Teddy and Owen pulled up in front of the cottage grabbing Allison and Leo's bags from the box of the truck, thankful Annie and Josh were on days for the weekend then on days Monday and Tuesday, allowing them to get away for four nights just the two of them. Teddy and Owen had never had a romantic get away just the two of them without Allison being present in some form. Teddy was a little ashamed to admit it it was something she had never done in her life. She hadn't had serious relationships between having Annie and meeting Henry then with Henry they jumped from surgery to Annie crisis to surgery. The closest Teddy had every come to being away with someone she loved for a romantic kid free few days was driving back to Seattle after dropping Annie off at medical school. Her and Owen had gone to Cannon Beach for her birthday the year she was pregnant with Allison and had a very relaxing trip but they were just sorting out the relationship and it was all so new and there was Allison who was just starting to show.
"You two be good for Annie and Josh," Teddy commanded as they walked up to the door.
"I play with Milo," Allison asked.
"Yes baby girl Annie will let you play with Milo," Teddy promised, "they have some fun things planned for you."
"I go two," Leo said.
"Mama and daddy need some time just the two of us buddy," Owen said, "we'll be back in four sleeps."
"It's too long," Leo whined.
"You're okay Leo," Teddy promised, crouching to look in his eyes, "you're going to have so much fun with Annie and Josh."
"What if I get sick," Leo asked. Leo had gotten the stomach flu in April and was now terrified of being sick.
"Then they call us and we come straight home," Teddy promised, "Annie is really good at taking care of sick kids. She's better than mama and daddy at it."
"But my heart," Leo asked. Leo needed one more surgery to repair the heart defect. It was scheduled for a month out and Teddy wasn't taking on the role of Chief until he was fully healed.
"Annie was your doctor when you first came in buddy," Owen replied, "she fixes kids hearts like I fix people who get really hurt."
"Annie helped mama do the big fix on your heart she knows and so does Josh," Teddy explained, "Annie did the big repair with mama I did half and Annie did half."
"You taught Annie that repair on our son," Owen looked shocked.
"To be fair he wasn't ours yet and she was so good with him," Teddy smiled, "and it might have been a way to celebrate them being engaged. She was ready for that repair, it was time to teach her to do that."
"You used major surgery to celebrate," Owen chuckled.
"It came up and he was both of our patient," Teddy smiled, "we both use surgery to get Annie talking or to talk to her. But I wouldn't have had her do it if she wasn't prepared. Annie was ready."
"You push her hard," Owen said.
"Never things she's not ready for," Teddy smiled, "you've seen me push residents before. I push them when they're ready."
"I've seen you push but never quite like you push Annie," Owen said, "you let her do fifth year things."
"She can do it," Teddy smiled, "I'm always right there with her. No book, no magazine when she's solo on something for the first time. There's not much she's not ready for now Owen, trust me."
"I know she's your favorite student of all time," Owen chuckled.
Owen knocked on the door.
"Come in," Annie said, throwing open the door.
"Nee," Allison yelled, jumping on Annie.
"Hi bean," Annie smiled, "are you excited?"
"Yes," Allison yelled.
"Inside voice Allison," Teddy scolded, "that was right in Annie's ear."
"It's okay mama," Annie said, "she's just excited."
"Daddy don't go," Leo cried as Owen put their bags down.
Owen knelt down beside Leo to look him in the eye, "mama and I are coming back in four sleeps. We will always come. You can call us anytime. You're safe here with Annie and Josh."
Josh knelt down with them, "Leo do you want to help me? I need another man to get the air mattress out of the garage. Can you help me do that for the girls?"
"Can Daddy help two," Leo whined.
"I'll come help," Owen said. He knew that he needed to start encouraging Leo to be more independent.
"Let's go," Josh said as he reached his hand out to lead Leo to the garage, "I need you to help me take care of the girls, can you do that?"
"I help," Leo agreed.
"How did you know to do that," Owen asked.
"Uncle Nathan used to do it to me when he would bring Meg to visit," Josh explained, " My mom wasn't nice to Auntie Meghan so Uncle Nathan would tell me I had to help him look after her. Or my parents would leave when Auntie Meghan and Uncle Nathan came so they found ways to make me feel safe with them."
In the kitchen Teddy was handing Annie Allison's epi pen and Leo's heart medication.
