Post by Zuyuri on Jan 21, 2020 6:45:10 GMT
She thought that every time she went to the ultrasounds, the pictures would get less creepy. She was almost always proven wrong. The hospital prided itself on being one of the best in terms of motherhood, but Sunshine had her doubts. She had this new power that she didn't quite understand. Also, she had been on the go with paperwork and making sure her cravings were satiated. Riku always made fun of her, but he would oblige with her requests of spaghetti with berry sauce. That had been her go-to craving. She had brought it in for lunch one day and had gotten many a side-eye. Someone had even asked her if it was some fancy sauce that she got because only the Lafayettes could afford it, but she ignored them entirely.
After all, she took Riku's name when they got married. She was a Lafayette now. A sister in law to a now respected voodoo queen.
Weiss went with her to the ultrasound today. "Just so I can take a break," she had said.
The admitting nurse smiled at them both as they walked in. At first, Sunshine was taken aback by her pale skin. Too pale to be normal. Even the way her eyes were big and gleaming put her on edge. Her high necked dress was hiding something, but Sunshine knew better than to put on her cop hat. She was here to look at the baby, not be freaked out.
"Um, hi," Sunshine chirped.
The nurse looked up and smiled. There was a small gleam in her incisors. Well, that answered that question. Sunshine tensed. Even if the vampire was friendly was being friendly and had no associations with Gothel and Jasmine's revenge cult, simply seeing a vampire put her on edge.
Weiss was in check with Sunshine's immediate change in mood. Clearing her throat, she spoke eloquently, "We're here for an ultrasound. For Rachel Lafayette?"
"Okay, just let me get the paperwork," the tag by the vampire read 'MAVIS'. She reached under the desk and pulled out multiple medical waivers. "Sign here and we'll have a doctor be with you shortly."
After Mavis took the paperwork, the two sisters sat in some of the many upholstery chairs scattered in the waiting area. Out of season issues were littered across the table. Sunshine picked up a copy of a home keeping magazine and flipped immediately to the recipes. Ys, the recipes were out of season, but one could never have too much information. Maybe when the weather got colder, she could try these out again. Next to her, Weiss was sitting with her ankles crossed over themselves and her hands folded. Her blue eyes were cast onto the magazines with uncertainty.
Sunshine bit her lip. "Um, I think I saw a Voodoo Weekly in there?"
Weiss nodded. "Thanks, but I already know what's in there. I mean, I was IN the front lines."
"Oh...Right." Sunshine rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "My bad."
Weiss managed a smile. "I mean, I get it. It's a bit different for everyone not directly in the match ups. Also, the horoscopes in there are absolutely laughable. I don't know who came up with stars being someone's life coach, but they need to write better advice." She flipped it open and read in a joking manner, 'The moon in Jupiter means you have to watch out for smooth talking cats'. I mean...what?"
Sunshine burst into laughter along with Weiss. The blonde was thinking of Yang and Adrien's dating. Did this mean she had to tell Yang that Adrien was going to be extra flirty? She had been good about keeping the rich boy's vigilante identity a secret as she promised.
The laughter died down on cue with the doctor coming out. Her skin was the color of warm coffee, flattered by her navy scrubs, and her green eyes were vibrant. For a while, Sunshine was taken back. The doctor's name tag, 'Esme', didn't exactly help either. She shook her head again. This Esme was different than the long lost cop that Shadow had avenged. This was a doctor.
"Rachel Lafayette?" she came forward and extended a hand. "I'm Esme Ortiz. I'll be conducting your ultrasound today."
Sunshine shook Esme's hand warmly. "Just call me Sunshine. Everyone does."
Weiss stood next to her. "It's so strange hearing her real name some times, I keep forgetting what it is."
Esme smiled. "Sunshine, then."
_
A few minutes later, Sunshine was lying on a table clothed in a flimsy hospital gown. If Weiss was a princess, then she was a peasant. Her exposed pregnant belly had been lubricated jelly that Esme applied with soft, affectionate care. The transducer glided over the area. On the screen, the gray and white images meshed together, like watching static on TV come to life. Sunshine's first few ultra sounds showed something akin to a shrimp, but now, there were clear signs of something resembling a human. A round head and tiny hands were shown in this ultrasound. Esme also put the transductor to where the baby's genitals were starting to form...had it been a boy.
"This is going to be a big healthy baby," Esme reported. "I don't see anything wrong."
Sunshine exhaled. So this new power wasn't going to be sapping the baby. Then again, she hadn't really been put into a position where she had been forced to use it. Part of her had wanted to talk to Weiss about it while in the waiting room instead of bonding over stupid horoscopes or judging tacky holiday decorations. The happier memories had clouded something of true importance that she was just now thinking about. But Weiss had so much to do now. Taking her away from something she loved over something so trivial was...well, it would waste everyone's time. It wasn't like Weiss knew a cure to get rid of whatever the vampires did to her powers.
