Chapter 5
Fara stood looking in the tall mirror that was hanging on the wall next to her dresser. She was staring at her belly, now protruding in the fifth month of her pregnancy. Gently, she brushed her fingers over the soft pale fur there, and then turned sideways. The 'baby bump' was another gentle curve on her shapely self. Always she had tried for the perfect, feminine body, but never in her life had she felt as womanly as she did in that moment.
Mother.
Fox had felt his wife rise from their bed, though in the fog of half-sleep, half-wake, he made no move. Instead of going to the bathroom like she normally did, Fara turned on a desk lamp and was looking in the long mirror. Curious, and somewhat aroused by her nudity, he soon realized what she was looking at when she began to caress her belly.
The echoes of his childhood had been louder of late, as he thought of all the things his father and he had done. What advice had the older fox given a young Fox as he was growing? It was something he knew he should pass on as a father to his own child. James was still Fox's only hero, and Fox wanted to be that person to this baby. He had always been a strong leader, and here was another person he would gladly guide until his last breath.
Father.
Fara quietly climbed back into bed and pulled the covers around herself, but she knew she had to rise soon, since the couple had an appointment that day. There would be an obstetrician who would see them, and hopefully tell them the sex of their baby.
Fox rolled over then and wrapped his arms around her. He gently rubbed her belly.
"Good morning, both of you," he murmured, his breath tickling her ear.
Her ear flicked a couple times, "Good morning. Don't forget-"
"How could I?" Fox interrupted her.
Flipping around Fara poked his chest, "You don't know what I was about to say."
He stared back innocently, "Of course I do."
She decided to let it slide, and continued, "We'll leave at eight."
"Eight? Why so early?"
"So we can stop at Ferret Bill's, of course," she said, "You know Bill is getting new booster seats and high chairs because of us, right?"
"Oh," was all Fox had to say.
"That's it? You know Bill hasn't gotten new seats in years. I wouldn't be surprised if he got curtains," Fara snickered.
Fox outright laughed, "Ferret Bill's Café."
"Come on," she got out of bed, turned, and lowered her lashes seductively, "Let's get a shower together."
Fox was out of bed and starting the shower fast than he launched his arwing.
Fox and Fara were back in the 'woman doctor' office, waiting their turn to see Dr. Cara. Both sat restlessly on the mauve sofa, and nearly jumped when the bright-eyed hare called their name. Fox followed his wife down the hall and into a small room.
It was windowless, with a plush couch in the corner, a raised half-bed, and several bits of doctor-like machinery and objects.
"Have a seat, Mr. McCloud," she said and pointed to the bed as she looked at Fara, "You too, Mrs. McCloud."
As Fox eased himself onto the couch, he watched Fara hop up onto the bed and dangle her feet. She was obviously nervous or distracted, or both, as she hadn't corrected her name.
"You ready?" he asked.
Nodding, Fara looked at him, "Ready as I'll ever be."
Silence invaded the room.
"You're not going to sit there the entire time, are you?" Fara asked, the hint of annoyance back in her voice.
Fox mentally sighed in relief, "Of course not."
He joined her and wrapped his arms around her. The fennec rested her head against his. They were in this together, and it felt good.
With a horrible screech, the door slid open and Dr. Cara stepped in.
She sighed, "I must get that fixed. Welcome back, Fara. Are you two ready to see your baby?"
Both nodded. Fara leaned back and uncovered her bulging stomach. Fox took her paw in his and waited. Dr. Cara pulled flipped a switch, which turned on the view screen on the wall. Next, she retrieved a cone-shaped device, and held it over Fara's belly.
On the screen was a sharp image of Fara's stomach and intestines. The grey wolf doctor moved the cone lower, and the image of a tiny kit appeared. Loud and clear came the fetal heartbeat. Both parents gasped.
"It's..." Fox whispered.
Relief and awe washed over Fara. It was an amazing feeling to know that there really was life growing inside of her. The knowledge had always been there, but now it was tangible.
The couple took in every detail of their child as Dr. Cara checked for any problems. The fetus was curled in half, tiny paws flexing and opening, occasionally a leg kicking or tail moving.
"There," Dr. Cara said, and sex of the baby was obvious.
"A boy," Fara gasped.
"A son," Fox whispered.
"So far as I can see, he's a healthy baby boy," she glanced at the bottom of the screen, "The med bot judges age to be twenty-two to twenty-three weeks."
Fox began calculating in his head, but Fara knew her weeks by then, "That means I'm almost six months!"
"Yes, we misjudged the conception dated by a few weeks, but at this stage, it's not crucial."
They looked at the baby for ten more minutes, though they could have watched him all night. The appointment was over, and Fara adjusted her pants and pulled down her shirt.
"Well," she said, "Let's start discussing names at Ferret Bill's."
It was relatively quiet in the diner after Travi calmed down. The fennec waitress had gone crazy, squealing with delight over the showing Fara. The couple sat in their regular booth, and Travi brought out their regular drinks. They weren't ready to order yet, so they just talked.
Fara sat her data card on the table in front of here, and, albeit confused, so did Fox.
"Pick three first names, your favorite first," Fara said, "And we'll exchange and cross off the ones we don't like."
Fox's mouth gaped.
"Don't tell me you haven't thought of a name yet," she said, "Though it would be like you."
Fox was quick to his own defense, though he knew it practically useless against Fara, "I have! I just didn't think I'd get much of a choice."
"Why wouldn't you? You are the father," she said, and looked genuinely hurt.
"Okay, but I only have one name in mind," Fox said, and wrote the name with his stylus.
"At least pick two more, Fox," she said, and went to writing her own preferred names.
Within a few moments, the two finished and exchanged data pads. Fox had written three names, James, Kalle, and Kano. Fara also had three names, Adel, Todd, and Colson.
Fox immediately crossed off Adel, "It sounds like a girl's name."
"It's ambiguous," she retorted, and crossed off Kalle, "This sounds like a girl's name."
Smirking, Fox crossed off Colson, "I knew three girls named Colson."
"What does Kano mean?" Fara asked.
"Uh," Fox shrugged, "I had a mentor in high school named Kano."
"So that leaves us with James, Todd, and Kano," Fara murmured.
"Todd means 'fox', which is far less obvious than your name," Fara quipped.
"Very funny."
Travi approached the table, "Are you two ready?"
"Yes," Fara said, thinking it a good interlude, "I'll have the soy burger, well done, with a side of snow peas."
Grinning like an idiot, Fox ordered, "I'll have the fish and chips."
"Ugh," Fara muttered, "You are so sleeping on the couch tonight."
Travi smiled warily and left the table.
"Afraid of a little gas?" Fox asked.
"Gas is not the correct word," Fara answered, "Toxic fumes requiring HAZMAT masks is more like it."
Fox laughed, to which Fara could only smirk. How far they had come since her rescue, and the fateful meeting at this very diner. She couldn't imagine herself anywhere else but in that moment, carrying their son.