Months Later:
Teddy sat staring at the steaming mug on the table, she felt like the room was spinning and every little motion made her nauseous. She put her head in her hands and closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing so that by the time she had to leave for work she would feel well enough to get through her day.
"Good morning" Billy greeted, kissing her cheek
"Morning baby. Coffee?" She replied, holding her mug out to him
He took the cup and sipped it, leaning against the counter and taking a long look at his wife. He noticed something had been off for a few days but wasn't able to put his finger on it, even now he noticed her movements were slow like she thought about every step before she took it.
"You feeling ok?" he asked
She nodded her head "Yeah, I guess I'm just a little tired"
"I'm not surprised, you had me up almost all night" he replied with a smirk
Teddy giggled and went to him, pulling him down for a kiss "What can I say, you're just irresistible"
Billy smiled, resting the bridge of his nose on her forehead and inhaling her scent. Like always she smelled like roses and coconuts, an odd combination but one he couldn't live without.
"God, I love you" he whispered, holding her tightly against him
"I love you" she repeated
She broke away from Billy's embrace, running her hands up his chest to his shoulders "I'll always love you, Bill Russo"
He kissed her again deepening their embrace until Teddy stopped him when she felt his hand skimming up her thigh and under her dress
"We have to go to work and bring Tommy to daycare" she whispered
"Do we?" Billy groaned, burying his face in her neck
"Yes we do, Homeland has that training exercise today and it would be a big win to get a contract with them"
"Alright, but I plan on making an early escape tonight"
"Yeah, right," she said sarcastically over her shoulder as she started toward the door, grabbing Tommy and his bag on her way. Billy bit his lip and chuckled before moving his cup from the counter to the sink and walking with Teddy and the baby out to the car.
They arrived at the building and went into the control room to watch the exercise take place, while Teddy took notes on what was done and what could have been improved. When the exercise was over Billy went to speak with some of the agents and let them know that they did a good job even though they had lost a hostage.
Teddy was just finishing her notes when one of the other men in the control room addressed her
"That was some training wasn't it?" he asked
"Anvil does it better than most. Billy does a great job selecting the right instructors and locations" she answered
"Not you?"
She shook her head "No, I leave all that to him. I just find locations for him to finalize, take notes on the exercises, process background checks and just about anything else he needs"
The man nodded "That's very dedicated Miss…"
"Russo. Teddy Russo" She replied, reaching to shake his hand
"Carson Wolf," he told her "Russo? So you must be Mr. Russo's sister?"
"I'm actually his wife" she corrected
"My apologies. But I must say, I'm impressed with what you all are doing here"
"Thank you, sir, I'm sure my husband will be glad to hear that"
He gestured for her to exit first, then he followed right behind her, heading out to where Billy and a female agent were talking
"Interrogating the help Madani?" he called over to her
"Sir, I didn't know you were here" the woman, Madani, replied while looking at Teddy
"Mr. Russo, Carson Wolf" Wolf introduced, shaking Billy's hand "As I was just telling your lovely wife, it's an impressive set up you have here"
"I'm glad you approve" Billy replied, "If you want to come by the corporate office I'd be glad to discuss tailoring a program-"
"Talk to procurement" Wolf cut him off, then looked at Madani "Kandahar's in your rearview. Don't forget that"
"Yes sir, just making conversation" Madani replied dryly
Wolf gave Billy a pat on the shoulder, a nod to Madani and giving a curt nod to Teddy "Mrs. Russo" before leaving the building
"We haven't formally met, I'm Dinah Madani," Dinah told Teddy
"Teddy Russo, it's a pleasure" Teddy greeted, then turned to Billy "I'm actually going to head outside for some air, I'll be back in a few minutes"
"You ok?" He asked lowly
Teddy nodded "Yeah, it's just a bit warm in here"
"Ok" he whispered, kissing her head and watching her leave, gesturing for one of his men to follow her
"You keep her on a tight leash" Dinah commented
"Not exactly, I just make sure she's ok" Billy chuckled "So, I take it you can talk about whatever you want off-duty?"
Dinah tilted her head toward him
"Maybe over a drink?" he asked
"Won't your wife mind?" she questioned
"A friendly drink? Not at all" he answered with a flirtatious smile
That night Billy met Dinah at Clem's, telling Teddy that he was meeting with one of the guys from Anvil.
