Thursday Allison dressed Everly in a little red dress and white tights w.
"Her first thanksgiving," Asher said buttoning his dress shirt.
"What do I wear," Allison asked.
"A dress," Asher said, "your blue one is nice."
"The blue one is a summer dress. I have the red one one mom just bought me for our thanksgiving," Allison said.
"Then wear that," Asher said.
"Where are my black tights," Allison asked.
"If you're both in red," Asher said.
"Your white shirt is good," Allison replied, "I figured out how to iron that."
"Thanks babe," Asher smiled, kissing her.
They finished getting ready and walked down the stairs.
"So I'm alone," Leo asked as they put their coats on.
"My parents for Thanksgiving," Asher said, "we have to see both sides for Ev's sake."
"It's good Leo," Allison replied, "aren't you going to Annies to hang out with everyone? It's a cousin day."
"Annie's house but Faroke has something planned," Leo said, "he promised pizza."
"Go help Faroke," Allison said, "he'll need it with Matt and Henry."
"Have fun," Leo said.
"We will," Asher replied, picking up the car seat.
Leo drove Teddy's car to Annie's.
"No Allie and Asher," Ellie asked.
"They had to go to Asher's parents," Leo said.
"But it's pizza and games night," Matt argued.
"They have to make the time work," Faroke said, "I'm glad Nisha's family is in Boston."
"I want to go to Boston," Henry pouted, "mom and dad go, they even lived there."
"So did I," Faroke said, "for school."
"Mom, dad, you, auntie meg, grandpa, uncle nate," Ellie listed.
"Mom and dad met in Boston," Henry said.
"We've all heard the stories," Catrina said, "dad comes home tomorrow."
"What's happening there," Ellie asked.
"He stays until the middle of January and is working at GS," Catrina said.
"Your parents," Ellie asked.
"Last time he was home he stayed in the basement and mom ignored him," Catrina said, "they talk about me and who has to drive me around."
"That's all my parents talk about who is driving who around and what needs to be done," Ellie said.
"Roke," Catrina said, sick of the conversation," what games did you bring?"
"None," Faroke replied, "but Nisha made cupcakes even though she's working."
"Her pumpkin ones," Catrina asked.
"Yes," Faroke replied, "we should figure out what we're all doing for Allie's family for christmas."
"They get their basement suite in January," Leo said.
"They do," Faroke replied, "what do they need Leo?"
"It sounds like they're moving all their furniture from their bedroom and Everly's room," Leo said, "mom and dad are putting the couch and TV that were down there back in the basement. I think they need things like pots and dishes."
"So those of us over 14," Faroke said, "let's figure out what they need."
"Allie wants new clothes," Leo said, "she hasn't had new stuff since before Everly."
At the hospital Teddy sat with Megan in the attendings lounge.
"Mom and I want to be practical for Allie and Asher for Christmas," Megan said, "what do they need?"
"They're moving into the suite," Teddy replied, "we have furniture that was down there and in their room or Everly's. We found a table and chairs on marketplace that we'll just put down there. I'm not being practical even though I should be. She really wants new clothes and I bought her a few summer things and a couple pairs of jeans for back to school but most of what she has is pre pregnancy. I'm going to buy clothes and make up and the things she likes that they just can't afford."
"Maybe do a housewarming when they move in," Megan asked.
"No," Teddy replied, "save that for her when she gets her own place not in our house."
"I bought some towels, dish cloths and such," Annie said grabbing a seat, "I have a game they keep borrowing so we bought it for them."
"I already bought a set of pots and pans," Megan admitted, "and mom gave me the money to buy a dish set."
"They need them," Teddy said, "I don't know what I'll do when we're not feeding teenagers every night."
"What are you thinking," Annie asked, "I can lend you some if you really miss it."
"We'll do dinner a couple times a week for them but on the nights they've cooked for the family they'll do them and we'll do us," Teddy replied.
"Are they ready," Megan asked.
"I think so," Teddy replied, "she cooks Tuesday and Thursday but they eat without us because of her school schedule."
