Owen and Teddy each carried a child up to Meredith's front door. Leo had been in a clingy mood all day only wanting to be with Teddy. She was worried he had picked up a bug at daycare because when he got sick he was really clingy with her.
"Auntie Teddy," Alyssa asked.
"He's just clingy today Lyss," Teddy said, "you used to do this with me and you were a lot older. We sat on that swing a lot."
"It was overwhelming," Alyssa said.
"You okay tonight," Owen asked.
"Yes and if it's too much mom said she'd drive me back," Alyssa said, "mom and Christina could be interesting."
"It could be," Teddy agreed, "but I think they have enough common ground."
"Me and surgery," Alyssa asked.
"It's a start," Teddy replied.
"I used one of Christina's lines with Matt a few weeks ago," Alyssa replied.
"Which one," Owen asked.
"Screw beautiful I'm brilliant if you want to appease me compliment my mind," Alyssa laughed.
"She taught you well," Teddy laughed, "it's a good one. And both parts are true."
"She always said my mind mattered more because I would have it forever," Alyssa replied, "and it was my brain and my skills that would decide who I am."
"So she's here," Megan asked, joining them.
"She is," Alyssa confirmed before knocking on the door.
Christina opened it, "Alyssa Hunt."
"Chrisitina," Alyssa replied with a hug.
"Teddy, Owen," Christina greeted, "and you brought little people."
"These are our kids," Owen replied, "Leo and Allison."
"Alyssa told me," Christina replied.
"Chrisitna this is my mom Megan," Alyssa introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Megan greeted reaching for Christina's hand.
"You as well," Christina agreed, "your Lyss's mom."
"Yes," Megan said, "I've heard you spent a ton of time with her. Do you have children?"
"I'm not a mother," Christina replied, "I never wanted to be but I have nieces and nephews, god children that I love. Alyssa, Zola, Bailey, Ellis and Sophia. I think I know Lyss best. We lived in the same house and did her homework together."
"When it was hard and I was stressed you'd stop me and we would dance in the kitchen," Alyssa smiled.
"And your ice cream," Christina remembered, "but you're 25 now. I have tequila."
"Of course you do," Alyssa said, "and I got a ride with Uncle Owen and Auntie Teddy."
"Good girl," Christina smiled, "because we're having some. So work Lyss whats going on there? Anything good?"
"I'll email you when I get home but the HLH stents I've been moved to the cardio team. I get it we were using my contacts with you, Auntie Teddy and Nathan but I liked ortho, I was enjoying working on artificial joints."
"Go back," Chrisitina said, "I can't stand ortho but if you want to smash bones."
"I was working on joints that could be done with 1 tiny incision," Alyssa said, "but our funding got pulled. So I moved to the cardio team because they were coming to me all the time for my connections anyway."
"What else is new," Chrsitina asked.
In the living room Richard was bugging Owen, "so you and Altman have 3 kids by the looks of it. When are you proposing when you have your forth child?"
"Last night," Owen said.
"Pardon," RIchard asked.
"I proposed last night and she said yes," Owen repeated.
"You what," Richard asked.
"Teddy and I are engaged," Owen replied.
The room fell silent.
"You and Teddy," Maggie asked.
"We're engaged," Teddy confirmed.
"Let's see," Amelia said rushing to her new friend.
"It's gorgeous," Maggie beamed.
"Congratulations," Bailey smiled, "and with your oldest things went okay?"
"Apparently she's been waiting for it since she was 10," Megan laughed joining them.
"Congratulations," Christina smiled, "I'm happy for you two. Its what you both wanted."
"It is," Teddy agreed.
"How's Scout," Owen asked Amelia.
"He's good," Amelia replied, "Allison and Leo?"
"Good," Owen agreed.
"I am happy for you," Amelia said, "you and Teddy. You two are a good couple. She gets you. She gets your family in ways no matter how I tried I couldn't."
"You tried with Lyss," Owen said, "she didn't want to lose someone else. She's hard."
"I know," Amelia said, "I know she's been through too much. How's she doing with Megan?"
"Touch and go," Owen admitted, "5 days seems to be their max. Megan's family is staying at my moms and it helps. Lyss comes home to Teddy and I and Megan is at my mom's when we're all in town."
"It might be better," Amelia agreed, "is she doing okay reconnecting it's been what?"
