Chapter 11: All Bets Off (Day 134)

It was shaping up to again be one of those nights for the mercenary turned mother-to-be. Now into her twentieth week of gestation, Samus had seen a significant decrease in the symptoms that had plagued her first trimester and thus, was slowly starting to feel like herself again. Unfortunately, that also meant a significant change in her sleeping habits. Where she was once exhausted and sore from the retching, nausea, vomiting and hormonal changes, she was now finding it difficult to fall asleep, suddenly filled with a newfound vigor and hope for the future with Adam and their child.

But it wasn't restlessness keeping her awake tonight. It was excitement. Today was the day she and Adam would (hopefully) find out their baby's gender. Because they were both a bit competitive, she and Adam currently had a little bet going on – if Adam was right and it was a boy, Samus had to attend an upcoming show at the Hall of Performance Arts; if Samus turned out to be right and it was a girl, Adam had to watch an entire sporting event of the bounty hunter's choosing. But it was all for fun of course – boy or girl, they would both love it no matter what.

Because they still didn't know what they were having, Adam and Samus had agreed on a gender neutral crib with pastel green bedding and little etecoons painted on it during a recent trip to another store in which they'd had a much more enjoyable experience with the staff. Once they found out the baby's gender they would be better able to build the nursery around it.

In the living room, Samus was preparing to shut her tablet off when she felt a sudden presence enter the room. "I know it's you Adam. You forget who you're trying to sneak up on," she said among the dim silence.

"Nothing gets past you, does it Lady?" Adam admitted against her ear before placing a kiss on her cheek.

"You bet your ass it doesn't," Samus grinned before putting aside her tablet.

Adam joined her on the sectional. One strong hand came to rest atop her stomach which had grown just a bit since her return from Bryyo. But thanks to her athletic physique it was still difficult to truly see from a distance. They sat there in silence for a few minutes simply enjoying each others' warmth and company; Samus allowed one hand to join atop Adam's while she rested her head against his shoulder.

"Can't sleep again?" Adam asked, his big hand moving in slow circles against her abdomen. "You're not having those strange dreams again, are you?"

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift for a moment. "Oh...that strange dream." In it, Samus gave birth to a child with Chozo features and the race's long lost ability of flight... "No, no," she finally replied with a slight chuckle before snuggling into Adam's chest. "I'm just having one of those nights again." She looked up at him, his gray eyes looking back at her. "Do you mind...you know...at least until I fall asleep?"

Adam smiled softly at her. "Of course not, Lady. All night, if that's what it takes."

When she woke later that morning, Adam was no longer next to her, and she was lying in their bed, covered in the sheets. "Shit. Where'd that come from?" she wondered aloud groggily while trying to stifle a yawn and sitting up. Looking around the room, she found no trace of Adam. "Hey, Adam? Are you still here?" she asked, hoping he was just in the kitchen or somewhere else inside the apartment.

He came into the bedroom minutes later, dressed casually in a pair of gray jeans and dark colored polo shirt. "You're awake. How did you sleep?" he asked before coming to join her on the bed.

"Good, I'd say; one minute we were talking, the next thing I know, I'm waking up in here," she replied with a grin. "What time is it?"

"Almost time for your appointment." Adam replied, trying in vain to hide his enthusiasm. Adam had made arrangements weeks ago to have this day off in order accompany Samus to her appointment. He'd more or less been able to be with her at every visit, but there was no way in hell he was going to miss this one in particular.

Samus gave her belly a pat before swinging her legs from underneath the sheets. "Well then, I guess I'd better get moving, then. The sooner we find out, the more time I'll have to decide on what sporting event we'll be watching."

Samus and Adam were sitting in the waiting room several hours later. Despite the fact that the speculators were still conjuring up garbage tabloid stories about whether or not the legendary bounty hunter was expecting, the experience in getting here had actually been rather pleasant and uneventful. When her name was called, Samus stood with her head held high, not caring – or even much noticing – the glances and whispers that followed her and Adam's exit from the room. She'd decided a long time ago that she'd gone through hell and back to get to this point in her life. And nothing, unless it ultimately came to blows, was going to ruin it for her.

While her height had remained unchanged, she learned she'd gained more weight. "You're around two-hundred-eight pounds now, Mrs. Bailey. Yet you're still so athletic – how do you do it?" the nurse asked behind a wide smile.