"But to move downstairs on their own," Annie asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "before we started the reno they did their thing downstairs except for meals. We need them to build their independence. If she had gone away to school she would have been in a dorm and had her space."
"I was in a dorm at 17," Annie said.
"You had good roommates," Teddy said, "they were nice girls."
"They were," Annie agreed, "Cassie is still trying to find someone, she'll never be happy."
"What about the people you did your residency with," Megan asked, "our first class here Teddy."
"Jenna and I," Annie said, "we stayed but I've lost touch with a lot of them. I hear from Cassidy some times and see her on the conference circuit. Duncan is coming back to seattle."
"He is," Teddy said, "your roommate again."
"Never again," Annie said, "he lived with us for all of residency. I was afraid Ellie wouldn't have a nursery because he wouldn't leave."
"Christmas," Megan said, bringing them back on topic.
"PJ party still," Teddy declared.
"Always," Annie agreed, "I ordered ours already."
"Do I get them for Allie, Asher and Ev," Teddy asked.
"I would," Megan said, "their own print or pattern but get them."
"Are they okay," Annie asked, "she asked me about scrubbing in."
"Not until her birthday," Teddy said, "19. I know I've had them in the gallery already but 19 to scrub with me for the first time and I get it."
"Why 19," Megan asked
"Annie was 19," Teddy smiled, " it was our getting to know eachother year. "
"My first trip down I saw a heart transplant and got to help uncle Owen in the OR he had me hold a retractor. I thought it was the coolest thing and that I was a real doctor," Annie smiled at the memory.
"You were so young," Teddy smiled.
"19," Annie said, "I remember Karev, Grey and Yang freaking out that you had a kid. Thank god for Kepner that first morning."
"Richard and Derek Shepard knew you were coming, so did Arizona," Teddy replied.
"But I had only met Owen and Christina," Annie replied.
"How long ago was that," Meredith asked.
"25 years. You're stuck with me Grey," Annie laughed.
"I wish my mom and I could have had the chance to be the power house team you two are," Meredith said, "maybe Zola and I."
"It's that long ago. I never imagined this the first time I came down," Annie admitted, "there's lots of memories."
"I remember Christina and I not knowing you weren't 21 yet and giving you tequila," Meredith laughed.
"It was you," Teddy laughed, "you and your daughter giving my girls alcohol I should have known."
"I had no clue about Ellis and Allison until she told me," Meredith said, "I wish I had known sooner I would have put a stop to it."
"You stopped it and told me when you knew," Teddy said.
"But not before," Meredith started.
"We have a beautiful granddaughter," Teddy smiled, "maybe younger than we hoped for Allison but she made choices. Ellis didn't force her to drink. Allison and Asher made choices and are doing well."
"The baby," Meredith asked.
"Everly is doing better," Teddy smiled, "she gets braces on her legs next week. The shunt is working well."
"We've only had to have Zola's looked at twice," Meredith said, "she's had 2 revisions. Once at about 11 then again about a year ago. Ameila checks it from time to time but she's fine."
"How does it affect Zola now," Teddy asked.
"She gets anxious when she gets a bad headache," Meredith said, "but other than that nothing on a day to day basis. How is her movement coming? I saw her when she was here."
"She's sitting up better," Teddy said, "holding her head up, rocking side to side. There's delays but she's growing fast right now and getting new skills."
"How's Allison doing," Meredith asked.
"Stressed but she'll be okay," Teddy said, "she's come to terms with it as best she can. She goes to physio with Ev and does the exercises with her. Allie has 4 courses at UW and did well on her mid terms and papers."
"The boy," Meredith asked.
"They're together," Teddy said, "they've done well so far."
"Thanksgiving," Megan asked.
"They're with Asher's family today," Teddy replied, "she's anxious about it."
"The way they pushed the two of them away I don't doubt it," Megan replied.
Allison hesitated getting out of the car at Asher's parents.
"Your grandparents," Allison whispered.
"Are cooler than mom and dad," Asher replied.
"Everly," Allison said.
"Grandma won't give her back to you," Asher replied.
"I'm scared," Allison whispered.
