Hey Laura, refresh my memory: was it you that had mentioned having connections at one of the clinics in town? If so, is it the one uptown or downtown?
[ Uptown is a huge clinic with every damn imaginable department in its orbit; a little cluster of clinics that might as well be a hospital strip except for the different medical groups affiliated with the offices. Downtown is a lot smaller scale and Eddie has his doubts that they'd be able to help him. So, needless to say, he's crossing his fingers for the former. ]
You're not remembering wrong I've got connections at the clinic Uptown - some of the people I work with at dispatch are former nurses who worked there.
Plus we have a direct line too like we do with bigger medical facilities in the city. Why what's up you need a referral or something?
I don't know. I think a small culmination of things, probably a lot of which has to do with my goddaughter. What about you? Any closer to reality or are you still hovering in hypothetical, too?
I've seen her in passing she is really adorable - I have only barely managed to not accost Stan to coo at her, honestly. I've been thinking about it off and on a lot, I don't know why I keep waiting when I know what I want.
Maybe I need to just take a page out of your book rather than waiting for something to happen or for things to align and feel like that magical right time.
She is aggressively adorable and it's probably almost entirely her fault, now that I think about it. Between her and my roommate...damn, I just want to be a dad, you know? I'm not getting any fucking younger.
...you should go with me. We can see if we can get back-to-back appointments and then be there for each other's moral support.
I know exactly what you mean. Though way to take the easy way out and blame the adorably chubby-faced toddler.
You know what... that's a great idea. If nothing else it's going to give both of us a full picture on what exactly we're working with here and how we proceed. And everything is easier when you have support.
You've seen her. You know she's a plausible suspect.
Bonus points for having someone who can give you the box of tissues when you hear the price tag on the procedure. I'm about to get a double whammy, too, because I need the egg and the fucking uterus.
I can't argue with you, not this time. Think that toothy grin gets her all the forgiveness, though.
Yeah that's an entirely separate issue to wrap my brain around and probably talk out with more than just you, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. And I'll be sure to snatch up the fullest box for the both of us just in case, but maybe neither one of us will need it we could have a smooth run? Other than the price that is.
Have you thought about finding your surrogate yourself?
Those big blue Disney eyes make a nice backup plan, too. Cute little shit.
Oh, I'm going to need it when I get the bill, Laura.
I have, yeah, but I think I'm probably only close enough with a few people here to feel comfortable asking, and two of them are in high school, so...you know. Not appropriate. Plus, I don't know if I'd want to put any of my female friends through the pressure of that, you know? There's all the IVF and then knowing that whether it takes or not; whether it develops to term or not, I'm still paying. I'd feel bad asking any of my friends to take that on, you know what I mean?
That and I can't name a single one of them that I think wouldn't want to deck me for all the hovering I'm positive I'd be doing if I had that sort of access to the surrogate. Actually, the term they use now is Gestational Carrier, I think. Surrogate is only if the same woman carries and donates the egg.
Why, you know somebody who would be interested in putting their bodies through all that for somebody else's benefit? I'm all ears. I can afford whatever, but it's obviously preferable not to have to go overboard with spending before the baby's even born.
I don't even want to stress myself about that part yet, but I'm sure it'll make my stomach turn. And I'll have to talk it out with Derek either way as I figure out the financial dies of how I would even do this. So I'll keep the Kleenex at the ready no worries.
That's fair and I get what you mean- I haven't even dove fully into the whole sperm donor thing as of yet, so that's going to be an entirely other can of worms to make a decision on. I think I'm remembering why I was in limbo and making no moves on all of this again now that I say that, actually.
I wish I could say I knew someone who might be willing but I don't, I'm literally the only person I think is even remotely interested in putting their body through any of this and it's because I am tired of waiting to make things happen in my life. Not the way I ever thought I might be considering doing this, but wasting this second chance I've got just seems wrong. And even though I'd love to offer to help you out I'm not sure I could do it and then step away, Eddie, to be perfectly honest.
Honestly, I'm not even sure I won't need a sperm donor, too. I have no idea if I'm even able to have kids. My wife and I tried for years before giving up. Let's hope to God it was her even though I'm pretty sure it was me.
Yeah, I know the feeling. No, no, no. I'd never ask you to, that would be crazy, especially since you're also trying to conceive. It's all right, I was planning on needing a surrogate rather than a gestational carrier.
Well let's start with one thing at a time - both of us will get tested and then we'll go from there. And if you wanna talk anything through along the way I'm here and hopefully vice versa. I can't speak for what was going on back home but you know how weird things are here.
I'd offer, though, if I thought I could handle it, but family and pack and carrying a kid feel very tied in to me. I'm self aware enough to know that, though. And, hey, maybe we can help one another look through options I know I'm going to need a second brain for it.
