"Lyss you have to come home," Owen said as soon as Alyssa picked up her phone.
"What's wrong," Alyssa gasped.
"It's Faroke," Owen said, "he has pericarditis he just had surgery and is in ICU."
"We're coming," Alyssa said.
"What," Matt asked.
"My brother is in ICU," Alyssa said, "we have to go to seattle."
"Alyssa you're 29 weeks with twins," Matt said.
"I'm coming," Alyssa told Owen.
Alyssa threw clothes in a bag and rushed to Grey Sloan. She ran as best she could up to the PICU
"Alyssa," Meredith asked, "should you be travelling?"
"I don't have a choice," Alyssa said, "I have to be here and it's a hospital."
"But you're nearly 40 weeks," Meredith guessed looking at her.
"29 with twins," Alyssa said, "so I'm massive and only going to get bigger."
"Breathe before you go in there." Meredith said.
"Mom and Faroke need me," Alyssa argued.
"They do but you need to be calm " Meredith said.
"I am," Alyssa lied.
Alyssa walked to where she was to meet Teddy and Owen.
"Lyss," Teddy greeted softly.
"Will be be okay," Alyssa asked.
"Hopefully," Teddy answered, "it'll be months of recovery. He's really sick. Your brother had TB when they were in Iraq. We've tested Megan and she should be okay. She was vaccinated before she deployed. We need to test you for exposure. But the tb may have caused the heart problem. We're going to investigate once he's more stable. Winston and Cormac Hayes are working on him and they're good."
"Why can't you do it," Alyssa asked.
"Because he's family just like I can't actually treat you," Teddy replied.
"But you have treated me," Alyssa said.
"Minor things," Teddy replied, "colds, ear infections, bronchitis. Even when you had bronchitis I brought you in for someone who wasn't family to confirm."
"Dr Robbins did," Alyssa remembered, "she sent me home with really gross medicine."
"It was one to make you cough up all the mucus in your lungs," Teddy replied, "it was my idea to get the mucus out. So we did that and put the humidifier in your room."
"Henry let me have his laptop in bed," Alyssa remembered.
"I know we did that," Teddy replied, "you watched DVDs on it because you were so sick."
Alyssa walked with Teddy into the hospital room.
"Mom," Alyssa asked softly.
"Lyss how did you," Megan asked.
"Uncle Owen called," Alyssa replied.
"But," Megan said.
"I'm here," Alyssa said, "the three of us are a family we can do it together. Mom you and Faroke can't be alone."
"Your job," Megan asked, "your babies?"
"My girls go where I go," Alyssa said, "and I called my boss he understands family comes first."
"Lyss," Megan questioned.
"No mom I'm here," Alyssa said, "can I sit with you?"
"Please," Megan agreed.
Alyssa took a seat on the small couch with her mom and took Megan's hand before reaching to put a hand on Faroke's arm.
"You are not alone," Teddy assured, "Megan we will not let you do this alone."
"We are your family," Owen continued, "Teddy and I, mom, our kids, we have the three of you."
"We're together," Alyssa said, "we can do anything together."
"We can always solve it as a family," Owen assured.
Teddy put her arms around Megan, "we're here and we love you."
Alyssa turned to join the group hug.
Evelyn joined them and wrapped the three in a hug.
"Grandma do you want the couch," Alyssa offered.
"No you sit sweetheart," Evelyn said, "your okay to be here?"
"We're family," Alyssa said.
"Alyssa," Evelyn asked.
"I can be careful here as much as at home," Alyssa said, "theres tons of doctors and nurses. I'm okay grandma."
"Lyss," Teddy asked.
"I'll sit with mom," Alyssa replied, 'I have my water bottle and know where to fill it."
"The filling stations are gone with the pandemic but ask a nurse," Owen said, "washroom back by the elevator and you'll eat."
"I will," Alyssa said, "I know where to find things. I don't know where I'm staying yet."
