Authors note

We are assuming Allison's residency is about 6 years making Everly now 13 and in grade 8, so finishing middle school.

Allison and Asher sat in their living room. Everly was at a friends for a birthday party and Andy was already in bed.

"Next steps," Allison asked, putting her feet in his lap.

"Already," Asher asked.

"This one is different," Allison complained, "not even 12 weeks and I'm showing and my feet hurt. I was in the OR for 14 hours today."

"What did you do," Asher asked.

"Rebuilt a child's hip joint with cadaver bone seeded with their own stem cells from banked cord blood," Allison smiled, "7 year old.I did the left and the child is now sedated in the PICU. A week with us immobilised then physio. It's going to work Ash. When it's out of the trial phase I want someone to try it on Ev."

"Allie, she has to decide if she wants it," Asher replied, "her movement is better now that she's taking physio seriously again."

"It is and she's swimming so well," Allison agreed, "she has that meet tomorrow. I wanted to get a few work things done before we pick her up so I'm present all weekend."

"What do you have to do," Asher asked.

"Review check lists on the interns," Allison groaned, "I have to fail Ellie. Ash she's not a surgeon and we all see it, she doesn't really want it but she's been assigned to it based on her name. She doesn't like the OR."

"Or is it the mess her and Caleb are in," Asher asked.

"Both," Allison agreed, "but it doesn't excuse her mistakes. She's weak surgically. She's a fabulous diagnostician, she connects seemingly unrelated symptoms but she can't cut it in the OR. the moment you give her a scalpel or retractor she clams up."

"Have you said it to her," Asher asked.

"Not in so many words," Allison replied, "I've given her extra skills labs. One to one support with me but I can't do much more her heart isn't there and I don't think it's her baby. She's just not a surgeon."

"She doesn't have to be," Asher assured, "but your right Ellie has a different personality, she's more laid back and less competitive than you are. She doesn't have that same fight in her. I've seen enough surgeons now to know you all have a kinda fighting competitive thing going on. And Ellie just doesn't but she's amazing with our kids."

"I can see her as a great family practice paediatrician or a hospitalist paediatrician doing the really complex non surgical cases," Allison replied, "she's had some great catches on diagnosis recently some really rare findings that without her would have been missed until way later into the case when complications came up."

"Use that," Asher replied, "but us babe, our family."

"This is our last baby," Allison said, "if I have another c-section I'm asking to have my tubes tied."

"If not," Asher asked.

"We get you an appointment with urology for a little procedure," Allison declared.

"We're not old enough," Asher said, "don't you have to be 35 for that?"

"Or have at least 2 children," Allison replied, "We can apply for an exception."

"If you want us to," Asher agreed, "the baby thing is way harder on you than on me. You get so tired."

"I do," Allison agreed, "this one feels different than the other two. I feel better than I did with either."

"I think we've learned how to help you feel better and you started the meds early," Asher said, "you haven't needed an IV at all this time."

"Close but not yet," Allison replied.

"You've been better the last couple days," Asher said.

"I have," Allison said, "but us. I want to go away as a couple before baby."

"I know it's a work thing but what if I come with you to LA for your boards then we take a few days," Asher asked, "you test the first day and then we have two or three just us to relax."

"Sooner," Allison replied, "it's too close to the due date and Ava's. I promised that I would be her support person in labour. She's been there so much for us."

"She has," Asher agreed, "how many years and she's still your best friend."

"20 or 25," Allison replied, "we were in second grade. I worry Ev still hasn't found that best friend like I have Ava and you have Jonah."

"She's doing well socially now," Asher assured, "a birthday party tonight and a sleep over last weekend. The kids are just finding some maturity now to see past her CP to how awesome she is."

"She's funny," Allison smiled, "and so smart. And Andy has gotten so strong. His swimming lesson last night he was the only one to swim and float alone."

"And he's skating well," Asher replied, "hockey once he's old enough?"

"If he wants to," Allison agreed, "I want him to play sports."

"Will Ev be okay with it," Asher asked.

"We're not holding the other two back from what they love because of Evs CP," Allison replied, "she has her challenges but so will they. We need to get Andy into speech therapy. He's behind. I worry about it."

"You've applied," Asher asked.

"I have," Allison replied, "private pay. I'm not waiting on the foundation and we can do it with both of our medical. I'd like him to have a full work up. He seems behind cognitively."

"I think it's just his communication," Asher assured.

"I hope so," Allison replied.

"When do we pick her up," Asher asked

"Soon," Allison replied, "she's texting."

"Everything okay," Asher asked.

"Girl stuff," Allison smiled, "ash let her be a teenage girl."

"But remember us as teenagers," Asher asked, "we were wild and stupid."

