The morning of Allison's graduation she sat on the couch rereading an email.
Dear Ms Altman-Hunt,
I am writing to inform you that you are this year's recipient of the Richard Webber Memorial Scholarship. This award is given to a young person who shows great determination and promise in medicine. This award is also given to someone from a community to whom medical education is not always accessible, as a young mother this describes you. When I read your scholarship application I was deeply moved by your reason for pursuing medicine and have seen this when visiting Grey Sloan as you have done your hospital observations in surgery. You are a bright and driven young woman and this is the right choice for your family and your daughter, a mother's education will always help her children. Woman to woman there are still not enough of us in surgery although it is constantly improving. Allison I hope to see you observing and assisting in my OR soon. Many years ago I had the privilege of being your sister's first official surgical observation in medical school and am looking forward to you joining me in the OR as a medical student. I have watched you grow from a baby in your mother's arms to a confident young woman who I would be happy to have working in one of my hospitals or with the foundation. Your dream of improving care and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy is deeply personal to you and that will carry over into your work and drive you, the best of us often have a deeply personal stake in what we are doing. Allison I see you doing incredible things and changing the lives of many families.
This award is named for my late husband, a man I know you need no introduction to. It was our sincere belief and continues to be mine that educating young doctors should begin from the first day of medical school and be continued throughout your career. That there should be no barriers to pursuing the education you want.
To claim this award you will need to forward the foundation your University of Washington student number and they will arrange to have your tuition taken care of for all four years. You have qualified for a full tuition scholarship and we will handle payment directly with the University of Washington. The stipulation on this is that you maintain a minimum B average as long as you are in school.
Congratulations,
Catherine Avery
"Ash read this," Allison said, passing him her ipad.
"Wow, does this mean what I think it means," Asher asked.
"Med school paid for by the Fox Foundation," Allison confirmed, "a full scholarship."
"Wow," Asher said.
"We can make this work," she said.
"You might not have to work as much," he said, "with my raise and not increasing the rent we might not need you to if we can keep expenses low."
"I will on school breaks," Allison said, "keep my 1 or 2 shifts a week. Ash I do that so I don't feel like I'm dependent on you as much as us needing the money."
"We're getting married," Asher said, "will it feel better once we're married. I don't want you working the first semester of med school."
"One shift a week," Allison argued.
"What if you tutored,' Asher asked, "highschool or middle school kids. Xyuan said she's get $40 an hour to tutor. You're only getting $12. Between my rais and that you could do fewer hours."
"She's with a tutoring agency and they guarantee her pay if the kid cancels less than 48 hours ahead," Allison replied, "but I know my hours are my hours right now."
"Let's play it by ear. Allison with this award we might not need as much help we're not asking your parents to pay your tuition now," Asher said.
"I know," Allison agreed, "it feels better."
"Do they know," Asher asked.
"No I didn't even tell them I applied," Allison said, "I wanted to do it myself."
"When do you need to be there," Asher asked.
"I have to be there at 2 and the ceremony is at 4," Allison said, "can you and Ev explore campus or come with my parents."
"I'll keep her home," Asher said, "she gets to determined on campus and it ends in a tantrum."
"I know," Allison said, "so I'll go ahead and see you later."
"Do you need to get ready," Asher asked.
"Dress, heels, hair and makeup," Allison said.
"I'll hang out with everly," Asher said.
"Get my mom to do her hair," Allison said, "or I can bath her now and do French braids."
"I'll worry about Ev," Asher replied, "have I told you how proud I am of you?"
"Only once or twice," Allison smiled.
"Med school on full scholarship," Asher said, "with our daughter and being the best mom and partner. Allison I don't know how you do it."
"Ash," Allison beamed, "I can't do it without you it works because we're a team. You are an amazing dad and the person I want to be with forever. I love you."
Asher leaned over the back of the couch and kissed Allison.
"Ewww kissing," Everly groaned.
"Sometimes daddy and I kiss," Allison said.
"But," Everly tried.
"It's okay for mommy and I to kiss," Asher said.
