Allison came straight home from work with good news. She ran inside and went to change out of her scrubs and throw them in the wash.
"Ash," Allison called.
"What," Asher asked.
"Come here," Allison called from their bedroom.
He walked into their room. He saw her scrubs in the basket and her standing in their room in a blue dress .
"You look happy," he smiled, "good day at work?"
"Great," Allison said, "I went ortho solo."
"Solo what did you do," Asher asked.
"I put a plate in a man's leg to stabilise a break," Allison said, "but that's not the best part. That thing we were talking about last night."
"Are you," Asher asked.
"Tessa did the blood work," Allison smiled, "baby 2 in August ."
"You're," Asher asked.
"I am," Allison said.
"How do you feel," Asher asked, hugging her.
"Okay," she replied, "I understand more now. Ev is 10 I'm 28 we're ready. We'll be 29 when this one is born but we're ready this time."
"We are this time," Asher said, "you're a surgeon I'm running my crew we're prepared. So boy or girl?"
"I don't know," Allison said, "but I want to be considered high risk and monitored that way because of the complications with Ev we need to be more careful this time. I think this time I want to consider a c section."
"We will be more aware and if you want a c section we will talk to your doctor. ," Asher said, "we're doing this. A second child."
"Our second child," Allison confirmed.
"I love you," Asher whispered, pulling Allison close and slipping one hand to her stomach.
"This time you get all the fun with me," Allison smirked.
"We were so young last time," Asher said.
"We were 17," Allison said, "that's like Ev telling us in 7 years shes."
"I know," Asher said, "if she does I pray I have your dad's grace."
Everly walked into the room.
"Dad, why are you rubbing mom's tummy," Everly asked.
Allison looked to Asher who nodded.
"We have some good news but it has to be a secret for awhile," Asher said.
"What is it," Everly asked.
"I'm going to have a baby," Allison said, "you're going to be a big sister."
"When," Everly asked, "where is the baby?"
"In August ," Allison said, "I'll see Dr Mitchell tomorrow and she'll decide exactly when but this needs to be a secret until Feburary or March. I want to keep it quiet with our friends and at work. I'll tell you when you can say something."
"Where is the baby," Everly demanded.
"The baby will grow in my uterus for 40 weeks," Allison said, "so about 35 more now, I think it's been there for 5 weeks already but I need an ultrasound on my uterus."
"Where is that," Everly asked.
"Right here," Allison said, placing her hand against her stomach, "it's very small right now but it will grow and my belly will get really big."
"Where did I come from," Everly asked.
"The same place," Allison said, "10 years ago. I was still in high school."
"Grandma," Everly asked.
"I'll tell her and grandpa," Allison said, "it's a big secret princess."
"Can dad have a baby, " Everly asked.
"No, only biological women have the parts to have babies," Allison said, "the baby will be part of our family but I'm the only one who can have a baby now."
"How did the baby get in your stomach," Everly asked.
Allison looked at Asher who shook his head.
"I'll leave you girls to talk," Asher said, "you're the doctor Allie."
"Nope," Allison said, "come sit don't be a prude Ash."
"How did the baby get inside mom," Everly asked.
"When two adults love each other a lot like your mom and I," Asher started, "we spend time together just the two of us."
"But a baby," Everly asked.
"There's something special adults do that helps a baby start to grow. It puts special cells called sperm from dad inside me so that they can meet an egg," Allison explained.
"An egg, you're not a bird," Everly said.
"All biological females have eggs," Allison said, "they need the egg from the mom and the sperm cells from the dad. When they meet a baby starts to grow."
"Does this have to do with the blood thing we talked about at school," Everly asked.
"Yes," Allison said, "you talked about periods and your body growing up. This is the next step."
"It's icky," Everly said.
"I know it's not comfortable, your teacher didn't do that conversation well," Allison said, "but I want you to know about it and understand it. Dad and I were still in high school when you were born."
"I thought you were grownups," Everly said.
"No princess," Asher said, "we were 18 the day you were born. That was May 19 your due date then mom and I graduated high school on June 20th. You're going to have to really help mom the next few months."
"But what do grownups do that makes them meet," Everly asked.
Allison gulped, she was not ready to tell her 10 year old about sex. Asher stared at Allison in a panic.
"This conversation staysbetween us," Allison said, "if you have questions you can ask me or dad or auntie Annie or grandma. You ask a doctor in the family for now. I don't want you telling Khitam and I know you two are really good friend but Faroke and Nisha need to decide when they're ready to tell her about this."
"Is this about sex," Everly asked.
"Where did you hear about that," Asher asked.
"Avery at school," Everly shrugged, 'she said her big brother got caught having sex with his girlfriend. She said his pee pee was inside his girlfriend's bum."
'When did you hear that," Allison asked.
"Saturday," Everly shrugged, "is it bad?"
"In a loving relationship with two people who want to and are old enough to make the choice no," Allison said, "but his penis was probably inside her vagina."
"But a baby," Everly asked.
"That's what creates a baby," Allison said, 'not every time and there are lots of ways to make sure you don't have a baby if your not ready. But you are not old enough yet."
"When will I be old enough," Everly asked.
