Two weeks later …
Owen's phone went off around midnight. He grabbed the baby monitor off his nightstand and walked down stairs. He saw the door to Teddy's room was open so he slipped in and softly called her name, "teddy? Teddy?"
"Umm," Teddy groaned.
He gently shook her shoulder, needing to wake her up, "Teddy. I need you."
"Ungh," she moaned.
"Altman wake up," Owen said a bit louder.
"What's wrong," Teddy startled awake.
"I got called to work," Owen replied, "Leo is asleep upstairs."
"I'll go to Lyss's room," Teddy yawned, "I got him."
"Do you mind," Owen asked.
"No," Teddy said, "it's what Auntie Teddy does."
"He gets a bottle around 1am," Owen said.
"I can do it," Teddy replied.
"You've made his bottle," Owen asked.
"Many times now," Teddy said, "it's the button on the baby kurieg."
"Are you okay," Owen asked.
"I can do it," Teddy said, "go I've got him. Hunt go!"
"Thank you," Owen said, giving Teddy a hug and kissing her forehead. She sighed wishing for more contact. She wanted him but did her want her?
Teddy grabbed her pillow and water bottle and made her way upstairs to sit on Alyssa's bed, she eventually fell asleep on top of Alyssa's bed.
Just before six Leo was up for the day, TEddy heard him babble through the monitor and went to get him before Owen got up. Owen had gotten back just before 5:30 and really needed the sleep.
"Good morning little man," Teddy smiled as she lifted up the squirming baby.
Leo babbled back at her incoherently.
"Let's get you changed then we can go down for your bottle," Teddy sang to Leo. She got him changed and dressed in a clean onesie before going downstairs with him on her hip. She made his bottle and settled with him in the chair in the living room to drink it. She day dreamed about feeding their baby and holding her own little one close. She could feel her body changing already, growing and stretching to accommodate their little one. Her pants were getting snug and she was no longer able to wear her usual bras. Finished the bottle Teddy carried Leo to the basement with her.
"Okay buddy your going to play with your giraffe on my bed while I get dressed," Teddy said, "hmm what still fits?"
Teddy grabbed a pair of leggings and a loose green top. She got dressed quickly with her back to Leo but looking over her shoulder at the little guy. Checking her watch it was nearly 7 now. She sat in the living room playing with Leo until she heard soft footsteps behind her.
"Leo is that daddy," Teddy asked.
Leo clapped his hands in response.
"Good morning," Owen smiled sitting down with them, "thanks for letting me sleep Teddy."
"It was a trauma," Teddy said, "not the first time I've covered you with a kid in the middle on the night."
"How are you feeing today," Owen asked.
"Not sick yet so it's progress," Teddy answered.
"12 week scan today," Owen said, "do I get to come?"
"I want you there," Teddy assured, "we get to see them."
"We do," Owen agreed.
"I'm excited," Teddy replied.
"Teddy what are we doing," Owen asked.
"Right now playing with Leo then having breakfast I'm starving," Teddy replied.
"I mean us " Owen said.
"We're dating," Teddy said, "expecting a baby and raising another baby."
"Can we truly date," Owen asked.
"Like with dinner and movies and good night kisses," Teddy asked.
"I can start with a good morning kiss," Owen chuckled, "but yes with all that."
"A good morning kiss does sound good," Teddy smiled. He pulled her close and gave her a soft gentle kiss.
"Are you sure you're okay," Owen asked.
"I'm fine," Teddy assured.
"Teddy," Owen asked.
"I'm good," Teddy smiled, "I might do some shopping after the appointment."
"I'll come with you," Owen offered.
"I'm okay," Teddy replied, "I need pants. Not actual maternity clothes yet just a size up."
"You okay," Owen repeated.
"Baby is growing," Teddy replied, "I'm the only one who notices."
"I want to feel them kick," Owen said, "hold you, rub your back and your feet."
"Nothings stopping you," Teddy replied, "we jumped the gun and got into bed with eachother. Owen I love you. I want to be with you. At the same time I'm scared. The last man I lived with was Henry. The last time I shared a bedroom and lived in the same room as one was Henry."
"I know," Owen replied, "we'll go at your pace. Teddy I love you. I want this to work I want us to be a family."
"I do too," Teddy agreed.
"Leo prefers you right now," Owen said.
"If their siblings and we're going to be a family can I be his mom," Teddy asked.
"I like it," Owen smiled, "Teddy we can do this. Who knows you better than I do?"
"No one," Teddy replied.
Leo waved his toy in Owens face.
"Are mommy and I ignoring you," Owen asked.
"You got him," Teddy asked.
"I do," Owen answered.
"I'm going to make breakfast," Teddy replied standing up.
that evening , Alyssa came down for a long weekend and let herself in, "Leo, Uncle Owen!"
