Appointment
Addison woke up the next morning to a knock at her door. She groaned and got up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She slowly opened the door to see Eric.
"Good morning, babe. You ready to go?" he asked.
Addie scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. "What?" she asked.
"Your appointment?" He said.
"Oh. Yeah, I was just getting up to get ready. But, Eric, you don't have to come," she reminded him.
"I know, but I want to. I mean, if we work out I am going to be the kid's dad too," he said happily.
Addie hadn't thought of that. "Yeah I guess so… But I think it should just be me and Zed for the first one…" she reasoned.
Eric's face dropped in disappointment. "Oh… yeah, I mean, that's fine. I just want to be part of this too, babe," he said, reaching up to rub the back of his neck.
Addie smiled at him and hugged him tightly. "I love you, but let's let Zed have this day. You can come to all the other ones. He won't be able to be here for all of the appointments," she said.
Eric nodded. "I understand. Can I at least drive you guys there?" he asked.
Addie grinned. "If you really want to," she giggled.
"Good. I want to," he said. Addie leaned forward to kiss him real quick.
"Okay, go wait in the hall. I am going to get changed," she told him.
"Yes ma'am," Eric said, teasingly saluting his girlfriend. He went out to the hall and waited. Soon she came out wearing a long pink sweater with green leggings. He didn't know the significance of those colors, but he knew the outfit looked really good on her.
"Hey, gorgeous," he said, reaching out for her hand. He raised her hand over her head and spun her around. Addison giggled when her sweater flared out when she spun.
"Thanks, handsome," she replied, kissing his cheek. They walked to his car hand in hand, soon driving to pick up Zed.
Zed was waiting outside. He was wearing dark jeans and his usual maroon shirt. But instead of his Seabrook High jacket, he had a Seabrook University jacket on. Addie gasped when she saw what was in his hands.
"You kept that?" she asked, looking at her old cheer jacket.
"You left it when you… uh… but yeah I decided I should bring it back to you," he said as he got in the car. He passed the jacket up to her in the front seat.
Addie squealed excitedly and hugged the jacket to her chest. "Thank you. I thought I had lost it," she said. She held it up to admire the back. "Captain…" she said softly.
"You were captain of the squad?" Eric asked.
Addie was surprised she hadn't mentioned it before. "Yeah, for nearly three years actually. It was the second-best part of high school," she said with a smile.
"What was the best part?" he asked.
"Oh… um… my friends," she replied. Zed had been the best part, but she realized she couldn't say that.
Zed knew though. She could feel his eyes on her.
"Okay, we're here. Call me when you're done and I'll come to pick you guys up," Eric said as he pulled up to the front door.
Addie unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over the center console to give Eric a quick kiss.
"Thanks, my love. I'll call you," she promised. She and Zed got out of the car and walked inside.
Zed clenched his fist in his pocket when he saw her kiss Eric.
"Relax, Zed," he thought to himself as they walked into the hospital together.
Addison checked in at the front desk of the maternity hall and then they went to sit in the waiting room together.
Addison looked around at the other patients in the waiting room. There was a young woman and her husband. The woman was very round, almost like she could pop at any moment. Then there was a young teen and her mom. Addie smiled at the teen and she smiled back.
Then Addie started looking at the other mothers-to-be and realized that it wouldn't be long before her belly was as round as theirs. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. She was pregnant and she was going to be a mom… Of course, she had thought of that before, but seeing these other pregnant women made it sink in a little more. Without thinking, she held her hand out to the zombie sitting next to her.
Zed hesitantly took her hand in his. "Nervous?" he asked.
She nodded, chewing on her lip.
"Hey, don't be nervous. I know having a baby is a big deal, but you got this. You're going to be an awesome mom," he said encouragingly.
"Thanks, Zed. You're going to be a pretty great dad," she said with a nervous smile.
"Addison Wells?"
Addie and Zed both stood when her name was called. The nurse smiled at them and took them to a room. She quickly took all of Addison's vitals and told them the doctor would be right in.
Addison looked around the room. There were models of uteruses, fetuses, and other pregnancy-related things. There were a few posters too. The thing that caught Addie's eye though was the life-size newborn doll that the doctor sometimes used to show how certain procedures would go.
"How the hell is something that big supposed to come out of me?" she said nervously.
Zed looked over at the doll. It was a bit scary to think about that. But he wasn't about to add to her nerves.
"Hey, your body was made to do that. You'll be great," he reassured her.
Addie sighed and was about to say something when the doctor knocked on the door.
"Hi! I'm Dr. Zale!" said the cheery doctor. She had brown hair pulled back in a bun and bright blue glasses. She reminded Addison of a cartoon character and the doctor's calm and joyful demeanor immediately settled some of her nerves.
