Hello! Teddy is back and so am I! With a new account and a new fic! Haha because I couldn't remember my old log in. If you wanna see my older stories they're in rubberduckie16 lol :)

anyways, nothing like a holiday will me sappier than sap. Here's some thanksgiving fluff. :)

—

She wakes up from the deepest slumber she's had in a very long time. She was in the middle of a very vivid and stressful dream in German. She wasn't even sure what was happening, but she was glad to be woken up.

She's still not used to waking up in this bed. In this side of the bed. His smell on the pillow. His smell, everywhere. It's comforting, albeit unfamiliar.

She opens her eyes and he's sitting up. His pale freckled back stares at her. Comforting. The constellation of freckles, she tries to make out. She listens to the hushed tone of his voice on the phone.

"Yeah, we'll be there around 11..."

She watches him rub the sleep off his face. His hair tousled. A sigh. A heavy one.

"... no, Megan. Amelia won't be there."

Her heart beats a little faster. Is this real life? Is she still dreaming?

No. This is her reality now.

"... we, I mean.. me, Leo, maybe a surprise"

She smiles. This is her reality now. Maybe eventually officially belonging to a family she's always been a part of.

She reaches for his back. Traces a constellation. A little smile on her face. He turns to her with a smile and turns away again.

Golden light hitting his wild red hair. The sun is starting to beam into the bedroom.

His bedroom. Theirs? Maybe?

"okay, okay. I'll see you soon. Tell Riggs to drive safely."

She watches him hang up and lie back down and turns to face her.

"Good morning. Did I wake you?"

She clears her throat and smiles. "I don't think so. Thank you though. I was having a terrible dream"

He gathers her into his arms. His strong, warm arms. Arms that have been around her plenty of times, but hopefully this time it will be around her longer.

"Sorry."

"No, no I slept really well" she brushes her hand on his cheek. This is definitely real life. He is in front of her. His warm cheek under her touch. "Was that Megan?"

"Yeah she wanted to know when we'll be at mom's. They're driving up and should be there soon."

"Oh. What time is it? Did I really sleep in?"

He chuckles. God, she lives for his chuckles. That smirk.

"No. Its only 7. Megan is just being a pain. I didn't tell her you're coming. I thought we'd make that a surprise. They'll be happy to see you" he furrows his brow "you haven't told my mom yet right?"

She chuckles. "No. I thought about it though. But no."

"She'll be excited"

"Was she excited about Leo?"

"She was. But this is different."

"It is"

This is different.

This is real.

This is his. Theirs.

A part of him is in her. This is her new real life.

Leo's cries and babbles fill the room from the baby monitor and he squeezes her. "I'll be back."

This is her reality now. Back in Seattle. In his bed with him. Not alone in a small cottage with deer and singing birds.

He comes back with a happy Leo in his arms.

She is warming up to Leo in the few days she's been living with him. She thinks of this as a practice run. It can't hurt. Maybe it can. Maybe it will. But she doesn't think about that. Leo makes Owen happy. So she tries to love Leo.

She doesn't know how Leo plays into her future but for now this will do.

"Hi baby boy" she beams to the squirming child. Owen places him in the bed next to her. She caresses his fuzzy head.

"I figured we can get breakfast and then maybe go to mom's around 11?"

"Sure. We can go earlier if you want? Spend more time with Meg? Help them cook and get ready?"

"You won't mind?"

"Why would I mind?"

Maybe that was Owen's past? Being with women who didn't really value or get along with his family.

"Okay, Yeah!" he smiles "I'm sure mom would like that"

Her gaze shifts from him to Leo. It makes her heart ever even faster because he honestly scares her. She battles between love and acceptance and jealousy. Jealous that their own child might not have his, their, full attention. But acceptance because Owen is happy. She bites her lip in thought.

"You okay?"

Her gaze moves back to him as she rubs Leo's little belly.

"Yeah"

"What's happening in that brain?"

