Alyssa sat on her bed dressing Celeste to go home.
"Lyss," Owen asked from the door.
"Just getting them dressed," Alyssa sighed, "I'm not ready to go home."
"You could stay longer," Owen said cautiously, sitting beside Alyssa.
"Matt's out of time off," Alyssa replied.
"You could stay still," Owen said, "and he can visit on weekends."
"We will visit a lot," Alyssa said, "Uncle Owen I don't know if I'm ready to be alone with my girls. I haven't parented on my own yet."
"You will be fine," Owen assured, "and you have people you can call if you need help."
"But it's not the people I want," Alyssa whined.
"I know Lyss," Owen said.
"I want you and mom and Auntie Teddy and Grandma," Alyssa complained.
"And we are always a phone call away," Owen promised.
"But if their socks alarm I don't know how to fix it," Alyssa said.
"They haven't in a few days," Owen said.
"But it's you or mom or auntie Teddy that fix it," Alyssa panicked.
"You do the same things," Owen said, "hold, reposition, check the airway. You know how to do all of that kiddo. You just have to stay calm."
"I don't think I'm a good mom," Alyssa said.
"You are,' Owen assured, "kiddo you have always been excellent at what ever you put your mind to. I have no doubts here."
"I do," Alyssa said, "I don't know if Matt likes being a dad. I feel like I'm doing 95% of the work with the girls and he's been off what's going to happen when Matt starts work tomorrow?"
"You have to use your voice," Owen reminded, "Alyssa you know how to speak up you need to."
"I didn't want to make a scene here," Alyssa said, "not with everyone around and then you and mom would get sucked in."
"A scene," Owen asked.
"Getting Matt to help me with anything at home is a fight," Alyssa admitted, "he'll do outside jobs like mowing the lawn or putting up Christmas lights but house work or cooking or laundry it's all me. I've done it since we moved in because he calls it womens work. And with just two of us I can keep up with it but I don't know how I can be with the girls all day and do everything I need to in the house."
"Tell him that," Owen said, "you're going to have to train him, Lyss. His parents are so traditional you have to teach him. Alyssa tell him and ask for help. We had a chore wheel with Chrsitina."
"That she ignored or bribed me to do hers," Alyssa said.
"Sometimes," Owen agreed, "but suggest it. Lay out all the things that have to be done. Teddy and I use an app that you can even estimate how long it will take and use that to help balance."
"I think it'll improve when were off the every 2 hour feeding schedule," Alyssa said, 'but we have to to grow."
"They've gained weight and are looking like happy chubby babies," Owen smiled at Celeste who was calmly snuggled in Alyssa's arms.
"They do," Alyssa said, "Alex is still asleep from her last nap and I should wake her but I was loving time with Celeste to snuggle and just talk to her. Alex has been up first the last few days so she's been getting that time and Celeste isn't awake as long yet."
"You know them well," Owen smiled.
"They're my babies," Alyssa said, "but I don't want to go. If I could I'd sell my house and move back. But I don't have a job and Matt can't work here. My family needs me in BC for now. Maybe when Matt and I get married if he ever proposes we can move back but I don't know how he can work here."
"He's done his apprenticeship," Owen checked.
"He has," Alyssa said, 'he might be able to use that but immigration if going to be hard to deal with. I'm already not looking forward to doing the Canadian citizenship papers for the girls. We have to send a certified copy of their birth certificates when we get back band I have to take my premature babies to wait in line at Service Canada to do it and I need to renew my Canadian Passport."
"But we're alone," Alyssa said, "can you and auntie Teddy come?"
"How about we come in two weeks," Owen said, "give you two weeks to settle in. Lyss this is like when you went to college. You were scared, you didn't want to go, you wanted to stay home. But we told you that you would go and I would come visit in a month for parents weekend then when I got there you had made friends and settled in and loved it. And we'll do what we've always done. We'll text everyday and call and we can use zoom and FaceTime. Then I two weeks auntie Teddy and I will come visit."
"But I'll miss you," Alyssa said.
"I'll miss you too kiddo," Owen replied, "and Alex and Celeste. But it's like when you went to college or moved to BC you're ready. Alyssa, you are ready."
"I don't feel ready," Alyssa admitted, "I don't feel like a mom."
"I know you've been saying that for a few days," Owen said, "I think that you being a mom to your girls without having Megan and Teddy and grandma to lean on might help."
"How do I rock two on my own when I'm home alone and Matt's at work," Alyssa asked.
"Get creative," Owen said, "you've been holding one in each arm. Use the carrier and hold the other. When they're a bit bigger, learn to use the back and front carriers if that works for you. You have baby swings and bouncy seats."
"I have a double carrier at my house that's designed for twins," Alyssa said.
"Then use it," Owen replied, "and you don't have to do everything right away. You're still recovering from the c-section. It could be a few weeks or a couple months before you're cleared for much activity. Keep checking in with your doctor. Alyssa you will be great."
"But," Alyssa asked.
"No we're not thinking like that," Owen said, "Lyss I know you have done hard things. You have done impossible things; this isn't one of those things. You are taking your daughters home. You are starting your life with them. Lyss you've dreamed of this and being a mom for years. You have a beautiful family, go spread your wings and we're all here watching you fly."
"But we'll be alone," Alyssa said.
"I'm always what," Owen asked.
"A phone call away," Alyssa responded.
"And I always," Owen asked.
"Come if I need you," Alyssa replied. She knew Owen would always answer and would always come, he always had.
"I love you," Alyssa smiled leaning against her uncle.
"I love you too kiddo," Owen smiled, putting an arm around her.
