Alyssa sat down in the starbucks for her first date with a new guy, they had met volunteering with search and rescue, he was a couple years older than her but she liked working with him.

"Lyss," Matt greeted.

"It's good to see you," Alyssa smiled.

"You missed the hikers who got lost on teapot hill last weekend," Matt said.

"I like teapot two, there's a few routes they usually take. It's usually a successful search," Alyssa said, "I was in Seattle with my family. Did you find them?"

"Fools in flip flops trying to bushwhack," Matt said, "your doing the open water training next week?"

"I am," Alyssa said, "my mom isn't thrilled but I can't put my life on hold for her and my brother."

"How old is your brother," Matt asked.

"He's ten," Alyssa said, "I haven't ever seen him in person."

"Grew up with your dad," Matt guessed.

"Uncle," Alyssa answered, "and until I was 13 We moved around a lot."

"For work," Matt asked.

"Army brat actually," Alyssa said, "mom and uncle Owen. But she was captured when I was 12 and held for 12 years. She's been home for two months. My brother is still in Iraq with the US military."

"You don't want to spend time with her," Matt asked.

"I've spent nine weeks working remote from Seattle," Alyssa said, "and she deployed when I was 9."

"Then who did you live with," Matt asked.

"My grandma," Alyssa replied, "she's in Seattle. Then once uncle Owen and auntie Teddy were discharged they had custody of me. I'm home for three months now then doing a one month short term contract with the US military in Germany and staying with auntie Teddy. She's the major overseeing the project. Then I go back to my usual job. I took the military offer before Mountainside gave me a permanent contract so they agreed to honour that."

"Do you know what you're doing," Matt asked.

"I do," Alyssa replied, "what about your family?"

"I'm from Langley," Matt replied, "what about work? What do you do?"

"Im a medical engineer I design surgical tools," Alyssa replied, "you?"

"Framing carpenter," Matt answered, " I don't know how you're at a desk all day every day."

"I have a lot of active hobbies," Alyssa said.

"Any sports," Matt asked.

"Two volleyball teams," Alyssa said, "you?"

"Ball and hockey," Matt replied, "why volley ball?"

"I fell in love with it in middle school," Alyssa said, "I was an angry kid and having that let me get it out at first. Then the court became my happy place. Your favourite sport?"

"Hockey," Matt said, "I played WHL for a few years. Up in Kamloops. I'd like to coach but don't know where to start."

"I'd coach volleyball," Alyssa said, "I like coaching as much as playing. I coached a bit in college. Just email the teams you played on and see."

Getting home Alyssa texted Megan and Teddy.

Alyssa, "I went on a date after work."

Teddy, "how was it Lyss?"

Megan, "dating already. Who is this boy?"

Teddy, "man she hasn't dated boys since college. We don't waste our time with boys. But Lyss details."

Alyssa, "I met him through SAR and we've chatted many times. Then after our meeting yesterday he asked me to have coffee tonight. I've known Matt since I moved to Burnaby."

Megan, "what does he do?"

Alyssa, "framing carpenter."

Teddy, "hug test?"

Alyssa," yes. It was good."

Megan, "hug test?"

Alyssa, "too long to text the story of the hug test."

Teddy, "she was in highschool and there were two boys interested in her."

Megan, "Alyssa!"

Alyssa, "I chose one after a few hang outs."

Teddy, "it was hanging out. We all encouraged her to spend time with people and go with what felt best to her."

Megan, "who's department did dating fall under?"

Teddy, "Owen and I. Rules were pretty standard. Only in shared areas at home, never in her room, not behind closed doors, never overnight. Until we trusted the boy we had to be home when he was over, one of the four of us was around."

Alyssa, "Christina was the most lenient. Uncle Owen was the strictest. Auntie Teddy made sure we knew she was there and Henry made snacks."

Teddy, "he made and brought you snacks so you knew he was around."

Alyssa, "I finally figured out how to get that perfect bowl of popcorn he used to make."

Teddy, "with the pepper and nutritional yeast?"

Alyssa, "yes! I finally got the balance right. It's taken me years but I missed it so I made it last night."

Teddy, "next time I'm in town?"

Alyssa, "with Lord of The Rings movies?"

Teddy, "we can. Miss Lyss it's 10:45 for you, you should be in bed sweetheart."

Alyssa, "I'm almost ready for bed. I was getting ready as we chatted."

Teddy, "I'm almost at work. I love you, sleep well sweetheart."

Alyssa, "have a good day Auntie. Don't kill anyone :P"

Teddy, "that's the goal."

Megan, "do we do this every day?"

Alyssa, "always. And uncle Owen says good morning as I get in my truck to go to work."

Megan, "but don't kill any one?"

Teddy, "we tease a lot."

Alyssa, "if I can't tease them, who can I tease?"

Megan, "that's my girl. But Teddy is right. You work tomorrow."

Alyssa, "I know mom! I'm in bed now, my light is off, I have my cat at the foot of my bed."

Teddy, "Lyss cat off the bed."

Alyssa, "I can't stop LC but she's purring."

Teddy, "cat fur in your bed?"

Alyssa, "this is why we do laundry. Bedding is washable."

Megan, "how often do you do it?"

Alyssa, "every week to two weeks. I have two sets of sheets."

Teddy, "she was taught well. Both her rooms were held to military inspection levels of tidy."

Alyssa, "I can't do anything until I make my bed. People thought I was weird in college."

Teddy, "you make your bed and tidy your room then you have a clean space to think in."

Alyssa, "I know. I should sleep. I want to get up early and run in the morning. I like to run before work."

Megan, "good night Ladybug."

Alyssa, "good night."

Teddy continued her walk to work while texting Owen.

Owen, "did you hear anything about Lyss's date?"

Teddy ,"it's all good she's home."

Owen, "do I need to worry?"

Teddy, "it was coffee. She's good she's home and included Megan when she told me about it. Owen we did our job, she knows. She's a good girl."

Owen, "she is but I still worry."

Teddy, "so do I. but she comes for a month soon and I'll get some of that one on one time with her that she needs."

Owen, "it's good for her. Thank you for making that possible for her to have that experience and letting her stay with you."

Teddy, "I was always going to do it weather she took the six month contract or the month. Anything under a year I was having her stay with me instead of getting her own place. It just would have been new grown up house rules."

Owen, "she always liked her days at your place."

Teddy, "she did. But your day?"

Owen, "i'm on overnight. I'm in the pit but it's not too crazy yet."

Teddy, "anything good come in?"

Owen, "possible appy. I already did 2 GSWs. what do you have planned?"

Teddy, "paperwork and clinic. No OR time scheduled but we're waiting on some patients to be flown in so who knows?"

Owen, "from where?"

Teddy, "Baghdad. I'll see the notes when I get in and will take any big surgeries. I need to cut."

Owen, "surgical junky."

Teddy, "you love it."

Owen, "I do. I'm going to talk to Amelia tomorrow and tell her it's over. I have to talk to her face to face."

Teddy, "you do. Owen, you can do it. Just be honest with her."

Owen, "I'm leaving you so I can be with Teddy."

Teddy, "I wouldn't say that exactly. Focus on your relationship, that she was never there. She wasn't around when you needed her. She didn't support you."

Owen, "I know. It's not what I want. Teddy for the first time I see it I want you and I. "

Teddy, "not until you are divorced. Owen I can't before that. I love you and I want us. We have to start properly."

Owen, "I know. I love you. I know you should be just about at work based off the time."

Teddy, "I am."

Owen, "have a great day. Go kick ass Altman."

Teddy, "try to get some rest tonight. Go save lives Hunt."