Annie was leaving Teddy's office when her phone buzzed.
"Bonjour," she answered.
"Annie I need you back in 20 minutes," Teddy commanded.
Annie gave her the thumbs up and listed to the speaker on the other end.
Teddy smiled, she knew Annie was talking to her Grandmere or Papa, Dan's parents. Annie had the most contact with Marie and Doug McKellar, they emailed regularly and called every other week. They had been trying to see Annie for the last two years but Annie was hesitant, she was even more afraid after her encounter with Jessica the previous fall. Annie argued that it was too late and there was too much water under the bridge.
"Annie," Doug began, "we're not taking no for an answer this time bear."
"Why are you even coming to Seattle," Annie asked, "you both hate cities, you vacation in small towns or at the fishing camp."
"Were taking a repositioning cruise from Seattle to Mexico going all down the coast with our French speakers club," Marie explained, "we want to come down a night or two early and see you darling. It's been far too long."
"Grandmere I don't even know if I'm off or if I'm on call," Annie said, "I can't commit to anything if I'm on call."
"We're going to be in Seattle from Aug 3-6," Marie said.
"The fourth is my anniversary so that won't work," Annie said, "I'm off the fifth but I don't know about Josh."
"Do we get to meet your husband," Doug asked.
"Yes papa," Annie replied, "I won't come with out him. We're a packaged deal."
"As it should be," Marie said.
"He doesn't speak any French," Annie replied.
"Do you use yours," Marie asked.
"To talk to you "Annie said, "when Chris wants to talk to me with out Becky knowing what he's saying or I need to talk to C but don't want Josh to know. But C and I still use franglish between ourselves anyway. I used my French a lot on the humanitarian trip to Haiti in the spring. I was the only French speaking doctor."
"Good for you," Marie praised, "franglish still with your brother though."
"It's always been our code," Annie replied, "Josh has picked up on important or food related words."
Annie chatted with them for a while before she had to go back to work.
"How was grandmere," Teddy asked when Annie came back to her office.
"Do we have time now or do we have a paitent," Annie asked.
"I wanted to discuss the HLH research with you and I found a surgeon I've worked with before who has done this repair and is willing to teach you on this paitent," Teddy said.
"Who is it," Annie asked.
"Addison Montgomery," Teddy replied, "I need to run a couple things past Amelia and Meredith first. Addison is Derek's first wife."
"Awkward," Annie said.
"Possibly," Teddy replied.
"The transplant panel meets at 9:30 tomorrow about it," Annie said, "looking at his other factors I still think it's our best shot. Alex agreed."
"So do I," Teddy said, "but we need to have it all for the parents.
"I know," Annie said, "can I change the subject and ask you something McKellar related?"
"We have time," Teddy said, "what's going on?"
"That was grandmere and papa," Annie said, "they're in Seattle August third to sixth and want to see me. They won't take no for an answer. I don't particularly want to. Seeing McKellars never ends well. The last time I missed three weeks of work."
"Is it just them," Teddy asked.
"It is and they said they wouldn't tell anyone they saw me just in case," Annie explained, "but I hate putting them at risk like that. I haven't seen them since the night of the stabbing."
"Your papa saw that," Teddy said, "they were there."
"I don't remember that," Annie said, "I only remember you Chris and Henry being there."
"I know sweetheart," Teddy said, "you were in shock though."
"Do you think I'm safe," Annie asked.
"I think you are. And Josh will go with you," Teddy said.
"They want to meet him," Annie smiled, "but can I set some boundaries on it? A public place that's familiar and maybe a time limit?"
"Dinner or coffee," Teddy suggested, "they naturally limit the time."
"It's only a week away," Annie said, "and our first anniversary."
"Do you have anniversary plans," Teddy asked.
"A just us day," Annie said, "we're going for a hike and a picnic and kicking Duncan out for 24 hours."
"Have you talked to Duncan," Teddy asked.
"We have," Annie groaned, "he just doesn't get it. We need to make it more obvious. And I'm getting sick of his revolving door of women. It's gross and annoying. The where's your coffee from some random woman that he could do so much better than."
"Have you told him that," Teddy said.
"I've stopped being friendly with them. I ignore Duncan and whoever," Annie replied.
"Do you want me to talk to him? We need to renew the lease anyway," Teddy said.
