7 weeks later
*Maddie*
"Are you excited ?" Tom smiles at me as he pulls into the parking lot in front of the clinic. We are going for the important 12 week scan, to see if the little shrimp growing in my womb is as it should be.

I smile back at him. "Yeah, very much, what about you ?"

"Oh me too, even if I felt bad about leaving Anele with Vera, she wanted so badly to come". Our little girl had been crying, saying that she wanted to see the baby too.

"I know, but she is so small and I read that they don't recommend it in case .. Well if something is not right". I don't even like thinking about it.

Tom parks the car and pads my hand. "It'll all be okay, of course it will. And Anele will be happy again when she gets to see a picture of the baby".

He locks the car, taking my hand as we walk inside. I go to the reception, telling the elderly smiling woman who I am and what time I have an appointment and she beam at me. "Just take a seat Mrs Hiddleston, someone will be with you soon".

"Thank you". I go sit down and Tom sits beside me, taking my hand.

I can't help glancing at my handsome husband. It might be a good thing when the new movie requires him to.. well shave and get a haircut. His beard has grown rather thick and his hair is a glorious mane of dark ginger curls. I teased him the other night that he looks like a proud lion, making him laugh loudly.

A young woman in a lab coat walk in, smiling at us. "Mr and Mrs Hiddleston, I am Dr Naya Teller and I am going to do Your scan today".

"Please say Tom". He gets up shaking her hand.

I get up and shakes her hand too. "Nice to meet you doctor Teller. And please, it's Maddie".

She smiles. "If you would come with me then, It's right over her".

We follow her into a room, it has a kind of gurney, some chairs and a lot of instruments. Tom takes my hand. "Breathe baby".

"If you lie down and pull up Your shirt, will get started in a minute". Dr Teller say, giving me a reassuring smile.

Tom makes sure the little pillow is under my head and my shirt is tucked up under my bra, so it won't get in the way, before he sits down on the chair beside me, taking my hand again.

"This might be a bit cold for a moment". The doktor say as she comes over. then she puts some cold gel on my stomach, and start moving the scanner over my skin. "Look here is your baby, moving around. I am just going to look things through and take some measurements, then I'll explain everything to you, okay ?"

"Yeah, it's fine". I answer, both me and Tom staring at the screen.

She is looking and zooming, plodding in some numbers. But then she scrunches up her forehead, and seems to look even more intense on the screen, changing ankles and pushing buttons.

When she sends me a small smile before pushing some more buttons I squeeze Tom's hand hard, suddenly feeling more scared than excited.

The doctor shakes her head slightly, like she is having an internal dialogue. Then she puts down the scanner. "I have to go get a senior doctor to help me look at something. Nothing to worry about, I just can't see it clearly".

As soon as she is out the door I look at Tom. "There is something wrong. What she just said, they do that when something is really bad, she just need a second opinion before telling us".

"Maybe she just can't see, like she said. Don't get yourself worked up daring. it might be nothing". But I can clearly see that he is scared too.

I can feel how the tears start running down my face, my free hand going doing to my stomach. My little baby, our dream. Will it all be over before it even started ?

Tom gets some paper towel, gently drying my eyes, running his thumb softly over my cheek. "Breathe cookie, we need to stay positive. See what they have to tell first".

The door opens and doctor Teller walks back in with a middle aged man with grey hair. he smiles warmly. "Mr and Mrs Hiddleston, I am Dr Welch and I am the leading physician here. I am just going to help Dr Teller take a look at your baby".

I nod at Dr Welch, unable to speak right now. As he starts scanning, I am squeezing Tom's hand as hard as I can. The two doctors are talking to each other, and even if this isn't my field of expertise I am still a nurse, and I know something is wrong.

"Please, I now there is something wrong.. Just tell us". I look at them, begging them not to drag this out any longer.

Dr. Welch nod. "Dr Teller here asked me to come check if she was right, and unfortunately she is. Your baby has what is known as gastroschisis".

"What does that mean ? Is it dangerous ?" Tom looks about to break down.

"It's a congenital defect in the abdominal wall.. kind of like a cleft lip, just in the stomach". He seems like he tries to look reassuring. "Let's finish up here and go to my office, then I am going to explain everything and you can ask all Your question".

I feel myself crumple, the sobs taking my breath away and I fear I will faint, as Tom takes me into his arms, rubbing my back softly. "It's gonna be okay baby, it's gonna be okay".