"That's three," Teddy smiled.
"Three," Owen echoed.
"This doesn't get easier to see," Teddy sighed, "but them getting their MD, taking the physician's oath for the first time as doctors."
"What should we expect," Asher asked, Leo had only had four tickets so just Allison and Annie had gone with Teddy and Owen to see him graduate.
"It's formal," Owen replied, "they'll do the usual university graduation thing with speeches and diplomas but they'll also all say the physician's oath for the first time as doctors."
"That's the moment they really become doctors," Teddy said, "they're no longer students and are doctors. Allison gets to wear a full length lab coat like ours now instead of her short student coat."
"Now is mom a doctor," Everly asked.
"She is," Teddy replied, "your mom has worked really hard."
"She's going to fix bones like Dr Link," Everly said.
"We hope so," Teddy agreed.
"She'll be good at it," Owen replied.
"Mom can do anything," Everly said.
"Your mom works really hard," Asher agreed, "I'm really proud of her."
They found their seats and watched the ceremony, Teddy wiping her eyes as her youngest crossed the stage to get her medical school diploma.
Teds," Owen asked.
"I'm just so happy for her," Teddy shook her head.
"Ellie is next," Owen said.
"Four years," Teddy answered.
Allison walked out after the ceremony and took pictures with her family and classmates.
"Congratulations babe," Asher beamed when they got back to the truck.
"Real celebration tonight," Allison asked.
"You, me, champagne, a bath," Asher whispered in her ear, "full body massage for you."
"With kisses," Allison whispered.
"Always," Asher smiled, kissing her, " you're a doctor."
"Let's go," Everly yelled from the back seat, "stop kissing."
"Caught," Allison laughed, pulling away, "our little chaperone."
"She's 8 now," Asher shook his head.
"Next week," Allison replied, "her party will be good."
"It will be," Asher agreed, walking to his door to drive them home.
"Only a few more days at mom and dad's," Allison said, "I've lived there my whole life it's weird to think it won't be home anymore."
"You can always go visit," Asher assured, "it's 15 minutes babe, you can go as often as you want and you'll see them every day at work."
"I know but it's where we brought Ev home, where she walked for the first time on her own and said her first words, where we got married," Allison sighed.
"It's not going anywhere," Asher assured, "and it's time Allie."
"I know," Allison said.
"Tonight we get to celebrate," Asher beamed at her.
"We're having a party," Everly added.
"We are," Allison asked, "grandma just said Auntie Annie and Uncle Josh were coming over."
"Since the cat is out of the bag it's a graduation party," Asher replied.
"Why," Allison asked.
"Because you have worked harder than anyone I've ever met and it's time to celebrate you," Asher replied, "please let us celebrate."
"How big is this," Allison asked.
"Close friends, some of your classmates, family," Asher replied, 'it's big because you deserve it."
"Ash," Allison shook her head.
"No we are celebrating," Asher cut her off, "Allie you earned it."
They pulled into the driveway and walked to the back yard, Everly rushing ahead of her parents.
"Congratulations,' the crowd in the backyard yelled seeing Allison, Asher had detoured and taken the longest route home possible giving people time to arrive.
"I'm so proud of you," Ava squealed, hugging her friend.
"Dr Blouin," Eden cheered as Everly rushed to play with Joshua.
"So,' Jonah asked Asher.
"She starts working, we move," Asher said, "normal life begins I guess."
"When does she start working," Jonah asked.
"As a surgeon JUly 1, but she's back at Safeway full time until then," Asher replied, 'It's Allie she won't just take time off and not work."
"Has she ever," Jonah asked.
"When Everly was a new born," Asher replied, "she learned from her mom and sister Annie and Teddy don't take time off unless it's family things."
"How are you celebrating," Jonah asked.
"By finally moving out," Asher replied.
"We'll help," Jonah assured, "you've helped us move three times now."
"Can you believe we did it," Allison asked Eden, "from teen mom class to now. We grew up and have real careers."
"We did it," Eden agreed, "we made it with our kids and our husbands."
"I remember you and I wondering if we would even get to go to college," Allison said, "if we could make it."
"We made it," Eden said, "Allie you're a fucking surgone."
"Intern," Allison corrected, "but a real job starts soon. No more Safeway after July 1."
"I can't believe you've been there so long," Eden said.
"It's an easy job I can work when I want," Allison replied, "Derek will never fire me."
"Will you quit now," Eden asked.
"Yes," Allison replied, 'and join you, Ava and Carmen in the real world."
