Nikki let herself into Meghan's house Monday night for the three siblings to catch up, noticing that Owen was already there. Neither of her siblings had made it to dinner the night before being in the OR with a major trauma that took both of them to save.
"Hi," Nikki called.
"You're engaged," Meghan yelled, hugging Nikki.
"I was so surprised," Nikki giggled.
"Congratulations squirt," Owen said hugging Nikki.
"You're okay with this owl," Nikki asked.
"I like him squirt," Owen said.
"All three of us married," Meghan said.
"Mom was really happy," Nikki said, "she knew he was going to."
"He talked to her," Owen said, "and got mom's blessing."
"Did Nate," Nikki asked.
"God no," Meghan replied.
"I didn't ask either," Owen said.
"That's not a fair comparison," Nikki said.
"Getting married," Owen said, "at what 27?"
"Next summer, I'll be 28," Nikki agreed, "owl will you walk me down the aisle? We don't have a date yet but are going to take our time to plan."
"I will," Owen agreed, "I want to. I'm happy for you."
"I'm really excited for you," Meghan squealed.
"Meg will you be a bridesmaid," Nikki asked.
"You sure you want your older sister up there," Meghan asked.
"I want you," Nikki said, "I want my sisters."
"Do I get to come dress shopping," Meghan asked.
"You, mom and Teddy," Nikki said, "mom and sisters to pick my dress. I got to go with both my sisters to pick theirs."
"Ideas," Meghan asked.
"Long, white and I like lace," Nikki said.
"Skirt," Meghan asked, "bodice?"
"Full maybe A line," Nikki said, "not strapless. I'd fall out of strapless."
"We'll find the perfect dress," Meghan said.
"I don't have a clue how to be married," Nikki said.
"You and Brett will figure it out," Owen said.
"What do I do," Nikki said.
"Get your own place," Owen said, "we'll miss you but it's time."
"We're looking this spring," Nikki said, "we need to talk about the money part of it. He doesn't know what's in the settlement account."
"Does he know any of it," Owen asked.
"He knows it exists and I want to use it for a down payment and Tys education," Nikki said.
"Do you want more kids," Meghan asked.
"One or two," Nikki said, "you?"
"We're done," Owen said, "Teddy won't again."
"Trying," Meghan said, "one more."
"One more maybe two," Nikki said, "I'm 26 but he's already 36."
"He's closer to my age," Meghan laughed.
"I've always fit better with older people," Nikki said, "perk of being the baby of the family."
"You spent a lot of time with us," Owen said.
"Are you okay with this," Nikki asked.
"I am," Owen said, "I know Teddy is really happy two."
"We are," Meghan assured.
"Nate," Nikki asked.
"Likes Brett," Meghan said.
"Are you sure," Nikki asked.
"His response was I knew it in Kenya," Meghan laughed, "he said he wrote to mom saying there was another Owen and Teddy situation. And he hoped you were smarter than Owen and realized it sooner."
"Nope," Nikki said, "I might have if I hadn't been afraid of being on my own."
"You would have been better alone," Owen said.
"You can't talk," Nikki said, "you stayed with Beth how long because you were scared to be with Teddy?"
"She has a point," Meghan said.
"You liked Teddy more than me," Owen said.
"She didn't make fun of me," Nikki said, "the day I yelled at you in the emergency room you yelled back that I couldn't have Meghan. Teddy didn't yell."
"We were pretty explosive for a few months." Owen said.
"You didn't like me," Nikki said.
"I always loved you. I didn't know you or how to understand you. You scared me," Owen said, "you could be sitting there in your ballet stuff doing home work and ask these questions that I had no clue where they came from or how to answer."
"You were the scary one mr army man," Nikki said.
"I remember uniforms scaring you," Meghan said, "why as soon as we got in the car I would take my jacket and hat off and let my hair out of my bun."
"Teddy always had her hair down buy the time you got home," Nikki said.
"Nate would have his jacket off it was just Owen,"
Meghan said.
