Owen ran into the kitchen, "Teddy?"
"My water broke," Teddy whimpered.
"The cramps you've been having all day," he asked.
"I think so," she replied, "that hurt."
Evelyn and Joyce joined them in the kitchen but Owen shook his head, "space. Teds, what do you want to do?"
"Hospital," Teddy said.
"How many have you had," Owen asked.
"One since my water broke," Teddy answered.
"When was that," Owen asked.
Megan glanced at the clock, "four minutes ago."
"Okay let's see when the next one comes," Joyce suggested, "Teddy do you want to stay standing? Are you up to trying to walk a bit?"
"I want to move," Teddy said.
"I've got you," Owen said, wrapping an arm around her waist to hold her up and support her.
"I can walk," she said.
"Fuck," Teddy hissed a second later.
"Five," Megan said.
Owen wrapped Teddy in a hug, "I've got you. You're not alone. Teddy we're going to meet her soon."
She nodded into his chest.
"You two should go," Joyce said when Teddy stopped leaning on Owen.
"Okay let's get your shoes and go to the truck," Owen said, "I'll help you."
They made their way slowly to the entry.
As Owen tied his shoes Megan gave Teddy a hug, "call me as soon as she's here. I'm so excited to meet her."
"We'll see you soon sweetheart," Evelyn said, "I love you and you are so strong. She is going to be a beautiful little girl just like her mom. Owen you take care of her."
"I will," Owen replied, "Teds are you ready?"
"Not yet," Teddy groaned, staying seated on the bench.
"Breathe," he said, rubbing her back, deep breath.
"You two need to go," Joyce said, "Teddy you have this."
When Teddy was ready Owen helped her to the truck.
"We're going to meet her," Teddy said rubbing her belly.
"How's she doing," Owen asked.
"Kicking a bit," Teddy said.
After finishing cleaning the kitchen Megan suggested, "should we go wait?"
"No," Evelyn said, "we wait here and Owen will call us when their daughter is here."
"Do we know her name," Joyce asked.
"They've been pretty tight lipped about her first name," Megan said, "but they decided to go with Hunt so I'm waiting for Owen to propose."
"I don't know if Teddy would change her last name now," Evelyn said, "she's 41 and her career is established."
"Is she okay,"
Carina met Teddy and Owen in labour and delivery, "are we ready to meet this bambina?"
"Owwww," Teddy screamed.
"Okay let's get up on the bed and let me check you," Carina said.
Owen helped Teddy into the bed.
Carina did her exam quickly, "you're 5cm so I'll be back in an hour to check on you."
"Can we keep walking," Owen asked.
"If you feel up to it Teddy," Carina agreed, "listen to your body."
Owen was glad they had taken the few minutes to stop at home and Owen had run in for Teddy's bag and the car seat, "I have your robe do you want it?"
"Yes," Teddy replied, "I can do it if you pass it to me."
"I can help," he offered.
He grabbed her robe and helped her put it on and they slowly walked.
"She was in early labour all afternoon," Joyce declared as they sat on Evelyn's couch.
"Teddy plays her cards close to her chest," Evelyn agreed, "she only lets Owen in. those moments where she got clingy with him?"
"She was having contractions," Joyce said, "there's no way she wasn't from the time they got here. Her posture, not being able to stay in one position long. The up and down emotions."
"I wish she would have told us," Evelyn said.
"Either she didn't know, she was afraid or she has amazing pain tolerance," Joyce said.
"The second two," Megan said, "you could see her expression change when Owen would hug her and hold her, she dropped the facade. That's always been Teddy."
"What do you mean," Joyce asked.
"It takes a lot for her to stop being strong for everyone else, she puts her needs last until she reaches a breaking point," Megan said, "she's always been the strong one for me or Owen."
"And now he has to be strong for her," Evelyn said.
"He's the one person she feels safe with," Megan said, "we've talked about that."
"How long do you think," Evelyn asked.
"A few hours," Joyce said, "she's older for a first time mom. I'm surprised they let her go that long, I wouldn't have with her age. But what we saw when they were leaving that was only a couple minutes apart and pretty strong. I should have asked her more questions but it seemed to upset her so much."
"She just wanted him," Evelyn agreed, "she's okay with Megan. I noticed the clinging to him today and after they had the scare. She was only really calm with him."
At the hospital Teddy leaned on Owen and whimpered through each contraction. He held her close as she sat on the edge of the bed and leaned against him her forehead resting on his shoulder.