"This where you bring a girl when you're trying to impress her?" Dinah asked him
"This is where I bring a girl when she's gonna see through all that," Billy said with a laugh
"I can't decide whether that's a compliment or not" she chuckled
"Are you the kind of woman who takes offense at those?" he questioned
"Depends who they're from" she flirted "The last time I saw glasses this dirty, I was in the NCO's mess at Bagram, saying my farewells to Afghanistan"
"Sounds like you miss it"
"I had unfinished business"
"There's no end to anything there. Afghans have been fighting invaders for a thousand years. For us it's a mission, for them its just...life" he sighed "I finished my last tour and I knew I couldn't go back. At least not in uniform, anyway"
"You never said who you were with" Dinah mentioned, sipping her drink
"Why do I get the feeling that if I name the right unit, you're suddenly going to get a lot more interested?" he inquired
"Marine force recon. Scout sniper specialist. 134 confirmed kills. Three tours of Iraq and one of Afghanistan" she listed
"You read my file"
"I like to know who's paying me compliments. Married or not"
"Am I a suspect for something?"
"Not according to your discharge records"
"Is that why you came to Anvil for training? You figure I can help you with this unfinished business of yours?"
"I hope so, yeah"
Billy shook his head and signaled the bartender for another drink
"Well, I'm not about to throw shade on my friends," he said leaning a bit closer "I mean all due respect, Dinah, you're a cop. Soldiers can't question legality or morality in the moment. That's a way to get yourself killed"
Dinah downed her drink and looked at him. He chuckled and lifted his drink
"Ask your questions," he told her, taking a sip
"You served with Frank Castle" Madani stated
Billy sighed "Yeah, Frank Castle was my best buddy. I guess that wasn't in my file huh?" he said smartly "A lot of those kills I got in one night, side by side with the guy, holed up in a house in Basra with no backup. We spent the night trying not to die. One of the best nights of my life if I'm being honest, just them or us. Who was better? And there was nobody better than Frank. I'm sorry that he's dead"
Dinah glared at Billy "He took a lot of people with him"
Billy scoffed "What, drug dealers? Gangsters? Good."
"You shipped out. Castle didn't. Did he get dirty?"
"Stay in any war long enough, it'll get dirty. Unless you've got something good to hold onto. Frank had that taken away from him"
"Could he have been involved in drugs there?"
Billy laughed "If you knew the man, you'd know how dumb that question is. I think that the system let Frank down in a big way. So he did what he was trained to do"
"So if someone killed your family, you'd do the same?" she questioned
Billy paused and thought about Teddy and Tommy. Besides their break up he'd really only come close to losing her the day Frank lost his family and that had scared him, even though they weren't together at the time. He absolutely knew that he'd kill anyone who had a hand in killing his wife and his son, but he didn't want to give Madani the satisfaction of knowing the answer
"What about you?" he retorted
"I think some of us get to have the family life and some of us get to protect it" she answered, sucking her teeth
Billy leaned back and put his arm on the top of the chair "So...you're single?" Dinah made a face, causing Billy to chuckle "Uh...not worried that'll get kinda lonely?"
"I'm not lonely" she answered, "Are you?"
"Not really" he replied "My wife makes sure of that"
Dinah opened her mouth to reply but stopped when she heard her phone chime. She looked at the screen then got up in a rush "I've got to go"
"Never off duty huh?"
"Sorry. Let's...do this again sometime?"
Billy nodded "Yeah. Well, you know where to find me" he said, shifting in his seat. When Dinah was halfway out the door he called to her "Goodnight, special agent Madani" she turned around and he lifted his beer toward her "Happy hunting" she turned back around and continued leaving, leaving Billy to chug the last of the bottle.
Teddy was fast asleep, curled on the couch when Billy finally arrived home. She looked so peaceful in her sleep that it made Billy feel guilty for going behind her back with the Madani thing. He strode over to her and sat gently next to her, stroking her face lightly with his thumb. Slowly she stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open
"Hey," she said in a small voice "What time is it?"
"Late" he replied in a whisper "I'm sorry, I promised you an early day and I ended up going out with the guys"
She turned so that she was totally on her back and facing him "It's ok, did you have fun?"
"Yeah, it was a good time"
"With how crazy it's been at work you deserve it" She pulled him down into a kiss "Come on, let's go to bed"
"Yes ma'am" he chuckled, lifting her up and carrying her to their bedroom.
Teddy had the feeling that Billy was hiding something from her, from the moment he told her he was going for drinks with some Anvil guys. But she trusted him, after all, if she didn't she wouldn't have married him. The feeling stuck though, so she busied herself with work and researching why she was so dizzy all the time. Deciding that the answers she was getting from online were insane, she made a note on her phone to make an appointment with her doctor. Almost as soon as she put her phone down it began to ring
"Hello?" she said
There was a pause and a bit of static on the other end, so Teddy repeated herself
"Hello?"
"Hey Babygirl" replied Frank
"...Dad?..." Teddy whispered tearily
"Yeah, it's me"
She wiped her eyes quickly "How are you? Is everything ok?"
