Author's note: Thank you to NotMarge, Guest (who I really suspect is Rasha007!), NicoleR85, ZabuzasGirl, partygirl98, Shelllee24, and kmj1989 for the reviews! We shall soon see what happens to people who try to bad mouth Hank in front of Zoey. There's going to be some uncomfortable situations for Hank, and he's definitely going to take it hard- at first, anyway. Over time it will get easier, especially as people give small signs of support. He'll loosen up eventually.

Actually, there's kinda a hint of Nightcrawler's philosophy in this chapter- anyone remember that part where he says he pities people who can't see beyond appearances in X2 Hank has a moment like that here as well.

Today we're heading to the doctor's office to check on Zoey. It's Hank's first time in a public place as Beast!

A Trip to the Doctor's Office

Our theory was put to the test the very next day, when Zoey had a doctor's appointment scheduled to determine our baby's due date and general well-being.

I wasn't looking forward to going out in public at all, but I was determined to be there for Zoey through everything. To be a good husband, and to start being a good father before our baby even arrived.

"I'm so excited," Zoey said, practically clapping her hands in the passenger seat as I drove us to the doctor's office. "We're going to see our baby for the first time! And we'll hear his heartbeat! Aren't you excited?"

Her enthusiasm was undeniably infectious, and I found myself smiling despite my ruminations.

It's not that I wasn't just as excited as Zoey was- I was just too focused on my worries over how the people at the doctor's office would react to me to really allow myself to feel a positive sense of anticipation.

Snap out of it, McCoy.

"Yes, I am. What do you think he's going to look like?" I asked, trying to make an effort to shake off the gloom.

"Right now? Like a giant sea monkey," Zoey replied, sounding completely serious.

I blinked.

A sea monkey? Isn't that a little insensitive?

I glanced over, frowning, to see she was desperately trying not to giggle at my consternation. And then I realized she was just teasing me.

"Hey, watch it," I chided her. "That's my kid you're talking about."

We didn't stop laughing until we reached the parking lot for the doctor's office, but I immediately sobered as I regarded the building.

The laughter died on my lips as the pit of my stomach filled with foreboding and dread.

I can do this. I think, I told myself, trying to psych myself up.

Zoey gently took my hand off the steering wheel and gave it a comforting squeeze. "You ready, darling?"

My eyes met hers.

I could see a grim determination and a fierce protectiveness towards me behind the concern I sensed in her gaze- like she was ready to be my shield in any situation we came up against now. Zoey wouldn't allow people to treat me with contempt without putting up a fight.

She wouldn't let me go through this alone.

My love. My brave, amazing wife.

"Zoey, I-"

"I know," she interjected, with a tiny smile. "Now, let's go."

I could sense everyone's eyes immediately zero in on me when we stepped into the building.

The weight of a dozen startled stares crushed me from all sides, like deep ocean pressure. The scent of fear emanating from the other people inside almost made me want to sneeze.

Zoey kept her head held high as we made our way over to the receptionist desk, ignoring everyone else. She practically had to drag me along.

If I don't move too fast, I reasoned, I can't startle anyone. Letting myself be dragged around by a hundred pound woman probably helps, too.

The overly- made up receptionist jumped about a mile when she looked up from her paperwork and saw us- or me, to be more specific.

So much for that theory.

"C-can I help you?" she sputtered, her eyes darting briefly to Zoey before settling back on me.

I tried to smile at her- closed mouth, hiding my fangs.

As you can see, ma'am, I am not scary. I'm a nice, furry blue monster.

She looked like she was about to pass out.

"Yes, thank you," Zoey said politely. I could hear the testiness in her tone only because I knew her so well. "I have an appointment at ten with Dr. Stevenson."

"Um- ok," the receptionist replied, fumbling with some paperwork without really taking her eyes off me. She glanced down quickly. "Zoey McCoy?"

"That's me," Zoey agreed, smiling.

"H-here's some forms for you to fill out," the other woman muttered.

She practically threw the clipboard at us, like she was afraid I would make a grab for her hand if she got too close. I caught it before it skittered off the counter and then mentally winced because I moved too fast.

"Take a seat, and someone will be with you shortly."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

She looked completely nonplussed as we turned away and headed over to the waiting area.

"You ok?" Zoey whispered as we sat down.

The woman across from me took one look at us, got up, and went to take another seat as far away from us as possible.

"I'm fine," I lied.

Zoey sighed and leaned her head against my shoulder while she went about filling out the paperwork. I kept my gaze focused on the ground because I was afraid of seeing the other patients' expressions.

But I couldn't block out the sound of restless fidgeting as everyone but Zoey instinctively shifted away from me. Or the whispers.

"What is that? A mutant?"

"Should we call the police?"

