Annie and Teddy were standing at the island in Teddy's kitchen.
"You feeling okay," Teddy asked.
"For now," Annie replied, "I'm kind of hungry whatever you're making smells good."
"Roast chicken and yams , peas, carrots, zucchini and bell peppers," Teddy replied, "your favorites. With salad and fresh bread."
"It sounds good," Annie smiled.
"All things you like," Teddy agreed.
"Things that stay down," Annie replied.
"Do your grandparents know," Teddy asked.
"Mama we're not ready to tell grandmere and papa," Annie said, "can you give Meghan and nana the heads up."
"She'll notice," Teddy said.
"How," Annie asked, "there's nothing to see yet."
"How are you explaining no wine on your birthday," Teddy asked.
"Josh isn't going to drink either. We're going to say we're on call," Annie replied.
"There's other subtle changes you've talked to me about, Marie might notice," Teddy said.
"They've seen me once in eight years they won't," Annie replied, "but if I start to feel sick I'll go upstairs."
"Use our en-suite," Teddy said.
"Keep Josh down here or at least don't let him charge upstairs after me," Annie said.
Teddy sighed, "or you could tell them."
"Not yet," Annie said, "we only told you because of work. My instinct was to wait more than 24 hours. I wanted to make sure it was heathy and enjoy it just me and Josh."
"You would have made it a week tops," Teddy teased.
"Probably," Annie replied, "at least until the day I ran out of your OR to throw up last week."
"I would have figured it out with that. You have an iron stomach normally," Teddy replied, "I was on to you the night you told us anyway."
"How," Annie asked.
"Grumpy and short tempered with me and interns, apple juice, you and Josh going to OB looking giddy," Teddy said.
"What if they tell mom and dad," Annie asked.
"Ask them not to," Teddy replied, "they'll respect you."
"What are we debating," Meghan asked.
"Annie doesn't want to tell her grandparents yet," Teddy said.
"Why," Meghan asked.
"Only 9 weeks almost 10," Annie replied, "I haven't told Chris yet, I'm not ready for Leslie and Dan to know. Today is the first day in two weeks I've wanted to eat."
"That's good," Teddy said, "we have one of your favorite dinners and a birthday apple pie."
"When are you telling Chris," Meghan asked.
"In a month when he's here for thanksgiving," Annie replied, "sooner if his leave gets cancelled. I have to tell him in person or at least facetime I want to see his face."
"Tell your grandparents tonight and swear them to secrecy," Meghan suggested.
"That they're coming is a secret," Annie said, "I have her using whatsapp now and am sending little pictures of my day. She really cares, if she hasn't heard from me by dinner time she calls. I've been giving her my call schedule and surgery schedule so she knows that if she doesn't hear I'm working or really busy."
"That's good," Teddy said, "tell her I think she'll be excited for you. They'll want to know."
"I hate to say it but they'll notice," Meghan replied.
"No wine and I had to buy new bras," Annie said, "that's a pain. Sticking with sports bras at work."
"Under scrubs the way we move around I do," Meghan agreed.
"Most of my friends do," Annie replied, "but I am noticing my pants feel different or I'm imagining things."
"Both," Teddy declared, "soon though."
"I like leggings or dresses," Annie said.
"That's a nice dress," Teddy said, "you always look good in purple and the cut you could wear it for a while yet."
"I hope so," Annie replied, "I'm going to need to figure out how to hide it at work. I don't want the whole surgical staff to know."
"They will," Teddy said, "tell your friends soon."
"After I tell Chris," Annie replied.
There was a knock on the door.
"Annie you get it," Teddy said.
Annie opened the door.
"Grandmere, papa come in," Annie greeted.
"Marie, Doug it's good to see you again," Josh smiled, "I'll take your coats."
"Happy birthday bear," Marie said hugging Annie.
Annie gingery returned the hug she wasn't sold on hugging her grandparents and really wasn't wanting to be touched at all unless it was Josh.
Teddy appeared in the entry, "Doug, Marie it's been years."
"The last Christmas Annie came home," Marie replied.
"Eight years ago," Doug said.
"Too long," Marie agreed.
They made small talk for a while before Teddy offered, "can I get you anything, beer, wine, coffee, water?"
Marie asked, "what are you having Annie?"
"Just water tonight," Annie replied, "I work early tomorrow."
Marie looked suspicious, "water on your birthday?"
"Grandmere, I've never been much of a drinker," Annie replied, "it's okay."
