We Got Lots Of History

Doctor's Appointment (TW)

Warnings: talks of infertility and general stress if you find that triggering it is best to skip this chapter

One week.

That was how long their bliss had lasted. Reality came knocking at their door a late Wednesday afternoon in the form of a crying Minerva, worrying her wedding ring, a simple gold wedding band matching the one in Thomas' hand. She was speaking in labored breaths barely making a sentence as she stumbled over various words. Eventually she had cried herself to sleep in Cassie's arms, the sheer exhaustion of something so mundane such as crying taking over her whole body.

The sunrise found them at an empty hospital hallway, cold and unnatural. Minerva's leg was moving up and down at a rapid pace, her anxiety clear in her movements. "I haven't told him." Her voice was small and almost childlike. "I was too scared to face the truth." She rubbed her hand, trying to calm herself down. "We have been trying for months, you know. But to no avail. Am I asking too much?"

"Aw sweetheart..."

"And I am the problem. I just know that. What if I am infertile? We want a baby so much Cass. And what if I can't offer that?"

" According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility affects roughly 6.1 million people in the United States -- about 10% of the reproductive-age population. About one-third of infertility cases are due to problems with the woman (female factors) and one-third are due to problems with the man (male factors). Other cases are due to a combination of female and male factors or to unknown causes. So you cant possibly be the problem alone, it could be Thomas or it could be both..."

"You know statistics aren't that comforting as you might think." Minerva said with a wet laugh.

"Let's tackle this logically. Some of the most common causes of female infertility include endometriosis, uterine scarring, blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes, hormonal imbalances and ovulatory problems. Do you have anything related to that?"

"No. No that I know of..."

"Then it is good that we are at a Muggle hospital. You know science these days is evolving so fast that I am sure if there is something wrong we can find a way to fix that."

"What if he leaves me?" She says after a tense silence. Insecurity clouding her voice. "He has been chasing me for years, what if I ... can't give him the baby he wants so desperately?"

"Now that is crazy. The man loves the bones of you. You could be the worst person on this planet and he would still worship you. There is no chance that he would leave you for something like this. I am sure. If anything he would have adoption papers at the ready."

"He is crazy like that, isn't he?" Fondness coloured her voice and her shoulders seemed to slightly lift up.

"Yeah. Are you ready to open the file now?"

"Can you do it? Please? And ... rip the bandage if it's bad news." Cassie's hands shook as she opened up the letter and read the doctors messy scrawl, trying to decipher all the information and a smile appeared in her face as tears run down her face. "What? Is it that bad? Are you trying to trick me with that smile like you did back in fourth year with that horrendous dress? Because if you are I will kill you. I swear to Godruck I will murder you in the most -"

"You're alright. There is no problem. It is said that you have an extremely high blood pressure due to stress. Amd the doctor says that while it's unlikely that stress alone can cause infertility, stress interferes with a woman's ability to get pregnant. Research has shown that women with a history of depression and stress are twice as likely to experience infertility. Anxiety also can prolong the time needed to achieve pregnancy. That's it. You just have to relax, sweets. You can have your baby. You're alright."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh"

"I need to tell Thomas." She said before she grabbed her purse and run for the exit, only to hurl herself back to Cassie and knock the neath clean out of her in a bear hug. "Thank you. I knew I made the right choice to befriend you back then. I love you."

"I love you too. You nutcase now go to your husband because he will have a heart attack. If he doesn't find you in bed with him when he wakes up."