Chapter Six

Jaime felt blissful...and exhausted. It was a strange juxtaposition: a body strengthened and energized by bionic science and at the same time being sapped by a tiny (albeit very welcome) intruder. As Jaime's pregnancy reached the 12th week, she found her legs were still as strong and ready to go as ever while the rest of her body was forcing her to admit that Steve had been right. Work at the OSI, for her, was no longer an option. She joked with Steve and Rudy that she would probably be able to pass out and still remain solidly on her feet, but on the rare occasions when weakness did hit, her legs obeyed her brain and central nervous system and obediently sent her to the floor. Jaime quickly learned to ask for help when she needed it – a somewhat foreign concept for one who was used to (and enjoyed) her independence.

Most of the time, though, it was the best Jaime had ever felt in her life. She and Steve breathed a huge sigh of relief when the danger of miscarriage had passed. In the middle of her 16th week...a small miracle. Jaime was scooping ice cream to make banana splits when she suddenly grabbed her belly...and began to laugh.

"What is it?" Steve asked anxiously as he hurried her into a chair. "What's wrong?"

Jaime, still laughing as happy tears began streaming down her face, pulled Steve's hand onto her stomach. It was only a few moments until he felt it, too. "What is that? It's fluttering! Is it supposed to flutter? Are you alright?"

"Oh, settle down, Daddy," Jaime giggled. "That's our daughter, saying hello."

"Does it hurt?"

"It sort of...tickles!" They both laughed as the tiny flutter said 'hello' once again.

---

By the 20th week, the flutters had become tiny taps – still not enough to wake Jaime up at night, but definitely grabbing her attention when she was awake. "We'd like to start seeing you twice a week – on Mondays and Thursdays," Rudy told her when he and Doctor Jeffries completed their weekly exam. "Everything is perfectly normal," he told a very anxious Steve. "We'd just like to start keeping closer track of the baby's progress...and any reaction Jaime's body might have to the advancing pregnancy."

"So she could still reject the fetus...and her bionics?" Steve asked.

"The probability of that is higher now, with the fetus drawing more from Jaime's system, but so far we see no signs of it happening."

"What should we be watching for?" Steve wondered.

"Headaches can be normal, but if one becomes severe or if there's any sort of pain – anywhere – give one of us a call," Rudy explained. "Otherwise, Jaime, you can still do anything you feel up to doing -"

Steve very pointedly cleared his throat....and Rudy nodded. "Except go back to work," the doctor concluded. "In about another month, we'll want to tune down your bionics to normal strength -"

Jaime frowned. "Why? I don't really like the sound of that."

"For your own protection – and the baby's – when you're in labor. We'll talk more about that in the next few weeks."

"At least leave me my ear, so I can keep tabs on Nervous Nellie here?" Jaime requested, one arm around her husband.

"That'll be fine," the doctor agreed.

Steve grimaced. "Gee, thanks, Doc."

---

At the same time that Jaime and Steve were leaving the lab, Russ was striding through the front door – and when he saw Steve he grabbed him and pulled him off to one side. "Sweetheart, I'll just be a few minutes..." Steve said, almost pleadingly.

Jaime smiled. "I'll go get the car – and I won't eavesdrop."

When they were alone, Russ pulled a small box out of his pocket. "I'm going to take your advice," he said excitedly.

"Peggy's a great girl," Steve agreed. "I'm so happy for both of you." He looked outside, where Jaime was standing at the Tranquility Fountain with her back to them, pretending to not be listening (but Steve knew better). "And I know that Jaime is, too."

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