Samus stepped off the scale. It's simple – I'm one percent alien, she thought to herself.That would freak her out, just like with that pushy bitch at the department store. But now wasn't the time for witty comments; she was instead casual in her response, "Health has always important to me, but even more so now." She smiled and patted her belly. "Got to keep in shape so I can keep up with this little one."

The nurse laughed and smiled. "So true. If only I had known just how much of a spark my twins were going to be, I'd have done more to keep up with them. Little pistols I tell you. Always running everywhere, getting into everything. Even in my belly they never stayed still!"

Samus stepped off the scale, unsure how to reply. She wasn't exactly a chatter box to people, but she couldn't help but feel appreciative of the nurse and the fact that she clearly thought of her to be a normal human being. So, she reasoned, maybe they weren't all bad. Or maybe, Samus wondered, she just didn't recognize her.

Before Samus had time to reply, the chatty nurse was leading her and Adam down the hall and into an exam room.

"Dr. Livingston will be with you shortly, Mrs. Bailey. Good luck to you and your partner!"

With the two of them behind closed doors, Samus beckoned Adam with a slow wag of her finger. But the tactician in Adam knew better. "Don't think so, Lady. Not going to work." he said with a straight face as he sat next to the door.

So, she let him have it a different way. "I caught you winking at me when the nurse mentioned her twins – what the hell makes you so certain I'm having twins?!"

Adam shrugged, a smirk tugging at one side of his lips. "Call it a hunch, Lady. Besides, this way, we both win – girl for you, boy for me."

Samus immediately discounted his asinine theory, "Sounds to me like you're trying to chicken out of our bet – besides, a boy and a girl is only one possibility, numb nuts; it could also be two of a single sex. Two girls ought to make you shit." She laughed.

From his position near the door, Adam thought he could hear footsteps approaching. "Touche, my Lady. We'll see about that – the doctor is coming."

Seconds later there was a knock at the door, followed by an upbeat voice. "It's Dr. Livingston. May I come in Sam?"

The door slid open. Dr. Livingston walked in and shook Adam's hand before coming to stop between him and Samus. "So good to see you both," she said and smiled before turning on her tablet. "Just looking at your newest data and everything looks great; you're gaining weight nicely. Though, I am a bit concerned to see that you have yet to have your blood panel done. I can assure you all information will be kept confidential, if that's what's keeping you from coming in."

Normally, Samus would have easily become angry over the doctor's insistence. But she'd made a promise to herself, Adam, and their baby that she would work on reigning in her hair-trigger temper from now on. Instead, she took a moment to steel herself and inhaled. Finally, "I know you're just trying to help, but I simply can't take that risk. I'm sorry."

Just because she'd promised Adam and their baby she would work on controlling her temper didn't mean she was going to give in and have her DNA become front page news.

Dr. Livingston promptly turned her tablet off. "Of course. That is your right. Well then, let's just see how you are." The doctor moved to prep the ultrasound apparatus. "Apologies in advance if this is a little cold, Sam."

Samus shivered as the gel made contact with her belly; her grip around Adam's hand instinctively tightened, then relaxed. Seconds later, their baby was presented before them, looking decidedly bigger and much more human than at precious visits. Gone were its stubby appendages and blobbish appearance. They could now easily make out its head, arms and legs. And contrary to her recurring dreams, there was no bird-like beak or winged vertebrae to be found, either. This development made Samus feel unusually relieved.

As the scan continued, the doctor moved the transducer around to point out things of interest – her finger traced along the baby's back, "This little string of pearls is the spine," then pointed to the pulsing white dot in the chest, "Here's the heartbeat – take a listen." And with the simple push of a button, their auditory senses were treated to the fast-paced rhythmic beating of the tiny infant's heart.

Samus closed her eyes and sighed, feeling as if she would melt. It was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard, and was quite a contrast to the usual sounds of agony she was used to hearing. She felt Adam's lips peck her cheek. "Are you hearing this, Adam? It's amazing." she gasped, squeezing his hand.

Adam's voice was soft. "Loud and clear, Lady. Loud and clear." He squeezed her hand back before turning his focus briefly to the doctor. "It's really fast. Is that normal, doctor?"

The doctor was quick to ease his concerns as she continued to observe. "Absolutely, Mr. Bailey. A strong and healthy 140 beats per minute – perfectly normal." But her motion slowed, then stopped and her gaze remained fixed on an area of particular interest. Much to Samus' and Adam's dismay, she sounded quite elusive. "That's interesting..."

Samus felt uneasy, "What? What's wrong? Adam, can you see anything?"

Adam squeezed her hand and rubbed her shoulder. "Don't worry; I'm sure everything is fine. Just relax."

