Halloween meant a busy day in the emergency room. They had all hands on deck in the Pit.
"Remember," Owen said, "it's halloween not all lacerations present on arrival will be real. Many will be faked with makeup."
Teddy stood beside Owen and reminded him " we have an appointment in an hour. We find out what the squirrel is today."
"I haven't forgotten," Owen said, "I'll be there. I won't miss this."
"They were facing the wrong way last time," Teddy said, "hopeful they cooperate this time."
"I would be okay with a surprise," Owen said.
"I want to know so I can finish the nursery," Teddy said.
"We still have three months Teddy," Owen said.
They both got paged to separate parts of the hospital.
At 1:30 Teddy was outside the room where she was to have her ultrasound but there was no sign of Owen. She texted him right before the OB resident called her in. She knew if he was in the OR she couldn't wait for him.
Teddy followed the resident into the room and allowed them to weigh her and measure her growing stomach. She clearly had a baby bump now. Owen couldn't keep his hands off her these days not that she minded. She felt safe in his arms and loved the physical side of their relationship. None of her other relationships had been like this. Owen understood her, he got all sides of her.
Teddy climbed up on the table and lifted her scrub top as Owen entered the room.
"I thought you were going to wait for me," Owen said.
"You can't expect me to wait every time I need to be a parent. I've been parenting on my own for a few years now," Teddy said.
"Not our baby," Owen said, "these things we do together."
Teddy said, "soon this baby will be outside of my body and we can share more of it."
"Is that how that works," Owen said.
"Yep," Teddy said.
The resident had turned the screen towards them.
"Teddy look," Owen said, "she's perfect."
Teddy's eyes filled with tears, "she's beautiful."
"We're having a daughter," Owen said.
Teddy beamed, "we have a girl. Another girl."
Owen hugged her, "we do. Alison Eloise."
"Alison Eloise," Teddy echoed. She reached for Owen who hugged her and kissed the top of her head then her lips.
"Everything looks great Dr Altman," the resident said, "do you want to hear the heartbeat?"
"Yes," Owen and Teddy said together.
The resident turned on the sound and a soft swooshing filled the room.
"That sounds right and it's the right speed," Teddy said, "her heart sounds healthy and it's developing on schedule."
"How do you know that from the sound Dr. Altman," asked the resident.
Teddy replied, "I'm a cardiothoracic surgeon. I know hearts."
"One day you'll have to teach the OB residents how you do that," the resident said.
Teddy said, "it's time and practice. Turn off the screen and just listen."
"Everything looks great Dr. Altman, Dr Hunt," the resident said, "Dr. Deluca will want to see you next week for your 30 week check up."
"I have the booked," Teddy said.
Owen passed her a towel to wipe the gel of her stomach. When she sat up he helped her off the table.
Seeing they were alone Teddy said, "we have another girl. Are you okay with that?"
"I love our daughter and I love you," Owen said.
Teddy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He held Teddy close they could both feel their daughter twisting and turning between them.
"I love you," Teddy whispered.
"You and our two daughters ," Owen said, "I'm out numbered."
"Two," Teddy asked.
"Alison and Annie," Owen said, "I think of Annie as family. I call her my step daughter when asked."
Teddy smiled, "don't tell me. That's a conversation with Annie."
"Our little girl is going to be so loved," Owen said.
"She is," Teddy agreed. She pulled him close to kiss him again. He broke the kiss and took her hand grabbing her lab coat off the chair as they went. Owen led Teddy to an on call room and locked the door.
Annie was sitting with Josh on the back stairs. It was their place to meet and spend time together; they were sipping coffee and sharing some cookies Evelyn had made for them.
Annie said, "I should text mama and see if I get a brother or sister."
Josh said, "excited?"
Annie said, "scared. I don't want another sister. I don't have a good track record with sisters."
Josh took both of Annie's hands, "this baby won't be like Jessica. Teddy and Owen won't let their child get away with those behaviors and no treatment. And you're 25 years older than this one. You'll babysit, play with and snuggle but never live with."
Annie said, "I know it's irrational."
"I understand," Josh said, "your sister is the biggest cause of your trauma. Are you okay?"
Annie nodded, "just need a hug."
"I can do that," Josh said. He put both arms around Annie who rested her head on his shoulder.
