dont over think it. dont do the math. this is pure fluff. can't promise depth.
Martha My Dear - The Beatles
i.
Owen finally caved. He was never really opposed to the thought. It was the timing that's stopped him in the past. Two toddlers and then this? But Teddy brought up a good point, and obviously the incessant begging, that the kids are not that small anymore, and that they probably should grow up learning to take care of living things. Leo is in a pet phase—horse, dinosaur, lamb, goat—so Owen figured he'd finally agree and settle for a dog, since of course maybe the dinosaur part isn't possible at all. Incidentally, two houses down from them, a golden retriever just gave birth to the cutest litter.
"Owen!" Teddy said as she got home one morning from her run. She's been trying to go for runs at dawn before the kids wake up to keep her anxiety at bay. She had a huge smile on her face, Owen will never forget. She was shining brighter than the sunrise. "You know Bubbles, that golden retriever down the block?! The Griffiths's dog?" She said with so much excitement, still panting. He just rose an eyebrow at her as he took a sip from his coffee, urging her to continue. "I just ran into Sandy—Is that her name—I think it was Sandy? The wife? You know the one—anyways—Apparently Bubbles had six puppies last night. Got knocked up by another golden retriever in the dog park. So Sandy asked if I knew anyone who wanted a puppy. I might have said I do and I'll talk to you about it." She looks at him with pleading eyes. He can rarely resist Teddy, especially when those eyes are staring at her. "But Owen, think about it. Leo really wants a pet. And this is perfect and we can adopt a cute one and we know that dog mom and the dog mom lives nearby!" He just smirked. "Plus Leo really wants a pet! And they both should grow up with pets!"
"Pets die—"
"Not for like ten to fifteen years probably. Plus they should learn that living things die. Family members they love die!"
Owen laughs out loud. "Teddy—"
"Please, Owen!" He didn't say anything, mostly because he finds this amusing. "Pretty please"
"'Family members they love will die'—I can't with you!"
"It's just a healthy lesson to teach children!"
"Do we even have time for a puppy!"
"Pretty please, Owen?"
He couldn't say no. She did bring up some good points. He can't argue. She looked good, glazed with sweat. Eyelashes batting at him.
That's how he ended up here. Sitting on their couch, waking up from a nap. The movie was still playing, some cartoon with singing pigs. He looks to his side and Leo is curled up snoring. He looks around the playpen he set up so the kids and puppy don't roam away. He eventually spots his daughter also asleep, curled up in the puppy bed by his feet. Arm around the tiny golden retriever, spooning it comfortably. The dog perks her little head up and wiggles out of Allison's very tight grasp and wedges herself between Owen's feet. He picks her up and places her on his chest. The smallest puppy, only twelve weeks old. Perfect and beautiful. Reddish fur. Beautiful eyes gazing at him.
"Hey there, Martha" He says softly and the dog nuzzles against his neck and snoozes off again. His huge hand covering Martha's entire body. His thumb comforting the tiny puppy whimpers. He finds himself holding her like how he used to hold Allison when she was the tiniest baby. Leo was the one who stirs next. He rubs his eye and confusedly stares at his dad. Owen watches as his son's eyes fall to the tiny puppy on his chest. Leo crawls closer to her and leans against him.
"Papa, is Martha okay?"
"Yeah, bud. Just taking a little nap. Remember when Allison was really little, all she did was sleep?"
"Mhm" Leo responds, stifling a yawn. He wraps an arm around Leo's tiny frame as he falls back asleep.
He keeps watching the movie with the singing animals—it wasn't that unbearable. He was starting to enjoy it. Martha whimpers on his chest. Little puppy dream. Her little paws twitching. Owen tries to imagine what could the small dog possibly be dreaming about. Probably dreaming about chasing Allison around the pen. Or rolling around with Leo in the backyard. Or following Teddy around the house when she's snacking. Or following Owen around the kitchen hoping he'd drop something for her to snack on, even though her little puppy belly probably can't handle anything more than dry kibbles.
