"Mommy, Daddy, do doctors ALWAYS take a long time to do things?" asked an impatient Mei-Li.

Melendez looked over at his daughter and patted her head, "Sometimes we do, mija. It depends on a number of things."

"Well, Mommy will have had the baby by the time we see the doctor," Mei-Li crossed her arms over her chest.

"I should have brought my tablet to keep her occupied, but I was too sidetracked with other things," admitted Lim.

"Hey," Melendez grabbed Lim's hand, "It's okay. I know you're nervous."

Lim looked at their entwined hands and took a deep breath, "What if they do the sonogram and tell us something is wrong, Neil? Mei-Li is so excited and it would be horrible for her. I mean, we were already past our fertility prime when she was born, and now, we're both in our forties and…"

"Audrey," Melendez interrupted her, "Little Limlendez is just fine. I can just feel it."

"Audrey Lim-Melendez," the receptionist called.

Mei-Li excitedly hopped down from her chair and grabbed her stuffed Mushu, "FINALLY!"

Melendez and Lim laughed to each other and Melendez grabbed Mei-Li's jean jacket with the Disney princesses on the back of it before following the nurse. Lim sat down on the exam table and Melendez sat Mei-Li in his lap, "Alright, mija, this is it. We get to see your baby brother or sister today."

The nurse took Lim's vitals and Dr. Garcia came into the room a few moments later, "Audrey, Neil, it's so nice to see you again."

"You too, Dr. Garcia," nodded Lim.

Melendez stood and walked Mei-Li over to Dr. Garcia, "Mei-Li, can you say 'hi' to Dr. Garcia?"

Dr. Garcia crouched down in front of Mei-Li and said, "Hi Mei-Li. I'm Dr. Garcia and I'm a special doctor who does checkups on mommies who have babies in their tummies. I was your Mommy's doctor when you were growing in her tummy."

"You were?" asked Mei-Li.

Dr. Garcia nodded, "You know, you're kind of famous here at St. Bonaventure?"

"There are lots of people I don't know who know my name," said Mei-Li.

"Well, I'm going to take a few pictures of the baby growing in your Mommy's tummy. Is that alright?" Mei-Li nodded, "Good," Dr. Garcia turned her attention towards Lim, "Did you drink a pint of water an hour before your appointment?"

Lim nodded, "Yes, and I can guarantee you my first stop after this ultrasound will be the restroom."

"I know, but it helps us get better pictures," sympathized Dr. Garcia, "Now if you could just lean back for me and we'll get started," Lim leaned back on the table, lifted her shirt, and shimmied her pants down lower. Dr. Garcia fired up the ultrasound machine and lifted the tube of gel, "Now I'm going to put this gel on Mommy's tummy, and then, put this special wand on it and the picture of the baby will be on that screen," Dr. Garcia explained as she did so.

Soon, a fuzzy black and white image appeared on the screen, though it was unidentifiable to a three year old, "Where's the baby?" asked Mei-Li, "I don't see it!"

The adults in the room chuckled and Dr. Garcia pointed to a small circle on the screen, "You see this small spot right there?" Mei-Li nodded, "That's your baby brother or sister growing inside Mommy's tummy."

Mei-Li's eyes widened and she smiled, "It looks like a Simba," Melendez and Lim couldn't help but laugh, but the expectant parents had become overrun with emotion. These types of moments would never get old. A few tears formed in Lim's eyes and Mei-Li said, "Don't cry, Mommy!"

Lim took her daughter's hand and said, "It's okay, sweetheart. Sometimes people cry because they're happy and I'm crying because I'm happy."

"Oh," said Mei-Li, "Are you happy too, Daddy?"

"Very happy, Princess," acknowledged Melendez.

Dr. Garcia tapped a few keys as she took the measurements, "Well the fetus is nice and healthy. Everything is developing and growing as it should. By the size of the fetus and by the start of your last menstrual period, I'd put you at about twelve weeks and five days. And that would put your due date at around…" Dr. Garcia did the math, "August 26, 2024. So it looks like you'll become a big sister this summer," Dr. Garcia said to Mei-Li.

