Three Cheers

With our baby names picked, Gerard and I got into the talk of where we would officially place our baby. Gerard didn't want the baby to share a room with Thora, because she's a grumpy girl if she doesn't rest, and wouldn't be able to sleep of the baby slept in the same room. I didn't want to give up my room, and I didn't want Gerard to give up his.

Gerard and I hashed the thoughts as we went and looked at baby furniture. It was one of the few times we were alone; the girls were with my mom and dad that Saturday afternoon. We weren't sure what we wanted to get, but we wanted to get something new for our baby.

"Maybe I can clear out the attic," I said softly; my fingers ran over the plastic lip of a changing table. "It's not too small."

"Nah, nah," Gerard objected, "No way."

"Well, we're in a tight spot. We've got almost 4 months left."

He hummed and then said to himself, "Biz. Busy."

"What about Busy?"

"Her room is big enough for her and Thora. We could move them in together until the baby is sleeping through the night." He explained.

"Busy'll have a fit, Gerard," I laughed softly, "She'd kill us. She likes her own space."

Gerard sighed, "Yeah. I forget how much of a diva she is."

"She gets it from you." I countered.

Gerard wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "Is that a bad thing?"

"You're the one who said she's the diva."

He let out a small laugh, "She is."

We rounded an aisle where baby bottles and pacifiers were stacked and lined along our left and right. Gerard kept looking at the funny bibs and the bottles. "What about we let the baby and Thora share a room, but the baby sleep with us until they get on a routine?"

I thought for a moment, "That sounds like a good idea."

"The girls' will like that." He replied as he tossed around a cartoon bib. "When is your baby shower?"

"In December," I took the bib from him as he prepared to toss it again. "A month before I'm due."

"December is the party month," he chuckled, "Got Busy's birthday, Christmas parties, baby shower, New Years..."

"And my ankles will be too swollen to dance. Sucks to be you." I teased him.

Gerard rolled his eyes, "I've got Frank."

I scoffed, "Has Frank ever given you a baby?"

Gerard smiled and then wrapped his arms around me, "No. I don't plan on makin' a baby with him either."

I giggled against his cheek and then kissed his lips, "Good."

"You're the only one I'll ever make babies with." He stated happily.

"Why is that?" I questioned him jokingly.

"Because you're cute." He stated as if it weren't the most obvious thing.

I rolled my eyes back at him, "Ass kissing gets you nowhere, Gerard."

"Says you." He mumbled against the corner of my mouth.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him nuzzle his face against my neck. It always amazed me how Gerard lacked the ability to grow a full beard. Now, his face was scruffy, but it was always usually smooth; it takes him weeks to grow this much hair out. I love it, just for the sake that he looks more and more like a daddy with facial hair. I kissed his cheek, "I love your beard."

He laughed against my neck, "I thought I should grow it out to be inconspicuous."

"Not to look older?" I asked with a small laugh.

"That too," he laughed too. "Let's get out of here. We can have Frank and Fran buy this stuff for us."

"That's mean." I let him go and slugged his arm playfully.

"They offered. Frances loves babies." Gerard took hold of my hand and began to lead me out the store.

"But I want to do this." I whined.

"Too bad," he kissed my temple, "All you need to do is relax and make it through the next 5 months."

"How do I relax when I have a store to run?"

"You get a manager." Gerard told me simply. "I've wanted you to cut back on going to the store anyway."

"Why?"

Gerard sighed as we exited, "Because you don't need to stress over anything there. And you aren't a seamstress anymore."

I chuckled, squeezing his hand, "I like making stuff for the girls."

"It's not a bad thing, but you always work so hard and for so long. You should relax."

"I can't, I need to be doing things."

"Do a puzzle." He said guilelessly.

"Easy for you to say, you're a man."

Gerard wrapped his arm around my waist now, "Thats life, Sugar."

"Don't rub it in."


The girls sat on the floor a few feet from Fran and I, holding baby Anthony up as he tried to walk. He was getting bigger by each passing day, and he looked more and more like Frances than Frank. He had a light dark brown shade to her hair and her green eyes; he has her nose and the arch of her brows. Anthony has Frank's button nose and grin, but you had to look for Frank's features. In two months he'll be a year, and was starting to walk and say a few words here and there.

"Auntie Fran," Thora called over, "Is Anthony gonna talk funny like you?"

I shook my head, the two of us laughing. "No," Fran answered, "I'm sure he'll sound like Frankie."

Thora giggled, "Thats funny."

Thora went back to playing with Busy and Anthony. Fran exhaled softly, turning to me, "Now, how are things between you and Gerard? I never see you two together until when you leave."

"We're great," I told her, "We've finally decided the whole room situation. He wants me to cut back on going to the store too."

"Such a man, always has to have it his way." She jested.

"I know," I scoffed jokingly. "He means well, he doesn't want me to get overwhelmed."

"Does he not know you? You can do it all, October."

"Prove it to him, then. I get what he means, and I'll do it for him...just to ease him."

She cooed, "Aw! You two are so cute!"

I rolled my eyes, "What's so cute about me obliging Gerard?"

"I don't know, it just is. It's sweet."

"I just don't want him to worry." I told her.

"Still cute," she giggled at me. "Onto more cuteness, I must ask, what're you hopin' for? Boy or girl?"

I shrugged and looked over at the girls; Busy was holding Anthony's hand to make sure he was walking and Thora helped. "I really don't know. I've been back and forth."

"What about Gerard?"

"I don't know. He says he wants a boy."

"All men want a boy," Fran said, "I hope it's a boy. I'd love to see a baby boy version of Gerard."

I smiled, "Me too."