Hi there. New chapter. I didn't proof read, so I'm sorry for any (more than normal) misspellings. Also, I've some things to say before starting.
First. I don't like it when people call each other out in the comments. If you want to argue, share your private phone numbers and do it in person as adults.
Second. I want to apologize for the medical mistakes in the last chapter. As you know, and I've said it on multiple occasions, I'm not a doctor. I study architecture and design, so no, no medicine. However, I always, always try to be as accurate as possible. Although I know that it's not a very reliable source I search on google. And Google told me that (here goes a spoiler) at 9-10 weeks of pregnancy there is a peak in the hpm of the fetus between 170-180. And literally every site and even mom forums said the same thing, so I believed it. I see it was a lie.
Third. Just as I don't know about medicine, I don't know about American laws. I didn't think they were so different, here in my country a minor requires adult approval for any medical /surgical invasive procedure. Even adults require a kind of "tutor" when the procedure is too big. And it worked for the story so I didn't think there was a problem. I will try to be more careful in the future.
Fourth. That said I will opt for the light and fluffy version of Towen. The longer-dramatic version would've required a lot of medical slang that I clearly don't know. So we'll go the short and easy way hehehe
Enough of my rant. Enjoy the chapter, I hope you like it! XOXO
Teddy froze when she saw Amelia standing there, speechless, on the threshold of the on-call room. As fast as she could, she pulled down the top of her scrubs and jumped out of bed. She hoped Amelia hadn't seen too much. But she knew it wasn't the case, Amelia's shocked look said it all, she had seen it all, she had noticed.
"Amelia!" Teddy exclaimed with fake cheerfulness and a tense smile. She tried to get out of her way, but Amelia blocked her path and grabbed her arm.
"Teddy... are you...?"
"I don't want to be rude, Amelia. But it's none of your business."
"Yeah, yeah... sorry, I didn't mean to be intrusive… but—"
"Look, I'm very busy, so—"
"Teddy, wait!" Amelia insisted. "Please give me a minute. I need to talk to you."
"I don't think there's much to talk about."
"Believe me, there is." Amelia said in her attempt to convince Teddy to listen to her. "Just give me 5 minutes, no more."
Teddy took a deep breath. "Okay." She pointed to the bed where Amelia took a seat and Teddy next to her.
Amelia didn't know how to start this conversation. Everything had gotten out of control and now there were so many people involved that she didn't know how to handle the damage, but she had to start somewhere. "Teddy... I think the first thing I should tell you, or, rather, ask you is an apology."
"You don't have to apologize." Teddy assured her sternly. "Pregnancies happen when people don't use protection."
"No, Teddy, listen to me. I did use protection!" Amelia sighed. "I was on birth control and still got pregnant, as a doctor you know that no method is 100 percent safe."
Teddy just hummed, Amelia took it as a signal to keep talking.
"My point is… I know that Owen tried to clarify all this and that he was confused about this fatherhood to say the least and… he was right, Teddy. This didn't make sense… this doesn't make any sense because Owen isn't the father of my baby."
Teddy looked at Amelia with wide eyes in shock. "W-w-what?" She stuttered. "Did-did you know that?" Amelia nodded ashamed. "Why did you do that?!"
"Because I'm an idiot. I… I don't know where to start… everything Owen told you about the dates not matching is true… Owen and I were together many months ago."
"Then why did you bring him into this?!" Teddy insisted.
Amelia felt her face burn in shame. "I… I… I was with another man. Another man who was neither Owen nor Link. It was nothing, it was long after Owen and I were over, I had already had something with Link by then, but we were nothing. As I said, I was on birth control so it never occurred to me that I could get pregnant. When Carina told me I was further along than I thought I was in shock."
"You were ashamed." Teddy pointed, more or less understanding where the situation was going.
Amelia looked at her with a sad smile, but happy that she apparently understood her reasons. "Link is a wonderful man. But… well, I have a record of reckless behavior!" She chuckled humorlessly. "I was ashamed that he'd think wrong of me. I love him, Teddy. I really do, so I thought that if I said Owen was the other possible father, he wouldn't judge me that hard."
Teddy didn't know what to say. She was upset, upset because Amelia had brought Owen and dragged her entire family into her problems. But she also understood how difficult it was for her, and in general for all women, to live her sexuality openly without being judged as whores or easy.
"Oh, Amelia." Teddy sighed.
"I swear it was never my intention to hurt any of you or cause problems. I… I was reckless and I regret it so much… I just hope you're still in time to fix things with Owen."
Teddy smiled sadly. "Well… Owen and I certainly have a lot to talk about. We will figure it out, don't worry. The important thing is that you spoke the truth."
