The Saturday before Christmas, Allison and Asher pulled into Ava's driveway for her Christmas party.

"No alcohol," Allison said to Asher.

"We don't have any," Asher agreed.

"I can't drink and no one will question me," Allison said, "what will you tell them?"

"I don't because you can't," Asher replied.

"Will that work," Allison said, "you drank with the guys the other night."

"And you gave me shit for it," Asher said.

"You deserved it," Allison said as they walked up to the porch.

"Allie," Ava beamed, opening the door.

"Hey," Allison smiled, returning her friend's hug.

"Luke is coming," Ava said, "just you and Asher tonight?"

"Ellie is babysitting tonight then sleeping over," Allison said.

"Ellie," Ava asked.

"My parents are upstairs," Allison said, "Ellie will go up if she needs help."

"Your place," Ava asked.

"Still feels weird," Allison admitted, "I got ready for bed last night and we were watching a movie in pajamas then when it was over I almost went upstairs to my old room."

"Well done," Ava laughed.

"How can I help," Allison asked.

"Just be cool," Ava said.

"No baby talk," Allison said.

"Minimal," Ava said.

"I'll try," Allison said, "Eden is coming with Jonah?"

"Yes," Ava said, "I'm really starting to like her."

"I do," Allison said, "it's Taylor's first birthday soon."

"Already," Ava asked.

"Ev is 7 months," Allison said.

Ellie sat in Allison's place playing with Everly.

"What are you doing," Ellie smiled at the baby.

"Mamama," Everly babbled.

"No Ellie," Ellie smiled, "I'm your cousin but your mommy and I are only 4 years appart."

"Babababa," Everly tried.

Ellie echoed the babbling, having a conversation with the baby.

Ellie saw the schedule and asked, "should we ask grandma to help with your bath? I haven't done this before."

Ellie picked up Everly and carried her up, "grandma can you help me give Ev her bath? I don't want to do it wrong."

"I think Allie gave her one earlier, she's in jammies," Teddy said.

"The list said bath, bottle, story, grandmere song then bed," Ellie said.

"I'll come down and help just with the bath," Teddy agreed, " I made brownies. Should I come down with some after she's in bed?"

"Please grandma," Ellie begged, "we never get time just you and I."

"Tea and brownies don't tell your mom," Teddy smiled.

"I'm staying on Allie's couch," Ellie said, "it's a no moms girls day tomorrow."

"Sleep in her old room, there's a new bed and bedding up there," Teddy said, "we'll do waffles."

"Allie and I are taking Ev and Heather for brunch and skating. Cat was supposed to come but she lied to auntie Meg and is grounded again," Ellie said, "she's always grounded."

"She is," Teddy agreed.

Once Everly was in bed Allison turned on the kettle and texted Teddy.

"Hey bug," Teddy said, coming down with brownies and ice cream.

"I hate bug," Ellie said.

"But you're our Ellie bug," Teddy smiled, "what's going on?"

"Do you know if Asher and Mitch's family is really weird," Ellie asked.

"I think it's different that Mitch Blouin is hanging out with you," Teddy said, "you don't seem to have a lot in common."

"His family is weird and I don't think his dad likes me," Ellie said, "they know Allie and I are related. We've all been there at the same time and Allie and I were talking about the cabin. Mitch wants to come but they don't ski."

"You're too young for that," Teddy said, "your mom was 25 before grandpa and nana were okay with her bringing a boyfriend."

"But Asher," Ellie said.

"Their situation is different," Teddy said.

"I know," Ellie agreed, "mom doesn't trust me and Mitch."

"You're 14," Teddy said, "and I think your mom and Meg are being extra careful with you and Catrina after Allison."

"He's not allowed upstairs and doors have to be open," Ellie said, "none of my friends at school have that rule."

"It's what she grew up with," Teddy said, "your dad had different rules."

"Well dad's mom is weird," Ellie said.

"Gloria and I never saw eye to eye," Teddy agreed.

"I don't really remember papa. He was in a place like granny," Ellie said.

"Did you see granny last weekend," Teddy asked.

"For a few minutes. She didn't really know mom and uncle Chris. She thought they were little kids," Ellie said, "why is old timers like that."

"Alzheimer's ," Teddy corrected softly, "I don't know but she went down fast."

"I don't know her, not like I know you or grandmere or nana," Ellie said, "do you not like her?"

"No, I will always be incredibly grateful for everything she did to make your mom who she is, your mom made that choice for her own reasons," Teddy said, "I've always tried to stay out of her relationship with Leslie. Leslie and I agreed long ago that we wouldn't get involved in your mom's relationship with the other mom. I will always listen and help if your mom asks but that's it. And you know me better because you only live 10 minutes away."

"Do you like Ev more than you like us," Ellie asked.