"It's time to go home," Alyssa smiled at her now 5 week old babies, "we're going to go to our house. Daddy is just loading the last of our things in the truck then we'll go home and be the four of us."
"You ready," Megan asked, putting her arm around Alyssa.
"Yes and no," Alyssa admitted, 'but you and Faroke are going home."
"We are and Owen and Teddy need their house back," Megan said.
"It's time to take my girls home," Alyssa said, "I just don't know if I can do it."
"You can and you can always call," Megan assured, "Lyss you are a fabulous mother. Your girls love you and know they're safe with you. They're hitting milestones already."
"Adjusted," Alyssa said.
"And you'll adjust for a couple years," Megan replied.
"I know," Alyssa said, 'but Alex is following things with her eyes for a second and Celeste was awake for 40 minutes today."
"It's good," Megan said, "I'm going to miss all of you. I like that I got to spend their first five weeks with them and cuddle them."
"I wish you could come for Easter," Alyssa said.
"I know so do I but I have to work," Megan replied, "but you'll come here?"
"We might do it with his family and the Jarrett's because we did Christmas and New Years here," Alyssa said, "but you won't be there or auntie Teddy when I don't know what I'm doing and I'm scared."
"Then you call," Megan said, "and we will talk you through it. We'll facetime everyday ladybug. I will see you for your birthday and we'll come up."
"But that's May," Alyssa said.
"I know," Megan said.
"It's February," Teddy said.
"The girls will be four months," Alyssa said, "they'll be so big."
"You have a paediatrician in BC," Teddy asked.
"We do," Alyssa said 'and I know I need to follow up with the OB. Dr. Deluca recommended me to one in coquitlam. It's not a bad drive but they trained together in Italy. I trust Dr Deluca's judgement on this. The incision hasn't bugged me in a couple weeks it's healed."
"When you get back what do you need to do," Teddy asked.
"Canadian citizenship which is a formality then I need to do their passports," Alyssa said, "they need both."
"They don't until their 15 if you drive across the border," Owen said.
"I want to fly to mom and fly from YVR or Abbotsford," Alyssa replied, "they need the Canadian ones ASAP because we're living there and if I want them to go to school and preschool in BC they need their citizenship."
"Is this what you want," Teddy asked.
"I don't want to be away from our family but it's time," Alyssa sighed, "I've been here months longer than I thought. But I'm glad I was and my girls came home to family and they've had all of you for their first few weeks. They got to come home and be with everyone and so loved and have everyone love them."
"We'll come up and see you all the time," Teddy promised.
"We'll come for Allison and Leo's birthdays and yours," Alyssa promised.
"Don't over exert yourself," Owen cautioned, "lyss go home, settle in and enjoy your babies."
After lunch they all said their goodbyes and left. Alyssa was driving with the girls because they needed to get her truck home and had both vehicles in Seattle. She looked over her shoulder one last time as she rounded the corner away from the home where she felt safest and most loved. The girls slept in the back seat, both had their owlet socks on monitoring vitals and would alert Alyssa if they came out of the parameters Teddy had set. Their lungs would need to be monitored closely for a long time and there was a chance they would develop asthma as they grew.
With everyone gone Teddy and Owen sat in their family room.
"It's too empty," Owen said.
"It's quiet," Teddy agreed, "no swings by the window. But they needed to go home."
"She'll be back," Owen said, "lyss always comes back."
"They will come visit," Teddy agreed.
"No," Owen said, "she'll be back back. I still don't trust him and I think she's waking up to it but she's got those babies."
"We taught her to be strong and do what's best for her family," Teddy assured.
"No Teddy he's not all in with her," Owen said, "he's using her. I don't know exactly what's going on but there were a few times he was in the garage way too long on the phone. And he left his phone on the tool box when he helped me do my breaks there were texts from a Jaycee that looked flirty to me when I passed it to him."
"Owen you're speculating," Teddy said, "they have two kids and he seems to be trying to be a hands on dad but she's being a Hunt and trying to do it all."
"He's not all in," Owen said, "if he was he would have been here when Faroke was sick and I was injured. He would have been here supporting her and holding her. She would never have been as sick as she was if he was here."
"I agree," Teddy said, "he should have been here but you weren't in the delivery room with them. He made it worse he took over and spoke for her and tried to deny Megan and I access when Alyssa was asking for us. Carina had to clear the room and get Alyssa alone. She was doing the abuse protocol. He's controlling and manipulative and she'll see it soon enough."
"I hope so," Owen said, "Teddy you know where she goes when things don't go her way don't you?"
"She'll come home to us," Teddy said, "I know she will. Her and Megan are really good now. I think the last few months leaning on each other was good for their relationship. "
"She'll be home by Christmas single," Owen said, "she's going to follow Megan and my mom and be a single mom. She'll be as strong as they are but she will be. She'll have enough of him soon. It's just her deciding what is best for her daughters. Alyssa will weigh all her options then she'll be home."
"She'll come back to Seattle," Teddy said.
"She'll come here and sort herself out then find something closer," Owen said, "I want Bailey to keep hounding her about the research engineering position. The surgical innovation program needs an engineer badly."
"They do and she's perfect for it," Teddy said, "I'll bring it up again with her soon. I know her and Bailey have talked when she's been sitting at the hospital."
"Bailey and Webber might get her to take it," Owen said, "our leads know her two."
"I know she's a shoe in," Teddy replied, "but it's just us. Just the four of us. What are we doing with our kids?"
"Swimming and a movie night," Owen suggested.
"It's a good start," Teddy agreed, "then once they go to bed you're all mine."
"I like how you think," Owen chuckled.