Friday Night Ava and Olivia knocked on the door.
"What's going on," Allison asked when she got to the door.
"You're sleeping over," Olivia said, "your last sleep over before you're a mom."
"Really," Allison asked looking skeptical
"Really," Ava said, "girls night the three of us. Allie just come, please."
Teddy appeared behind Allison, "you don't work tonight or tomorrow and Asher is. Go and enjoy it baby."
"I hate him working two jobs," Allison complained.
"I know but it's better for you to be working less right now and focusing on school," Teddy said.
"What are we doing," Allison asked.
"Pizza, movies, nails, sleepover stuff," Olivia said, "go get your stuff."
"No hot tub," Allison declared.
"We won't," Ava agreed.
"Go get your stuff," Olivia said.
"I don't know about sleeping over," Allison said, "they kick all night and I'm up a lot."
"Go try and we can always come get you if you want to come home," Teddy suggested.
"Okay," Allison looked hesitant.
"Girls, can you wait here and I'll help Allison get organized," Teddy said.
"Sure," Olivia agreed.
"Go make yourselves comfortable," Teddy said pointing to the living room.
Teddy followed Allison upstairs, "why don't you want to go? You usually love sleepovers with Liv and Ava."
"I've had lots of those crampy things all day," Allison said, "and I didn't sleep last night."
"Go and try to relax," Teddy said, "no five mile puppy walks. Go have pizza, talk, play games, do your nails. Where's all your nail stuff?"
"Bottom bathroom drawer," Allison said.
"Get your pajamas and something really cute for tomorrow," Teddy said, "change your top now."
"Why something cute," Allison asked.
"Trust me and your friends," Teddy smiled.
"What," Allison asked.
"Go with it," Teddy smirked, "cute dress for tomorrow. You have that green one."
"That's comfy," Allison said.
"Pack it," Teddy said, "I'll get your bathroom stuff."
"Meds, vitamins," Allison said.
"It's all in the organizer isn't it," Teddy asked.
"It's Friday I have to redo it," Allison said.
"I'll do it quickly for you," Teddy said.
"Can we just throw what I need for the night in a baggie," Allison asked, "it's easier to hide in my make bag."
"I can do two tonight and tomorrow mornings," Teddy said.
"When I have the baby can I stop the synthroid," Allison asked.
"Probably not. We'll do blood work every 4-6 weeks and probably decrease your dose but your sister has been on it 25+ years now," Teddy said, "we'll get you on a low dose where your symptoms are in control, you have energy and minimize the other symptoms. Lowest dose possible."
"The other one," Allison asked.
"We'll talk when your baby is a few months old," Teddy said, "you'll still take your vitamins for a while. We'll keep you healthy."
"Tonight," Allison said.
"Go enjoy pizza and games with Ava and Liv," Teddy said, "you need your friends. They want you to go."
"Will they still want me when I have the baby," Allison asked.
"Those two are true friends," Teddy said, "it might be different and you'll have to work at it."
"Will they want to meet the baby," Allison asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "my best friend Jen when I was your age she wanted to meet Annie so badly. So did my roommates Anne and Kristen."
"Did they," Allison asked.
"When Annie was older," Teddy said, "Annie was Anne Milners research assistant at UBC when she was in college."
"You work with Anne all the time," Allison said.
"We do," Teddy said.
"Of your friends who met her first," Allison asked.
"Your dad and Christina,"Teddy said, "the same day I got to meet her."
"When you had her did it hurt," Allison asked.
"Both of you did," Teddy admitted, "but we're not thinking of it. Focus on what Amanda taught you on Tuesday. You're at Liv's Amanda is there if something doesn't feel right or you have questions, she's a safe person to ask."
"I want you," Allison said.
"Call me if you need me," Teddy said, "let's finish packing and go. I know you're feeling out of control."
Allison nodded, Teddy gave her a hug.
"Go try to relax and have fun," Teddy said, "it's only Ava and Liv."
"Just them," Allison asked.
"Just them," Teddy promised she zipped up Allison's bag and grabbed her favorite two pillows.
"Bear," Allison said.
"You really want your bear," Teddy asked.
Allison nodded.
"You're a mom in 5 weeks," Teddy commented.
"I know I'm too old for a teddy bear," Allison said.
"But you want it anyway," Teddy said, shoving it in the pillow case.
"Asher knows," Allison said.
"Let's head down," Teddy said, taking Allison's stuff down stairs.
"Ready Allie," Ava asked.
"Almost," Allison said.
"Girls," Teddy commanded, looking at all three teens.
"Yes," Olivia asked.
"No 6 mile puppy walks Olivia," Teddy directed, "short walks under an hour. When Allison has had enough the walk is over. You have to look out for her. The hot tub is off limits now. Allison, you know what you can eat and drink. Call me if you need anything."
"I will," Allison replied.
The three teens drove to their favorite restaurant.
Asher was stocking shelves at target when his dad found him.
"Dad," Asher greeted.
"How's the baby," Mark asked.
"Not due for another five weeks," Asher replied, "I think Allie has had enough."
"Is everything looking okay," Mark asked.
