"Sir," Teddy said standing in Colonel Smith's doorway.
"Altman," the colonel replied.
"I need to speak to you about an urgent personal matter," Teddy said.
"Come in Altman and close the door," Smith said.
"Thank you sir." Teddy said.
"Does this have anything to do with your relationship with Major Hunt," Smith asked.
"Yes sir," she replied, "we are a couple."
"We've all seen that for months," Smith said, "since I got here."
"There is a romantic component to our relationship," she said.
"And a physical one," Smith said, "you two aren't very sneaky."
She took a deep breath , "sir it came to our attention four days ago that I'm pregnant. I'm due in July from our calculations."
"Congratulations," Smith said, "I'm going to assume it wasn't planned."
"No sir," she whispered, "we had talked about a family when we finished this tour. We said we'd look at it and the next steps in our relationship when we got home."
"You'd like to go home," Smith said, "both of you."
"I would like Owen to come home with me but I understand if that is not possible," she said.
"Let me see what I can do," he replied, "you're both scheduled to go home when?"
"February 10th sir," she replied.
"It's December 7th," he said, "two months. Let me see what I can do."
"I understand if you need us to finish out our tours," Teddy said.
"I have to send you home," he said, "I can't have you here in your condition. Where is home? Do you and Hunt have a plan?"
"Seattle," Teddy said, "my sister and his mom and step father are there."
"What's your plan," he asked.
"We haven't told the family yet," Teddy said, "that's the next step then I'll stay with my sister or his family until I find a job and somewhere to live."
"We'll get you on the next flight to Germany," he said, "it's Tuesday. It should go on Friday. Then from Germany it should be a few days to get you home. It depends on the transport schedule."
"Thank you sir," Teddy said, "I can work in the hospital in Germany for the next two months. I'm still honoring my commitment but lower risk."
"I appreciate your sense of duty but I'm going to send you home," he agreed, "you're a talented surgeon Altman. What will you do next?"
"I was going to go to Seattle and look for a job," she said, "so now it's go find a job, plan for the baby, spend some time with my sister and get to know the Owens family."
"His family," Smith asked.
"My parents have passed. He has his mom, step dad and step sister," Teddy explained, "Evelyn, Don and Amanda are great."
"I'm going to get on sending you home or transferring you. Your most likely going home ," Smith said, "thank you Altman and congratulations."
"Thank you sir," Teddy replied.
"Dismissed," Smith said.
Teddy gave him a salute and walked out of his office to find Owen.
"How did that go," he asked.
"Two options. Finish my two months in Germany or going home. It sounds like home," Teddy said, "we'll know by Thursday and I fly out Friday."
"I'll be away from you and the baby until February," he moaned.
"I know. I don't like it either," She said.
"By then," he said.
"I'll probably have a belly," she smiled.
"I'll miss it," Owen said.
"You come home in early February. I'm guessing they won't come until the end of July," she said, "lots of time to watch them grow. Watch me get fat."
"You'll be gorgeous," Owen said, kissing her.
"Should we ask Caitlyn to check me and baby out," Teddy asked.
"Now that Smith knows," Owen said.
They walked back towards the medical tent.
"McDonald," Owen called.
"Altman, Hunt," Caitlyn replied.
"You have a moment," Teddy asked.
"I do," she smiled, "what I think this is?"
"Yes," Teddy agreed.
"Follow me," Caitlyn said.
Teddy and Owen followed their friend to a small private exam room.
"Teddy hop up," Caitlyn smiled.
Teddy sat on the exam table and Owen stood beside her.
"We think we know when we created this one. We've only been unprotected once," Teddy said.
"Good to know," Caitlyn said, when was that?"
"Oct 17," Teddy said.
"So let's estimate a due date around July 17 for now," Caitlyn said, "when you get home and see an OB they'll be more accurate."
"Is everything okay," Teddy asked.
"I want to do an internal ultrasound," Caitlyn said, "things are feeling bigger than you should for when you think."
"Okay," Teddy agreed.
"Hunt out," Caitlyn ordered.
"Nothing he hasn't seen," Teddy said, "I want him here."
"I'll step out," Caitlyn said.
When Teddy was ready Owen opened the door a crack. Caitlyn did her exam
"There's the your baby, it's barely there but there's a heartbeat it's the soonest we can see the heartbeat with this machine," Caitlyn said.
