"Do you have long weekend plans," Mark asked Owen as they were scrubbing out.
"Camping with Teddy and Danika," Owen replied, "they've never been. I did a lot in scouts."
"You were a Boy Scout," Mark asked.
"Eagle Scout," Owen replied, "camping with my girlfriend and her sister in a state park with flush toilets and showers. Trying not to shock Danika too much. Teddy can do a bit more rustic."
"How are they doing after the surgery," Mark asked seeming genuinely concerned.
"They're good," Owen said, "I think it was actually harder on Teddy."
"She had the kid here Tuesday night for shark bait," Mark commented, "Lexie told me I couldn't use the little on call room because tiny Teddy was sleeping there."
"It's on their list to work out when Teddy gets called in like that," Owen said.
"You," Mark said.
"Danika isn't there yet," Owen said, "I'm bribing this weekend."
"How do you bribe a 14 year old," Mark asked.
"S'mores and junk food Teddy won't buy," Owen said, "I have a kite and sand toys. She's a bit old but has never had the chance to build sand castles or fly a kite it might work."
"Is Altman pretty strict with that kid," Mark asked.
"Danika hasn't had a lot of parental involvement; she was seven when their dad passed and her mom was an addict who kept her kid in boarding school," Owen said, "Teddy needs to get some boundaries set up. She's being strict right now."
"That's tough," Mark said, "my parents weren't parents. I basically grew up at the Shepherds Derek's mom took me in as one of her own. Have fun camping this weekend Rambo."
"Dani lets go," Teddy called up the stairs.
"Owen isn't here yet," Danika replied.
"He's 2 minutes out," Teddy yelled, "say good bye to the cat."
"But we can't leave her," Danika whined.
"Evelyn Hunt, Owen's mom is going to check on her for me," Teddy replied.
"But will she play with Milly," Danika asked coming down the stairs.
"She will," Teddy replied.
"Do you have another hat," Danika asked.
"What's wrong with this," Teddy asked.
"Okay there GI Jane," Danika quipped.
"It's Owen," TEddy replied.
"It's a really ugly army hat," Danika replied, "I'd rather you wore the birds."
"I'm wearing it," Teddy replied.
"Really you quit the army you cant wear the hat," Danika repied.
"I was discharged," Teddy replied, "and I can wear it. I still keep my rank and have my uniform and dress uniform upstairs."
"You look like a man in them," Danika replied.
"It's not the most flattering," Teddy agreed, "I didn't wear the jacket often too hot in the desert. It was my uniform pants and a t shirt that fit the regulations."
"Still not cute," Danika replied.
Owen pulled into the driveway and helped load their camping gear into the box of the truck.
"Back to school tuesday," Owen asked as they drove down I5.
"Ya," Danika replied, "ninth grade in the senior school now."
"What are you taking," Owen asked, he thought school was a safe topic.
"Ballet tech, pointe, repertoire, contemporary, national character, period dances, jazz, lyrical, honours math, english, french, science, anatomy, notation, visual arts, history, geography, conditioning, health and music," Danika listed.
"Busy schedule how does it work," Owen asked.
"They have ballet technique, english and math every day," Teddy replies, " anatomy and science alternates so do history and geography."
"French alternates with notation and visual arts trades with music," Danika continued, pointe is three days a week and repertoire two, then once a week we get contemporary, jazz, lyrical, national and pas de deux, health is once a week it's kinda lame just shower and brush your teeth stuff, conditioning is twice a week. I get dropped off for early study hall at 7:30 in the morning and my actual scheduled school day ends at 6pm."
"What does the day look like," Owen asked, curious about the demanding schedule for a teenager.
"Every day starts with home room at 7:45, then 60 minutes of math at 8," Danika said, "then tech for 120 minutes, morning break, two academics each for an hour, lunch, dance, two academics, dance, advisory and study hall, dance and were done."
"Do you like school," Owen asked.
"I guess," Danika replied, "I just do it."
"Favourite class," Owen asked.
"English and Repertoire," Danika replied.
"What is Repertoire," Owen asked.
"Learning parts of real ballets," Danika said, "we did La Fille Mal Gardee this summer and this year we do Peter Pan and La Sylphide."
"Do they preform," Owen asked.
