"P-p-pregnant?! He's pregnant?! How can he be pregnant?!" Mark gasped out in shock. He looked over to Phil who's face showed a similar expression of shock.
"I know it doesn't seem logical, but Phil is indeed pregnant. When both his blood, & urine, were tested; it showed that he is pregnant," Dr. Odom explained.
"Is this some kind of fucking joke? There's no way I can be pregnant, men don't get pregnant!" Phil screamed, causing Dr. Odom to take a step back.
"In retrospect, Mr. Brooks; no, men don't. However, there are rare occasions, & I mean very rare, that it does happen. ... You just happen to be one of those rare occasions. I'm sorry, but I don't really have much of an explanation for it."
Mark sighed, "OK, so he's pregnant. What happens now?"
"He'll have to go through the same procedures as women. He'll have to start taking pre-natal vitamins, preferably those with folic acid. If you intake a lot of caffeine, you'll have to cut back on that. If you smoke, &/or drink--"
"I'm straight-edge!" Phil yelled.
"OK, so that won't be an issue for you. You'll have to maintain an ideal weight during the course of your pregnancy. You're going to have to eat healthier & make sure that you're getting a lot of rest. & you'll need to get an obstetrician. That part I can do, if that's what you want," Dr. Odom said with a smile.
"Well, none of that's going to matter because I'm not keeping it. Helping me get rid of it is the only thing I want you to do," Phil huffed.
"You're not getting rid of anything!" Mark said sternly, glaring at Phil.
"But Mark--"
"No 'buts,' Phil. This is not just your baby, it's our baby. & I'll be damned if it never gets to see the light of the day."
"I don't want--"
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm going to be there for you & this kid. I'm going to take care of you just as I always have. It's going to be tough, but I will not allow you to rid us of this child because you just don't want it," Mark stated placing his forehead to Phil's, who started crying.
"I don't wanna be pregnant, Mark. I'm not supposed to have a baby. Mark,... I'm so scared."
"I know baby, but--"
"I mean, what if some thing's wrong with it? What if I can't take care of it right. What about when you're out at your business with John & Ron? What am I gonna do? I don't think I can do this, Mark! Please, don't make me go through with this... please." Phil cried into Mark's chest as the older man wrapped his arms around his lover to comfort him.
Mark kissed the top of Phil's head & rubbed his back. "Don't worry baby, we'll get through it together. It'll all be OK."
****************
Mark watched Phil as he slept. It had taken him about two hours of tears to finally get the ravenette to relax himself enough to shut his eyes. He caressed his cheeks lightly so as not to wake him. He kissed the tip of his nose before he rose from the bed & headed to the den. Flipping on the television, he relaxed back into the recliner, contemplating the news he & Phil received earlier.
'What on earth have we gotten ourselves into?'
******************
"How the hell is Phil pregnant?!" Glen asked surprised.
"How the hell should I know? The whole thing is very confusing," Mark replied running his hands through his hair.
"That's deep dude. So what are y'all gonna do?" Chris inquired.
"That's the thing, I don't know. Phil's having a hell of a hard time digesting this whole thing. I'm not even sure that, mentally, he'll make it through this."
"Wow, that's some serious shit, Mark. However, I do find it interesting that all of a sudden you two are having a kid," Glen stated.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, ... I'm not saying I believe in any of that mambo-jumbo. But I do remember that gypsy saying something about Phil having a kid in his future. That's right about the time he went ape shit on her & she did the spooky tongue-speaking shit."
"Hey, you know what? He's right. You don't think that her curse was real, do you? & that maybe this is it?" Chris asked.
"Oh come on! Are you guys shitting me with that?" Mark answered.
"Well think about it. She placed a curse on him, she said he'd have a kid, & voila! Little Phillip is preggers. I'm sorry to say it Mark, but it kind of makes sense," Chris said.
"I think you two are about as looney as the old bitty herself."
"Maybe, but it's just to coincidental. You know what I mean?" Glen said before taking a sip of his coffee.
"I don't want to say that you may be on to something, but damn, that is pretty coincidental," Mark rubbed his temples as he felt a headache coming on.
"Look guys, I'm gonna head home. I'm pretty sure Phil's waiting on me to get there. I'll talk to you guys later," he said getting up.
"Alright bro, just hand in there," Glen responded.
"Yea, & tell Philly every thing's gonna be OK," Chris smiled. Mark nodded & headed to his truck.
"I swear to you, this whole thing is going to get worse before it gets any better," Chris whispered.
"You said it. But if I know my brother, Phil's in good hands. It's going to be a bumpy ride for them, but they'll manage."
*************
"Mark! Where have you been?!" Phil whined.
"I was out having lunch with Chris & Glen. Baby, you OK?" Mark walked over to Phil, lifting him up into his arms.
"Yes. I just... I just don't want to be by myself. This whole pregnancy bullshit is really fucking with my head. Daddy, I'm so scared," Phil sobbed into the crook of Mark's neck.
Mark sat down on the couch, cradling Phil in his lap. "I know baby. But you don't have to be. As long as we listen to what Dr. Odom tells us to do, then everything will be fine."
"But what if I'm not a good daddy? What it the thing doesn't like me? What if it doesn't love me?!"
"The baby will love you, & the baby will like you. & you will be a good daddy, Phil," Mark used his finger to tilt Phil's head up so that they were eye to eye. "Don't stress yourself about that. Too much stress is not good for you, or the baby. I don't want you to mentally struggle with this. OK, honey?"
"OK."
"That's my boy. Why don't we go outside & lay on the hammock for a while. It'll help you to relax."
"OK. But can we have ice cream first? I have a taste for some ice cream!" Phil said excited.
Mark laughed, "OK, baby. Let's go get ice cream."