Tw doctors, and my boo boo covered in a bandaid :(
(some stuff might be graphic, so read and look at your own risk)
Ill do a quick recap of everything.
We went to the doctors after the scans, they told me it might either be trapped liquid, or something cancerous.
They asked me if I wanted to go ahead and let the doctors take whatever was inside the lump. I obviously didn't want to, but I had to for my parents. The faster I get it over with, the faster the anxiety goes away.
The doctors cleaned where the lump was and gave me numbing shot. They jabbed my neck 5 times in total :')
Was such a horrible feeling
here's the picture:
Yeah uh, neck reveal??! Wild.
Jk ive already done a neck reveal, but- yeah.
Its hurting extremely bad rn. I dont have any pain medication to take, I left it at home. Im praying we stop at a store to pick some up.
Anyways. Thank you for stopping by to watch me rant.
We've got @shardkn1ght back in the driver's seat for this week's chapter art and it's one of my favorites so far!
Rated: Explicit
Warnings/Tags: Romance, Established Relationship, Married Couple, Married Life, Aged-Up Mutant Ninja Turtles, Villain Donatello (TMNT), Love, POV Second Person, Babies, Pregnancy, AFAB reader, Vaginal Sex, Rough Sex, Penis In Vagina Sex, Creampie, Breeding Kink, Multiple Orgasms, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Happy Ending, Fertility Issues, Pregnant Sex, Pregnancy Kink, Reader-Insert, Cunnilingus, Fellatio, Cum Eating, Turtle Noises (TMNT), I have a Biology Degree and I’m Using it, Menstruation, There WILL NOT be any Miscarriages, Depression, Postpartum Depression
Synopsis: First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes the next step about as smooth as the others arrived. The baby-oriented sequel to Weak Spot.
Soft Spot requests are still open!
Whether it’s slice-of-life, wild kinks, or fun one-offs, allow me to fulfill your heart's desire! Please note that these are requests and thus there is no guarantee that your idea will play out as you request it. The larger story is planned out in its entirety and thus any prompts will be fit into the grand scheme. This means you don't need to to be specific and there's no need to request big moments as they are already plotted out in advance.
Bye Week Coming Up!
Soft Spot will not be updating the weekend of June 13-15 as I will be on vacation.
Also available on Ao3
First 💜 Previous
Trigger Warning: The following chapter involves a doctor's appointment and repeated mention of shots.
You bet the two of you looked like a pair.
You assumed this was partially the case for most new parents. It felt like the people here with toddlers could sniff you out. One glance and they knew you were new to the profession. It was your posture, which was a little too rigid. You sat with a straight back in your chair and had apologized to the receptionist for walking away when you should have been waiting for her to give you another form. It was your demeanor. You gawked a little too much at the new space you were in. It was the stress. You hadn’t properly been out in public in a month’s time and anxiety had made it so that putting yourself together felt like a foreign concept.
You guessed there was also your mutant/human relationship, but that was neither here nor there.
Currently, the thing that was particularly making you feel out of place was the tone between you and your husband. Finding a place on each end of the spectrum, you were new in the sense that you had no idea what you were doing. Donnie, alternatively, was in that same state, except he had chosen violence. He conjured a ferocity in an attempt to ward off what he didn’t know. He was currently perched beside you much like a vulture. You were the smaller bird with a flighty head and he was ready to pick the carcass of whoever came near enough to threaten him or his child.
Said precious bundle was completely unaware of all that was occurring and was strapped safely into his carrier. Donnie had the huge receptacle in his lap and was poured over it. He readied hostility towards whoever walked by. Other patients took far seats from you and urged their kids not to stare. You were stuck in your multitude of embarrassments with no recourse. You set your hopeless sights on the door that led to the office proper and willed it to open with a nurse who would call your party’s name.
“Othello?” One finally did.
A kind nurse in zoo themed scrubs took you back.
The exam rooms were designed as if they were a color wheel. The center desk was white with its own legion of workers, but around it spun out a rainbow. Primary colors marked cardinal directions and between them stood their secondary mixes. It made for a gorgeous and fun design that you bet both kids and parents loved. From what you looked up online, patients of this pediatrician Dr. Shah typically ran their clocks out to adulthood from zero to eighteen. There was something to be said about teenagers that didn’t mind the adolescent colors in favor of actually going to the doctor. Both that and her long waiting list was an illustration of just what sort of doctor you had nabbed for your baby.
Green was your theme of the day as that was the room you were led into.
“First timers!” The nurse chirped aptly.
