Saturday morning Teddy woke up to Owen kissing the back of her neck.
"Good morning," she moaned, turning her head to face him.
"Happy birthday," he smiled, kissing her.
"This is nice," she said as he continued kissing her and stroking her side. She arched into his touch.
He continued kissing her.
"I like waking up like this," she moaned.
"Not too tired," he asked.
"For this never," she answered.
After a slow morning in bed and showering together they got ready for the day.
"So I thought we would get breakfast then go for a boat cruise," he suggested, "and I have tickets for us to see Wicked tonight."
"What did you do," she asked.
"You like musicals," he replied, "so I got tickets to one that has great reviews."
"I've wanted to see it for years but have never been able to get tickets," she beamed.
"We're going tonight," he smiled.
"Why," she asked with tears in her eyes.
"It's your birthday," he smiled, "I love you and want you to be happy. When was the last time you celebrated your birthday? Last year you were in the OR then bought yourself a cake."
"5 years ago," she guessed, "when were we in DC for that conference. Christina had just moved to Switzerland and we were in DC, Shepard was still alive, it was right before he was killed. You and I had dinner and we got really drunk."
"Not drinking for our birthdays this year," he said.
"First time since I was 21," she said, "half my life."
"I know," he smiled, "41 today."
"I feel old," she said.
"You're not," he assured.
"Are we really doing this," she asked as they walked down the hall.
"We are," he assured, "the three of us."
"Your mom, Megan," she said.
"Are happy for us," he assured, "you come in a month for Christmas and can see them then. You can talk to them then. They love you, I think Meg loves you more and she loves me."
"Never," she laughed, "it's Megan she just likes to bug you."
"She's good at it," he replied, "opera."
"That's annoying," Teddy agreed.
"We've got this," he said taking her hand, "Teddy we can do this. We've always been an incredible team. This is the next step."
"I've never had this," she whispered.
"Never had what," he asked, "a baby. It's both of our first."
"Not just that," she answered.
"What," he asked, "I know you. You're not saying something."
"I've never had someone plan my birthday," she answered, "I've never had someone think about how I would want to spend the day."
"Thats bare minimum," he said, "breakfast, boat cruise, we stop at the tower of London and then I thought maybe Westminster Abbey at some point. See how your energy is. I know you got tired the last couple days."
"It was more not wanting to sit through a conference," she said, "I wanted to be with you not focus on a conference."
"What do you feel up to," he asked.
"Our day," she smiled, "I'm not that slow yet."
"You're sleeping deeper than I've ever seen you and we've shared oncall rooms and hotel rooms before," he said.
"I sleep when you hold me," she said, "it sounds so childish and like a teenage girl but it makes me feel safe. When you hold me like that I feel safe. I can let myself really relax because I know you're there and you have my back. I feel safe."
"I will always be there," he assured, "nightmares?"
"The one you saw a couple nights ago," she said, "but it's not as bad when you're there. I can get back to sleep when you lay with me and rub my back."
"You can call me when it happens before you move," he assured.
"It's not talking that helps," she said, "it's you being there, being able to feel your hand on me and your arms around me, smelling you.
"The sensory piece," he said.
"I need that piece," she said, "that's why I've struggled for so long."
"I want to help Teddy," he said, "I will help how ever you need."
"Just be with me," she said, "any news on your house?"
"A couple showings this week but no bites yet," he replied, "it'll sell fast. Your place?"
"I have to see the real estate agent Monday, "she said, "I have a generous offer I'm going to accept on my place. She called yesterday and I verbally accepted it's only 5 grand off what I wanted so I'm taking it. I don't have time to wait for a higher offer. I just have to do the paper work."
"You sold your place," he said.
"Some stipulations," she said, "inspection and their bank. So I have accepted an offer."
"That's good," he said, "shipping?"
"Sorting it out," she said, "you want to go through stuff with me. I'm not bringing anything that needs to be plugged in. I'm not fully sure what you have and what we want to start over with brand new for us."
"New bed," he said, "you've been clear on that, what about couches and living room furniture?"
"I'm okay with that unless we find stuff we like better," she replied, "you have a queen sized bed in the guest room we could use."
"I'm thinking king," he said, "even in the next couple months you'll be more comfortable, we can bring the baby into bed to snuggle with us."
