A week before Christmas Asher's parents arrived at Megan's to meet with Allison and Asher.
"This is her aunts," Mark said looking at the house.
"Yes," Michelle said, "I don't get why we're meeting them here."
"They said here or not at all," Mark said, "and Asher has the upperhand right now. They've already formally charged Renee."
"Renee admitted to it and deserves it," Michelle said, "it's not the first time."
"I know she's hurt your sister's kids," Mark said.
"Everly isn't the first," Michelle said, "I didn't expect them to react like that."
"It's her parents," Mark said, "they must have pushed them to do it."
"His anger though," Michelle said, "Mark you can't deny you've gone beyond spanking him. I know you beat him the night before you kicked him out. He got his anger from you. How he forgave you for that, for kicking him out I have no idea but we're not coming back from this."
"Forgiveness," Mark asked.
"I doubt it," Michelle said, "he asked us to help protect Everly from Renee's attitude but we didn't."
Allison stood in the front window seeing Asher's parents' car.
"Okay you two," Megan commanded, "come sit at the table. Catrina is at your place with Everly."
"Cat is getting better with her," Allison said.
"Okay so ground rules you two," Megan said, "I'm just here to listen in and keep us productive and on track. No swearing, and hands to yourself."
"They can't swear or use the bible to manipulate," Asher said.
"I will lay out the ground rules," Megan assured.
There was a knock on the front door and Megan went over to let Asher's parents in.
"Michelle, Mark come in," Megan said.
"It's good to see you Megan," Michelle said.
"You as well," Megan agreed, "come have a seat we're in the kitchen. Do you want tea or coffee? I have both ready."
"How do you know Asher," Mark asked.
"Owen, Allison's dad is my brother," Megan said, "this is not the first meeting like this I've facilitated for one of Owen's girls."
"Okay," Mark said.
"Ground rules," Megan said, "stay on your side of the table, hands to self, we do not get to yell, scream or swear. We are here to talk about what happened at thanksgiving not dragging up past events."
"Okay," Allison and Asher replied in unison.
Mark and Michelle nodded.
'Asher," Megan prompted.
"We need to set some boundaries," Asher replied, "to protect Everly and ourselves. Right now your house is toxic."
"You've created an environment where people think that a child saying no, stop or that she doesn't like something is a joke," Allison said, "where a three year old is physically assaulted and abused because she has a neurological condition. Or because her parents aren't married."
"You should have been married four years ago," Mark said, "your brother did it right."
"No," Megan cut in, "they shouldn't have been at 17 or 18. No. They were not ready. They did not have the maturity then to make that decision. They've already grown up too fast when I think of my son at that age. Marriage isn't a guarantee of happiness or that they will be together. We're here to lay out the ground rules of your continued relationship. If you continue to make comments like your last one we will be done and I will ask you to leave my home."
"We will not be entering your house again," Asher replied, "everytime we go there either Everly or Allison is insulted."
"We will not continue to be treated that way," Allison stated, "we have discussed that with you before."
"So you won't see us," Michelle replied.
"No that's not what we're saying," Asher replied, "we are saying we will not go to your house. You and dad are welcome to see us in our home, we will meet you in public places. Everly will not be alone with you."
"Where is she today," Michelle asked.
"With my cousin," Allison replied, "she stayed home and Cat went to her."
"The charges against Renee," Mark asked, "can they be dropped."
"No," Allison replied, "we will not drop the charges because there was a head injury beyond the bruising. Everly had a concussion, that's a traumatic brain injury."
"You'll ruin her future," Michelle said.
"She should have thought before she acted," Asher said, "she harmed my daughter. She hurt Everly. She hurt my baby girl. We will protect her."
"Renee is a minor," Megan said, "even if they convict her the focus will be on rehabilitation and counselling."
"Dad she needs help," Asher added, "she needs to be helped. Everly needs help and is getting help."
"Everly is now afraid of strangers after that," Allison said, "of people she doesn't see day to day. She cries when we drop her off at school if there's a sub."
"But," Michelle started.
"No that was not happening prior to the assault," Allison said, "her teachers have documented the change in her behaviour since the assault."
"It was not an assault," Michelle argued, "bullying but not assault."
"It's both," Megan said, "the police have deemed it as assault."
'We are not debating that with you," Allison said.
"If you won't come to the house when can we see you," Michelle asked.
"We've been seeing Mitch and Sienna at our place or meeting them in public places," Asher said, "you are welcome to do that."