"Are there...any hints of Other powers yet?" Weiss asked.
Esme shook her head. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay," Sunshine said, "It's pretty obvious it may inherit my power. Sort of a...hereditary thing."
Esme lifted the transductor away. "I'm new to this whole...supernatural town thing. I just graduated from medical school from New Mexico and it's a whole new ball game compared to Bellerouge. I'm still getting used to the humidity." To emphasize her point, she pushed down at her cloud of black hair. Sunshine and Weiss laughed.
"Sunshine has magic hair," Weiss said.
Sunshine gave her sister in law a joking withering glare. "Hey, that's my secret to tell!" As Weiss looked down with a 'sorry not sorry' grin, Sunshine looked back at the now black screen. She just saw her reflection in there. "My hair absorbs sunlight and I...use it to heal people, along with it being a great flashlight."
Esme smirked. "Nice! Okay, so...I'll get your ultrasound photos and let you get dressed. Took no time at all. She's in good care!"
_
When Sunshine came home to her and Riku's small cottage, she blinked rapidly when she saw her husband staring mournfully at a piece of bread that looked more like a bone.
"I tried to follow your family's baguette recipe with gluten-free flour. Not quite the same," he said apologetically. "I can't even cut it." To make his point, he picked up the bread and dropped it. It landed on the table with a thunk. No crumbs or any sprays of a fresh, crispy baguette came out. It sat there. Limply. Plates of noodles and berries were set up along with a bottle of pomegranate juice since wine was not an option.
Sunshine smiled. "Let me try." Picking up the bread, she flung her arm violently in an almost karate chop. Only one corner of the bread chipped off. It flew in the air before landing next to the juice. "Oh my gosh," she tried so hard not to laugh. Riku did try. He was doing everything he could to make her happy despite himself. It endeared her so much. She sat down after slightly waddling to make room. "So, how was work?"
"Aqua and I stopped some speeders, but that's about the peak of my excitement," Riku reported. "Mostly a lot of studying cold cases. What about you and Weiss' trip to the hospital?"
Sunshine put a hand over the baby bump. "She's looking healthy, the doctor said."
Riku nearly dropped his forkful. "She?"
Sunshine smiled ruefully. "It's a girl. Maria...for a middle name...Terra. Maria Terra." She said wistfully. They had discussed baby names before. Had it been a boy, they would have named him after Aqua's deceased partner Terrance. No matter what gender, someone was going to be remembered. Now, with this proposed name, both the child and the young man would be remembered. As she put her hands to the bump, she sighed. Their daughter was sitting content in the womb. She had a few more weeks before being strapped to a bed, screaming and swearing as she brought this new life into the world.
Riku smiled. "Maria Terra. It's perfect."
After all, she took Riku's name when they got married. She was a Lafayette now. A sister in law to a now respected voodoo queen.
Weiss went with her to the ultrasound today. "Just so I can take a break," she had said.
The admitting nurse smiled at them both as they walked in. At first, Sunshine was taken aback by her pale skin. Too pale to be normal. Even the way her eyes were big and gleaming put her on edge. Her high necked dress was hiding something, but Sunshine knew better than to put on her cop hat. She was here to look at the baby, not be freaked out.
"Um, hi," Sunshine chirped.
The nurse looked up and smiled. There was a small gleam in her incisors. Well, that answered that question. Sunshine tensed. Even if the vampire was friendly was being friendly and had no associations with Gothel and Jasmine's revenge cult, simply seeing a vampire put her on edge.
Weiss was in check with Sunshine's immediate change in mood. Clearing her throat, she spoke eloquently, "We're here for an ultrasound. For Rachel Lafayette?"
"Okay, just let me get the paperwork," the tag by the vampire read 'MAVIS'. She reached under the desk and pulled out multiple medical waivers. "Sign here and we'll have a doctor be with you shortly."
After Mavis took the paperwork, the two sisters sat in some of the many upholstery chairs scattered in the waiting area. Out of season issues were littered across the table. Sunshine picked up a copy of a home keeping magazine and flipped immediately to the recipes. Ys, the recipes were out of season, but one could never have too much information. Maybe when the weather got colder, she could try these out again. Next to her, Weiss was sitting with her ankles crossed over themselves and her hands folded. Her blue eyes were cast onto the magazines with uncertainty.
Sunshine bit her lip. "Um, I think I saw a Voodoo Weekly in there?"
Weiss nodded. "Thanks, but I already know what's in there. I mean, I was IN the front lines."
"Oh...Right." Sunshine rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "My bad."
Weiss managed a smile. "I mean, I get it. It's a bit different for everyone not directly in the match ups. Also, the horoscopes in there are absolutely laughable. I don't know who came up with stars being someone's life coach, but they need to write better advice." She flipped it open and read in a joking manner, 'The moon in Jupiter means you have to watch out for smooth talking cats'. I mean...what?"
