The next morning Owen buckled Allison into her car seat for the first time.
"Let's go home," Owen smiled, putting his arm around Teddy's waist.
"Home," she agreed, "Allison, are you ready to go home for the first time?"
The baby stayed asleep as they carried her car seat down to the truck and clipped her in the back. Teddy kept glancing back anxiously watching the mirror over the baby seat.
"She's okay," Owen assured, glancing in the mirror when they stopped at a red light.
They got home and Owen lifted the car seat out of the back he carried Allison inside and set the car seat on the kitchen table. Teddy gently unbuckled the baby and cautiously lifted her out. She made her way slowly to the couch and eased herself down on it. Curling up with the baby in her arms.
"You want anything," Owen asked.
"Tea," Teddy answered with a yawn.
"Decaf right," Owen confirmed.
"Yes," Teddy answered, "it's supposed to be okay but I don't want to test it yet."
"We won't," Owen agreed, "do you need to eat?"
"I could," Teddy shrugged, "what I really want is to snuggle her."
"People will come soon," Owen said.
"I know," Teddy sighed, "I need a shower and to do my hair but she'll wake up to feed soon."
"Once she's fed let's put her in her bassinet and you can shower," Owen said, "I'll empty the dishwasher, Courtney came to clean yesterday it's just the dishwasher to empty."
As Teddy got out of the shower Megan knocked on the front door.
"Come in," Owen whispered.
"Where's Allison and Teddy," Megan asked.
"Sleeping in the living room and finally getting a proper shower," Owen said, "she'll feel a lot better after a real shower."
"The hospital ones suck," Megan agreed, "we brought lunch. And we know Marilyn and her husband are coming so we brought tons."
"What did you bring," Owen asked.
"A big pot of mom's chicken soup, she's right behind us," Megan said, "fresh bread, sandwich stuff. A whole bunch of things Teddy hasn't been allowed to eat, brie, goat cheese, deli meat."
"She wants a glass of wine," Owen said, "Teddy has always liked a glass of wine or a beer at the end of the day. She's never been excessive but she likes to have one."
"Do you have any," Megan asked.
"One bottle, Teddy's favourite but I don't remember where I put it," Owen said, "Amelia was in recovery so I didn't have it in the house then Teddy was pregnant so it didn't seem worth it for my once a month or so I have one at home."
"Should I go get one," Megan asked.
"I just have to look," Owen said, "I don't know though."
"She can have a small glass," Megan replied, "it doesn't transfer."
"It does but not a lot," Owen said, "it's timing. She'll make the call when she's ready. I don't know if it's not just talk."
"Wait for her to bring it up," Megan agreed, "but ring?"
"Not yet," Owen said, "I will. She's still not ready. It's Teddy, it has to be perfect."
Teddy walked down stairs, "that feels a lot better."
"I bet," Owen said, meeting her at the bottom of the stairs with a hug.
Teddy returned the hug melting into him.
"How's Allison," Teddy asked.
"Still asleep," Owen said, "Megan and Riggs are here with my mom, they brought lunch. Chicken soup and sandwiches."
"We brought brie," Megan said.
"Ham and cheese," Teddy said, "but not yet."
"How are you doing," Megan asked.
"Feeling a bit more human after a real shower and getting to blow dry my hair," Teddy said.
"What's the new term," Megan said, "self care?"
"A shower is essential," Teddy retorted.
"It is," Megan agreed.
"My sister is coming. I don't think you've met," Teddy said.
"I haven't," Megan replied.
"Mar and I are opposites," Teddy replied, "she's older and mom and dad's biological child. I'm adopted."
"You are," Megan asked.
"I was," Teddy replied, "it's complicated. My mom's cousin is my biological mom. She was 15 when I was born. I didn't know until I was in my 20s and I told my mom I wanted to try to find my bio family. My birth mom didn't want me to know, but my mom decided not to lie to me."
"Have you met her," Megan asked.
"She died when I was 12," Teddy answered, "car accident. But yes I knew Auntie Cece."
"How did Allison do in the car," Megan asked, seeing Teddy getting worked up.
"She slept," Teddy replied, "she woke up a bit to nurse when we got home and she's back to sleep."
"Can I hold her," Megan asked.
"We're going to let her sleep," Owen said, "we want her to get in some sort of sleep pattern. Moving her will wake her up."
As if on cue the baby began to cry. Owen picked her up and held her close, rocking her gently, "Shh Allison it's okay. Daddy's here."
"Diaper," Teddy suggested.
"I'll do it," Owen agreed. He cautiously laid the baby on the coffee table next to the cart of changing supplies they had set up in the living room.
"That's a bad one," Teddy said.
"Worst she's had," Owen agreed, gently cleaning their daughter using several wipes.
In a clean diaper and redressed Allison continued to cry.
"Food," Owen suggested.
"I'll just go upstairs," Teddy said softly.
"Teddy no need," Megan replied, "it's your house."
"I'm embarrassed," Teddy replied.
"Teddy don't be," Owen argued.
"Let me go Owen ," Teddy snapped.
"You can't hide every time you feed her," Owen argued.
"It's your sister and her fiancé and her son and your mom," Teddy whined over the fussing baby.
"We're family dear," Evelyn assured, "you were in labour at my house through Easter dinner. Why don't you sit on the couch with Miss Allison nice and comfy and Megan and I will be in the kitchen working on lunch. Nathan will walk Faroke to the park. No one will see you or be looking at you, I promise."
Teddy nodded.
"You're okay," Owen soothed, rubbing his hand down Teddy's back.
Teddy sat on the couch to feed the baby.
"That's it baby girl," Teddy smiled at the baby," that's what you wanted."
