Sorry for the long delay. I was out of town with no internet at my family's cabin for the last few days. It was a much needed rest.
"We're walking," Jordan asked.
"It's easier," Max replied.
"Should we take anything for dinner," Jordan asked.
"I asked auntie Teddy she said no," Max replied, showing his dad the texts.
"Wine," Jordan asked.
"They always have some," Max replied, "she's offered. I'm legal here but didn't know what you or mom would say."
"Your aunt and I would drink quite a bit when we were younger," Jordan replied, "before she got married. Then your mom hates me drinking and Paul didn't want Thea too close to me and my parents."
"She was married," Max asked.
"Paul," Jordan said, "that pediatrician that was in the news a few months ago for nearly beating his wife to death. I don't know the details of what happened when they were alone she talked to our mom or to her friend Allison but they were married 3 or 4 years. They met in medical school, he pushed her to have the big fancy wedding. She told me it wasn't working at the time and she wasn't safe. I told her to go back and work it out with him, that her place was with her husband. She was different then. She doesn't even look the same."
"Autie Teddy is the boss in that hospital," Max said, "she expects immediate obedience, you don't argue with her. I've seen her boss Uncle Owen around at work then turn and hug him."
"Her husband," Jordan said.
"Fiance," Max corrected, "he's a good guy dad. He's the one tutoring me in math."
"She's so different," Jordan said, "she was quiet, she was a push over, as kids she did what I wanted, what our parents wanted, her first husband."
Teddy paced the living room shoving stray toys in their bins and frantically dusting, "what did I do?"
"You invited your brother," Owen said.
"And faked that we made dinner," Teddy said, "the kids' rooms? How do they look?"
"Allison's not great but the boys room is okay," Owen admitted.
"Can you tidy Allison's," Teddy asked.
"It;s her dolls," Owen said, "and princess dresses."
"Just get her to clean it up," Teddy snapped.
"Leo has dinos out," Owen said.
"Tell the kids to put the toys away," Teddy grumbelled.
"Teddy breathe," Owen said crossing the room, "Jordan isn't coming to see a perfect apartment, he's coming to see you. To meet me."
"I want my mom," Teddy whispered.
"I know," Owen said, "you really miss your mom."
"I talked to your mom," Teddy said.
"You do more than I do," Owen said, "I don't like her being back in Seattle."
"I liked her here," Teddy said, "Christmas in Seattle?"
"We're all going," Owen said, "Christmas at mom's with all the kids."
"I want my mom here," Teddy said.
"I'm sorry," Owen said.
"She would be so disappointed in me," Teddy said, "not holding on to our family. Letting 20 years go by."
"No Teddy," Owen said, "I remember you trying for years. You learned to see your own value and what you will and won't accept. She would be proud of you. You are the strongest person I know."
"I can't be that person again," Teddy said, "I can't go back to being Thea. Owen I can't do that. I won't be that person again. I've spent half my life trying not to be that person. I won't go back Owen."
"You don't have to," Owen said, "I won't let him push you around."
"He'll want me to give all this up," Teddy said, "you and our kids. To do what he wants me to do."
"Then we won't let him," Owen said, "we'll get the living room and kitchen tidy and he won't go in the kids rooms."
"The bathroom is by them," Teddy argued.
"I'll get the kids to tidy," Owen said, "he has 13 he knows kids are messy."
Owen walked into Allison's room, "Allison you need to put all your toys away."
"I'm playing," Allison argued.
"Your Uncle Jordan and Max are coming for dinner. Your room has to be clean," Owen replied, "Dolls and toys away."
"No," Allison argued.
"Now," Owen commanded, "dolls and toys away."
Owen walked into the boys room, "Leo dinos and blocks away."
"Now," Leo asked.
"Now," Owen said, "we're having your mom's brother over so you need to clean up."
"Mommy has a brother," Leo asked.
