Leo and Theresa sat together on their final flight home for good. After five years of active duty mainly in combat zones both had been discharged and were on their way home for a more peaceful life. Theresa leaned against Leo feeling exhausted and anxious about what was to come. It had been years since she was part of a family, Leo's parents and sisters had embraced her and the younger nieces and nephew were calling her auntie now. She wondered how long they could keep their secret from his family. She wanted to be home and settled first. She felt like she had a better read on Teddy and Allison than on Annie. Leo's eldest sister still confused her, not the family connection but how to take the complicated woman in her 50s, she could tell Annie was multifaceted and had seen two sides: the doting mom and the decisive surgeon but she knew there was more. Leo's hand absentmindedly stroked Theresa's hip as he held her close against him. He knew her fatigue was worse than she was letting anyone including him know, the tired way she leaned against him and how quickly she fell asleep giving away how fatigued and over worked she was. But this was it. After 15 years he was finally coming home to Seattle. They would make their home near his family.

"Sleep," Leo whispered into Theresa's hair, "we have 5 hours before we land."

"I'm too anxious," Theresa replied.

"It'll be great," Leo assured, "my parents are excited for us to be home. They'll be so happy about our news."

"I just want to find our own place," Theresa said.

"We will," Leo assured, "use mom and dad's basement while we look."

"Do you know what you want," Theresa asked.

"We have to be close enough to the hospital,"Leo said ," 3 or 4 bedrooms. You?"

"Big kitchen and a fireplace," Theresa said, "and a back yard."

"We can," Leo smiled, "T can you please try to sleep. You haven't yet and you did the last surgery of the tour. You need to rest."

"I'm trying," Theresa said, "but I'm too excited."

"For," Leo asked.

"To meet the new babies and newborn snuggles," Theresa giggled, "your sister will share right?"

"Allie will," Leo replied, "Ellie I don't know. Mom's last email said she's really possessive of Ben."

"The mess she's in with Caleb," Theresa replied, "the chat I have with her, Allie and Catrina Caleb is trying to take full custody and take the baby to Canada."

"He can't just take him from his mom," Leo said, "that's not okay. Ellie wants him and loves him."

"Kids need parents that want them" Theresa agreed, "I think Caleb is trying to control Ellie. He's manipulating her to go back to him and go to his remote part of Canada."

"She has dual citizenship," Leo replied.

"What," Theresa asked.

"Annie's dad is Canadian," Leo explained, "she grew up in BC with Dan and Leslie. Annie's dual passed to her kids."

"So that's helpful," Theresa said, "if she wanted it. She's also stressing she's in the bottom half of her intern class and could be cut."

"She never wanted surgery," Leo said, "she wanted something in primary care like family medicine, internal or paediatrics. She didn't want to match in surgery. She was pissed she did."

"So can she find something else," Theresa asked.

"Probably," Leo replied, "she's asked me for help talking to her parents and figuring out what to say. She wants to be a paediatrician in family or private practice with a 9-5 schedule so she's around for Ben."

"I would if I was on my own," Leo said, "I don't know how Allie does it with three."

"Asher," Theresa said, "he's taken on a ton so she can go to school and train."

"hes a good guy," Leo shrugged, "I hated him when they got together. I was so mad at him for what he did to Allison like it was only his fault. I wanted to blame him for it. But"

"He's good to her," Theresa smiled, "did you hear he's going for his business degree in project management now that she's done."

"Ya," Leo replied, "makes sense. He's never loved electrical but it was a way to support their family. Fuck he was 17 and suddenly had a girlfriend and kid to support."

"Allie's tastes are simple," Theresa said, " but Evs needs they were soo young ."

"Mom and dad helped a lot," Leo replied, "they lived in the basement until she finished medical school."

Teddy rushed around the basement.

"Slow down," Owen chuckled, "I thought you retired so you could relax."

"I want it to be perfect for when they come home," Teddy smiled, "I want Theresa to feel at home. They'll be here a while."

"We just let them dotheir thing," Owen said, "they're in their 30s Teddy. But it looks nice."

"I tried to make sure I had some of those fun girly things for her," Teddy replied, "I asked Allie, Ellie and Cat. I didn't do the skin care or make up ideas they gave me because she's an adult and knows what works for her but I have bath bombs and bubble bath. There's rose in the fridge I know she likes that and his favourite beer."

"Just breathe," Owen said, "Teddy it's all good. They're home for good in one piece."

"We're planning the final wedding," Teddy smiled, "Annie's feels so long ago so does Allison's."

"They do," Owen said, "Annie's was what 30 years ago?"

"Allison was 2 so 29," Teddy guessed, "it was a gorgeous wedding."

"It was," Owen agreed, "but Allison's was so them."

"It really fit her and Asher," Teddy agreed, "they did them. Annie was generic. I don't know what Theresa will want."

"Let them lead," Owen replied, "lots of their friends from serving will come."

"I'm sure," Teddy nodded.

"Just enjoy it," Owen said hugging Teddy, "you're retired, I have six months, Leo is home for good with his fiancé. The grandkids are doing well."

"We have a great grandson we can enjoy," Teddy added.

"See it's good," Owen smiled kissing the top of her head.

"We did it," Teddy smiled, "three through residency."

"We did," Owen said.

A few hours later Owen and Teddy waited at the airport for Leo and Theresa.

"Should we tell them," Leo asked.

"Not yet," Theresa replied, "let's be home a few days first."

Seeing his parents Leo ran towards them.

"Leo," Teddy called, seeing him. As soon as he reached his mom Teddy hugged the young man.

"Your home," Teddy beamed, "you're safe."

"Home to stay," Leo assured.

Teddy released Leo and greeted Theresa with a hug.

"Ready to go home," Owen asked after all the greetings were done and bags gathered.

"We are," Leo agreed.

"You're sure we're not imposing staying with you until we find a place," Theresa asked.

"It's the basement suite," Owen assured, "come and go as you need. Andy has a cold so Allison's family is staying home tonight but they want to see you."

"Poor buddy has Carly gotten it," Theresa asked.

"So far he's good but Allie is exhausted," teddy replied, "Carly cluster feeds from about 4pm to midnight then if she's lucky Allie gets a 4 hour stretch but Andy isn't sleeping through. "

"Do they need some help," Leo asked.

"It's a newborn and a toddler," Owen said, "Annie went through it. It's hard."

"Do you need anything on the way home," Teddy asked as they walked out of the airport.

"I don't think so," Theresa said, "I'll get though tonight but need to borrow a car tomorrow."

"Of course," Teddy smiled, "some errands?"

"Shopping," Theresa agreed, "normal clothes and things that do not have to meet regulations."

"I remember doing that when I left the army both times," Teddy agreed, "it's important to have things that feel good."

"I'm not going back," Theresa declared.

"I said that two," Teddy replied, "then running med com came up and my first husband had just passed. Annie was at Harvard med."

"I don't think I could," Theresa said, "I just want a quiet life now. Do surgery, hang out with family."

"You can have that," Leo promised.

"Wedding planning," Owen questioned.

"Soon," Leo said, "our own place, vehicles."

"You can do all that and plan," Teddy said, "we can help with the wedding. We want to help."

"I need to do one thing at a time," Theresa said, "Leo?"

"We should settle a bit," Leo agreed, "I just want to be home. I haven't been home in 15 years."

"It's been a long time," Owen agreed, "it's good to have you home."

"It's time," Leo agreed.