"We were," Allison agreed, "and it wasn't that long ago so we can empathise better than most parents."

"I know what boys were like, some of my buddies still are like that," Asher replied.

"The single ones," Allison agreed.

"You have single friends at work to set Tyson up with," Asher joked.

"Nope," Allison replied, "my single friends will eat him alive. He hasn't grown up since senior year."

"I feel bad for the guy," Asher replied, "and Blake, he's getting a divorce."

"Marry a woman you've known for 6 months," Allison rolled her eyes.

"We did it right," Asher said, "date for years. Make sure we work first."

"After the whole one night stand and getting pregnant thing," Allison laughed, " we worked it out."

"We did," Asher agreed.

"It's right," Allison smiled, "I'm happy I haven't had to do any of this alone. I couldn't have done this without you and our family."

"We did it together," Asher agreed, "I'm proud of you."

"I'm proud of us," Allison agreed.

Allison's phone buzzed on the coffee table, she picked it up.

"I have to go get her," Allison said, "she sent TACO."

"The code word it's bad," Asher agreed, "who's going?"

"I am," Allison sighed.

"I can," Asher assured, "you stay here and have her ice cream ready."

"No," Allison said, "it's a mom thing."

Allison stood up and grabbed her purse and keys. She drove to where Everly was at the birthday party and saw the growing group of older kids out front. A boy laughed at Everly as she made her way down the front steps on her crutches.

"Not a good night," Allison asked when Everly got into the van.

"No," Everly shook her head, "Mikayla's brother had friends over and they brought alcohol. And one of them tried to take my crutches and they laughed at me."

"That's a hard night," Allison agreed, "you did the right thing asking to come home. I'm proud of you."

"Why were all the older boys calling us pathetic virgins and the older girls were laughing," Everly asked.

Allison took a deep breath, "sometimes guys like to make girls uncomfortable about that as a way to pressure them into having sex before their ready."

"We're too young," Everly said.

"I think so too," Allison agreed, "but your friends might disagree or want to before you think you're ready and that's their decision. You need to decide for yourself. I will not get upset if and when you think you want to make that choice. I would prefer you to be a lot older and at least finish middle school."

"What boy is ever going to want me," Everly asked, "could I even if I can't move my legs right?"

"One day there will be the right person," Allison promised, "and you can it just might not be the same as others."

"But I want a boy to like me now like all my friends," Everly said.

"I know," Allison replied, "and it sucks but most boys are dumb. Boys have less confidence than girls and are pretty silly sometimes. They want what the media shows them and don't know how to listen to what they want. They don't see personalities yet. You will find someone who loves your sense of humour, your quick brain, your laugh."

"But I'm not pretty like you," Everly said.

"You do look more like your dad but that doesn't mean you aren't gorgeous," Allison promised.

"Can we dye my hair to look like yours," Everly asked.

"No dye yet but we can get a haircut," Allison suggested.

"And pierce my ears," Everly asked.

"Totally," Allison agreed, "but it might not be this weekend. You have your swim meet and I want to do some research about where we can go that's going to be really clean and safe. "

"When did grandma let you dye your hair," Everly tried that angle.

"I never have," Allison replied, "I don't know enough about it to guide you to getting it done well and safely. We're not doing it at home. Dad and I are clueless."

"Can we look into it," Everly asked.

"We can look into a balayage or highlights," Allison replied, "not whole head and nothing unnatural yet."

"When can I," Everly asked.

"When you can pay for it and the upkeep yourself," Allison replied, "I will ask auntie Ava where she gets her hair done because her colour always looks good. "

"Tonight," Everly asked.

"No but this week when I see her," Allison promised, "were any of the boys pressuring you?"

"No," Everly said, "just saying I'll be a virgin forever because no guy is going to want to a really dirty word a chick with a limp."

"Okay," Allison sighed, "not good. As I said, the right person and the right time you will find someone. And those guys are jerks."

"Can I have your surgery on my left," Everly asked.

"Not yet," Allison replied, "we haven't used it on a case as severe as yours and don't have it approved for your age group. When the approvals come in and we get the data from the first few we can have a team meeting and decide and you're old enough now to have a voice in the meetings."

"I want my heart valve changed," Everly said.

"You heard Dr Ndugu it's not needed yet," Allison replied, "the valve is still bicuspid but you haven't been having issues. Your heart function is in the high 50s which is still normal. The more you swim it seems to be getting better. I'd prefer to still be conservative and watch for a bit yet."

"But it's broken and if you won't fix my hips," Everly asked.

"Right now the risk of heart surgery is bigger than any benefit from it," Allison replied, "if there was a problem I would have you scheduled as soon as possible but it's not a problem. We've always said we're pushing that one as long as possible because you will need blood thinners for ever and that's got it's own set of complications."

