SIXTEEN
The next morning found Dom and Kylie waking up later than usual. While Kylie had been exhausted from the day's events, Dom had lain awake for a long time watching her sleep, and going over their argument.
The simple fact that Kylie had argued with him, expressing her anger, amused him a bit, and encouraged him for the future. He doubted she realized it, but that was the first time in the five plus months that she'd been living with the team, that she'd allowed herself to really be angry. He remembered how she'd reacted to his denial of her request to teach her to drive.
He'd known she was angry and disappointed, but she'd just gone along with his decision. It had surprised him at first. After all, she could have asked Rome or Vince or Angel to teach her to drive, but when he said no, he didn't want her driving around by herself, she just let it go. The more he'd thought about it, the more he realized she was burying her anger.
The fact that she finally felt comfortable enough with him to be angry, and let him know about it, amused him. She was growing, healing from all the shit her stepfather had put her through. Still, after the vulnerability she'd shown yesterday, the insecurities she'd expressed, he realized she had a long way to go. In the morning, he decided, he was going to suggest she go see a counselor. As he'd realized earlier, it was going to take longer than five months to undo the emotional damage her stepfather had caused her.
The only thing he could do was be there for her, continue to shower her with love and affection, and be certain she knew how important she was to him and the team. He intended to start the next morning by apologizing to her for minimizing her feeling about Letty and the team.
F&F
Dom gently shook Kylie. They had overslept and really had to get moving.
"Ky, c'mon, Little Girl, it's time to get up."
Kylie groaned, rolled over onto her stomach and buried her head under a pillow.
Dom chuckled, then leaned down, pushed her hair up and placed soft kisses along the back of her neck. He stroked a finger along her spine, grinning when she arched away from him and groaned again.
Kylie shot up seconds later, when Dom nipped her butt cheek. She squealed loudly, twisting away from him. She glared at him as he laughed.
"Sorry, Baby, but we overslept and gotta get a move on," Dom told her, having swallowed his laughter after seeing her face.
Kylie's anger faded instantly when she remembered where they were going today. The hospital. For a blood test. Oh, God, I hate doctors! She thought to herself.
"I remember," she told Dom, her voice soft.
She moved to get out of bed, but Dom grabbed her wrist, circling the slender joint with his thumb and index finger. He gently tugged her towards him, then wrapped his free arm around her waist when she was close enough.
"Ky, aren't you excited at all?" he asked, worried that she might have changed her mind about having a child with him, now that the possibility was nearly a confirmed reality.
Kylie looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot and red-rimmed from last evenings tears. There were also dark purple smudges beneath them, which had been evident the last two weeks, but now, were even more pronounced.
"Of course I am," she replied. "I'm just worried that I got you all excited for nothing. If I messed up the tests-"
Dom felt the tension in his large frame ease. If he was understanding correctly, she was afraid to believe it was true. But if that was the case, she should be eager to have it confirmed.
"We've already discussed that, Little Girl," he countered.
"I know," she sighed. "I don't like going to the doctor's. It's almost always been, well, you know."
A tide of anger washed over Dom as he finally realized the problem. "Because that bastard hurt you."
Ky nodded, and Dom snuggled her close, his hands running up and down her back.
"Don't be scared, Baby. I'll be with you the whole time," he tried to comfort her. "And while we're at it, Baby, I gotta apologize for last night."
Kylie, who'd nuzzled into his chest, loving the deep musky scent of him, pulled back and stared at him in amazement.
"What?" he asked, puzzled by her reaction.
"You uh, I just, you don't usually admit you're wrong," Kylie explained, eyes down and blushing furiously.
Dom laughed. Damn, Baby, you really are getting comfortable with me. "You're right," he explained when she looked up at him, inquisitively. Then he turned serious. "But, I am sorry, Ky. I acted like your feelings didn't matter, but that's not true. I think you're wrong, but that doesn't change how you feel, and I understand that. I love you, and I'm sorry I behaved like an ass."
Kylie leaned forward, pressing her cheek against his bare chest, and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I love you, too, Dom," she told him.
F&F
It didn't take long for them to shower, dress and eat. In less than an hour they were riding in Dom's car toward the North L.A. Community Hospital. It was the same hospital where Vince and Jesse had been treated a little more than a year ago. It was also where Rachel worked as a physical therapist, Lydia as a phlebotomist, and Angel as an aide.
