Megan scrubbed into a surgery with Bailey.
"How's Alyssa," Bailey asked.
"She's doing really well," Megan replied, "seeing someone and it's getting serious. It's been about 18 months and she's introducing him to her girls today. I've met him a few times."
"So long," Bailey replied.
"She's cautious and he was deployed for 7 or 8 months and has been back for six weeks," Megan replied.
"I still can't wrap my head around what you two went through," Bailey replied.
"We're still working thought it " Megan replied, "the first thing I did when I saw Teddy was ask about Alyssa."
"Pru's mom wants to see her," Bailey said, "her biological mother. I'm her mom. Yes, she calls us auntie and uncle because Dean will always be her dad but she's my daughter."
"Teddy says the same thing," Megan replied, "I should have recognized it when they took me to Germany. She wasn't saying a ton about Lyss but her tone, the way she lit up telling me Alyssa was smart, kind, brave and that she was proud of her I should have realised. I was surprised and it took a while for me to accept it and learn I'd have to share. Lyss was always my little lady bug. But she's also Teddy's in a way I never expected for her it was good and I'm thankful. "
" I used to see Altman with her and I never doubted she loved her unconditionally and would do anything for her. But will JJ," Bailey asked.
"I think that as moms we all want what is best for our children and all those people that help care for our kids are a blessing," Megan replied, "Owen, Teddy, my mom, you, Arizona, Henry who I wished I could have met and thanked him, Christina Yang. You all loved Alyssa when I couldn't be here for her. JJ hasn't been here for Pru but she will see a community who deeply love her daughter. We all love Pru and are here for you and Ben."
"JJ walked out when Pru was 5 days old," Bailey said, "she never asked about Pru. We contacted her when Dean passed and she didn't respond. That was 3 years ago. Pru is 6. She knows life with Ben and I. Tuck and Joey are her big brothers. Her life is stable. She's about to start first grade, she got a kitten for her birthday and she plays with Owen and Teddys kids. JJ wouldn't know her on the street. She chose to leave. You didn't choose to leave Alyssa."
"And she is loved," Megan smiled, "our girls are loved and cherished. They have their villages. Maybe not how you or I ever predicted but they do. And legally?"
"We adopted Pru," Bailey replied, "we legally adopted her. Ben and I adopted her, our boys chose her."
"I know Teddy had some sort of legal guardianship," Megan replied, "they never pursued adoption because Alyssa didn't want it. She didn't want to sever the ties to me."
"I know Teddy had medical POA," Bailey replied, "she consented to treatment when Alyssa was sick a couple times. She made sure Alyssa was well cared for. I remember one time walking into the attendings lounge and Teddy was sitting with Alyssa lecturing about boys and upset that she had her first boyfriend over when Teddy and Henry weren't home. They had been in the kitchen making cookies."
"She taught her right from wrong when she needed a mom to teach it," Megan replied, "and you do that with Pru. JJ legally has no rights to Pru. It's your choice to let her see Pru. Owen told me he would never keep people who loved her away from Alyssa. That Alyssa was best served by having the people who love her even if he didn't like the person."
"Riggs," Bailey replied.
"He's a good man and a good friend," Megan replied, "we'll never be more than that again but we care about each other and he loves my kids like his own. I won't take that from any of them and I value his friendship. Faroke calls him dad. It was hard at first but I am so thankful all of you chose to love Alyssa."
"JJ doesn't know Pru," Bailey said, "you chose Alyssa from day one. And you were just a kid, you and Alyssa grew up together. You loved her and chose her."
"I did and it wasn't easy," Megan replied, "I know JJ didn't but we don't know why. I had two friends in college that chose abortion because it was right for them. They chose not to be mothers. I chose to be one, you chose to be one. Teddy chose to be one for Alyssa. At the same time JJ chose not to be and we have to respect that."
"I don't want to lose my daughter," Bailey said.
"Talk to Teddy," Megan suggested, "but legally you're her mother. I'm sure JJ could fight it but there's precedent for you to keep her. Had I come back when Alyssa was still a minor I would never have denied Teddy time with her, but my parental rights were never terminated, Lyss was a kinship placement. Owen was right that all our kids need all the people who love them."
"Did we give Pru that," Bailey asked.
"She is happy and very loved," Megan replied, "we all see it and she has a family here. We will stand with you and Ben."
"Thank you," Bailey smiled.
They turned their attention back to the patient.
Later that afternoon Bailey sat with Teddy in the attendings lounge, "so when Megan was found what happened with you and Alyssa?"
"Alyssa was still my baby but I was terrified I would lose her," Teddy replied, "the first thing Megan asked me when she saw me was about her daughter. If Lyss was safe and happy, what she was doing. She asked so many questions about Lyss that I didn't have time to answer them all. I had no time to answer. So I told Megan the basics, Alyssa was very happy, she was living in BC and working in a job she enjoyed, that Lyss was very close to Owen and Evelyn. I told her I was proud of her but I ran so fast to see Megan that I didn't remember to grab my phone off my desk so I didn't have a picture right away then I only showed Megan one photo that Owen sent me after I talked to him and Amelia. I didn't tell Megan I love Lyss. I should have."
