At 5:30 Samantha pulled into the driveway at Annie and Josh's house, it wasnt what she had expected when she had been given the address, she could see it was a smaller one story home, not what you would expect of surgeons, but there was something welcoming and cozy about it. She grabbed the bottle of wine she had picked up and the cupcakes. She hadn't been asked to bring anything but had been taught never to show up empty handed. Samantha knocked on the front door and was greeted by Annie.

"Hey Sam come in," Annie greeted.

"This place is really cute," Samanatha commented, "have you lived here long?"

"Josh and I moved in as interns," Annie replied, "but I lived here with mama for a couple years before med school as well. This is home."

"It's nice to see you," Josh greeted.

"These are for tonight," Samantha said passing the bakery box and wine to Annie.

"Thank you so much," Annie smiled, "I'll put these in the kitchen. Can I get you something to drink?"

"What are you having," Samantha asked.

"Water for now," Annie smiled, "I'll just have a small glass of wine with dinner."

"I'm good to start with water," Samantha replied.

"I'll grab it," Josh said, "can you take Ellie?"

"Come here baby bug," Annie smiled at the baby, "Sam come have a seat."

Samatha noticed Annie and Josh were just in their socks and slipped her shoes off.

"Ellie is gorgeous," Samantha said, "is she a happy baby?"

"Most days," Annie said, "she's getting really alert and she likes people."

"May I," Samantha asked.

"Do you want to," Annie asked.

"I do," Samantha said, "I love babies even though I'll probably never have one."

"Sam," Annie said, "I'm sorry and here I am rubbing Ellie in your face."

"Grace it's not that I can't," Samantha said, "it's just hard when you date other women. I love other people's babies."

"Sorry, I didn't know," Annie replied.

"It's not the first thing I tell people about myself," Samantha said, "but I have a feeling I can trust you."

"I won't tell anyone," Annie said, taking a seat on the couch, "do you want to hold her now?"

"Please," Samantha said, "I see this little one with you all the time and haven't gotten to meet her properly."

"Ellie this is Dr. Sam," Annie said, "do you want to go say hi?"

Ellie smiled at Annie.

"I'll take that as a yes," Annie said passing the baby to Samantha.

Samantha took the baby, "aren't you a pretty girl."

Samantha tickled Ellie making her giggle.

"I love that sound," Annie beamed.

"It is sweet," Samantha agreed.

"I miss her when were at work," Annie said.

"I can see why you leave so quickly to be with her," Samantha said, "to have someone you love and you baby to come home to."

"It's good," Annie agreed, "you mentioned yesterday that your aunt lives next door to the house I grew up in."

"She does," Samantha said, "she said some interesting things that don't quite add up."

"What did she say," Annie asked.

"We cleared up the name thing yesterday," Samantha said, "but she mentioned something about your mom."

"Leslie," Annie replied, "she is not my mother. What did she say?"

"She said Leslie was an odd woman who had a very strange way of raising her kids," Samantha said, "I called auntie Lynda today to confirm it is you. She says hello."

"Mrs. Driger was always kind," Annie replied, "how is she?"

"She's good," Samanatha said, "she said she was glad you found your own way."

"What did she mean by that," Annie asked.

"She said your Leslie was extremely hard on you and your brother but let your sister get away with anything," Samantha said, "that if you weren't completely perfect she yelled and screamed at you."

"She had high standards," Annie agreed.

"There was something about your sister always getting her way and others expected to give in," Samantha said, "but she would yell at her older two kids when no one was around then as soon as Leslie realized people could hear or see her she praised. And bragged about you and your brother."

"Praise in public, criticize in private," Annie replied.

"She has to tell the neighbours every time she sees them that you're a surgeon," Samantha said, "like she personally made you one."

"That's laughable," Annie replied, "if any parent has helped me become a doctor it was mama. I've seen Leslie a total of 30 days since I was 21. I've had actual conversations with her 5 times in that period. She ignored me for 8 years."

"Is the chief why you went into cardio," Samantha asked.

