Who: Tony and Pepper When: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015 Where: Cedars-Sinai Hospital What: It is revealed whether or not a change of pronoun is necessary
Dr. Scrimmager was an older man, the age Tony's father would have been were he still alive. For some reason, that reassured Pepper now, even though she'd never thought about it before when he'd simply been her gynecologist. She'd been thrilled he was able to continue as her obstetrician, and it was his private office on Broadway to which she had gone first to confirm that she was pregnant in the first place. His smile had expressed his delight for her, even before she'd decided how she'd felt about it, and he'd taken her very pale hands in his large, warm, mocha-colored ones, and talked her through her next steps. He was one of the top doctors in his field, but he had the attitude of a small town practitioner, which was why Pepper liked him. Tony might insist for the best money could buy, but she'd hoped Dr. Scrimmager would help him, too.
Now, twenty weeks later, they were about halfway through the pregnancy, and Pepper was certain that they couldn't have managed as well with anyone else. The baby was moving now; tiny little fish-like motions inside her that made her catch her breath in surprise. They were talking to her, tentatively, still awkwardly, but with the awareness that she could hear them and that it was important for their baby to do so. She was the size of a sweet potato, and obviously there now. Pepper had a visable bump, and was learning how to adjust to the changes that came with it.
Today would be another change, and although she'd known he wouldn't miss it, Pepper was still glad Tony was there with her. Part of her was nervous, even though nothing was changing. They'd seen the ultrasounds, knew the baby-shaped object was there, even felt it and heard the heartbeat. now, learning its gender should seem insignificant by comparison. Still, Pepper reached for Tony's hand and smiled at him, trying not to look the way she felt. "Are we still pulling for a girl, or do you think a boy would be better?" she asked him lightly.