"Bear," Marie said before switching to french, "what aren't you telling me?"
Annie replied in English, "only you papa and I speak french. It drives everyone nuts when C and I use french or franglish."
"I'll say it in English then," Marie said, "there's something you're not telling me. I won't push it but I'm curious."
Annie made a snap decision, "wait for Josh to come back, he's in the backyard playing soccer with the other guys."
Teddy smiled and she knew Annie would tell her grandmere when Josh was there.
"Go get them," Meghan said, "I'm Meghan Hunt, Owen's sister and Annie's aunt."
"It's nice to meet you," Doug said, "Doug McKellar and this is my wife Marie."
"You must be Dan's parents," Evelyn said, "I'm Evelyn, Owen and Meghan's mom. Also known to everyone under 30 as Nana."
"She has a family," Doug said.
Evelyn replied, "she has, mama, uncle Owen as she calls her step father, Auntie Meghan, Uncle Nathan, little siblings, a cousin, nana."
"It's an unconventional family but it works," Teddy said, "some of the relationships are a bit unusual due to chance meetings."
Annie came back leading the guys.
"Uncle Owen, do you remember Grandmere and Papa," Annie asked.
"Years ago when you finished at UBC," Owen replied, "it's good to see you again."
They all spent a few minutes making introductions and explaining how intricately they were all connected. Settled in the living room with drinks Annie smiled. She could do this she could have her grandparents around.
"Should we tell them," Annie whispered in Josh's ear.
"You can," he smiled.
"Grandmere, Papa we have some really exciting news that we're going to ask you to keep to yourselves for a while. Until mom and dad tell you or Chris tells you," Annie said, "can you keep this completely secret?"
"Is this good news," Doug asked.
"It is," Annie smiled, "but I need you to promise it doesn't leave this house."
"Of course," Marie promised, "my lips are sealed. Doug?"
"I wont say a word," Doug promised.
Annie took a deep breath, "I'm pregnant."
"What," Doug asked.
"Papa I'm having a baby," Annie replied.
"When," Marie asked.
"Due May 12," Annie smiled, "so far everything looks good. I'm 9 weeks. So it has to stay hush hush for a few more. I'm sure Chris will tell you when he knows."
"Will you tell your parents," Marie asked.
"I told one set," Annie smiled, " everyone here has known for a few weeks. I will tell mom and dad when they bother to facetime me or return my call."
Doug got off the couch and went to hug Annie, "congratulations bear."
Annie hesitated to return the hug. Why did people think they could just hug her?
"We're in the don't touch me phase I see," Marie commented, "I have 7 I know."
"Annie generally likes her space," Teddy replied, "seven. I was done after two."
"You have your twins and Annie," Marie said, "it was a different time. Seven was a handful to be sure."
Annie stood and walked towards the stairs, she needed a minute, she gave Josh a subtle signal that she was okay.
"I'll be back in a minute," Annie said. Marie and Doug looked puzzled but the rest of the family knew Annie needing a second with her thoughts when she was anxious was normal. Stepping away was her coping mechanism.
"Your three that's quite an age gap," Marie commented
"The girls are half siblings," Teddy said, "we adopted Leo. He's nearly a year older than Allison. There's 25 years between the girls. We adopted Leo when he was two. All three are our kids. We don't make distinctions unless we have two. We have three children. Owen doesn't typically use the term step of Annie. It's our kids."
"How did you come to adopt your son," Marie asked.
Owen replied, "we wanted another child and Leo was a patient of Annie's with no family to be found. The more we all treated him we fell in love. The first night he was in the hospital Annie and I sat with Leo and the more I held him and soothed his cries the more I knew he was my son."
"I spent weeks treating him," Teddy said, "I'd walk into the room to check on him and examine him and his little arms would go around my neck and he would attach himself to me. Every time I held him I fell more and more in love with him. I wanted to love and protect him the same way I loved and protected my girls. Every time I picked him up I saw my son."
"Our son is adopted as well," Meghan replied, "it's a long story that can wait for another day."
"I'm glad your all so open about adoption," Marie said, "it was always hushed with Annie."
"I've been on both sides of adoption," Teddy said, "as the scared young woman who wants the very best for her baby. Choosing to say goodbye and praying for them everyday that they would be happy and healthy. I was 21. Then 26 years later to have to prove to a social worker that you're worthy of being a parent and that you are the very best choice for a child that you already love. Neither side is easy but both are completely full of love, it's always about love for the baby and what will give them their very best life."
