Annie was waiting anxiously in the Airport for Teddy to get off her plane and grab her bags.

While she was waiting her phone rang, "hi dad."

"Annie," Dan said, "what's with the new email."

"I told you I changed my name," Annie replied, "you guys kept saying I didn't belong and that I was a second choice. So I decided not to be a second choice. I'm choosing me."

"Your sister said that not mom and I," Dan said.

"Your actions did," Annie said, "you didn't stand up for me. Time after time you stood by while she hurt me. Christmas wasn't the first set of stitches but it will be the last. So I took a fresh start. I'm putting that behind me and moving forward."

"So you don't want mom and I," Dan asked.

"I do," Annie replied, "just without Jessica. I want to talk to you and text with you. You're welcome to come to Boston and see me but I will not be going back to your house."

"Can we come see you in Seattle," Dan asked, "you'll still go see Teddy."

"If you answered my calls or read my emails you would know that she is moving to Landstuhl Germany, she's running hospitals for the Army," Annie replied, "it's an amazing opportunity for her."

"And you're going to stay in Boston with no family nearby," Dan said.

"She's actually no further," Annie replied, "the flight is 15 minutes longer."

"But Germany," Dan said, "does she even speak German?"

"It's an american base," Annie replied, "but she does speak some she's worked there before."

"You're okay with this," Dan asked.

"She's happier," Annie replied, "she almost didn't take the job because of me. But she's lonely in Seattle; she only has Owen. Henry is gone, I'm in Boston."

"She's starting over," Dan asked.

"It's a two year contract," Annie replied, "I'll still see her when I can and our skype meal each week will continue."

"You do that every week," Dan asked, "I thought they were teasing when they said you had brunch on sundays."

"We do dinner now on Thursday," Annie replied, "Henry never joked about waffles."

"You miss him don't you," Dan asked.

"I do. He was a cool step dad," Annie said, "never judged me and accepted that I'm a massive nerd. He made mama happy. But I should go dad mama's flight just landed."

"Call me soon," Dan replied.

"I will," Annie said, "make sure you answer."

"I will," Dan replied, "talk to you soon."

"Bye dad," Annie replied.

She tucked her phone in her pocket and walked to the domestic baggage claim to meet Teddy.

Annie read the boards and found where Teddy's bags would appear.

"Annie," Teddy called.

"Mama," Annie replied, rushing towards her.

"You didn't have to come get me," Teddy said.

"I missed you and wanted to come," Annie replied.

"I've missed you to sweetheart," Teddy smiled, "it's been too long."

"Sorry I couldn't help you pack up the house," Annie replied.

"It's okay," Teddy said, "you had your psych rotation. What do you start next week?"

"Family medicine," Annie replied, "at least it's not weird brain stuff. I saw too many people like my sister on my psych rotation."

"Have you heard from Jessica," Teddy asked.

"Nope," Annie replied, "I just talked to dad though. They finally read my emails. Only took a month to get them to reply."

"Not even to a text or a phone call," Teddy asked.

"I guess I reach out at bad times," Annie replied, "but my new email got dad's attention."

Teddy looked confused and concerned, "they should be answering you or at least letting you know they got your message. Did they say anything about visiting?"

"They assumed I would come up from Seattle on my next break," Annie replied, "dad missed the part about you moving. I told them I won't go back to their house until Jessica is better behaved."

"Good you finally stood up to them. I have a lot more stuff," Teddy said, "I decided to bring your costumes here for you. When we get home I want you to take a look at your national vest."

"Why would you bring them," Annie asked, "I don't have time to compete."

"You've been taking drop in classes," Teddy said, "I thought maybe the odd performance would be fun."

"I'd like to but I'm not really part of a group yet," Annie said, "they're still getting to know me."

"Do they know you as a dancer," Teddy asked.

"I'm just Grace," Annie said, "I don't want to be Annabeth McKellar, World and Canadian champion," Annie said, "I just want to dance for fun and to move."

"Then go and use it as a work out," Teddy said.

"I am," Annie said, "where's all your stuff?"

"It's coming," Teddy said, "are you always this impatient?"

"Steph's making dinner and she's a good cook," Annie said.

"How is the new place," Teddy asked, "does the stuff from the cottage work?"

"Didn't you get my pictures," Annie asked, "it only arrived yesterday. But it looks great. Thank you so much for sending basically the whole house."

"I shipped what I needed to get started to Germany," Teddy said, "we'll the army did it for me and then what I thought you would need I sent here."

Annie nodded, "we really appreciate it."

"I'm glad it'll get used," Teddy said.

"It will," Annie replied.

"What's Steph making for dinner," Teddy asked.

"Chicken something," Annie said, "she had a whole chicken."

"Do you two still take turns cooking," Teddy asked.

"We do," Annie replied, "I'm Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and she's Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Saturday is free for all or left overs."

"So Saturday you go out," Teddy said.

"Sometimes or meet friends and order in," Annie replied, "left overs are usually our lunches."

"There's my stuff," Teddy said as the bags were finally spit out into the arrivals area.

Annie helped grab Teddy's bags and carry them to the car.

They walked to the car catching up on the last few weeks.

"What do you know about your new place," Annie asked.

"I have a few pictures," Teddy said, "it has a nice big open kitchen. Huge windows, two bedrooms, one bathroom."

"Can I see the pictures," Annie asked.

"When we get to your place," Teddy said.

They had reached the car and loaded all of Teddy's stuff into the backseat and trunk.

"You never drive with me," Teddy said.

"I know," Annie replied, "you always take over and prefer to drive."

"I do," Teddy said, "but you insist on driving standard and I'm rusty so I'll let you drive."

"Are you excited for Germany," Annie asked.

