Early Saturday morning Owen knocked on Evelyn's bedroom door, "mom we need your help."
"Owen what's going on," Evelyn asked startling awake.
"We've been called in," Owen said, "20 being flown in now we need to take them straight to the OR."
"Where are the kids and Teddy," Evelyn asked.
"Teddy is getting dressed," Owen said, "kids are asleep. It's 2:30 and they get up around 6:30."
"Let me throw clothes on," Evelyn said.
"The door is unlocked," Owen said, "I need to get dressed."
Evelyn got dressed and ran across the hall, "Teddy where do I find the formula mix?"
"Pumped milk in the fridge and freezer," Teddy said, "formula in the cupboard above the dishwasher. Use the fridge stuff first, then the freezer stash, formula is back up."
"Are you ready to go," Evelyn asked.
"Hair," Teddy said.
"Go sweetheart I can do this," Evelyn said, "I raised two."
Teddy dashed back to the bedroom and finished putting her hair in a bun. She grabbed her jacket and stopped to lace her boots.
"Hunt, let's move," Teddy called.
"I'm ready," Owen said.
They quickly ducked into the kid's room and kissed the sleeping children before dashing out the door and thundering down the stairs. They joined the group of medical professionals that had been pulled out of bed and rushed to the hospital, Teddy beginning to give orders as she went, Owen spotting his trauma surgeons and getting teams organized to move to ORs as soon as they were inside.
Around 10 pm they both scrubbed out for the night, Teddy had been sending younger and less experienced teams home first, knowing she could push herself through 24 hours if needed and Owen longer than that. Sure they had quick breaks for food and water while the OR was cleaned between patients but never more than 15 minutes at a time.
"I'm exhausted," Teddy admitted as they walked home hand in hand.
"When was the last time we did that," Owen asked.
"I did one of those 7 month pregnant," Teddy admitted, "but you and I before I left Seattle."
"How many," Owen asked.
"29," Teddy said, "28 made it."
"Numbers," Owen asked.
"10 in ICU, 14 critical, 4 stable," Teddy recited, "I'll see them all personally tomorrow. I know it's a Sunday but we have to go and see them personally. I've brought Allison with me on one before she made them smile."
"Do you just want a shower," Owen asked.
"I want our kids," Teddy said, "we left before they got up and your mom will have put them to bed."
"I miss the kids two," Owen agreed, "but it's Saturday night."
"11:30 she's put them to bed," Teddy said, "in the morning we're bringing them into our bed for snuggles when they wake up."
"She's just going to want you," Owen said, "they both will."
They signed out of the hospital and walked home grabbing roast chicken on their way, they had told Evelyn not to worry about feeding them. They walked through the door and were greeted by a wailing Allison.
"Come here baby girl," Teddy said.
"She just won't settle," Evelyn said, "she won't take the bottle either. I've tried everything."
"I'll take her," Teddy said.
"Teddy," Owen asked.
"She just needs me," Teddy said, "can you make tea?"
"Tea darling," Evelyn asked.
"Decaf," Teddy replied, "I want to feed Allison and have some cuddle time. Eat and have a shower."
"Take your uniforms off," Evelyn suggested, "Owen go shower. I'll heat up your dinners."
"We grabbed roast chicken," Teddy said.
"I made shepherds pie," Evelyn said.
"Tomorrow's lunch," Owen suggested, "you've been with the kids all day mom."
"I enjoyed it," Evelyn said, "since I'm staying until Allison's birthday, why don't I keep them home for the next couple weeks so they can hang out with me. I can help you get Leo potty trained."
"It's okay Evelyn we can't ask you to do that," Teddy said.
"If you were in Seattle they would be coming to me as much as going to daycare," Evelyn said.
"We finally got her to stop screaming when we drop her off," Owen said, "no bribery, no snuggles, just a hug and we can go."
"What about a compromise," Evelyn suggested, "they can go in the morning and I'll pick them up at lunch time. They can have lunch at home and their naps and the afternoon with me."
"That would work then you're not getting up early," Owen said.
"Let's try it," Teddy agreed.
"I think we should work on potty training," Owen said.
"Less diapers the better," Teddy agreed.
"His are the worst," Owen said.
Allison who had calmed in Teddy's arms was pulling at Teddy's T-shirt.
"I'm going to take her to our room. Owen just eat," Teddy said.