"Mama I know how to use an epi pen," Annie sighed, "I've done it on myself. Josh knows how to do it."
"It's the first time we're leaving them for more than a night," Teddy said.
"Mama you need to breathe," Annie said, "I know how to use the epi pen. I know how both of Leo's meds work. Breath they'll be fine."
"We're going away without them. I'm a bad mom," Teddy whined.
"Mama consider this your honeymoon," Annie smiled, "Josh and I have this."
"It's selfish," Teddy said, "it should be a family trip."
"It's four nights," Annie said, "just go and have fun. Enjoy your honeymoon. It's fun."
"Honeymoon makes it easier," Teddy smiled, "you were pretty happy when you came back."
"Four nights away you need it," Annie said, "other than the cabin, when have you and Owen been away?"
"When I first got back to Seattle," Teddy admitted.
"Before Allison and Leo," Annie pointed out.
"When I only had one fairly independent child to worry about," Teddy shook her head.
"That was on you worrying about me," Annie said, "I had been happily living with roommates for 7 years at that point. I had Josh, you didn't need to worry about me."
"I did," Teddy said, "you were an intern finding your feet, both of us were figuring out new relationships. It was the only time we lived in the same house, I showed up suddenly in your life changing your plans and pregnant. I was throwing a lot at you in a very stressful year for you already."
"I was shocked and I may have been upset if it was anyone other than Uncle Owen that you changed everything for so suddenly but it was right for you. I never wanted you to be alone. I don't understand why you used me as an excuse not to be with someone or be happy," Annie said.
"It wasn't an excuse," Teddy said, "I just expected that whoever I was with accepted that I had you. That you were my main priority."
"I was at school and happy with my friends," Annie said, shaking her head.
"Okay it was a bit of an excuse," Teddy admitted, "it was a test for me if I could actually let someone in. How they reacted when I said my daughter was 23 or 24 it told me a lot about his character. But Owen asked about you, and wanted you to do well. That mattered to me. My children will always come first."
"I was pretty independant by that point," Annie said.
"You needed me more than you wanted to admit," Teddy teased.
"I wasn't that bad," Annie laughed.
"Yes you were," Teddy said, "you hid in my shadow for months at work."
"It's a lot to measure up to," Annie admitted.
"I know," Teddy smiled, "I almost didn't take the chief job because of it."
"Don't hold back for me," Annie said, "I can handle it. But I'm going to guess I'm out of the running for chief resident."
"I hadn't got there," Teddy laughed, "that could be fun for us."
"I'm going to apply and I have a great project," Annie said, "I'm writing a set of picture books about the whole hospital experience to teach kids what to expect and help keep them calm. Can I use Allison and Leo to take the photos?"
"You can," Teddy smiled, "what have you done so far?"
"CT, MRI, going into the OR, spending the night at the hospital," Annie said, "appy, broken bones, I want to do an open heart one before Leo has his and read it to him."
"It's a good start," Teddy smiled, "let's come up with a list of other common surgeries. Talk to Robbins and Karev for a list of the most common."
"Teddy, we should hit the road," Owen said walking into the kitchen.
"Allison, Leo," Teddy called.
"It's time for mama and I to go," Owen said crouching in front of the kids.
"No daddy," Leo cried, "I want to go."
"You're going to stay here buddy," Teddy said, kneeling with the kids.
"Mama please stay," Leo begged.
"It's only four sleeps bud," Owen said, "your going to have so much fun with Annie and Josh you won't have time to miss us."
"We're always a phone call away and will call to say goodnight," Teddy promised.
"I don't want you to go," Leo whined.
"Four sleeps Leo," Teddy promised, "we'll call every day."
"We have to go bud," Owen said, "give mama and I a hug and we'll be back before you know it."
"Bye mama," Allison said hugging Teddy and kissing her cheek.
"Bye baby girl be good for Annie and Josh," Teddy said, "I love you."
"Bye bye daddy," Allison said, leaping on Owen.
"Bye munchkin," Owen said, "love you and see you in four sleeps."
After a tearful goodbye to Leo Teddy and Owen got in the truck.
"Last time we went away, just us it was so much easier to say goodbye to the kids," Teddy smiled.
"It was Annie and Josh," Owen laughed, "they had half their class over for a party."
"Owen, are we doing the right thing," Teddy asked.