"Your okay babe," Josh whispered, "whatever happens you're okay. I'm here and you know Teddy will never walk away from you. Your mama loves you."
"I love you," Annie whispered.
"I love you too," Josh said.
Annie's pager went off , "the pit."
Josh followed her to the emergency room. Annie ran to get a trauma gown and gloves waiting in the ambulance bay. Owen and Teddy joined them.
"Mama do you know what the baby is," Annie asked.
"A girl," Teddy said.
Annie said, "a sister."
"A sister," Teddy echoed, "one that will love her big sister and learn from her."
Annie said, "I'll try."
Teddy stepped in front of Annie facing her. Teddy whispered, "this sister is not Jessica. She will love and adore you."
Annie nodded, "okay. It just surprised me."
Teddy said, "I know sweetheart. You're okay."
"I get to go find her little dresses and tutus," Annie said, "girl things are much cuter. Congratulations mama."
Teddy smiled, "thank you."
The ambulances pulled up and Teddy started calling out directions for the cardio patient. Annie took over CPR from the paramedic.
"Run the code Annie," Teddy said.
"I'm on it," Annie said.
Teddy watched closely as Annie ran the code.
"Abdominal aortic aneurysm," Teddy said when they got the CT back, "I need the first available OR."
Annie went to book the OR.
Annie scrubbed in with Teddy and Ben Warren as the resident on the case.
Teddy did most of the surgery allowing Ben and Annie to help where they could. At the end Teddy said, "dr Altman can close."
"Thank you," Annie said.
Teddy went to do some paperwork for her upcoming leave, she was hoping to take her full 12 weeks after the birth of her younger daughter to have as much time with the baby as possible.
Annie got paged back to the Pit.
"It's all interns in the pit day," Annie said to Cassidy Liard when they were in the elevator.
"It is," Cassidy said, "you and your mother seemed to be having a serious conversation in the trauma bay."
"Family stuff," Annie said.
"What's going on with her and Dr. Hunt," Cassidy asked.
"They bought a house a while ago and are having a baby at the end of January," Annie said, "just being Mama and Uncle Owen."
"What do they say about you and Riggs Jr, " asked Cassidy.
"Josh and I have been together since med school. Mama likes him," Annie said.
"Isn't Hunt your step dad," Cassidy asked.
"I guess you could call him that," Annie said, "they're not married, he's been her best friend for years. They've always been close so he's always been around. He's just family"
"Are you okay with it," Cassidy asked.
"I like him. He makes her really happy," Annie said, "she's been on her own a long time she's happy."
"Didn't she live and work in Germany for a while," Cassidy asked.
"She did with the army," Annie said, "it was fun to go visit her in Germany. I'd fly from Boston to Landstuhl and we would explore from there. I liked the time we went to London."
"Boston," Cassidy asked, "where did you go to school?"
"UBC for my undergrad and Harvard for medical school," Annie said, "where did you go?"
"Oregon state for pre med and Texas Southwestern for medical school," Cassidy said.
"You went to the same med school as mama," Annie said.
"Good conversation starter then," Cassidy smiled, "I'm on her service next week. Any tips?"
"Ask questions and tell her what you're doing and why," Annie suggested, "she likes to teach."
"Grace do you mind me asking a couple questions," Cassidy said.
"Depends on the question," Annie said.
"Mama Altman, Hunt and both Riggs call you Annie why," Cassidy asked.
"Annie is a childhood nickname. It's a short form of my middle name Annabeth," Annie replied.
"A few of us noticed some scars on your back, what happened," Cassidy asked.
"An injury when I was 21," Annie said, "mama, Hunt and Josh know the story. That's all the need to know."
They reached the Pit.
"Mini Altman," Owen commanded, "sutures bed 5, Liard bed 7, Riggs jr bed 8, Silverstone, bed 6, Lee bed 9."
"What happened," Annie asked.
"Pumpkin carving gone wrong," Owen said.
"Did a kid rampage and get his whole family," Josh asked.
"Something like that," Owen said, "mini Altman you have the mom."
"Okay," Annie said.
Teddy had heard the situation and asked Owen, "really you're going to have Annie work on a family where one of the children attacked the others."
"I didn't think," Owen said, "I know you want to but you can't protect her forever."
Teddy said, "we can't. It'll be hard for her. You didn't see the split second of panic earlier."
"Is she okay," Owen asked.
