Teddy stood with Evelyn, Don and Amanda in the airport arrivals area. They were waiting for Owens' flight to land and she was getting more anxious by the minute. His discharge had been delayed nearly two months and here they were April 4th finally being reunited after she left Iraq December 10th. They had talked when they could and emailed daily but she just wanted him home. His apartment was decorated for them. She had bought new furniture and decorated it to suit both of them. The walls were painted white and the smaller bedroom that would be the nursery was a sunny yellow.
Teddy paced back and forth smoothing her lilac colored top over the small bump she could feel the flutters of their baby kicking, sharing her excitement .
"I know little soldier ," she whispered,``Daddy's home soon. Not long now his plane is on the ground. We'll see daddy soon. ."
"Breathe sweetheart," Evelyn said putting her hand on Teddy's arm, "he's going to be so excited to see you."
People began to pour out of the gate separating customs from waiting families. Teddy scanned the crowd for Owen. Then she saw him still in uniform looking for her.
"Owen," Teddy yelled, running through the crowd towards him.
He dropped his bag and swept her into his arms, spinning her around, "Teddy."
"Your home," she said, kissing him.
He rested his forehead against hers, "I'm home. I'm never leaving you again."
"Someone wants to say hi daddy," Teddy said, taking his hand and placing it where the baby was kicking eager to be in on the excitement.
"That's them," he beamed.
"It is," she smiled, keeping her hand over his.
Owen kissed Teddy again then knelt on the airport floor to kiss her growing belly, "hello soldier I'm your daddy."
Around them the people in the airport started clapping and cheering for the couple. Of course only their family knew the story. To most it looked like a soldier coming home to his wife and soon to be child.
He stood up and kissed Teddy again, holding her close, "I love you."
"I love you too," Teddy said.
After giving them a few minutes Evelyn came over, "welcome home son."
"Mom," Owen said hugging her.
"Your home in one piece," Evelyn said with relief.
"I'm home," Owen echoed.
"Owen," Amanda said, running to them.
"Hey kiddo," Owen smiled, hugging his step sister.
"Now are you staying," Amanda asked.
"I am," Owen said.
Owen quickly greeted Don with a hug.
The crowd in the airport smiled watching the tall red headed soldier greet first his wife and unborn child then his family. It was a moment that many in the airport that day would never forget.
"I have my car here," Teddy said, "Amanda kept me company on the drive over."
"I'll go back with you," Owen said, desperate to be alone after months of e-mail and phone calls.
"That's what I thought ," Teddy replied.
The others knew the plan and they all agreed to meet back at the house.
Owen grabbed his bags and walked beside Teddy carrying them. She opened the trunk of her car for him to put his bags in.
He turned to face her and kissed her again before placing both hands on her bump feeling their baby kick and roll.
"They're excited," Teddy said.
"Do we want to know," he asked.
"I was waiting for you," Teddy said, "I'm 24 weeks and dr Deluca said she would do another ultrasound for you to see when you got home. I don't technically need another one but seeing them would be good. I'm okay with the surprise."
"I want to see them," Owen said as Teddy passed him the keys.
He drove them home, stopping to look at her every time he reached a red light. Her hands rested on her stomach. He had noticed the new curves earlier, her bump, the fullness of her breasts and a different roundness to her hips. She was gorgeous. At the same time Teddy felt self conscious the last time they had been together she still had perfectly flat, well nearly flat abs and her whole body had been toned. Her work outs had changed since she got to Seattle, she walked, swam and went to yoga and a prenatal fitness class but she wasn't doing the intense weight training she had been doing. She didn't know if she would again.
"Home to our place or moms," Owen asked.
"Dinner isn't until six," Teddy said.
"It's noon," Owen said, "so our place. Time with just you."
He turned towards his apartment, the one he'd bought then never really lived in. Teddy was nervous, what if he didn't like how she'd decorated with the white walls and touches of blue. It was simple and welcoming. Don had installed the dark hardwood floor that matched the cabinets in the kitchen.