"Breath," Owen said, "they are with their big sister and her husband and they will be fine."
"Annie is good with them but Leo's tears broke my heart," Teddy said.
"He'll be fine," Owen said, "you can call when we get there and talk to the kids."
"I will," Teddy said, "call and say good night."
"Teddy breath," Owen said, "the kids are fine. All three of them."
"Annie can do this," Teddy asked.
"They do one night at a time, they take them for days when we're working," Owen said.
"They do," Teddy agreed, "it's just hard to see Leo so upset."
"He's okay," Owen said, "he knows mama will always come for him."
"So will daddy," Teddy smiled.
"We will and they'll have so much fun with Annie and Josh they won't even miss us," Owen said.
"The last time we drove this we were just figuring us out and you surprised me," Teddy smiled.
"We picked baby names," Owen smiled.
"That was a good trip," Teddy smiled, "we were just us."
"We were," Owen said, "we're just us this weekend. Not doctors, not parents just Owen and Teddy."
"What do you want to do first," Teddy asked.
"Beach walk," Owen said, "just walk along the beach holding your hand."
"Barefoot," Teddy suggested.
"We can," Owen agreed, taking her hand.
They drove in silence for a while holding hands and listening to the music.
"Okay Bean , Lion," Annie called, "we're going swimming."
"Swimming," Leo said, his eyes lit up.
"Go see Josh Lion man he has your bathing suit," Annie said.
"Come on Leo," Josh called from the main bathroom.
Annie took Allison's hand and led her to the master bedroom to help her change. Annie smiled at the little pink bathing suit with bright flowers on it.
"Sit here bean," Annie said, "I'm going to get changed."
Annie grabbed her bathing suit from her dresser and walked into the master bathroom. She wished she had the confidence in her body of other girls. She knew she was in great shape and her husband loved her body but in public she wanted to cover her scars. She still hated the on her stomach not because of how the scar looked but what it reminded her of. She quickly pulled on her black, teal and purple racer back one piece with the geometric print, Josh always said it reminded him of a kalidoscope.
"Girls, let's go," Josh called.
"Coming," Annie called, "do you have towels."
"No you do," Josh called.
"Grabbing them," Annie said. She grabbed 4 from the hall closet on the way past, "I'll deal with shoes you go get the car seats in your jeep."
"The jeep," Josh asked, "Owen and I already put them in your car."
"Okay," Annie said, "so the plan for today, swimming, hot dogs, ice cream and a backyard camp out."
"Camp out," Josh laughed, "the four of us in a tent in the backyard."
"It'll be fun," Annie said, "I used to do it with my cousins as a kid."
"We always lived in apartments the only times I went camping Uncle Nathan and Auntie Meghan took me," Josh said.
"It's fun," Annie said, "I even have a few stories."
"Of course you do," Josh laughed.
They loaded the two kids and swimming stuff into Annie's car and drove to the pool.
"We need to replace one vehicle," Josh said, "which should we do first?"
"Your jeep is in worse shape than my car," Annie said, "yes both have a ton of miles but I only go to and from work or to run errands. The car is in better shape."
"But it's standard," Josh whined.
"So you learned," Annie said, "let's replace the jeep first, it's about to fall apart."
They pulled into the parking lot at the pool and grabbed the beach bag and life jackets. They walked into the pool and got everyone ready. They spent the afternoon splashing and playing in the warm water.
"Allison do you want to go down the slide," Annie asked.
"Please," Allison smiled.
"Let's go," Annie said taking her hand and leading her up the stairs.
"Leo do you want to go down the slide or off the diving board," Josh asked.
"Diving board," Leo said.
"Come on then," Josh said.
Josh lead Leo to the little diving board and jumped off first and waited for the little boy to jump into his arms.
"Go Leo," Josh cheered.
Leo splashed into the water.
"I did it," Leo beamed.
"You did," Josh cheered, "do you want to go again?"
"Again," Leo smiled swimming towards the side.
Josh lifted him out and watched as he jumped in again and again.
Annie was in the slide line with Allison, it stretched past the hot tub and kiddie pool.
"You have a beautiful daughter," an older woman said as she walked past.
"She's not my daughter," Annie said.
"Nee is my big sister," Allison yelled.
"Sister," the older woman's eyes went wide, "you look so much alike."
