Halloween morning Jenna grabbed Annie and dragged her into an exam room.
"What's going on," Annie asked as Jenna locked the door.
"How did you know you were pregnant," Jenna asked.
"What," Annie asked.
"How did you know you were pregnant," Jenna repeated.
"You know I'm not OB. I work on a lot of babies but I'm not an OB," Annie said.
"Annie just answer me," Jenna grumbelled.
"We had just started trying. I had gotten my IUD taken out the first week of August when I had my period and then I didn't get my period when I should have in September but we were busy and I didn't realize until my boobs hurt and I was vomiting daily," Annie said, "Jenna when was your last period?"
"Mid September I'm two weeks late," Jenna winced.
"My brothers," Annie asked, "have you told him?"
"I don't want to not yet," Jenna cried.
"Do you have any other symptoms," Annie asked.
"I'm really nauseous but that could be anxiety," Jenna said.
"I think you need to take a test and call Chris," Annie replied.
"Annie I'm not a mom," Jenna cried, "I watched you last year I can't do that."
"We don't know if you are," Annie said, "I'll order a complete blood panel and go from there. Aren't you on the pill?"
"And I got forgetful about it," Jenna replied.
"Chris has to know Jenna," Annie said, "my brother may play GI Joe but he's a good guy. He will be there for you and a baby."
"Annie I can't be a mom. My mom was horrible," Jenna said, "it was all about the presentation and what her Hollywood friends would think. It's bad enough having a neurosurgeon for a daughter imagine the shame of me having a baby on my own."
"A you're not your mother," Annie said, "B you won't be alone. I'll be here. You all stood by and supported me. Jenna the timing might be weird but if it is a baby is always special. I'll be auntie Annie , they can grow up with Ellie."
"He has three years of nursing school in Vancouver," Jenna whined, "then a year of military service after. Who will be here to take care of me the way Josh took care of you?"
"We'll figure it out," Annie promised, "first blood work and then up to Deluca or Steph Mitchell. Leave Cassidy out of it for now."
"If it's positive will you come with me," Jenna asked.
"Always your my sister," Annie smiled.
"Was it really that bad," Jenna asked.
"First trimester sucked," Annie admitted, "I was so sick and so dehydrated Josh was doing fluid IVs at home. I even had a couple bags of the TPN stuff because I had vomited for two days straight and couldn't walk. I was so weak. The last two weeks were tough, waiting constantly wondering if every twitch was labour. Most of it was pretty good. I felt good most of it. Yes, I was tired and my back was tight as Ellie got bigger but nothing was bad. It was new and I didn't know what to expect. Part of my problem at the beginning was my thyroid and I was anemic."
"When you had her they gave you all the drugs right," Jenna asked.
"No," Annie said, "I chose fully natural. Ellie was 30 hours of labour and I would do it again for her. I pushed her out kneeling on the bed clinging to Josh's neck sobbing into his shoulder."
"If I'm pregnant I want all the drugs," Jenna declared.
"Only the last four hours totally sucked," Annie said, "but for Ellie I would do it all again tomorrow."
"What do we do now," Jenna asked.
"I draw the blood, we send it to the lab and wait," Annie said, "or you can go get a test from the clinic and pee on a stick."
"Which is faster," Jenna asked.
"Clinic," Annie replied, "what ever happens Jen I am here. I am with you no matter what."
"And if it is," Jenna asked.
"You call and tell Chris first then go see OB," Annie replied, "I will be there for whatever you need."
"I can't be a mom. I was raised by a terrible one," Jenna said.
"So was I," Annie replied, "but we're aware of it and we can change the story. I'm really trying to change the story for Ellie."
"Chris has said a few things about your other mom," Jenna said, "she had a temper."
"Yes," Annie replied, "I do need to go meet with a family. You're going to go take a test and then decide what to do. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thanks Annie," Jenna replied.
Annie walked out of the exam room and up to peds. She popped her head into daycare and saw that Ellie was happy rolling on the mat. Ellie had really mastered rolling the last couple weeks and was beginning to log roll across the room. She had almost gotten under the couch last night which had made Annie laugh. In the three weeks since she had scaled back to focus on her family and being healthy Annie felt calmer.
"Picking up Ellie," Teddy asked.
"Just checking on her," Annie smiled, "she's happy."
"Are you happier," Teddy asked.
"I am," Annie replied, "I need to see two post ops, before I come give her lunch. Then I have a valve replacement. Once that patient is stable we'll go home."
"She's rolling," Teddy commented.
"Full log rolls now, she almost rolled under the couch last night," Annie beamed.
"That's cute," Teddy laughed, "still a happy baby?"
"Happier now that I'm home more," Annie replied.