The back door opens and he hears Teddy's careful and tepid footsteps walking in, as if her spidey senses told her it is nap time. Or maybe the lack of chaos in the house gave it away. It was very quiet except for the movie playing. He waves at her, unable to get up with Leo against his side and Martha on his chest and Allison curled up in the dog bed, but hand now grasping his socked foot. Teddy chuckles and mouths 'don't move' and pulls her phone out of her purse and takes a picture of them. Owen is very aware that he had the cheesiest smile on his face. It was at that moment he realized that he feels happy. This is pure unadulterated joy. He's purely in love with this woman and their children and now Martha.
ii.
It's Martha's first birthday. It may be a little excessive but Teddy is handing out invitations to a dog's birthday party after an attending meeting.
"We don't have friends who have dogs" Owen says, looking at the invitation in his hand. Martha smiling brightly with a little party hat on her head and whipped cream on her nose. Allison on one side holding a balloon, and Leo on the other side holding a puppy cupcake by Martha's nose.
"We have Bubbles and the Griffiths and friends who would still love to celebrate Martha."
"Really, Teddy?"
"I think it will fun!"
He thinks it's ridiculous, but it's Martha. He loves Martha. He wouldn't have second guessed throwing his kids a birthday party. Teddy was right. He chuckles at himself. He really thought about throwing their pet a birthday party. If he was being honest, he is excited.
Their neighbors showed up. Some had dogs. Some didn't. The entire block thought of Martha as the princess of the block (Bubbles is the queen obviously). Allison and Leo were too excited—as if it was a party for them too. Teddy made some peanut butter treats for humans and for dogs. Martha ran around with Bubbles and other dog friends, but the cute red-haired pup followed her sister or brother around whenever she needed to take a break from her dog friends. Owen finds Teddy in the snack corner replenishing the treats, and wraps his arms around her.
"This is very cute and fun. Thank you for planning this."
"Are you having fun?"
"So much." His hands fall on the small swell of her stomach. Teddy sighs contentedly and leans back against him. They hear a cheer and some laughs and they looked on to see what the commotion was about. It was Leo instructing Martha to roll over, and she happily obliges. Allison and some of the guests cheered on, and Leo hands Martha a small treat. "Martha is gonna be a good big sister, I just know it"
She laughs heartily. "They're all going to be great to the smallest peanut."
iii.
Leo waits patiently on the couch, Allison is on the floor with Martha—snuggled, quietly making a pact. Owen is very much aware of the apprehension in his daughter's eyes and excitement in his son's. Martha sticks by Allison, lying on the floor, docile and loyal as ever. Owen did notice Martha's mild excitement with her tail wagging and slapping against the carpet. But Owen appreciated Martha's sensitivity and care for Allison's insecurities. He observes from afar. Allison has been more quiet that usual, not as engaged once she realized everyone around her has turned their attention to the tiny thing in her mother's arms. It didn't matter how many times they've tried to get their daughter excited about the new addition to their family, she was not having it. Allison would just walk away and find Martha and quietly whisper in her ear and pets her ear. If only he can ask Martha Allison's deep secrets and fears, but he has a pretty good idea. But today was the day. Leo has been bouncing off the walls excited to meet the baby growing in his mama's belly for months. He overheard the two kids having a conversation earlier. Leo asking his little sister why she's not excited. Allison just shrugged.
"Okay, Leo." Teddy says as she takes the baby out of the carseat. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, mama!" He says excitedly. His arms reaching out and Teddy gently places the baby in his lap. "She's so small. Allie look!"
Allison sighs and apprehensively looks, as if it's going to bite her.
"Go on, Al. She's asleep, but you should say hi." Teddy says gently.
Owen sits closer to Leo and offers a hand to Allison. She tepidly takes it and gets up, freeing herself from Martha's leg where she was safely tucked under, and crawls into her dad's lap, peeking at the baby.
