Chapter Text
It had been one of those days. The kind where every reflection you passed felt like a reminder of something you wanted to change. You felt like your clothes didn’t fit quite the way you wished they would, and you couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t just a bad day.
You stood in front of the bathroom mirror, frowning at your reflection. The weight of self-doubt hung heavy on your chest, and you adjusted your shirt for what felt like the hundredth time, trying to hide the parts of yourself that you couldn’t stop picking apart.
"Everything okay in there?" Teddy’s soft voice echoed from the bedroom. She was probably perched on the edge of the bed, her blonde hair in that casual messy bun she always wore after a long shift at Grey Sloan Memorial. The kind of messy that still made her look effortlessly beautiful.
You hesitated for a second. Teddy was your girlfriend, sure. She was supportive and loving, but you couldn’t help wondering if she noticed the same things you did. If she looked at you the way you looked at yourself sometimes, with judgment.
"Yeah, I’m fine," you said automatically, though the lump in your throat said otherwise.
Teddy knew better. She always did. It was something that came with being a doctor, maybe. She had a way of reading people, noticing even the smallest changes. It was one of the reasons she was so good at her job, and she was so good at being there for you. You heard the quiet creak of the floorboards as she made her way toward you.
You met her eyes in the mirror’s reflection as she stepped into the doorway. Teddy stood there for a moment, her arms crossed, her lips tugged into that soft, gentle smile that made you feel safe. But today, the insecurities gnawing at you made it hard to accept that comfort.
"Hey," she said softly, her voice tender. "What’s going on?"
You shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It’s nothing," you mumbled. "Just… not feeling great today."
Teddy didn’t move from the doorway, but she watched you carefully. Her gaze wasn’t critical, though, that was the thing. Even on your worst days, she looked at you like you were the most important person in the world. But right now, you didn’t feel like you deserved that.
"Come on, don’t do that," she said, taking a few steps closer. "Talk to me."
Your stomach twisted. There was no point hiding from her. You swallowed hard, your hands gripping the edge of the bathroom counter. "I just… I feel like nothing fits right. I hate looking in the mirror, Teddy. I don’t look the way I want to, and I feel like…" You bit your lip, your eyes filling with frustrated tears. "I feel like I’m not enough. Like I don’t look like I should. Not for me… and not for you."
The silence hung heavy between you for a moment, and you forced yourself to look away, afraid of what you might see in her face. But instead of any of the judgment you feared, you felt the soft warmth of her hand sliding around your waist, pulling you closer.
"Hey," she whispered, turning you gently so that you were facing her instead of the mirror. Her hands rested lightly on your hips as she leaned in, her forehead touching yours. "I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re not enough. Not for me, not for anyone. Because you’re perfect just the way you are."
Her words hit you like a wave, and you blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. "But what if I’m not? What if I never feel… comfortable?"
Teddy’s thumbs brushed soothing circles against your sides. "I know it’s hard, and I know it’s not something that changes overnight. But I also know that you don’t have to be anything other than who you are right now for me to love you."
You wanted to believe her, but it was hard. She was Teddy Altman, this strong, intelligent, incredibly beautiful woman. And you? You had days like today, where you couldn’t even look at yourself without feeling less than.
"I just don’t see what you see," you whispered, feeling small under the weight of your own thoughts.
Teddy stepped back slightly, but only to take your face in her hands. She tilted your chin up gently, her blue eyes meeting yours with such unwavering tenderness that it nearly broke you. "Then let me show you what I see," she said, her voice low but steady.
She leaned in closer, her lips brushing your cheek, then the corner of your mouth, before resting on your forehead. "I see someone who’s strong. I see someone who gets up every day and keeps going, even when it’s hard. I see someone who makes me laugh, who makes me feel lucky every single day. And yes," she added, a smile tugging at her lips, "I see someone who is absolutely gorgeous."
You wanted to argue, to tell her all the ways she was wrong. But the warmth of her words melted away some of the doubt, even if just a little. Teddy pressed her forehead against yours again, her breath soft against your skin. "I don’t love you for how you look in the mirror. I love you. All of you. And that’s never going to change."
The sincerity in her voice was undeniable. She wasn’t just saying it to make you feel better, and she meant every word. You leaned into her touch, allowing yourself to breathe a little easier in the safe space she’d created for you.
"I don’t know if I can fix how I feel about myself," you admitted softly, your voice cracking just a bit.
Teddy smiled gently. "You don’t have to fix anything. We’ll take it one day at a time, together. And if you ever forget how amazing you are, I’ll be right here to remind you."
Her arms wrapped around you, pulling you into a tight hug, and you buried your face in her shoulder, letting the last of your tension melt away in her embrace. She smelled faintly of the hospital, a mix of antiseptic and that comforting scent that was just her. It was grounding, reminding you that you weren’t alone in this.
Teddy pulled back slightly, brushing a strand of hair away from your face as she smiled down at you. "Let’s get out of here, okay? No more mirrors, no more overthinking. Just you, me, and a cozy night in."
You nodded, feeling a weight lift from your chest. "I’d like that."
And as she took your hand, leading you out of the bathroom, you couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, with Teddy by your side, you were going to be okay.