Dear Owen,

It's official my clothes don't fit and people are starting to notice but 20 weeks, half way. My vote is that we find out the gender when you're here in two weeks. I want to know what our peanut is so we can start getting ready. I did some more online shopping today and it's being shipped to your house. I know you're getting ready to move but it can go straight in a box. There are a couple things I've ordered for me the big one is a pillow that's supposed to help make it easier for me to sleep.

I heard more from Bailey today, we just need to finish negotiating salary and benefits. She has agreed to a moving allowance. And we have a start date of January 3rd the Monday after New Years. I'm working for Pierce and I'm not sure she's super thrilled with me but Bailey made the call. I think Pierce blames me for you and Amelia not working. So I'll give my notice here when we get back from London. I know it's not a lot for them but I think my CO suspects I'll leave, he knows you're in Seattle. I've been looking at places online and have the links here for a few I liked from the pictures but I know we have to go together. I meet with someone later today to put my place on the market but the market is slow here and it could take a few months to sell.

I'm ready to move as soon as possible. I want to be with you. I lay in bed at night feeling our baby move and wish you could be there with me feeling them wiggle.

I miss you.

Love,

Teddy

Owen sat on his bed reading her email. He missed her and the London trip felt too far away and too long of a wait. He wanted to see her and be with her. Help her organize for her move. He was in his way to help his mom with a few things and would tell her the good news that Teddy was moving to Seattle. He could email Teddy later.

"Owen," Evelyn greeted opening the passenger door of his truck.

"What are we picking up mom," Owen asked.

"A vintage wooden rocking horse I'm going to restore for your baby," Evelyn said.

"They're years away from being ready," Owen said.

"I know but it's a good deal and they have a rocking chair in the same wood. I'm going to sand down and refinish them," Evelyn said, "Teddy will want the chair when she's here with the baby."

"She's moving," Owen said, "we just confirmed it. Bailey offered her a job as a cardio surgeon and she accepted. She's coming to Seattle. I need to list my house."

"Why," Evelyn asked, "you need a home for the baby."

"Teddy won't live there," he answered, "she said it feels like Amelia's house and that it's not how we're supposed to start our life together."

"Okay," Evelyn replied, "so what's next?"

"I sell my house," he said, "she's selling her place. I don't know what it's worth. We need to have a talk about money. We both have savings and retirement plans but now we have a baby on the way. "

"Are you living together," Evelyn asked.

"We want to," Owen replied, "I don't want to rush her through. I'm thinking at least three bedrooms then we can spread out if she wants."

"Not sharing," Evelyn asked.

"I want to and we do when she came to visit or I go see her but I'm not going to push her," Owen said, "she's said that I like to rush things straight to marriage and she won't do that with me."

"She knows what she wants and knows you," Evelyn acknowledged, "when your both ready I want you to use my ring."

"Your ring," Owen asked.

"I've been saving it for Teddy," Evelyn smiled, "I knew the first time I met her you would be together and that ring would be hers. It was your grandmas then mine it's time it's Teddys."

"Why Teddy," Owen asked.

"Because she's right for you," Evelyn said, "I thought about it years ago with Beth but she wasn't right Owen. Once I saw you with Teddy I knew you two are both so stubborn though. How is she really doing? How's the baby?"

"She emailed this morning," Owen said, " 20 weeks now. She says her clothes don't fit but her energy is back up. She said she's feeling good the last few days and the baby is kicking. I want to feel them kick."

"You will," Evelyn said, "names?"

"Hyphenating last name," Owen said, "we want them to have both names."

"Teddy has no relatives," Evelyn said.

"Her sister but she's not close to Marilyn," Owen replied, "we'll see them once Teddy moves. Megan and Marilyn don't know yet."

"Are you sure Teddy is okay," Evelyn asked.

"She's starting to pack up and ship things," Owen said, "I worry about her lifting. But I go to the conference in London in 2 weeks and see her. I've planned her birthday in London, we're going to a musical I think she'll love and for dinner. Then I get 4 days with her in Germany and we're taking the train from London to Landshtul."

"Make her happy," Evelyn said.

"I need a birthday present but she's Teddy it has to be perfect," Owen said, "proposing isn't a birthday present."

"It's not," Evelyn agreed, "ideas of when you will?"

"I want us to live together and date in person a little first," Owen said, "I think if I sprung it on her now she wouldn't take it well."

"You know her best," Evelyn agreed.

