"First day of school time to get up," Teddy called from Danika's door.
"I need more summer," Danika said.
"Hair, dressed and makeup," Teddy said, "breakfast in 15."
"I'm going," Danika said.
Danika got up and dressed, putting on her new uniform. She liked having new crisp uniforms that actually fit.
"Ready for the first day," Teddy asked when Danika sat at the kitchen island.
"I guess," Danika said, "I'll blend in with all the other girls this year."
"What do you mean blend in," Teddy asked.
"My uniforms actually fit I have the right school supplies," Danika said.
"You need the right tools," Teddy said, "lunch is at school. You'll get both snacks there as well. I put some trail mix and a couple granola bars in your bag if you want them. There's two water bottles, one is frozen so it's cold for afternoon classes. You can have coffee now with breakfast."
"Coffee really," Danika asked, "you never let me have coffee."
"I made too much," Teddy replied, "one cup once in a while is fine. It's not going to hurt you. I just don't want you to develop my dependence on caffeine to be a functional human."
"Can't you just do one of those things into your arm With coffee," Danika asked.
"I've thought of a caffeine IV," Teddy laughed, "in residency. But now no."
"This weekend when your army friends come what happens to me," Danika asked.
"You stay here," Teddy said, "eat with us but do your thing. I won't be able to drive you to a friends but if you can get rides your welcome to go."
"Will Owen be there," Danika asked.
"He will," Teddy said, "he's probably going to stay over Saturday night. Most people are."
"Where will they sleep," Danika asked.
"Family room, office," Teddy said, "your room is yours. Owen will stay in my room so if you need me knock first."
"Is he allowed to stay," Danika asked.
"I make the rules," Teddy said, "I like when I spend the night with him. But I know you're not used to having men around and you're getting used to Owen slowly. Saturday night he'll stay here."
"No kissing," Danika said.
"I can't promise that," Teddy said, "our army friends know we're a couple."
"Do people know about me," Danika asked.
"I was clear when I invited everyone, that you live here and live with me," Teddy said, "they all know I have a baby sister that I really really missed."
"Do people mind," Danika asked, "do you want me to stay in my room?"
"This is your home," Teddy said, "do what you feel comfortable with. I do want weekend homework done Friday night."
"It's only the first day of school," Danika said, "do you think I'll have weekend homework."
"Some," Teddy said, "we'll order pizza and do it Friday night."
"Pizza sounds good," Danika agreed.
"Go stand by the door," Teddy directed grabbing the camera off the island.
"Why," Danika asked.
"First day of school picture," Teddy replied.
"Why," Danika asked.
"It's tradition," Teddy smiled, "dad used to do it. I found your kindergarten, first and second grade ones. We'll be missing a few but we'll do your highschool ones."
"Okay," Danika said.
"Shoes on," Teddy replied.
Danika slipped her feet into her new black school shoes.
"Now you look ready for the first day of school," Teddy said.
They took the picture and drove to school.
"Have a good day Dani," Teddy called as Danika got out of the car.
"Bye Teddy," Danika called.
"I'll see you here at 6 when you're dismissed," Teddy said.
"See you later," Danika called back.
Teddy walked into the locker room and put her bag away, she grabbed scrubs and faced her locker to change.
"Hey," Owen said wrapping his arms around her.
"Good morning," Teddy smiled turning her head for a kiss.
"Are you busy," Owen asked.
"Rounds," Teddy sighed.
"Tonight," Owen asked.
"First day of school," Teddy said, "I pick up at six."
"I could bring dinner over," Owen suggested.
"Lets get into the school routine," Teddy said, "but you're staying over saturday night."
"Which means we'll have to be quiet," Owen said.
"Teenager," Teddy said.
"Our friends," Owen chuckled.
"Will be happy we're together," Teddy said pulling her scrub top on.
"Every one knows Danika lives with you," Owen checked.
"I've told everyone," Teddy said, "I would prefer people not get completely drunk but I think she's seen worse."
"She didn't seem too concerned that we had a few beers camping," Owen said.
"We weren't drunk," Teddy said.
"We couldn't have driven," Owen said.
"Or practiced medicine," Teddy giggled.
"Good weekend," Arizona asked walking in.
"Excellent," Teddy replied, "you?"
"Callie and I hung out," Arizona replied, "what did you do?"
"Camping," Owen said, "we took Danika for her first camping trip."
"We," Arizona said, "it's a we?"
"It is," Teddy replied.
"I should go to the pit," Owen said wanting to escape the suddenly awkward locker room.
"When did this happen," Arizona asked, "and why didn't you tell me."
"No one could know until I got my full contract," Teddy said, "over the summer."
"So," Arizona asked, "I'm your new best friend you have to tell me."
"It's good," Teddy said, "taking it slow. Which isn't what either of us want but we have to."
"Your sister," Arizona said.
"We had to do a girls tent and guys tent this weekend camping which is so not what I wanted," Teddy said.
"Danika doesn't like him," Arizona asked.
"She's getting to know him," Teddy said, "but she was in boarding school for so long with a house of all girls and a strict Russian woman looking after them that it's an adjustment. She's not opposed to Owen being around. We just haven't tried having him stay over since move in day and that didn't go well."
"What happened move in day," Arizona asked.
"Owen stayed over," Teddy said, "not planned we had a few beers and chatted. He ended up in my bed."
"Danika walked in," Arizona gasped.
"No we woke up around 7 and he threw clothes on and went to the couch with a pillow and blanket," Teddy said, "I hopped into the shower and Danika went down before I could warn her and found Owen."
