Allison slammed her car into park and raced for the gate. Asher heard the gate slam open and ran up the steps to meet her. It was nearly midnight and she just wanted to go in and be with her family.

"Allie," Asher shouted.

"Hi," Allison smiled, throwing herself into his arms.

"I missed you," Asher beamed.

"I missed you too," Allison smiled, kissing him.

"Your stuff," Asher asked.

"Car," Allison replied.

"Some one is waiting on the couch for you she fell asleep there," Asher said.

"I'll go put her to bed," Allison agreed.

Allison went inside and softly stroked everlys hair, "hi princess."

"Mommy," Ev yawned.

"I'm home princess," Allison said, "let's get you to bed and I'll be with you all day tomorrow."

"Story," Everly asked.

"We can have a story and a cuddle," Allison yawned, "I'll carry you to bed."

Allison carried Everly into her room and laid on the little girl's bed to read her a story. Everly snuggled close to her mom. Allison held her daughter tight and breathed in the smell of her child. The last month she had her eyes opened for sure and she had the horrible days where she thought she had lost the people who she loved most. This was where she wanted to be, this was who mattered, at the end of it all she wanted to come home to her husband and daughter to just be Allie. To play board games with Asher after Ev went to bed, it had been their thing for years now, to read to Ev and make dinner together, to go for family drives and sing silly songs, to dig in her garden. She wanted her career and to be a surgeon but she knew this, her family is what really mattered to her.

Everly sound asleep Allison tiptoed out of her room closing the door softly.

"You're home," Asher smiled.

"I am," Allison said, 'shower then bed?"

"Am I showering with you," Asher asked.

"Not tonight," Allison said, "I want to shower and shave my legs. I will see you in our room."

"I just put clean sheets on our bed," Asher said.

"Why do I have a feeling it's the first time since I've been away," Allison teased.

"Maybe," Asher replied, "your once a week is excessive."

"Clean," Allison replied.

"It was just me," Asher said.

"Even when you're away I do it once a week," Allison replied.

"Go," Asher said, "Ev and I deep cleaned everything today."

"Thank you," Allison smiled.

Allison grabbed her favorite pjs and went to shower.

"That feels better," Allison smiled curling up with Asher, "I missed you!"

"I missed you too," Asher said pulling her close to him. Allison laid her head on his chest and slid her leg over his.

"Allie," he asked.

"Yes," she smirked as she began touching him.

"It's like 2 am," he chuckled.

"So," Allison asked, "are you tired?"

"No but I want to go slow," he said, "when we came to see you it was rushed. Tonight we can go slow."

"I want you to hold me and touch me," Allison said.

"We have all night," he assured, kissing her and pulling her closer to him. He ran his hand down her side as he kissed her neck. She rocked her hips closer to his, wanting him, needing him to touch her wanting to be together.

"More," Allison whispered.

"Allie," Asher chuckled, "slow down, let me kiss you and touch you."

"I want to touch you," Allison said.

"We have all night," Asher assured.

In Texas Leo waited at the airport for Taylor.

"Hey," Leo smiled at his friend.

"I could have taken a cab," Taylor said.

"Why," Leo said, "I don't mind. How was it?"

"I met your sister and brother," Taylor says, "Allie is awesome and Chris is intimidating. "

"That's just Chris," Leo said, "he's a veteran and when he's in that type of situation his training kicks in. He's a good guy."

"Your sister how does she do it all," Taylor asked.

"Allie is insane," Leo said.

"She seems pretty normal," Taylor said.

"You know she was 17 the fall of her senior year," Leo asked.

"She told her story," Taylor said, "how's things with Charlotte?"

"She's angry I'm on my rural over thanksgiving," Leo replied.

"When isn't she mad," Taylor said, "why do you stay?"

"I don't know," Leo said.

"Can she come see you like Asher and everly came to see Allie for a weekend," Taylor suggested.

"She won't travel alone," Leo sighed, "I have to go to her and when I can't she cries."

"Drop the dead weight already," Taylor said, "have you eaten?"

"Not yet," Leo replied.

"Then I'm buying you breakfast for picking me up since you won't take gas money," Taylor said.

