Monday morning Owen was in the kitchen when Danika came down.
" where's Teddy," Danika asked.
"Still not feeling well," Owen said.
Danika looked worried.
"Nothing to worry about kiddo," Owen assured, "just get ready for school."
"I need to find my permission form for the science center," Danika said.
Owen pushed a piece of purple paper across the counter, "it's signed."
"We go to the museum to day for history," Danika said, "I'm actually allowed to go on field trips this year."
"There's a brown bag lunch for you," Owen said passing Danika the lunch Teddy had made the night before.
"Is Teddy really okay," Danika asked, "or is this a grownup okay?"
"What do you mean," Owen asked.
"Is she really sick and no one will tell me," Danika said.
"Not at all," Owen said.
"Then why have I heard throwing up sounds from her room the last few days. I lived in dorms at a ballet school. I know what throwing up sounds like," Danika said.
Owen decided to go the honesty route as much as he could. He knew the diminutive teen had a wonderful bullshit detector and had seen way more then her age suggested.
"She's not feeling well amd is nauseous," Owen said, "but she is going to be okay very soon. This is nothing to worry about. We're both doctors if this was something to worry about we would have had her at the hospital for a full work up."
"You stayed two nights," Danika said.
"Teddy wanted me to," Owen said, "you need to eat your breakfast."
"Is Teddy really okay or is it like dad," Danika asked.
"What happened with your dad," Owen asked.
"Mom amd dad said everything was fine but dad threw up a lot and was really tired," Danika said, "he stopped reading me stories and walking me to school then one day at the beginning of second grade Teddy was waiting outside my classroom and took me to the hospital to see dad."
"This is not like that at all," Owen said, "Dani I promise you Teddy will be just fine. She's going to pick you up from school and take you to get your braces."
"I won't dance at all today," Danika whined.
"No you won't," Owen said, "it's okay you had a seven hour rehearsal yesterday. You can give your body days off."
"We should go," Danika said looking at the clock.
"Get your backpack," Owen replied.
Danika grabbed her bag and followed him to the truck. After dropping Danika off at school he drove back to Teddy's and let himself in.
"Owen," Teddy said standing in the top of the stairs.
"Sister at school I've called both of us in sick," Owen said.
"Thank you," Teddy said before running back to her bathroom.
Owen raced up the stairs and followed her. He held her hair and rubbed her back until she sat bag against him.
"Just breathe," Owen said.
"I'm disgusting," Teddy groaned.
"What would make you feel better," Owen asked.
"Stop vomiting and a shower," Teddy whispered.
"I'll find you some comfy clothes you shower," Owen said, "then I'll make you some toast."
"You don't have to," Teddy said staying tucked against Owen.
"I want to help Teddy," Owen said.
"You already got Danika to school," Teddy said, "did the morning go okay?"
"She's worried about you," Owen said, "something about your dad."
"What did she say," Teddy asked.
"She's heard you vomiting and said that your dad would throw up and stay in his room then he stopped walking her to school ans reading to her," Owen said, "she didn't know he was sick until you showed up at her second grade class."
"That was dads last month," Teddy said, "so now she thinks I'm sick like dad."
"I promised her you are okay," Owen said, "that if it was something to worry about you would be at the hospital. Teddy I think we should tell her."
"I will after dinner," Teddy said, "but I don't think you should be here."
"I need to go to my place for clean clothes," Owen said.
"Do that after dinner then," Teddy replied.
"You need me," Owen said.
"I will be fine," Teddy shrugged, "I like having you here and holding me but I can do it. Right now I need to shower then have I guess a lazy day since you called me in sick."
"You're not in the OR today," Owen said.
"No i'm not," Teddy agreed.
"What do you want to do since we're playing hookey," Owen asked.
"Can I shower and lay on the couch," Teddy asked, "maybe go for a walk before I pick Danika up at 3?"
"That sounds good," Owen said, "you should eat."
"I know I should but I don't want to," Teddy said.
"Toast," Owen said, "try that to settle your stomach."
"We should tell your mom if we're telling my sister," Teddy said.
"Danika first," Owen said, "she looked panicked."
"Tonight I'll explain it," Teddy said, "be prepared for her to get upset or over react. She gets upset, yells and cries when I change things then once she calms down and we talk it through we're okay."
"Do you want me here," Owen asked.
"No," Teddy said, "I'll let you know if we need you."
"Okay, i'm going to go make breakfast," Owen said.
"Showering and changing to jeans," Teddy said, "were just home. And who knows how long I can wear them."
"Be comfortable," Owen said.
Danika was distracted at lunch time and playing with her food.
"Eat," Tatiana prompted, while Danika was no longer in her house the older woman still felt a motherly warmth towards the girl.
"Not hungry," Danika said.
"It looks like your sister made you a nice lunch," Tatiana said.
"I think it was Owen," Danika said, "there's cookies and chocolate."
"Who is Owen," Tatiana asked.