"It's too late for you and Meghan but I want to talk to the board about possibly extending leaves for new parents to six months," Teddy said.
"Six would have been way better," Annie replied.
"We know in the future," Teddy said.
"We're not there yet. I'm loving having Ellie," Annie smiled.
"I know you are," Teddy said, "motherhood suits you."
"It does," Annie agreed, "paitents surgery then Halloween."
"Your coming over," Teddy asked.
"Her first Halloween yes," Annie said.
"Are you dressing up," Teddy asked.
"We are," Annie smiled, "she's piglet, I'm tigger and Josh is Winnie the Pooh ."
"I have a ballerina princess and an army man," Teddy said.
"We'll walk with you trick or treating," Annie said.
"Do you still charge the peanut butter cup tax," Teddy teased.
"Always," Annie replied.
"How are things going," Teddy asked.
"Baby steps mama," Annie said, "baby steps. I have to go a long way back into the why of my actions. It will take a while."
"Are you happier," Teddy asked.
"A lot," Annie said.
"That's all I need to know," Teddy replied.
Annie went up to the scrub room and was met by Jenna.
"Annie," Jenna said, she looked panicked.
Annie hugged her friend, "congratulations."
"Annie I can't do this," Jenna said.
"You can," Annie assured, "call Chris then scrub in with me."
"What are you doing," Jenna asked.
"Valve replacement on a 6 month old," Annie said, "you did the spinal repair for the spina bifida."
"I'll scrub in to make sure you don't destroy my brilliant surgery," Jenna said.
"Not until you call Chris," Annie said, "he has to know."
"Now," Jenna said.
"Now," Annie replied, "don't text or leave a voicemail you actually have to call him."
"Really," Jenna asked.
"Yes," Annie replied.
"Can I wait 24 hours until I go see him tomorrow," Jenna asked.
"I will be checking that you told him," Annie said.
"What do I do," Jenna asked.
"Clear language," Annie encouraged, "make an appointment with OB today. Make sure both of you are okay. Are you feeling okay?"
"Nervous," Jenna said, "what if Chris walks away from us."
"He wont," Annie said, "he won't leave you and your baby. You have some stuff to work out but I know you and I know my brother. You will do what is right for both of you and your baby."
"Should I feel nauseous," Jenna asked.
"Apple juice, ginger tea, plain crackers, dry toast," Annie said, "this will be a beautiful baby."
"How can you be so calm," Jenna said.
"I wasn't when we found out about Ellie," Annie said, "we panicked. I had a lot for freak outs."
"What did you do," Jenna asked.
"Talked to Josh, asked Mama for advice," Annie said.
"I'm going to get massive and he'll never find me attractive again," Jenna groaned.
"Don't worry," Annie reassured, "Allison walked in on us at Easter."
"Did your mama want to kill you," Jenna asked.
"We still had minimal clothing. Ali just saw my stomach," Annie said, "I'm going to scrub and your going to call then join me."
"I will," Jenna agreed.
Annie stepped into the scrub room and got ready for her surgery.
"He's on his way," Jenna said when she stepped in.
"Good," Annie replied.
They completed the surgery and scrubbed out.
"I'm going to get Ellie ready for tonight," Annie said, "Jenna you'll be fine. I'm happy for you."
Annie picked up Ellie at daycare and drove home.
"So piglet are you ready for Halloween," Annie asked, "we just need to put our costumes on. Should mommy get dressed first or Ellie?"
"Ba," Ellie said.
"Are you hungry," Annie asked.
"Ba," Ellie repeated.
"Should we have a snack before we get ready," Annie asked.
"Ba," Ellie said.
"Baby," Annie said, tapping Ellie gently on the nose with her finger.
"Ba," Ellie babbled again.
"Ball," Annie said, passing Ellie a ball.
"Ba ba," Ellie kept babbling.
Annie sang baa baa blacksheep. These were the moments she loved her baby in her lap playing with her and talking to her.
Teddy walked upstairs to get Allison and Leo ready to trick or treat. Owen was on all for the pit knowing it would be a busy night. They tried to do the schedules so surgeons with children had holidays and special nights off with their children.
Turning into Allison's room Teddy noticed it was covered in glitter and confetti.
"Allison," Teddy called, "what is all over your room?"
"Sparkles," Allison yelled, bouncing down the hallway.
"Why is there glitter all over your room," Teddy asked.
"Because," Allison replied.
"Because isn't an answer," Teddy replied, "why is there glitter all over your room."
"I wanted it to look like Elsa's castle," Allison said.
"You're going to help me clean up this mess," Teddy said, "before trick or treating."
"No," Allison said.
"You can't go trick or treating until it's clean," Teddy said, "go get the vacuum and the broom."
"Mama," Leo bellowed.
