At the end of October Asher pulled up in front of his parents house.
"I haven't been here before," Allison said.
"Allie it's good," Asher replied, "we'll just have lunch and take Ev home for her nap."
There was a little girl watching from the front window. The seven year old ran to the front door and opened it.
"Asher you came home," the little girl yelled.
"Hi Eden," Asher smiled, "you grew!"
"Are you coming home," Eden asked.
"To visit," Asher said.
"Dad said you have a baby," Eden asked, "where is it?"
Allison stood beside Asher.
"Eden this is my girlfriend Allison and our daughter Everly," Asher introduced taking the car seat from Allison.
"Daughter, is it a boy or girl," Eden asked.
"She's a girl," Allison said crouching down, "it's nice to meet you Eden I'm Allie."
"Asher," Michelle said, "come inside, get that baby out of the wind."
"We're coming," Asher agreed.
"Hi Allie sweetheart," Michelle greeted, "how's Everly?"
"She's so alert now," Allison said, "and the giggles. She always giggles now."
"Giggles are good," Michelle said, "come in. Allie your only allergies are strawberries and sesame?"
"Yes," Allison confirmed.
"Tea, Coffee," Michelle offered.
"Water," Allison said, "I've had coffee today. Ev doesn't like when I have caffeine."
"Come sit," Michelle said.
"Asher's home," Eden ran through the house.
"Ashers home," 10 year old Jack asked.
"He's here," Eden yelled.
"To visit," 15 year old Mitchell said.
"I don't know," 12 year old Renee said, "he has a bag."
"Who's the chick," Mitchell said.
"Probably Allison," Renee said.
"They brought the baby. Her name is Everly," Eden said.
16 year old Jordan joined them, "he won't stay. He'll go with his wife and daughter."
"He got married without us," Renee pouted.
"No," Mitchell said, "dad won't have him in the house because he won't marry her."
"Allison has a name," Jordan said, "I remember her from school. Jack, she's related to your friend Ellie."
"Kids," Michelle called up the stairs.
Asher had Everly out of her car seat and was sitting on the couch with her. Allison sat beside him looking tense. Asher shifted the baby to his shoulder so she was upright which she preferred and put one arm around Allison.
Eden and Renee ran to the baby.
Renee snatched at the baby.
"No," Asher said firmly, "Renee we need to explain a couple things first."
When all of Asher's siblings were in the living room he introduced everyone, "this is my girlfriend Allie and our daughter Everly. Allie, this is Mitch, Jack, Renee, Jordan and Eden."
"It's nice to meet you," Allison smiled.
"Why can't I hold the baby," Renee asked, "how old is she?"
"Five months today," Allison said, "when everyone is here we'll explain."
"We are," Mark said.
"Everly has a couple medical conditions," Asher said, "she has hydrocephalus which is extra spinal fluid built up in her brain. She had surgery three weeks ago to place a shunt to drain the extra fluid from her brain into her abdomen. She also has Cerebral Palsy which is a movement disorder. We don't know how bad it is yet or how much she's impacted. So far she's meeting all of her social milestones and cognitive ones. She's able to use her arms and upper body normally so far."
"Is she okay," Renee asked.
"She is," Allison said.
"We need you to be calm, handling her and make sure you support her legs and bum. She doesn't like her legs dangling,``Asher said.
Everly began to fuss, Allison grabbed a pacifier from the diaper bag and gave it to the baby.
"Can I hold her please," Renee asked.
"You can," Asher agreed. Renee sat with her big brother and held the baby.
"She's pretty," Eden said.
"She is," Michelle said, "Allie can I get you anything? Water, juice, tea, lemonade?"
"Water please," Allison said.
"Not juice," Mitchell asked.
"I don't like having a lot of sugar," Allison said.
"No," Michelle said, "dinners at your house growing up?"
"Pasta, chicken and veggies, soups and stews," Allison said, "homemade usually. My mom stress and happy bakes so there's always things in the house."
"Home made," Michelle asked.
"Yes," Allison said, "moms a heart surgeon she's always been careful about healthy eating and balance."
"You have some treats," Michelle asked.
"Teddy always makes some sort of treat for lunches for the week," Asher said, "she rotates through a few. But I miss your cookies."
"I made some to send with you," Michelle smiled.
"We really appreciated the meals when Everly was recovering," Allison said.
"Did you enjoy them," Michelle asked.
"We did," Allison said, "it fed all four of us with leftovers for lunches."
"Can I hold your kid," Mitchell asked.
Everly began to cry.