"Yes and no," Teddy replied, "I want to go do this and it's an amazing opportunity, but I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you two," Annie replied, "but you said the flight is only 15 minutes different."

"It is," Teddy said, "but I don't like being away from you. You're all I have left."

"I thought you worked things out with Owen," Annie replied.

"I did but he's not you," Teddy said.

"I can come visit in the fall," Annie said, "I have a week around American Thanksgiving and two weeks at Christmas."

"You want to come see me for Christmas," Teddy asked.

"I do," Annie replied, "I'm not going back to Cloverdale. I won't go back again."

"You can go if you want to see them," Teddy said, "they're still your parents."

"They can't respect my boundaries," Annie replied, "it's you and me. We're a good team."

"We are," Teddy said, "it's you and me against the world."

"It is," Annie agreed.

They spent the night quietly at Annie's apartment enjoying the time together and Teddy liked getting to know Stephanie. The girls had very different goals but they were good friends. Teddy enjoyed the conversation and that they were both equally driven.

Annie was up early the next morning.

"You're up early sweetheart," Teddy said.

"Going for a run with Josh," Annie replied, "it's 7. It's not that early."

"Running with Josh," Teddy asked, "what's happening there."

"Literally just a run," Annie replied, "you now leggings, tank top, sports bra, running shoes. An hour of physical activity."

"Can I come," Teddy asked.

"If you want," Annie replied, "it's a long one today."

"I'll stay here and read," Teddy said, "your long is further then my long."

"I'll be about an hour," Annie replied.

"Okay," Teddy replied, "I'll see you in a bit. Go run. I'll shower and make brunch for you and Stephanie."

Annie met Josh infront of her building.

"Good morning," Annie said.

"You're bouncy today," Josh said, "I thought you had a late night and lots of wine with your mother last night."

"Only shared one bottle," Annie replied, "I don't usually get drunk with mama. That would be weird."

"You ready to run or not," Josh asked.

Annie took off running ,"you going to catch me."

"It's on," Josh yelled. He took off running after Annie. The two ran a few times a week just to destress. They both looked forward to their long run all week, they pushed each other further and faster each week.

They finally slowed as they got back to Annie's street.

"Slow down," Josh panted.

"Slow poke," Annie teased, " you only run when you go with me."

"You're the crazy one who runs 6 days a week," Josh said.

"Not crazy," Annie said, "fit."

"Do you sleep ever," Josh asked.

"4-5 hours a night," Annie said, "it's all I need."

"You need to sleep," Josh said, "and eat."

"Stop sounding like mama," Annie replied.

"Does your mom know you don't eat," Josh said, "we all notice at school."

"I eat if I'm hungry," Annie replied, "I'm just not a big eater. I was a ballet and highland dancer I learned to function on limited food so I could perform my best."

"When was the last time you danced," Josh asked.

"Drop in class on Thursday," Annie replied.

"Really danced," Josh asked.

"Last summer," Annie admitted, "I did a couple competitions as we drove out from Seattle then sent my costumes home with mama. She brought them all with her, I have them."

"Will you dance again," Josh asked.

"Maybe," Annie replied ,"it's hard with changing my name. I'd have to start back as a beginner as Grace Altman."

"Why would you have to start over," Josh asked.

"My dancer registration is Canadian and under Annabeth McKellar," Annie replied, "I really don't want to go backwards. It would take at least 18 competition wins to get to premiere again."

"You can't just find a teacher to let you go to your level," Josh asked.

"No," Annie replied, "it would blow my cover. I'll stay as Grace for dance things and just be a recreational dancer. Less pressure."

"I'd like to see you dance," Josh said.

"We dance," Annie replied, "every time we go out."

"You don't dance with me," Josh pointed out and I mean your ballet or highland it sounds like you were good."

"That's my old life," Annie said, "this is my new one. Medical school, you, stephanie, mama."

"What happened with your parents," Josh asked.

"They don't care anymore," Annie replied, "my sister is all they can handle."

"Sister," Josh said, "the crazy one."

"She needs a full psych work up but that won't happen," Annie replied.

"You're okay with this," Josh asked.

"Not really but I don't get a say. Jessica runs the show," Annie stated, "I can't go home I'm not welcome back in that house. I made a choice between them or school. I didn't realize she was serious."

"They kicked you out for becoming a doctor," Josh asked.

"Jessica did, mom and dad don't stand up to her," Annie said matter of factly, "but I should get going. Mama will be wondering where I am. I told her an hour it's been over two."

"Go make sure she's not worried," Josh said, "I'd like to meet her while she's here."

"She's only in town tonight then on to Germany for her new job," Annie explained, "48 hours was all she could get in Boston."

"I'll see you tomorrow night then," Josh said.

"Sounds good," Annie said, "I'll text you after I drop her off."

"See you tomorrow," Josh said.

Annie let herself back into her apartment.

"Long run," Teddy asked.

"Got caught up talking to Josh, sorry," Annie apologized.

"You talk a lot about Josh," Teddy said, "do I get to meet him?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Annie replied, "just my best friend. To quote Christina he's my person."

"Why not date him," asked Teddy.

"Not risking the friendship," Annie replied.

"So you're going to friendzone a guy who clearly likes you because you're scared," Teddy asked.

"You and Owen," Annie replied, "you can't talk."

"I haven't made a move with him because he's usually with other women," Teddy said, "that is different. Josh doesn't have a girlfriend."

"We're med students," Annie said rolling her eyes, "when do we have time to date? I know Steph has flings but that's not me. I want something meaningful."

"Don't string him along," Teddy said.

I'm doing a few little snapshots of Annie and Teddy's visits while Annie is in Med School. I can't see how Annie would have a lot of time to visit and Teddy would have limited free time as well. I have several later chapters for residency written that I need to build a few things into to make connections for what comes later.