A/N: Sorry about the lateness of this! It's extra long, so I hope that makes up for it.
A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone. ~Author Unknown
In the deserted parking lot in front of the small clinic, England and France sit in England's small car, gathering themselves.
The day is just below boiling, and even though the windows are rolled down, the car is scorching. The hot fabric of the seat melts into France's skin. Despite the heat, she makes no move to leave the car. She simply looks out at the clinic.
The building is brick, with light blue doors and windows. There is a garden pressed against it. The most striking feature of this is a trellis, being climbed by a kind of vine with flowers the same color as the trim. Two young trees shoot out of the recently mowed lawn.
France's door is opened. She looks up at England in surprise: she hadn't even seen him get out of the car. He smiles at her. "Ready, Rachel?" She nods, moving to unbuckle her seatbelt. "Oui. Let's go."
The air inside of the waiting room is frigid. The walls are painted a cold white. The metal chairs with poorly padded seats are bolted together.
France signs in at the office, then takes a seat next to England. As she has neglected to bring a book, she is reduced to looking around the room.
She notices an informational poster depicting fetal growth throughout the forty weeks of pregnancy. She stands up to get a closer look, paying particular attention to the eight week old fetus. If her calculations are correct, that's how far along she is. The little creature in the drawing is about an inch long. It already has tiny fingers and toes, and the beginnings of ears. In contrast to the previous drawing, it looks surprisingly human.
"Rachel Bonnefoy?" France turns around at the hesitant voice. A young nurse is standing in the doorway, clutching her clipboard tightly. "Ah, you can come back now." The girl's dark blond hair is pulled back into a short ponytail. Her nails have been painstakingly painted white. The nametag clipped to her uniform says 'Lucy'.
Lucy leads them down a short hallway to a room only slightly smaller than the waiting room. She tells them the doctor will be in in a few seconds, then slips out.
England sits in one of the random chairs in the room. France perches on the examining table. After five or so minutes, the door opens and a middle aged woman with iron hair enters. "I'm Dr. Lavigne. You two must be France and England." They nod.
Most of the examination goes quickly. The medical history does end up turning into a history of France, but other than that everything goes smoothly.
Then comes the part France is most looking forward to and most nervous about: the sonogram.
Dr. Lavigne turns on the moniter, then spreads the cold blue gel on France's. Using an instrument that looks oddly similar to a bar code scanner, she begins.
The image is grainy and unfocused, but it slowly comes to life. Bit by bit, the tiny person reveals itself to them.
It seems as if it is only real behind the glass. This little human can't actually be in France. It is far too disconnected from them for it to be here. It is just carrying on in its' own little universe.
France reaches out to touch the screen.
A/N: Random question of the day:
Q: Why was this so late?
A: I'm lazy, and it's long.
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