"Hey Teds, feeling any better?"
"Ugh, a little," Teddy Altman answered her husband in a soft, but strained tone. She was adjusting herself on their couch, trying to get comfortable as she was sent on early maternity leave for having too many contractions while in the O.R.
"Did the contractions start up again?" Owen asked, nervously.
"No, no, it's not that. It's just," Teddy winced, "she won't stop kicking. I swear, the way our girls thrash around inside me, they're going to be professional soccer players or something."
Owen chuckled. He hated seeing Teddy so uncomfortable but he was beyond excited to be welcoming another beautiful baby girl into this world with the love of his life.
Teddy was excited too, but now, at nearly 34 weeks, she was ready to meet this baby. Plus, she hated not being able to work. Getting sent home on early maternity leave, which she hated, was not in the cards when she found out she and Owen were expecting again.
"Owen, will you just come sit with me and rub my feet? That seems to calm little miss down every time." Teddy asked.
"Sure." Owen smiled sweetly and joined his wife on the couch, taking her soft yet somewhat swollen feet into his large hands.
"Oof, yeah…that's better," Teddy smiled, breathing deeply and rubbing her large belly as their daughter finally started calming down.
"What was she measuring again, at the last appointment?" Owen asked. He'd noticed that Teddy was definitely bigger at this stage, this time around, than she was with Allison. Granted, it was also her second pregnancy.
Teddy rolled her eyes and snorted.
"About a week or so BIGGER than average. She's definitely bigger than Allison was at this stage…"
"Maybe that's why she's trying to come out, maybe she's ready!" Owen said.
"Owen, I'm barely 34 weeks. You really want this baby coming 6 weeks early?!" Teddy asked, slightly horrified.
"6 weeks isn't that bad and, she's already ahead of the game in terms of her growth…"
"That doesn't mean her lungs are finished developing!" Teddy snapped. "Owen, why are you even suggesting this? Why are you okay with our daughter being born prematurely?!"
Owen threw his hands up in the air, defensively.
"I'm not! I'm just trying to prepare. You gave us all quite a scare the other day during surgery, we all thought labor had officially started and that you'd be giving birth right there in the O.R.!"
"Well I don't want you to prepare, I don't want us to think it's okay for our daughter to come out any sooner than she's supposed to…" Teddy started to cry.
Owen's heart sank. He scooted down the couch towards Teddy so he could wrap her up in his arms and hold her, as she spoke about whatever was on her mind.
"I just…I feel so blessed that we've been able to get pregnant so seamlessly, twice now, in our 40's. I was so scared last time with Allison, when I thought she was going to come early. I didn't know anything about being a mom and, I never knew love like I have for her and Leo. Now, we have this little one and I feel like my heart could burst with love. I love you and our children so much and the thought of anything, ANYTHING happening to any of you, especially our babies, anything putting them in harms way. I can't bear it." Teddy sobbed.
Owen kissed the top of Teddy's hair, and cradled her.
"Honey, I know it's scary, and I don't want anything happening to any of you any more than you do…but the reality is, this baby could come early and we have to prepare for that. It doesn't mean it's going to happen, it doesn't mean that it's not going to happen. All we can do is just take things day by day, continue taking care of yourself and her, and pray for the continuous health of our new baby girl. Okay?" Owen said, soothingly.
"Okay," Teddy smiled weakly and whispered, kissing her husband gently on the lips.
"I love you Major…" Owen smiled.
"I love you more."
Allison and Leo were staying with Evelyn for a couple of nights, while Teddy settled in at home and rested, while also doing some nesting in the new baby's nursery.
Everything was pretty much set, all that was left to add was just a few little knick knack's and of course, the baby.
"How do you think Allison's going to do, not being the baby anymore?" Teddy asked once she and Owen were snuggled in bed.
"Eh, I think she'll be fine," Owen smiled, thinking about his little girl getting so big and grown up, about to be a big sister.
"I know she's really excited to be a big sister but, that's before the baby is actually here. What if she does a 180 and resents her…resents us?!" Teddy asked.
Owen laughed.
"Teddy, she's about to turn 3, I think any toddler has the potential to turn on us at any given moment, for any given reason."
Teddy laughed also.
"That's true…" she chuckled. "But still, I worry. Her world, and Leo's have been rocked so many times already between the separation…the pandemic…my breakdown…"
Owen stroked Teddy's hair, knowing she was spiraling a little bit.
"But they got through it. WE got through it, and Teddy, our kids are so happy, so loved. They've had a wonderful life so far, despite the setbacks. They're okay. You have to give yourself more credit, Teds. You're an amazing mother."
Teddy smiled, appreciating her husbands sweet and encouraging words.
"Thank you honey. Ugh, I'm just nervous I guess. I never imagined I'd have 3 small kids someday…with you." She smiled.
