After an intense couple of weeks with Teddy opening up about her relationship with Steven and now having confirmation of what Teddy had known for 28 years, Steven was Annie's father, as much as she hated the man she felt vindicated. They also learned that Annie had not crossed any ethical lines in operating on Luke, he wasn't her half brother.

They drove northward towards the Canada US border. Stopping for gas in Blaine just before joining the border lineup. In the rearview mirror Teddy could see Annie was nervous.

"Annie you're okay," Teddy said, "I found a route around cloverdale its a bit longer and routes us through downtown Vancouver but we can so it."

"176 is faster," Annie said, "I'll just sit back here and read."

They made it through the border after some confusion with why Annie had a Canadian passport.

"Next time can you just use your American passport," Meghan teased.

"Nope," Annie replied, "Canadian is easier to go into Canada on."

"When you're with us it's easier," Meghan said.

"I have to use it sometimes," Annie said, "otherwise what's the point of keeping it? I haven't used it since I moved to Seattle. It's the first time I used this one I renewed in in February."

They drove over the overpass that lead into the heart of Cloverdale. Annie looked around curiously. It had been 6 nearly seven years since she had been back, a lot had changed there were new townhouse complex's and strip malls. Driving past she pointed out her high school on the top of the hill but even it was changing a crane towered over the school parking lot clearly building an addition to the crowded school. It had been crowded 10 years ago when Annie graduated. A sign advertised the 10 year reunion in September for her grad class.

"You should go Annie," Teddy suggested.

"I only talk to Chris," Annie said.

"Go reconnect," Meghan suggested.

"They won't even know who Grace Altman is to buy tickets," Annie said.

"Use Annie Altman you can't have had many Annie's in your class," Meghan said.

"I was the only Annie but we had an Anna," Annie laughed.

"Go," Meghan said, "take josh and be proud of what you've done."

"I'll go to mine if mama goes to hers," Annie said.

"I have my reasons for not going," Teddy said, "the last time I saw them you were with me and I was a mess and not very nice to anyone."

"But I'll go and have nothing to talk about," Annie said, "I'm still in training. It's not like I have this great big career to talk about or I've done anything exciting. Two of my class went to the olympics. I've gone to school done three years of residency and by that point will be married it's not exciting."

"Mine is a few years off," Teddy said, " I missed my 30 year because we were adopting Leo that summer. There's a 35 I'm considering but I don't know."

"I'll go to mine if you go to yours," Annie said, "take Owen with you."

"Kids," Teddy laughed, "I don't even get to go to a conference kid free."

"Really," Annie giggled, "I'm the best of the three of us to go to a conference with."

"You are," Teddy agreed, "this will be a good group this week."

"It will be," Annie agreed, "Jenna is driving up with Julia and Rachel. How did you manage four residents?"

"You three do a lot of traumas," Meghan replied, "and I want to bring Rachel into trauma from ENT and Plastics. She does a lot of burn work."

"I don't know her well," Annie said, "she was one of the ones that decided she didn't like me as an intern and used to make things hard for me because my mama is on staff."

"I remember hearing her gossip," Meghan agreed, "the Hunt moved his girlfriend here and she just walked into a cushy cardio job."

"She was the one making fun of mama for leaving the arm for uncle Owen," Annie said.

"He offered to give up Grey Sloan for me and come work for me a couple times," Teddy said.

"What stopped you," Annie asked.

"You at first when he came to see me in Germany. Then Meghan came home and I was pregnant with Allison. I wanted Allison to know auntie Meghan and nana and her big sister," Teddy said, "I had been considering going back to the west coast to be closer to you anyway. My contract was almost up."

"Why for me," Annie asked.

"I needed family," Teddy said, "you were my family. But I thought if I went back to Seattle I could at least spend time with Owen and have my best friend."

They continued driving north merging onto highway one and following it towards the sea to sky highway. As they drove Annie became a terrible backseat driver, she remembered the road and the strange twist and turns the highway took.

"Do you want to drive," Teddy asked, "you know this road better then I do."

"I learned to drive on it," Annie said, "I was 16 it was snowing and dad made me drive the truck up to the cabin."

"They didn't hold back with you did they," Meghan said.

"Nope," Annie said, "dad insisted I be capable of doing it all myself. I drove the sea to sky, coquihalla, hope Princeton, Fraser canyon. I used to be able to tow the boat and launch it."

