OWEN
"So? You aren't going to say anything?" My mother and Megan look at me speechless. "I know it's a lot to process, but—"
"THAT BITCH!" Megan shouts when she recovers from the shock, getting up from the sofa and pacing in front of us. "I swear I'd kill her if I had her in front of me, Owen! Damn junkie liar, I hope she's burning in hell!"
"MEGAN!" My mother scolds her. "Don't express yourself like that of a dead girl!"
"Listen to what Owen is saying, mom! That 'girl' ruined the lives of not only my brother and Teddy, she also ruined my nephew and niece's life, his children, your grandchildren. How is it that your blood isn't boiling?!"
"I'm upset too, Megan! But cursing is not the answer. That girl had a problem, maybe she didn't know the magnitude of what she was doing, she didn't know Teddy was pregnant!"
"Teddy is furious too." I say. "But we both agree that there is nothing we can change, now the most important thing is to make up for lost time and for that same reason..." I don't know how to tell my mother and Megan that I'll move to Germany. I know they will be sad, but I hope they take it in the best way. "Mom, Megan... I've decided to move to Germany to be with Teddy and our children."
Again they are left speechless. Megan takes a seat next to my mother and both share a sad look.
"I don't want you to think that I'm leaving you behind, you know that I love you with all my heart... but there are Teddy and my children too... Teddy's job is very important and for the children Landstuhl is their home, I can't ask them to move just like that. Please, don't hate me for that—"
"Honey, I would never hate you for living your life." My interrupts me. "I won't deny that it'll make me very sad to have you on the other side of the world, but... I can't imagine what all this has been for you, for Teddy, for the children, it's only fair that you want to be with them."
"I swear I'll come visit you as much as I can. The children are so excited to meet you."
Megan gets up and goes to sit next to me, hugging me. "Mom's right, your place is with Teddy and your children, we'll be fine, besides... Do we tell him?" Megan asks my mother and she shrugs, smiling. "Nathan, Farouk and I will move back to Seattle."
"Really?!"
"Yes... Nathan received an offer he can't refuse from the Seattle Presbyterian so we'll be back."
"Well, now you're really making it harder for me to leave."
Megan takes my hand. "None of that! Go, Owen. Be happy, go be with the love of your life, with your children. Mom and I will be fine."
"But tell us, when will I meet my grandchildren?! Why didn't Teddy come with you?". My mother asks, really excited to meet the twins.
I had only told them the first part of the whole story. I still don't tell them how it was the children's reception and about Henry's health problems and how we will have to go to Switzerland in a couple of weeks.
"Teddy didn't want to come—"
"WHAT?!" Megan exclaims, shocked.
"No, no, no! It's not what you think! I mean, she did want to come, she wants to see you again so much, it's just that..." I sigh exasperated.
"Owen, is everything okay?" My mother asks me, worried.
"You have to know sooner or later, so... It's because of my son, Henry. He..." I sigh again. It's so hard to talk about everything my sweet child has suffered. It breaks my heart every time I think about everything that he has gone through. "He and Allison were born prematurely, 30 weeks. They both had severe health problems, especially Henry, he... he's deaf, mom." I say in a shaking voice. "And... there is something that we still don't know what it is but it's affecting his sight. In a couple of weeks, we'll go to Switzerland to visit a surgeon friend of mine. We expect he can tell us the reason behind his accelerated loss of vision. If not, it is likely that he will lose his sight."
"Oh, my God, Owen!" My mother exclaims, covering her mouth with her hand.
"But... What have the doctors told Teddy?" Megan asks me.
"Not much, Teddy has taken him with ophthalmologists after ophthalmologists and no one seems to find the reason. This trip to Switzerland is practically our last hope. Teddy made it clear that if we don't get answers she won't subject Henry to further medical tests."
"As a mother I can imagine how she feels." My mother says, solemnly.
"Even if it wasn't' my fault there are times when I can't help but feel guilty. I should've been there with Teddy during her pregnancy, taking care of her, making sure she and the babies were okay... and on top of that he suffers from an anxiety disorder that causes him horrible crises, that was also one of the reasons why Teddy didn't want to come. Henry doesn't deal well with changes in his routine."