"Hi Lyss," Teddy called from upstairs.
Alyssa jumped in surprise, "Auntie Teddy?"
"Hi Lyss," Teddy beamed jogging down the stairs, "home for the weekend?"
"Ya," Alyssa smiled, "it's Canadian Thanksgiving. What are you doing here? You don't normally come until Christmas? Are you surprising uncle Owen for his birthday tomorrow?"
"I've been here two weeks," Teddy replied, "I start back at Grey Sloan on Monday."
"You live here now," Alyssa asked.
"Basement bedroom," Teddy replied, "Owen is at work and Leo is at daycare want to help me with dinner?"
"Why," Alyssa asked, "you loved what you were doing in Germany."
"Can you keep a massive secret," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Alyssa answered.
"Your mom can't know. Can you promise me you won't tell Megan ," Teddy questioned.
"Yes ," Alyssa promised.
"Okay I came back because I'm pregnant with your cousin," Teddy replied.
"What," Alyssa asked.
"You're going to have a little cousin in April," Teddy repeated.
"So you and uncle Owen are together," Alyssa asked.
"We're working it out," Teddy replied.
"Finally," Alyssa shouted, throwing her arms around Teddy.
"Lyss it's a secret," Teddy reminded.
"Even that you're together," Alyssa asked, "I think mom suspects something. But a baby? When? How? You were on different continents."
"He came to see me 10 weeks ago," Teddy answered, "when he wouldn't answer his phone and you texted me freaking out about your mom seeing Derek."
"That didn't go well," Alyssa admitted.
"I know sweetheart," Teddy agreed.
"But your baby," Alyssa asked.
"Alyssa you know how babies are made," Teddy replied, "I told you. When you and Jacob started to in college I was the one you called about birth control."
"It is safe to be on continuously," Alyssa asked, "Matt and I aren't yet but it seemed easier to stay on the pill when Jeff and I broke up."
"I was until a year ago except for a few months with Henry," Teddy replied, "it's safe long term. And easier on your body than on and off."
"So you and uncle Owen didn't do what you've told me to always do," Alyssa asked.
"Our romantic and physical relationship is off limits to you," Teddy replied firmly.
"Why are my cousins so embarrassed to talk about sex," Alyssa asked, "it's not dirty."
"You were raised in a very sex positive environment," Teddy replied, "you were aware that people in loving relationships have physical relationships as well. We were scientific about it. You could come to me with any questions."
"Christina," Alyssa said, "she answered like a doctor."
"We had a few meetings with the four of us to discuss things like that," Teddy replied, "so we were all on the same page. Like no boys in your room and drinking and drug use was totally unacceptable. Curfew was a negotiation. I wanted 10:30 Owen wanted 9:30 so we gave you 10. We negotiated a lot of your teenage years."
"No crazy hair colours," Alyssa asked.
"We all agreed," Teddy replied, "natural human spectrum. Your nails we didn't care. It came off easily. Your hair could have been damaged forever. Clothes was a negotiation, Christina was actually good about getting Owen to lighten up."
"If it fits the school dress code and the weather," Alyssa said, "I still check those things, cleavage, bottom, no visible underwear, covered tummy, no rips tears or holes, clean."
"Respectful," Teddy replied.
"I know," Alyssa shrugged, "can we get back to having a baby?"
"We had an ultrasound today," Teddy smiled.
"Can I see." Alyssa asked.
"You can," Teddy smiled and grabbed the picture off the fridge.
"They look like an alien," Alyssa laughed, "a very cute alien but an alien."
"It feels like it," Teddy replied.
"Are you okay," Alyssa asked, "moving across the globe again?"
"I wanted to this time," Teddy assured, "my family is here Lyss."
"What about the army," Alyssa asked.
"I resigned," Teddy replied, "my contract was up anyway. I stayed on after it finished six months ago to do a transition while they looked for someone. I'll still help how I can from here."
"What about," Alyssa asked.
"You are our oldest," Teddy assured.
"I'm the communal experiment kid," Alyssa replied, "but I was wondering about my mom. Why aren't we telling her?"
"We want to tell Megan face to face," Teddy replied, "she has to hear it from us."
"When will you tell her," Alyssa asked.
"Thanksgiving when she comes," Teddy replied.
"They might not come," Alyssa said, "if Nathan is working they'll do it the three of them. And I'll probably fly down and use a couple of personal days."
"Do you have any left," Teddy questioned.
"No and I'm not going hunting either," Alyssa replied, "I took too much time when mom was at Grey Sloan."
"You needed to," Teddy replied, "how are things with your mom?"
