Leo and Theresa were the last to reach the cabin. Both hopped out of Teddy's SUV beaming. They burst into the cabin.
"We have huge news," Leo shouted.
"What is it," Teddy asked even though she knew what Leo had planned for Theresa the night before.
"Leo asked me to marry him," Theresa smiled.
"And she said yes," Leo shouted.
"She said yes," Allison ran into the entry, "you said yes!"
Allison threw her arms around both of them.
"Congratulations," Annie beamed hugging the couple.
"Let your old mom in," Teddy smiled.
"I'm happy for you," Owen smiled, shaking Leo's hand before hugging him.
Theresa was overwhelmed, she had been an only child and so had her parents been. Leo had an aunt and cousins and a very confusing older sister. Theresa still didn't know what to make of Annie. The short woman was warm and caring but the age gap was difficult for her to grasp. Theresa knew Annie was Teddy's daughter from a previous relationship but the way they all behaved as one huge family was intimidating especially the fact that Leo had nieces and nephews who were nearly their age.
"Celebratory dinner," Annie asked, "I'll see what I can pull off up here or we can wait until we get home."
"Nothing too big," Theresa said, "you already made me tourtiere for Christmas eve,"
"I was doing that for all of us anyway," Annie replied, "I wish I could send some back with you. I know mama bakes for you when your here."
"But Annie is the best cook," Leo said, "could you do your home made alfredo sauce with the spicy chicken?"
"I have almost everything for that," Annie replied.
"What do you need," Josh asked,
"Heavy cream but if mama will do a quick couple loaves of bread now we'll be okay," Annie replied, "I could use more parmesan as well but am fine with what I brought up."
"It's fine," Leo assured.
"I will do favourites when we get home," Annie promised.
"Ring," Allison asked Theresa.
Theresa showed Allison her left hand.
"Leo has good taste," Allison smiled.
"He said there's a story," Theresa smiled.
"It was my mom's," Teddy smiled, "I saved it for Leo when he found the right girl.."
"But me," Theresa asked.
"You," Teddy smiled.
"Your mom," Theresa asked.
"Passed in 2001," Teddy replied, "she only got to meet Annie then just when she was born. My mom was with me when Leslie and Dan picked up baby Annie."
Theresa nodded thinking of her own Aliyana.
"I want you to have it," Teddy smiled, "it's a bit of a tradition in our family to pass down rings. Mine was my mother in laws."
"Nana's," Allison asked.
"Yes," Teddy smiled.
"Can I see it," Theresa asked, although she had noticed that Leo's mom and sisters didn't typically wear their rings.
Teddy showed Theresa her own ring that had been on her hand over 30 years.
"Does yours have a story," Theresa asked her sisters in law.
"No," Annie and Allison replied together.
"You both have three stacked though," THeresa replied.
"Promise ring, engagement ring, wedding ring," Allison replied.
"Engagement, wedding, 25th anniversary," Annie replied, "wedding ideas?"
"We're going to wait," Leo said.
"Be out of the army and really plan it," Theresa replied, "be settled somewhere close to Leo's family."
"We're your family now," Teddy smiled, "close to us is good."
"Settling down," Josh asked Leo.
"A couple more years then we'll come home," Leo replied, "mom and dad are getting older I want to be close. Allie's kids are still young and you and Annie shouldn't have to do it all. I know Dan is in a facility now."
"Annie doesn't like that but it was Dan's choice," Josh replied, "Dan is losing his mobility quickly and it's just age. Annie goes every couple days to check in."
That night Asher sat beside Theresa while Allison put Andy to bed.
"They're a lot at first," Asher said.
"They are," Theresa agreed, "I didn't have a big family."
"I have a lot of siblings," Asher replied, "so do both my parents. But they're different."
"It's Annie," Theresa admitted.
"That their sister is 25 years older," Asher agreed, "Annie can be bossy. She's mellowed with us now."
"Annie and my mom would be about the same age," Theresa replied, "she reminds me more of my mom than Teddy does."
"Same," Asher replied, "Teddy doesn't say she shows."
"Wedding planning how much did they take over," Theresa asked.
"They helped," Asher replied, "but it was what we wanted. They're very open minded compared to my family."
"How so," Theresa asked.
"My dad is a pastor who is pretty fundamentalist," Asher replied, "he is very controlling and manipulative."
"My parents were very liberal," Theresa replied, "they would be shocked I joined the army."
"So would mine have been," Teddy replied sitting with her daughter and son in law, "the Hunt family is a lot to digest isn't it. I was the outsider once two."
"You," Theresa asked.
"Owen brought me home on leaves a few times, then I came here for work," Teddy replied, "back to Germany and the army after my first husband died, then was single for three years before Owen and I became a couple."
"It gets easier," Asher added.
"It does," Nathan agreed, joining them, "ask Nisha as well."
"How does it work," Theresa asked.
"You just come home and be you," Teddy assured.
"Evelyn, Owen and Meg's mom just accepted Teddy and I as hers because we love her kids," Nathan said, "I'm not sure what she would say about Meg and I divorcing then getting back together 5 years later. And getting married again this spring."
