Teddy and Owen walked up the front steps of her sister's house.
"It's just my sister," Teddy said.
"We've never actually met," Owen said.
Teddy knocked on the door and Marilyn threw it open.
"Theodora," Marilyn beamed.
"Mar," Teddy smiled, hugging her older sister.
"Who is this," Marilyn asked.
"This is my boyfriend Owen," Teddy introduced, "Owen my sister Marilyn and her husband Rob."
"It's good to meet you," Owen shook the other man's hand.
"We saw you a few years back but didn't get to talk," Rob said.
"That was a weird time," Teddy said.
"Come in," Marilyn said, "do you have bags?"
"In the truck," Owen said.
"I'll give you a hand," Rob said.
"Theodora," Marilyn said, grabbing Teddys hand, "tea, coffee, water?"
"Washroom first," Teddy said.
"Teddy, something to drink," Marilyn asked.
"Just water right now," Teddy answered.
Teddy sat on the couch with her sister.
"Your home and you're fully done with the army," Marilyn said.
"I am," Teddy said.
"Are you okay with it," Marilyn asked.
"Most of it," Teddy said, "it's a big sacrifice in a few ways. But it's Owen and our daughter and she needs us together."
"Are you with him for the baby " Marilyn asked.
"No," Teddy assured, "we were talking about him coming to work for me when his contract at Grey Sloan ended. We were going to push through a year of long distance."
"But leaving your job," Marilyn asked.
"It's okay," Teddy said, "more time to operate now. But it's a leap backwards. I'm just an attending which might be okay with a baby."
"But all the awards and medals you've won," Marilyn asked.
"I keep that," Teddy said, "I still have those. I'm proud of those."
"Almost ready," Marilyn asked.
"Not at all," Teddy said, "we don't even have a house."
"Where are you living," Marilyn asked.
"With his mom," Teddy replied, "it's temporary but we have 10 weeks. I think we'll end up bringing our baby girl home to Evelyn's."
"Have you been looking," Marilyn asked.
"We are," Teddy replied, "we saw three yesterday and one was okay. But it has to be perfect. I'd rather be at Evelyn's with no nursery for my baby than in a house that doesn't feel right."
"You and going by feelings," Marilyn said, "they took you to the army then to Seattle then to germany and to Owen?"
"I guess," Teddy agreed, "but this time it's right."
"How do you feel," Marilyn asked.
"Tired, round and slow," Teddy admitted, "but don't tell Owen I said that."
"He doesn't know you're not okay," Marilyn asked.
"Sister vs boyfriend," Teddy said.
"Is she healthy," Marilyn asked.
"She is," Teddy smiled, "Mar do you want to meet her?"
"Can I," Marilyn asked, eyes wide.
"Yes," Teddy smiled, "we're all that's left of our family. She needs her auntie Mar. she has to know you."
"She will," Marilyn promised, she reached for a basket under the end table, "this is for your daughter."
"Marilyn," Teddy gasped as her sister laid the quilt against her bump, "that's mom's favourite scarf, and her nightgown, and dad's pyjamas."
"I saved it all," Marilyn said, "I had a bin in the attic and I thought I'd get to do this sooner but there's one for your little girl and one for our baby boy."
"A boy," Teddy asked.
"A boy," Marilyn smiled, "Oliver Jacob."
"Oliver,' Teddy wiped tears from her eyes.
"For dad," Marilyn replied.
"I know," Teddy said, "Allison Elanor."
"Allison and mom," Marilyn smiled.
"Yes,' Teddy agreed, "they would have loved her."
"They would have," MArilyn agreed, "mom would be so happy for you and so proud of all you've done."
"She would be proud of you too," Teddy smiled, "but I still wish they were here. Could you imagine dad with two grandkids?"
"Dad would come up with the best games and teach them to play scrabble," Marilyn said.
"They would love it," Teddy agreed, "Mar this is gorgeous, how did you have time to make it?"
"I love quilting," Marilyn said.
"It's still incredible," Teddy said, stroking the quilt that was draped over her bump.