"Feed her here and eat," Owen said.
"I can't," Teddy said, "every time I've tried I've dropped food on her head. I dropped salsa on her a couple times when she first came home."
"I can cut it up so you can eat one handed," Owen offered.
"It's fine Owen go eat and shower. I'll eat once she has," Teddy directed.
"I feel bad," Owen said.
"You can put her to bed," Teddy said, "get your cuddles with her then."
"Okay," Owen agreed, he sat down with his dinner yawning as he ate.
"Long day," Evelyn asked.
"29 and 28 made it," Owen said.
"Teddy," Evelyn asked.
"Long day she's tired, she was operating and running the show," Owen said, "we have to go in tomorrow and check in."
"Get some sleep and don't rush in," Evelyn said, "see your kids."
"Teddy wanted to take them with us," Owen said, "she's done this before with Allison."
"People like to see kids," Evelyn agreed.
"Leo misses the hospital," Owen said.
"He misses seeing you through the day," Evelyn said.
"He does but he's really attached himself to Teddy," Owen said.
"She's his mom now," Evelyn agreed.
"She's the favorite," Owen said.
"For now," Evelyn assured, "it could change in a week."
"Hopefully," Owen said with a yawn.
"Eat, shower and tuck your kids in tighter," Evelyn said.
"I will," Owen agreed.
Teddy joined them and ate a few bites of her dinner before realizing that she was just too tired. They both showered and fell into bed.
Hearing the kids just before seven Owen went into the kids room to quickly change their diapers and bring them to Teddy.
"Shh," Owen whispered, "mommy is still sound asleep."
"Mommy wake up," Leo called while crawling on top of Teddy.
"Good morning Leosaurus," Teddy yawned.
Leo roared like a dinosaur.
"Good morning," Teddy smiled as the little boy crawled under the covers.
"Mama," Allison said.
"Good morning baby girl," Teddy said, kissing the girl's head.
"Let's be lazy and watch a movie," Owen said.
"I might fall back asleep," Teddy yawned.
"Then you sleep," Owen said.
With the kids snuggled with their parents and were almost back to sleep Owen asked, "what if instead of living together and dating we get married."
"A that is the worst proposal ever," Teddy said, "and B that's your solution to every relationship. You forget I've watched you propose, marry and divorce for years. We're going to be different. Owen there's no rush to get married. We've both been married and been burned by it. I want us to be different. This is what I want, us, our kids. That doesn't mean we rush down the aisle tomorrow or a month from now."
"I wasn't proposing right now," Owen said, "I was thinking out loud. Would you want to?"
"One day," Teddy said, "i'm not changing my name. I'm too attached to it now."
"I wouldn't ask you to," Owen said, "three Dr Hunts, that would be confusing."
"It would be," Teddy agreed, "we do need to do the papers at work now that you're moving in."
"Who does that," Owen asked.
"I do," Teddy said, "but it's not a big deal it's an online form and an email. I'll do it Monday."
"Do I do anything," Owen asked.
"They'll check with you that I'm not manipulating you," Teddy said, "that it's your choice. With Allison it'll be fine, our daughter was born months before you started working for me."
"Her birthday in two weeks," Owen asked.
"Us and your mom," Teddy said, "maybe a few kids from daycare at the park and do a big picnic."
"That sounds good," Owen said, "I want a proper date while my mom's here."
"We will," Teddy agreed.
Once the kids had had enough cuddle time with their parents the family of four slowly got up for the day. They had a typical Sunday for them a long walk and playing in the park, lunch at a little cafe. They also had to do some shopping, Teddy went with Evelyn and the kids to run errands while Owen made dinner.
Just before dinner time the ipad on the counter buzzed.
Owen grabbed it, "Hi Megan."
"Dumb dumb where's Teddy," Megan asked.
"At the park with mom and the kids," Owen replied.
"I need her," Megan said.
"They should be home in 20 minutes," Owen said.
"I need your girlfriend," Megan snapped.
"Hopefully not my girlfriend for too long," Owen said.
"What are you planning," Megan asked.
"I want to propose," Owen said.
"Fourth time's the charm,"Megan said.
"I should have figured this out years ago," Owen said, "but she's Teddy."
"Exactly she's Teddy," Megan said, "that's what will make you happy."
"I think so," Owen said, "I've mentioned mariage a couple times. She says it's too soon but for the first time it feels right."