"It was such a gift that you gave our family," Marie smiled, "you have no idea the fights we've had in the last few years with Dan and Leslie."
"I'm going to go find Annie," Josh said, "I think she just needed a minute."
"Always has," Marie smiled.
"Dinner should almost be ready," Teddy said, "Allison, Leo and Faroke I need your help with the table."
The two children and the teenager followed Teddy.
Josh found Annie sitting on the couch on the landing, "are you okay?"
"I just don't like talking about my other parents because they should be here," Annie replied, "I just needed to breathe."
"I know you did," Josh said, "your stomach okay?"
He was worried about her, her stomach had been off for weeks now. She had struggled to keep food down and the worst couple days he ended up giving her a fluid IV at home to stop her from dehydrating. He had been on the verge of calling Carina for help, but Annie wanted to keep trying to figure it out on their own and not draw attention to it. Their compromise had been the fluids. Only Josh and Teddy knew how sick Annie was, the two people that she could be vulnerable with. Josh had given her until Friday to start keeping more down or he was going to call Carina to try something more aggressive than a bland diet and fluids.
"It's okay today," Annie said, "it was only bad for the first couple hours this morning but I'm fine now. It's better than it's been in the last three weeks. I'm actually hungry and dinner smells good."
"How's our monkey," Josh asked, placing his hand on her still flat stomach.
"Good," Annie smiled, "Grandmere and Papa took it well."
"They did," Josh said, "did she really have seven children."
"Yes Dan is the very middle of them he's number four," Annie said, "I'm glad they came."
"I like getting to know them," Josh said.
Marie joined Teddy in the kitchen.
"What can I get you," Teddy asked.
"How can I help," Marie asked.
"We've got it under control," Teddy smiled, "the little two are learning. Annie is usually my right hand but it's her birthday."
"Is she okay," Marie asked, "she rushed up your stairs pretty quickly."
"I think so," Teddy said, "Josh stayed down stairs which is a good sign."
"She's struggling," Marie said.
"It's harder than she expected," Teddy agreed, "but she's stubborn and won't accept help."
"Sick," Marie asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "it should be over soon. Hopefully only a couple more weeks maximum. The only person she wants is Josh."
"Does she have another woman to go to," Marie asked, "you want your mom for this."
"She comes to me," Teddy said, "she has for ten years."
"You've been there when we couldn't be," Marie said, "you never stopped loving her."
"Never will," Teddy smiled, "she will always be my daughter."
"The first time you came to Easter dinner I was really hoping Annie could have both," Marie said, "she should have had both."
"She should have. But she's not going to keep reaching out. People need to come to her. She won't show it but she's really happy you're here and reaching out to her," Teddy said, "she keeps things in. She has to learn to trust you again and will slowly let you back in. One day when she's ready she will hug you, let her come to you first for physical contact."
"She always played her cards close to her chest," Marie said, "seeing her happy and confident makes me proud. Thank you for taking care of her Teddy for making sure that Annie would be okay, teaching her to trust herself. She has a confidence I never thought I would see in her."
"Ten years of hard work," Teddy said, "Annie has worked harder than you know and not just professionally."
"Hearing what she does I'm proud of her," Marie said, "that's a real gift to be able to save babies."
"She is amazing with the kids," Meghan said, "we don't know where she gets it."
"She was born with it," Marie said, "she's always put people at ease. Saving babies is a huge gift."
"I'm part of a team," Annie said, "I work with my attendings. Grandmere I'm still a resident and I'm not a surgeon yet."
"Almost," Teddy said.
"I have to pass my boards," Annie said, "and do my fellowship. When does the peds cardio attending start?"
"Next week," Teddy replied, "you'll work with dr St James a lot. You should tell him though."
"I'm on Webber's service, my last general rotation," Annie said, "can you play with the schedule and get me into ortho soon?"
"I thought about that," Teddy replied, "do more physical soon then taper you down to cardio and peds only at the end."
Annie added, "I want to get plastics over with. I hate plastics. Like Dr Avery hate the specialty. ENT can go near the end, putting tubes in kids ears is boring but physically easy."
"I'll do it so you're safe, healthy and it's fair," Teddy replied, "I know you want as much cardio time as you can get."
"That's our specialty," Annie said.
"What does everyone specialize in," Marie asked.
