He Who Conquers Others Is Strong, He Who Conquers Himself Is Mighty

The Doctor's Office

**Disclaimer** As most of you are aware, I am English and my knowledge of how doctor's appointments go over in the US is very limited, so for ease I am going to just cover what would happen in an English appointment in terms of number of scans etc. Thanks!

"Okay Mrs Edelman." the doctor said after examining my stomach, "we will just take a urine sample and  send it off with your blood work and then you can be on your way" she said as I sat back up. Julian helped me off the medical couch and we moved back to the chairs in front of the doctors desk. "It seems I've misplaced some paperwork, please just excuse me for a moment" she said and then got up to leave the room. 

"am I driving you crazy again?" Julian's voice broke the silence of the room. I looked round to him in the chair beside me and shook my head no. He squeezed my hand he was holding a little tighter and smiled at me. "I know you're only doing it because you care, and you're worried about me, but Julian, I swear I'm okay. You don't have to wrap me in cotton wool" I added and he frowned a little. "but you got precious cargo in there" he said, breaking our gaze to glance at my belly. "I gotta protect what's mine." he said "always" he added with another soft smile. Ugh that man. 

"Okay..." the lady doctor sighed as she re-entered the room with whatever she needed. "I will get ths sent off as soon as possible, and you will get a letter in the mail with an appointment for your first scan" those words had me filled with excitement. And dread. Julian squeezed my hand even tighter, and I held back the shaky break that would reveal the trepidation I was feeling. I glanced to him with a smile on my face, he bought it- but the doctor didn't. 

"Are you okay Penny?" she asked me softly. I looked from Julian to her and I bit my lip. "it's perfectly normal to have concerns" she said, and I swallowed hard. "babe?" Julian's voice sounded nervous. I looked back to him and smiled- seeing the concern etched on his face. "I'm just nervous is all. I-I just want everything to be okay" I said, unconsciously rubbing circle on my tummy. "It's perfectly normal to feel this way. Particularly with this being your first pregnancy." she told me. "everything will be fine. You're a young healthy woman. I have no doubt you will have a perfect little baby in 8 months." she smiled. "8 months short stack!" Julian whispered excitedly beside me. I couldn't help but giggle at his child like excitement, "but one thing I will say-" she continued, and we both looked back to her instantly. "Julian, you need to give Penny some space. She knows you care, but for both of your sanities- give her a little space." She told him gently. His perfect eyes blink a few times and he nodded. My heart tightened as I could see it upset him. But then the doctor spoke up again. "So. That being said, we will see you again in a few weeks. In the mean time- take your vitamins, get plenty of gentle exercise and enjoy it. Your world will be turn upside down soon and you won't know what hit you" she grinned at me. I nodded at her and let out a small -albeit nervous- laugh. "thanks Doc" Julian said as he got up. And I noticed it was the first time he hadn't offered to help me. "thank you" I added following them to the door. "my pleasure. Take care" she smiled before we left the room. 

.....

"are you okay?" I asked him once we were both in the car. He sat back in his seat and sighed. He didn't look at me, just stared straight ahead. "J?" I pushed a little. Then he finally turned to look at me. "I-I just wanna help. I feel useless." he told me, but I smiled and took his hand in both of mine. "you are helping. You're here with me. You're no way useless." I assured him. "right now of course it's going to be all about me. I'm carrying the baby" I giggled. "but when he or she gets a little bigger and my ankles swell and my back hurts from my ginormous boobs, I'm gonna need endless amounts of foot rubs and shoulder rubs..." I sighed, "not to mention the late night take outs for the cravings I'm gonna get- and then there's the piles that I'll need ointment on-" 
"Pen. Babe" He cut me off. I looked at him with amusement seeing his eyes wide and his face pale, "I love you. A-and if you need me to do...any of that, then I will. But please, let's just stop talking about it." he said, swallowing hard. And I giggled. "you'd put ointment on my piles for me?" I asked him with a pouty face thinking how cute he was. "yes" he said bluntly, starting the engine. "that's sweet" I cooed at him, making him give me a blank stare and I laughed, "but like seriously J? When would I ever let you near my butthole?" I raised my brow at him. "ya never know bubs, ya might like it" he winked.

.......

"I swear to god I hope you get a craving for burgers" he sighed as he studied the menu for lunch. I clicked my tongue at him and he raised his eyes from the menu to look at me and smirked. "I think you eat enough of them for the lot of us" I replied and he chuckled. "what cravings has Allie had?" he asked looking back at his menu. "Crunchie bars from back home" I giggled. Julian's head shot up, "if only we'd have bought the store earlier- we'd be making a killin' outta her right now" he laughed as I face palmed. "well, you never know, I may start to eat up all of our profits" I shrugged. "I'll just ban you from going in there"

"But it's my shop!" I whined, "don't care. I don't want my little man coming outta you like a Jelly Baby" he shook his head and I gasped. "You can't say that!" 

"just did short stack." he grinned, "don't want him rearranging the furniture down there too much either- if ya know what I mean" he winked and I gasped even louder. "are you serious?!" I whispered at him across the table, but he chuckled even more. "You're an ass Julian Francis" I snapped at him, trying to hold back my smirk as I knew he was only teasing me. "I'll just go and stock up on goodies when you're at an away game" I said, closing my menu. "when I'm on my maternity leave" I said smugly. "babe, you'll have had the baby by then" My smile dropped and I looked at him in confusion. "b-but we can take time off before it's born back home!" I protested. Julian shrugged, "well I think here you work up to having it" I huffed and folded my arms. "but were you going to go back to work after he's born?" he asked me, and I looked back at him like it was a stupid question to ask. "well, yeah" I replied, and he looked surprised. "don't you want me to go back to work?" I asked him and he thought for a moment. "well, I guess I haven't thought about it. I mean, I always assumed you'd stay at home. Raise the kids. I can support us, that's never gonna be an issue" he explained, "but this is you we're talking about." he said- and I didn't know how to take that. "you love your work. Which isn't a bad thing. But like, I don't wanna be one of those families that sticks their kids in day care coz they have to go to work." he shrugged. "We're lucky we don't have to do that babe" and I knew he was right, I 100% agreed with that. I guess I just hadn't let it all sink in just yet. I mean, give up work? That had not even entered my head. "I- I don't wanna be like that either J...I just, I haven't really thought that far ahead." I sighed. "well we have a little time to think about it" he replied, taking my hand. "but we don't. I'll need to talk to Nick about it. He'll need cover." I said a little panicked. "calm down babe. we'll figure it out-" he reassured me. "right now I just want this damn server to come back over so I can order"