Brett's parents were in town for the week before school started.
"I'll keep Ty home today," Joan offered.
"I'd like to build him up to going back to day care," Nikki said, "he's been home all summer with me. I didn't do summer school I just needed the break this summer. I haven't researched, I didn't take a course. I've only read for fun."
"Good for you," Joan said, "just a summer to be you."
"Yes," Nikki said, "house projects, family days, lazy days. Some auntie camp with Owen's kids."
"I'm glad you both took time this summer," Joan said, "when was the last time you took any time off?"
"High school," Nikki admitted, "I like to work. I just wasn't feeling it so I didn't. I said I would work on my research if the mood hit and my supervisor has three young kids and understands."
"Take the time for you and your family where you need to," Joan said, "rest is good."
"It is. I'm a lot more relaxed," Nikki admitted, "I've done wedding things. March will come fast."
"It will," Joan smiled, "can I ask you a couple questions before the wedding?"
"Of course," Nikki smiled, "we're family."
"Sweetheart have you been baptized," Joan asked.
"When I was thirteen," Nikki said, "our pastor held the baptism date for when Meghan and Owen were home on leave so my family could be there."
"Your father," Joan asked.
"I've met him once when ty was about six month. He has another family and other kids now. Brett teaght my half sister who has no clue we're related. My father left my mom when I was five months. He was a violent alcoholic who hurt my mom and my sister," Nikki said, "we are better not to have Max in our lives."
"Father figures," Joan asked.
"Amazing big brothers," Nikki said, "mom as a sister but her husband passed when I was in elementary school and I don't remember my grand parents. I had siblings who helped raise me. Owen especially in my high school and college years. Meghan I love and respect but I'm not as close to her because of the time we were apart, we haven't had to rely on eachother the same way Owen and I did."
"Your siblings will always be big parts of Ty's life," Joan said.
"Always we're big parts of each other's lives," Nikki said, "theres only us and our mom and mom's getting older she's 72."
"She's healthy," Joan asked.
"As energetic as ever," Nikki smiled, "she moved to a little apartment in a seniors complex last spring."
"This was her house," Joan said.
"It was hers. I grew up here. it's the perfect place to raise our family," Nikki said, "somewhere to call home."
"It feels like a home," Joan said.
"It's still hard for me to see my old room as our office," Nikki said, "the guest room was Meghan's and Ty's was Owen's."
"You never moved to a bigger room," Joan asked.
"I was going to move to Owen's," Nikki said, "they always needed their rooms to come home from school or the army. Owen suggested it when I was a senior in highschool and mom and I looked into it but it never felt right. They stayed over when mom was away in Owen's room. Meghan's room was untouchable after she was captured."
"It became her shrine," Joan said.
"It did," Nikki admitted, "I would sit on her window seat and email her. I knew it was useless but it made me feel better to write all those things I wanted to tell her. Big things, graduations, my first teaching job, Ty's first pictures. And the little things funny stories from school that I thought would have made her laugh or when I taught all day for the first time."
"I write letters to my mom," Joan said, "and you grew up with a lot of pressure from the sounds of it, two siblings who are surgeons and army officers."
"That still gets me," Nikki said, "but it wasn't them or mom. It was the community around us. They care that I'm happy and doing what I love. Things are changing, they come to me about kid stuff now and how to navigate school things. But the night Ty had his first asthma attack I ran him upstairs to Teddy and she was as calm as could be."
"Teddy not Owen," Joan asked.
"Owen does gaping holes in people, car accidents and stupidity for youtube likes hes a trauma surgeon," Nikki said, "Teddy is the breathing expert she's a cardiothoracic surgeon. And she was home, he was working. He met us in the ER."
"Have you been going to church," Joan asked.
"During the school year," Nikki said, "summer hasn't been great. We've been away a few Sundays. I like the church we go to. Ty is old enough for their Sunday school program now. I'm still cautious after what happened at the last church."
"I understand that," Joan said.
"Are you sure Bill is okay with me and my story," Nikki asked.
"You're part of our family now sweetheart," Joan said, "the first time we met you. "
"Ty," Nikki said.
"Is our grandson," Joan assured, "Nikki we don't always understand why God does what he does or when he does things but there is always a plan. You have a beautiful little boy. He's smart, curious and sweet. You're teaching him to be kind and a great man."
"Brett is teaching him how to be a man," Nikki said, "he is an amazing Dad for Ty. When I had Ty I didn't think this would ever happen."
