Complications

It was another uncomfortable prenatal visit as Marcy lay on the exam table in a small yet crowded hospital room. Anne squeezed her hand reassuringly and glanced over at Sasha who was trying her best not to glare at everyone else in the room. Jenny and Mr. X sat in two chairs off to the side. Mr. X was sitting with his legs crossed as he scrolled through his phone while Jenny sat poised to take notes.

"Is this really necessary?" Anne asked as the doctor squirted the cold gel onto Marcy's belly. She pressed the transducer into the gel as her eyes flicked to the screen. Jenny started taking rapid notes.

"It's just a formality sweetie, pretend we aren't even here." Mr. X waved dismissively without looking up from his phone.

"It's kind of hard not to." Sasha whispered in a low growl as Jenny pulled out their phone and started taking pictures of the ultrasound. Mr. X tilted his head to the side, lowered his glasses, and gave her a look.

"Honey, your wife has significantly altered alien DNA. We're just here as a precaution. Nothing more." He said, pushing his glasses back up. "How's she looking Jenny?" Jenny gave a quick thumbs up before scribbling more notes. Sasha scoffed and looked away.

"Right, and how long should we keep expecting you at visits?" Anne asked awkwardly. Jenny glanced between the three moms with a sympathetic look. Mr. X sighed.

"I'll be honest with you." He said putting his phone away. "We're going to be here for every visit, the delivery, and checking in every month after. As the kid gets older we'll space out the meetings to hospital visits only. They'll never even know we were here." The doctor finished the scan and started going through her notes. Sasha helped clean the gel off Marcy's belly.

"And you're not going to steal our baby to perform experiments on them?" Marcy asked seriously. Sasha turned to glare at them mistrustfully. Mr. X stood up and raised his hands in surrender.

"Of course not. I'm sure mama bear over here," He gestured to Sasha, "would take on the whole government with her bare fists if we tried. Not to mention," He gestured to Anne, "well, the government still believes Anne has her powers. We're not about to pick a losing battle." He straightened up and his demeanor became more serious. "I appreciate your concern. I really do. That is why I have done everything in my power to ensure that you and your family have as normal a life as possible with minimal government interference. I have to satisfy their curiosity so I can protect you." Sasha ground her teeth but said nothing.

"We appreciate it Mr. X." Anne said finally as she gave Marcy's hand a squeeze, "But what would happen if complications arose?" He glanced at Jenny.

"We'll do all we can to help." He said reassuringly. The doctor cleared her throat.

"If I may?" She asked them all. Mr. X nodded. She turned to Marcy. "Everything appears to be progressing normally." She said, flicking through her notes. "However, you are showing signs of preeclampsia."

"What's that?" Anne asked with apprehension. The doctor was about to respond but Marcy jumped in.

"It's pregnancy-induced hypertension." Marcy started. Anne continued to look confused and worried so she continued. "It's high blood pressure, Anne. It's a common complication and-" She glanced over at the doctor.

"Very treatable." She completed and gave them a reassuring smile. "We'll keep a close eye on it. We'll want regular blood tests, urine samples, and continue to monitor blood pressure. Which, fortunately, you can easily monitor blood pressure at home nowadays."

"I think we can grab a monitor from the store down the road." Sasha added.

"In the meantime I would recommend a couple dietary changes, light exercise, and prenatal vitamins. If that doesn't help we'll start considering possible antihypertensive medications." The doctor continued. Marcy and Sasha nodded but Anne was still uneasy. Marcy took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"I'll print out all the recommendations and symptoms to watch for." Marcy said, resting her head against Anne's arm. Mr. X clapped his hands together.

"All good news then." He said pulling his phone back out and putting a hand on the doorknob. "I'll be happy to report back that everything is progressing as a normal typical uninteresting pregnancy!" Anne frowned but Sasha gave an approving nod. He and Jenny left.

"Are there any other questions I can help answer?" The doctor asked as Anne continued to look nervous.

Almost an hour later they opened the front door to their home. Domino 3 ran out as Troy chased him. Mrs. Boonchuy hurried after them, scolding them in Thai. Sasha caught their toddler and hoisted him into the air.

"Were you behaving yourself for Yaai Boonchuy?" Sasha asked suspiciously as Anne hugged her mom who was looking exhausted. "I've got him from here. Thanks again Mrs. Boonchuy." She said gratefully. Marcy followed Sasha inside as Anne hung back with her mom.

"Is everything alright honey?" Mrs. Boonchuy asked as she tried to read her daughter's face. Marcy and Sasha looked back.

"I'll be in shortly." Anne said, giving them a reassuring smile as she closed the door. Her mom looked at her with concern. Anne turned around and sat down on the steps to the front porch. Her mom sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her as Anne started to cry into her hands.

"Bad news at the doctors?" Mrs. Boonchuy asked softly as she held her.

"Yes, no. Not really, it's supposed to be manageable but that's not what- Its-" She couldn't continue and her mom pulled her close sympathetically. She gently rocked her side to side as she cried.

"I know Anne." She said, fighting back her own tears as she comforted her daughter.

"Why did I have to be this way?" Anne said in a pained whisper making her mom frown.

"You are perfect just the way you are. Plenty of moms can't carry kids." She chided as she looked into her eyes. "You are my beautiful, exceptional daughter. I know it's hard. I always knew it would be hard for you. I just hoped you'd find someone who would make you happy. And you found two." She kissed the top of her head. "But I know it doesn't make it any easier."

"I just want to be able to carry my child." She pleaded before letting out a laugh, "I want to experience it all. I want the good and the bad. I want the morning sickness and weird food cravings. I want the out of control emotions, back pain, and glow. I want to feel my child growing inside of me as part of me."

"I know." Mrs. Boonchuy said as she couldn't fight back her tears anymore. Anne looked at her desperate for guidance. Mrs. Boonchuy wiped her daughter's eyes as she smiled down at her. "I wish I could change things, Anne. I really do. I wish I could make the pain stop." She hugged her tightly. "Just because your child doesn't grow in your belly, it doesn't mean they can't grow in your heart." She said, putting a hand to Anne's chest.

"I know. It just-" Anne wiped her eyes and started off into the sky.

"It doesn't make the pain go away." Her mom said, reading her thoughts. Anne nodded and hugged her back. She knew her mom understood her and it meant more to her than she could put into words.

"How did I get so lucky to have such a good mom?" Anne smiled weakly.

"Because I grew you in my heart." Mrs. Boonchuy said, kissing her forehead. "I didn't care for the belly part. You kicked so much I was surprised you didn't become a soccer player." She said, shaking her head.

"Mom." Anne rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Anne." She said, giving her a squeeze before staring off in the distance seriously. "I know this won't change the feelings you have but you need to know how blessed you are." Anne tilted her head to one side. Mrs. Boonchuy continued. "While you can't carry your children, they are still your children. They are your biological children. So many couples would wish for nothing more in the world than that. The fact that you are still this fertile even after years of hormones and blockers is nothing short of a miracle." She looked down as she held Anne's hands. "I guess what I'm trying to say," She said looking up at her daughter. "When you feel less than a woman, less than the amazing woman you grew up to be, that your kids wouldn't be here without you. Your wives didn't make those children all by themselves. They needed you. You are just as much of a mother to your children as them."

"I-" Anne rubbed her eyes. "Thanks mom."