This chapter has some darker undertones and mentions of abuse. This is the last dark and twisty chapter for a few.
When the door closed behind Bailey Teddy asked Annie to face her.
"Annie this part of the story is hard," Teddy replied, "I have never told anyone this part of it, not even my mom or Allison. I would like Owen to come join us if that is okay?"
"If you want him here I trust him," Annie replied.
"I'll let him know," Teddy said, "what I'm going to tell you doesn't change how much I love you and have loved you from the day I found out you exist. You became my reason to fight, my reason to trust my instincts and my voice."
Owen slipped into the room, "Bailey said you might want me."
"We do," Teddy said, "what I'm going to tell you isn't easy for me to talk about. It's about Annie's biological father."
Owen put his arms around her and whispered into her hair, "I'm right here Teddy. You've held this in for so long. I love you. I want to know this part of your story. "
Teddy's voice shook, "don't judge me."
"Never," Annie said.
"I'm always here," Owen promised, holding Teddy tight.
Teddy's hands covered her face as she whispered, "I don't know how to tell either of you this. Annie you were the bright spot in a very dark time in my life. You became my reason to fight. My reason to live."
"Mama what happened," Annie asked.
Teddy was shaking as Owen rubbed her back trying to keep her calm. She took a steadying breath before speaking again, "Steven as I've told you was not a nice man when I dated him. But it goes beyond that."
Annie reached for Teddy's hand, the same way Teddy took her hands when she was upset, "mama we don't have to do this if you don't want to."
Teddy's voice shook, "it's time you heard both of you."
Owen kissed Teddy's hair, "take your time Teds."
Teddy took a deep breath, "Steven was possibly the worst type of man in the planet. But I was young and he told me he loved me and that I was pretty. It was my first boyfriend. My parents loved me but by that point they had fallen out of love with each other. Dad taught high school English, my mom as a labour and delivery nurse on the night shift they hardly saw each other. I thought that how he treated me is what love looked like. I thought it was normal."
"What did he do Teddy," Owen asked.
Teddy continued drawing strength from Owens constant contact, "Steven was physically and emotionally abusive. He never raped me but it was close. He moved into my apartment, I wasn't given a choice. He made the decisions. I never asked him to move in he was suddenly just there. I was finishing my undergrad at 20 and working enough to keep my head above water. I had student loans and my parents helped when they could but they weren't wealthy and we supporting my moms parents. Steven would hit me when he didn't get his way kick, punch, throw me against the wall. I stopped speaking up I hid what was going on and withdrew from my friends. He called me names and told me I was worthless and a whore. He said that I would never amount to anything that I was wasting my time applying to med school that I could never get an Ivy League school. So I applied to state schools instead."
Teddy paused to take a breath and gather her thoughts. Owen noticed that Annie had pulled her knees up to her chest and looked ready to cry herself. He wondered if they should have called Josh to join them someone to hold Annie together.
When she was ready Teddy continued, her voice stronger now, "I had been with Steven just over a year when I discovered I was pregnant. I thought I had been careful but there were times I was forgetful with my birth control. I'd get caught up with exams or working two jobs and forget to take it. He also refused to wear condoms and would take them off or put it on too late. It's not true rape but it's still abuse. I'm sorry baby girl I was never going to tell you that's how you came to be because you are one of the best people in my life. My three perfect children and my amazing husband."
Annie hugged Teddy and whispered, "I'm sorry we don't have to do this."
Teddy kept going, "we do. And you are not going to apologize Annie. When I discovered I was pregnant with Annie, Steven decided that I was going to terminate it. I refused. It was the first time I stood up to him. I knew from the moment the test came back that you had to live sweetheart no matter what. I began to fight back to stand up and say no to Steven. He tried to hit me and I called the police. What he did to me had to stop. I was going to stop it for you. I called my mom and told her about you, that Steven and I weren't getting along. I never told her he hit me but I think she knew when we went to the first doctors appointment and she saw the bruising on my back and sides. We went back to my apartment the lease was in my name and he had never paid any rent. My mom packed up his clothes and his books and put them in the lobby of the building. We called the landlord and got him to change the lock on the apartment. I finished my semester and then went home for the summer."
"Teddy love why haven't you told me this before," Owen asked, "I would have held you and listened."
Teddy cried, "I was scared. Terrified that you would think less of me."
"You stood up and fought for yourself and for Annie," Owen said.
