The Guard To My Sanctuary

Chapter 21

Marco

We walaked into the doctor's office, arguing whether having a daughter would be better than having a son. I was determined to make him see my side, which meant he would have to agree that having a son would be better. The building was open and warm, with vanilla wafting through the air. The lights cast an amber glow, and soft elevator music played in the background.

This was the opposite of what I was used to in military hospitals, which tended to be crowded and cold. Elm wasn't my husband, and it would be pretty hard to get my affordable but not always the best healthcare to cover a male pregnancy, even if we got them to believe that was true. Elm also wanted nobody other than close family members to know what was happening with the pregnancy.

"Look, a son would be so much better. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have a little princess running around the house, but I want someone to play catch with," I argued.

"So a girl can't play ball? I wasn't aware that girls didn't have arms and hands, but thanks for informing me," he shot back.

"I want a junior," I said, trying not to fall into his trap. He may not be a fighter, but he was a master instigator.

"And I want some soda, but I can't have that, can I?" he sighed. I knew he would kill for a cold glass of watermelon Fanta. Still, I read that having caffeine during pregnancy and barred soda, coffee, and even some teas was terrible.

"Nope, but you can drink your water. It's good for you," I said, stopping us both and waiting for Elm to drink some water from the bottle in his hands.

"I'll be happy with whatever we have. I would prefer a boy, but if it's a girl, I'll cherish her just as much," I said, kissing his forehead. Then we walked to the check-in counter, Elm holding onto my shirt. We had gotten there early to avoid any questions from people who might ask why two men were in a gynecology and pediatrics practice. Dr. Nussbaum told us to come in before their official opening when we told him that Elm was pregnant.

"Hello, we're here for our 7:30 special appointment with Dr. Nussbaum," I told the woman behind the desk.

"Hello, Marco and Elm. Follow me," Dr. Nussbaum said, appearing in the hallway to the left of us before the receptionist could say anything. We walked over to him, and he brought us into an exam room. I lifted my partner up and placed him on the exam table so Elm wouldn't have to climb and sat beside him. Elm's pediatrician was the only person in the state with knowledge about Elm's condition, so he would be caring for him well into adulthood or until he retired.

"Alright, well, the first thing I want to say is congratulations to you guys. Children, no matter how they get here or who they come from, are some of the biggest blessings you can receive. I have no doubt you two will bring a beautiful child into a loving home. Although I am incredibly happy for you, I have a duty as a professional healer to tell you some flat-out risks if you choose to continue with this pregnancy."

"Okay," I said, taking Elm's hand and noticing he was getting nervous. This was a lot of pressure for him, and I was feeling a little guilty for not using a condom, but it was too late to turn back now. If I could turn back time, I had no idea if I would do anything different. I was wildly happy at becoming a father to the man that I loved, but I hated that I was also putting his body through these changes.

"Well, the most pressing risks concern Elm's well-being, not just the baby's. Though his body has made adjustments to get pregnant, his anatomy is mostly male. Also, he's petite and slender, which is common for people with his condition. Suppose he doesn't gain enough weight by eating the proper foods, which I will tell him about later. In that case, he won't have enough nutrients to share with the baby, which can be catastrophic. The baby will take what it can to survive, even if Elm will go without," Dr. Nussbaum explained.