melancholia. [ ALTERNATE SPIN-OFF ] [ BILLY HARGROVE ]

xxxvii. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

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warning: mature language

PLEASE READ THE MESSAGE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER!

February 14, 1988

Mary checked the time on her watch as she was sitting in the doctor's office with Steve next to her. She didn't trust Billy to join her yet even though it had been a few months since the medicine wore off. She was around four and a half months pregnant, and her doctor told her that they could probably tell the gender by now.

"Everything is going to be fine," Steve reassured Mary. "But if you have a boy, Steve is going somewhere in the name."

"His middle name would be William after his father. It's a tradition to have your first born son's middle name be the father's first name. It's why Billy's middle name is Neil," Mary explained to Steve.

"Well then he can have two middle names," Steve shrugged.

"His second middle name would be Henderson or Dustin," Mary said, Steve rolling his eyes. "Maybe the next kid."

"You know what, fine. You don't get to be named after my first daughter," Steve said, crossing his arms.

"I didn't realize that was going to happen," Mary said, furrowing her eyebrows. "This is actually the first time we've had this discussion."

"Jokes aside, I'm hoping it's a girl," Steve said with a small nod.

"Dustin's hoping for a boy. Why do you want a girl?" Mary asked, looking over at Steve.

"Because Dustin and I have a bet," Steve said, Mary smiling at him. "I owe him fifty dollars if it's a boy, and he owes me fifty dollars if it's a girl."

"Mary Henderson?" a nurse said. She looked over quickly, Steve patting her shoulder. "Come on in." The two stood and followed the nurse, Mary more nervous than ever. She didn't know what she wanted, but she knew that no matter what she was going to love him or her. The nurse led her into a room, Mary getting up on the examination table. "So, today it says it's just a check up and we're supposed to find out the gender of your baby."

"That is correct," Mary said with a bright smile. "I'm nervous. I'm not quite sure if I want a boy or a girl."

"Please be a girl," Steve said, crossing his fingers.

"Well, then let's get to it, shall we?" the nurse said. Mary nodded, looking over at Steve.

"Just relax. Billy's going to love it no matter what," he reassured her. Mary nodded with confidence, looking to the nurse again.

"Okay," she said, "let's do this."

~*~

Night time rolled around, and Billy was sitting in the cabin reading a magazine. His feet were up on the table and he had a drink sitting next to him. The front door opened and closed, Billy turning to see that it was Mary.

"Hey, how was the doctor's and then seeing your mom?" he asked, Mary walking around the couch to him.

"It was great. I actually want to drive us somewhere," Mary said, taking his hands. "A small treat."

"I'm excited," Billy said, setting the magazine on the coffee table.

"But it's a surprise," Mary told him.

"Feels oddly familiar," he said, Mary smiling at him. He grabbed his jean jacket from his room, following Mary out of the house. They both got in the Impala, Mary staring it up and driving down the dirt road.