"When she's happier," Michelle said, taking the baby from Renee. Michelle tried to bounce the baby and soothe her.
"I need to feed her," Allison said.
"I'll give her her bottle," Mark offered.
"Can Allie sit with her in your office," Asher asked.
"Yes," Mark said.
Asher showed Allison the office and went back to the living room.
"The baby doesn't get a bottle," Eden asked.
"Sometimes but she prefers when Allie feeds her," Asher said, "they both do."
"Why don't you come visit," Mitchell asked.
"Dad was furious with me and Allie then Everly is special needs," Asher said.
"It's been a year," Renee said.
"I know," Asher said, "Ev was born at the end of May then it was the end of June before Allison even really wanted to leave the house. I'm working full time and doing overtime three days a week."
"Not all five," Mark asked.
"No," Asher said, "Allie has school Tuesday and Thursday nights so it's me and Ev."
"School," Jack asked.
"Allie goes to UW," Asher explained, "she wants to be a teacher."
Michelle nodded, "they're both working hard."
Allison came back.
"There's our happy girl," Michelle smiled.
"Much happier," Allison said, "I think she's just nervous about a new place and new people."
"Allison," Mark asked.
"Yes," Allison said, passing the baby to Mark.
"Why do mom and dad get to hold her," Jack asked.
"Everyone will get a turn," Asher assured.
"We'll eat soon," Michelle said, "I borrowed a high chair from the church daycare for her."
"She's fine in my lap," Allison said, "we haven't tried a high chair yet."
"What do you do at home," Mark asked.
"Some one holds her," Asher said, "or we have a chair that hopefully will grow with her, right now she just hangs out in her swing by the table while we eat."
"We could put her carseat on a chair," Mark suggested.
"That would work," Allison agreed, "we do it at auntie Meg's."
"When you go to school," Mark asked.
"Tuesday Auntie Meg is off, Wednesday my dad doesn't work," Allison said, "dad and auntie Meg are trauma surgeons so they each have a day off mid week so they can take turns with Saturdays and Sundays, the hospital has to have a trauma surgeon in the building at all times. Then my sister doesn't work Friday's so she babysits then. My Thursday class is 7-10 pm so she's with Asher."
"If your schedule changes next semester or you need day care we have infant toddler spaces in the church daycare," Michelle said, "we can get you a subsidized spot there for Everly."
"We'll consider it," Asher said, "with her needs we like her with family right now."
"She'll have to go some day," Michelle said.
"I know," Allison said, "we have a good deal with my family right now."
"We can take a day as well," Mark said.
"We will let you know," Allison said.
They ate their lunch and made small talk, Allison sat and listened as Asher caught up with his siblings.
After lunch they laid a blanket on the floor and let his siblings play with Everly on the floor.
When Everly began to fuss again Allison checked her watch.
"We're late getting her down for her nap," Allison said.
"Do you want her to nap here," Michelle asked.
"She doesn't nap out very well," Allison said, "she's a home body that way."
"We'll take her home," Asher agreed. He knew Allison had had enough.
Getting home Allison got Everly down for a nap then sat at the desk in their room to do home work.
"How was today," Owen asked Asher.
"Really good," Asher said, "we're going to do Saturdays with them for lunch for a while."
"You need your family two," Owen agreed, "Ev needs them."
"She does," Asher agreed.
Annie was sitting in Chris's living room catching up with her brother.
"Do you ever miss her," Chris asked.
"Jessie or mom," Annie asked.
"Both I guess," Chris said.
"Sometimes," Annie admitted, "but I was 21 when I had to cut them out of my life. You remember the stabbing."
"Do you regret it," Chris asked.
"Parts I didn't do well," Annie admitted, "I was a coward C. I'm not you. I'm not that brave. I ran."
"We both did," Chris agreed.
"You ran towards bullets," Annie said.
"I'm in one piece," Chris argued.
"I used to freak out when you were overseas," Annie said, "I had you and mama."
"Dad," Chris said.
"I ran from him," Annie said, "I hurt him when I changed my name. I should have done that differently."
"You tried to tell them," Chris said, "you would call me crying."
"I should have waited to talk to them before I actually did it," Annie said, "missed a few days of school and gone up when they were seeing you in Ontario."
"Annie it's 20 years ago," Chris said, "you can't change it."
"I think it still makes Leslie mad," Annie said, "and I never got to sort it out with Jessie. I regret that."
"Annie she was too sick," Chris said, "you chose your health and your child."
