Leo and Theresa came upstairs together both beaming.

"You had something to tell us," Owen said, taking in the couple's faces, "I'm guessing it's good news."

"We do," Leo said, "Theresa is pregnant."

"Wow," Teddy beamed, "how far along? How are you feeling? I'm so exited for you. You must be so happy!"

"Nine weeks so we brought this little one home with us," Theresa smiled, "and I'm okay."

"You've only been home 3 weeks," Owen said.

"We figured it out about ten days before we came home so we kept it to ourselves," Theresa replied, "I know the precautions from talking to Allie with her last two babies."

"Not getting sick," Teddy asked, she hadn't noticed Theresa vomiting the way she had or her daughters.

"Some nausea and no appetite but I've only vomited a couple times," Theresa replied.

"First baby, are you excited," Owen asked.

"We are," Leo replied.

"If you need a mom I'm here," Teddy smiled, "I know I'm not your mom and would never dream of replacing her but if you need anything I'm here and I want to help. And you have sisters in law who've done it a few times as well. I'm sure both Annie and Allie will want to be supportive. Our family is here to love and support both of you and this little one."

"Allie knows," Leo replied, "we'll tell Annie when we see her. It was nice to talk to Asher at the cabin and figure out how to be there for Theresa and what worked for them."

"Josh is a good one two especially the working together part," Owen suggested, "mom and I that was so long ago."

The couples separated and Teddy mentioned for Theresa to sit with her, "your first baby and first pregnancy is hard sweetheart. If you need anything I want you to feel safe coming to me. The changes happen fast and your body doesn't feel like yours."

Theresa took a deep breath, "I have or had a daughter when I was 18. Her name is Aliyana and she's in Portland."

"Adoption," Teddy asked.

"I wasn't ready," Theresa replied, "she needed more than I could give her. I loved her too much to do it on my own. Her dad never acknowledged her."

"Oh sweetheart I would have never approached today the way I did if I knew," Teddy sighed, "the things you must be thinking and remembering. Do you know anything about her?"

"I'm seeing her next week," Theresa replied, "she's almost 17."

"How do you feel about it," Teddy asked.

"I want to see her but I'm anxious," Theresa said, "what if she doesn't like me."

"I felt the same when Annie was 19," Teddy replied, "you'll know what to say when you meet Aliyana. Let her take the lead."

"How do I tell her why I didn't keep her," Theresa asked, "I wanted to. But she deserved better than me at the time. I was just a kid, I didn't have the skills or ability to give her the life she deserved. I wanted more for her and for myself. Allison is a one in a million story and only because Asher stayed and you and Owen had the resources to support and help them."

"She is the exception," Teddy agreed, "and you tell Aliyana what you just told me. You made the decision you did because you love her. You chose her parents out of your love for her. It's the hardest choice, to carry your baby for 9 months, go through labour and not be able to hold them or see them smile."

"I got an hour with her," Theresa replied, "I just hugged her and kissed her and gave her her first bottle."

"And you probably told her how much you loved her," Teddy guessed, "I did the same but they didn't let me feed her. I was 21 and it took 19 years until I saw her smile. You'll know the moment you see her it's your baby."

"You and Annie are so close," Theresa said.

"It's 35 years of spending time with her," Teddy replied, "let her come to you how she wants and she needs you. She does need you and it's always evolving. Annie and I are a rare exception because of some other dynamics with the family that adopted her and her mother and sister who have passed."

"They never changed her name," Theresa said.

"They did," Teddy replied, "she was Annie McKellar or Annabeth legally. She changed her name in med school."

"Why," Theresa asked.

"I'll let her tell that story," Teddy replied, "how are you feeling?"

"Okay I haven't been too sick, not like your girls describe," Theresa said.

"Worried about anything," Teddy asked.

"I had preeclampsia with my first and a failed induction and emergency C-section," Theresa said.

"That's hard," Teddy agreed, "but your body has had so much time to heal and get strong. I found similarities in both of mine and my body did a lot of first baby things with Allison that we didn't expect because it had been 25 years. I don't know how Allison gets so sick. Annie doesn't get as sick, she was with Ellie but her other three she was better."

"They're both so little to begin with it's not like they have much in reserve," Theresa said, "I'm in shape now but before I enlisted I was always slightly overweight."

"I don't know," Teddy replied, "it might be genetic. I got sick but I pushed through where Allison especially gives in to it and lets herself feel it. But this is your baby and your pregnancy. Your body is going to do what it needs to."

"We have to go back in a week for another ultrasound to confirm before it gets out but it might be twins," Theresa said.

"Two," Teddy smiled, "are you ready for that?"

"I am," Theresa replied, "we haven't told Allison yet. We only had the appointment the day after we got home and the OB wasn't sure if it was a shadow or another baby so we have to check again."

"If you need anything," Teddy said, "I'm here. We will help however you want us. We love babysitting and have lots of kids stuff here. We've had littles around for the last 30 years. It's never stopped."

"Wow and now we add to it," Leo said.

"We want it," Owen said, "a big family of kids, grandkids, great grandkids. To have that home everyone comes to."

"Even if it's twins," Leo asked, "we're not sure and have to go back and check again next week."

"We haven't had twins yet," Owen smiled, "we'll help."

"We still don't know," Leo said.

"What do you think," Teddy asked.

"The way I'm feeling and the fact that I feel like I'm showing already I think it's twins," Theresa said.

"Your hiding it well because I haven't noticed," Teddy said.

"You haven't swam with us we've been careful about that," Theresa said, "in a swim suit its clear."

Theresa pulled her sundress tight against her belly.

"Just a little," Teddy smiled, "it's good. They're growing. Growing is good."

"It is," Theresa agreed, "but I need to go shopping."

"Be comfortable," Teddy assured, "I've shopped for maternity clothes with my girls 7 times now. Lots of cute and comfortable things out there."

"Are you okay with 8 or 9 grand kids," Leo asked.

"Either way this is my last baby," Theresa said, "I'm 35."

"I was 46 with Allison," Teddy replied, "babies come when it's the right time. I didn't plan either of the girls and we didn't plan on adopting Leo but they're all here."

"But so many grand kids," Theresa asked.

"Three kids and you all like children," Owen smiled, "it's going to happen. You okay with the fact that your baby will be younger than their second cousin?"

"That's a bit weird," Leo admitted, "but Annie's family has always been hard to explain."

"We're happy for you," Owen smiled, "home, getting settled, having a baby or two."

"I want it to be twins," Theresa admitted, "there's something special about twins and that connection."

"There is," Owen agreed.

"My birth mom's mom was a twin," Leo said, "so it runs in families."

"Maybe," Teddy smiled, "what do you feel like for dinner Theresa? What's tasting good? What's revolting?"

"No meat," Theresa said, "I can't do meat or eggs."

"I felt the same so did Annie and Allie," Teddy smiled, "what if I did a really light summery salad with some beans or chickpeas? Get some protein in you, lots of fresh veggies."

"Your one with the peanut dressing," Theresa asked.

"I have everything for that,"Teddy smiled, "would you be okay if I did some chickpeas for you and I but threw some chicken on the BBQ outside for Owen and Leo?"

"As long as I don't smell it cooking or eat it I'm okay," Theresa replied.

"Let's do that," Teddy smiled.

Teddy got up to make dinner, pausing on her way to the kitchen to hug the young couple.