"I did…" Owen sighed softly, with a smile. "Actually, I imagined us with 5." He chuckled.
"5?! Damn Hunt…that's not happening."
"Yeah well, the way I pictured it, we started a lot sooner…" he laughed.
Teddy shook her head with her notorious beaming smile on her face.
"I lied…I did imagine this with you. Just not this…late." Teddy admitted.
"I know," Owen replied, "but this isn't late. It's just how it was meant to be."
Teddy nodded, as her eyes began to feel extremely heavy.
"Get some sleep, I'm gonna go FaceTime with Meg for a bit, she just got out of surgery and then I'll be back." Owen said.
"Okay," Teddy smiled and whispered, as she shuffled in bed to get comfortable. She gave Owen a kiss and then he placed 3 large kisses on her belly, to which baby girl responded with several soft kicks and pulled the soft, warm comforter over his wife.
"Goodnight girls…" Owen smiled and whispered as he shut off the lights and closed the door.
About two hours later, Owen was just finishing up his call with Megan when he heard Teddy yelling out from the bedroom.
He immediately jumped up, tossed the phone down, leaving Megan hanging in a slight panic, and ran to his wife.
"Teddy?! What is it? Are you okay?!" He asked.
Teddy was shaking and sobbing. She pulled the covers up from over her, revealing a huge, dark stain underneath her. Her water broke.
"Okay, okay Teddy, it's going to be okay…" Owen reacted calmly, although he couldn't deny, he was slightly panicked about their little girls eagerness to come into this world so fast.
"Owen, she's not ready, she can't come yet! I'm so scared I-" Teddy was interrupted by her raging first contraction.
"Oh my god, that was fast…" Owen said.
Teddy cried but breathed through the contraction, riding it out until after 30 seconds, it ended.
"Okay…" Owen stated calmly, "if the next one comes in under two minutes then…"
"Then we'll c-call an ambulance!" Teddy gasped.
Suddenly Teddy scrunched her face again, as another contraction ripped through her.
"Oh my god, Teddy! Do you know when your water broke?!" Owen asked. He couldn't believe how fast this was all happening.
"No." Teddy admitted. "I was sound asleep and woke up from a dream…I was swimming and…when I woke up I felt it all around me."
Owen shook his head.
"Jesus…this could have happened as soon as I left the room…you could've been in labor for at least two hours now!"
"What are we gonna do?" Teddy cried.
"Stay here…just for a second…" Owen replied, as he remembered his sister was still on the phone.
Several moments later, Owen returned to the bedroom where Teddy was seething through yet another contraction. Megan was still on the phone, excitedly yet nervously speaking words of encouragement to Teddy, and how she couldn't wait to meet her new little niece.
"Teddy, honey, I have to examine you. The way things are moving, I doubt we'll be able to get you to the hospital in time…" Owen said.
"But, she's early! What if something goes wrong? What if she needs to be taken to the NICU immediately? Home births can be so dangerous and we're not even prepared for one!" Teddy cried as Owen checked her.
"Well, we're gonna have to be, love, because you're at nearly 10 centimeters. Our baby girl is coming now…"
Teddy was in shock. She couldn't believe she just woke up and moments later, would be forced to deliver her second daughter 6 weeks early, in the middle of the night, at home.
"Oh my god…" she whimpered.
"Teddy, it's fine. You can do this. You're the strongest woman I know…"
"Ahem!" Megan chimed in, trying to lighten the mood and make Teddy laugh, which worked a little.
"Okay, next to Megan." Owen smirked and rolled his eyes. "But seriously honey, you got this. I have all the faith in the world that you can bring our newest little girl into this world, safe and healthy, right now."
Teddy nodded. Tears streamed down her face. She was so scared and in so much pain, but right now all that mattered to her was getting her baby girl safely into her daddy's arms.
Owen checked her again and felt that she was ready. Baby girl is in a good position, she was ready to push.
"Okay Teddy, she's right there, seemingly in the perfect position. She's ready to meet us. Are you ready?" Owen asked.
Teddy nodded, sitting up slightly and bracing herself for the next part.
"Okay honey, 1, 2, 3 big, BIG push!" Owen instructed, and Megan cheered Teddy on.
Teddy pushed long and hard, two more times, until baby girl's head popped out.
"Okay, okay relax honey. The head is out. We just need one or two more gentle pushes on the next contraction and she'll be here." Owen beamed.
Teddy nodded, exhausted but happy. She was ready to have this baby in her arms.
"She looks good honey…she looks just like you. Cord isn't around her neck…she looks great…" Owen said softly.
"Oh god, Owen! Here it comes, oh god I can feel her, I need to push!" Teddy gasped as all of her went into pushing her daughter out. And that was it. That one huge, final push sent baby girl number two right into her daddy's arms.
"Oh my god!" Owen cried. "Hi! Hi baby!"
