Chapter forty.

Ayla woke early the next morning with a knot in her stomach. She hadn't really thought about the baby that much, she had just assumed thathe or she was safe and sound inside her. Sarah arrived on time, as usual, beaming brightly. She was a morning person, Ayla wasn't.

"Hello Sunshine. You ready?"

"No."

"Thought not."

"Give me five more minutes. I just need to find my left shoe."

"Surely it's with the right one?"

"You'd think so."

"There's nothing to be nervous about you know." Sarah said gently.

"What? Oh I know, I'm not nervous. Why would you think I was nervous?"

"Well your voice is all high and squeaky and when you found your left shoe two seconds ago, you put the right one in the fridge."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Look you have nothing to worry about. It's just a quick check up and then we can go to lunch."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"But what if something is wrong?"

"There won't be. And if there is we'll deal with it."

"Ok."

"Ok now go get your shoe out of the refrigerator."

The two headed off to Saint Mungo's and Ayla was once again seen to by Healer Wilkes.

"Hello dear. You left in a bit of a hurry the last time, we really should have set up another consultation time to check on the little one."

"Sorry, it was a bit…"

"Of a shock? Yes I gathered as much. Your young man not with you?"

"Uh, no. He's not my young man. The father doesn't really want to be involved. He's busy."

"Quite alright dear, none of us are perfect."

"Perfect?"

"Sarah shut up!"

"Right then, let's have a look at the little one."

The Healer moved her wand over Ayla's stomach once more. A small amount of ticker tape sprang from the end.

"Blood pressures a little high, nothing we can't sort out. Baby seems healthy, growing well. Would you like to know the sex?"

"Can you really tell this early"

"Well it's nothing definite. It is a little early on to be absolutely sure. However we have a team of Seer's on our staff who will more than likely be able to predict the sex."

"Um, no. I don't want to know, not just yet."

"Quite alright dear. There's plenty of time for that. And if you decide not to find out altogether it'll be a nice little surprise at the birth."

"Yeah that's true." Ayla said, the only thing she felt she could do at the moment was agree.

"Well everything seems in order. You may experience some morning sickness, but we've developed a potion that will sort that right out. The ingredients are on the back in case you have any allergies. And the instructions are there too. I'll want to see you again in about a month, keep an eye on the blood pressure. And the baby of course."

"Ok."

"Just make an appointment with the receptionist downstairs and I'll see you in four weeks."

"Ok thank you."

"Yes, thanks." Sarah said.

"Not at all deary just doing my job."

Sarah and Ayla headed out into the crisp spring air. Ayla sighed and the knot in her stomach loosened a little. She was fine, so was the baby, and she wouldn't have to set foot in the hospital for another month.

"So lunch? My treat."

"Yeah that sounds nice. Where do you want to go?"

"Don't mind, you pick."

"Well does it have to be lunch? Couldn't we go for ice cream instead?"

"Yeah ice cream sounds good to me."

The two passed through the Leaky Cauldron and headed for Fortescue's arm in arm, chatting all the way. It was just like old times. Except now there were babies to think about. They picked their desserts, three scoops of mint choc chip, chocolate fudge and cookie dough for Ayla, and strawberry, vanilla and peach for Sarah. They sat down and watched the world go by.

"Hey isn't that Flint?"

"Where?"

"Coming out of Madam Malkin's"

"Yeah I think it is."

"Let's ask him to join us."

"Why?"

"I dunno. I'm not sure why I said that, hmm that's strange ."

"Just a bit."

"You know I've been thinking," Sarah said. "It's kind of my fault you and Wood ended up together."

"How do you figure?"

"Well I told you two to go out and celebrate. I encouraged you."

"What?"

"It was my hormones. I was all crazy."

"Sarah it wasn't your fault."

"Yeah but…"

"Oh don't be daft."

"Hello ladies."

"Oh hi Flint."

"Hey."

"Please just call me Marcus."

"Ok hello Marcus." Sarah repeated.

"So you're not working today?" he asked Ayla.

"Oh no I quit."

"Oh bummer."

"Not really, it's not like it was my dream job."

"So what are you gonna do now?" he asked.

"Sit around and get fat." Ayla said smiling.

"Here, here!" Sarah shouted.

Marcus laughed at the two. "Well I'd best get going. It was nice seeing you both."

"You know, I think Kris has a point." Sarah said as soon as Marcus was out of earshot.

"What?"

"Well he's polite and all nice."

"And that makes him gay?"

"Well you never know. Something's definitely different about him."

"Kris'll be glad you're on her side I suppose."

"You don't think he's different?"

"To what?"

"To how he was in school."

"We didn't really know him in school though."

"Yeah, but I mean he was always so hostile in school. And now he seems, well nice I guess is the only word for it."

"Does it really matter?"

"Well no, but it just makes you think."

They finished their ice creams in silence, both thinking the same thing, before leaving for their separate homes.