"We're not co sleeping," she said, "it's not safe. I want a bassinet beside our bed. On my side so I can feed easily at night."
"I'll do some," he assured, "diapers at least."
"You'll be working," she argued.
"I'm still taking six weeks with you when they're born," he said, "I talked to Bailey about parental leave for me to bond with the baby."
"Can we afford it and buy a house," she asked.
"We need to talk about money,"' he said, "not today but how do we want to work out the house?"
"50/50," she suggested, "In both our names. Last name for peanut?"
"Do you want to hyphenate," he asked.
She paused, "I kinda assumed they would use yours traditional."
"Hunt are you sure," he asked.
"The family that will love them," she said.
"Your family," he asked.
"Marilyn," Teddy asked, "we hardly talk. She'll find this hard. She tried for 9 years to have a baby she wanted a baby and she couldn't."
"Auntie," he asked.
"We'll see," she agreed.
"Do you want to tell her," he asked.
"When she texts," Teddy agreed.
They continued walk and found somewhere for breakfast.
That afternoon the went back to their hotel room to relax a little before getting ready for dinner and the musical.
Teddys phone buzzed on the table and Owen glanced at the name, Marilyn her sister, he shook her shoulder where she had fallen asleep reading.
"Your sister is calling," he said.
"Phone," she asked holding her hand out.
"Teddy," Marilyn greeted, "that doesn't look like your place. Where are you?"
"London," Teddy smiled, "we haven't facetimed since your birthday in April."
"You were in Seattle then," Marilyn smiled, "I'm jealous of your jet setting."
"Not for much longer," Teddy smiled.
"Why," Marilyn asked.
"I'm moving to Seattle to be with Owen," Teddy smiled, "we're together, he's here and we have huge news. I'm going to stand up and pass him my phone."
"What," Marilyn asked.
"Just hold on," Teddy smiled. She passed Owen her phone and he held it while she stood up and turned sideways.
"Oh my god," Marilyn said, "Teddy are you?"
"23 almost 24 weeks," she said, "I move to Seattle in a month."
"Is this planned," Marilyn asked.
"No," Teddy said, "but we want them. Owen and I want our baby."
"Why didn't you tell me," Marilyn asked.
"Because I couldn't hurt you," Teddy said, "you tried for so many years lost so many babies you wanted that I could tell you I did by accident."
"Teddy your baby is exciting," Marilyn said, "and we found a way to be parents."
"How," Teddy asked.
"We're adopting," Marilyn said.
"When," Teddy asked.
"We just met a young woman yesterday. End of April," Marilyn replied.
"End of March," Teddy smiled.
"Do you know," Marilyn asked.
"Tuesday," Teddy replied.
"You'll tell me," Marilyn asked, "and due date?"
"March 20," Teddy said, "I'll send you pictures of them on Tuesday."
"We'll come see you guys. Your not going to want to drive to Portland," Marilyn said.
"Owen likes to drive," Teddy replied.
"So what made my tough bad ass soldier little sister give up the army," Marilyn asked as Teddy took her phone back.
"Being a mom," Teddy admitted, "wanting my baby to have two parents everyday. I Want to see them grow up."
"Are you ready," Marilyn asked.
"I am," Teddy smiled, "this feels good. I feel calm about it. Owen and I have to find a place and get ready for baby but it feels right. Doing this with him feels right."
Owen leaned into the frame and kissed Teddy on the cheek, "I'm going to shower Teds. We'll see you around Christmas Marilyn?"
"You will," Marilyn agreed, "Owen I'm going to say it. Take care of my baby sister. She's not as tough as she looks."
"I am," he promised, "I know her well even before we were together we talked every day."
"I know she's always been close to you," Marilyn agreed.
"I thought you were showering Hunt," Teddy asked.
"You want a minute with your sister," he asked.
"I do," Teddy said.
"See you Owen," Marilyn shouted.
"Good to see you," Owen agreed walking away.
They made small talk until the shower turned on.
"So your Owen just my friend, he would never thing of me that way," Marilyn asked, "when?"
"When I got pregnant," Teddy said, "he came to see me and tell me he loved me and you can guess."
"Is it good," Marilyn asked.
"Unbelievable," Teddy smiled, "I've had good but he knows me. He gets me."
"How could you tell me you were still having nightmares about mom and dad but not that you're pregnant," Marilyn asked.