"She's trying," Teddy said, "she's saying she's happy for us. We talked in the scrub room. She'll be fine. She liked the pictures. I'll check in soon. I want to enjoy this. Our daughter."
"Our daughter" Owen echoed, "is going to be as beautiful as her mother."
"Owen stop," Teddy said, "we're at work."
"Not for much longer," Owen said, "hopefully only a couple more hours."
"The dinner and a bath," Teddy said.
"Together," Owen asked.
"If you wash my back," Teddy smirked.
"Anything for you," Owen replied.
Annie and Josh finished their shift and went home.
"Did Teddy ever say what she's having," Josh asked.
"Its a girl," Annie said, "I don't know how I feel about it. And I think she figured it out."
"You don't hide much from her," Josh said, "you've been quiet this afternoon."
Annie sat on the couch and picked up her kitten. She began to pet the purring ball of fluff in her lap.
"It was one of those things where my feelings reacted before my brain did," Annie said, "I heard a girl and a sister and I panicked before my brain could take over."
"Have you had time to think now," Josh asked.
"I have," Annie said, "I should call mama and apologize for my reaction in the ambulance bay."
"Is this about them and their baby or your screaming match with the McKellar's last night," Josh asked.
"It's more the screaming match. That wasn't my finest moment," Annie said, "I'm just so tired of their crap."
"I know," Josh said sitting down beside her, "I hate seeing them hurt you."
"I shouldn't be surprised any more," Annie said, "I hate that they still trigger nightmares."
"That scared me," Josh said, "I almost phoned Teddy but didn't want to wake her and Owen."
"I've always called her when they got that bad," Annie said, "if it happens again you can call her. She's seen the worst of them, the worst one I ever had. It took both of them to stop me from hurting myself further and opening the incision on my stomach. That was relatively mild compared to what they used to be."
"Does it happen often," Josh asked, "when I'm not home."
"A couple when you haven't been home," Annie admitted, "just little ones. Nothing like that."
"What do I need to do next time," Josh asked, "I didn't feel like I was helping you."
"Hold me and tell me I'm safe. Let me know that you're there and you won't leave," Annie said, "mama used to brush my hair back off my face and almost pet my hair until I went back to sleep."
"She pet your hair," Josh said.
"She would run her hand over my hair," Annie said.
"Like the day you fell asleep on the couch after your last fight with Leslie and she was playing with your hair," Josh asked.
"That always works," Annie said, "it always puts me to sleep."
"I'll try that the next time you're thinking too much and can't sleep," Josh said.
"Why can't our parents try to understand us," Annie asked.
"Mental illness," Josh said, "it sucks. I don't know why we keep trying."
"Because they're our parents," Annie said, "we still love them."
"I ignored my dad today," Josh admitted.
"Why did you do that," Annie asked.
"Because I don't want to deal with his and my mom's drama," Josh said, if someone is dying they'll call Nathan."
"Did he leave a voicemail," Annie asked.
"Not this time," Josh replied, "I'm not going to call back. They probably want money."
"We're interns," Annie said, "rent, food, student loans, a little bit of spending money. "
"We're not as bad off as some of our friends," Josh said, "we had scholarships and family that helped a bit. Plus Teddy isn't charging what she could for rent."
"Mama said that our rent covers the mortgage payment, she wasn't going to make money off us," Annie said, "she's always been really fair with me. Her and I talked about it before I moved in. we could get another roommate and cut our rent further."
"Would you be okay if Duncan took the empty room," Josh asked, "he's getting sick of the frat party at his place."
"Can i think about it," Annie said, "Cassidy also asked and I told her I would talk to you."
"I'd prefer Duncan to Cassidy," Josh said, "Cassidy is nosy."
"She does ask a lot of questions," Annie agreed, "I don't know how I feel about having someone else in the house. I'm liking being just the two of us."
"It is nice," Josh agreed.
"I can't wander around in my PJs or leggings and a tank top with some else here," Annie said, "we couldn't fall asleep on the couch or take a glass of wine into the bathtub."
"Why couldn't we take our wine into the tub," Josh asked.
"It would be their bathroom," Annie said, "we only have a shower in the ensuite. I could probably take a glass of wine or a cup of tea to the bathtub, but it would be just me."
"You're making some good points," Josh said.
"Don't I always," Annie said, "because I'm not one of those girls that meets her boyfriend in a supply closet or on call room."
