Allison waited anxiously for the hospital app to be updated, chief resident was to be posted any second. She had applied and interviewed for the position but knew it was a long shot. Her aunt was the chief, her parents held leadership positions and her sister was on the selection committee.

The up loaded a banner across the top , "chief surgical resident 2045/2046 residency year."

Allison tapped on the banner it opened to her hospital head shot, "congratulations to Dr Allison Blouin! Our chief surgical resident for 2045/2046."

"No," Allison gasped, "no way."

"What," Asher asked pouring his coffee in a travel mug to take to work.

"I'm chief resident," Allison gasped, "me."

"Congratulations babe," Asher beamed, "I knew you would get it. You're brilliant. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks," Allison beamed.

Seeing neither of the kids were in the kitchen Asher pulled Allison in for a passionate kiss."

Thirteen years later she still loved how he made her feel loved and protected in his arms when he hugged her tight and rested his chin on top of her head.

"I did it," Allison smiled into his shoulder, "I don't think. With my family and not being one of as much as I could be that."

"Maybe you not being in all their drama is why they picked you," Asher said, "what is your cohort up to four babies who have both parents in your cohort but not together and all the drama with that."

"Almost five," Allison shrugged, "Melina and Spencer this time. They act like it's high school."

"Doesn't Melina have another," Asher asked sometimes enjoying the hospital gossip.

"She does with Robbie," Allison rolled her eyes, "they co parent the little girl has 2 mom weeks and 2 dad weeks."

"Poor kid she's younger than Andy," Asher replied.

"She's just over two," Allison replied, "he's almost three."

"We're," Asher checked.

"We are," Allison confirmed.

"Tonight we celebrate," Asher promised, "I;ll make your favourite and after the kids go to bed we'll hang out."

"Hang out," Allison whispered, "hot tub, wine?"

"Yes and yes," Asher smiled

"We're doing this," Allison said, "we can have it all?"

"We can," Asher promised, "tonight. I have to get to work and so do you."

"Mom," Everly called, "mom something's wrong."

Their oldest sounded panicked.

Allison rushed to the bathroom door, "what's wrong princess?"

"There's blood," Everly whined.

"Where," Allison asked.

"Can you come here," Everly asked.

Allison slipped into the bathroom.

"Mom there's blood in my underwear," Everly whined, "and on the toilet paper."

"You said your stomach hurt last night," Allison said, "your 13. It's your first period."

"No," Everly complained, "make it stop."

"I can't," Allison said, "I'm going to my bathroom to get pads for you and you'll put on clean undies. Nothing is wrong."

"How does it stop," Everly asked.

"It does in a few days," Allison promised, "baby girl this is normal and healthy."

"I don't want it," Everly said.

"To bad," Allison replied, "it's going to happen every month until your about 55 or 60."

"Do you," Everly asked.

"Last week," Allison replied.

"When does it stop," Everly asked.

"This one in four or five days then it happens again next month," Allison replied, "it might not be regular at first but it will be in time."

"Can it ever take a break," Everly asked, "what happens then?"

"There's a couple ways to do that," Allison replied, "the first is getting pregnant then you don't have it for the 9 months or the first but you breast feed the baby. And there are some forms of birth control that can delay or suppress it."

"There's medicine to stop it," Everly asked.

"Some types of birth control but you are far far too young," Allison replied, "it hasn't been studied in girls your age. I am saying that's not a choice for you yet unless problems come up. We will discuss it more when you're older."

"Do you get to stop it," Everly asked.

"No," Allison replied, "only when I had you and your brother."

"Do I have to go to school," Everly asked

"Yes your not sick," Allison replied, "school, physio and tomorrow you'll swim."

"But blood and the pool," Everly replied.

"I have to get some but I'll walk you through how to use a tampon and you can swim," Allison replied.

"Who taught you," Everly asked.

"Grandma," Allison replied, "but we're going to be late for school and work so let's get going miss. You are okay it's not comfortable but your going to be just fine."

Allison walked out of the bathroom and met Asher in the hallway.

"She's fine," Allison assured, "just growing up."

"Allie," Asher asked.

"Girl stuff don't worry she's totally fine," Allison assured, "I've got it and you need to stay out of this one unless she talks to you about it. Let her do her thing."

"Babe," Asher asked.

"She's growing up. I knew this was coming," Allison assured, "ash leave it."

"So I," Asher asked.

"Go to work and don't mention anything she will tell you if she wants to," Allison replied, "as much as we hate it she's a teenage girl and she's not going to tell us everything anymore. It's part of her growing up. She's a good kid."

"She is," Asher smiled, "I'll see you after work."

"See you later," Allison smiled back.

Asher grabbed his keys and backpack off the counter before walking out the front door.

Allison walked into the hospital and met Annie on their way to the locker rooms.

"Congratulations Bean," Annie beamed hugging Allison.

"Thanks Nee," Allison smiled, "I did it."

"You beat me," Annie joked, "Jenna was my chief resident."

"You didn't," Allison asked, "I was so little."

"I didn't even really apply," Annie admitted, "I handed it in but it I knew I couldn't be considered. Mama hadn't been chief long."

"Auntie Meg," Allison replied.

"Not your mother and she's established in the roll," Annie replied, "I'm proud of you. You earned it Bean."

"Really," Allison asked.

"There was competition," Annie replied, "18 of you applied. I don't know details when I saw your application Josh and I pulled out of the committee and so did mama, Uncle Owen, Meg and Nathan. No family was on the panel. You did it fully on your own merit. Where are you today?"

"My last mandatory adult trauma rotation with dad," Allison replied.

