First of all... thanks for the reviews... secondly... I LOVE writing OTH fanfic!! Like holy crap you fans flipping rock! So... thanks again.... And on with the show....errr... Fic....
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"Miss Sawyer, Mr. Scott... there are two scenarios here that I want to discuss with you. The growth that I felt yesterday was either that of a tumor or a cyst."
The two instinctively grabbed for the other's hand while the doctor spoke.
"In the first case, we would have to do a biopsy on the tumor and find out if the cells were benign or malignant. With the second case, we will have to monitor the cyst and its growth throughout the pregnancy."
Both scenarios seemed scary to the pair, but it was Peyton who had the nerve to ask the question that was playing in both of their heads. "How does this affect the baby?"
"Why don't we wait until we find out what it is before we start that dis--"
"I want to know." Peyton interrupted. "I have done the research on different kinds of ovarian cancer and cervical cancer, and all of the treatments are saying that the baby is not an option, so I want to know."
"Peyton, why don't we--"
"No, Luke, please...I need to know everything from his mouth, not the internet, not my own head conjuring up ideas... I just want to know."
When his eyes met her worried and determined gaze, he caved. He knew that she would be worried regardless, as would he, but Peyton needed to know all the details to process things like this. With all the major aspects of her life... her birth mother, her birth father, even their relationship, she was always given small pieces. Small pieces that she had to work to put together to make sense, but this time she wanted it all laid out for her, and he knew that he should let her get that.
"We want to know all scenarios." he finally said to the Doctor, while recieving a nod of thanks from his fiancee.
"The ultrasound that we are going to do is going to help us determine if what we are looking at is a cyst or a tumor. If it is a tumor, like I said, we would do the biopsy. If it is benign, we monitor the growth, and hopefully nothing will have to be done. If the tumor is malignant... cancerous... then we will have to determine how far along the cancer is. If we caught it early, there is a good chance that the pregnancy can be carried to term and we can treat it more aggressively after the baby is born. If it is in its later stages, then you would have to make a choice to try to go through with the pregnancy to see if you and the baby can make it through the nine months, or you would terminate the pregnancy and start chemotherapy immediately. Do you need clarification on any of that?"
Lucas turned to Peyton just as she shook her head, noticing a single tear falling from her chin as she asked about the cyst possibility.
"If it is a cyst, we will have to monitor its size throughout the pregnancy with bi-weekly or weekly ultrasounds. In most cases, a cyst will not interfere with a pregnancy, but in some cases the cyst grows to quickly and starts to take up too much room, not allowing the baby to grow the way it needs to. If that is the case, we would have to go in surgically to drain it and allow for the baby to grow. We would continue to monitor you to make sure that it does not grow back in that case. If the baby is okay when we go in there today, I am leaning towards beleiving that we are dealing with this specific scenarios. In a lot of cases cramping is associated with the growth of cysts in the uterus. Again, we need to check on the baby before we start doing anything. Are we ready to do that?"
As she threw a hand up to her face to wipe the tears from under her eyes she told the Doctor that she was ready.
They got up and into an exam room quickly and sat impatiently waiting for the Doctor to come in for the ultrasound.
"Are you okay with all this?" he asked her, knowing that it wasn't okay, but needing to know where her head was with this whole situation.
"It's hard to wrap my head around, but I like knowing everything. It gives me the knowledge to pray for what I want the scenario to be... does that make sense?"
"It makes perfect sense... and what scenario do you want to play out?"
"The one where we get to see our child grow up to meet that person who makes everything right in their world." she says with a smile, recalling his conversation from this morning.
"You are such a faker..." he tells her, moving in to kiss her on the forehead.
"You whisper very loudly Lucas Scott, but I love you for it. And I'm not going to leave you anytime soon."
"Promise?"
"Definitely." she tilts her head up to meet his lips with hers for the sweetest of kisses.
As if knowing that they were ready for whatever was coming their way, the doctor came into the room.
"All right, let's lift up your shirt and check on that baby of yours Miss Sawyer."
It seemed like the world stood still as they waited for the picture to come up and the doctor to explain what they were seeing.
"Well... there we are." he says, flipping a switch on the machine.
