Everyone was gathering at Annie's to welcome home those that had been away for school or with the army. Ellie, Matt and Henry were home from school and Leo and Theresa were on their way with Owen. Teddy was finishing up a surgery that had been more complicated than expected before coming over.
"Ellie," Allison shouted, seeing her nice for the first time since July.
"Allie," Ellie ran forward hugging her aunt, "this is Caleb."
"It's good to meet you," Allison smiled.
"Ellie's told me a lot about you and your kids," Caleb replied, "it's nice to see you in person."
Allison looked at the tall man with his long dark hair in a braid. She knew from Ellie's stories he grew up on an reservation in northern Alberta Canada and was the first in his family to go to college and the only one of his siblings to finish high school. They had originally bonded over their shared Canadian heritage even though Ellie felt disconnected from it at times.
"Leo should be here soon with Theresa," Allison said.
"Leo is," Caleb asked.
"My brother," Allison replied, "he's deployed as a trauma surgeon with the army and his fiancée we'll soon to be fiancée is there as well as an orthopaedic surgeon."
"Your whole family are surgeons," Caleb confirmed.
"Grandma is cardio so is mom and uncle Nathan, grandpa, dad, Leo and auntie Megan are trauma. Allie and Theresa are orthopaedic, Jenna is a neurosurgeon, Faroke is a plastic surgeon and Nisha his wife is an OBGYN," Ellie listed, "what do you want to see while your here?"
"Rural or emergency medicine," Caleb said.
"We can do emergency," Allison replied, "El text auntie Megan."
"Why rural medicine," Asher asked.
"My community is home to 300 people with no doctor. The nearest hospital is 2 hours away and the emergency room there closes at least once a month with a lack of staffing," Caleb said.
"Where are you from," Asher asked.
"Three hours out of Peace River," Caleb replied, "treaty 8 territory. I'm Cree. My community has no medical care. I want to go back and provide medical care to my community. My community still doesn't trust most doctors and medical professionals to have one of our own as their doctor would completely change how western medicine is treated. I can blend some of our traditional practices with western medicine and meet my community where they are at. Elders will be healthier, the ones that fear the outside because they grew up in residential school to see them in our village to treat their heart disease and diabetes in our village where they feel safe will change our community for the better."
"What about Ellie," Allison asked.
"My parents might die but I'm not 100% sold on surgery, I want to look at paediatrics or family medicine as well. I've really enjoyed emergency medicine," Ellie replied, "I can do those anywhere, "I want to serve underserved rural communities and make a difference. I want long term patients that I get to work with for a long time."
"Surgery isn't a requirement," Allison smiled.
"Medicine was for me," Ellie replied.
"But make your own path," Allison replied.
"What do you do man," Caleb asked Asher.
"I'm one of the few non doctors," Asher replied, "I'm an industrial electrician. Allie is the brains in our house."
"How long have you been together," Caleb asked.
"Married 6 and together 11," Asher replied, "our oldest is ten and a half."
"Everly right," Caleb asked, "and Andy?"
"Yes Ev is our oldest and Andy is the baby," Asher replied, "you're okay spending Christmas with us?"
"It's different but trying to get home now is hard, it's flying in and flights now are unpredictable at best," Caleb replied, "my mom isn't thrilled but she understands. My grandparents worry when I'm away too long. I want to go home one day."
"Certifications," Asher asked, "I know Annie said she couldn't practise in Canada."
"The reciprocal agreement is 15 years old," Caleb said, "so she probably could now if she wanted depending on where and when she did hers."
"I know she graduated just before Allie was born," Asher replied, "I want to say early 2010s."
"She'd have to check. I know after 2025 it's easier," Caleb replied.
"My mom wouldn't want to now," Ellie added," but on her reputation alone she'd be fine."
"You'll still end up in cardio like your mom and grandma," Caleb traced Ellie.
"No, I want family medicine," Ellie said.
Leo and Theresa joined them in Annie's living room still in uniform.
"LEO," Allison yelled sprinting to her brother, the were close now and messaged daily.
"Allison," Leo smiled, "where are my monkeys."
"Playing downstairs and sleeping in Annie's room," Allison replied, "your home."
"For now," Leo said, "couple more years to go."
Leo went to the top of the stairs and bellowed, "princess Everly!"
"Uncle Leo," Everly shouted back. She hurried to the stairs in her crutches and yelled up , "come and get me!"
Leo bounded down the stairs to see Everly. He liked Andy and he liked Annie's kids but now Ellie was more of a friend then a niece and he didn't talk much with the boys. Everly was Leo's favorite her uncle thought she was perfect and could do no wrong. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he beamed as Ev dropped her crutches so he could pick her up.
"Piggy back," Everly asked.
"Up the stairs," Leo replied, "then you can stand."
Everly made a face.
"You, Theresa and I are going to Disney in ice tomorrow," Leo told her, "your parents know. It's the main part of your Christmas gift from us."
"Really," Everly asked.
"Really," Leo promised.
"Everyone at school is talking about it," Everly smiled.
"Tomorrow for the 2pm show then dinner," Leo assured.
"Really," Everly asked.
"Really," Theresa assured, joining them, "how's fiftieth grade missy?"
