(August 9, Week 19 of pregnancy)

"22 centimeters?!" Erika and Alanna shouted at the same time, unable to believe the number that appears on the screen. Unable would not be the right word, because the belly was too prominent compared to the pictures of pregnant women in the same week that Alanna had put the marriage in perspective.

"I know that the number seems very big ... and it is ... but you shouldnt be scared" Theo was highlighting several parts of the ultrasound on the screen. "Your daughter is growing correctly, if no difference to other babies except on the issue of size ... I would normally offer to see some of my colleagues in Sacramento or San Francisco ... but you know we are the plague of America" r03;r03;Theo shrugged while looking for a wipe to clean the cream on Alanna's belly.

"It doesnt start to seem strange to you that this virus or pathogen ... I dont even know how they want us to call it. The virus didnt cause us anything but they dont want to risk leaving us leaving ... you only need to put on a dome like in the novel"

"Doctor ..." Erika said softly, approaching him. "Is excessive sexual desire normal?"

"Erika!"

"I'm sorry, Ala ..." Erika clasped her hands apologetically, though she didnt plan to stop. "But you've been insatiable for 3 days and I'm starting to worry ... I dont know how many hormones can cause pregnancy, but none of the pages we've seen suggests that this level of energy is normal!" Erika's concern was something Theo understood perfectly, and at the same time the revelation caused the gynecologist to meditate in silence. "Doctor, do you know something?"

Theo didnt answer, raising his finger to ask for silence as he headed to his desk, checking the computer. As the doctor recalled, 7 of the 10 pregnant women he was carrying shared similar observations, both in their hormonal levels through the clouds and by the comments of their partners ... something Theo was beginning to fear was related to the assumption virus that the government claimed had infected the entire city.

And that certainly couldnt mean anything good. "Alanna, Erika ..." Theo turned to them, waving them around. "I'm going to ask you to not share with anyone about this excessive sexual energy or excess hormones with anyone. This should be between us, but you arent the only couple that tells me something like that ... you are the only one with such a big daughter, but the rest of the couples also present the same symptoms and it cant be coincidental with the whole mysterious virus theme"

"Is it because of that virus? Seriously?" Erika and Alanna looked at each other for a moment, with more disbelief than fear. "Is it real? I mean the virus" Theo nodded without wishing, sighing as he searched for the hospital report to show to the couple.

"You see, it's true that there's something very strange about the entire Brightside population ... if not, keeping us in quarantine would be a federal crime. According to the scientists who came to the hospital to use our laboratory, it seems that it is some kind of inert virus of unknown origin that is spread by and exclusively fresh water, that is why we have redirected the water from Sacramento while they have closed the purifying plant to investigate it"

"How did the government learn about the virus if it is inert? According to what the authorities say and what you have explained to us, there should be no reason to find the virus without prior information" Alanna hugged her stomach with both hands, trying to keep quiet during the conversation.

"It seems that it was thanks to routine anti-doping tests that the city soccer team did. They found this virus in their blood and before the refusal of the team, and discover that the trainer also had it tied up and started the whole process ... honestly, quarantine seems a bit strange considering that it isnt transmitted in any way when entering in the body…-"

"Doctor! the people wait to enter!" The nurse yelled, banging on the door, causing the trio to startle.

"It seems that for today we must say goodbye, girls. I'm going to give you an appointment for the next ultrasound for Monday, two weeks from now and a review appointment for the beginning of September, plus I'm going to ask you for some blood tests, Alanna. I want to have more controlled your hormone levels in detail"

(August 24, Week 21 of pregnancy)

"26 centimeters? My granddaughter is already a quarter of a meter? Jesus!" Ravel twisted the fork, picking up another batch of spaghetti. The dinner with the parents of both had been animated and amusing, until the moment in which Alanna took the ultrasound of that week to teach it. What she hoped was a moment of joy and affection had become a silence between tense, cheerful and worried.

"Honey ..." Zara grabbed her daughter's hand, looking alternately between her eyes and her stomach for almost 24 weeks. "Are not you hiding something? Everything's fine, right?"

