"How was your run," Owen asked as Teddy came through the door.
"She doesn't want me anymore," Teddy said.
"Teddy that doesn't make sense it's Annie what did she say," Owen asked.
"She wants me to let her do it herself and to fall," Teddy said.
"She wants to do things herself," Owen asked, "what does that mean?"
"She told me to take the training wheels off," Teddy replied.
"That's not I don't want you," Owen said, "that's mama I can do this. You've made her strong Teddy let her show you. You hold all three a bit too tight most days."
"I have to make up for Leslie," Teddy argued.
"You don't," Owen said, "Leslie is Leslie and that's her problem."
"I chose them for Annie I had a choice and I fucked up," Teddy snapped.
"You didn't and couldn't know," Owen said wrapping his arms around her, "Teddy please for all of us let go of this guilt. You don't have to be super mama all the time. Our kids love you."
"I just can't see ours hurt the way Annie was," Teddy cried.
"They won't be," Owen promised, "because you're not Leslie. Teddy you don't have to be so hard on yourself."
"I'm going to mess our kids up," Teddy cried, "I'm already doing it."
Owen wrapped his arms around her, "what do you mean?"
"A couple of the moms at Leo's school think I'm too strict," Teddy cried, "Leo gets left out because he doesn't play the same games the other kids do."
"We could relax some things," Owen suggested, "maybe half an hour of screens on school days."
"Half an hour is do able," Teddy said, "I love that our kids can play and want to play. Kids in Allison's class didn't know what to do with the doll house. The moms were on their phones taking pictures not talking to the kids or to me."
"What can we live with relaxing," Owen asked.
"Screen time I can live with," Teddy said, "I don't know if we should stop having them clean up after themselves or put laundry in the hamper."
"They do that now," Owen said, "it would be a move backwards to take away chores. Those are life skills."
"They like helping in the kitchen so why stop that," Teddy said.
"Maybe we relax on Leo having sleepovers with friends whose parents we trust " Owen suggested.
"I'm happy to have the kids here," Teddy said, "and he can start doing play dates without us. I think Allison might be ready."
"Manners I'm not negotiating," Owen said.
"We get looks with mam and sir," Teddy replied.
"Do we need to do that," Owen asked.
"Maybe stop forcing it," Teddy wondered.
"We could," Owen agreed.
"Is it being soft," Teddy asked.
"No Teddy," Owen assured, "it's responding to our kids. Let's think of those things were not willing to negotiate now and as they get older."
"Basic human respect," Teddy said, "help others where you can, respect people, table manners, look people in the eye. Consent."
"How do we do that and still be fun and somewhat cool," Owen asked.
"We'll never be cool again," Teddy replied.
"We're always going to be bad asses," Owen replied, "Teddy we can raise good kids with out being the strictest parents in the neighborhood."
"I don't want to lose them," Teddy said, "Annie is pulling away."
"Annie is almost 31," Owen said, "it's been ten years since we got her organized for med school. She's happy and healthy. It's natural for her to go to Josh for things that's her husband. Her and Jenna have gotten even closer this year. These are things we want for her. This is the confidence you've always wanted her to show."
"I wasn't expecting it," Teddy said, "she's planning her first study with out me."
"And we cheer her on," Owen replied, "any idea?"
"Henry and Colton Burton were her inspiration," Teddy smiled, "that's all she'll tell me until I get her formal proposal."
"VHL in the heart," Owen asked.
"I don't know," Teddy said, "she mentioned she may need mice."
"Teddy that's exciting," Owen said, "but she surprised you. It's like Ellie, she caught you off guard."
"I guess," Teddy agreed, "maybe she's right. Maybe it's time for us to watch her fly."
"It's time," Owen said, "we get to be the proud parents."
"We do," Teddy agreed, "we're just on the side lines."
"You don't think she's going to talk ideas through with you and bounce things off you," Owen said.
"I know," Teddy said, "it was a surprise."
"Teddy she found her voice," Owen said, "you and I are the last people she's learned to use it with."
"She is," Teddy agreed, " guess I thought it would be more gradual."
"Annie does hard things in a leap," Owen said.
"She moved across the country twice, to get more independence," Teddy said.
"She told us she didn't run," Owen said, "Teddy that's growth. That's progress."
"It is," Teddy agreed, "I still have so much to make up for."
"What did Annie say about it," Owen asked.
"That it's inoperable that everything that happened can't be changed," Teddy said.
"She's been talking to David, her Dan and Chris," Owen said, "Dan said something about the darkness being important to seeing the light."
"Annie said the same thing," Teddy said, "she said there's no time machine. That we can't change it."
"What else," Owen asked.
"That I chose her, that I chose to love her when I didn't have to," Teddy said.