"18 months," Owen replied, "she is most of the time. Leo and Allison take some of the attention of Lyss which helps her. She's good with Megan in groups. One on one isn't great yet. She can do a couple hours."
"So," Megan said, "you helped raise my daughter."
"I did what I could," Christina replied, "I'm not a parent. I'm a really good aunt. She was a good kid. We did a lot of homework and ate ice cream."
"But you took the time with her," Megan said, "people took time with my daughter when I couldn't be here. Everyone here has."
"She was the hospital kid," Christina replied, "the time she had her appendix out we were all there. She was never alone for the three days she was in the hospital. Not just Owen and I, Teddy, Henry, Mer, Jackson, April, Lexie, Bailey, Webber, Callie, Derek, Mark, Arizona. The lego that appeared in that room. Then I got to build it with her."
"Engineering," Megan asked.
"I pushed her to use her voice and be her own person," Chrsitina said, "if she was interested why not support her in it. She seems to be doing well."
"She's happy," Megan agreed, "she's got her life in BC."
"I know," Christina replied, "I always see her when I'm in vancouver. I go teach at UBC once or twice a year so we get together."
"Thank you," Megan smiled, "thank you for looking after her."
"You're welcome," Christina said tentatively, not sure how she should reply.
"I hear stories about different people and the events that shaped Alyssa so for me it's nice to put faces to names," Megan assured, "to get to know everyone. She was so young when I went."
"She was," Chrisitina replied, "I guess I understood. I lost my dad when I was little. He bled out beside me in the car. It was a lot of assuming Alyssa that it was no one's fault."
"It wasn't," Megan replied.
"So," Meredith smiled at Alyssa, "another new auntie."
"Not a new one she's just moved," Alyssa replied, "nothing to adapt to this time."
"How was it adapting to Christina or Amelia," Meredith asked.
"Both were different," Alyssa answered, "and I was used to being flexible. Your kids?"
"One day," Meredith replied, "but they have to feel secure and loved first."
"I always did," Alyssa replied, "Uncle Owen was there. I knew he was there and grandma, Auntie Teddy."
"So if I'm there and my sisters," Meredith asked.
"I think so," Alyssa replied, "and I had special things I did with all of my adults. They each had their thing with me and it helped. Who ever he is needs to connect with your kids."
"I was seeing Nathan and he was good with them," Meredith.
"I remember him as a little kid," Alyssa said, "he always cared. Even when we thought mom was gone he didn't stop caring about me."
"That was something I liked about him," Meredith replied.
"I like him," Alyssa replied, "he's always been my step dad in a sense."
"I know," Meredith replied, "we had talked that you were in his life and he wouldn't cut off that relationship, that you deserved the connection to Megan even if it was through him."
"I had people," Alyssa replied.
"You did," Meredith replied, "I remember how it felt to have no dad, my mom was more interested in medicine than being a parent."
"That wasn't my mom," Alyssa said, "I don't think she wanted to go with the army. She didn't get to choose even though she was a single mom. My dad is a drunk."
"So was mine," Meredith replied, "he started a whole new family and forgot about me."
"He hasn't done that," Alyssa replied, "but likes to forget I exist unless we show up at one of his brothers places at the same time."
"Richard," Meredith replied.
"But I don't need him," Alyssa said, "I always had Uncle Owen and Henry for a while, Nathan when he could. Then your Derek spent time with me and Mark Sloan tried. Dr Webber."
"All of us grew up missing a parent," Meredith replied.
"You were missing two," Richard said joining them, "you were a lost kid. We couldn't bring your parents back but we could give you an extended family. We could all teach you and spend time with you."
"Ms Adele was really kind," Alyssa said, "I don't know Dr Fox as well."
"You grew up and went to college," RIchard said, "I like hearing from your uncle what you've been working on. If you ever wanted to come back to Seattle I'm sure you would be welcomed in our labs with open arms. We would all want to work with you. You're one of our own."
"Maybe one day," Alyssa replied, "I like mountain side and spreading my own wings."
"You're going to stay there," Richard asked.
"For a while," Alyssa replied, "I bought a house."
"Congratulations," Richard smiled, "good for you."
"Details," Meredith asked.
"1750 square feet," Alyssa said, 'it needs a ton of work but I like working with my hands and figuring things out."
