Teddy texted Annie knowing her oldest was off. Owen was out of town and she was sick, she could hardly get out of bed. She could hear Allison yelling in her room and Leo sobbing.

Annie quickly called, "mama is everything okay?"

"No," Teddy croaked.

"What's wrong," Annie asked.

"I can hardly move or open my eyes, I'm pretty sure I have a fever," Teddy groaned.

"I'm still in PJs let me get dressed and I'll come right over," Annie said, "be there in 15."

"The littles haven't had breakfast," Teddy said.

"I've got them," Annie replied, "go back to sleep I'll be there in 15 minutes tops."

Annie threw on a pair of leggings and a hoodie she knew she would be busy and active today. She grabbed her work bag from the entry way knowing it had her iPad , prescription pad and stethoscope. Mama had sounded really sick.

Annie pulled into the driveway and let herself in with the key.

"Annie I'm hungry," Leo demanded.

"Let me go see mama then I'll get you breakfast," Annie said, "you can find an apple, an orange or a banana while you wait for me."

Annie ran up the stairs and opened the door to Teddy's room. It was the one room in their house she had hardly been in.

"Mama," Annie called softly.

Teddy groaned.

"What's wrong," Annie asked.

Teddy couldn't reply through her cough.

"Well that doesn't sound good," Annie said, "can I take a listen?"

Teddy nodded, "that better not be cold."

Annie smiled, "I tried to warm it up."

Annie took a good look at Teddy and she was sick.

"Why are your hands so cold," Teddy complained.

"Not any colder than normal," Annie said, "I'm trying to listen."

"What is it," Teddy asked.

"Without a chest X-ray I'm thinking bronchitis," Annie replied, "I'm going to call Nana to come get Ali and Leo then we're going to the clinic. It'll be the fastest."

"Do I have to get dressed," Teddy whined.

"You could go to work in your pajamas but you're the chief," Annie said, "leggings and a hoodie. You get dressed. I'm going to call Nana and ahead to Meghan we'll do this as fast as possible."

Teddy groaned, "bossy."

"I learned it from you," Annie said, "going to call nana and get littles dressed and fed. Do you want anything?"

"Tea," Teddy groaned.

"Putting the kettle on," Annie said as she left the room.

Annie pulled her phone out of her pocket and texted Owen, "I know you're still gone for a couple days. Mama is really sick. 102 fever, congested sounds like bronchitis. Sending Ali and Leo to nana and going to the hospital for a chest X-ray."

Owen was presenting and had his phone in airplane mode.

Annie called Evelyn who came straight over and arrived as Annie sat the now dressed littles at the table with toast.

"Is Teddy okay," Evelyn asked.

"Sounds like bronchitis," Annie said, "I want a chest xray to rule out anything more. Can you watch these guys and let me know if they start coughing or get fevers?"

"I'm going to take them to the store with me," Evelyn said, "your mama will need chicken soup, ginger ale and tea."

"They have a bunch of teas," Annie said, "I'm already making her a cup to go. Chicken soup and toast would be good. All of us could do your soup for lunch. Uncle Owen is at a conference so I'm going to stay here until he's home. I'm off the next three days."

"What about Josh," Evelyn asked.

"He's working tonight so it's not a big deal," Annie said, "we'll take it day by day. He's going to bring my stuff I need here."

Teddy appeared in the kitchen.

"Mama," Allison yelled.

"Whisper Allison," Teddy groaned.

"Mama is really sick," Evelyn said, "you're going to stay with Nana and Annie is going to take mama to the hospital."

"Mama let's go," Annie said, "Pierce is waiting for us. Here's your tea."

"Bossy," Teddy groaned.

"You need the chest x-ray," Annie said, "and a culture. I think it's bronchitis but we need to do the tests. Pierce will meet us in her office. No ER no Clinic."

"Thank you," Teddy said.

"I've already said no residents," Annie said.

They drove to the hospital and went in the side entrance straight up to Maggie's office.

"I'll wait here," Annie said.

They waited for the test results and X-ray.

"Teddy there is some fluid there but it's still bronchitis," Maggie said, "I'll send an antibiotic prescription down to the pharmacy. If it's no better in 24 hours, come back and we'll be more aggressive."

"Thank you," Teddy replied, "the Tylenol she had taken at home had finally kicked in making her feel a bit better."

"Are you alone with Owen at the conference," Maggie asked.

"Annie said she could stay until he gets home late tomorrow," Teddy said.

"Is that enough," Maggie asked.

"Evelyn," Teddy said, "is with the younger ones. We're fine."

