Teddy and Owen waited anxiously for Leo and his friend to get off the plane.
"Now I know how your mom felt," Teddy commented.
"Teddy it will be fine," Owen said, "I'm sure Winquest knows about us if Leo's bringing him home."
"Theresa Winquest is a woman," Teddy said.
"I brought you home with and without Meg," Owen said.
"And Beth hated it," Teddy retorted.
"Do you think," Owen asked.
"We have to meet her," Teddy said, "but I think Leo likes her. He's so loyal though. He's seen his sisters be with one person, us together, Meg and Nate divorce then get back together and he might think he's stuck with Charlotte. She's a nice girl but I'm surprised she stuck around this long."
"She reminds me of Beth," Owen said.
"Leo wants to do another tour and Charlotte is mad," Teddy replied.
"I don't like it either," Owen acknowledged.
"She asked me to talk some sense into him," Teddy shook her head.
Owen spotted a pair in uniform coming towards them. Leo's unruly curls buzzed short and Theresa's long blonde hair in a tight bun.
"Mom, Dad," Leo called.
Teddy dashed forward to hug him, "Leo you're home."
"Ma'am, Sir," Leo saluted knowing they still out ranked him.
"Welcome home," Teddy beamed, hugging him.
"Sergeant Theresa Winquest, these are my parents," Leo said, "Major Teddy Altman and Major Owen Hunt."
"Teddy please," Teddy smiled, hugging the girl and startling her.
"Owen," Owen introduced himself, shaking her hand.
"Ellie and Matt are disappointed they won't see you," Teddy told Leo.
"I saw Ellie a couple months ago when we went to that training in New York," Leo assured.
"Do you have everything," Owen asked.
"We're having dinner at Allisons," Teddy explained.
"She wanted to host," Leo asked.
"She wants to be home," Teddy replied, "she's nesting."
The young couple nodded and they walked to the truck together. They made small talk as they drove to Allison's.
Allison and her family waited on the porch for them.
"Uncle Leo," Everly rushed forward to see him.
"Leo," Allison shouted.
Leo hugged Everly then Allison.
"Allie," Leo said as he paused looking at her extremely pregnant belly.
"38 weeks," Allison smiled, "your home for three you'll get to meet them."
"You're okay," Leo asked.
"I'm good," Allison replied, "round, slow, tired. I've done this before. It's worth it."
"Working," Leo asked.
"I finished yesterday Dr Mitchell and Auntie Megan decided it was time," Allison said, "I feel calm this time. We're ready."
"You are," Leo agreed, "Allie this is my friend Theresa."
"It's nice to meet you," Allison smiled, shaking her hand.
"You as well." Theresa smiled.
"This is my husband Asher," Allison introduced.
"Good to meet you," Asher smiled.
"Allie, do you want to sit down," Teddy asked.
"I'm okay," Allison said, "I'm feeling better standing. My hips are getting sore but moving helps."
"Allie," Asher asked.
"I'll be fine," Allison assured, "I lifted Ev today."
"Allison," Teddy scolded.
"Dinner is almost ready," Allison said, "Annie should be here any second with Josh, Henry and Heather."
"Did you cook," Leo asked.
"We did," Asher agreed, "Ev set the table."
"Do you know what you're having," Theresa asked Allison.
"A boy," Allison smiled, "we were surprised with her but I can read the scans. You're a surgeon right?"
"Orthopaedic," Theresa said, "Leo said you're a resident."
"I am," Allison said, "aiming for ortho. With two kids it'll be busy but we didn't want Ev to be too much older."
"Are you feeling okay," Theresa asked.
"I am," Allison replied, "I know what's happening this time."
"Leo said you were pretty young," Theresa said.
"18," Allison confirmed.
"What did you make," Leo asked.
"I made food but we have the cheesecake from the bakery by mom and dads with the raspberry jam sauce you love," Allison teased.
Leo rolled his eyes at his sister.
"So tell us," Allison said, "I want to hear all about your adventures."
Leo and Theresa told what stories they could with Everly at the table.
When everyone finished Allison began to clear the table with Annie, Ev, Teddy and Heather getting up to help.
"Allie I'll clean up baby girl," Teddy said
"Mom, do you want to say hi," Allison offered.
"Always," Teddy smiled. Teddy put her hands on either side of Allison's stomach feeling the baby wiggle.
"We did this a lot with Everly," Allison said.
"You would flop on the couch beside me so I could," Teddy said, "I think I felt her most of all our grandkids."
"I still lived at home," Allison replied.
"Henry was probably the least," Annie said, "I think I saw you face to face 5 or 6 times that pregnancy because of covid."