"Nutcracker in December," Danika said, " then one of the other two in the spring."
"Will we go watch," Owen asked Teddy.
"I'm going to every performance I can," Teddy said.
"Danika," Owen asked.
"If you want to," Danika replied, "I'm used to not having people in the audience."
"My sister danced," Owen said, "Jazz and Tap. My mom and I watched every performance and went for ice cream after."
"Ice cream after a show," Teddy said, "that sounds good."
"I like ice cream," Danika agreed.
Teddy smiled Danika was answering Owen's questions and he suggested starting some of their own celebratory traditions.
"Back to school Tuesday," Teddy said.
"How does a school morning work," Danika asked.
"I have to drop you off at 7:30 so I make it to work ontime," Teddy said, "you're still getting school lunch and snacks because it's one less thing for us to worry about."
"What is school lunch," Owen asked.
"Usually a veggie soup, sandwich or wrap, fruit, veggie sticks or salad, a cookie and milk," Danika said.
"Best school lunch," Owen asked.
"Squash and sweet potato soup, turkey and cranberry sandwich and chocolate chip cookies," Danika said.
"Worst lunch," Owen asked.
"Beef and barley soup," Danika said, "lunches are better than school dinners. Pasta night was the worst soggy noodles and watery sauce."
"Favourite dinner," Teddy asked.
"The greek chicken skewers and greek salad," Danika said.
"I have burgers for tonight," Owen said.
"Those are a treat," Teddy said, "we don't do burgers at home."
Owen knew Teddy would eat almost anything but preferred simple healthy meals. It sounded like Danika had been given a carefully structured diet at the ballet school.
"The rest of a school morning," Teddy said, "up around 6, school uniform, hair in your bun before you go, breakfast is not optional, feed the cat, we need to be in the car by 7:15. School bag has to be packed the night before and your homework done."
"That's why we have study hall," Danika said, "get homework done."
"What you don't finish in study hall," Teddy said, "I want anatomy to come home."
"I understood anatomy once you started helping me with it," Danika said.
"Your math got better two," Teddy said.
"Math is hard and I don't like it," Danika replied.
"We'll work on it together," Teddy said, "I can help you."
"You don't want to do my math homework," Danika said.
"I'm not doing it," Teddy said, "I will help you and make sure it gets done. I can answer questions and help you figure out how to solve it."
Owen knew Teddy had always wanted kids, this might not have been how she expected to be raising a child but it sounded like they were off to a good start and had a plan. He had sat with her while she freaked out when Mark had put tubes in Danika's ears and listened to her rant about trying to find a good orthodontist, she hadn't been impressed with the one the dentist had recommended. Teddy was a perfectionist, if she was going to do something it had to be done properly.
They pulled into the campground and set up the campsite.
"Beach," Teddy suggested.
"Can we swim," Danika asked.
"I think the tide's out," Owen said, "but we have a skim board and a kite."
Teddy looked at Owen who just smiled.
"Changing," Danika said taking her backpack into the tent.
"What did you do," Teddy asked hugging Owen.
"Googled things for teens to do at the beach," Owen replied.
"Thank you," Teddy said giving him a quick peck.
With everyone in their bathing suits they walked down to the beach.
"MAjor Hunt, Major Altman," a man yelled.
"Lieutenant Roberts," Teddy greeted as the man saulted her.
"It's good to see you ma'am," Roberts said.
"What are you doing here," Owen asked.
"I was discharged two months ago sir," Roberts replied, he had worked closely with Owen and Teddy and had been friends with Meghan. He wasnt surprised to see them together or holding hands.
"Eight months ago," Owen said.
"Five months ago," Teddy replied, "spending the day with family?"
"My brother and his kids," Roberts replied, "the two of you?"
"Camping with my sister," Teddy replied, "Danika, this is lieutenant Jacob Roberts. He worked with Owen and I in the army. Lt. Roberts this is my younger sister Danika Altman."
"Time with your sister before she goes back to school," Roberts asked.
"I live with Teddy," Danika said, "since she got home."
"Helping your parents," Roberts asked.
"It's just Danika and I now," Teddy replied, "we'll let you enjoy your day."
Owen lead the way down the beach away from Roberts
"That was awkward," Danika said, "why do your friends look at me funny?"
