Taylor's Condition

 Note to readers: Sex talk ahead!  Flee now if you must! 

Taylor and her parents meet with her doctors to discuss the recent discovery that she is Intersex. 

Marcus:  One thing I need to say before we start: The medical establishment does not assign genders at birth. We diagnose a sex, a biological state.  Society assigns gender based on that diagnosis.  What we're talking about here today is sex - not gender.

Pike: Understood.  

Marcus: There are four biological definitions of male or female, and in most people those aspects are all in agreement.   

Lara: Taylor has displayed a remarkable knowledge of the subject, but I'll review them for the parents' sake.  

Taylor:  I did a presentation last year on it for Mrs. Guinness's class.  One of my classmates kept running his mouth about "there's only two" and I just wanted to shut him up.  Didn't work. 

Lara: When a child is born, we diagnose sex by the appearance of the genitalia.  In animals without a clear external structure,  the sex is determined by gonads - males make sperm, females make eggs.  Then there's DNA and hormone levels.  

Rose-Grace: That's why you called it Complete AIS, because there was no "wait a minute, what sex is this kid".  Incomplete, she would have looked unusual? 

Pike: What does all this mean for Taylor's future?  

Lara: Yes, in the case of Incomplete Androgen Insensitivity, the genitalia would be ambiguous.  (to Pike's question) Beyond the question of motherhood, I don't think this will change anything about her life's trajectory.   She has no ovaries or womb, and therefore can't get pregnant.   But Taylor is quite healthy otherwise.

Marcus:  Two of the factors indicate male, two indicate female.  But that's just the biology.  (To Taylor) You seem to be taking all of this very well, but I do recommend you see one of our counselors.  It's quite a bit to cope with. 

Taylor: I'm actually kind of relieved, to be honest.  I'd half convinced myself I had something horrible wrong with me.  Something that would kill me. But yeah, if you want me to see a shrink, I will.   

Surprise!

Seven and Tierra arrive at The Point, identify themselves as Mr. Moneybags contestants, and are given keys to their rooms.

Seven:  This is the place owned by Mr. Moneybags?  It's awfully tacky.

Tierra: Well, he did say in the packet that he's rescuing the place.  Probably got it cheap.

Seven: For obvious reasons.  Heart shaped beds?  Seriously?

Tierra: It's clean.  No broken windows.  I'm okay with it.

Seven: You're easily pleased.  There's not even a pool!

Tierra: Did you miss that lake out there?   (laughs)  Honestly, from the description, it's nicer than I expected.  If it was a nice place, it wouldn't need rescued.

Seven: I guess you're right.  I just didn't expect the No-Tell Motel.  

Tierra: I just hope our luggage gets here soon.  That poor girl collapsed at Halfsies, and I didn't have the heart to make them wait on me during all that.  

Seven: We'll go back later, after the excitement dies down.  Did you notice the girl at the front desk called us out-of-towners?  That means some of our competition is local women.  They might have an edge, since they probably know the guy. 

Tierra: He can't be too enthused about the locals if he's doing all this.  I wonder when the others will arrive.  

Seven: Well, we do have a week before filming begins.

*****

At the hospital, Pike and Rose-Grace wait for word about Taylor.

Rose-Grace: All we know at this point is that she's in surgery.  We're waiting.

Mace (on phone): Should I call Finnick at work?  

Rose-Grace: Wait until we hear more.  Are all the other kids home?  

Mace:  Yes, and the Pikes.  McG is cooking dinner - not sure what it is, but it smells great.  

Pike:  They're here, hon.  (Rose-Grace promised to call Mace back and hangs up)  Is Taylor okay?  What happened to her? 

Lara: It was her appendix.  She's out of danger and on her way to Recovery.  She's going to be fine.

Marcus:  But there is a complication of sorts.  Please sit down, this will take some explaining.

Marcus:  During the surgery, we noticed something unusual.  

Rose-Grace:  Oh, God, it's cancer?! 

Lara: No. (To Marcus) I told you not to put it like that.  (To the parents) We found a testicle where Taylor's ovary should be. 

Pike:  She's a hermaphrodite? 

