Max and Zoe were sat outside Dr Thompson's office.
"So why are we here and not ante natal?" Max had asked.
"Well because of my previous treatments and everything the pregnancy will be consultant led rather than midwife so most of our appointments will be Dr Thompson. It's just precautionary." Zoe explained.
"Zoe, do you want to come through?" Dr Thompson appeared at the door.
"Take a seat both of you." He offered.
"Derwood, this is my partner Max." Zoe introduced.
"Erm I think you mean husband." Max pointed out.
"Oh yeah!" Zoe laughed, "I'm still getting used to that bit!"
"Pleased to meet you." Max shook Dr Thompson's hand.
"And you." Dr Thompson replied. "Ok, Zoe shall we do the scan first and then we can have a chat? Is your bladder full?"
"Well, I don't think I can fit anything else in it if that's what you mean?" Zoe asked.
"Perfect. Can you come and lie on the bed for me and lift your top up slightly." Dr Thompson instructed. "This is going to be cold." He said as he rubbed the gel on her stomach. He began to move the Doppler over her stomach trying to pick up the baby. It was a minute before Max had asked if everything was ok.
"Just being a bit awkward." Dr Thompson said.
"Oh god, there's nothing there is there?" Zoe asked. "This is all my..."
"There!" Dr Thompson told them pointing at the screen, "that is your baby, congratulations, heart beat is perfect."
"Look Zoe, our little peanut." Max said kissing her the top of her head.
"I still can't believe it." Zoe said.
"I would say looking at this you're 12 weeks and 3 days, I would estimate your due date as the 18th November. If you can just try and stay still Zoe, I'll be able to get some pictures for you." Dr Thompson said.
"My birthday!" Max had tears in his eyes.
"Ok, all done." Dr Thompson told them, passing Zoe some tissue paper to wipe her stomach. "Do you need the toilet before we sit down?" He asked her.
"Like you wouldn't believe." Zoe dashed out of the room.
"How you feeling about this Max?" Dr Thompson asked.
"It's all a bit surreal really," Max said, "one minute we can't have a baby and were thinking about a surrogate, the next we are here looking at our baby on a screen that Zoe's carrying. She's living her dream."
Zoe came back in the room and sat down.
"So, as you are aware, I will be looking after you through the pregnancy." Dr Thompson said. "If you have any questions I'm here to answer them."
"Can I ask," Zoe began, "how has this happened? I mean, I know how it happened but after all these years thinking I couldn't have children and now I'm pregnant?"
"It's a good question Zoe, I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that. It could be anything down to a change of hormones or even through a lack of stress, you've thought you're infertile so you've had no pressure on you at all to try and conceive. Mother Nature works in mysterious ways,
happily you've seen her good side." Dr Thompson said.
"So, what are the risks?" Max asked. Zoe looked at him, "come on Zo, we need to know."
Zoe nodded in agreement.
"Ok, I will have to tell you that the risk of miscarriage is relatively high for you Zoe, taking into account your history, it will remain to be seen whether your womb will be able to handle a growing foetus. Also, in the nicest way possible, your age may also play a part in it." Dr Thompson told them gently.
"I'm only telling you as your a doctor Zoe, you know you need to be prepared for any situation."
"I know, thank you." Zoe said.
"But, rest assured," Dr Thompson said, "we are going to do everything we can to make sure that nothing happens to this baby ok? We're going to have regular check ups, regular scans, we will monitor you and the baby as closely as we can without smothering you obviously. I want you to relax, enjoy the pregnancy, Max, you need to make sure she's not stressed, remember, the baby can feel every emotion."
"Nothing is going to happen to our baby," Zoe said holding Max's hand, "I won't let it."
"That's what I like to hear!" Dr Thompson said. "Ok, I think we're done for now unless you have any questions?"
Zoe looked at Max, "I don't think so."
"Great, I'll make you an appointment for a couple of weeks, remember what I said, no stressing!" Dr Thompson told them.
"I'll look after them both." Max replied.
"Thanks Max."
Zoe and Max got up to leave, "thank you so much Dr Thompson." Zoe said shaking his hand.
"That's what I'm here for," he replied, "if you need anything just let me know, oh wait! You almost forgot these." He handed them the scan pictures.
"I'll take them." Zoe took them off him. "See you soon."
They left the room and headed down the corridor.
"It's real Max, it's actually real!" Zoe laughed.
"It's very real!" Max put his arm around her, "I can't help think about what he said about miscarriage."
"He has to tell us the facts Max, it was never going to be straight forward, we just need to make it as easy as we can." Zoe told him.
"And we will, I love you both." Max said.
"We love you too." Zoe kissed him.
"Max! Zoe!" a voice called as the reached the ED. It was Robyn.
"Well? Do I get to see my niece or nephew?!"
Max and Zoe smiled at each other before Max went over to her, "so, this is the baby, look, it's legs are so long, I think it's going to be just like me..."
Zoe stood and watched, she smiled
to herself, this was real, this was her perfect life, this was what she'd been waiting for all these years.