Jack wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek on the softness of her hair. “And I still don’t. I don’t like the thought that the future is fixed no matter what we do. So … I’ll be glad if this child turns out to be that young lady, but I’m not going to hope for that specifically.”
He kissed Katelynn’s forehead. “All I want is a happy, healthy child for us to raise and love. Anything else will just be a bonus.”
The blue man looked up as there was a knock on the door, and the doctor came in. She was a petite woman, not much taller than Katelynn, with bobbed salt-and-pepper hair, and wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. When she moved, it was with the quick, perky movements of a small bird.
“Good morning, Mrs. Maple! And Mr. Maple, glad to see you here again!”
“Yeah..” she mused softly, yet Katelynn could not help but wish with all of her heart that the young woman had truly been her daughter. Despite being a stranger at first, the browned haired stutterer had fallen in love with the firecracker – her energy, how much she reminded her of Jack in subtle ways.
And when she had looked in Gail’s eyes, there had been such a longing there. It had tugged at her heart strings after the confession of her identity.
She was broken from such thoughts by the entrance of the doctor, straightening herself back up with a light groan. Her hand still cradling her stomach protectively ( grateful she had disposed of the water cup long ago ) and yet she still smiled over at the white coat wearing woman. “Hi d-doctor. Tod-day’s finally the day…” Her free hand sought out Jack’s squeezing it softly for reassurance.
“It is indeed,” the doctor said with a beaming smile. She did notice Katelynn’s nervousness, and the hint of nervousness in the blue man beside her, but she had no way of knowing the true reason. Time travel and children’s visits from the future weren’t something that had appeared in the expectant mother’s medical history. As far as she knew, the couple were only nervous about how their hybrid child was likely to turn out.
Personally, the doctor wasn’t worried. There had been at least two blue hybrids born in the city that she’d heard of, and word in the medical community was that both had been healthy and functional. Still, she would be keeping a close eye on Mrs. Maple’s pregnancy.
The doctor continued to speak as she set up equipment. “So, how are you feeling today? Any new aches and pains, or anything else you’d like to talk about?”
Jack Maple 