"Come home," Teddy replied, "I'll put fresh sheets on your bed. What do you need?"
"Pillows," Alyssa admitted, "I have my favourite one and the pregnancy one in the truck. But if you have an extra it helps to put one behind my back."
"Behind your back," Teddy asked.
"Mom's idea," Alyssa said, "stops me from rolling onto my back when I sleep."
"Are you sleeping," Teddy asked.
"Kinda," Alyssa agreed, "babies are heavy and if I'm not lying just so they pull on my back."
Alyssa moved her hand that was holding Megan's to rest on her bump keeping her mom's hand in hers.
"Lyss are you okay to bring your mom home in a bit," Owen asked.
"I will," Alyssa agreed.
"Dinner at 6:30 and both of you will be home," Teddy commanded.
"I can't," Megan said, "I can't leave until he wakes up."
"I'll stay with mom," Alyssa replied, "mom shouldn't be alone."
"I'll come back and sit with you after our kids go to bed," Owen replied, "Lyss you should go home and sleep there."
"I'm not leaving until my brother is awake," Alyssa replied.
"We are going to bring you two food," Teddy said, "you both have to eat."
Alyssa nodded.
Owen and Teddy went to get their kids from daycare and left Megan sitting with her kids. Alyssa stood up.
"Lyss," Megan asked.
"Washroom," Alyssa replied, "do you want water mom?"
"I should," Megan agreed.
"I'll get water on my way back," Alyssa agreed.
She came back with two bottles of water and passed one to Megan. Alyssa stood at the foot of the bed clearly trying to stretch out her back.
"Lyss,' Megan asked.
"I've sat too much," Alyssa replied, "I just need to stand and stretch out my back."
"You made my lower back so sore," Megan said, "it would almost make me cry."
"That's the braxton hicks," Alyssa said, "but if I keep moving and hydrated it's not so bad."
Cormac came in, "how is he?"
"He's not awake yet," Megan said, "vitals look good."
"You called a friend," Cormac asked.
"No," Megan said, "this is my oldest Alyssa."
"Oh," Cormac said.
"I was 19, she's 28," Megan said, "Lyss just drove down from Vancouver BC."
"Should you be," Cormac asked.
"29 weeks with twins," Alyssa said, "I'm good. I called my midwife on the way down as long as I don't do anything stupid we'll be okay."
"How long until he wakes up," Megan asked.
"A few more hours I think," Cormac said, "Megan, Alyssa I wish I had better news. This is going to be a long road. Megan I don't have to tell you. Alyssa what has been explained?"
"Auntie Teddy and Uncle Owen told me what happened," Alyssa said, "I understand a lot because I grew up around it. I spent my teens here."
"You'll page when he wakes up," Cormac asked.
"Will he wake up," Alyssa asked sounding much younger than she was.
"I am confident he will," Cormac said, "you'll talk to your brother soon."
"Mom," Faroke moaned.
"Faroke," Megan said, "I'm here."
"What," Faroke asked.
"You had surgery on your heart," Megan reminded, "Lyss is here."
Megan took one of Faroke's hands while Alyssa took the other then reached for Megan's free hand.
"We're together," Megan said.
"Our family," Alyssa promised, "we can do it together. The three of us."
"Rest," Megan said, "just rest my sweet boy we're not going anywhere."
"I'm thirsty," Faroke said.
"I'll get some water," Alyssa said stepping back after giving Faroke's hand a squeeze.
Cormac did his exam and paged Winston. They both agreed that the preliminary exam looked good and it would just be a long slow road to recovery."
In the attending lounge the two doctors spoke quietly.
"There's a sister," Cormac said, "a very pregnant sister. Late 20s."
"I don't know their story," Winston said.
"I do," Meredith said, "Alyssa Hunt is a medical engineer, Megan's daughter but raised by Owen while Megan was held hostage. Teddy Altman has always been her aunt and a mother figure. I think Teddy had some sort of custody with Owen. Because I know I treated Alyssa one time with Teddy's permission while Owen was out of town and she didn't need him or to call him. She was allowed to make the calls for Alyssa."
