A/N: I am republishing this story. There have been edits made. Text that has been italicized is a flashback, and text that has been bolded is from the show. I am merely borrowing characters besides though that are not recognized.
"Luke," Kathleen calls as she looks through her closet. "Are you up?"
"Hmm," he says from his side of their king bed. "What?"
"Time to get up," she says as pulls out different tops. "We have an appointment with an ultrasound and Debbie to find out the gender."
Luke lets out a yawn before turning to the clock. "How long have you been up?" he asks as he stretches his arms before getting out of bed.
"About an hour," she says as she continues to look through her wardrobe. "I am so excited about today."
Luke shakes his head as he walks into their walk-in closet. He wraps his arms around her waist and rests his hands on her stomach. "I thought I tired you out after last night. I thought you would have been still asleep this morning," he says as he places a kiss on her neck.
"Well, you did," she says as she leans into his hold. "Except this morning I woke up to flutter and I couldn't figure it out, till I realized I was feeling someone move."
"Someone didn't want mommy to forget about her," he says as he looks at her protruding belly. "I can't wait till I can feel her."
"It won't be that much longer," she says as looks through her tops. "Uh, I can't figure out what to wear. What are we doing after the appointment?"
"I thought we could do some Christmas shopping," he says. He pulls out a pair of dark blue jeans and a beige cashmere sweater. "We could go look at some trees. Get some decorations and ornaments."
"Now that sounds fun," she says as she pulls out a mauve-textured knitted top with a pleated waist. "Christmas seems to slip my mind."
"Well, it was a busy weekend," he says as he walks towards the ensuite bathroom. "We got married yesterday and today we are finding out that we are having a little girl."
"Or little boy," she reminds him. Last six weeks, he insisted that they were having a little girl. "Or possibly we won't find out till the delivery."
"Nah, she is a well-behaved baby," he says as he walks into the bathroom.
Kathleen shakes her head as she pulls out a pair of navy blue flare maternity jeans. Then she looks through her shoe collection and pulls out her pair of black chunky ankle boots. In the past, she would have preferred something with a bit of height, but knew Luke would veto that idea. She knew she would have to wait till after her pregnancy to put back on her heels and platforms. She walks back into the bedroom with her chosen outfit and changes.
She's trying to decide between putting it up in a ponytail or leaving it down. She sits down at the vanity and brushed through her long locks. There is a baby pink bow hairpiece next to her jewellery box. She forms her hair into a low ponytail before exiting the bedroom. She walks into the kitchen and pulls out a travel coffee cup and reusable tumbler. She moves around the kitchen.
"So what are we thinking, actual tree or fake?" Luke asks as he walks into the kitchen about ten minutes later. "I love the look and smell of real trees, but they can be messy."
"We've always had a real one," she mentions as she fills the cups up. "My parents and I would always head out to the tree yard and bicker between the tallest and the fullest tree."
"Okay, the actual tree it is," he says as he takes the mug handed to him. "Thank you. So go look for a tree and some ornaments."
"Sounds good," she says as they walk towards the front door. Luke grabs their coats and helps her into hers before putting on his own. "I should go through the storage unit and see what ones my dad has stored away."
"That sounds like a plan," he says as he grabs the keys. "I still can't believe your dad insisted on getting you a new car."
"Well, he is sneaky," she says as they walk out of their apartment. "This happens when he and the other parents work together. Something about how the Accord is going to be too low to the ground, and the Escape offers more room. I don't know, but I knew ultimately he would crack and attempt to get me a new car. He is all about safety standards."
"Well, he has a point on the safety standards and the height from the ground," he says. They walk towards the elevator. "Anna mentioned your center of balance may become a bit off-kilter. It made bringing the gifts home easier last night."
"True. I can't believe I didn't notice him swapping out my car. Then again, Gail has been insisting on driving me places. He brought Gail into it."
"We all say there is the right way, the wrong way, and the Donovan way. Though I noticed you looking at car websites a few weeks back."
"I guess my dad knows me too well. I believe he was bummed that we didn't end up having a big wedding like hoped."
"Was that ever in our plans?" Luke asks as they reach the 2010 Ford Escape. It was steel blue metallic with a stone cloth interior.
"No, but that doesn't mean he didn't dream it," she says as she unlocks the car. "Though I love the remote start."
"It is helpful for these colder months," Luke mentions as he gets into the passenger seat. "It'll also be helpful during the hot summer months."
"Exactly," she says as they buckle their seatbelts and head off for the drive. "The question that has also been coming up is what purchases are we allowing them to make?"
"If they are talking, baby, I haven't thought about it. Have you?"