"Pru's mom found us," Bailey said.
"But you adopted her we vouched for you," Teddy replied.
"I know you did," Bailey replied, "but can JJ take her."
"You're legally her parents no," Teddy said, "you will keep custody."
"Visitation," Bailey asked.
"Talk to your lawyer but you adopted her," Teddy said, "and we don't lose the kids we love. It changes as they grow up but they're always ours because we love them. Alyssa is proof of that. She's grown up and is an amazing woman but how we love her changes as she grew up and even now. She's a mom and has her little girls and is so strong."
"She had a strong aunt, mom and grandma," Bailey said.
"She did," Teddy agreed, "and you show that to Pru every day. Strong women raise strong women."
Alyssa and Tyler had been talking and dating for a bit over a year and a half before she was ready to introduce her daughters to him. He had spent a lot of time away for work which had let them talk and her slowly get to know and open up to him. She had enjoyed hikes with Tyler and he made her feel relaxed and comfortable.
"Okay girls," Alyssa crouched in front of her nearly three year old daughters, "we're going to go meet a friend of mommy's."
"Is she nice," Celeste asked.
"He's very nice," Alyssa promised, "do we have everything for the zoo? "
"Wagon," Alex said.
"It's in the truck already baby," Alyssa promised, "we're going to meet Tyler at the zoo."
They drove to the zoo and Alyssa helped the girls out of the back of the truck before loading the wagon with snacks, treats and the cooler with a picnic lunch.
"Alyssa," Tyler approached.
"Hi," Alyssa greeted with a hug.
"Mommy," Alex asked.
Alyssa knelt with her kids, "Alex, Celeste this is Tyler. He's going to come to the zoo with us today."
"Daddy come," Alex pouted.
"I know you haven't seen your dad in a long time," Alyssa said, "and you miss him. Lex look at me."
"Can daddy come," Alex asked.
"I'll phone him when we get home," Alyssa promised, "Lex we're going to have fun today. We're going to see if we can find the gorillas and the bears. Can you help me find the bears?"
"Are you mommy's friend," Celeste asked looking up a Tyler.
"I am," Tyler said, "I'm Tyler. What's your name?"
"Celeste," Celeste replied, "do you like popsicles?"
"I like purple ones," Tyler said, "what's your favourite popsicle?"
"Pink," Celeste smiled.
"Maybe we can find popsicles later," Tyler said. Looking at the two little girls he could see how Alyssa said they were opposites he was glad they weren't identical. Alex with her mom's wavy red hair in a ponytail and Celeste's straight brown hair in pigtails.
"Duckie we are not asking for treats," Alyssa scolded.
"I asked," Tyler said.
"She knows we have treats in the cooler," Alyssa replied, "she got to pick two and so did Alex."
"Treats." Tyler asked.
"Alex picked Oreos and fruit pouches then Celeste chose watermelon and gummy bears," Alyssa said, "I chose chips."
"You didn't have to bring lunch," Tyler said.
"With these two I'm used to it," Alyssa said, "we're picky eaters. It's easier than guessing what they'll eat."
"And the wagon," Tyler asked.
"I switched to it from the double stroller when they were about 18 months," Alyssa smiled, "okay thing one and thing two in your spots."
"You have a lot of nicknames for them," Tyler laughed.
"I do that," Alyssa laughed, "my cousins are close in age to Alex and Celeste. and I have 4 or 5 for each of them."
"Do I have any," Tyler asked.
"Not yet," Alyssa said.
"Mommy let's go," Celeste called, "the giraffes."
Alyssa grabbed the handle of the wagon and pulled it forward.
"I can," Tyler offered.
"We're good " Alyssa smiled, "and we have a family pass so we go in this way. I have an annual family pass. Two adults and up to three kids on a visit."'
"You come a lot," Tyler asked.
"About once a month," Alyssa admitted, "the girls love it."
"Favourite exhibits," Tyler questioned.
"Celeste likes the bears, Alex likes the gorillas and I like the giraffes," Alyssa replied, "yours?"
"I haven't been since I was a kid but I used to like when places like this would let the birds of prey fly," Tyler answered.
"We'll go to the raptor show then," Alyssa replied.
"The wagon," Tyler asked.
"Easier for me than a stroller," Alyssa answered, 'it's just a costco special but all our stuff fits and theres room to sit when we're in busy parking lots or tired."
They spent the day at the zoo with the girls eventually falling asleep in the wagon.
"They're tired," Tyler observed as they made their way back to the parking lot.
"We still nap and I let them skip it today," Alyssa replied, "I'll lift them into the truck and they'll sleep until we're home. My mom will wake them up.'
"She will," Tyler gasped.
"She can't help me get them out of the car without waking one," Alyssa replied, 'she doesn't mean to but she hasn't mastered getting them from the car seats without making noise. Thank you for the good day and meeting us here."
"I'm happy to and glad I finally met them," Tyler smiled, "they're cute kids."
"They're my world," Alyssa replied.
"I should let you take them home," Tyler said, "I'll see you at Volleyball tomorrow?"
"You will," Alyssa promised.
They quickly kissed goodbye before Alyssa got in the truck to take the girls home.