"We did choose her," Owen said, "that's what matters. We choose to love our kids and give them the very best we can."
"We do," Teddy agreed, "it also came out that Annie wasn't vaccinated as a child."
"What," Owen gasped, "they didn't do it."
"No she did it herself at 18," Teddy said, "before we met her. She had to be up to date for med school. I know there was a couple she needed before she left because of cross border differences but that was all. I told them to give her tetanus for her big surgery."
"That's just standard procedure," Owen said, "how did that come up?"
"She told Leslie to stay out of her life this morning," Teddy said, "apparently Leslie is criticizing Annie's parenting and is furious she vaccinated Ellie."
"That's common sense," Owen said.
"Mama," a little voice called from the top of the sairs.
"Allison why aren't you asleep, little bean," Teddy asked.
"My ear hurts," Allison whined.
"I'm coming baby girl," Teddy called.
"Our kids are good," Owen said, "the big one two."
"Where does your ear hurt Ali," Teddy asked scooping the little girl up.
"Here," Allison said pointing to her right ear.
"You feel warm baby," Teddy said, "should we get cooler jammies?"
"I'm cold," Allison whined.
"Let's check your temperature," Teddy soothed.
Teddy carried Allison into the master bathroom and set the girl on the counter. She grabbed the thermometer from the drawer and checked Allison's temperature.
"You have a fever baby," Teddy said, "does anything else hurt?"
"My throat," Allison said.
"I'm going to use a flashlight and look," Teddy said, she grabbed the little flash light from the drawer, "okay open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out at me."
"We're going to put leggings and a tshirt on and go to the hospital," Teddy said, "there's something going on. I want some one else to look."
"Nee," Allison asked.
"She's home with Ellie," Teddy said, "I think you have an ear infection and strep throat. We're going to do a couple tests and some antibiotics."
"Mama it hurts," Allison whined.
"Let's have some tylenol," Teddy suggested.
"Its yucky," Allison cried.
"I know it doesn't taste great," Teddy said, "but it'll feel better."
"No," Allison sobbed.
"I know baby," Teddy soothed, "one little dose. Do you want a freezie in the car?"
"After bedtime," Allison said.
"It will make your throat feel better," Teddy whispered.
Teddy changed Allison and carried her down stairs.
"What's wrong," Owen asked.
"Possible strep," Teddy said, "101 fever. I'm going to take her to the hospital."
"Not waiting until the clinic opens," Owen said.
"I'm going in and getting who ever is on for peds to do the swab and check her ears," Teddy said, "right now I need my purse and she needs a freezie to numb her throat."
"Teddy," Owen asked.
"Owen it's strep throat at the worst," Teddy said, "it's not surgery."
"Okay," Owen said, "text me."
"I will," Teddy said.
Owen gave them a hug wrapping both in his arms at once.
"See you when you get home," Owen said.
"Daddy can you come," Allison asked.
"I'll stay here with Leo," Owen said, "mama will go with you."
"Give daddy a hug," Teddy said.
Teddy carried Allison to the car and buckled her into her booster seat. She kept glancing in the rear view mirror watching Allison suck on her freezie.
"Is the freezie helping," Teddy asked.
"It's cold," Allison said.
"Is your throat feeling better," Teddy asked.
"Maybe," Allison said.
"Good," Teddy smiled.
She parked in her assigned space and carried Allison into the hospital.
"Chief," an intern greeted in the pit.
"Page peds," Teddy replied, "we're going to sign in."
Teddy carried Allison to the triage desk.
"Cheif Altman," the nurse greeted.
"Brittney I think my daughter has strep throat she had a fever of 101 at home," Teddy said.
"Admitting," Brittney asked.
"Signing in and getting her evaluated," Teddy replied.
"Name," Brittney asked.
"Allison Eloise Altman-Hunt," Teddy answered, " January 18, 2016."
"Father's name," Brittney asked.
"Owen Hunt," Teddy replied.
"Allergies," Brittney asked, "medications."
"Anaphylactic Strawberry and sesame," Teddy replied, "we had 10ml of tylenol at home before coming."
"Mama my tummy feels funny," Allison said.
"Do you need to throw up," Teddy asked.
Alison nodded.
Teddy grabbed one of the basins on the triage counter, "in the bucket baby girl."
Allison threw up.
"I'm going to get you two back there," Brittney said.
"What bed," Teddy asked.
"Sixteen," Brittney said.
Teddy carried the now crying Allison back to bed sixteen in the pit and held her in her lap holding the bucket.
"What's going on here," Alex said coming in.
"I didn't mean to call you in when I said call peds," Teddy said, "but I appreciate it."
"I was here," Alex said, "I just scrubbed out of a bowel obstruction."
"Thank you Alex," Teddy replied, "I doubt this is surgical."
