*****Two Months Later******

Matthew hated the doctor. Not the man who was the doctor, he was nice, but the process of going to the doctor. The flimsy paper gown, and the cold rooms. Examinations were always a little awkward, and there was the confessions of reasons why he was there that made him want to crawl into a hole.

That being said, he liked the usual nurse, as well as his doctor. She was a sassy woman with hair just a shade browner than his own, and no problem pushing around the doctor, a man with dark brown hair and a tendency to lecture. He mused that they acted more like a married couple than most of the married couples he knew. Then, Dr. Edelstein came in.

"Hello, Mr. Williams. Nice to see you again. Or the opposite, knowing you only ever contact me when something is wrong." He peered at Matthew over his glasses.

"I'm sorry. I mean, I wasn't thinking about being rude. Y-you're just my doctor so I didn't think about sending Christmas cards or anyt-" Matthew stopped short when he realized the doctor was attempting humor.

Dr. Edelstein took the silence as a chance to put the conversation on a more professional level. "So, what are we seeing you for this visit?"

"Er... It's a long story.." Matthew shied away.

"Skip to the end, it's all I need."

"Okay, okay," he said in an embarrassed voice. "I'd like to get tested for STDs and such... I-"

Dr. Edelstein scribbled a quick note on his file and shut the folder finally. "Alright, if that's all, Elizabeth can take care of the lab test work. I can do a quick examination for outward symptoms if you'd like."

"No! I mean, uh, I checked it out earlier, so that won't be necessary." Matthew was blushing hard by now.

"Alright, then Elizabeth will be in shortly to draw your blood. Your results will be back in about a week, so we'll call you back to the hospital clinic then. In the meantime, consider chastity until we know." He stood up to head to the door.

"I haven't had sex since that ni-... Um, sorry, that's probably TMI. Thank you, Doctor."

"You're welcome Mr. Williams." The doctor stepped out, closing the door behind himself.

The call had come as promised, and Matthew came back, expecting a normal, though perhaps still unpleasant, visit. He walked through the hospital until he reached the doctor's office. Out of habit, he gave the door two little light raps to notify people as he came in. It was a habit grown from experience with people bowling him over because they didn't see him.

To his surprise, he didn't have to wait to be called back to an exam room. He didn't even have to check in at the front desk. Rather, Dr. Edelstein was waiting for him.

"I-is everything okay?" Matthew was about to panic. "Did I catch...?"

"No, but we do have to do some further testing to find out what you do have. Other than this one, possible, complication, your STD panel came back completely clean," he said with a professional tone.

"So if I don't have any of the STDs on the panel, then what..?"

"Mr. Williams, will you come with me to radiology? We need a CAT scan, and depending the results of that, an ultrasound." Dr. Edelstein studied his clipboard.

"Isn't that the thing you do to pregnant women?" Matthew asked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Please, just come with me."

Four hours later, Matthew arrived home from the hospital in a state of shock. He had no idea what to do next, what he had done, what was going to happen. Hell, he was having trouble with knowing which way was up right now. He curled up on the couch, wanting desperately to go to sleep and wake up in an alternate reality in which this was all a mistake. But that would require him to close his eyes, and they were staying open wide in a way that only being profoundly disturbed can do to you.

His mind was an enigma. His thoughts were racing, but the gears of comprehension of the situation were at a grinding, clicking halt. Someone had come and stuck a wrench right in the middle of them. He wanted to hate whoever it was. He wanted someone to yell at and push away. But he didn't know who. He considered the doctor, but brushed that off as a silly idea. He didn't get Matthew in this condition. Speaking of the man who did, his thoughts flitted to the blonde, blue eyed stranger. He was handsome, and forceful, yet gently and passionate and... He was a fucking cheating bastard.

Matthew burst into tears. He hated that man. He -hated- him. But the little part of his mind pressed again, whispering that he didn't hate him. Maybe what he felt was actually lo-. Shut the fuck up, mind. Matthew got up to stop that thought in its tracks and went to make himself busy doing anything.

When Matthew had finally calmed down, he sat down and took a deep breath. He rehearsed mentally a few times, then reached for the phone. He dialed the number, he had it memorized, then waited for an answer.

"Bonjour?" The familiar voice answered.

"Papa..."

"Matthew! It's been a while since I've 'eard from you, mon cher. 'Ow 'ave you been? Are you only calling me because you need money?"

"No, that's not why I'm calling! I'm 27, I can take care of myself..." Matthew grumbled.

"Oh, so you just wanted to 'ear the soothing sound of your papa's voice, did you?" Francis was almost crooning, half genuine and half teasing.

"No. Papa, listen. I have... A problem..." Matthew switched the phone to his other ear, feeling nervousness well up again.

Francis grew serious. "What is it, mon chou...?"

"Papa... Dad... I'm not exactly a man."

"I beg to differ. I changed your diapers. And if this is about you being gay, I've known since you were twelve and that doesn't mean you're not a man."

"Just listen, please? I know that I have all the makings of a guy... but I have girl parts on the inside... It's a birth defect, they said... I have a CAT scan that shows a... my... um... uterus."

Francis sat in open mouthed silence for a moment before regaining composure. "So... Do you need a surgery? Is it causing problems and needing to be removed..? Is that what this is about?"

"I wish it was that easy..." Matthew said quietly.

"What...? Matthew, I don't understand.."

"Dad... I'm pregnant..."

"Come again?"

"Pregnant! I'm pregnant..."

"I didn't know you even 'ad a boyfriend, dea-"

"I don't."

"Oh. Oh, Mattie... Who is..?"

Matthew started to cry, "I don't even know his name..."

"Oh, mon chou... It's okay... Your papa is 'ere for you... Do you want me to come over and stay with you for a while...?"

"No... I just want to try and let life go back to normal..."

"Mattie... Life is never going to be 'normal' again..."

"I know, Papa... I know..."

-x-

It may continue.