"There's a problem with the heart," Asher admitted " but Allie's mom and big sister are heart suregons and if Teddy and Annie aren't worried I'm trying not to."
"You," Mark asked.
"I'm good," Asher said, "this is my second job to support them. Allie needs to get her courses finished."
"Two jobs," Mark asked.
"My apprenticeship," Asher said, "it pays well but I'm so close to having the cash for a used truck that three more weeks of this I'll do it."
"Rent," Mark asked, "where are you living?"
"I pay Owen and Teddy every two weeks," Asher said, "room and board."
"Do they feed you," Mark asked.
"Yes," Asher said, "they can all cook. I've learned, I have to make dinner for everyone once a week and so does Allie. We do Sunday dinner with the whole family every week."
"The summer you'll come to family camp," mark asked.
"No," Asher replied, "I'm working we'll have a new born and Allison doesn't want to go. We might go to her family's cabin and her sister does a camping trip for Allie and her cousins that we might do."
"How old is the sister," Mark asked.
"43 or 44," Asher replied, "married with 4 kids. Annie and Josh are really supportive."
"Your mom wasn't invited to the shower," Mark said, "she was hurt."
"We're not having one," Asher said, "Allison doesn't want it. "
"Have you proposed," Mark asked.
"No," Asher said, "I'm not going to right now. Her and I are in a good place and I think Owen would kill me for that right now."
Mark turned and walked away from Asher.
Annie let herself into Teddy's house.
"Mama," Annie yelled.
"We're ready to start," Teddy smiled coming down the stairs, "she's at olivias for the last sleepover."
"That's sad she'll miss so much," Annie said, "shaping things like college roommates."
"Drunk studying," Teddy said.
"Never did that," Annie replied, "but she'll never have those nights with her girlfriends where they drink several bottles of wine and talk about boys in a dorm."
"No she won't," Teddy agreed.
"Prom," Annie sighed.
"They have tickets," Teddy answered.
"Is it just you and I," Annie asked, "Ellie is with Cat at my house."
"Meg is coming," Teddy said, "don't mention Nathan."
"Why would he cheat on her," Annie asked, "who does that?"
"He did in Iraq and she knew," Teddy said.
"She took him back," Annie asked.
"Ten years later," Teddy said, "she'll do what's best for her and Cat."
"Is she okay," Annie asked.
"Barely," Teddy admitted, "she's going to put on a brave face."
"She's just with us she can let it go," Annie said, "who else does she have?"
"She's gotten close to Kepner," Teddy pointed out.
Megan let herself in cutting off the conversation.
"Should we get this nursery ready," Megan asked.
"Owen and Leo are taking the stuff from the office to the basement guest room and making a total mess of my basement," Teddy replied.
"Kids are messy," Annie said, "babies are really messy somehow. They get better around age 4."
"You know this how," Megan asked.
"Experience," Annie said, "I miss having a baby. A little one that just wants snuggles."
"Would you," Megan asked.
"No," Annie said, "Josh and I agreed when we found out I was pregnant with Heather that we were done. Megan she wasn't planned. We had said three, Ellie and our boys. Heather is the most wonderful surprise I have ever had but we weren't ready for four. I don't want to do that again. We've talked about fostering when ours are older. When bean was talking about adoption Josh and I talked about it, we would have so she could still be a huge part of their life."
"Annie," Teddy said.
"We talked about it," Annie said, "if it's what she wanted."
"You would have raised your sisters baby," Teddy asked.
"I know how much losing me for so long hurt you," Annie said, " we have the space and the money. We would have fostered and been auntie and uncle and let Allie still be mommy. We're here for her. When she needs a night off I am always happy to snuggle babies."
"Your own four," Megan asked.
"Don't cuddle now," Annie said, "my girls sometimes. Heather still does for story time and at bedtime but the boys are too old and too cool. Josh worked overnight last night and Ellie climbed into bed with me, she hasn't done that in months. She just came and laid with me and started talking."
"Allison had me lay with her until she fell asleep last night," Teddy said, "she seemed so young in that moment she just wanted me to be with her and be there."
"She's young," Megan said, "we're losing sight of that."
"We are," Teddy agreed.
At Olivia's Allison began to giggle.
"Pedicures are hard," Allison laughed.
"What," Ava asked.
"I can't reach my toes," Allison, "laughed. No matter how I bend I can't reach them."
"Do you want me to," Olivia offered.
"Please," Allison replied.
"What colour," Ava asked.
"The bright pink," Allison said.
"Can you still do the little flowers," Olivia asked.
"I can," Allison said, "but I can't bend to touch my own feet how would I reach yours?"
"What if you sat on the floor and I put my feet on the coffee table," Olivia said.
"That might work," Allison said.
"You okay," Ava asked, "you've been wincing since we came in from walking the dog."
"I need more water and to sit for a bit," Allison said, "I've been getting practice contractions. My mom and my dr say it's normal."
"Does it hurt," Ava asked.
"It's not comfortable," Allison asked, "my belly gets tight like it's squeezing the baby on it's own."
Amanda was walking through, "Braxton Hicks Allison?"
"Yes," Allison said.
"Relax girls," Amanda said, "Allison do you need anything?"