"Tom boy," Meghan asked, sounding shocked. The Annie she knew was a girly girl. What she was hearing didn't fit the Annie she knew.

"Dad didn't want me to be one of those girls that had to sit on the side lines and depend on a guy to do it for me," Annie explained, "I was the oldest so as soon as I could I had to learn to do it all. I had my power craft card for the boat at 14."

"That's crazy," Meghan said, "did you like boating?"

"I loved it," Annie admitted, "we did a ton of fishing. We used to spend two weeks every summer at the fishing camp. But I haven't been since I was 18. It used to be my favorite place on the planet. I still miss it and I'm sure if I just called someone and said I wanted to go with them this summer I could go and bring Josh but I've burned too many bridges."

"Your 20th birthday we went on a boat with Leslie and Dan," Teddy said, "you were on some sort of board and must have let your dad tow you around for half an hour."

"Wakesurfing," Annie smiled, "I did that the summer I went to Texas with Steph."

"You liked the water," Teddy said.

"I still do," Annie smiled, "we rented kayaks last weekend and paddled."

"Jackson Avery wants to take your year out on his boat," Teddy said, "you should go."

"We already told him we would," Annie said, "I'm looking forward to it but its a type of boat I haven't been on before."

They drove for a while in quiet before Annie began telling Teddy and Meghan about some of the places they were driving past.

"We have time on Tuesday that if we checked out early we could hike the chief," Annie suggested.

"Don't you want to meet your parents," Teddy asked.

"They cancelled," Annie replied, "so let's hike instead."

"When did they cancel," Teddy asked.

"We were in the border line," Annie replied.

"Why didn't you say anything," Teddy asked.

"It's not a big deal. I half expected it," Annie replied.

"Did they say why," Teddy asked.

"Jessica," Annie sighed.

Meghan growled, "that's not okay. Annie you can't accept that."

"I want to come up here and have fun," Annie whispered, "it's the first time I'm in BC it's enough of a step."

"It's a huge step," Teddy agreed.

"So far so good," Annie smiled, "I'm just hoping not to run into anyone who used to know me."

They drove for a while longer, entering Whistler Teddy asked , "Annie I need you to direct me here. I haven't driven this part before."

"Neither have I," Annie said, "I know the village to walk it and how to get to the cabin from the village but not where our hotel is from this side. But I know it's on the newer side of the village by the IGA so turn left."

They checked in and began to wander the village.

"Meghan Hunt," a voice called.

Meghan whirled around, "Beth?"

"I thought you were gone," Beth babbled.

"What are you doing here," Meghan asked.

"My husband is up for a conference," Beth said, "so the kids and I decided to explore. What are you doing here?"

"Women in trauma surgery conference," Meghan said, "with my sister-in-law and her daughter."

"sister-in -law, Owen is married," Beth said.

"Teddy," Meghan replied, "her daughter is a resident that Teddy, Owen, Nathan and I are teaching."

"So he left me for her," Beth said.

"Beth is it," Teddy said, joining them, "it's been years."

"I don't remember your name," Beth lied.

"Teddy Altman," Teddy said, "this is my daughter Grace. Wait where did she go?"

"Over there," Meghna pointed, "she's with a couple people who look about her age."

"She used to dance with one of them," Teddy said, "I think that's Alice. How are you Beth?"

"I'm good. The kids and I are enjoying Whistler while my husband is at an architects conference," Beth replied, "do you have other children."

"Grace is my oldest, Owen and I have a 2 and a 3 year old," Teddy smiled, "how old are your kids?"

"6,4 and 2," Beth replied, "they keep me busy."

"We're busy as well with the little two and the oldest in her residency and getting married soon," Teddy smiled, "are you still teaching?"

"No it's too much with the kids they need me home," Beth said.

"Its hard but we make it work but Grace helps so do Meghan and Evelyn," Teddy forced a smile.

Across the street Annie had heard her old name.

"Annie, Annabeth McKellar," a voice called.

"Alice," Annie yelled running to her old friend and hugging her.

"Annie where did you go," Alice asked.

"Boston then Seattle," Annie smiled, "what about you what are you doing?"

"My fiance and I are just here for a few days of fun," Alice said, "what about you."

"Work trip," Annie smiled.

A man joined them.

"Dustin this is Annie I danced with her then after our third year of university she disappeared to Boston and just reappeared," Alice introduced.

