The Lion’s Cross Species Baby

Inside, Annie approached a reception desk and asked if there was a gynecologist on staff. She was directed to the appropriate floor and the location of the elevator. She meandered over and pushed the up button and waited, her nerves creating an uncomfortable tension in her shoulders. She stepped off the elevator and turned left, as instructed in broken English by the receptionist downstairs. The only door that looked like it led into an office had a bunch of Portuguese on it, and Annie cursed the fact that she hadn’t learned the language, or at least Spanish, which was similar.

She stepped into the office and looked around. Two women, hugely pregnant, looked up from their magazines and smiled at her. Another cradled a newborn and did not bother to look away from her infant. The receptionist called out to her, so she walked over to the desk.

“Hello. Um, do you speak English?” Annie asked, an apologetic look on her face.

“Yes. Can I help you?”

The woman’s accent was so heavy Annie struggled to understand her. She smiled. “Um, yes. I think I’m pregnant.”

“And you’re a shifter, no?” the woman asked, reaching for a clipboard.

Annie’s brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed. “How did you know that?”

The receptionist smiled at her, a kind smile with no hint of prejudice. “I am a shifter. I can smell you.” She handed her the clipboard with several papers.

“You know, you’re the third shifter who has said that to me, but I can’t do that,” Annie told her as she took the clipboard with paperwork attached.

“Please fill these out. Have you taken a pregnancy test?”

“No. I’m on an archaeological dig in the middle of the jungle. I had to drive in,” Annie told her.

“Interesting! Hold on.” The woman held up a finger and pushed her wheeled chair backwards. She dug through a drawer and pulled out a test. She wheeled herself back to Annie and handed it to her. “Before you fill out the paperwork, let’s make sure you’re pregnant.” She pointed to a door to her left. “There’s the bathroom. Pee on it, wait for the signal, throw it away, and come out and tell me.”

“How long do I wait?”

“Less than a minute.”

Annie nodded and walked into the bathroom. Awkwardly, she held the stick under her stream of urine, put the cap on the stick, and cleaned up. She washed her hands and glanced down at the stick. Two lines. She was pregnant.

Annie’s shoulders sagged. What am I going to do now?

Ten minutes later she was speaking with the doctor, who she had discovered was also a shifter and specialized in shifter pregnancies. She explained that she was out at the dig site and asked if she was safe there.

“I would think so, as long as you have the proper nutrition. I’ll give you some supplements and prenatal vitamins,” he told her. “Now, you know that shifter pregnancies are very short. You’re a week pregnant at this point, which means you’re due in six. You’ll be showing by the end of next week, and you’ll look like you’re ready to pop in three. When you’re six weeks pregnant, you’ll need to come to Rio and stay until after the baby is born.”

“I have a plane ticket to return to the US in two weeks. Can I just fly home?”

“Shifter pregnancies can be unpredictable. I wouldn’t recommend flying back so late. If you can get a ticket for earlier, maybe. Your baby could come as early as six weeks and as late as ten.”

Annie rolled her eyes. “Oh good lord.”

The doctor chuckled. “Yes, it’s a fun time.”

“So can I shift while pregnant?”

The doctor tossed his head about as he thought. “You’re a week along, so maybe for one more week. After that, it will be incredibly uncomfortable for you and could harm your baby.”

Annie nodded, then froze. Holy sh*t. While sitting here, she’d made the decision to keep her child. The options had run through her head the night before when she was trying to fall asleep, and she had actively considered the quickest way to end a pregnancy. She honestly hated the idea, but she had considered it. When did I change my mind? she wondered.

*****

At the Starbucks, Annie signed on to their Wi-Fi after ordering a grande white mocha with extra whipped cream. Eating for two, she rationalized with a smirk. Surprisingly, she was rather calm about the situation she found herself in. She was going to have a baby. She had to tell Cooper. But first, she had to contact Leah. Quickly, she placed a phone call on her cell to tell Leah to get on her email so they could chat back and forth. International calls were too expensive for the conversation Annie needed to have with her.

ANNIE: Leah, I’m pregnant. Sorry to be so blunt, but I need advice and you’re the only person who can help me. I’ve been to see the doctor here in Rio de Janeiro to confirm the pregnancy.

And don’t start lecturing! You did the same thing haha!

LEAH: Oh My God. You’re pregnant! And stuck in South America. That’s just fantastic.

Ok, you’ve been to the doctor. When are you due? Can you get back to the US before then?

And most importantly, have you told Cooper?

ANNIE: I’m due in six weeks, according to the doctor. He said if I couldn’t get a ticket back to the US next week that I just needed to stay here. I checked with the airline before emailing you. Everything is full. Anyway, having the child here will give him dual citizenship. Very useful! And the hospital I visited is no different from a US hospital.

How do you know it’s Cooper’s? Maybe I fell for a Brazilian hunk.

LEAH: You’re going to stay there? Are you sure? Are you going to stay in Rio or go back to the dig? And shut up. I know it’s Cooper. I saw his picture. He’s a hottie! You’d never be able to resist him haha!

ANNIE: I could have resisted him if I had tried. I just chose not to try haha!