Hi! Here are my unsolicited thoughts about the finale: i loved it, yes. absolutely. BUT i wish we saw everything that happened in between the time jumps. i mean come on we need fluffy Towen.

Anyways. here's fluffy towen. It's long, I know. I hope you guys like!

Take You Home - Aaron Espe

Day One

Teddy doesn't know what to do with herself. He hasn't had this much alone time in years. She's been home for approximately two hours and is locked up in the bedroom and she's running out of things to do.

She's annoyed that she tested positive for Covid. She doesn't have any symptoms besides feeling run down. Who isn't feeling run down when you're a first responder with two toddlers? She didn't think anything of it. Other than that she's perfectly fine. Maybe, she thinks, that it's the universe's way to telling her to slow and to relax. It could be worse, of course. She could have symptoms. But now her anxiety is just brewing inside of her waiting for symptoms to manifest.

She sits on the bed staring ahead. Maybe she should finally read that book she bought months ago. Maybe watch that TV show she told herself she'd start. Maybe call a friend in Germany she hasn't talked to in a while. What does one do while being quarantined in a bedroom. She could wander around the house while Owen is at work and while the kids are with his mom, but she doesn't want to take a risk or touch anything. So she sighs deeply and lets out a groan.

She's not sure when she fell asleep. But when she woke up she checks her temperature. No fever. Her only symptom is tiredness. She has no energy and she could probably keep sleeping. There was a soft knock on the door and she rolls out of bed and skitters by the door.

"Owen?"

"Hey" His voice soft and sweet. She feels comfort in his tone. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Just tired. No fever. No other symptoms." She leans against the door to feel his closeness.

"Have you eaten?"

"No. I just woke up from a nap."

"Do you have an appetite?" He asks with a chuckle

"Yeah I'm starved." She says with a soft smile.

"Okay, mom made me bring you home some soup. But I had a feeling you want a burger and fries"

She hears your stomach rumbling and she sighs heavily "How did you know?"

"I just know"

It's weird to have a conversation when there's a door between them, but she closes her eyes to picture his face. To imagine his smell.

"You know me so well."

"So? Burger or soup?"

"Burger!" She says

"Okay I'll leave it by the door." He said. "I'll check in on you later"

"Owen. Wait."

"Yeah?"

"How was your day?"

She smiles when he chuckles in response. "It was fine."

"Do you feel okay?"

"Yes. I feel okay."

"You tested Negative?"

"Yes, still negative."

"Okay." She sighs in relief "And the kids? How are they?"

"They're good. They're here playing in the living room."

"Okay."

"I'll check in on you later, okay? Enjoy your burger. There's a surprise in there for you."

"Okay" She says. She listens in until his footsteps are out of earshot before opening the door to get the food on the table by the door. She smiles when she sees the bag of food with a little note. The handwriting was unmistakably his.

Things are going so well with Owen. They're fine. They have a mutual love and adoration for each other. They haven't been on the same page about most things for so long, but now everything is clear and light and she's finally letting herself believe that he loves her. She's working on it.

So seeing a love note on her dinner makes her heart flutter. This fourteen day quarantine is going to be tortuous because all she wants to do is grab his face and give him a kiss.

He's worried. Of course, he's worried. He doesn't know what's going to happen. He's seen asymptomatic people turn for the worse. He's also seen them recover. He's worried. He's worried about her, her health, her mental health. He wants to sit by her side and monitor her, but he can't because one of them has to stay healthy for the kids, for his mom, for the hospital. But he's grateful that she's okay. So he's going to take care of her the best he can. He stopped by to get her burger and fries and a milkshake. He writes a little love note on a post it to make her smile. He can't imagine being locked in a room for fourteen days so he'll do his best to make her feel better.

His phone buzzes in his pocket. He fishes it out and a smile spreads on his face as he reads the message. 'Love you too. Who knew you're the love note type'. He chuckles and types 'There's still plenty to learn about me, love'

He slips his phone back in his pocket and makes his way to the kids. Allison was sprawled in the playpen clutching her little giraffe teething toy and Leo was playing with his little anatomy puzzle for toddlers. He knows he has to put the kids to bed soon, he's kind of dreading it because they both only want Teddy. When they were living with his mom, when they were in the thick of the pandemic, he was easily forgotten but they light up right away when Teddy's around. He tries not to take it personally. It's getting better, but he already knows bedtime is already going to be a pain without Teddy.