"But," Everly tried.

"No sweetheart you don't technically need it," Allison replied, "and I'm not setting you up for unnecessary complications. We can do more injections in your hip if it's really bugging you and your in pain."

"It's my limp and balance," Everly said.

"Even surgery I can't promise will help either," Allison sighed, "the goal is to improve mobility in the hip socket."

"Will dad be mad," Everly asked, "about the party?"

"No," Allison replied, "you knew it wasn't a good situation and asked for us to come. You did the right thing. Is there anything more you want to tell me about it?"

"Some of the older kids had beer," Everly said.

"Did you have one," Allison asked.

"No," Everly said, "but ifI wanted to try it?"

"Dad and I both drank in highschool," Allison replied, "and we both drank too much at times. I would prefer you wait until you're old enough. And with some of your medications it's really dangerous. With your muscle relaxant too much could be a medical emergency. It worries me."

"What do I say," Everly asked.

"I don't drink or no thank you," Allison replied, "I'm good with my juice, soda, water whatever it is you're drinking."

"You and dad don't a lot," Everly observed.

"No we don't," Allison agreed, "I won't now until the baby is a few months old."

"Why," Everly asked.

"It's really dangerous for the baby if the mom drinks when she's pregnant," Allison replied, "and I don't like to with a newborn feeding constantly."

"Will you feed the new baby like you did Andy," Everly asked.

"I want to," Allison replied, "we'll see what works. I don't think one way is better as long as my kids are healthy."

"What did I do," Everly asked.

"Only my milk," Allison replied.

"In your research can you fix CP yet," Everly asked.

"No because we still don't know the cause," Allison replied, "we have to find that first and I'm not a neuro surgeon. Neuro will find it and I can help correct it."

They pulled into the drive way.

"Don't tell dad," Everly begged.

"Don't tell dad you realised a situation was unsafe and asked me to come get you," Allison asked, "that you did what we always want you to do?"

"Don't tell him why," Everly said.

"When you're ready you should," Allison encouraged.

They walked into the house.

"So what happened,"Asher asked.

"Some older kids showed up," Everly replied.

"And," Asher asked.

"They had beer," Everly replied.

"Good call coming home early," Asher praised, "you made a good choice."

"Why don't you get ready for bed and we can all go for breakfast before your meet tomorrow," Allison suggested to Everly.

"The place with the fancy eggs benedict," Everly asked.

"It's too far from the pool," Asher replied, "but we can go to the Cowboy you like their french toast."

"Okay," Everly agreed, "the raspberry one."

"Do you need anything," Allison asked.

"My hip hurts from standing too long," Everly admitted.

"Do you want meds," Asher asked.

"Can I go in the hot tub first," Everly asked, "mom can you come?"

"I'll put my feet in," Allison replied, "I can't get too hot so I'll just sit on the side with my feet in. rootbeer float?"

"Yes please," Everly smiled.

"Go get ready and get me a towel," Allison smiled.

When Everly was in her room Asher asked, "what really happened?"

"Boys being dumb," Allison replied, "she stood her ground she's good. But she wants her ears pieced and to dye her hair."

"Ears is her choice," Asher said, "you always have earrings in. hair dye?"

"Let me research," Allison replied, "but must be normal human spectrum no rainbow or neons."

"Sounds good," Asher said, "cost?"

"I have to find out," Allison replied, "but I'm okay with her paying part of dying from her allowance. It's not a necessity. We can pay for the cut and part of the colour but even if she pays 25% it's a choice not a necessity."

"Like with the Lululemon clothes," Asher asked.

"And her sephora trips," Allison agreed.

"Your sephora trips," Asher teased.

"I like my make up and skin care," Allison replied, "it's my one thing. I don't colour my hair or get my nails done every other week. If I want high end skin care because it works for my skin I'll use it."

"I don't care anymore," Asher replied, "it used to drive me nuts when you were in school and we were broke."

"And 80% of it then was my birthday and christmas gifts or in my Easter basket from my mom," Allison replied.

"Not that much, maybe half," Asher replied, "but you didn't buy coffees out and hardly bought yourself clothes so I left it."

"I like having money for things now," Allison replied, "I can negotiate loan repayment with a fellowship. Most give a housing allowance but I might be able to flip it to loan repayment if we stay here."

"Try," Asher agreed.

"And it's a raise real doctor money," Allison smiled, "we can stop stressing."

"I think I'll always stress a bit," Asher replied, "but it's better."

"Once I learned to budget," Allison agreed.

"Go join Ev outside," Asher said, "I'll grab the monitor for Andy's room and join you."

"Sounds good," Allison smiled.