"Of course!" Alanna sank into her chair, staring at the ultrasound. "Anne has nothing different from other children other than her size! The rest is absolutely normal! WE KNOW HOW STRANGE IT IS ALL THIS, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER! IT'S OUR DAUGHTER WHO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER! THE LIGHT OF OUR LIFE! WHAT MATTERS IF SHE IS A LITTLE BIGGER THAN THE AVERAGE?!"

"I think I can stop talking for everyone ..." Ravel got up from the table, picking up his plate and taking it to Roland and Alanna who were scrubbing all the dirty dishes of the dinner and preparing it. "When I say that Anne is a gift from heaven! She is our granddaughter! Everything that happens ... is that we are concerned about both her and your health, Alanna"

Alanna said nothing, getting up and going to the sofa, dropping between the cushions. They werent the first people to express their concern (Actually, the parents of both were the last of the family to express themselves) nor would they be the last ones, since Anne's rhythm of over-growth kept increasing exponentially. (Normal thing on the other hand, only starting from a much larger initial size)

In the end, the couple had accepted Theo's advice to be prepared in case a preventive caesarean section was necessary... although it didnt mean that they were too happy with the decision. Much less considering the great state of health of Alanna, ignoring nausea, vomiting and a vertigo attack a few days ago was carrying the pregnancy very calmly. (And with too much excitement, but while Erika could handle it that was not bad at all)

"Hey ..." Zara approached her daughter, grabbing her by the shoulder. "You know we love you, right?"

"Of course I do!" Alanna moved forward, letting Erika join her by sitting behind her as a spoon. "I dont doubt it for a second! And I love you all!" Erika hugged her wife, stroking her arms to calm her down. "I cant wait for Anne to be born ... to grow up and we can go to your restaurant, Mom ... to be able to go to Sweden so that Anne knows her other half ... to be able to take her on an excursion everywhere! And all that can be done no matter if her size is bigger than the others kids! ... I'm sorry, Mom ... I have hormone levels completely revolutionized and I have a hard time controlling emotions"

Zara knew that her daughter was sincere, too sincere compared to her usual attitude. Sitting next to the couple while Roland and Ravel brought the office chairs to sit with them. "If Anne is very tall and large, we can finally use my contacts in the textile company of Uncle Franz to make some very cute overnight bags" Ravel said to himself without bothering to lower his voice, bringing a smile to everyone present.

"Over...night bags?" Zara and Alanna asked at the same time, watching as Erika nodded.

"They are basically an extra for the pajamas. They are like warm and soft cotton sacks, with braces or arms on top so that the baby can hold and turn ... a nice and warm way to prevent newborns from catching a cold when they uncover during the night!" 

"I've seen them in the form of a star in some magazines," Zara explained, believing they were talking about the same as Ravel. "And now that you mention it, can we buy things like the cradle? To those things her size dont matter-"

"No." Roland said flatly, completely stopping the conversation and the insistence of de Zara and Ravel. "Purchases can wait until the end of pregnancy; so let's be patient, let's enjoy something as beautiful as it is to see our granddaughter grow up to the stage and let the pressures and purchases to the end" The owner of one of the best restaurants in Brightside, Roland the silent, was instrumental in helping Alanna and Erika with the necessary space.

(September 28, Week 26 of pregnancy)

Alanna hurried down the avenue, trying to combine her purse, the bag with the ultrasound, the bag with lunch for her and Erika and last but not least her own belly worthy of a 37-week pregnant. As Theo had said, to say that Anne was a little bigger was to lie ... Anne begins to be too big. Not that Alanna was worried, because her movement abilities had not been depleted as in other pregnant women with the same stomach size. (Something Theo considered a miracle if it werent because Erika had explained via telephone call that Alanna every day slept more and had more problems when getting up from a lying position)

Within it, Alanna was sure that Anne herself was doing everything she could to help her more swollen mother every day, giving less kicks and moving less abruptly.