"It's nice to meet you," Annie said.

"What was in Boston," Dustin asked.

"Harvard Medical School," Annie said.

"So you're really a doctor now," Alice said.

"Surgical resident," Annie replied.

"Your a surgeon," Alice sounded shocked.

"Pediatric cardiothoracic and peds trauma by default," Annie said.

"In english," Dustin asked.

"I do heart surgery on kids and I do a lot of trauma and major injuries in kids," Annie explained, "what are you doing?"

"I'm working on my PHD in urban planning," Alice replied, " Dustin is a structural engineer. You said this was a work trip do you have time to catch up?"

"The conference doesn't start until tomorrow," Annie said, "we could go grab coffee now. I'll just give my attendings the heads up."

"Attendings," Dustin asked.

"My department heads," Annie smiled, "actually my birth mother and step aunt."

"You still see your birth mother," Alice asked, "Teddy was cool when she came to visit."

"She still is. I work with her everyday and she's teaching me the heart surgery part," Annie said, "but it looks like her and auntie Meghan ran into some one they don't want to see so I'm going to go rescue them then we can do coffee?"

"There's a starbucks around that corner," Alice said, "meet us there?"

"Perfect," Annie beamed, "I'll be there in five."

"See you soon," Alice smiled, "Annie it's great to see you."

"I've missed you," Annie agreed.

Annie dashed over to where Teddy and Meghan were still being interrogated by Beth.

"Mama , Auntie Meghan sorry to interrupt," Annie said.

" Grace Altman this is Beth an old friend of Owen's," Meghan introduced, Beth this is Grace, Teddy's oldest."

"What's going on you look really excited," Teddy said.

"I ran into Alice Campbell," Annie said, "she was my roommate at UBC and in my youth group in highschool. I'm having coffee with her and her fiancé to catch up. I wish Josh was here."

"Girls trip with the trauma dream team," Meghan said.

"Go," Teddy said, "we'll all meet up for dinner."

"See you later," Annie smiled.

"We should go," Teddy said, "I need to make a few calls."

"Tell Owen I said hi," Beth said.

"It was good to see you," Meghan said.

Teddy and Meghan walked away.

"That was weird," Teddy said, "was she always so fake."

"Always," Meghan said.

"That was the most awkward thing ever," Teddy groaned, "how did Owen ever like her."

"She was never right for him but he didn't have the confidence to see it," Meghan said, "then by the time he did we were in the desert. I'm glad he found the balls to dump her but still don't know what took him so long to be with you."

"We almost did when Annie was 19," Teddy said, "but then stuff happened."

"You both married someone else," Meghan said.

"We did," Teddy agreed, "with out Henry I would never have been able to let Owen in and marry him. Henry taught me a lot. I'm only now realizing how much. He was my first serious relationship after Annie's father."

"What do you mean," Meghan said, "you went on dates or hung out with men that I knew of."

"But none I ever really let know me. Not after what happened with Steven I couldn't until Henry," Teddy said she kept walking as she talked.

"What happened with Steven " Meghan asked cautiously.

Teddy looked at her friend, "only Owen and Annie know. You can't tell anyone."

"I promise Teddy your secret is safe with me," Meghan said.

Teddy took a deep breath, "I'm still getting used to saying this. Steven would hit me in anger then tell me it was my fault and he only did it because he loved me and wanted me to be better. I was 19 and 20. I didn't know that's not what love looks like."

"How did you leave him," Meghan asked.

Teddy tried to keep her face emotionless, "I got pregnant. All I knew when those two pink lines appeared was that I had to protect my baby. It wasn't about me anymore I had lost too much of myself to him. But I had to protect my baby. The moment I knew Annie was there I had to protect her. So I called my mom and told her part of the story and she helped me pack his things and get him out and my lock changed. I couldn't fight for myself but I had to fight for her. He slammed me into walls and doors trying to kill Annie but she held on. I had to fight for her. I thought I was beyond saving but my baby wasn't. I got strong for her."

Meghan hugged Teddy, "I'm sorry I wish I had known years ago."

Teddy shook her head sadly, "I wasn't ready to talk about it. I still don't want others to know. But it's why I reacted the way I did when Jessica tried to beat Annie to death."

"What," Meghan asked, "I knew about the stabbing but Jessica tried to kill Annie?"

