Alison climbed up onto the examination table after changing into a gown, and waited nervously. Maybe they were taking too great a risk having Rafe go to the hospital for the appointment with her. If anyone saw him…
"May I come in?" Rafe poked his head into the room.
"Rafe! Did anyone see you?"
"No, I think we're safe. Calm down, Angel. Take a deep breath."
"Ya know…I've been doing more calming breaths lately, and I'm not even in labor yet."
Rafe laughed. "So is the doctor here yet?"
"No. The nurse said she'll be here in few minutes. So Rafe…how DID you get here without anyone seeing you?"
"Trick of the trade. Let's just say with my powers I have several ways I can travel."
"You didn't…did you…fly?"
"Alison!"
"I know, I know…" Alison giggled, remembering how she and Rafe had been over the "angel myths" time and again, "No wings, no halos, no harps, and no magic dust…but you still never told me whether or not the pearly gate thing is true."
There was a knock on the door.
"Hi Alison. How are we feeling today?"
"Oh, hi Dr. Newman. I'm good…we're good…" Alison corrected herself as she embraced her stomach, "And there's someone I want you to meet."
"Rafe Kovich…nice to meet you."
"So this is 'Daddy,' I presume. So nice to FINALLY meet you. I thought we would have met earlier in the past, oh, six months."
"Yeah…like I said, he's been kinda out of town lately…"
Rafe jumped in to save her, "But I'm here today."
"Alright…so should we get started? We'll just take a quick look at the sonogram and make sure everything's ok, and then we'll set up your next appointment. But first I'm going to do one thing...."
"Wh..wh..what's that thing?" Rafe looked puzzled as Dr. Newman hooked up a small electronic device to Alison's pregnant stomach. But no more than a second later, his face full of questions melted into an expression of awe as he heard the baby's heartbeat. No words could possibly express the emotions flowing through Rafe at that moment.
Alison began to tear up as she watched Rafe's face beam at the sound of their baby's heartbeat. She had been so afraid he would never get to hear it, and this was something she had wished so hard for every day since she found out she was pregnant.
The silence of this beautiful moment that seemed to last forever for Rafe and Alison was soon broken as Dr. Newman spoke, "Well…heartbeat sounds good…strong."
Alison wiped a tear from her eye. "Of course. He knows his daddy's here."
"So wait…" Rafe interrupted, "We know it's a boy?"
"Actually, Alison here has decided not to know the sex of the baby until birth. But if you two wanted to know I'm sure the sonogram-…"
Dr. Newman was interrupted by Rafe and Alison together, "No!"
They all laughed.
"Unless, that is…unless, you want to know…" Alison looked at Rafe, understanding if he wanted to know the sex, because he wouldn't be there in the future.
"No, no. I think it should be a surprise, too. A wonderful surprise, just like when we found out about him…or her." Rafe smiled and kissed Alison lightly on the forehead.
"Ok…well, should we move on to the sonogram? And then you two can get out of here."
As amazing as Rafe felt at the moment he first heard his child's heartbeat, seeing the baby on the sonogram topped all. There, right before his eyes, was the child that was never supposed to be, that had caused so much trouble-on earth and in heaven. There on the tiny black screen was a living testament to his and Alison's love. Even if he couldn't stay with Alison forever, he was assured at this moment that their love would go on and continue, through their child.
It was a bittersweet moment for both Rafe and Alison, as they were both so inexplicably overjoyed that they could share this moment, but saddened by the reality that Rafe would return to heaven all too soon.