"Happy birthday lady bug," Megan smiled seeing Alyssa.

"Thanks mom," Alyssa smiled, "you feeling okay?"

"Better than yesterday but it's still painful," Megan said, "but I get to do your birthday for the first time since you were nine. I deployed two weeks after your ninth."

"14 years," Alyssa smiled.

"So what are you wishing for," Megan asked.

"I don't know the last 15 I've wished for the same thing," Alyssa said, "but I can't use it anymore."

"What was it," Megan asked.

"For you to come home," Alyssa answered.

"Lady bug," Megan smiled, "really?"

Alyssa nodded.

Owen joined them, "happy birthday Lyss."

"Birthday presents," Megan asked.

"In my office," Owen said, "I usually do them with her after dinner. Teddy had some work calls this morning and Mom had something to do so we'll do them later."

Meredith entered the room, "good morning Megan, Owen, Alyssa. Megan, how are you feeling?"

"Ready to see my new abs and it's Alyssa's birthday so it's a good day," Megan said.

"How old today," Meredith asked.

"24," Megan replied, "it's the second time I've spent her birthday in a hospital bed."

"I don't remember the first one," Alyssa said.

"I do," Owen replied, "you were pretty cute and little. She didn't let anyone else touch you."

"Uncle Owen," Alyssa asked, "Derek."

"Just her," Owen said, "you were her baby. I tried to take you from her so she could eat and she growled at me. Like a bear."

"Megan Eloise Hunt," Evelyn scolded.

"It was 24 years ago," Owen chuckled, "I did try to take her baby."

"I need to examine this," Meredith said.

Alyssa and Owen moved out of the way.

As Meredith began to open the bandages and wrap Alyssa began to trace something with her finger onto the bed.

"Hold my hand," Megan said.

"That can be made better," Alyssa pointed to the wrap.

"How," Meredith asked, "it's an abdominal binder we use it to support after surgery."

"I know that," Alyssa said, "but it could be better. That material can hold bacteria and viruses, they're not possible to fully sterilise. What if we used a flexible plastic that can be cleaned, shaped specifically for the patient."

"Time," Owen asked.

"3D print can be done while the patient is in surgery working from 3D scans," Alyssa answered.

"It looks good," Meredith said.

"Help me up, I don't control the muscles yet," Megan said.

Owen helped Megan sit up and Alyssa mirrored his position on the other side of the bed to support her mom.

"It's an abdomen," Megan smiled, "I have an abdominal wall. Bigger scar though."

"Scar," Meredith asked.

"Alyssa was an emergency c-section," Megan replied, "my first baby."

"Megan you won't be to have more children," Meredith said, "the internal injuries."

"I know," Megan said, "I have two. They just need to meet each other."

"I can't imagine being separated," Meredith said, "and being with one meaning I can't be with the other."

"It's hard," Megan said, "I don't wish it on anyone."

"That incision is looking good, your morning labs are good," Meredith said, 'I think you can go back to your room."

"Food," Owen asked, "we were going to have a birthday party tonight for Lyss."

"Megan eat what you want," Meredith said, "I'd avoid spicy food or greasy food for a few days. No sushi."

"Thai," Owen asked.

"No spice," Meredith said, "but try."

"Rice, chicken satay isn't spicy," Alyssa said.

"You eat jalapenos," Owen said, "as a pub appetiser your spicy scale is off."

"Christina taught me to like spicy food," Alyssa argued, "she liked it and when you weren't home she would order spicy things."

"You had a lot of influences," Nathan observed.

"Communal shared child," Alyssa joked.

"Most consistent," Meredith asked.

"Uncle Owen," Alyssa said, "mom until I was nine but life long it's Uncle Owen."

Alyssa's phone buzzed in her pocket and she excused herself to talk to her boss. She was trying to work remotely as much as possible.

"Hi Brad," Alyssa said.

"When are you coming back," Brad barked.

"I don't know," Alyssa replied, "my mom had an abdominal wall transplant so the mussels, skin, fascia from ribs to pubic bone were transplanted yesterday. She's in the ICU."

"Timeline," Brad asked.

"I don't know," Alyssa said, "this surgery has never been done before but I have an idea for improving some of the equipment they're using on her. I'll sketch it out and send it to you."

"You have a project the grafts," Brad snapped.

"And if you read my email yesterday I've met with nine different surgeons, two trauma attendings with military or humanitarian experience, three cardio thoracic surgeons, one neurosurgeon and three general surgeons," Alyssa replied, "look specifically at April Kepner and Nathan Rigg's notes."

"Her birthday," Megan asked Owen.

"Your gift arrived," Owen said, "it's wrapped ready to go. Teddy wrapped it."