Lara: The preferred term is Intersex, but yes.  (To Rose-Grace)  My records indicate she's never --

Rose-Grace: I thought she was just a late bloomer.  Mom was a late bloomer, and so was I. 

Lara:  I'll have to do more tests to be sure, but I suspect Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome.  AIS is usually not detected until puberty.  

Rose-Grace:  Do what you need to do.  Get answers.  (To Marcus)  Can we see her now?

Afternoon In The Park

Nova has just finished a picnic lunch with her stepdaughters.  

Lottie:  Mommy's here!  I just seen her car!

Nova: Well, don't run into the parking lot after her.  You nearly got run over last time.  

Lottie: Did not!  That car stopped so far away from me!

Alex: He was only going like five miles an hour.  You got lucky.

Lara: Are you girls ready?  I've got lots of fun on the agenda.

Lottie: Mommy! 

Nova: We saved you some potato salad.  Lottie and Alex made it. 

Alex: Alex made it while Lottie talked her ear off. (as Lottie)  "Why can't we put candy in it?  Candy would make it yummier.  Mommy likes candy."

Lara: Not in my potato salad.  (laughs)  After the potato salad, for dessert.  (to Alex) Did you use Grandma's recipe?  You know that's the best kind. 

Alex: Of course.  To do otherwise is unthinkable, right, Lottie? 

Lottie: Just like the Titanic.  (Both girls giggle.) Let's go hop in Mommy's car.  I'll hold your hand and be good. 

Nova: Sorry you had to work during the reception.  We missed you. 

Lara: Me, too.  Although if that grandmother of yours was there, it might be best that I wasn't.  

Nova: She wasn't.  Still boycotting the very idea. (changes subject) You sure you're okay to keep them while we run off on our late honeymoon? 

Lara: I signed on for it when I gave birth to them, right?  Anyway, Alex is old enough to watch Lottie if I get called in.  How did the reception go? 

Nova: It was wonderful.  (checks the time) Oh, I better run.  Make the girls show you all the pictures and videos, okay?  

Lara:  I will.  Have a good time in Hawaii.  

*****

Later, Charlotte meets her sister after her appointment with the lawyer.

Charlotte: And he said that if I insist on trust funds for the kids, that might make Kaden give up the lawsuit.  He can't get to the money, he won't want to deal with them. 

Batgirl: Why are you so sure he's motivated by money?  

Charlotte: You're so naive.  Everyone is motivated by money.  You really don't -- Hey!  What the hell do you think you're doing, Hagrid?  And what the hell are you doing in Barbieville?  (Sprints away from her sister.)

Hagrid:  I'm trying to see a comet.  And I live in Barbieville. 

Charlotte slaps him, hard.

Batgirl: Stop it!  What is your problem, Charlotte?  

Charlotte: This is my brother-in-law.  I told you about him. 

Hagrid: Lady, I don't know you from Adam.  And I ain't anyone's brother-in-law.

Charlotte:  LIAR!  (tries to slap him again, but Batgirl holds her back)  You're pointing that thing right at my apartment, you answered to his name, and I recognize you.

The police arrive, much to Batgirl's relief.  She's beginning to think her sister has finally gone totally bonkers.  Lynch has things under control quickly.

Hagrid:  I think the lady's mistaken me for one of my cousins.  Very strong resemblance and lots of us are named after the same ancestor.  (To Charlotte)  Honestly, lady.  Our family reunions look like one of them movies about clones.  

Charlotte: I don't believe you.  I know Kaden sent you to -- 

Jimin: Mrs. Jackson, please, let me do the talking. 

Hagrid:  Jackson?  Oh, yeah, I got cousins named Jackson.  Kinda strange that one of them would be as rough-looking as me, though.  (whispers to Lynch) They got money. 

Batgirl: What's his full name? 

Charlotte (softly): Rubeus Hagrid Jackson.  He goes by his middle name because...

Hagrid: Because the family's overrun with Rubeuses.  (To Lynch)  I'm not gonna be pressing any charges.  Looks like my cousin's giving this lady a rough way to go and she made an honest mistake.