Leslie nodded as She-Hulk replied, "Still here!", with a huff, and Leslie replied, "Yes, yes, of course!", and Alfred went to do Leslie's orders, as She-Hulk isn't clearly deaf.
After five minutes, Leslie smiled at She-Hulk, "Okay, everything is ready. This is going to be a bit cold; I have to warn you...", holding up the gel bottle. She-Hulk nodded, "Me understand. Me not want wait longer!".
Leslie nodded, "Okay.", before supplying the gel to her baby bump gently as She-Hulk's eyes widened as she shivered, taking a deep breath, as Leslie asked, "Are you alright?".
"Smooth and cold...", She-Hulk rumbled, and Leslie smiled softly, "Good, that means it's supplied just right. It will be better as your body will make the gel a bit warmer.", picking up the probe from the machine, "Now, this is a probe, but not a bad probe, it's like a gentle scanner, to roll over your baby bump to find the baby, okay?".
She-Hulk rumbled, "Me think gel help probe see better, right?", and Leslie smiled, "That's right! It'd take a few moments as the baby would be a bit hard to find at first as they can be moving around, but we will find them, alright?".
She-Hulk nodded, and Leslie angled the sonogram machine, while Alfred joined in from the other side of the bed, and Leslie gently put the probe on, slowly scanning as she moved, rolling carefully, "Okay, things are getting clear...there's your kidney, bladder...have to get to lower...ah, here we are, there's the lining of the womb and the amniotic fluid, and oh, my...Looks like your theory of better preparation within the changes and such are true, Alfred...No wonder why Martha eats more than two-three people on hulk out days and in between...", as She-Hulk was in stupor, whispering, "New pup...", with tears in her eyes, stunned to see her new pup right there for the first time on a picture-computer, on the sonogram as she heard Martha's faint voice in the back of her head, "Oh, my god...", with a faint sob of surprise and joy.
"So, it looks pretty healthy... even after everything?", Alfred asked as Leslie nodded. "I can't begin to think of what sort of changes that my treatment has done, but so far... that might be the healthiest fetus I've seen in my life.", Leslie chuckled.
She-Hulk looked at Leslie, "How you know?", and Leslie smiled, pointing out gently on the screen, "Do you see that pulsing point right there?".
She-Hulk nodded, and Leslie replied, "That's your baby's heartbeat, and it looks like it's at a good, healthy pace, there's the head, quite forming well there, and there, see the little digits here and there? That's the hands and feet, taking time to form well, but getting there, and the body is looking good too, nice spine, see?", curving alongside the spine with a smile.
She-Hulk's tears came more, "New pup really okay?", and Leslie nodded, "Yes, it is. From the looks of it, they are going to be active in the coming months, and right now, they're either awake or sleeping as they are not quite there yet to hear or kick until about maybe a month or so of this if they are truly continuing to grow like this.", with a warm smile.
"Thank you, thank you!", She-Hulk sobbed happily as Leslie smiled, "You're certainly very much welcome, She-Hulk, and I'm so glad that I'm giving you a wonderful moment of this...I'll give this a few minutes before the gel dries out...", with a nod as she turned her attention on the console, clicking on some other buttons to do the measuring and height and weight as She-Hulk kept seeing her new pup move around, in their sleep or exploration of their home, feeling at peace as her worries were dashed away, smiling as she caressed the sides, wondering if the pup could feel her as calmness came over her in the few moments, and then the next she was back in the mind of Martha, holding a mind photo of her new pup to her face.
Leslie saw the screen shift slightly before the image was still the same, gratefully, through the baby looked a bit grainier, "Oh, thank goodness that is still working.", before turning around, and her eyes widened as she saw Martha in the place of She-Hulk, "Martha!".
Martha smiled with tears, "Hi, Leslie...Thank you for giving She-Hulk the chance...She is now exalted and relieved...And so am I...Are they still the same in your measurements right now, or are they changing with me, through?", with a little concern, as she looked at the baby, almost wishing Thomas was here to see this, everything.
"Looks like the measurements should be about the same; if there is a difference, then it's hard to tell, at least right now...", Leslie explained as Martha took a deep breath. "How... how exactly do you feel... when you come back and all?".
Martha gave a smile, "Sometimes hungry, sometimes tired, sometimes all kinds of emotions but yet calmer about the emotions...One moment I'm in the back of She-Hulk's mind, the next moment there's a blackout, and then the moment after that, I'm back. My body is getting used to stretching and adapting to the changes, and sometimes I don't notice it.", with a nod.
She then sniffled softly, glancing at Alfred with a grateful look, "Thank you for warning her to stay close. I wouldn't live with myself if I accidentally hit her during hulking out. And I wish Thomas was here too...", looking up at the sonogram of her baby, her last gift of her husband...
