It was the night before Teddy and Owen's wedding. Teddy was nervously pacing her living room. She had come clean after the ball game about her past with Allison and Claire. Owen had been surprisingly accepting, he said she had drunkenly told him one night years ago and all that mattered is that they were together now. Teddy was waiting for Annie to get off work and come over. Teddy wanted her last night as a single woman at home with her two girls. She knew Annie had scrubbed in on an emergency amputation with the new ortho attending a few hours before. Teddy didn't know the man well yet but he was experienced and enthusiastic and he appeared to enjoy teaching the residents.
Annie walked in the front door, "Mama, Ali Bean."
"Hi sweetheart," Teddy called back.
"Are you sure this is what you want the night before your wedding," Annie asked.
"It is," Teddy nodded, "my girls at home with me."
"I brought a bottle of rose and some prosecco," Annie said, "we should have one."
"Prosecco fits tonight," Teddy agreed, "when we put Allison to bed."
"Where is Owen," Annie asked.
"He's at Evelyn's," Teddy said, "we wanted to spend tonight apart so he doesn't see me in the morning."
"I can't believe you're finally marrying uncle Owen tomorrow," Annie said, "the white dress and everything."
"Are you sure you're okay with it," Teddy asked.
"I am," Annie said, "I know that you won't forget me."
"We love you," Teddy said, "tonight I want prosecco and take out with you."
"What type of take out," Annie asked.
"I thought sushi," Teddy said.
"With Prosecco," Annie laughed.
"Dinner first then wine," Teddy smiled.
"Wine in our PJs," Annie asked.
"A bottle of wine in our pajamas when was the last time we did that," Teddy asked.
"Christmas Eve my last year of med school," Annie smiled, "I miss pajama and wine nights with Steph. Jenna, Julia and Cassidy always want to go out."
They ordered dinner and ate before Teddy put Allison to bed. When Teddy came down she had a box in her arms. Annie was already on the couch in her pjs and glasses.
"What's in the box," Annie asked.
"Photo albums," Teddy said.
"Like actual pictures," Annie asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "I was thinking about my mom today and thought you might want to see your grandma."
"What was her name," Annie asked.
"Jane," Teddy replied, "Jane and Robert."
"And they came up with Theodora," Annie giggled.
"I know," Teddy said, "he was an English teacher. It was in a novel he loved."
"He was a reader," Annie asked.
"He loved to read," Teddy said, "and talk about books. He would have sat for hours with you and talked about what you were reading."
"Did I ever meet him," Annie asked.
"You didn't," Teddy said, "just my mom. They would have loved and been so proud of you little bear."
"Not little," Annie said.
"They called me Bear," Teddy said, "and you were always little bear to my dad."
"Allison is your little bear now," Annie said.
"She's baby bear," Teddy smiled.
"Little bear was a kids tv show," Annie said, "on treehouse with all the other Canadian kids stuff CBC made like toy castle and the animated Anne of green gables."
Teddy asked, "do you want to see the pictures?"
Annie nodded, "can I?"
Teddy smiled, "I brought them down to show you."
Teddy opened the oldest album first, it had her parents wedding photos and many of Teddy's grandparents. Annie looked closely at the photos and saw familiar eyes looking back at her. It looked like Teddy's mom had the same colour eyes as Annie, Teddy and Allison.
"Mama," Annie said, "your mom has the same eyes you and Allison do."
"You as well sweetheart," Teddy said, "my dad used to call them emeralds. Yours are the most like my moms."
Teddy and Annie poured over the albums of Teddy's childhood. Annie heard most of the stories for the first time.
Teddy laughed, "this is one of my favorites. I was 16. That's Amber, Morgan and Christine. We went to middle and high school together and played soccer together. That was our junior prom so your grade 11. It was my first real dress up event. I loved that dress. I felt so grown up. They were my best friends in high school. Morgan and I did our undergrad together at the university of Connecticut. She was a nurse last I heard. We all got ready for the dance together and had a sleepover at Ambers after."
"When's your next reunion," Annie asked.
"July," Teddy said, "I don't know if I should go."
Annie asked, "why not?"
"Last time I saw them I was 20 and pregnant with you," Teddy said.
"Go," Annie said, "tell them about Owen and Allison."
"You," Teddy said, "my husband and daughters."
"Go," Annie said, "Allison will be 18 months old and you could go for a couple nights."
"I'll talk to Owen," Teddy said.
They flipped through the pictures of Teddy's school years and residency. Annie laughed at the residency photos the fashions had changed but it looked like Teddy and her friends were doing many of the things her and her friends did now.
Teddy flipped back to a photo of her in a cap and gown with her parents on either side, "This was my graduation from my undergrad. The gown hides it well but you're there. They were so proud of me. Finishing my biology degree and going to medical school. I was 20 we went for a fancy dinner out that night at some high end restaurant. My parents were a teacher and a nurse. We never did things like that. I remember it was the first time in months that I actually wanted to eat."