"Great," Everly smiled, "my teacher has CP like me! She gets it and uses crutches or a cane. She even brought her wheelchair to school when we went to the science centre."
"That must have felt good," Theresa said.
"A grown up like me," Everly said, "we even got to race wheelchairs on the sidewalk."
"Who won," Leo asked.
"Ms Bartel," Everly replied, "she's really fast and plays on a sledge hockey team. My class is going next week."
"To watch her play," Theresa asked.
"To try it," Everly replied, "I think I can do it. I'm used to using my arms to push my chair. No one else in my class does that."
"They don't," Leo agreed, "aren't you playing basketball?"
"Swimming, choir and basketball," Everly said, "can you come to the choir concert on Sunday?"
"We were planning on it," Theresa replied.
Teddy crept down the stairs and hugged Leo, "welcome home."
"Mom," Leo smiled.
"Your okay," Teddy breathed a sigh of relief, "your in one piece. Both of you."
"I am," Leo said hugging Teddy.
"Everything is good," Teddy asked, "Theresa?"
"I'm good," Theresa assured.
"Welcome home," Teddy smiled hugging the young woman.
The family gathered in the kitchen once their pizza arrived and chatted for hours catching up and sharing stories. Andy fell asleep in Allison's arms and Everly curled up on the couch half asleep beside her mom.
"We should get these two home," Asher said.
"We'll pick Ev up about 12:30 tomorrow," Leo said as Allison's family got ready to go.
"And I'll come get Andy for a few hours," Teddy said, "pick him up around 2 and bring him back for bed around 7:30. Let you two have some time."
"That would be great," Allison smiled, "we haven't been just us in months."
Later that night Leo slipped out of bed hoping Theresa would stay asleep. They didn't get to stay together all night often but he wanted to go talk to Teddy. He knew his mom went to bed late.
"Mom," Leo whispered at the door of Owen and Teddys room.
"Your dad got called in come talk to me," Teddy replied.
"What would you say if I asked Theresa to marry me," Leo asked.
"Are you ready," Teddy asked, "is she the one?"
"She is," Leo said, "I need to go get a ring. I want to before we go back. "
"Leo I've been waiting years for you to find the right girl," Teddy smiled, "when you talked about marrying Charlotte I wasn't sure. She never felt like part of our family. I know we haven't spent a lot of time with Theresa but she feels like one of us. She joins in she talks to dad and I and she understands you. The two of you remind me of dad and I. I want to show you something before you buy a ring."
Teddy got out of bed and walked to her dresser opening the top drawer and digging to the very back behind all the socks and tights to grab the small box.
"Mom," Leo asked from his seat in the bed.
Teddy smiled at her son, "this was my moms. I've been waiting to give it to you to propose to the right girl."
"Your moms ring," Leo asked.
"Yes," Teddy replied, "it's your choice if you want to propose with it. You can use it to propose and it be Theresa's engagement ring or if you don't like it or don't think it's her style I understand and will give it to her as a wedding gift. I want her to have an heirloom piece to tie her to our family. I've always loved having the nanas ring."
"Nanas ring," Leo asked.
"She gave it to dad to propose to me and it was her mother in laws before that," Teddy explained, "they were both widowed too young. I chose to give you my moms ring."
"I want to marry her and when our commitment to the army is done we want kids," Leo said, "I want the life Allie has. Happy marriage a couple kids."
"Happy marriage takes work," Teddy replied, "your sisters both work at it."
"I want to come home to Grey Sloan and settle down. Work with my sisters," Leo said.
"See where Allie ends up for a fellowship," Teddy replied, "but I want that life for you two Leo."
"The Dickinsons," Leo asked.
"Propose then tell them if you want to," Teddy replied, "you've never been close to them."
"I've never felt connected to them," Leo said.
"That's your choice and dad and I support you with anything you choose," Teddy assured. She placed the box on the bed beside Leo.
Leo picked up the box and looked at the ring gently taking it from its cushion and examining it.
"It's perfect," Leo smiled, "are you sure though mom? It was your moms and she's gone."
"I am," Teddy replied, "I've known since you were a little boy I would do this."
"Thank you," Leo smiled hugging Teddy.
"Your welcome," Teddy returned the hug.
"Will dad," Leo started.
"He will be happy. You can tell him ahead or after. We knew ahead for both your sisters," Teddy replied.
"Annie and Josh," Leo asked.
"He got our blessing," Teddy replied.
"Do I," Leo asked.
"No because she's not close to any of her relatives and her parents have passed," Teddy answered, "you're ready Leo."
"I hope so," Leo replied.
"You can operate under fire and have each others back be each others cover you can get through anything together. That's the whole thing stick together," Teddy replied.
" how do I ask her," Leo asked.
"Big gestures are your dad's department," Teddy replied, "but I'm happy to help when it's not 12:30 am."
"You sleeping," Leo teased.
"I'm old sweet heart," Teddy replied.
"Only 74," Leo replied.
"Exactly," Teddy answered, "and you should go back before Theresa notices and worries."
"Can you hide," Leo started.
"Put it on my dresser," Teddy smiled, "she won't look in here. Leo I'm happy for you."
"Thanks mom," Leo smiled. He stood up after hugging Teddy and placed the small box on the dresser.
"Good night lion," Teddy smiled.
"Night mom," Leo replied.