Greenhorns, you thought.
“Welcome, welcome.” She continued and flipped a little tablet into a stand.
Donnie refused to set Othello’s carrier down.
“We’re seeing Othello L/N today?” The nurse was nonplussed.
“That’s right.” You eyed your husband.
He had firmly planted himself between Othello and the nurse.
You invaded his space to move him, but he wouldn’t budge.
The nurse suddenly finished up and smiled. “I’m gonna get those core details, if that’s alright?”
“Your clarity is lacking.” Donnie spat.
“Okay…!” You shoved into him. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why someone else is acting like a baby.”
Donnie clicked at you.
You sent him a look and pure rage through your bond.
He remained firm.
You could feel the nurse watching.
You shoved a palm into Donnie’s face before he could do anything else.
He grunted and you used his distraction to grab Othello’s carrier which you swiftly set on the exam table.
“Just do what you need to.” You resisted tacking on how you would hold your husband off.
“You know, we get a lot of helicopter parents, but this is new!” She was chipper as she approached.
You walled Donnie off as he tried to sneak around you. “Stop!”
“She-!”
You smothered him further and he choked when your fingers slipped into his mouth.
“Speaking of new…!” The nurse reached your baby and cooed. “Look at you!”
Donnie’s irritation flared.
“Hello, there!” She spoke sweetly and got Othello free of his binds. “How do we check your heart rate, hm? Do you know what kind of armor you’ve got on?”
Yours and your mate’s separate angers sparked against each other like flint and steel.
“Up we go!” The nurse got Othello in her arms. “You’re a sturdy little one, huh? Let me zero out that scale.”
“You show-!” Donnie was interrupted as you stomped down on his foot. “-your hand!”
“What’s that?” There was a beep and the nurse laid Othello down into a prepared scale on the side of the table.
“Never handled a mutant! Never seen-!”
“That is-!!” You reached behind his head and got Donnie’s mask tails.
In a quick rotation, you blinded him while he tried to fight back.
“-enough!!” You snarled.
“9 lbs, 4 oz!” The nurse picked Othello back up in your periphery. “And yes. This is our first mutant client, but I assure you that we are thoroughly prepared and versed.”
“What pathetic version of state mandated sensitivity training-?!” Donnie oozed malevolence.
“I-!” You growled at him. “I, me, I will kick your ass out!!”
Donnie glowered down at you.
“I understand.” The nurse openly approached with Othello held tightly to her chest. “I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through as a mutant, sir. Picking me apart, our practice, it makes sense.”
Donnie didn’t give her his time.
“I’m sure what you’ve experienced probably hasn’t felt safe or fair. I recognize those concerns. Your worries are real and valid because this is your child we’re talking about.” She offered Othello up.
Donnie didn’t move.
“You have every right to be upset, but I want you to know that my goal, Dr. Shah’s goal, everyone in this office’s goal, is make sure you feel heard and respected and that your baby will receive the exact same treatment as any other patient here. That is our oath as healthcare providers and to you.”
Donnie barely tilted his head to see her out of the corner of his eye.
“He’s growing at a very healthy rate. I’d like to take more of his measurements. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear enough. I’ll start explaining everything I’m doing from now on.”
Donnie gave a near microscopic nod.
She returned it with one of her own before cradling Othello back to her person and carrying him to the table. “We have a tape measure built into the table here.”
You disengaged with Donnie.
“49.2 centimeters…” She poured over where she had laid Othello down. “Or maybe we subtract a few for these cute boots? They’re nice and thick! You are winter ready! What do you think?”
Othello blinked at her.
“Mhm!” She looked him over. “Umbilical stump?”
“None.” You finally landed flat on your feet.
“May I take a look?”
“Yeah.” You waved for her to go ahead.
She worked through his outer winter coat and inner layers until she finally reached his easy to unbutton onesie, where she checked his plastron. “His scutes look good.”
“They’ve been like that.” You agreed.
“Talk to me about feeding?”
“He eats.” You rubbed an eye. “As long as it’s not from me.”
“You have him on only formula?” She redid Othello’s buttons.
“Oh.” You realized the double meaning there. “No. Sorry, he drinks breast milk, but, uh… well… he likes to take it from the bottle better.”
“He’s drinking breast milk, but not breastfeeding?”
“Yeah…” Your arm fell like lead.
“Are you using a pacifier?” She looked over meaningfully.
That was a thing. “Uh…”
“We…” Donnie interjected, but felt the attention snap towards him and hesitated.
