When the social worker came by the house a week later, it was a woman monster. She took notes on the house and Randall and Sondra showed her around and the nursery.
She saw that it looked all set up right. There was all the baby would need.
Randall even showed how he handled a toy baby that he knew how to hold and change a diaper. Feeding had yet to show itself when Junior came along. He even showed her the last sonogram of the baby, to show what it looked like. He kept calm while she was there, though he was nervous, trying to make a good impression.
He was determined to show that he could be a good parent despite his past. He was willing to move forward.
"So when is the due date?" She asked.
"We think in about three or four weeks." Sondra said.
"Alright. Well, you both have a very nice house and things look ready for a new baby to be here. I think that will be all for now. I'll return in a few weeks to see how you take care of the little one." She said.
"Goodbye." Sondra said.
Sondra watched her leave and closed the door. She turned and saw Randall looked so pale.
"What's wrong, Randall?" She asked.
"I'm just so scared that they'll find something wrong in my parenting skills. What if they take it away?"
"You need to stop thinking like that. It puts more stress on your shoulders. I know it's scary waiting and you want to prove you're more than they think you are. But together, we can do this, Randall. I'll be there to help you." Sondra said.
"Sondra, I don't have much to offer you other than thank you for taking me into your home and all, and I couldn't afford a ring right now, but, will you marry me?" Randall asked.
Sondra was surprised that it came out of nowhere. She hadn't known him that long, but he had been proving to her that he was a good person and he deserved a happy life.
"Yes. You are very special, Randall. Compared to many others, I've believed in you from the beginning that you can do this. You have so much love to give if given the chance. You have given it to Megan and me. We will come up with a wedding date later." She said and hugged and kissed him.
Randall was really happy she said yes. He was now engaged to a wonderful girl who loved him for who and what he was. She didn't care about what he had done in his past and was willing to help him move forward. And he was willing to be a dad to her daughter too.
Randall and Sondra both hoped the child services would choose them to be the family to take care of the baby.
….
The next few weeks felt like the longest of Randall's life. He spent a lot more time off his feet. He didn't want to be seen in public looking as big as he did now. Trying to get a good night's sleep was near impossible with all the weight shifting around inside him.
The baby's movements were obviously restricted due to its size, but Randall could still feel it kicking and punching him. It was a strong one.
He was really worried about how it was going to be born. What if something went wrong?
Sondra did her best to try to soothe him the best she could. She told him to keep up his breathing exercises. She also took him to his weekly doctor appointments, as Dr. Mason was wanting to keep on eye on the baby and Randall to make sure both were alright or if anything was happening. Nothing was at the moment.
Randall was most worried about child services coming to take it away from him. He didn't want it to happen. He had been taking care of this baby for so long inside of him that it seemed nearly impossible it was going to be born soon. And he had grown to love it so much, he didn't want to let it go. Even though it had been conceived in a not so nice way, he had wanted to move past that part.
Sulley came by weekly to see how he was doing. He had told the daycare teacher and Mary that he wouldn't be coming by for awhile because of his last few weeks waiting for the baby to arrive. He had even been told of the engagement. He was happy for them both for a happy new life together.
Randall had made it to his 35th week. He was more than ready for the baby to come out. He wanted his body back, but he would miss the movements he had felt for so long.
He had been pregnant most of the year and made it to the month of December. It was cold outside. His baby was going to be born at one of the worst times of year. He wanted to keep it nice and warm. The clothes he had gotten would come in handy this time of year. There were some packed in a bag ready to go.
At the beginning of the 36th week, on December 12th, Randall woke up one night feeling some sharp pains in his stomach. He woke Sondra up. He cringed.
"I… think it's happening, Sondra!" He had his eyes closed in pain, teeth bared. His lower hands clutched his belly.
Sondra snapped awake at that. She felt his belly and indeed, it was tight. He was having a contraction.
"Yep, it's time, Randall. We need to get to the hospital." She said.
She helped him pack some things needed for the baby. They even had a car seat ready in the back seat of the car.
Sondra went and woke her daughter that they had to go to the hospital. Megan was a little grouchy that she couldn't stay home and sleep. But her help was needed too.
Eventually, everything was ready to go. Randall was breathing hard in the front seat when they took off.
"You alright?"
Randall shook his head.
"I know it hurts, but just breathe. It'll be alright. We'll be there soon." Sondra said.
Soon, they were at the hospital at 4 in the morning. Randall was taken to a birthing room to prepare for the baby while Sondra had to fill out the paperwork. Megan was to stay with Randall until she could get there. Not that Megan knew anything about having a baby.
Sondra soon finished up and went to go join her loved one. Megan was happy to get out of there, but she stayed close. Her mom was now taking over as birthing coach. She knew more about it.
Though Sondra knew about lizard males having potential to get pregnant too, this was the first time she was helping one out with this predicament. She had had some in her birthing classes before, but none had ever asked for her help to be in their lives like Randall had.
Randall had an IV in and a monitor on his stomach monitoring the baby's heartbeat. This could be a long wait, depending on how the contractions went and how Randall felt.
The doctor checking on him was not his regular one. It was a female. Her name was Dr. Wellman. She was a big chunky furball. Almost like Sulley. Her fur color was yellow.
Randall could feel it every time he was checked and he didn't like it.
"Things are progressing ever so slowly." Dr. Wellman said. "At 4 centimeters, but if things don't pick up in a couple hours, we'll try giving a booster to make things pick up."
"Thanks, Doctor." Sondra said. She looked back down at her mate to be.
"I hate it when she does that." He said.
"She has to do it, Randall. She has to know how it's progressing. No matter how annoying it is."
"What about pain relief?" He asked, cringing from another one coming on. He screamed in pain. His hands clutching the bed so hard.
Sondra asked about pain relief for him. He needed to be up a few more centimeters first.
Over the next couple of hours, things didn't progress too fast, so he was given that extra booster, and the contractions began to come on more frequently.
Randall felt like his middle was trying to tear him apart. "Please, give me some relief!" He screamed.
"Is there enough progress that he can have the pain relief?" Sondra asked.
A nurse tech checked him again. "Indeed, he is at 6 centimeters now. He can have it now." She said.
Some several minutes later, a nurse came in with a huge needle and Randall didn't like the look of that thing. But then, things started going haywire on the monitor.
"I need some help in here now!" She called out.
Randall felt fine, but was now scared.
More nurses and the doctor ran into the room.
"What's going on?" Randall asked nervously.
"The baby's heartbeat is dropping fast! We have to get it out now!" The doc shouted at the others.
This scared Randall. It meant his child could die!
"Sondra!" He held her hand in a panic.
"I'm here. I'll be here as long as I can be allowed to."
They unplugged those machines and began wheeling Randall down to the emergency surgery. Sondra stayed with him, though she was pulled away briefly so she could put some scrubs on so she could be in the surgical room too.
Megan was scared too. She saw the action, but made no attempt to follow.
But just as Sondra was about to enter, she was stopped. "Miss, I'm sorry, but you can't go in there." A male tech said.
"But I was told I could go in."
"I'm sorry. You just can't. They have to prep him quickly. You'll just have to wait outside."
Sondra hated this. She went back to join her daughter and they went to the nearest waiting area. They both held each other. They hoped Randall and the baby were going to be alright.