"The Lord had a plan to bring all of you together," Joan said, "I had prayed for years Brett would meet someone like you. You're part of our family now."
"Thank you," Nikki smiled.
"We love you," Joan said hugging Nikki.
"Love you two," Nikki said, returning the hug.
Nikki's phone went off on the coffee table,
"Teddy," Nikki answered.
"Mall collapse multiple traumas incoming," Teddy said.
"You're bringing me the kids," Nikki said.
"With their grab and go bags," Teddy said.
"Brett and his dad took Ty out for guy time I'm home with Joan," Nikki said, "bring me the three."
"Four," Teddy said, "Faroke is here."
"Bring them," Nikki said, "see you when you're here. This is an emergency, who knows how long?"
"Grabbing and going," Teddy said and hung up.
Nikki turned to Joan, "the mall that collapsed is close to Grey Sloan it's an all hands on deck event. The kids are coming here Teddy is dropping them off."
"What can we do," Joan asked.
"I have a bin of back up activities for this this happens a few times a year," Nikki said, "I'm thinking once the guys get back, park, BBQ pizza we have a bunch of frozen dough balls if I take them out now it will be fine. Camp fire and set a tent up for the kids in the living room."
"What do I need to know about these kids," Joan said, "I've met them at family things but that's not being nana."
"Allison has adhd currently unmedicated, Faroke there's a lot of trauma. He was born in Iraq his father died when he was weeks old he came here a couple months after Meghan came home," Nikki said, "Amber talks a mile a minute and is allergic to shellfish . Danny is being assessed for autism. I think it's sensory."
"Plans," Joan asked, "care plans?"
"Love them," Nikki said, "Allison takes any scolding very personally."
"Love and logic," Joan said.
"That's what we do with Tyler," Nikki said.
"What can I help with," Joan asked.
"Nothing," Nikki said, "they spend a lot of time here. They all ask to come over. They know where stuff is."
"Favorite auntie," Joan asked.
"And uncle," Nikki said, "Faroke is really into football and Owen played soccer Nathan played Lacrosse and Rugby. "
"Are we letting them play outside," Joan asked.
"Until bed time preferably," Nikki said, "let them run and get messy kids need to be outside."
Teddy dropped off all four kids with a quick hug and Nikki took over, this had happened enough times that the kids didn't question it and knew their parents would be home soon. Joan watched as the young woman took the four kids to the back yard and filled the kiddie pool for them to splash in.
"Do you need help," Joan asked.
"We're good," Nikki smiled, "just some free play for now. They'll get enough structure next week at school. Kids need to play and be kids."
Joan went inside to look for something in her bag. Seeing her favourite aunt alone Allison took a seat next to Nikki.
"Whats up munchkin," Nikki asked.
"I don't know," Allison shrugged.
"Ready for Tuesday," Nikki asked.
"I don't want to go to my new school," Allison said.
"Why not," Nikki asked.
"I don't know anyone and the kids will just think I'm weird," Allison said.
"Why would they think that," Nikki asked.
"I wear glasses and am getting braces and kids at my old school think I'm weird," Allison whined.
"Ali, how many people in our family wear glasses," Nikki asked.
"You, dad, me, Tyler," Allison said.
"I remember when I was little your dad had the biggest glasses," Nikki said, "it made him look like Owl in Winnie the Pooh."
"Is that why you call him Owl some times," Allison asked.
"Partially," Nikki said, "when I was Ty's age I couldn't say Owen and it sounded like Owl."
"Can we trust Auntie Meghan with my weirdness," Allison asked.
"Always," Nikki said, "why do you ask?"
"Some times she doesn't get it like you or dad do," Allison said.
"Your dad told me about your ADHD," Nikki smiled, "I understand it because I have it and I've been there. Auntie Meghan was the first person to see that mine didn't make me weird or dumb just different. She used to fight with your dad because he would want grandma to pull me out of ballet school or music so I would learn to focus but he's learned now that that's what we need. We have to move."
"You went to ballet school," Allison asked.
"Pac Rim," Nikki smiled, "I graduated from there."
"But you're not a dancer," Allison said.
"I was until you were a baby. You were born my senior year, I was 17," Nikki smiled, "that summer after I graduated I was in a car accident with Sydney."
"Sydney in the wheel chair," Allison asked.
"Yes," Nikki answered, "we both danced at Pac Rim. Madame was my teacher."
"She knows my mom, she calls her Theodora," Allison said.
"Your other grandma your mom's mom danced with madame," Nikki said, "then Madame taught your mom for a year or so then me from the time I was three until I was 17."