"In our family you get two main types of surgeon," Evelyn answered, "cardio or trauma. Then each mix in their own areas of interest. Like Annie's peds, Owen does a lot with veterans, Meghan likes reconstructive work, Teddy loves cardiac traumas, Nathan likes to push the boundaries and Josh has an affinity for teenagers."
"Josh can calmly deal with teens who do stupid things for youtube likes," Annie replied.
"Several of your cousins," Marie said.
"Why am I not surprised," Annie laughed, "Chris shows me the dumbest videos. We have a running joke of how do they still have all their limbs."
"Your brother can't stop talking about working with all of you a few months ago," Marie said.
"Watching Chris rappel out of a helicopter scared me," Annie said, "we spent the most time together we had in years. It was nice to meet and get to know the guys he talks about."
"You intimidated them I heard," Marie replied.
"Come in a surgeon," Annie replied, "the first night we were there, we got thrown into C's helicopter and taken to some hillside to save three patients with Josh and Mama."
"He had some gory stories," Marie replied.
"Field traumas," Teddy said, "it's not neat."
"It was a once in a lifetime trip," Annie smiled, "I'm glad we did that."
In the living room the men were talking.
"I know Josh is a surgeon and so is Owen," Doug said, "what do the rest of you do?"
David, who had come with Evelyn, replied, "I'm a pastor and work with at-risk kids and families."
"I'm a cardiothoracic surgeon as well," Nathan replied.
"I was a nurse," Evelyn replied, "I retired about 15 years ago. What did you do?"
"I was an electrician and Marie taught french immersion," Doug replied.
"That's who taught Annie her french," Owen said.
"We did," Doug said, "all of our grandchildren but it seemed to click most for Annie. She uses it on the phone with us."
"I wish I had a second language," Josh replied, "I took spanish in high school but I don't remember anything."
"I could speak arabic," Faroke bragged, "but I have no one to practice with. Mama speaks it two."
"Annie is teaching me french," Leo added.
"Is she," Doug asked, "what does she teach you?"
"She sings to them in french," Owen said, "little nursery rhymes and lullabies. But she is teaching both Allison and Leo basic conversational french. Teddy speaks German so is teaching them that as well."
"How did Teddy learn german," Doug asked, "Altman doesn't sound german."
"She was stationed in Germany for a few years," Owen replied, "but her mom spoke it and taught her as well."
"I remember hearing Annie was going to Germany for her breaks," Doug said, "that makes sense if Teddy was there."
"They were a family," Josh said, "the first time I met Teddy was Annie and my third year of medical school."
"It's also the same week I met Annie," Nathan said, "Annie and Teddy were talking about Uncle Owen and when I figured it out Teddy refused to include me in brunch the next morning."
"Family time," Owen said, "giving Annie a sense of normal. That week was good for all of us. For the four years either Teddy or I saw her every couple months. She never went more than two months without seeing mama or Uncle Owen."
"Really," Doug asked.
"It was the only time she saw family," Owen said.
"She used to get really excited when they came," Josh said, "our last two years of school the only family her and I had was Teddy, Owen and Nathan."
"When you were in Seattle we did family dinners," Evelyn said.
"Your sub internship you and Annie hung out at my place or Evelyn's," Nathan said.
"Thank you for taking care of her," Doug said, "we worried about her and the battles I've had with my son about it. Thank you for making sure our Annie bear was safe and loved."
"She's been family from the first time I met her," Owen said.
"The first day Teddy brought her for Sunday dinner she was my granddaughter," Evelyn added.
"Dinner," Teddy called.
Doug looked puzzled at how even the adults all went to not just wash but thoroughly scrub their hands.
"We're all a little obsessive about clean hands," Meghan smiled, "six surgeons and a scrub nurse."
When everyone was seated Daivd offered, "would you like me to say grace?"
"Yes please," Annie replied, it wasn't something they did often at family dinners but she knew it would put her grandparents at ease.
David offered a short prayer for the meal and the people gathered as well as Annie and Josh's baby. News he had just learned that night.
Dinner went well, everyone talked and got along well. Annie was beginning to relax with her grandparents. After dinner Teddy turned music on and soon people began to dance, pushing the coffee table out of the way. The song changed to a slower song Teddy forgot was on the playlist, Josh held Annie close and Annie leaned against him as they swayed gently."
"There's something special with this song," Maire commented, "the way he's holding her."
"It was their wedding song," Evelyn said, "it's special to them."
"They're a good couple," Marie smiled.