You sent him your support as it was the first non-confrontational response.
Donnie took it in and continued. “We were of the mind that it might further deter him.”
“Some babies don’t take. It could just be a breastfeeding strike. It could be many things. Have you ruled any out?”
“We think… it might have been me… I was a little distant at first and Donnie-” You gestured to your husband as you hadn’t been properly introduced. “-took over and he had to use a bottle, so…”
“Of course.” The nurse took time putting Othello back in his carrier before addressing you fully. “How have you been doing?”
“Ah!” You recognized her tone. “Dealing with some postpartum… everything. Supplements from my OB have been helping and I’ve been working on bonding with Othello…”
She came over and touched your arm.
“We’re here to help, too.”
“Right.” You nodded.
“Do you want to talk to me about the bonding and breastfeeding?”
You thought you couldn’t.
You didn’t want to.
This meeting was about Othello.
Except, once the first few words trickled out, there was soon a waterfall of them.
You told her all your troubles along with your theories as to why Othello had rejected you. You posited about his beak shape and she asked you about nipple shields. You hadn’t heard of those and she brought her tablet over to show you some examples. She had questions about your flow, let down, and breastfeeding confidence, but it felt a little like circling a drain. All the water returned to the point where it also could just be up to Othello’s preference and there was little to do about that.
There was a knock at the door while the nurse was explaining paced bottle feeding.
“I’m hearing some good stuff…” A woman with sleek black hair poked her head in.
“Dr. Shah!” The nurse gushed. “We were just discussing brain and stomach sync!”
“Latch issues?” The doctor slunk in and her coat swished around her smart black outfit.
“I haven’t put my notes in yet!” The nurse spoke cheerily and looked at you. “We don’t want you to have to explain yourself all over again!”
“It’s not a problem.” You almost didn’t want to swap providers.
Donnie clearly had his guard back up.
“You type up those details while I get some more?” The doctor asked while studying the tablet screen over the nurse’s shoulder.
“Yes, doctor.” She nodded and stood. “I’ll be coming back through for Othello’s shots.”
“Sure…” You watched forlornly after her.
She gave you another friendly pat before she departed while leaving her tablet behind.
Dr. Shah addressed you both. “Hello, you two. I’m Dr. Amy Shah. You must be…?”
She looked at Donnie.
Donnie overlooked her with a steely façade.
“My auntie refers to you by your son’s name.” The doctor’s hand twitched at her side. “Is he a junior?”
“You know well.” Donnie evaluated her.
“You’re a long time patient of hers and she deals with discreet care.” Dr. Shah smiled a little too big.
You tended to Othello’s carrier.
“More than that.” Donnie pressed.
“I have no idea what you mean.” Dr. Shah refused to move.
“Your doctoral oath.”
“HIPAA?” She tilted her head.
“We’ll see how it works when amongst your family.”
Dr. Shah exhaled once and only dropped a modicum of her bubbly persona. “Sir, I don’t think you are as familiar with my family as you think. I was not allowed to go on trips to the Hidden City as a child. I started out only hearing tales of the old world. I was told it was too dangerous for someone like me, with my thinned blood. I was forced to stay like that until they couldn’t stop me. The Hidden City had charm, but I chose to make my life here. I am not my family. Something you must be keenly aware of.”
Donnie inhaled the barest amount, but he might as well have scoffed with his entire body.
“I’ve spoken with Dr. Hamato, per Dr. Kuro’s instruction, when gathering hospital records you and your spouse signed off on. I’ve also conferred with Auntie, not by breaking the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or my Hippocratic Oath, but to discuss reptilian-like nature in young ones. We have much in common.”
“As we do not.” Donnie stewed.
“I am not interested in your disputes. I’m interested in medical care and the incredible gift that your child is.”
You felt Donnie’s mood shift in your ring.
“Seeing his day two blood work was my college dream.” Dr. Shah’s body dipped in a way that you read as starving. “Do you know how little research is available on mutant genealogy?”
“Perhaps because a botched governmental agency was burned to the ground.”
“The EPF were fools and put off the few mutants who were interested in donating in the name of science and progression.”
“Progressing a world that rejects our existence?”
“As above, so below.”
You had never heard that phrase spoken about your world and the Hidden City, but it felt profound.
“I know that rejection well. Half breeds and less are treated the same. What do you think they do to those who cannot perform the mystic ability their clan can just because of some diluted blood?” Dr. Shah sized up Donnie openly.
Donnie’s head barely tipped.
It was an age-old move that read as impressed.