"I don't think so- I mean, he's not hurting anyone."

"But he's scaring my son- Johnny," a woman's voice hissed. "Get back here."

I glanced up to see a little boy in front of me- "Johnny," I presumed. He appeared to be eight years old or so.

In my peripheral vision I saw his mother beckoning frantically to her son. She seemed to be torn between wanting to get him away from me and being too afraid to get too close herself.

"'Scuse me, Mister," Johnny said, his thumbs in his pockets. "Are you a mutant?"

I nodded, feeling hyper-aware of the fact that every single person in that waiting area was watching us intently. "Yes."

"Are you sick?"

"No."

"Then what're you here for?" he asked.

"My wife's having a baby," I replied politely.

There was a sharp intake of breath around the room as I glanced down at Zoey, who was smiling at the child. The atmosphere seemed to get thicker as everyone now shifted their attention to her.

I could only imagine their thoughts- "what's a girl like her doing with that thing?" "Does she have one of those weird fetishes?" "Maybe that monster tricked her into marriage..."

I pitied them for not being able to understand the sort of love that transcends physical appearance. For not seeing into our hearts, for judging us so quickly.

Haven't these people ever read Beauty and the Beast?

"Are you sick?" I asked kindly. I was determined to prove that there was no need to be afraid of me.

Johnny looked uncomfortable and shook his head. "I'm here for a shot."

"Oh. Well that's not too bad," I mused.

"D-d'you think it'll hurt?" he asked tentatively.

I considered that for a moment before answering. This little boy was the only person in this room courageous enough to address me like I was normal, rather than whispering and pointing at me like I was some sort of zoo exhibit.

"For a brave boy like you? I think you'll be just fine," I told him honestly.

Johnny grinned, revealing several missing teeth.

This exchange seemed to be too much for his mother, who appeared to be on the verge of an apoplectic fit. "Johnny, get over here," she snapped.

"I think your mother needs you," I murmured, gesturing to the woman in question.

"Right. Sorry for bothering you, Mister," Johnny mumbled, scuffing his shoes on the floor.

"It's ok," I assured him, with a small smile. "Good luck."

He made his way back over to his mother, who grabbed him roughly by the arm and started whispering furiously to him about talking to "freaks."

"Mrs. McCoy?" a nurse called out.

I stood and helped Zoey up, glancing around as I did so.

Johnny's mother looked sickened still, but a few of the other people in the waiting room now regarded me with slightly less disdain after my positive interaction with the child.

One of the ladies even smiled at me as I offered Zoey my arm. That one friendly gesture filled me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Maybe Zoey was right...

The nurse waiting for us looked startled, but made no comments about me as she led us to an exam room. I did make her nervous, though- she had to take Zoey's pulse twice because she was too busy focusing on me.

"The doctor will be with you shortly," she announced, before scampering out of the room.

I let out a long, slow breath after she left.

"This is going better than I thought it would," I admitted to Zoey. "It's no picnic, but..."

"Let's not get too cocky just yet," Zoey mused. "Not until we walk out of this room and there's no armed mob standing in the lobby."

I just stared at her, horrified.

"Hank, I'm joking. Maybe it's harder for you because you've seen the worst in humanity, but I want to believe people can change their minds if you show them the truth," she explained earnestly. "Just think of what you're-"

A knock sounded on the door, and Dr. Stevenson entered.

"Hello, you two," he said genially.

Though his eyes flared slightly when he saw me, he gave no other reaction. I surmised that the nurse had warned him.

"Hello, Doctor," Zoey greeted him.

Dr. Stevenson asked some questions about her general well-being, and concluded that everything was going well so far (to my relief).

But then his expression became uncomfortable.

"I-I hate to ask such a personal question, but- did something happen to you, Dr. McCoy?" he asked tentatively.

I cringed. "I began expressing a secondary mutation," I told him, deciding on the simplest explanation. "I'm a mutant."

"We both are," Zoey added, watching the man carefully. "Will that be a problem, Doctor?"

I think her steely expression unnerved him slightly, because he shook his head quickly.

"It's just good to know, for the delivery," Dr. Stevenson explained lamely. "Why don't we take a look?"

This was the part we were both looking forward to: seeing the baby for the first time.

I held Zoey's hand after she unbuttoned her blouse and laid down, eagerly waiting for the doctor to get a good look with the wand on her stomach.

Dr. Stevenson chuckled suddenly. "Well, well," he muttered, flipping a switch.

I grinned as a thump-thump sound filled the room, feeling awash with joy as I heard my baby's heartbeat for the first time.

But then I frowned.

Wait... do I hear-?

"Congratulations," Dr. Stevenson announced, turning the screen towards us-

Revealing two little sea monkeys.

Two.

"You're having twins!"