"We both look like our mother," Annie explained.
"You've got to be in your twenties and she can't be more than three," The older woman said.
"I'm 27 and she's two and a half," Annie said, "but we have the same mother."
"Fascinating," the older woman said, "how is that even possible."
"Very young with me," Annie smiled, "I've done med school twice."
"Twice," the older woman asked, "how?"
"Once with mama, once for myself," Annie smiled, "we're both cardiothoracic surgeons."
"Where," the woman asked.
"Grey Sloan Memorial," Annie replied, "our mother is the head of cardio."
"I'm going there in a few weeks for surgery with a Dr. Altman," the woman said.
"That would be our mother," Annie smiled.
"Small world," the woman said, "I'll have to tell her she has beautiful girls."
"She'll appreciate that," Annie replied.
She knew this was the type of older woman that wouldn't remember the conversation by the time she left the pool.
"Nee," Alison asked, "why do people think you're my mama?"
"Because I'm old enough to be your mama miss bean," Annie smiled, "mama was very young to have a baby when I was born and old to have a baby when you were born. I was already a grown up when you were a baby."
"Will you have a baby," Allison asked.
"Not until I'm done learning to fix hearts like mama," Annie smiled, "Josh and I only just got married."
They had been back to work for 10 days after their honeymoon and Annie was missing being just the two of them and being able to wear her rings, at work she had to keep her rings on a chain on her neck. Josh left his wedding ring in Annie's jewelry box on work days so he didn't lose it.
Teddy and Owen strolled along the beach hand in hand, laughing when the waves washed over their toes.
"It's so peaceful," Teddy whispered.
"It is," Owen agreed, "just us, no kids."
"Thank you," Teddy smiled.
"For what," Owen asked, looking puzzled.
"Planning a honeymoon," Teddy giggled.
"I guess this is really that isn't it," Owen smiled at her before giving Teddy a kiss.
"Allison was so young when we got married that she had to come with us," Teddy replied.
"I've never been away with just my wife," Owen chuckled, "there are still firsts for us."
"There are," Teddy agreed.
"What do we want to do tonight," Owen asked, noticing that the tide was starting to come in.
"There was a little place near the water that looked good," Teddy suggested, "it looked Italian."
"Let's do that," Owen smiled, "share a bottle of wine this time."
"I'd like that," Teddy smiled, "I have a couple bottles back at the cabin as well."
They walked back towards the little town past haystack rock.
"What's next for us," Teddy asked, more thinking out loud than anything.
"You take the chief job in January," Owen said, "but start as Bailey's deputy in a few weeks."
"Other than work Owen," Teddy asked, "what's next for you and I? We did everything in such a rush and out of order."
"We should have done it years before," Owen said as he put his arm around her waist.
"We we're ready until that night," Teddy said shaking her head.
"I was sooner but you kept throwing Annie in as a buffer when we would both be on the east coast," Owen pointed out.
"I couldn't go and not see her it would have crushed her," Teddy replied.
"You two had a very weird relationship for a few years," Owen laughed, "sometimes I couldn't tell if she was your daughter or best friend."
"I hid behind my daughter. She was always my daughter first. But yes we would complain about bad dates and how horrible online dating was there were always lines of where I wouldn't tell her things," Teddy said, "she knew when you were in Germany but I let her assume you stayed in my guest room or what she called her room. She called me and you answered my phone it was the only time I ever let anyone answer her call."
"You didn't tell her about what happened," Owen asked.
"No that is a line we do not cross," Teddy said firmly, "she found out because of Allison and I found Josh's clothes in her laundry basket when I went to put a towel in the laundry. There was one lecture about be smart with this and you're a resident it's not time for a baby but that was it."
"You said that," Owen asked.
"Someone had to be her mom and tell her," Teddy replied, "she was a total innocent when I met her. Any question she's ever had about relationships or how any of that worked she came to me. I had to explain to her at 19 it was okay to kiss a boy."
"So us," Owen said, "what's next?"
"I don't know," Teddy sighed, "those things we used to sit in the sand and daydream about we did it."
"We did," Owen said, "except the dog."
"We don't have time for a dog," Teddy said, "can we compromise on a cat?"
"The kids would like a cat," Owen said, "they love Milo."
"You're on litter box duty," Teddy laughed, "maybe when the kids are older and can help we can get a dog."