"Breathe," Owen encouraged, "Teddy breathe."
"It hurts," Teddy whimpered.
"Not much longer and we can meet her," Owen tried, but she wasn't listening.
"I want her out now," Teddy panted, "I need her out of me."
"Soon," Owen soothed, "I've got you. Teddy, I've got you. You are not alone, you will not be alone. I will be with you and with her every step of the way. You have a family that loves you. I love you. You are safe."
"I want back up," Teddy whined.
"Arms around my neck again," Owen said, "tell me when your ready."
"Now," she groaned.
He helped her to her feet and she leaned against him her head resting against his shoulder as he supported her. He held her up as she tried to rock from side to side.
"Fuck," she hissed, "I have to push."
"I'm paging Carina," Owen replied, "let's get back on the bed. I've got you."
He helped her onto the bed, "all the way back."
"I can't lie down," she said, "that was the worst."
"I'll sit the bed up," he agreed.
Carina came in and did her final exam, "it's time Dr Altman whenever you're ready."
"Owen," Teddy asked.
"I'm right here," he assured, "I'm with you. Hold my hand."
"Owwwww," Teddy screamed.
"Good," Carina said, "I see her head."
Teddy pushed again clinging to Owen's hand.
"Wait," Carina directed, "give it a minute."
"I have to push," Teddy sobbed.
"No you push you tear," Carina said, "breathe."
"Distract me," Teddy begged.
"I love you," Owen said, brushing her hair away from her face with his free hand, "I have loved you from the moment I met you. I want this, I want our family. We are going to be great. I love you Teddy, I love you so much."
"Oww," Teddy groaned curling forward and pushing with everything she had.
"There's the head," Carina said, "one more."
"Come on Teddy," Owen said, "she's almost here."
He went to look.
"No," Teddy gripped his arm, "you don't get to see that. No more PTSD."
"Okay we'll meet her together,' Owen agreed.
"Oww," Teddy hissed again, feeling the shoulders emerge then their daughter slide from her body.
"Here she is," Carina said holding up the baby, "a perfect baby girl."
"Owen," Teddy nodded.
"Come cut the cord Dr Hunt," Carina directed.
Owen cut the cord, then wrapped the baby in a blanket before he laid the baby in Teddy's arms.
"Hi,' Teddy breathed, "hello. Hi baby."
"What's her name," Carina asked.
"Allison," Teddy and Owen said in unison.
"Teddy," Owen whispered.
"She's perfect," Teddy whispered with an exhausted smile, "sit with us."
Owen sat on the edge of the bed and Teddy cuddled closer to him enjoying being held by him as she held their daughter.
"She's looking at me," Teddy whispered.
"She has your eyes," Owen smiled kissing the top of Teddy's head.
"I love you," Teddy smiled looking at him.
"I love you too," He beamed, "and we love you Allison."
A nurse came in, "Dr Altman do you want to feed her?"
"Yes," Teddy agreed.
Owen went to walk away.
"Nothing you haven't seen before Hunt," Teddy said, "stay with us."
When Allison had finished eating Teddy whispered, "go see daddy. Mommy needs to stand up."
"Teddy," Owen asked.
"I want to stand and stretch out my back," Teddy replied, "it's okay Owen. we know being up and moving is good for me. If it was up to me I'd shower."
"It's the golden hour," he replied, "her first hour."
"I'm going to stand up quickly then come sit with you," she agreed.
"She's perfect," he beamed, "Allison Caroline Elanore Hunt."
"Our little girl," Teddy smiled with one hand on Owen's shoulder to keep her balance.
"You okay," he asked.
"A bit wobbly," she admitted, "Owen we're parents."
"We are," he agreed.
"Are you happy," she questioned.
"Yes," he said, "very happy. Are you?"
"I am," she agreed, sitting back down and cuddling against his side before slipping her finger into Allison's grasp.
"She's asleep," he said.
"What time is it," she asked.
"Midnight," he replied, "she was born at 11:15."
"Should we call or wait for the morning," she asked.
"I'll call in a few minutes," he said, "do you want to send Marilyn pictures?"
"In the morning," she said, "lets just enjoy her for now."
"Do you want her back," he asked.
"I want to try skin to skin," she said.
"Get in bed and I'll unwrap her," he said.
Teddy got comfortable in the bed and Owen laid the baby on her chest before covering them both with a baby blanket.
"Lay with us," she said.
"I will," he agreed, slipping his shoes off.
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