MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Throughout camp, training wasn't the only thing on Damon's mind.

At home, Svetlana had brought up something new, she wanted to know the gender of the baby.

That morning, Damon was dressed and ready, Ava clinging to him with a lollipop in her mouth.

Her small arms wrapped tight around his neck, her grip showing she had no plans of letting go anytime soon.

Across the room, Svetlana was finishing her dress, smoothing it over her stomach before moving to slip on her shoes.

Damon watched her for a moment, then spoke. "I thought you'd want to find out during birth, just like we did with Ava."

Svetlana gave a wry smile. "I might be impatient this time."

Damon chuckled, shaking his head. "Impatient, huh?" He set Ava down gently, crouched in front of Svetlana, and reached for her shoes. "Let me help."

She waved him off lightly. "I can put my shoes on. My tummy is still small."

"Yeah," Damon said, taking one of the shoes anyway. "But I still want to help."

Svetlana gave him a look, half amused, half touched, and let him continue.

Ava giggled from the side, watching her father kneel to slip the shoe onto her mother's foot.

The moment was simple, but it carried a quiet message. Even with the chaos of camp, Damon was present, steady, and unwilling to let small chances to care for them pass by..

Damon finished slipping the shoes onto Svetlana's feet, his hands lingering for a moment before he stood.

She smoothed her dress again, brushing a strand of hair back while watching him with a quiet smile.

Ava, still chewing on her lollipop, reached up for his hand, and Damon scooped her back into his arms without hesitation.

The three of them stepped outside together.

Damon unlocked the car and opened the back door, setting Ava into her seat.

She fussed, still holding onto his shirt, but he buckled her in gently and kissed the top of her head before closing the door.

The drive was unhurried. Damon kept one hand steady on the wheel, the other resting on the gear shift, his eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror where Ava sat.

She stared out the window between licks of her candy, legs swinging idly against the seat.

Svetlana leaned her head back, one hand resting over her stomach, her thumb brushing across the fabric of her dress.

Damon glanced at her, then back to the road. "You really want to know this time?" he asked quietly, not pushing, just curious.

She tilted her head toward him, her eyes soft but certain. "Yes. I don't think I can wait nine months again."

Damon didn't argue. He only nodded, his lips curving into the faintest smile. "Then we'll know."

The rest of the ride passed in silence, but it wasn't empty.

It was filled with the small sounds of family, Ava's muffled hums, the soft brush of Svetlana's hand on her stomach, the steady rhythm of the road beneath them.

When they reached the hospital, Damon pulled into the lot and found a space near the entrance.

He killed the engine, stepped out, and helped Svetlana first, offering his hand as she climbed out.

She rolled her eyes but took it anyway. Then he unbuckled Ava, lifting her onto his hip before shutting the door behind them.

The reception desk was quiet, a nurse greeting them with a polite smile before directing them toward the maternity wing.

At the front desk, Svetlana gave her name, and the receptionist tapped quickly at a keyboard before looking up. "The doctor will be with you shortly," she said kindly. "Please take a seat in the waiting area."

Damon nodded his thanks. He led Svetlana and Ava toward the row of chairs along the wall, where they settled in together to wait.

The minutes passed in the quiet of the waiting room.

The sound of footsteps echoed every so often as nurses moved in and out, calling names, guiding families through the hallway.

Damon sat back, Ava perched on his lap, her tiny hands patting at his arm as she tried to balance a toy the receptionist had given her.

Svetlana shifted beside him, her hand brushing over his before she leaned against his shoulder. Her voice was low, meant only for him. "We should get a private doctor."

Damon turned his head slightly, looking at her profile. He didn't question it, didn't push. "Whatever you need," he said simply.

She smiled faintly at the answer, her head resting more comfortably against him.

Damon kept his arm steady around her shoulders while his other hand gently guided Ava as she played, making sure she didn't slip from his lap.

Ava giggled softly, lost in her own little world, her joy a small reminder that even here, in this sterile space, they were together.

The waiting stretched a little longer, calm but heavy with expectation.

Then, finally, a nurse appeared at the doorway, scanning the room before calling their name.

Damon rose, lifting Ava in his arms, and Svetlana stood beside him. Together, the three of them followed the nurse down the hall.

The nurse guided them into the exam room, where Svetlana was helped onto the bed and the machine was prepared. Damon sat nearby with Ava on his lap, his hand never leaving Svetlana's.

The hum of the monitor filled the space as the doctor adjusted the gel and placed the probe gently against her stomach.

The screen flickered to life, grainy shapes appearing in black and white. Ava leaned forward, her small hand pointing toward the moving blur. "Baby," she whispered, wide-eyed. Damon smiled faintly, though his own attention was locked on the screen, waiting.

The doctor moved the probe slowly, carefully, as if savoring the anticipation almost as much as they were.

The heartbeat came through first, strong and steady. Damon exhaled, relief washing over him at the sound.

"Would you like to know the gender?" the doctor asked.

Svetlana's grip on Damon's hand tightened, her eyes shining. "Yes."

The doctor smiled, angled the probe, and then paused. "Congratulations. It's a boy."

Damon froze, the words hitting him harder than he expected.

He repeated them quietly, almost to himself. "A boy." His voice carried disbelief, wonder, and something heavier beneath it.

Svetlana turned to look at him, her smile soft, while Ava giggled on his lap, not fully understanding but happy all the same.