"Mom," Alyssa whispered, stepping into the hospital room.
"Lyss," Megan forced a smile.
"Can I sit with you for a bit," Alyssa asked.
"Yes," Megan agreed, scooting to one side of the small loveseat.
"Are you okay today ladybug," Megan asked.
"Ya," Alyssa replied.
"Is that a ya mom I'm fine but I'm going to go cry to Teddy later," Megan asked.
"I was just sore and tired last night," Alyssa replied, "my back hurt."
"I can't do much but if you give me your feet," Megan replied.
"I'm not in a touching mood still," Alyssa replied.
"I know you're really uncomfortable with your body right now and I get it but it might make you feel better," Megan replied, "it's feet and I'm your mom I'm not judging."
"How's Faroke," Alyssa asked.
"Ecmo still," Megan replied.
"How long," Alyssa asked.
"He's been on it three weeks," Megan replied, "Lyss you must have to go home soon."
"No," Alyssa said, "I've always paid for medical insurance here even after I moved to Bc. I have to talk to Matt but I'm not going back until you and Faroke are okay. I saw dr Deluca this morning."
"What did she say, " Megan asked.
"My blood pressure is up but the girls are healthy and blood work looks good," Alyssa replied, "she understands why my blood pressure is elevated. It's not dangerous yet."
"I can help," Megan said, 'you shouldn't be sitting here all day every day. Lyss there's studies that show human touch can reduce blood pressure. When you were little and upset, rubbing your back helped. I need to do something that feels like I'm helping one of you. This is something I can do to help you. I know you're really uncomfortable, I know you must be exhausted."
"I'll be okay," Alyssa tried, "our worry is Faroke. How much longer can he hold on?"
"I don't know," Teddy said joining them, "we're doing everything we can."
"Is a transplant the only hope," Alyssa asked.
"Yes," Teddy replied, "I've talked to Maggie and Winston, I've even called Chrsitina."
"What did Christina say," Alyssa asked.
"She's thinking," Teddy replied, "she said to let her think and she's thinking about all of us. She asked about you specifically."
"What did you tell her," Alyssa asked.
"That's your upset and worried," Teddy replied, "she suggested tequila so I told her. She wants you to turn on your music and dance it out. She said you should still have the play list she sent you the link during lock down."
"She did," Alyssa said, "I turned it on a lot to dance it out. But here?"
'Bring your mom we're going to my office," Teddy said, "I remember how this works."
"Should she," Megan asked.
"Why," Teddy asked, "are you not feeling well? Lyss is something wrong?"
"My blood pressure is up and my feet are swollen," Alyssa said.
"I think dancing it out and de stressing could really help," Teddy said, "you are coming with me and going for a walk at least, getting some fresh air. "
"Teddy check it before you go outside," Megan said.
"Lyss feet," Teddy said, "let one of us massage them."
"I only want Matt to," Alyssa whined.
"He's not back for another 2 days he's coming down on weekends," Teddy replied, "me or your mom?"
"You," Alyssa said.
Teddy pulled up a chair and helped Alyssa take off her boots before massaging her feet.
"Breathe and close your eyes," Teddy suggested, "Lyss you need to calm your whole body. I can feel from the pulse point in your ankle that your heart is beating fast. Check your watch what is it?"
"103," Alyssa said.
"It should be up but not that high," Teddy replied, "lean back close your eyes and let me massage your feet. Breathe, if you won't leave your mom and brother we're going to do what we can to get your pulse and BP down here."
"You like when we do your hair," Megan said, "will you let me french braid it?"
"Yes," Alyssa agreed.
"Good I need something to do with my hands," Megan said, "do you have a brush and hair ties in your purse?"
"I do," Alyssa replied.
Teddy got paged.
"Lyss your feet need to stay up on the chair," Teddy replied, "lets get the swelling down a bit. Sweetheart."
Teddy jogged into the emergency room.
"Teddy everything okay," Meredith asked.
"No," teddy said, "Faroke, Megan and now Alyssa's BP is elevated and she's got some swelling around her feet and ankles."