As every Friday from the beginning of the quarantine blockade, the main shopping streets of Brightside were filled with anxious people waiting for the trucks that renewed the non-essential merchandise (clothes, electronic products and others), forming enormous traffic jams both of vehicles and pedestrians. Obviously this didnt help Alanna, who tried to make her way thanks to the kind people who realized her condition, moving away and helping him.

"We remember, dear customers-" The neighborhood's public address system began to sound, causing the traffic jams to stop for a few moments. "That from 12 in the morning all the streets will be cut to private vehicles to start the charity market ..."

Another flea market to raise funds against the X virus as they had called it, Alanna thought. Nor was it going to affect much of her journey, because Erika's gym was only a block and a half away from where she was.

Unfortunately for both of them, one of Erika's co-workers had suffered a heart attack the day before, so Erika had to take her emergency shift, leaving Alanna to go to the gynecologist alone. (Something that Erika accepted through tears, consoled by her wife promising that he would not see the ultrasound until they were together) 

"30 seconds for green" Announced the sound alarm of the traffic light making everyone prepare to cross, including Alanna. With so many people accumulated, the pregnant woman had difficulty holding all the bags, something that was joined by one of the strongest pains she had ever felt.

"AHHggg, FUCK YOUR MOTHER, ANNE!" Alanna yelled and cursed loudly, falling to the floor on her knees holding her stomach. Anne shouldnt be very happy with what she had heard in the gynecologist, so the prenatal had decided to give the strongest kick that Alanna had felt throughout her pregnancy.

The scream was enough for everyone to turn to her, approaching and helping her to recover ... until Anne decided to insist with another kick. "OK OK! I GET IT!" Alanna begged hugging her stomach harder.

"Are you okay?" "Do you need something?" "Did you want to call the ambulance?"

The crowd asked looking at each other, with two women kneeling next to Alanna to try to calm her down. The scene continued as the traffic light turned green-

CRASH !!!!!!

And with this back to the crowd, one of the cars that came in a straight line couldnt stop, losing control and crashing with another of the cars waiting in the crosswalk. The attention was redirected from Alanna to the West, with the same people with the phone outside calling for emergencies and the police.

The pregnant woman remained on her knees, too perplexed to say anything. The pain had vanished suddenly, although Anne gave a much softer kick to her mother's belly, as if to say "You're welcome"

(November 1, week 31 of pregnancy)

"Damn ..." Theo scratched the back of his neck, leaning back to let his companions see the ultrasound.

"It's too big, we cant take any more risks." Caroline, the anesthesiologist assigned to Alanna's delivery, sat on the table, glancing sideways at the frightened couple. Alanna was still lying on the stretcher, one hand on her giant stomach and the other holding Erika's hand. "19 inches is too big for this date, if she keeps growing at this rate I wouldnt be surprised we talk about 30 inches by December ... and honestly, I am opposed to risking so much"

"I know it's going to sound terrible especially for you, Alanna and Erika ..." Steve, the pediatrician for the birth, sighed while making some rough estimates. "But I dont know if we have an incubator large enough for the estimates we are dealing with. Our options are to expect the most even if we have to perform a premature delivery ... or we should ask the authorities- "

"No no!" Theo interrupted getting up from the table. "I cant let the government get into something like this after having a whole summer and autumn under quarantine! Just imagine all the paranoids that will get themselves while we are under a threat of an unknown virus we tell you that we have a baby of 48 centimeters that we hope will continue to grow!" 

The whole conversation between the doctors had Alanna and Erika too tense, both on the verge of crying. The shared need to protect Anne above all made them keep quiet (mainly because running away was not an option, Alanna had too many problems and weight to run as they wished), so the couple decided to wait until the doctors would talk before they left. "We may not like it, but we cant let ourselves fall into the error of wanting to risk a life to avoid putting the government in this! We need-"

"Please ..." Alanna requested the attention of the group of doctors, trying to sit on the stretcher as much as she could. "I know you are very worried, but as you said I feel good, my body isnt going through any side effects beyond the typical ones of this time! It's hard for me to walk, but for the rest I'm fine!" The trio of doctors looked at each other, unable to deny the inevitable. The health of Alanna corresponded to any pregnant woman on the same date, something that had to be repeated over and over again to understand it.