"You sound like your dad," Teddy remarked.
"Allison got glitter in the bathroom," Leo tattled.
"Allison," Teddy said.
"I had to wash my hands," Allison replied.
"You'll help clean that up as well," Teddy said, "before trick or treating."
"Mama my teacher said a soldier isn't a Halloween costume," Leo said.
"Why would she say that," Teddy asked.
"I don't know," Leo said, "I told her I was a soldier like you and dad."
"What did she say," Teddy asked. She could see something was bothering the sensitive boy.
"She said only boys were soldiers," Leo said, "that mommies couldn't be."
"I'll talk to her," Teddy said, "you've seen pictures of both dad and I in our uniforms and auntie Meghan. I had more army time than dad. I left when Allison was in my tummy."
"Ali was in your tummy like Ellie was in Annie's," Leo asked.
"She was," teddy replied.
"When were you a soldier," Leo asked.
"2002-2009 and 2011-2014," Teddy said.
"Where was Annie," Leo asked.
"The first set with Dan and Chris in BC and the second set Annie was in medical school in Boston on the other side of the country," Teddy replied, "Leo your teacher was wrong about only men being soldiers. There are more men but I worked with some wonderful, smart, hard working, kind women as well. Dad and I were in charge of a group of doctors and medical staff. We worked together."
"My teacher said you couldn't go because of Annie," Leo said.
"Annie was with Dan in Vancouver," Teddy said, "she was safe and cared for. She was with Chris."
At five Annie and Josh pulled into Teddy's driveway.
"Nice costumes guys," Owen teased.
"Annie," Josh groaned.
"Come on this little Piglet is adorable," Annie said, lifting Ellie out of her carseat.
"She is," Teddy agreed. Ellie was in a fuzzy onesie with a hood that looked just like Piglet.
"Tigger fits Annie," Faroke teased.
"Because I'm fun,fun, fun, fun ,fun," Annie laughed, "the wonderful wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one."
"Because you bounce," Nathan teased.
"Where's your costume Faroke," Annie asked.
"I'm not allowed to go out," Faroke replied.
"Why," Josh asked.
"Because Kira was in my room with the door closed," Faroke replied.
"Come here," Josh said.
"What," Faroke asked.
"Lets go out back and shoot hoops," Josh said.
"Sure Pooh Bear," Faroke replied, "you really are whipped."
"Costumes are not worth arguing with Annie over," Josh said, "I don't care what we are. It's like the Christmas pajamas she has fun with it."
Faroke followed Josh into the backyard.
"Whats going on with Kira," Josh asked.
"We're hanging out," Faroke replied.
"Is she your girlfriend," Josh asked.
"I think so," Faroke said.
"Have you talked about it," Josh asked.
"Who was your first girlfriend," Faroke asked.
"Annie," Josh admitted, "she had a couple boyfriends before med school but nothing serious."
"I want to date Kira but she's my best friend," Faroke said.
"Annie was mine for a few years first," Josh said, "Teddy and Owen were friends for like ten years first."
"How do I ask Kira," Faroke asked.
"When you're not grounded anymore you just tell her," Josh said, "I brought Annie her favourite flowers and asked her to be my girlfriend. To move to Seattle with me. We were both coming out here anyway and I was going to live with your dad but we changed the plan when we decided to be together. I was 25 and she was 24 though."
"Why does mama keep lecturing me about respect," Faroke asked.
"Because it's your job to make sure whatever you do that Kira is comfortable," Josh said, "you have to ask her. Actually get the word yes or okay."
"Do you do that with Annie," Faroke asked.
"Yes," Josh said.
"Even when you hug or kiss her," Faroke asked.
"I always get her permission in some way. I can read her body language I know when she's in a don't touch me mood," Josh said, "it's sometimes non verbal."
"How do you know," Faroke asked.
"Years of knowing her," Josh said, "watch her she'll always tell me she needs a hug or as for one."
"What if I want to do more than kiss her," Faroke asked.
"Then you have to be the man and protect both of you," Josh said, "you and Kira have to talk about it. Figure out where your boundaries are, what both of you are okay with."
"Why does mama get mad that my door was closed," Faroke asked.
"It's her house," Josh said, "she makes the rules for it. But it's a respect thing for Kira. you have to make her feel safe and loved. She has to know she can trust you 100% of the time. You have to listen to her. If she says no it's no. Even for a hug or a kiss. Watch her body language. She'll pull away if she doesn't want to be touched. Annie used to put the cat or a pillow in her lap if she wasn't in a cuddly mood. Now she sits in her chair. Girls will always tell you what they are comfortable with if you watch and listen. Let her come to you first. When you watch a movie what does she do?"