"And her relationship with Megan," Cormac asked.
"She moved to BC with her dad's side after college to get to know them," Meredith said, "Lyss was always really close to Owen and Teddy. I don't know how close her and Megan are and the border has been closed for two years. I know she's not married but there is a committed relationship."
"And Owen," Cormac asked.
"I thought Lyss was his daughter at first," Meredith said, 'you listen to him and Teddy talk about her they sound like her parents. Alyssa was a hospital kid for years."
"Like yours," Cormac said.
"I saw how they did it and try to do it their way instead of how my mom did it with me," Meredith said, "I was the afterthought they made her a priority. Owen would say no, or reschedule things if Alyssa needed him more. They went to volleyball games and ballet recitals, they took family vacations."
"So him and Altman have been together a long time," Winston said.
"No but always really close friends," Meredith said, 'they've both had other marriages and relationships. He was with Christina Yang and I know she still talks to Lyss."
After Faroke had some water and was settled for the night Alyssa drove Megan back to Owen's.
"We're at a hotel," Megan said.
"I talked to Uncle Owen and Auntie Teddy," Alyssa said, "we made a decision for you. You're staying here. Auntie Teddy will lend you some clean clothes and pjs and tomorrow you and I will go get your stuff and check out."
"Lyss," Megan said.
"Mom you're coming home," Alyssa said, "you can't do this alone. Let us take care of you."
"I should be taking care of you," Megan said.
"I'm a grown up," Alyssa said, "you worry about Faroke. Let me worry about you and Matt will worry about me. It's all good."
"Lyss," Megan sighed.
"Come on lets go inside," Alyssa said getting out of the truck.
"You know this thing is impractical for kids," Megan said.
"Really big back seat," Alyssa said, " bright red is hard to miss, great visibility, good in all terrain so we can take the kids camping."
"Lifted," Megan said.
"Easier to see and higher off the road," Alyssa said, "Matt's isn't lifted and has a smaller backseat but bigger box. I went with the big cab and he has the big box."
"Okay," Megan said, "as long as you've thought it through."
"We have and considered switching one to an SUV," Alyssa replied, "but I like my truck and that I rebuilt it with Uncle Don."
"Just think it through," Megan said.
"I have," Alyssa replied.
Alyssa went to get her bag from the back of the truck.
"Alyssa give me the bag," Megan said.
"I'm okay," Alyssa said.
Megan took the bag out of Alyssa's hand, "I'm still going to look out for you, that means no heavy lifting."
Alyssa gave in not wanting to argue with Megan. They went inside and Teddy put dinner in front of both of them at the kitchen table, "Lyss, Meg eat."
"I'm not hungry," Megan said.
"You have to eat," Teddy replied, "at least taste it Megan."
"What is it," Megan asked looking at the bowl.
"Just turkey chilli," Teddy replied, "it's not spicy Lyss. you've mentioned spicy food was bugging you."
"Heartburn," Alyssa complained.
"Sweet heart you're getting all the symptoms," Teddy said, "poor thing. What can we do?"
"Nothing," Alyssa replied, "I just have to get through it."
"We can make you more comfortable," Teddy said, "in a way that is safe for your daughters."
"I want to do this as naturally as possible," Alyssa argued.
"Lyss," Teddy tried, "you are no good to your kids, to your mom to Faroke if you are miserable. Let me call Carina and see what she suggests."
"I have something but I don't want to take it," Alyssa said, "my midwife knows."
"Then you are making a choice," Owen replied, "you are choosing to be uncomfortable and we can't help you with that."
"It's not that bad," Alyssa said, "more annoying. I don't want to take something unless it's crying bad. This is annoying."
"Okay," Teddy agreed, "I understand where you're coming from."
"Mom needs to eat more than I do," Alyssa replied.
"You both do," Owen said, "juice? Water? Soda?"