"Can I see them," Teddy asked.
"And hear them," Caitlyn agreed.
She turned the screen to face Teddy and Owen and turned on the sound. Teddy had tears streaming down her cheeks.
"They're perfect," Teddy cried.
"Just like their mom," Owen said, kissing the hand he was holding.
"You can get dressed, Altman," Caitlyn said.
"Thank you," Teddy said, "for everything Caitlyn."
"I'll see you when you're dressed," Caitlyn answered.
Teddy got dressed and they brought their friend back in.
"Altman you have to go home," Caitlyn said, "go home. Stay with family until Hunt is done. Limited stress, look after yourself, plan for the baby. I'm going to inform Smith now that I've done an exam."
"I saw him today," Teddy said, "he knows."
"Okay then I'll send him the medical discharge forms for you," Caitlyn said.
"He's flying me out Friday," Teddy said.
"You need to go to safety," Caitlyn said.
"We know ," Owen said, "thank you McDonald."
They met with Smith and determined that Teddy would go home to Seattle immediately and Owen would follow as soon as a replacement was available.
That night after dinner Owen helped Teddy organize her stuff.
"Altman, I heard you got a medical discharge, okay," a man said standing in Teddy's open door.
"I am," Teddy said.
"What's the diagnosis," the man asked. They were all surgeons. He had seen and heard her vomiting a few times in the last couple weeks and wondered what was up.
Owen nodded at Teddy and she replied, "it's not contagious you don't need to worry."
"What's wrong," the man asked.
"Nothings wrong," she said, "I'm pregnant."
"Hunt," the man said.
"Our baby," Owen replied, putting an arm protectively around Teddy.
"When are you due," the man asked, "when do you leave?"
"I'm due mid July and I leave Friday on the transport to Germany," Teddy replied, "you'll be alone for cardio Jones."
"It's been a pleasure working with you," Jones said, "Hunt your staying?"
"It looks like I have to finish the tour," Owen said, "but I've applied for family leave and discharge. Teddy shouldn't be alone."
"Where will you guys settle down," Jones asked.
"Seattle," Teddy answered.
"Are you okay to keep packing so I can call my mom," Owen asked.
"I'll come with you," Teddy offered.
"She likes hearing from you," Owen agreed.
They walked to the office area where they could use a phone to call home. Placing the collect call Owen waited for the family at home to pick up.
"Evelyn it's Owen," he heard Amanda bellow.
"Owen," Evelyn said clearly out of breath when she took the phone.
"Hi mom," Owen said.
"You called less than a week ago, is everything okay," Evelyn asked, "you don't call until Friday."
"Yes and no," Owen said, "we have some good news but Teddy is going home."
"How is Teddy going home good news," Evelyn asked.
Owen took a deep breath, "mom Teddy's pregnant. Our baby. She's seven weeks and it's just not safe here. She'll be discharged and is flying to Germany Friday and will be in Seattle on Sunday."
"Does she have somewhere to live," Evelyn asked.
"Not yet," Owen said, "her sister is in a one bedroom and having a baby in May. "
"She'll come here," Evelyn declared, "I'll tell Don and Amanda. She won't mind them will she?"
"She loves Manda," Owen said.
Teddy looked at Owen confused.
"You're going to moms," he said.
"When do you come home," Evelyn asked.
"Still February 10th," Owen said, "I don't like being away from Teddy."
"When is she due," Evelyn asked.
"July 17," Owen replied.
"Okay so she comes here and we'll look out for her and then when you come home she'll be happy to see you," Evelyn said, "you can email every day and call as much as possible. When does her flight land?"
"1:30 Sunday afternoon," Owen said.
"We'll be at the airport for her," Evelyn promised.
"Don," Owen asked.
"Will agree," Evelyn said, "is she with you?"
"She is," Owen said.
"Pass Teddy the phone," Evelyn commanded.
Owen handed the phone to Teddy.
"Hi Evelyn," Teddy greeted.
"Hi sweetheart. Congratulations! How are you feeling," Evelyn asked.
"Okay," Teddy said.
"So don and I will pick you up on Sunday at 1:30 in the arrivals area," Evelyn said, "then you're coming home. The basement room and bathroom are yours."
"Evelyn I can't," Teddy started.