"He's not on it," Annie replied.
"Exactly I can say no more subletting," Teddy said, "give him 60 days."
"We tried before the wedding but I don't know," Annie said.
"I've said things, so has Josh," Annie complained, "then when we're trying to have a nice relaxing night on the couch he comes home with some girl and there goes our peaceful night because we get exiled to our room."
"Is this happening often," Teddy asked.
"A couple weeks ago it was a bunch of military friends which is almost worse," Annie said.
"Because you have to be in work mode," Teddy said.
"Exactly," Annie said, "it made sense as junior residents. I thought he would get the hint when we got engaged or at least when we got married. We're almost the resident frat."
"Almost," Teddy said, "but its only three of you. How many lived at Greys?"
"Kepner, Karev, Avery, Little Grey, Derek," Annie listed, "then they added Zola."
"We are the frat in that our house is where my group gets together," Annie said, "if theres a celebration or event its at our house because we have space."
"And Leslie and your grandmas taught you to host," Teddy said, "what if I hosted a family dinner the six of us and grandmere and papa?"
"You would do that," Annie asked.
"It it makes you feel safer seeing them," Teddy said, "have you talked to Josh about this?"
"Not yet he's got a patient who wrapped their car around a pole," Annie said, "how do we explain that to grandmere?"
"Trauma surgeons," Teddy said, "its hard. You and I are easier to explain because people know some one who has had open heart surgery or pace makers."
"My surgery that was a trauma surgeon," Annie said, "but I wont talk about the past with them."
"Then you don't have to," Teddy said, "set your boundaries."
"I need to run this past Josh," Annie said, "I haven't had nightmares since February I really don't want to go backwards. I'm worried grandmere and papa could be triggers. I still need to avoid triggers, I'm not ready to face it yet."
"You can talk to them on the phone," Teddy said, "that goes well."
"But I feel like seeing them would be different," Annie said, "they'll want to touch me."
"You don't have to let them," Teddy replied, "but we need to get our notes together we have 10 minutes before we meet Christina."
"Should I have changed," Annie asked, "scrubs to meet Dr. Yang?"
"Your working and she wore light blue for 5 years," Teddy replied, "I'm in mine."
Can we use your computer to do it so its easier to see and for her to see both of us," ANnie asked.
"We can," Teddy replied, "are you ready?"
"You keep saying it's just Christina," Annie said, "does uncle Owen know?"
"He's joining us," Teddy replied, "at least to say hello."
"Really," Annie said, "you're okay with that?"
"She's his ex for a lot of reasons that you will never know," Teddy replied, "more then the kid thing or the plane crash."
"That was a tragedy," Annie said.
"It was," Teddy agreed.
"Do you have a bottle of water I left mine in my locker," Annie said.
"I do and snacks," Teddy replied, "I know you hate me asking but I have to when you're as busy as you've been lately are you eating enough?"
"I'm okay," Annie replied, "it's worse when I'm triggered. I know I either turtle or don't eat when that happens. I will tell you if it's not okay."
"I worry," Teddy said, "because I've done it when things worry me or my past comes up."
"Some times it's easier to run from it and just go forward," Annie said.
"It's always going to be there if you don't face it," Teddy said, "I know it's hard. I've been to hell and back dealing with it. There are things I've dealt with that only Dr Wyatt and Owen will ever know about my past. It's not just war stuff or your father. I ran, I hid, and it caught up to me. Maybe you can be stronger than I was. What if you saw them at my house. It's safe you're comfortable there, Owen and I can be there with you and Josh."
"If and its a big if I see them it should just be me and Josh," Annie said, "they would feel like we ganged up on them. I just don't get why none of them every tried to see me? Why did they let it go so long? Why now?"
"They had their own journey with this," Teddy said, "we don't know what was said or to who."
"They'll expect me to be who I was when I left," Annie complained.
"Just be you," Teddy said.
"Me was never good enough for them," Annie said.
"Good enough for who," Teddy asked, "your grandparents or Jessica."
"It's the same," Annie said, "I don't want to repeat what we went through last winter with them again. I really thought mom and dad would come but they haven't tried. I can even get them to face time. I have to move forward. It's been 8 years and we can not all move on. I can't keep opening old wounds again. It's not healthy. Because I try to see them, I get my hopes up then something fails and I move 5 steps back."
