Allison had a week off in the middle of her summer classes, Asher had taken work out of town on the dam project again for the overtime pay and wouldn't get any time off while Allison was off. They had a week at the end of August together and they were going to Texas to see Leo then. Allison, Everly, Annie, Ellie, Heather, Teddy, Megan, Catrina, Nisha and Khitam were up at the cabin for a girls weekend. The guys would go up for their own guy time in a few days.

Annie and Allison were changing to go swimming in the pool change room.

"Nee are you okay," Allison asked.

"Ya," Annie replied.

"Nee I can see every one of your ribs it's sick," Allison replied, "what's with being a human stick figure?"

"I'm fine," Annie replied, "you're slim, mama is, we're all slim."

"This isn't slim," Allison said, "Nee are you sure you're okay?"

"Allie leave it," Annie replied, "I've just been really busy."

"Nee what's wrong," Allison asked.

"I'm fine," Annie snapped.

"You can talk to me," Allison tried.

"Allison," Annie said, "I'll talk to Mama when I'm ready. I have a lot going on right now with my kids and my dad. And keeping the stuff about your vascular rotation hidden from mama."

"I don't want her to interfere," Allison said.

"What happened on your vascular rotation," Teddy asked walking it.

"I worked with Dr Claire Williams," Allison shrugged, "she's not my biggest fan."

"She wouldn't be," Teddy said, "Meg and Ellie have the younger girls. I think I should tell both of you this story."

"Now," Allison asked.

"No," Teddy replied, "I'm going to ask Meg, Cat and Ellie to start dinner and the three of us are going to go sit down by the river."

Teddy told Megan to start dinner with the other girls and Annie and Allison followed her down to the river bank.

"I have history with Claire Williams," Teddy replied, "and Allison Brown. Allie you were named for Allison."

"I knew that," Allison said, "she's why you have birds on your scrub cap."

"She is," Teddy replied, "but it's not just that. Owen knows this about me but Leo does not and I'd like to tell him in my own time."

"Okay," Annie replied.

"Allie I know you tell Leo everything," Teddy said.

"I won't tell," Allison replied.

"This includes husbands," Teddy warned.

"Got it," Allison replied.

Annie nodded.

"So 30 some odd years ago I was living in New York, working at Columbia and living with two roommates Claire and Allison," Teddy said, "Claire and I worked together, shes a vascular surgeon."

"Who hates me," Allison grumbelled.

"I've only ever told Owen this," Teddy took a deep breath,"when I was younger. Before the army but after Annie was born I experimented a little bit. I had an affair with Allison behind Claire's back."

"Mom," Allison jumped up, "but you named me."

"I know," Teddy said, "and everything else I've told you about her is true. Her love of life, compassion, positive attitude, how much she loved people and animals it's all true. I loved Allison Brown. She was my best friend and it became physical. It only happened a few times and behind Claire's back when she would get called in to the hospital overnight. I'm not proud of how we went about it. And Claire rightfully has never really forgiven me. I've seen her a few times over the years and were civil but will never be close again. I think seeing you and even though you've changed your name it's easy enough to find out who dad and I are. You're too comfortable in the hospital and the OR for a first year med student. "

"But dad," Allison asked.

"He's known me for years," Teddy replied, "he's known for a long time."

"When you named me," Allison asked.

"He knew," Teddy replied, "or at least he had a good idea. It had come out a few years before when we were drinking. Dad knows the whole story. It's time you did."

"Why didn't you say something years ago," Annie asked.

"I wasn't ready," Teddy replied, "then I have my girls who meet and fall in love young and with men."

"But Owen and Henry," Annie asked, "you and Henry were really married, you dated Mark Sloan."

"Yes," Teddy replied, "it was a one person thing. It was just with Allison Brown. I've never really looked into what it means. I've mainly been with men. I like men."

"Mom," Allison asked, "why did you name me after your affair?"