This interaction was at least one you didn’t feel like you had to interfere in.
“I may not have studied mutants in an official capacity, but I can assure that I have studied. Because of what I am and more…” She reached into her coat.
Donnie readied himself.
She was careful as she unveiled what looked like a flat hunk of polished crystal.
It lit up like a phone when she brushed a hand over it.
“My other credentials.” She held it out.
Donnie swiped on the glass which you took to mean it was some kind of mystic communication device.
“Hidden City affiliation.” Dr. Shah told you specifically. “Hello and I apologize. I really meant for this meeting to be less one sided.”
“I’m having trouble controlling him.” You flicked your fingers at Donnie.
“I’m Dr. Shah.” She came over to shake your hand.
You did so as you introduced yourself.
Dr. Shah, correctly to your mind, only spared Othello a glance before waiting for Donnie’s final confirmation on the matter.
Donnie held out her mystic phone.
She took it.
“Your dissertation was spirited.” He decided after a few agonizing moments.
“You read it.” She spoke not with surprise, but something more distilled.
“Along with all your associated publications.”
“I was consulted for many studies. You probably know more about my bibliography than me!”
“Donatello.” He nodded to her and straightened without offering more.
She lit up just slightly at the reaction before she chanced grinning wide again. “I love kids and am fascinated by phenotypic expression. It started with myself and my sister when we were young and grew into something greater. Some will say it borders on obsessive, but I like to consider it a thirst for knowledge.”
Donnie respected that.
“Gene expression…” She returned her attention to you. “May I see our star patient?”
Donnie nodded to you and you stepped out of the way.
“Hello, Othello.” She smiled at him with her cheek cracking grin.
A similarity you knew was inherited through family.
“It’s very nice to meet you. I hope we can get along.” She held out her hand.
He tracked it with large eyes and a wriggle of his palms.
“You are raring to go.” She reached in and pinched one of his fists as an introduction. “How are these peepers? Do you feel he tears up too much?”
You hadn’t thought about it. “Not more than I would think…? He cries.”
“Colic?”
Donnie’s head snapped away in offense.
Dr. Shah appraised him and turned to you with pursed lips for the answer.
“He had a fussy episode about a week ago.”
“Duration?”
“Fifteen or so hours.” You sighed with your whole chest.
“You two are quite the troopers.”
“We slept a lot afterwards.”
She chuckled. “May I take him?”
“Please.”
She got him up from his carrier, held him close, and pulled back his hat. “Scalp looks good. I’m not seeing thicker follicles. Any flaking? Dryness? Acne?”
“Acne?” You gaped.
“Babies can get acne.” She peeked around his crown while Othello fought her only to keep looking at her hands.
“Not that I’ve seen. He’s got great skin. Donnie’s got a supplier that makes soaps for him, so he got a baby formulation that we use.”
“That’s great!” Dr. Shah looked towards your mate. “I’ve had new parents buzzing about Genius Built’s new products. Should I expect this one soon?”
Donnie shook his head.
“No worries.” She rocked Othello as she returned to you. “And if you see any flaking or the like. Totally normal.”
“Acne is normal at all agestoo, I guess?” Your shoulders bobbed.
“Sure is!”
“I think I got lost between you and your nurse. Was Othello’s weight and height good?”
“Right!” Dr. Shah got a good hold on your baby before heading over to the tablet. “Looks like Pam got her notes in. Let’s see…”
You watched her pupils dart as she read.
“I’m sorry to hear you’ve had trouble.” She lifted her head to give you a meaningful look.
You knew she was referring to the breastfeeding. “Yeah… It is what it is…”
“Bonding is hard. Especially when someone makes it that way.” She cupped a hand over Othello’s head. “Are you being picky? We’ve got a chicken nugget and macaroni and cheese kid on our hands, hm?”
You hadn’t thought about his pickiness for milk expanding to his greater palate and for a moment you saw a future where you fought him to get him his necessary nutrients and paled.
“No correlation!” Dr. Shah saw your horror. “Just a joke. Sorry about that!”
“Ah…” You rattled off a laugh.
“I know all the tricks for hiding veggies, if not. No need to worry.”
“Sure…”
“He’s perfectly on track. We expect him to gain five to seven ounces the first few months and to grow about an inch and a half. I’m not seeing any added weight from the shell, so I think we can track him among human standards. Anything out of the ordinary?”
“Besides the latching?”
“Yes.”
You shook your head. “Don’t think so…”
“That’s good. How does he do tummy time?”