"Is she okay?!" Teddy yelled.
Suddenly a high pitched, bellowing scream echoed the room.
Owen shook his head in amazement.
"She's great. She looks great honey, you did it!"
Teddy was beaming and sobbing. Exhausted but so happy that the pain was over and her sweet daughter was here, screaming and seemingly healthy.
"Let me see her!" Teddy cried and outstretched her arms.
When she took the baby in her arms, she couldn't believe how much she really did look like her already. Allison looked so much like Owen. All Allison got from Teddy so far was her blonde hair and certain expressions. This baby had her nose, mouth, face shape, everything. A carbon copy already.
"Hi! Hi my sweet girl…oh, you're so beautiful! I'm you're mommy. I'm so glad you're okay!" Teddy beamed at her beautiful baby. She couldn't believe she had 3 kids now. She couldn't believe she was holding her second biological child with Owen Hunt in her arms right now.
Baby girl's screams turned to soft whimpers as Teddy snuggled and rocked her, as Owen cut the cord and did a basic exam on her.
"Teddy, I know she's early but she seems incredibly healthy. She looks about 6 pounds 5 ounces, 20 inches long. She was definitely ready…"
"I guess so." Teddy smiled.
"Wow, she really does look like you Teds! That's amazing," Megan beamed, "congratulations you guys. She's beautiful. I'm going to go wake up Farouk and tell him he has a new cousin and then I'm going to give you guys some time. Call me later when she's all checked out and has a name!"
"Thanks sis. We'll talk to you soon, love you!" And Owen ended the nearly 5 hour long phone call.
Once Owen cleaned up, called his mother, the kids, Grey Sloan and Station 19 to come get Teddy and the baby picked up and then situated at the hospital, he joined his girls on the bed.
"You want to hold her?" Teddy asked, without taking her eyes off of her sweet baby, who was now fast asleep.
"I thought you'd never ask…" Owen replied and gently lifted the baby out of her mothers loving arms.
"What do you want to name her?" Teddy asked. "I realized we only talked about boy names since I found out I was pregnant again. We never considered girls. I honestly thought we'd have a boy this time!"
"Well, I know we talked about Daniel, for…Dan. And since we have Allison to honor your Allison, and her death, I was thinking…Danielle? Since she's a girl? It's close and-"
"I love it." Teddy cut off.
Owen smiled.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! Danielle…Rose. For my mother? Since Allison is Allison Evelyn?" Teddy asked.
"It's perfect." Owen looked down at his sleeping baby girl, curled up in his arms, just like Allison did. "Perfect, just like you little miss…Danielle Rose Altman-Hunt."
"You're perfect." Teddy beamed. "You're both perfect. Our family is perfect. I love you so much, Owen. Thank you for delivering her, and being here for me. I was so scared."
"Thank you! You did the hard work, Teddy. I mean, I can't even imagine what you must have been thinking and feeling. But she's here now. Safe and healthy. You did that. I love you."
The new parents snuggled close and admired their newest addition as they waited for the station to arrive.
Hours later, little 6 pounds 7 ounces, 19 inches long Danielle Rose Altman-Hunt was given a clean bill of heath with a precautionary 3 nights in the NICU, just for good measure.
It turns out Teddy's projected due date was a bit off, so Danielle was actually 4 weeks early, not 6. Even so, the little girl was ready to meet her family sooner rather than later. Teddy and Owen knew they were in for a rollercoaster ride with this one.
Allison was a little jealous of all the attention Danielle was getting after the initial meeting her and excitement, but she came around, asking Teddy if she could hold "her baby," constantly.
Leo was excited to have another little sister to look after. At nearly 5 years old, he was really getting into the responsibility of being the protective big brother.
Once they were home and settled in, Teddy, Owen, Leo, Allison and baby Danielle were all snuggled on the couch. Owen nestled in next to his wife, stroking his baby girls fuzzy blonde head and Teddy playing with her toes. Allison and Leo just stared at their sister, fascinated with the new baby in the house.
"Mama, she is sooooo wittle!" Allison exclaimed.
Teddy smiled.
"She is. You were this small you know…actually, smaller!"
"I waaaas?" Allison gasped.
"Yeah! Not too much but yes, you were a little smaller than your baby sister here…" Owen replied.
"She's so cute, mama! When can she play with us?" Leo asked.
Teddy laughed.
"Not for awhile baby boy, she's only 4 days old! She needs some time to grow big and strong, then she can play all the time with you and Allison."
"I can't wait to tell allllll my fwiends at day care about my new baby sistew!" Allison said.
Teddy and Owen smiled at each other. They were so happy. They were so happy with this life they were building. After everything they'd been through over the past 20 years, they were finally sitting side by side in their own home, married, with 3 beautiful children surrounding them.
This was it. This was how it was always supposed to be. Just them, their love, and the life they shared together.