"No," Teddy assured, "she lives here so we see her more. I love all of you so much and each of you in a different way because you're all different people. Just like your mom, Leo and Allie are all my kids and I love them all differently. Not more not less just differently. It's the same with the 5 of you."

"Is that a lot of grandkids," Ellie asked.

"It is," Teddy said.

"I don't like being the oldest," Ellie complained, "it's always help your brothers, take care of your sister, set the example. Ellie you're the oldest you should know better. Ellie, you need to help me. And I'm picking my courses for 11th and 12th and I have to do a history or geog elective to graduate and mom wants me to pick a Canadian one. I don't want to do a Canadian course."

"You are Canadian and American," Teddy said, "you all have both passports."

"I want to do the physical geography one about earthquakes and volcanos," Ellie said, "it's more interesting."

"Tell your mom, I think she just wants to make sure you know it," Teddy said.

"They want to drive across North America this summer, take 5 of their 6 weeks and drive across Canada and America," Ellie complained, "then go up fishing."

"That sounds like fun," Teddy said.

"A month in the truck with my brothers," Ellie rolled her eyes.

"Have an open mind," Teddy suggested.

"Its my brothers," Ellie said, "have you ever had to deal with brothers?"

"No I was an only child," Teddy said, "I didn't have sibling or cousins."

"What was great grandma and great grandpa like," Ellie asked.

"My mom was the most loving and supportive person," Teddy smiled, "she was an L&D nurse. She was sweet and kind and your mom has her smile and her laugh. My mom played the piano beautifully. She would work the night shift then come home and play to wake me us for school. My mom was either baking or at the piano when she was home.

"Did I meet her," Ellie asked.

"No," Teddy said, "she died in June 2001. She did meet your mom. Just once. My mom was with me when your mom was born. She got to hold your mom for just a moment. She would have loved you. Ellie, she would have been so proud of you."

"But mom isn't," Ellie said.

"Your mom didn't grow up with a lot of praise," Teddy said, "she was taught to keep her head down and work harder than anyone else in the room. Your mom is proud of you. I hear her say it all the time."

"But I'm not a champion like she was," Ellie said, "at my age mom had a couple Canadian titles and was going to worlds."

"It was a different era," Teddy said, "your mom also wasn't allowed to see friends unless it was at dance or youth group. Leslie and Dan had to approve everyone she hung out with. She was either at school, church or dance. I don't know how much she chose that schedule."

"But you were there," Ellie said.

"I wasn't when your mom was in highschool I was in Iraq," Teddy said stating the facts, "she was with granddude, granny and uncle Chris."

"Why weren't you there," Ellie asked, "didn't you love mom?"

"I loved her," Teddy said, "that was never the question. She couldn't have been with me on an army base in Iraq in the middle of a war zone. Ellie it wouldn't have been safe for her. She was safest in Cloverdale. I always knew how she was and what she was doing. It was a different time when she was born and she was growing up. I wish I could have been with her everyday."

"I think you had it better being an only child," Ellie pouted.

"It's lonely," Teddy said, "I had friends but that's not siblings. I was the only child in my family. I know being the oldest is hard grandpa and your mom could tell you that."

"I get lost in all the other kids," Ellie said.

"I know it feels that way sometimes," Teddy said, "it's been a hard year and a bit for Allie and Cat."

"But what about me," Ellie asked.

"You will have your turn soon," Teddy said, "I know grandpa and I have noticed what an amazing friend and support you've been to the other girls."

"Can you come watch me dance tomorrow," Ellie asked.

"I am coming to the christmas concert," Teddy said, "just Owen and I with your parents and siblings."

"Really," Ellie asked.

"Really," Teddy promised.

"Can we go for sushi after," Ellie asked.

"I think that's the plan," Teddy said.

"Will Allie ever be happy and bouncy again," Ellie asked.

"She's growing up," Teddy said, "she won't be the same as she was a year ago she's a mom and that really changes you. You've changed two. Your more opinionated now and speak your mind."

"If people listen," Ellie said.

"I do," Teddy said, "that course you don't want to take tell your mom. She just wanted to give you her thoughts. She won't make you do things you don't want to."

"Clean my room, babysit Heather, dishes, laundry," Ellie listed, "home work."

"No one likes doing housework and laundry but we do it," Teddy said, "I don't like doing it."

"All the other doctors have housekeeper or cleaning ladies that come a few times a week," Ellie said.

"We don't, Meg doesn't," Teddy said, "why would we have someone else in our space."

"Why is Allie allowed to drive up to the cabin with Asher," Ellie asked.

"They go up in his truck because we don't all fit in Owen's with Ellie's car seat," Teddy said, "last winter they didn't. You can't drive yet another year and a half."

"My friends at school can start getting their learners in January and I'm only 14," Ellie said.

"When your 16 you will," Teddy said.

"My jr year," Ellie pouted.