"Why don't you dance," Allison asked.
"You know the scars on my leg," Nikki said.
"You said its a map," Allison answered.
"When I was in the accident my leg was shattered," Nikki replied, "Dr. Webber, Dr. Torres and Uncle Nathan did surgery on me and put a bunch of metal plates in my left leg. I don't have the flexibility to dance the way I did in my left ankle. Then when I tried to go back it really really hurt. While I was geting better after surgery and in the hospital for a couple months like Auntie Meghan was I took some math classes online and liked it more than I liked dancing."
"Where was I," Allison asked.
"You were about six months old when I had my accident," Nikki replied, "you would come with your mom and dad to see me. You always made me smile."
"Will you dance again," Amber asked.
"No sweetheart," Nikki said, "my dreams changed. I learned what made me happy and what I'm good at. Dance was a way for me to calm my brain, to teach myself to slow my thoughts and focus on the movement. I loved it and I was good. I had a contract with Pacific NorthWest Ballet. But I learned that I could be more than a dancer. I had your dad and mom who showed me I could be good at other things. They saw it when I didn't. Ali you are going to do great things and find where you fit. This new school could be really good. It's smaller which is really good and feeds into Blue Pine."
"What if they don't like me," Allison asked.
"You go in there and be yourself," Nikki said, "stop pretending to be someone else. Allison you're one of us."
"Like weirdos," Allison asked.
"Not weird," Nikki said, "munchkin people like us with brains like ours, we just work differently. Your thoughts are all connected aren't they like a big spider web?"
"How did you know," Allison asked.
"Because I work in a spiderweb two," Nikki said, "it's our super power. "
"How is it a super power," Allison asked.
"Because we can see connections between things that others don't," Nikki said, " our connections are a strength. It makes us creative, it helps me to find patterns in things."
"How do you slow it down," Allison asked, "some times my head goes too fast."
"It does," Nikki said, "sometimes you need to slow it down but other times you have to let it run. It's knowing when to hold tight and control it and when to let it run. Allison if you hold it to tight all the time you're going to make it worse for yourself."
"How do I know when to let it go," Allison asked, "is it okay to let it go?"
"I let it run when I go for my run or play my violin," Nikki said, "when I'm cooking or baking. Then when I'm at work or in class I can control it. I know who my safe people to let it go are."
"Who," Allison asked.
"My mom, your parents, Brett, Meghan and Nate," Nikki said, "Julie and Sydney. Allison if you keep fighting it all the time you're going to wear yourself out. It's what makes us special. It is a gift munchkin, just like our red hair."
Joan sitting a few feet away watching Danny in the kiddie pool smiled listening to Nikki helping her niece. Nikki was amazing with kids, she understood the special ones, she had a gift for making them feel seen and heard. Sometimes Joan thought the young woman was wise beyond her years, she was educated and had learned a lot about kids and working with them but she had a natural way of connecting with them, a gift for teaching. Watching Nikki now with her niece she understood more of what her son saw in his fiance and it made Joan love Nikki even more.
"Mom and dad want me to be part of some tests at the hospital to help doctors understand brains like mine," Allison said, "will they finally find where my brain is broken?"
"They will see where it's different," Nikki said, "I was part of one from the time I was 17 until I was 21. It was really interesting. The doctors really helped me understand my brain and what worked for me. I'm going to do the new one. I was part of the one known as the Shepard study by your Dr. Shepard's older brother, it really helped people understand brains like ours and how they work differently. I'm going to go do it, we could go together."
"What if it shows my brain is really broken and mom and dad don't love me anymore," Allison asked.
"Your brain isn't broken," Nikki said, "and your mom and dad will always always love you because they are the most loving and accepting people I know."
"How do you know that," Allison asked.
"Because they helped raise me," Nikki said, "they chose to be there for me and never give up on me. They will never give up Allison. I don't think my brother knows what giving up is."
"How do you know," Allison asked.
"Because when I had my accident and I wanted to give up they didn't. Every time I tried your parents were there to make sure I went forward and I'm the little sister," Nikki replied, "your mom and dad will always be there so will I."
"Auntie Meghan and uncle Nathan," Allison asked.
"Always," Nikki said, "you know uncle Nathan and I had a talk a lot like this when we were in Kenya."
"What about auntie Meghan," Allison asked.
"She was the first person to see what I could do and believe I was smart and capable," Nikki said, "she's safe Ali I trust her with anything."
"Tyler," Allison asked.