Amelia took Teddy's hand. "Thank you. Thank you for not being so hard on me and understand."
"I'm still having a hard time understanding it completely, but at least now we know the truth."
"And about the messages you read… it was a moment of weakness. Owen set the rules from the beginning, but… at that moment, I don't know, I felt so alone."
Teddy gave her a hand squeeze. "I understand you perfectly. Being pregnant and feeling alone is the worst thing that can happen to a woman." Amelia smiled and a tear rolled down her blue eyes. "Have you talked to Link yet?"
"No... and I don't know where I'll find the courage to do it."
"If I can say something… I think the hardest thing was talking to Owen and me... It's clear that Link loves you... you two were nothing at the time, he doesn't have to upset or judge you for living your life. I'm sure he will understand."
"I hope so." Amelia smiled sadly.
"So… I think I have to talk to Owen now." Teddy said.
"I can almost be sure that he is already looking for you like crazy around the hospital."
Teddy chuckled. "When you opened the door I feared it was him. It almost gave me a heart attack."
Amelia smiled at Teddy looking at her middle section. "With the news you have for him, I'm sure that all this will be irrelevant in seconds."
"I don't know. We, well, I said a lot of hurtful things."
"Don't let this beautiful news be overshadowed by drama. Enjoy that you and Owen are together, that you love each other and are having another baby. Leave the drama for me." Teddy smiled. "How far along are you?"
"I don't know." Teddy shrugged. Giddy for talking about the baby.
"What?! It is me who isn't supposed to know, you know, dumb neurosurgeon."
"Hey, I didn't have my first post-partum period!"
"Ok, fair point." Both women laughed out loud. "Again thanks Teddy... for not being hard on me."
"I'm still a little upset about your lie, but… who is perfect? Me, who hid Owen for months about my pregnancy. I'm nobody to judge you."
"Yeah… well, now go! Find Owen, tell him the good news and leave this drama behind."
Teddy smiled and gave Amelia a big hug. "If one day you feel alone and your sisters are not there, come to me." Teddy whispered in her ear.
Then Teddy left the call room, with a smile from ear to ear drawn on her face. She put her hand on her little baby belly and rubbed it gently. She walked through the halls of the Grey Sloan for a few minutes until she was required in the OR.
On another part of the city, Owen arrived to Pac-North to start his shift, he couldn't wait to see Teddy, he hoped Amelia had already talked to her. He thought of calling her, but he preferred to see her in the face, see her face, see her beautiful green eyes knowing the truth. He wanted to hug her, kiss her, and assure her that everything was and would be fine, because they loved each other.
Back at Grey Sloan, the hours passed painfully slow for Teddy inside the OR. Halfway through surgery, her head began to wander. How would she tell Owen? She wanted to tell him now, but at the same time she wanted to plan something super special. Should she tell him about her intentions to abort? He would be furious to know, which would surely cause problems between them. Would it be an excuse to tell him that she was angry, terrified, confused and hormonal? Owen was very understanding, but it was the life of his child they were talking about.
"You ok?" Miranda asked Teddy when she saw her commit a couple of faults during the surgery. Minors, and without any threat of life, but precisely because they were minors and because it was Altman, the chief of surgery was confused.
Teddy stuttered. "Oh-um-hmm... Yeah. A little tired. Allison has been very fussy at night these last days."
"Oh, that sweet angel!" Miranda gushed. "She is the cutest!"
Teddy chuckled. "Not because she is my baby, but yes, she is the cutest."
"I'm sure she and the new baby—" But Miranda shut up abruptly. She still didn't say anything to Teddy about her pregnancy, however, not knowing, Teddy thought Miranda was talking about her own pregnancy, creating confusion between the two surgeons and future moms.
"Baby? What baby?" Teddy asked anxiously.
"Baby? Did I say baby? I didn't say baby!"
"Yes, you did!"
"I... I meant... the baby... Amelia's baby!" Miranda came with the idea just in time. "Allison and Amelia's baby will be the hospital babies. And Leo of course!"
Teddy looked at her with a frown. She didn't believe her story, she feared that Tom would've opened his mouth and told her secret. Anyway, soon everyone was going to find out, she was showing by the minute. But she hated the idea that the news reached Owen's ears before she had a chance to tell him.
When she finally finished the surgery and took her cell phone to catch up she found a message from Owen.
"We need to talk"
In the end, Owen hadn't contained himself and sent her a message. Teddy smiled as she read it.
"I'm out of surgery. Where are you? Are you still at Pac-North?" Teddy asked.
"No, I'm already here at Grey Sloan. I'm at daycare with Allison and Leo. See you in the attending's lounge?"
At daycare, Owen had each of his babies sitting on his legs, also smiling broadly.