"I'm ok, I'm ok," he told her "Listen I need to talk to you about a few things. Can you talk?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm home alone. What is it?"
"Not over the phone. Do you remember the park near your old dance studio? The one with the chess tables?"
'How can I forget' Teddy thought 'After dance practice, we'd take the kids to play on the jungle gym and Curtis and I played endless games of chess on those tables'
"Yeah I remember," she told him
"Can you meet me there?"
"Of course. I'll meet you by the swings in 20 minutes"
"Ok. Be careful"
"I will. I love you" she said
"I love you too" he replied before hanging up
Teddy put her phone on the counter and went to change her clothes, opting for comfortable and inconspicuous jeans and a t-shirt with her jacket, before grabbing Tommy and heading out to the park.
Teddy drove around the park twice, making sure she wasn't being followed, then parked by the chess tables, walking to the swing set. The cold air nipped at her face as she sat down at the chess table, keeping Tommy wrapped in his blanket and close to her chest while she waited. A few minutes later a figure came around the playground and sat across from her
"Dad" she exclaimed breathlessly, leaping off the seat and throwing her arms around him
He returned her hug with a tight squeeze, minding the bundle in her arms, but not once did Teddy complain about it. When he finally let go they sat back down, side by side, on the swings.
"What's going on dad? I haven't heard from you in months" she questioned
Frank nodded "I know. I'm sorry, I just wanted to keep you safe"
"Well as you can see, I'm safe" she snapped
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry ok?"
"Ok" she conceded
"I uh, I talked to Karen recently"
Teddy got a sly smile on her face "Really?"
Frank gave her a look "I needed her help"
"I didn't say anything" she laughed
"Anyway, she told me you got married? He replied, giving her a sad look
Teddy frowned "If you want to call it that. It was just at the courthouse, I didn't want a wedding"
"Why?"
"Because you couldn't be there. I always knew that if I got married I wanted my family there, for my daddy to walk me down the aisle to my husband. And I couldn't have any of that so I didn't want the wedding. Plus you remember what happened the last time" she cried
He went over to her and held her "I'm sorry Teddy, I'm sorry"
"If it makes you feel better I did wear a white dress and Curtis was there. He took some pictures I think"
"Did you tell your husband about me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you tell him, or anyone, that I'm alive?"
"No. As far as he and everyone else knows, you're dead"
Frank nodded "So...who is he anyway?"
"If I tell you, you need to promise not to get mad"
"I can't do that"
"Then promise you won't go crazy and try to kill him"
"Ok ok, I promise I won't try and kill your husband. I won't miss" he repeated sarcastically
"Dad!"
"Ok, seriously. I won't kill or try to kill your husband"
Teddy took a deep breath "Ok, it's Bill. Billy and I got married"
Frank's face fell "Bill? Bill Russo?"
Teddy nodded
"Theodosia!" he yelled
"Ok, wait, you knew...you knew we were seeing each other. I told you"
"I know, but I thought you'd get over him not actually marry him"
"Dad, we have a baby together, of course, I was going to marry him"
Frank sighed and looked at the bundle in her arms "Is this the baby?"
"This is your grandson. Tommy"
She turned the baby around so Frank could see him. Frank smiled at him and the baby right away reached out to be held by his grandfather, Frank obliging and picking him up, holding him close
"He's a cute little guy isn't he?"
"He looks just like Bill. But he smiles like you"
Frank smiled, then his smile faded "Listen, somebody knows I'm alive. Calls himself Micro, but his name's David Lieberman. I don't know how he found out or what he wants, so until I do I want you to be careful, you hear me?"
Teddy nodded "Yeah"
"You still got that pistol I gave you?"
"Always," she told him, indicating her waistband
"That's my girl" Frank smiled, handing her the baby and getting up to leave
"Dad" Teddy called, rushing to hold him again
Frank wrapped his arms around his daughter and closed his eyes
"I love you, daddy, please...don't keep me in the dark this time" she begged
"I love you, Teddy. I'll call you when I can, ok?" he promised
"Ok," she said, letting go "I love you"
Frank kissed her cheek and let her go, disappearing into the shadows. Teddy wiped the tears out of her eyes and left in the opposite direction, heading back to her car and back home. She knew that practically every few sentences she said 'I love you' to her father, but she's nearly lost him too often to not say it all the time. She never knew when or if the next time she said it would really be the last.
When Teddy got back home Billy was still out, so after changing into her nightgown and a robe she put Tommy in his crib to sleep, then laid on the couch to wait for him. After a few hours of waiting she slowly began to fall asleep on the couch, stroking her wedding ring and thinking of her days at the park with her mom and siblings.