"Door closes, laughing and giggling"
Ash: And where have you two ladies been this afternoon?

Gigs: "kisses your cheek" Tamara just went with me to one of my pre-natal doctor check-ups dear. No mischief-making today. I swear.

Tam: Mmmm...oh, Asher. It was SO cool to hear the heartbeat. And Gigs brought you a present. "smiles knowingly at Gigs"

Gigs: Yeah..."puts some grocery bags in the kitchen, hollars over shoulder" Why don't you pop it into the VCR for him so we can all watch?

Tam: Okie-doky. "Pulls videotape from Gigs shoulder bag and puts it in the VCR, starting to rewind it."

Ash: They take pictures of your office visit with doctors these days? "looks between the girls' obviously amused faces in puzzlement"

Tam: Oh, even better than that.

Gigs: "hands Tamara an ice tea as she comes back into the room and sips on one she made for herself" Have a seat, Cher. You're gonna love this.

"tape starts to play, rhythmic beating chants through the entertainment system speakers as black/white blob shows up on the screen. The girls oooh and ahhhh. Ash looks even more confused." Ash: What is this supposed to be, mes amareaux?

Gigs: "giggles" It's an ultrasound, Asher. These are the first pictures of our children. "snuggles close to him while continuing to watch the screen"

Ash: Children?..."blinks astonished at you"

Gigs: "smiles warmly" Yes, my love. We're going to have triplets.

Tam: Oh look! You can see a foot there. Gootchie-gootchie-goo! "makes tickling fingers towards the screen"

Gigs: Usually, they're not able to do these sorts of ultrasounds until the 16th week or so, but it appears I'm progressing more along the lines of a tiger's gestation than a humans. "sigh"

Ash: Will this harm the children?

Tam: Well, according to her midwife, so far so good. All the tests they took came back negative for Vlad's or lycanthropy. They seem to be the perfect picture of health. "laughs" Oop....boy part!

Ash: Bon. I do not understand how to read these "ultrasounds". I have never seen one before. How can you tell what is what? "opens marks and looks through Gigs' eyes" Ahhh, now I see. "smiles and fills with warm pride"

Gigs: "points to screen and emphasizes with her mind's eye" There, you can see two of their heads...and there's an arm, with their siblings foot under their armpit..."laughs"

Ash: And who is this "midwife"? Is Dr. Lillian not seeing to your care?

Gigs: No, no. Mrs. Stone was my midwife for Ty's birth. She's very good and very experienced. Besides, I don't think Lillian has access to an ultrasound machine.

Ash: Still, you are not human as you were with le petite dauphin. It is a very high risk pregnancy, ma chat. I would prefer that Dr. Lillian attend you. I will see to it she has the equiptment she requires.

Gigs: "tsks and looks at him irritated" It's a matter of who I'm comfortable with, cher. Mrs. Stone is aware of my lycanthropy. She will take precaution measures.

Tam: Gigs, perhaps Asher is right. Even if she takes certain measures, she's only a human. She might not be prepared to handle your strength through the contractions. And what if you shift? Your body will sense the pain and want to try and heal itself. She can't account for that quite like Dr. Lillian can.

Ash: Oui. They are my children too. I would like to help make the decisions regarding their welfare.

Gigs: "frustrated tears" You two act like I can't make a good decision regarding my children. Like I'd put them in jeopardy on purpose. Mrs. Stone is fine. I trust her.

"Asher is about to speak, but Tamara beats him to the punch"

Tam: No, that's not what we're saying, Gigs. Don't cry. What if both Dr. Lillian AND Mrs. Stone were there? Would that make you more comfortable?

Gigs: "sniffles as she's pulled back into Asher's embrace" I suppose that would be alright. Sorry, I guess my hormones are getting carried away with me.

Ash: Are you eating well? Sleeping enough? "concern crosses his face and he pulls her around to look at her directly" You exert yourself too much, ma chat. You must rest. Perhaps I should check your blood to see if you're getting the proper nutrition for the "gets a goofy look on his face" triplets.

Gigs: "gets dazed, needy look on face" Oh, would you?

Ash: *sits gazing at you lovingly...traces a fingertip down your cheek* Just a little nick, amante. I will not take sustinance from our little ones.

Gigs: "smiles weakly" Very well. I miss you terribly, but I will abide by your wishes in this for the sake of the children.

Ash: *smiles* I miss you as well, Chanteuse. "sinks fangs into neck and takes a taste before kissing and licking to seal the wound." A little low in iron I think...and you should probably be drinking more milk than sweet tea, but all seems in order otherwise.

Gigs: "yawns" yes, I suppose you're right. Only milk seems to sour in my stomach these days. I can only tolerate small doses without throwing up. I can avoid a lot of my morning sickness if I get my dairy through cheese and yogurt rather than milk. It's very odd.

Ash: "scoops Gigs up and takes her into the bedroom" You should rest now. "authoratatively against any would be objections. Tucks her in, kisses her cheek, and closes the door."

"Ash walks back to the living room and stares at the TV screen. He draws closer to it until he can touch it. Tamara gets up from the couch and wraps arms around his waist from behind letting his see through her eyes"

Tam: They're beautiful, Asher. Just like their parents. "gives him a squeeze"

Ash: "caresses the screen where a little hand is showing" Does the midwife know what they are?

Tam: "understanding the question" You have one son and two daughters.

Ash: "mesmerized by the screen and the little heartbeats, repeats in a whisper" I have a son and two daughters.