"She's small. Was I that small?" Allison asks and pokes the baby's tiny nose gently. "Is she real?" Teddy just laughs and bends over and leaves a small kiss on Allison's head. Owen knows Teddy is relieved that Allison is not throwing a fit. She expressed her worry that Allison might act up, jealous that she's no longer the baby of the family.
Martha gets up and walks over to the baby, sniffing it gently. Owen and Teddy on guard, a little nervous, but Martha just sniffs and familiarizes herself with the new scent, and then sits and guards patiently.
"Martha, meet Hannah" Leo says "She's our new baby sister"
Allison leans back against Owen, and he wraps his arms tightly around his daughter. Assuring her the new baby is not a replacement for her. And that they'll all love her just as much.
Teddy takes Hannah from Leo and lets Martha sniff her and get to know her. Martha sniffs the baby from head to toe with a little expression of excitement and adoration in her eyes. She eventually stops and jumps on the couch next to Owen and places her head in Allison's lap, as if to say I'm still on your side don't worry.
"Want to hold her, Allison?"
She just shakes her head. "Maybe later" She says and nervously sticks her thumb in her mouth. Martha puts her paw on Allison's arm, and Allison takes her thumb out of her mouth and nuzzles against Owen's chest.
"It's okay, Al. Hannah is going to be a little person before you know it and you're going to be best friends."
Allison just gives her dad a small smile and grabs Martha's paw for comfort.
iv.
Owen had a long day. A very, very long day. It was a day of trauma after trauma after trauma and he's never been so excited to get home. He was greeted by a quiet house, which only means everyone is out in the backyard enjoying the very rare sunny summer day in Seattle. He stands by the door, unnoticed. Leo and Teddy were kicking a soccer ball back and forth while practicing the multiplication table. Most days, he can't believe Leo is in the second grade and his children are actual people now.
"Four times eight" Teddy says as she kicks the ball to Leo.
"Thirty two?" Leo responds, more as a question, as he kicks the back back to Teddy.
Teddy stops the ball with her foot and raises an eyebrow at Leo. Owen chuckles quietly to himself. "You sure about that?"
"Yes?"
"You don't sound confident"
"Yes!"
"Okay. Four times nine" She kicks the ball back to Leo.
"Thirty-six!" He says enthusiastically and kicks a little harder.
Owen looks for the girls. Naturally the two girls are somewhere conspiring with Martha. They're on the far end of the backyard. Hannah, now three, handing her older sister a bow, and Allison is standing by Martha, gathering the dog's hair into her tiny hands and placing the bow. He notices that Martha now has a mohawk of bows, and the two girls giggling conspiringly.
Martha was the first one to notice him by the door. She lets out a bark and wriggles out of Allison's grasp and runs to him. Allison beams when she sees him and runs towards him after Martha.
"Wait for meee" Hannah shrieks as she runs as fast as her tiny legs carry her.
"Hey girls" He crouches down and catches Martha in his arms and then Allison and then eventually Hannah. "How are my favorite girls?"
"What about me?" Teddy says, smirking.
"Do you like Martha's new hairstyle?" Allison asks excitedly
"Dad, I scored two goals during practice today!" Leo exclaims
"I peed in the potty!" Hannah says, not wanting to be left out and wanted to share her best news of her day.
Martha lets out a bark, her tail wagging rapidly. Owen really wishes Martha could speak sometimes.
Teddy just laughs and leans in to give him a kiss.
"Do you have anything to share about your day?" He asks her teasingly.
"Not as exciting as peeing in the potty" She says "But I'm equally excited you're home" She leans in and gives him another kiss. "How was your day?"
"Long. Very long. I've never been so excited to home" He says, lifting Hannah with an arm and resting her against his hip as he stands.
"How does pot roast sound for dinner?"
"Like heaven" He says as he leads everyone into the house. Martha slips by his leg and runs to her water bowl while Allison and Leo race towards the TV. Hannah wriggles out of his arms and runs after her siblings and squeezes in between them. Leo picks a show they all agree on and quietly watched.