"I know you have different opinions," Erika continued, squeezing her hand. "But as long as my wife's health continues correctly, we wish we could continue the pregnancy as planned."

Caroline and Steve looked at each other as much as Theo, waiting for the pregnancy supervisor to make the right decision. And that's what Theo decided to do: "I'm going to get you a wheel chair, Alanna. I want you to try to move as much as possible and that the day you cant come to the hospital directly; We will wait you until the day of delivery or we will indicate if there is still too much. I will also visit you personally with the portable ultrasound equipment to be able to control you"

A clear message that Erika and Alanna accepted not very willingly.

(December 31, Week 39 of pregnancy)

And 10 days after the scheduled date, Alanna couldnt take it anymore. Admission to the hospital was covered by the general manager thanks to Theo's insistence on keeping the quarantine block out, something that everyone involved was very much in agreement with.

With a size of 31.4 inches (79.75 centimeters) Anne had completely immobilized her mother, but for some reason that no doctor could understand, except a waste of muscles, leg bones and hips and super stretched skin Alanna she was kept in great condition, being able to talk and move partially without problem. Unfortunately all this had to be solved at the same time as the delivery, since the caesarean was simply mandatory: The cervix of Alanna couldnt stretch a third of what was necessary.

"Come on, my daughter" Ravel stroked his daughter's back, trying to keep her up. "It's not fair, dad! They should let me be there! I am her wife and the mother of that girl, for the love of god!" Erika insisted in her spiral of constant rage. As the delivery was going to be long and the reconstruction of the lower half of Alanna was going to be straight ahead, Theo counseled (forced) Erika to wait in the waiting room despite her insistence.

And if that were not enough, the head nurse had quarreled with the family, forcing everyone to go outside leaving only the wife and the parents of both.

"Erika" Roland growled without opening his eyes or uncrossing his arms, a position maintained since the beginning of labor 4 hours before. "I dont want to be thrown into the hall like everyone else, so put your voice down" Erika looked up to say something, but there was no word to express just what she wanted so instead she just sighed and looked at the wall clock, not having the strength to play with the phone as Alanna had order.

"You have to look on the bright side" Zara tried to brighten the face of the concerned first-time mother, trying again to get Erika to take her phone. "Thanks to the director and at the discretion of all, we will not have the press talking about the birth of Anne as one of those curious events that sneak at the end of the newscast!"

"I dont understand how Americans like so much to enjoy seeing other people's things so personal-" Ravel ran his hand over his daughter's shoulders, squeezing them to calm her. "It seems morbid to be present in things such as births or birthdays and recording them on television"

"Papa ... in Sweden there are also the same curio programs, so do not start cursing the country of your now granddaughter! And now I am also, because having an American wife and now daughter I no longer need to take the citizenship test... I really dont care, they were going to test me now in January"

"My child, if I cant complain about the country that holds me back, I dont know that I can complain-"

"You cant! Now this country is for the good as for the bad part of your life in its entirety! Who knows, maybe Anne will be born with aspirations of greatness and rise to become president! Then maybe you could tell her what bothers you to do it to your liking, but until then dont complain-"

"Erika" Roland interrupted again, getting up from his seat and going to stand in front of Erika, holding her by both shoulders. "You have to calm down, please"

"I ... I ... ... Yes, sir." Erika sold herself, raising her head and taking a deep breath. As much as it hurt to think about it, Roland was the role model of a father Erika wanted to be.

"Perfect then," Roland dropped into the seat in front of her, looking at her with a half smile that filled Erika's heart with hope. "Let us hope that Anne is born safe and that my daughter is operated with alacrity and agility; there are still 10 hours until the new year and I have the grapes for the countdown in the trunk of my car"

"That custom isnt Spanish? Why do you follow it?" Ravel asked, turning on his daughter's phone and placing it in her hands, with her card game going.

