Title: The Gift
Author: lyricalpeach
Summary: Follow-up to Bless the Broken Road, future speculation. No ER action.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Without Prejudice. All the ER characters are property of NBC. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are used here without permission. Please don't sue me. The other words are my own. Please don't steal.
Notation: Ray's thoughts 'Neela's thoughts' Abby's thoughts
Chapter 4
So, for the first trimester, Ray was the one who felt ill frequently and he was always worrying unnecessarily about Neela and the baby. Neela scolded him frequently, and it didn't help that her moods swung like crazy. By the end of the first three months, he was a little thin and a bit pale. It was as if Abby could predict their future…. Again!
The second trimester, by contrast, was amazing. Neela felt great, Ray had gotten his color back quickly and they were amazed at their newfound energy, even after long workdays. Most of that energy was spent making love – Ray had been too ill and Neela too tired to do so much for two months – and it was as exhilarating and wonderful as it was warm and intimate; the rest was spent preparing for their baby's arrival. They'd agreed to find out if it was a boy or a girl, so they could get used to the idea and plan the nursery design.
"Thank goodness the elevator's been working recently," Ray said, as he pushed the button for the garage. He didn't want Neela walking the few blocks to the L anymore, even though both their station and the one at County were accessible and she wouldn't need to climb stairs. "So, babe, do you want a boy, or a girl?"
"A boy," Neela answered without hesitation.
"Really? I'm hoping for a girl," Ray replied. They reached the garage. "Wait here, babe, I'll get the car warmed up first." Neela stood in the warm elevator lobby as Ray headed for the car and turned the heat on full blast. He pulled around to pick her up. They headed to the hospital, excited.
In the exam room, they watched the screen as the ultrasound tech squeezed the cold gel on and they got their first glimpse of their baby. He said, "Do you want to know the sex?" They nodded.
Eyes wide in awe, they watched as the baby turned this way and that. The tech didn't even have to tell them the sex – they saw it before he could say anything. "You're having a girl, congratulations!" He finished the measurements and handed them the videotape and printed screenshots to take home. As he left them, they smiled at each other.
"So, are you disappointed that it's not a boy?" Ray teased.
"Of course not!" Neela smiled. "She's made from us. I'm not disappointed." She added, "I'm not sure I could take another one of you, anyway," laughing.
Ray laughed, too. He retorted, "So you say, but I am HAPPY to have another one of you."
Neela looked very happy at that, and perhaps a bit smug, and Ray kissed her quickly, and helped her up. "Shall we head to Oakbrook mall, now, so you can pick out something cute and pink for her to come home in?" He smiled warmly and hugged her to his side, supporting her.
"Really?" Neela smiled, "you're willing to be dragged around the mall again?"
"Well, we should celebrate finding out we're having a daughter," Ray grinned, "and that I won." He nuzzled her and put his hand on her bigger and still-growing tummy. Their daughter kicked his warm hand as he said, "Mommy wants to buy you a coming home outfit," and continued, "and Daddy wants to get you a pink guitar."
Neela burst out laughing.
000
"Thank goodness for that book and for Abby and Sam's help," Neela said, as they marked off the checklist. The book came recommended to them by a number of friends with young children – it saved them money and had tips on what they could resist buying. They hadn't planned on having a baby for another year, so they could use all the help they got. Since Abby and Sam had boys, they didn't have any girly things to donate. Abby did give them some nearly-new gender-neutral things to get them started.
They'd been shopping since late morning until mid-afternoon, and come home for Neela to nap, but she hadn't been tired yet. Ray was busy putting the crib together. What kind of convoluted instructions are these, anyway? Fortunately I'm good at this sort of thing… Finally, he finished. They'd chosen a simple wooden crib with clean lines, in a sunny, warm wood stain. Neela had been doing the laundry and folding it as she watched him put up the crib. She had the baby's bedding all ready to go. Ray helped her dress up the crib and mattress, and hung the mobile, winding it up just a little and giving it a soft push. Softly, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star played as soft animals turned round and round under a palm tree. The room had been painted palest green, with a blue ceiling and sponged-on clouds, Ray's touch. He wouldn't let Neela climb the ladder to do it. Soft green and pink accents were scattered in the room. Aside from the crib, the other baby furniture wasn't new – it cost too much. They'd found instead a consignment store with pieces in great condition – a tall chest of drawers, a changing table, and a rocker. That was all they really needed.
Ray covered the rocker with a newly-washed comforter and led Neela to it. "Here, baby."
The comforter made the rocker cozy and warm, and very, very soft. As she sat with her hands on the arms of the rocker, Ray kneeled in front of her and laid his head on her lap, cheek to her tummy. He took her hands in his and kissed them, and laid them on her tummy. Kissing her tummy first, then lifting his face to gaze into her eyes, he said solemnly, "I love you, baby," and added, "and you too, baby," addressing Neela's tummy. "I will do everything in my power to take good care of my girls." I mean it, his eyes said to Neela, I really will. 'I know you will,' her eyes answered back.
000