He's grateful. So grateful for this life, for this family. Extra grateful especially when the kids are getting along. He pulls Teddy into his arms and holds her close. He places a kiss on her temple. "Today was hard."
Teddy wraps her arms around his waist tightly and gives him a kiss. "I love you" She understands, out of anyone, that days like this exist.
"I love you" He says. Martha struts to them and nuzzles between their legs for pets. Owen scratches behind her ear and she licks the inside of his wrist, as if he knew that would comfort him. "I love you too, Martha. What did Allison do to your hair?" Teddy just chuckles and gives him another comforting squeeze. Martha prances away and jumps on the couch next to Allison.
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really. I'm just grateful for our life"
"It's a pretty good life."
They stand in silence holding each other. The soft sound from the TV filling the room, along with the kids' giggles and Martha's little bark.
Owen has nothing to worry about.
v.
He's awaken by Martha jumping on their bed. Then a stampede of tiny little feet barging into their bedroom. Allison jumps in and climbs into the bed and under the covers and nuzzles against Owen's back. Hannah follows her big sister and nuzzles against Teddy's side. Martha eventually settles by their feet. Leo walks in last and stands by Owen's side of the bed, poking his shoulder.
"What is happening?"
"Christmas!" Leo says, smiling widely.
"What time is it?" Owen asks. It's still dark. Definitely still night time for all he cares.
"Morning!"
"Is it?" Teddy asks chuckling "Because your sisters fell back asleep."
"It's four! That's morning!" Leo crawls up Owen's side. His knees digging into his dad's ribs. "Girls wake up!"
"No! It's still dark" Allison mumbles against Owen's back. Teddy slowly rubs circles on Hannah's small back. Their youngest starts to snore again.
"Fine, Martha and I are gonna go check if Santa came" Leo says, threatening. Martha picks up her head and looks at Leo and jumps off the bed, stands next to Leo, wagging her tail at the sound of her name.
Last Christmas, when Leo was nine, he pulls Owen and Teddy into the kitchen after opening presents, out of the girls' earshot. He had a serious look on his face, brows furrowed. "Mom, dad, I have to ask you something and you promise to tell the truth"
"Shoot, kiddo" Owen said, crossing his arms on his chest. It made him nervous that Leo looked very serious.
"Is Santa Claus real? There's a rumor at school that he isn't real. Now, I brought you two out here so the girls don't hear. But Allison might have heard the same rumor, I'm not too sure. She seems… fine" He said and glanced at the living room. Allison and Hannah are playing with their new toys, Christmas music blasting through the speakers.
Owen looked at Teddy for confirmation and looked back at their son standing in front of them, raising an eyebrow.
"Just tell me. I won't tell them! I promise."
"Santa Claus is whoever you want him to be" Teddy said unsurely. Owen knew she wasn't ready for this conversation.
"Mom—"
"Okay, fine, Leo! Santa isn't real" Teddy said with a pout, Owen just chuckled.
"Okay, thank you for telling me. Don't worry. I won't tell the girls. I'll preserve the magic" Leo promised.
"Thank you."
Owen chuckles at his son now, at age ten, remembering his promise to his mom. Allison was the first one to pop up, Hannah could not be bothered.
"Is Santa even real?" Allison grumbles, eight years old but sounds way too mature for her age. Owen hears Teddy groan from the other side of their king bed. Owen looks behind him to see if Hannah was awake. She was not. She's fast asleep. Leo just looks at his dad with a face that screams 'yikes'. Their family takes Christmas seriously, obviously. Teddy does everything she can to keep the magic.
"Yes!" Leo says confidently.
"Yep. Thank you, Leo!" Teddy says softly.
"How can he possibly go to every single house in the entire world?! That's just physically impossible, mom." Allison says exasperatedly.
"Uh, timezones. The reindeers and the sleigh. It helps me him move faster" Owen says, helping a little.