"Dinner," Megan asked, "cake?"

"Thai is Alyssa's favourite," Evelyn said, "then Teddy and I baked her favourite Oreo cake."

"I don't even know what birthday cake my daughter likes," Megan complained.

"What would you have done," Teddy asked.

"Chocolate," Megan answered, "she always wanted chocolate. I made it for her."

"There's things that reminded her of you that she wouldn't let us do," Evelyn said.

"The scar on her wrist," Megan asked.

"Shop class accident in eighth," Owen said, "not self harm. She was using the band saw and the blade broke and cut her. The teacher was useless and didn't send her for stitches. He tried to bandage it in class then she went to the office during her next block when it bled through the bandage. They called me and I brought her in for sutures. It was sutures. I took them out at home."

"After bribing with ice cream," Teddy teased.

"Avery did the sutures," Owen said, "but it was deep and it got infected so it scarred."

"Her birthday is a trigger," Megan guessed.

"It can be," Teddy replied, "I suggested switching up the traditions and creating their own. I know you did presents in the morning."

"After dinner was more relaxed," Owen said, "I worked early most days and she often had volleyball or band before school."

"I want to get my daughter back," Megan said.

"Time and relationship," Evelyn replied, "she's not your little 9 year old lady bug with the overalls and French braids. Megan, she is an incredible woman but you have to meet her where she is. I've told her the same."

"She's doing a lot better," Owen pointed out, "she's built a life that we're not part of. I hear about it but I'm not part of it."

"She should," Teddy said, "it's a natural progression."

Alyssa slipped back into the room, "that was work. They need me to go back soon. Brad is getting annoyed with me. I've got 2 more weeks and I have to go back. It's not enough to be remote."

"But your mom just had major surgery," Evelyn said.

"Brad doesn't care," Alyssa argued, "I tried to get until mom's out of the hospital but Brad said no."

"You're an adult," Megan said, "I understand you have a job. I don't understand why Vancouver."

"It's only two and a half hours away," Alyssa said, "I come home on weekends all the time."

"I'll get out of here eventually and then find a place," Megan assured, "three bedrooms so you have a room."

"I have my room at Uncle Owens, space at grandmas and my place," Alyssa said, "I want you to come see my place. It's not fancy but I like it."

"I don't have any ID," Megan said.

"When," Alyssa asked.

"I have to get out of here so I can go to the DMV," Megan replied.

"You need a passport to go into Canada," Alyssa said, "I carry both to cross the border."

"When did that change," Megan asked.

"Five years ago," Owen guessed.

"Longer than that," Alyssa said, "I was in highschool."

"It was just after we got your Canadian one done," Owen said.

"Derek," Megan asked.

"I don't know," Alyssa shrugged, "he's working in Fort McMurray right now. He might text if he remembers."

"What has he told you," Megan asked.

"Just that it was never going to work out," Alyssa said, "mom what happened between you and Derek?"

"We fought a lot,' Megan admitted, "I could have a temper back then. Alyssa, the only good thing from that relationship is you. I should never have been with Derek, he was not mature enough to man up and be your father."

"He still hasn't," Owen grumbelled.

"Not helping," Alyssa snapped at Owen, "I didn't ask you."

"Give us the room," Megan said, "everyone please."

"Sure," Nathan said and ushered everyone out of the room.

"Alyssa, your dad and I weren't in a relationship," Megan said when they were alone, "I don't know how much I should tell you. I want to protect you."

"I need to know all of it," Alyssa said, "mom I need the truth."

"Alyssa I'm not proud of what I was doing at 18 or 19," Megan said, "I had a fake ID and was drinking a lot and partying. I went to frat parties and I met Derek. We were friends with benefits. I was on the pill but it failed and the condom broke. Alyssa you were not planned."

"I figured," Alyssa said.

"So I moved out of my dorm and in with Owen," Megan said, "I need safety and someone familiar."

"We both go to uncle Owen for that," Alyssa said.

"He's good at it," Megan agreed, "but Derek did his best. He never really lived with us. He'd stay for a few nights then disappear. He'd say he loved me then would disappear for a few days. Or he'd steal Owen's alcohol get really drunk and it would scare me how drunk he was. He'd say things to me I won't repeat because you don't need to hear it. Then I had enough when you were 18 months. You were sick and had a couple febrile seizures. We were in the emergency room two nights in a row and he wouldn't come. I asked him to come and bring me pedialyte and diapers for you and he wouldn't. So I broke up with him. I told him to get out and that we were done. I shoved his clothes that were at our place into a garbage bag and when he came a week later threw them at him. Then I never heard from him again."

"What about child support," Alyssa asked.