"Did Thomas know?", Leslie asked as Martha shook her head, "No, I'm positive he never suspected. I didn't even know myself until the moments after he was killed. Like I said, the first change occurred when I got shot. I think... I think she was there from the start once you pumped so much gamma rays into me... but she only finally truly came to the surface when we were in grave danger. And after that, she hasn't truly wanted to leave...".
Alfred replied, "I think She-Hulk considers Mistress Martha as an anchor to her positive and protective memories, and since Martha considers Master Thomas and Master Bruce as her anchors to her life, it's like She-Hulk found a way to explore and grow as a supernatural good being instead of a wild/mindless monster.".
Martha looked at him, "Alfred, you are also one of my anchors too, for you have done so much over the years that you are one of my closest friends, and you deeply cared for Thomas, and still deeply care for my son, and in time, my second child.", with a firm, surefire nod.
"Do try to understand though, ma'am...", Alfred cleared his throat. "I don't see myself truly trying to replace Master Thomas...".
"I know.", Martha nodded. "But Bruce and this new child will still need a positive male role model in their lives.", she chuckled as Alfred nodded with a small smile, "Aye... that would be fine.".
"So... what about this condition?", Leslie asked. "Is there anything you need me to do? Perhaps try to figure out how to fix it or something?".
"Well... that first night for a little while... after I changed and all and discovered what exactly I had done... I honestly thought it was too much and did seriously want to not change, to get rid of this other side...", Martha admitted. "And now?", Leslie raised an eyebrow.
Martha stroked her baby bump, glancing at the sonogram, "Now, She-Hulk has become one of my closest friends as she has comforted me in grieving the loss of our mate, aka my husband, she is extremely protective of Bruce, calling him her pup, and wants the best for him like I do, and trusts Alfred already even if she only had met him officially today, seeing him as an elder and advisor and friend, and she is especially grateful to have a healer, aka a doctor in you that I and Alfred and Bruce trust immensely...Something great that you don't want to break or betray, Leslie...Can you do that?".
Leslie replied, "Are you kidding? Of course I'm in! It was my work, my experiment, and I technically gave birth to She-Hulk in a way...I'd be honored to do my best to be part of the pack, this family...", with a smile.
Martha looked so relieved, "Thank you, Leslie! To better topics, I'd be happy for you to visit more often, perhaps two times a month, not too much to make the staff suspicious until I become more obvious, for those sonogram checkups, and of course, your observations.".
Leslie nodded, "That sounds reasonable, until the later months where I could come more often as a concern to your well-being, as I have a feeling that the staff would consider that your mood swings and such would make you really prone to grieving for Thomas, especially with the due date and all. I'm sorry if I am sounding a bit proactive like that, but we need to make sure that the baby and you are healthy and strong all the way, even if the baby is the healthiest one that I have ever seen in my life.".
"Well, with everything going on... I suppose it's best we do not try taking too many chances with things...", Martha looked down as she rubbed her stomach.
"So, what about the meantime?", Leslie then asked. "Obviously, I assume you're taking some steps with the She-Hulk in terms of what do about this?". Martha nodded, "Yes; right now, we're taking things a day at a time... but we'll soon be looking... I don't know where, sort of places where maybe I could better control things. She... she's certainly on edge at times, wanting to come out and we just can't truly afford that risk if we can't help it.".
Leslie looked at her in confusion for a moment before widening her eyes as she understood, "Oh! I see! As She-Hulk hadn't exactly been around to have life experience like us, you hope you could find wild places where almost nobody lives in, like in valleys and such to give her room to see the sun and all kinds of weather, because if she experiences weather while angry, she'd connect the weather as a bad thing, but if you teach her that weather can be good and wonderful like dancing in the rain, she has a good experience, and with no people around, there's no danger or threats for her or this family.".
Martha nodded, "Exactly. But first, to keep modesty, well, I was hoping you'd work on some sort of adaptable fabric for outfits to She-Hulk and during the hulkouts forward and backwards without tearing and such..Like that outfit you made for me during the procedure.", with a bit of a blush.
"Oh, I see...", Leslie stroked her chin for a moment. "Well, I'm sure I can quickly find something that you can use on a more permeant basis; something that would be easy to keep fairly concealed and not draw much attention."
Martha smiled in relief, "Thanks, Leslie. I don't suppose if you have a bit of time for some girl talk?", with a chuckle, and Leslie smiled, "I can spare an hour or two.", as she then went to clean up the drying gel and turning off the sonogram machine.
