"How am I looking, Ratch'?" I asked, nerves coursing through my blood.
"You're looking pretty good, Ramona. The baby's looking perfectly on schedule. Your blood pressure is a little on the high side, so we'll keep an eye on that. The hormone levels are good. Are you feeling okay? Any symptoms?" Ratchet asked.
"No, I'm doing okay. Swollen feet, but that's normal. My fingers are swelling, too. My back aches. But I'm okay, otherwise," I assured the bot. Ironhide squeezed my hand in his.
"Okay, everything seems good, then. Put heat on your back and elevate your feet. The heartbeat is still strong, and it looks like you're full term. Any time this baby decides it wants to come into the world, we'll be prepared to bring it. Are the both of you sure you don't want to know the gender of the baby?" he asked once more.
"We're sure," Ironhide answered for the both of us.
"Thank you, Ratchet. We want it to be a surprise," I smiled at the older 'bot. He nodded.
"Make sure you monitor your blood pressure," Ratchet said.
"We will," Ironhide promised. I nodded.
"Is your room prepared for when you go into labor?" Ratchet asked.
"Yes. It's the same as in the nursery," I said, nodding.
"Good," Ratch' said, "I have everything I need as well. Are you absolutely certain that you want to do natural childbirth?" Ratchet asked, "No medication?"
"Yes, I'm sure," I said, though as I said the words my stomach fluttered nervously.
"You'll do fine," Ironhide insisted, comfortingly. I shot him a grateful smile.
"Are we really ready?" I asked 'Hide.
"I think so," he smiled. I was still terrified, but we would be okay.
Soon, we were back home. I went back up to the nursery and went about readjusting all of the plush toys and refolding the clothes and blankets and towels, and switching which outfits went in which drawers, then I went about readjusting the delivery area-smoothing blankets and fluffing pillows. I stacked a few towels next to the special laboring bed that we'd set up on the other side of the nursery.
"Ramona, what on Earth are you doing?" Ironhide's voice asked. I paused, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I didn't respond, I only stared at him, stock-still, "Are you still nesting, Ramona?" 'Hide accused, although amusement was clear in his voice. I didn't respond, and I still didn't move. "Ramona." He stalked forward, taking the towels from my hands and unceremoniously putting them on the bedside table. "You," he said, and wrapped his arms around my middle, "need to stop nesting, Ramona," he sat back on the bed and pulled me with him onto the birthing bed, "You need to relax."
"I can't," I disagreed, "We need to get ready. The baby could come at any moment." Ironhide laughed.
"You don't need to induce labor by walking around," he laughed, "Just relax. This baby will come in due time, Ramona. Relax." He planted a kiss on my temple, "Just...relax, until it comes, okay?"
"I'll try," I relented, but I wasn't pleased about it. I hated being kept off my feet.
"You're so impatient," he said, smiling against my hair.
"I know. I'm just...excited and worried," I said.
"Me too," he agreed, "We're gonna be parents. Our first baby..." he seemed wistful at the thought.
"What d'you think it'll be like?" I asked. He looked thoughtful for a moment.
"It'll have your eyes," he predicted, "and your mouth."
"It'll have your nose," I said, definitively, "and your cheekbones," I paused, "And definitely your personality."
"It'll be perfect," he summarized.
"Yes, it will."
