I like to think that Allison and Asher not having their second child yet is a wise decision for them. It's not that they aren't good parents or love their daughter but it was a conscious choice to have Allison finish school first and work a bit before getting pregnant a second time. They know what it's like to struggle and have to rely on others for help to support their family. I think it's in character for them to wait and Allison is only 26 now.
Allison and Asher dropped Everly off at Teddy's for the evening before going to the intern BBQ Annie and Josh were hosting. As the attendings assigned to Allison's residency class they were trying to create opportunities for the group to bond and connect. They remembered the pasta nights and BBQs Teddy and Owen had done for their class and wanted the classes they worked with to feel the same connection their class did.
"You know what I miss about living here," Allison said as they pulled out of the driveway.
"Convenient babysitting,' Asher asked.
"Not having to pack her an overnight bag," Allison replied, "but the yard. I miss the yard and the playset and her play house and swimming when we wanted."
"I miss the yard as well," Asher agreed, "and it was easier with Ev."
"She wanted to go to auntie Nees she didn't understand that this is a work thing for me," Allison replied.
"Annie's kids," Asher asked.
"Heather was going to my parents," Allison replied, "Ellie is at Columbia, Matt is in Oregon and Henry is out tonight. This is a work thing for me. It'll be good for everyone to see you and you know how to speak surgery."
"I know the big wigs at your hospital," Asher agreed.
"I'm worried about tonight," Allison replied, 'people know but they haven't seen my home life."
"Are you embarrassed," Asher asked.
"No," Allison assured, "but 95% of my coworkers are single and sleeping with anything that moves. Some gender doesn't even matter. It's you're there, you're human lets you know.'
"And you never come home excited after surgery and drag me to our room," Asher asked.
"You're my husband," Allison replied, "I can if I want to."
"As long as it's only me you can all you want," Asher smirked.
"You would," Allison laughed.
"When we get home," Asher asked.
"Maybe," Allison giggled.
It was the moments like they they both cherished, relaxed on their own and being a little bit playful with each other.
Allison grabbed the bowl of her home made pineapple strawberry salsa to snack on. Annie had said not to worry but Allison couldn't go empty handed.
"Is this the right place," Melina asked getting out of her car.
"Ya,' Allison replied.
"Dr Altman said not to bring anything," Melina blushed seeing the bowl and bag of chips and Allison's hand.
'I don't listen to my sister and it's just a pineapple and strawberry salsa," Allison replied, "I had a huge bowl of strawberries from my garden so I made it quickly."
"you have a garden," Melina asked.
"She loves to garden," Asher replied.
"I'm Melina Greg," Melina said.
"Asher Blouin," Asher introduced.
"Allison's husband," Melina clarified.
"Yes," Allison replied.
"Is your daughter here," Melina asked.
"No she's with my parents," Allison replied, " she's looking forward to swimming, hot dogs and the fire pit."
"Lucky girl," Melina smiled.
"She is," Allison agreed.
"So where do we go," Melina asked.
"Nee said to go straight to the back yard," Allison replied.
"Nee," Melina asked.
"When I was little I couldn't say Annie so I called her Nee and still do at home," Allison replied.
"Your family is close," Melina replied as Asher opened the gate.
"We are," Allison replied, "what about your family?"
"Not so much," Melina admitted, "my sister and I are opposites and it's easier for me to keep my distance."
"Your parents," Asher asked.
"My mom more than my dad," Melina replied, "she's an OBGYN so understands what I'm doing. I haven't fully chosen a specialty yet."
"We're interns we're not supposed to," Allison reminded, "I want peds or ortho but who knows when we actually get into it. There's pressure from trauma and cardio or cardiac trauma but I don't like hearts like my mom and sister do or massive injuries like Dad and Josh. I've been the parent being told your baby is really sick and needs surgery dreading what the doctor is going to say."
"But you chose surgery," Melina replied.
"I did," Allison replied, "it wasn't an easy choice."
"I bet," Melina replied, "it was surgery or OBGYN for me. I was 50/50 so I took what was offered."
"You could switch between," Allison replied, "c-sections, GYN surgeries. Talk to Stephanie Mitchell and Carina Deluca."