"I'm here," Asher assured.
Asher took Allison's hand and she carried the car seat towards the door.
"You made it," Renee yelled.
"Someone took forever to do her hair," Asher teased.
"It was Everly," Allison replied.
"She has no hair," Renee said.
"Some," Allison said.
"Hi sweetheart," Michelle greeted the baby.
"Good to see you two mom," Asher replied.
"Asher," an older woman called.
"Grandma," Asher smiled, "I'd like you to meet my girlfriend Allie and our daughter Everly. Allie, this is my grandma."
"Nancy," the woman introduced herself.
"It's nice to meet you," Allison replied.
"You as well," Nancy replied, "Allison what do you do?"
"I'm at UW," Allison replied, "I just declared my major."
"What are you majoring in," Nancy asked.
"Pre med," Allison replied, "I'm looking into pediatric or neurosurgery"
"Surgery with a family," Nancy asked.
"My mom and big sister do it," Allison replied.
"You would be the nurse then," Mark asked.
"No," Allison replied, "the surgeon."
"How much education is that," Michelle asked.
"My degree then, 4 years of med school and 5 years of residency," Allison replied, "I know Ev will be 13 by the time I'm done but I hope she'll be proud of me."
"Is there something shorter," Michelle asked.
"There's other specialties with shorter residencies," Allison agreed, "I haven't decided fully yet but medicine for sure probably something working with special needs kids."
"I haven't met this one yet," Nancy said.
"Grandma, do you want to hold her," Asher offered.
"I do," Nancy said, holding out her arms.
Asher passed Everly to his grandma, she held the baby close and smiled at her.
"Allison," Eden cheered.
"Hi," Allison greeted and hugged Eden.
"So Asher can bring Allie but I can't invite Ellie," Mitch complained.
"Your brother and his girlfriend are in a different situation than you and Ellie," Michelle answered.
"But Ellie is Allie's cousin," Mitch argued.
"No she's not my cousin," Allison replied, "Ellie is actually my niece. Ellie's mom is my big sister. My sister and I are 25 years apart."
"Same dad," Nancy guessed.
"Mom," Allison answered, "she was very young having Annie and old having me."
"You actually called your sister Annie today," Asher teased, "it's usually Nee."
"I know," Allison replied.
"Is your family close," Nancy asked.
"Very," Asher replied, "they all live in Seattle so we see them every week and they do daycare for Ev when we are at school and work."
"Where are you living these days," an older man asked.
"My parents have a basement suite," Allison replied.
"We haven't met," the man said, "you must be Allie. I'm Doug."
"It's nice to meet you," Allison smiled shaking his hand.
"Is the suite done," Michelle asked.
"Almost," Allison replied, "just a couple finishing touches. It's looking like we'll be in at Christmas"
"That soon," Michelle said, "what do you need?"
"We don't know yet," Allison replied.
"Do you have towels, sheets, dish cloths," Nancy asked.
"We have sheets for our bed and the crib," Allison said, "we need towels."
"Give us a list and we need Christmas lists for all three of you," Michelle smiled.
"We've only been thinking of Everly," Asher said.
"When you have down time what do you like to do," Michelle asked Allison.
"Read, board games, I used to highland dance, I'd like to start dancing again," Allison said.
"Why don't you," Asher asked, "the one class you keep talking about."
"In January," Allison said, "I miss it and my friends."
"Then go," Asher said, "you need to do something for you it's what an hour?"
"90 minutes," Allison replied, "I could go twice a week but the Monday class is 8-9:30."
"It's after bed time," Asher said, "go Allie. Go dance. I know you really miss it. You dance with Ev or when you think you're alone."
"Maybe," Allison said, "I have my kilt and national, it was to go to Ellie but it's too big for Ellie."
"Why would it go to Ellie? It's your costume," Asher said.
"Nana made it years ago for auntie Meg, then sold it to Dan for Annie before Annie and mom were close. Nana didn't know it was going to Annie or even that Annie existed yet," Allison explained, "then Annie wore it until after she had Matt. The national sat in a closet until middle school and then I wore it and when I'm done if it fits if goes to Ellie. The vest has never been altered it, fit all of us and the skirt has only had the hem changed. All of our names are embroidered in the back."