"Okay, munchkins. Bedtime."

"Nope." Leo quips, eyes not even leaving his puzzle. The little heart puzzle piece in his hand, his lips pursed, brows furrowed, concentrating on his puzzle.

Allison, on the other hand, rolls over on all fours and and tries to get up like a drunken old man, giraffe still in hand, and waddles towards him and raises her arms. "Up please"

Owen chuckles, grateful that one of two seems to be cooperating. Not bad, he thinks to himself. He picks Allison up and holds her against his hip. Leaving a little kiss on her little cheek.

"We'll stop by the room to say goodnight to mom" He bargains with Leo.

Leo looks up at him at the mention of 'mom'. He can see his blue eyes behind his curly bangs. "Okay" He says, discarding the heart piece to the side and makes his way to the room.

On the way home, he explained to the kids that mom had to be quarantined and they cannot hug her for a few days. Allison couldn't care less obviously, she doesn't understand. But he knows she'll ask for her eventually. But Leo had a lot of follow up question. What is a quarantine—it was very much mispronounced, but it's okay they're working on it. (It's when someone needs to be isolated for a period of time because they've been exposed to a contagious disease.) Why does mommy have to be isolated? (Because she tested positive for a contagious disease.) Is she okay? (She is. She doesn't have symptoms so we're hopeful but we still have to be careful) Why can't you fix her? (I'm trying.) When can I see mommy? (Fourteen days.) Can I have a milkshake like mommy? (No, you already had dinner. But I promise tomorrow.) Can I have a sip of mommy's milkshake? (Okay fine.) Can I have a French fry? (Just one!) Owen reaches for a fry and reaches behind him to hand his son a french fry.

He watches as Leo gallops along to the hall. "Mom?" He knocks on the door. He hears rustling on the other side and then Teddy's voice immediately after.

"Hey buddy."

"I'm sorry you're in the quan-teen."

Teddy chuckles on the other side of the door. "Me too."

"I'm going to bed now"

"Okay."

"Allison is also saying good night" Owen adds.

"Night, Allie"

Allison just mutters 'mama'

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I feel fine."

"How was the burger?"

"So good."

"So you can still taste?"

"Yep and smell."

"Okay, good."

"Okay, good" Leo parrots, making both adults laugh.

"Okay, good night" Teddy says.

He knows it's killing her not to put the kids to bed. It's one of her favorite things. The bath, the bedtime story, the whole thing. But at the same time, it's nice to give her a little break. She can relax, or at least try to, for a few days. He'll handle everything else.

They got this.

Day Two

"Day off?" Her therapist asks her as they start their session. "Nice to see that we are not in an on-call room today."

Teddy just chuckles dryly. "You could say that. Unfortunately, I am forced to quarantine. I tested positive for covid"

"Oh. Sorry to hear that." The therapist says "How are you doing? Feeling? What feelings come up?"

Teddy takes a deep breath and fidgets with the hem of her sweater. "Medically? I'm fine. I don't have any symptoms except some fatigue. Emotionally? A little anxious. What if I just…wake up worse or what if I—Obviously I've seen the worst. I work with covid patients everyday. I see what it could do to people. I see what it's done to my friends. So there's a lot of anxiety. I take comfort in knowing that it could be much worse, for sure, but.. you know… I can't help it. I always think of the worse."

"Why do you think that is?"

"Because…" God, she hates therapists sometimes "Because I'm finally happy and I'm not used to being this happy and now I have covid and because I've seen the worst case scenario, I'm afraid that I'm next and my happiness will be taken from me and—it's not even just that—what about my kids? Owen? I just… there's a lot of fear."

"A lot of people recover too—"

"Yeah, but what if it turns for the worse—"

"Maybe you should take it a day at a time. Today your only symptom is fatigue and that's your win for today. Try not to think about what could happen-"

"It's easy to say that. But it's hard to actually do it."

"I think you telling me and opening up to me about how you really feel is a huge step. So maybe the next step is actually trying to put that into action"

"I know, I know.I'll try not to think about it. Or obsessively check my temperature or whatever."

"You know the more you stress about it the worse you feel"

"It's true. I just…I'm feeling the cabin fever already."

"How long have you been quarantined?"

Teddy blushes and then lets out a soft laugh "Two days. Well, technically a little over a day"

"How are you entertaining yourself?"