"She'd be please you worked it out," Teddy assured, "those were a few rocky years."
"It hurt my kids and Josh," Nathan agreed.
"It's Annie and Josh I don't fully get," Theresa admitted.
"She's my daughter I had in med school," Teddy replied, "but I wasn't ready so gave her up for adoption to Dan and Leslie."
"Josh is my nephew," Nathan replied, "my brother was an addict and passed 20 years ago. Annie and Josh met in med school."
"We didn't expect them to meet," Teddy replied, "or become friends let alone date."
"Teddy and I served together and at that time hated me," Nathan said, "because of what happened with Meg."
"I told her to be careful with Josh Riggs," Teddy laughed, "I told her to keep her distance but she didn't listen."
"I'm glad they didn't listen," Nathan agreed.
"So am I," Teddy replied, "30 years, 4 kids."
"You still happy Altman," Nathan asked.
"I am," Teddy smiled, "you and Meg?"
"Glad we worked it out," Nathan said, "I wasn't sure for a while."
"None of us were," Teddy replied, "I'm happy you worked it out."
"Now to get Cat a bit more settled," Nathan replied.
"She's at Harvard Med," Teddy replied.
"She can't pick a speciality and she should be applying for sub internships," Nathan replied.
"Let her explore," Teddy replied, "we let our three choose so did Faroke."
"Plastics wasn't my first choice," Nathan replied, "but he's done so well with it and Jackson Avery. Faroke does some amazing reconstructive work."
"He does," Teddy replied, "him and Allie have something planned with Annie after the holidays."
"Their top secret project," Nathan smiled.
"I don't know they're not telling anyone," Teddy replied, "it's on a child with my girls involved."
"He's applied for humanitarian funds," Nathan said, "I helped with part of it but I don't know much."
"We need to retire," Teddy said, "it's time we step back and let the next generation lead."
"I'm ready but waiting for Meg to be," Nathan agreed.
"I'm stepping back further," Teddy admitted, "it's time. It doesn't make me happy anymore. Once Allie finishes residency I'm done. I want to get her through."
"I want to get Cat out of med school," Nathan agreed.
"The first time they brought you up here did you ever expect this," Teddy asked.
"Married to them, kids, grandkids for you guys," Nathan smiled, "never. I'm glad I agreed the first time."
"The first time they dragged me home for Christmas," Teddy smiled, "from Iraq. 40 years ago now 45?"
"Something like that," Nathan agreed.
"I think we'll see Allie as the next Evelyn," Teddy smiled, "she's the most like her."
"She is," Nathan agreed, "she's okay as a resident with two kids and Ev's needs?"
"She's happy," Teddy assured.
The next morning Allison found Leo alone in the kitchen, he quickly poured her a cup of coffee and they sat at the table.
"You two are up," Annie smiled grabbing her own coffee and sitting with her siblings.
"Nee," Allison smiled.
"We don't get to be the three of us very often," Annie smiled pushing her hair behind her ears. Her blonde hair was slowly fading to grey as she approached her mid 50s making her appear blonder than ever.
"Nee," Leo asked.
"I'm happy for you Lion," Annie beamed.
"So wedding then kids," Allison asked.
"One or two one day," Leo agreed, "not four, you're nuts Nee."
"It works for us," Annie smiled, "when you're home and settled you'll be a great dad. I like her Lion. Theresa is the right fit for you and in time she'll feel at home in all of our craziness."
"You," Leo asked.
"I was part of the family growing," Annie replied.
"You and Theresa," Leo asked.
"I like her Lion," Annie assured, "I just want the two of you home. You've been away so long. I want you home."
"I had to," Leo said, "you did for a bit."
"I did for med school but thats 30 years ago now," Annie shrugged, "do you want to come back here?"
"I do," Leo said, "Theresa said she doesn't care but I want to be close. Mom and dad are getting older."
"They are," Annie agreed, "they're good for now."
"Are you okay," Allison asked, "your dad isn't doing great."
"Dan's in his 80s hes mentally okay, physically he's getting old," Annie replied, "I talked to him yesterday. He's content and Chris and Jenna were seeing him tonight for New Years."
"When mom and dad," Allison asked.
"We do it together," Annie replied, "I can take the lead I've done it twice now with Chris but the three of us are a team and we lean on our spouses and each other."
"Nee at Allie's wedding you read a story," Leo said, "can you do that at ours or a toast?"
"Always," Annie smiled.
"I was in yours wasn't I," Leo said.
"You were our ring bearer and flower girl," Annie smiled at her siblings.
"I think Andy for our ring bearer he'll be old enough," Leo said, "and I'll check with Theresa but we'll find something special for Ev. but your kids, Nee."
"Are mature enough to understand," Annie promised, "it's your and Theresa's day. You make it what you want."
"They won't be hurt," Leo said, "I really only talk to Ellie."
"It's up to the two of you," Annie said, "it's about you and Theresa and how much you love each other. Are you happy?"
"I am," Leo said, "she's my person."
"That's all you need," Annie smiled.