"Evelyn," David asked offering his hand, "should we join these young ones?"
Evelyn smiled, "please."
The family continued to dance for a while; it was a relaxed family evening. It was obvious to the two McKellars that they were a close family who all cared deeply for each other. They had little jokes and things they did to celebrate. It seemed like dancing was a normal way for them to celebrate. It was also clear that each of the couples was deeply in love.
At the end of the night Annie walked her grandparents to the door.
"Thank you for coming," Annie smiled.
"We're happy to bear," Marie beamed, "can I have a hug before we go?"
"You can," Annie said hugging her grandmere for the first time in eight years. The old woman held Annie tight trying to put eight years worth of love into a single hug.
"Je t'aime beaucoup," Marie whispered.
"Je t'aime aussi," Annie responded.
"Happy birthday Annie," Doug smiled.
Annie hugged her papa, "thanks papa."
"We'll see you soon," Marie promised, "and we will be back for your baby shower and to meet our great grandchild."
"Maybe between Christmas and New Years," Annie suggested, "I'll let you know when we have our schedules."
"That would be good," Marie replied, "we will let you know."
"See you soon," Doug agreed.
They got into the car.
"She's happily married and having a baby," Marie said.
"She's happy and well taken care of," Doug agreed, "she found a family that loved her for her. I just wish we hadn't waited so long."
"Dan didn't tell us everything," Marie said, "Chris told us more. But now we have to keep her big news from Chris."
"He's going down in a few weeks," Doug said, "he always goes to see her before he sees us."
"I don't care what Dan says we are going to keep seeing her even if we drive three hours for dinner," Marie declared.
"We will," Doug agreed, "we won't let her. We will be there for her and her baby."
"Teddy said something," Marie said, "that Annie wants the family around but she won't reach out. We have to keep reaching out."
"We will," Doug promised, "we'll go see her and get to know Josh and their baby."
"Another great grandchild," Marie smiled, "she's already ten weeks. You wouldn't know looking at her."
"Annie has always been our little one," Doug said.
"Teddy is slim, Annie looks more like Teddy then ever leaving her hair curly like that," Marie agreed, "it also sounds like Annie might be pretty sick. But her mama and husband are surgeons, they'll watch her."
"Except for Evelyn and David they all are," Doug replied.
"How did we let it go so long," Marie asked.
"We believed our son," Doug said, "Jessica has told so vicious lies. Lies that cost us Annie. We may have a small window in which to win her back."
"We're going to try," Marie said.
Annie sat quietly on the bottom of the stairs watching her family tidy up, she knew she should help but her mind was elsewhere.
"Come upstairs with me," Teddy said, "I want to show you something."
"What is it," Annie asked.
Teddy offered her hand, "just come see."
Teddy led Annie upstairs into the master bedroom. She grabbed a small box off her dresser and passed it to Annie.
"What is it," Annie asked.
"Open it," Teddy replied.
Annie lifted the lid, "mama it's gorgeous."
"It's not new," Teddy said, "but it's time you had it. There's a story."
"What's the story," Annie asked.
"This is a family piece, it was my grandma's then my moms, then mine, now it's yours," Teddy said, "my mom gave it to me when I had you, before I decided on adoption. My grandpa bought it for my grandma when my mom was born, and it was passed for the first baby. One day you'll pass it down for your first grandchild."
"What if I have a boy," Annie asked.
"Then the mother of that child," Teddy smiled.
"Shouldn't some of this be saved for Allison," Annie aked.
"I divided the pile between you," Teddy said.
Annie teared up.
"Annie no tears," Teddy said.
"I'm happy, I really am," Annie smiled through her tears, "it's beautiful. There is one piece that should be Allison's when she's ready. I have the Hunt broach on the National."
"You and Meghan talked about something didn't you," Teddy said.
"Keep the outfit together and Allison can have it all when she's premiere and it fits," Annie replied.
"Was that a good birthday," Teddy asked.
"It was," Annie smiled, "they came, they actually came through for me."
"They did," Teddy agreed, "Marie wants to be there for you. She was so worried when you went upstairs."
"I just needed a moment. It was a lot seeing them here," Annie said, '' Seattle has always been my safe place."
"I thought so," Teddy replied.
"They even danced with us," Annie smiled before she yawned.
"Getting tired," Teddy asked.
"I am," Annie replied, "we'll finish helping downstairs and go. Thank you for doing all of this mama."
"You're welcome sweetheart," Teddy smiled.