"She starts on her side of the couch then about half way through she has her head on my shoulder," Faroke said.
"See she's coming to you showing you that she feels safe," Josh replied.
"Faroke I said not out of my sight," Meghan called from the back door.
"I'm sorry I didn't know," Josh said, "I asked him to shoot hoops."
They went inside and helped get the younger kids ready to go out.
"Catrina and I will hand out candy here," Meghan said, "Faroke will help."
"Mama can I go with the little kids and help," Faroke pleaded.
"No,' Meghan said, "you knew the consequence of breaking the house rules. You knew Kira was not to be in your room."
"You and dad weren't home," Faroke said.
"All the more reason," Meghan replied, "keep arguing and you will have the longest grounding ever."
"My personal best was 90 days," Annie said.
"What did you do to get that," Meghan asked.
"I got a B on a math test and argued with my english teacher on the same day," Annie replied, "and I yelled at Jessica."
"Harsh for that," Meghan said, "we're at four weeks."
"Understandable," Annie replied.
"Let's get everyone ready," Teddy said.
"We're ready," Annie said, "what is Catrina going to be?"
"A bunny," Meghan replied.
"Wheres her costume," Annie asked.
"I'm going to dress her now," Meghan said, "she's been spitting up alot."
"Ellie went through that phase," Annie said, "it was a mess and why was it always on my shirt."
"I know," Meghan groaned, "you change her and yourself."
"So much laundry," Annie said.
"Too much," Meghan said, "try adding a teenage boy who goes through as many outfits as his 7 week old sister."
Ellie kept babbling in Evelyn's arms.
"She's so alert and talkative now," Evelyn said.
"She is," Annie smiled, "she talks all day."
"Soon," Evelyn said.
"She tries to echo a little bit," Annie said, "Josh worries I confuse her with french."
"It's the best time to learn a second language," Teddy said.
"Ba is her favourite word today," Annie said, "she can say ma and da. I'm trying to get her to say mama."
"But you chose mommy," Meghan said.
"It's a start," Annie replied.
Evelyn was talking to Ellie when she started to fuss and cry.
"What is it baby bug," Annie asked, taking the baby.
"Hungry again Piglet," Annie asked, "you ate about three hours ago. Lets check your diaper first."
Annie changed Ellie but she still kept crying, "let's have a snack Ellie bug."
When Annie returned to the family room Evelyn asked, "when can she start solids?"
"Thanksgiving," Annie replied, "we're going to wait until six months. She's not showing interest in our food yet."
"Waiting for that," Teddy asked.
"Her pediatrician recommended waiting until she shows some interest in food and she's six months," Annie said, "I can't believe she's already five months."
"It goes fast," Teddy agreed.
They finished dinner and getting the kids ready. Annie just had to put Ellie's hat on with her piglet ears. When all the kids were ready they headed out to go trick or treating.
"Let's take her to one house," Josh suggested.
"We're just walking with her," Annie said, "she doesn't even have a pumpkin bucket or a bag. She's five months."
"Please," Josh begged, "you must have something."
"There's a grocery bag in the diaper bag," Annie said, "if you get peanut butter cups they're mine."
"Fine," Josh said.
"You're not taking Ellie to the door," Owen teased.
"I am," Josh said, "it's her first Halloween."
"Next year she'll be able to for sure," Annie said.
Josh carried Ellie to the door of the next house and held her while Allison and Leo yelled trick or treat.
"Does dad want candy too," the man asked.
Josh laughed.
"You dressed up with your kid," the man said.
"My wife," Josh replied, "she's tigger."
"Very funny," the man said putting a handful of candy in the bag.
They walked the neighborhood Josh took Ellie up to the door at a few more houses.
"She's sleepy," Josh said.
"Just put her in the stroller," Annie said, "let's enjoy this."
"It's kinda fun," Josh agreed.
"My bag is heavy," Allison complained.
"We have an extra plastic bag," Annie said, "empty your bag into it and we'll put your candy under the stroller."
"Annie," Teddy said, "she can carry it."
"I don't mind," Annie said.
"She's good," Teddy said.
They finished the loop of the neighborhood and went back to Teddy and Owens.
"We're going to head home," Annie said, "this little piglet needs to go to bed. It's past her bedtime."
"That was fun," Teddy said.
"It was," Annie replied, "do it again next year?"
"Ellie will walk," Teddy said.
"She will," Annie said, "we have to get her sitting and crawling first."
"She's getting steadier," Teddy said.
"She was sitting in my lap earlier and isn't as wobbly," Annie replied.
"Go get her to bed," Teddy said, seeing Ellie yawn.
"Goodnight mama," Annie said hugging Teddy.
"Good night," Teddy said leaning into the stroller to give Ellie a kiss, "night night piglet."