Sunshine burst into laughter along with Weiss. The blonde was thinking of Yang and Adrien's dating. Did this mean she had to tell Yang that Adrien was going to be extra flirty? She had been good about keeping the rich boy's vigilante identity a secret as she promised.
The laughter died down on cue with the doctor coming out. Her skin was the color of warm coffee, flattered by her navy scrubs, and her green eyes were vibrant. For a while, Sunshine was taken back. The doctor's name tag, 'Esme', didn't exactly help either. She shook her head again. This Esme was different than the long lost cop that Shadow had avenged. This was a doctor.
"Rachel Lafayette?" she came forward and extended a hand. "I'm Esme Ortiz. I'll be conducting your ultrasound today."
Sunshine shook Esme's hand warmly. "Just call me Sunshine. Everyone does."
Weiss stood next to her. "It's so strange hearing her real name some times, I keep forgetting what it is."
Esme smiled. "Sunshine, then."
_
A few minutes later, Sunshine was lying on a table clothed in a flimsy hospital gown. If Weiss was a princess, then she was a peasant. Her exposed pregnant belly had been lubricated jelly that Esme applied with soft, affectionate care. The transducer glided over the area. On the screen, the gray and white images meshed together, like watching static on TV come to life. Sunshine's first few ultra sounds showed something akin to a shrimp, but now, there were clear signs of something resembling a human. A round head and tiny hands were shown in this ultrasound. Esme also put the transductor to where the baby's genitals were starting to form...had it been a boy.
"This is going to be a big healthy baby," Esme reported. "I don't see anything wrong."
Sunshine exhaled. So this new power wasn't going to be sapping the baby. Then again, she hadn't really been put into a position where she had been forced to use it. Part of her had wanted to talk to Weiss about it while in the waiting room instead of bonding over stupid horoscopes or judging tacky holiday decorations. The happier memories had clouded something of true importance that she was just now thinking about. But Weiss had so much to do now. Taking her away from something she loved over something so trivial was...well, it would waste everyone's time. It wasn't like Weiss knew a cure to get rid of whatever the vampires did to her powers.
"Are there...any hints of Other powers yet?" Weiss asked.
Esme shook her head. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay," Sunshine said, "It's pretty obvious it may inherit my power. Sort of a...hereditary thing."
Esme lifted the transductor away. "I'm new to this whole...supernatural town thing. I just graduated from medical school from New Mexico and it's a whole new ball game compared to Bellerouge. I'm still getting used to the humidity." To emphasize her point, she pushed down at her cloud of black hair. Sunshine and Weiss laughed.
"Sunshine has magic hair," Weiss said.
Sunshine gave her sister in law a joking withering glare. "Hey, that's my secret to tell!" As Weiss looked down with a 'sorry not sorry' grin, Sunshine looked back at the now black screen. She just saw her reflection in there. "My hair absorbs sunlight and I...use it to heal people, along with it being a great flashlight."
Esme smirked. "Nice! Okay, so...I'll get your ultrasound photos and let you get dressed. Took no time at all. She's in good care!"
_
When Sunshine came home to her and Riku's small cottage, she blinked rapidly when she saw her husband staring mournfully at a piece of bread that looked more like a bone.
"I tried to follow your family's baguette recipe with gluten-free flour. Not quite the same," he said apologetically. "I can't even cut it." To make his point, he picked up the bread and dropped it. It landed on the table with a thunk. No crumbs or any sprays of a fresh, crispy baguette came out. It sat there. Limply. Plates of noodles and berries were set up along with a bottle of pomegranate juice since wine was not an option.
Sunshine smiled. "Let me try." Picking up the bread, she flung her arm violently in an almost karate chop. Only one corner of the bread chipped off. It flew in the air before landing next to the juice. "Oh my gosh," she tried so hard not to laugh. Riku did try. He was doing everything he could to make her happy despite himself. It endeared her so much. She sat down after slightly waddling to make room. "So, how was work?"
"Aqua and I stopped some speeders, but that's about the peak of my excitement," Riku reported. "Mostly a lot of studying cold cases. What about you and Weiss' trip to the hospital?"
Sunshine put a hand over the baby bump. "She's looking healthy, the doctor said."
Riku nearly dropped his forkful. "She?"
Sunshine smiled ruefully. "It's a girl. Maria...for a middle name...Terra. Maria Terra." She said wistfully. They had discussed baby names before. Had it been a boy, they would have named him after Aqua's deceased partner Terrance. No matter what gender, someone was going to be remembered. Now, with this proposed name, both the child and the young man would be remembered. As she put her hands to the bump, she sighed. Their daughter was sitting content in the womb. She had a few more weeks before being strapped to a bed, screaming and swearing as she brought this new life into the world.
Riku smiled. "Maria Terra. It's perfect."