"Can't you make it grow faster?" Mei-Li asked Lim.

Lim laughed and shook her head, "No honey. It takes a while for babies to grow big and strong. You'll get to see my tummy grow though as the baby grows, so you'll know it's getting bigger."

"Oh, okay," sighed Mei-Li.

Melendez kissed Mei-Li's temple and said, "But we have a lot to do before the baby gets here, mija."

"Like what?" asked Mei-Li.

"Well, we have to give it a name and make a special room for the baby. We have to buy stuff the baby will use since we don't have any more since you aren't a baby anymore," explained Lim.

"I'm a big girl!" Mei-Li said happily.

Melendez chuckled, "That's right."

Dr. Garcia pushed down the transducer a little more and asked, "Are you ready to hear the heartbeat?"

"We can hear the heartbeat?" Mei-Li asked mesmerized.

"Mmhm. As soon as I push this button," said Dr. Garcia. A steady heartbeat soon filled the silence of the room. Lim let out a sigh of relief upon hearing it and laughed to herself a little, "Well everything looks and sounds good, Audrey. Have you been taking prenatal vitamins?"

"Yes, I got a prescription from Dr. Bradley when she confirmed the pregnancy," answered Lim.

"Alright," Dr. Garcia printed a few copies of the sonogram and handed them to Lim and Melendez.

"What's that?" asked Mei-Li.

"It's a picture of the baby in Mommy's tummy," answered Melendez.

"Can I have one too?" asked Mei-Li.

"Of course you can," Dr. Garcia printed a third copy and handed it to Mei-Li, "I'll see you back at sixteen weeks," she patted Lim's knee and said, "If you feel something is wrong physically or mentally, don't hesitate to seek help."

Lim nodded softly, "I know."

"Well, Ms. Mei-Li, do you think Mommy was a good patient today?" asked Dr. Garcia.

Mei-Li nodded, "Does she get a sticker or a lollipop?"

Lim looked at Melendez and said, "No, but a chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and chocolate milkshake from Chick-fil-A sounds good right now," Lim smirked at him.

"Alright, lunch at Chick-fil-A it is," Melendez sighed.

"Or maybe two crunchy taco supremes and some chips and salsa from Taco Bell," said Lim.

"That sounds good," said Mei-Li as she held Melendez's hand and followed her parents down the hall.

"Come on guys, that stuff is garbage compared to what my Mom and Elena make," pleaded Melendez.

"Oh come on, Neil. You wouldn't really deny a pregnant woman her cravings, would you?" Lim asked sweetly.

"What's a craving?" asked Mei-Li.

"Well, you know when you really want some strawberry ice cream?" asked Lim and Mei-Li nodded, "That's a craving."

"Trust me, mija. Mommy will have a lot of them before the baby gets here," sighed Melendez.

The family spent the rest of the afternoon at the park before they went home for dinner. Lim gave Mei-Li her bath and helped her change into her PJs before tucking her into bed, "Mommy?"

"What, Mei-Li?" asked Lim.

"How do you get the baby out of your tummy? Will it come out through your belly button?" asked Mei-Li curiously.

Lim laughed and shook her head, "No sweetheart. When the baby is ready to come, he or she will let me know that Daddy and I need to go the hospital and Dr. Garcia will help me get the baby out through a special opening I have."

"Oh," said Mei-Li.

"Do you have any other questions for me, Little Lady?" asked Lim. Mei-Li shook her head, "Good," Lim gave Mei-Li her Mushu, snuggled her under the covers, and kissed her temple, "Wǒ ài nǐ, Tiánxīn."

"Wǒ ài nǐ, Māmā," answered Mei-Li. Lim was just about to leave when Mei-Li ushered her back over to the bed. She kissed her hand and laid it on Lim's abdomen, "Goodnight, Simba."