"Okay," Maggie said, "go pick up your prescription and go home Teddy. Rest the hospital will not crumble with out you here."

"I'm going," Teddy said, "thank you Maggie."

"Any time," Maggie replied.

Annie drove Teddy home.

"You're going back to bed," Annie declared, "the littles and I are fine. I'll bring you some soup soon."

"Bossy pants," Teddy snapped.

"Good to see your sense of humour is intact," Annie replied, "i can keep littles down here and out of your way. It'll be quieter."

"Fine," Teddy groaned. She knew Annie was right but didn't like admitting her daughter was right or that she needed help. She didn't want annie she just wanted Owen. Flopping on the bed she grabbed her phone and texted Owen.

Teddy, "can you come home I need you?"

Owen, "what's wrong? I have a voicemail from Annie."

Teddy, "I have bronchitis. I can't take care of the kids."

Owen, "who's with you?"

Teddy, "Annie is here your mom took the kids to run errands and is bringing them back."

Owen, "my flight back is at 7am tomorrow."

Teddy, "I need you."

Owen, "I'll see if I can get anything tonight."

Teddy, "please. Annie is being bossy."

Owen, "she's trying to take care of you. Rest, sleep and I'll be home as soon as I can."

Teddy, "now please."

Owen mentally ran through the list of things that made Teddy feel better when she was sick. What could be done from here. He was in LA, it was a 2 hour flight to seattle.

Owen, "what have you eaten?"

Teddy, "Annie made me tea and toast. I just took the antibiotic."

Owen, "have you showered? Brushed your teeth? Clean clothes? Nap?"

Teddy, "yes , yes, yes, no. we just got back from the hospital."

Owen, "you okay?"

Teddy, "chest x-ray and cultures Annie wanted to confirm her diagnosis and we needed someone else to do the prescription."

Owen, "are you okay?"

Teddy, "my whole body hurts, my head is pounding and I just need you and silence."

Owen, "where are the littles?"

Teddy, "with your mom but Annie said she can take care of them until I get home."

Owen, "i'm trying to change my flight to one tonight."

Teddy, "thank you."

Owen, "go to sleep Teds I'll call you when I know more. Love you."

Teddy, " love you too."

She flopped back on her pillow and pulled the blanket around her. She curled into a ball and began to cry. She wanted Owen, no she needed him to come make her feel better. She heard quiet footsteps in the hall and her door opened softly.

Annie sat on the edge of the bed, "mama what can I do?"

Teddy shook her head, "nothing I need Owen."

"Do you want me to sit with you so you're not alone," Annie offered?

"Up to you," Teddy said.

"I've got nothing else going on until the littles are back," Annie said, "do you want to watch something?"

"Please," Teddy replied, "no disney."

"Glee," Annie suggested, "netflix has all the episodes. We used to like it."

"We did," Teddy agreed.

Annie grabbed the remote from one of the night stands and turned Glee on. After an episode Annie asked, "do you want anything?"

"Do you mind making me a cup of tea," Teddy asked.

"I can," Annie replied, "are you hungry?"

"Not really but I should eat," Teddy said.

"More toast," Annie suggested, "yogurt?"

"Yogurt," Teddy said.

"I've seen the next episode many times. Why don't I go make your tea and you watch," Annie said.

"Thank you sweetheart," Teddy murmured

As Annie stepped into the kitchen her phone rang.

"Uncle Owen," Annie answered, "thanks for finally calling me back."

"Hows Teddy," Owen asked.

"Sick," Annie siad, "her fever is coming down, but the chest xray didn't look good. Are you coming home?"

"I'm trying to get a flight home tonight," Owen said, "what's going on there now?"

"Nana has Ali and Leo," Annie said, "they were going to do a few errands then back to nana's to make some chicken soup. Mama is in your bed watching Glee. I'm making her tea, toast and getting her some yogurt."

"Annie, can you hold everything together until I get home. It'll be late tonight or around lunch tomorrow," Owen asked.

"Josh is dropping a few things off," Annie said, "I'll stay here until your home. I kind of want to ask Nana to keep the littles."

"That bad," Owen asked.

"It's quiet here now," Annie said, "Ali and Leo will want mama and she needs to rest. I've told auntie Meghan and she's holding down the fort at work. Mama really wants you, she was crying."

"She's crying," Owen asked, Teddy rarely cried this worried him.

"She was," Annie said, "she really needs you. Is everything okay, that's not like mama."

"We've gotten used to having each other around," Owen said, "she was alone for so long and so strong for everyone for years that she's finally realized that she doesn't have to be the strong one all the time."