"A lot."

He leans over Leo and kisses Teddy on her head.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not now." She offers a smile. "I'm okay. I'm gonna shower"

They'll talk about it eventually. Everything is happening, but she's happy.

It's finally happening to her. She finally has him.

Every hurdle? Leo? Betty? Amelia? They will get through it.

It's her turn.

"I was thinking we should tell them after dinner or actually maybe before dinner" he says excitedly. His eyes on the road in front of him. One hand on the steering wheel. The other on her thigh.

She notices his excitement. His big smile. His eyes sparkle. She glances in the backseat to check on Leo, who was fast asleep.

He reaches for her hand. "What do you think?"

She pets his arm and gives it a squeeze. "Knowing your mom, she'd realize before you can say anything. It's not like I'm not showing. It's in there. My pants don't fit anymore."

"It's cute little bump" he says as he shimmies his hand between her thighs. His thumb affectionately caressing her thigh.

"But maybe we'll tell them after dinner." She says. Her fingernails lightly go up and down his forearm.

This is real life. There's a lot of touching. Affectionate caresses. Little kisses.

With Owen. Her best friend.

"They'll be so excited. And happy it's you"

She interlaces her fingers with his. "Are you happy? I didn't ruin your life, right?"

"Teddy, we talked about this."

"I know." She looks down. Almost embarrassed.

"I know you're worrying anyway"

She glances at him and he gives her a small smile.

"I meant it in Germany, Teddy, and I still mean it. I'm in love with you."

She squeezes his hand in response.

"You're mom isn't going to hate me right?"

"Stop worrying, Altman"

She looks up at him and he gives her a wink.

How can she not swoon?

"Mom?" Owen calls out as he walks into his mother's house. Leo in his arm and a diaper bag on his shoulder.

She follows close behind. Heart beating fast. Faster than its ever been.

"Owen!" Megan emerges from the kitchen and throws her arms around her big brother.

It takes Megan a second before realizing who Owen's with.

"Theodora Altman!" She shrieks. Abandoning her brother for her friend.

Teddy felt a surge of emotion. She's never had a family like Owen's. Owen's family had taken her in plenty of times. Megan has always been like a sister to her. They looked after each other in Iraq. Sisters stick together.

This moment, in the Hunt household's foyer, engulfed in his sister's embrace and his family's warmth, this is where she wants to be every Thanksgiving, Christmas, New year, Easter, Sunday dinner. This is what she wants. This is her reality.

"What are you doing here? Are you just here for thanksgiving? Oh my god!"

"Uh. Uhm. I'm... here. Indefinitely. Probably..."

"Okay you have to tell me more about that in a little bit but oh my god Owen look at this cute little boy" Megan says shifting her attention to Leo taking him from Owen's arms. "Mom! You're not going to believe who Owen brought home for thanksgiving!" She yells for her mother

Evelyn walks to the foyer laughing "We all heard you scream Megan. Hi Teddy, sweetheart." She gives Owen a hug and then Teddy. Evelyn pulls away and eyes her. "Is there something you're not telling me, Theodora"

Teddy laughs and looks at Owen pointedly "Told you!"

"Fine, Fine"

Teddy looks at him. His hands on his sister's shoulder. Grinning. He's happy. She knows that. She didn't ruin his life. She worries anyway.

"What's happening?" Megan asks

Teddy takes a deep breath "I'm pregnant."

"What!" Megan exclaims "do I have to kick some german's ass? Who did this? Is this why you left Germany? Who is he?"

"No. No. That's why I'm back in Seattle. Your brother did this."

"Owen!"

"Surprise?" Owen says shrugging

She sits in the kitchen with Leo in her lap while she mashes the potatoes. Leo was busy in gnawing on his teething toy and Teddy was listening to Megan telling a story about their road trip up to Seattle. Evelyn was making the pie and Megan was absentmindedly making some casserole.

