Remedy (Part Four)
They laid in bed that night, Franky's head resting against Bridget's chest, arms wrapped around her middle. Nestled close. Listening to her breathing as Bridget traced circles across Franky's ribs.
Franky had been unusually quiet since they got back from the farm, in a world of her own. Bridget worried that maybe she was upset about something.
"You okay, love?" she asked gently.
Franky gave a small nod and then tightened her hold on Bridget's waist.
"I thought today went well," Bridget said.
"Because of you," Franky replied.
Bridget lightly kissed Franky's forehead. "Because of you," she corrected.
Suddenly Franky felt like she would burst. She was so consumed by happiness, by admiration for Gidge she didn't know what to do with it. Well, she had a very clear idea of what she wanted but she didn't know how Bridget would take it.
"You'd make a great mother," Franky said softly.
Gidge's fingers raked through Franky's dark tresses. "You feeling broody?" she teased.
"Do you want kids?" Franky pressed, her tone serious.
"Yes. One day." Bridget answered. "It's a not a decision to be taken lightly."
Franky pulled out of Bridget's embrace and leaned on her elbows. "I know. I've been thinking about this for months and... I want children."
Bridget gazed into her lovers eyes and stroked her fingertips down her cheek. She placed a tender kiss on Franky's mouth. Their lips soft and searching.
They drew apart.
Franky cupped Bridget's chin. "I want them with you."
Bridget stared up at Franky. "Do you think we're ready?"
The brunette smiled assuredly and then framed Bridget's face with her hands. "Yes." She kissed her again. "I can't stop thinking about it Gidge. How wonderful it could be. I'm 100% committed to you and I want to have a family with you. I know there will be sacrifices, that it won't be easy and I'd have to give-up my wilder ways but I can do that. I'm ready to do that. For you and for a baby - our baby. It would be a privilege. Can't think of a better way to spend my life."
Bridget smiled, overcome with emotion. She caressed Franky's face, her eyes full of adoration. "I think you'd make a pretty spectacular Mum."
Franky grinned. "Oh you're 'Mum' - I want a cool name like Mumster or Biker-Momma. Something catchy."
Bridget smirked. "So we're really talking about this?"
Franky nodded positively, eyes shinning. "We really are."
"There's a lot to think about. To research, to plan."
"I know." Franky agreed and brushed her lips against Bridget's mouth. "But I need to know it's something you want. This is too important. I need to know we're in this together."
As Bridget gazed up at Franky, a lifetime flashed before her - she pictured rocking a baby girl in her arms, Franky beside her. Saw them shopping for baby paraphernalia, out on family daytrips, having picnics in the park, taking their daughter to her first day of school, nursing her through chickenpox, cheering her on at a cricket match, taking photos as she set-off on her first date, celebrating her passing her driving test, crying proudly at her graduation, crying harder at her wedding. Sitting on the porch in forty years time surrounded by grandkids; holding Franky's hand, their hair white, faces wrinkled and hearts full of contentment. Bridget had never wanted anything as much as she craved that future.
Her voice overflowing with emotion as she said; "Yes. I want the same thing, very much."
Franky squealed with delight and showered Bridget in kisses. The blonde laughed and clasped tightly to Franky. She was almost afraid; she loved Franky so completely, wanted a family with her so much... it felt as if her heart would stop because it couldn't contain all of this joy.
A week later they sat in Dr. Aroesti's office, hand-in-hand, brimming with excitement, fear, expectation, anxiety and a sense of unreality.
Franky studied the pictures on the wall: proud parents with their new born babies, charts and stats, diet plans and pregnancy diagrams. She felt herself lighten as the reality settled-in. She wanted this so badly she could taste it.
Gidge fidgeted. When she'd made the appointment at the family planning clinic she'd felt so sure. Now, sat in a clinical office, she began to feel overwhelmed, to have heart palpitations. As if she were about to sit an exam she hadn't studied for.
Dr. Aroesti was petite, had short red hair and wore glasses. She had a polite but firm manner and was extremely thorough. She folded her hands together on her desk and explained the three options available to them for conceiving their own child: 1) Artificial Insemination, 2) IVF or 3) Reciprocal IVF.
"Reciprocal IVF is the most favoured method amongst lesbian couples. It allows one partner to provide the eggs and the other to carry the pregnancy," Aroesti explained.
"Yes! That one!" Franky jumped in.
Dr. Aroesti smiled warmly.
