to connect with her. She lost it. Rejected Owen and 4 surgical residents before Teddy, my daughter in law, was able to join us and calm her down and deal with Nikki's injuries."

"What happened that Nikki needed Teddy after an injury at school," Meghan asked, "Owen and I are understandable but Teddy is cardio."

"Lots of bruises on her chest and ribs," Evelyn said, "falls out of lifts in ballet class. It was more mentally that she needed Teddy but it wasn't who she was asking for. She accepted Teddy as the next best thing to who she wanted."

"Me," Meghan guessed.

"She asked a few times over the years for you," Evelyn said.

"That's when she would email," Meghan smiled.

"Always," Evelyn said.

They continued their conversation with Don. Meghan felt at ease with the man, she hoped her siblings would feel the same way. Don would have an easier time finding a connection with Nikki and Meghan let Evelyn know that she thought Nikki should be the next one to meet Don and leave Owen for last with his hard headedness and outwardly gruff attitude. The family all knew it was false but he appeared a lot tougher then he was and put on the soldier act to make people think he was tough when really he was a giant marshmallow.

Meghan's wedding is next. What should happen with Nikki and Brett? What adventures are coming for our favourite siblings? Thoughts? Reviews? Criticisms?