"A family heirloom," Nancy asked.
"Sort of," Allison said, "Auntie Meg, Annie and I were all championship level highland dancers. You compete with highland until you finish college or have kids."
"Can you compete," Asher asked.
"I could but I'm so out of dance shape," Allison said, "and the time it would take to get back to it we just don't have. I was practicing 10 hours a week."
"You were quite the athlete," Nancy said.
"I enjoyed it," Allison replied, "Michelle how can I help with dinner."
"Just some finishing touches now," Michelle smiled, "go sit with the other kids. My mom and I have this."
"Are you sure," Allison asked.
"Yes sweetheart," Michelle smiled, "scoot. Eden was dying to play with Everly and see this week's trick."
"Shes so close to rolling," Asher said.
"Then go give that one some tummy time so she can," Michelle encouraged.
Allison and Asher settled in the family room with his siblings.
"Theres my princess," Mark said sitting on the floor with them, "did you have a good week?"
In the kitchen Nancy asked, "Allison's parents, what do you know?"
"Both are veterans," Michelle said, "older they were in their mid 40s when she was born. The sister is on the mom's side and I'm not fully sure of the details but Annie's dad is around as well and Allie knows him as her uncle Dan. I've heard Annie call Allie's dad Uncle Owen. Teddy, Allie's mom, just stepped down from being chief of surgery at Grey Sloan Hospital and is a cardiothoracic surgeon. Her dad is the head of trauma surgery at Grey Sloan. Teddy and Owen have some tight parameters on the kids. I know they still have curfews. I want to say 10:30 on week nights and 11:30 on weekends but with Everly they don't go out much or late."
"So her being pre med," Nancy asked.
"Not unexpected, she knows the lifestyle of a surgeon's family," Michelle said, "her parents have been really good to the kids. They have connections and resources we just don't have."
"Everly there's something off," Nancy said.
"She has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus," Michelle replied, "mom I told you the baby needed brain surgery."
"You made it sound like she would be better after," Nancy said.
"She is a lot more alert and happier there were huge improvements right away," Michelle said.
"The girl," Nancy asked.
"The more I get to know her the more I like Allie," Michelle said, "she's friendly and kind. The kids made an unfortunate choice but they are good parents. Mom they both work hard and long hours. I've popped by and seen Allie studying with Everly asleep on her."
"Is Everly on solids yet," Nancy asked.
"They haven't said she is," Michelle replied, "there's some gross motor delays I think they'll wait for an OK from their pediatrician. I know Ev is exclusively breast fed."
"Thats a lot of work," Nancy said, "and she's a small girl."
"Her mother is slim, so is the sister," Michelle said, "I know that it was a hard labor and there were complications at birth. The cord was around Everlys neck."
"They're okay," Nancy asked.
"They seem to be," Michelle said, "I know she's close to her mom. Her grandmother is quite elderly, her parents are in their 60s. But there's a sister in her mid 40s and an aunt she's close to. Cousins."
Everly began to get cranky and Asher picked her up off the floor, "hey princess you're okay. It's just Nana and Papa's house. You're okay. See it's Auntie Renee and Auntie Eden playing with you it's okay. I'm going to check your diaper. We've been here a while. I bet you're wet and you hate being wet."
"Maybe," Allison agreed, "and we cut her nap short."
"Does she just need quiet," Michelle asked, "she gets over stimulated."
"She does," Asher agreed.
"Are you leaving," one of Asher's cousins asked.
"No we'll just take her to the office and change her, try to settle her," Asher assured, "we won't stay super late though."
"We have a pack and play if you want her to nap or fall asleep here," Mark offered.
"We'll try this first," Asher said, "did we bring a soother?"
"In the bag," Allison replied.
Asher took Everly to change her while Allison tried to make conversation with his sister and cousins.
"Allison can we come over soon," Renee asked.
"When the basement suite is finished," Allison promised, "hopefully in the next couple of weeks."