"At least until you find something for you and Owen," Evelyn said, "you can get into his apartment Feb 1 so stay with us a few weeks and then you can have the apartment feeling like a home when he gets here."
"I'll rent a car and find a hotel," Teddy insisted.
"No," Evelyn said, "you shouldn't be alone not now. Come home and get to know us better."
"I can't just stay there," Teddy said, "I need a job."
"You come here and job search," Evelyn said.
"I can't impose," Teddy argued.
"You're not," Evelyn said, "come be part of our family. It's final Teddy."
"I'll pass you back to Owen," she said, "thank you Evelyn."
Owen took the phone, "mom?"
"She's going to come here. Beth came by with her last couple rent cheques," Evelyn said, "she's leaving Jan 15. It's three weeks before you come home. Don and I will do the renovations you've been putting off. The boxes of flooring are in my basement. And paint?"
"Have Teddy pick," Owen said. He had told Beth to pick when she moved in and the master bedroom was pink he didn't expect Teddy to pick pink unless it was a baby girls nursery.
He hung up the call and wrapped his arms around Teddy.
"Your going home," he whispered, "you and our baby are going home."
"I'm giving up," she said.
"No," he assured, "you're going to go give our baby the best chance they can have. You'll go and I'll be home in a couple months. It won't be long Teddy we can do this. I'm going to miss you like crazy but we can do this."
"I don't want to with out you," she cried, "I can't."
"I will be home a long time before they're born," he promised, "you and I will be together. Go home and relax. Let my mom baby you because that's what she does."
"I want you to come," she cried.
"I will as soon as I can," he promised.
"Hey Teddy Teddy we're okay," Owen said, "I'm going to write every day and call you as much as I can. You're going to write as much as you want and send me pictures of our baby when you get them."
"No pictures of how fat I get," she said.
"I want those two," he assured.
"See how I feel," she argued.
"Teddy, I'd see it if we were both going home," he argued.
"A surprise when I pick you up from the airport," she said.
They walked back towards their building hand in hand.
"So Beth moves out of the apartment on Jan 15," Owen said, "I have some laminate flooring I wanted to put down when I moved in for good, get rid of the carpet. The place has to be painted as well."
"What colour do you want," she asked.
"Anything but pink," Owen said, "I told mom to let you pick. Don was going to teach me to do the floors."
"You said the furniture was hers," Teddy said.
"It is," Owen said.
"I was going to look for a place," Teddy said, "but I can help get your place ready and find something nearby."
"Teddy I'm saying I want you to live there," Owen said, "make it your home for you and the baby. If you're not ready to live with me then I can stay with my mom. You and our baby need somewhere to call home. They need somewhere to go home when they come."
"Were going from best friends, to parents to living together in a month," Teddy said.
"I know its fast but I can't think of anyone who knows me better," he argued.
"You know me better than anyone has," she agreed.
"Then Teddy let's do this," Owen said, "it's six weeks with my family or your sister."
"Carly won't have room," Teddy said, "you saw how tiny their place is."
"Ours isn't too much bigger," he replied, "but we have a second bedroom for baby."
"For baby," she echoed.
"Our family," he promised giving her a quick kiss.
"What don't we know," a man said walking up to them.
"We're a couple and I'm going home," Teddy said.
"Home, why would you go home now you had time off like a month ago and we're done in February," the man said.
"I'm pregnant," Teddy said, ordinarily she wouldn't have made it public so soon but the gossip here was bad and it was better people heard it from them.
"When do you have the baby," the man asked, she didn't look it to him."
"July," she replied, "it's still early."
"Teddy needs to go home, it's not safe enough here," Owen said.
"Transfer somewhere safer," the man asked.
"We don't know yet," Teddy said, "right now I should go pack."
Owen followed Teddy to her room, wanting to be right with her, to spend every second they could together before two months of separation. He had never thought about the years away from Beth the way he was dreading 8 weeks away from Teddy. He knew he wouldn't be there when she needed him but not having her there for breakfast or chat with after dinner, playing cards with the rest of their friends. Worst of all, she wouldn't creep into his room after everyone had gone to bed and snuggle with him despite the heat. He wouldn't fall asleep with her in his arms or wake up with her blonde hair on his pillow. The idea of being away from her, from their baby physically hurt him.