"You didn't ask," Everly said, "you have to ask to touch someone that's the rule."
"It is the rule," Allison agreed, "sometimes daddy and I ask with actions instead of words because we know each other really well. You don't always ask me to come sit in my lap or lay on me."
"You're my mommy," Everly said.
"I am," Allison said, "and I like when you come sit with me. But you ask grandma or auntie Annie. It's like that daddy can kiss me because he's daddy and I don't kiss other grownups just daddy."
"Grandma," Everly asked.
"Not since I was a little girl," Allison said.
"Why," Everly asked.
"Because it's not something grown ups do to big kids or other grownups," Allison explained, "it's something you should ask or get a special signal to do. You always get permission before you touch someone else. That's being kind and respectful."
"Ev you always ask and they always have to ask if they can touch you," Asher said, "grownups will always ask if they can touch you or tell you why they're touching you especially your private parts. Even when they help you in the bathroom."
"Always," Everly asked.
"Always," Asher said, "at home and at school or with other family."
"Can we play barbies," Everly asked.
"I need to get ready to go to my graduation," Allison said.
"I'll play princess," Asher agreed, moving to sit with Everly on the floor by the barbie house.
Allison got ready to go and left the house after saying good bye to Asher and Everly.
Asher carried Ev upstairs.
"What's going on," Teddy asked.
"Can you do her hair," Asher asked, "something really cute? I can do ponytails and pigtails."
"Allison likes it back," Teddy agreed, "I'll do it but I'll come down. Ev should we wash your hair so I can French braid it?"
"Daddy do it," Everly said.
"I can do your bath and grandma will do your hair," Asher agreed.
Teddy nodded, Allison and Asher were excellent about teaching Everly about consent and gave her choices as much as possible letting the little one know she was in control of her own body. They even made medical professionals ask Everly if they could touch her. After what had happened at thanksgiving they became obsessive about getting Everlys consent and making everyone around her do the same.
"Are you ready to see mommy graduate," Owen asked Everly.
"Me too," Everly asked.
"Today is mommy's special day," Asher said, "you get your day next week for your birthday."
"Swimming party," Everly cheered.
"Yes we're having a pool party," Asher said.
"Run the gas heater the day before," Owen said, "one day for Evs birthday is good. It should get it into the 80s."
"How many kids," Teddy asked.
"16," Asher replied, "and parents we need them for a swimming party."
"So princess what type of cake am I making," Teddy asked.
"Stars," Everly smiled, "and space."
"I can do that," Teddy smiled. There was a space cake she had seen on Pinterest that she wanted to try.
"Do you want chocolate or vanilla," Asher asked.
"Chocolate," Everly decided.
"One chocolate space cake," Teddy agreed.
They reached the university and got out of the car.
"Walk," Everly asked.
"Not today," Asher said, "it's too far for you to walk."
"But," Everly whined.
"Everly it's too far it isn't safe," Asher said, "you can ride in your chair or I can carry you."
"Grandpa carry," Everly tried.
"Ask grandpa," Asher said.
"Grandpa carry me peas," Everly asked.
"I can," Owen agreed.
They made their way to their seats and waited, Asher pacifying Everly with his phone for a few minutes to distract her from the long wait.
As Allison walked past them in the long line of graduates, Everly shouted, "Mommy!"
Allison reached across Teddy and Owen in the aisle seats and gave Everly a high five before continuing on. They watched the ceremony unfold listening to the speeches. Everly got wiggly at a few points but they were able to distract and redirect her attention, trying to see if she could spot Allison.
"Yes," Asher cheered when Allison got her diploma. He knew better than anyone how hard she had worked and what this meant to her, how many nights she had gone without sleep to study and complete assignments. The immense workload she had carried. The nights she had worked herself to the breaking point and then collapsed in his arms sobbing. While what he did was hard and physical when he came home he was done for the day. Allison never got to stop. She got home from school or work and once Everly was in bed for the night she was studying.
"Yay mommy," Everly echoed.
Teddy, Owen, Leo and Annie applauded loudly.
After the ceremony the family gathered to take pictures.
