Teddy stirred as the faint sound of a baby crying echoed in her mind.
Was she dreaming? The sound of the infant crying became louder and louder. Nope. This wasn't a dream. This was the life of a new mom.
Teddy's heavy eyelids opened up as she rolled out of bed to check on her daughter, but Owen was already up.
"Teddy, go back to sleep. I've got her. You have to be up in two hours and...you've barely gotten any sleep as it is." Owen smirked.
"No, no it's okay," Teddy yawned, "she's probably hungry, and honey, you don't have what she needs." Teddy giggled sleepily.
"There isn't a bottle ready to go in the fridge?" Owen asked.
"No. I actually forgot to pump today for her middle of the night feedings, I'm sorry." Teddy apologized.
"No it's fine, don't apologize! I just want you to get as much sleep as possible." Owen said.
"Hey, this is parenthood buckaroo. Sleep is non-existent, so buckle up," Teddy laughed and playfully hit Owens arm, "but if you want, you can come with me to feed and check on her, make sure Leo's okay too." Teddy suggested.
"Always right behind you, Major." Owen smiled and kissed her cheek.
Their 7a.m. alarm came faster than Teddy or Owen even expected. They were exhausted, but happy. Being up all night from making love and spending time with their babies made it all worth it.
Teddy groggily tried to pull herself out of Owens warm embrace but was pulled back playfully.
"Where do you think you're going?" Owen yawned, followed by trailing kisses all down her arm.
"Stop, stop! I have to get ready for work. Bailey will kill me if I'm late." Teddy giggled like a little kid.
"Just five minutes, that's all we need" Owen continued kissing her which sent Teddy into an aroused state.
"Owen, no I-I haven't even taken my birth control for today and-" Owen began kissing her passionately on the lips.
Teddy pulled away.
"Owen, come on. I don't have time." Teddy smiled, and just as she tried to get up again a certain tiny human let her presence be known.
"See?! That's why we can't do IT right now," Teddy stated, "our beautiful 3-month-old is a reminder of what happens when we do that!"
"Well, I'm not opposed to it." Owen smiled proudly and leaned back, resting his arms behind his head.
"Honey. I JUST had your baby, we have a toddler, don't even think about knocking me up again just yet!" Teddy playfully threw her pillow at Owen.
"Alright, alright." Owen said, throwing his hands up.
"I'm going to go feed Allie, and then I AM getting ready for work." Teddy smirked.
Owen just laughed, shaking his head.
"Okay. I'll go get Leo, oh and Teddy?" Owen asked while gently pulling her in for a soft kiss, "good morning."
Teddy's first day back was hectic, stressful and at times, lonely. She missed Owen. She missed her kids, especially her baby girl. Teddy could have never prepared herself for the bond that she'd form with Allison. She thought she loved her while she was still in her belly? It only quadrupled once her seconds old baby was placed gently in her arms. It was indescribable, intoxicating, she loved her so much.
Teddy hadn't been away from Leo or Allison for more than one second since starting her maternity leave, aside from showering and sleeping. She just wanted to have them close, all the time.
"Hey, you okay?" Amelia came up behind Teddy cheerfully.
"Oh, hey. Yeah. Fine." Teddy lied through a weak smile.
"No you're not. I know that look. You miss them, all of them. Owen, the kids. You miss SLEEP." Amelia laughed.
Teddy couldn't help laughing either.
"I do. Sleep has been somewhat impossible. But no, I just-I thought this would be easier, this coming back to work thing. I mean it's been three months, I'm a workaholic, I thought I'd be dying to get back into the pit, the OR..." Teddy sighed.
"You're a mother now," Amelia smiled gently, "everything changes."
"I know, and I'll get there. Adjust to this new normal. But it's hard. Harder than I could have ever imagined. I just want to hold Allison close for as long as I can. It was easier coming into Leo's life after his newborn stage, because now I'm used to him growing and changing fast. But Allie? Everyday there is something new and it's beautiful, and amazing but-" Teddy trailed off.
"But, it's already going by so fast." Amelia finished.
"Exactly." Teddy replied, sadly.
"Well hey, look at that. 6p.m. Your day is practically over, no incoming traumas or emergencies. Go get your babies." Amelia smiled, gesturing for Teddy to head out.
"Thanks Amelia." Teddy said and gave her friend a quick hug. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Teddy and Owen both were lucky enough to finish their shifts on time, pick up the kids and have a relaxing evening at home, a rarity for a surgeon.
"First day go okay honey?" Owen asked while twisting some leftover pasta on his fork.
"Yeah. Nothing too crazy believe it or not. I kind of missed the rush but at the same time, I think I need to be eased back into it if I can." Teddy replied.
"Yeah. I can imagine," Owen said, "Did you hear, Koracick quit?"
"I did. I briefly ran into him at the nurses station and, it was awkward. He didn't even look at me, not that I wanted him to, but it was infuriating because he knew I was standing there." Teddy replied.
"He doesn't know how to behave like a mature adult, Teddy. I mean, we knew that." Owen said, shrugging.
"I know. I guess, I guess I just expected him to apologize for how we left things." Teddy said sadly.
"I get that, but it shouldn't matter Teddy. He showed his true colors to you that day." Owen said sternly.
"That he did..." replied Teddy, thinking about how Tom had been so good to her, and when things didn't work out in his favor, she was suddenly a whore to him.
Teddy and Owen sat in a short but uncomfortable silence that was then interrupted by their son.
"Dada, Mama!" Leo suddenly yelled out, accompanied by a sweet giggle.
"What is it baby boy?" Teddy smiled, ruffling Leo's thick brown curls.
"Sissy?!" Leo yelled, pointing towards a sleeping Allison in her bassinet.
"Shhhhh. Sissy's sleeping." Owen whispered.
"Sissy, shleepy?" Leo sweetly asked.
"Yes, sissy's very sleepy. Babies are very sleepy most of the time." Teddy explained.
"Ooo." Leo replied, and went back to playing with and eating his pasta spread all over his high chair table.
"But sissy will be up soon, and you'll be able to play with her again!" Owen reassured Leo.
"I love how much he loves her." Teddy said.
"I know. It's adorable." Owen agreed.
Again, another moment of awkward silence.
"Owen." Teddy states.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"Never doubt my undying love for you," Teddy said, taking his hand and squeezing it, "Tom is a distant memory."
"I know." Owen smiled.
Later that night after Teddy and Owen bathed the kids and put them to bed, Owen only had one thing on his mind.
"So, when do you want to go down to social services, meet with that social worker, and sign the papers for Leo?" He asked.
"Owen, you know how much I want this, but I was thinking...aren't you worried that they're going to give us an issue because we're not married?" Teddy questioned.
Owen sat up, puzzled.
"I mean, they were ready for Amelia to sign the papers and we were divorced."
"Right." Teddy said.
"Hey, we'll figure it out. If they question our stability, we'll just be honest about it. We're together, we're in a committed, loving relationship, we're a family and there isn't anyone better to parent Leo with me than you." Owen said confidently.
Teddy's smile widened, as she seemed more at ease.
"Okay. Well maybe this weekend, or we could take some personal time during a week day? Bailey didn't start me off with a crazy schedule, I mean unless any emergencies come in but, other than that?" Teddy suggested.
"Sounds perfect honey." Owen smiled and kissed her forehead.
That night all Teddy and Owen did, was sleep. If only the exhausted new parents knew what lie ahead...
