Two days later Alyssa and Megan sat on the bed in Megan's room chatting. Their take out containers from lunch pushed to the side. When Nathan and Meredith appeared at the door. Owen was visible over their shoulders.
"Megan," Meredith said, "don't make any sudden moves."
"What's going on," Megan asked.
"I brought you something or some one," Nathan said, stepping aside revealing the little boy.
"Hi mama," Faroke called.
"Hi," Megan beamed, "come here."
Faroke ran to Megan and Alyssa hopped out of the way. Megan wrapped the little boy in a hug whispering in Arabic. Owen entered the room going to stand beside Alyssa.
"Who," Faroke asked, pointing at Alyssa and Owen.
"Your sister Alyssa and uncle Owen," Megan said, "Lyss come meet your brother."
"Hi," Alyssa smiled nervously.
"Lyss," Owen said from behind her.
"I'm Alyssa," Alyssa said.
"This is Faroke," Megan said, "how did you get here?"
"We went on a helicopter and three planes and a train and a car," Faroke said.
In the hallway Nathan and Owen were whispering.
"I have no clothes for him, mate or toys," Nathan said.
"No clothes," Owen replied, "but I have a ton of legos and Knex sets, science kits and craft supplies, some dolls with rubber clothes, pool toys. They're hand me downs from Alyssa but it's toys. We have lots of sports equipment and a bike that will fit him in my garage."
"Clothes," Nathan asked.
"Target I guess," Owen said, "I did Target when Lyss was really little. Then as she got older we went to Ross or TJ Max or Teddy took her to the mall with my visa."
"You let Altman take Alyssa shopping with your visa," Nathan asked.
"I had a limit that they could spend," Owen said, "and Teddy liked to spoil. Alyssa would come back from her days at Teddy's with clothes I hadn't seen and stuff she had worn there would get left behind. The only thing that didn't move was the cat and the Guinea pig."
"Are you okay," Megan asked Faroke.
Faroke nodded.
"Hungry, tired," Megan asked.
"Tired," Faroke said.
"That's a long way with someone you don't know," Megan said as Faroke cuddled against her.
"Do we live here now mama," Faroke asked.
"We do," Megan said, "for now. I need to find a job and a place to live."
"I need another trauma surgeon," Owen said.
"Maybe," Megan said refusing to commit to anything until she talked to Nathan.
Owen stood and snapped a picture of Megan sitting with both of her kids.
Owen, "Auntie Teddy meet our nephew Faroke."
Teddy, "Megan looks ecstatic and Lyss is scared."
Owen, "Lyss is nervous. But Megan is thrilled. Holding both her kids."
Teddy, "becoming a big sister at 24 is shocking."
Owen, "24 and 10. He's staying at my house tonight. Going to get the lego out. Lyss will be protective of her K'nex sets she kept them in their sets."
Teddy, "she did but she always made the kits better. Let Faroke play."
Owen, "I used to hate when Megan messed with my lego sets."
Teddy, "you are 3 years apart not 14."
Owen, "I wish you could come back."
Teddy, "I'll meet him at Christmas and I'm sure I'm going to hear from Alyssa as soon as she's away from Megan."
Owen, "always. She's going to need us."
Teddy, "she's ours as much as Megan's."
Owen, "she is. Teddy we can raise kids if we want to. We've done it as a team before."
Teddy, "one thing at a time Owen. divorce first."
Owen, "in process. I've met with the lawyer and she's looking into the legal parts. It shouldn't be too hard."
Teddy, "your house?"
Owen, "fully in my name. I made sure it was protected. If anything happens to me it goes to Lyss."
Teddy, " Faroke?"
Owen, "I'll think about what I need to do with my will. It was simple that everything is Lyss's she was the only kid."
Teddy, "she was. I did the same. I have no other nieces and nephews and she's the closest I'll have to a child. If things ever change I'll change it then."
Owen, "your military stuff? Life insurance? Pension?"
Teddy, "Lyss."
Owen, "Megan's was. It was held in trust until Lyss was 23. I put it in trust. She has access now."
Teddy, "if we?"
Owen, "Alyssa will be okay. She'll be happy."
Teddy, "but your mom? Your sister?"
Owen, "will be fine."
"I'm going to give you guys some time," Alyssa said, "mom?"
"I was enjoying your stories from Haikai," Megan said, "my adventurer."
"I'm going to go to Uncle Owen's," Alyssa said, "I'm assuming Faroke is going there tonight. I should go pull some of my toys out."
"You have toys," Faroke asked.
"From when I was a little girl," Alyssa said, "they're not new."
"Mama she has toys," Faroke said.
"What do you like to play with," Alyssa asked Faroke.
"I like to," Faroke paused before saying a word in arabic, he spoke English well but was used to speaking arabic with everyone except Megan.
"Build," Megan translated the word.
"Okay we have lego," Alyssa said, "and I might have some blocks. I love to build. I used to build a lot."
"You build," Faroke said.
"I do," Alyssa said, "I'm an engineer. I design things for other people to build. I love to build and design things. When you come over we can build together."
"Mama too," Faroke asked.
"I'm sure when she's out of the hospital she'll build with us," Alyssa said.
