When Hate Turns to Love- Part 2

Ch. 11

After Nini had her cursory exam, her doctor spread some sort of cold jelly substance on her stomach.

"Are you ready to hear and see your baby?" Doctor Quinn, instrument in hand.

Ricky squeezed his wife's hand and nodded along with Nini as they focused on the screen.

The room was suddenly filled with beautiful, steady thumping.

"Is that-" Ricky asked.

Dr. Quinn nodded.

"That's the baby's heartbeat."

"My new favorite sound." Ricky breathed.

"And here we are Mr. and Mrs. Bowen."

Dr. Quinn pointed to a small being on the black and white screen.

"Oh, my god." Ricky said, touching the screen, "It's so tiny."

Nini smiled at Ricky's reaction. It was just like hers when she saw Charlotte and Connor. Though she was more surprised at the time, finding out she was having two babies.

"Nini, do you see it?" Ricky was in heaven.

It was just so amazing. That little baby was a part of him.

"It's pretty incredible isn't it?" Nini said, laying a gentle hand on her husband's arm.

"It's the best thing ever." Ricky said in a hushed tone.

"First time daddy?" Dr. Quinn asked, smiling.

Ricky nodded, now unable to speak, he was so choked up.

Dr. Quinn cleaned Nini up and handed Ricky a DVD of the ultrasound and a few pictures to Nini, because Ricky was already out the door.

"We have to invite everybody over!" he said excitedly as they left.

Suddenly camera flashes blinded the two of them.

"Nini are you pregnant?"

"Ricky are you going to be a father?"

Ricky shielded his eyes and wrapped an arm around his wife.

"Go ahead and confirm it." she whispered into his ear so she could be heard over the shouts, "Get it over with."

Ricky let out a piercing whistled.

"Quiet down, because I'm only saying this once!"

The crowd went silent.

"My wife is pregnant, yes, nine weeks." he said, "It is too soon to tell if it is a boy or a girl. That is all."

Ricky and Nini ignored any further questions and drove away.

LINE BREAK

"It doesn't look like a baby." Connor said, tilting his head to one side and then the other, "It looks like a ball of play dough."

Nini laughed as Connor moved closer to the television.

"It won't look like much of anything for a few more weeks." she said.

"Were we that tiny?" Charlotte asked.

"Yep." Nini said, pulling her daughter into her arms, "I can show you the pictures later if you'd like."

Charlotte nodded.

Ricky walked into the room on the phone.

"Mom, it was the most incredible thing I have ever seen!" he exclaimed, "Of course we'll send you a picture."

The awe and amazement still hadn't worn off yet.

"It's so little. And it's a part of me!" Ricky continued to gush almost girlishly.

"It's just a picture." Connor said, sending his mother a confused look.

Nini smiled.

"Your daddy's just a bit excited."

"Do you and Dad want in on a bet?" Ricky asked.

"Ricky!" Nini chastised.

"Boy or girl mom?"

Ricky listened for a moment.

"Ok, Nins, Mom is down for a boy, Dad's down for a girl." Ricky said, sitting down beside Nini, "Fifty bucks. Glad you're on my side mom."

Nini rolled her eyes.

"Neither, Nini is remaining neutral." Ricky continued, "I know, no fun right?"

"Hey!" Nini exclaimed, smacking her husband's chest rather hard.

"Ooof. Gotta go mom. Love you."

Ricky hung up, rubbing his chest.

"Geez darling." he huffed, taking Charlotte from Nini and pulling her onto his lap, "Your mommy's a little violent."

Charlotte giggled.

"Don't tell them that!" Nini cried.

"What do you say we go out to eat to celebrate?"

"Red Lobster!" Connor shouted, jumping up and down.

"Sounds good Little Man." Ricky said.

He couldn't wait for the the expansion of his already perfect family.