"OB," Meredith asked.
"She saw Carina," Teddy said, 'but I'd like someone she knows to recheck her BP. we've tried to get her to calm down and relax."
"Could I try," Meredith asked, "give her a couple hours? Maybe send her and Megan to the blue room or the plant room?"
"She won't leave Faroke," Teddy said, "Matt is coming down Friday night and Carina agreed to see them and do another ultrasound on Saturday."
"How far along," Meredith asked.
"33 weeks," Teddy replied.
"So if they had to now," Meredith said.
"I don't think we're there," Teddy replied.
"Are they ready," Meredith asked.
"She had started a nursery," Teddy said, "it was painted and the furniture was in but she needs to finish decorating."
"If she does here," Meredith asked.
'I've asked Matt to bring the bassinets down," Teddy replied, "I've told him to bring those and the baby bouncy seats and swings. I have a feeling she will have the twins here. For her mental health I think she should be with us."
"But she's in BC," Meredith said.
"We'll work it out," Teddy said, "but it's her dad's side up there and Matt's family. She needs to be with the people who raised her."
"Are we calling Christina," Meredith asked.
"I talked to her earlier about Faroke," Teddy said, "If she comes up with anything Owen and I will fly her out to help."
"She can stay with me," Meredith said.
"She knows about Lyss's twins," Teddy replied.
"So she'll send something for Lyss's girls to my house," Meredith said.
"She did for our kids," Teddy replied.
Faroke twitched in the bed.
"Hey buddy," Alyssa said talking to her sedated brother, "it's okay. I'm here. You have to live long enough to meet your nieces. They need to know their uncle. You have to hold on. Faroke it would kill mom to lose you. You have to pull through this. Our family needs you. I love you."
She squeezed his hand feeling it twitch again in hers.
"I know," Alyssa said, "you're scared. We're all doing everything we can."
Alyssa kept talking to Faroke sitting on the side of the bed.
"Alyssa,' Meredith said, "how are you holding up?"
"Tired but okay," Alyssa said.
"Teddy mentioned your BP was up," Meredith said, "can I check while your more relaxed and you've known me a long time."
"I guess," Alyssa agreed.
Meredith checked Alyssa's BP," it's elevated."
"I know," Alyssa said.
"Alyssa go home," Meredith said, "not back to BC. Go to your uncle's. Go home and relax. Find one of your old lego sets and relax."
"No if mom and Faroke are here I am," Alyssa replied.
"Alyssa you have to think of your babies," Meredith said, "your mom knows you love and support her. Your babies need you to take care of your physical and mental health. I didn't when I was pregnant with Ellis and her delivery was scary, I needed emergency care. Lyss we are all here for you. You're about to be a mom you have to look after your self and your babies. Go home and relax."
"But mom," Alyssa argued.
"Will be okay," Meredith said, 'I'll call Evelyn to come sit with her for a bit. Go home and rest. Go for a walk, hang out with Owen, Alyssa you are going to leave this hospital."
"But if he," Alyssa said, "mom needs me."
"So do your daughters," Meredith said, "Alyssa you are going to put your self into pre term labour at this rate then your looking at weeks if not months in the NICU, two very sick babies with possibly life long delays and medical needs."
"If i could just figure out a way to build a heart," Alyssa said, "if I could design something to help him."
"You'd never get approval in time," Meredith said, "he's at the top of the list."
"I can't do wait and pray," Alyssa said, 'that's what grandma told me when mom was first captured. I can't do that again."
"A heart will come," Winston joined them, "we will get your brother a heart. Alyssa you're no good to him or your mom right now. I need you to go take 24 hours out of this hospital. Do not come back until you are calm."
"I can't," Alyssa said, "it took me 4 days to make it to her room when she first came back because I was too chicken shit. I can't walk away now."
"Lyss we all love you," Megan joined them, "Meredith is right and so is Winston you need to rest and relax away from here before you hurt your own children. I understand. I want to meet those beautiful girls but not yet. They need more time."
Evelyn found them and Teddy was finally able to convince Alyssa to leave the hospital.