Chapter 54 The Twin's First Ultrasound
1168 Words
The morning of the ultrasound arrived with a weight that pressed gently but unmistakably on Michael’s chest. He had performed countless ultrasounds in his career—hundreds, maybe thousands—yet today his palms were sweating.
Because today, he wasn’t the doctor.
He was the father.
And beside him sat the woman who was carrying the two little miracles he still couldn’t believe belonged to them.
Marnie was dressed in soft beige leggings and an oversized white sweater that made her look smaller, gentler, and somehow even more precious than usual. Her hair was tied in a loose braid, strands framing her face softly.
She was beautiful—glowing in a way that wasn’t dramatic or exaggerated, but unmistakably real.
But she was also anxious.
One hand clutched his sleeve. The other held her phone with shaky fingers.
“Michael,” she whispered. “I’m scared.”
He turned fully toward her, taking her hand with both of his. “There’s nothing to be scared of, sweetheart.”
“But what if—what if something’s wrong? What if the babies are—”
He pressed a finger gently to her lips. “No. Stop that. Our babies are fine.”
“You don’t know that,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“I do,” he said softly. “I know it here.” He placed her hand over his chest. “And here.” He touched her belly gently. “Our little ones are strong.”
She swallowed, her throat bobbing.
“And even if something unexpected happens,” he continued, “we face everything together. I won’t let anything happen to you or them.”
Her hand tightened around his.
“Okay,” she whispered.
He kissed her forehead. “Good. Now let’s go meet our twins.”
The obstetrician on duty was one of Michael’s trusted colleagues, Dr. Lauren Wu—gentle, experienced, and extremely discrete. She had agreed to handle Marnie’s pregnancy personally after Michael all but threatened every department head to give him the best.
Lauren entered the room with a warm smile. “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Co. Ready for the big moment?”
Marnie inhaled sharply and nodded. Michael squeezed her hand.
“Let’s get you comfortable, sweetheart,” Dr. Wu said gently, adjusting the bed.
Michael helped Marnie lie back, then tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m right here. I won’t move.”
“You better not,” Marnie muttered, gripping him as her life depended on it.
Lauren positioned the machine. “Alright, cold gel coming in three… two… one.”
Marnie squeaked. “Oh, that’s freezing!”
Michael chuckled despite himself.
She glared at him. “Don’t laugh. I’m carrying your twins.”
He kissed her hand. “I know, baby. I’m grateful every second.”
The machine hummed to life.
The screen flickered.
Static.
Shadows.
Movement.
Lauren angled the wand slowly.
And then—
“There they are,” she said softly. “Your babies.”
Marnie gasped.
Michael stopped breathing.
Two tiny shapes appeared. Two little worlds floating in a gentle dark sea.
Twin A.
Twin B.
Perfect. Growing. Alive.
Marnie covered her mouth. “Oh my God…”
Her tears flowed immediately.
Michael felt his throat close. His vision blurred. His heart—usually so steady, so disciplined—pounded wildly.
“Are they… are they okay?” Marnie whispered through tears.
Lauren smiled. “They are absolutely perfect. Both heartbeats are strong.”
She tapped a button.
A soft, rapid thumping filled the room.
The heartbeat.
Or rather…
Heartbeats.
The first one came fast and clear.
The second one followed—a slightly different rhythm, but equally strong.
Marnie sobbed.
Hard.
Michael’s hand trembled as he reached out and touched her cheek. “Baby… listen. That’s them. That’s our babies.”
She cried harder, gripping his shirt with both hands like she was holding on for dear life. “Michael… they’re real.”
He leaned down, forehead touching hers. “I know. I know, sweetheart.”
It felt like the universe had folded in on itself.
Like everything he’d ever done—every mistake, every success, every heartbreak—had led him to this moment, to her, to these tiny heartbeats that pulsed like music.
“Do you want to know the genders?” Dr. Wu asked gently.
Marnie looked up at him, wide-eyed.
Michael smiled softly. “Do you want to know?”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Yes… I think I do.”
Lauren adjusted the wand again, scanning slowly.
Michael held his breath.
Marnie clutched his arm so tightly he was probably losing circulation—but he didn’t care.
“Congratulations,” Lauren said with a bright smile.
“You’re having… a baby boy and a baby girl.”
Marnie cried out—a sound mixed with laughter, disbelief, and overwhelming love.
Michael’s vision blurred completely.
Twins.
A son.
A daughter.
His family.
He buried his face in her shoulder, unable to hold back the emotion any longer.
“You gave me everything,” he whispered hoarsely. “Everything I never knew I needed.”
She wrapped her arms around him, crying into his hair. “We’re going to be parents.”
He kissed her—softly, reverently, with a tenderness that cracked him open from the inside out.
“Yes,” he breathed against her lips. “You, me, and our two little miracles.”
After the ultrasound, Marnie sat on the hospital bed, staring at the printed sonogram photos like she was holding a treasure.
Michael stood before her, watching her with a softness that made her blush.
He couldn’t stop looking at her.
Or at the pictures.
Or at her belly.
“Michael,” she whispered shyly. “Why are you staring at me?”
“Because,” he said, kneeling before her, eyes warm and full of awe, “you’re carrying my entire world.”
She inhaled sharply as he gently placed both hands on her stomach.
“Hi, my little prince… my little princess,” he whispered to the twins. “Daddy’s right here.”
Marnie’s eyes filled again. “You’re going to be an amazing father.”
“No,” he said softly, pressing his forehead to her belly.
“I’m going to be the best father because you’re the mother of my children.”
She cupped his face.
He kissed her hands.
“Ready to go home?” he asked gently.
“Can we stay here just a bit longer?” she whispered. “I want to look at them again.”
He climbed into the hospital bed beside her—ignoring every rule—and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Then we’ll stay,” he murmured into her hair. “We stay as long as you want.”
And together, they sat there…
Holding photos of their children.
Listening to the echoes of tiny heartbeats still ringing in their ears.
And falling deeper in love than ever.
- Writer
