New chapter!

This is most probably the penultimate chapter. I'm still divided between ending it with the next chapter or adding a couple of chapters of Towen fluff/domesticity.

But I don't want to lengthen it more than necessary and bore you. I will decide over the week, let me know what you prefer!

Enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think!


"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..."

Teddy broke free of Owen's arms and made her way to the cupboard to have a glass and pour herself water. With a trembling hand, she brought it to her mouth, drinking everything in a long gulp. Concerned, Owen walked toward her, standing behind and placing his hands on her shoulders, giving her a slight squeeze.

"Honey, what's up?" Owen questioned her worried to see her change her mood so suddenly, but above all to see her so distressed. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. Teddy allowed herself to enjoy the warmth and protection that his hug gave her before she could possibly lose everything with what she had to say.

"You are going to hate me." Teddy whimpered. "You're going to hate me after what I have to tell you."

Owen turned her in his arms looking at her face. "Hate you? Why would I hate you? Love, I would never hate you!" He assured her.

"You will... I... I did something terrible... I was about to do something terrible!" Teddy cried. Moving away from him, Teddy hugged herself crying sadly. Owen tried to take her back in his arms, but she flinched away. He didn't try again, offering her space for her to deal in the best way with what was happening and so, when she was ready, go to him and open her heart, bring out what she had inside and that so much anguish and guilt was causing her.

"You don't have to tell me now... we can go home and rest... and when you're ready you know you can come to me."

"I don't want us to go home without telling you first. I wouldn't bear to see you leave home knowing that you hate me."

"Then tell me. Whatever it is, tell me."

Teddy took a deep breath and sat on the sofa. Silent. Trying to put order to her words. Trying to figure out how she'd say it as painlessly as possible. Keeping his distance, Owen took a seat on the sofa in front of her.

"I… as you know, I was feeling bad for a few days. I didn't want to consider a pregnancy, it was something very unexpected and scary. It took me and it's still taking me a lot to get used to Allison so the idea of another baby so soon was terrifying. But, even so, I wanted another baby, I really wanted us to have another baby... but not now." She sighed exasperatedly, it was being so difficult to tell Owen this. It had never been so difficult to tell him how she felt. They literally had never, never had problems communicating with each other. Between them it all was so easy.

"I know that finding out about the new baby could have been very scary." Owen pointed tenderly.

"Oh, you have no idea!" Teddy smiled sadly.

"I wish I was there."

"I know… The point is, when this whole drama with Amelia, and the baby and fatherhood exploded I felt like I was losing everything. I felt lost, hurt... humiliated again. And I'm not blaming hormones, I swear I'm not!"

"Of course not, your feelings are valid." Owen assured her.

"But most of all I felt a lot of anger… Owen, I had never felt so much anger mixed with so much sadness. Maybe not since Henry died. I was so angry, I wanted to break everything, I wanted to scream, run away. But well... the days went on, my health didn't improve and so I went to see Carina."

"You knew that day I went to see you, the night we were together." Owen pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I told you… I wanted to tell you that night… to be with you and listen to your words… I really believed what you told me. Now I know that everything was true, but with Amelia's messages… everything went downhill again."

"Teddy, but now we both know the truth. I am not holding any grudge towards you for doubting." Owen tried to get up from the sofa to go to Teddy, but she raised her hand in a stop sign.

"That's not what I wanted to talk about."

Owen looked at her confused. "So?"

"Like I said… the idea of another baby so soon terrified me, it really did, Owen. You have no idea how much. When Carina told me I was pregnant… how things were between us… I felt lost and… I… I had some thoughts that now that I think about it I don't know how I could possibly consider it, but… I thought about getting an abortion." Owen's face fell. Openmouthed and his eyes wide open. "I just thought about it, but then I discarded it... I thought of ways to tell you about the baby, then that night, the messages... I considered it again and even made an appointment with Carina for the procedure."

Teddy couldn't see Owen in the face, her eyes were fixed on her hands in her lap. Owen rose from the sofa, trembling. Many feelings and thoughts were going through him, he wanted to process everything before saying anything, but it was too much.

"You were going to tell me? About your idea of abortion." Owen muttered emotionless.

Teddy nodded and shook her head at the same time. "I... not at first, I didn't even know if I would, it was just an idea, I was terrified... but the second time when I 'decided'" She quoted with her fingers. "Yes, I was going to tell you… but not even that… I wasn't sure of doing it, just this morning I retracted for sure. I could never have done it, Owen."

Owen leaned against the closet with his arms crossed over his chest, staring at the floor, processing what Teddy had just told him.

"I swear I would never have done anything without telling you first, I just… I couldn't find the right time to talk about my pregnancy with you and I… I felt so terrified and so lonely, so overwhelmed. I never thought motherhood would be so challenging and the idea of doing it alone—"

"I would never have left you alone and you know it!" Owen grunted through clenched teeth. He had gone from the state of denial to the state of anger in a matter of seconds.