"Everyone is ready at different times," Allison replied.
"It's not like you turn 16 and get your driver's lisence," Asher said, "you have to make sure you really really love the person and feel safe with them."
"And I want you to come talk to me if you have any questions," Allison said, "I want you to know the truth and will not lie to you and expect that you don't lie to me about it. Everly there are no bad questions about this. It can feel a bit silly and awkward sometimes and hard to talk about but dad and I will always be honest with you."
"Okay,' Everly said, 'does having a baby hurt?"
"It's not comfortable," Allison admitted, "and at the end right before the baby is born it's really painful."
"I'm a big sister," Everly asked.
"You will be soon," Allison smiled.
"How do we see it," Everly asked.
"My tummy will get really big," Allison said, "but a few times we'll go get ultrasounds done and get pictures.
"Can I go now," Everly asked.
"Yes," Asher said. 'I just need to make sure mom is okay."
"Ash no hovering," Allison said, "I'm good."
"You were so sick and tired last time," Asher said.
"I think we'll be better this time," Allison said, "we're 10 years older."
"You getting sick we have no control of," Asher said.
"Mentally I'm stronger," Allison said, "Ev I can lift you right now but as the baby grows and my belly grows I won't be able to lift you safely. So we're really going to have to practise some of the harder transfers like in and out of the tub. You need to learn to do that alone, it's time."
"Putting my braces on," Everly asked.
"I'll be able to help you but we might have to be flexible," Allison said.
"Skiing," everly asked.
"You do half days with Auntie Annie only then when grandma usually gets tired and takes you down the mountain I will," Allison said.
"Can I not go and hang out with you," Everly asked.
"I'd like you to do the couple half days," Allison said, "I know it's really really hard."
"I hate it," Everly said, "and people look at me funny."
"One day," Allison declared, "you can do one and hang out with me the other."
"You need to try," Asher said.
"Ash," Allison said, "should we tell my mom now?"
"What do you want to do," Asher asked.
"I want my mom," Allison said, "we've had blood work it's guaranteed ."
"Go," Asher said, "Ev you and I are going to go make dinner for mom."
"My stomach isn't too happy, " Allison said.
"Eat," Asher said, "with Ev you craved broccoli."
"That sounds good," Allison agreed.
"You call Teddy and I'll make dinner," Asher said.
Allison grabbed her phone and walked into the home office.
"Allison," Teddy answered.
"Mom," Allison said, "you can't panic or get mad this time. I'm married and have been for 6 years now."
"And with him for 10," Teddy replied, "what's going on Allie?"
"Are you ready for grand baby number six," Allison asked.
"Six," Teddy asked.
"Mom, I'm pregnant," Allison said.
"How far along? When are you due," Teddy asked, "are you feeling okay?"
"Six weeks, we don't have a due date yet, but at the end of August I think and so so," Allison said, "I'm excited."
"Enjoy it this time," Teddy said.
"This was planned ish," Allison told Teddy, "we wanted a second before Ev got too much older. I didn't want it to be a me and Annie thing."
"You were trying," Teddy asked.
"Sort of," Allison said, "not exactly trying, not exactly preventing."
"You feel okay, " Teddy asked.
"So far," Allison said, "I'll tell dad tomorrow I'm on his service."
"Before your shift starts," Teddy said.
"I will," Allison said, "mom is this okay?"
"More than okay baby girl," Teddy assured, "enjoy it Allie. This is exciting."
"I'm sure Ash will love it," Allison said, "months of rubbing my back until I fall asleep."
"You were so young," Teddy said, "you needed affection and that's all the two of you felt safe with. Your relationship is so different now."
"He still does that when I'm stressed and tired," Allison admitted.
"I was worried when you got together," Teddy said, "but you two are an amazing team. You've grown so much together. Allison it's right. I'm happy for you."
The next morning Allison met Owen before rounds, "dad do you have a second?"
"I do," Owen said, "everything okay?"
"No getting mad this time," Allison said, "I've been married for six years and with Ash for ten now."
"What is it," Owen asked.
"I'm having another baby," Allison smiled, " we found out yesterday. About 6 weeks we think I'm due about August 30. I'll see Stephanie Mitchell this afternoon."
"Congratulations," Owen beamed, hugging Allison, "this is good. You're ready. You and Asher are great parents. Does mom know?"
"She does," Allison said, "the two of you, Asher and Ev."
"Did mom tell you about your restrictions," Owen asked.
"No radiation," Allison said, "listen to my body."
"Are you okay," Owen asked.
"Not feeling great," Allison admitted, "I was fine with Ev I'll be okay. It's not like I have to hide it this time. Not the way I did with Everly."
"Tell me if you need time," Owen said, "I learned my lesson about pushing my residents with your sister."
"Annie," Allison asked.
"I pushed her too hard. It was her fifth year of residency and we trained residents differently then. We pushed them harder. We all worked 80 hour weeks," Owen said, "but it was 5 years of residency instead of 5.5 it's the same hours over more time."
"60 is enough," Allison replied.
"Have you told Meg," Owen asked.
"Not yet," Allison said.
"Her and your chief resident need to know," Owen said, "go tell Megan before you scrub."