"It hardly feels like a whole another month has passed since the sabotage, yet the kids and having conversations with the others, it made time go faster...I'd never thank Thomas and Leslie enough for giving us the clear after the last of the soreness was gone...I really missed this, Mary...", John murmured, kissing her on the lips.
Mary smiled, "Just basking in each other's arms, under the shadow of daylight, and being content and serene...I hear you...I really missed this too...That was amazing, John...Thank you for not holding back...", tracing her husband's chest.
John smiled, "You're very welcome, Mary. Thank you for asking me to really let it go...All of that, I wouldn't doubt if that much was a high chance of getting another kid, but you're on birth control anyhow...", with a hum.
Mary kept smiling for a moment before her eyes widened when she heard the last part, and jolted up, but didn't leave him still inside her as he moaned briefly at the angle, and confused/concerned, John asked, "What's wrong, Mary?".
Mary was silent as she racked her mind, knowing that she was on birth control when the sabotage happened, and has been on it since before that, shortly after Dick was born, and between the pills, and the circus family lending her some anti-pregnancy herbs here and there, it was clear that they weren't planning to have another kid...
But now, as she recalled some adult stories that Martha and Poppy spoke about, that the gamma energy seemed to cancel birth control when something happens, and when she and John was saved that night, the gamma medicine would have erased her birth control, and with her body in pain of being sore and all for weeks from the night of healing and getting used to the gamma energy inside her, she hardly thought about it as she was focused on other matters.
She whispered, looking at John in the eyes, "I've not been on birth control...", seeing his eyes widen, and was about to open his mouth as she added, "Before you ask, I think I had miscommunication with Poppy or Martha, because they would assume that I had pills in my baggage the circus folks brought over from the caravan, but I used them up...the last time we did love-making...I was meaning to buy more, and then the threat with the Zuccos and the sabotage and then...".
"So, you mean there's a chance we might have another?", John asked as she nodded. "Maybe... honestly, I don't know if perhaps the injuries, even after healing, might have caused me to be unable to have any more or honestly, I've lost track of my safe days so it might be nothing for all I know but... right now, there could be a chance.", Mary sighed as nothing was said for a few moments.
"Are you upset?", Mary then asked him. "No, no... not at all, just... thinking, you know?", John told her as she nodded. "I guess after so long, we kinda did settle a bit on the idea that Dick was probably going to be our only child.".
Mary exhaled, "We sure did...I...I don't want them to think that they were a unplanned accident...", looking down, and she saw John's hand gently tilting her up to face him as he moved slightly, still inside her as they stifled moans, "We won't make them think that it was taking us off guard because you know why, Mary? Because even if I'm literally making you pregnant right now, I love you, and I'll support you, and we got a huge, incredible family behind us. It isn't an unplanned accident...but rather a happy surprise...", his other hand gently embracing and caressing her belly.
Tears swelled in Mary's eyes, "And we don't have to worry about moving so much anymore in the circus...I'm just...can we even have solutions for all of what ifs? I...I don't want to traumatize Dick again if...", before a bit more pressure of John's hand gently pressed on her neck as it moved behind her as his forehead touched hers.
"Mary, please... don't think those sorts of things. It's over for starters with Zucco; he's gone and won't be coming back and even if he did... I'd very much like to see him try something with all of Gotham's crimefighters guarding us.", John chuckled.
Mary gave a watery chuckle, and John then replied, "And for all the what ifs with this possible baby, we got professional help in Thomas and Leslie, and both of you will be fine, I know it...I can't promise 100%, but I do know that you aren't alone, okay? He or she got us and this family...", with a loving kiss on her nose, and then on her lips.
"How did I ever end up with a wonderful man like you?", Mary smiled, and John smiled, "Plenty of love and luck...".
Mary giggled, and hummed, "Are you all fresh out?", and John smirked, "I may need a little help to finish off...", before digging his other hand into her bundle of nerves, and she gasped, constricting around him as he moved in deep one last time, and then pulled out slowly as her constrictions of her walls pulled around him, squeezing every last drop of sperm, and she exhaled as he finished fondling her, feeling him pop free.
"Let's clear this room free of sex and use the bathroom, shall we?", John smiled, and Mary smirked, "At least the water is loud.", as he nodded in agreement, and so they went to open the windows a bit to air the room out, and used the shower to clean up after doing another round of love-making, and got dressed to head back into manor life with the kids and dinner.
And weeks and months passed, like celebrating Poppy's Halloween birthday and Jane's Thanksgiving birthday, and anniversaries as Mary didn't want to risk her possible baby with birth control when like John proclaimed, it's a happy surprise, and she hopes she and John is really surprised, but it's hard to tell, if the gamma medicine erased her periods like a menopause, or that she's actually pregnant.
