Page 13 of Sheikh's Quarantine Triplet Baby Daughters

Diane

Diane shouldn't have been surprised that they wanted her in for a checkup, but she was a little startled that it was a full physical.

The palace had its own clinic, staffed by a half-dozen skilled medical professionals, and the older woman, Dr. Ramamurthy, looked harried when Diane finally showed up.

"I'm so sorry," she said, gesturing at the pile of paperwork on her desk. "Things have been a little hectic, as you might guess, and we should have gotten to you weeks ago."

"No, it's no problem at all," Diane said with a smile. "I didn't even think there could be a problem after the palace lockdown."

"Well, we do like to be thorough here, and anyway, it's never a bad idea to look after your health, is it? Especially not in times like these."

"No, of course not."

As a matter of fact, Diane had never been too worried about going to the doctor. Everything worked the way it was meant to, and she was always so busy. Dr. Ramamurthy made a disapproving noise at the fact that she'd never had a pap smear, and went down the list with the dedication of a medical professional trying to save her patient from herself.

"All right, have you had unprotected sexual intercourse in the last year?"

Diane started to say no, but then she realized that that wasn't right.

"Um..."

"It's just fine," Dr. Ramamurthy said soothingly. "I am not here to judge you, never that. We're just trying to put together a clear picture of your health and your needs."

"Um, all right, yes. I've had unprotected sex once within the last few months."

True to her word, Dr. Ramamurthy nodded and simply made a check on her chart, and then there were the quick tests, ones that could be checked within twenty minutes.

The doctor stepped out to get the results, leaving Diane in the small but rather luxurious office.

Nicer than what I've ever been to, Diane thought, looking around. She had never used the French medical system, and before that, her experience back in the United States was more geared towards getting stitches in the emergency room.

When Dr. Ramamurthy came in, Diane could immediately tell that something was different about her. There was a kind of determined set to her shoulders and a kind look on her face.

"I'm not going to mince words with you," she said as soon as she sat down. "Your test results came back normal. You are a healthy young woman, and you are pregnant."

Diane blinked because she was certain that she couldn't be hearing what she was hearing. There was no way— but when she thought back to that night six weeks ago with Samyar, the answer was very clear.

"Pregnant..." she said faintly, and Dr. Ramamurthy nodded.

"Pregnant, and judging by a few factors, likely carrying a multiple birth."

"Multiple?!"

"Yes. Do multiple births run in your family?"

She didn't know. She couldn't think. Everything was happening so fast.

"The reason I ask is because multiple births do require increased monitoring and care. Depending on what your decision is regarding this matter, there are decisions to be made, and the sooner they are made and a plan is decided upon, the better..."

The meaning of Dr. Ramamurthy's words, her decision regarding the matter, shocked Diane out of her daze.

"I'm keeping it," she said immediately. "I mean, I'm keeping them. It's them, right? There's... there's really three... tiny people... inside of me?"

Dr. Ramamurthy, who did not give the indication that she smiled a great deal, unbent enough to give Diane a small smile.

"Yes, there are three. It is very early yet, you won't be able to actually see them in an ultrasound for a while, but yes. Congratulations, Ms Warner."

A sudden pang went through Diane's chest, something that cut through the confusion and the fear and the burgeoning joy.

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