"The scar on Annie's stomach," Teddy said, "emergency laparotomy. When she was 19 her sister had been hitting her and threatening her for years. I had an idea from some of Annie's comments but I was still Teddy in her world I wasn't mama and her go to yet. I lost it when I got the call she had been beaten. I don't know how I would have survived that without Owen. She was so broken and hurt Meghan, my baby girl that I had fought so hard to make sure she was safe was hurt and broken. I gave her up to parents that would love and protect her because I loved her but I couldn't protect her."

"Teddy I'm sorry," Meghan said, "I can't imagine getting that call."

"The hospital called me and I lost it," Teddy admitted, "I panicked. I couldn't see straight let alone think. All I could think was to call Owen. I didn't even think of Christina or that he was married. The only person who felt safe was Owen. And he came, he drove me to Annie and stayed with us until she was discharged. The first time Annie called me mama was in the Pac u. I cried but Owen put his hand on my back to let me know he was there and promised Annie that uncle Owen wasn't going anywhere either. "

"He always loved you. It was you he wanted," Meghan said, "but he was scared there was a part of you that you wouldn't let anyone see."

"He knows now and so do you," Teddy said, "it's why I push Annie so hard to use her voice and to fight for herself."

"The Teddy I know has always been a fighter for the people she loves," Meghan smiled.

Teddy nodded and continued walked.

"Is Annie okay," Meghan asked.

"With Alice," Teddy replied," she's fine she wouldn't have gone if she didn't want to. Alice was one of her best friends. If I remember correctly Alice was adopted as well and they were in the same support group for adopted kids."

"That must be hard to see Annie with you then if Alice was adopted," Meghan said.

"Alice was more open about it," Teddy replied, "I think she knew her birth mom."

"Am I doing it wrong," Meghan asked, "should I have Faroke in one of those groups?"

"Doesn't he talk to Annie about it sometimes," Teddy asked.

"He does and she's great," Meghan replied.

"We've thought about it for Leo as he gets older especially because we know nothing about his birth family," Teddy replied.

"What does Leo know," Meghan asked.

"That we love him so much we choose him to be ours," Teddy said , "that mama and daddy and his big sister fought for him. He loves Annie and Josh."

"She was the first to connect with him," Meghan said.

"She was and she's good at it," Teddy agreed, "kids automatically trust Annie. She fights hard for them she'll take on Karev if it's what's right for her paitents."

"She's learned to fight from you," Meghan said.

"She wasn't allowed to have a voice growing up. We had to practice," Teddy explained, "the talks I had with her about boys and relationships because no one told her. They didn't teach her anything other than it was wrong to spend the night with your boyfriend. At nineteen she actually asked me if it was okay that she wanted to kiss a boy she liked. Kiss. She was so innocent when I met her."

"And she's lived with Josh how long now," Meghan laughed.

"That wasn't an easy choice for her. We've talked about it. It wasn't not trusting him it was the religious part," Teddy said, "she had been told one thing as a child and forced to parrot back their beliefs then started to see for herself in medical school."

"So how much of that side do you know," Meghan asked.

"I knew when she was thinking about it because she talked to me about a few things and wanting my opinion," Teddy said, "she was choosing between two options and needed her mamas thoughts. We had that talk and I found out about Allison a week later."

Meghan laughed, "I'm sorry but that's a bit ironic."

"We know," Teddy replied.

"Nate and I have been talking about another kid," Meghan blurted.

"Do it," Teddy encouraged, "what's stopping you?"

"Age," Meghan said, "I'm 43. It's pretty late for a baby."

Teddy smiled, "I was 45 almost 46 when we made Allison. Go talk to Carina."

Meghan asked, "what if it's not possible. Teddy, I'm not young, I've had major abdominal injuries."

Teddy nodded, "you could adopt a baby."

"Who would pick us," Meghan asked.

Teddy smiled, "I would have. Two loving parents secure, educated, with family around. Mama, auntie, uncle, cousins. All things I wanted for Annie."

"How did you choose," Meghan asked.

"This was 1990 so no social media,"Teddy explained, "the adoption agency had binders of families. Leslie and Dans was buried way at the back. It was the first profile that made me feel calm. So I phoned them and they came down to meet me. And we clicked. It was the first time I felt good about my choice when I met them."

Meghan asked, "would you do it again?"

"Giving Annie up," Teddy said, "even knowing what I do I would. She wouldn't be my Annie otherwise and I wouldn't change her for anything. But I would want more transparency, to see her when she started asking not a random age we picked signing the papers."

