"We can't name this child after ducks, George. You do realize that."
"Yeah, I know," George answered, taking Izzie's hand. The two of them were seated in the exam room, waiting for Addison. "But I do want to help. I told you, even if we're not together, I still want to be a part of this. And I will be. Even if that means ducks. I don't understand why we can't name him Donald or something. He doesn't know it's after the duck."
"How do you know it's a boy?" Izzie laughed as Addison entered the room. "Well," Addison said, "I'm certainly glad to see you laughing."
"It's good to be laughing," Izzie responded happily. "I'm actually starting to get excited for this baby."
Addison slid up Izzie's tank top and applied the gel for the ultrasound. "Are you ready to know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"We were just joking about that," Izzie answered. "George wants to name him Donald."
"Like the duck," George offered.
"Like the duck," Izzie rolled her eyes. "But I don't want my child to grow up as a duck. That's just not cool."
Addison smiled, turning on the ultrasound machine as she placed the transducer on Izzie's abdomen. After several seconds, she pointed to the picture on the screen. "George, Izzie, that's your baby. That's the head, and those are the feet. I know it probably doesn't look like it, but those are feet. Do you see?"
George was in awe, unable to utter more than a simple, "Wow."
"Wow," Izzie echoed.
"You want to know the sex?"
Izzie nodded, unable to take her eyes off the screen.
"It's a boy!" Addison exclaimed.
"Yes!" George cried, pumping his fist in the air. "I told you!"
Izzie used the paper towel Addison gave her to clean off her belly as Addison printed out several copies of the ultrasound. "You may want to share these with friends," she said, handing the stack to George. "Meredith first. I know she's excited. She's probably somewhere close outside that door."
Izzie smiled. "Thanks, Addison." She looked directly into the older woman's gaze, trying to convey her emotions through her eyes. "For everything."
Addison nodded, totally understanding. "Any time, Izzie. Any time." With that, she opened the door and went out into the hall, leaving George and Izzie alone.
"A boy," Izzie whispered.
"Doug," George responded.
"What?"
"I think we should name him Doug," George clarified. "My brother is Doug, he's like that, if we named a boy after him."
"Doug," Izzie nodded. "I like that."
Izzie hung her legs down over the side of the exam table and let George climb up beside her. "Izzie?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we'll be good parents?"
Izzie thought a moment before answering. "Yeah, George, I think we'll be pretty cool parents. We can give this baby everything."
"We might not ever be together, Izzie," he cautioned. "It's so soon after Callie, I just…I'm not sure yet."
"It's okay," she whispered. "We'll still be good parents."
"No matter what happens, we will always be friends. And we will both be in this baby's life, we will raise him together, no matter what."
Izzie took George's hand, and they left the exam room together, ready to share the news with all of their friends.