Suddenly, a large baby head emerged, covered in blood and goo. I shivered again and Aidan pulled me closer.
"Turn it off. I can't watch anymore." James hid his head in his hands.
Elora's face flushed with embarrassment, as the rest of the room laughed.
The next scene was the doctor rotating the baby by its poor little head until the shoulders popped out, one at a time, and then the baby was placed upon the woman's chest. Nurses wiped the baby down while the doctor continued to work between her legs.
I was still sitting wide-eyed with shock when Emily turned off the DVD and dismissed everyone till next week’s class.
"Oh, hell no. I'm not going through this again." James groaned.
"Are you okay?" Aidan whispered into my ear.
I shook my head. I twisted around and locked eyes with him.
"Don't you dare think that you are videotaping anything, mister!" I shouted.
Aidan looked shocked.
"I-I won't." He stammered.
"I can't do that!" Elora panicked, grabbing onto James.
"Baby, I'm sorry! I can't do it for you and I sure as hell don't want to!" James shook his head, helping Elora stand up.
"I want drugs, James. Lots of drugs!"
"Me too." James said and hugged her tightly.
"You'll do fine." The red headed woman had stepped over to Elora and patted her on the arm. "Trust me, it looks bad and you get nervous, but you will be amazed at the strength you find in yourself." Smiling, she walked toward the foyer.
"Baby, you have the strength to pull that off." James pointed toward the darkened TV, "and I will never again say a word about the number of shoes you have. Ever! In fact, I will personally take you to buy however many chimmaroos or whatever the fuck they're called."
"Jimmy Choo's." Elora grinned.
"Whatever." James pulled her into his arms.
"Lilli, I...I don't even know what to say or—"
I placed my hand on his chest to stop him.
"There is nothing to say." I shrugged. "It's going to happen, no matter what you say or do." Then a thought crossed my mind and I started to laugh, though it wasn't exactly a funny thought.
"What?" Aidan asked as he helped me from the floor.
"I'm going to…have…to…do that…twice." I howled.
Aidan raised his eyebrow. "That's funny?"
"No…not really." I snorted.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself.
"I just…can't…help…but laugh". If I didn't laugh, I would panic and tears would burst through instead.
A smile formed, then grew larger across Aidan's face until he too was laughing.
"I don't know what you find so funny." James came over shaking his head. "This shit is just medieval. You would think they would've figured out how to make it less—"
"Natural?" Emily questioned, a smirk turning up one side of her mouth.
"Hey, I'm not knocking the whole natural thing, but hell...that was brutal. Next time, give a guy a warning. My balls will never descend again."
James's rant only made my laughing increase and Aidan basically had to hold me up.
Once everyone left, most with fear or panic across their faces, Aidan and I ate then went to bed.
"So, I just wanted to tell you that I am really sorry about tonight." I apologized as I slipped into bed next to Aidan.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him.
"I know you are, and I forgive you, but don't leave me out again." As he said it, he nuzzled my neck. "When is your next doctor appointment?"
"In two weeks." I said. "It's the ultra sound."
~
Two weeks later, Aidan was helping me out of the car and into the new doctor's office. I'd taken an OB/GYN referral from Doctor Munthers. When I initially met Doctor Baker, I immediately liked her and reveled in the fact that I chose my doctor, not the Iverson family.
"So, Lilli, how are you feeling?" Dr. Baker asked.
"Good. I'm not getting sick anymore." I smiled.
"That's good to hear." She nodded. "Well, I think you know the drill. Lie back for me."
I lay back, Aidan at my side. Doctor Baker performed the internal exam as well as manipulation of my abdomen. Then she pulled out the fetal heart monitor and the whooshing of heartbeats filled the room. Aidan's grip on my hand tightened.
"Give me your hand, Mr. Iverson." Furrowing my brow, I watched her take Aidan's hand and place it on my stomach. The pressure of their hands on my abdomen wasn't uncomfortable.
"Do you feel that?"
"Yes." Aidan whispered, amazement all over his face.
"That is the rump of one of your babies." She smiled warmly.
"That's..." He couldn't finish, his hand tightening on mine even more.
After she removed her hands, Dr. Baker helped me sit up.
"Let's get you over to the ultrasound technician, shall we?"
Aidan helped me down from the table and we followed the doctor through a few sets of doors.
I laid back on the padded table. The technician draped a sheet from my hips down and lifted my gown up over my stomach. The gel she squeezed onto my abdomen was warm.
"Alright..." the technician said, "let me get some measurements and then I will give you both a look at your babies."