Annie's plane touched down at SEATAC she was anxious to get off the plane after bad weather delays in Boston and a turbulent flight.

Teddy and Henry were waiting anxiously in the arrivals area.

"Where is she," Teddy fretted.

"Her plane was delayed," Henry said, "stop fretting your being over the top mom again. She's 21."

Annie texted Teddy, "plane just landed waiting to get off."

Teddy replied, "we're waiting at arrivals. see you soon."

Henry asked, "she's on the ground?"

"She is," Teddy said , "I've missed her."

Henry said, "I know."

Teddy leaned into Henry, "maybe next Christmas we'll have two kids."

"You really want to," Henry asked.

"I do," Teddy said.

Annie texted, "off plane. Getting my stuff."

Annie made her way through the airport and to the arrivals area.

"Over here kiddo," Henry called.

"Mama, Henry," Annie called rushing towards them. She dropped her suitcase and hugged Teddy first then Henry.

"Missed us that much," asked Henry.

"Yep," Annie replied, "what's the plan?"

Teddy answered, "we're grabbing something quick to eat then heading north. It's already the 23rd"

"Exams until the 22 sucked," Annie replied, "but two weeks off."

"Christmas at your parents," Teddy said, "then you and Chris are coming to the Hunt's cabin for the new years ski trip?"

"We are," Annie said, "then he goes home and you'll drop me off at the airport to go back to school."

Teddy replied, "that's what I was thinking."

Henry asked, "are you sure you want to spend all the time with us? You won't miss your parents?"

"I hardly talk to them now," Annie replied, "I talk to you more."

"The two of us ," Teddy asked.

"You most, Henry second, mom and dad last," Annie replied, "can we have a waffle morning while I'm off?"

Henry laughed, "waffle mornings are for when your mama isn't home. But we can let her in on it this once."

Teddy laughed, "what have I missed?"

Annie replied, "we make waffles with berries and whipped cream. When you get called in over night and don't wake me to go with you."

"I thought the berries disappeared when you were home," Teddy laughed, "now I know why."

Teddy was happy that her husband had a unique bond with Annie. It made life easier for her that the two of them got along and had their own relationship. She knew Henry cared deeply about his step daughter.

As they drove north they sang christmas carols and joked around. Annie was excited for two weeks off with limited studying.

"First time I'll go to my parents since I went to Boston," Annie said.

"Are you okay with that," Teddy asked.

"I guess," Annie replied, "I'm excited to see Chris."

"Just Chris," asked Henry.

"Yep the others don't really talk to me," Annie replied, "it's like I only exist when I'm in their house."

"It's not that bad," Teddy said.

"It is," Annie replied, "Dad doesn't text me back. Mom might call back if she remembers. You always answer or call back."

"We look forward to hearing from you kiddo," Henry said.

"I love hearing about your day and what you're learning," Teddy said, "I wish you were closer than Boston, I miss seeing you."

"I miss being able to come home," Annie said, "and not having a time difference."

"Come back to Seattle for residency," Henry said, "there's a few good options here."

"I'll look and see," Annie replied, "I still have to nail down a specialty."

"Thoughts," Teddy asked.

"Peds or surgery," Annie replied.

Teddy faked shock, "not cardio?"

"I haven't tried it yet," Annie replied, "I hated my psych rotation."

"You liked being in my OR," Teddy said.

"I did," Annie replied, "but things are different at school. I don't get to do anything or see the field. We watch from the gallery or standing against the wall."

"You've been spoiled sweetheart," Teddy said, "it's not normal for med or pre med students to be at the lead surgeons elbow and right in with senior residents. That's something special Owen and I do for you because you're you."

"Okay," Annie replied, "if we have a couple hospital days can I scrub in with you?"

"I was planning on it," Teddy said.

"So kiddo did you work anything out with your roommate," Henry asked.

"She won't talk to me," Annie replied, "we're both still on probation."

"When does that end," Teddy asked.

"Hopefully after the meeting in April," Annie replied, "it's too long and making it hard to get references for the rotations I want."

"Have you asked Catherine Avery," Teddy asked, "she's liked when you observe and that you're involved in the discussion."

"I have," Annie replied, "she said she would write me one. But she's my only one I can count on. And everything I hand in for every class is being screened carefully and run through plagiarism checkers."

"How are you at doing your references," Teddy asked.

"They taught us well at UBC," Annie replied, "and I've learned how to use the reference tab in Word to do my references and quotes. It gets the formatting perfect every time."

"Good," Teddy said, "have you talked with any of your professors?"

"I've met with all of them but I haven't made a stink about it," Annie replied, "I'm better to keep my head down and do my work really well."

"Speak up and don't be a turtle," Teddy said, "your shell won't help you."

Annie nodded.

"Kiddo phone away," Henry said.

"Checking exam marks," Annie replied.

"How did you do," Teddy asked.

Annie looked disappointed, " a C in genetics. How do I fix that?"

"You don't," Teddy said, "you're going to have to work really hard on the next part of the course to make up for it."

"It's okay a lot of Bs a few C+s which are disappointing and couple As."

"Let me see," Teddy said.

Annie passed her phone to Teddy.

"A from Catherine Avery," Teddy praised, "good girl. She's hard to please."

"I need to fix that C and bring up the C+s," Annie said.

"It's your first semester," Teddy said, "don't be so hard on yourself."

"I got a C," Annie said.

Henry replied, "in a very unfair situation. If your roommate hadn't copied your paper you would have done better."

"I can't fight it can I," Annie asked.

"Not now," Teddy said, "you did what you could."

"Is there a way I can come off probation earlier," Annie asked.

"After the break, reach out to the person who gave you the official letter and ask to meet with them," Teddy said.

"I will," Annie replied.

"Take your drafts to them," Teddy said, "ask what you can do to prove your honesty. Your grades are decent. It's the first semester they expect you to struggle at first."

"No more school tonight," Henry said, "Starbucks stop then we head for the border."

"Do you want me to drive," Teddy asked.

"I just want a break from the car," Henry said.

"It's too late for more coffee," Teddy replied.

"Never," Annie laughed.

Teddy laughed, "in med school I could do coffee anytime. Now I won't sleep."

"Decaf," Annie suggested.

"That's not coffee," Henry countered.

"We could get hot chocolate," Teddy said, "my mom used to make hot chocolate at Christmas time."

"Hot chocolate it is," Henry replied.