This is set sometime after season 1 and I have used or changed certain things that we learn later on depending on how it works with this story. This is something that has been on my mind for a while and I really hope you guys like it. I would love to hear what you think. Please review!
Disclaimer: You probably already know this, but I don't own anything.
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When Vic Moretti was five years old, she played mother to her dolls like most other little girls her age, though she was much more tomboy than princess. As a teenager, babies were cute little things that belonged to other people and you handed them back to their parents at the first sign of distress; other than this they were only considered in a very vague, distant future sort of way. As she aged, however, children seemed to move further from Vic's radar rather than closer to actuality.
It wasn't that she didn't want children exactly, so much as that while some women dreamed of and longed for children, Vic had other priorities. For a long time she was focused on her education and career and it simply wasn't the right time. This is not to mention the fact that it would likely be difficult to conceive a baby without a man in her life to father it. And then she met Sean and there was. By the time they were married however, Vic was working her way through the Philadelphia Police Department and Sean's own work had picked up steadily; a baby was not on either of their minds. Truth be told, they hadn't even really talked about children other than a brief conversation when they were dating in which they agreed that it was a thought for the future and a baby wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Someday.
Considering these things, Vic should have felt quite different sitting across from the doctor receiving possibly the most shocking news of her life. Maybe not great, admittedly, but not this increasing numbness either. This was not the "someday" they had discussed. This was not how she had ever imagined feeling upon the discovery of her pregnancy. It was not the life she had believed she would be leading at this point. It wasn't even close.
What the hell was she supposed to do now?
"I don't understand?" Vic feels a little like she might be sick. Ironic, since she hadn't had any signs of a pregnancy before this. "I just came in for a regular check-up. I haven't even had any symptoms." Her voice is incredulous and she shakes her head as if to bring clarity to the situation. This couldn't be happening; she wasn't ready.
"I understand this must be a shock, Vic, and given the nature of your job I ran the test twice to be sure, for the sake of safety, but the results are clear. You are pregnant." Dr. Wilson says with a smile. She had been practicing medicine for close to thirty years and recognizes the look of surprise and apprehension on her patient's face. After all, she had worn it herself once.
"Now, you indicated that you had missed your last period, right?" She asks while scanning the papers in front of her.
"Yeah," Vic nods her head. "I, I thought it was stress."
"No other symptoms, though? Fatigue, nausea, sensitivities, anything out of the ordinary?" Dr. Wilson continues.
Vic shakes her head, "No."
"Alright, well, that's still perfectly normal and some women just get lucky in the nausea department. Based on the information you gave me I would estimate you to be about seven or eight weeks along and that would put you due around November 30, but you'll need an OB to confirm. For now, I'm going to set you up with a referral to an OBGYN in the area," she pauses, "that is, assuming you plan to continue with the pregnancy?" She asks.
The question catches Vic off guard. Even in her shock she hadn't considered any option except having the baby and she quickly nods, "Yes, I'm keeping it."
The doctor nods in acceptance and continues, "Okay, we'll get you an appointment with Dr. Smith; she's very nice and you'll be in good hands."
She's trying to be reassuring, Vic thinks, because she can tell I'm freaked out about this. The truth is, shock doesn't even begin to cover how she's feeling. She and Sean had been drifting away from each other for months, since before they ever moved to Wyoming. The move was supposed to not only solve the departmental issues she was having, but also cut down on some of Sean's work and Vic had thought the change would bring them closer together, but it hadn't. Things hadn't worked out the way she'd expected at all; her marriage was barely hanging on and while she had grown to like her life in Absaroka, Sean was travelling now more than ever. And now there was a baby to think about.
A baby. Her hand unconsciously makes it way to cover her stomach and hovers briefly above it before resting over the still flat surface. For just a second Vic allows herself to imagine what is already growing inside of her. She was going to have a baby.
Vic finds herself nodding to the doctor, though she's consumed in her own head and takes the information from her quietly before saying her goodbyes. The drive home is a blur of mixed emotions and scattered thoughts and Vic is grateful Ruby had insisted they would make do without her for the rest of the afternoon even though she'd planned to return after her appointment, despite the woman's protests.
The house is empty as she's become accustomed to it being, but today Vic is glad to have the quiet as a balm to her chaotic mind. The next few months will likely be the last quiet she has for a while after all. A smile slowly spreads across Vic's face as she ponders the idea. Maybe a baby will strengthen her relationship with Sean. Maybe it won't. Regardless though, Vic promises herself in that moment that the baby she's carrying will be loved and wanted and that will be the most important thing.
And the rest of it she'll just have to figure out as she goes.