"Those were dark days," Teddy replied, "having to stay away from all of you."
"I don't know how you did it Nee," Allison replied, "all of us in your house, Matt wasn't one yet and you were pregnant with no support. Josh was gone half the time."
"Nana," Annie replied.
Allison drooped for a second.
'She would be so excited for your little man,' Annie assured, "we all are."
"I'm still a resident," Allison sighed.
"So I was with Ellie,' Annie replied, "when you told me in the scrub room about little man I was thrilled! Ellie is so annoyed she's on her psych rotation and can't come for your due date. She'll call right away when she hears little man is here."
'Ev had you and mom and Nana and Auntie Meg, Ellie and Cat,' Allison said, "now were scattered and Nana's gone."
"I will be there as soon as you're ready for me,' Annie promised, 'how ever you want me. Auntie Meg you just have to tell her. We will all be there to love little man. Hows he doing?"
"Active,' Allison said, 'he's more active then I remember Ev being.'
'Different baby," Annie replied, 'all four of mine were so different."
"You have four," Theresa asked.
"I do," Annie replied.
"That's a lot of kids," Theresa commented.
"It's more than average but I have 4 siblings so it's not crazy," Annie replied.
"Leo and Allison," Theresa said, 'Leo's only talked about the three of you."
"Jessica passed 20 years ago from a malignant glioblastoma that metastasized to her heart and lungs," Annie replied, "and Chris wanted to come but is working tonight so is his wife. I share Chris with Leo and Allie but he's my half brother on my dad's side. We just say we're all family."
Annie looked at Allison who was rubbing her belly playing with her active baby.
"You know you want to,' Allison smiled at her sister.
"Always,' Annie beamed, "I'm going to miss you raiding my snack drawer."
"You have the good snacks," Allison replied, 'his feet are over here by my ribs.'
'He's in position,' Annie asked as she put her hand on Allison's belly to feel the kicks.
"He is but Ev had dropped a lot by this point," Allison replied.
"Ellie did a couple times," Annie replied, "she was low for a couple weeks then about 24 hours before she fully dropped. My boys it was 24-48 hours before and Heather never did. I felt her go down then an hour or two later I had strong contractions. Everyone is different"
"Neither of you ever dropped," Teddy replied.
"How did you help your older kids adjust," Allison asked, "I'm so worried about Ev. She says she's excited and asks about baby boy every day but."
"Make sure you get lots of fun one on one with her as well," Annie replied, 'that's where having a weekly "date' with ours started. If you're taking her to swimming, leave little man with Asher for a bit."
"But feeding," Allison asked.
'I only did exclusive with Ellie the rest I used a mix,' Annie replied.
"I want to try," Allison replied.
"Try but be open," Teddy replied, 'you did well with Ev and know how."
"You do what you can and what is best for your family,' Annie assured, ' it could be different for all of us. Because I did things one way doesn't mean you have to."
Leo came to get water.
"Leo, do you want to meet him," Allison offered.
"I do," Leo said, reaching towards Allison, she guided his hand to where the kicks were strongest.
"Wow," Leo said, "I've never felt that before."
"It's a good feeling," Allison said, "you never met Ev like this."
"My nephew," Leo said, "Allie I have all of my life insurance and everything like that to go to Ev should I not come home. Annie's kid's don't need it the same way. I want to split it between Everly and your son."
"Right now I just want you to meet him," Allison replied, "I don't want to think about you not coming home."
"The plan is to come home and back to Seattle," Leo said, "we'll work together like dad and auntie Megan."
"So I can be your chief, okay," Allison smiled, "when is Charlotte coming?"
"She's not," Leo said, "we broke up but she's still your friend."
"When," Allison asked.
"She ended it when I told her Theresa was coming," Leo said, "I'm going to work things out with her. I love her."
"You're turning into dad." Allison laughed.
Theresa watched the siblings as she talked to Asher.
"You and Allison," Theresa asked.
"We've been together for 11 years," Asher replied, "I'm glad she's off work now. She shouldn't be setting broken bones and realigning joints right now."
"She's got energy," Theresa replied.
"That's Allie she always does," Asher replied, "I know I have to worry when she doesn't. You two are coming to our place tomorrow while Teddy and Owen work? Just the five of us. She needs Leo time before the baby comes."
"If Allison is up to it," Theresa said, "I don't want to put you out."
"She likes people around," Asher assured, "and Ev is getting more independent. And we know when our son will come."
"How," Theresa asked.
"Scheduled C-section. Allie asked for it," Asher replied.
