Wednesday night Allison was sitting on the basement couch with Asher. They were cuddling to watch something on Netflix because it was the week before Christmas break and teachers weren't assigning much homework as the school district had banned assignments beyond reading over breaks. She was comfortable in his arms with his hands running gently over her bump.
"So the dance tomorrow," he said.
"We're going with our friends," Allison said, "I wish there was one more guy to balance it out."
"You and I as a couple," Asher smiled, "our first big thing as a couple. Did you find a dress?"
"I borrowed one from Annie," Allison said, "you have a suit?"
"I went to my parents and got it," Asher said, "my dad still can't look at me."
"What did they say," Allison asked.
"To either propose to you or stay away," Asher said.
"We've talked about this," Allison said.
"I know," Asher said, "I love you and our baby but we're not ready for marriage."
"We're not," Allison said, "wait Ash keep doing that."
"What," Asher asked.
"The circles," Allison said, "I think they're moving. When you were doing the circles I felt something tickle me."
Asher kept drawing the circles. And Allison began to giggle.
"You two sound happy," Teddy said coming down the stairs.
"Mom the baby is moving," Allison beamed.
"17 weeks it's early but not too early," Teddy said, "you look happy."
"We are," Allison said.
"You two look cozy," Teddy said, "but dad and I were going to make cocoa and and watch old christmas specials. Do you want to join us?"
"Both of us," Allison asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "cocoa Asher?"
"Yes please," Asher said.
"Are there any of the thumb print's left," Allison asked.
"Lots," Teddy said.
"Were coming up," Allison said, "mom the baby moved."
Allison got up off the couch and walked to Teddy.
"I'm happy for you baby girl," Teddy smiled, hugging her youngest.
"We can take your car tomorrow to the dance," Allison asked.
"If your home at a reasonable time," Teddy said, "Allison you'll have to pace your self. What time does the dance end?"
"Ten," Asher said.
"Then you come straight home," Teddy said, "in this house by 10:30."
"Yes mom," Allison said, "when does Leo get home?"
"Friday," Owen said, "he writes his last final tomorrow."
"Is he going to be nice," Allison asked.
"We've tried," Teddy said, "your brother has something going on. It's big I can feel it."
"Do you want me to try to find a place," Asher asked, "for me to move out? I can look elsewhere if it would smooth things out with Leo."
"No," Teddy said, "you and Allison need to be doing what your doing now."
"Allison needs you here," Owen said, "we like having you around. No one else has ever helped me get all of Teddy's Christmas crazy up outside."
"It was fun," Asher said, "I like all the Christmas stuff."
There was a knock at the door.
Owen went to open it.
"Mark," Owen said.
"We're here to talk to Asher," Mark said.
"Teddy's just making cocoa to go with some cookies," Owen said, "come in."
"What were you doing," Michelle asked.
"Mom," Asher said.
"Hi honey," Michelle said.
Allison darted for the stairs.
"Sorry," Teddy said, "Allison is in her pajamas. I'm sure she's just running to her room to get dressed."
"She goes to bed early," Michelle said.
"Just wanted to be comfortable," Teddy smiled, "home work was done, they had gone for their walk."
"How's she feeling," Michelle asked, "last time we were here she seemed pretty sick."
"I'm good," Allison said, coming down in leggings and a shirt.
"Allison," Michelle smiled, "look at you."
"17 weeks," Allison said.
"And you're good," Michelle asked.
"We're good," Allison agreed.
"Dad, why are you here," Asher asked.
"We wanted to talk to you," Mark said, "alone."
"We can talk as a family," Owen suggested, "come have a seat."
"We want to be part of your lives," Michelle said.
"We'd like that," Asher said.
"We haven't handled it well," Mark said.
"No you haven't," Owen said.
"Dad you were on me about proposing today," Asher said, "yes Allison is my girlfriend and we are having a baby but we're not ready for marriage."
"How do you know," Mark asked.
"Because they've spent the last three months here, living under the same roof getting to know each other and bonding," Teddy said, "with our guidance."
"What are the house rules," Michelle asked.
"Curfew is 9:30 on school nights and in their own rooms by 10:30," Teddy said, "her light is off by 11 we don't check his but expect him to be responsible. Weekends home by 10:30 and in own rooms by midnight and we check. A couple time's we've let it be later because they were at my older daughter's house and we picked them up. Both have chores to do every day. They each have a day to make dinner and do the clean up every night together. Homework must be done. GPAs have to be maintained or in around here is not optional. And both have jobs."