"What did your dad say about me," Annie asked.
"He was supportive of whatever I wanted to do," Teddy said, "he always told me I may not agree with you."
Annie finished, "but I'm always on your side."
Teddy laughed, "I don't say that do I?"
"All the time," Annie responded, "that's how I know you're really not happy with me."
They looked at more pictures of Teddy's medical school days and Annie smiled seeing Dr Milner.
"How's Dr Milner," Annie asked.
"She's good," Teddy said, "you'll see her tomorrow."
"She's coming," Annie asked.
"She is and wants to see you," Teddy said, "she always asks about you."
"I'm looking forward to seeing her," Annie said.
Annie flipped a page and the scenery changed, "mama where are these taken."
"Baghdad,"Teddy said.
"That's uncle Owen," Annie said, "he looks different."
"It's before our platoon got attacked and Meghan was taken," Teddy said, "look at this one."
"You and Owen look like a couple," Annie said, "who are the other people?"
Teddy smiled, "you know Meghan and Nathan. We had just played soccer Owen, Nathan, Meghan and I against Dan, Jordan, Will and Brett. We were all surgeons together."
"I recognize Dan's name from Owens stories but I don't know the others," Annie said.
Teddy pointed to each of them and told Annie more about them.
"Why are you on Owens back," Annie asked.
"We just did that," Teddy said, "he called me his good luck charm."
"You look like you're about to kiss him," Annie teased.
"I wanted to so many times," Teddy said.
"Why didn't you," Annie asked, "this would have happened sooner."
"Timing wasn't right," Teddy said.
"Have you told any of them," Annie asked.
"The other guys were with Owen when they hit the mine," Teddy said, "they know and would be happy for us. Dan used to tease us about being a couple."
"This one is one you'll have heard the story of," Teddy said.
"That's the snow blower," Annie said.
"That was the Christmas Owen made it snow for us," Teddy said, "I don't know how he did it but he got a snow machine and set it up without telling anyone. It's one of my favorite Christmas's."
Teddy took a final album out of the box and said, "when you find the right guy and get married you'll tell me all about the photos in this one."
"What is that," Annie asked.
"It's yours," Teddy said, "all the photos and letters Leslie sent over the years. I added some from before you were born when I was pregnant with you, your ultrasounds and then ones I took when you were 19 and 20. I have one I just love. It's my absolute favorite. You were 19 and came down for a week in early July. It's the two of us and Owen going into the OR and you have your otter cap for the first time."
Annie smiled, "I have that printed in a box at home. It used to be on my wall at school. My family. People that didn't know me thought that was me with my mom and dad."
"It's your mama," Teddy said, "and step dad."
"A bit of foreshadowing," Annie said.
"Put it back up," Teddy said.
"We keep meaning to put pictures up but we never have time," Annie said, "I have the frames I just need to get pictures printed. I'll wait for the photos from tomorrow. We should get some good family ones."
"We will," Teddy promised.
Annie asked, "are you ready for tomorrow?"
"I think so," Teddy said.
Annie asked, "do you have something old, something new, sometimes borrowed and something blue?"
"I don't have something borrowed," Teddy said.
"I can fix that," Annie smiled.
"How," Teddy asked.
"I have two pairs of earrings I was deciding between," Annie said, "you can pick one of them."
Teddy asked, "which pairs?"
"The opals Chris gave me when I finished med school and the topaz ones from Josh from our anniversary," Annie said.
"I'll borrow your opals," Teddy said, "the white will go better with my dress."
"I'll put them on your dresser before we go to bed," Annie said.
Teddy checked her watch, "we should go to bed soon. Why don't you come sit with me upstairs for a bit?"
"I just need to brush my teeth," Annie said.
Annie sat on the foot of Teddy's bed and they continued chatting.
Annie asked, "I know you're going to walk on your own tomorrow but when it's my turn do you think I could ask Owen?"
"He would be happy to do that for you," Teddy said, "do you think it will happen?"
Annie blushed, "we've been talking about it but it's still a shared daydream. We're residents, when would we have time to get married?"
Teddy smiled, "if you think he's the one why not?"
Annie replied, "he has to ask and I think Chris would kill me."
Teddy shook her head, "your brother will support you."
"Tomorrow morning Meghan and Arizona will come here for us all to get ready," Annie asked.
"They will," Teddy said.
"I brought all the stuff for waffles and mimosas tomorrow," Annie said.
Teddy smiled, " we'll have fun getting ready. "
Annie asked, " mama after the wedding will we still do our days?"
Teddy nodded,"we will sweetheart. We both need that time. I was thinking once Allison stops nursing we could go on an adventure. Maybe take the ferry from here to Victoria. "
" I'd like that," Annie said, "I'm starting to get sleepy so I'm going to go to bed. "
Teddy gave Annie a hug, " goodnight sweetheart sweet dreams. "
Annie replied, "sleep well. "