CHAPTER 41: Twenty Weeks

The anatomy scan was scheduled for Tuesday at 10 AM.

Twenty weeks. Halfway through the pregnancy. The big ultrasound where they checked everything—heart, brain, organs, spine.

"Are you nervous?" Victoria asked, driving me to the appointment. Alexander was stuck in depositions.

"Terrified. What if something's wrong?"

"Nothing will be wrong. You've been taking care of yourself. Luna is fine."

"You don't know that."

"I know you're paranoid, which is normal for pregnancy." She glanced at me. "Also normal? Those jeans. When did you get actual maternity clothes?"

I looked down at my obvious bump in proper maternity jeans. "Last week. Nothing else fits."

"You look cute. Very 'glowing pregnant woman' vibes."

"I feel like a whale."

"A cute whale."

At the doctor's office, we waited for Alexander. He'd promised to leave depositions early.

He burst through the door at 10:15, slightly out of breath.

"I'm here. Did I miss anything?"

"Just started," Dr. Patel said warmly. "Let's see your baby, shall we?"

The ultrasound gel was cold as always. But this time was different—Luna was bigger. More defined. Actual baby features visible on screen.

"Oh my God," I whispered. "That's her face."

"That's her face," Dr. Patel confirmed. "And here's her heart—four chambers, all normal. Here's her brain—developing perfectly. Spine looks excellent. All organs present and functioning."

"Everything's okay?" Alexander asked.

"Everything is perfect. She's measuring right on track for twenty weeks. About ten ounces. Healthy and strong."

I started crying. Relief. Joy. Hormones.

Alexander squeezed my hand, his own eyes wet.

"Can we get 3D images?" he asked.

"Absolutely. Let me switch settings." Dr. Patel adjusted the ultrasound. "And... there she is."

The screen showed Luna's face in incredible detail. Tiny nose. Rosebud lips. Even her little fingers near her face.

"She's beautiful," Victoria whispered.

"She's perfect," Alexander said.

Dr. Patel printed a dozen photos. "Everything looks great, Bella. Keep doing what you're doing. Next appointment in four weeks."

---

In the parking lot, Alexander held the ultrasound photos like they were made of gold.

"Look at her nose," he kept saying. "She has your nose."

"You can't tell that from an ultrasound."

"I can. It's your nose. She's going to be beautiful just like her mother."

Victoria made a gagging sound. "You two are disgustingly cute. I'm leaving before I get a cavity."

After she drove off, Alexander pulled me close.

"Halfway there," he said. "Twenty more weeks until we meet her."

"Twenty more weeks of trial preparation. And stress. And—"

"And growing our daughter. Creating our family. Being together." He kissed me. "The trial is just noise, Bella. This? This is real."

Luna kicked, as if agreeing.

"She's active today," I said.

"She heard my voice. She knows her daddy's here."

"You're so convinced she recognizes you."

"She does. We have conversations every night. She's very opinionated for someone without a fully developed brain."

I laughed. "What do you two talk about?"

"Her future. How I'm going to spoil her. How her mother is going to try to stop me." He grinned. "Standard father-daughter stuff."

"You're already wrapped around her tiny finger and she's not even born."

"Completely. Utterly. Hopelessly wrapped." He touched my belly. "Worth it."

---

That afternoon, Patricia called with bad news.

"Margaret Chen filed a motion to depose Bella again. Wants to question her about the pregnancy specifically."

"We already did a deposition," Alexander said.

"That was before the anatomy scan. She's arguing the pregnancy is central to the case and she needs updated medical information."

"That's invasive and unnecessary," I protested.

"I agree. We're fighting it. But if the judge rules in her favor, you'll have to sit for another deposition focused entirely on your pregnancy."

After she hung up, I felt sick.

"They want to turn Luna into evidence," I said.

"They want to intimidate you. It won't work."

"Won't it? Alexander, I'm twenty weeks pregnant. In four months, I'll have a newborn. How am I supposed to handle a trial with a baby?"

"We'll figure it out. Nanny. Family help. Whatever you need."

"What I need is for this to be over."

He pulled me into his arms. "I know. Me too."

---

That night, James posted another I*******m story.

A photo of a baby onesie. White. Tiny. Innocent.

The caption: "Some people use children as weapons. Remember that when you see the 'happy family' photos. #Truth"

"He's suggesting we're using Luna," I said, furious. "Our unborn daughter."

Victoria, on FaceTime, was equally angry. "He's a monster. Who weaponizes a baby that's not even born yet?"

"Someone desperate," Alexander said. "Someone who's losing and knows it."

"Should we respond?" I asked.

"No," Patricia said, joining the call. "Don't engage. He wants you angry. Wants you to lash out. Rise above it."

"How? He just implied we're bad parents before Luna is even here!"

"And everyone with a functioning brain sees through it," Victoria said. "The comments on his post are roasting him."

She was right. I checked.

@MomOf4: Using an innocent baby to make your point? Gross.

@NYCDad: This is low even for you, James. Leave the kid alone.

@TeamBella2025: Bella and Alexander are going to be amazing parents. You're just bitter.

"See?" Victoria said. "He's destroying his own credibility."

But it still hurt. Still felt like an attack on Luna.

"He's going to be her uncle," I said quietly. "How do we handle that? If he's at family events? Holidays?"

"He won't be," Alexander said firmly. "Not until he proves he can behave like an adult. Our daughter deserves better than toxic family members."

"Even if that toxic family member is your son?"

"Especially then. I chose you and Luna. That choice has consequences. For everyone."

---

Later, in bed, I couldn't settle.

Luna was kicking constantly—she'd been active all day.

"She won't sleep," I complained.

"Maybe she's worried. Babies can sense stress."

"Great. Now I'm stressing out my unborn child."

Alexander moved down to talk to my belly. "Hey, Luna. It's Dad. I know things are chaotic right now. Lots of adult drama. But I need you to know something—none of it matters. Not really. What matters is you're safe. You're loved. You're wanted more than anything in this world."

The kicking slowed.

"See? She was just waiting for story time."

"You're magic," I said.

"I'm her father. It's my job to make her feel safe." He kissed my belly. "Even when the world feels scary."

I ran my fingers through his hair. "You're going to be such a good dad."

"I hope so. I have twenty weeks to figure it out."

"Twenty weeks," I repeated. "Then everything changes."

"Then everything gets better," he corrected. "We get to meet her. Hold her. Start our real life together as a family."

"What about the trial?"

"The trial will end. James will move on eventually. But our family? That's forever."

Luna kicked one more time, then settled.

"She agrees with you," I said.

"Smart girl. Already knows Dad is always right."

"Don't push it."

He laughed and moved back up to kiss me. "Get some sleep, Mrs. Sterling. You're growing a person. That's exhausting work."

"Tell that to Luna. She's the one doing gymnastics at midnight."

But as I drifted off in Alexander's arms, one hand on my belly, I felt something shift.

Yes, the trial was coming. Yes, James was dangerous. Yes, everything was complicated.

But in twenty weeks, none of that would matter.

In twenty weeks, I'd hold my daughter.

And that made everything worth it.