"I tried watching a movie. I got bored. I FaceTime with Owen's mom and talk to the kids. I bother Owen at work. I'm gonna disinfect the house in a little bit. And to be perfectly honest with you, this is the first time I'm excited to have this session. I think I just miss talking to another person even though it's literally only been."

"How are the kids dealing with the situation?"

"They're obviously too young to grasp the gravity of the situation, but Owen and I just explained that no one can hug mom or spend time with mom for a few days, which is killing me."

"How do you really feel about having covid"

"Mostly mad. I've made it this far. I was careful. I always wear PPE. I scrub down when I get home. I sanitize everything that comes from outside" she sighs "You know what, it's fine. It's fine. Everything happens for a reason. There's a reason for this. Maybe I'm just supposed to take it easy for fourteen days. Maybe I can just reflect on the things that I need to spend time reflecting on. Right?"

Her therapist just smiles back at her.

Teddy sighs again because as much as she wants to think positively about this situation, she's just mad because she also can't get Owen out of her mind. She just wants to attach herself to him and never let go….ever.

She spends the rest of her day trying to busy herself. She'd occasionally get a call from Owen whenever he gets a second. It's the routine check-in questions. How are you? (Ugh) Feeling any different? (No. I feel fine) Temperature? (Normal. No fever.) Did you eat? (I had mom's soup. Amazing. I called her.) What did you do today? (I started watching a reality TV show). But then he usually gets paged.

She gets a call that he's on his way home, so she disinfects the house and hides out in the bedroom again. She presses her ear against the door when she hears activity in the house. Leo's laugh, Allison's gleeful shriek, Owen's voice. She just groans loudly. She doesn't know if she can stand being sequestered for this long. But she has to do it. She has to protect them.

He gets home and the house smells like Clorox and candles. The kids' toys were put away. There were fresh laundry. He realized that she came out of hiding to clean and disinfect the house. He smiles, it was such a Teddy thing to do. When he called to checked in on her, she seemed a little too overly hyper, which he thinks is probably a good thing. He watches Leo run to the bedroom door to say hello and tell Teddy about his day, Allison toddling behind her big brother. He keeps an eye from afar.

He can't imagine raising their children without her. He can't imagine living the rest of his life without her. The last few weeks have been pure bliss. The two of them slowly getting back on track, learning more from each other, more about each other. No secrets. No deception. Just hours of endless conversations. No one else but the two of them. He's learning more and more that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Just let go of the past. Let go of the hurt and the pain because now they're both willing to put in the work and heal from their pasts.

"Dad!" Leo shouts, beckoning him to come over.

"What's up?" He says as he reaches the door.

"I was asking for you" Teddy says, laughing.

"Hey."

"What? No burgers or love notes from you today? Not even a hello." Teddy says jokingly.

"I was about to make dinner." He says, leaning against the door. "How are you? I see that you came out of your little jail"

"I promise I disinfected everything I touched."

"I know." He says. The kids were already bored of their conversation and have roamed off. "How was therapy?"

"Actually fun."

"Really?" He asks in sight disbelief.

"Yeah." She says softly. "How was work?"

"It was okay. Nothing too crazy"

"Good"

Then there was a crash and Leo yelling "Dad Allison made a mess"

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Duty calls. I'll check in later."

Duty always calls. He loves his kids but sometimes they really are a lot of work. But he's managing.

Day Seven

"One week down" Owen says from the other side of the door. She's sitting on the floor with her back against the door. She knows he's on the other side doing the same thing. The kids are nearby in the hall, she can hear them laughing.

"This is ridiculous" She says, lightly banging her head against the door.

"How's the Real Housewives?"

She lets out a laugh "I've never been so inspired"

"I'm glad you're sharpening your brain in there."

"How's the outside world?"

"Same old."

"What are you doing?"

"Just had dinner. About to put these little monsters in the bath and then bed."

"And then?"

"And then back here on the floor to catch up with you"

"This sucks"

"We're almost there."

It's become a daily thing—them sitting on the floor against the door. They catch up on their days—well, Owen catches her up on his day and she catches him up on the latest episode of television she's watched.

Owen says, and she knows this too, that they can wear masks and keep their distance but Teddy is not risking anything.

In some weird ironic twist, being this far apart from each other brought them much closer. They spend hours sitting against the door talking. Sometimes he sits with her while she eats. Sure, they talk on the phone too but there was just something comforting knowing he's inches away from her.