"Partially," Annie admitted, "the peds piece is all me. I love the kids and working with their families. And the focus on cardio is great. Do one thing and do it well."

"I get that," Samantha said, "auntie Lynda said none of the neighbours trust Leslie. That you never know when what you say will be used against you."

"I believe Leslie has narcissistic personality disorder," Annie said, "honestly Sam I hate talking about this. It's my past and I'm moving forward with what I've chosen for myself here. I tried to rebuild the relationship with Leslie but she's not ready to work with me."

"Okay," Samantha replied, "I didn't mean to upset you I just wanted to understand."

"I know," Annie replied, "please don't let this become hospital gossip."

"Of course not," Samantha replied.

The doorbell rang and Annie went to get it. It was James and his wife.

"Grace this is my wife Paige," James itnroduced.

"It's nice to meet you," Annie smiled, "come in."

"Your a surgeon as well," Paige said.

"I am," Annie replied, "what do you do?"

"I'm a teacher," Paige said.

"What do you teach," Annie asked.

"Fourth grade," Paige replied.

"Do you have kids," Annie asked.

"We will," Paige commented, "in mid March."

"Congratulations," Annie smiled, "that's exciting."

"James says you have a daughter," Paige replied.

"Ellie is four and a half months," Annie replied, "come in and sit down. Sam is getting to know Ellie."

"Finally sharing your baby," James asked.

"We've agreed not to play pass the baby at work," Josh explained, "we like to keep her with us or family so we don't pass her around too much."

"I get that," James said.

"Come have a seat," Annie said, "can I get you anything to drink?"

"Water would be great," Paige said.

"Please let me know if you need anything," Annie said.

"I will," Paige smiled, this woman was different then the other surgeons she had met. Grace was warm and welcoming, their home felt cozy like what she had grown up in not the other doctors show pieces.

Teddy opened her front door to Christina.

"Teddy," Christina greeted, "can I talk to Owen?"

"He's here," TEddy said, "I would like to mention something to you."

"Your daughter crying in my lab this week," Christina said.

"I didn't know about that," Teddy replied, "but I have noticed the hours logs from your lab HR brought the to my attention. Fellows should be doing 20-30 hours of research time a week to allow them to complete surgeries. The fellows and residents in your lab are frequlty well over that. I am going to be monitoring that. I know I taught you to be a team player, to let others do things. That means giving your fellows a chance to operate on their own and to pursue their own projects."

"Both fellows," Christina clarified.

"Both," Teddy replied.

"Thing one asked me to cut her hours back," Christina said, "she emailed me something about her daughter needing more of her time."

"I can see that," Teddy said, "I scaled back for a bit when Allison was a baby and we first adopted Leo."

"You did," Christina said, "you never take time off."

"I did," Teddy said, "I do for my kids and my family."

"Annie and her baby," Chrisitina asked.

"I've taken days to help her out," Teddy said, "she needed her mama. Being a new mom is hard. Yes I had Annie but Allison was the first baby I got to raise and enjoy. I love my kids and my granddaughter."

Owen came into the living room, "Christina about what I said yesterday."

"I know," Christina said, "you had a point."

"I was angry," Owen said, "my oldest daughter is overwhelmed with her baby and her fellowship and I know you're her attending and I snapped at you and said something I shouldn't have."

"Old wounds," Christina said.

"We've come a long way," Owen agreed, "but that is not something I will ever forget."

"Owen," Teddy said, "I know. It's okay. You're okay. Annie is at her house with the cardio fellows, Ali and Leo are with your mom and David. Our kids are all good."

"I know," Owen agreed.

Teddy wrapped her arms around Owen standing on her toes to whisper in his ear, "I know that's still a trigger for you. It's okay. You're okay, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. Our kids aren't going anywhere. We will see Ali and Leo in the morning at church, Annie, Josh, Ellie will all be there. You're okay Owen. I love you."

"I know," Owen said, "as Annie said, my feelings reacted faster than my brain."

"That is an Annie explanation," Teddy replied.

"She's right," Owen said.

Meghan and Nathan let themselves in.