"One more reason to hate that bitch!" Megan says through clenched teeth.
"But he has made great progress! He's starting to try new things, he didn't like much to leave the house and now we go out to play in the yard at his request!"
"They needed their father." My mother points out.
"But tell us, how are they? Did you bring pictures, videos?" Megan asks excitedly and I smile so wide that my lips almost reach my ears.
"They are amazing, Teddy warned me that they are a challenge and I didn't believe her... bad idea." We all laugh. "Allison... she looks so, so much like you!" I tell Megan
"What?! You're kidding!" Megan exclaims excitedly.
"I am not! It's like watching a mini version of you, or seeing you when you were a girl. She has this long, wavy red hair, only her eyes are Teddy's, but her nose, her lips, the shape of her face is all you. Her cheeks covered in small freckles that make her look so innocent when in reality she is a hurricane."
"She always has an opinion for everything and is always questioning everything. It seems that she has an endless battery inside her because she's always so full of energy. She... she took my role, at 4 years she has been the one who was always taking care of Teddy and Henry, I had it difficult with her at first, but deep down she is the sweetest girl, she just protects the people she loves."
"A protector, just like you." Says my mother, with tears in her eyes. "She sounds like a charm."
"She is."
"And Henry?" Megan asks. "Ok, wait, let me guess. He is the sweetest and softest cupcake in the world."
I laugh. "He is! He is very shy and fears of strangers, but once he gets to know you he is the sweetest. He loves legos and puzzles and knows sign language."
"Wow!" My mother exclaims. "I still can't believe it, everything sounds like a dream!"
"Believe me, I feel like I've lived in a dream all these days. There are times when I wake up in the middle of the night fearing to be back here in Seattle... but I just have to reach out my hand and feel Teddy next to me to know that none of that is a dream."
"I'm so happy for you, Eeyore." Megan tells me, ruffling my hair.
"By the way, I've a video for you two. I recorded it before I came. It's from the twins."
I take out my cell phone and I show them the video.
"Hi, Granny and Auntie Megan!" They shout in the video. "We already want to meet you! We hope you can come soon. Goodbye!"
"Oh, my God, Owen!" My mother says, amazed. "It's as if you and Megan were reborn! They are identical to you two!"
"I want to meet them!" Megan shrieks. "Hug them and kiss those beautiful little faces!"
TEDDY
"He won't come back." Henry says, sadly, not wanting to eat his diner.
"No baby! That's not true, daddy will come back!" I comfort him.
"He said he would come in a week and it's been two weeks and he hasn't come back yet. He said lies!" Allison complains.
"Hey, listen to me my loves. Daddy will come back, you spoke with him yesterday, you know that the delay is not because he wants. Daddy has a lot of things to fix before moving here permanently."
"But I miss him!" Henry whimpers.
Owen's departure, though temporary, was a low blow for the children, especially for Henry. He had become very attached to him in just a few days, so his absence was a big setback for him and all the progress he had made in his social development. On the other hand, Allison, after the week that Owen had said would be away, began to ask more and more about him, sometimes even thinking that he had lied to us and would never return.
Just the night before we made a video call with Owen to reassure the children. The poor man was very busy fixing his immigration status to live in Germany, looking for buyers for his house and all the furniture, as well as his car, among other things that he needed to leave in order before moving in with us. Since then I don't know anything about him, he doesn't receive my messages and his phone sends me directly to voicemail.
"I miss daddy too, my love. But he will be back, we have to go to Switzerland in 3 days."
"I don't want to go to Switzerland if daddy isn't here!" Henry says with a pout crossing his arms over his chest.
"What is dad doing in America? Why is it taking so long?" Allison asks me, always wanting to know everything that happens around her.
"Daddy is doing adult things, like selling his old house. Also saying goodbye to some friends, Grandma Evelin, Aunt Megan, but he will be here soon, darling, I promise."
Then they knock on the door.
"I'm going." Allison offers to open the door. "Maybe it's Uncle Conrad."
I'm still busy with dinner and with Henry when I hear Allison scream.
