Anna was staring at the screen, trying to make out what her baby would be, and didn't notice when Meredith looked in surprise and wonder at Maxwell, who closed his eyes and then opened them with a satisfied smile on his face and nodded to the doctor.
"Very interesting..." Meredith said as she turned to Anna. She already knew and so did Maxwell, but she needed to continue the theater for Anna. No one knew what her reaction would be if she found out what she was giving birth to in her womb. She remained silent as she stared intently at the screen, as if watching her favorite show. When she was satisfied, she turned off the device, and the nurse came in with wet wipes and wiped the gel off Anna's body.
"Well, Doctor? Is the child all right?" Maxwell asked calmly.
Anna stared at Meredith, worried by the doctor's surprised expression. And also at the lack of information throughout the examination.
"I have good news... You won't be the parents of just one child, but three."
Maxwell looked at Anna, who stared at him intrigued. How were they going to raise four children? Anna felt like she was going to faint, but she held her ground for Maxwell's sake. She felt like asking Meredith if she could only have one.
"How can you know something like that? Time isn't enough to know information like that and..."
"Calm down, Anna." Maxwell said and turned to the doctor. "Are you sure?" Maxwell asked, sounding like he was in shock.
"I didn't show you the three fetuses because they're still too small to see. I have experienced eyes and this machine is very... special... But it's all on tape and if you want to watch, while I explain, the nurse will put the images on television. But I'm warning you that my words will be technical and you may not understand, but I can't explain it any other way."
"But how can you see three children, Doctor? My belly isn't even showing yet... And you don't need to show me again, because I didn't understand anything about the image that appeared on the screen." Anna said confused.
"Yes. You have good genetics. But even so, in a couple of months you'll have a huge belly. The babies are small, because there's been a rare case here. Two of them are univitelline and the other is bivitelline. We can't tell the sex yet, but we'll know within eight weeks. So they won't be born big, but you'll feel like you're carrying ten babies. I want you to go for walks with me every day, no more than one kilometer. You should drink three liters of water a day. Eat fruit and vegetables, and don't forget to get your vaccinations... You can and should continue with your sexual activities as long as possible. I'll leave all the recommendations in writing and you can pick them up at reception. And if you're going to continue following the pregnancy with me, I'll need you to come back in a fortnight for another blood test. We need to check this anemia closely. I hope you like salads, Mrs. Lens. And if you're not going to continue with me, I advise you to see the professional of your choice immediately. This anemia must be treated." She said and stood up. "You can change, Anna."
"We'll be in your office in a fortnight, Doctor." Maxwell said, determined that she should take care of her babies until they were born and hoping that this was also Anna's wish.
"Okay, Mr. Lens... Thank you for your confidence, and congratulations to you." She said and left.
The nurse helped Anna to her feet and escorted her to the bathroom door. Anna took the opportunity to use the toilet. And put her thoughts in order. She changed slowly and left the bathroom. Maxwell was waiting for her alone.
She stopped and crossed her arms.
"You shouldn't decide things about me without asking my opinion first!" She said almost shouting.
"Are you talking about the consultation?" he asked and when he saw Anna's furious expression, he realized that this was exactly what she was talking about. "Anna... We can't waste any time. She's the best professional in her field and..."
"And I decide who's going to look after my body!"
"Yes! But it's not your body I'm making decisions about, it's my children!"
"As long as they're inside me, they and I are the same people!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Anna!"
"And... I don't want to! I don't want to be a mother of four!"
Maxwell glared at her.
"Why not, Anna? Don't I have enough body hair for you?"
Anna opened her mouth in surprise that he was referring to her son being a werewolf, and her fury was greater than her common sense.
"You can never be Ian's father!" Anna felt tears flood down her face. "You'll always talk about his paternity, and I won't allow my son to be raised by someone who despises what he is!"
"I don't despise him! Ian is my son, and you can never take him away from me!"
Anna put her hands on her belly.
"I think you're in a position to make a choice, Maxwell."
"What are you talking about?"
"You go to the registry office and remove your name from my son's certificate, or I'll kill these children before you have time to think of a name for each of them!"
"You can't do that..."
"You have half an hour, Maxwell."
He stood there thinking quickly. He didn't want to use his mother against Anna, but she wasn't leaving him much choice.
"Anna... those children... they're not human."
"You once told me that our children could be born anywhere."
"I wasn't very sincere. I could never have imagined that there would be three children. It's never happened before and..."
Anna stared at him indignantly.
"And I'm your experiment?"
"No, Anna. You're my wife, the woman I love, and the mother of my children."
"If you're not back in half an hour with my son's freedom, you won't be any of those things. You've just lost your wife, Maxwell. Are you willing to lose your children, too?"
"Are you going to hand them over to me?"
"Yes, Max. Now, or in a few months. The choice is yours. I'm tired of monsters in my life. I want to get away from you!"
Maxwell shook his head affirmatively, and his mouth was a thin line. He was holding back.
"Of course. I'll be right back." He said and left.