"You get to work with both of them now," Eden said.
"I will," Allison replied.
"Ready to work with us Dr Blouin," Carmen asked.
"I am,' Allison smiled, 'and I see you brought some one."
"Luca," Carmen blushed, 'it's going well."
"I see that," Allison replied, "so?"
"It's good and Taylor loves him," Carmen replied.
"Good," Allison smiled, "are you going to introduce us?"
"I will but we're celebrating you," Carmen said, "you made it through med school!"
"There's no way I could have with out Ash or you guys," Allison replied, "I could not have done it alone."
"You could have," Eden assured.
"I was never going to be a doctor then Ev and her diagnosis and I had to make it better and not just for her," Allison said.
"You will," Ava assured.
"You said after med school you would have a second so," Eden asked.
"Once I'm part way through my intern year we'll not try but not stop," Allison told her closest friends, "but I don't know about a second preganancy."
"The second was way easier," Eden replied, "things were so much easier with Alexis than Joshua. I knew what to expect and I was older and more stable, I had Jonah."
"I had Ash with Ev," Allison replied.
"But you were starting to date," Ava replied, "you were figuring it out."
"And we're older more mature," Eden said.
"I want to just not yet," Allison replied, "but we need Ava to meet some one first."
"I don't care about it right now," Ava replied, "it'll happen when it happens. I've been going on more dates but I'm picky."
"You should be," Carmen said.
"We made it," Allison smiled, "we all made it."
"We did," Ava confirmed.
They spent the rest of the evening hanging out with friends and family. That night Allison slipped into bed beside Asher.
" I did it,' Allison said proudly.
"You did," Asher agreed, " I'm so proud of you. I love you so much, how hard you've worked everything you've done."
"I couldn't have done it with out you," Allison said, "I did it because I have you. I would never want to do this with out you. I love you."
"I love you two," Asher smiled kissing her.
The next morning Allison walked upstairs to talk to Teddy.
"We didn't get a chance to talk yesterday," Teddy said.
"We didn't," Allison said.
"I'm so proud of you baby girl," Teddy said pulling Allison into a hug, 'You've done really well and I know staying wasn't your first choice but you'll still find a chance to soar. I know you will. You're going to be amazing. But I feel old. My baby graduated medical school. My youngest grandbaby is 8 next week."
"Mom," Allison groaned.
"And you're moving out," Teddy said, "I know it's time and you have to move out and go your own way but I'm going to miss you. I was pregnant with you when we bought the house and moved in."
"I know," Allison replied, "I want to move but it's bitter sweet, this has always been home. I can't imagine living elsewhere. Going home somewhere else."
"It'll be strange at first but you can," Teddy assured, 'and Allie you can always come home. You will always be able to come back for however long you need dad and I are here. You can always come home to us."
"Okay," Allison nodded.
"You can always text or call or come home," Teddy assured, 'I'm always here and will always be on your side baby girl. You always have all of my support. I am so proud of you Allison."
'Thanks mom," Allison said, "you're sure you're okay with all of this?"
"I'm happy for you," Teddy said, ``you're starting the next chapter of your life. It's time and you're ready. You don't need dad and I upstairs anymore, you haven't for years. You are ready Allison. Trust yourself baby girl. You know what you are doing and you have your husband and daughter."
"I'm not alone," Allison said.
"You never will be," Teddy assured, "I made sure of that. I know what it feels like to be totally alone in the world and I will never let that happen to my kids or grandkids. You are so loved and will always be surrounded by love and support."
"I wish Nana could see this," Allison replied.
"So do I," Teddy agreed, "she would be proud of you and happy for you. Evelyn just wanted to see you happy."
"I am,' Allison replied, "I'm proud of myself."
"You should be," Teddy agreed, "make sure you let yourself feel good about it and celebrate not just last night with everyone but yourselves and for yourself. Allison soak up all your success and hard work."
"I am," Allison smiled, "mom what do I do with my rings everyday as a surgeon?"
"Find a chain and keep them on your neck," Teddy replied, 'I do and so does Annie."
"You never actually wear your rings," Allison replied.
"I always do on my chain," Teddy replied, 'just have a talk with Asher first. Let him know why your rings are on a chain and not your hand. They won't leave your body you just have to move them for work. Let your husband know and I think he'll understand."
"I hope so," Allison agreed.
"He will it's Asher," Teddy replied.
"I know he will," Allison replied, "It's Ash."
"You will do great things," Teddy assured, "I know it because you're you."
"Mom," Allison asked.
"You will be great," Teddy promised.