"No," Allison groaned.
"You have to," Asher whispered, "you dad would kill me."
"We cuddled and slept," Allison said.
"Your family said no one out of bed until 7:30," Asher said, "sneak back up now."
"I'm going," Allison whined she shuddered when her feet hit the cold floor.
"Go," Asher said , "I want you to stay but if they catch us."
"I know," Allison said. She made her way upstairs and stopped in the kitchen for a glass of water.
"Needed a drink," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Allison replied. It wasn't a lie she had been thirsty.
"I didn't hear you go down," Teddy said, "I was just on a phone consult."
"I didn't make the stair creak," Allison said.
"Don't give me that Allison Eloise," Teddy scolded, "you were in the basement. Why?"
"I couldn't sleep and was lonely we were texting so I went down," Allison said.
"Baby you have to try to sleep in your own bed," Teddy replied.
"I was lonely," Allison said.
"Your shirt is on backwards," Teddy observed, "and your braid is falling out."
"We made out," Allison said, "mom it's normal. I can make out with my boyfriend."
"It is," Teddy said, "you find him attractive, you two have a good relationship. I want you to think carefully."
"It's not like I'm a virgin," Allison said.
"No," Teddy said, "it's 5am. Get some sleep and no more sneaking down."
"Is it safe," Allison asked.
"Is what's safe," Teddy asked.
"For us to make out and for him to rub and kiss my stomach," Allison asked.
"Kissing and touching is," Teddy said, "I'm not having this discussion now. Go to bed Allison."
Christmas morning Allison crept into Leo's room, "leo, leo wake up it's Christmas."
"Mhh," Leo grunted.
"I'll jump on you," Allison teased.
"Go away, " Leo grunted.
Allison pulled his blanket off.
"It's Christmas morning," Allison cheered.
"Too early," Leo said, "don't you need to go puke or something?"
"Haven't done that in a couple weeks," Allison said, "come on up. It's Christmas. Leo it's Christmas and we have to get mom and dad."
"Allison come on," Leo said.
"Nope, up," Allison said, grabbing her brother's hand.
"Allie," Leo groaned.
"Why do you smell like pot," Allison asked, "are you high?"
"No," Leo said.
"You were," Allison said, "you reek. Shower fast so dad doesn't know."
"They know," Leo said, "mom caught me sneaking out around midnight."
"She caught me sneaking back to bed," Allison said.
"Back to bed," Leo asked, "where were you?"
"Asher's room," Allison said, "it's my boyfriend and I needed a hug."
"Really," Leo asked.
"Just support me," Allison said.
"You and Asher," Leo asked.
"He's my boyfriend," Allison said, "i'm okay. We're figuring it out."
"Sleeping with him," Leo asked.
"Just sleeping," Allison said, "cuddles."
"Really," Leo said, "I heard you make a comment to mom."
"Just needed her off my back," Allison said, "I don't get why they want us apart. I actually slept last night."
"You don't sleep," Leo asked.
"I have to pee then baby moves or I have weird dreams," Allison said, "he made me feel safe."
"Why Allie," Leo asked.
"I like him," Allison said, "I love him. He's in my life forever now. Why are you smoking pot?"
"No one notices what I do," Leo said.
"I smell it," Allison said, "you know mom and dad will."
"They know," Leo said, "I won't tell them you were with Asher if you don't tell them about this."
"This time," Allison agreed, "lets get mom and dad."
"You go," Leo said.
"Nope," Allison said, "we go together."
"Now," Leo asked.
"Bathroom first," Allison said.
"Really," Leo asked.
"Yes," Allison said, "get up make sure you don't reek and meet me at their door."
They went their separate ways.
"Kids are late," Owen whispered.
"She's not sleeping well," Teddy said.
"No," Owen asked.
"She was up around 5 when I heard someone moving," Teddy said.
"She okay," Owen asked.
"Thirsty," Teddy replied.
"Should we pretend to be asleep," Owen asked.
"No," Teddy said, "things change as they grow up."
"Last year we'll just have the two of them," Owen said.
"I know," Teddy said, "there was one year Annie wasn't married yet I got all three waking me up."
"Will Allie still come in next year," Owen asked.
"She's our baby, we might get woken up by a grandchild," Teddy said.
"Seven months next Christmas," Owen asked.
"About," Teddy said.
"Mom, dad," Allison said, coming in , "it's Christmas."
"It is," Teddy smiled.
Allison sat on the side of the bed.
"Did you get back to sleep baby," Teddy asked.