"I know it!" Teddy cried in defense.

"Then why would you do that?! And without telling me!" Owen fired back.

"I was going to tell you!"

"And you expected me to support you, for sure!"

Teddy couldn't believe how incomprehensible Owen was being, or at least she felt that way. "Yes, I expected you to! Or at least for you understand where those thoughts came from. Even if I didn't work on them. Do you know how difficult and tiring it is to grow a life inside you for nine months? No, you don't! It's not just pain and physical tiredness, Owen. It's a constant emotional and mental tiredness, too! I can't remember a single day when I didn't feel terrified when I was pregnant with Allison. Terrified that she was born premature, that she had a health problem, that she died while giving birth to her, and then when she was here, living with the fear of doing things wrong and hurting her, of not being a good mother. Now imagine having to go through all that terror of growing life when everything is still so new to me, when I still can't figure things out completely, when Allison is still so dependent of me, when I still feed her from me, when my body is not yet fully healed and I'm not 25 years old, not to mention the whole drama between you and your ex-wife! It is very easy for you to come here and judge me, without contemplating how I feel!" At the end of her rant Teddy collapsed on the couch, crying her heart out, covering her face with her hands.

In the midst of his rage, Owen couldn't help feeling like crap when he saw Teddy crying. Seeing her in pain would always be his weakness. Then he took a second to contemplate her words, he knew her, she would never have aborted, but that didn't mean that the thought had never crossed her mind. Especially considering her fragile emotional state and all the tumult with Amelia and her baby.

Teddy couldn't stop crying and holding herself. Owen didn't know how to proceed, from anger had gone directly to acceptance. Accept that everything Teddy was going through, physically and emotionally had made her have those irrational thoughts and decisions.

He sat next to her and although at first she put some resistance, she finally gave in to his arms. He held her tightly, taking everything from her, comforting her, protecting her. Teddy just cried and cried nonstop. She had so much inside her. So much rage, so much sadness, fear and pain that she couldn't stop crying.

"Forgive me." Owen whispered as he kissed her head and hugged her tightly.

"You forgive me." Teddy cried. Owen pulled back looking into her eyes. Her beautiful green eyes now sad and red. "You don't hate me?"

"How could I hate you? I should have put myself in your place first. Now I love you more than ever, everything you went through giving life to our daughter. Everything you are going through rising not just her, but also Leo."

"And I will do it again, for this baby. I swear I didn't want to get rid of it, but all this is too much, it's so overwhelming."

"I know it and I'm so sorry to have contributed to your pain."

"It wasn't your fault, we both found ourselves involved in lies."

"But now that's cleared. The only important thing now is you, this baby." He brought his hand to her belly. "And our other two babies. Any other person is totally irrelevant to me. I just want you to be happy, to feel good. Teddy… Is there anything you would like to talk about?"

Teddy looked at him for a second. It had been a long time since she had felt so downhearted. She knew that her PTSD came and went when she least expected it, especially since she had never treated it properly. But now this was making her hit rock-bottom again, however, this time she wouldn't ignore it, she wanted and needed to be in the best shape for her family.

"I… I think I do. I think I need help."

Owen smiled sweetly. "And I will help you. There is no shame in asking for help, you taught me that. And now it's my turn. I love you Teddy, and I just want the best for you and our babies. Is there anything I can do now? I don't know, I don't want to feel useless, I want to help you in this whole process like I didn't do with Allison."

Teddy smiled and took his big hands in her small, warm hands. "Right now nothing, just… be with me, listen to me, understand me. I swear I'll do the same to you. We are together, a relationship is built between two, with understanding, respect, love... and I love you so much."

"I love you more. I swear I'll try to make this pregnancy as bearable as possible for you."

"I know. I can't wait to live this experience by your side, every day until we welcome our little one."

Owen smiled and leaned down, kissing Teddy's little belly. "How far along are you? Have you seen the doctor? You are already showing." He asked.

"I don't know yet, but we can find out soon. I can ask Carina for an appointment for the next few days."

"What if we ask for today?" Owen smiled broadly. He couldn't wait for the first ultrasound. He missed everyone with Allison until week 18. This time he wanted to be from the beginning.

"Today?! Honey, look at the time. It's almost past 7 pm, surely Carina is no longer here!" Teddy laughed.

"There is only one way to find out." Owen took his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Carina. Luckily she was still in her office, free and willing to receive them both.

"So... let's go see our baby." Owen beamed and rose from the sofa, offering his hand to Teddy, but she didn't take it. "Teddy?"

"What if there is something wrong?" Her voice sad and worried.

"Love, you know there is only one way to know."

She smiled, nodded and took Owen's hand. Together they walked to the OB floor where Carina received them both with a huge smile. She and Teddy shared a knowing look, after all, in Carina's agenda Teddy's appointment for the abortion procedure was still scheduled. But from the moment Owen called to ask for an appointment for an ultrasound, she knew that Teddy had recanted.