"It's your choice," Teddy said, "my mom had a cousin she was really close to that I haven't seen since my mom passed. I called her Auntie Theresa, I would give anything to see her again but it's been almost 20 years. Auntie Theresa offered to move to Texas to help me take care of you. If I could have the chance I would call her today."
"Call her or write her a letter," Annie said, "writing is easier than calling."
"I don't even know if she's still alive," Teddy said.
"Do you remember where she lived," Annie asked.
"I know the town," Teddy replied.
"Then we can google," Annie said, "maybe facebook. Did she have kids?"
"A son a few years older than me," Teddy said.
"Let's try facebook for him," Annie suggested.
Teddy shook her head, "I don't have Facebook."
"I do," Annie replied, "as Grace Altman."
"Could you find him," Teddy asked, "I hate social media."
"If you help me," Annie replied, "you could message him from my account it's at least worth a try."
"Let me talk to Owen," Teddy replied, "if you can see your grandparents I can write to my aunt."
"Why didn't you stay in touch," Annie asked.
"She was furious when I enlisted," Teddy replied, "told me it would serve me right if I got hurt over there. That I was throwing my life away to go play soldier. That running to the army wouldn't fix what was broken. That it couldn't give me what I really wanted. That what I really wanted was to go back and keep you."
"Was it," Annie asked.
"Part of it," Teddy said "I felt like no one cared anymore. The first Allison was gone, my best friend, she was right I was running. Washington, Florida, New York I could explain as career moves the army was harder. She said things and saw things that I wasn't ready to. So I did what I did and stopped talking to her. I wrote for a while when I left but even that stopped the longer I was away. I started going home with Owen and Meghan for leaves."
"Write to her," Annie said, "we can at least try, tell her you found me. Tell her you have uncle Owen and the littles. That you're happy."
"I will," Teddy said, "and you should consider seeing your grandparents."
"Only if Josh will come with me," Annie said.
"I want Owen to help me write," Teddy said, "but we should use your facebook to send they'll recognize Altman."
"We can," Annie said.
Teddy's iPad rang with the face time tone.
"Christina Yang," Teddy smiled, "ready thing one?"
"I am," Annie replied.
Teddy answered the call from her computer as Annie scooted a chair around.
"Teddy, Thing One," Christina greeted.
"Hi Christina," Teddy greeted.
"Medicine first," Christina asked.
"That's all up to Annie," Teddy said, "I'm the attending, but she's in fifth year and doing this from start to finish."
"What she wants to do is fellowship stuff for most people," Christina said.
"I know you were a fellow when you started it," Teddy said, "but I trained her from an intern."
"I like your students. The last two you guys sent have been good," Christina said, "thing one are you coming to me for a fellowship?"
"What do you have for a trauma surgeon," Annie asked.
"Why," Christina asked.
"My husband wants trauma so we need strong programs for both in the same hospital or at least the same city," Annie said.
"I don't do trauma here," Christina said, "even an exchange for a few months."
"Josh would need something," Annie repeated.
"General," Christina said.
"That would be a discussion with him," Annie said, "and not today we're just starting applications. Applying everywhere."
"So your patient," Christina asked.
Annie began to explain her patient and what she wanted to try.
"Do it," Christina said, "if I was there I would have done it two weeks ago. Finish my screening pages I've emailed them to Teddy and send me the results."
"I already did them this morning," Annie replied, "if I'm reading it right he's eligible."
"Tell me," Christina said.
Annie explained the data.
"I have something similar tomorrow," Christina said, "we can face time you in to watch."
"Please," Annie said, "that would be helpful."
"I'll watch as well," Teddy replied, "when we do ours can we face time you in?"
"Depending on my schedule yes," Christina replied.
They finished their chat with Christina and Annie went to find Josh. Owen who had joined them half way though looked at Teddy confused.
"Dan's parents are in town in 4 days," Teddy said, "they want to see Annie."
"What does she want," Owen asked.
"She doesn't want to," Teddy said, "she thinks they might be a trigger."
"They could be," Owen agreed, "what if we were there?"
"I've offered that," Teddy replied, "she wants to avoid it all together and enjoy her anniversary next week."
"That's already a year," Owen said.
"It is," Teddy sighed, "time seems to be going faster."
"It does," Owen agreed.
"Meghan has been home four years," Teddy said.