"Sorta," Allison replied, "but it's Christmas."
"It is," Teddy beamed, hugging her daughter.
"Leo," Allison asked.
"Really," Leo asked.
"Come on Mr Cool," Teddy said, "you can give your mom a christmas hug."
"One," Leo agreed.
"Dad did you check the tree," Allison asked.
Owen smiled hearing that, Allison asked every year. She was trying to look innocent in her christmas pajamas and strawberry blonde hair in a thick braid pulled over her shoulder. Looking at her face with her rosy cheeks and green eyes she looked so much younger and more innocent then she was. She looked like a typical teenager, something she hadn't been in months.
"I'm going munchkin," Owen said, getting out of bed.
Owen went down stairs and turned all the lights on, he went down to the basement and called Asher.
"Where's Allison," Asher asked.
"With Teddy," Owen said, "she needed her mom for a minute."
"They're close," Asher said.
"Most of the time," Owen said, "the girls are close to Teddy."
"Is she okay," Asher asked.
"She looks tired," Owen said, "I don't know if she slept well."
"She's not falling asleep," Asher said, "she'll text me at 1 or 2 still wide awake."
"Don't respond," Owen said.
"I need to," Asher said.
"It's christmas morning," Owen said, "come up. Stockings, cocoa, cinnamon buns."
"Shower first," Asher said.
"Just come up," Owen said, "we have a lazy afternoon before we go to Annie's for the family dinner. It's her turn this year."
"Do i really have to go in my pajamas," Asher asked.
"Yes we do it every year," Owen said, "come up. Allison is waiting for us to call them down."
"I'll throw a shirt on and meet you up there," Asher agreed.
"5 min," Owen said walking towards the stairs.
Asher threw a shirt on with his sweats and grabbed his Christmas gift for Allison. They had both agreed to do small gifts and set a limit. He had gotten her a simple heart necklace. He beat her upstairs and slid the box under the tree.
"Merry Christmas," Allison beamed.
"Merry Christmas Allie," Asher beamed, hugging her.
"Gross," Leo coughed.
"Jealous," Teddy whispered.
They spent the morning together opening presents.
After lunch they all sat around the coffee table to play board games. Teddy smiled hearing the three young people laughing over their games.
"Time to get ready," Teddy said.
"I'm going," Allison said.
"Will we ever stop this," Leo complained.
"No," Teddy said, "talk to your sister."
"Annie won't cave," Allison said.
"Go get your clean Pjs on," Teddy said, "all three of you."
They went to get changed and all met back at Owen's truck.
Arriving at Annie's they all noticed how frail Evelyn looked.
"Is Nana okay," Allison whispered.
"I am," Evelyn said, "I'm just tired today darling. I'm old. Miss Allison you have a real bump now."
"I know," Allison said, "nana have you met them yet?"
"Not yet," Evelyn said.
"Do you want to," Allison asked.
"Please," Evelyn beamed.
Allison took the old woman's hand and placed it where she could feel light flutters.
"Hello little one," Evelyn whispered, "I'm nana, your mom's grandma so your great grandma. You are going to be so loved. You have a big family that is excited to meet you."
"You'll hold them nana," Allison asked with tears in her eyes.
"As much as you'll let me," Evelyn said, "I'm old and I'm sick but it's not my time yet. Allison I'm doing better. I will meet this little one and hold them and rock them to sleep. I promise Allison. I will meet baby…"
"We're using Asher's last name," Allison said, "Blouin. We've started talking about names but haven't decided yet."
"It's a big decision," Evelyn said, "something strong they can grow with."
"It is," Allison said.
"I love you," Evelyn said reaching for Allison.
Allison sat beside her grandmother on the couch and hugged her, "I love you so much nana."
Evelyn whispered into Allison's hair, "I love you so much. You are so strong and you are going to do amazing things. You will be a great mom and I know whatever you decide to do you will be amazing. You're my Allison, you can't be anything but."
Allison nodded against Evelyn's shoulder.
"Allie," Heather yelled running to jump on her aunt.
Josh caught the little girl, "Heather what did we say about jumping on Allie right now?"
"It hurts the baby," Heather said, "but dad I don't see a baby."
"The baby is in my tummy," Allison said.
"Where is the baby," Heather asked.
"Right here," Allison replied putting her hands on her stomach.
"That's not a baby," Heather said.
"It will be," Allison said.
"It still has to grow," Josh said.
"When can I see the baby," Heather asked.