Carina prepared everything for the ultrasound while Teddy lay on the bed, her legs on the stirrups and her body shaking. Owen, who was standing next to her, took one of her hands taking the other on her bump where Teddy joined her free hand as well. He kissed her forehead and offered a cheering smile and a wink.

Carina started with the ultrasound and soon the image of the little baby appeared on the monitor. Both parents let out a trembling sigh of emotion.

"Everything's alright?!" Teddy asked without being able to sound worried.

"So far everything is in perfect order." Carina replied with a huge smile.

Owen was in a trance, he couldn't stop looking at the monitor, nor could he formulate a single word. But the tears accumulated in his clear eyes let know that he was overwhelmed with emotions and love for Teddy and his new baby.

"How far along am I?"

"According to the measurements about 9 weeks, almost 10."

"9 weeks!" Teddy exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, doesn't it match the dates you had?" Carina asked.

"No, I didn't really have a date, but... I'm showing as much as I was showing with Allison at 18 weeks!"

"Well, Dr. Altman, as you know each pregnancy is different, not to mention that it was only just over 4 months ago that you were pregnant. I've had women who show almost nothing during practically the whole pregnancy, others that show since week 6 or 7. Each body and baby is different."

"Yes, I know. It's just... I don't want to imagine how I'll be at 25 weeks, or 30! I won't be able to walk!" Teddy complained jokingly.

"You'll get huge!" Owen laughed and kissed her forehead.

"Oh, shut up! That you will be my slave when I can't move!"

Everyone laughed in the room. "I feel that I will be carrying quite low this time. All my bump is in my lower abdomen." Teddy commented stroking her little belly lovingly.

"Yeah, that seems to be. Allison was quite high."

"Don't even say it! Too close to my liver, and diaphragm, and my lungs! Sometimes I could almost feel her in my throat!" Owen laughed out loud. "Don't laugh, remember that day I had the scare? Being in trendelenburg made me feel like I would give her birth through mouth!"

Once the ultrasound was finished, Carina left Teddy and Owen alone for a moment in the office.

"I can't believe this is really happening." Teddy said in a trembling voice of emotion.

"I know. A few years ago this would have been just a dream for me."

"Did you dream of something like this?"

"Countless times. And not just about this..." Teddy looked at him questioningly. Owen knelt in front of Teddy and took a box out of his jacket pocket.

"Oh my God, Owen, what are you doing?!" Teddy cried out in surprise.

"I dreamed of this moment more times than I can remember. And now that we are here, that we are together, that we are a family, I don't want to let any more time pass by. I know this may not be the perfect place, but it will be another special place in this hospital who has seen so much of our history. But what I do know is that you are the perfect woman for me… so, Theodora Grace Altman, will you marry me?"

Teddy's throat was completely closed with emotion so she just nodded with a huge smile and let the tears of happiness roll down her cheeks. Without thinking twice Owen took the beautiful ring, a square diamond placed on a band equally decorated with diamonds, and placed it on her ring finger. "It was my mother's ring, which had previously been my grandmother's. She gave it to me the day Allison was born and I've been carrying in my pocket ever since." Owen said smiling broadly and standing up, bringing Teddy towards him, taking her by the waist.

"It's beautiful!" Teddy whimpered admiring the beautiful ring.

"It look even more beautiful in your hand."

"I will take good care of it, I promise."

"I know you will." Both shared a long and tender kiss to seal not only their engagement, but also that they would be parents again and that they had managed to overcome that unforeseen obstacle that life had thrown at them.

"Take me home." Teddy asked Owen with eyes full of love.

"Let's go home then." He smiled back.

After picking up the children from the daycare, the family of four, soon to be five, headed home. This time opening the front door was neither cold nor sad. It was warm and emotional.

It had been a day full of emotions so everyone was exhausted upon arriving home. Little Allison arrived practically asleep and little Leo didn't want to separate a single moment from her mom and she gladly snuggled him in her arms as she watched Owen prepare something quick for dinner. He was already in overprotective mode and refused to let Teddy go to sleep without having eaten something before.

"Mamma." Leo babbled half asleep, snuggling closer against Teddy's chest.

"Mommy is here my boy." Teddy whispered and kissed his head. "Mommy is here and will never leave."

"He will be a wonderful brother." Owen beamed.

"He already is." Teddy replied as he combed Leo's soft blond locks.

After Teddy and Owen ate the turkey sandwiches that Owen prepared they headed upstairs to finally rest after a long and exciting day. They were finally together again and although Owen was confident that eventually it would be so, he had no doubt that Amelia's baby wasn't his, he thought this drama would last for months. But luckily it wasn't like that, he was back at home, in his house, in his bedroom, in his bed with the love of his life. They both settled down to sleep, Owen couldn't take his hands off Teddy's bump and she couldn't stop laughing, and so, with a smile on their lips they both fell sound asleep, happy for what the future would bring them.