Bridget turned to her girlfriend, almost startled by her enthusiasm. Franky grasped Gidget's hand. Her smile broad and confident. "Then it's both of ours."
Dr. Aroesti said: "From a purely medical viewpoint, it would be my recommendation that Franky carry the pregnancy. No reproductive treatment has a 100% success rate but for women under forty the odds of success are higher."
Bridget nodded. She knew her age was against her, even if she was in excellent shape. She glanced at Franky. "How do you feel about that?"
"Fantastic."
"Are you sure?"
Franky brushed her thumb over Bridget's knuckles reassuringly, her eye softened. "Never been more certain of anything in my life. Your genes, my influence – this kid will be unstoppable!"
Bridget smiled, moved beyond words, happiness bubbling up inside her chest, making it hard to speak.
"Both of you will need to undergo medical tests. For now, lets say Franky is the carrier. Bridget, that means you will need to undergo superovulation treatment whilst Franky will undergo uterine assessments and take medications to thicken the lining of her uterus."
She went into more detail about the procedure and the various options available to them. After an hour they had a lot to digest and think about.
"Your heads must be swimming," Dr. Aroesti said kindly. "Why don't you go home and discuss it? Set up another appointment with my receptionist when you're ready."
They thanked Dr. Aroesti for her time, Franky Shook her hand a little too vehemently, causing her to grin, then they went home.
They sat on the sofa, slightly stunned. Franky's legs were draped over Bridget's lap, their hands entwined, her face pressed against Gidget's shoulder.
"What do you think?" Bridget asked.
"I think I better get used to not seeing my feet and you better get used to pampering me!"
Bridget grinned. "Be serious!"
Franky lifted her head from Gidget's shoulder. They were face-to-face. "I'm very serious. I want to carry your baby Bridget. Nothing would make me happier."
The use of her given name stilled Bridget; Franky never used it. It was an anomaly. In that instant all doubt was erased. Bridget knew despite all her jokes, Franky was entirely dedicated to having this baby. Their baby.
Franky squeezed Bridget's hand. "I've checked with my boss. I'm entitled to four months paid maternity leave. Medicare will cover the cost of 3 rounds of IVF. If none of those are successful we'll have to pay for it ourselves but I'm pretty sure the little tyke will take to us and want to stick around."
"Wow. You've really thought this through," Bridget was impressed.
Franky smiled, full of devotion. "What do you say, Gidge? Wanna knock me up?"
Bridget laughed and cupped Franky's face. "I'd love to!" she declared and kissed Franky sweetly.
A Year Later
Franky waddled towards the sofa. Her back ached, her ankles were swollen and she constantly needed to pee. She felt like a beached whale. Carefully she lowered herself onto the sofa and groaned with relief as she sank back against the cushions.
She rested her hands on her enormous stomach and felt the baby kick, followed by what felt like summersaults'. She smiled. "Hey mini-Gidge, keep it down in there. Some of us are trying to rest,"she cooed.
Just then she heard Bridget come in. The blonde had nipped to the shop to stock-up on the banana ice cream and seaweed Franky had developed a hankering for. It wasn't a natural combination but Franky couldn't get enough (and she'd heard of much weirder cravings; a girl in their Antenatal class craved coal).
"Hey baby!" Bridget called out. She leant across the back of the sofa and kissed Franky's cheek. "And baby," she kissed the bump gently, then stood up. "We have visitors."
Behind her trailed Alan, Jules and Tess. Jules gave a small wave, Alan beamed and Tess ran over to the sofa.
"Hi guys!" Franky greeted. "This is a pleasant surprise."
"Thought we'd pop by on our way to the beach, see how you were holding up."
"Eight months gone is no joke, from what I remember," Jules added as she and Alan were ushered to sit down by Bridget, who then rushed into the kitchen to get them all refreshments and put away the ice-cream before it melted.
Tess climbed up onto the sofa beside Franky and placed her hand and ear flat against Franky's stomach. Listening intently and waiting to feel a kick. She was delighted when, moments later, the baby decided to do some aerobics.
"I can feel it!" she exclaimed, full of excitement. "Does it hurt?"
"No."
"I brought something for you and Gidge," Tess said.
"You did?"
Tess pulled a fairy note-pad out of her backpack and carefully tore off a page, then offered it to her big sister.
"What's this?"
"Names for the baby," Tess replied.