"You were the one that wanted a dog," Owen smiled.
"Still do," Teddy smiled, "a real dog like a lab or a golden retriever. No little yappy things."
"We had a german shepherd," Owen smiled, "I loved that dog."
"The dog I spent the most time with was Molly the McKellars black lab," Teddy laughed, "I know nothing about having a dog."
"And we knew nothing about babies until we had Allison," Owen smiled, "we always make it work Altman."
"We do don't we," Teddy sighed leaning against him.
"So kitten when we get back," Owen laughed.
"Maybe get the kids one for Christmas," Teddy smiled.
"One each, a pair of Christmas kittens," Owen replied kissing the top of Teddy's head.
"I like it," Teddy giggled, "with little red bows on their collars."
"I don't know if you saw the email the other day but a group that we worked with in the 54th is trying to get together at the end of October. We have some vacation days and could go," Owen suggested.
"I thought about it but what would people say," Teddy asked.
"That we're together, that we have three kids," Owen said, "people knew we liked each other and were close it won't surprise many people."
"We went soft Owen," Teddy said shaking her head, "I've gone soft."
"Not soft," Owen said, "not at work. You lead differently now. You're still the same hard core cardio goddess I first met and fell in love with."
"I have to lead differently here," Teddy said, "I can't bark orders and expect to be respected. The only one we can really bark at is our daughter."
"She hates it," Owen said, "and makes faces at me when I do it."
"She does but knows we don't mean it," Teddy replied, "last week she fell asleep leaning on me sitting and watching the paitent in the ICU after our heart reconstruction and I know I got stressed and was barking at her in there."
"The 20 hour one," Owen asked.
"Yes," Teddy nodded, "then Meghan woke me up. Some one had covered us with a blanket. Those things would make the guys think I went soft. And we've been doing so well, no one has had a nightmare in nearly a year."
"That you know of," Owen said, "I don't think Annie comes to us the same way she did with that. She'll go straight to Josh."
"She doesn't need us," Teddy sighed, "walking out of their house today leaving the little two that was hard."
"Their fine," Owen said, "but what do you think of that runion?"
"You'll stay right with me," Teddy asked.
"Don't I always," Owen smiled ,"if we're doing that I need you."
"Let's go," Teddy said, "but it means leaving Ali and Leo again."
"It's only a weekend," Owen said, "fly out Friday go home Sunday. Two nights away from the kids you can do it."
"Book it when we get home," Teddy said, "I hope we don't need uniforms. I haven't tried anything on since I left Germany."
"I don't know," Owen said, "do we have to?"
"Find out," Teddy replied, "It's all in the guest room closet. The last time I wore it was pre Allison who knows if it even fits anymore."
"Teddy," Owen said, "it will."
"I'm going to hope no uniform and a nice dress and your suit, I love you in a suit," Teddy smiled.
"I'll find out," Owen smiled, "RSVP for both of us."
"I'll find flights and a hotel when we get back, " Teddy agreed, "your turn to find a babysitter."
"Annie," Owen replied, "or Meghan."
"Meghan should go," Teddy replied, "take Nathan with her. Leave all three younger kids with Annie and Josh. How do we explain our oldest?"
"The truth Teddy," Owen said, "you don't have to be ashamed of it anymore. You did what you did 28 years ago was to protect Annie. She understands that and agreed she would have done the same thing. She loves you."
"Felica Phillips knows she exists and that Annie is mine," Teddy admitted, "she met with me in Germany so I could do her discharge and I had a couple pictures of Annie and I up in my office and she used to hear us talk about Annie and assumed Annie was a niece or little cousin."
"She couldn't keep her mouth shut," Owen said, "everyone will know."
"I told her that was my daughter and how proud I was of Annie and how happy Annie was at Harvard," Teddy smiled.
"Your proud mama brag about the kids," Owen teased.
"The one at the time yes," Teddy smiled, "that one was happy and healthy. It was the end of her second year. She had just chosen surgery."
"She went knowing that's what she wanted," Owen laughed.
"So tonight," Teddy said, "dinner. Then you, me, a campfire and a bottle of wine?"
"I like how you think," Owen smirked.
They walked back and got cleaned up a bit before heading for dinner. After dinner Owen lit the campfire while Teddy grabbed the wine and the brownies she had packed. They sat hand in hand watching the sunset casting golden rays across the water, eventually the fire burned low.