"How often did you hear from them," Meghan asked.

"Every month," Teddy replied, "I wanted to know. I had to know how my girl was doing. She was my first thought when I work up and my last prayer at night. It was never that I didn't want her Meghan. It was that I didn't see how I could be her mom I was too much of a mess myself to be anyone's mom. And she's had her own struggles at school early on and you know her anxiety. She's still so shy and I wonder if some of that was me or my fault and how unsettled and crazy my pregnancy with her was. I worry about it for Allison. I didn't exactly give Allison the best first few weeks."

"Annie is an introvert who feeds off other people's emotions," Meghan said, "Josh and yours especially. She's super sensitive which is actually a gift for her in Peds. Allison will be fine. She never stops moving but neither do you."

"Annie doesn't either," Teddy smiled, "I let Bailey do the test I have the genetic markers for adhd and Annie can't know I told you but she was diagnosed with it at 6."

"If we adopted would you and Owen be references and back up," Meghan asked.

Teddy hugged Meghan, "we'd be happy to. Who would your second set be?"

"We have to talk to Josh and Annie," Meghan said.

"They're our first for Ali and Leo," Teddy said, "they will if you ask."

"I thought of mom but she's getting older," Meghan said.

"I know," Teddy said, "we talked about that two."

In Starbucks Annie got her drink and sat down with Alice and Dustin.

"Woah nice ring," Alice said noticing Annie's left hand, "what's his name?"

"Josh," Annie said, "we met in med school."

"When's the wedding," Alice asked.

"August," Annie smiled, "yours?"

"We only got engaged a month ago, we haven't set a date," Alice replied, "when did he propose? Do you have pictures?"

"Lots of pictures and last April," Annie smiled, "how did you meet?"

"We both work for the city of Burnaby," Alice said, "when do you come home?"

"Seattle is home now," Annie said, "we both have two years left of our residency then my fellowship is two years and his in trauma surgery is one."

"What is trauma surgery," Dustin asked.

"If you're in an accident and you wrap your car around a light pole Josh is the surgeon that makes sure you live," Annie explained.

"Sounds intense," Alice said.

"It is," Annie replied, "I dabble in trauma by default and may do my trauma fellowship later but I've committed to two specialties now so adding more would suck for my final board exams. They don't want us doing more than two to start."

"You said this was a work trip, why are you up," Alice asked.

"Women in trauma surgery conference, my chief of cardio signed me up," Annie said, "there's 5 attendings and 4 residents coming. It'll be a good few days."

"Josh is okay with this," Alice asked.

"More surgeries for those who stayed," Annie said, "OR time is competitive and him and I log tons. But I work for his uncle and my mother and he works for my step father."

"How do you work for your mom," Dustin asked.

"She's the head of cardio," Annie said, "so what have I missed? Do you still see all of our roommates?"

"I do," Alice smiled and proceeded to fill Annie in on everything she had missed, weddings, first babies, even a couple second babies.

"I wish I could have come to visit," Annie said.

"Why don't you," Alice asked.

"It was hard after everything that happened with my sister. I don't see my parents anymore only Chris for a lot of really complicated reasons but it also meant I couldn't come back," Annie explained, " I legally changed my name my second year of med school."

"You're not Annie McKellar any more," Alice asked, "then who are you?"

"Same person, new name," Annie smiled, "I'm Grace Altman now."

"Why that name," Alice asked.

"Grace was my middle name so I swapped my middle and first names," Annie explained, "and Altman is mama's my birth mother's last name."

"That's how you disappeared," Alice said, "Cassie thought she saw you on the news a couple months ago and I told her it was a good look alike but not you."

"The avalanche at Mt. Baker," Annie replied, "that was my family just being us. It was my mama and step dad doing all the talking."

"That was you after I doubted it," Alice said, "now I feel like an idiot."

Annie smiled and shook her head, "don't what clues did we give that would tell you it was me? I walked away from everyone for my own reasons but I do want to try reconnecting. Can I get your number?"

"I was about to ask for yours," Alice said.

They exchanged numbers and parted ways. It was time for Annie to meet her group for dinner but she wanted to clean up a bit first. That had been emotional but good, she missed Alice and Cassie and wanted to get to know some of her friends again. Maybe mama was right that some of her friends did miss her and would want to reconnect.