Dom pulled into the parking lot and drove around the building so he could park near the Obstetrics Clinic. After finding a parking spot in the incredibly crowded lot, he parked and came around to open Kylie's door.
Kylie grinned up at him. He's such a gentleman. She appreciated all the little things he did to show her that he cared for her. She slipped a trembling hand into his, climbed from the car and allowed Dom to lead her into the building.
F&F
A rapid whooshing sound filled the room and Kylie gasped, gripping Dom's hand even tighter. Through it all she'd been afraid to believe, but now hearing the evidence, she couldn't continue to deny the truth. She was pregnant!
Dom grinned down at her, noting the glimmer of tears in her eyes, and the wide smile gracing her heart-shaped face. He used his free hand to brush the curls up off her forehead, then leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Ready to admit I was right, Little Girl?" he asked as he pulled back, smirking that heart stopping grin of his.
"I guess I did do the tests right," she quipped mischievously, grinning back at him.
"Smart Ass," he replied lovingly.
The sound of Dr. Raynes clearing her throat brought them back to where they were. Kylie blushed a light shade of pink, while Dom turned to grin sheepishly at the older woman.
"Sorry," they apologized in unison.
Dr. Raynes chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I've seen prospective parents making bigger displays of affection than that." She had already set aside the Doppler, and now used a small hand towel to wipe away the goo that had spread across Kylie's lower abdomen.
"We now know that you're at least five weeks along, so that concurs with my theory that what you thought was your last period, was actually break-through bleeding. It's perfectly normal, so don't worry. It does however, give us a problem with your dates. I recommend performing an ultrasound to examine the baby's development, and establish a more accurate due date for you."
Kylie and Dom exchanged a brief glance, communicating silently, before Dom turned and nodded.
"Ok, if that's what you think is best."
The doctor nodded. "I'll go get a nurse, and have a machine brought in." She turned and left the small exam room, returning a few minutes later. A nurse, pushing the portable ultrasound machine, following her.
While the nurse set the machine up, Dr. Raynes explained the procedure to the couple, and began to position Kylie.
Kylie, following the doctor's directions, brought her knees up, keeping the soles of her feet flat on the exam table. Her face flamed bright red when the gown she was wearing slid down to her waist, baring her to her toes. Slowly, she allowed her knees to drop to the sides, opening her vaginal area for the doctor to access.
Up until today, Dom was the only person to see her completely naked, to touch her intimate places, and although the older woman had performed a pelvic exam on her, not twenty minutes earlier, Kylie was embarrassed.
Dr. Raynes quickly draped a sheet, folded in half, over Kylie's lower half. She held up the wand, showing it to Kylie and Dom. She slipped on a condom and then positioned it beneath the sheet.
Dom leaned down, once again kissing his girl. He knew she was embarrassed, and was attempting to distract her until their baby was visible on the screen by Kylie's head.
Kylie gripped Dom's left hand in both of hers, taking comfort from his presence. Her blue eyes locked on his brown ones. Dom brushed the curls back from her forehead with his right hand, wishing he could do more to help her.
"Would you like to see your baby?" Dr. Raynes's question immediately caught their attention, and both looked at the screen.
There, in the middle of the screen, was a tiny blob shaped like a kidney bean. The doctor began pointing out various body parts. The head. The spine. The flashing blob in the middle, which was the heart they'd heard beating just, minutes before.
As they stared at the screen in awe, she continued to roll the mouse on the machine, clicking here and there, taking measurements. She turned to them and smiled.
"Would you like a picture to take with you?" she asked.
Kylie nodded, her throat too clogged with emotion to speak, her eyes glistening with un-shed tears.
"Yeah," Dom replied, the huskiness of his voice indicating his emotional response.
F&F
AN: I want to say thank you for all the great reviews. I'm so glad you are all enjoying the story. Firereading Wolf, I'm delighted that Letty being "the bad guy" is a unique concept, and that you like it. Kathalla, I'm delighted that I am able to touch you so deeply, and bring you tears! LOL! Now for the rest of you, give me some love by sending me a review, even if it only says -I like this" or "Update soon" either way, I need some love!