But his words and gestures weren't enough to quell her panic and unease. "Don't tell me to be calm, goddamn it! Doctor what the hell is going on?!"

Much to Aran's disdain, the doctor remained perfectly calm and even smiled. "Nothing for you to panic over, Sam. I was just making sure of what I was looking at."

But Samus was in no mood for games. "Damn it, what?! What are you looking at?"

The doctor's disconcerting smile grew larger, the crows feet around her eyes more prominent. "Would you like to know the sex of your baby?"

Both Samus and Adam felt a wave of relief encapsulate them as they looked at each other.

"Yes. Just so long as Adam here is ready to watch a little mutant football."

"Absolutely. Just so long as Sam has a nice dress picked out for the opera."

The doctor, still cheery, couldn't help but look at them strangely. "Pardon?"

After a brief explanation of their friendly bet, Dr. Livingston merely laughed. "Well aren't you two the competitive couple? Looks like you're going to the opera, Sam – it's a boy. Congratulations!"

"You should wear your Little Black Dress, Lady." Adam grinned before kissing the hunter's forehead.

"Oh shut up. You probably spiked my food with something to ensure it was a boy." she replied with mock accusation. She truly was happy.

The doctor couldn't help but share in their playfulness despite being equally perplexed by it. Neither one looked like the playful type. Somehow, they now appeared even more human to her. After all, it wasn't every day she dealt with expectant couples who had playful bets involving their unborn child. "I'm just glad no bridges were burned with the news," she remarked with a smile.

Adam raised a hand in a gesture of peace, which also told the doctor not to worry. "We kid around, but we both know you have no more control of what's happening in there than Sam and I do."

The doctor examined the screen once more. "You're not the first man to come in here and hope for a boy, believe me. You know how it is – Mom wants a girl, Dad wants a boy. And poor Dad is usually always the one who comes up short," she chuckled. "Oh listen to me – I'm rambling! Did you two have any questions?"

Any questions? The concept was an understatement if Samus had ever conceived of one! So many questions were tangled in her mind that it was hard to pick even just one to start with.

An exchange of questions and answers took up the final ten minutes of her appointment. Dr. Livingston gave them yet more files about childbirth and parenting classes and things to watch for, plus a myriad of other information. "I suggest enrolling in a parenting and childbirth class right away; they often fill up rather quickly. Of course, if you would rather have a more individualized and private setting, I can also give you the names of several instructors who practice one-on-one classes. Keep in mind, these are more expensive than a group setting."

It was almost too much information for Samus to process; either due to her higher blood volume or the massive overload of information, she could feel the beginnings of a headache root itself on either side of her head. What she wouldn't give for a nice warm soak and a nap right now. In the meantime she took a deep breath. It was a good thing Adam was used to processing copious amounts of information at once! Samus leaned on him for support while the appointment drew to a slow close. "Did you get all of that, Adam?"

Adam tapped his temple and grinned. "It's all here."

Another routine appointment was scheduled to take place exactly a month from now.

"You owe me big time for this, Adam." Samus mentioned while they walked down the hall and through the waiting room peppered with couples and single women alike. Truth be told, she knew she'd had nothing to do with the baby's gender, but why not reap a favor or two from it?

Adam brought their joined hands to his mouth to kiss her fingers. "Anything, Lady. Just say the word."

Samus waited until they were outside, the warmth of the day feeling good against her face and arms. She embraced him suddenly, even as bystanders and passersby rushed up and down the sidewalk. But they were much too busy with their own lives to notice the power couple embracing on the sidewalk. Did they even care? Maybe not, but the media sure as hell did. And for a moment, Samus hesitated in her embrace, sure that one of these people were actually a reporter.Fuck them. I've never been so happy in my life, she concluded with a smile. Still, the perpetual hunter in her kept her eyes peeled for suspicious activity. Samus ran her fingers through Adam's midnight black hair. "I've already made up my mind."

Adam traced his hands up and down her hips as a slight chuckle came from somewhere deep in his throat. "I expected no less. So, what's on your mind, Lady?"

She looked deep into his eyes before addressing him. "Let's go to Aether and get married." she replied, her voice a mere whisper. "Get away from all this chaos."

His hands came to rest at the small of her back, his mouth slightly agape. "Aether? Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't there still a chance Phazon may still be present within the planet's surface? I know that mission of yours was a few years ago but, well, you can't fault me for being concerned."