"Teddy, we can open the door at least."

"No!" She protests "We don't know how I caught this and I was very careful. So I'm not putting anyone in any risk. Trust me I want to see you more than anything or anyone. Plus like you said we're almost there"

"Okay, that's fair."

"Do you think tomorrow we can do pizza?"

Owen laughs. God, he misses her so much. "Yes, sure."

"Are the kids okay? Are you okay? Is mom?"

"Everyone is okay and negative…including you."

"Okay, good."

"So what's the latest on the wives?"

"I really don't understand how I cannot stop I'm very fascinated."

He chuckles and just listens to her catching him up on her new favorite tv show (okay, not favorite but he likes to tease her). He feels like he already knows all of them. Even he is starting to have his opinions about someone named Ramona, even though he has not watched a single episode. It makes her happy. She also talks about starting the Bachelor and he can't wait for her to come out of that room and let him live in peace.

He finds it endearing that she's always willing to share whatever keeps her entertained. It's cute that she can talk about anything, and he's very much and genuinely interested in what's going on in her head. He could listen to her forever.

He's taken her for granted for so long. He finds it fascinating—and he also kinda feels guilty—that there is still so much to learn about her. But he's completely enamored by her. By her voice. The way she sounds. He can't see her face but he can imagine how animated she is.

"Am I boring you? Oh god, I'm boring you aren't I?"

"What? No? Why?"

"You got quiet."

"Sorry. I was just thinking about how I can't wait to kiss you. And how much I love you."

Teddy just chuckles "I hate you so much"

He knows she's kidding. It's how she shows her love. He can tell she's blushing. He knows she's blushing. But it's true. He can't stop thinking about her.

Day Nine

There was tiny knock on the door. Teddy makes her way to the door, and there was another knock.

"Mommy? It's Leo"

Teddy's heart swells in joy. She feels an inexplicable, heartwarming joy when she hears someone calling her mommy. She never thought she'd ever be a mom. With Iraq and then her life taking so many different directions. She never got the right guy until much later. But now she has these two little humans who think the world of her.

"Hey Leo!"

"Just want to say hi" She chuckles and sits on the floor by the door, and she sees a slip of paper slide under the door and Leo's little fingers pushing it in. "I have something for you. I miss you!"

She picks up the piece of paper and it's just a bunch of scribbles, but she knows it meant more than that.

"Thanks, baby. I love it."

"I love you!"

"I love you too. How are you doing?"

"I miss you" He says in his little voice. "And Allison misses you"

"I miss you both so much."

"Okay I'm going to draw you more pictures bye" He says hurriedly and she hears his little footsteps running away.

She wants to say fuck it and just hug her little kids instead actually completing the two week quarantine. She tested negative the last time Owen brought her a test, but at the same time she knows she has to wait the fourteen days. The what ifs flood her mind, no, no of course she has to finish the two weeks. She can't risk their lives.

She looks at his little drawing in her hands. It was incredibly thoughtful and touching. It keeps her sane. Her kids keep her sane. The thought of getting to hold them soon keep her sane.

"Mommy?" She hears his little steps again.

"Yeah?"

"It's Leo again."

"Hey"

"I drew you another picture but this one is from Allison"

She chuckles and watches her his little paw push another piece of paper under the door.

"This is also beautiful"

"Okay. Bye."

Teddy takes the drawings and puts them on her nightstand and she curls back up in bed she texts Owen 'give Leo a squeeze for me'. He responds with a selfie of him squeezing both kids.

She sighs. This has been longest two weeks, but she's at the home stretch.

It's arts and crafts time in their home. Leo was concentrating really hard with his drawing. Allison was alternating between putting the crayon in her mouth and attempting to color.

"What are you drawing, Leo?"

"You and mom and me and Allison"

He smiles. It was totally just four blobs but he can totally see the attempt.

"Nice" He smiles "Mom's going to like it"

He already knows he wants to spend the rest of his life with Teddy. Raise their kids. Maybe even get a pet, maybe multiple pets as the kids grow up, he can already imagine hamsters and goldfish and turtles or a dog—he can already picture it.

The more he's been away from her, the more his imagination has brought him to places it has never been before. All he knows is this: he wants to be around her every single day of his life. He wants to hold her. Marry her.

