I was joking lol

The air in the waiting room was heavy with anticipation, even though it was nearly empty. Billie and Mars sat side by side, Mars bouncing her knee while Billie leaned into her. The overhead hum of fluorescent lights buzzed softly, and the faint murmur of footsteps echoed down the hallway as nurses and doctors moved between rooms. This wasn't Mars's first time in a doctor's office, but it felt different. She kept glancing at Billie, worry flickering in her heterochromatic eyes, though she tried to play it cool.

Billie noticed. Of course she did. She always noticed.

"Hey, relax," Billie whispered, giving Mars's thigh a reassuring squeeze. "We've got this."

Mars exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I just want everything to be... okay." Her voice was low and gruff, but the vulnerability behind it was impossible to miss.

Billie smiled, lacing their fingers together. "It will be."

Mars had made sure of that. After missing Billie's first appointment in New York—a fact that gnawed at her for weeks—she pulled every string possible to get the best obstetrician in LA. Privacy was paramount, of course. Her manager Janice had made both the doctor and staff sign airtight NDAs, ensuring that not a word of Billie's pregnancy leaked to the media. Mars wanted everything to be perfect, to feel like she was in control of something when so much else about their lives felt unpredictable.

A nurse in light blue scrubs appeared in front of them with a clipboard in hand. "O'Connell?" she called, her voice polite but professional.

Mars immediately straightened, her broad shoulders stiffening, but Billie gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "C'mon, Red," Billie whispered, nudging her gently. "We're good."

Mars stood and offered Billie her hand as they followed the nurse into the examination room. The walls were painted in muted colors—soft greens and grays—and the air smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender, a soothing attempt at comfort.

The nurse gestured toward the padded exam chair. "The doctor will be in shortly," she said with a polite smile before closing the door behind her.

Billie climbed onto the chair, swinging her legs playfully as Mars stood awkwardly by the door, hands shoved deep into the pockets of her joggers.

"You nervous?" Billie asked, tilting her head to get a better look at Mars.

Mars huffed out a small laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Kinda hard not to be."

Billie gave her a soft, affectionate smile. "It's just a check-up, babe. You're acting like we're about to perform open-heart surgery or something."

Mars's lips twitched upward, but the tension in her body didn't ease. "I just... I missed the first one. I didn't like not being there."

Billie's expression softened even more, and she reached out to grab Mars's hand, pulling her closer. "You're here now. That's what matters."

Mars knelt beside the exam chair, resting her forehead briefly against Billie's leg. "Yeah. I'm here."

The door opened, and Dr. Rivers entered—a tall, middle-aged woman with warm brown eyes and a calming presence. "Billie, Mars—nice to meet you both." She shook Mars's hand and gave Billie an encouraging smile. "Ready to see how everything's going?"

Mars gave a tight nod, her jaw clenched, while Billie sat back casually, exuding calmness. "Ready when you are, Doc."

Dr. Rivers chatted briefly with Billie, asking about her symptoms and how she was feeling. Billie mentioned the nausea—especially her weird new aversion to peanut butter—and how the fatigue was hitting her harder than expected.

"That's completely normal at this stage," Dr. Rivers said, flipping through Billie's chart. "You're doing great so far."

After some quick vitals, Dr. Rivers set up the ultrasound machine. Mars had seen countless machines on movie sets, but the reality of seeing one hooked up to Billie, knowing it was for their baby, was a whole different experience. Her throat felt tight, and her palms were sweaty as she clasped Billie's hand again.

"Okay, let's take a look," Dr. Rivers said, squirting a dollop of cool gel onto Billie's stomach.

Mars leaned in close, her heart hammering in her chest as the black-and-white image began to take shape on the screen. For a moment, it was just static and faint movement. Then, there it was—a tiny, flickering heartbeat, pulsing like a little beacon of life.

Billie's eyes softened with wonder as she looked at the screen, and Mars stared, completely captivated. That was their baby. Their baby.

"There it is," Dr. Rivers said with a smile. "Five weeks along. Everything looks just as it should."

Mars's chest swelled with emotion—pride, fear, excitement, and a fierce protectiveness that took her breath away. Her grip on Billie's hand tightened, and Billie turned to her with a radiant smile.

"You good?" Billie whispered, her voice full of warmth and love.

Mars swallowed hard, blinking back tears she didn't expect. "Yeah... yeah, I'm good."

After the ultrasound was done, Dr. Rivers gave them some instructions and scheduled the next appointment. "Take it easy, and if you have any concerns, call me anytime."

Billie hopped down from the chair, wiping the gel off her stomach. Mars stood there for a moment, dazed, as if the enormity of everything had just hit her all over again.

When they stepped out of the clinic and into the private car waiting for them, Mars was quiet. Billie noticed, of course, and gently nudged her with her elbow.

"You okay, Red?"

Mars gave her a small, lopsided smile. "I think... I think I'm still processing it."

"Same," Billie admitted with a laugh. She rested her head on Mars's shoulder, her hand resting lightly over her still-flat stomach. "But, like... in a good way."

Mars kissed the top of her head, her heart finally slowing down now that they were alone. "Yeah. In a good way."

As the car drove through the streets of LA, Billie looked out the window, watching the city roll by. She felt light—like a weight she hadn't realized she'd been carrying had been lifted.

After a moment, she glanced at Mars, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Guess what?"

Mars raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Z started calling me 'mom,'" Billie said, her grin spreading.

Mars's eyes widened. "What? Are you serious?"

"Yup." Billie leaned back, satisfied by Mars's stunned expression. "He called me mommy after my show."

Mars's mouth twitched, trying to fight back a smile. "That little shit."

Billie chuckled. "Right? It was... kind of the best thing ever."

Mars exhaled a laugh, running a hand over her face. "Man, I wish I'd been there for that."

"You'll hear it soon enough," Billie said, resting her hand on Mars's knee. "We've got time."

Mars nodded, the weight of those words settling over her like a warm blanket. They had time—time to figure everything out, time to build this new chapter of their lives together. And somehow, that made all the uncertainty feel a little less daunting.

Mars squeezed Billie's hand. "Yeah. We've got time."