Alfred checked his watch, "And it's close to the time school will break out for the day. I will pick up Master Bruce.", with a smile, and so, Martha went to grab the clothes she took off before hulking, putting them on, and the trio left the caverns, turning off the spare power, and headed back up to the manor.
A while later, as Martha and Leslie are sharing a joke while they drank tea and an afternoon tea meal which Leslie witnessed for the first time to see Martha's ravenous appetite, they heard an eager knock, "Mom, can I come in?".
Martha chuckled, "Come in, Bruce!", before the door opened with Bruce sprinting in, closing the door, "Don't worry, the coast is clear with the staff! Alfred told me that Mama saw the baby first before you, and that she cried happily that the baby is really healthy and looking like a baby! I'm so relieved you're still here, Dr. Leslie!", looking anxious and excited.
"Oh, goodness, Bruce, calm down, what has gotten into you?", Martha raised an eyebrow, and Bruce smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, Mom...I just...I was hoping that Dr. Leslie hadn't left yet...I...Can I see the baby, please?", calming down as he looked like he literally dropped off his backpack and formal rich school clothes into his room before running down the hallway to Martha's bedroom.
Martha heard She-Hulk's rumbling chuckle in the back of her head, "Aww, Bruce-pup being already protective and fond of new pup...Me think he nervous, not wanting to dream, wanting to be sure that his daddy's new pup be safe and good in his eyes...Ask him if me wrong, Martha-mate.".
"Feeling a bit protective for your baby sibling already, Bruce?", Martha asked him as he blushed before nodding a bit. "Y-yeah... is that alright?", Bruce asked as Martha smiled, "No, it's more than alright... perfectly understandable.".
Leslie chuckled, "I still have a bit of time left before I head out. We can use the manor's medical hospital room this time. And don't worry, Bruce, we can do this a couple of times a month as the baby progresses either from normal maternity time or the advancement of the hulk outs.".
Bruce smiled widely, "Okay!", and so, they left Martha's bedroom, heading to the manor's medical room, and was glad that there was a backup sonogram machine as Martha had changed into comfort clothes during a bathroom break while in the girls talk with Leslie, and Bruce watched in curiosity and awe as Leslie supplied the gel to Martha's baby bump with her shirt drawn up modesty and politely, and then went to gently scan it once more, watching the sonogram coming on.
"Is that...?", Bruce whispered, seeing his baby sibling for the first time, in a different position this time while suckling its thumb, showing that they're sleeping, with Martha brushing Bruce's hair warmly, "Yes, it's your baby sibling...", trying to hold back tears, wishing that Thomas would share in Bruce's awe with his hearty laugh.
Leslie smiled, "Looks like they're tuckered out after all that excitement and all that food...See, Bruce? That's the head there, suckling a thumb, there's the pulse of its heartbeat there, fingers and toes, the body, the spine.", pointing out everything with her finger.
Bruce bit his lip in concern, "How are they breathing and eating?", and Leslie smiled, "You see the funny string there? That's the cord to your mother's womb all the way from the baby, and up to the stomach and such, so your mother transfers food bits and nutrients to the baby, and there's also blood vessels to help the baby feel warm and strong, and also oxygen cells to the baby's growing lungs. You can say that the cord was the precedent to the belly button, the same you had when you were small too.".
Bruce felt his stomach for a moment there before he kept looking. "So basically, that means that the baby's all good and still needs more time to grow before they're finally here. Do you understand?", Martha asked.
Bruce nodded, "Yes. That makes sense. How long does it take, usually?", and Leslie smiled gently, "9 months, and it's like a seed to a tree, it takes time to give them nutrients, development, and lots of your mother's attention and love.".
"But it doesn't mean that I don't love you still, Bruce...I really love you, darling, and I give you attention, but they would need me more as time goes on, okay?", Martha smiled reassuringly as she kissed Bruce's head affectionately.
Bruce smiled, "I know...Dr. Leslie, does this mean that Mom gets like one of those...umm, leave times like one of my teachers did when I was 5?", and Leslie nods, "That's called a maternity leave, and yes, but much later, so your mother would have to put the company in Mr. Fox's hands while she rests and prepares for your baby sibling's arrival, perhaps around late summer, early autumn, you understand?".
Bruce gave a nod while Martha chuckled, "Hopefully, we'll have a clearer picture with a timetable some months later, but don't worry, Leslie, I'll follow your orders to the letter.".
"Good... and not try to put any sort of unusual strain if it can be helped.", Leslie was obviously probably referring to her hulk outs. Probably wasn't a good idea to test limits, especially in terms of changing.
Martha nodded, and Bruce happily soaked into the sonogram of his baby sibling as Leslie saw to print two secret pictures for him and Martha, and so, it was another day of bittersweet happiness and grief.