"Have fun," Annie smiled, "run it."

"I will," Allison replied.

Allison changed to her scrubs and met Owen outside the pit.

"Congratulations munchkin," Owen smiled, "you're chief resident. Ready?"

"I think so," Allison replied, "my year has drama but can work. The fourth years lack cohesion but some team building might help, third needs some skills and the seconds are stronger than the thirds. My interns we'll see."

"Sounds like your ready and have a good read on it," Owen smiled, "plans?"

"Today work with you as needed so when I'm paged not sitting in the pit," Allison replied, "I need to finish up the FDA proposal Schmidt and I are working on for a human trial on the new way we think we can fix scrollsis that grows with the kids. The device is working well in models and with 3D rendering but we have to get final approval and test it. And I can't be in the or for the proposed first test surgery."

"Ev," Owen asked.

"Likely or Talia her friend from preschool. I'm so glad those two are back in the same school again for middle after we moved Ev to our neighbourhood lol school when we moved," Allison replied, "either way I'm too close to the girls. I think we'll see Trianne go first she's worse than Ev and in so much pain. We'll work with that factor and she has less mobility. Evs chair is a choice and she is using her crutches at school a lot Talia can't at all. Talia has lost so much mobility with the scroleosis she's in her chair full time."

"You can work between surgeries and consults," Owen agreed, "I have to do final reviews on my graduating fellows. It's my last set I'm stepping down as head of trauma fellowships. I'm too old. They need some one younger. Someone at the peak of their career. I'm still going to teach and support but it's time I step back."

"It is," Allison agreed, "don't be dr Webber."

"I won't," Owen promised, "Richard was one of a kind. Incredible teacher, kind man, he broke a lot of barriers. I learned a lot from him. But he never lived outside this hospital. I intend to retire and spend more time with mom and travel more. Spoil your kids."

"You spoil them enough already," Allison laughed, "and Leo comes home. Will there be work for him?"

"I'll make sure of it," Owen replied, "we need a Hunt in trauma around here."

"Are you disappointed I chose ortho," Allison asked, "my siblings."

"No," Owen said, "your going do great things in ortho you already are. You have a passion for it and purpose. I expected Annie to go full peds as a resident."

"She said she thought about it but was torn," Allison replied, "and mom."

"Your siblings are less secure in themselves than you are," Owen agreed, "Annie still is the worst of the three for being assertive about who she is. I still think she only does it with Josh and Chris. You all have your own strengths and weaknesses. You see Annie's less than you see Leo's because of the age gap. But they're there."

"That she won't take on more leadership is her being true to herself," Allison argued, "it doesn't make her happy. She doesn't want it."

"I know," Owen agreed, "and she needs to let herself be happy."

"Will you and mom be happy retiring," Allison asked.

"Your mom will have a bigger adjustment but I'm ready," Owen replied, "I've had a long career. I've done great things. Saved a lot of lives and lost too many on my table. I've saved way more than I've lost. It's time. I'm ready to put down my scalpel. It'll be a change but I'm looking forward to it."

"Are you really," Allison asked, "you've been talking about it for 10 years. I'll believe it when I see it."

"I am," Owen replied.

"Well done baby girl," Teddy beamed, joining them, "chief resident."

"Thanks mom," Allison smiled.

"You did it," Teddy smiled, "I knew you would. Are you ready?"

"It can't be harder than parenting right," Allison asked.

"Same tantrums bigger people," Teddy laughed.

"And snacks still work to divert," Allison laughed.

"Good ones," Teddy agreed.

"Candy, chips, coffee," Allison listed, "I'm putting in requests for the one coffee or drink cards for the coffee cart."

"Good plan," Teddy agreed, "ready to take charge and come to staff meetings?"

"More meetings no but happy to lead," Allison agreed, "I like leading and with this and my research I'll have my pick of fellowships."

"You will, " Owen agreed, "Allie were proud of you."

"We're very proud," Teddy agreed, "tonight can we take the four of you out to celebrate?"

"Not tonight I promised Ev something special," Allison replied.

"Talk to Asher and this weekend then," Teddy replied, "we are celebrating baby girl. You make me so proud. Everything you've accomplished and done. The positivity and grace you don't with."

"Mom," Allison blushed.

"Allie I mean it," Teddy promised.

"Have you told your brother," Owen asked.

"I haven't," Allison replied, "I had just told Asher when Ev needed me right away and I haven't had a chance to text Leo."

"Is Ev okay," Teddy asked.

"She is," Allison replied, "being a teenage girl."

"Really," Teddy asked.

"Mom it's between her and I," Allison replied, "respect her privacy."

"You okay," Teddy questioned.

"I knew it was coming soon," Allison assured, "she's a teenager. The attitude is coming out. What happened to my sweet girl."

"She's in there," Teddy assured, "teenagers have to be teens sometimes. Just be aware. She loves you and needs up but she also wants independence and to make decisions."

"I remember," Allison replied, "it wasn't that long ago."

"It wasn't for you," Teddy agreed, "that's one reason I found teens hard I was late 50s early 60s with teens. You'll find it so much easier to connect and understand."

"Different," Allison replied, "but I have to get to the lab."

"I'll see you later," Teddy replied, "I want to see your proposal before you send it."

"I'll send it when I'm done," Allison promised.

"Have a good day," Teddy smiled walking away.

"I'll page you if I need you," Owen told both of them before turning to the pit.

Allison smiled as she walked to the lab, she was chief resident, something no one in the family had done before. Her parents were proud of her, they had both said it. She knew it took a lot for them to say it, they meant it.