Teddy rushed forward and took the car seat setting it on the hall table, she unbuckled Catrina.

"Hi Catrina," Teddy cooed, "are you happy to see Auntie Teddy?"

The baby blinked.

Teddy continued talking to the baby, "I saw your cousins Annie and Ellie today. We went for a long walk at the park and Ellie giggled for me."

"How are Annie and Ellie," Meghan asked, "I haven't seen them in a couple weeks."

"Busy," Teddy replied, "she's going to cut back a bit at work so you'll see her more."

"It will be fun to have both babies together tomorrow," Nathan agreed.

"They've met," Meghan said, "but both were sleeping."

"Ellie is getting to be really alert," Teddy said.

"Will you see her in the morning," Meghan asked?

"I will but you'll see her at dinner," Teddy replied.

"I feel bad I have a bunch of her bottles to return," Meghan said.

"Meg can we talk about that upstairs," Teddy asked.

"Sure," Meghan replied.

She followed Teddy upstairs.

"What's going on," Meghan asked.

"I know I'm meddling and Annie may kill me but I need to say it," Teddy replied.

"Is she okay," Meghan asked, "Ellie?"

"Physically yes," Teddy said, "mentally I'm not sure. Annie has always, always struggled with disordered eating and food control issues. When they went up to BC a month ago Leslie said something that triggered her."

"What's going on," Meghan asked.

"Annie isn't eating," Teddy said, "not enough at least. As her mama I'm worried that she's not eating enough to feed Ellie and keep pumping for Catrina."

"Teddy I didn't know," Meghan said, "Josh dropped off the last few bottles."

"How much is she sending you," Teddy asked.

"About a bottle and a half a day," Meghan said, "we appreciate it but we don't need it. It was good to get Catrina started but she'll be just fine on formula. Catrina doesn't seem to notice the difference. Food is food for her."

"I'll leave it between you and Annie," Teddy said, "I just want you to be aware."

"Has this happened before," Meghan asked.

"Yes," Teddy said, "it was really bad when she was 20,21, her intern year, it flared when Leslie wouldn't come to the wedding."

"What causes it to flare," Meghan asked.

"Leslie," Teddy said, "Annie can't know I told you. I know she's close to you but I need you as my best friend right now. My oldest is a mess."

"I wont tell her I know," Meghan replied.

"Leslie made a comment a month ago about Annie having not lost the baby weight yet," Teddy said.

"Annie hadn't," Meghan said, "she was in her pre pregnancy Jeans in August."

"I know," Teddy said, "Leslie has a way of getting into Annie's head and really messing up her thought patterns. Annie is going to get help. I just needed to vent."

"Why are our older ones the most stressful," Meghan asked, "Faroke is worrying me. He's at moms tonight so he can't get into any more trouble."

"What happened," Teddy asked.

"Last night I walked into my basement to get a load of laundry to fold," Meghan said, "how much laundry do babies go through?"

"A lot," Teddy said, "Annie was talking about the same thing today. But what happened with Faroke?"

"I almost killed him," Meghan said, "him and Kira were watching a movie with the lights off all cuddled up on the couch. I get it they're 15 they cuddle, they kiss. I came down and they were both shirtless and he yelled at me."

"What did you do," Teddy asked.

"Told them to get dressed and Nathan drove her home," Meghan said, "that's not okay. We had to sit him down last night and talk about being safe and consent."

"That conversation sucks," Teddy said, "try having it with a 19 year old you've known less than a year because the people who were supposed to teach her told her if she so much as kissed a boy she was doing something wrong."

"You talked to Annie about that," Meghan said.

"She learned to be safe," Teddy said, "I had learned. Then there was Owen and I felt loved and forgot. But yes I talked to Annie about it. Slowly when she had questions she would come to me. At first the medical side of birth control. Then the emotional side. She told me the first time she had a sleepover with a boyfriend at 20."

"I doubt Faroke will tell me or Nate," Meghan said, "he talks to Josh though."

"Josh will steer him on the right path," Teddy assured, "he's a good man."

