Go Baby Grow

Chapter 27 – Let's Talk

Saturday, May 30th

When Ria and Ryder let themselves into the house, they could easily tell that the morning was moving more slowly at the Tremblay Hunt's than it was at the Lake House. Nolan was obviously unshowered and unshaven. His hair hadn't been brushed and he was wearing boxers and a t-shirt. Once again, Molly wore only a diaper. Lissa, in her robe and on the couch feeding the babies, had thrown her hair into a messy ponytail.

"You guys are ready to tackle the day," Ryder commented as he joined his brother in the kitchen and began helping with dishes.

"How was the prom?" Nolan inquired, ignoring Ryder's observation.

"Awesome. Lots of dancing. Lots of drinking," Ryder shared.

"Julie drank?!" Nolan inquired with surprise.

"Nah, but she was a great sport about it," Ryder grinned. "Man, didn't she look hot last night?"

"Very pretty," Nolan nodded as he handed Ryder a plate to put in the dishwasher.

"What'd you guys do after the pictures?" Ryder wondered.

Nolan chuckled. "We hung around at the dinner with the prom parents. Mom and Dad showed off the girls, so we were able to eat an entire meal uninterrupted. Then Molly tumbled off the edge of the porch and scraped up her hand. She managed to make Mom feel ridiculously sorry for her, then we came home and gave the girls baths. Liss nursed the babies and they all fell asleep in our bed. I read to Molly until she finally faded, then slept on the couch because my bed was full and I was too tired to go upstairs to the guest room."

"You need a life, Dude," Ryder laughed.

Nolan stepped back from the sink and smiled peacefully. "You know, Ryder, I like this life."

Ryder replied, "I don't get it, Nolan… hey, speaking of the guest room, can I crash up there?"

"I guess," Nolan shrugged. "Why don't you sleep at home?"

"Umm… hello, weren't you raised by Owen Hunt? He won't let me 'sleep my Saturday away,'" Ryder quoted as he imitated Owen at the end.

"True. Yeah, I got your back. Go crash," Nolan nodded as he wiped off the counters. Next, he approached Ria and Molly. He asked Ria, "Do you want to help me change and dress Molly, Ree?" With enthusiasm, Ria nodded. "Let's go pick an outfit. C'mon, Molly, you come help too," Nolan encouraged. Lissa beamed as she watched her very tall husband being followed by Ria who was followed by tiny Molly.

As if a salesperson on the floor of a department store, Ria held up various combinations and asked Molly, "Do you like this?"

Molly responded with her favorite word, "No."

"This one?" Ria tried again.

"No," Molly declared as she shook her head.

"Can I show you a trick?" Nolan asked Ria. He had Ria hand him two outfits and he held them up. "This one or that one, Molly?"

"Dat!" she responded with glee as she pointed at the purple leggings and pink shirt.

"That's a good trick," Ria whispered to her brother. "Did you do that to me and Anna when we were little?"

"Maybe with toys… I don't remember having to dress you two," Nolan reported. "Being the big brother taught me a lot about how to be a dad."

"I want to be a Mommy someday," Ria twirled dreamily.

"How many kids do you want?" Nolan wondered aloud.

"Maybe two," she smiled. "I'm not sure. And a husband… I want one of those too." Nolan laughed to himself, forgetting how adorable Ria was. "And I'm going to work in a hospital, but be a PT instead of a doctor."

"Your physical therapists have helped you a lot, haven't they?" Nolan conversed.

"Yep. I want to help people learn to walk and learn ways to use their bodies. Maybe I could even work at Mommy and Daddy's hospital and have lunch with them and stuff," Ria imagined.

"Or you could do math all day and work with me in a big, tall skyscraper," Nolan threw out.

Ria gathered her lips toward her cheek and shook her head, "Nah… sounds boring."

"Molly, lie still," Nolan urged as his daughter twisted and turned.

Ria walked over and sat by Molly's head. She leaned her face directly over Molly's and distracted her, which stopped the squirming. "See, Nolan, I know baby tricks too," Ria pointed out.

"Nolan!" Lissa called out.

"Coming, Blondie," he replied. "Ria, I'm going to wash my hands then help Lissa. Can you play with Molly?" Ria, feeling deeply entrusted, readily agreed. Nolan cleaned up and picked a baby up out of Lissa's arms, "Hey, Lizzy girl," he cooed gently. "Burp her?"

"Please," Lissa replied as she rearranged her nursing bra with minimal modesty.

"And to think there was a time I couldn't even get a peek," Nolan teased.