Pulling into the underground parking Owen noticed Teddy appearing nervous.
"Are you scared to be alone with me," he asked.
"No," she lied, she was nervous but not to be alone with him. She was afraid he would hate the changes in her body that he would find her unattractive or even repulsive.
"Teddy I know you," he said as he grabbed his bags, "something is bothering you. Does something hurt?"
"Something is always slightly uncomfortable," she said, "it's fine, it's me being up in my head. Hormones."
"Teddy talk to me," he said putting an arm around her, "tell me."
Teddy shook her head.
"What do you want me to do," he asked.
"Your the one that just got home," she replied, "what do you want?"
"A shower then to cuddle with my gorgeous girlfriend," Owen said, "maybe lunch in there because I've heard of you don't feed pregnant women they get grumpy."
"You shower, I'll make lunch," she replied.
"Not how I'm picturing the shower," he said, "I pictured you with me."
She pulled back.
"A bath," he suggested.
Teddy remained silent.
In the elevator he studied her before speaking.
"What's bothering you," he asked, "you've told be how much you want me to come home but your acting like you don't want me to touch you. Teddy talk to me."
"I don't look like me," she whispered.
"You are gorgeous," he said pulling her into his arms.
"I don't have abs anymore," she said.
He placed his hand softly on her bump, "I prefer this. Knowing our baby is here. I was never with you for your body. Come shower with me. Help me get the sand off."
"I'm nervous," she said, "you shower and I'll make lunch. I don't want to redo my hair either. "
"Okay," he replied. He was disappointed he had wanted to shower with her and see how her body had changed he wanted to see the changes.
"Tomatoe soup and grilled cheese," she suggested his favorite, "I made the soup."
"It sounds perfect," he agreed.
Teddy unlocked the door.
"Wow is this the same place," Owen asked looking around. It was modern and bright.
"Do you like it," she asked nervously.
"I like it," he said undoing his boots, "Teddy it's amazing."
He walked into the living room and saw the photo frames on the wall he looked at them, she had found photos of the two of them over the last few years, with friends, his sisters, her sister, with don's extended family. He smiled seeing the one in the center of the second frame.
"I'll change that when they come," she whispered.
"It's perfect Teddy," he whispered, "our family. How did you find all these?"
"I had most then your mom helped," She smiled, "Manda stole the ones of her like three times."
"We have to have our sisters," Owen said.
"I told her that," Teddy said, "I'm not making that distinction of step sister."
"I say sister she's the one that holds onto step," he said.
"I'm working on it with her," Teddy replied, "Manda likes to come over and will ask me to."
"Will she still," he asked.
"I don't know," she replied.
He walked through the apartment admiring what she had done, it was warm, welcoming and felt like home. The last time he had been in here two years before it felt like Beths now this felt like home. He opened the door to the bedroom and saw the bed neatly made with a navy blue bedspread and pillows in navy and white. There was a book and alarm clock on one night stand, clearly the side Teddy had been sleeping on. He looked at the two dressers.
"Yours doesn't have the mirror," she said, "I moved your stuff from your moms."
"Thank you," he replied, "you've done a lot of work. Should you have been moving everything?"
"I've had help," she said, "do you want to see the colour of the nursery?"
He followed her to the other bed room.
"It's good," he said, "I can't wait to see our baby in here. You rocking them in a chair by the window. Tucking them into the crib together."
"Is this okay," she asked, "are you sure this is what you want?"
"I've dreamed of this since I met you," he smiled.
"Really," she asked.
"Really," he promised, "I'd tell you I wanted our families to grow up close and our kids to know each. But when I pictured those camp outs, BBQs and ski trips we talked about I was picturing you and I with our kids. The two of us together."
"When I told you I wanted two and two I was imagining our kids," she said, "and when I said they would play soccer and baseball together I've always pictured our kids and you coaching."
"We're doing it," he said, "this picturing you and I here holding you in my arms is what kept me sane. I love you."