"She's good at it though," Annie said, "do you want me to run my phone up so you can talk to her?"

"Thank you Annie," Owen said.

Annie ran up the stairs, "Uncle Owen she's asleep. I'll have her call later."

"Annie just put the phone beside her," Owen directed.

"Okay," Annie said skeptically, "putting phone beside her and going to make tea."

"Thank you," Owen said.

Annie put her phone on the pillow beside Teddy and left the room.

"Teds, Teddy," Owen called.

"Owen," Teddy groaned.

"Hey," Owen said, "you doing okay?"

"Barely," Teddy whined, "I need you home."

"I know," Owen soothed, "I know love."

"Can you come home," Teddy whined, "I need you to hold me."

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Owen promised, "i'm waiting to hear back from the airline about switching my flight. I know you need me home. I love you and I will be there as soon as I can."

"I need you," Teddy said again.

"I know love," Owen replied, "I'll be there soon. You try to sleep."

"I can't, someone has to look after the kids," Teddy said, "your mom can't and I don't want to give it to them."

"Trust Annie to manage," Owen said, "she can manage until I get home."

"but ," Teddy began.

"Teddy no buts," Owen cut her off, "stop trying to be superwoman. Relax let us take care of you for a change. I am doing everything I have to get home as fast as possible. Rest and relax love. You're okay. We'll figure it out. Annie is going to bring you tea and a snack your going to have that then take a nap. Let her take care of you until I'm home."

"I'll try," Teddy agreed.

"Okay," Owen said, "I'm going to go call the airline and try to get another flight. I love you."

"Love you too," Teddy replied.

Annie reappeared in the door with a tray, "I have tea, toast with jam, yogurt and an orange."

"Thank you," Teddy said, "are you watching Glee with me?"

"I was going to let you rest," Annie said.

"Come watch with me," Teddy said.

"Feeling any better," Annie asked.

"Sort of," Teddy replied, "tylenol helped."

"A bubble bath might help you relax," Annie suggested.

"What about your siblings," Teddy asked.

"Nana is dropping them off with dinner for all of us around 4:30," Annie said, "it's only 11:30. We have 5 hours."

"That makes me feel better," Teddy said.

"I'm going to spend the night," Annie said, "unless Owen gets home before the littles go to bed. I know their routines. You have time to relax and sleep before the littles come home."

"Are you sure," Teddy asked.

"I am," Annie replied, "I need to deal with Leo's toys in the family room. He decided to be a tornado this morning. Cars, trains and dinosaurs everywhere. I'll get downstairs and their rooms straightened up so you can relax."

"You don't have to," Teddy said.

"Otherwise I have to play with my phone and ipad all day," Annie said, "you did it for us when we had mono."

"If you're sure," Teddy said.

"I am," Annie said, "one more episode of Glee then I'm going to get the stuff done. I'm your personal Mary Poppins today."

"Don't sing," Teddy groaned.

"This time," Annie agreed.

Teddy gratefully took the tray from Annie. They watched another episode of Glee before Annie took the empty tray.

"Nap or bubble bath," Annie said, "I'm going to deal with the living room before you or Owen see it and freak out."

"Thank you," Teddy said, "I'm going to have a bubble bath. I think you might be right about a bath helping."

"You do that," Annie said, "I'll get things organized."

Annie walked out of the room and began to clean up the mess in the living room, Leo had scattered toys all over the room, it was only made worse by the cats having pushed them around. She returned the toys to their bins and dusted the living room. It would be cozy and comfortable when Teddy felt ready to come down. Annie moved on to the kitchen spraying down and cleaning all of the counters. The main living space was tidy, she quickly went upstairs and made both of the littles beds and put away the messes they had created that morning. Everything tidied she took her ipad out of her bag and began working on some research she was helping Teddy with. She realized she needed a text book she didn't have with her. She knew Teddy kept up to date copies of cardio textbooks but didn't want to go poking through their home office for it. Josh hadn't left their house yet she called him.

"Hey babe shows Teddy," Josh answered.

"She's sick," Annie said, "can I ask you to bring a few more things for me?"

"What do you need," Josh asked, "I haven't put your stuff in your bag yet."

"Glasses, contact solution, toothbrush and toothpaste, warm cozy pajamas, clothes for tomorrow make sure they match," Annie said before listing the two text books she needed.

"That all makes sense until the text books," Josh said, "doesn't teddy have them?"

"I don't know she's got bronchitis the chest x ray was bad and uncle Owen is having trouble getting a flight home," Annie said, "she's anxious. I'm going to stay here with her and the littles until Uncle Owen is home."

