More than Expected

Part 24

May 2, 2013
17 weeks 3 days
     She wishes the school year was over already. She hated the stress she felt over exams and then the added stress of putting stress on herself while pregnant. She also hated wearing sweatshirts in the middle of a New York spring to hide her bump even though half of the school somehow found out about her pregnancy and feels the need to spread rumors. She knows it's dumb to try and hide her pregnancy, especially because the cat will be out of the bag at the end of this month when she attends prom with Rick.
     The red, sequin dress she purchased does very little to hide her bump and she's just preparing for when half of the school will have their suspicions confirmed and will sneak pictures of her to have proof to share with the rest of the school who aren't attending prom. The final bell rings and she makes her way to her locker to put her books away. She feels his presence before she sees him, "Hi." He whispers in her ear. "Hey." "What's wrong?" "I'll show you in the car. I don't want to be late for our appointment."
     They walk out to her car and climb in, "Okay, what's wrong?" He asks once he's settled in the passenger seat. She pulls her sweatshirt up and points to her lower stomach, "I'm starting to get stretch marks." She says. He leans forward to see what she's pointing at and notices the faintest, squiggly marks starting to form, "Baby, they aren't that noticeable and even if they were, it's natural things that many pregnant women get. It doesn't mean you're any less beautiful." He tells her, "But what about when I'm not pregnant anymore and my stomach is all stretched and covered in stretch marks?"
     "I'm still going to love you and think you're the most beautiful woman on the planet. I'll think you're even more beautiful because I know what your body is going through to give us our baby." He assures her. A tear slips down her cheek, "Do you have to leave tonight?" She asks. He's flying to Chicago tonight for the MEPS that he must go through tomorrow and Saturday before flying back home on Sunday. He reaches his hand out and rests it on her bump, "I'll be back on Sunday and I'll call you every night." He promises.
     She nods before backing out of the parking spot and driving to her doctor's office for their third appointment. She's shocked that they barely sat down before her name is called to take her back and get her measurements. This appointment shouldn't take that long because it's just an ultrasound to check on their baby's measurements. The ultrasound tech gets the ultrasound up and running quickly and Kate's heart races when she their baby appears on the machine. The expecting parents hold their breaths as they wait to hear the ultrasound tech's analysis on their baby.
"Your little one looks perfect. You can see their spine and that's one of their arms, it looks like the other one is hidden behind their belly." She says as she points to the different parts of their baby's body. "Let's listen to their heartbeat and then you guys should be good to go." The ultrasound tech tells them. She pulls out a doppler and finds their baby's heartbeat. Kate tears up like she usually does when she hears her baby's heartbeat. "138 beats per minute which is perfect. Everything looks perfect. Your little one is right on track. Just keep doing what you're doing. Dr. Bells wants you to schedule your next appointment for about four weeks from now and that will be your anatomy scan so schedule it on a day where you can spare a few hours because that scan does take a little while." The ultrasound tech tells her.
After getting her sonograms and scheduling her next appointment, she drives herself and Rick to Remy's before she has to drive him to the airport. They both get burgers and fries and Rick gets a Coke while Kate gets a vanilla milkshake, "No strawberry?" He asks.
     She shakes her head, "Too sweet." She explains before scrunching her face. He chuckles, "I'm gonna miss you, beautiful." He tells her, "Please don't talk about it. I'm going to start crying." She begs him. He takes her hand in his, "I'll be back before you know it." He tells her. She nods and wipes her eyes before they continue their meal. Once they're done eating, Kate drives them to the airport. "Please call me when you get there." She requests, "I will and I'll FaceTime you when I get to the hotel. I'll call you every night until I get back and once I do get back, I'll hold you all day."
     She smiles before leaning in and kissing him, "I love you. We love you." She says, "I love you guys too. I'll see you Sunday." "Always." She says before pressing one last kiss to his lips and letting him walk into the airport.
Part 24! I'm back! Enjoy ;)