They picked up the rocking horse and chair.

"Mom, they're nice," Owen said.

"I'm going to sand them down and refinish them," Evelyn said, "I need a cushion for the chair, does she have a favourite colour?"

"Blue, pink and that deep red," Owen said.

"Are you finding out," Evelyn asked.

"In a couple weeks," he said.

"I'll wait for a cushion then," Evelyn said.

"I think it's a girl," Owen smiled, "I keep picturing a little girl with Teddy's eyes and smile and we're playing soccer with her. I might coach her team one day."

"What's Teddy saying," Evelyn asked.

"She changes her mind everyday," Owen said, "today it's a boy but all last week it was a girl if you asked her. She says they kick her now."

"They should be," Evelyn said, "you and your sister didn't stop."

That afternoon Owen sat on the couch emailing Teddy.

Dear Teddy,

Thank you for sending pictures. The peanut is getting bigger and you look great. Two weeks and I see you and 18 days until we find out. It's the first time I get to come to an ultrasound with you and see our baby. And we get to celebrate your birthday in London. I have something planned I think you'll love!

I spent most of the day with my mom. She bought an antique rocking chair and rocking horse and is going to restore them for our little one. We drove to Mt Vernon and back for them it was nice to have time with my mom. She's as excited as we are and can't wait to see you for Christmas.

When I come to London I'm going to travel really light so I can bring some of your stuff back with me. I have a second bag booked coming home so you can send anything you want with me. I spoke to a real estate agent today and some one is going to come and appraise my house and take pictures so I can put it on the market. They said that it should sell quickly being in that neighbourhood. I attached a couple listings I liked online, see what you think. I really want a yard even if it means mowing the lawn once a week. I want a yard where we can build a swingset and play soccer on the grass and BBQ on the weekends. What are you thinking in a house? What is your must have list?

I can't wait to see you.

I love you, tell our peanut I love them.

Love,

Owen

Teddy smiled waking up to his email, she was glad he had spent the day with his mom and that Evelyn was happy about their baby.

"Daddy misses us," Teddy whispered rubbing her growing bump, "not long now and we'll see him and you can kick his hands and show him how strong and big your getting."

She stopped, she felt weird talking to the baby, it could hear but she felt weird talking to them, almost shy. She knew they responded to her touch and she found herself touching her belly more and more, acknowledging and encouraging the kicks. Still curled up in bed she grabbed her ipad from the nightstand and emailed back.

Dear Owen,

We love and miss you two, peanut is kicking nonstop right now, you'll be surprised how strong they're getting. I looked at those house, I like a couple but they're not us. I want open concept and big windows with lots of natural light. A real house with two floors, I've never lived in a house with two floors. I like the idea with a yard and hanging out outside together, watching our baby run in the grass and maybe when they're a bit bigger we could get a puppy. I want to go on family hikes and bike rides and camping trips. Drive down the west coast and visit Megan. But the house I want light and big windows and a fireplace, somewhere we can curl up together and cuddle and I can read to our baby. Must haves the three of us together.

I'm getting ready for the London conference, my presentation is almost ready, I just need to figure out what to wear. You don't need to do anything for my birthday, I usually just order myself take out and get dessert. Spending my birthday with you and having you with me will make it the best one I've had in years.

I'm glad you got to spend the day with your mom. That's quite the drive for nursery furniture. I can't wait to do that with you. Today I think you might be right and it's a baby girl. But our guess is only a 50% chance of being right. We find out soon, just to bug you I'm going to bet it's a boy.

Owen, I wish you were here. Not because anything exciting is going on I just want to be together. I know it's only 6 weeks until I move to Seattle and it feels too long. I've boxed up a lot of my stuff and it's ready to ship but I don't know where to send it. Your mom has offered her garage but I feel bad. I'm going to donate most of my furniture, it's not worth the hassle of selling or shipping. I've had it six years it's not worth much to sell so I'll donate it with the small appliances, mine would be useless in Seattle anyway, and theres so many refugees here that need things. I am going to ship a lot of my kitchen stuff that doesn't need to be plugged in. I will probably send some of my clothes with you, things that don't fit right now but I really like. My place is up for sale and I realise I'll miss this place, it's a nice place and where we made our baby. It's time for me to come home. It seems strange to call Seattle home but you're there and that makes it home.

Have a good sleep, I'll talk to you tomorrow.

All of my love,

Teddy