"At the end of May or beginning of June," Annie said.
"Does the baby have a birthday," Heather asked.
"Not yet," Josh said, "it hasn't been born yet."
"When will the baby get born," Heather asked.
"We don't know yet," Annie said, "babies come when they're ready."
"Can I see the baby," Heather asked.
"Nee," Allison said.
"You choice," Annie said, "you felt all my kids, you would cuddle with me and Ellie before she was born."
"H come here," Allison said.
"What," Heather asked.
"Do you want to feel the baby," Allison offered.
"How do I feel it," Heather asked.
"Come sit with Allie," Annie said.
Heather hopped up on the couch by Allison.
"Give me your hand H," Allison said, she took the little girl's hand and put it where the baby was, "that tickly thing is the baby."
"In your tummy," Heather asked.
"Yes," Allison said.
"All babies grow in their mom's tummies," Annie said.
"Me," Heather asked.
"Yes," Annie said, "you grew in my tummy so did Ellie, Matt and Henry."
"Leo," Heather asked.
"Leo was adopted so that means Grandma and Grandpa chose him like Granddude chose me," Annie said.
"Where did you grow," Heather asked.
"In grandma's tummy," Annie said.
"Allie," Heather asked.
"Allie is my sister," Annie explained, "we both grew in grandma's tummy."
"Our baby," Heather asked.
"No sweetheart mommy can't have any more babies, I'm too old," Annie said.
Teddy laughed.
"4 is enough," Annie quipped.
"How do you manage 4," Megan said.
"It's a lot," Annie agreed, "why I don't work Fridays I need the day to keep everything organized. If I went back full time we would need a house keeper."
"It's a huge family," Owen said.
"Most of my friends had one or two," Annie said, "I grew up as one of five."
"You have more brothers and sisters," Henry asked.
"Two brothers Leo and Uncle Chris then Allison," Annie said.
"But that's 4," Henry said.
"Auntie Jessica died 11 years ago," Annie said.
"Why aren't we auntie and uncle," Leo asked.
"Because you were 4 and 5 when Ellie was born and it was easier to treat you guys more like cousins," Teddy said.
"It's Auntie Annie and Uncle Leo," Allison said.
"Auntie Annie is the best," Annie smirked.
"I'm cooler than you," Leo said.
"But I'm around more," Annie said, "you're in LA."
'But I can come home and be fun," Leo said.
"Come on, I was the world's coolest big sister to you two," Annie teased.
"Until you got old,"Leo said.
"Not old yet," Annie said, "I got busy."
"How busy will I be," Allison asked.
"It's hectic at times," Annie said, "the first week weeks with Ellie wasn't easy. But you have more support."
"You have a hard time accepting support," Megan pointed out, "I would offer, so did my mom. You got better once you had Matt."
"I wanted to be independent like mama," Annie said, "but Allie Bean that wasn't the way to go."
"We're going to do what we do best," Megan said.
"Which is," Allison asked.
"Smother you in all the love you, Asher and the baby can handle," Megan said.
"Did you smother Annie," Allison asked.
"I wanted it but was scared to ask for it," Annie said, "but I wish I had known how to ask for it. You were Heather's age. I couldn't ask mama."
"Who did you go to," Allison said.
"Mama and Grandmere," Annie said, "mama was my solution person Grandmere was my I need some one to cry to. She had 7 kids. Sometimes I just needed grandmere to listen and tell me it would all be okay. That she loved me, that my babies were great and they loved me."
"I miss grandmere," Allison said.
"She would have been happy for you bean," Annie assured, "I'm happy for you. Auntie can't wait to meet this one."
"You know you want to Nee," Allison said, "go for it."
Annie felt where Allison was pointing.
"Happy baby," Annie said, "I'm happy for you bean. I love you."
"Mom I'm hungry," Matt yelled.
"Dinner is half an hour," Annie said, "go play one of your new games."
"Mom," Matt whined.
"I can't make things cook faster," Annie said.
"Allie do you want to play Neanderthal Poetry," Ellie offered, "can you play?"
"It's a card game," Annie said standing up from the couch.
"I'll play," Allison agreed, "how many?"
"We need Leo and Asher," Ellie said, "girls vs boys?"
"Sure," Allison smiled, "should we kick their asses."
"Yes," Ellie said, "we always do."
"Hey," Leo said, "I have an unknown team mate."
"He's good," Allison said.
"It's a word game," Ellie said, "Allison is good at word games."
"You don't want to be on my team," Asher asked.