"I'm so proud of you," Teddy beamed hugging Allison, "Allie this is incredible."
"It's college it's expected," Allison replied.
"But how you've done it Allison, your drive and your attitude," Teddy said, "I'm so proud of you. Congratulations."
"Congratulations munchkin," Owen beamed, "Allison you earned this you've worked so hard and sacrificed so much to do it. I'm beyond proud of you."
"Congratulations babe," Asher beamed, giving Allison a kiss when she finally made it to him.
"Mommy," everly cheered.
"Hi baby," Allison smiled, picking up her daughter.
"My hat," Everly said, snatching the cap off Allison's head.
"I need a picture of the two of you," Teddy said, "I have one from four years ago."
"Ev was a newborn," Allison sighed.
"Family pictures," Annie said, "baby bean I'm so proud of you."
"So you have your degree and are off to med school," Owen said, "well done."
"Three through med school," Teddy shook her head.
"Two at once," Annie said.
"True," Teddy agreed.
"I didn't get a chance to tell you today," Allison said, "Catherine Avery emailed me."
"Oh," Teddy asked.
"I'll forward the email," Allison said, "but I got the Richard Webber Memorial Scholarship."
"You got the Webber award," Owen said, "you didn't even tell us you applied."
"I thought it was a long shot," Allison said, "I didn't think they would pick me. I didn't really fit their criteria. But it was worth the essay and part of it was to write about a doctor that inspires you then how you would show the things Webber valued in your own practice. And I had met him so I wrote about what I learned from him as a kid."
"You played the system," Leo said.
"I made it personal," Allison said, "I didn't know Catherine chose them herself."
"The GSM one," Annie said, "you applied?"
"Yes," Leo and Allison replied at once.
"Split it," Annie guessed, "I wasn't asked to be on the committee this year and I usually am because I was a recipient."
"You got it," Leo asked.
"When it was Seattle Grace Mercy West," Annie replied, "it paid half my tuition at Harvard."
"The GSM one pays you a set amount each semester for the four years," Teddy replied, "if you end up not needing it for tuition it can help with books or living expenses or clinical supplies."
"Leo should have it," Allison said, "it's not fair that I could get both."
"Catherine is on the committee and she will consider that," Owen agreed, "Allison the Webber award that is a huge honour."
"I'm really proud of you," Annie said, "the Webber is big. He wanted medical education to be available to anyone who was willing to work for it. He was the most incredible teacher."
"He was," Owen agreed.
"Richard was a great man," Teddy agreed, "he pushed all of us. He would even take me to task as chief when I started and mentored me."
"He never stopped teaching," Annie said, "even on his deathbed he taught."
"He would be proud of you Allison," Teddy smiled.
"I think Catherine would see that as well," Annie agreed, "she knows your story."
"Nee," Allison asked.
"Allie I'm proud of you," Annie assured, "my baby sister is a college graduate. Well done baby bean."
"I'm proud of myself," Allison agreed.
"Allie," Xyuan approached, "I found an extra hat. Does Everly want one?"
"Ask her," Allison said, "she has a voice."
"Everly would you like a hat like your moms," Xyuan offered.
"Yes please," Everly replied.
Xyuan held out the graduation cap, "Miss Everly your graduation cap."
"Thank you," Everly smiled putting it on her head.
"Let's go take pictures with everyone," Xyuan said.
"A few," Allison agreed, "can Ash and Ev come?"
"Of course," Xyuan said, "and I found out last week I got off the waitlist. UW."
"Yes," Allison cheered, "we'll stay together."
"We will," Xyuan replied, "I'm glad I have a friend."
"So am I," Allison agreed, "I hope we're in the same cohort."
"Me two," Xyuan agreed.
"We'll see you at home for dinner and presents," Teddy said, "do you have a car seat?"
"Always," Allison replied, "see you later."
"Have fun baby girl," Teddy smiled.
"We will," Allison smiled.
They walked away to join Allison's friends who were graduating with Everly happily being carried by her mom. The little girl found crowds overwhelming and the grass was hard with her crutches. She was getting there but today it was too busy.