"You know everyone," Melina replied.
"Steph was my med school roommate," Annie replied, joining them, "she's known Allie forever."
"How long ago was that," Melina asked.
"Don't go there," Annie laughed, "too long ago but Steph is great. I was in my early 20s when I met Steph."
"You started med school at 20," Allison revealed.
"And turned 21 6 weeks later," Annie countered.
'You were young," Melina replied.
"We were," Annie agreed, "it was a long time ago."
"We," Melina asked.
"Josh and I met at med school orientation and Steph was my randomly assigned roommate the first year and we chose to live together for the next three because it worked for us," Annie replied.
"How did you choose surgery," Melina asked.
"I was 19," Annie replied, " mama, the other Dr Altman, had me come down from UBC to spend my reading week with her and scrub in and I was hooked. Then Uncle Owen, my step dad, years before he was my step dad, brought me into the OR with him, stole one of mama's caps for me and let me hold a retractor with him and Dr Kepner."
"Kepner from the foundation," Melina asked.
"Yes," Annie replied, 'she was his resident then. She was my favourite resident. And Dr Yang."
"You must have stories about that group," Melina replied.
"I do," Annie smiled, "Grey and Yang were this unstoppable team."
"So you grew up in the hospital as well," Melina asked.
"No," Annie replied, "my dad and mama weren't together. I was in BC with my dad and my other two siblings."
"So you have the same mom," Melina clarified.
"Yes and I chose to use Altman in med school," Annie replied. She knew she hadn't told the entire story but it was enough. Teddy would be okay with this version of the story, it wasn't a lie it just left out pieces of the information.
"How many are coming tonight," Allison asked.
"All but one group," Annie replied, "but Josh and I expected one team to be working we can't get everyone at the same time so we'll make sure for the next event we plan it when they're off. Melina why Seattle?"
"It's where I matched," Melina replied, "I was really open minded."
"Where did you grow up," Annie asked.
"I'm another hospital kid we moved a lot,' Melina replied, 'my mom is an OBGYN."
"It's a hard lifestyle for a family," Annie said, "it's not easy on the kids when we work like we do."
"Ev is finding it hard," Allison agreed.
"She has a big adjustment," Annie agreed, "she seems okay when I see her."
"It's okay out but at home it's hard," Allison replied, "me working instead of being home. I could put homework away and pay attention to her but at the hospital I can't do that."
"That's why you don't get mommy traced from day one," a guy replied.
"Mommy tracked," Annie questioned, "why do you think a mom can't also be an incredible surgeon?"
"Because mom's should be home with their kids," the guy replied.
"Spencer," Josh said, " we have four kids and Annie is taking over as head of cardio. Grey Sloan is full of moms and run by women who are brilliant surgeons and also moms. It's a family lifestyle. We work together and are a team."
"So," Spencer asked.
"Learn from them," Josh replied, "surgery is about more than cutting it's more than sutures and perfection it is about people."
Everly floated in the pool with Teddy and Owen, "I want to come back."
"Why princess," Owen asked.
"I miss seeing you every day," Everly said, "and the kitties and Charlie."
"You can always come hang out," Teddy replied, 'but your mom and dad were ready to move to your own house."
"But I wasn't," Everly said, "I miss you."
"You can call us all the time and we will still pick you up from school on the days we always have and you'll have your time with us," Owen promised, "school goes back in a week and I will pick you up on Tuesdays."
"Then I pick you up on Mondays," Teddy replied, "we will have our fun days and I'm still going to go to piano with you on Monday and instead of coming home after school maybe we can go for a treat before piano?"
'And we'll have time between school and swimming," Owen said, "weekly ice cream trip?"
"Yes,' Everly smiled, 'can we have ice cream tonight?"
"We have ice cream," Teddy assured.
"And hot dogs," Everly asked.
"We do and we're camping out in the back yard because you're sleeping over," Owen said, "should we swim a bit more then you can help me put up the tent?"
"Sure," Everly agreed before ducking under the water. Owen laughed watching the small girl dart across the pool, Everly moved easily in the water.
"Grandpa, look I'm a dolphin," Everly yelled as she splashed through the water.