"I've been doing some research on what we are going to need. I haven't come across things that I feel we should buy versus them purchasing."
"What are some major purchases that we are looking at?"
"The two main things are crib or bassinet and car seat. Now with the car seat, we could go for a travelling system, which would include a stroller. A bassinet if we want the baby to stay in our room for the first few months. The other option would be a crib if we want the baby to be in the nursery."
"They could go with the car seat and travelling system. It would put their mind at ease with safety standards. Though I feel we should be the ones buying the furniture for her room. I know you have already been experimenting with a few theme ideas."
"Only one that would work for either gender. A woodland theme with trees and a pond. For animals, I was thinking of bears, foxes, owls, and deer. Something timeless in a way."
"Wood tones for furniture, greens, greys and browns as a colour theme."
"Exactly. If we are having a little girl, then add some flowers, but if we are having a boy, add some bugs and insects."
"I like it and we are having a girl," he says as they pull into the parking lot of the doctor's office. "A dad knows."
"Keep saying that," she says as she pulls into a parking spot. "Willing to wager on it?"
"What are we thinking?" he asks as they exit the car.
"We have a girl and I'll go to the next Leafs game with you and get a Leafs onesie," she starts as they walk towards the office. "The baby is a boy and you have to go dress shopping with me and Gail. I do remind you that it's two work parties and Gail's graduation dinner."
"Deal," he says as he kisses her. "This is going to be the easiest bet ever won."
"If you say so," she says as she enters the office. "Do remember if you go Leafs crazy, Steve will go Montreal crazy?"
"I know, I know," he says as they approach the receptionist. "Kathleen Callaghan."
"Yup," the young receptionist says as she types on the computer. "Debbie will be right with you two."
"Thanks," Kathleen says as they sit down. "It's a good thing you are working the day of that game."
"It's a night game," he says as he looks at her. "So, I could go depending on my caseload that day."
"Oh brother," she says as she flips through her phone. "You two are the worst. New Year's Eve party at my aunt and uncles, are we going?"
"I was going to leave that up to you since you have to work the holidays this year," he says as he watches the door open.
"Kathleen," Debbie calls as they get up and follow her into an ultrasound room. "You two ready?"
"Definitely," Luke says with a big smile.
"He has been determined that the baby is a girl," Kathleen says as she gets up on the examining table. "I am trying to remind him it is the same possibility it could be a boy."
Debbie shakes her head and asks, "any wagers?"
"Dress shopping or a Leafs' Game with a onesie," Luke says as Kathleen pulls her shirt up.
"I think he got the better deal," Kathleen says as Debbie places the gel on her stomach.
"At least it wasn't naming rights," Debbie says as she waves the wand over her stomach. "I've seen couples go a little crazy with the wagers."
"We've had the same name in mind for a while if it's a girl or boy," Luke comments as they watch the screen. "One of the first things we discussed."
"Okay. Your little one is measuring six and a half inches and weighs roughly ten ounces," Debbie says. Their little one appears on the screen. "You have a little thumb sucker." She says as she zooms in on the baby's face.
"That is so cute," Kathleen says as she watches the screen. "All normal?"
"So far, so good," Debbie says as she continues the scan. "You can see the little face, hands, arms, torso, and legs. The little feet flipping around."
"She must be a swimmer like her mother," Luke comments as they watch.
"Well, from what I am seeing," Debbie pauses, "or not seeing. Daddy is right this time. You two are having a little girl."
"A girl," they both say, shocked.
"Yup," Debbie says as she scans the area. "Nothing protruding from between the legs."
"Told you," Luke says as he grins from ear to ear.
Kathleen shakes her head as she stares at the screen, and says, "but everything is healthy?"
"Yup," Debbie says as she clicks a few buttons. "Placenta is where it should be. I am not seeing any leaks in the sac. You are one perfectly healthy mommy and little girl."
"Good," Kathleen says as she breathes a sigh of relief.
"I'll get your printouts," Debbie says as she hands her some paper towels. "How many should I grab?"
"Let's say 10," Luke says as Kathleen sits up. "We have a very large following."
"Got it," Debbie says as she walks out of the room.
"You okay?" Luke asks as he looks over at her. He has noticed that something has been weighing on her mind for the last few days.
"Yeah," Kathleen says as she pulls her shirt down and tosses the paper towels into the trash bin. "A couple of hard cases and some horror stories at work."
"Ah," Luke says as he looks at her. "Everything is going to be fine. You know how everyone likes to be prepared."
"True," she says as she smiles. "Our own little Faylinn Helen."
"Fay," Luke says, smiling.