"I'll play with Ellie today," Allison smiled, "and Cat. You two get Faroke."
Faroke joined his cousins to play the game.
The teens played the game laughing and joking around.
"That looks normal," Teddy whispered to Annie as they got dinner ready to go to the table.
"The girls always get along," Annie said.
"Allison looks good," Megan said.
"She does," Teddy agreed, "other then I caught her sneaking back to her room this morning."
"What," Annie asked.
"She says she was cuddling with Asher," Teddy replied/
"Let her," Megan said, "he's her good friend and they're having a baby."
"I don't want the precedent of them sleeping together," Teddy said, "I don't know how far it goes and what she's comfortable with."
"Mama it's her relationship," Annie said, "that's always been a boundary you've respected with me, give her the same privacy."
"I also had the be safe talk with you more than once," Teddy said, "and you were in college asking me if you could kiss a boy first."
"I'm saying give her her privacy," Annie said, "I know its your house but she's almost 18. You never questioned me. If she feels safe with him she's going to go to him."
"Teddy holding your kids too tight again," Megan said.
"I worry about her," Teddy said.
"She looks happy," Megan said.
"Mama I think she's good," Annie said.
"Nee," Allison said joining them in the kitchen.
"Apple juice Bean," Annie offered.
"No can we talk soon," Allison asked.
"I'm working tomorrow but I could do early next week before we go to the cabin," Annie said, "we will talk."
"Soon," Allison asked.
"Before we go to the cabin," Annie assured.
"Allie," Ellie called, "it's almost our turn and the boys are close to beating us."
"Ellie we can do this," Catrina argued.
"But Allie is the best at it," Ellie argued.
"Come on," Catrina said, "what happened to you and I. we were always together."
"I don't see you anymore," Ellie said, "I see Allie at school."
"Why did you move schools," Catrina said.
"Ninth grade," Ellie said, "maybe you can come to Bayview next year."
"I want to," Catrina said, "mom doesn't want me to."
Nathan let himself in.
"Thanks for covering cardio today," Annie said.
"Nate," Megan beamed hugging him.
"I missed you," Nathan said.
"We do what we have to," Megan said, "but I missed you two."
"Uncle Nate," Josh greeted, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Nathan replied, "kids?"
"Older ones in the living room playing a game and littles down stairs playing," Owen said, "I was just with the little three."
"Hunt," Nathan said, "next year you'll have 5 grand kids to spoil at Christmas."
"We know," Owen said.
"You freaking out this time," Nathan asked.
"Not anymore," Owen said, "Allison seems to be okay."
"She's good," Teddy said.
"Did they do lunch with Asher's family," Annie asked.
"No," Teddy said, "they dropped some stuff off for the two of them but they haven't seen his parents."
"I don't get it," Megan said.
"It's control," Annie said, "Leslie and Dan did it to me for a few years."
"I remember that," Megan said, "you were a resident."
"That feels like a million years ago," Annie said.
"It does," Teddy agreed.
"I just have to put the turkey on the table," Annie said, "can someone grab all the kids?"
"I've got the kids," Owen said.
"How many years of we done Christmas pjs for dinner," Nathan asked.
"I was pregnant with Allison so 18 years," Teddy said.
"I would never go back to Christmas dresses,' Annie said.
"I like our tradition,"Megan said.
"How does this work," Asher asked as they got to the table.
"Kids on benches then adults on chairs," Allison said.
"What are we," Asher asked.
"Kids," Annie replied, "I only just got promoted 5 years ago."
"What's the criteria," Asher asked.
"That's when we bought this table," Josh said.
The family crowded in for dinner together, laughing, joking and sharing stories.
After dinner Annie called all the kids into the living room.
"Story time really," Allison said.
"Yes," Annie said, 'you love it. And next year you'll snuggle your little one for my Christmas story."
"Can I sit with you," Ellie asked.
"Come here Ellie Bug,' Annie said, holding out her arm. Soon Annie had her daughters curled against her for the story. Teddy smiled seeing her oldest with her kids curled up against her for the story. She knew Annie was a very affectionate parent, she had been so affected by Leslie's lack of affection and approval that she swung the other way with her own kids.
Sitting on the floor Allison leaned back against Asher as he put his arms around her. For a moment a look of jealousy crossed Leo's face, he wanted someone but girls didn't stick around long.
"You okay," Asher whispered.
"I am," Allison, "you?"
"Yes," Asher whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too," Allison whispered back, she turned to look at him and he kissed her quickly.