"I chose Ellie," Annie admitted, "I always will choose my kids."
"My boys," Chris said, "How's Allison doing?"
"She's good," Annie said.
"I'm worried," Chris said, "when Jen had did the surgery for them."
"Pro bono," Annie said.
"I know," Chris said, "Jen told me she was going to do it. If they had needed me I would have donated my time for her care two."
"I know," Annie said, "christmas it's her first they've always made our kids first Christmas's so special."
"Dad always gets them a bike," Chris said.
"Second Christmas when they're ready for the striders," Annie said, "not for Ev. I have books for her. She needs something special."
"We'll find it," Annie said, "how are you guys doing with two sets of holidays?"
"It's good," Chris said, "the kids don't have to decide yet but soon I think."
"Baptism at any age is fine," Annie said.
"Jenna wants to do the Bar Mitzvahs," Chris said, "it matters to her mom."
"But you're not sold," Annie said, "you didn't Christen your boys. Can it be done later? Let the boys decide when they're ready."
"It's her mom," Chris said.
"I'm sure Dad would like to see my kids baptized but I'm not pushing it," Annie said, "Josh wants them to be older. We agreed to wait until our kids ask to be."
"Are you going to come for Chanukah this year," Chris said.
"One night," Annie agreed, "our kids like coming and doing that and it's so important to Jenna to have the family together for it."
"It is," Chris agreed, "then our usual Christmas?"
"Yes," Annie said, "Josh's birthday and thanksgiving first."
"Is it still weird to do Thankgiving again in November," Chris asked.
"We do it with our kids and dad in October and then the rest of the family in Novmber ," Annie said, "there was about 10 years until I was able to reconnect with grandmere and she invited us up that I only celebrated in November. "
"When you were in Boston," Chris asked.
"With friends," Annie said, "Steph and I would cook and others would come and bring the sides and wine."
"Remember the new years auntie Teddy told some one we were both her kids," Chris laughed.
"That was Henry," Annie shook her head, "but yes he told a friend of us were both mama's. Annabeth and Christopher."
"If you hadn't changed your name, what would you have used at work," Chris asked.
"Mama and I had talked and I was introducing myself as Annabeth," Annie replied, "she said in Med school and residency she used Theodora."
"That's worse than Annabeth," Chris laughed.
"Why do you think our kids have such normal names, Elizabeth, Matthew, Henry, Heather," Annie replied, "what's next C?"
"Get the kids through highschool then maybe look at retiring early," Chris said.
"Jenna," Annie asked.
"Is burning out," Chris replied, "running neuro is a lot."
"Since we lost Shepard," Annie said, "her offer to teach at Hopkins she had to take it."
"It's only a one year teaching position," Chris said, "she's back in August."
"I feel bad for Link and Scout," Annie replied.
"Her and Link have never really been together," Chris replied.
"No but still it's not fair to Scout. I go teach for a week somewhere but my kids know it's a week and I'll be home," Annie said, "Josh is gone more than I am."
"Halloween next weekend," Chris asked.
"You're coming to my house and I'll do Leslie's blood and bones for dinner," Annie asked.
"You have to be careful saying blood and bones you could actually get them," Josh teased coming in.
"Tomato soup and breadsticks," Annie replied.
"I'm sure Jenna will bring something spooky," Chris said, "you two go all mom crazy on holidays."
"So do mama and auntie Meg," Annie said, "it's the best part. Allison and Asher are going to bring Everly. I know his mom was making their costumes."
"Why can't our mom over come us making decisions she doesn't agree with," Chris groaned.
"I've come to realize Leslie is older and intolerant," Annie said, "she's set in her ways and likes control. Leslie is 80 it's not worth trying to change her. I appreciate the good years with her. When Jessie got sick so did she. C were both medical professionals we can understand that."
"My medical training yes," Chris said, "as her son no. She gave birth to me, she raised us we were her kids."
"We still are," Annie said, "I don't think she knows how to love us. I know she things our careers are reversed."
"I should be the surgeon and you the nurse," Chris said, "maybe if I had Teddy and Owen backing me and guiding me the way they backed you. They supported my military career in a way mom and dad never could. They understood that ambition and helped me. They were my references, I talked to him once a week as I was trying to become an officer. He guided me. But that was before Allie and Leo."
"They thought we would be their only chance to have kids in a way," Annie said, "she said I would be her one and only until Allie surprised us."
"Allie has always been full of surprises," Chris said.
"Everly," Annie smiled, "she's doing well though. Allie is taking it as well as we can hope. She needs time to mourn it and the what could have beens."
