"I wonder what they're gonna be..." Teddy said one night softly and mindlessly, as she stroked her already bulging 21 week baby bump.
Owen came back in the living room carrying a warm mug of herbal tea for Teddy, which he made her almost every night.
The two friends had just finished an extra large cheese pizza that Teddy polished off mostly by herself, while watching The Office. Owen just laughed, he was always impressed by how she ate for such a tiny person but pregnancy had really made her a savage.
"Well whatever they are, they're going to be perfect. Like you." He smiled, handing her the mug carefully.
"And like their daddy." Teddy replied with a melancholy look on her face.
Owen nodded awkwardly in agreement. This situation was so tough for him sometimes. He loved being there for his best friend, helping her through the best and worst time of her life, but sometimes he found himself losing sight of what their situation actually was.
He and Teddy were not together. She was recently widowed and those are not his babies that she's carrying. Sometimes he wished they were.
Teddy's sweet voice interrupted Owens thoughts.
"I think they're boys." Teddy giggled.
"Boys, really?" Owen asked, surprised.
"Yeah! I mean, they're bouncing around all the time like two energetic boys, hardly giving mommy a minutes rest!" Teddy scolded her belly playfully in baby talk.
Owen shook his head, smiling.
"You know girls can be just as active Teddy."
"Yeah, I guess." She smiled, continuing to rub her bump. She seemed to barely keep her hands off of it these days, she was so in love with her babies already.
"Personally, I think they're girls, or one of each at least." Owen stated.
"Really, you think so?!" Teddy beamed at the thought. She definitely always saw herself as a girl mom.
"Yeah! You always said, you know, back in Iraq? That you always dreamed of having a little girl, a mini-you." Owen laughed.
"Yeah." Teddy nodded, remembering her words from those days she and Owen sat outside talking for hours late at night, staring at the stars.
Teddy thought for a moment.
"But now, I think I want a boy because, he could carry on Henry's name, you know? I'd have a little Henry running around." She said sadly.
Owen nodded, gently took Teddy's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Teddy, no matter what you're having...there are two little Henry's squirming around in there. Whether they're two boys, two girls, or one of each, they'll both carry half of Henry in them for you to have forever." Owen said hugging her and giving her a kiss on the temple.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Owen began to pull away as their eyes met in an intense stare glowing with passion, rage, and ecstasy. Before he knew it, Teddy had her lips crashing with his with such force, he could barely catch his breath.
Their clothes were next. Everything happened so quickly. They each ripped each stitch of clothing off of one another until they were both only in their underwear.
Owen stopped the kissing abruptly.
"Teddy," he said breathlessly, "we don't have to do this...you're still-" But Teddy cut him off, pulling his face into hers.
"Its okay, I want this, I need you," she mumbled between gasping for air, "please, Owen, I need you."
He hesitated. As much as he wanted to make love to Teddy, he was scared. Scared of the repercussions of sex with his best friend, while pregnant with another mans babies.
Cristina JUST filed for divorce, Henry died less than 6 months ago and he did feel a little odd being so intimate with Teddy while she was pregnant. Nonetheless, she said she needed him, so he obliged, helping her up as they stumbled into her bedroom.
Once inside, things continued to progress quickly. There was no time to process what they were doing, but that's not to say they weren't enjoying themselves. Teddy felt so incredibly alone since Henry's untimely death, she just needed to FEEL.
They made love slowly and passionately, then deeper and faster. It felt natural, like they'd been having sex for years. Surprisingly, they were completely comfortable with each other in this way.
Owen even kissed and rubbed her growing baby bump as they explored each others bodies. They didn't make those babies together but Owen found her pregnant body so beautiful, so mesmerizing and Teddy didn't mind at all, all the love he was giving her midsection.
But then that wasn't enough.
"Lower, lower..." Teddy panted as she guided Owens head further down.
"Whatever you want..." he whispered.
They ended up making love for hours and hours until both finished together numerous times and were completely exhausted.
Teddy lay in Owens arms, catching her breath. Her eyes were heavy but she was completely content and satisfied.
Owen smiled, stroked her hair and watched her skin ripple with each twist and kick her babies were giving their mom.
"They're really active." He said.
Teddy grinned back.
"I know, I told you," she laughed, "that's why I can never sleep!"
She rubbed and gave special attention to the particular spots where the babies were making their presence known the most.
After a few moments of silence, Owen felt the need to address the elephant in the room.
"So, Teddy...?" He started.
"Yeah?" She asked absentmindedly.
"Should we talk about what just happened?"
Teddy's smile disappeared and she stirred uncomfortably.
"Teddy?" Owen asked again.
"What? There's nothing to talk about Owen. We...we had sex. Nothing more. I needed sex, second trimester hormones have me going crazy!" She exclaimed.
Owen sat up, slightly offended.
"Wait, so you're telling me...all that love making...all the things we whispered to one another...all that intimacy was just...mindless sex to you?"
Teddy turned to Owen with tears in her eyes.
"It has to be."
"Why?" Owen was utterly confused by her sudden change of mood.
"Because you're married, and I'm pregnant with my dead husbands babies! And now..." Teddy cried.
"And now?" Owen asked painfully.
"And now I've betrayed him..." Teddy began sobbing.
"Teddy, what are you talking about?! A few moments ago we were happy, passionate and comfortable with each other. We cuddled...admiring those growing babies! Where did this change come from?!" He began shouting.
"I'm sorry I'm pregnant and hormonal, mood changes come with the territory!" Teddy bellowed back. "I'm a basket case of emotions! I felt so happy and comfortable with you too and then, a wave of guilt and sadness washed over me like a title wave!"
Owens heart sank for his friend...the woman he loved. That was the thing, he loved Teddy, but she wasn't ready to hear that. Maybe he wasn't ready to admit it.
"Teddy," Owen said gently and sat beside her once again on her bed, "just because you're finding comfort in another person, trying to be happy...doesn't mean you love Henry any less."
Teddy wiped away her tears.
"I know...I know it's just, it's confusing Owen...because it's you. It's us."
"Yeah." Owen mumbled.
"I'm sorry Owen but...I think you should go."
"What?" He asked.
"I just-I can't do this right now," she looked at him with sad, red eyes, "please?"
Owen got up slowly, completely taken aback that their amazing night together was going to end this way.
"Do you still want me to come to your appointment tomorrow? I'd love to find out what they are..." He asked pleadingly.
Teddy hesitated, but remembered how much he cared enough about their friendship to step up as a father figure during her pregnancy.
"Yes. Yes of course." Teddy said without looking at Owen.
"Okay...see your tomorrow then," Owen started to walk out and stopped at the door frame without turning around.
"Teddy?"
"Yeah?" She whispered.
"I love you."