"You look like one," Owen agreed, he noticed Teddy getting out of the pool to go start dinner and gave her a thumbs up to let her know he was with Everly.
Everly turned flips in the water before splashing the back of Owen's head.
"Did you just start that," Owen chuckled.
"Maybe," Everly giggled.
Owen reached for Everly and tickled her before picking her up and dropping her back into the water with a big splash making Everly giggle, 'again!"
"One more then we should go dry off and help grandma with dinner," Owen replied.
"Okay," Everly agreed.
They played for a couple more minutes before getting out of the pool. Owen had to lift Everly to sit on the side then off the edge of the pool so she could walk across the grass back to the house. Owen was thankful Everly couldn't get into the pool herself, even though she was a strong swimmer they had a strict no swimming alone rule no matter how old and confident the swimmer was, they had treated too many avoidable pool injuries over the years.
Everly made her way inside and changed into shorts and a t-shirt forgetting her bathing suit on the bathroom floor.
"Everly," Teddy called, 'did you forget something?"
"No," Everly replied.
"Your wet swimsuit and towel on my bathroom floor," Teddy replied, "go get it and hang it on the deck railing."
"Fine,' Everly huffed.
"Don't give me that,' Teddy replied, 'you know it's your job. I don't do it and your mom doesn't do it for you. You are big enough to hang up your own wet stuff."
"I'm going," Everly groaned, she picked up her damp towel and sopping swimsuit draping them over the side of her walker so she could take them out to the back deck with Teddy and Owen's. Teddy liked to dry laundry outside when it was nice to save energy but mostly because she loved the smell of sunshine in their clean clothes. When everyone was changed to dry clothes Owen started the BBQ for Everly's favourite hot dogs and corn on the cob.
Back at Annie's the interns in Allison's class sat making awkward small talk. They hadn't really started bonding yet which was why Annie had them all together away from the hospital.
"Are they always this awkward," Asher asked Josh at the BBQ where he was helping out.
"Some times," Josh replied, "theres a hierarchy with interns and residents. And this group hasnt figured that out or found their allies yet. In our year people didn't know how to take Annie and I with our family relationships. Some people never liked or trusted both of us but more here."
"Her being married can't be helping," Asher guessed.
"No,' Josh replied, " she has connections outside of the world of the hospital. She grew up here and has her support system all of the other interns are from out of town. The closest came from Portland. Most have no connections here outside the hospital."
"That would be lonely," Asher replied.
"It can be," Josh agreed, "we've seen lots struggle because of it. Allie is going to need her connections outside the hospital. The ones I see do best are the ones that have connections away from the hospital. You can't live the medicine 24/7. Make sure she doesn't."
"She's better then usual about being present when she's home," Asher replied, "but she's gone so much."
"More than you're used to and the intern schedule is gruelling," Josh agreed, 'how's she eating and sleeping?"
"Other than making Allie sound like a baby," Asher asked.
"I just know Annie doesn't really sleep or eat when her schedule gets too busy," Josh said, "making sure Allison is okay."
"She's eating," Asher agreed, "sleeping not so much."
"Why," Josh asked.
"She gets home late or has to work early and stays up late or gets up stupidly early so she can stay on top of all of the house stuff," Asher replied, "she always did it all before we moved out but she was in school and it worked then but now it's not working. I try to do it and she takes over or comes behind me and redoes it."
"Then learn to do it her way," Josh replied, "Annie is similar. I had to learn to do things her way."
"I didn't realise how much she did until we had to rebalance it all,'' Asher replied.
"I'm always shocked when Annie goes away and I realise how much she does with the kids," Josh agreed.
"You have four," Asher replied.
"Would you," Josh asked.
"That's between us," Asher replied.
"You're still young," Josh assured, "she was 29 and I was 30 with Ellie."
"We haven't fully decided yet," Asher admitted.
"You have time," Josh assured, "do what makes you two happy. You have to do what's right for you and your family. Everly is good, she's doing really well."
"She is," Asher replied, "I just don't want to put Allie through all that again. Seeing her sick and scared and Teddy giving her Ivs on the couch."
"It's hard it hit Annie really hard as well," Josh replied, "Teddy told us she reacted the same way. But it's not easy to watch the love of your life sick and in pain."