"I know," Josh said, "just the odd kiss in the back stair well."
"A kiss in the stair well is different from what Jenna and Jeremy got caught doing by Webber," Annie said.
"Webber caught them," Josh said.
"Prim and proper Webber," Annie said, "only one who would be worse is Bailey."
"Bailey would be embarrassing," Josh said.
"Mama would be the worst," Annie said.
"Owen," Josh said, "he'd kill me."
"Mama would do that thing where she grabs me by the elbow and drags me somewhere to lecture me," Annie said.
"Thats scary when she does that," Josh said, "she did it last week to me."
"What did you do," Annie asked.
"Got a little excited about a harvest surgery," Josh said, "she made me go look at the family. She has sharp nails when she does that."
"I call them her talons," Annie said, "but what are we going to do about our parents."
"What if we stopped calling or answering our phones when they call," Josh said.
"I'll stop calling but I won't ignore my phone when they call," Annie said.
"What if we sent one email a month telling them we're okay," Josh suggested.
"Send an I'm still alive message," Annie asked.
"Let's try it," Josh said, "see if you relax a bit, not trying to call them every week to leave a voicemail or get yelled at."
"Maybe I'll send one email a week," Annie said.
"You could," Josh said.
"Then we focus on our Seattle family," Annie said.
"Your mama has been your family for as long as I've known you," Josh said, "it's not much different for you."
"Just adding Uncle Owen and my baby sister," Annie said, "I wish I knew her name. But what about you?"
"Nathan has been my family and the relative I could rely on to guide me for years," Josh said, "Meghan was around when I was younger and now she's back. We have them on my side."
"So we have mama, Uncle Owen, the bean, Nathan, Meghan and Faroke," Annie said.
"You forgot Evelyn," Josh said, "but see we have a family that loves us and gets us."
"They do," Annie said, "I'm still getting to know Meghan but I think she cares."
"Meghan cares a lot," Josh said, "she always has. She wants to get to know you. You're still being shy with her."
"Can I trust her," Annie asked, "will she judge me and my past?"
"Not at all," Josh said, "you could compare scars."
"Her's are worse," Annie said.
"I was just teasing," Josh said.
"I should call mama before it gets too late and apologize," Annie said.
"Go," Josh said, "I'll make dinner any requests?"
"A salad," Annie said.
"More than rabbit food," Josh said.
"Something with a salad," Annie said, "I'm going to go call quickly."
Annie walked into their bedroom and closed the door.
She pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped on Teddy's number.
"Annie I didn't expect you to call tonight," Teddy said, "is everything all right?"
Annie took a deep breath, "I wanted to apologize for my behaviour in the ambulance bay today."
"Why," Teddy asked.
"You had exciting news and I didn't react very positively," Annie said, "I am excited about the baby and getting a little sister. I'm sorry I didn't show it earlier."
"It's okay sweetheart," Teddy said, "I shouldn't have told you in the ambulance bay while waiting for a trauma to come in."
"I asked," Annie said.
"I know," Teddy said, "I didn't have to answer when I did."
"You're excited," Annie said.
"I am," Teddy said, "my girls."
"What did uncle Owen say," Annie asked.
"He's excited," Teddy said, "he thinks she's perfect. I was looking at him when the resident turned the screen to us and he said 'Teddy look she's perfect' Owen saw it first."
"That's so sweet," Annie said.
"It was," Teddy said, "he's been really sweet about all of this."
"Is she healthy," Annie asked.
"She is," Teddy said.
"I can't wait to meet her," Annie said.
"A few more months," Teddy said.
"Are you okay," Annie asked.
"I'm good, it all looks good," Teddy said, "I'm happy. Do you have plans tonight?"
"Dinner and watching the Lord of The Rings ," Annie said, "what about you?"
"Dinner, I'm going to start working on some nursery ideas," Teddy said.
"Can I help with the nursery," Annie asked.
"Some of it," Teddy said, "are you okay, you were really quiet at work today."
"I didn't sleep last night," Annie said, "I fought with Leslie then had a nightmare."
"You didn't call," Teddy said.
"Josh and I were fine," Annie said.
"He was able to help you calm down," Teddy asked.
"Not as quickly as you do but we figured it out," Annie said.
Teddy sighed, "why didn't you tell me this morning?"