"Deal," Leo replied.

Everly got out of bed and grabbed her walker and made her way to her parents room.

"Mom," Everly called, "mommy. Mom! Mommy!"

"She's up," Allison groaned.

"It's 8," Asher replied.

"But we," Allison said.

"Didn't sleep," Asher replied, "whose idea was the second time?"

"I believe that was a mutual decision," Allison laughed.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy," Everly yelled.

"I'm coming," Allison replied, "should we go watch a movie?"

"Okay," Everly agreed.

Allison got out of bed and pulled her pjs on before going to see Everly.

"Why are you wearing Daddy's shirt," Everly asked.

"Sometimes I borrow his old ones to sleep in," Allison answered.

"Why was your door locked," Everly asked.

"I'm not sure," Allison replied, it was the first time they had locked their door in a long time, Everly had outgrown barging into their room unannounced after many conversations about privacy and a very mortifying night where she had walked in on her parents nearly naked in bed.

"I don't like it," Everly said.

"You can knock or call us," Allison replied.

"But why was it locked," Everly asked.

"I don't know," Allison replied, "I didn't lock it."

"Did dad," Everly asked.

"I guess he did," Allison replied.

"Why does he lock it sometimes," Everly asked.

"Sometimes dad and I like time just us and to be alone," Allison replied.

"Is it like when he was tickling you when you got jammies on," Everly asked.

"Sometimes," Allison agreed.

"Why do moms and dads share a room," Everly asked.

"Because dad and I like sleeping in the same bed," Allison replied.

"But Alivia's mom and dad don't live in the same house," Everly said.

"Not all moms and dads do," Allison said, "it's what's best for each family."

"Why do grandma and grandpa have so many bedrooms upstairs," Everly asked.

"One for them," Allison said, 'then Uncle Leo has one, I used to have one and when you were a brand new baby you had one."

"What about dad," Everly asked.

"Dad and I started to share a room when I was pregnant with you," Allison replied, "so when you were growing in my tummy."

"Do you have to have a baby to share a room," Everly asked.

"No," Allison replied, "the grown ups have to really really love and trust each other first. You share a room with people you love."

"Do you love dad," Everly asked.

"I love him a lot," Allison said.

"Then why did you go and not come home with us after the scary thing," Everly asked.

"I wanted to come home after the slides so badly baby," Allison said lifting Everly into her lap, "you and dad came and spent 4 days with me after while we waited for the roads to clear. You only came home 8 days before I did. You and dad were safe and okay."

"But I wanted to stay with you," Everly said, "I don't like when you go."

"I missed you and don't like going away without you," Allison said, "I'm home and we're going to have a fun family day. What will be fun for all of us?"

"Can we go to the science museum," Everly asked.

"I think we can," Allison said, "but do you and I like it or does dad?"

"Dad likes the building area," Everly said.

"So science centre and a swim," Allison suggested.

"Can we have pizza night," Everly asked.

"We can," Asher joined them, "Allie is that what you want?"

"I was thinking tacos but I can do pizza," Allison replied, "but I want chips and cupcakes."

"We'll do that," Asher agreed.

The family got ready and drove to the science centre. Allison and Everly sat on a bench in the butterfly house watching them fly around.

"If we sit really still, do you think one will land on us,' Everly asked.

"We can try and see," Allison agreed.

"What are we doing," Asher asked.

"Seeing if we stay really still if the butterflies will land on us," Everly said.

"I don't know about the butterflies but the squirrel is trying to get closer," Asher said.

"Can I pet it," Everly asked.

"Let's see what it does," Asher replied, "it's still a wild animal princess."

They spent some more time with the animals then explored the rest of the science center. Before going swimming.

"Mom watch this," Everly yelled ducking under the water.

Allison beamed as she swam.

"In the spring she can do the mini race team," Asher said.

"She's ready," Allison replied, "but with her CP?"

"We talk to the coaches," Asher replied, "it's better in the water. I'm not sure about whip kicks yet but she's starting to learn the front crawl."

"If they think she's strong enough then lets try," Allison said, "she wants to be on a team like every other kid. We're trying wheel chair basketball but."