A few minutes later the baby was asleep in Teddy's arms.
"Do you want me to delay lunch," Owen asked.
Teddy nodded.
"Okay," he said, "I'll do that and grab your water."
Owen came back with the starbucks cup Teddy liked for her water.
"Ice water with lemon," he said sitting with her, "you okay?"
"I think so," Teddy replied.
"I know it's a lot," Owen said, "Meg flies home tonight and Marilyn leaves after dinner. Then I'm off for a month. We'll just be the three of us."
Teddy nodded.
Owen noticed the tears in her eyes, "hey, we're okay. We're okay. Allison is happy and asleep, we're home. I'm right here."
"I want my mom," Teddy whispered.
"Will Marilyn help or make it harder," Owen asked.
"Help," Teddy replied, "I hope. My mom would have loved this. She would love Allison. She should have met you."
"I wish I had met her," Owen agreed, "Teddy can I just hold you for a minute. Do you need to be held and hugged?"
"Yes," Teddy whispered sheepishly.
"Okay," Owen said, putting his arms around her, "I got you. Breathe Teddy. I've got you. We're home, we're safe. I love you. I'm not going anywhere."
Evelyn looked over from the kitchen and noticed Owen and Teddy cuddled on the couch with their daughter. While they all wanted to be there and help and love them, maybe this wasn't what Teddy needed or wanted. Teddy was a private person in many ways, Evelyn had noticed that when Owen and Teddy had lived at her house, Teddy would go straight upstairs when she got in and take a shower and read for a bit before joining Evelyn down stairs. She liked to decompress, Teddy needed time and space, she had spent most of her adult life alone, this was an adjustment for all of them. Evelyn made two cups of tea and silently placed them on the coffee table before backing out of the room. Giving them space, seeing Teddy half asleep on Owen's shoulder both gazing at their new baby. Wondering who their daughter would become. Teddy stroked her daughter's hand with her thumb as the baby slept.
The doorbell rang and Evelyn went to open it.
"Hi," Evelyn greeted, "you must be Marilyn and Rob."
"We are," Marilyn said.
"I'm Evelyn Hunt Owen's mom," Evelyn said, "come in."
"Are they home yet," Marilyn asked stepping inside.
"Just in the living room resting," Evelyn smiled, "this way."
Megan bounced into the entry, "you're Teddy's sister."
"Yes," Marilyn said, "I'm Marilyn Williams, this is my husband Rob."
"Megan Hunt," Megan smiled shaking Marilyn and Rob's hands.
"Owen's sister," Rob guessed.
"Yes," Megan said.
"Mar," Teddy called.
"Thea," Marilyn called.
"Come meet her," Teddy said.
Marilyn rushed into the living room, "Theadora she's perfect."
"Theadora," Megan tried.
"Only Mar gets to call me that," Teddy warned.
"Can I," Marilyn asked, "she's gorgeous!"
"She's asleep but you can try," Teddy offered, "moving her seems to wake her up."
"Come here gorgeous," Marilyn said, "come see auntie Mar."
Marilyn lifted the baby out of Teddys arms. Allison stretched and her eyes fluttered open.
"Shh, shh," Marilyn soothed, "you're okay."
"She's beautiful," Rob praised, "how are you doing?"
"We're okay," Owen replied.
"Can we do anything," Rob asked, "order food? Cook? House work? Dishes? Laundry?"
"We're good," Owen said, "the way we work we have a housekeeper once a week and she came yesterday."
"That's helpful," Rob agreed, "we do every other week."
"Rob look at her," Marilyn smiled, carrying the baby towards her husband.
"She's beautiful," Rob agreed, "it's nice to meet you Allison I'm uncle Rob."
"Three weeks," Marilyn whispered.
"I know," Rob said.
"It's going through," Teddy asked.
"It is," Marilyn said, "a baby boy."
"We'll have to come down and meet him," Teddy smiled, "they have to know each other."
"They do," Marilyn agreed.
"She's incredible," Teddy smiled at her daughter.
"She is," Megan agreed.
Allison fussed in the unfamiliar arms.
"My baby," Teddy said, taking her daughter back and the baby instantly settled.
"Magic," Megan gasped.
"Mom," Marilyn replied, "she'll already know Teddy's voice, heartbeat and smell."
"She's good for Owen two," Teddy said.
"The second most familiar voice," Marilyn said, "I've been reading."
"I'll rely on your research," Teddy teased.
"You do the medical stuff," Marilyn replied.
"Baby girl you need more sleep," Teddy soothed her daughter trying to rock her.
"Teddy," Evelyn offered.
"I'm happy with her," Teddy replied.
"I know," Evelyn replied, "Megan and I are going to go get lunch ready. Teddy what do you like on your sandwich?"
"I'll do it mom," Owen said.
Marilyn sat with Teddy on the couch.
"I miss mom," Teddy admitted.
"So do I," Marilyn said.
"Can you tell her some of mom's stories," Teddy asked.
"I can," Marilyn agreed, "when she's a little bigger. For now we sing to her. Sing and talk when she's awake."
"Can you," Teddy asked, "it makes me miss mom too much."
"I can while I'm here," Marilyn agreed, "she would be so happy for you Thea. She would just be fussing over you and Allison. She would love this."
"She would," TEddy agreed, "and dad. He'd have brought her books and be reading to her already."
"Read, tell the stories, sing," Marilyn encouraged, "Thea I'm happy for you. I'm so happy that you found your home. Thea you're home. You're not floating around on your own. And you're with Owen."
"I'm home," Teddy agreed, "for the first time since that year I have a home."
"You have a home," Marilyn said, "welcome home Thea."
Teddy smiled and nodded, "Allison we're home. We're home baby girl."