"Awkward," Alyssa replied, "she wants to be in on everything in my life but I don't know her. I don't know how much to tell her or trust her."
"She wants to know you," Teddy replied.
"I don't exactly need parents," Alyssa said, "I was doing just fine with you and uncle Owen. I knew where I stood and what was expected of me. I spent half my life not having parents at all and almost two thirds with out one day to day. I adapted. I missed mom but not the same way I used to. I miss who I knew before she did her first tour. But we can't go back. I'm not a little girl anymore."
"You're not," Teddy replied, "you're a woman and that's hard on both of you. Your mom has always had her opinions and likes to tell people what to do. She would tell Owen what to do and he was her CO."
"I need her to back off a bit," Alyssa said, "stop pressuring me to move down there. I'm never going to live with her again."
"I know," Teddy replied, "I think she's trying to get some of what you lost back. You both lost each other. She lost her daughter as much as you lost your mom."
"But she knew I was alive," Alyssa said, "I was told she was dead. Grandma and uncle Owen are so happy about it but I'm still confused."
"And you get to be," Teddy replied, "but don't punish your mom for it. Your mom did nothing wrong. You get to keep her at arms length and to keep your distance as you get to know her but you don't get to make her feel guilty. Megan feels bad enough with out you adding to it."
"I can't," Alyssa said, "I can't get hurt like that again and I can't hurt her."
"Is there a way you can show your still her little girl," Teddy asked, "something you miss that only your mom ever did with you? Like a meal or something? Your mom likes to care for people."
"I do but it's silly," Alyssa said.
"What is it," Teddy asked.
"I always told you I hate macaroni and cheese because mom used to make it for me from scratch and no one's ever tasted the same so I said I didn't like it because it made me sad," Alyssa replied.
"I do the same with Apple pie," Teddy replied, "my mom made the best apple pie and when she died no one's tasted right so I say I don't like it or I'm full of it's offered."
"Do you think I could ask her to make it," Alyssa asked.
"I think she would make it for you," Teddy replied, "you have to tell her though. Both of you are talking to me but I will not act as a go between. You have to talk to each other."
"It's hard she has Faroke now," Alyssa replied.
"And that doesn't change how much she loves you," Teddy assured.
"But she's not the mom I remember," Alyssa cried.
"I know," Teddy soothed, "I know it's a hard adjustment Lyss. You're okay. It's okay. Just give it time."
Alyssa hugged Teddy.
"I'm here and that won't change," Teddy promised, "Lyss you will always have me."
Owen loaded Leo into the back seat of the truck and began to drive home as he drove his phone rang, he used the car play set up to answer it.
"Megan," Owen greeted.
"Hey," Megan said, sounding down.
"What's wrong," Owen asked.
"I had hoped Alyssa would come down to visit this weekend," Megan replied, "she has 4 days off."
"She's at my house," Owen said, "she said you were working all weekend and she wasn't going down if you weren't off."
"I know," Megan said, "but you said you were working Saturday and she went to your house."
"She'll go see mom, she has good friends in Seattle," Owen said, "she has people other than me here. There's times when she comes down that I see her to have breakfast and she uses my house as a hotel."
"She's not okay," Megan said.
"She is," Owen replied.
Leo babbled in the back seat.
"What was that," Megan asked.
"Leo," Owen replied.
"Who is Leo," Megan asked.
"The 8 month old boy I'm adopting," Owen replied, "he's cute Megan, red curly hair, blue eyes, giggles and smiles. He's starting to crawl."
"Lyss hasn't said," Megan replied.
"They've met a couple times," Owen said, "my kids."
"My daughter," Megan argued.
"She's as much mine," Owen argued.
"Did you grow her in your body for 9 months," Megan asked.
"No," Owen said, "did you have to tell her she was an orphan?"
"No," Megan replied.
"We're even," Owen said, "she's trying Megan, she's really trying. She's having a hard time. She's not your little girl any more. She's a grown woman."
"I want her to let me be her mom," Megan said.
"I don't know how to help with this," Owen replied.
"I don't think you can," Megan said, "I need time with her but I can't if she won't come down."
"Go to her," Owen replied, "with Lyss she's better on her home turf. Go to her, come up and see her."
"With Faroke it's hard," Megan said.
"You need to come up just you," Owen said.
"Maybe thanks giving her and I can do something just us," Megan said.
"That would be good," Owen said, "we're almost home and I have to figure out dinner. I told Lyss I would do tonight. I've had requests."
"Macaroni and cheese," Megan guessed.
"No she won't eat it anymore," Owen said, "not since you. She wants chicken and mashed potatoes."
"Really," Megan said, "no Macaroni and Cheese."
"I tried over the years and it wasn't yours and it made her cry," Owen said, "so I stopped."