"There's sledge hockey," Asher replied.

"No hockey," Allison replied, "too many early early mornings where she'll be too tired for school."

"And swimming she won't really compete for a year," Asher said, "I've been researching. They'll do a couple club competitions in the summer then she can really compete when she's 8. But going and being on a team with other kids Allie."

"I know she needs it," Allison agreed, 'she needs to be part of a team. I loved my dance group and having that community at the studio and your football and baseball friends. Ev needs that opportunity. What does it cost?"

"It's about the same as swimming lessons at the start," Asher replied, "she'll need a team bathing suit and swim cap."

"She needs a new bathing suit every few months anyway," Allison said, "she wears one pieces."

"Lets find out," Asher said, "they said 7 by the end of the summer and she will be."

"I want to," Allison said, "but when I looked she had to pass her swim kids 3 or 4."

"3," Asher replied, "she should have her 4 by the spring."

"I just want her to have the normal experiences of being on a team and having a sport she loves," Allison said, "she loves swimming for now and she can compete with it with other kids. Kids need to compete and to learn good sportsmanship and the only way she'll learn that is to do it and practice it. But with me in school she hasn't always had those opportunities."

"Allie she goes to piano, swimming, choir and riding," Asher said, 'she's always done things and had activities."

"The only reason she has piano is my parents pay for it," Allison said.

"But your mom and her are loving going and learning together," Asher said, "their grandma and me lesson is funny."

"It is," Allison replied, "and Ev loves music. I just want her to find the things that make her happy and she loves. We got to and I was so worried she never would."

"Ya we rely on the grants for her riding but she's getting so confident," Asher replied.

"It's good for her," Allison agreed.

"Okay it's almost 5:30," Allison told Everly after they had splashed and played a bit more. They stopped by the grocery store and picked up treats to go with their pizza later.

Once they got home Allison's phone rang, "Eden!"

"Allie we have great news," Eden said.

"How are Jonah and Joshua," Allison asked.

"We're all good," Eden said, "really good."

"Then what's the good news," Allison asked.

"Two things," Eden said.

"So what's going on," Allison asked.

"Jonah and I are engaged and I'm pregnant," Eden said.

"Wow," Allison said, "when and when?"

"He proposed three weeks ago but I wanted you to be home first," Eden said, "and I'm due at the end of May."

"Did you know when he proposed," Allison asked.

"We found out two days after he proposed," Eden said.

"I'm so happy for you," Allison said, "a wedding and a second baby. Is this just between us?"

"Baby is," Eden said, "we're going to wait until Christmas time to announce it."

"We all get together tomorrow can we celebrate," Allison asked.

"The engagement," Eden said.

"I'll text Carmen," Allison said, "we need to celebrate. Eden I'm so excited for all of you."

"Thank you," Eden said, "how do you do a relationship and being pregnant."

"You remember how young we all were," Allison said, 'you and Jonah are so much more mature now than Ash and I were then."

"But the puking and swelling being huge," Eden said.

"We talked a lot about it and I became friends with him," Allison said, "I didn't let him see me vomit if I could help it. There were a few times but I had to be put on medication I was so sick."

"I'm feeling a lot sicker," Eden said, "but I'm also not hiding it from my mom or my boyfriend."

"How is Jonah with it," Allison asked.

"He's sweet," Eden said, "so gentle with me and he's already putting his hand on my stomach and talking to the baby."

"So about 6 or 7 weeks," Allison guessed.

"Almost 7," Eden said, "how did you know?"

"I was doing a lot of prenatal care on this rotation," Allison said, "have you seen a doctor?"

"I'm going with a Nurse Midwife this time," Eden said, "but she uses Grey Sloan for hospital births which is what we'll go with."

"Who," Allison asked.

"Amanda Kavanagh," Eden replied.

"That's Olivia's mom," Allison replied.

"Really," Eden asked.

"Yes," Allison said, "I did some appointments with her and the birth classes with her before Everly was born."

"Will you," Eden asked, "you've been married a while."

"We're only 24 biloogically there's no rush," Allison replied, "but I want to be out of med school first. But you're teaching and Jonah is done his apprenticeship. You move next weekend."