"No, I understand. I just thought of Aether because U-Mos still owes me one for getting rid of the Ing. And besides, the Luminoth are the closest allies of the Chozo. Or, I should say, were the closest allies to the Chozo. They welcomed me with open arms."

Adam appeared pensive. "U-Mos...that name sounds familiar. I believe a cadre of his people came to the Federation Senate to plea for assistance in ridding their homeworld of the Phazon remnants shortly after your mission there. They mentioned you, how you saved them and their planet. I'm unsure if their motion was ever granted. I'm guessing it wasn't since the Federation was blinded by the scientific possibilities of such a dangerous substance."

"The Federation, always blinded by the possibilities," Samus reflected with a slow nod. "Then they call on me to fix their fuck ups." she giggled.

They shared a moment of laughter before Adam's face grew bright. "I have an idea. I've still got some pull in the Federation. I'll use it in order to check for Phazon contamination of any kind using the Army's latest hazmat detection apparatus. If it gives the all clear, we'll leave as soon as possible."

"Wait a second, I have to sit down." Samus began, unsure if she was hearing him correctly. "Wouldn't that be considered an abuse of power? Wouldn't you get in trouble for that? And you...well, let's face it, you always go by the rules, Adam. You'd go through all that trouble and red tape just for me?"

Adam moved his left hand around her back to her belly, stroking it with his thumb. "I would. For both of you," he smiled.

Their trip home was quiet as they both considered the outcome of the appointment. Adam spoke suddenly. "At least we know what to do now."

It was rather vague, Samus thought. "Know what to do about… what?" she asked. "The press? I'm starting to feel like we need a lawyer to follow us everywhere. Or at least get every person we interact with to sign nondisclosure agreements."

"That's actually not a bad idea," Adam mused. "But I was thinking more along the lines of the nursery. We're going to have a son!" he beamed, already swelling with fatherly pride.

"I think the etecoons will be a good fit," Samus said, trying to be wise and serious, but she couldn't keep a straight face, and began laughing. Tears squeezed out of her eyes and she rested a hand on her stomach. "Our little etecoon," she said, staring down at her belly.

Adam couldn't help but share his fiancee's sentiments, a grin spreading from ear to ear. "Our little etecoon... I like it."

Though they'd initially headed for home, they took a detour for more "Baby Recon" and ended up at an interior design shop. Samus's head was spinning; she'd thought there was only furniture to worry about, and clothing, and other necessities. Now they had to think about parenting classes and nursery painting and nursing…

Nursing.

The word struck terror into her; having been raised among a birdlike race, she hadn't ever witnessed the act, and the little she did know about it from normal humans, books and the Aurora Units made her shudder. Thoughts of classes and pumps and people talking casually about breasts and deep breathing and labor flooded her mind and made her want to laugh hysterically with the horror of it all.

"Lady?" Adam was asking. "Did you want to use a blue, since we know, or stick with the green? I feel that either one is a soothing color… Sam?" he asked.

"I need to sit down," she replied, calmly fanning herself with her hand. "I'm having information overload, and if I don't do something I may blow a gasket or puke."

Adam blinked as he tried to process this statement, but then nodded. "Thank you, we'll just take some swatches for now," he told the eager counter clerk, and grabbed a few panels of differing shades of light green. "I know just the thing," he murmured into Samus's ear, taking her gently by the elbow and guiding her toward the exit.

When they pulled up at the Army Academy a quarter of an hour later, Samus was mystified. "Why are we here?" she asked, fixed on the massive domed complex and it's own budding community of smaller buildings. "Especially after what you told me earlier?" she added before slipping a pair of sunglasses on.

"I know what will help you relax," Adam said knowingly. He took her by the hand and led her down the wide outdoor promenade. Even in his civilian clothes, Adam commanded attention. Everyone he passed, most of which were Cadets going from one hall to another, stood to quick attention, knocking each other out of the way just so they could salute him. "At ease," Adam announced. "Just here for recreation. As you were!"

Samus tried to ignore the perplexed glances even as she wondered what sort of recreation Adam would find at his other place of work. She also had little idea of what recreation truly was. She'd spent the last few months trying to be a normal human and failing miserably or engaging in battles with the locals of other planets; her idea of recreation was making sure she and her baby stayed out of the news, or that her baby was indeed developing normally. Perhaps, she wondered, it really was time for a hobby.

"Here." Adam stopped before a smaller complex and fished out his identification. He swiped it and guided Samus through a sliding door that clicked shut and locked behind them.

