Amy's heart began to pound as Ben and Amy sat, hand in hand, in the eerily quiet waiting room at the clinic. Amy was due for her six month check-up, and she had decided she wanted to know the sex of the baby.

"Are you nervous, sweetie?" Ben asked, gently squeezing her hand and turning his head.

"No – no more so than usual," she replied. Amy wasn't a very good liar, especially around Ben. He flashed a knowing look. "Okay," she relented. "Yes, I'm nervous. I'm always nervous going to these checkups. You never know what could go wrong. I've grown attached, and all I want is for my baby to be healthy."

"It will be fine," Ben answered, taking her hand from hers and wrapping it around her shoulder. He didn't feel right promising her more than that. There was always room for complication, but he hoped and prayed that things would turn out.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?" she asked suddenly.

"I want you to have a healthy baby and a safe delivery. I want both of you in my arms, safe and sound as soon as possible. It doesn't matter to me whether it's a boy or a girl."

"You must be pulling for one side or the other, though. Come on," she replied. He shook his head, refusing to answer. She didn't know why he wouldn't just tell her.

"Amy Juergens," the nurse called, unfolding a chart and looking up around the room. She took Ben's hand and they followed the nurse back.

--

"How are you feeling, Ms. Juergens?" the kind female doctor asked as she entered the examining room. Ben had busied himself with a book of baby names while they waited.

"I'm fine," Amy said with a somewhat weak smile. The doctor extended her hand to Ben.

"You must be the father," she smiled.

"More or less," he replied as he shook her hand firmly.

"He's not the real father, but he's my fiancé now. He's offered to take care of me," Amy explained. "He's pretty much amazing," she said with a smile. The doctor nodded.

"I love you," Ben mouthed silently.

"So, are we ready to see how your baby is doing?" the doctor asked, preparing the necessary equipment. Amy nodded.

After a great deal more questions than Amy had expected, and fifteen minutes had passed, they were finally about to see the baby. The doctor placed the ultrasound wand onto Amy's exposed skin and stared at the monitor. She was quiet for a moment, looking intently at the screen. "There," she said, pointing with her other hand. "That's your baby."

"Oh, Ames," Ben gasped, grabbing her hand.

"I know," she smiled. "Pretty amazing, huh?" Ben nodded.

"I'm not seeing any problems at all. She looks totally healthy," the doctor added with a smile.

"She," Amy exhaled while she spoke the word. The doctor gave a smile and nodded. Amy looked to Ben and repeated the word, "she." Amy bit her lip before her face lit up into a smile. Ben nodded and squeezed her hand.

"Pretty soon, I'll have two amazing girls to love," he replied.

"It looks like everything is in order. Unless some of your lab tests come back badly – which I don't think they will – I think you've made it safely into the home stretch," the doctor added, almost not wanting to interrupt a special moment for the pair. "Congratulations. I'll get you a few copies of the picture, okay?"

"Thank you," Amy replied.

"You're welcome. I'll see you in a few weeks."

--

"So, it's a girl," Ben said, as they entered the mall and headed down the north corridor.

"It's a girl," she repeated wistfully. "I'm really glad," Amy added. "Even though I would love it no matter what, I think a girl will be a little easier. I understand girls."

"You don't understand guys?" Ben chuckled.

"Well, I do. I just mean, I was – am – a girl. I know how I think and what I needed from my mom. Having that knowledge will be an advantage. I wouldn't even know where to begin with a boy," she replied.

"You make us sound like aliens," he scoffed. "We're not that bad."

"Well, obviously there are exceptions to the rule," she replied, wrapping her arm around his waist and giving him a hug, while still walking. He kissed the top of her head and smiled as they stepped from the carpeted hallway to the hardwood floors of the baby store.

"I was just kidding, Amy. Truthfully, I'm pretty excited you're having a girl, too. She's going to be just as beautiful and special as you are. I know I'll fall in love with her the instant I can hold her. Plus, you get to dress her in little outfits like these," he said picking up a tiny pink dress with a heart embroidered on it. "Now, you've got to admit that that would look pretty silly on a boy."

Amy laughed. "Yeah, it would. I'm gonna enjoy dressing her in pretty little things."

"Like I said," he replied with a smile.

"Can I help you?" the less-than-friendly clerk asked as she approached the couple.

"No. We're just looking around. Thank you," Amy replied with a smile as Ben pulled her close. Without saying another word, she walked away and when she was gone, Ben and Amy burst into a fit of giggles, though they tried their best to muffle them, so she would not be offended.

"Now that we know it's going to be a girl, we can start decorating and buying things, I suppose," Ben remarked. "Paint for the nursery, a crib, toys, and a stroller. It will be nice to put one of those spare rooms to use. They've just been there, unused for a long time."

"Ben," Amy said. "Does that mean you think once the baby comes, I should live with you full-time?"

"Yeah, I was hoping you would," he replied. "I'd really like you to be there. I want to be involved every day."

"What about my mom? What about school?" she asked, thinking this through aloud.

"Well, I don't know. She can come to our house, it's not like I live really, really far away. I'm not asking you to leave her or your family behind. I just want to make a new start with you, for all of us. You're so important to me. You like our house, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I know Ben, and you're important to me, too. It's just complicated. I guess I hadn't really thought that far ahead," she sighed. "I mean, I know we're getting married and I know I can't stay at my house forever. I want to do all that stuff, it's just happening quicker than I expected."

"Please don't be mad," he requested gently touching her hand. She allowed him to lace his fingers through hers.

She shifted her weight from side to side and felt the pendant he had given her bounce lightly against her chest. How could she be mad? How could she be mad when he cared so much, he meant well, and he tried so hard to do the right thing for them.

"I'm not mad, Ben. I just need some time to work things out in my head," she replied. "Nothing is going to change between us. I don't want anything to. I love that you want me to live with you, even if it will be really demanding to take care of the baby – and she will probably keep us both up at night. You've been my rock, and I appreciate it. You heard me tell the doctor. I meant that. I just need time to process all of this. Okay?"

"Of course it's okay," he replied, nodding. He placed his hands on her shoulders and rubbed them reassuringly. "Whatever you need, Amy. You've still got time. We've still got time." The pair left the store, hand in hand, without buying a single thing. "What do you say we get a bite to eat at the food court? You can process over a corn dog."

"I'd like that," Amy replied with a wide smile.