Yeah, that's my first step after the consultation. That and information gathering. At least if we can get appointments close together, we can share information on top of everything else.
I know you would, I believe you. I'm going to need as many brains as I can manage to get, so yeah, absolutely.
Oh hey...you know, if we both test fertile, maybe we can save each other at least the search for egg and sperm and just borrow from each other, in a pinch. You know, if we get too frustrated with the search.
Exactly so it really is a great idea on your part for multiple reasons.
Same - and I feel like this is sort of the thing that I don't have many other people around that I'd want to bounce it against, but you get it a little bit more. I'm not sure how Derek is going to look at any of this at all, to be frank.
That could be a great idea, honestly. The only thing that might make you steer clear of having that as a backup is that I am a werewolf - no idea how you feel about an added factor, but feel like I have to at least remind you in case it's a really unwanted complication. I know things are weird enough here as it is.
You haven't talked to your brother about it, yet? Is he going to shit a brick?
What would that mean for the kid, exactly? I mean, I don't know how all of that stuff works for you and whatnot. I don't think we've ever talked about it.
Not yet, no, but I don't think he'll shit a brick just be surprised, I think. I lean on him a lot as my beta but there are some things that I guess I just am a little more hesitant to share with him and talk about on occasion.
I don't think we have either. It'd mean that growing up the kid would need to learn to control themselves during the moon and to be sure that they can keep their anger in check. Better speed, strength, senses - that sort of thing - to just do a quick rundown. My particular family line has the ability to shift completely into a wolf too which would be down the line, but you did ask.
It is a bit, but he's pack and it would impact him so I can't leave him out entirely.
You can - we have some exercises and things to practice - plus raising a kid in an emotionally healthy way goes a long way. And for all of the things we have to practice to be sure we're in control we never get sick and we have healing abilities.
Well, no, of course not. I'm just saying, I can understand why you'd hesitate.
I meant would it be safe for me to help them with that? What do you mean you never get sick and have healing abilities? How do you not get sick? Are you being hyperbolic?
It's one of the few things I hesitate to talk with him about honestly.
More than likely yes, it depends on what works for the werewolf when we get there, of course. My mom started that work with me really early and I think if we did the same, in theory, that control would come quickly. And I'm not being hyperbolic - we can't get sick because our healing is too quick for it to set in, just like most cuts bruises and that sort of thing. Can't get drunk or high either because of it mixed with our metabolism but it's a fair trade-off in general.
I think Derek would be an amazing uncle, honestly. Before we lost everyone in the fire we always had family around.
I'm not kidding you - I never know how people are really going to feel about what I am for sure, you know? But it is sort of ideal you'd never have to worry about an unhealthy kid.
You do realize that I'm a huge germophobe and I think it'd be accurate to call me a hypochondriac. Not having to worry about that sort of thing would be fucking incredible, I gotta be honest. Must be nice!
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If so, is it the one uptown or downtown?
[ Uptown is a huge clinic with every damn imaginable department in its orbit; a little cluster of clinics that might as well be a hospital strip except for the different medical groups affiliated with the offices. Downtown is a lot smaller scale and Eddie has his doubts that they'd be able to help him. So, needless to say, he's crossing his fingers for the former. ]
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Plus we have a direct line too like we do with bigger medical facilities in the city. Why what's up you need a referral or something?
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I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on the surrogacy thing. Or at least ready to actually do real research outside a Google search.
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It's great that you feel ready - what changed or happened, if I can ask? I feel like last time we talked it was such a hypothetical y'know?
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I don't know. I think a small culmination of things, probably a lot of which has to do with my goddaughter. What about you? Any closer to reality or are you still hovering in hypothetical, too?
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I've seen her in passing she is really adorable - I have only barely managed to not accost Stan to coo at her, honestly. I've been thinking about it off and on a lot, I don't know why I keep waiting when I know what I want.
Maybe I need to just take a page out of your book rather than waiting for something to happen or for things to align and feel like that magical right time.
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...you should go with me. We can see if we can get back-to-back appointments and then be there for each other's moral support.
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You know what... that's a great idea. If nothing else it's going to give both of us a full picture on what exactly we're working with here and how we proceed. And everything is easier when you have support.
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Bonus points for having someone who can give you the box of tissues when you hear the price tag on the procedure. I'm about to get a double whammy, too, because I need the egg and the fucking uterus.
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Yeah that's an entirely separate issue to wrap my brain around and probably talk out with more than just you, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. And I'll be sure to snatch up the fullest box for the both of us just in case, but maybe neither one of us will need it we could have a smooth run? Other than the price that is.
Have you thought about finding your surrogate yourself?
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Oh, I'm going to need it when I get the bill, Laura.