"And your Uncle and Altman," Richard asked.
"I'm happy for them," Alyssa replied, "she's always been family. Them having kids and co-parenting isn't surprising she had partial custody of me because she wanted it."
"You'll come for the wedding," Richard asked.
"I haven't missed one of his yet," Alyssa replied, "I won't start now."
"Kiddo," Owen asked, walking over to join them.
"I'm good," Alyssa replied, "I have wine, Christina was getting tequila ready to toast you and Auntie Teddy. I worry about her and mom. They're so different."
"But they have you in common," Owen said, "your mom knows Chrisitina is important to you."
Megan found a seat after dinner with Richard and Amelia.
"You found the sober corner," Amelia smiled.
"My plan," Megan replied, "Teddys only had one but I don't drink."
"Your medication you can't," Richard stated.
"I haven't really since I had Alyssa," Megan replied, "I don't like it."
"How are you doing," Amelia asked.
"Good," Megan smiled, "your little guy is gorgeous."
"Thanks," Amelia smiled, "he's a sweet little man."
"Your a Single mom as well," Megan asked.
"No his dad and I are together," Amelia replied, "I know Alyssa's dad hasn't been too involved."
"I threw him out but I expected him to be more involved with her," Megan answered, "I was 21. Lyss was 17 months."
"I've met him once I was in BC with Owen," Amelia said, "she knew her father would be there and wanted Owen to come."
"Connecting with alyssa," Amelia asked.
"Slow and steady," Megan replied.
"The night you came home she lost it," Amelia replied, "she thought she was delusional or having a stroke. She asked me to do a neurological assessment and send her for an MRI. She really thought she was losing it. I would have to if someone told me my brother was back. "
"I'd have a hard time believing it," Megan agreed, "she's a brilliant woman."
"Is she still doing search and rescue," Amelia asked.
"She is and loves it," Megan replied, "she wants to help others and her community. She's had some hard ones recently."
"They didn't make it in time," Amelia guessed.
"She's doing search and rescue," Richard asked.
"She is. She prefers water ones and is a good lifeguard," Megan replied.
"We taught her CPR," Richard said, "we all made her practice with us in the skills lab. Search and rescue isn't an easy thing. Half the time it's recovery."
"She says the worst is little kids," Megan replied, "she had to bring a four year old out of an avalanche a couple weeks ago. He made it but she said he was an ice block."
"She knows how to start treating hypothermia," Amelia replied.
"She does," Megan replied, "but it's still hard when it's a child. I've lost her for the night though. I went to the kitchen to get water and she's taking shots and dancing with Meredith and Christina."
"Let her," Teddy smiled, joining them.
"I am," Megan replied, "it's just one of those things that I'm not used to seeing from my daughter."
"Meredith and Chrisitina she's fine," Amelia said, "she'll have enough and go find Owen or Teddy soon."
"Thats the hard part," Megan whispered.
"What," Amelia asked.
"Seeing my daughter go to Teddy first," Megan replied, "I get it Teddy has been more consistent for her but I guess I hoped she would start coming to me."
"I have a complicated relationship with my family," Amelia said, 'I'm the black sheep of the family because of my past and it's hard to go to my mom because I know I've let her down many times. Theres a lot of hurt and distrust on both sides. She hasn't met Scout, she doesn't see Mer's kids. I know you and Alyssa is a different circumstance and reason but the relationship was fractured. I think she's only fully sure of her relationship with Owen and Teddy and your mom. Alyssa's most secure attachment as a teenager was to her uncle and you picked a great person for her."
"He nominated himself," Megan admitted.
"But you have someone who loved your daughter as his own," Amelia replied, "the first time I met him and we talked before we were together I assumed she was his daughter because of how he was talking about her. I didn't get it until I lived with Mer and Derek's kids. You know you're auntie but when you're in the house with them daily it's different. You see first steps and growing pains and the ups and downs. You parent because you're there and you love them so deeply their hurts make you hurt. And for Alyssa she didn't have you or her dad so she found the most secure connection she could. It happened to be Owen and Teddy. I don't know Teddy well yet but I do know she loves her family and will do anything for them."
