"MOM , TEDDY! We are going to be late and the kids teachers won't be thrilled! KIDS lets go, move your feet"!
"OWEN relax , we're ready". Teddy rushed around in a green jumpsuit curls surrounding her face
"Come on cuties, jackets on and out the door to daddy"! She bundled her kids up Evelyn carried Circe out and buckled her up and off they drove to their kids pre-school Christmas play.
"When is Santa Claus coming Grandma"!? Daniel asked
"SOON! One night's sleep lil man" Evelyn and the kids cheered
Taking her hand Owen looked at Teddy and winking he whispered "I love you"
"I love you too" she blushed
"We are here! How bout I drop you and mom off here, you both go in and get us seats and I'll drop the kids off at their classroom" Owen suggested
"Okie Dokie " She kissed him and smothered her babies in kisses telling them to be amazing.
"We'll make you proud mommy" Allison hugged her
"You kids already make proud" she said kissing her
Owen found them 3rd row in the massive auditorium "hey hey" He whispered * Teddy rubbed her hand over Circe's back
"She's an angel, want me to take her"?
"No, I've got her "Owen looked at his tiny girl fast asleep curled into his side
"Merry Christmas Daddy"
They watched their kids sing and dance perform Christmas Carols , and waved when Leo saw them out in the crowd
After the pageant the kids ran up to them excited to see their baby sister was wide awake and smiling her gummy simile at them
"Circe do you like Christmas too"!? Leo asked excitedly as he saw her smiling
"I THINK SHE DOES! She did not cry the entire time! How about you guys and Grandma go get hot coco and cookies and Daddy and Mommy will meet you there"! Teddy suggested
The kids ran off followed by Evelyn mean while Teddy gazed at Owen holding their baby "I tell you every time mister, seeing you holding our children does something to me. * he blushed. Wrapping her arm around his they walked enjoying the snow falling.
Owen, when I was pregnant with Allison is this what you meant by our own traditions"?
He paused looked at Circe and pulled Teddy in tighter "Oh Teddy… I could have never dreamt this, Celebrating Christmas with the two most important women in my life – my mom and my wife while watching our babies sing Christmas Carols and holding our newborn, No way".
"I love you Mr. Hunt… And you too Miss Little Hunt. But if you had told me back then I would be a mom of 4 kids, I would've laughed you right out of the pit, no no I would have laughed you right out of Iraq *She kissed them both* I don't know about you but I'm ready to find our littles, get home, feed this little one and go to bed, you"?
Following morning
"SANTA CAME SANTA CAME ALLISON, DANIEL, GRAMMY, MOMMY, DADDY SANNTTAAA CAME"! Leo ran waking the entire house ending up in his parents' room
"SSHHHHHHHHHHH it's 4:48 champ" Owen said groggy
Leo grabbed Teddy's face and kissed her "Morning baby" she said half awake
"Leo, Leo buddy – I'm up, how about we let mommy and sister sleep and we'll go down and start breakfast, okay. BUT FIRST, can you go potty like a big boy"?
Owen rolled back over grabbed Teddy's face and kissed her "Mmmmmmm morning" she said with a smile "Cannot stand to be outdone by your boy, huh"?
"How are you feeling, Momma"? he gently rubbed her incision and captured her lips
"Mmm better every day, I want to sleep some more though, Mrs. Claus was up late putting finishing touches on everything".
"DADDDYYY Come on"! Leo pressed him
Few hours later with the help of Teddy and Evelyn – Allison, Daniel and Circe made their way down stars for breakfast….
"Ohhhh my GOODNESS you guys WOW you were on Santa's good list! WOW! Look at everything, he even decorated"! Teddy exclaimed as she held lil Circe.
Allison and Daniel's eyes lit up and they raced down the stairs overwhelmed by all the presents and stockings, cookies, candy.
"MOMMY MOMMY! Santa had his cookies and milk, and the reindeer ate their carrots"!
"HE SURE DID"! She glanced at Evelyn and gave her a knowing look; all this could not have happened without Evelyn.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS"! Owen and Leo yelled
"Merry 1st Christmas Circe *Owen placed a gentle kiss on his half-awake daughter as Teddy set her down in her basinet* Merry Christmas Mommy" said kissing Teddy.
They sat around watching and listening to their children play with their new toys "What are you thinking "? He asked her
"HA! I'm just grateful we're all healthy and happy and we can be together as a family. And I'm SO INCREDIBLY grateful to YOU mom, for doing all this"!
"Think nothing of it baby, that's what grandmothers are for. You'd be crazy to think anyone would expect you to entertain Christmas so soon after having a baby"!
"Mommy Look we all got our own Doctor medic kits"! Daniel showed her as he put the stethoscope to Circe's chest "!
"What do you hear big man"?! She asked
"Lub dub" he laughed
"YESSSS ! VERY GOOD DANIEL! That is my boy! Another Cardio God in the making"! They all laughed
"This feels amazing, my life is complete" she sighed and snuggled into Owen while feeding Circe
"Did you imagine this"? He asked her
"Honestly, NO… I shut down any future with us …. But only then did I realize my desire to be a mom and I was fully prepared to be a single mom to Allison. I knew you still had feelings for Amelia and Tom was so kind to me.
"He sure was" Owen commented
"STOP * she hit him* but 4 kids and a life with you, I couldn't ask for more".
"I Disagree I THINK YOU NEED TO OPEN YOUR REFUGEE Clinic "Owen blurted out
" Ummm… excuse me?! Owen I … "
"Teddy we're done having kids, right"?
"I sure hope so buddy, I mean you can divorce me if you want more kids , but you're getting a vasectomy if I have anything to say about it" Teddy teased him
"Teddy, listen to me. When we conceived Allison, we talked about me moving to Germany to be with you, and you were opening a refugee clinic and that I could work for you if you wanted . Then we had Allison … you uprooted your entire life for our family, you put your dreams on hold. Now here we are, BACK in Germany with our family …. And More than financially capable to support us and fund a clinic. I want your dreams to become reality.
She was SHOCKED "Owen… are you serious "?! She said a little bit to loudly causing Circe to wake up "SHHHH I'm sorry baby girl Mommy is Sorry"
"I know we talked about moving back to Seattle one day …. But WHY? My mom is here… OUR MOM is here … our kids friends are here ….the only people I could never be without are here. Theodora *he pulled her into him* I may have done things COMPLETELY wrong before being with you, but ever since Iraq, I have been in love with you. You deserve this and SO MUCH MORE.