"We were at work," Annie said, "it's not like it was ever just you and I."
"I know," Teddy said, "you don't need me anymore."
"I do mama," Annie said, "but differently. I'm okay. I know I can't lean on you the same way I did. You're going to be busy with the baby."
"I'll always have time for you," Teddy said, "when you're having nightmares you can call. You can call any time with anything."
"I will if I need you," Annie said, "Josh and I had a good talk about our parents."
"What did you come up with," Teddy asked.
"For now we're going to focus on our family here in Seattle," Annie said, "you, Uncle Owen, the bean, Evelyn, Nathan, Meghan, Faroke."
"I like this plan," Teddy said, "but the bean?"
"She still looks like a bean," Annie said, "a very cute bean but a bean. It's not a gremlin."
"You're not going to let me forget that," Teddy asked.
"Not for a while," Annie said, "you didn't want me to bring it up you shouldn't have told me."
"I was 20," Teddy said.
"Too bad," Annie replied, "but I'm going to go eat."
"We did that a while ago," Teddy said.
"Again I'm sorry mama," Annie said, "I should have shown you how excited I am."
"It's okay sweetheart," Teddy said, "I'll see you tomorrow. Love you."
"See you in the morning," Annie replied, "love you."
Annie walked back into the kitchen.
"Is everything okay with Teddy," Josh asked.
"It is," Annie said, "I told her about last night. She likes our plan to focus on the family here."
"You told your mama," Josh asked.
"She's my sounding board," Annie said.
"I know," Josh said, "but I don't want it to get to Nathan yet. He'll tell my parents. Then they'll appear in Seattle."
"She won't tell," Annie said.
"Dinner's ready," Josh said, "chicken, rice, salad."
"Sounds good," Annie replied, "thank you for cooking."
"Any time babe," Josh said, "I think you're right about a permeate room mate. Maybe we let Duncan stay here until he finds somewhere quieter just for a few weeks?"
"We can do that," Annie said.
Teddy made two cups of tea and sat down on the couch.
"Everything okay," Owen asked.
Teddy nodded, "it is."
"What's happening with Annie," Owen asked.
"She just needed her mama," Teddy said," nothing more."
"Did you figure out why she was quiet today," Owen asked.
"Leslie," Teddy said firmly, her tone not leaving any room for discussion.
"Her and Josh are okay," Owen asked, "do you want to go over there?"
"She said that she's fine," Teddy snapped, "drop it Owen."
Owen looked startled, "Teddy what's wrong?"
Teddy looked ready to cry, "I have my 25 year old having PTSD nightmares again and I'm scared I'm going to royally screw up the baby. I don't know anything about being a mom. My last baby I gave a quick cuddle and a kiss and they took her from me. What if someone takes our baby Owen?"
"Teddy no one will take our baby," Owen promised, "she'll stay right with us. You're already an incredible mom to Annie. The bond you built with her in months is incredible, you got her to trust and rely on you in months, something that would take most kids years. Our baby is lucky to have you as a mom."
"I don't know how to change a diaper, or nurse a baby, or when they should learn to walk or talk," Teddy said, "I've held people's babies, played with them but always gave them back to their parents when they cried."
"Neither do I," Owen said, "we'll learn together. Why don't we go to one of those baby classes."
"I kinda signed us up for a birthing class," Teddy said, "it's just before Thanksgiving at the hospital. No scrubs for you."
"But you get scrubs," Owen asked.
"I get what I'm comfortable in," Teddy said.
"Why don't we take one of those infant care and CPR classes," Owen said.
"We can both do CPR," Teddy said.
"When was the last time you did it on an infant without someone from peds there," Owen asked.
"Never," Teddy admitted, "but the baby care portion might be okay."
"My mom is waiting for you to come to her," Owen said, "she wants you to talk to her."
"I've done this before," Teddy said, "it's just been a really long time. This baby is a miracle."
"She is the best thing that's happened to us," Owen said.
"You showed up at my door," Teddy said, "and I yelled for you to keep your pants on through the door."
"We know they didn't stay on long," Owen laughed.
"That was a perfect weekend until I threw you out," Teddy said, "I still regret that."
"I shouldn't have pushed you," Owen said, "that wasn't fair."
"I love you," Teddy said.
"I love you too," Owen replied. Giving Teddy a quick kiss.