"What did Teddy say," Megan asked.
"That I date for a few months, propose and rush down the aisle without seeing how it would work," Owen said.
"Listen to her, you need to get a ring anyway," Megan said.
"Mom brought me her ring," Owen said.
"The ring, the one Grandpa gave Grandma," Megan gasped.
"I didn't even know it was a thing," Owen said.
"It was," Megan said, "she was saving it for you to find the right one. She must not have approved of anyone. She debated with Beth."
"Beth was the worst of them," Owen said.
"Now you finally see it," Megan quipped, "Teddy is the one. When will you? How will you?"
"In a few months, maybe closer to Christmas let us get close to a year," Owen said, "but it has to be perfect."
"Snowmachine in the desert perfect," Megan said, "you did that for her."
"Exactly," Owen said, "we're talking coming home for Christmas so maybe when we're home."
"Then why would mom bring the ring to Germany for you," Megan said.
"I don't know," Owen said, "it will be perfect this time."
"Worry more about the marriage," Megan said.
"This feels different even now," Owen said, "yes I'm moving into her place and we have our kids in one bedroom but they're little."
"Not fully in yet," Megan said.
"Closet space," Owen said, "she has a lot of clothes. And how many pairs of black and brown boots do you need?"
"Teddy always liked her shoes," Megan said, "did mom ship more of your stuff?"
"Lots of it," Owen said, "leaving my furniture and kitchen stuff in storage. We've talked doing a few more years here then requesting a transfer when Leo is ready for school."
"Three years then come back when he's 5," Megan asked.
"West coast hopefully," Owen said, "I can go anywhere."
"Come here," Megan suggested.
"It'll be Teddy that's harder to move," Owen said, "she likes the responsibility and being in charge."
"How is it having Teddy as your boss," Megan asked.
"We've always worked well together," Owen said, "I know where the lines are but she does talk to me differently than she does to the others. The worst is having to wait for her to hug me first at work, I see her come out of a tough meeting or surgery and she's tired and I can see she's stressed and I want to hug her or take her hand but I can't at work because she's the colonel."
"You two have always been affectionate even as friends," Megan said, "you were married to Ameila and you were holding Teddy's hand."
"I kissed her," Owen said.
"I hope if you're living together it's more than kisses," Megan teased.
"We have a daughter," Owen said, "that should answer that."
"Is it good," Megan asked.
"Perfect," Owen said, "it's Teddy. There's so much history and connection."
"I still don't know why you weren't together 20 years ago," Megan said.
"Timing, Beth, Christina," Owen said.
"Why after you and Christina split didn't you try," Megan pressed.
"She was in Germany," Owen said, "she was still missing Henry. Neither of us were ready then."
The door opened, "Owen."
"Teddy, Megan is on facetime," Owen called back.
"Megan," Teddy called.
"Teddy," Megan called back.
Evelyn appeared on screen first, "hi sweetheart."
"Mom," Megan said, "you're still there."
"Two more weeks," Evelyn said, "getting to know my granddaughter and being here for her first birthday."
"She's one already," Meghan asked.
"Almost ," Teddy said joining the conversation, "it's too soon. What happened to my tiny baby."
"She's a perfect little girl," Owen said.
"Six pounds four ounces of perfection to almost walking in a year," Teddy said.
"It goes fast," Evelyn said.
"She's walking," Megan asked, "and no one sent me a video."
"Almost," Owen replied, "still holding onto us or to things, she's close."
"I like this us thing," Meghan said.
"So do I," Teddy beamed.
They chatted for a while bringing the kids to join them on the call.
Later Owen texted Meghan, "need help with a perfect proposal."
Megan, "she's not ready you already said that."
Owen, "I have time. This summer."
Megan, "her birthday is in July?"
Owen, "yes, not on her birthday. But I will get a babysitter that night and take her out."
Megan, " do the cute things."
Owen , "I try. It's harder here. Kids, no reliable baby sitter."
Megan, "do them at home once your kids go to bed."
Owen, "once mom goes home. It's hard when mom's here. I want to do all the candles and a bottle of wine thing. It's always been her."
Megan, "you finally realize."
Owen, "fear, trauma, for a while she was caught up in Iraq and losing you. I had to get therapy to see it. We're working on it."
Megan, "do the work and be happy."
Owen, "I'm trying."
Megan, "she loves you. She always has."