"You skipped a grade," Teddy said, "how is school?"

"Okay," Ellie said, "better this year when there's not as much gossip. I'm on the senior dance team and it's hard."

"That coach is hard to please," Teddy agreed, "what else?"

"I got the new math teacher and we don't have desks and stand to work on the walls. All of her walls are white boards. It's really cool," Ellie said, "she's young. She's the youngest teacher I've ever had."

"So you like your math class," Teddy smiled, "what about your other classes?"

"Its okay," Ellie said, "I've been just using Riggs at school it's easier."

"Why not Altman," Teddy asked.

"I started using Riggs only because Allie was Altman so it was easier not to get us confused," Ellie said, "and mom wants me to start thinking about college."

"It's not to early," Teddy said.

"She calls it university she said she didn't go to college she did an undergrad," Ellie said.

"She did," Teddy replied, "at UBC."

"I want to look at Harvard," Ellie said.

"Then look," Teddy smiled, "you could go anywhere."

"Mom doesn't want me to go out of town," Ellie pouted.

"UW is an option but you look where you want," Teddy said, "I'll help you convince her if you want to go away. You have both passports, you can look at Canadian schools."

"UBC has a good reputation," Ellie said.

"What do you want to go to school for," Teddy asked, "figure that out first then find schools that do it well."

"When you were my age what did you want to do," Ellie asked.

"I thought I wanted to be a nurse like my mom," Teddy said, "they I didn't get into nursing school and started taking sciences so I could transfer. Then I was 19 before I picked medicine. What are you thinking?"

"I want to help people," Ellie said, "but I don't know if I want to be a doctor. But you and grandpa are, mom and dad are."

"Don't do it because you think it's expected," Teddy said, "no one wants a doctor that doesn't love what they do and you'll never make it through residency and med school if it's not what you really want. You spend years training if it's not something you know you want you shouldn't do it."

"I want to help people and I like math and science," Ellie said, "thats all I know."

"It's a good start," Teddy smiled.

Ellie yawned.

"You can't get sleepy when you're baby sitting," Teddy teased.

"She finally asked me," Ellie said, "I've wanted to since Ev was born."

"I know you have," Teddy agreed, "but you've helped me or your mom before now."

"But that's not doing it," Ellie said.

"It's not," Teddy agreed.

"Allie trusts me," Ellie beamed.

"She always has," Teddy said, "it's hard to leave your baby though. Your mom was the worst for it when you were little. She would do research with you in the carrier against her chest."

"She did," Ellie asked.

"Your mom was bad for it, she kept you right with her," Teddy said.

"She had a backpack for Henry and Heather," Ellie remembered.

"That's the same carrier you used," Teddy said.

At the party Allison stood in a corner with Eden.

"Is this weird," Eden asked.

"It is," Allison agreed, "I feel bad leaving Ev with Ellie."

"Ellie is your cousin," Eden said.

"Niece," Allison said, "I have an older sister in her 40s. Ellie is my big sister's daughter but I'm closer to Ellie because she's only a couple years younger than us."

"Is that weird," Eden asked.

"Annie was 25 when I was born, yes that's weird. Annie is closer in age to our mom than to me and Leo. Mom was 21 when she had Annie," Allison explained.

"You have the same parents," Eden said, "they just waited a bunch of years."

"Same mom," Allison said, "Annie has a different dad then she has other siblings Chris and Jessica. I really like Chris but Jessica passed when I was 7."

"You know your half sister's other family," Belle said.

"My Uncle Dan is Annie's dad," Allison said, "then Annie calls my dad Uncle Owen. it's something my parents came up with 25 years ago."

"So what are you doing now," Lily asked.

"School, working, looking after Everly and hanging out with Asher," Allison replied, "you?"

"School," Carly said.

Asher stood on the other side of the room talking to Luke.

"So you're Allie's boyfriend," Luke clarified.

"Ya," Asher replied, "we've been together a year. Have you met Allie?"

"On campus with Ava," Luke said, "she's kinda quiet."

"When she's stressed or studying," Asher agreed, "sometimes school is her chance to have some quiet."

"You have a kid right," Luke said.

"Everly is 7 months," Asher said.

"Ava talks about hanging out with Allie and Ev. I didn't realize at first that Ev was a baby until Ava showed me a picture," Luke said, "what do you do?"

"I'm an industrial electrician," Asher said, "you?"

"Electrical engineering student," Luke said, "other than work what do you do?"

"I work over time most days then time with Allie and Ev," Asher said, "we hike. I played football. I like cycling. You?"

"I play hockey," Luke said, "have you known Ava long?"

"Ninth grade," Asher said, "her and Allie have been close since Elementary school. Ava has been so patient and supportive of Allie. She's auntie Ava to Everly. I know Ava is the one friend of Allie's that would know about our relationship."

