"Kitten down and come help me," Teddy scolded.

"But she's fuzzy and purring," Danika argued.

"Dani this isn't going to get finished if we don't work together," Teddy sighed.

"Not my boyfriend," Danika argued.

"What do you have against Owen," Teddy asked.

"I have nothing against him," Danika said, "he's just here a lot."

"Only once a week," Teddy said.

"Don't you work with him all day," Danika asked.

"No," Teddy replied, "his schedule is different from mine."

"Why are we doing this now," Danika asked.

"Because we have an appointment with Dr. Sloan about your ears at two. He's seeing you on a Saturday as a favour to me," Teddy said.

"What does he want to do to my ears," Danika asked.

"Today we're going to take a look," Teddy said, "he's going to look in your ears he may send you for a CT to get a look if he thinks he needs it. We have to fix your ears and you haven't been on antibiotics since I've been here."

"My ears hurt more when I'm scared or tired," Danika said.

"Are you scared a lot," Teddy asked taking a seat on one of the stools at island.

"Sometimes," Danika said, "I get lonely. I feel like no one wants me."

"Dani," Teddy said, "I have always wanted you around. You're my baby sister. Why did you think no one wanted you?"

"Because no one ever came to family days, you rarely called, mom only took me home when she had to. You didn't come and visit," Danika yelled.

Teddy knew the day Danika had a full on teenage tantrum was coming.

"I know," Teddy said, "let me text Owen and cancel tonight. We need a day just us. I wanted to see you. I missed you."

"But you didn't come see me," Danika screamed, "no one cared about me. It was easy to stuff me away at school."

Teddy fought to stay calm knowing Danika needed her to be the calm one here.

"I wanted to," Teddy said, "I was told I didn't have permission from your mother to see you. I tried about two years ago. I was at your school and asked to see you, they didn't know me and did the right thing and checked who I was and your file. They had the form from your mom saying I had no access to see you. I was crushed, I wanted to see you and spend time with you. I went back to Owen's mom's house because I was staying with them and cried. I sat on her couch and sobbed because I wasn't allowed to see my only living relative. So I called when I could, when I had access to a phone. I emailed as much as I could. It was easier for me to email because I could write it all out in my journal ahead of time and quickly type it in my once or twice a week chance to use a computer. I would order Birthday and Christmas gifts months in advance to make sure they made it to you. First I sent them to your mom then as I got closer to Owen I would send them to his mom and Evelyn forwarded them to your school for me. I always wanted you. I wanted to see you and to be there. I was there the day you were born. I loved you from the first time I held you.

Danika froze, this was the first time any one had said something like that to her.

"Do you mean it," Danika asked.

"Every word," Teddy promised, "I love you."

"No one's said that to me since daddy died," Danika cried.

Teddy stood and wrapped Danika in a hug.

"Your okay," Teddy said, "I want you here. I love you and I'm not going anywhere. You Milly and I we'll figure it out."

"I love you too," Danika cried.

"We are our own family," Teddy said, "I messed up when dad died. I should have fought harder for you. I didn't know how and that's where I failed. I should have stood up to your mom and demanded to see you to have fought for you. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I should have been the adult and been there. I can't change that but I want you here and I want you home with me. I didn't agree with you boarding full time. I wanted you on school nights only. I thought you would go home at least on long weekends. I'm sorry it happened that way."

"Why didn't mom let you see me," Danika asked.

"She told me it confused you and upset you," Teddy said, "but I'm not sure I believe that."

"I wanted you to come," Danika said, "my first thought when they said mom was dead was to call you. All I knew is that teddy would know what to do."

"I will always come when you call," Teddy assured, "day or night I will always come."

"Even if you have another family," Danika asked.

"We are a family," Teddy said, "others may join us one day but that will never ever change that I love you."

"Even if you have your own baby," Danika asked.

"Even then," Teddy said, "but I'm not even thinking about that. My relationship with Owen is too new to even talk about that yet."

"You have to get married first," Danika pointed out.

"We have to date a while first," Teddy said, "I want you to get to know him when your ready. I like my time with Owen but you always come first. He knows you come first."

"Did that make him mad," Danika asked.

"No," Teddy said, "he had a little sister that he was really close to. He loved Meghan even if he would never say it."

"Where is she," Danika asked.

"She was with us in Iraq and got captured. We don't know what happened and he doesn't talk about it," Teddy explained, "he knows little sisters come first always. I'd like you not to run away from him."

"I don't know how to talk to him," Danika said.