"She freaked," Arizona said.
"She was in my room panicking when I got out of the shower," Teddy said.
"That would be hard," Arizona agreed.
"She's learning," Teddy said.
"Do you have plans this weekend," Arizona asked.
"Friday I promised Danika sister night with pizza," Teddy said, "Saturday Owen and I have a bunch of our army buddies coming to my house. Most are crashing. Danika knows."
"Owen is staying then," Arizona asked.
"He is," Teddy replied, "Danika knows. She's okay with him. I think him staying over will be okay if I warn."
"How have you made it work," Arizona asked.
"The rare occasion she's been invited to sleep over at a friends." Teddy replied.
"That sucks." Arizona said.
"Try five years in the desert," Teddy said, "every day in uniform."
"Five years," Arizona said, "you've been together that long?"
"No," Teddy replied, "friends until I moved here. But he met Dani a few times. I'd come out here with him on leaves stay with him at his moms and he'd come with me to watch Dani dance."
"How's Danika adjusting," Arizona asked.
"Summer went well. She went back to school today," Teddy replied, "she was cute today in her uniform."
"Private school," Arizona said.
"Keeping her where she was but as a day student," Teddy replied, "the chief and his wife do the same with their nephew Patrick. Dani and Patrick are in the same grade and home room. They hang out a lot at my house or the Webber's."
"She hangs out with the chief's nephew," Arizona said.
"He's a nice kid," Teddy said, "I feel comfortable with her at the Webber's. Adele is always there the kids are supervised. They hang out in the back yard, swim, watch movies or play games there's a group of six of them."
"I should get to the NICU," Arizona said, "ladies night soon?"
"It may be short notice but yes" Teddy replied.
After school Teddy picked Danika up, "how was the first day?"
"Feels like I never left," Danika replied.
"New teachers," Teddy asked.
"Jazz, English and anatomy," Danika replied.
"How were they," Teddy asked.
"Mrs Materi for jazz seems fun. I don't know about miss Whitman for English she seemed like a push over and mr Jones for anatomy seemed cool he had all these models and skeletons," Danika replied.
"Miss Whitman did you get her first name," Teddy asked.
"It had a B on the door and the forms for you to sign," Danika replied.
"Forms," Teddy asked.
"First day things for day students," Danika said, "course outlines, dress code, code of conduct, medical forms."
"Scut," Teddy groaned.
"What's scut," Danika asked.
"Paperwork I usually make residents and interns do," Teddy replied.
They got home and had a quick dinner.
"Let's see these forms," Teddy said.
Danika handed over the folder with the stack of papers. Teddy skimmed through the dance course outlines initialing and signing as she went.
"We have to be careful with English," Teddy said.
"Why," Danika asked.
"I know or know of your teacher," Teddy replied.
"How," Danika asked.
"Owen was engaged to a woman named Beth Whitman," Teddy replied, "I didn't like her and made that clear. I'm just using T Altman on all her forms. My name is unique and stands out. Don't mention you know Owen."
"Why would my sisters boyfriend come up in English class," Danika asked.
"He's your emergency contact if they can't get a hold of me," Teddy replied.
"Owen," Danika said.
"I trust him to do what I would do," Teddy replied, "we don't have many people here. I trust him that if something happened he would make sure you were okay."
"Would he even come," Danika said, "your the only person who comes because I need them."
"He wouldn't think twice." Teddy said, "he would go because we needed him. That's the type of person he is."
"I'm pretty sure he just tolerates my existence," Danika said.
"No," Teddy said, "why do you think he packed a skim board and kite for camping? That wasn't for him and I."
"For me," Danika said.
"Things he liked to do at the beach at your age," Teddy said.
"That was fun," Danika said, "I liked our trip."
"It was good," Teddy said, "I thought we might do something further away when the custody thing is ironed out. Where would you want to go? If you could pick anywhere?"
"London I want to see the Royal ballet," Danika said.
"London maybe at spring break," Teddy agreed.
"I don't have a passport," Danika said.
"Easy enough to do the paperwork," Teddy replied.
"Just like that," Danika asked.
"I'm your legal guardian I can get a passport done easily," Teddy said.
"Do I really have to go to the orthodontist tomorrow," Danika asked.
"Yes," Teddy replied, "it's just a consultation. We're just talking maybe a few X-rays."
"This is the fifth one," Danika said.
"Mark Sloan recommend this guy they've worked together on a few kids with cleft pallets. He said he's the best in Washington," Teddy replied, "you just need your teeth straightened."
"Why do we meet so many," Danika asked.
"Because I want someone who knows what their doing," Teddy said, "that has a clear plan and can explain it. I did my home work what do you have to do?"
"I did the English reading in study hall. I have to write my, my family, paragraph but it's not due until Monday. Math I have two questions left on the review page," Danika said.
"Anatomy," Teddy asked, "French?"
"French is a verb conjugation page for er and re verbs I did that in study hall and no anatomy today," Danika said, "but I have to pick a body system to become an expert on."
"Cardiovascular," Teddy said, "then I can help you."
"It's my second choice. I want to do the nervous system," Danika said.
"I'm not as helpful but it is ninth grade anatomy," Teddy said.
"We've been doing anatomy since fifth grade," Danika said.
"Let's get this homework done then we can have ice cream," Teddy said, she was trying to start their own nightly routines. She had loved having a scoop of ice cream or a couple cookies with her mom and taking after her homework was done. She thought it might be good for Danika to have those patterns to her days and weeks. School, dinner, homework, down time then bed. Teddy would figure out how to fit Owen in.