"I'll do it," Alex said, "Allison what seems to be the problem?"
"My throat, ear and tummy hurt," Allison whined.
"Has your mom given you any medicine," Alex asked.
"The yucky tasting stuff," Allison whined.
"10ml of children's tylenol it's the right dose for her weight," Teddy replied.
"Have you thrown up at all," Alex asked.
"Two times," Allison said, "is that bad?"
"No," Alex said, "I'm going to take a look at your ear and throat."
"Okay," Allison mumbelled
Alex took a look in Allison's ears and her throat.
"Allison I'm going to use a big qtip to touch the back of your throat," Alex said.
"No," Allison said.
"Allison it will take 10 seconds," Teddy coaxed, "hold my hands."
"I'll be really fast," Alex said.
He quickly took a swab of Allison's throat.
"Can you two hold tight I'm going to do a rapid strep test," Alex said.
"We can wait," Teddy said, turning Allison in her lap to face her. She rubbed the sobbing girl's back.
"I want to go home," Allison sniffed.
"As soon as we know what this is," Teddy promised.
"I want to go home," Allison cried.
"I know baby girl," Teddy soothed, still rubbing Allison's back.
20 minutes later Alex came back with the tests.
"The name Altman on things gets it moving," Alex smiled.
"Perk of being chief," Teddy replied, "what are we looking at?"
"Strep and a double ear infection," Alex replied, "I've sent amoxicillin down to the pharmacy for you. Three times a day for ten days."
"Thank you Alex," Teddy smiled, "we'll go get it and then I'm taking this little bean home and to bed."
"Can I sleep with you and daddy," Allison asked.
"Not tonight," Teddy replied, "but I will stay with you until you fall asleep."
Teddy carried Allison down to the pharmacy to get her medication and then to the car.
At home Owen was waiting for them at the door.
"So," Owen asked.
"Strep and an ear infection," Teddy replied, "we have antibiotics in my purse."
"I'll get those and some water," Owen said, "Allison needs new jammies and back to bed."
"Can I sleep with you tonight," Allison asked, knowing Owen was the push over.
"Have you asked mama," Owen asked.
"Yes," Allison said, "she said no."
"What if you fell asleep in our bed and I'll carry you to your bed," Owen suggested a compromise. He knew Teddy didn't sleep with the kids in their bed, Teddy was a very light sleeper, years of on call shifts, army bases and kids had trained her to wake up at the slightest sound or movement.
"Okay," Allison agreed.
"Let's go get clean jammies baby girl," Teddy said, shifting the little girl to her other hip.
Teddy was starting to wonder if her kids were going to be too big to do this with soon. She loved holding her babies and having them close.
"Okay munchkin," Owen said, "antibiotics to kill what's making you sick."
"Is it yucky," Allison asked.
"This stuff usually tastes like bananas," Owen coaxed.
"Okay," Allison mumbled
Owen held the medicine cup of antibiotics out to Allison, "drink it all then the water."
Allison took her medicine and drank the whole cup of water.
Teddy changed Allison back into a clean pair of pajamas and helped her brush her teeth.
"Come fall asleep in our bed then daddy will carry you to your bed," Teddy said, "i'm going to get your bunny."
"Snuggle," Allison said.
"When I'm in my pajamas and brush my teeth," Teddy promised.
Teddy quickly got ready for bed and laid down beside Allison smoothing the little girl's hair back as she fell asleep.
Owen came in 20 minutes later, "she's asleep?"
"She is," Teddy smiled, "remember when we first brought her home?"
"She slept beside you," Owen said, "I'd wake up and you'd have her in your arms cuddling her and whispering to her."
"She was so tiny," Teddy said, "how do we send her to kindergarten in 2 months?"
"Our last baby goes to school," Owen said, "it feels old."
"It does," Teddy agreed.
"She's ready," Owen said.
"It's time this one spreads her wings a bit two," Teddy smiled, "but she still wants us."
"She does," Owen said, "they all do. In their own ways."
"We did it Hunt," Teddy smiled.
"Three kids, house with the back yard," Owen said, "still no dog."
"Two mischievous cats," Teddy replied.
"Still want a dog," Owen said.
"I do," Teddy smiled, "a lab."
"In a year or two," Owen suggested, "when Ali and Leo can help feed and walk it?"
"That sounds good," Teddy agreed, "two kids and a dog playing in the backyard."
"No dog in the pool," Owen chuckled.
"No," Teddy agreed, "wet dog in the house then no thank you."
"The kids are enjoying the pool," Owen said.
"I'm enjoying it," Teddy said, "that was a good call."
"Mama," Allison mumbleed, "stop talking."
"Okay," Teddy said, "good night Ali bean."
Teddy kept smoothing the little girl's hair back gently lulling her to sleep like she had as an infant.