"She does," Owen said, "she hasn't seen him in 20 years, since before I met mommy and she's nervous. Can you clean up your room to help mommy?"
"Daniel," Leo asked.
"You can help your brother," Owen said.
Teddy finished setting the table and went to fix her hair and make up.
Owen came into the bedroom for a clean shirt.
"Do I look okay," Teddy asked.
"Gorgeous," Owen said, kissing her neck as he hugged her from behind.
"Are you sure," Teddy asked.
"You are always gorgeous in anything you wear," Owen said.
"Owen be serious," Teddy sighed, "he saw me in uniform today, not the first impression I wanted to make."
"Teddy it's my favourite dress," Owen smiled seeing her purple dress, "I like when you come home and put on dresses."
"Do I look like a woman and not a soldier," Teddy asked.
"Dress, hair down," Owen said, "you look like my beautiful fiancé ."
"What are the kids wearing," Teddy asked.
"Are you changing them two," Owen asked.
"Yes and you need a button down," Teddy replied.
"I was coming to quickly shower and do that. Jeans okay," Owen asked.
"Yes," Teddy smiled, "I'm going to put clean clothes on the kids."
Teddy walked into the boys room where Daniel was playing in the crib and Leo was putting the last of his toys away.
"Thank you for cleaning up Leo," Teddy beamed, "okay boys we need clean clothes for Uncle Jordan and Max."
"Who is uncle Jordan mommy," Leo asked.
"My brother," Teddy said, "we're twins."
"What's twins," Leo asked.
"Twins are when a mom has two babies at the same time," Teddy said, "we are the exact same age."
Teddy changed Daniel's diaper and put the one year old in clean jeans and a little button down.
"Leo put the shirt on your bed on," Teddy directed.
Leo changed his shirt.
Teddy walked into Allison's room, "Allison is every toy you own out?"
"No cleaning up," Allison protested.
"Now," Teddy commanded, "I know Daddy asked you."
"Mommy help," Allison asked.
"Very quickly," Teddy said as she began throwing the tea set into it's bin, and tucking the dolls into their cradle.
"All done," Allison asked, seeing Teddy clean up.
"Toys away," Teddy said, "then we need a clean dress and to brush your hair."
Teddy helped Allison shove the last of the toys in her room in the bins, nothing was in it's proper bin Teddy would have to sort it out later but it was away. She helped Allison change into a clean dress and redid her pigtails.
Teddy led the cleaned up children to the living room and kept Daniel on her hip, with her youngest in her arms her brother would be less likely to hug her.
She glanced at her watch with 2 minutes to spare. Where was Owen? Why was he not ready?
"I'm not late," Owen said joining her.
"You have a minute to spare," Teddy replied.
"You've lived on military time for too long," Owen said.
"I can't stand being late," Teddy replied.
"I know," Owen replied.
There was a knock on the door.
Teddy let Owen open the door.
"Max," Owen said.
"Uncle Owen this is my dad Jordan," Max introduced, "dad this is Auntie Teddy's fiance Major Owen Hunt."
"Owen," Owen said, offering his hand, "it's nice to meet you."
"You as well," Jordan said.
Teddy appeared behind Owen, "Jordan come in."
"Thea I'm impressed," Jordan said stepping inside.
"It's Teddy now," Teddy reminded.
"That's going to take me a while," Jordan said.
"You need to get it right," Owen said.
"Who is this," Jordan asked, seeing Daniel in Teddy's arms.
"This is our youngest Daniel," Teddy replied, "he turned 1 a couple weeks ago."
"Where are Leo and Allie," Max asked.
Hearing Max's voice Leo and Allison ran to the entry then paused seeing the strange man.
Teddy crouched with her kids, "Leo, Allison this is my brother. Your uncle Jordan."
Jordan also crouched, "Hi guys. I'm Uncle Jordan."
"Hi," Leo replied as Allison ducked behind Teddy.
"Shy," Jordan remarked.
