I nodded.
“Yes.”
He made a few hmm noises and turned on the machine. He grabbed the hand held device and squirted some gel onto my stomach.
“Okay, let’s take a peek at the little one…see what is happening.” He watched the screen as he placed the device to my skin. The screen lit up to a blinding white color, then went dark.
“Powerful bugger. Let’s try that again,” he commented and turned on the machine again. My hands sought out Tristan’s, and he wrapped his around mine as we anxiously waited for some answers. This time when the screen came to life, we saw all different shades of black and white. That weird tickling feeling settled in me as I watched movement on the screen. I had no words.
“See there. That’s your baby.” He pointed towards the moving shadow on the screen. Tristan’s hands on mine tightened. Our baby.
“Oh my! Well, that explains some things.” My head snapped to the doctor’s face.
“Oh God, is something wrong?” I felt the tickle increase.
“She is good, and so is he.” What? I blanked. She? He? Tristan asked what I couldn’t open my mouth to get out.
“Explain, please?” We looked back to the screen and I saw it.
“You’re carrying twins. A boy and a girl. They are measuring to what I would say is about 20 weeks gestation.” Twins. I was shocked. I was vaguely aware of the doctor wiping me up and fiddling with buttons on the machine. Twins…
“Doctor, what is happening with the babies and Thalia? Twenty weeks can’t be right.” Thank the gods Tristan was on point in this exam—I was absolutely shocked out of my mind.
“Depending on the child’s parentage, pregnancy gestation can be difficult to gauge. I’ve known children of Athena who have blinked and had a baby. It would seem your children are growing at a rapid pace, so when they should be measuring at 9 weeks gestation they are measuring at 20 weeks. As best as I can, tell they both look very healthy to me. I wouldn’t worry much about their growth; demigod children are smart. Their intelligence is well beyond that of a mortal. Now here is a sheet of common questions and answers, along with a pregnancy packet. I’d like for you to read over these, and in week I’d like to see you again and check on your progress.” I accepted a little tote bag of booklets and papers.
“Thank you,” I muttered, still reeling from the news.
“Hang in there; everything is fine and is going to be fine.” He smiled. I really hoped he was right.
I slipped into my clothes again after he left, Tristan and I both quiet, still in shock. Things were happening so fast. I mean, I was already twenty weeks along, with twins! How soon would I be having these babies? My mind was racing and racing as we walked back out to the car and Tristan drove home. I know he felt everything I was feeling in my soul. I hated that for him, because I’m sure he was freaking out in his own way. I mean, he was going to be a dad, and soon. I thought we had 9 months to get used to the idea. It’s exciting at first, and still is, but now thoughts of the responsibility, and birth. Gah, I was going to have to push out two babies!
We both walked into the apartment in a daze. I just wanted to eat something and take a break from thinking. So much was going through my head. I was glad I had my wedding band on that helped ground my powers out, because if I didn’t, I bet I would be changing appearance like mad right now.
“I’m gonna eat and lay on the couch,” I said, and grabbed the last bagel and cream cheese. I ate my bagel piece by piece, not really enjoying it but consuming it none the less.