You twitched.
Dr. Shah studied you.
“He’s done very little.” Donnie supplied.
“Is there a problem?” She looked between you.
Othello caught a fist full of her coat.
“His plastron is so flat…” You gestured over your torso. “With his beak or the heaviness of his head, he sort of just lays there...”
“Those muscles need to be strengthened…” Dr. Shah showed her disappointment in a curt grin. “May I test?”
You chewed your lip in your husband’s direction.
“If necessary…” Donnie walked over.
You both followed Dr. Shah as she readied Othello to be laid on the exam table.
The moment he was placed on his stomach, he turned face down into the table.
Instead of allowing him to suffocate himself, Dr. Shah curled her fingers around his face to keep his nose free.
She half-crouched and roved her head as she examined him.
“I see what you mean…” She delicately turned his head so he could rest his cheek on the table.
He appeared with huge eyes as she released him to lay like a small pancake.
“He reacts to your voices?” She eventually asked.
“Yes. I think so…” You tossed out.
“Any preference?”
You couldn’t recall one. “No?”
“Could I see one of you?” She looked away from Othello long enough to gesture right to where she had been squatting at his eye level.
You were closest and knelt as she had.
Your baby’s eyes darted from his doctor to you.
“Try to encourage him. Use an excited voice.” She assured you.
“H-hey!” You injected levity. “How are you doing?! Is this… okay!?”
Othello banged one of his arms and a bit of drool slipped out of his squished cheek.
“He’s so still…” You mourned.
“Does he move often?”
“In other positions, yeah.” You placed a hand in front of him on the table.
He flapped his closest limb as if trying to make a connection.
You made it for him and he gurgled on a small noise.
Donnie fidgeted behind you.
“You're nervous he’s suffocating?” Dr. Shah seemed to identify it.
“His breathing is abnormal.” Donnie was curt.
“I see no dangerous signs.” Dr. Shah was breezy. “If you are concerned…”
She looked toward his carrier and pulled out a blanket.
“May I?”
“Yeah.” You guessed she liked that phrase.
She rolled it up and tucked it in a U-shape around his plastron and arms.
Once Othello was propped up, he seemed a little more active.
“Careful with his neck or putting pressure on his throat, but I think he just needs to get used to it. You can try a variety of shapes with a towel or blanket, just whatever works for him.”
“Gotcha…” You rounded the table to check how he was placed.
Othello’s tongue darted against plump cheeks.
“Short stints work at first. He’s building up strength like anyone else. He’ll need rest.” Dr. Shah continued.
Donnie stared down at his son as if waiting for a negative reaction.
“How are his arms and legs?” Dr. Shah tried.
“Good. He’s clawed both of us and kicks just like he did in the womb.” You did not miss those days.
“Ah, you have to watch out for those.”
“Sure do.”
“I am seeing a very healthy baby. He’s got good reaction time. Just what I’d expect and no cause for concern.”
Othello smacked the exam table.
“Yessir!” Dr. Shah dropped down to his level. “Do you have a question?”
Othello grunted as his arms repeated the gesture.
“Is that so?”
He pumped his limbs and his head came up off the blanket for a moment.
You went taut in time with your mate.
He dropped right back down and drooled against the cloth.
“Look at that… He’ll be holding his head up soon.”
You shot Donnie a weary look about how you had failed at tummy time.
Donnie returned it with an obvious air that he already had a new schedule prepared.
Othello made a few fussy noises.
“Listen for when he gets frustrated. I think he’s very good at vocalizing what he wants.”
Before Dr. Shah could stand up, Donnie picked Othello up and held him close.
His doctor smiled at the exchange. “We’re looking good. He’ll get his shots.”
A moment hung in the air
Dr. Shah allowed it to pass before she perked up with barely withheld glee. “Shall we discuss the coup de grâce??”
“I thought…” You felt your color drain.
“Killing blow?” Donnie put a protective hand over Othello’s head.
“I suppose that is what it means…” Dr. Shah seemed undeterred. “I don’t think there’s latin for ‘cherry on top!’”
Donnie pouted and half turned his son away.
“Apologies!” Dr. Shah’s gaze was crinkled and she chased him a little. “I wanted to discuss Othello’s newborn screening.”
“Further reason to not use such a phrase.” Donnie grouched.
“Right…” She obviously did not agree with his intensity.
You didn’t think she was being insensitive.
Instead, she appeared ecstatic.
She could barely contain her excitement and this little detour in semantics was detracting from what she really wanted to talk about.