"At first," Owen said, "come have a seat, i'll take your coat."
Teddy led the way to the living room, "Wine Jor?"
"I haven't had any in years, since mom," Jordan said.
"What can I get you," Teddy asked.
"A glass of wine actually sounds really good," Jordan said, "Maxwell do not tell your mother."
"I have juice, tea, coffee, water, sparkling water," Teddy offered, "I don't want to make Faith mad."
"I honestly want the wine," Jordan said.
"Red or white," Teddy asked.
"What are you having," Jordan asked.
"Red," Teddy replied.
"The Cab Sav," Owen asked.
"You want one," Teddy asked.
"Please," Owen replied.
Teddy poured three glasses of wine and topped off the kids sippy cups of water. Leo and Allison didn't get the sippy cups often anymore but today she couldn't have spills. Teddy left the kids cups on the counter. The older two could get their own down and would help Daniel.
"What do you do," Owen asked.
"Thea got the brains in our family," Jordan said, "I'm a machinist. We run our own fabrication shop and have a few military contracts right now. I'm actually out for work. It's just a bonus I can see Max and Thea."
"Teddy," Owen corrected, "she'll lose it if you keep calling her Thea."
"What do you do," Jordan asked.
"Chief of surgery so second in command to Teddy, I'm a trauma surgeon," Owen replied.
"How did you meet," Jordan asked.
"Outside of Baghdad in 2002," Owen said, "we ran the same unit for a few years. She reported to me at first then moved up to major pretty quickly with her training from Mayo and Columbia. She's an amazing leader. She always knows the people that report to her. She knows almost everyone in the hospital by name. Then after 5 or 6 years in the sand pit I went back to Seattle to be closer to my mom. Teddy came out a few months later."
"Six long enough for you to meet Yang," Teddy replied, "I was in Seattle three years and came here after Henry passed. And the army came after me as Chief of surgery then moved me to chief of staff."
"Who was Henry," Jordan asked.
"My second husband. He passed away from surgical complications," Teddy replied, "Seattle was just too sad after I lost him so Owen was Chief of surgery in Seattle at the time and he fired me so I would actually accept this. I came here and started over. Owen and I were friends then four years ago he flew out from Seattle to surprise me and tell me he loves me. Then he had to go back to Seattle with his family. He adopted Leo. I had Allison before the army moved him back here when Allison was 9 months old. We had just gotten engaged when we found out about Daniel. And the pandemic put wedding plans on hold."
"Mommy I'm hungry," Allison said.
"Dinner is almost ready," Teddy replied.
"Mom, what's for dinner," Leo asked.
"Chicken, baked potatoes, carrots, green beans and salad," Teddy replied.
"Leo, Allie can you help me get everything over to the table," Owen asked.
"I've got it," Teddy smiled.
"I can help," Max offered.
"I need to finish the green beans," Teddy replied, standing up and leaving Owen to talk to Jordan.
"Where did you go to medical school," Jordan asked.
"Harvard," Owen said, "then did my residency in Maryland and on to the army."
"You and Teddy weren't together when Allison was born," Jordan said.
"We were working in separate cities," Owen said, "things were complicated for a while. I had Leo with me in Seattle and Allison was here with Teddy."
"She was in this place alone," Jordan asked.
"No," Owen said, "a couple floors down in a smaller place. We moved up here when we got engaged so the kids could have their own rooms."
"Four bedrooms then," Jordan asked.
"Three," Owen replied, "it was four of us when we picked this place. The boys share."
"Our kids have always shared rooms," Jordan said.
"I shared with 4 of my brothers," Maxsaid.
"So your time in basic wasn't a big adjustment," Owen said.
"No, tidier than my brothers but smelled worse," Max said.
"Thirteen," Owen said, "how do you do it?"
Jordan said, "Faith is a stay at home mom and our shop is on our property so I work there with some of the older boys."