"Sounds reasonable," Michelle said.
"How do you make sure they stay in their own beds," mark asked.
"I'm a really light sleeper," Teddy said, "I hear Allison get up in the night but it's always only her footsteps. And the top stair squeaks I'd hear them coming and going. More then that we trust them. We've always worked from a position of trust with our children. We've given Asher the same, our trust and respect unless he shows us he can't handle it."
"I want them married before she gives birth," Mark said.
"No," Allison said, "I don't want to get married now. I want it some day when I know I'm ready but that's not now."
"We're going to work together to do what is best for our baby," Asher said, "we are dating cautiously."
"So your fooling around with her when her parents aren't home," Mark said.
"No," Allison and Asher said together.
"I'm not doing this," Allison said, "we have a plan we made with out your help. Every time you talk to Asher you make him feel guilty."
Allison stood up from the table.
"Where are you going," Mark asked.
"To bed," Allison said, "I'm tired."
"Good night," Teddy said.
"It's late," Owen said, "it's 9:15 on a school night. I work at 5am. Tomorrow is the winter formal, Friday is the last day of school before the break and our son comes home that night from UCLA."
"Saturday morning for a sit down would work," Teddy said.
"We're both working," Asher said.
"Where are you working," Michelle asked.
"Target just stocking shelves," Asher replied, "Allie is a cashier at safeway."
"Saturday night," Michelle suggested, "I could make dinner."
"We told Josh we would babysit Matt, Henry and Heather," Asher said, "he's surprising Annie."
"Only way he gets her out without the kids," Teddy said, "Sunday lunch here?"
"Working," Asher said.
"We have sunday dinner at Megan's," Teddy thought out loud.
"I'll get my Sunday shift covered," Asher said, "Allie is off."
"Sunday dinner where," Michelle asked.
"My sister's," Owen said, "it rotates between here, Megan, another niece and Annie's."
"I like when Jenna cooks," Asher said, "that chicken soup she brought a couple weeks ago."
"When you both got strep throat," Teddy said, "that's Jenna."
"How does Jenna fit," Mark asked.
"She's married to Annie's half brother on her dad's side," Teddy said, "we all work together Jenna is a peds neurosurgon. Hospitals tend to become families. Annie and Jenna have been best friends since their intern year."
"So family gatherings," Michelle asked.
"Once a week and then some special things," Teddy said.
"What special things," Mark asked.
"Pumpkin patch just after you kicked me out," Asher said, "gingerbread houses, the Christmas tree farm. Snowshoeing Monday or Tuesday. Allie can still do that right?"
"We're all going," Teddy said.
"She wants to go," Asher said.
"We need to talk," Mark said.
"We will," Owen said, "come after church on Sunday and we'll have lunch."
"Any allergies," Teddy asked.
"No," Mark said.
"I'll get my mom to watch our younger kids," Michelle said, "Asher is our oldest. We worry about the example he's setting for his siblings."
"He's taking responsibility," Owen said.
"Mom, dad, I know your mad but this won't help," Asher said, "Allison and I are having our baby. We're going forward with our plans for my apprenticeship and her to go to school. We will get our training and be something and we will make sure our baby knows how much we love them. Today was a good day and you ruined it."
"How did we ruin it," Michelle asked.
"Stressing Allie out," Asher said, "she was so happy when we came up for a Christmas movie and cocoa."
"Why," Michelle asked, "something with the baby?"
"She'd had a great day at school with no one bugging her," Asher said, "she rocked her french presentation then she felt the baby move for the first time."
"1 on Sunday," Teddy suggested.
"1:30 would be better," Michelle said.
"We can do that," Teddy agreed. She would have to reschedule a walk with Annie but they could go earlier that day.
"We'll be here," Michelle said, "what can we bring?"
"Open minds," Teddy said.
"We'll see you then," Mark said.
"See you Sunday," Michelle said, she reached to give Asher a hug.
"Mom," Asher said.
"Okay mr too cool for a hug," Michelle said.
"Good night son," Mark said.
"Good night," Asher replied and watched them walk out the door.
"Mom," Allison called from the top of the stairs.
"You can come down," Teddy said, "do you still want cocoa?"
"Please," Allison said.
"Okay we can watch one of the short ones," Owen said.
"Sunday do we have to," Allison asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "but it's here and we'll be here."
"They'll come around," Asher said.
"Ash, they don't sound like it," Allison said.
"Not stressing now Allie," Asher said, "come relax a bit."
"Go get comfortable," Teddy said.
"I am," Allison said.