This year my wifes return did not automatically pop up. do i need to do a separate return ?

You don't need to do it in a separate return. In order to make a return together follow the steps below

To prepare your returns together using TurboTax Online:

1. Sign in to your TurboTax account
2. Select Start a new return
3. Select the TurboTax Online product you wish to use, and indicate how you did your taxes last year
4. On the Welcome step, select My spouse/partner and me under the question Who are you preparing this return for?
5. Follow the prompts to enter your personal information. On the What's your marital status? step, select Married or Living Common-law
6. Do you want to prepare your returns together?, select Yes
7. Select Continue and proceed with completing your returns

 If you’ve already started your return but haven’t indicated that you want to prepare together, you'll need to start a new return and indicate that you want to prepare your spouse or common-law partner’s return together with yours.

Thanks for Choosing TurboTax.