"Because that was a very small part of the relationship," Teddy replied, "Allison was the one person who held me together when my parents died less than a year apart. She was an amazing friend. She loved to cook and to be with people and always found the positives. Allie you are a lot like her in some ways, your love of people, joy for living, positive attitude. That is her legacy to you even though she never got to meet any of my kids. She knew about Annie, so did Claire. Allison took one of Annie's school pictures and put it on the fridge because it made me happy to know she was doing well. Allison would have loved you. But with out her, with out losing her and wanting to avenge her I would never have met Owen. with out Allison Brown you wouldn't exist Allie."

"You still miss her," Annie said.

"I do," Teddy replied.

"When we went to New York the winter before Ev was born we stopped at the 9/11 memorial," Allison remembered.

"I was visiting her," Teddy replied, "showing her my daughter, her namesake."

"We found her name," Allison remembered.

"When I go to New York I always visit," Teddy said.

"I was pregnant with Ellie the first time I went with you," Annie remembered.

"I was pregnant with Ev," Allison said.

"My girls and my grandbabies," Teddy smiled, "she would have loved knowing all of you."

"Mom," Allison replied.

"I'm okay," Teddy replied, "it was just time for me to share this part of the story with you. I want Leo to hear it from me."

"Okay," Allison replied.

"Why now," Annie asked.

"I was finally ready," Teddy answered, "I know we have a lot of intergenerational trauma. But I'm seeing you two breaking that cycle for your kids. Making sure you don't pass that trauma down."

"I'm trying," Annie replied.

"I know," Teddy said, "you're both aware of it and not passing it down. I hate that I passed mine down to you. I should have known and broken the cycle. I'm sorry girls."

"Mama you did your best," Annie said taking Teddy's hand, "you did what you had to to take care of us."

"Mom it's okay," Allison said, "it's what you always tell me with Everly. You do your best and love her and be present and that's what she needs all the love you can give her."

"You did what you told us," Annie said, "are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm good," Teddy replied, "it feels good to have said it."

"It usually does," Annie replied, "so does therapy."

"Speaking of that, I can see your ribs again," Teddy said, "Annie?"

"So stressed with my dad my stomach is too upset to eat," Annie replied, "I know, I'm aware I have therapy starting again next week."

"You know," Allison said, "you have therapy?"

"I go when I need to," Annie replied, "Bean please don't push me when this happens. It's the first time you've noticed but it's been happening since I was 15. The worst thing for me is to pester me about it and push it. I will ask for help and the support when I need it. I know how to ask for the help I need."

"You have it in place," Teddy said.

"I do," Annie replied, 'Josh knows."

"Your dad," Allison asked.

"Not today," Annie replied, "it's Chris's weekend. Jenna has dad on a good protocol. But hes 83. He's older."

"But he's your dad," Allison said.

"He is and it makes it hard,' Annie replied, "I am doing my best with it. It's my dad. Josh and I are renewing our vows at the end of the month under the cedars. And my dad is going to walk with me, he's always felt bad about missing that experience. So we're giving that to him."

"I like it," Teddy replied, 'is he up to it?"

"He is," Annie replied, "the meds are working. The tremors are so much better. And were doing it now so my dad can. I want him to have that. We were going to skip it but were doing it for Dad."

"Can I help," Teddy asked.

"Opa is going to do it," Annie replied, "we've arranged to get him and nana up and in a hotel. It's probably the last time we'll get her up here."

"It is," Teddy replied, "she's going to a nursing home."

"I know," Annie replied, "it's time."

"It is," Teddy agreed, "she's my last parent."

"Seeing a parent going downhill like that is hell," Annie agreed.

"Leslie," Teddy asked, "and dad. Dad's harder to watch."

"Mom what happens when," Allison asked.

"We're a long way from it baby girl," Teddy replied, "Dad and I are healthy."

"Mom don't give me that," Allison said, "what happens when you or dad get old or sick?"