"Teddy's boyfriend," Danika replied.
Sitting a few feet away Beth's ears pricked up, Danika Altman who she knew was Teddy's little sister mentioned Teddy had a boyfriend. It had sounded like she had said the man's name was Owen.
"Do you like him," Tatiana asked.
"He's okay," Danika said, "he drove me to school today and has picked me up a couple times because Teddy got stuck in the OR."
"Have they been together long," Tatiana asked, she wondered if having her sister's boyfriend around was what was upsetting Danika.
"A couple months," Danika said, "he comes over a couple nights a week."
"Does he stay at your house," Tatiana asked.
"Once a week or so if they're both off," Danika said, "I think he works weekends a lot. He's a surgeon two they met in the army."
A few feet away Beth put it together, she knew Teddy was from the east coast. She was out here for her sister and Owen. Her Owen, the one she was trying to get back who didn't return her calls or emails, was with Teddy, the female army surgeon. She had suspected something between Owen and Teddy years before and now Teddy's sister was saying Owen was with Teddy and the sister knew. He had driven Teddy's sister to school that day.
After the field trip Teddy picked Danika up.
"How was the museum," Teddy asked.
"Okay," Danika said, "are you still sick?"
"I'm okay for now," Teddy said.
"What does that mean," Danika asked.
"I will explain when we get home from the orthodontist," Teddy said.
"Is it bad," Danika asked, "you said that when daddy got sick."
"No sweetheart," Teddy said, "you have nothing to worry about. I would tell you if it was something to worry about."
"Promise," Danika asked.
"I promise," Teddy said.
They pulled into the orthodontist's office and signed in. The dental assistant called Danika back and reviewed the plan in the computer before polishing her teeth. The orthodontist came in and checked before placing the brackets on her teeth and fitting the spacer in the roof of her mouth, he showed Teddy how to open the spacer with the little key, two turns, twice a day for two weeks.
They pulled into the driveway and Danika went to change out of her school uniform to yoga pants and a sweatshirt.
After dinner Danika asked, "can you tell me what's going on now?"
"When I'm done cleaning the kitchen," Teddy said, she flicked on the kettle and put the two mugs beside it.
Cocoa mugs in hand Teddy called Danika to meet her on the couch.
"What's wrong," Danika asked.
"Nothing is wrong," Teddy said, "it's actually good news."
"How can you being sick for like a week be good news," Danika asked.
"Danika, a few things are going to change slowly," Teddy said, "Owen will be around more because I need him. This is our home, you are not going anywhere, nothing about where you live or go to school will change. I love you and am here for you always."
"Teddy you're scaring me," Danika said.
"Danika," Teddy said, "I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby."
"Soon," Danika asked.
"It's due June 4th," Teddy said, "so the beginning of June."
"Why," Danika asked, "how?"
"Remember what you learned in health class then I went over with you," Teddy said.
"Yes," Danika replied she paused before yelling, "ewwww."
"Good to know it disgusts you," Teddy laughed.
"Why does you having a baby mean Owen will be around more," Danika asked.
"Owen is the baby's dad," Teddy said, "you knew we're together."
"I don't want to think about this," Danika said, "but baby still doesn't explain why you're sick."
"It does," Teddy replied, "it's part of the process. It's normal it won't happen for long. But I feel better when Owen is here. He helps me out and helps me feel better."
"Still no kissing," Danika said, "does he have to be here every night?"
"Not every night," Teddy agreed, "for now. I want Owen to live with us before the baby comes. The baby will need both it's mom and dad. We can build up to it slowly and take our time."
"Will you send me back to live at school so the baby can have my room," Danika asked.
"No," Teddy said firmly, "you stay put. We're going to move the desks and book shelves into that little room the relator called a den that we have the fold out couch and nothing else in, that's going to be the office space and the room we've had our desks in will be the baby's room."
"I don't have to go back to school," Danika asked.
"You have to go for the school day," Teddy said, "but you won't live there unless you want to. Where do you want to be?"
"Here," Danika said, "I like it here and being normal."
"I'm glad," Teddy said, "are you okay if our family grows a little bit and I don't just mean the baby."
"Maybe," Danika said, "there hasn't been a guy around since daddy went to the hospital."
"I know," Teddy said, "we'll do it slowly. Maybe go from our one night a week to two and when that feels normal add another?"
"Not tonight," Danika said.
"No not tonight," Teddy agreed.
"What about our cocoa after dinner," Danika asked.
"We will still do that," Teddy promised, "we'll make changes slowly as were ready. I've never lived with a guy, I want it to be a slow process as well."
"Does he know," Danika asked.
"Owen knew first," Teddy said, "your the second person I've told. I'm going to ask you to keep it a secret until Christmas. It's too soon to tell people other than family. I'm going with him tomorrow to tell his mom. It's your late rehersal night I'll pick you up at the normal time."
"What will the baby call me," Danika asked.
"Auntie Danika," Teddy said, "it's your niece or nephew."
