Monday night after Danika finished school for the day she met Teddy outside her dorm building.

"House hunting and dinner," Teddy declared.

"Missing pasta night yes," Danika shouted.

"Don't like pasta," Teddy said.

"Not with soggy noodles and watery sauce it's the worst meal on the calendar," Danika complained.

"The other meals have been okay," Teddy commented. She had been there for two weeks and had seen the regular weekly features as well as the seasonal meals. She thought it was better than what she ate in the army but she could do better at home. Breakfast was fairly standard, cereal, eggs, toast, yogurt and fruit and the students could pick what they wanted. Weekend mornings had pancakes and waffles sausages and bacon. Teddy had only seen a few lunches but they always had a vegetable soup or a salad and a choice of sandwiches or wraps. While breakfast and lunch were pretty standard and boring they provided a good balance of nutrients. Students were welcome to eat as much as they wanted at each meal and there was always fruit and veggies available for snacks. Dinners rotated but were always centered around a protein and a few vegetables. Desserts were served a few times a week and for special occasions. At meals students could choose to drink milk or water with tea and coffee only available at breakfast. So far Teddy agreed with the plan but she also know Danika's house mom made snacks and treats in the house for her girls. Frequently making popcorn for the girls when they did homework or watched TV and that there was always a box of popsicles in the units freezer the girls could help themselves to. Teddy realized that Danika was used to being told what to eat and served on the school's rigid schedule.

They walked to the car and Teddy drove to the first place.

"What are we seeing here," Danika asked.

"Two bedroom appointment," Teddy said, "we would rent this one. This building as a gym and a pool which I like. But it's not a deal breaker for me. I can easily get a membership for the rec center down the street from the other one and we can use the gym and pool there."

"We swim twice a week at school," Danika said.

"I know," Teddy replied, "you leave the wet bathing suit on the floor."

"It wouldn't bug you so much if you stopped cleaning my room and laying out my clothes," Danika argued.

"Once we move I'll stop," Teddy said, "I'll help with organizing your stuff once we move until we get in a routine."

"I can do it," Danika said, "that's why Auntie T put the schedule for each day on my bulletin board with the list of what I need."

"We can do the list with your schedule," Teddy said, "I use the list two. We need to replace your school uniforms. When did you last have new ones?"

"I don't remember," Danika said.

"This school year," Teddy asked.

"Maybe last," Danika said.

"For September," Teddy said, "there's only four more weeks of school and you don't need them for summer session."

"Just dance clothes for summer and shorts and T-shirts," Danika said.

"We'll get summer clothes on the weekend," Teddy said.

They met the realtor in the lobby and he showed them the apartment.

"It's big," Danika commented.

"Two of us," Teddy said, "can you share a bathroom with me?"

"I share with three other girls now," Danika said.

"What do you think," Teddy asked.

"It's fancy but it doesn't feel like home," Danika said.

"We can make it feel homey," Teddy said, "should we see the other place then talk?"

"I want trees and somewhere to sit outside," Danika said.

Teddy smiled as she was leaning towards the house which met those criteria. They got back in the car and drove to the house.

"It's a reall house," Danika smiled.

"It is," Teddy said, "let's go look."

They looked around the house and yard with Teddy letting Danika explore at her own pace.

"What do you think," Teddy asked.

"It feels like home," Danika said.

"I does," Teddy smiled, "is this it?"

"I like it," Danika said.

"Let's get dinner and talk about it. We have a few things to discuss then in the morning I'll call the realtor and put an offer in," Teddy said.

"Just like that," Danika asked.

"I'll explain when we have food," Teddy said. She thanked the realtor promising to call the next day and got back in the car.

After ordering their sushi Teddy gave Danika a serious look, "Dani do you know what dad did for work before he got sick?"

"He read books and chose the ones others should read," Danika said.

"Dad was a publisher," Teddy said, "he owned half of a publishing company."

"What happened to it," Danika asked.

"His business partners run it and technically you and I together own his half," Teddy said, "do you know what that means?"

"One of us has to work for them," Danika said, "and you're a surgeon so it has to be me."

"No," Teddy said, "but if you were interested they would find a spot for you. I'm trying to tell you that there's a lot of money. Dad set everything up in our names when he got sick. He put it in what's called trust meaning your half can't be touched until your 21. I am able to touch it for a few exceptions. Medical care, your education which is how I've payed your school and to buy a home. I am going to use my half to buy the house but I haven't touched it ever."

"Is this like Blair and Serena on Gossip Girl," Danika asked.

"A lot like it," Teddy said, "I went to high school with a lot of girls like them. There is that type of money but we're not going to use it unless we absolutely have to. I've always lived on what I made and we're going to do that other than buying the house. I need to talk to the bank but I might just buy the house out right so it's mine. I think it's what dad would want and it's secure for us. We know it's home."

"Why did mom say there was no money," Danika asked.

Teddy took a deep breath before speaking, "two reasons. One dad left her a lump sum. It was significant but I don't remember the number. She was angry that I had control of your trust fund until you were 21. She thought she should have it but dad decided it was better to be in my control. That's one reason she tried to keep me away from you. She was trying to get control from me. I also am starting to think your mom went through the money quickly for prescription drugs. When Owen and I packed up your moms room we found narcotics."