"Should we go in," Teddy whispered.
"I'll put the fire out and we can," Owen replied.
"I'll meet you inside," Teddy said, gathering the blanket and wine glasses. Teddy was debating changing or if she should just quickly brush her teeth when Owen came in and wrapped his arms around her from behind kissing the back of her neck.
"Hey," Owen whispered, "what are you thinking about?"
"You," Teddy replied, turning to kiss him.
He kissed her, backing them up so he could lift her up onto the counter, she wrapped her legs around him holding him close to her, she never wanted to let go. Owen kept kissing Teddy and slid his hands under her top.
"Bed," Teddy purred in his ear.
Owen picked her up off the counter, he didn't need to hear that twice.
In Seattle, Annie and Josh were struggling with bedtime in the tent.
"Nee I'm thirsty," Allison whined.
"You have your water bottle," Annie soothed holding her baby sister on her lap.
"I have to pee," Leo yelled.
"I'll go," Josh sighed, leading the little boy through the backyard into the house.
"When you come back it's story time," Annie said.
"It's dark," Allison said.
"I have a flashlight," Annie replied, "can you get in your sleeping bag? Where did we put Mr. Bear?"
"Bear," Allison said holding up the stuffed bear Annie had given her the day she was born.
"Lay down bean," Annie directed.
"Cuddle," Allison demanded.
"I'm going to get into my bed so you need to be in yours," Annie replied.
"Cuddle," Allison demanded again.
"When the boys come back you have to go to your bed," Annie directed.
"Nee cuddle please," Allison begged.
"I'm right beside you all night," Annie promised.
Annie had set up the beds in the tent so the two littles were on the outside edges where the tent was narrower, with herself and Josh in the middle. Annie had Allison on her side and had put Leo on the other side of Josh.
"We've been to the bathroom, said good night to Milo and texted Teddy," Josh said, "it's bedtime."
"I have a story," Annie said, "everyone needs to be in their sleeping bag first."
"Cuddle Nee," Allison asked again.
"No Ali I can't read until you're in your bed," Annie said.
"Fine," Allison pouted.
Annie held her sleeping bag open for her to crawl in.
Josh zipped Leo into his sleeping bag chuckling at the dinosaurs on it.
Annie sat so both kids could see the book and read the story about a camping trip by the end of the book Leo's eyes were heavy but Allison was more awake than ever.
"This isn't working," Annie whispered to Josh after almost an hour of trying to get Allison to sleep.
"What are you going to do," Josh asked.
"I know mama still rocks her to sleep some nights when she won't settle," Annie replied, "she's the baby. I'm going to try sitting in the hammock with her and see if I can get her to sleep that way."
"Go try," Josh said, "I'll stay with the Lion."
"He's asleep so your going to play with your phone," Annie giggled.
"Go get Allison to sleep," Josh said.
"Bean you and I are going to go sit in the hammock and watch the stars," Annie whispered to the little girl.
"Up," Allison demanded.
"I'll carry you," Annie promised, she slipped her flip flops on before scooping up her sister. She carried Allison on her hip to the hammock then sat with her sister in her lap. Annie pointed out the different constellations and whispered the stories her dad and uncles had told her about them. She felt the little girl relax in her arms as she told the stories and brushed her hand over the soft red curls. Soon the little girl was limp in her arms and Annie carried her back to the tent.
"She's asleep," Josh asked.
"She is," Annie replied.
"Mama called when they got there and said hi to Ali and Leo just after dinner but I though she would call them to say good night," Annie pointed out.
"It's their honeymoon," Josh laughed.
"I don't want to think of that," Annie said, "how does mama get Allison to sleep every night. She really fought sleep."
"You can't talk," Josh whispered.
"I sleep," Annie said.
"Only when you sleep on me," Josh teased.
"I sleep better with you home," Annie admitted.
"You steal my warmth," Josh teased.
"In my own sleeping bag," Annie replied, "I can't and there's kids in the tent."
"I'll still kiss you good night," Josh whispered.
"Good night," Annie whispered before kissing him softly.
"Good night," Josh echoed before taking Annie in his arms and holding her close, there wasn't much room in the tent and he wasn't too worried about her baby siblings seeing his arms around her.