"Megan," Teddy assured, 'it's coming. I'm not hearing from her as much as I used to. She's using our group chat more. Last month when she couldn't get warm after the water rescue she put it in the group chat for all of us. A year ago she would have messaged me and Owen. the two of you spent most of the day yesterday just the two of you. We go to that women in surgery conference in March in Vancouver. We're staying with her and seeing her new house."
"She invited us," Megan agreed.
"She did," Teddy replied.
"I never got that invite," Amelia said, "she would meet me if I was in Vancouver but I didn't get to go to her house. She kept that off limits to me."
Later that night Megan drove Alyssa home wanting some time with her.
"He really married her," Megan asked.
"Christina is great once you get to know her," Alyssa replied, "she's just prickly on the outside. She was in the plane crash, operated on Derek Shepard with a gun to her head, she was 6 or 7 when her dad died. She almost quit, she sat on the couch watching surgery tapes for weeks. Her mom is a nightmare, the woman scares me. Everything in the house was beige and spotless and there was no sound or smell in the house."
"What," Megan asked.
"After they got married we went to Beverly Hills to see Chrisitina's mom and step dad," Alyssa replied, "the house was silent, not even the AC or fans made noise. It was weird. Our house was never totally silent. The TV or music was on, or uncle Owen was playing guitar, the furnace hums and the fan in my room always made noise. Our kitchen smelled like tomato sauce from lasagne and the spicy smell of asian take out there was always a coffee smell. There were no food smells in Chrisitna's mom's kitchen. Auntie Teddy's smelled like cookies and coffee or burgers. The house looked like a museum it was wrong."
"Alyssa," Megan laughed.
"No mom I'm serious," Alyssa replied, "you could have done surgery in the dining room. Our house was always clean but there were books on the coffee table and my lego projects. Stray cat fur no matter how often we vacuumed. It's home. Her mom's house didn't feel like a home."
"And now," Megan asked.
"Auntie Teddy has made some changes," Alyssa replied, "but everyone does. My room is the one thing he won't let people touch."
"Thats fair," Megan agreed, "Lyss I want to see you more."
"I know but you're in LA," Alyssa replied, "my long weekends you're always working. I'm not going to come down if your working. I know how trauma call goes. I was raised by trauma surgeons. I know the game."
"If you tell me further ahead I can get it off," Megan said, "and will fly you down. Lyss seeing you there tonight with so many of the people who loved you when I couldn't be there was hard."
"I know," Alyssa said, "I didn't know how to do it with you there. I felt guilty."
"No," Megan replied, "if you want your time with them I understand. They all loved you and taught you. I really like Richard Webber."
"He's great," Alyssa agreed, "his first wife Ms Adele passed a few years ago and she was so warm and loving."
"What happened," Megan asked.
"Altimers," Alyssa replied, "she went down fast. I think I'd rather lose people suddenly than watch them fade. You feel bad for the person. When it's sudden they don't suffer as much."
"What about you," Megan asked, "if anything was to ever happen?"
"I changed all my pension and life insurance stuff to go to Faroke, Leo and Allison," Alyssa replied, "my little siblings. I know Leo and Allison are cousins but I love them all like baby siblings so."
"And you," Megan asked.
"I'm a donor," Alyssa replied, "I'm young, healthy, in good shape, they can have everything except my eyes that one creeps me out. We need more donors. I donate blood as often as I'm allowed to."
"Who taught you that," Megan asked.
"Uncle Owen," Alyssa replied, "I heard their stories about doing transplants and it's important. Transplants change lives, one saved you. And blood donation saves lives. I've been donating since I was 17."
"Really," Megan asked.
"4 times a year," Alyssa replied, "I'm good I take my iron for a couple weeks on either side and eat well. It's important. Surgeries like yours need blood. I'm O- my blood is what they want for traumas."
"It is," Megan said, "you surprise me all the time."
"How," Alyssa asked.
"How much you do for others," Megan replied, "most people do not start donating blood at 17."
"I went with Uncle Owen and Auntie Teddy the first time," ALyssa said, 'and Chrsitina. We did it as a family."
"Really," Megan asked.
"Really," Alyssa replied.
They pulled into the driveway.
"You fly home tomorrow night but do you have time for brunch," Alyssa asked.
"I'll pick you up at 9," Megan smiled, "good night lady bug."
"Night mom," Alyssa replied hugging Megan before getting out of the car.