"Hi, I'm Addison," Addie said, holding out her hand. Dr. Zale shook her hand happily.
"And you must be Dad! How exciting!" Dr. Zale said, holding her hand out to Zed.
"Uh, yeah. I'm Zed," he said, shaking her hand. Hearing her say he is "Dad" kind of blew Zed's mind. He was going to be a dad pretty soon.
"Very good! Well, are you ready to see your baby?" she asked as she sat down by the bed Addison was sitting on.
Addie nodded nervously. She couldn't tell if it was just butterflies in her stomach, or if she was going to be sick. She decided it was somewhere between the two.
"Don't be nervous! This is fun! You get to see your baby. And from the time range you said they might have been conceived, we might get to see if it's a little princess or a little prince," Dr. Zale told them.
The doctor started turning on the machine and getting everything ready. Zed pulled a chair over to the other side of the bed.
"Okay, dear. I'm going to need you to lay back and raise your shirt. Just a little above your belly button," Dr. Zale said as she grabbed the tube of gel.
Addie laid back on the bed and lifted her shirt just enough. She reached over for Zed's hand and was glad when he squeezed hers reassuringly.
"Alright, this is going to be a little cold…" Dr. Zale said as she squeezed some of the gel onto Addison's abdomen. Addie jumped a little at the cold. Zed lifted her hand to his lips briefly.
"Okay…" Dr. Zale moved the paddle across Addison's slightly rounded belly, "Oh! There is your baby! Judging by the size, I would say you are around fourteen weeks," She said excitedly.
Addie gasped as the ultrasound screen came to life. Addie wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but she didn't realize that she would be able to see the different features yet. The baby had its little head and tiny arms and legs. Dr. Zale pressed a button and a loud thumping filled the room. A heartbeat!
Addie brought her hand up to cover her mouth as she let a small giggle escape her lips. That was her baby! She looked over at Zed and noticed tears forming in his eyes.
"It has a heartbeat, Zed. A strong one," she said excitedly.
"Wow," he whispered. He didn't know what to say.
"Oh, look at that! Do you guys want to know the sex?" Dr. Zale asked.
Addie looked over at Zed, who nodded.
"Yes please," she replied.
"Okay!" Dr. Zale moved the paddle across Addison's abdomen one more time. "Oh, there it is! You are having a little prince! Congratulations!"
Addie couldn't help the few tears that escaped the corners of her eyes. Zed had a few tears as well.
He was going to have a son.
"Alright! Baby boy Wells. He looks very healthy, and has a strong heartbeat," the doctor announced.
"Um, can you change Wells?" Addie asked.
Zed's eyes widened and looked over at her.
"Um… sure. What is the last name?" Dr. Zale asked.
Addie glanced over at Zed before saying, "Necrodopolis."
Zed grinned and kissed her hand.
"Okay! I'll go print a few copies. Is four enough? One for each of you and then one for each set of grandparents?" Dr. Zale asked.
"Could we get like four more? I'll pay for any extra," Zed asked, thinking of Bucky, Bonzo, Eliza, and the wolves.
Dr. Zale nodded as she left, leaving the ultrasound screen on.
"Necrodopolis?" Zed asked softly as he looked at the baby on the screen.
"He is just as much yours as he is mine," Addie replied.
Zed smiled and squeezed her hand. "Thank you," he whispered.
Addie looked into his eyes. He was just as excited and happy as she was. What she did next she hadn't planned on, but she couldn't help it. She leaned forward and kissed his lips softly. Zed stiffened in surprise before kissing her back.
Addie wasn't sure how long they would have stayed there if Dr. Zale hadn't knocked on the door.
Addie and Zed quickly separated before Dr. Zale saw them.
"Okay, guys! Here are your pictures and you are ready to check out at the front desk. I can't wait to see both of you for the next appointment!" she said, handing Addison the pictures.
"Oh, next time it will probably be me and my boyfriend. Zed will be back home in Seabrook," Addie said.
Dr. Zale's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to assume. I just thought from the way you guys are around each other… My apologies. I look forward to meeting your boyfriend," she said.
Zed and Addison walked back out to the front desk and Addison scheduled her next appointment. Addie called Eric to let him know they were done.
"Hey," she stopped before they walked out the door, "what happened back there… the um, kiss… Please don't mention that."
Zed sighed. He knew that would happen. It hadn't meant anything, it was just a heat of the moment kiss.
"Of course. Not a word," he promised, a sad smile on his face.
"Thank you," Addie said softly. Eric pulled up and they got into the car. Addison gave Zed the ultrasound copies and kept three for herself. She excitedly showed Eric.
That was when Zed realized that if they stayed together, Eric would also be a dad to his son. The thought irritated him, but there was nothing he could do about it.