"Those days are over, pal," Lissa joked. "Plenty to see now, but it's not as thrilling." Nolan leaned over and gave Lissa a quick kiss as he walked and patted Lizzy's back.

Lissa wandered near him, attempting to burp Emmy. "Ryder had fun at the prom?"

"Seems like it. Lots of dancing, he said," Nolan passed along. "He asked if he could crash upstairs. I told him to go for it."

Lissa inquired with curiosity, "Did he mention Julie?"

"Said something about how great she looked. They're not together, right?" Nolan sought to confirm.

"He's always insisting they're best friends. I don't think they've hooked up. I'm not sure Julie's that… umm…" Lissa paused as Ria and Molly joined them in their parade around the living room. Coming up with a code word, she concluded, "active. Not sure she's ever been."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

When Owen called Adam back, Amelia was by his side. She was deeply curious about Adam's call, but suspected nothing earth-shattering. Nothing Ryder had done or said that morning raised any flags.

After Owen said hello, Adam began, "I'm a little concerned about what might have happened last night."

"Oh?" Owen responded. "How so?"

"Julie came home at 0230 and stumbled on the stairs when I greeted her," Adam shared. "Did Ryder appear inebriated?"

"We were asleep when he came home," Owen stated. "He seems fine this morning. Maybe a little tired, but that's reasonable. I highly doubt Julie drank, Adam. Ryder's told us more than once that she doesn't cross that line."

"Speaking of lines…" Adam hummed heavily. "I'm worried the kids might be crossing another line. When Julia stumbled, her purse tumbled down the stairs and its contents spilled out. I found birth control pills when I helped her gather the contents."

"Umm… I… I don't know what to say, Adam. I haven't seen any signs that indicate to me that the kids are together in that way," Owen stated.

"Would you mind if I came over to chat with you and Amelia? I'm out of my depth here," Adam admitted.

"Sure," Owen readily agreed. "We're home all day. Ryder's next door at his brother's house. Are you planning to bring Julie with you?"

"Absolutely," Adam stated.

Owen hung up the phone and shook his head in disbelief. When Amelia asked for details, Owen sighed, "He's helicoptering."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`'

When Adam woke Julie up for the run earlier that morning, he stood and watched her until her clothes and the contents of her desk were in order. As she cleaned, he lectured non-stop. When they returned from the run, she took a shower and dressed.

About an hour later, Adam opened Julie's door and found her sitting at her desk studying as he'd instructed. She looked up, her eyes pink and puffy from crying, but said nothing.

"We're going over to the Hunt's," Adam declared. "Grab what you'll need to study over there and meet me downstairs in five minutes."

He lingered until she responded, "Yes, Sir." Julie dutifully gathered a couple books she'd need to study for exams along with the sheet from the Academy with the first day rates on it. She stopped in the bathroom to attempt removing the lingering mascara. She ran her fingers through her hair to attempt to manage it.

When she met her father at the bottom of the stairs, he looked at his watch and commented, "That was seven minutes." She followed him to the car, knowing the old Adam had returned and that she would face some ridiculous consequence later. Besides telling Julie to sit up straight, Adam said nothing the entire drive. Julie stared straight ahead and dreaded the humiliation that would likely unfold at the Lake House.

Adam rapped on the door firmly and Amelia let them in. She noticed Julie's eyes right away. "Owen's in his office, Adam. Listen, I'm taking Julie upstairs to teach her the trick for removing waterproof mascara. We'll be right back down." Since Amelia didn't ask and since Julie was with Amelia, Adam nodded.

When they reached Amelia and Owen's bedroom, Amelia closed the door and asked, "Sweetie… what's going on?"

Julie reported the events she faced when she arrived home the previous night. She shared, "One of the girls I met at the Academy preview told me about starting birth control pills before Plebe Summer. If you skip the last week pills, you can avoid having a period during training. I went to Planned Parenthood a couple months ago, because my friend mentioned she started taking them in March just in case she had any problems with them."

"Your friend gave accurate advice. That's actually a pretty wise idea," Amelia affirmed as she handed Julie a brush and Julie cleaned up her hair.

With tears, Julie emphasized, "He doesn't believe me. He's convinced I've had sex and he's furious. He's irate that I'm taking birth control and doesn't believe it's because of Plebe Summer. Dr. Shepherd, I've never even had a boy touch me under my clothes."