The sound was unbeleivable. A quiet whooshing that seemed to be going faster than anything either had heard before.
"Is that the heartbeat? Why is it so fast?" Lucas asks, a bit concerned by the whole situation.
"I assure you that it is supposed to be that fast. And if you look up here on the screen, you can see that little white bundle right there with a pulsing dot."
"I see it...what is it?"
"Well kids, that's your baby's heart. And it looks to me like it is pretty healthy right now. And if I am guessing correctly, I would say that you were between 11 and 12 weeks pregnant, almost through your first trimester."
"Vegas...when you proposed." she says, not taking her eyes off the monitor in front of them.
"That somehow seems fitting, don't you think?"
"It does."
"Well, I'm going to get some pictures printed for you to take home, and then we're going to take a look around, okay?"
Peyton nods, still entranced by what she sees. The sound of the baby's heart still in her head, even though the switch was shut off minutes ago.
The smiles they both wore moments ago were gone, replaced with lips tightened in thought and worry. Her eyes were staring at the ceiling, looking for hope, praying for a chance at happiness. His were fixed on the pictures he held in his hand of their unborn child. As the doctor searched for what he needed he was oblivious to the sweat that had formed on her brow and the way his knuckles were white as he held on to the pictures tightly, but he had to be with all the things he has seen. Finally, he let out a sigh that shook the two before him out of their reverie.
"It is a cyst, which is the scenario I was hoping for... Peyton, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to carry this pregnancy to term and deliver a beautiful baby girl or boy."
The flood gates then seemed to open as Peyton let out a choked cry and Lucas' arms snaked around her neck. It might actually be okay... and they might get to finally have that happy ending.
"I'm going to leave the two of you alone for a moment while I fill out some paperwork on this and set up your next appointment. Take your time to get dressed, and when you are ready, I'm going to come in and talk to you about a few things."
"Okay, that's... that's just... okay...."
The Doctor understood the emotions and left the couple huddled together in the exam room.
"The okay's again... Lucas..."
"Baby, I am so happy right now."
"That makes three of us then, because me and baby are doing pretty good over here too."
"God, I love you Peyton."
"We can do this, Luke. We can do this."
"Talk about an emotional rollercoaster."
She laughs a bit, wiping at her eyes as she stands to get her clothes back on. Once dressed, she sought out the comfort of his arms and let him take her onto his lap. Finally, it seemed like they could breathe again. It seemed like they would be able to conquer anything at all.
When the Doctor arrived back in the room, he explained that the cyst was actually a managable diameter right now, but Peyton would have to come back in a week so they could calculate its growth and determine the best course of action with the pregnancy. While the cramping was normal with the cyst, the Doctor also voiced his concern for the baby's health. If Peyton felt anything more painful than usual, or if the cramps became more frequent, then she needed to get in right away so they could check on the baby and the cyst.
"Other than that, be happy about this, get excited, and start celebrating, cause you two are going to have a baby." He says, winking and patting Lucas on the shoulder as he gets up to open the door for the couple.
As they walk out the hospital, Lucas pauses for a moment, pulling her back to him and turning around to face the doors they walked into again.
"Not so scary on the way out, huh?"
"We're havin' a baby."
"Yes we are Miss Sawyer-soon to be-Scott"
"Oh God..."
Concern instantly takes over his face, "What, are you okay"
"Yes, but I have to talk to Brooke about my wedding dress, and we are getting married in a few months, and we are having a baby, and we need to get all that stuff ready."
"Peyton, what stuff?"
"The stuff that the baby needs, like cribs and carseats and the mobile things, and--"
He cuts her off by pressing his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.
"What was that for?"
"I'm just so happy that is all we have to worry about..."
Realizing he was right in looking to the big picture, she smiled, "Me too."
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All right folks... so that's it. And I actually did my research about the whole cyst thing, so it can actually happen, and that can actually cause those weird stomach pain issues. It was the first time I actually researched for a Fanfic though... and it helps that my best friend is about to have a baby like any day now!!
Anyways.... reviews are always appreciated, and I hope that you are enjoying the story....
Oh, and I CAN'T FLIPPING wait until January 5th when our show comes back... I'm like counting the minutes!!!!