"Do you get much time with them," Owen asked.
"As a group but not often one on one," Jordan said, "I'm liking this time with Max."
"Dinner," Teddy said as she placed the last dish on the table.
They all found seats, the kids in their usual spots and the others finding open spaces. Owen and Teddy helped dish the kids up while the others served themselves.
"Jor eat," Teddy scolded gently.
"Dad they don't say grace," Max said, "auntie Teddy made her green beans."
Jordan tasted the green beans, "they taste like."
"Mom's," Teddy interrupted.
"I haven't had these in 20 years," Jordan smiled.
"I make them all the time," Teddy smiled, "my family likes them. My kids ask for them."
"It reminds me of mom," Jordan said.
"I kept most of her recipes," Teddy replied, "I had her recipe box at a friends while I was deployed the first time then I moved it to Seattle with me. I have grandmas recipe box."
"The old one," Leo asked.
"Yes, that was my grandma's then my moms," Teddy replied, "it has both of their recipes in it and now some of mine and some your grandma gave me."
"Do you use it," Jordan asked.
"All the time," Teddy replied, "I made Grandma's apple crisp."
"Mom's green beans and grandma's apple crisp," Jordan said, "what did I do to deserve that."
"It's our family recipes and I make them all the time for my family here," Teddy replied.
"We have to cook in such big batches it's hard," Jordan said, "and Faith does what's easy with our crowd."
"We take turns," Teddy said, "whoever is home first cooks the other cleans up."
"Mom used to cook with you and dad and I would clean," Jordan remembered.
"You had to wash the dishes," Teddy laughed, "we didn't have a dish washer."
"Dad said I was the dish washer," Jordan smiled.
Teddy turned her attention to feeding Daniel making sure at least some food got in the child.
"How old is he now," Jordan asked.
"He turned 1 2 weeks ago," Owen replied.
"Any more," Jordan asked.
"No," Teddy declared, "three is plenty and Jordan you know I'm old to be a mom."
"Faith wants to keep going," Jordan replied.
"We're almost 50," Teddy reminded.
"49," Jordan countered.
"And I want to enjoy my three," Teddy said, "three with our schedules is plenty. "
"Still working a lot," Jordan asked.
"Not as much since Daniel," Teddy replied, "I worked from here during the pandemic and when I was expecting him and I finally learned to delegate."
"Do you have help," Jordan asked.
"We're a team," Owen said, "then my sister, her fiance and their two kids are here, we have an on call nanny and there's preschool and daycare."
"Are you happy here," Jordan asked.
"I am," Teddy replied, "this is what I wanted. It didn't happen when I thought it would. I have the love of my life and my kids, what I do is meaningful."
"How does it work here for educating your kids," Jordan asked.
"Right now the older two are going to a local kindergarten, what we would call preschool in German," Teddy replied.
"We have the opportunity for all of us to be bilingual," Owen replied, "we all speak it. Teddy is better at reading and writing it."
"Do you ever use your french," Jordan asked.
"When we travel," Teddy replied, "or talking to french doctors. It's been helpful this last year and a half."
"You really speak three languages, Auntie Teddy," Max asked.
"I do," Teddy replied, "english, german and french."
"You've been helping me with my german," Max replied.
"If your dad wasn't here we'd be speaking german now," Teddy replied.
"German immersion dinners," Jordan asked.
"Mom used to do it with us in french," Teddy replied.
"French fridays," Jordan replied, "with the horrible french movies."
"I liked them," Teddy replied, "french was my minor in college."
"I should have listened to mom and dad about college," Jordan said.
"Can't change it now," Teddy shrugged, "how's Faith?"
"She wants more kids but it's not a good idea," Jordan said, "I'm liking this defense contract thing. It's consistent for us."
"It's good," Owen agreed, "I haven't met your wife, how did you meet?"
"I witked for her uncle on my apprenticeship and he introduced us," Jordan replied.