"Right now dad and I have each other's medical power of attorney," Teddy replied, "we just updated our will because Nana transferred the cabin to Dad and Auntie Megan. If for some reason dad or I can't make the decision for the other it's a 2 out of 3 agreement for what should be done. The three of you must work together and there must be two of your signatures barring a life or death emergency. Dad and I do not want to be on vents or life support for months, if after 60 days there is no improvement you unplug us. We are both donors. Should we both pass everything is an equal three way split and the house is to be sold unless the one of you that wants it can fairly buy the others out."

"If anything happens to us," Annie said, "Mama and Uncle Owen have our medical POA if the other isn't there. If for some reason they can not it's Megan, Chris and Jenna. If we die everything is split equally between the kids and the house we currently live in is to be sold and the cottage held in trust for a family member to live in. Our kids still at home Chris and Jenna will take custody with help from Mama and Uncle Owen."

"If anything happens toe Ash makes decisions with help from mom And dad, then mom and dad for both of us," Allison said, "Everly goes with Annie and Josh. You can not under any circumstances let her go with his family."

"We won't," Teddy replied.

"Annie, you're okay with it," Allison asked.

"We will always look out for Everly," Annie promised, "we always have and alway will. We have you as well, always, always, always."

"With your dad," Allison asked.

"Allie I'm dealing with it as best I can," Annie assured, "it's hard and I don't like it but I also know he's old. I know the science and Jenna has been amazing in pushing for the best treatments. He may be a candidate for Ameila and Mereidth's work, we're waiting to hear."

"Would he," Teddy asked.

"We hope so," Annie replied, "but its still not a guarantee it won't recur. Mama are you sure you're okay? That was a lot to share."

"I'm good," Teddy assured, "Allison I think it's why Claire is hard on you. You can request another surgeon if you're paired with her again. She's not your main surgical contact is she?"

"I'm still with Dr Brown for that," Allison said, "I love Dr Brown she's really supportive and gets what I'm trying to do and what my life outside of school is like. I want to work with Dr Brown for a bit longer."

"Then you work with Dr Brown," Teddy replied, "she's a great mentor for you. But with Claire you stand up. If your at your hours you tell her, you're a student not a resident, she has to give you meal breaks and adequate breaks. We were trained that meal breaks and leaving at your hours wasn't okay and my generation still works that way but times have changed. You need you rest, you need to eat so you can be your best for your patients. Use your voice Allie."

"I'll try," Allison said, "but she knew you, she knew about Annie from before because she said Annie not Grace. I can't let you down, I don't want to embarrass you."

"No," Teddy said, "using your voice, taking care of yourself will never embarrass me."

"Mom," Allison asked.

"You use your voice and don't let Claire punish you because of my history with her," Teddy replied, "it's long, it's complicated but don't let her punish you."

"I'll try,' Allison replied.

"She's not a fan of me either," Annie replied.

"Just be polite and respectful," Teddy said, "you know how to be respectful and stand your ground."

"I'm trying," Allison said, "it's different in medical school. The profs are less understanding. Ev and I had the stomach flu and I missed two days of classes and my profs were horrible about it."

"Doctors don't get sick," Annie replied with a laugh.

"I heard that in med school as well," Teddy replied, "it's time to change the story."

"How," Allison asked.

"By standing up for yourself," Teddy replied, "if you're sick, you are sick."

"I'm trying," Allison said, "it's so much easier when profs are understanding. When I explain about my special needs daughter and they at least try to understand."

"This is med school," Annie replied, "it's a step up."

"It is," Allison agreed, "more than I thought."

"One more year like this then you'll have more clinical time," Teddy assured.

"I'm looking forward to research,' Allison replied, "I want to look at CP and the causes. If we can find a cause maybe theres a cure."

"That's your life's work," Annie said.

"It will be," Allison replied, "I can do it through neuro or ortho."

"You can," Teddy confirmed.

"You will," Annie assured.