I have, yeah, but I think I'm probably only close enough with a few people here to feel comfortable asking, and two of them are in high school, so...you know. Not appropriate. Plus, I don't know if I'd want to put any of my female friends through the pressure of that, you know? There's all the IVF and then knowing that whether it takes or not; whether it develops to term or not, I'm still paying. I'd feel bad asking any of my friends to take that on, you know what I mean?
That and I can't name a single one of them that I think wouldn't want to deck me for all the hovering I'm positive I'd be doing if I had that sort of access to the surrogate. Actually, the term they use now is Gestational Carrier, I think. Surrogate is only if the same woman carries and donates the egg.
Why, you know somebody who would be interested in putting their bodies through all that for somebody else's benefit? I'm all ears. I can afford whatever, but it's obviously preferable not to have to go overboard with spending before the baby's even born.
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I don't even want to stress myself about that part yet, but I'm sure it'll make my stomach turn. And I'll have to talk it out with Derek either way as I figure out the financial dies of how I would even do this. So I'll keep the Kleenex at the ready no worries.
That's fair and I get what you mean- I haven't even dove fully into the whole sperm donor thing as of yet, so that's going to be an entirely other can of worms to make a decision on. I think I'm remembering why I was in limbo and making no moves on all of this again now that I say that, actually.
I wish I could say I knew someone who might be willing but I don't, I'm literally the only person I think is even remotely interested in putting their body through any of this and it's because I am tired of waiting to make things happen in my life. Not the way I ever thought I might be considering doing this, but wasting this second chance I've got just seems wrong. And even though I'd love to offer to help you out I'm not sure I could do it and then step away, Eddie, to be perfectly honest.
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Honestly, I'm not even sure I won't need a sperm donor, too. I have no idea if I'm even able to have kids. My wife and I tried for years before giving up. Let's hope to God it was her even though I'm pretty sure it was me.
Yeah, I know the feeling. No, no, no. I'd never ask you to, that would be crazy, especially since you're also trying to conceive. It's all right, I was planning on needing a surrogate rather than a gestational carrier.
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I'd offer, though, if I thought I could handle it, but family and pack and carrying a kid feel very tied in to me. I'm self aware enough to know that, though. And, hey, maybe we can help one another look through options I know I'm going to need a second brain for it.
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I know you would, I believe you. I'm going to need as many brains as I can manage to get, so yeah, absolutely.
Oh hey...you know, if we both test fertile, maybe we can save each other at least the search for egg and sperm and just borrow from each other, in a pinch. You know, if we get too frustrated with the search.
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Same - and I feel like this is sort of the thing that I don't have many other people around that I'd want to bounce it against, but you get it a little bit more. I'm not sure how Derek is going to look at any of this at all, to be frank.
That could be a great idea, honestly. The only thing that might make you steer clear of having that as a backup is that I am a werewolf - no idea how you feel about an added factor, but feel like I have to at least remind you in case it's a really unwanted complication. I know things are weird enough here as it is.
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You haven't talked to your brother about it, yet? Is he going to shit a brick?
What would that mean for the kid, exactly? I mean, I don't know how all of that stuff works for you and whatnot. I don't think we've ever talked about it.
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Not yet, no, but I don't think he'll shit a brick just be surprised, I think. I lean on him a lot as my beta but there are some things that I guess I just am a little more hesitant to share with him and talk about on occasion.
I don't think we have either. It'd mean that growing up the kid would need to learn to control themselves during the moon and to be sure that they can keep their anger in check. Better speed, strength, senses - that sort of thing - to just do a quick rundown. My particular family line has the ability to shift completely into a wolf too which would be down the line, but you did ask.
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...how would I be able to help them with that? CAN I help them with that...?
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You can - we have some exercises and things to practice - plus raising a kid in an emotionally healthy way goes a long way. And for all of the things we have to practice to be sure we're in control we never get sick and we have healing abilities.
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I meant would it be safe for me to help them with that? What do you mean you never get sick and have healing abilities? How do you not get sick? Are you being hyperbolic?
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More than likely yes, it depends on what works for the werewolf when we get there, of course. My mom started that work with me really early and I think if we did the same, in theory, that control would come quickly. And I'm not being hyperbolic - we can't get sick because our healing is too quick for it to set in, just like most cuts bruises and that sort of thing. Can't get drunk or high either because of it mixed with our metabolism but it's a fair trade-off in general.
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...you literally heal too fast to get sick... That's IDEAL, Laura, are you kidding me right now??
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I'm not kidding you - I never know how people are really going to feel about what I am for sure, you know? But it is sort of ideal you'd never have to worry about an unhealthy kid.
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You do realize that I'm a huge germophobe and I think it'd be accurate to call me a hypochondriac. Not having to worry about that sort of thing would be fucking incredible, I gotta be honest. Must be nice!
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