**Chapter 14: The Ultrasound**

The day of the ultrasound arrived, and Charlie woke up feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. She had been thinking about it nonstop since the doctor's appointment, wondering what they would find out about their baby. Jon sensed her anxiety and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "Hey, it's going to be okay," he whispered, his voice soothing. "We'll get through this together." Charlie took a deep breath and nodded, trying to calm her racing thoughts. They arrived at the doctor's office, and Charlie was ushered into a small room with a technician who introduced herself as Sarah. Sarah was warm and friendly, with a gentle smile and a calming presence. She explained the procedure and then led Charlie to a small table where she lay down, her stomach exposed. Jon sat beside her, holding her hand as Sarah applied the gel to her abdomen. The ultrasound machine whirred to life, and Charlie watched in awe as the images appeared on the screen. Their baby was tiny, but it was moving and kicking, its little heart beating rapidly. Charlie felt a surge of joy and love as she gazed at the screen, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Sarah pointed out different features, showing them the baby's tiny hands and feet, its nose and mouth. Charlie and Jon oohed and ahhed, mesmerized by the tiny human on the screen. But as they continued to scan, Sarah's expression turned serious. She leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on the screen. "Let me take a closer look at this," she said, her voice low and measured. Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she exchanged a worried glance with Jon. What was wrong? Sarah's expression didn't look concerned, but it didn't look entirely reassuring either. The technician took a few more images, her fingers moving swiftly over the machine. Finally, she sat back and turned to Charlie and Jon. "I want to show you something," she said, calling up a different image on the screen. "You see this? This is your baby's umbilical cord. It's a bit shorter than usual, and it's also wrapped around your baby's neck." Charlie felt a jolt of fear as she stared at the image. What did it mean? Was their baby okay? Sarah continued, her voice calm and professional. "Don't worry, this is not uncommon. But we do need to monitor it closely to make sure it doesn't cause any complications during delivery." Charlie's mind was racing as she turned to Jon, her eyes searching for reassurance. He squeezed her hand, his face set in a determined expression. "We'll get through this," he whispered. "Our baby is strong, and we'll do whatever it takes to make sure they're healthy and happy." As they left the doctor's office, Charlie felt a sense of trepidation. What lay ahead? Would their baby be okay? She snuggled into Jon's side, feeling a sense of gratitude for his presence. The sun was shining, casting a warm glow over the city. Charlie and Jon walked hand in hand, their footsteps quiet on the sidewalk. They didn't say much, but they didn't need to. They both knew that their journey as parents was about to get a lot more complicated. But they were ready, side by side, to face whatever came next.