"We see it all the time," Chris said, "you, Jen, Josh give bad news all the time."
"But it never touches our family until now," Annie said, "yes both my boys have ADHD but thats manageable most days. Henry has a learning disability but dad is helping us sort that out with his school and get his IEP going."
"You okay with that," Chris asked.
"We have to be," Annie said, "it's not easy, it's been a fight with the school and we had to do his assessment privately but it's been done. It's happening. Heather is in Kindergarten, she's not picking up her letter sounds but her teacher isn't worried so I'll try not to."
"Heather is just heather," Chris said, "she reminds me of Jessie in some ways. The free spirit, nothing bothers her, she's charismatic. Jessie was warm and outgoing before she got sick and she got sick when we were kids. Annie, you remember the worst years."
"I remember the good ones," Annie said, "maybe Heather got her outgoing free spirit as long as she's kind to everyone."
"Jessie was nice to everyone but you and I," Chris said.
"I know," Annie said, "she did like seeing baby Ellie the two times they met."
"She never got to hold her own," Chris said.
"I know," Annie said, "she missed this."
"I like this part," Chris agreed.
"The kids are a good age," Annie agreed, "highschool is tough for Ellie but she's a year younger. She's hanging out with a boy tonight. I wonder if he's related to Asher it's the same last name."
"What are they doing," Chris asked.
"They're going to play laser tag with some other kids," Annie replied.
"Your okay with it," Chris asked.
"She's in 10th," Annie said, "I have to let her."
"It's hard when you skip a grade," Chris said, "being a year younger."
"I know she's 14," Annie said, "it's hard. My baby is 14."
"We're in our 40s," Chris said.
"That feels weird," Annie said, "being a 44 year old mom of 4."
"How do you manage 4," Chris asked.
"Why I only work 4 days a week," Annie replied, "I need my Friday with my kids. But Heather is in school so Friday is now my Everly day."
"Your babysitting," Chris said.
"They can't afford daycare," Annie said, "Allie goes to school and works. She drops Ev to me before school and then Asher picks Everly up when he's off work. It's working for all of us. They leave me her car seat and Ev does my errands with me. It fills my need to have a baby around."
"Will you," Chris asked.
"No," Annie said, "I adore babies but we're in a good place. We've talked about it but we don't really want to start again. Where are all the kids?"
"Basement I guess," Chris said, "I don't know."
"What did they do," Annie asked, "they've been too quiet for too long. And it has to be a day our spouses are working."
"I'm on my own this week Jenna is at a neuro conference in LA," Chris said.
"Do I want to know what our kids are doing," Annie asked, "four boys and Heather?"
"Tyler is 13," Chris said.
"It's been too quiet for too long," Annie said, "they're never this quiet."
"You go," Chris said, "3 are yours."
"It's your house," Annie argued.
"Come on Ann," Chris tried.
"All you C," Annie said.
"Together," Chris suggested.
They walked down the basement steps and were shocked by what they found.
"What's going on," Annie asked with a smile.
"We're trying to figure out a way to help Everly walk," Tyler said.
"With your old toys," Chris asked.
"We don't know yet," Dillon Chris's younger son said.
"Why," Annie asked.
"We looked it up," Matt replied, "the C thing she has means she can't walk."
Annie sat on the floor with the kids, "it's a maybe. Right now she's too little to walk anyway. She's only 5 months she's learning to sit up and maybe she'll sit around thanksgiving. "
"We want to help," Dillon said.
"I know you do," Annie replied.
"Right now you play with her when you see her," Chris said.
"What were you going to build," Annie asked.
"A robot," Heather said.
"A robot," Chris asked, "why?"
"In a movie there was a robot that walked for someone," Henry said.
"It's very kind of you," Annie smiled, "let's wait and see what she needs."
"We want to help," Dillon said.
"I know you do," Chris said, "I'm proud of you for wanting to help."
"How can we help," Matt asked.
"Play with Everly," Annie said.
"That's it," Henry asked looking disgusted.
"It is," Annie said, "play with her, talk to her. Give Allie a break at a family thing and take the baby."
"Can I babysit," Tyler asked.
"Maybe when you're both older," Annie said.
"Dad can we take her somewhere soon," Dillon asked.
"Maybe with Allie and Asher," Chris agreed, "Everly can't be away from Allison for very long."
"Mom," Henry asked.
"Friday," Annie smiled, "Allie goes to school and works so Ev will be with me when I pick you up."
"And it's Halloween," Chris said.