Genetics, you surmised from what you knew about her.
“Anything wrong?” You prompted.
“Not at all!” She slid right to your side with the tablet extended.
You saw pages of medical paperwork with a range of values.
“As you remember, he had a little bit of blood drawn the day after he was born. Checking for the usual illnesses, diseases, whatnot. The results would have come in after you went home.”
You didn’t remember much of that and Donnie was still put out.
“Nothing unusual came up. His organs are healthy. We are seeing stable levels of everything he needs to grow. A very average screening.”
That didn’t seem like something to get excited about, so you waited.
“But this…” She swiped away results for a photo that had a series of bars on it.
You recognized it as a set of chromosomes.
The last time you had seen this, it was sporting your husband’s values.
Back when the oddity of his was getting in the way of you trying for the exact child your mate was now holding.
You retreated into yourself.
Dr. Shah had used a conjunction.
Othello’s results were normal except and then she had shown you these.
While you were wary, Dr. Shah was ravenous.
“Such a fascinating idiogram! You know typically this is done as a prenatal test, but from your records it looks like you didn’t have one done.”
You tried not to shake. “Uh, he… evolved a lot as a fetus. We weren’t sure if he would be a viable pregnancy, then there was an eggshell in the way, then my previa… I don’t…”
“I see…” She hadn’t looked away from the report. “What sort of theory do you apply to mutagenesis, Donatello?”
Donnie was quiet for a moment. “No named principle, self-study, elasticity of chromosomes in a unique form of aneuploidy.”
“Yes… Your karyotype would be… enlightening. It was talked of in regards to chances, but not actually part of the record. If you were to…?” She just about drooled.
Donnie shot her a sharp glare.
She mopped up with a swallow. “Elasticity might be a good word for it! It very well depends. Per my notes, you had difficulty conceiving as well?”
You answered. “Yes.”
“This might be simpler if I could see your karyotype…?” She tried again.
“Dr. Shah.” You put your foot down this time.
“Right…” She seemed to remember herself fully and cleared her throat. “There are many factors to consider here, but when regarding mutants, as an extension of both yokai and humans, we may think of each of them as separate species.”
You watched on and felt Donnie’s attention come around as well.
“The idea is a distinctly human concept. Humans love to categorize and prioritize, but yokai see no such thing. Interbreeding, again a human term, does not exist. Mysticism and more created influence and supposed types of yokai are actually human classifications dropped upon huge swaths that just so happen to have similar traits. Take my bloodline, the nure-onna. If you search for human depictions of them then you’ll find those with extremities, those without, but as long as they have some kind of snake tail and can be perceived as female then, poof, they must be the thing.”
Donnie was quiet within your bond.
“What I’m getting to is: hybridization is not as simple as the concept of a mule. It’s a tale told to simplify a concept that is considered too complex and many humans reject the fact that they themselves are hybrids, mutants if you will, carrying genetic material of Neanderthals and Denisovans!”
You felt a little dizzy.
“Criticism arises when there’s issues with the supposed interbred individuals. Often it’s a drop in fertility, but it can be any type of health concern. Do you find it interesting that an almost identical naming convention is used to delineate between different species breeding versus closely related individuals? Interbreeding versus inbreeding. That’s ‘inter’ or ‘among’ versus ‘in’ or ‘inside.’ It doesn’t sound like much of a difference and many confuse the concept because both can result in ailing offspring. ”
Fertility.
The word hit you hard.
You had forgotten about this.
So much of your energy had gone into simply trying to have Othello that you had forgotten about the consequences you were warned of.
He could be infertile.
He could have issues with his health down the line.
You had doomed him to whatever that was.
Robbed him of the choice.
All because you selfishly wanted a child.
All while knowing what the risks were.
Donnie immediately came to you as the weighty information and guilt crashed your being pale.
“But that’s the thing isn’t it? Species thrive on genetic diversity! Inbreeding, once in favor by humans for some misled sense of blood purity, allows for harmful genetic traits to proliferate. It’s because the same copies of genes are there again and again. The more genetic diversity, the more chance of one developing the necessary resilience for changes in environment or new disease and yet humans seem to damn breeding between species as much as within families! They moved their ideas of purity onto other traits. They never split species based on reproductive success! They did so by geography and looks! Science has come a long way, genetics have revealed so much, but there’s leagues to explore! As far as the ocean! Speaking of! Did you know that eighty-eight percent of fish could hybridize if given the chance?”
You found yourself reaching out to Dr. Shah.