"Do you need anything," Theresa asked.
"We're pretty prepared," Asher said, "Allie insisted on this."
"Everly was traumatic," Teddy said, "but little man is scheduled the day before his due date."
"Is she okay," Theresa asked, "she's pretty tiny."
"She thinks she's bigger than she was with Ev," Asher said, "but I don't think so. We went today and they're both healthy."
"Allie and Annie both carry on the smaller side," Teddy replied, "I did so it's not unexpected. Everly was 7 pounds. Allison was 7 Annie was 6 Annie's kids were between 6 and 7 except Matt who was nearly nine and that was unexpected. Leo we should head home, I'm sure both of you want showers and out of uniform."
"I would appreciate a real shower," Theresa acknowledged.
"I set you up in the basement," Teddy smiled, "theres a bathtub down there it's a full suite. Allison's family lived there for 8 years. It's not fancy but it's clean and your space. I put new towels and all the fun girly stuff in the bathroom for you. Theres bath bombs and bubble bath, we have on demand hot water so relax and enjoy. I loved it when I would come home with Owen and his mom would have that stuff for me."
After Owen and Teddy went to bed Leo walked into the basement.
"Do we tell them," Leo asked.
"Your family knows you and Charlotte broke up now but what about us," Theresa said.
"Us," Leo said.
"We're just together and you're my best friend," Theresa said, "what if?"
"My parents were best friends and you heard them tonight they met like we did," Leo said, "Annie and Josh were best friends. Theresa you get me. I can talk to you in a way I can't with anyone else."
"I want to," Theresa replied, "your mom is so sweet."
"She knows how it is to be in the field for months," Leo replied, "her story is a lot like yours. Even the baby piece. Mom was in college not high school but."
"Would they judge me for giving up my daughter," Theresa asked.
"No," Leo replied.
"I want her to reach out but she's not old enough yet," Theresa replied, "she's only 13. I talked to her mom and she's asking questions. When she's ready I want her to contact me and her mom knows to give her my info when Aliyana asks."
"It's hard to do," Leo said, "I found my birth family. My bio moms parents and we're not close. I think mom and Annie is not the norm."
"Annie seems great," Theresa replied, "I've read the peds work of Grace Atlman and Josh Riggs in residency before I enlisted and it was amazing. Seeing them sitting together and how natural they are with people was incredible."
"They're relaxed," Leo replied, 'at the hospital both can be commanding but Annie is sweet and warm."
"Are you going to tell them," THeresa asked.
'We are," Leo replied, 'Allison might be on to us."
"Your sisters," Theresa asked.
"Like to meddle," Leo replied, "Annie is very protective."
"I noticed," Theresa replied, "she's a lot older, she's closer in age to your parents then to you."
"Mom was 21 when she had Annie and dad would have been 18," Leo replied, "Annie has no contact with her bio dad, I think she had a choice there. Her adoptive dad Dan is getting old but is cool."
"You know her adoptive dad," Theresa asked.
"Dan is great," Leo replied, "it was Dan that taught me to fish, dirt bike and run a boat. Mom and Dan did it well, the focus was on what was best for Annie and her kids and having both in her life was it. Her adoptive mom Leslie I only met a few times and Leslie passed a few years ago.'
"Who do you tell first," Theresa asked, 'Leo I don't know how to be with a family anymore. I've been on my own since I was 21.'
"I want to tell Allie first," Leo replied, 'then mom and dad but I think they're on to us.'
"Sleeping," Theresa yawned.
"Up to you Winquest," Leo replied, "I can go brush my teeth and stay with you down here or stay in my room. Do you have everything?"
"Your mom was really nice about it all," Theresa smiled, "when she said she stocked it she went to Lush and got the fancy bubble bars and bath bombs and theres good shampoo and conditioner. She thought of it all."
"Thats typical mom," Leo replied.
"Can you stay with me tonight," Theresa asked.
"Do you want me to," Leo asked, "T I won't push you."
"I want to be a couple," Theresa said, 'I want all the couple things.'
"I didn't think, I don't have condoms,' Leo said.
'We can wait for that but I do want to cuddle," Theresa replied.
'We can do that," Leo promised, "you sure?"
"I want to,' Theresa replied, 'one day you want kids?"
"I do,' Leo smiled, 'all those things we talk about, I want all of those.'
"Close to your family,' Theresa asked.
'Yes,' Leo answered, 'I just need to make you fall in love with Seattle."
'I love you and I'll go where ever you go,' Theresa smiled wrapping her arms around Leo.
'I love you too," Leo whispered, ' I have for a long time."