"Yeah!"
Owen smiled and put his cell phone on his jacket pocket. "Ok, kiddos, I've to go for a moment, but soon mommy and I will come back for you two, and we will go home. All of us." He kissed each of the babies on the forehead and hurried to meet Teddy.
In the attending's room Teddy paced back and forth, looking at the floor with her hands sunk in the pockets of her white lab coat. She was trying to think about how to start the conversation with Owen, if just to spit it out the baby news or just tell her that everything was ok again and wait to plan something special. But then again, Owen would notice as soon as he saw her, especially without her baggy clothes.
"Hey." Owen's voice startled Teddy a little. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"Hey." Teddy repeated with a soft expression on her face.
Owen entered the room and closed the door behind him. They both stared at each other, silently. Saying everything with a look. Their connection was such that words were not needed, their eyes said it all. They reflected relief, regret, joy and especially the love they had for each other.
"Teddy, I—" Owen was the first to speak, but Teddy interrupted him right away.
"Shut." She took a few steps toward him until they found themselves standing just centimeters apart.
Gently, she took the lapels of his jacket and brought him to her kissing him first gently and then deeper, until they were forced to stop for air.
"I love you." Owen whispered and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too. And I'm so sorry!" Teddy apologized in a trembling voice.
Owen cupped her face. "There is nothing to forgive. Let's forget this horrible moment and move on, you, me, our two babies. Our family."
Teddy felt a lump in her throat and Owen's blurred with the tears that accumulated in her green eyes. She wanted to make of the baby announcement something special, but she also felt that this was the right time.
"Our three babies." Teddy muttered chocking a whimper. Owen looked at her with a frown. "You, me, Allison, Leo, and..." She took Owen's hands and led them to her little baby bump. "Our third baby." Owen's entire body began to shake. He was in shock. "We having a baby. Another baby."
Owen chuckled in a gasp. A huge smile was drawn on his lips and his eyes became even clearer with the pooled tears. He looked down at Teddy's middle section, feeling with his hands the small bump. She took off her lab coat and framed her belly so Owen could appreciate it better, but it wasn't enough for him. He lifted her top, placing his trembling hands on her soft skin, rubbing it with his thumbs gently.
"H-how?" Owen stuttered. "When?"
"I didn't know how to tell you. I found out just a few days ago and-and-and I was terrified, I didn't know what to do or how to tell you. Then that night we were together I thought about doing it, but then Amelia's messages made me feel so... so... I didn't know how to do it! I didn't want to bring more drama to all the drama that was already going on around us. But then Amelia told me the truth and I wanted to do something very special, but I also wanted to tell you right away, and-and-and—"
Owen shut up Teddy's rambling with a soft kiss on the lips. "This is special. No matter the place, this is special and now this room will have a special meaning. Like the ambulance bay, when you jumped under the rain. Like the coffee cart when you came back from Germany. The bench in the garden where we kissed for the first time. The OR one where you told me about Allison. The delivery room where she was born… all those places that will now be part of our memories, of our family memories."
"I was so afraid, I still am. We had agreed to wait a year; Allison is still so little!" Teddy whimpered.
He kissed her forehead, as he did every time she was scared. "I know. I know that another baby so soon can be scary. But we have each other, and there is my mom too, we are a family now Teddy, we can do it. Besides, it's not like we've been very careful." Owen and Teddy laughed. "Things happen for a reason and now we will have the joy of being together and living every second of this pregnancy as we didn't do with Allison… and, it isn't like we are going to get rid of this little peanut!" Owen joked, but Teddy's body froze.
Her smile disappeared and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn't know if she should tell Owen about her intentions to abort. They had just clarified all this drama that had caused so much tumult between them, a drama that made her have the worst thoughts and almost made her do the worst of mistakes. But she felt she had to be honest with Owen. She didn't want secrets between them, but thinking about his reaction terrified her so much.
"Teddy?" Owen immediately noticed the change in her mode. "Something happens? Is something wrong with the baby?!"
Teddy took a deep and shaky breath. "Owen, I... there is something you have to know...
D:
Should Teddy tell Owen about her abortion plans?
If so, how do you think Owen will react?
Let me know in the comments!
We are in the final stretch of this fic. Another more or maybe two more chapters.
I've been thinking what I will do after this fic. If continue with STMF or start a new fic that I have planned. It is VERY different from what I have written previously. It's kind of Greys/Third Watch crossover. It is very, very, sad-slow burn-dramatic-happy. I haven't started writing it yet, but I already have the ideas written down for the whole story and the chapters.
So I would like to ask you what do you prefer the most?
The second version of STMF or the Grey's/Third Watch crossover? Let me know!