"What does that mean," Danika asked.

"Drugs," Teddy said, "the same ones that killed her. I don't like having to tell you this but I think you deserve the truth. I will always tell you the truth and be totally honest with you."

"My mom always had headaches and slept a lot when I was home," Danika said.

"With what I found I can see that," Teddy said.

"Was she sick," Danika asked.

"Yes," Teddy said, "not her body but her brain. Addiction is an illness."

"Is that why she didn't want me," Danika asked.

"I can't answer that," Teddy said, "I do know that you were dad's princess and that I'm happy to be here with you. We'll figure things out together. It's unusual but we will make it work and be a good team."

"Just like that," Danika asked.

"You're my sister," Teddy said.

"Do you want to be here or do you have to be," Danika asked.

"I chose to come," Teddy said, "and to stay."

"If this isn't what you want I can just go back to school and come see you for breaks," Danika said.

"This is what I want," Teddy said, "what do you want?"

"Can I maybe try living with you for the summer and decide," Danika asked.

"A trial would be good," Teddy agreed, she wanted permanent but Danika was agreeing to try, "when I get things sorted and we can move into the house you'll move with me."

"How long will that take," Danika asked.

"I don't know." Teddy admitted, "I need to talk to the bank, the realtor and a lawyer. Probably in the summer before we can actually move it's almost June. What color would you want your room to be?"

"Apple green," Danika smiled, "you?"

"Sky blue," Teddy smiled.

"Do we get a kitten," Danika asked.

"We will get a kitten before the end of December," Teddy promised.

"That's six months," Danika pointed out.

"Buy house and car, move, adjust school stuff, settle into my new job, move, buy furniture, decorate house," Teddy said, "when we are settled in the house we will look for a pet."

"When do you move," Danika asked.

"I have to negotiate that," Teddy said, "sooner is better. There's no one living in the house so it'll be easier. We'll move as soon as we can."

"Why can't you move now," Danika asked.

"Because its a process," Teddy said.

"How long," Danika asked.

"I don't know," Teddy said, "I'll find out more tomorrow. I don't have surgeries until noon tomorrow so I'll call after rounds and get the process started."

"Is it a late night," Danika asked.

"It shouldn't be," Teddy said, "just two pacemakers tomorrow. Wednesday I have an open heart surgery that starts really early so I'll be gone before breakfast."

"Do you really put your hands inside people's hearts," Danika asked.

"I do," Teddy said, "would you be interested in a tour of the hospital on your break?"

"Can you do that," Danika asked.

"I run my department I can," Teddy said, "you could observe a bit."

"Is it bloody and messy," Danika asked.

"What I do yes," Teddy said, "I love what I do. It's like you and dancing."

"I don't love dancing everyday right now," Danika said, "but it's all I know."

"We could find a good school and dance studio," Teddy said, "you don't have to stay at Parkridge."

"I think I just need a break," Danika said, "I've danced 6 days a week since Christmas."

"There's a week between the end of the school year and the summer program then you get five weeks off," Teddy said.

"So I just sit at your house while you work," Danika said.

"There will be some days at home," Teddy said, "read, paint, draw. I'm cutting down on my clinical time for August when you're off so we have time."

"What about when you work," Danika asked.

"You're not used to being alone," Teddy commented, "you're always with at least five or six other girls your age and Auntie T."

"Auntie T is always there," Danika said.

"She has been," Teddy said, "and I will be."

"What if your not," Danika asked.

"I will be," Teddy said, "I'm young, healthy, working in a safe job. The last time I took any sort of medication I had strep throat."

"A couple weeks before you came," Danika said.

"I know you had an ear infection," Teddy said, "I've heard we have an excellent ENT who might be able to look at your ear and figure it out."

"Why do you care," Danika said.

"Because you're my sister," Teddy said, "and these ear infections aren't normal. I'm going to get to the bottom of it and we will find the person to fix it. I don't want you on antibiotics all winter, it's not healthy long term."

"I had tubes in my ears when I was eight," Danika said.

"No one told me," Teddy said, "when did they come out?"

"Before I came here," Danika said, "they used a little vacuum thing."

"It's a starting point," Teddy said, "but back to the house. What colour should we paint?"

"Something happy," Danika said.

"I like beige or grey then colour in the furniture," Teddy said.

"No white," Danika said.

"We need furniture," Teddy said, "ideas?"

"Cozy reading spots," Danika said, "and bookshelves. My books are all under my bed."

"I found those," Teddy said, "and the bins of dad's favourites are at Owen's. We'll get bookshelves. We need to figure out your room. You said apple green, what about green and grey?"

"I guess," Danika said.

"We'll go look soon," Teddy said.

"Target trip," Danika said, "Ross, Walmart?"

"Target maybe," Teddy replied, "we'll go look find what we like. It'll all be fresh and new."

"Just like that," Danika said.

"We can have nice things," Teddy said, "we can make the house home. I'd rather you live there full time."

"I've been at school for 5 years," Danika said, "the last time an adult wanted me home was dad."

"I want you," Teddy said, "we will work out how we do things together. It's new for both of us."

Their food arrived and conversation shifted to school and planning for summer fun.