"He is," Meghan agreed, "I just worry no one has ever talked to Kira, that she doesn't know."

"We can't influence that," Teddy said.

"We can't," Meghan agreed, "we can teach Faroke about being safe and consent but that's as much as I can do."

"Meghan," Nathan bellowed downstairs, "Maggie wants to see Catrina."

"Coming," Meghan replied.

Teddy and Meghan walked back down stairs and joined the group, the rest of the cardio attendings had gathered. Owen poured everyone a glass of wine and they all sat around talking about their families and cooing over baby Catrina.

Back at Annie's the cardio fellows were laughing over a game of exploding kittens.

"I brought a new one," Colton said, "is that okay?"

"What's the game," Josh asked.

"Throw, throw, burrito," Colton said.

"We've been talking about ordering it," Josh said, "adding to our game collection."

"You have a lot of games," Sam commented.

"We like games and games nights," Annie replied, "we used to do it about once a month this is the first we've hosted in a while."

"Why did you stop," James asked.

"The last one we hosted was a week before my due date with Ellie," Annie said, "I need to feed her and get her down for the night. Then we can play games as long as we want."

"What time is it," Josh asked.

"Eight," Annie replied, "she hasn't fussed yet so I was leaving her."

"She's a sweet baby," Paige commented, she had enjoyed cuddling the little girl it made her more excited for her own baby.

"Just leave her then," Josh suggested, "the later we keep her up now the more you can sleep in tomorrow."

"That has not worked with her yet," Annie replied.

"I'll go warm a bottle," Josh suggested.

"I'll just go get her blanket," Annie replied, "no games involving flying objects until she's in bed."

"Is she hungry," Josh asked.

"Look at her," Annie said, "it's hungry behaviour. Does any one mind in the slightest if I feed her? Please if it makes anyone the tiniest bit uncomfortable I'll take her to our room."

"What ever," grunted Colton, "except Paige were all surgeons, it's noting we dont see everyday."

"I don't know how you all deal with all that blood," Paige said, "it makes me queasy."

"It did in med school," Samantha agreed.

"It never bothered me until I was pregnant," Annie said, "then for a few weeks the smell in the OR was bad."

"What did you do," Paige asked, "fourth graders after PE is awful."

"I just had to push through it," Annie replied, "asked for the ventilation to be on full blast."

"Your ORs were cold for months," Josh said.

"I was hot so I had them turn the AC right up," Annie replied, "Yang nearly killed me my last surgery but it was my last day before leave so she couldn't do much."

"Yang is frustrating," James said.

"She's hard to take sometimes," Annie agreed.

"You seem to do okay with it," Colton said.

"I've known her almost 11 years," Annie said, "I met her a couple months after I turned 19. Her and I have an understanding. Mama taught Yang when I was in college and my first year of med school."

"She really doesn't like Owen Hunt sometimes," Samantha said, "do you know why?"

"They got married when I was 19, divorced when I was 22," Annie said.

"So your mother and Hunt," Samantha said.

"Met in Iraq with the military in 2002," Annie replied, "were best friends and nothing more until my last year of med school. When they finally realized they love each other, so she left her position with MedCom in Germany, came home, they bought their house, had Allison, got married, adopted Leo."

"And your cool with all this," Colton asked.

"Uncle Owen and mama should have been together before that," Annie said, "but it wasn't the grand plan."

"You call your stepfather Uncle Owen," Colton asked.

"He was her best friend for years first," Annie said, "it was his idea the first time I scrubbed in. she was doing a transplant, I was kind of bored watching her sew grafts in the gallery so Uncle Owen told me to go with him and Kepner who was his resident at the time to scrub in on a bowel obstruction. An idiot swallowed magnetic marbles. I was 19 and he let me hold a retractor. We met mama after her transplant and he told her that cool Uncle Owen let his favourite niece hold a retractor for the first time."

"They had you scrubbing in at 19," Samantha asked.

"I was asking about it and wanting to know more so they broke the rules and let me," Annie said, "I knew the rules. Stand behind me and one step to my left, don't touch anything unless I tell you to, be quiet unless I ask you a question."