"DADDY!"
Owen is back unexpectedly-not so unexpectedly. Allison throws herself at him and he takes her in his arms, throwing her lightly to the air, then pressing her tightly against his chest, kissing her repeatedly, making her laugh. Immediately Henry runs to him and he does the same thing he did with Allison.
"Owen, what are you doing here?!"
"I live here, isn't it?"
"I mean, yes, but... Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?!"
"I wanted to surprise you."
"You ruined our surprise!" Allison says, standing in front of him, frowning. "We were going to surprise you at the airport!"
Owen crouches in front of her. "I'm so sorry, baby. But I couldn't wait to come back."
"And now you will never, never leave?" Henry asks.
"Never, never, champion."
Then Owen gets up to my level, grabs me by the waist and brings me to him kissing me on the lips. "I missed you so much." He whispers.
I circle my arms around his neck. "Me too. Welcome home."
Finally I can say that we live like a real family, Owen is here and will never leave. What I dreamed from the moment when he told me "There is nothing standing in our way", everything that I imagined from that moment and that until a few weeks ago seemed impossible. He and I are living together, sleeping together, the children, the laughter, the games... finally it was reality, finally after so much suffering.
That night the children ask him to tuck them for sleep. Owen happily accepts and tells them everything about his trip to Seattle, he tells them about their grandmother and their aunt.
"They fell soundly asleep." Owen says, coming to our room when I'm leaving the bathroom after taking a shower. He drops heavily on the bed and I lie next to him covered only with my bathrobe.
"You'll be happy to know that they don't get up in the middle of the night anymore, they haven't done it in the last two weeks, not once... so..." I give him a mischievous smile. "Although if you're tired..." I try to get out of bed, but he grabs me by the waist and in a soft movement he pins me against the mattress behind him, making me laugh.
"Do you know who else hasn't done it in the last two weeks?" He asks me seductively and without giving me time to answer he catches my lips with his. That night he makes love to me as never, compensating me for those two weeks and at the same time for those 5 years that we were not together.
OWEN
Finally the day comes to go to Switzerland. I would be lying if I say I'm not nervous, I'm more than that, I'm on the verge of a meltdown, but now it's my turn to be strong for my family, I was the one who proposed this, I can't show them that I'm nervous or afraid that everything It will be a huge disappointment.
The night before I can't sleep and I know that Teddy doesn't sleep either, she tosses and turns in bed, I can hear her sighing, swallowing and clearing her throat on more than one occasion.
I turn to her and take her in my arms. "I know you're not asleep." I whisper against the soft skin of her nape.
"I can't sleep, I'm so anxious... and don't tell me everything will be fine and that you're not nervous. I can see that you are scared too, you don't have to be the strong one for all of us."
"I wasn't going to, at least not to you, I know that I can't lie to you... I'm terrified, Teddy. I've so much hope on this trip... but at least I've to be strong for the children, we have to be strong for the children."
She turns in my arms looking me in the face. Her eyes, gray in the darkness of the room that is only illuminated by the dim moonlight. "What if our baby has no cure? How will we tell him he will go blind?" Teddy asks me, in the saddest voice.
I don't have words to answer her. I just hold her tight against my chest and kiss her head. Then we hear a knock on the door. It opens slowly and Allison appears at the threshold. We both prop up on our elbows and I turn on the bedside lamp.
"Mommy, daddy, can I sleep with you?"
"Of course, my angel!" I say. She runs to the bed and curls up in the middle of Teddy and me.
"Daddy, is your friend a good surgeon?" Allison asks me.
"He's very, very good, honey. Why?"
"Is he going to fix my brother?"
Teddy and I share a melancholy look.
"We still don't know, baby. He has to see your brother first to know."
"My brother isn't going to die, is he?" My heart turns upside down and Teddy lets out a choked sigh, holding back the tears.
I hug my two girls. "Your brother is not going to die, my love." I tell her with hope and at the same time giving hope to myself.