She took your hand as if you were her comrade. “There’s so much more to explore! Without your husband’s karyotype, I am forced to dip into conjecture and create my reasoning, but, based on what’s been said so far, I can at least assume that you have the typical human forty-eight?”
You didn’t confirm, but your lips dumbly parted.
She took that as a ‘yes’ and glanced at Donnie. “And you do not.”
He refused to answer.
“Chromosomes like to neatly split and pair back up with dance partners, but they sometimes do not. There are extra or less depending on who’s bold or shy! The archetype of the mule comes from horses of sixty-four and donkeys of sixty-two. They divide as they can and match up as they might, but you still get another breed. One that exasperatingly pushes humans’ neat little boxes. One that in a blue moon is fully viable and what does that say about those with the same amount of chromosomes? Humans and potatoes have forty-eight, so they should be able to neatly match up at the ball, wouldn’t you say?”
Donnie began to speak.
“I urge you to share your DNA findings because your son is a perfect illustration of all that I disregard with current hierarchy alignment!”
You and your mate blinked wide.
She turned the tablet around to show off that chromosome map again. “Forty-eight chromosomes.”
Donnie startled immediately, but you took a second longer to recall what that meant.
“If I saw this and not Othello, I would by all intents and purposes think I was looking at any human child’s results.”
Donnie’s confusion bounced off the walls before landing on the baby against his chest.
Othello blinked up at him.
“And yet he expressed all the mutagenic genes that make him look like a carbon copy of his half human parent.” Dr. Shah continued with a softer tone.
“Does that mean…?” Your words drifted out of you.
“Hm?” Dr. Shah waited with seemingly quelled eyes now that she had gotten her position on the matter out.
“Is he… infertile?”
“From this, there is no indication that he is.” She spoke evenly.
You stared at her.
“Infertility is tricky and not my field, so this is only speaking from the knowledge I have: genetic infertility is caused by some misalignment to DNA structure. Be it the number of chromosomes as I’ve mentioned or an anomaly in chromosomal structure.”
You swallowed.
“Othello has none of these. Again, this looks like a human panel. When compared to his karyotype…” She swiped over the screen and a page of little folded x’s that looked like a matched up set of cereal pieces appeared. “I am not seeing any abnormalities, but fertility issues don’t just appear on DNA. They can come from hormone levels or issues with the reproductive system. Not everything that goes wrong with us is because of the DNA we were written with. The copy machine that keeps printing us out isn’t always working optimally. That is why we see cancers.”
“If you could...?”
She leaned a little closer into you.
“Say it plainly.”
She blinked once and nodded a single time. “There is no reason to believe he is infertile, but he is a baby. He is healthy and, if there is a problem, it only needs to be discovered when it comes to that.”
An exhausted wave washed over you.
“If it does.” Dr. Shah swapped the tablet to one hand so she could touch you gently and make a connection. “He will have options.”
You nodded and tried not to cry.
“You had fertility issues.” Her voice was soothing. “Did that stop you?”
Your head shook.
“You’ve done nothing wrong! You’ve brought a wonderful child into this world!”
You nodded furiously.
She chuckled. “A wonderful child that would have confused Punnett with his non-ubiquitous allele expression! What do you think, little one?”
She approached Donnie openly with her sparkling set eyes on Othello.
“Are you an example of polymorphism? Multiple-gene expression? Incomplete penetrance?”
Donnie turned away again to shield his child.
Dr. Shah was not deterred, but did not peruse. “Time will tell.”
Donnie chuffed.
Dr. Shah looked back at you. “That’s as much as I can currently explain. I will be doing further in-depth analyses so we can hopefully catch any anomalies that could be detrimental to him, but as it stands now, Othello has none! He is a healthy baby! We just need to work up those neck muscles and get him his shots to protect him from all that is outside his body. Did you have any questions?”
You wanted to ask if you could take a seat.
Dr. Shah smiled on.
“No. I think for now… we’re good.”
“If you have any, I’m going to give you my twenty-four-hour line. Any questions, any problems, you can call or text me whenever. I’m rarely away and, even if I’m busy, I can direct you where you need to go.”
“Thank you…” You felt like you truly exhaled for the first time.
“Donatello?”
Donnie rebuffed her to bounce Othello.
“Alright!” She spun around and dotted the tablet. “We’ve got literature coming your way about breastfeeding. You can do the paced bottle feeding, making the breast a happy place, and all that, but keep in mind that he might just have a preference. I don’t like it when my children’s parents set themselves up for failure just because they think there is a way this should go. You can continue to hold off on the pacifier if you’d like, but it could also strengthen his jaw muscles. There's advantages and disadvantages…”
You stumbled over and leaned against your husband’s arm.