"How long have you been together," Owen asked.
"We got married before Thea started med school because we had to do it with enough time for her to drive to Texas," Jordan said.
"27 years," Teddy said, "and stop calling me Thea."
"Mommy do we have another grandma," Leo asked.
"No sweetheart," Teddy answered.
"Why not," Leo asked.
"My mom died 20 years ago," Teddy replied.
"Other kids have grandpas," Leo said.
"Our dad passed away just before our mom," Jordan said.
"I still miss them every day," Teddy said.
"So do I," Jordan agreed, "dad would be so proud of you."
"I wonder what mom would think," Teddy said.
"She'd be mad at me for how I ignored you for so long," Jordan said.
"I gave up fighting two," Teddy said, "I was hurt and scared after we lost mom I was alone after 9/11 Allison was in the second tower."
"You had been friends with Allison since high school," Jordan said, "she almost lived with us for a while."
"She did," Teddy replied, "her parents were fighting all the time so mom and dad said she could stay whenever she wanted. Allison shared my room for 6 months."
"I did," Allison asked.
"You did," Teddy said, "but we're talking about my friend Allison who you were named after. She was the best friend I ever had. Allison was amazing."
"Will I meet her," Allison asked.
"No sweetheart," Teddy said, "she's in heaven."
"You and Allison that was something," Jordan said, "the time you two attempted to make dinner and set the microwave on fire."
"It was the toaster," Teddy corrected, "mom and dad were out and we wanted grilled cheese. I think we were 14."
"Should I trust you with the toaster," Owen teased.
"Says the man that set off the smoke alarm yesterday with pasta yesterday," Teddy retorted.
"She also neary lit the dryer on fire," Jordan revealed.
"Not my fault you didn't clean the lint trap," Teddy said, "you flooded my apartment."
"When," Jordan asked.
"You were staying with me for a few days in med school and turned on the dishwasher before you left and used laundry detergent in it," Teddy laughed.
"Do you remember when mom went to that conference and left us with dad for the week," Jordan asked.
"And dad burnt a frozen pizza," Teddy laughed.
"I think he ordered food after that," Jordan said.
"It was a week of take out," Teddy replied, "it was summer break and dad took the week off. We went to the Empire State Building, Central Park and all those tourist things."
"Our trips to grandmas in Maine," Jordan said.
"We'd spend most of the summer there," Teddy said, "do you remember the lobsters."
"And wild strawberries," Jordan said.
"Making jam with them in grandmas kitchen," Teddy beamed.
"Putting the uncooked jam on ice cream," Jordan said.
"Lobster rolls, corn in the cob, veggies from the garden that we'd help grandpa pick and mom would make vanilla ice cream with the jam sauce on top," Teddy smiled.
"Their garden," Jordan said, "what would grandpa chase us out of?"
"The raspberries and blueberries," Teddy said.
"Remember the rooster," Jordan asked.
"The ducks," Teddy said, "the Quackers."
Owen smiled these were things he had never heard about Teddy's childhood.
"You had duckies," Leo asked.
"Our grandparents did," Teddy said, "uncle Jordan would have all the pictures."
"I have yours in my shop," Jordan said.
"Can you ship them," Teddy asked, "Jor I want my photos and some of the ones of mom and dad and our grandparents. I'll pay shipping. Or you can do the army shipping thing with them like you send things to Max."
"Dad we scanned a bunch in from the ones in the shop," Max said, "their in my google account."
"Can you send them to me," Teddy asked.
"I have your work email," Max said.
"I'll write down my gmail for you," Teddy said.
"I want to see your kid photos," Owen said, "I know my mom showed you mine and Megan's."
"She looked a lot like your daughter actually," Jordan said.
Seeing everyone was done eating Teddy sent the kids to play and began to clear the table.
Jordan joined Teddy with wash dishes while Owen and Max put the kids to bed.
"How did you do it Teddy," Jordan asked.