"Do you need anything else before I go to work," Josh asked.

"A hug," Annie replied.

"That was a given," Josh replied.

"Text when your on your way," Annie said.

"I will. Love you," Josh said.

"Love you too," Annie replied.

Half an hour later she met Josh on the porch so he could pass her her bag and the could have a couple minutes together.

"What was that," Teddy asked as Annie came back to the living room.

"Josh just dropping a few things off for me," Annie replied, "how are you feeling?"

"A bit better," Teddy said, "the bath helped."

"A bath and clean clothes always do," Annie said.

"Where did you learn that," Teddy asked with a smiule.

"You," Annie replied, "do you want anything?"

"I just grabbed water," Teddy said, "what were you working on?"

"Our project," Annie said, "Josh brought me the textbook I wanted."

Annie put the text book on the coffee table before grabbing her ipad again.

"I have that one here," Teddy said.

"I wasn't going to help myself to your office and I've already flagged the pages in my copy," Annie said.

"I'm going to find something to watch," Teddy said.

"Do you care if I put headphones in and work at the table," Annie asked.

"Do what you need to," Teddy replied I'm going to stay right here."

"Pillow, blanket," Annie asked.

"I'm good, go study and stop hovering," Teddy directed.

A few hours later Allison and Leo got home.

"Mama," Allison yelled.

"Shhh inside voice," Annie said, "mama is still sick and sleeping on the couch."

"Can we play," Leo asked.

"It's not raining, let's go outside," Annie said, "we have to tip toe and not wake mama."

Annie took the little two into the backyard and was pushing them on the swingset when Teddy looked out the window. She wrapped the blanket around herself and stood in the window waving. Her three were together and happy. She rarely got all three to herself at once. Annie saw Teddy and took the little two inside.

"How was your day with nana," Teddy asked.

"Good," Leo said, "we made nana bread."

"You made banana bread," Teddy asked, "did you bring me any?"

"Two," Allison said.

"Two loves," Teddy asked, "should we have some?"

"Nana bread, nana bread," Leo chanted.

"I'll get it and make some hot cocoa you three get cozy on the couch," Annie said.

"Thank you sweetheart," Teddy replied.

Annie brought their snack over and turned on the Lion King for them all to watch.

"Nee no singing," Allison scolded.

"This was my favourite as a little girl," Annie said.

"No singing," Allison said.

Annie pretended to be hurt, "fine."

"Ali that wasn't nice," Teddy scolded, "your sister can sing if she wants to."

"Why is my sister a grown up," Leo asked.

"Because Annie was my first baby when I was only 21. I was very young when she was born," Teddy said.

"What about Chris," Allison asked.

"Chris is Annie's brother," Teddy replied.

"Not our brother," Leo asked looking confused.

"Just Annie's brother," Teddy said, "he's very nice to you though isn't he."

"I like Chris but Josh is better," Leo said.

"You see Josh more," Annie said.

"Can I have brother," Leo asked.

"No buddy we can't mama is too old to have another baby," Teddy said, "I have the three of you that's all the babies I want."

"But I didn't grow in your tummy," Leo said.

"No you didn't," Teddy replied, "daddy and I fought really hard to bring you home."

"Leo when I was a baby another mommy and daddy adopted me. They chose that they wanted me to be their baby like mama and your daddy chose you. It's really special when a mommy and daddy chose you to be their baby. I'm really happy we all chose you. We all wanted you Lion man," Annie said, "we're part of a special club, and Faroke is part of our club two."

"You have two mamas," Leo said.

"I have mama and uncle Owen here in Seattle and the mom and dad in Canada," Annie said, "you know Chris comes from Canada to see us."

"Do you go to Canada," Leo asked, to him Canada sounded very far away.

"I don't," Annie answered, "I'm too busy here. Josh and I went for a few days after our wedding but it was the first time in 6 years. My home is here with you and Allison and mama and Uncle Owen."

"Why do you call daddy uncle Owen," Leo asked.

"Because he's your daddy but not my daddy," Annie said, "when I first met him I was 19 and in college, I was older than Faroke. Uncle Owen and mama were not married yet."

"Daddy was my very best friend on the whole planet when he met Annie," Teddy took over, "he chose to be uncle Owen to Annie. But it was Annie who named me mama."

"Jacob is getting a baby brother," Leo said.

"Jacob's mom is a lot younger than mama. Leo mama is too old for another baby. I can't have another baby," Teddy said, "I have three wonderful kids thats all I ever wanted. It's more then I thought I would have. For years I thought it would just be Annie and I."

"No daddy," Allison asked.