"I think this will be good for you." Adam handed Samus a pair of safety glasses and earphones from a rack. He smiled, and her eyes lit up. She felt more relaxed already.

And even more relaxed when she held a Federation-issue assault rifle in her hands, firing at a Space Pirate-shaped hologram on the other side of the room. Life was simpler when all she had to do was know what and where the target was. The hologram fizzled and produced a new target, this one shaped like a Metroid, and she loaded, fired; the target shifted again. Some alien she didn't recognize. No matter, load, fire, empty, reload. She functioned on muscle memory alone.

She emptied her final clip and removed her safety gear, her entire body feeling electric and alive. Her data was available for inspection at the exit terminal, and she was pleased to see her skills had not faded in her new life. "Thank you, Adam. That felt good. Really good." she said with enthusiasm.

Adam grunted with surprise as her body suddenly met his. "Anytime, Lady. Anytime." He eyed the data on the screen. "And it's nice to see civilian life hasn't dulled your edge, either. one-hundred percent accuracy rating. I'm not surprised."

As they walked out, she felt the slightest flutter in her belly suddenly. But because she was walking, Samus readily attributed the slight flutter to gas build up or a hunger pang, which was much more likely. They stopped and got a quick bite to eat on the way home.

But even with a full stomach, the fluttering in her belly continued. As they stood in the elevator on the way up to their apartment, Adam sensed the energy of his other half suddenly ripple like that of a stone hitting a lake. She'd grown quiet since stepping into the elevator, and Adam immediately began to wonder if everything was all right. "Everything OK, Samus?"

His question never once pierced her mind, her entire focus having shifted to the fluttering in her belly. "Like butterfly wings" the book had said. But what do those feel like? she wondered. While there had been plenty of insect species on Zebes and the other planets she'd visited, Samus was usually too busy to notice them, much less what their wings felt like against her skin.

"Adam, I..." she broke her grip through Adam's hand, moving to touch the left side of her stomach suddenly. "...I think something is happening." she announced quietly just as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open.

Despite his years of having to be composed under pressure, Adam couldn't help but feel a sliver of alarm pierce his usually impenetrable mental shields. The reserved, almost apprehensive way she'd mentioned it filled him with great concern. Even with today's medical technology, the baby wouldn't stand a chance if it was to be born right now. Adam led her slowly out of the elevator, his hand coming to rest against the small of her back. "Something? Are you all right?"

Strangely, Samus appeared calm and almost tranquil despite not knowing what was going on. "Yes...I think so. But let's go inside first." she replied and started for their front door. Adam followed close behind.

Inside and away from prying eyes, she quickly pulled her blouse up and moved Adam's hand to the front of her belly. "Here, tell me if you can feel anything. It happens fast so you really have to focus."

Adam held his gaze on Samus's belly, willing his hand to be still while he waited in the silence of their living room. Seconds went by in their agonizing way, still Adam felt nothing. And Samus herself began to doubt that the initial flutterings were in fact the baby and simply gas bubbles after all. Still, Adam kept his hand stationary. Finally, after what seemed like hours, his fingertips registered the eerie sensation. The fluttering, like butterfly wings. It was sporadic, and slight in intensity, but there nonetheless. Adam smiled, transfixed on the awakening world beneath his fingers. "There. I felt it right now. It felt like a gentle popping, right?"

Samus nodded quickly, relieved to know that Adam had felt the same sensation she's just felt. "Yes!" the hunter beamed. "So it wasn't my imagination after all."

They stayed like that, in silence, as the world continued to move around them, until the fluttering finally ceased and the reality of it all finally settled over them like a shroud: there was still much work to be done. But there was still much to enjoy as well.

Samus held her gaze on Adam's bright face, he too, still riding the exhilaration of feeling his son's first movements. She took the paint swatches from the breast pocket of his shirt and let them lazily fall to the floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "This will be over before we know it, Adam. Let's enjoy it while we can." she said softly and claimed his lips.

After a few moments, Adam broke the kiss to draw a breath. He glanced at the discarded paint swatches scattered on the floor. "You're right; I guess we can worry about the little stuff later. That being said..." he broke out into a grin. "You don't really have to go to the opera. Nobody should be forced into something they don't want to do."

Samus shook her head, taking hold of Adam's hand. "You're right but wrong, Adam. I do want to go with you. Being with you is all I care about." she smiled despite suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable. "Besides, I think it would help break up the monotony. Who knows, I may even enjoy it."

Adam merely smiled, nodded, and guided Samus into their bedroom to rest. He, however, had homework to do...