Allison got off the plane in Boston, it was her second school trip and by far her longest, she would be at Mass Gen for seven weeks, double her rural rotation and Ash and Ev would come out for Valentines Day at the halfway point but she was on her own for a month. She knew she needed this to be on her own, to experience a whole different city and way of life. She got her bags and took a cab to the apartment she was in for the two months. She sent pictures to Teddy and Annie as the cab pulled up.

Annie, "that looks like my old building."

Allison sent her the address.

Annie, "ya, it was on that street and I was in the same unit number."

Allison met the landlord on the steps and followed him up to the unit. She walked into the bedroom that was supposed to be hers. She took a picture out the window of the view and a panorama of the room to send to Teddy and Annie.

Annie, "so many good memories there. That was my room bean. Steph's looked out at another building mine was looking over the street. Send me lots of pictures of the place."

Allison, "I will. It still feels wrong."

Teddy, "it's a long time away but you need it for you. Be Allison not mom for the next couple months."

Annie, "you need to do this. Allie it's okay. Ev will be okay, it's okay for her to miss you. I've done a few weeks before and my kids really missed me but it was okay."

Allison, "six weeks?"

Annie, "5 but you can do it. She's with her dad and Mama and Uncle Owen are home more and more. I'm around."

Allison, 'but if something happens like last time?"

Annie, 'it's all documented. And the Blouins were so disgraced last spring. I saw something today about the church closing."

Allison, "wow they'll be on the war path against us. Stay close to Asher."

Teddy, "we will. Now go unpack and enjoy baby girl."

Allison began to unpack her two suitcases, setting the family photos on the desk so she could see her little family when she missed them.

The landlord came back up with another young woman. Allison walked out of her room to greet the other woman.

"I'm Allie," Allison smiled.

"Rebecca," the other woman smiled, "where are you from?"

"Seattle," Allison replied, "you?"

"A little town outside of Birmingham," Rebecca said.

"Where do you go to school," Allison asked.

"Columbia you," Rebecca replied.

"University of Washington," Allison replied, "my niece just got accepted to Columbia for next fall."

"It's a great school," Rebecca said, "so if your niece is old enough for med school you must come from a big family."

"Two but my older sister is 25 years older," Allison replied, "do you have siblings?"

"I'm the youngest of three," Rebecca replied.

"I'm the youngest as well," Allison replied, "so boyfriend in New York?"

"Single," Rebecca said, "your's is in Seattle?"

"My husband is," Allison replied, "and our daughter."

"Daughter," Rebecca asked.

"Everly, she's 7," Allison replied.

"Wow and you're here," Rebecca said.

"Don't remind me of the guilt of leaving my daughter for six weeks but they're coming for valentines so we'll go to a hotel for the four days," Allison replied, "give you your space."

"How long have you been married," Rebecca asked.

"3 years but together 8 now," Allison replied.

"But your little girl is 7," Rebecca said, "so."

"High school sweetheart and we were 18 with Ev still in high school when she was born," Allison replied.

'And doing this," Rebecca said.

"Took some convincing for me to go," Allison replied, "I wasn't going to but Ash really wanted me to and so do my parents and big sister. My brother is doing one here now as well but the program wouldn't house us together."

"Brother," Rebecca said.

"Leo and I are a year apart, he's older, we'll see him later at orientation," Allison replied, "it'll be good to be with Leo. we haven't since his senior year, he went away for college and hasn't been home a ton since."

"Good for you two then, is he single," Rebecca asked.

"Sadly no," Allison replied, "I'm waiting for him to dump Charlotte. She's nice enough but I don't like her."

"Why," Rebecca asked.

"Lacks ambition she's a teacher which is fine but she wants to quit as soon as they get married and have kids,' Allison said, "but he hasn't even proposed and isn't planning to."

"One of those," Rebecca groaned, "that was my ex. Wanted to be a stay at home dad."

"I haven't worked much because I'm in school but I would never dream of just staying home and letting Ash work," Allison replied.

"What does he do," Rebecca asked.

"He's an electrician," Allison replied, "mainly industrial."

That evening they went to the orientation and welcome dinner.

"Leo," Allison squealed seeing her brother.

"Allie," Leo replied with a hug, "no husband, no monkey this is weird."

"Six weeks for us to hang out," Allison smiled, "longest since we were in high school."

"It'll be good," Leo agreed.

"It will," Allison agreed, "it just feels wrong."

"Mom told me to check on you because of that," Leo laughed, "come on you're fine."

"It's hard to believe that Annie did all her med school rotations here," Allison said as they walked into the hospital. "

"I know," Leo said looking around, "but she did it alone we're together."

"Hows your roommate," Allison asked.

"Okay I guess, would have been easier if the program had listened and let us share a place," Leo replied, "yours?"

"As soon as Ev and Ash came up she looked at me like I have three heads," Allison replied, "I hate being away from them but I know I need to for this. And Ev is growing up she'll be okay."

"But are you," Leo asked.

"Nope," Allison replied, "but fake it till you make it right?"

"Not with me," Leo replied, "ideas for what you want to focus on while your here?"

"Peds and ortho," Allison replied, "you're trauma and general?"

"Maybe neuro," Leo said, "neuro trauma could be really cool."

"Talk to Jenna about neuro," Allison suggested.

"She says it doesn't mix with trauma that its slow and precise vs quick and messy," Leo said, "but I want to see some and learn basics."

"Neuro could be good," Allison agreed, "Leo you don't have to do trauma. Dad got his trauma surgeon in Josh like mom got cardio in Annie."

"I want trauma," Leo assured.

"Altman," a guy Leo knew approached.

"Ma," Leo smiled, "Allie this is Toby Ma."

"Brought your girlfriend," Toby asked.

"Sister," Allison corrected.

"Twins," Toby asked.

"No a year apart," Leo replied.

"I'm Allie," Allison introduced herself.

"Allie Altman," Toby said.

"Blouin," Allison corrected.

"But," Toby started.

"She's married," Leo replied.

"Wow," Toby said, "and hubby is cool with you being here?"

"Ash is our 7 year old daughter not so much," Allison replied, "Everly misses me when I'm away."

"Parents in surgery," Leo said, "she'll need to adapt.'

"I know but she's been spoiled having me around so much," Allison replied.

"How is our princess," Leo questioned.

"Missing me but she'll be okay. I talked to her a couple times today," Allison said, "you can facetime her ipad after school tomorrow."

"Monday," Leo asked.

"Choir isn't until 5:30," Allison replied.

"Choir," Toby asked.

"She's in the Seattle children's choir," Allison replied, "she loves music."

"Swim club," Leo asked.

"Tuesday and Thursday," Allison replied, "choir on Monday and piano on Wednesday."

"Busy kid," Toby said, "so you get to do this as siblings."

"Ya," Leo said, "it'll be good. Most time we've spent together in 8 years."

"I'm guessing you still can't cook," Allison teased.

"I can," Leo argued, "you're just better."

"I do it more," Allison replied, "but if you want me to cook for you you have to clean up."

"Allie,' Leo groaned.

"Deal's a deal," Allison smiled.