"Same thing we've been talking about. From the outside it's hard to believe," Teddy replied, "but we're not going to think about this now."
Danika dropped her beach bag and pulled out her towel spreading it in the sand and grabbing her book.
"Danika I want to show you something on these rocks," Owen said when he came back from walking towards a towering sea stack.
"What is it," Danika asked.
"Something my dad showed me when I was a kid," Owen said.
"I'll tan and watch the stuff," Teddy said, "go I can see you you're not out of my sight."
In the last few meetings Danika had been doing better being around and talking to Owen. In speaking with Danika's counselor Teddy had learned that Danika should have one or two other safe adults for things like when Teddy gets called in in the middle of the night or to have someone she could go to. Danika had identified a couple of teachers and her former house mom as safe adults. Teddy and Owen were trying to do things to make Danika more comfortable with them as a couple, while keeping up the ground rules of no kissing and no sleep overs demanded by Danika.
Danika followed Owen to the sea stack where he pointed out the different animals on the rocks to her and taught her how to make the anemones curl up their tentacles with her pinkie finger getting a giggle from the teen when they grabbed her finger.
With the tide starting to come in Owen walked back to sit with Teddy while Danika jumped over the waves as they rolled towards her.
"Thanks," Teddy said, kissing his cheek.
"Family," Owen replied.
"My sister," Teddy commented.
"You're both family Teddy," Owen said.
They heard giggles as Danika splashed.
"She hasn't done anything like this since dad got sick," Teddy said, "let her play."
"She can really jump," Owen said.
"She's stronger than you would think," Teddy replied, "they train those kids hard. I had a hard time getting my arm back in the OR with her. She was a little octopus."
"I saw that," Owen replied, "just scared."
"I think she's having fun," Teddy replied.
Owen pulled his old army hat out of his backpack as Danika came back.
"Not you two," Danika groaned, grabbing her towel.
"I had to take mine off earlier," Teddy replied.
"We could match," Owen joked.
"No matchy couple stuff," Danika said.
"We have matching outfits," Teddy laughed.
"You would wear that again, it's pretty ugly," Danika laughed.
"Functional not pretty," Teddy agreed, "comfortable and fits its purpose. "
"It's camo print," Danika said rolling her eyes.
"Where do you think it came from," Teddy replied, "it has a purpose. You wear pink sparkly tutus."
"Don't bring my costumes into this," Danika said.
"Where do you store a tutu," Owen asked.
"They belong to the school," Danika replied, "all my costumes do. We only deal with class and dance uniforms."
"Two uniforms," Owen asked.
"They can't walk around in leotards all day," Teddy said.
Danika started digging in the sand with her hands building a small mound beside an ever deeper hole. Soon the three of them were building a sand castle together.
Walking back to the campsite for dinner Danika whispered, "I haven't had a beach day since daddy got sick."
"What did you think," Teddy asked.
"I liked it and all the creatures on the rock were cool," Danika smiled, "the last time I went to the beach was in California when we went to Sea World."
"You were six," Teddy said, "did you have fun?"
"I did," Danika said, "what's next?"
"The sun is setting so we'll do dinner at the campsite, a fire and call it a night," Teddy said.
They got back to the campsite and everyone got changed.
"You're going to want this," Teddy said, tossing bug spray to Danika.
"It doesn't smell good," Danika said wrinkling her nose.
"That or get eaten alive," Teddy said.
"Fine," Danika said, spraying her arms and legs with the bug spray.
Teddy was resisting the urge to go hug Owen from behind as he chopped firewood, watching his muscles flex with each swing of the axe. Teddy wanted to do more than kiss him but they had a teenage chaperone that she had to set an example for. Everything Teddy was reading said that Danika would need healthy relationships and boundaries modeled and taught.
They ate dinner around the campfire and roasted marshmallows.
"It's sticky," Danika giggled.
Owen roasted a marshmallow and popped it into Teddy's mouth making her giggle. He gave her a quick, innocent kiss.
At bedtime Teddy sent Danika into the tent ahead of her with the direction to figure out the sleeping bags and bedding.
"I love you," Teddy whispered, wrapping her arms around Owen.
"I love you too," Owen replied, holding her close and kissing her.