And of course, living in a manor does mean that she doesn't have to be fit for the circus anymore as she can eat more as much as she wishes to be between occasionally strolling with John and chasing Dick in tag. It's now February, and it's Bruce's birthday, and they elected to have an indoor pool party with the hot tub and all.
Mary smiled in exasperated fondness, watching Dick play Marco Polo in the pool with the other kids, dipping her feet in the hot tub as she quite had a few busy hours of learning how to bake a cake with Caroline and Selina, and now she got sore feet.
She sighed lightly as John sat near her with a chuckle, "Feels nice, huh?", in his swim shorts, and Mary smiled, looking at him, "Sure is...through I couldn't mind some hand massage too.".
John smiled, "You got it...", shuffling over, and gently brought her feet to one of the jacuzzi points, while his hands expertly massaged her feet, and Mary moaned in contentment, "Oh, that feels better...", relaxing for a few moments before she gasped in unexpected pain, feeling a sharp jab, "Oh!", looking down habitually.
"Mary, are you alright? Did I touch a knot or something?", John asked in concern, thinking that he had pressed too hard on a spot on her feet he's massaging, and Mary replied, "No, you didn't...I'm alright, I think-", before she yelped in surprise, feeling a now realized familiar sensation of a foot kicking, not noticing that her yelp of surprise was heard by the others, as she sobbed with a laugh, looking at John, "It's our happy surprise!", her hand instinctively caressing her belly, realizing that some of her belly fat wasn't fat, but rather a baby bump.
"You mean...?", John whispered as she nodded. "I think that Dick might be having a baby sibling...", Mary chuckled as John took a deep breath.
"Okay... phew, was worried for a second that something actually was seriously wrong for a moment.", John said as she smiled, "Oh, trust me, I was afraid for a second there too but... no... this is familiar, and the last time I felt it was when we were starting to expect our first child.".
Alfred's voice replied, "Did I hear wrong or are you expecting a new child?", and they looked up to see the others there, having heard Mary's yelp of surprise, taking it as pain for a moment, as John took the chance to step out of the hot tub, holding out a hand to Mary's free hand that grasped into it, being helped up.
Mary smiled, blushing in excitement, "We are...", feeling her child's active kicks, and Dick replied hopefully, "Really? How, are you sure?".
John looked at Mary, and Thomas cleared his throat, "I believe I can help with finding some visible proof...", and Bruce grinned, "Yeah. Your ma,", gesturing to Poppy, "I was proved that she is real by Grandma Martha having an ultrasound with Aunt Leslie's help, which is showing a video of a baby, basically. And no, I'm not mad as this is fantastic news, and having another celebration upon my birthday is nothing new to us, as we both celebrate Halloween with Poppy's birthday and Thanksgiving with Jane's birthday, remember?", reassuring Mary and John with a smile when they looked at him.
Dick gasped, "Can I look? Please?", as the other kids nodded, "Yeah!", not upset for their fun to be interrupted as they are curious too, and hopeful for Dick to be cheered up even more, even if the nightmares are mostly gone by now, as he had been coming occasionally to join either Poppy and Waylon or John and Mary for safety and comfort.
"Give a little bit of time... this isn't some truly instantaneous sort of situation.", Alfred chuckled as he was trying to keep the youth of the group calm and not breaking out into a happy riot. "It's going to take a bit of time to set everything up and all.".
Thomas nodded, "Indeed. Will you be patient for at least 20 minutes until I get back and all?", raising an eyebrow at the brood of kids who looked at each other, and then they nodded, "Yes, Grandpa!".
Thomas chuckled, "Then excuse me.", grabbing his few casual clothes to wear over his swim shorts, and left the natatorium which is the word for the indoor pool room.
Poppy replied, "Do you want some clean water to drink?", looking at Mary, and Mary chuckled, "That'd be great.", before glancing at Dick, "All of you better get to the showers and clean up.".
"Okay, Mom!", Dick said, recognizing her stern voice, and he urged his brothers and sister, and cousin to follow him to the showers, grabbing their good clothes, and Selina replied, "I and Caroline will join Jane in her part of the showers.", with a nod, "Join us when you finish that drink. I know you haven't exactly swum much in the pool and dipped only your legs in the hot tub, but best to clean off for ya, too.".
Mary chuckled, "Speaking of experience, huh?", and Selina smirked, "Damien hated showers, only loved baths and pools.", and Mary nodded.
And so, between turns and such of using the communal showers, everyone was clean and in clothes as they left the natatorium after 20 minutes, waiting in the hallway, while the kids guessed which gender and all, before they saw Thomas at the stairs, calling out, "Okay, let's go!".
They went up the stairs to follow Thomas to the manor med bay, with most of the adults in the casual waiting room/living room of the med bay, while the kids followed Mary, John, and Thomas in.