"Are you okay," Marilyn asked.
"Yes," Teddy nodded, "she's just active."
"Teddy, you're crying," Marilyn said.
"I'm happy and this is hormones," Teddy smiled.
"Come here," Marilyn said, pulling Teddy into a hug. Teddy placed her sister's hand where she could feel the baby moving.
Owen and Rob joined them with Owen taking the spot by Teddy. She instantly leaned into him and he put his arm around her. Marilyn knew Owen had been Teddy's best friend for years and knew she had relied on him for emotional support for years, he got many of the things she was doing and seeing and was able to support her in ways Marilyn couldn't.
"Owen," Teddy smiled, "Marilyn made this for our baby."
"Wow," Owen smiled, "it's incredible."
Teddy and Marilyn pointed out the fabric pieces that had belonged to their parents and Marilyn explained her choices for the other ones. The backing was a soft flannel with pink stethoscopes and hearts on it.
"The back," Owen said.
"For Teddy," Marilyn said.
"Owen what do you do," Rob asked.
"I'm a trauma surgeon," Owen replied.
"So how did you meet," Rob asked.
"Work," Teddy answered, "after I enlisted."
"So you're military," Rob said.
"I was," Owen replied, "Teddy's had more service then I have. I almost went back for her this summer. But she was determined to come home."
"You should be home and stable for a baby," Marilyn said, "to raise a child."
"Why I came home," TEddy said, "she needs both her parents every day. And she has her grandma in Seattle."
"Do you have siblings Owen," Marilyn asked.
"Megan," Owen replied.
"Where does she live," Rob asked.
"She's in Malibu with her fiance and son," Owen replied, "but we talk every day."
"Have you met his sister," Marilyn asked Teddy.
"I've known Meg for years," Teddy answered, "we all served together. She's a good friend."
"Are you guys hungry do you want to go for a walk," Rob asked.
Owen and Teddy looked at each other before she spoke, "a walk sounds good."
"It's snowing are you really up for it,' Marilyn asked.
"Mar I love snow," Teddy said, "and Owen will hold my hand."
They went for a walk to a local coffee shop and then explored the neighbourhood.
"She's the most relaxed I've ever seen her," Rob whispered to Marilyn.
"I know," Marilyn said, "it's him or the baby."
"Him," Rob said, " her body language changed as soon as Owen sat beside her."
"I haven't seen her relaxed since dad got sick," Marilyn said, "this is good for her."
"It is," Rob agreed.
Teddy looked over her shoulder, "how am I still this much faster than you?"
"The army," Marilyn laughed.
"I'm 30 weeks pregnat," Teddy countered.
"You are," Marilyn agreed.
"How is your nursery coming," Rob asked.
"We don't even have a house right now," Owen said, "we both sold our places but haven't bought yet. We're living with my mom."
"Are you looking," Rob asked.
"We are," Teddy said, "we saw two we're thinking about and will do another walk through when we get home and hopefully put in an offer."
"If it doesn't work," Marilyn asked.
"My mom said we can stay with her as long as we need," Owen said, "she likes having us around. And will probably come every day to see the baby once she arrives."
"We want to come meet her once your home from the hospital," Marilyn said, "we'll get a hotel or air BNB but we want to come up to Seattle and see her when you're ready."
"I want you to," Teddy said, "even though you'll see me completely fail at new parenting."
"You won't fail," Marilyn assured.
"I have no idea what to do," Teddy said.
"Did you the first time you held a scalpe," Marilyn asked.
"No," Teddy replied.
"Teddy you can do this," Marilyn said, "you will both be there and you will do your very best."
"You'll live together," Rob asked.
"We will," Teddy said, "I don't want to be apart."
"We've done that," Owen agreed, "long distance doesn't work for us."
"What do you want to do Teddy," Marilyn asked, knowing her younger sister often made big life altering decisions impulsively and by following her heart, the army during a war, marrying henry, going back to the army, now Owen and Seattle and her baby. Marilyn knew Teddy hadn't planned her daughter but could tell her sister was excited. She hoped this would finally have Teddy settle down and stop being so impulsive with her moving around the globe.
