Part Three: The Procedure
Tubing looked at his hospital patients in the room; Word Girl was sitting on the exam table while Two-Brains, Beatrice Bixby-Boxleitner, and Tobey McCallister sat in the chairs.
"Well, Tubing? Can it be done?" Doc asked.
"After much test results, and from the looks of it, despite Word Girl's age, her powers allow her to propagate at this stage of fertility. So, yes, I think this will work just perfectly."
"So does that mean we'll have a baby, child, offspring?" Beatrice asked with hope in her eyes.
"It certainly does, only, of course, if Word Girl is willing."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"Well, it is hard to believe you actually want to go through labor." pointed out Doc.
"Don't forget, she is doing this for you." Tobey reminds him.
"And we are very grateful." the doctor patted his shoulder.
"But before we start, I assume you have done the proper paperwork for a gestational surrogacy? Unless you were planning on a traditional surrogacy?"
"What's that?" Tobey was almost afraid to ask.
"It's a simple procedure where the father of the sperm combines with the surrogate's egg." Tubing replied.
"NOOO!" all four of them shouted.
"I thought not, so you do have the papers."
"I had the district attorney draw them up and it's all sign and ready." Word Girl answered.
"If you are all set on this, then we can begin with the procedures at once. Doctor Two-Brains, would you like to go first?"
"Sure." he stood up along with Beatrice following right behind as they left the room with Tubing.
Tobey went to his girl, "You okay?"
"A little nervous, but okay."
"I'm still surprised you didn't ask your parents to come in with you, or Huggy, even Violet!"
"Well, it would have been awkward, but since you're in a tight knit with the other villains, and you are my boyfriend, so it felt right."
"When did you start having these feelings of being right?"
"I let my instincts guide me to make the right choices; heck, I had the instinct to accept your offer when you first asked me out."
"Well, I'm glad you listened, then…" he wrapped his arms around her stomach.
"You've been doing that a lot lately. Any reason?"
"Oh, just knowing I won't be able to do this in the next couple of months…"
"In that case, don't stop…" she glommed onto him.
Tubing came back in about an hour later, "Alright, the sperm has been put in storage and Mrs. Boxleitner is the operating room, which means you'll be next soon. Is there anything you want to do beforehand?"
"Maybe I better see them before I head in?"
"That would be a good idea."
Both she and Tobey head to a waiting room with the Botsfords, Bob, Violet, and Scoops.
"Are you done already?" her mother asked.
"Oh, no. Lady Redundant Woman is still the operating room, but I'll be next, so if there's anything I should know, please tell me."
"All we want is for you to be safe, honey." said her father.
"Right, and that you'll be fine." said Sally.
"Word Girl is more of a hero today than she has ever been." said TJ.
"Aww, thanks, TeeJ…" she hugged her not-so-little-anymore brother.
"Becky, you're going to be a wonderful surrogate." said Violet.
"Ditto." said Scoops, "Although I do have a question: what is a surrogate, exactly?"
"A surrogate is a substitute or proxy, as in I'm taking Lady Redundant Woman's place of carrying her and Two-Brains' baby. But wait… I thought you knew that?"
"I did. I just thought a definition would ease your nerves."
"Very clever. I should have thought of that." said Tobey.
"Like you need to ask for a definition. You are, after all, a genius." she winked.
"You got that right!" he lifted her and spun her around. Once he put her down, he said, "Another thing I won't be able to do in a couple of months…"
"Don't worry, once it's over, it'll just be the two of us to make up lost time…" she kissed his cheek and then turned to all of them, "And I can't thank you enough for being with me on this to the end."
Bob jumped into her arms and gave a big hug before letting go.
"Especially thanks to you, Huggy…" she whispered.
Tubing wheeled in by then with a nurse pushing a wheelchair, "Ahem, Word Girl. It's time."
"Right…" she gave each her family and friends a hug and kissed Tobey as he returned the kiss before floating down onto the chair. She waved as they waved back to her while she was being pushed away.
Moments later, she was on an operating table and a nurse gave her anesthesia and slowly, she fell asleep.
She felt groggy as she woke up to find herself in a hospital room.
"Well, look who finally decided to wake, rouse, and come around." said Beatrice's voice as she turned to see her in another bed. She spotted a clock, telling her it was late afternoon.
"How're you feeling?" she asked.
"Great, better, fine. And you?"
"A bit weak."
"Makes sense. They just implanted my egg in you some time ago."
"They did? Wow… I find it so hard to believe that a baby might be inside me now." she touched her stomach.
"Believe it."
"Of course we won't know for sure until a few days had passed."
"I hope it's true, accurate, and correct."
"Me, too." she reached her hand out to her, which Beatrice took.
"You are the best superhero there is. I feel so bad for the things I've done to you that I don't deserve this act of kindness."
"Don't say that. You gave up villainy and now want to go on to a better life and what better way to start is by having a child to raise? I'm just the carrier. You are the mother who's going to get her wish come true."
"How sweet of you say… but you really are doing so much already. Crime fighting, school, family, dating; you deserve to enjoy that."
"Well, too late to go back now." she rubbed her tummy. Really, too late…
The door to the room opened then and Tubing rolled in with Doc and the Botsfords, minus TJ and Huggy.
"And how are my patients doing?"
"Alright." both said.
"Everything went as it should have. Steven's sperm and Beatrice's egg was combined and was place in Becky's uterus. The natural process should take place now."
"Thank you, doctor." said Sally, going over to her daughter, "How you feeling, sweetie?"
"A little tired, but okay."
"She did very well in the operating room." commented Tubing.
"Word Girl," Doc motioned, "I know we've already gone through this, but we really are grateful you've done this for us. I can't think of anybody else more qualified to carry our child."
"And we will help you along the way." said her father.
"I know you will… And Doc, it is my pleasure and duty…" she smiled, and then turned back to her mom, "How's Tobey? And Scoops and Violet?"
"They left a half hour ago knowing they had to go home by our urging since they wanted to see you when you woke up. Tobey was hard to get rid of, so I had to point out that I would tell his mother if he didn't get home. But he swore he would come visit you the minute you were home."
She did a small giggle, "Oh, Tobey… He can worry too much about me."
"That boy loves you." said Doc.
"I know he does…"
"Come, everyone. The young ladies need their rest after their hard operations." Tubing waved the adults to follow him.
Sally kissed Becky's forehead and Tim did the same. Doc kissed Beatrice on the lips and shook Becky's hand. Then, all four of them left the room.