"I was faroke and Allison's age." Nikki said.
"Fuck," Owen said.
"Our kids would be terrified," Meghan said, "Faroke was at first. But it was us."
"Allison freaked out when they talked about war at school," Owen said, "then trying to explain what we did to her made it worse."
"And we expected Squirt to understand and support us," Meghan realized.
"It was scary. I didn't understand it. Some towers were hit by planes then you were going to where the bad people were," Nikki said, "and the bad people took Meghan and almost killed Owen."
"You knew about the IED and why I came home," Owen asked.
"I heard you and mom talking. I was supposed to be in my room doing homework," Nikki said.
"I was okay," Owen said, "shaken up but I was okay. Teddy found me and didn't leave my side."
"They could have got both of you they kept Meghan for ten years," Nikki said.
Meghan froze she didn't realize how much them going when Nikki was under ten had traumatized Nikki.
"I didn't have grandparents or aunts uncles and cousins around. I had siblings who did all those special things with me," Nikki said, "I had you two and the bad people tried to kill you."
Owen put both hands on Nikkis shoulders to make her look at him. It always worked to focus her attention on what he was saying, "Squirt I need you to listen. We knew the risk and we were scared. Do you remember when mom found the letters and yours said that it was to protect you. We had to do that to help keep you and mom safe. If I hadn't gone I would never have met Teddy. Your senior year I pulled you from school one day because you yelled at your history teacher that he didn't and couldn't get it. That day I promised you that you could always trust me and I would always come. I know we couldn't be typical siblings. This is why we found your group. Do you still see them?"
"I do," Nikki said, "I go tomorrow. Always Tuesday's."
"What does Brett say," Owen asked.
"He's met everyone but doesn't push in it's guys night for him and Ty," Nikki said.
"That's a good group of friends," Owen said.
"They always have been," Nikki said, "no matter what we stick together. The night the guys showed up to say Meghan had been found they were the first people I told. I put it in our group chat."
"They were all at your baby shower,"Owen said.
"They'll all come to the wedding," Nikki said, "I've been to a few of theirs. We're all starting to get married and have kids."
"You need friends to do that with," Meghan agreed.
"I do," Nikki said, "what about your friends?"
"Slowly convinced a few people it's really me," Meghan said, "those that knew Owen are easier to convince. Nate and I have been going to a different veterans group from Teddy and Owen and I've met people there. There's some moms at farokes school."
"Do you think you could help me with something at school," Nikki asked.
"What do you need," Meghan asked.
"I know it's hard for you to do it. I need someone who speaks Arabic," Nikki said, "I have a grade six boy whose not doing well in my class and it's behavioral. He acts out for me, Julie and Caroline but is good with Dale and Rob. We need a translator for a parent meeting. The district can't get us a translator for 8 weeks."
"I can try," Meghan agreed, "it's emotional for me."
"I wasn't going to ask but the situation is escalating," Nikki said, "language is only half of the problem. I know there's trauma and my trauma informed practices aren't working. I think it might be cultural. But we're at a loss. He's better with me than Caroline or Julie but I can't figure out why."
"What's his name," Meghan asked.
"Hamza," Nikki replied.
"Al Hamadan," Meghan asked.
"Yes," Nikki answered.
"I know him," Meghan said, "his mom was a friend of mine."
"Refugee family," Nikki said.
"I can help you with ideas but I don't know if I can meet with them. His father was the worst of my captors. Do the kids ever see photos of your life?"
Nikki nodded, "I have a few family photos on the bulletin board over my desk. Brett and Ty, lots of Ty, your wedding, the updated tree picture."
"He's seen me," Meghan said, "tell him Meghan wants him to be good."
"That's it," Nikki asked.
"Start there," Meghan said, "I taught all those kids English, math, science and health. His English is good. Don't let him fool you. He was almost fluent. I only spoke English with the older kids."
"He's playing me," Nikki said.
"Don't give in," Meghan said.
"He's stubborn and a reluctant mathematician," Nikki said.