"To bring Everly into your house would only traumatise her further," Allison snapped.
"What about when Sienna has their baby," Michelle asked.
"We'll be there for them but that doesn't include Renee," Allison replied, "and I don't know how much I'm willing to be involved in all of your celebration of her when I wasn't just ignored you went out of your way to shame us. You never once called to ask how I was doing. You never asked how the baby was or if you could see us. You didn't respond when we reached out to ask about your Eden's heart condition when it was discovered at the anatomy scan that Everly has a heart problem. You didn't reply at all. You didn't care when I was struggling, when we were struggling."
"We didn't see you," Megan agreed, "I know why my sister in law was worried about it. Teddy is my best friend and she came to me."
"We couldn't," Mark said.
"My step father was a pastor," Megan said, "I don't go to church often, just weddings and christenings, christmas or easter. But David teaches that it's about love and forgiveness. You haven't shown that."
"Dad I made one poor judgement call," Asher said, "I will not call my daughter a mistake. Unplanned yes, unexpected but not a mistake."
"Everly is perfect just as she is," Allison added.
"Back on topic," Megan said, "boundaries. What's non negotiable?"
"Everly is never alone with you," Allison said, "you do not get to babysit."
"We will not come to your house," Asher said.
"That's doable," Michelle agreed, "we do want to see you."
"Not until you accept your role in pushing us away. We will continue to talk to Nancy and Doug," Allison replied, "we will have no contact with Renee ever again."
"That's not doable," Mark said.
"We will not see Renee," Allison screamed, "she hurt Everly. She knew what she was doing and hurt Everly."
"She did," Michelle said, 'but punishing us."
"We're protecting our daughter," Asher yelled, "we are protecting Everly. Do you think we want to do this? Do you think we want to have to put rules in?"
"Then don't," Mark screamed, "you're choosing to. You are choosing to disown your family. For what? What happens when you and Allison don't work out. What happens when she's a doctor and too good for you?"
"Enough," Megan commanded, "mark you really don't know your son or his fiancé. You don't know them."
"No but I know girls like her," mark yelled, "too fucking ambitious for their own good. Putting personal dreams above their husband and child. Never thinking how her wanting her career makes him look or feel."
"What the fuck," Allison screamed, "you know nothing about our relationship. How is me being educated and having a career making Asher look bad?"
"Because he should be the head of the house," Mark said.
"What century are you from," Allison asked, "we're a team."
"Who raised you," Mark roared standing up and leaning across the table to tower over Allison, "to talk to an elder like that."
"We're done," Megan said, "if you can't speak to them that way. I'm going to ask you to leave my house."
"Your house," Mark turned.
"My house," Megan repeated, "you are no longer welcome. You need to leave."
"We are not finished," Mark said.
"Then sit down, shut up and listen," Megan commanded.
"Who the hell do you think you are," Mark asked.
"Dr Megan Hunt," Megan replied, "chief of surgery at Grey Sloan. Teddy and I, we raise strong daughters that know their own minds, that can stand up for themselves and stand on their own two feet. Women who know their own minds and what is best for their families, who can think for themselves. I may not go to church regularly but I know the bible talks about a woman who is all of those things."
"You're out of line," Mark roared.
"Leave my home or I will call the police to remove you," Megan snapped, "you are no longer welcome."
"Excuse me," Michelle asked.
"You are not respecting the ground rules we set up when me agreed to meet," Megan replied, "you can choose to respect the ground rules or you will have to leave. It's your choice."
Asher took Allison's hand under the table, silently reassuring her.
"We will not be spoken to that way," Asher said, "you demand our respect show it to us. We're not talking until you show us your respect."
Allison got up and Asher followed her, they slipped upstairs to Cat's room.
"Allie I want you to do all that," Asher said, "it makes you happy."
"But if it's going to destroy your family," Allison said.
"They protected Ev's abuser," Asher said.
Allison burst into tears.
"Do you want to end it," Asher asked, "we can ask them to leave."
"I need a hug," Allison whimpered.
Asher took her in his arms, "we're okay. We'll be okay. We will have all of those big dreams."
Down stairs Megan shouted at Mark and Michelle, "you have no clue. How much you hurt them! They had a very simple request of you and you couldn't be bothered to listen. You didn't care enough to listen."
"What," Mark asked.
"They gave you very specific boundaries and met with you to tell you their boundaries," Megan said, "boundaries are not a negotiation. They put them in place to protect Everly. They told you they will see you when you are calm and polite. In a public place and without Renee."