"I don't know which was worse," Asher replied, "and nothing I did helped her. I don't want to see her go through that again."
"They forget it," Josh replied, "Annie doesn't remember any of the 4 births. Allie probably doesn't remember all of Everly's."
"She says that," Asher replied, "but I remember and I don't want to see that again. And we've been able to put it off with her in school. It's been easy to put the conversation on hold."
"When you're ready," Josh replied, 'and no one can make the decision for you."
"We will decide together," Asher replied.
"It has to be an us decision," Josh agreed, "Heather was a big surprise for us but we both agreed that it was the plan for our family."
"Everything okay," Annie asked walking over.
"Just catching up,' Josh assured, 'it's all good."
"We almost ready to eat," Annie questioned.
"2 minutes," Josh replied, 'group seems quiet."
"They are," Annie replied.
Josh finished the burgers and they called everyone to come eat.
"How's it feeling so far," Josh asked, "first six weeks are done."
"Okay," Melina replied, "a lot of attendings to get to know and their preferences."
"Yes," a man named Gavin agreed.
"One at a time," Annie suggested, "if possible stay in one area for a whole rotation. Don't hop to different services to get your favourite. Try it all and get to know the teams."
"What did you start on," Gavin asked.
"Cardio and trauma mainly," Annie replied, "sometimes general or plastics would say no to my parents but they wanted me right with them. Mama was pregnant with Allison, she was born the January of my intern year and we had a different year as a family. Mama and Owen got married right after I finished my internship."
"It was a crazy year," Josh agreed.
"We started dating in May, graduated in June, moved to Seattle in June and into the cottage as room mates," Annie said, " Meg was found after 10 years. Mama came home from Germany, Mama told us all about Allison, Nathan proposed to Megan, Faroke came home, they bought their house, you and I got to actually settle into the cottage as a couple, intern year, Owen proposed, Allie was born, and it ended with Mama and Owen's wedding."
"In a year," Allison gasped.
"In a year," Josh replied, 'plus all the intern stuff."
"What is the intern bowl on our calendars," Sarah asked.
"It's a competition,' Josh explained, 'you go from department to department and complete different challenges. First intern finished wins and gets to pick a procedure to scrub in on with any attending and any procedure."
"Your year did they do it," Melina asked.
"He won," Annie replied, "it's a fun tradition. Trauma always does something creative. You never know what peds cardio has planned. I have fun with it."
"Vacation time," Spencer asked.
"Does not exist this year," Josh was honest, "long weekends, 4-5 day stretches a couple times but nothing you can travel on. It's a hard year. It's meant to be hard."
"Hard but not back breaking or soul crushing," Annie assured, "if you're feeling overwhelmed you talk to us."
"We are here to help advocate for you," Josh replied, 'we will help and advocate as much as possible. We can't do it for you but we will be with you every step of the way."
"Our hospital is like a big extended family," Annie assured, "we support each other and each other's families. Family and health will always come first, if you need to take a sick day take the sick day, "
"But," Melina started.
"No the chief will get it," Annie assured, "so will the residency director. The amount of times they've both sent me home because I needed to be home but was being stubborn. Or as a resident when he would call me into his office to talk and then have a bunch of snacks on the table so I would eat. No they get it. They are parents to young doctors and young surgeons. They will understand. I'm not saying take advantage of it but if you truly need it take it and no one will question."
"If you are not healthy you can not help your patients," Josh added, 'our health directly impacts our patients. But enough work. We have tons of food and yard games."
They finished dinner and the interns started playing the yard games set up on the grass. Having the games broke the ice a bit and people chatted and hung out enjoying their time together. Annie was shocked when she glanced at her watch around 11:30 and found how late it was with the interns playing games on the back deck so they could see.
"We should," Asher whispered to Josh.
'No," Josh replied, "this is important. Stay as long as Allie wants."
"But you probably want to go to bed," Asher replied.
"We're okay, we'll cut it at 12:30 if we need to," Josh replied.
They did end up having to cut the party short just before one, with Annie pointing out many of them were to be ready for pre rounds at 5 the next morning and needed at least a couple hours of sleep.