"But we haven't seen your house," Renee whined.
"Soon," Allison promised.
"What about Christmas," a cousin asked.
"We'll probably stay here," Allison replied, "I know you all go to your grandparents but it's a lot for Ev and I."
"It's not a grandma's house year," another cousin said, "that was last year."
"We'll stay in Seattle," Allison said, "maybe do a couple days with my family at the cabin over New Years."
"We're in Seattle this year," Jack said, " you won't come?"
"We haven't worked it out yet," Allison said, "we want to see both families. My family usually does dinner all together with my sister's family, aunt and uncle."
"Do Christmasd eve with us," Jack suggested.
"We'll figure it out," Allison said, she wasn't ready to give up her Christmas traditions yet and compromise, "I'm going to check on Ev."
Allison walked to the home office where they usually took Ev to calm her down or feed her.
"How is she," Allison asked.
"Still fussy," Asher said.
"I'll try feeding her," Allison said, "her cheeks are all red."
"She was up a few times last night," Asher said.
"And she's been drooling," Allison replied, "is she teething?"
"She's 6 months old," Asher agreed.
"It's about time," Allison asked.
"Should we ask my mom," Asher asked.
"I guess," Allison said, "I want to call mine."
"Feed her then we'll ask," Asher said.
"She hardly wanted to eat today. I keep offering but she's not eating she's just using me as a soother," Allison said.
"Then let's ask," Asher said.
They carried the baby into the kitchen.
"Look at those rosy cheeks," Nancy commented.
"She's fussy, not eating and drooling and now her cheeks are rosy," Allison said.
"She's six months," Michelle said, "probably teething. Look at her gums. Run your finger over them."
Allison did as she was told.
"Swollen on the bottom," Allison said.
"She's teething," Michelle said, "lots of love until the tooth comes through in a few days."
"How can we help," Asher asked.
"Give her something to gnaw on," Michelle suggested, "that she can't swallow. How's she doing with solids?"
"We started a bit of baby cereal today," Allison said, "she likes it."
"What else have you tried," Nancy asked.
"Nothing yet," Asher said.
" I have a couple teething toys I was going to bring you," Michelle said, "come have dinner. Give her some cereal and a bottle at the table and I'll put the toys in the freezer. We'll eat in 5."
"We're just trying once a day when she's happy and alert," Asher said, "our doctor hasn't quite given us the go ahead yet but Teddy thought we could try a taste."
"Sit her in the chair with a bottle now," Michelle said.
They sat Everly in the highchair and joined the family for dinner.
On the way home that night Allison whispered, "she can't be teething, she's already sleeping though most nights, she's not a new born."
"She's not," Asher agreed, "she's getting stronger."
"She is and shes doing better in the high chair, her head control is so much better this week," Allison said.
"She's going to be okay," Asher guessed.
"I hope so," Allison agreed, "I need her to be."
"She will be," Asher said, "you heard the physio she'll walk and she has full use of her arms."
"Walker, braces, crutches," Allison said.
"Just tools," Asher said.
"She'll get bullied," Allison said, "your cousins didn't seem impressed."
"They don't know you," Asher said, "and you got shy."
"They were judging me," Allison mumbelled.
"I know a few are judgemental," Asher agreed, "it's hard."
"It's easier for you," Allison snapped, "they don't accuse you of ruining your life or being a slut."
"I called Will on that," Asher said, "I told him not to call you that."
"It doesn't matter," Allison said, "your family thinks I'm not good enough."
"No one thinks that," Asher said.
"Your parents didn't try until they found out something was wrong with Ev," Allison said.
"I know and we're working though that," Asher said, "it was too soon to see everyone."
"It was," Allison agreed, "Christmas?"
"Maybe we do church with your family then go to my parents for dinner and carols after," Asher suggested.
"Christmas day," Allison asked.
"We'll go around lunch time and say hi," Asher said, "just my parents and siblings."
"Have a calm morning at home," Allison asked, "it's her first Christmas."
"It is," Asher replied, "we'll make it special."
"We will," Allison agreed.