"We do into our town house," Eden said, "three bedrooms."

"We'll help you move next week," Allison said.

"We know you're busy," Eden said.

"We like coming to help and seeing you guys," Allison said, "I've missed everyone being away for a month."

"How was it," Eden asked.

"Intense you heard about the slides," Allison replied, "then being away from Ash and Ev for three weeks it was torture."

"When we've been parents since we were 17 we don't know how to be on our own," Eden said.

"I've basically been married since I was 18," Allison said, "I can't sleep without Ash."

"I know," Eden said, "I can't sleep with out Jonah."

"Ev asked questions I wasn't ready for today," Allison said, "she's six."

"I can't believe their in 1st grade," Eden said, 'he's reading."

"So is she," Allison said, "it's weird."

"Allie pizza," Asher called.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Eden said.

"You will and congratulations again," Allison said before hanging up.

"Congratulations," Asher asked.

"Jonah proposed and Eden said yes," Allison said.

"He finally did it," Asher said, "he's been planning for six months."

"How long did you plan for," Allison asked.

"Almost a year," Asher admitted, "between getting the money together for a ring, asking your parents, picking the perfect event and location."

"I love my rings," Allison smiled looking at her left hand.

"You won't want to upgrade one day," Asher asked, "your mom and sister have big ones."

"Mom's engagement ring is a heirloom," Allison said, "and Annie's engagement is her little one. Her big one was their 10th anniversary once they had both finished fellowships. I love my rings. My promise ring and engagement ring you picked for me, my wedding one we chose together and they all fit as a set."

"But when you're getting big surgeon money," Asher asked.

"No, because these represent our life together," Allison said as she put Ev's plate on the table.

"When you're a big surgeon," Asher asked.

"I learned this month that the two of you are what makes me happiest and what I love more than medicine," Allison said, "my family matters more."

"Don't tell Eden I told you but Jonah texted me a couple weeks ago for advice," Asher said, "not about the proposal."

"She just told me she's pregnant," Allison smiled.

"Do you want to," Asher said.

"Once I finish school and start my residency," Allison said, "2 years and we see what happens."

"Are you sure," Asher asked.

"Yes," Allison said, "I want one or two more. Joshua is going to have a big adjustment being a big brother and having a baby brother or sister."

"Can I have a sister," Everly asked, "Aliyana and Melina age getting brothers or sisters."

"Not yet," Allison said, "one day but not yet."

"Why not now," Everly asked.

"Mom needs to finish school first," Asher said, "and we need to move to a bigger house. If we had another baby here you'd have to share your room."

"I can share," Everly said.

"One day," Allison smiled, "and Ev it's less time with me and dad for you you'll have to share our time and babies are a lot of work. You cried and fussed a lot."

"Why do babies cry," Everly asked.

"Because they don't have the words to tell people what they want," Allison said, 'so they cry and mom's and dad's learn how to help them. You would make a little whiny cry when your legs hurt and a louder cry when you were hungry. You still make the same cry when you're really sore or tired. A baby's cry is their language, it's how they talk before they learn words."

"Do all babies learn to talk," Everly asked.

"Most kids do," Allison replied, "you started making sounds like aa and oo and then learned to make ma and da and ba sounds and slowly you put them into words. You're still learning lots of words at school."

"Like spelling words," Everly asked.

"Like your spelling words," Asher agreed.

They finished their dinner and Allison helped Everly with her bath, while she was capable of washing herself and her with help her hair she needed help in and out of the bath tub and for someone to pass her the detachable shower head so she could rinse the shampoo and conditioner out of her hair. Allison sat on the floor beside the tub and joined Everly with boats and water creatures in the bath, they laughed and giggle together.

Allison lifted Everly out of the tub and once her pjs were on she lifted her onto the counter and french braided her hair.

"I love you mom," Everly said putting her arms around Allison's neck as Allison carried her to the couch.

"I love you to the moon and beyond the stars baby girl," Allison replied kissing her cheek.

They settled on the couch to watch a movie as a family.

While Allison had said hi to Owen and Teddy that day they would take their time to catch up tomorrow. Today was about Everly and Asher and being with her little family.