Shortly after another knock on the door, obviously it's Henry. He climbs on bed with us and huddles next to his sister. He doesn't say anything, just hugs his Sheriff Woody doll and sinks his face into Teddy's chest. Then he makes signs with his hands, saying something to Teddy, her eyes fill with tears and she hugs him. "We will always, always, always love you, my baby boy." Teddy answers, then helps him remove his glasses, his hearing aid devices and lulls him against her chest kissing his head repeatedly.
We all remain cuddled in bed, in silence, waiting to sleep. Minutes later Teddy and Henry fall deeply asleep, but not Allison and me.
"Do you know what Henry told mommy?" Allison whispers so as not to wake Henry and Teddy.
"No, baby, I don't know."
"He asked her if we still would love him if he goes blind."
A big knot forms in my throat and I'm not able to answer back. I bring Allison to me and I hold her tightly. Minutes later we both fall asleep.
The next morning is chaotic. It's only 11 in the morning when we arrive in Zurich, Switzerland, but among the suitcases, the children, Henry and his panic to big crowds, train stations, airports and the immense anxiety, the four of us are completely exhausted. Dr. Brandenberg is expecting us tomorrow morning, Teddy and I had thought about giving a little tour through the city to distract us, but the spirits are so down that once we get to the hotel the first thing we do is snuggle together again in the bed, just like the night before, and sleep for a couple of hours.
When we wake up it's almost 4 in the afternoon, being a little more recovered, at least physically, the children, Teddy and I go for a walk around the city. I carry Henry in my arms because he refuses to walk, the city is big and dynamic. The change of routine, the people and knowing that tomorrow he will see another doctor have him with his anxiety to the limit. Although according to Teddy he has improved a lot since their trip to Orlando.
Around 7pm we go back to the hotel, Teddy and I give a bath to the children and after a quick shower we go back to bed with them, again the 4 together. Tomorrow is the big day.
TEDDY
The next morning the four of us go to the hospital where Dr. Brandenberg is waiting for us. We are welcomed by a team of doctors who from the first contact make me feel full of hope, although deep down I know that there is nothing 100% said.
Allison is sent to a playroom/nursery and Owen, Henry and I go to Dr. Brandenberg's office. We go to the little living room in the office and take a seat. Henry snuggles into Owen's lap, sinking his head into his neck, but as soon as he notices Woody's pin that the doctor has in his white coat, he waves at me, pointing at the pin and smiling, I smile back.
"Hunt, what a pleasure to see you." Dr. Brandenberg greets Owen.
"Likewise. She's Teddy Altman, my girlfriend and Henry's mom."
"Nice to meet you Teddy, Owen told me a lot about you and your little one. You must be Henry, isn't it, little guy?" Henry just nods. "I'm Dr. Matthew Brandenberg and I hope I can help you, but first of all I need to know if you want."
Owen told Dr. Brandenberg about Henry and his socializing issues, especially with new people so the fact that before all he asks Henry for approval for any procedure makes me feel warm inside. None of the previous doctors had cared for my boy, they only did tests, stuck needles in his soft skin and gave him medication without first asking him how he felt.
Henry runs his eyes from Owen, to the doctor, to me. I give him an encouragement smile and Owen kisses his head. He nods.
"Ok, very good, Mr. Henry, let's start! Oh, by the way, this is for you!" He removes the pin from his white coat and gives it to Henry, at first he hesitates to take it, but when he does, he does so with a huge smile and immediately places it on his shirt. "Someone told me it's your favorite character, guess what, it's mine, too!" Henry smiles at him and it makes me want to cry.
The four start to discuss what the procedure will be.
"I've been studying Henry's medical record closely in recent weeks and I must say that I'm amazed, we have a little warrior here with us."
Owen and I smiled proudly at each other.
"My boy is the bravest." I say.
"I don't doubt it!" The doctor says. "Well, I also studied all the tests that have been done in the last couple of years, it seems that there isn't much else to do, he has had all the tests done, but luckily for you, I don't give up, I'm very stubborn so I won't rest until I know what is happening here with this little guy."
We keep discussing Henry's medical records and the plans that Dr. Brandenberg has to try to find the root of his problem. On the way we find several faults that the previous doctors committed and that at the time, because I was so overwhelmed, I didn't notice them. It would seem like tiny mistakes, but correcting them might change everything.