"Water," Alyssa replied.
"Meg," Owen asked.
Megan just shrugged, Owen had seen her stressed like this when Alyssa was a baby he filled a glass with ice water and set it beside Megan's plate then picked up her spoon and put it in her hand.
"One bite," Owen said, remembering how when Alyssa was little and Megan was stressed if he could coax her into eating the first couple bites she would usually finish her whole plate.
"Lyss," Teddy said sitting beside her, "what are you working on right now?"
"I need to call Christina in about an hour," Alyssa said, "I'm on the cardio team and we're building off something she published seeing if we can make it better and I want to talk to her first before we move forward. I told my team I would deal with Dr Yang."
"Deal with," Teddy asked, she knew getting Alyssa distracted she would eat when stressed, Teddy had used this tactic many times over the years.
"Meg will you eat something else," Owen offered, "toast? Yogurt? Noodles with butter?"
Megan shook her head.
"Then you eat or I'll feed you and I've done it before," Owen said.
"When I was feeding a baby," Megan replied.
"Megan you need to eat, you can't help Faroke if you don't eat," Owen signed, "we have the lipton chicken noodle you used to love. I can make you that."
Megan shook her head.
"Eat, I feed you or I call mom," Owen said.
"Mom please," Alyssa tried, "we need you."
"Meg you haven't eaten in a couple days," Teddy said, "no one has seen you eat. Have you even had any water?"
"A few sips," Alyssa replied, 'I tried to force it earlier."
"Megan we know you're stressed and scared," Teddy said, 'we are your family we won't let you do it alone. We are all here. Have something to eat please. Half the bowl."
"We won't leave you mom," Alyssa said, 'we're here. I'm staying until Faroke is out of the hospital."
"You can't,' Megan said, 'your babies. You're too late in the pregancy to be doing this."
"No," Alyssa said, "if I have them here I have my girls at Grey Sloan that doesn't matter. Matt will come down. You and Faroke are more important than where I have my girls. I can have them in any hospital. If auntie Teddy trusts Carina Deluca I can go with that."
"You want to be home and to bring them home to your house and the nursery you've set up for them," Megan said.
"They'll come home to family," Alyssa said, "they'll get dual citizenship either way. I have dual and Matt is Canadian. Mom if I'm here and give birth here in Seattle my babies will still be surrounded by the people that love me and will love them. They will come into the world knowing their loved and wanted and that's all that matters to me."
"Lyss," Megan said.
"That's what we're doing," Alyssa said, 'mom you worry about you and Faroke. I'm here to support the two of you. The three of us are."
"So is mom,' Owen said, "she's on her way."
"Tonight," Teddy commanded, "you eat dinner, go shower, I'll put clean pjs for you in the bathroom and then you'll sleep."
"Sleep in my room so you're not alone," Alyssa said.
"Where will you," Megan started.
"It's a double," Alyssa said, "we'll make it work but mom you can't be alone. We're not going to let you be. I won't let you be."
"We won't let you be," Owen said, "Megan we are here."
"We are your family," Teddy assured, 'you never have to do this alone. Megan we will be here every step of the way. You are loved and safe, we love you."
"Mom," Alyssa said squeezing Megan's hand.
Megan nodded.
"Food, shower, bed," Owen commanded, "then in the morning one of us will drive you back to the hospital and we will take turns the four of us sitting with you and Faroke. Then at the end of the day we will bring you home for dinner and you will stay here. We have you. Megan let us take care of you."
"That's all you've ever done," Megan cried, 'take care of me and my kids."
"And I always will," Owen said, "we always will."
"We will always be here," Teddy assured.
"But," Megan tried to argue.
"No," Owen said, 'this is what family does. We are all here."
"Mom let us," Alyssa pleaded, "please mom."
Megan nodded.
"No I'm going to reheat these bowls then you two will eat," Teddy said.
Megan nodded and gave in, having no energy left today to fight them.