"Trauma but he's smart. I would have him tested for adhd," Meghan suggested.
"They won't," Nikki said, "his English isn't there for testing. He's getting ELL everyday."
"Don't coddle him," Meghan said, "he knows how to do things. Tell him and his mom you're my sister."
"We have a volunteer translator at the hospital," Owen said, "maybe they could help with your meeting."
"That would be good," Nikki said, "I'm having a hard time with the mom on the phone."
"She's probably more stubborn than the three of us put together," Meghan said.
Seeing Meghan getting stressed Owen changed the subject, "what did mom say yesterday squirt?"
"She's ecstatic," Nikki smiled, "I was the only one who didn't know it was coming."
"I was out of the loop," Meghan said.
"I only knew because he asked us to babysit," Owen said.
"When did we get so grown up," Nikki asked.
"When did you grow up," Meghan asked.
"Somewhere between graduating highschool and having Tyler," Nikki smiled.
"We're all adults," Owen said, "Meghan let her grow up."
"You're the one that babies Nikki," Meghan retorted.
"Until you see both your sisters in the ICU on life support you don't get to judge me for being protective," Owen said, "you haven't had to sit with mom and discuss if care should be withdrawn. We gave her 48 hours to turn the corner before we revisited the conversation."
"You've seen both of us at our worst," Meghan said.
"I have," Owen said.
"Things don't go well we both run to you," Nikki said.
"You always can," Owen said, "you go to Teddy two."
"Brett now," Nikki said.
"He knows you," Meghan said.
"He does," Nikki agreed.
"We're excited," Meghan asked.
"I am," Nikki said, "are you sure you're okay Owen? You hated Jeff."
"Jeff is an ass," Owen said, "what are you doing about that?"
"I gave up," Nikki said, "it's not worth my stress to be disrespected like that. I'm lucky Ty won't remember. I don't remember my dad, he was never in and out of my life. Ty might not know his biological father but Brett is Ty's dad. We are his parents."
"Has he paid," Owen asked.
"No," Nikki said, "I've called the lawyer. We have a different idea now."
"What are you thinking," Meghan asked.
"We want Jeff to give up his parental rights so Brett can adopt Ty," Nikki said, "Brett wants to adopt Ty once we're married."
"We started the process before," Meghan said, "it's still not final but it's different because we had no birth certificate and we've had other issues."
"Nathan should have just signed the birth certificate," Nikki said
"He should have," Meghan agreed, "but we didn't think of it then."
"If you go through with it you're tied to him for life," Owen said.
"We're getting married thats until death do us part," Nikki said, "marriage is forever."
"I had to think this through with Faroke," Meghan said, "who would you want to raise Ty if something happens to you?"
"Before this I would have said, Meg and Nathan then Owen and Teddy," Nikki said, "mom's too old."
"Why us first," Meghan asked.
"You only have Faroke," Nikki said, "what about your kids?"
"You," Owen said, "we did it when Amber was born that we would want you to take care of our girls. Nathan was back up to you."
"Nikki you're up," Meghan said.
"Who has the least kids," Nikki said.
"We would all look out for each other's families," Meghan said.
"This is morbid," Nikki said.
"Wedding plans," Meghan said, "is that happier?"
"Yes," Nikki said, "a few decisions so far. My sisters, Julie and Syd for bridesmaids. Ty is our ring bearer and Brett wants his dad to do the ceremony. Owen to walk me down the aisle."
"Flower girl," Meghan asked.
"By the time we get married Allison will be too old so Amber," Nikki replied, "I will find something for Allison, Danny and Faroke."
"Don't stress," Owen said.
"But I do," Nikki said, "I won't leave any of them out."
"Brett's nieces and nephews," Meghan asked.
"Maybe his 3 year old niece as the flower girl," Nikki said, "then find something for the other kids."
"Colours," Meghan asked.
"Haven't got there," Nikki said, "I need pinterest time."
"Do you not pinterest," Meghan said.