"Well, basically that's my plan." Dr. Brandenberg tells Owen and me. We look at each other.
"And when can you start with the studies and the tests?" Owen asks.
"Today if you want. I've cleaned my schedule completely for the next week just for you."
"Really?!" I ask in a choked voice.
"Really." The doctor answers with a warm smile. "Owen is my friend, it's the least I can do for him, for you and this little guy."
"Thank you very much, you have no idea what this means to me." I thank him. "Not only this, but all the attention we've had since we came to this hospital."
"Oh, that credit goes to Dr. Yang."
What?!
"W-what-what did you say? Dr. Yang? As in Cristina Yang?"
"Yes, the same! She instructed all the staff to give Dr. Hunt and his family the best treatment during their stay here. This hospital is owned by the Klausman Institute."
"Owen?" I try to get an explanation, but he avoids my gaze and shifts in his seat, distracting himself with Henry who is now asleep in his lap, fixing his clothes and hair.
I'm shocked, I don't know what to say. Listening about Cristina caused me a series of mixed feelings. On the one hand, it made me feel somewhat insecure. She was Owen's wife, for God's sake! And on top of that my relationship with Owen is still new and fragile, I know I'm being silly, Owen has shown me since the first day that we met again how much he loves me and the children, but I can't help it, I think it's a natural reaction.
On the other hand, there is the fact that she knew that Owen would come with his family, and even then she asked her staff to give us the best treatment. She knew that Owen would come with a new woman, with his children. I don't know if she knew that said woman is me, but even so, she wanted the best for us. For that part I can only feel gratitude for her, whoever is good with my children has won my heart immediately.
"I'm sorry, did I say something I shouldn't?" The doctor asks, noticing our reaction.
"No, it's just... it's been a long time since we knew anything about Dr. Yang, that's all." I answer. "But, can we continue with Henry's case?"
"Of course. Well, as I said, today we can start with everything, you just have to sign all the paperwork, we admit Henry and we start."
"Ok, let's do it." I say, determined to know what happens with my sweet boy.
And so it all began. Henry is admitted. The poor thing was so scared at first, but Owen and I didn't separate a second from him, once they started doing the tests we took turns between him and Allison who was still in the playroom. She was scared too, asking thousands of questions about what they were doing to their brother and what would happen next.
And so we spent the day, Dr. Brandenberg would give us the tests' results until the next day. The night was equally long and tiring, neither Owen nor I could sleep, we spent the night talking.
"Why didn't you tell me Cristina was the owner of the hospital?" I ask Owen.
"I was afraid. Dr. Brandenberg is an excellent surgeon, the best in his field, but I was afraid that if I told you who the hospital belonged to you would refuse to bring Henry."
"Should I have reasons to refuse?" Owen immediately catches the true meaning of my question.
"No! You shouldn't, at all!"
"Does she know who your family is?"
"Yes." I don't say anything else. I don't have the energy to keep talking about anything else. I just want the sun to come out so I can go back to the hospital to know the results of the tests. "I love you, Teddy. Today more than ever, I love our children. The three of you are the only persons that matter to me in life, nobody else."
Without saying a word, I get up from the sofa and join the bed where Henry and Allison sleep.
Hours later we are finally back in Dr. Brandenberg's office. This time both Henry and Allison were left at the playroom. Owen and I are in complete silence waiting for the doctor. Only our breaths can be heard.
"Teddy, Owen. Sorry for the delay, but I was collecting the latest results from Henry's tests." Dr. Brandenberg greets us as soon as he enters the office.
"And?" I ask nervously. "Did you manage to find something?"
He takes his seat on the other side of the desk. For a few seconds he's silent, places his hands on the desk and looks at their intertwined fingers biting his lips. "Matthew, what's going on?" Owen asks him.
Then he looks at us with a warm smile and my heart stops, I don't know how to take it. He clears his throat. "I think I have good news."
Indeed, I think my heart has stopped. Owen and I hold hands, I don't know if it's him, or me, or both, but we're shaking.