"If your up to it do they know the story of how you met," Annie asked, even she liked this story.

"No," Teddy said, "we haven't told them. Should I?"

"Please," Allison begged, "is it a princess story?"

"No it's a soldier story," Teddy replied, "did you know that mama and daddy were both soldiers so was auntie meghan?"

"You have pictures," Leo said.

"We do," Teddy agreed. She was debating how much to tell, she could give the short version, the medications were helping and she was feeling a bit better.

"Please," Allison begged.

"Okay," Teddy agreed, "so years and years ago when Annie was about 11 there was a terrible thing that happened that hurt a lot of people so mama decided to join the army to help soldiers who had gotten hurt. I left my job in New York and got on a big plane with other soldiers to a place called Baghdad far away in a country called Iraq. When I got off the plane there was a tall handsome soldier with red hair telling people what to do."

"Daddy," Allison squealed.

"That's right it was daddy," Teddy said, she continued the story, "he asked me to do a surgery with him. We had to help a boy who had been hurt. We worked together to save a lot of soldiers. The more we worked together the more we liked each other, he became my best friend and we worked together every day for 6 years then daddy came home and mama stayed helping soldiers for another year. I moved to Seattle to be close to daddy and Annie but daddy was still my best friend. I was here for three years before the army needed me to take care of soldiers again, so I went and I spent three years in Germany taking care of soldiers. Then one night daddy knocked on my door when I was going to bed. He didn't tell me he was coming. We talked a lot."

Annie rolled her eyes, "talked?"

"If you let me finish," Teddy said, "we had a few things to work out. But a couple months later I moved back to Seattle for good this time and Allison was in my tummy."

"Where was Annie," Leo asked, "mamas stay with their kids."

"When daddy and I met Annie was in Canada with her mom and dad," Teddy replied, "then when I came back to Seattle Annie was in college three hours away from here."

"I was in medical school learning to be a doctor when mama was in Germany," Annie added, "you two are really lucky to have mama here every day. Are we getting hungry?"

"Yes," Teddy said.

"What do you feel like," Annie asked, "Nana made chicken soup. I just have to heat it and add the noodles."

"Soup sounds good," Teddy said, "Allison and Leo can help set the table."

"Let's go bean and lion," Annie said.

They heated the soup and set the table for dinner. Teddy by now was feeling better after the medications and sleep, somehow the warmth of the little two snuggling up with her had helped as well. After dinner Teddy watched from the couch as Annie played with the little two and got them ready for bed. She had just finished saying good night and was going to crawl into bed herself when she hear Owen.

"Teddy," Owen's voice boomed from the bottom of the stairs.

"Owen," Teddy croaked.

He jogged up the stairs and she fell into his arms.

"Your okay," Owen soothed, "I'm home. Shhh your okay I've got you."

He scooped her up and carried her to their bed. He gently sat her down on her side of the bed, "I'm going to say good night to the kids then I can come cuddle you after a shower."

"Thank you," Teddy said.

"You rest, I'll be back in a couple minutes," Owen said.

He met Annie in the hallway, "go home Annie. I've got it. Thank you for taking care of them today."

"Any time Uncle Owen," Annie replied.

"Good night little bear," Owen said.

"Good night," Annie replied, giving him a hug. She grabbed her work back and backpack from the bottom of the stairs and let herself out.

Owen went into both kids' rooms and saw they were almost asleep; he tucked each in a bit tighter and kissed their foreheads. Walking back into their room he noticed Teddy was almost asleep. He had a quick shower then lay down beside her, he noticed she was still burning up.

"Teds, when was the last time you had anything for your fever," Owen asked.

"When your mom brought the kids home so 4 ish," Teddy said.

"It's 8 so you need more tylenol to help keep it down," Owen said.

"Annie wrote it all down on the counter," Teddy said.

"Of course she charted it," Owen replied, "I'm going to check and bring you what you need."

"Okay," Teddy yawned. Just having Owen home made her feel calmer.

He walked downstairs and checked Annie's notes, their oldest was meticulous. He grabbed the tylenol and the antibiotic. It was time for both.

"Teddy you need both of these then sleep," Owen said, handing her the two pills and a glass of water. He knew she must be sick if she was letting people take care of her.

"Thanks," Teddy mumbled before gulping the two pills down.

She laid back down in bed and Owen stretched out beside her slowly stroking her hair gently lulling her to sleep the way he had seen her soothe their kids. He whispered how much he loved her and reassured her that he was right there and wasn't going anywhere in her ear as she fell asleep. Teddy relaxed into him and he held her as she slept.