"I love you two," she beamed, "welcome home."
He took her in his arms and kissed a deep meaningful kiss that took her breath away. He cuppped the back of her head with one hand while the other arm pulled her as close to him as possible. Her hands tangled in the hair at the base of his skull. She breathed in deeply this was real he was home. She slipped her tongue into his mouth tentatively and instantly he met it he continued kissing her as his hands ran down her back and one slipped under her shirt feeling the familiar warm smooth skin of her back. She moaned into his mouth. She wanted him she was nervous but she wanted him.
"That feels good," she whispered.
He slid his hand around her waist so it was against the bare skin of her stomach. The skin was warm and her stomach firm she could feel slight ripples under her skin.
"They like you," she whispered, "they don't do that for anyone else."
"I want to keep kissing you," he murmured.
"I want you to," she smiled.
He captured her lips again then moved to kiss along her jaw and found the pulse point on her neck. He gently slipped her sweater off her shoulders. Her hands found the zipper at the front of his uniform and she slowly unzipped it pushing it off his shoulders. Her hands began to fumble with his belt.
"Teddy slow down," he whispered, "we have time. Let me enjoy you."
"You wanted a shower," she whispered.
"I do but I want you more," he groaned.
"Shower, lunch then we can cuddle," she said.
"Shower with me," he begged.
"Maybe a bath after dinner," she said.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind. She leaned back against him savouring being in his arms and feeling his strength.
"I'll shower the well cuddle," he said.
"I'll be waiting," she smiled. She didn't want their first time together after months apart to be rushed shower sex. She was nervous about her quickly changing body. She needed to take their time, for him to hold her, kiss her and stroke her skin to take their time before they were naked.
Owen gathered his clothes to shower finding new jeans, shirts and boxers in his drawers and the closet, it was clear Teddy had chosen them she knew what he liked. While he showered she took to pot of home made tomatoe soup out of the fridge and set it on the stove ready to heat and had all od the supplies for grilled cheese sandwiches ready.
Hearing the water still running Teddy grabbed her book and stretched out on her side of the bed she was aware her back was to the door but she was trying to lay on her left as much as possible. She was reading and running her hand over her bump when he found her. Owen watched her in her own little world for a while before sitting on his side of the bed. He lauded down and molded his body to her back.
"Good book," he asked.
"It is," she smiled putting it back on her nightstand and turning her head to look at him.
His hand joined hers pushing her top up to expose her bump. He felt something push against his hand.
"I almost had them calmed down," she said.
"I want to get to know them," he smiled, "after I catch up with you."
He kissed her this time urgently his tongue darting into her mouth. She quickly met his tongue and rolled to her back. He kissed along her jaw to her neck and traced her pulse point with his tongue she shuddered. His hand slid up under her top to cup her breast he ran his thumb over her bra covered nippple. She sat up and helped him pull her top over her head. He began kissing her again starting at her collarbone then down to the tops of her breasts, here he slowed down moving cautiously, the last time they had been together she had been really sensitive there.
Teddy arched her back and unclipped her bra.
"Please," she whispered.
He took his time kissing every inch of her before sucking a nipple into his mouth. She pressed into him and used one hand to guide his head. He kissed down her body then felt for her fly, finding only stretchy fabric over her bump. She had pushed his pants and boxers off his hips. Her hands were alternating between stroking him and cupping his balls she was driving him wild.
"They just pull down," she murmured lifting her hips off the bed.
He slid her pants down and kissed her inner thighs.
"Please Owen," she begged as he kissed and licked everywhere but where she wanted him. Finally his tongue found her folds teasing just lightly at first. He licked and sucked making her moan and scream his name.
"I need you," she moaned, "I want you. I need you in me."
"How do you," he began to ask not sure if he could but any weight on her.
"I want to be on top," she whispered.