"Yes," Nikki said.
"When can I babysit," Allison asked.
"When your a bit older. You have to be thirteen first," Nikki said, "in eighth grade we can talk. I used to babysit a lot."
"Who," Allison asked.
"You, Sophia, Tuck, Zola and Bailey a few neighborhood kids," Nikki said, "lots of doctors kids because people would complain about needing babysitters and your dad would tell them to call me."
"I'm not broken." Allison asked.
"Your not broken," Nikki said, "we're just us. That's how we're made because that's how we're supposed to be."
"Allison come on," Faroke yelled from the tree house.
"Thanks auntie Nikki," Allison said before standing up.
"Any time Allison it's what I'm here for," Nikki replied.
"Is it pizza night," Allison asked.
"The dough is deforsting," Nikki said.
Joan brought Danny out of the pool and went to sit with Nikki, "your accident what happened?"
"I was almost 18," Nikki said, "my first performance with Pacific Northwest Ballet, I was driving home with two friends, Corinna and Sydney when a semi ran a red and hit us. The driver was drunk and high. The car flipped a couple times. Corrie didn't make it and Syd is a parapealegic now. My left leg was completely shattered, they air lifted me to grey sloan and the only thing I remember from leaving the theater to waking up in ICU two weeks later was Owen standing beside the gurney saying he loved me and wasn't going anywhere and Teddy holding my hand. They were both working that night and were called to take me from the heli pad on the roof to the OR. they didn't know it was me just that it was a 17 year old female. I had crushed my left leg and it's half pins and plates now, nearly ruptured my spleen and kidneys, collapsed lung, my heart stopped on the table twice but Nate was able to keep me alive. I was the lucky one. I'm walking and talking. It was part of the plan for me or it changed the plan to something better."
"You've been through a lot," Joan said.
"I had to to appreciate the good stuff," Nikki said, "as long as I have my family I'm okay. I can do it with them. I've never been truly alone."
In the OR Teddy asked Amelia, "if Allison participates in your study what does it look like for her?"
"If you and Owen agree," Ameila said, "I can give you all the literature I have and my plan. I'm building off Derek's work."
"Nikki, Owen's sister was one of the patients in that," Teddy replied, "26 or 27 I think."
"You know what number she was," Amelia asked.
"She wanted to know and if you read the description of her profile it's Nikki," Teddy replied, "it's knowing Nikki as a teenager."
"Owen said he was going to talk to her," Amelia said.
"He is," Teddy replied, "are you going through with doing the genome sequencing with Bailey?"
"I am," Amelia said, "do you want to help?"
"Let's talk about having our kids sequenced," Teddy said.
"You do your kids you should be as well," Ameila said, "both of you."
"We'll talk," Teddy replied, "I'll bring it up to Nikki she'll take it better coming from us."
"I should do all three siblings and their mom then," Amelia said.
"Good luck testing Meghan," Teddy replied, "Owen did years ago because of Nikki but that's it."
"Think about it," Amelia said.
"We're discussing it," Teddy replied, "I don't want to make her feel like she doesn't belong she already thinks her brain is broken."
"Then let me scan her and show her," Amelia said.
"We'll talk," Teddy replied.
"How do you manage doing this and running cardio with three kids," Ameila asked.
"Help," Teddy admitted, "Owen's mom, Nikki, Brett are always ready to take our kids if something comes up."
"Where are they now," Ameila asked.
"Nikki's," Teddy answered.
Amelia got the brain bleed under control and scrubbed out going on to the next place she was needed.
After things calmed down Teddy looked for Owen. it was 3AM
"We're going home and getting the kids later," Owen asked.
"They'll all be asleep," Teddy said, "not waking them up now. I talked to Ameila and I think we should encourage Allison to participate and see."
"Why did you change your mind," Owen asked, "this morning you were completely against it."
"Because maybe it will give Allison the proof she needs that her brain isn't broken," Teddy replied.
"Are you okay with it," Owen asked.
"I'll always blame myself and hate watching her struggle," Teddy said, "I can't stop that."
"Teddy," Owen sighed, " it's no ones fault it's just Allison."
"But I blame myself I'm her mother I should have protected her," Teddy whined.
"No," Owen said, "lets go home. You were up half the night last night with Amber's nightmares. Lets go sleep we can get the kids when we wake up."
"I don't know if I can sleep," Teddy said.
"You can," Owen replied, "I'll hold you until you do."
"All night," Teddy asked.
"All night," Owen promised.
Thoughts? Ideas? Criticisims?