"We lived the end of the year in Barcelona during our honeymoon, and this simple but precious custom permeated our body and gave us a happy and long marriage. Therefore, sharing this with my family is the only thing I can do to wish you the same happiness that we feel"

If Erika were heterosexual and Roland was single, the worried almost-mother would have thrown herself over him with her panties in the middle of her knees. But since that belongs to another alternative reality, all Erika could do was admire and wish she was half as a good father as the cook.

...

(10 Hours later: 00:02 night, January 1, 2019)

The doors of the operating room opened slowly, giving Erika half asleep time to get up and run towards them. "Miss Barlow Holm?" The nurse asked to confirm what was written on her tablet.

"It's me ... you were this morning? I dont recognize you" Erika narrowed her eyes, trying to remember the members of the team that had thrown her out of the delivery room that morning.

"No, ma'am, I'm on the night shift. I've taken care of your daughter since they've managed-"

"Occupied?! Is Anne born already?!?! Why havent you warned me before?!" Erika couldnt contain herself, grabbing the nurse by both shoulders on the verge of tears.

"Technically not!" The nurse tried to defend herself, being separated from Erika thanks to Roland and Ravel. "It has been a very difficult operation since Alanna's womb ... how to say ..." The nurse looked down, ignoring the total silence that the whole family was creating. "Alanna's uterus had become excessively hardened, according to Theo must be the reason that Alanna was correctly resisting the weight and excessive size of Anne; And besides that, the size of Anne has caused us to make an even bigger incision.

Like most children born by caesarean section, Anne has been around all the time since we took her out with enough breathing difficulty, so Theo wanted to have her a little longer in assisted breathing before giving you the good news!"

"And now...-"

"She's okay, she's fine and she's crying right now. Alanna will continue in the operating room with the reconstruction for at least 5 more hours ... and Anne doesnt want to wait! I swear, it's been a year since I heard so much crying!" The nurse moved to the side, grabbing Erika's hand to guide her into the operating room.

The nurses were slowly picking up, while Theo was leaning over a much larger crib than Erika expected. A cry that she could swear to know drew her more than any other sound in the world, standing next to Theo while the gynecologist stepped aside to make room for her.

"Waaa ... waaaa ..." Crying without trying too hard, Anne was waving in the crib everything her newborn body allowed. With 79 centimeters and 8 kilos and three quarters (according to what they put on a small sign on the crib) Anne was nothing like what Erika had expected.

When you are told that your daughter will be born being so big and heavy, the normal thing is to wait for a plump baby... instead Anne was a normal baby, without excess fat beyond normal.

"She opened her eyes for the first time while I was recording her birth. Thats mean I officially registered her birth 3 minutes ago now, so Anne was born on 00:00:02 of the year 2019; the first baby of the year. Incredible, right?" Theo commented quietly, letting Erika put on a better position. "Take her, come on ... dont be afraid"

Looking first at the gynecologist and then at her daughter, still crying, Erika took a deep breath with her tears as she left; but this time only of emotion. Very carefully, with one hand on the neck still not too formed and another on the buttocks, Erika raised her daughter, surprised by the weight and heat that the baby emits ."H ... hello ... hello, Anne ..." Erika said with trembling voice, trying to gently rock her daughter in a clumsy attempt to calm her down. "I'm ... I'm ... ma ... ma ... ma ..." Erika turned to Theo, looking at him with an expression of absolute terror. "We havent talked about what names we will use! No ... I need to talk about this with Alanna right now!"

More concerned about the baby than about Alanna, Theo approached her making the new mother hold the baby more firmly. "Alanna is currently under anesthesia, so you'll have to leave for later. For now tell her you're a her mom ... although now I'm sure she already knows" Theo pointed at Anne, causing Erika to turn her attention back to her.

Calming more and more, Anne buried her neck on her mother's shoulder while closing her eyes. The baby ended up asleep completely, something that amazed Erika like never before. A feeling too intense filled her completely while she left her daughter in the crib again.

For the second time in her entire life, Erika swore softly in eternal love to the creature in front of her.