He rolled to the side of her and she kissed him, taking control one hand teasing his tip while the other pressed him onto his back. She knelt over him and guided his length to her opening. She slowly lowered onto him, adjusting to him after their months apart. He reached up and cupped her breasts as she began to rock slowly at first then faster his hands slid down her sides one on her hip guiding her movement and the other teasing her clit. She picked up her pace again panting. She leaned forward bracing her hands on his chest.
"Let's try on your side," he suggested.
She shifted so she was laying on her side facing away from him he rocked into her from behind keeping his arms around her, touching her whole body, teasing with his finger tips, while kissing the back of her neck. She rocked and wiggled her hips. He felt her clenching around him.
"Right there," she moaned, "right there just like that."
"You feel so good," he whispered.
Moments later they came together. She lay in his arms panting.
"You okay," he asked.
"Perfect," she smiled, "you?"
"That was something else," he said.
"A good something else," she asked.
"Very," he promised, propping himself up on his elbow and kissing her.
She took his hand and moved it to her bump.
"Are they okay," he asked, "could we have hurt them?"
"You're a doctor," she laughed, "we can't hurt them. I actually think they're asleep."
"I just," he said.
"You can't get me pregnant twice," she replied, "where did you go to med school?"
"You're okay with not," he asked.
"I prefer it," she said, kissing him.
After cuddling for a while Teddy sat up, "I'm hungry and need clothes."
"You don't need clothes," he suggested.
"People wear clothes," she laughed, "let's get dressed and I'll make lunch."
Teddy quickly reheated the soup she had made and made two grilled cheese sandwiches.
As she cooked Owen stood behind her holding her and kissing her neck and shoulder.
"Stop distracting me," she smiled.
"I've missed you," he murmured.
"I've missed you two," she said as she relaxed against him. She relaxed against his chest while his hands cradled her bump. These were the moments she had been missing with him being away just being quiet and calm together.
They had their lunch then relaxed on the couch until it was time for dinner.
They let themselves into evelyn's house abs were greeted first by the bouncy lab.
"Sammy down," Teddy commanded, "we love you on the ground."
The dog stopped jumping up and stood in front of Teddy wagging her whole body.
"Owen," Amanda said running down the stairs.
"Hey kiddo," Owen smiled.
"You don't look like a soldier now," Amanda said.
"I went home and showered do you approve," Owen asked.
"Yes," Amanda said.
"So your emails have been jam packed," Owen said, "where is this Chris guy so I can beat him up for hurting my little sister?"
"He lives three houses down," Amanda said.
"Owen," Teddy said putting a hand on his arm.
"I've already chased him on his bike with the truck." Don said, "it's good to have you home."
"It's good to be home," Owen agreed, "to stay. thank's for doing every thing on our place it looks great."
"you had picked it out," Don said.
"I had no clue how to install it," Owen admitted.
"I enjoyed it," Don said, "and getting it the smaller room ready for our first grandchild."
"Thank you," Owen said, "It looks great. It's time for me to be home for sure."
"You need to be here with your family," Evelyn agreed.
"I know," Owen agreed.
"Come sit," Evelyn said, "Teddy I have more of the juice you like."
"Thank you," Teddy smiled, "I'll grab some in a bit."
Evelyn looked at the young couple. Teddy looked more relaxed then she had that morning and Owen kept up constant physical contact, his hand was on her leg, her bump or around her waist and she was leaning against him.
"So what have I missed around here kiddo," Owen asked.
Amanda filled him in on the last few months and her dislike of her geometry teacher. Owen, having had the same teacher years before, promised to help Amanda get ready for her next test. Teddy smiled watching the siblings interact she had really gotten to know Amanda in the last few months and knew she was ready to accept Owen as a sibling. Teddy had been surprised to learn that Amanda had preferred Owen to Megan. Amanda liked that Owen was blunt and straightforward and didn't tease the way Megan had.
The family spent the night chatting and catching up with Owen filling in the rest of the family on his last few months as best he could, always careful to censor the worst parts from Amanda and to an extent Don, his mom and Teddy had seen it first had in their own way. Don was supportive and encouraging but didn't understand.