"When is mama coming home," Faroke asked.
"As soon as Dr Grey says it's okay," Megan replied, "soon."
Alyssa said her good byes and slipped out of the room.
"You okay kiddo," Owen asked walking out with her.
"He's real," Alyssa said.
"He is," Owen replied, "your brother."
"Needs his own toys," Alyssa said, "not because I don't want to share. I'm not going to play with what I have in the basement but I doubt he's ever had a brand new toy of his own. Living where they were and how they were.
"So your plan," Owen asked.
"Walmart, Target, Fred Myer," Alyssa said, "it looks like he needs clothes but I'll text Nathan and I want to get him a couple toys of his own. A lego set and what?"
"No balls," Owen said, "we have so many. Google toys for 10 year old boys."
"Something to keep his mind busy and I'll grab some drawing stuff," Alyssa said.
"Kiddo you good," Owen asked.
"I don't know," Alyssa said, "I was just really getting to know my mom."
"That's not going to stop," Owen assured, "Lyss your mom wants to know you. She loves you. Faroke will want to get to know you."
"Do I have to move," Alyssa asked.
"Keep doing what you're doing and when you're ready invite them up to see you," Owen said.
"I'm going to go shopping," Alyssa said, "dinner?"
"Keep it simple," Owen said, "chicken, rice, veggies, salad."
"I will," Alyssa said.
A few hours later
Nathan pulled into Owens driveway with Faroke, "looks like your sister's home."
"She lives here," Faroke said.
"She did," Nathan said, "Lyssa is 24 mate. She lives in Canada for work but drives down on the weekends."
"She drives," Faroke asked wide eyed.
Nathan pointed to the red truck in the driveway, "that's her truck."
"It's big," Faroke said.
"It is," Nathan agreed, "she needs it for a lot of her hobbies."
"Hobbies," Faroke asked.
"Things she does for fun," Nathan explained, "your sister is adventurous and likes to be outside. She skis, hikes, hunts, fishes."
"Mama is a hunt," Faroke said.
"It's Alyssa's last name as well," Nathan said, "but hunting is also a thing people do. They go into the forest and kill animals for food."
"How," Faroke asked.
"I don't know," Nathan lied, he wasn't sure how the mention of weapons would go with Faroke.
Owen pulled in behind them and jumped out.
"You could have gone in," Owen said.
"We just got here," Nathan replied," and thought you might want to be here with Lyssa. "
"She'll be quiet," Owen said, "she observes. But she said she was making dinner. Faroke are you ready to hang out with our big sister?"
Faroke nodded.
Owen opened the front door and heard Alyssa's music at full blast in the kitchen. He chuckled to himself hearing the music he knew Alyssa liked it at full volume . She had probably just connected her phone to the speaker in the kitchen even though she loved vinyls.
"Lyss," Owen bellowed over the music, "turn that down you'll scare your brother."
The music stopped.
"Did mom get discharged," Alyssa asked.
"Tomorrow," Owen said.
"Is he her baba," Faroke asked, using the arabic word for dad.
"No," Nathan said, remembering that word from their training years ago, "Owen is her uncle as well like yours. But Alyssa lived with him when she was younger because your mom was with you."
"Where is her baba," Faroke asked.
"I don't know," Nathan said.
Nathan led Faroke into the kitchen.
"Welcome home," Alyssa smiled.
"Lyssa what did you do," Nathan asked.
"I made dinner and bought presents," Alyssa said, "Faroke are you hungry or do you want to play?"
"Food," Faroke replied, "is mama coming?"
"Tomorrow," Owen assured, "tonight you're going to stay here with me and Nathan and Alyssa."
"Where do we sleep," Faroke looked around.
"Upstairs," Owen replied, "I have my room, Alyssa has hers and you and your mom will be in the guest room."
"I made up the pull out bed in the guest room for Faroke," Alyssa said.
"What didn't you do," Owen asked.
"BBQ the chicken but it's ready to go on," Alyssa said, "it's hot."
"I'll do it," Owen agreed.
"Faroke I picked up a few things," Alyssa told the little boy, "for you."
"For me," Faroke asked.
"On the table," Alyssa replied, "some toys and things to do."
"My own toys,' Faroke asked.
"Your own," Alyssa promised, "and I'll show you where there's more lego in the basement."
"For me," Faroke asked.
"These sets are," Alyssa replied, "the ones down stairs were mine as a kid."
"How much lego do you have," Nathan asked as Owen came back into the kitchen.
"Have a kid who loves building and played with lego until she went to college," Owen said, "a lot. Some really cool sets. International landmarks were my favourite."
"We built those together," Alyssa said, "you still have them on the shelves in the rec room."
"Memories," Owen shrugged, "your room and toys are yours."
"I'll put up the sets that are really special but Faroke can play with the rest," Alyssa said, "can you blow up the duck for the pool?"
"Your duck really," Owen asked.
"And the unicorn," Alyssa replied.
"Faroke do you know how to swim," Nathan asked.
"What's swimming," Faroke asked.
Alyssa grabbed her phone and used google to translate the word. Faroke shook his head.