"So it's not just mom and dad buying the presents?" Allison asks. Her voice suddenly tiny again.
Leo just climbs up in the bed, Martha following closely. "No, now let's go see if Santa got you everything you asked for" He says trying to pull his little sister up.
"Okay" Allison says as she sits up and turns to Hannah, who is already back in dreamland. "Han" Allison whispers softly and shakes her.
Owen watches and admires how his kids interact with each other. Helping each other process emotions and Leo keeping his promise and doing damage control. Martha hops off the bed first and leads the way. Leo takes Hannah's little hand once the youngest wakes up and comes to her senses and he helps her off the bed. Allison stays behind for a second and looks at her parents with a serious look.
"Is Santa just the same age forever?"
Teddy lets out a chuckle. "Yes?" She looks at Owen for help.
Martha appears by the door and tilts her head, as if waiting for Allison.
"I'm coming, Martha. I'm coming" Allison says, scurrying out of bed.
Teddy sighs once she was sure Allison was out of earshot. "I don't want them to grow up."
"That middle one is growing up too fast" He says as he gets up. "Come on, babe. Let's just enjoy them while two of three still believe in magic"
They get downstairs to the living room and the kids are all crawling around looking for their presents. Martha watches nearby. Her tail gently wagging. Allison finds a present and she beams widely. "Martha! Santa also got you something" Placing the present in front of the dog. "Wait how did you write a letter to Santa?"
"Martha communicated to the reindeer, who translated to Santa" Leo said, stammering a little.
"Cool. Do you think Santa has a dog or is he just sticking with reindeers?"
"I think just the reindeer" Leo shrugs as he places a present in front of a sleepy Hannah.
"Martha is probably raising them better than we are." Owen says, chuckling.
vi.
They make it a point to go on vacation every year. Now that the kids are more like tiny adults, Owen finds it a little bit more exciting to go away with them. It's less stressful. They're more patient with the long drive. A few years ago, Teddy and Owen decided to buy a summer home near the coast. It's been a nice escape. A few weeks during the summer after the kids are back from sleep away camp and right before school starts. Or just a random weekend where they need to get away from Seattle. Some days, rare days where the two of them both get to escape the hospital for a weekend, it doesn't matter if its raining or snowing, they pack the car and then kids and Martha into the car and drive three hours west to their beach house just to have some peace and silence. Somewhere where they are not reminded of hospitals and city life and lives that needed to be saved.
Owen feels a sense of calm as he drives west. This time, it feels different. It feels….peaceful. The last two weeks before the kids start school again, just the five of them, and Martha of course, in coastal Washington. He looks at the rear view mirror and Allison is talking animatedly to Teddy and Leo about her adventures at camp. They had just picked the girls up the day before. Leo chose theater camp this summer instead of a sleep away camp. He knows his son feels more comfortable with his musical theatre friends than sleep away camp. Leo is listening intently, laughing appropriately at Allison's stories. It's true, he should be listening and paying attention to his daughter's story, but he just couldn't help but take a moment to admire how fast his kids are growing up. Hannah is fast asleep next to her sister. Her body curled up like a little shrimp wedged between the door and her highly animated sister. He chuckles at his youngest, who can literally sleep anywhere any time. Hannah was not as enthusiastic was Allison during camp pick up. She grumbled about how silly it is and how all she wanted to do was to listen to music and read in her bunk. It was her first year at sleep away camp. Allison assured her little sister that it gets better, and that she also didn't enjoy it the first time. Then there's Martha, sitting all the way in the back. Her little ears and eyes peeking above the seat. Owen is convinced she's listening to Allison's story because her ears perk up once in a while as if she's reacting.
He was brought out of his reverie by Teddy squeezing his thigh.
"You okay"
"Couldn't be better" He responds with a wink.