"Not including Renee needs to be negotiated," Michelle said.
"It won't be," Megan replied," she is a danger to Everly. I don't want her at our family things I have an 18 month old granddaughter, she could easily hurt Khitam."
"The wedding," Michelle said.
"They haven't sent out invitations yet," Megan replied, "you heard their boundaries, you need to leave now."
"When they stop hiding and act like adults," Mark snapped.
"They are 21 years old," Megan said, "and most days show immense maturity for their age. They need time to process this. You are rejecting what matters to them. You are rejecting who Allison is because she's not someone you can control. I spent a decade being held hostage in Iraq by people who though how you do. They were muslim but the control and degrade was the same. Limit me, minimise me. I will not stand by and let you do that to my niece. You have no idea what the world is like out there, how strong people can really be, what is possible. Open your minds and your hearts."
"Megan," Michelle tried.
"You can go," Megan said, "we can try again in a few weeks it was too soon."
"Pardon," Michelle said.
"It's too soon to have the conversation with them," Megan said, "stick to their boundaries. Treat them like the adults you expect them to be. You can't expect them to be adults and then treat them like kids. Make up your minds. It's time for you to leave. I will protect Allison, Asher and Everly."
"We'll go," Michelle said walking towards the door, "thank you for trying."
"You're welcome," Megan replied.
When Mark and Michelle had gone Megan called to Allison and Asher from the bottom of the stairs, "they're gone you two can come down."
Allison and Asher joined Megan in the living room.
"Allie what can I do," Megan asked.
Allison shook her head.
"That wasn't what we expected," Asher said, keeping an arm around Allison.
"Neither did I," Megan said, "boundary setting can be hard. They don't have to agree for you to enforce and keep your boundaries. You decided together what you are comfortable with and you need to stick to it."
"They don't see it," Asher said.
"I don't think they're capable of it," Megan replied, "Asher I don't think they can see anything outside of what they already know."
"It's a cult," Asher said, "why else would they have six kids. I know Annie has four but her and Josh are a lot saner."
"She told me that Heather wasn't planned," Allison said, "they were going to stop after the boys."
"She's pretty open about that," Megan said, "Asher you don't have to follow what your parents tell you. You have a brain and can think for yourself."
"Auntie Meg can we just go home," Allison asked.
"Would you feel calmer," Megan asked, "are you calm enough to drive either of you?"
"No." Asher admitted blushing.
"Asher you showed you were a bigger man today," Megan said, "you kept your cool and didn't let him bait you into fighting with him."
"I yelled," Asher said.
"But you didn't swear or physically intimidate," Megan said, "your 21 you're not supposed to do it perfectly. Hold your boundaries. Leave the keys here and go walk and calm down."
"But," Allison said.
"Neither of you is calm enough to drive safely," Megan replied.
"We're fine," Asher said.
"Your both worked up," Megan said, "give me the keys and go for a walk."
Hearing Megan's tone both Allison and Asher obeyed.
"So," Allison asked, "it's your family what do you want to do?"
"I think we should try again," Asher said, "dad isn't used to being stood up to. He's never heard no from his kids."
"Trying to get us to marry in highschool," Allison said.
"We were under 18 we both needed parental consent and yours wouldn't sign," Asher said, "but they need to be in control."
"And we took the control," Allison said, "Christmas next week?"
"We don't see them," Asher replied, "we don't go Christmas Eve and we make our point. My mom will cave and come see us. Dad will be a harder sell."
"Your mom came around with Everly first," Allison agreed, "maybe?"
"Mitch and Sienna," Asher asked.
"I think for now we need distance from all," Allison said, "not picking and choosing. I know we're making a point."
They walked for a few more minutes in silence just holding hands and taking comfort from eachother.
"How true is it," Allison asked.
"What," Asher asked.
"That you won't stay when I finish school," Allison whispered.
"That is a total lie," Asher said, "my dad has no clue what he's talking about."
"It doesn't embarrass you or emasculate you that when I'm done I'll earn more," Allison asked.
"No," Asher said, "babe it's 2035 we are a team. I'm proud of you. You have your interviews in a couple weeks."
"I do," Allison agreed.
"You'll get it," Asher assured, "we're going to med school."
"We will," Allison agreed, "should we go get the keys and head home. Maybe go out for dinner. I don't feel like cooking.
"We can," Asher agreed, "take out or go out."
"Go out," Allison said, "the three of us."
"Okay," Asher agreed.