They're gathered in the kitchen island preparing some dishes while the men and Farouk ran some errands. Megan stops suddenly and looks at her with a mischievous smile.

"So? What happened with that? How did this whole thing happen?"

"I haven't fully processed anything to be honest"

"Me neither" Evelyn says chuckling "I was just warming up to Amelia"

"Okay well, how did this start. How did he get you pregnant? It's not like you live in the same country. I'm sure there is a long sweeping story" Megan probed

"He shows up at my door in Germany in the middle of the night professing his love and how he and Amelia are done and how he's loved me all this time. And you know, I believed him. Then I was reckless and was not careful. It's Owen—"

"Exactly, it's Owen. You needed to be careful! You know better than that. He goes from one woman to another like... no, nevermind continue your story"

Teddy laughs. "Anyways so we were talking and he mentions that Amelia sent him to Germany. OH and he's been sleeping with Amelia while they're having this conversation"

"That's some pillowtalk" Megan comments as she pops a marshmallow in her mouth from the sweet potato casserole she's making

"Anyways so we had a big fight. I threw him out. And he flew back to Seattle into Amelia's arms. And then eight weeks later I peed on a stick and then three weeks after that I flew to Seattle." She takes a break from mashing the potatoes and holds Leo closer to her. "I thought I'd fly back to Seattle and we'd talk and I can let go of whatever we fought about in Germany but instead I walk into their instant family. So my life really has been a mess and a whirlwind. I really don't know what's going on."

"How long ago was this? How far along are you?"

"Eighteen weeks. I kinda hid in Seattle for a few weeks before I told him. I couldn't tell him right away. He was happy with Amelia and with Leo and Betty. They had an instant family. I wasn't just going to come in like a wrecking ball." She takes a deep breath "I know, I know. I should've told him sooner."

"No I understand" Evelyn says "you've always put his happiness first, honey. And I appreciate that, but I hope he's prioritizing you now."

"And Amelia? What happened with that?"

"She broke things off with him. She wants to focus on fostering Betty. I mean I'm still a little worried. They were...happy. I don't want him to claim me because I'm pregnant and Amelia just broke up with him. I want him to want to be with me. Baby or no baby."

"Teddy, Owen's been in love with you since... since he's known you."

"And he still keeps choosing women who aren't me."

"Things are different now." Evelyn offers with a smile.

"It is." This damn emotional surge again. Teddy gives Evelyn and Megan a smile. Tears brimming in her eyes "And it feels so good."

"Oh Teddy!" Megan walks to her and gives her a squeeze "you two are meant to be together. Life just took a lot of detours. But you're there. You guys made it."

"It's literally only been a week so don't get too excited"

"So are you officially together?"

Teddy smiles.

Then she remembers Leo in her arms. In her life. But she pushes the thought aside. She's happy. They will be okay.

The men are back and brought in more groceries into the kitchen. Owen stands behind Teddy and wraps his arms around her and Leo. Leaving a little kiss on her head.

"This feels so right" he whispers in her ear.

She looks at Owen and he leaves a quick kiss on her lips.

It does.

She reminds herself again that this is reality. She is with Owen. She is happy.

"Mom was really happy" Owen says as they drive back home. Happy. Sleepy.

"Not as happy as Megan"

"You've always been a big sister to Megan. She's pretty excited."

"Hey Owen?"

"Hmm?"

"You didn't just pick me because of the baby, right? Or because Amelia dumped you."

Owen stops the car as the light turns red. He turns to look at her and pulls her in for a kiss. A real one. A passionate one.

"I am absolutely in love with you, Teddy. Not because of the baby. Not because of Amelia breaking up with me. I'm gonna say it again and again every day until you stop worrying"

The light turns green and Owen focuses on getting home. She places her hand on his thigh. Thumb caressing a small spot.

"I love you too, Owen."

There. She finally said it. It makes it real.

Okay here's the deal, guys. Do I keep this a one-shot or should I make multi-chaptered?