Daisy was violenty ill for the fifth time that evening. Tim was crouched over her, offering her water to sip as she huddled on the bathroom floor. "Come on, Pickle. Let's call Mike and get you to hospital. You can't spend the night in this state."
Daisy nodded weakly and leaned against the tub as Tim made the call to Mike upstairs. She allowed Tim to help her up and into her coat, as it was freezing cold outside. Mike arrived a few minutes later. "Alright, Daisy," he asked solicitously. "Come on now, me and Timmy'll take care of you. We'll soon have you set to rights."
Tim grabbed a plastic bag and both men helped her outside to Mike's waiting vehicle. Tim got Daisy strapped into the front seat and climbed in the back. "C'mon, Mike, make it snappy. She's been in a bad way all evening."
Exactly ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of the A&E. Tim helped Daisy inside while Mike went to find a parking spot. By the time Mike arrived inside, Tim was already filling out the forms for Daisy. Mike sat next to Daisy and held her hand, chatting softly to her about how she was going to be fine. When Tim finished filling out the forms, he held Daisy's other hand while they waited. None of them spoke during the wait, except for when Tim or Mike would occasionally ask Daisy if they could get her something. Twice Daisy had to rush to the loo; both times, Tim was waithing outside with a paper cup of water.
When Daisy's name was finally called, both men accompanied her to the examination cubicle. The nurse bustled in to take Daisy's temperature and blood pressure. "How long have you been vomiting?" she asked.
"Since 4:00 this afternoon. At first I thought it was just something I ate. But now I think it's that stomach virus that's been going round."
"She's puked five times at home and twice since we got here," Tim volunteered. The nurse gave him a withering look, and he closed his mouth sheepishly. He rubbed Daisy's back and looked contrite.
"Now, love, when was your last menstrual period?" the nurse continued.
"Well, ah, I'm not really sure," Daisy began.
"You're not on the pill?" the nurse inquired.
"No, no, we use other methods - -" Daisy suddenly remembered the events at this same hospital two years before, and sighed. "Here," she said resignedly, holding out her arm. "Go ahead and take my blood. You're going to do it anyway. Do the pregnancy test, then give my my bloody Phenergan jab!"
The nurse collected the blood sample and left the room.
The wait wasn't too bad. Mike made them all giggle by making lewd stick figures out of tongue depressors and cotton swabs. As she sat there smiling at Mike's silly antics, it crossed Daisy's mind that she wasn't feeling very bad at all.
"How do you feel, Pickle?" asked Tim. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Actually, I am," admitted Daisy. "This is probably just another wasted trip, just like before."
At that moment, the doctor whipped back the privacy curtain to the cubicle and stepped in, clipboard in hand. "Well, well, Ms. Steiner, it seems you're not feeling well?"
"No, I've been vomiting pretty much all afternoon and all evening. I just need a Phenergan jab and I'll be as good as new," Daisy explained.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible," the doctor said, shaking his head gravely.
"Why not, Doctor?" Tim asked anxiously. "What's wrong?" Daisy didn't speak, but her eyes were wide with fear. Mike gripped both of their hands in a supportive gesture.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing! On the contrary, congratulations are in order! Are you the lucky dad?" the doctor asked Tim. His eyes moved back and forth between Tim and Mike, unsure of which one he should be addressing.
Tim's mouth opened and shut a few times without any sound coming out. Daisy's mouth hung open in shock. Mike found his voice first. "I'm gonna be an uncle," he whispered in awe. "Or an auntie, if it's a girl."
Daisy's eyes met Tim's and they both exploded with laughter. Mike wiped his eyes and grinned broadly. The three of them embraced and began jumping up and down. "Colin's gonna be a big brother!" Mike exclaimed. Still unsure as to which man was the father, the doctor gave Daisy some parting advice on handling morning sicknes and advised her to contact her regular physician as soon as possible.
Tim put the kettle on as soon as they arrived home. After brewing the tea, he joined Daisy on the sofa. The two cuddled under a blanket as they sipped their tea and let the news sink in. Colin lay stretched across both of their laps.
"We're going to be parents!" Daisy squealed. "Can you believe it? It is a good thing, isn't it, Tim?" she asked as an afterthought.
"Of course it's a good thing," Tim was quick to reassure. "I'm gonna be a dad! And you're gonna be the best mum ever. With your writing ability and my artistic talent, little Luke is going to be the most creative kid in England!"
"Luke?" Daisy laughed. "You've already picked out a name?"
"Well, yeah," Tim admitted. "I've always wanted to name my kid Luke. Is that okay?"
"Well, sure, I suppose," Daisy answered. "But, you know, it might be a girl."
Tim nodded dreamily. "Yeah. I'm kind of hoping for a girl, actually."
"Do you have any girl names picked out?" Daisy asked.
Tim looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean - -" Daisy stopped for a minute, then said as delicately as possible, "I mean, Luke isn't traditionally used for girls, is it? We might want to use something a bit more, um feminine. For a girl." Daisy was already getting prepared for having a little Luke or Leia running around the flat. She didn't mind either name, really.
Tim's eyes widened. "Oh! I see what you mean. Yes, I suppose a little girl named Luke might get teased by her mates at school."
Daisy nodded her head emphatically up and down. "Exactly!"
"Buffy is much better suited for a girl," Tim agreed. "Glad that's all settled."
Daisy said no more, but snuggled up to Tim under the blanket and started getting used to the idea of a daughter named Luke. Maybe they would start a new trend in baby names. Maybe the baby would be a boy.