He reviewed you with metered affection.
“Othello did so good today. He looks like he’s been getting some good socialization.” Dr. Shah barely looked up from whatever notes she was putting down.
An image of Othello wailing at S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. came to mind. “Oh… He’s really just been with us.”
“Really?” She looked up.
“We were worried about his immune system so we’ve been staying home.”
Dr. Shah nodded with a little plump of her lip. “Well, if you’re getting stir-crazy from being inside, feel free to head out! You can avoid crowded places if you’d like, but he shows no signs of a compromised immune system. There’s some simple precautions you can take. I’ll send those over too!”
“Got it…” You let your weight fall on your mate.
Donnie didn’t have an arm to hold you up and you slid a little.
“It was nice meeting you!” Dr. Shah chirped. “I hope to see you again! Especially our little genetic prodigy!”
She waved to Othello before properly acknowledging each of you and left.
You both stared at the door for a long moment.
“She’s…” You started.
“Noisy.”
“Energetic.”
“Obsessive.”
“Knowledgeable.”
You shared a look.
Donnie evaluated you with lowered lids that rose so he could look up to the corner of the room for answers.
You brought a hand up to rub Othello’s cheek.
He was leaning against Donnie and clearly drowsy. “Looks like someone won’t even know he’s getting a shot. That’s good.”
“He won’t regardless.”
You smiled. “He might not remember, but he could form an association.”
“’Time will tell.’” Donnie quoted with distaste.
“Are we switching pediatricians?”
There was a lengthy pause.
Othello’s lids dropped.
You rubbed that spot at the conjunction of his jaw that Donnie liked.
Othello’s eyes shut.
“No.” Donnie spoke in a quiet voice.
“Yeah?” You chanced looking up at him.
“Eccentric does not equate poor care. We can keep her interest in check and use it to our favor.”
“Like I’m doing with Leo.” You realized.
Donnie grimaced so hard it pulled at his whole face.
He usually didn’t emote so much in public and you had to stifle a snort.
Donnie was stuck in his deep, all-encompassing frown.
You patted his arm and reigned yourself in.
There was a soft knock at the door.
“Ready!” You called out. Donnie barely put himself together before the nurse entered.
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I am so beyond stressed out that I don't even want to eat, but thankfully my betas @tmntxthings and @unrestrainedhotsoup are still willing to listen to me blather on about biology.
In his timeline, there were fewer people, so there were fewer viruses to pass around, so he probably didn't catch many growing up. Getting sick might have been a relatively rare thing for him.
But also, he couldn't get vaccinated... so when he ends up in the Rise timeline, he is suddenly exposed to so many viruses and has such a weak immune system from never getting sick that he is in actual, real danger of catching something that could do him significant harm.
Imagine him getting the flu and just being completely laid up.
Imagine him being exposed to the chickenpox, which is much more severe in adults than little kids.
Imagine the team rushing to get him a tetanus shot after he accidentally cuts his foot on nasty, jagged metal.
Imagine them all getting protective over him and insisting that he wear a surgical mask and sanitize religiously until they can get him caught up on all his shots.
i looked up the berenstain bears doctor episode, the boring answer is that they skip getting shots entirely. mama does an even WORSE job of preparing the cubs (they have no idea about the appointment until its time to go) and papa doesn't go at all. dr. grizzly is still very good though. im actually pretty disappointed that they went the easy route because as the other shows i watched proved, its not that hard to show it in tv form too. way to not show this audience how to face the scary things that may happen at your appointment!
bullshit. what???? come on berenstain bears you can do better
not telling your child about a doctors appt (of any kind) until the day of is actually evil. pretty sure my mom actually did that at some point. bad bad bad evil mean
also???? not showing the actual point of going to the scary place???? ig i get it from the point of maybe not trying to trigger kids with trypanophobia?? maybe?? a little??? but like as a kids show dedicated to teaching life skills there is absolutely a good way to show kids how to handle needles. as we have seen in daniel tigers neighborhood
thanks for taking one for the team fable, that was probably a nightmare to watch o7
Tomorrow is the first day I have to jab MYSELF with two needles and ngl it's making me a bit nervous, especially the thigh one because the bruise from the first dose is still around. Even doing every other week per leg, I worry it won't heal enough during the two week gap and stabbing a bruise with a needle sounds kind of ouchie.