"Never," Megan said, "grandma and uncle Owen helped when I was broke and fed us or bought you diapers."

"Music and dance," Alyssa said.

"Anything for your education and to help your brain grow he was always on board," Megan agreed.

"Volleyball, violin, dance, kayak lessons, youth group," Alyssa said.

"Youth group I don't understand," Megan said.

"Grandma wanted me to," Alyssa said, "but learning the Bible as literature helped in college. It's been helpful for my education. And we did fun things on weekends. I learned to have academic debates and back up my arguments in Bible study. The weekend events were fun we went rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, swimming, laser tag, bowling or played games. But Derek?"

"He didn't love me," Megan said, "Alyssa honestly we were young, foolish and it was just sex. I'm not proud of letting my self be used like that. There's nothing wrong with sex and enjoying it but make sure he actually loves you."

"I thought maybe he loved us," Alyssa said.

"Derek and I were friends with benefits," Megan said, "Alyssa I wish I had a better story for you but it was friends with benefits and birth control failed."

"One of my college roommates had an abortion, I drove her," Alyssa said, "did you ever consider?"

"Not really," Megan said, "I think everyone should get to choose for themselves but I would never choose it for myself. I did contemplate adoption but then I thought about never getting to see you smile or hear you laugh or go to school or take you hiking and I couldn't do it. I did look at all three options because Derek asked me to. I didn't do it because I wanted to it was the one I instantly discarded. I saw the lines on the test and I knew and I loved my baby. I was terrified but Grandma and Uncle Owen said they would be there every step of the way"

"Do you regret it," Alyssa said.

"Having you no," Megan said, "I would do the 9 months of vomiting daily, the back labour and emergency c-section again. I would do the years of barely surviving to have you. What I regret is leaving you, I regret enlisting. My regrets are that I wasn't there with you lady bug. I have never regretted your existence."

"But," Alyssa said.

"No," Megan said, "I have loved you and wanted you from the moment I knew you were there and growing below my heart. Alyssa, you knew your bones before you knew your farm animals. You could perfectly pronounce medical terms but said lellow instead of yellow. You hated thunderstorms and were scared to fall asleep alone. I would sit in your doorway reading text books until you fell asleep. Alyssa I wanted you. I always wanted kids. I didn't think it would happen at 19 but I always wanted a little girl. You were the cutest little thing. Toddling around the Boston apartment with little wispy pigtails giggling and carrying your toy bunny around. Or trying to run down the slide at the park."

"Did Derek ever love or want me," Alyssa asked.

"I don't really know," Megan said, "you need to have a talk with him."

"That would require him talking to me," Alyssa countered, "I get a hey or how's it going."

"What about the other Jarretts," Megan asked.

"They're great," Alyssa said, "I have aunts and uncles and cousins that love or at least like me."

"You have to talk to Derek," Megan said.

"He hid my existence until Uncle Owen found Uncle Dave," Alyssa countered.

"I know he never told them," Megan replied, "I tried to get him to. You were weeks old and he was going home for August and I told him you and I would go with him."

"He didn't want you to," Alyssa asked.

"There was no money for a plane ticket," Megan said, "but my mom flew me home to Seattle and I suggested Derek come down and get us from Seattle but he refused. I suggested he bring his parents down to meet you. But I spent the three weeks I was home on the porch swing in grandma's backyard and walking in the park with you. I tried to get him to come. Alyssa I tried to make it work for you because I know how hard it is for a girl to grow up without her dad. I was six when your grandpa died."

"I didn't have a dad but I did have a father figure," Alyssa said, "I just call him Uncle Owen. I lost my mom when I was 12 but you weren't around for three years before that."

"I tried," Megan said, "Alyssa I tried not to have to go. I asked if I could work in a hospital somewhere in this country or in Germany where I could keep you with me. You could have spent a few years in Germany. It would have been a good experience. I offered to do extra time. They knew I was a single mom but you go where the army needs you. I knew when I graduated that we would move around for a few years from base to base. I was prepared for that and to move you and have to up root you a few times. I thought we could do that, you would go to base schools with other army kids and make friends. You did well when I had to go for the summers for training in the base daycares or summer day camps. I thought we could do it. I never expected September 11th to happen. That's when the plan changed. After that when they told me I would have to deploy and leave my 9 year old I panicked. I knew a couple weeks before you did. I tried to track down Derek but didn't have the time or information to go on, so I arranged for you to go to grandma because Owen was already deployed."

"If grandma couldn't," Alyssa asked.

"I had talked to auntie Joyce and uncle Bobby," Megan replied, "they would have been your guardians. My plan was always Owen first, then my mom then Joyce and Bobby. There was always a plan."