"We only told his sister this week," Teddy said, "only his mom knew. We had wanted to wait until viability but then changed our minds. Mar I didn't want to hurt you. I couldn't hurt you after everything you've been through. How long you tried and how hard it was for you to come to terms with it. I couldn't hurt you."
"Teddy that would never have hurt me," Marilyn said, "I'm a little jealous but you're my baby sister. I'm happy for you. I can be sad for me and happy for you. It's a baby! I get to be auntie Marilyn and spoil that little one rotten. I am the best auntie ask my nephews. I would like a niece but I get to come and meet them and snuggle and we can tell them all of mom and dad's stories. She would be so happy for you Theodora. Do you have a date you move?"
"December 22," Teddy replied, "we promised to spend Christmas with his mom and sister. Megan has a 10 year old son."
"Will you go Christmas Crazy like you always do," Marilyn asked.
"Yes," Teddy smiled, "I already ordered stuff and had it sent to Owen's for them. I'll send yours right to you."
"Let's get together on the 27 or 28 and do it together," Marilyn said, "come see us if your feeling up to it."
"We'll come," Teddy smiled, "Megan flies back to LA on the 28 so we'll come then as well."
"We can do it in person," Marilyn said, "then I get to hug you and feel that bump and your baby kicking."
"I'm already getting pretty round," Teddy said.
"You're so thin Teddy it's going to happen," Marilyn said.
"I don't know how to be a mom," Teddy said, "Owen is going to be an amazing dad but I don't know how to be a mom. You're the expert in little people."
"We can talk," Marilyn said, "I know the research but all of my research has shown the same thing Teddy. Be there and love them. Hold them, talk to them and sing songs and you can sing, read, read to them a couple times every day from the day they're born. Talk to them now, let them get to know your voices."
"I feel shy," Teddy said.
"Just talk," Marilyn said, "you will be a good mom Teddy. You love this baby, you're up rooting your whole life for them."
"When they're born and we bring them home will you come visit," Teddy asked.
"Of course we will," Marilyn said, "you might not get your baby away from me. I am a good baby hog."
"You'll get your little one a month later," Teddy smiled.
"We think so," Marilyn said, "as long as the adoption goes to plan."
"It will," Teddy assured.
"You and Owen," Marilyn said, "boyfriend, fiance, husband?"
"Boyfriend," Teddy smiled, "I'm not ready for marriage again. He planned my birthday!"
"What did he plan," Marilyn asked.
"We went on a boat cruise and to the Tower of London this morning, then saw Westminster Abbey and Abbey Road. Had lunch and explored a couple parks and the fancy shops now we have about an hour before dinner and we're seeing wicked tonight."
"He's good," Marilyn said.
"He's always been good at the gestures," Teddy agreed, "he got a snow machine in the desert years ago. For me. He did that for me."
"He loves you," Marilyn said, 'just the way he kissed your cheek and touched your shoulder I can tell."
"He's great," Teddy smiled, "I should let you go."
"You need to get ready for a date," Marilyn said, "happy birthday Teddy."
"Thank's Mar," Teddy smiled, "I'll see you soon."
"Christmas," Marilyn agreed, "bye bye."
"Bye," Teddy smiled.
Teddy brushed and curled her hair before touching up her make up, she put her dress on and paused, she couldn't do the back of this one up her self.
"Owen," Teddy asked shyly, "can you zip up my back?"
"I will," he agreed, "turn around."
She turned and he zipped up the back.
"You look amazing," he said.
"Round you mean," she said.
"Gorgeous," he assured, "are you ready?"
"I am," she agreed grabbing her coat."
"I called a cab," he said, "you've walked enough today."
"I have," she agreed.
After dinner and the musical they took another cab back to the hotel.
"That's the best birthday I can remember," she smiled.
"I'm glad," he said, "I'll have to top it next year though."
"No," she smiled, "I'll be with you and our baby. We'll be home and happy and with our family."
"We are," he said, "just need to meet them."
"A few more months,' she said.
"Four," he said.
"I know," she smiled, "16 weeks to go."
"Christmas and Valentines day, baby, Easter then mothers day and we will make that special," he said.
"Fathers day," she added.
"We'll do it all," he said, "I love you."
"I love you too," She beamed giving him a gentle kiss.