This is all he's ever wanted since he was a kid. An idyllic family life. But this? This is actually much better. And it's only getting better. They have a teenager—he still can't believe Leo is somehow fourteen years old—who seems to be very well adjusted despite having gone through everything he's gone through as, they also have an unbelievably outgoing twelve year old, and a brooding, bookish, and quiet nine year old. They're all so different and perfect from each other. Martha is ten, which is getting really up there in dog years, which frankly worries him. He knew time will come. He has been prepared for this, but he still knows everyone will be devastated. He shakes the thought out of his head because there's no reason to worry about that now. Martha is healthy. Martha is perfect. He feels a twinge of sadness that Martha isn't going to live forever. He puts aside the sadness and chuckles. She's the sweetest thing that's ever come into their family. He has the urge to stop the car just to give Martha a hug. But he won't, they're almost at their destination, and makes note to give Martha an extra treat just for existing.
"You just seem far away mentally" She says softly.
He laughs "You should see how adorable Martha is from the rear view mirror."
"She's the most perfect girl"
"Hey" Allison protests dramatically, jokingly he knows. "I'm going to get a complex."
"You're twelve. You'll bounce back" Owen jokes back. Another wonderful thing about his kids is how easy he can banter with them and no ones' feelings get hurt (most of the time)
"Get a complex?" Leo laughs and Allison just laughs joining them.
"Will you please stop growing up and saying grown up things, please and thank you?" Teddy says, groaning
Martha lets out a little noise, her ears perked up, joining their conversation.
"Sure, sure, Martha's always the star of the show"
"The Middle Child complex is in full force this morning, I see" Owen says
"Oh right you already have a complex" Teddy teased.
Allison just laughs "You love me anyway."
"Love that self-confidence for you, Allison" Leo says with an eyeroll. Allison just laughs, which gives Owen much relief. There was a point in time—or some days—where that simple comment would have started a war in their house. But everyone seems to be in the best mood, which usually is the case when on their way to their beach home.
He pulls into the long driveway. Finally. Allison gently shakes Hannah awake without being told. Martha wags her tail enthusiastically. For sure excited to be let out after being cramped in the back seat for what seems like eternity.
"Come on, Banana. Wake up" Allison says gently.
Hannah groans and joins the living and stretches from her shrimp position. Owen is pretty amazed by how much Hannah slept through, although he knew she stayed up late reading some book she couldn't put down. As soon as the car stops, Leo jumps out from the backseat and jets into the house screaming something about dibs on the downstairs bathroom. Allison just grumbles something about not needing to call dibs since there's plenty of bathrooms and walks towards the trunk of their SUV to let Martha out. Martha wanders into the bushes to relieve herself. Teddy grabs some stuff from the back and brings it inside the house, Hannah following sleepily, leaning against her mom once she catches up. Teddy wraps her free arm around Hannah and kisses the top of her head. Owen just watches them, in awe.
Once inside, everyone dispersed into their own corners. Hannah in the hammock in the backyard overlooking the ocean reading a book, Martha on the gross by her side, Allison in the kitchen helping Teddy make a salad for lunch, Leo in his bedroom doing god knows what. Owen stands in the kitchen and stuffs his hands in his pockets.
"Now what?" Owen asks Teddy and Allison, who just stare at him.
"Now you relax, dad" Allison says with a hint of sass in her voice.
"Ok, maybe i'll take a long walk with Miss Martha to shake out my legs."
"Lunch?"
"I'll be back by then" He walks over and gives Teddy a quick kiss on the lips and Allison on top of her head.
Hannah slips into the kitchen and sits on the counter and steals a sliced pepper.
"Want to go on a walk with me, Han?"
"Nope"
"Fine. Martha?" Martha perks up and walks to and nuzzles into his leg. "And you girls wonder why Martha's my favorite girl." Teddy just laughs and throws a crouton at Owen, which ricochets off his chest and falls on the floor for Martha to snack on. Allison and Hannah just laugh. "Come on Martha, my dear" he says as he goes out into their backyard and into the beach and walk along the shore.