"I'm going to heat a bottle," Josh said, seeing that Annie hadn't left to get Ellie's blanket and the baby was about to get fussy.

"I've had a glass and a half. It's probably a better idea," Annie said, "can you give it to her, she won't take a bottle if she's in my arms."

"I will," Josh said.

"Desert," Annie said, "I made apple crisp and Sam brought cupcakes. We have ice cream. Does anyone want tea or coffee?"

"Do you have any decaf," Paige asked.

"Tea or coffee," Annie asked.

"Tea would be great," Paige replied.

"I have a bunch come choose one you like," Annie offered before walking into the kitchen.

Maggie had had too much to drink which was getting on Teddy's nerves. Teddy liked a drink and have a couple with friends or family but Maggie was crossing the line. Teddy shook her head thinking of the last time she had too many, it had been Annie's final reading break of med school and they couldn't agree on which wine to drink that night so had ordered from the roast chicken place and ended up drinking three bottles between the two of them.

"How about some water," Teddy offered, "or coffee?"

"Teddy I'm fine," Maggie slurred.

"No more wine," Teddy declared.

"I've only had seven," Maggie replied.

"Pierce your drunk," Nathan said.

"No I'm happy," Maggie said, "Yang has her work, you all have your marriages and kids. Teddy and Owen even have a grandchild. I have what, Mer's kids and wine. Yang why did you come back? You couldn't wait to leave Seattle."

"It was time to come back," Christina said, "Mer is here. I wanted to be closer to my person."

"You missed Owen," Maggie said, "you wanted Owen back."

"Maggie that ship sailed a long time ago," Owen said, "I'm going to call you a cab."

"No," Christina said, "it was never that. I was stifled by all the bureaucracy. I have more freedom here. I don't want a relationship with anyone, I'm happier single. Owen is happier with Teddy then I've ever seen him. Just because you break up with someone doesn't mean you hate them and don't want to see them happy. We have a healthy professional respect for eachother."

"Pierce," Nathan said, "we need to get Catrina to bed and you're on our way home. We'll drop you off."

"I'm not ready to go home," Maggie slurred.

"You are," Meghan said, "you can't drive so we'll give you a ride or someone will call you a cab."

"Pierce we're going," Nathan commanded.

"Fine," Maggie huffed.

"I'll go too," Christina said.

"Sorry about that," Teddy apologize.

"Teddy it's not like you weren't asking the same thing when I asked for a job," Christina said.

"It crossed my mind," Teddy said, "but I know Owen and I trust him."

Seeing Meghan and Nathan leading Maggie to get her shoes and coat Owen stood with Teddy and Christina.

"It was a long time ago," Owen said, "we were all different people. I will always want the best for you Christina, I respect you as a colleague. I'm in love with Teddy, I think part of me always was but I didn't see it until I flew to Germany. What I want, what makes me happy is Teddy and our family."

"I know," Christina said, "it was honestly never a thought for me. I came back because Mer needs me. And I missed my person."

"Thank you," Teddy said.

"As long as I'm still your star student," Christina teased.

"It's a tie," Teddy replied.

"Thing one," Christina said.

"You and Annie," Teddy said, "she'll go places when she's ready. It's time for us to stop pushing and let her do this on her own path. She doesn't need us pushing she'll do what's right for her and her family. She'll never be me, she doesn't want to, and you can't turn her into you. She's too soft, warm and fuzzy for that."

"She does the warm fuzzy side well," Christina agreed.

"That's her talent as a surgeon," Teddy said, "she has technical skill and is smart but she makes those kids and parents trust her and feel safe as soon as she steps into the room."

"She has skill," Christina agreed, "she could be the next cardio goddess on the team."

"She will be in her way," Teddy said, "none of us are the same that's why we work and I built the team I have for cardio. Christina we do want you to be happy and I know I taught you that there is more to life than surgery. It's okay to live, to let yourself love again, you Christina Yang are more than just a surgeon."