"Just like you talk to me," Teddy encouraged.

"What do I talk about," Danika asked.

"You'll figure it out," Teddy said, "just join the conversation when you feel comfortabl."

"Can you not kiss him," Danika asked.

"I won't in front of you," Teddy agreed, "no kissing and no sleep overs if your home."

"Isn't it bad to sleep over with a boy," Danika asked.

"If your an adult and the two of you make the decision together that's it's what you both want it's okay," Teddy said, "but it has to be some one you love and trust completely."

"Do you love Owen," Danika asked.

"Yes." Teddy said, "I've known him six and a half years. This isn't some one I just met. He came to the nutcracker a few years ago with me. Him and his sister and her boyfriend Nathan."

"I remember a woman with red hair that laughed," Danika said.

"Meghan Hunt," Teddy replied, "they thought you were adorable. You were a gingerbread cookie. Your costume was so cute."

"I can audition for bigger roles now," Danika said.

"Try," Teddy encouraged.

"Will you and Owen get married," Danika asked.

"We have to date a lot longer first," Teddy said, "I wouldn't say no if he asked me. But there are a lot of steps first. Including getting through dinner without you running away."

"He tried to make me eat more," Danika complained.

"That is Owen showing he cares. I'll tell him not to," Teddy replied.

"If you marry him what happens to me," Danika asked.

"It's a long ways away," Teddy said, "if your still in school I guess it would make sense for him to move here when you were ready. You only have four more years of school then either you go dance or go to college."

"Is college a choice," Danika asked.

"Of course it's a choice," Teddy said, "you could get your PhD or go to med school. You can have an education after high school if that's what you want. I want to see you independent. You will need a job and a skill to support yourself. When you're 16 I'll teach you to drive."

"You'll teach me," Danika asked.

"Yes," Teddy said, "I do a lot of teaching at work. If I can teach heart surgery I can teach you to drive."

"I thought you did heart surgery," Danika said.

"I do and I teach it to residents surgeons in training," Teddy said, "there will be a resident helping or observing today. That's the doctor in light blue."

"Do we have to go to this appointment," Danika asked.

"Yes," Teddy said, "your ear infections are not going to continue. You mentioned they got worse when your scared. What scares you?"

"Being forgotten," Danika admitted.

"That's not going to happen," Teddy said, "anything else?"

"Being yelled at, being late, spiders, snakes, thunderstorms and wind storms," Danika said.

"I will do my best not to yell," Teddy said, "storms happen and so do spiders. We'll find ways to make it easier for you. When your scared what helps you calm down?"

"I don't know," Danika said.

"When was the last time you were really scared," Teddy asked.

"Moving day," Danika admitted.

"What made it better," Teddy asked.

"You didn't leave me," Danika said, "and milly."

"I will be there when you're scared," Teddy agreed, "we need to get ready to see Dr Sloan."

"Is he nice," Danika asked.

"He will be," Teddy promised, "he's a decent man and cares. He's an excellent surgeon."

"Surgeon you didn't say I needed surgery," Danika panicked.

"I don't know if you do," Teddy said, "that's why were seeing Mark Sloan he's the expert."

"Why would I need surgery," Danika asked.

"If he thinks it would help to stop the ear infections," Teddy said, "if he does anything I want it done before school starts in the fall and I will be there the whole time."

"Will you wear the stupid birdy hat," Danika asked.

"I have to cover my hair with a scrub cap in the OR to keep my patient and myself safe," Teddy said, "and I like my birds. I also have a book one and a teddy bear one tucked away that dad gave me. "

"Do other people have animals," Danika asked.

"No," Teddy said, "some have flowers, or patterns, Owen has a green one, our neuro surgeon has boats on his. It helps us know Whose who. Go get cleaned up. Shorts and a shirt are fine. Wash your face your eyes are red from crying."

"Do I have to go," Danika repeated.

"Yes," Teddy replied, "I'm not giving you a choice here. We have to fix your ears so you don't keep getting sick. While you get ready I'm going to call Owen and reschedule."

"If you have Owen can I have a friend over," Danika asked.

"Who," Teddy questioned.

"Patrick," Danika asked.

"Text and invite him. Make sure he knows I'll be home," Teddy agreed. She knew Patrick lived with his aunt and uncle and Webber would agreed to him going to hang out with Danika at the house. Danika had been invited there a few times now to swim and hang out with some of their classmates. Teddy and Richard agreed that the friendship was good for both kids who didn't see their parents and lived with other relatives. Teddy thought this could be a first crush.