Forever Young

"What are you hoping for, honestly?" I couldn't fight the wide grin on my face. The fingers on my right hand were dangled loosely over Ember's, though I'd give her a gentle squeeze every now and again. My left hand was firmly on the steering wheel, my eyes staring straight at the road. Of course I'd shoot Ember a few short glances, but it was my job to keep her and the baby safe.. Why she was letting me drive, especially as excited as I was.. I'm not sure. But I wasn't going to fight her on the matter. She trusted me, that was enough.

"I really don't know. There are perks to both genders, aren't there?"
"A little me or a little you," I sighed, beaming at the very idea of finding out the sex of the baby. "I have a good feeling about today."
"Let's just hope the baby doesn't move around so we can't see it," Ember smiled, I could feel her eyes on my face. "I still can't get over the fact that I didn't feel it move until you came home."
"What can I say, babe? I'm just that good." She playfully punched me with her free hand, a giggle coming from her mouth.

Though she hadn't brought it up again after I locked her lips to mine, she was still frustrated with me over what happened. None of that mattered today, though. Her appointment was finally here, and after waiting a few weeks after most women find out, we were so excited to see if we were having a son or a daughter.

Glancing at her, my eyes trailed from her face to her stomach. It was pretty obvious she was pregnant now, what with the swell of her belly, so I made a mental note to take her maternity shopping before I left. The least I could do is make sure she's comfortable while I'm gone. Plus, Ember in cute maternity dresses and tops that showed off her boobs? Hot.

"I'm kind of nervous," Ember admitted, biting her lip through a grin. "I mean, obviously I'm pregnant, but after this it's going to get so real. Jack, I'm going to have a baby. We're going to be parents."
"Don't be nervous. Be excited."
"But what about labor? That shit's gotta hurt."
"That's why they have drugs. Just don't be one of those of those chicks that breaks someone's hand, okay?"
"I won't.. I'll be sure to break your entire arm."
"Ouch."

We shared a laugh, but I knew she was more nervous about actually giving birth than she let on. Given, I could not imagine being a girl. Having a vag and pushing another human out of it, but I knew enough about my wife to know that she could handle it. And that it'd all be worth it. If we can avoid complications at all costs, we'll have it made.

Pulling into the parking lot that Ember had beaten into my brain with directions (and with the help of GPS on my part) I picked a spot and killed the engine. We both climbed out of the car and made our way into the building. Ember signed herself in while I picked two chairs for us to sit in. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I barely noticed her grab my hand and smile at me. It just didn't feel real.

"In a few minutes, we'll know."
"I know." Smiling at each other, I gave Ember's hand a tight squeeze and brought it to my lips for a light kiss.

It only took about ten minutes for a nurse to come get us. They weighed Ember and whatnot before they took us to a private scanning room. It was dark, but I managed to get to the chair beside the bed without hurting anyone. A nurse was adjusting the bed for Ember's lack of height while she got comfortable on her back. There was a big screen hanging on the wall in front of the bed so we'd be able to see the baby when they started the ultrasound. I knew this was probably be the last time we saw the baby until it was born. My heart leaped again.

"-- You'll get your blood tested to see if you have gestational diabetes, so I would suggest eating light the night before and bring a book, it's going to be a long appointment." Perhaps I shouldn't have tuned most of that out. Getting back to reality, I leaned over on the bed to give Ember a quick kiss. The nurse flashed us a smile, but neither of us minded. Ember was forced to pull her shirt up and tuck a scratchy towel into the top of her pants. Two seconds later, they were lubing her up and pressing on her belly with a wand.

"So what made you wait so long?" The nurse asked, taking in the measurements of the baby. "Most people can't wait for the gender reveal."
"Jack's in a band. We had to move a lot of things around so that we could both be here."
"Well, isn't that sweet?" She smiled, tilting the bed back a little further so that Ember's blood was going straight to her head. "Your baby is being stubborn. If you're uncomfortable like that, you can get up and hop around a little. Jumping jacks usually make the baby flip over." I laughed at the thought of Ember's bouncing around the room in her condition.
"I'm fine. So long as I can see the screen, I'll manage."

Moving myself back a little so that I was level with Ember's head, she tickled my hand with her fingers. It seemed like it was taking forever for the nurse to locate the sex of the baby. I was about to give up hope with her face brightened.
"Here it is!" Ember and I stared at the screen as she drew a circle around the baby. "Look closely, mom and dad!"
"It's a-"



"Girl."

Notes

Woo, another update AND the gender reveal! Readers - How do you feel about a baby girl Barakat?!