"That's why you took me out of cloverdale when you found out about Jessica," Annie said.
Teddy nodded tears still streaming down her face, "it was. I fought for you like I needed someone to fight for me. Annie I learned to fight for you. You became my reason to fight to stand up and get him out. I wish I had been stronger sooner but then I wouldn't have you."
"I'm sorry you went though that," Annie said, "how can you go through that and still want me."
"I wanted you from the moment I knew you existed," Teddy said, "the first time I heard your heartbeat was pure magic. The first flutters of your little kicks, your constant dancing on my bladder. I wouldn't change that for anything. Sweetheart you saved me. I don't always believe God has a plan but I think in this case he did. Baby girl you saved me and made me strong. My love for you made me strong. I couldn't do it for myself but I had to do it for you."
Annie pulled Teddy into a hug and whispered, "I love you mama. Thank you for giving me a chance to live."
Teddy hugged her back, "sweetheart you have saved me more times then you know. I love you. Always have and always will."
Owen, not knowing how to respond this now explained so much why Teddy flinched when a door slammed or he raised his voice in an argument, why she hated when he slammed his hand on the table to make a point. He knew he had to work on those things for her to make sure she always felt safe. But it also explained why she was so passionate about making sure young women knew how to stand up for themselves and why she had fought tooth and nail for Annie when Jessica had hurt her.
Teddy kept talking, growing more confident as she told her story to the two people she trusted most, "Steven knew about Annie. He knew when she was born he had to sign away his rights. It wasn't part of the adoption process but we had him sign away parental rights just in case he's a vindictive man. But now he's here. He's in this hospital and we have to face him together. He knows who Annie is. Without knowing you operated on and likely saved your half brother. "
"He wants proof for both Luke and I," Annie said, "I don't want to do it. It will hurt you too much mama."
Teddy took Annie's hand and used the other to bring Annie's chin to meet her gaze, "you decide. It won't hurt me. If anything it will prove him wrong for denying you could be his. But it's your choice. Talk it through with Josh and sleep on it."
Annie nodded, "I'll talk to Josh when I've had time to think. It doesn't mean we have to see him or talk to him right?"
Owen answered, "it doesn't. He won't get near either of you. He deals with Nathan and Alex only. I am not letting that man get close to either of you."
Teddy began to sob into Owens chest.
"It's ok," Owen soothed, "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere, I promise. I love you. I'm going to do everything I can to make you feel safe. That's why you hate when doors slam or someone slaps the table to make a point isn't it."
Teddy nodded and reached one arm to Annie. Annie joined them for a group hug.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that with him mama. Thank you for trusting me with that part of the story," Annie whispered.
"It was time," Teddy said, "you both needed to know."
"I'm glad you trusted me with that," Owen said, "it's been hurting you for 28 years. That's a long time to hold that in."
Teddy gave a weak smile, "I feel better. Sweetheart promise me if Josh ever raises a hand to you in anger or an argument you will tell me and you will walk away."
"I promise," Annie replied.
Teddy nodded, "you're stronger then I am. You learned sooner then I did to trust yourself and not be manipulated."
"I had you to teach me," Annie said, "I learned my strength from you. "
"Both of your strength amazes me," Owen said, "but we've been in here a while. You both need out of scrubs and some sleep."
"I'm not driving home," Annie said, "I'll nap in an on call room for a couple hours."
"Good idea," Teddy replied, "nap then get the littles from daycare and go home."
"Can I give you a hug before I go," Annie asked.
Teddy nodded, "I need one."
Annie held Teddy tight and whispered the same things Teddy did when she was upset. She waited until her mama relaxed and her breathing slowed.
"That really does work," Teddy smiled.
"Every time," Annie reassured.
"Go get some rest Annie," Owen said giving her a quick hug.
Teddy curled back into a ball against Owen, "I just need you to hold me for a few minutes before I can nap."
"I will always hold you," Owen promised, "even when we're old, gray and in wheelchairs. I love you Teddy. You, your strength, they way you fight for our kids, me, your patients , our family that is what I love most about you. You never stop fighting for the people you care about. That is the most amazing thing about you."
Teddy nodded, "I love you more then I can say. Owen you make me feel safe, loved and secure. Things that no one else has ever made me feel. You make me feel calm even when I'm about to fall apart."
Owen kissed the top of her hair, "I love you."
Teddy met his lips with her own, "I love you to."