Leo hands him a blank paper and some crayons. "Draw for mom too"

He chuckles and he does. Rendering—as best as he can; he is no Picasso; okay fine it's stick drawings—their family under some snowflakes. And he writes a little love note.

"Will you deliver this to mom too?" Handing it to Leo who just runs off to the bedroom and announces that this one is from dad. He must have drawn at least 6 drawings for Teddy, slipping them under the door one by one.

His phone pings again, another text from her. This time it was just a kissy emoji.

Day Fourteen

She wakes up with so much anxiety. She should be excited. She gets to actually spend time with her family without the door between them. She made it to two weeks without any symptoms. She's been testing negative. Then why is she suddenly afraid to come out of quarantine.

She spent the whole day pacing in the bedroom, fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater. She is going back and forth between wanting to just break free and wanting to stay isolated a little longer.

She thinks and assesses why she wants to stay isolated, psychologically at least. She is definitely fine. She has no symptoms, never had any besides fatigue. She had tested negative. Everyone tested negative. Her sheets have been washed twice. Every surface of the bedroom has been sanitized. It might have been a little overkill but you can never be too sure. She should definitely want to come out of hiding. Everyone is safe. She misses everyone. But she can't shake the anxiety. It's not easy to just not think about the what ifs. Of course she's thinking about it.

It's fine. It's fine. She says to herself over and over and over to convince herself.

He stands in the kitchen with the kids, watching them eat their dinner. Tonight is Mac and cheese night. He's definitely the boxed Mac and cheese guy, Teddy is definitely the homemade Mac and cheese gal, but the kids don't seem to notice the difference. Allison just grabs a fistful and shoves it in her mouth, humming some song only she understands. Leo is eating like he has not been fed in days. Mac and cheese is his favorite and he always gets too excited.

"Are we excited to see mom?"

"Yes!"

He was actually surprised that Teddy wasn't out of the bedroom when he got home. He was expecting her already in the living room, waiting to hug the kids. But she was still in the bedroom.

"You should bring mom food!" Leo says.

Okay, the kid had a good point. She must be starving. He gets a bowl from the cupboard and hear protests behind him.

"No! The mug! The Dino mug"

He's not going to argue with Leo. There is no arguing with Leo.

"Yay"

He fills the mug with Mac and cheese to appease their son, and makes his way to the bedroom to coax Teddy out of the bedroom.

"Owen?"

"Happy end of quarantine!"

"Maybe we should wait one more day"

"Teddy…."

"Just to be sure…"

He gets it. There's a lot of uncertainty. But she also needs to come out of the bedroom. It's definitely time because he misses her. He misses her so much.

She opens the door and she's just as beautiful as ever, even more probably. Rest looks good on her.

"You look tired" She says sadly, cocking her head to side.

He was. Two toddlers and long hours at work, but it doesn't matter because she looks…stunning. He is literally stunned by her.

"You look beautiful."

He puts the Mac and cheese on the table by the door and bridges the gap between them. It's been too long.

He wraps his arm around her and pulls her close. Kissing her as passionately as he could.

"Two weeks is too long" He says as he presses her against the wall.

"Owen" She breathes out.

He kisses her again, slipping a tongue this time. Just for a few seconds. He deserved this. He waited too long.

She pulls away and chuckles. "The kids"

"I know, I know. One more kiss"

She laughs and she leans in, sucking his lower lip as she pulls away.

"Okay fine. Let's go see the munchkins" He says.

"Later though…" She says, reaching for his face to caress "I've been looking forward to it"

"God, me too" He laughs and he takes her hand and pulls her out of the bedroom.

"Mommy!" Leo runs to her as soon as she's in his line of vision.

"Hey honey bunch" Teddy says as she wraps her arms around him and spins him around "I missed you so much" She says as she squeezes him.

"Mama!" Allison, who was restrained in her high chair yelps excitedly. "Mama!"

Teddy puts Leo down to spin her mini-me. "Hey there, ladybug"

"Yay"

Owen just stands from afar watching his family. Leo is animatedly talking about his Mac and cheese and Dino nuggets, while Allison is grabbing little pieces of her nuggets and handing it to Teddy. He has never been more in love with her.

This is the home they created. As cheesy as it sounds, it's everything he's ever dreamed of.

He has to ask her to marry him again. He has to. And this time it will not be in an on-call room. This time it will be a grand gesture, which is what she deserves. This is it. This is the life he's always dreamt of. There's no question.

ok tell me what you really think though. :)