"You've been home four years," Owen said.
"That was some homecoming," Teddy said.
"Meghan and you," Owen said, "two people I thought a week earlier I would never see again."
"You were texting me," Teddy said.
"About Annie," Owen said, "I was hoping if I did enough mentoring with her and kept you updated it might soften you."
"I was never angry," Teddy said, "confused, hurt but I thought you were mad at me because I kicked you out and you only messaged about Annie."
"We should all do something on the 30th," Teddy said, "there's a few things to celebrate. Meghan and I coming home, Annie and Josh's anniversary, we missed Meg and Nathans, ours is two weeks later. Leo's coming home day on the 6th."
"August is a busy month," Owen said.
"Then nothing in September and then two fall birthdays for Annie and Josh," Teddy said, "the only months we don't have things to celebrate are May and September."
"We can celebrate all those August things," Owen said, "but your rambling. Why are you upset about Annie's grandparents?"
"Why now," Teddy asked, "why not 8 years ago?"
"Finally getting the strength to stand up," Owen said, "maybe they finally see it. I know Chris is really close to Dan's dad."
"How much do you talk to Chris," Teddy asked.
"He's family," Owen said, "Annie has you and I, my mom, Meghan and Nathan, Josh. Chris has Annie and Josh. So he talks to me. I hear from him about once a week. He needs someone just like Annie needs you."
"Where is he," Teddy asked.
"Edmonton for now," Owen said, "home for two weeks then on a course then possibly deploying to somewhere in eastern europe after christmas. He's going to propose to Becky."
"No," Teddy groaned, "talk him out of that. Have you ever told him about you and Beth?"
"I did in Haiti," Owen replied, "him and I had some good time to talk down there. But I didn't like being the wise old man."
"That's what it felt like for sure," Teddy agreed, "I need to send the letter but I want totally out now. Our kids need me. That really wasn't fair to Allison and Leo."
"I know how you feel," Owen said, "we need to do that."
"Has Chris said anything about Dan's parents," Teddy asked.
"Just that they miss Annie," Owen said.
"But they haven't tried," Teddy replied, "they know where she is and no one has tried. She's not going to chase them, it's been too long, they need to try with her."
"Asking to see her is them trying," Owen said.
"She's scared," Teddy replied, "and she has reason to be. They stood by and watched all the build up to the incidents. That whole family was complacent Owen. Now Annie has to fight with that trauma for the rest of her life."
"Thats what sucks about PTSD," Owen agreed, "you never actually get over it."
"They'll decide together what to do," Teddy said, "she bounces things off me but decides with Josh."
"He should be out of the OR," Owen said, "she'll find him."
Annie and Josh sat in the deserted residents lounge.
"Grandmere called today," Annie said, "they're in seattle next week and want to see me."
"What do you want to do," Josh asked.
Annie started to cry, "I don't know. I had been trying to put it all behind me. They gave up on me and never reached out. Why now?"
"I don't know," Josh said, "but they asked. It's grandmere you talk to her all the time and face time. I think maybe they might finally have the courage to stand up and say no to your sister."
"But can I trust them," Annie asked.
"I think we can," Josh said, "when are they here?"
"The third to the sixth," Annie replied, "she knows the fourth is a no go."
"What if we told them the third and met them for dinner," Josh said, "get it over with."
"I'm on call," Annie said.
"Let them know that," Josh said.
"Will they understand," Annie said, "we're both off on the fourth but I'm not giving up our anniversary for that."
"Like with my parents we do it on our terms," Josh said.
"Why now," Annie asked again, "I used to beg them to come to Boston to see me. But it was always too far and papa hates airports."
"They're asking now," Josh said.
"It's too little too late," Annie declared.
"Why," Josh asked, "you've been begging for them to see you."
"Mom and dad," Annie said, "they promised to try and it's been six months and they haven't."
"Why hold that against your grandparents," Josh asked.
"Because they had chances," Annie said, "I invited, I begged. They let their fear of Jessica make them forget me."
"If this was my mom I'd give her a chance," Josh said.
"I don't know," Annie said, "what if it doesn't go well?"
"What if it does," Josh asked, "you want some sort of connection. Maybe this is your first step."
"If I see them will you come with me," Annie asked.
"I will," Josh promised.
Should Annie see her grandparents? Can they be trusted?