"When I come up I'm making it for her," Megan said.
"Ask first," Owen said, "check with her first."
"Really," Megan asked.
"It's a trauma response to losing you," Owen said, "anything she links specifically to you she will say she doesn't like. Macaroni and cheese, sugar cookies, soccer. We ask her if she wants to participate. She's good with Teddy and I kicking a ball around but we don't ask her to play. She might join us if she's in a good head space but we don't force it. We throw frisbees or play volleyball or toss a baseball."
"Is she okay,"Megan asked.
"She's talking to me and she's usually pretty open with Teddy," Owen replied, "I know Teddy is trying to guide her towards opening up to you but it will take time. You can't expect a nearly 15 year absence to be erased in a few months. Megan it could take years."
"She's not well," Megan stated.
"She's getting help," Owen said, 'she has a counsellor and I don't get involved in it anymore. She's good at asking for the help she needs. But I'm in my driveway. I have to get Leo out of his car seat then go make dinner."
"Text me later," Megan asked.
"I will," Owen agreed.
Owen got out and unbuckled Leo from the back seat.
"Hi," Owen called as he walked in.
"My baby cousin," Alyssa smiled, joining them in the entry and taking Leo. She began to tickle Leo who giggled.
"Hi Lyss," Owen smiled, hugging her.
"Auntie Teddy told me this afternoon," Alyssa smiled, "I'm excited. I know don't tell mom."
"I will tell your mom," Owen said, "she just found out about Leo today."
"Wow," ALyssa said, "she's going to know by Christmas. Auntie Teddy won't hide it forever. She is now but she won't forever."
"I'm not hiding it well," Teddy replied, "loose clothes hide it. Work out gear you can see it. I was going to run if you wanted to while Owen makes dinner. He said he would do your BBQ chicken and mashed potatoes tonight."
"Leo," Alyssa asked.
"There's a jogging stroller," Owen said, "we both run and like to run together."
"I'm used to running with it now," Teddy said.
"Before you change and go I want a picture of my kids," Owen said, "Lyss hold Leo and smile."
Owen snapped a picture and sent it to his mom and Megan.
Megan, "If I didn't know I'd think that was her son but he is adorable Owen. I can't wait to meet him."
Owen, "a few weeks."
Megan, "Soon, I need to start Christmas shopping ideas for both?"
Owen, "Ask Alyssa. I always ask her for a few ideas in a few price ranges."
Megan, "what ranges?"
Owen, "Over $ 100, $50-$100, under $50, she usually has a few ideas in each. Teddy does her own thing. Mom does her own thing. Faroke?"
Megan, "were getting really into Lego. leo?"
Owen, "he likes his bath and stories. I have ideas for kids who like to build. You?"
Megan, "I haven't thought about it. I'm thinking about my kids. You?"
Owen, "I'd rather go do something then get things."
Megan, "if Teddy does Chirtstmas with us do we buy for her?"
Owen, "I do, Lyss does. Teddy loves Christmas and goes a bit crazy."
Megan, "mom?"
Owen, "loves it and likes to have fun with it. We celebrate at my house and it will get taken over by Lyss and Teddy with music and decorations. They make it look like the north pole vomited in my living room."
Leo giggled in the stroller as Teddy pushed him.
"He likes you," Alyssa said.
"He does," Teddy agreed, "two babies."
"You ready," Alyssa asked.
"I have six months to be," Teddy replied, "and I will tell your mom as soon as I see her."
"You and uncle Owen," Alyssa asked, "will you get married?"
"We're just starting to date," Teddy said.
"Why now," Alyssa asked, "why not when I was in highschool?"
"Timing wasn't right until now," Teddy replied, "you might have done better with us together but for him and I it wasn't the right time. Lyss are you okay with the baby now that you've had a couple hours to think?"
"Do I get to meet them right away," Alyssa asked.
"You can meet them the day they are born," Teddy promised.
"Can Grandma and I plan a baby shower," Alyssa asked.
"You can do a small one," Teddy agreed, "we're in our 40s we don't need much. Leo isn't much older."
"They still need special things for them," Alyssa argued.
"Small," Teddy cautioned, "you, grandma, Megan."
"Arizona," Alyssa asked.
"Maybe," Teddy agreed, "we should finish the run."
"I'm letting you set the pace," Alyssa said, "you're pregnant and have the stroller. I'm going at your speed."
"I want to pick it up a bit for the last half," Teddy said, "I need to break a sweat."
"Go," Alyssa replied, "I'm good with any pace. I'm supposed to do a 10 km in two weeks."
"Then we'll really run," Teddy smiled before picking up her pace to a run, slower than she was without the stroller but a pace that got her heart rate up and her sweating. She knew she had to work out most days to keep the baby healthy.