"My team of doctors spent all night collecting the results and this morning I analyzed them and... I don't know how to say it, but, there is a good chance we can stop Henry's vision problem."
I let out a shaking sigh and immediately the tears stream down my cheeks. "What did you find? How?!" I ask, desperate to know.
"What did you find that others didn't?!" Owen adds.
"In his old MRIs and I noticed something strange, however, there were no notes about that in his file. Yesterday we did a new MRI and I put special attention in that area and well... Henry has a tumor in the occipital lobe."
"What?!" Owen and I exclaim at the same time.
"It's a tiny tumor, almost the size of a bean, but we don't know since when it has been putting pressure on his optic nerves."
"Oh, my God!" I'm feeling so many things at once. I'm upset, how is it possible that doctors didn't see it before? I'm happy to finally have an answer. I'm scared to think what's next, surely surgery.
"And now what? I guess you'll have to do surgery to remove it." Owen points.
"That's right, due the location of the tumor is a surgery that requires a lot of precision, so it takes some time, but it's a type of surgery that I've done more times than I can remember. Your little sheriff will be fine." Dr. Brandenberg replies
Owen and I hug and cry for a moment. "When can you perform the surgery?" Owen asks, I can't say anything anymore, I'm just sobbing.
"Tomorrow."
Owen and I return to the playroom for the children, we are ecstatic. As soon as they see us they run to hug us.
"What did the doctor say, Mommy?" Allison asks, excited. "Will he cure my brother?"
"Yes, baby. The doctor is going to cure your brother." Owen replies.
"REALLY?!" Henry exclaims, with his huge blue eyes wide open.
"Really, my love." I hug him and kiss him on the head. "But they'll have to admit you today, tomorrow will be a big day."
"I don't care mommy. I want them to fix me. Because, that's being brave, right? And I want to be brave."
"Oh baby. You have been the bravest since you were born."
We all join in a tight hug. Again the following hours are chaotic. We are all nervous, but this time another kind of nervousness. Now we have faith, faith and certainty that everything will turn out well.
The next morning at first hour Henry is taken to the OR, Dr. Brandenberg allows Owen and me to go with him to say goodbye, we leave once the anesthesia has taken effect. We wait, the nurses come and go with updates. 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours and finally Dr. Brandenberg leaves the OR. Immediately Owen and I go to him.
"Everything went as expected. Henry will be taken to his room in a couple of hours."
I throw myself into the arms of the doctor and cry on his shoulder thanking him again and again. Then Owen and I hug each other and stay that way for several minutes, without saying a word, just crying, crying with happiness.
Hours later Henry is taken to his room, part of his golden curls have been shaved and he has a bandage around his head. His skin looks pale and he looks even smaller than he already is in the huge hospital bed. I check his heart monitor again and again, everything is in perfect order. He sleeps peacefully in bed and Allison in a crib that the staff brought us to the luxurious room they gave us, by Cristina's orders.
"A nurse brought you this." Owen says, coming to the room and handing me a white envelope.
"What is it?" I ask, confused.
"I don't know, but it's for you." And indeed, it's for me, it has my name written on the front. I open it
"Hi, Desert Storm Barbie!
I hope my staff is treating you as you and your family deserve. I knew that everything went well with your son, he is a warrior, just like his mother. I'm glad to know you're happy, that you and Owen are happy, both deserve it.
With love, Cristina."
I can't help but smile widely when reading her little note.
"Whose was that?" Owen asks me sitting next to me and wrapping his arm around me.
"Cristina."
He chuckles. "I can't believe everything she is doing for us."
"Me neither."
We both remain cuddled on the couch, watching our children sleep. If someone had told me a couple of months ago that all this was going to happen, I probably would have laughed or gotten angry at the cruel joke.
Everything was so cold and gray a few weeks ago and now it's just joy and infinite possibilities. My boy is healthy all things considered, Allison is a happy girl. Owen and I are together and we love each other. What else could we need?
"Owen."
"Hmm?" He hums.
I shift in my place, looking at his face and taking his hands in mine. "I'm pregnant."