"I didn't have a choice," Teddy said, "I had to go forward. The people I loved and who loved me were gone. I enlisted because it had a purpose. I couldn't have saved dad, mom was a freak accident and Allison Brown I still have no words for that. I could at least avenge Allison's death. I could help the people fighting her killers. Most of my career is military and I'm proud of what I've done. I didn't expect to meet the love of my life when I enlisted. I thought I was beyond having people that I had used up my quota. So I fought for other peoples people. I couldn't save our parents or Allison but I could send the kids the soldiers on my table home to their families."
"Thea I'm sorry," Jordan said, "I should have been there for you after dad, after mom."
"You had young kids I get it," Teddy replied.
"Not just then," Jordan said, "Paul."
"I've only ever told Allison all of that," Teddy said, "it's so far in my past Jor. This is my life now. I know this isn't what you or Faith wanted me to do."
"It's faith's dad," Jordan said, "I did my apprenticeship with him and he owns our house. I can't argue with him."
Teddy leaned against the island, "Jor are you happy?"
"I've forgotten what that is," Jordan admitted, "we just do. I have my kids. My youngest is between Allison and Leo. Thea 13 is a lot. We can't support them all."
"I can help max get through his education," Teddy said, "is Faith still home schooling?"
"We are. It's her dad," Jordan said.
"Jordan it's your family and your kids," Teddy replied.
"What are you suggesting," Jordan asked.
"Send them to school and Faith can work," Teddy replied.
"Thea I don't know what to do," Jordan said, "this isn't how I saw my life."
"Neither of us got what we expected," Teddy said as she poured more wine and led her brother to the couch, "Jordan you still have choices, you can do what makes you happy, and you have to listen to your big sister some times."
"Big sister," Max asked.
"I'm 10 minutes older," Teddy replied.
"Still bossy," Jordan teased.
"I'm the oldest I get to be," Teddy laughed.
"Would you want to bring your family to come see us," Jordan asked.
"We don't get a ton of leave time and usually go to Owen's mom's in Seattle," Teddy replied, "flying with them this young is hard. And I'm not going to make Faith mad."
"She's already mad," Jordan said.
"But she never liked me," Teddy replied.
"You were everything she was never going to be allowed to be," Jordan said, "I want our girls to meet you and to see you. They should know how smart and strong their aunt is. I saw it this morning with everyone saluting you."
"At work," Teddy said, "but I learned to be my own person and stand up for myself. Tell me about your kids."
Jordan began telling Teddy about each of his kids while Owen helped Max with his math assignment.
At the end of the night Teddy hugged her brother, "don't let 20 years go by again Jor."
"I'm here for two weeks Thea," Jordan replied, "can you and I do dinner one night?"
"If we can get a baby sitter Owen and I would be happy to do dinner," Teddy replied.
"I'll babysit Auntie Teddy," Max offered.
"We'll work it out later," Teddy replied, "I do need to get ready for bed. I'm in the OR at 5:30 tomorrow."
Everyone said their good nights.
"That went well," Owen observed.
"Better than I thought but I won't be alone," Teddy replied, "I don't trust his motives."
"I don't either," Owen agreed, "looking at you it's hard to believe you're twins and you're the oldest. You look 15 years younger than your brother."
"He used to be taller than me," Teddy said, "something is wrong."
"He's not healthy," Owen said, "maybe we can find out. He's all hunched over and twisted like an old man."
"What have we gotten our family into," Teddy asked.
"We have to wait and see," Owen said, "you won't be alone with him until you're ready."
"No that's the game they would play," Teddy said, "get me on my own then tear me apart. And he has to stop calling me Thea."
"If we see him again I'll say something," Owen replied.
"I'm going to get pajamas then can you hold me until I fall asleep," Teddy asked.
"Every night," Owen said, "I know I have to hold you for you to sleep."
What's going on with Teddy's brother? Why is he really in Germany?