"I want this," Teddy said, "home with Owen and our daughter."
Teddy slowed to walk with her sister chatting quietly and letting Rob and Owen get to know eachother.
"How long have you been together," Owen asked.
"College," Rob replied.
"So you met their parents," Owen said.
"I did," Rob said.
"What were they like," Owen asked, "it's hard to get Teddy to talk about them but she really misses her mom right now."
"Elanor was incredible," Rob said, "smart, kind, so organised, creative. Marilyn is more like their mom and Teddy is more like their dad."
"This is the first time I've met her family," Owen said.
"We didn't know she had married Henry until after the wedding and she brought him down," Rob said, "and they had been together a while. I get it losing your parents how they did, her med school boyfriend."
"Ben," Owen asked.
"She still doesn't talk about Ben does she," Rob asked.
"I know some," Owen said, "what she's chosen to tell me. She chooses when she tells people things and I have to let her do it on her own time. She always tells me eventually. I just have to trust her. You must see it a lot."
"I do," Rob said, "I work mainly with teens though."
"Not a group I do well with," Owen said, "little kids, adults but teens and 20 somethings that think they're invincible."
"Good stories," Rob asked.
"Yes," Owen said, "social media trends."
"That is just toxic for the kids," Rob agreed, "mentally at least."
"And physically," Owen said.
"Teddy are you sure," Marilyn asked.
"I am," Teddy assured, "Marilyn, even if Owen and I don't work I will stay in Seattle. Our baby has to have two parents. Your baby?"
"I'll show you Oliver's nursery," Marilyn said, "I've been having fun. It's full of air planes."
"Like dad," Teddy smiled, "he loved planes."
"It was his whole life," Marilyn agreed.
"Flying his plane and designing wings," Teddy replied, " remember when dad would let us take the controls."
"I still like flying," Marilyn said.
"I've only ever had one flight I couldn't enjoy," Teddy said, "even after."
"I know it always reminds me of dad," Marilyn said, "I always think of him."
"So do I," Teddy said, "flying to Seattle was the first time I couldn't enjoy it."
"Why," Marilyn asked.
"Baby girl was kicking, I had to keep getting up and moving around," Teddy said, "and I just wanted to see Owen."
"Things with him aside from the baby," Marilyn asked.
"We're good," Teddy smiled, "I've known him so long. He knows me better than anyone ever has, he's my first call always, that hasn't changed, he's the one person who can tell me when I'm being an ass. He's Owen. he makes me feel safe and protected. I can fall appart with him. I did last night."
"Why," Marilyn asked.
"I was being ridiculous," Teddy said, "I love his sister but Megan can be a lot and she was all over me all day and it was from a good place but I had enough and I couldn't find clothes I felt good in. I hadn't slept the night before. Now that was Owen and my choice we stayed up watching movies and cuddling but still."
"You hit your wall," Marilyn said, "that's okay."
"How is that okay," Teddy asked, "it was ten thirty and I was in my pajamas and reading in bed when he came in, did the forehead kiss thing he does and I just started crying."
"What happened," Marilyn asked.
"He held me and let me cry," Teddy said, "he just talked to me."
"When you're upset does he know how to calm you down," Marilyn asked, "you get worked up and in your head and shut everyone out."
"He does," Teddy said, "it's changed in the last few months. He's always been able to talk me down or distract me but now he holds me and kisses me and tells me he loves me."
"Do you love him," Marilyn asked.
"I have since I met him," Teddy answered.
"And his family," Marilyn asked.
"Megan and Evelyn are great," Teddy said, "I like his sister and her son is a good kid."
"Does she have some one," Marilyn asked.
"Her fiance Nathan," Teddy replied, "I told you about Meg and Riggs years ago."
"And I knew she was found a year ago," Marilyn said.
"Just about," Teddy said.
They finished their walk through the neighbourhood and made their way back inside.
"You go rest," Marilyn said, "go get organised then we'll go for dinner?"
"Sounds good," Teddy agreed.