"Leave the first swimming lesson until your mom is home," Owen directed.
"Uncle Owen," Alyssa complained.
"You may swim any time you want," Owen said.
"I'm a life guard," Alyssa replied.
"I know," Owen said, "I helped you study and took you to all of your courses. And when was the last time you guarded?"
"Two years ago," Alyssa replied, "but I use the skills with search and rescue."
"Let your mom see the first time he swims it's a parent thing," Owen said.
"How do I do this," Faroke asked picking up a box of lego.
"After dinner I'll play with you," Alyssa promised, "Uncle Owen can clean the kitchen."
"I can," Owen asked.
"I cook you clean," Alyssa reminded him of the old house rule.
Nathan chuckled hearing Alyssa and Owen teasing as they finished getting dinner ready. In a lot of ways Alyssa had inherited her mom's sense of humour and ability to catch Owen off guard and get him to relax.
After dinner Alyssa sat on the living room floor with Faroke and his lego set. Nathan had gone back to the hospital to be with Megan and Owen sat on the couch half watching the two "kids" while he played with his phone. He saw that Alyssa was more relaxed then he thought she would be in this situation. He snapped a couple pictures and sent them to Megan.
Owen, "lego time. Lyss picked up a couple sets for Faroke when you said he liked vehicles."
Megan, "are my kids in your living room playing lego?"
Owen, "they are. They're building an airplane. Some fancy kit Alyssa found. They have that and the airport."
Megan, "lego used to be expensive."
Owen, "it still is. But they're bonding. I'm sure it's as much for her as for him. They're quiet but bonding."
Megan, "he loves to build."
Owen, "she still does. And gets paid to design and play now."
Megan, "do I want to know what she did?"
Owen, "she bought a few pieces of clothing, just shorts and t-shirts a couple lego sets and a k'nex set, some art supplies and a dragon pool float toy."
Megan, "a dragon?"
Owen, "she has a duck and a unicorn. I don't ask, I let her pick. Alyssa can be really quirky when she's relaxed. At home she's just herself. She loves to play, she will go play with her lego downstairs sometimes still. I was getting her lego sets until she went to college. Mom, Teddy, the therapist and I all agreed that if she was playing with it it was a good thing. It's a coping tool for her."
Megan, "are they happy?"
Owen, "Alyssa is. Faroke I'm learning to read. She really wants to take him swimming."
Megan, "not unless I'm around."
Owen, "I told her. But I'm going to go get ice cream for them."
Megan, "really?"
Owen, "it used to be a thing after her homework was done."
Megan, "you spoiled my daughter!"
Owen, "she got a single scoop when her homework and chores were done. At Teddy's it was a little bit of chocolate. I'd have a beer or a drink when my stuff was done for the day or the ice cream with her. Why shouldn't Alyssa get a little treat?"
Megan, "Faroke hasn't really seen people drinking."
Owen, "Alyssa saw it and she does drink now. She'll have one with me if I offer. But it was a beer or a glass of wine. One drink. Moderation. She learned to eat and drink in moderation. Teddy was insistent that no food was good or bad. But burgers and fries are a treat and not a meal every day."
Megan, "Teddy?"
Owen, "you don't know her whole history."
Megan, "what am I missing."
Owen, "some things I learned about her a few years ago. After Henry. And when Lyss struggled with body image and eating Teddy was able to help."
Megan, "what happened?"
Owen, "she was 17 she wanted to look like a runway model. Wasn't eating enough, losing weight, working out excessively. Teddy and I dealt with it. Her PE and Health teacher at school had given some miss information. We corrected the miss information and she seemed to do okay."
Megan, "how bad?"
Owen, "she was good after that. We gave her the facts. But your kids are laughing."
Faroke held up a mini figure.
"A mini figure," ALyssa said, "it's a lego person. Do you like it?"
"He's yellow," Faroke said.
"They all are," Alyssa said, "I can go get more from the basement? We have lots."
"You have more," Faroke asked wide eyed.
"I do," Alyssa said, "from when I was a kid. Should we get some? Theres more of the city set in it's boxes we can build more."
"Lyss," Owen warned.
"Really," Alyssa asked.
"If you are building an entire lego city you have space down stairs in the rec room," Owen said, "put the boards back on the pool table. They're behind the couch down there. "
"I will," Alyssa said, "come on Faroke. Let me show you something."
"What," Faroke asked.
"Just trust me," Alyssa said leading him downstairs by the hand.
In the basement she put the boards back on the pool table and opened the cupboards that held the old lego sets. She had an entire city in it's boxes ready to be built and played with again.
"You choose," Alyssa said.
"So many choices," Faroke said wide eyes, "where do we start."
"This one," Alyssa said, taking a set from the top of the cabinet, "my favourite one ever. It's three buildings like you find in europe. Dr Sloan, Dr Robbins and Dr Torres got it for me one Christmas."
"You build it," Faroke said.
"I will," Alyssa said, "do you want to come pick one?"
"You pick," Faroke said.
"Try this," Alyssa handed him a box, "it's a grocery store from the same theme I'm working on."
"How," Faroke asked.
"Should we do it together," Alyssa asked.
Faroke nodded.