"Why Owen first," Alyssa asked.

"You knew him best," Megan said, "he knew you better than the others did. When you were little in a lot of ways my brother was my co-parent. Owen was the one person I had I knew could babysit and would treat you like his own. I've heard he put a swimming pool in the backyard for you."

"We have a pool," Alyssa said, "it's great. I like swimming."

"I don't," Megan replied "I can but I'm not very good. I prefer to float."

"I do both," ALyssa said, "I did my lifeguard training and worked as a lifeguard in college and at summer camp."

"You can teach your brother to swim then," Megan said.

"I can," Alyssa agreed, "when you told Grandma what did she say?"

"She knew a few weeks after Owen," Megan said, "I told him first before Derek even."

"What did they say," Alyssa asked.

"Owen tried to kill Derek, I had to pull them apart," Megan replied, "Owen was just Owen. He blamed Derek. But he takes care of people and family. It was his idea to get an apartment together and for him to take the smaller room. He wanted to help. He's wanted to be a dad since we were kids and he always loved kids. I'm surprised you don't have little cousins. He wanted a big family."

"He got me," Alyssa said.

"But Christina and him or Amelia," Megan said, "did something happen?"

"Not that he's ever told me," Alyssa said, "but why would he. If he talks to anyone about it it's Auntie Teddy."

"What would you have done," Megan asked.

"Played with and babysat my cousins I guess," Alyssa replied, "I'm still a bit surprised by Faroke. He knows I exist but I had no clue."

"He wants to meet you," Megan agreed, her phone buzzed on the night stand, "Lyss?"

"I got it," Alyssa said passing it to Megan.

Megan answered the facetime call, "Hi Faroke."

"Hi mama," Faroke yelled.

"Faroke I want you to meet someone," Megan said.

"Who," Faorke asked.

"Your big sister," Megan explained, "Alyssa is here. Lyss, can you come say hi? Are you ready?"

"It's facetime mom," Alyssa countered, moving so that she could be seen in the call, "I'll hold the phone."

"Alyssa is going to say hi," Megan told Faroke.

"Hi Faroke," Alyssa smiled tentatively at the little boy on the other end of the call.

"Hi," Faroke whispered.

"It's okay," Megan coaxed both her kids seeing them get shy, "Faroke it's Alyssa's birthday today."

"Really," Faroke asked.

"Yes," Alyssa replied.

"She's 24," Megan said.

"Mama when are you coming home," Faroke asked in Arabic .

"I don't know yet," Megan replied, choosing to stay in Arabic to comfort her son, "your Uncle Owen and a couple of my friends here are trying to figure out how to get you here to me. I'm still in the hospital for a while."

"But," Faroke argued.

"We will be together soon my sweet boy," Megan promised, "you can finally meet your sister and we'll go to the beach and she can teach you to swim."

"The first swimming lesson is happening in the pool," Alyssa declared, "I don't stick non swimmers in lakes unless I have a second life guard."

"But you're my teacher mama," Faroke said.

"Alyssa taught swimming lessons before," Megan said, "I'll be there but she's going to be in the water with you."

"On weekends," Alyssa promised, "I have to go to work during the week."

"Work," Faroke asked.

"I design medical equipment," Alyssa tried to explain.

"She's an adult," Megan said, "are you okay? Are they feeding you?"

"Yes mama," Faroke said, "can you come home?"

"I can't," Megan said, "as soon as I am healthy I will come get you."

"It's okay to miss her," Alyssa said, "I missed her for a long time. But mom comes back or comes and gets you. I want to meet you."

Megan squeezed Alyssa's hand.

"I have to give the phone back," Faroke complained.

"I love you my sweet boy," Megan smiled, "I'll see you very soon."

"Bye mama," Faroke said.

"I'll see you soon little brother," Alyssa grinned.

The screen went blank.

"He's cute," Alyssa said, "little."

"He's small," Megan agreed, "his bio mom was only about 5'1"."

"Wow," Alyssa said, "we tower over him."

"You're taller than me," Megan said.

"Yes ," Alyssa agreed, "I'm 5'10.5". "

"Good for volleyball," Megan said.

"Yes," Alyssa agreed, "but not the tallest I was about average height. My assistant captain and closest friend in college Mackie is 6 feet."

"Mackie," Megan asked.

"Mackenzie," Alyssa replied.

"So your birthday," Megan asked.

"Thai food and oreo cake," Alyssa smiled.

"Presents," Megan asked.

"You came home," Alyssa argued.

"We have some for you," Megan said, "I know Owen, my mom and I do."

"I just want a family birthday dinner," Alyssa said.

"We will have that," Megan promised.

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