"Dr Altman and Dr Altman," the reporter said, "how are you related?"
"Grace is my eldest daughter," Teddy replied.
"Do you have other children," the reporter asked.
"I do," Teddy replied, "an 7 year old son and 6 year old daughter."
"That's quite the age gap," the reporter said, "there must be a story there, especially seeing your impressive resume."
"I was 21 and in my first semester of medical school when Grace was born," Teddy said, "then you can see when I did between the two girls. Allison was born when I returned to Seattle there's 25 years between the girls."
"Where was Grace during your time in the army," the reporter asked.
"I was with family in Cloverdale British Columbia," Annie replied, "with my older pair of siblings."
"Your father's family," the reporter clarified.
"Yes," Annie replied, legally Dan was her father.
"Your sister must have been a surprise," the reporter said.
"I was 25 so it was a shock," Annie agreed, "but I grew up with a brother 21 months younger and another sister who is three and a half years younger. I was used to siblings."
"Are you close to your other sister and brother," the reporter asked.
"My brother and I are very close he lives about ten minutes away and is one of our medical helicopter pilots," Annie replied.
They talked about their years work together and how their bond had allowed them to do it.
"Every mother daughter pair fights what was the biggest one you two have had," the reporter asked.
"Most public was a surgery two weeks before my daughter was born," Annie replied twisting the question.
"What happened," the reporter pressed.
"She was 39 weeks pregnant and did a four hour surgery when she was only cleared for 2 hours of operating room time because it was her paitent. She was still a resident and went around me as her attending, chief of surgery and mother."
"Was the surgery successful," the report asked.
"It was," Annie replied, "I just saw the young man for a follow up three years out and he's thriving."
They finished the interview and got in the car to drive back.
"I get that out track record is great and that we're a team is rare but really," Annie said, "can they ever just focus on the medicine?"
"Our story is unique," Teddy replied, "I get it. Nice save with the biggest fight."
"I couldn't even name a big fight," Annie said.
"I could," Teddy replied.
"What," Annie asked.
"Right after Allison was born," Teddy said, "you were a bit of a brat."
"What do you mean," Annie asked obviously shocked.
"You got jealous," Teddy said, "like ridiculously jealous for a 25 year old surgical intern. You should have had way more maturity than that. It made me angry Annie."
"I don't understand," Annie said, "what made you angry?"
"You went through a few weeks where you would not talk to me if I was holding Allison," Teddy said, "like barely acknowledged me if your sister was there. You told me not to bring a five month old infant when I came to talk to you. What was that jealousy?"
"I don't know," Annie said, "I just got jealous. I'd never had that before. I guess I thought I was being replaced with the newer model."
"Why though," Teddy asked, "you must have a reason."
Annie thought for a while, "I was scared the Leslie and Jessica thing would happen with you two. I thought if I kept making sure you spent time with just me and I had my time with you it wouldn't happen. I was scared. "
"Why didn't you tell me that then," Teddy asked.
"Because I didn't understand it then either I've only started to get it in the last year and a half," Annie admitted.
"Annie it hurts me when you blame them for your actions," Teddy said, "because every time you do that you tell me I messed up and made the wrong choice."
"You didn't know," Annie said, "I talked to my aunts and grandmere Leslie didn't show symptoms until I was 8. How could you have predicted 8 years in the future from one meeting? I know you. You probably asked them a million questions and grilled a few couples before you chose."
"I met two others," Teddy said, "the McKellars were the only ones who made me feel calm."
"Why are you bringing this up now 6 years later," Annie asked.
"Because that question today made me think about it," Teddy replied, "we never talked about it Annie. You were getting mad that I was correcting you at work which was my job as your attending. And I know I'm part of blurring lines between family and work time and we've gotten way better in the last couple years but then it hurt me."
"I was confused," Annie said, "you were always my safe person and now I didn't have that."
"You were never going to loose me," Teddy said, "I don't know why it took so long for you to trust that."
"Fear, trauma, PTSD," Annie replied, "it was the expectation that I could be you."
"You're the one that puts that on yourself," Teddy said, "never have I said that."
"Grey, Yang, Bailey," Annie listed.
"Are not part of this conversation," Teddy replied, "you asked me when Allison was a baby if I would still love you. Annie, that's something a 3 or 4 year old asks, not 25. I almost had to force you to bond with her to give her a bottle, play with or cuddle why?"
"I didn't want to intrude," Annie said, "that was your time with her. You and dad we just engaged, Allison was little. I felt like you were building this new family and I didn't belong there."
"Annie," Teddy sighed, "we're passed that. Why couldn't you trust me?"