Mary remembered her days of the ultrasound for Dick, and went to rest back and all, while Thomas went to prepare the lotion, as Damien asked softly, "What's that, Grandpa?".
"Just a little gel that's needed for the ultrasound. Doesn't work right without it and if we want to see...", Thomas didn't say much more as Damien understood. "Now, of course, it's still somewhat early in the stages so obviously, it's not going to look exactly like a baby, it will need some more months to grow.".
Jane replied, "How much more?", and Thomas chuckled, "I wouldn't know until I have a proper look, and see how far along the little one is.", and Jane nodded, understanding.
Mary shivered as the gel went over her belly/baby bump, and Dick replied, "Does it hurt?", and Mary shook her head, "No, it's just cool, it will eventually get to room temperature with my body heat.".
Dick nodded, and Thomas then brought out the probe as Sean asked, "Is that like a camera?", and Thomas nodded, "A special camera, yes, it's able to scan through the skin and all.".
"Cool!", Daphne grinned as Thomas then gently placed the probe on Mary's baby bump, clicking the keys on the computer, as a ultrasound picture came on, "Not there...closer...almost there...ah, there's the lining...the cord...Ah, there you are...Congratulations, you two are pregnant officially with a baby out of the first trimester...Looks like four months along, developed on the higher end of the spectrum, probably thanks to the gamma energy...Got everything all developed...The legs are kicking, the arms are working great, with fingers twitching, good head shape, spine is well...".
The kids' eyes widen in awe and amazement, "Whoa...Looks like a lanky baby...Is that normal, Grandpa?", as Mary looked at John with a secret blush and a tearful smile, realizing that they truly got pregnant on the first try or second try on that day.
"For the time, yes... obviously it just needs more time to grow.", Thomas explained. "About another five or so months and they'll be here. Right now, it's certainly good news as everything looks very healthy with the child.".
Mary replied, "Thank goodness...I...I thought even with the gamma healing, I was...too hurt to have a baby...", keeping her words careful around the kids.
Thomas smiled warmly, "Gamma healing doesn't just heal the outside, but on the inside as well. The womb, which is the word for an unborn baby's home within, ", glancing at the kids who's listening and learning, "Is very healthy and strong. The cord there is actually the belly button, and the baby eats pieces and bits of food from the mother, along with beverages along the cord, helping it grow to a strong, healthy baby.".
Jane asked, "So, the womb is like a shelter? But how do they stay warm?", and Thomas chuckled, "Yes, it's like a shelter, protected from harm, weather, and sickness. And for staying warm, the womb is having like a temperature control, and they tell the mother to eat more, or dress more if they are sensitive to temperature changes outside the womb.".
Damien smiled, "Neat...five more months, that is...", counting on his fingers as Mary and John watched with amusement and pride, and Damien's eyes widened in surprise, "In July!".
Thomas nodded, "That's right, but most of the time, babies don't follow the due date exactly...They can be early or overdue, like in June or early August.".
"Whoa, that means we might get a close birthday with the new baby!", the twins cheered as they had hatched, technically born in July. John chuckled, "Indeed...Looks like we have something else in common to share with Waylon and Poppy essentially of that timing...", with a smile as he kissed Mary's temple, squeezing her hand.
Dick replied, "Mom, Dad, I understand if since they are the happy surprise, you probably don't want to know the gender...through are they really big enough to tell, Grandpa?".
"Actually, they are actually big and old enough now to tell, for from four months along to full term, they can be found out by gender, I just need to zoom in closer to find out, but it's up to John and Mary to decide.", Thomas answered.
"Let us wait...", John said. "I mean, not until the birth obviously; but just a few more months... just to keep the surprise, you know. We'll probably want to know by the start of the third trimester.".
Damien replied, "And what's a trimester?", and Thomas replied, "It's the length of about three months or so.".
Damien nodded, understanding that, and Mary smiled, "Of course, there's your birthday next month, Dick...", and Dick looked tempted, thinking before shaking his head, "No, thank you. I want all of us to know the surprise, and I would probably spill it out sooner or later.".
John and Mary looked proud of their son, understanding his reason, and Thomas smiled, "Alright then...Do you want me to print the picture before you get cleaned off and all?".
Mary nodded with tears, "Yes, please.", wanting to start a new album and all, just like how she and John did for Dick, having shown it all to Poppy and Waylon who reveled in seeing the years of how Dick grew up in.
Thomas smiled, nodding, and so, went to print a picture of the ultrasound of the twitching, kicking, and dreaming baby, and so, with that, the kids went out of the private ultrasound room, telling the amazing lesson they had in learning, and the adults learning happily to know that Mary is healthy with a 4 months old unborn baby in excellent shape and all.