"I have a feeling Allie knows a lot," Luke said, 'but we just started dating a couple weeks ago."

"Girls tell eachother everything," Asher said, "they text at really weird times."

"Like what," Luke asked.

"When Ev was a new born if Allie was up with her she would text Ava and Ava usually responds. I think it was midnight a couple days ago when Ava texted Allie it woke both of us up," Asher said.

"You and Allie live together," Luke looked shocked.

"We have for a while," Asher said, "we're in a basement suite with our daughter. So Ava?"

"We've been talking all semester and had coffee after class a few times," Luke said.

Ava grabbed Allison's arm and pulled her into the kitchen.

"What," Allison asked.

"Is he okay," Ava asked.

"Luke looks like he's having fun," Allison said, "he's talking to Ash. Ash will be nice."

"What does Asher know," Ava asked.

"That you've been on a few dates and really like him," Allison said, "I don't tell Asher everything you tell me."

"But you tell me everything," Ava clarified.

"Not the most personal things about my relationship," Allison said, "because you don't need to know about that."

"What your sex life," Ava whispered.

"That," Allison groaned.

"What else haven't you told me," Ava asked.

"Actually having Ev," Allison admitted, "it was hell. But I can talk to Asher, my mom and Annie."

"Asher,' Ava questioned.

"We're good," Allison said, "some days I feel like we skipped a bunch of steps and are married but it's good."

"You act like your married," Kristen agreed.

"It's what it is," Allison shrugged, "is your boy friend coming?"

"No Liam has a family thing tonight," Kristen said, "how do you guys make the family stuff work?"

"I don't know if it will," Allison said, "my parents are on call Christmas eve and they'll get called in for sure they always do. Mom and Annie always do a surgery together on Christmas eve. So we go to church and for dinner with Asher's parents on Christmas eve then will do Christmas morning at home. Then his family does Christmas lunch so we go for that then dinner at Auntie Meg's."

"Busy," Carmen commented.

"It is but both sides want to see Everly," Allison shrugged, "will Taylor see her dad?"

"No," Carmen said, "I haven't heard from him in months. It'll be okay."

"Taylor," Allison asked.

"She's good," Carmen said, "I'd like her to see her dad but I don't think I can change it. She's growing so fast."

"I know," Allison said, "it's too fast."

"Baby talk," Carly teased.

"We can't help it," Carmen said.

"So Carmen is there a guy," Carly asked.

"School, work and single mom no time," Carmen said, "I don't know how Eden does it."

"I think Jonah is really patient with her," Allison said, "if it wasn't Ash I wouldn't date."

Around 11 Asher found Allison, slipping his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek.

"Should we head home," Asher asked.

"Probably," Allison said, "Ellie probably passed out on our couch."

"Should we relieve the baby sitter," Asher asked.

"I miss Ev," Allison sighed.

"Let's go home," Asher agreed, "tuck Ev in again and then we can go to bed."

"Bed with you sounds good," Allison whispered in his ear.

"Lets go," Asher agreed.

They said good by to their friends and drove home letting them selves in their outside door making Ellie jump.

"Your home," Ellie yawned.

"We're home," Allison agreed, "how was Ev?"

"She was good," Ellie said, "she really likes her bath. But I had to ask your mom to help me with that."

"There's two mugs you had tea with my mom," Allison noticed.

"I spent some time with grandma," Ellie admitted.

"Good my mom gets lonely," Allison said, "Everly went to bed okay?"

"She did," Ellie agreed, "she hates her exercises."

"She does this week," Allison agreed, "did she cry?"

"She did," Ellie said, "but then we snuggled with her bottle and read a book and she was okay."

"Feeding her after that helps," Allison said, "did you find the bedding?"

"Grandma told me just to come upstairs when you got home," Ellie said, "to use your old room."

"Are you sure, you're welcome to stay here," Allison asked.

"I've slept on this couch before," Ellie said, "I'll go to grandma's guest room."

"Your welcome to stay," Allison said.

"I'll see you in the morning," Ellie said, "your mom was negotiating with Auntie Megan to let Cat out."

"It's just us and we've had it planned for weeks," Allison agreed, "mom might be able to convince Auntie Meg."

"What time are we leaving," Ellie asked.

"I told Nee we'd pick Heather up around 10:30," Allison replied.

"Brunch and skating," Ellie smiled.

"Yes, girls day with no moms," Allison beamed.

"You can't say no moms or you can't go," Ellie teased.

"No one over 20," Allison corrected.

"Yes," Ellie agreed.

"Should we go to bed," Asher asked.

"I'm going up," Ellie said.

"Night Ellie thanks so much for babysitting," Allison said hugging the other girl.

"Night Allie see you in the morning," Ellie said before going up stairs.

After Ellie walked upstairs Allison walked into the nursery and bent over the crib quickly kissing the baby's head, "I love you so much princess."