Franky grinned as she studied the carefully scrawled list which was decorated in hearts and butterflies and unidentifiable squiggles.
"They've all been carefully vetted and approved by Tess," Alan pointed-out, taking the empty chair opposite his daughters.
"So these are your favs?" Franky asked.
Tess nodded fervently.
Bridget appeared with a tray filled with glasses of iced tea, an orange juice and a bowl of banana ice cream sprinkled with seaweed. She set it down on the coffee table and sat beside Franky, then passed around the drinks.
"It's your own fault the list's so long – if we knew whether it was a boy or girl then we could've halved it," Jules chided good-humouredly, she took a glass of iced tea from Bridget and perched on the arm of Alan's chair.
Franky's palms gently massaged her extended stomach. "We don't want to know the sex of the baby until it's born. It's one of the few mysteries left in life and we don't want to spoil it."
Unconsciously Bridget slid her hand across Franky's stomach. Her fingers gently rubbed against the cotton of Franky's shirt, then stopped and rested there. The brunette grinned; she loved Gidge's protective streak.
"Let's hear some of these names then munchkin and they better not all be Disney Princess's!" Franky warned and handed her little sister back the list.
Tess began from the top; she had thoughtfully arranged the names in alphabetical order. "Algernon."
The adults exchanged amused looks. Franky shot her Dad a quizzical look and he shrugged helplessly.
"I think we'll pass on Algernon if we want this kid to survive school!" Bridget joked.
Tess looked disappointed.
Franky ruffled her hair affectionately. "What other names have you got on there kiddo? I'm sure we'll find something we like."
Tess beamed and then continued. "Angharad, Astrid, Barnabus, Blodwen..." Tess paused to take a swig of orange juice.
"Algernon's growing on me," Bridget muttered.
Alan laughed and Jules bit her lip.
Franky rolled her eyes. "We're not calling it Algernon. Child Protection Services will be onto us before we even leave the hospital!"
Tess set her glass to one side. "Bunty, Cedric…"
Fifteen minutes later when Tess had finished reading out her extensive list (which included half of the characters from "Frozen" and at least a dozen Franky was sure she'd made-up), Franky and Bridget promised to consider all her suggestions and Bridget affixed the list to the fridge door.
"So how do you feel about being an Auntie?" Alan asked Tess.
Tess clapped her hands together. "Can't wait!"
They all smiled.
Then Tess said earnestly. "When the baby comes you'll still be able to see me, right? You won't forget about me?"
Franky wrapped her arm around Tess and tugged her close. "I'll never forget you munchkin. You can visit whenever you like, okay? Besides, I'll need help looking after the baby and you're its big Auntie." Franky said. "I'll expect you to be around a lot!"
Tess nodded eagerly. "I will!"
"Oh you won't be able to get rid of us!" Alan piped up. "We're all excited. It's wonderful! I'm so happy for you both. Can't believe my first grandchild is on its way!" Alan sounded proud and surprisingly emotional.
Jules squeezed his shoulder.
An odd look crossed Franky's face. Like she couldn't believe he was here, that things were going well, that she actually liked having him around… they held each other's eye and they both knew they'd never really lay the past to rest because there were things they'd never be able to speak about, never agree on… but this fragile accord they had found meant the world to them both.
"You hear that Algernon?" Bridget lowered her mouth to Franky's stomach and rubbed her hand in a soothing circle. "Your Granddad can't wait to meet you."
Franky smirked and narrowed her eyes as she turned to her girlfriend, her tone firm. "We're not calling it Algernon."
"Algernon Blodwen Westfall-Doyle," Bridget sounded out the name. "Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?!"
Franky laughed. "No. Absolutely not!"
"Sorry Algie," Bridget patted Franky's stomach. "I tried but your Mumster can be a very unreasonable woman sometimes. You'll soon learn that."
"Hey!" Franky swatted Bridget's shoulder playfully. "Don't start messin' with the sprogs head before it's even born!"
Bridget grinned. "I wouldn't dream of it darling."
"Good," Franky grasped hold of Bridget's shirt collar and pulled her in for a quick kiss.
When they separated Gidge said softly; "Eat your ice-cream before it melts."
Franky smiled adoringly at the blonde. "Yes Ma'am!"
Bridget picked-up the ceramic bowl from the tray and handed it to her. The others winced as Franky tucked into the ice-cream and crunched her way through the seaweed, her eyes flickering shut in bliss.