"I don't know," Annie replied, "I wanted to. But I was scared that no one would listen to me or see me. It felt like I was suddenly your second choice that I had to prove that I was still worth your time. I know now it's silly but I didn't then."
"Why would you think you would be a second choice," Teddy asked, "give me an example."
"Its all silly now," Annie said, "the first new years home I was angry that you cut our walk short. I just needed time with you, not having dad or Josh right there. But you cut it short and I was annoyed. I get how uncomfortable and tired you were now and would do it differently."
"I had just gone back to work, it was just after your intern test," Teddy said, "and I asked how your test and review went and you snapped at me that you wouldn't talk to me if Allison was there. Annie, why did you keep rejecting her? Why would you push me away?"
"Fear," Annie said, "she scared me. I was scared that no matter what I did or what I tried it would always be perfect Allison and worthless Annie. So if she wasn't there you couldn't compare us. I missed our time where we would meet somewhere and just talk. I didn't feel like I had somewhere safe to share what I was thinking and all the swirly thoughts. If we tried to sit in your office people walked in, at your house Owen was there and I wasn't comfortable sharing some things around him, I'm still not, Josh and Duncan were always at our house so when I was finally able to get a night with you I just wanted to talk and drink wine like we always had. I missed that time."
"We had fun," Teddy agreed, "we do need a wine night soon."
"Before Ellie's birthday," Annie said.
"That's only a couple months away," Teddy commented, "and a specific date what are you thinking?"
Annie smiled, "another baby. We're going to start trying around her birthday."
"Do you really want to finish your fellowship the same way you finished your residency," Teddy asked.
"We didn't expect it to happen so fast," Annie said.
"I want you to think about something," Teddy said, "when Allison was born you questioned if I would still love you and want you around which we know now was stupid. Will having another baby change how much you love Ellie?"
"No," Annie said, "but it will change the relationship. She won't be the only child anymore but I won't love her any differently."
"So why would you expect me to be any different," Teddy asked.
"I know you hate when I bring it back to Leslie but I think she was part of that. Chris, Jessica and I were loved very differently," Annie said, "it was unequal and we were cast into roles to make Leslie feel good. That was the only sibling relationship I knew. I know now that it was wrong and not healthy but that was my normal and my point of reference."
"I think I understand more of what you were thinking," Teddy said, "you only had one frame of reference in a very dysfunctional setting. We had to teach you how a regular family worked. Owen and I had to teach you how to fit into a healthy family."
"Our family is confusing to anyone who isn't us," Annie pointed out.
"It's you and Josh that make it complicated," Teddy replied, "back on topic. You do this change the topic if you don't want to tell me something. When you pushed me away and told me you would only see me without Allison it told me you didn't trust me. Every time you demanded to see me without her you rejected your sister. I know it wasnt that you didn't love her but that's how it came across."
"I needed to talk to you," Annie said, "for years you were the only person I trusted with certain things. You're still the only person that I trust with a lot of things. I just needed to feel like I was in a safe place to talk. I didn't feel like I could with Allison there."
"Annie that hurt me," Teddy said, "like it bothers me when Leslie comes up."
"Leslie bothers me two," Annie said, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was pretty selfish wasn't I."
"Just a little," Teddy agreed.
"I'm sorry," Annie said.
"We were both learning," Teddy said, "apology accepted."
"When did you start using that," Annie asked, "that was grandmere's line."
"I like it," Teddy replied, "it makes sense. I accepted your apology. If I said it was okay that meant the actions were okay. Marie is a very wise woman."
"Not when her and nana team up," Annie said.
"They only do that for you and Ellie," Teddy said.
"Mama are we okay," Annie asked.
"We are," Teddy said, "always. Yes we may disagree or do things out of fear that confuses or hurts eachother but it's always you and I kiddo."
"I'm almost 32 no kiddo," Annie said, "why didn't you talk to me about this years ago?"
"I wasn't really ready," Teddy replied, "you still had too much to work out on your own."
"I think I'll always need therapy on and off," Annie admitted.
"With the trauma you've had that's fine," Teddy said, 'I do, Owen, Meghan you learn to recognize your triggers and get the help you need."
"I'm getting better," Annie said.
"You're a lot better in the last couple years," Teddy said, "a year ago we couldn't have had this conversation."
"Probably not," Annie agreed.
"Lunch, coffee, a walk," Teddy asked.
"Lunch," Annie said, "I was nervous about that and didn't have much breakfast, just a yogurt."
"You recognize it," Teddy smiled.
"I do," Annie agreed.
"Sushi," Teddy asked, "you're the only one that will share the raw rolls with me."
"Only if there's spicy tuna," Annie said.
"Lots of that," Teddy agreed.