Amelia frowned, feeling sorry that Adam was being so stern with the innocent young woman she'd come to love. "I'm sorry," she sighed. "Close your eyes, let me wipe this mascara off." Amelia wet a cotton ball with eye makeup remover and gently pressed it along Julie's lids. "That's all you do. Do you want to finish?"

Julie took the cotton and removed the mascara. "He went ballistic last night. He yelled and started searching my room."

Not wanting to undermine Adam's parenting, Amelia hugged Julie but offered no comment. Wetting a corner of a hand towel, Amelia wiped the excess oil off Julie's eyes before encouraging her, "Let's go face the music." Julie nodded and followed Amelia to Owen's office.

When Amelia and Julie arrived, Ryder was sitting in a chair avoiding eye contact, smirking, and tapping his hands on his knees. Neither Owen nor Adam had said anything to him. He looked relieved to see Julie. She sat next to him and waited for the Father Brigade to emerge in full force. Owen and Adam were leaning on the edge of Owen's desk and Amelia pulled up a chair beside Owen.

"Julia, why don't you tell all of us what was in your purse last night," Adam began with folded arms and heavy brows. Ryder searched his brain, trying to think of anything she would have carried in her purse that was worthy of interrogation.

"Really, Dad?" Julie pressed. Horrified to discuss birth control pills in front of Owen and Ryder.

"Really," Adam nodded.

Very quietly, Julie answered inaudibly, "Birth control pills."

"Nobody heard you," Adam pressed. Ryder had no idea what the mystery item was, but he was about to punch Adam. Ry could tell Julie was horrified and embarrassed.

"Birth control pills, Sir," Julie answered in a normal tone of voice.

"Huh?" Ryder reacted with disbelief, not meaning to sound out his shock.

"What do you know about those, Ryder?" Owen asked.

"About the pill?" Ryder tried to clarify.

"Mmm Hmm," Owen confirmed.

"Nothing. I mean, I know what the pill is and what it does, but I have no clue why there were pills in Julie's purse," Ryder answered his father. Turning to Julie, he rubbed the back of his neck and pressed, "Why in the world would you even have those, JJ?"

With exasperation, Adam grumbled, "Tell us your creative story, Julia."

With a hard swallow, Julie pressed her lips together and took a breath. "I have them…" she paused and looked at Amelia as she gripped her hands onto her elbows and as her chin trembled.

"Adam," Amelia interrupted, "I need to apologize to you from the bottom of my heart. I prescribed them for Julie. She's 18, I didn't think twice about notifying a parent – Washington law actually prohibits me from doing so. When she approached me about wanting to manage her period during Plebe Summer, I chose a dosage and pill that can be used for that purpose or for menopausal symptoms, but that is rarely used to prevent pregnancy. The dose is so minute, there's little chance the pills would prevent pregnancy even if Julie was sexually active."

Understanding what Amelia as up to, Owen added with a matter-of-fact, casual comment, "Oh did you prescribe drospirenonel ethinyl levomefolate? My patients have responded well to that."

"Yes," Amelia confirmed, wanting to jump into Owen's arms and kiss him.

Adam stared at Amelia then glanced at Julie. "Since Dr. Shepherd backs up your tale, I owe everyone an apology. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions and wasted everyone's Saturday morning. I assumed the worst and was out of line. Again, I'm sorry."

"I'm glad you called, Adam. Never hesitate to touch base with us," Owen responded as he shook Adam's hand.

"Can I show you out?" Amelia offered.

Adam calmly ordered, "Go get in the car, Julia." Behind her, Amelia and Adam walked more slowly.

"Listen, Adam…" Amelia began to apologize.

"No apologies necessary Amelia. As much as I don't want to admit it, she's a legal adult. She had every right to seek the care she felt she needed. I'm the one who's wrong here," he confessed.

"You need to trust her, Adam. She's a great kid. You've raised her well," Amelia stressed.

"This next weekend is Julie's prom," Adam stated factually.

"Right and Ryder's graduation is Sunday morning," Amelia summarized. "You're coming to the party Sunday afternoon?"

"Absolutely, if I can face him after accusing him of being sexual with my daughter," Adam chuckled as he looked at his shoes.

"It's Ryder, Adam. If anything, he'll make a joke out of it and razz you a time or two," Amelia assured her friend.

Nolan and Lissa, 22

Molly 14+ months

Emily and Elizabeth (born 3/15) 11 weeks

Ryder 18, Julie 18 (Seniors in high school)

Olivia 15 (Freshman in high school)

Ria and Anna 10

Lucas 8 ½

Baby Hunt – due October 25. 19 weeks gestation.