"So Martha…." He says as he pulls the tennis ball out of his pocket. "Do you still want to play catch or have you outgrown that?" Martha just looks at him and looks ahead. "Okay how about we try" He gently throws the ball and Martha just watches it. "Fine, I get it. We'll just walk then"
Martha obediently walks along his side. Summer crowd has been thinning out so it's mostly just locals strolling on the shore. A few polite waves and nods and dog sniffs. It was peaceful in the middle of a cloudy August day. The walk along was tranquil. Just him, Martha and the waves.
vii.
He was in the OR. His phone was ringing and ringing and ringing. He looks up at the scrub nurse questioning.
"Is that mine?"
"Yes, Dr. Hunt. It's your daughter."
It does happen from time to time, where the kids would call him while he's in surgery. He also just, many years after a specific incident, avoided answering calls in the OR, but a handful of phone calls in a row from Allison sounds pretty urgent. He looks at the intern and asks if she could answer the phone on speaker since she's not scrubbed.
"Al?" He tries to stay calm when he hears his daughter chokes a sob and struggles to talk.
"I tried mom but she's not answering either. And Leo is in rehearsals and it's just me and Hannah at home." She rambles on, choking on her words. "I think something's wrong with Martha. Well, something is definitely wrong with Martha."
"Al, she's definitely dead" He could hear Hannah in the background.
"Can someone please page Altman" He says to the scrub nurse. "Allison, hey, what does she look like? Is she definitely not breathing? Tell me what happened when you got home?"
"Han and I got home and Martha wasn't at her normal spot and she was really quiet she didn't even bark but we didn't think anything of it. She seemed fine this morning so I just went to my room. And then I was going to make snack and she's just in the kitchen lying there not moving and okay, this is gross, but poop everywhere"
He looks at the open body cavity in front of him and he tries to focus. Focus on the patient. Focus on his daughters. Focus on Martha. Hannah was right, yes Martha was definitely dead. He tries not to cry. Martha is thirteen, definitely old for a Golden Retriever. He knew this was bound to happen. He had been dreading this call.
"Okay, I'm going to see if mom can go home soon, okay?"
"Okay." Allison said with a sniffle "Sorry dad. I know you're busy"
"You don't have to be sorry."
"Martha's your best friend"
"Yours too."
"I know."
When he gets home that night, the house was eerie. The silence was deafening at first until he got further into the house and he hears soft giggles coming from the living room.
"What's going on in here" He says softly.
There was his family huddled on the couch, watching a slideshow of pictures of Martha. He feels the tears pool in his eyes.
"Feels appropriate" Teddy says, shrugging. "Join us."
He sits besides Teddy and wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. "Thank you for bullying me into getting her."
"Yeah mom, thank you" All three kids said at the same time, which makes Owen laugh.
"She was the best."
In the end, he was the closest to Martha. They were inseparable. When Martha was too old to do anything, he'd hand feed her and help her up and down steps. Carry her up in and out of the car.
"Dad, it's going to be okay. She loved us and we always made her happy. It's okay to be sad too." Hannah says quietly, smushed between her mom and sister. She reaches out for his hand and gives it a squeeze.
"Thanks, Banana."
"You were definitely her favorite, Dad" Leo says laughing "She always followed you around"
"I'm pretty sure she liked me more" Allison interjects, naturally "I have to say at least she's not in pain and limping anymore."
A funny video of Martha popped in the screen and the kids watched and laughed. Teddy turns and faces him and wraps her arms around him and gives him a good squeeze.
"See, you were worried about them being wrecked when she dies, but they seem to be handling it better than us" Teddy says quietly to him
"You were a wreck too?"
"So bad that Leo drove home from the vet."
"You seem so calm right now"
She leans in and whispers 'Xanax' in his ear, which makes him laugh more than he thought it would.
"What are you two whispering about?" Allison asks
"Nothing. Mind your business" Teddy jokes and throws a pillow at Allison.
Owen just laughs. They were going to be fine. Martha would be so proud of the kids.