"We have water," Allison said, "water and changing positions helps."
"Then get up," Amanda said, "stretch. What do you need?"
"I'm getting tired," Allison admitted.
"Relax," Amanda said, "do your nails girls, watch a couple movies."
"Where are we sleeping," Ava asked.
"Liv's room," Amanda said, "Ava are you okay on the air mattress?"
"Liv and Allie on the bed," Ava guessed.
"Yes," Olivia said, "allie are you okay to share?"
"I am," Allison said, "I move a lot to try and get comfortable and I'll get up to use the bathroom a few times."
"You twitch normally," Olivia said, "it's not my first sleep over with you."
"It could be our last," Allison said.
"No your daughter will just have to come," Ava said, "she can have a sleepover with Auntie Ava and Auntie Liv."
"What if I have a boy," Allison asked.
"Then he can break the no boys allowed rule for a while," Olivia said.
"Once you have them we're coming to visit to snuggle and give them a bottle," Ava declared.
"You'll go off to college next year and forget me," Allison said.
"No," Olivia said, "I haven't gotten in anywhere I applied. I'm staying here and going to community college."
"I'm going to UW," Ava said, "my family can't afford out of state. We'll both be at UW. Maybe we can take the same English or psych class."
"I haven't even looked at the course schedule," Allison admitted, "my mind isn't on school. I know I have to get it together and pick courses and build a schedule. My registration time is 9 days after my due date."
"Do you have any idea," Olivia asked.
"Ash and I have talked that night classes might be okay," Allison said, "so he can be home with the baby."
"Hows Asher," Ava asked.
"He's good," Allison said, "working too much but he's good."
"Have you," Olivia asked.
"Not since," Allison said, "other things but that no."
"And," Ava asked.
"It's good," Allison said, "they let us share a room at the cabin last weekend."
"Your parents," Olivia gasped.
"I was surprised," Allison said, "I've been going to his room at night for weeks then sneaking back up before my parents wake up."
"Why," Ava asked.
"I feel better with him," Allison said, "and he's working such long hours that it's the only time we can just be together. We cuddle."
"Cuddle," Ava asked.
"Sometimes a bit more," Allison blushed.
"How far," Olivia asked.
"Kissing," Allison said.
"Kissing really," Ava said.
"You might call it that," Allison smirked.
"Like mouths on," Olivia said.
"Yes," Allison blushed, "it feels good."
"How do you get the perfect boyfriend," Ava asked.
"It's not always easy," Allison said, "it's hard. We're not just dating, we have to have a plan."
"Your plan," Ava asked.
"We're dating slowly super slowly," Allison said, "we have to work together for our baby. I want to be with him. I love him, I know that."
"Would you marry him," Olivia asked.
"I think so," Allison said, "but we're 18. He's good, hes the best. Are you going to prom?"
"We are," Ava said, "there's still a spot at our table for you and Asher."
"We have tickets but I don't know," Allison said, "my baby will be a month old. You can't bring your baby to prom. I don't have a dress."
"No dress," Olivia asked, "you?"
"Not like I could try it on," Allison said, "and we don't know what will fit me after the baby is born."
"Could you find something if you change your mind," Ava asked.
"I think I could but I don't know," Allison said, "how do I leave my new born with a babysitter."
"A few hours dinner a couple dances and see," Olivia suggested, "your mom could baby sit."
"I don't know," Allison said, "I don't think I'll be able to be away from them more than a couple hours at first."
"Why," Ava asked.
"My stupid family studies class," Allison said, "we had to do this formula comparison project and after doing that I decided to try to feed them myself."
"So why can't you go for a few hours," Ava asked.
"Mom said I'll have to feed them every 2-3 hours," Allison said, "I've seen Annie do it, it looks awkward and she said it's tiring."
"She also has 4 kids," Ava said.
"Why I've been talking to her," Allison said, "I've lost a lot this year. Most of my friends, my dignity."
"You won't lose us," Olivia promised, "Allie we're staying. Ignore Belle and her bull shit."
"I'm not going anywhere," Ava promised, "I'll even babysit so you can go to class."
"So will I," Olivia offered, "Allie you're the smart one."
"Ya the smart one," Allison rolled her eyes.
"You were drunk," Ava said, "you were really drunk that night."
"I know," Allison said, "and we can never tell the baby that."
"We won't," Ava said.
"Mommy and daddy were drunk and stupid at 17," Allison said, "not what you want them to know."
"Mommy loves them," Olivia said.
"I do," Allison said, "and they will have amazing aunties. They're really moving do you want to feel them?"
"You've never asked," Ava said.
"This once," Allison giggled.
The two girls put their hands with their friends.
"Wow," Olivia said, "its a person."
"5 weeks," Allison smiled.
"Baby Allie," Ava said, "you've got this Allie."
"I hope so," Allison smiled, "thanks for doing this tonight."
The other girls exchanged glances.
"Always," Ava said, "this little princesses first girls night?"
"Still could be a boy," Allison said.
"Girl," Olivia said, "we need another girl around."
"Thank you for tonight," Allison smiled, "I needed this."
"Always," Ava said, "we can always have girls night."