TITLE: "Queendegarten" (2/5)
RATING: A
CHARACTERS: Piper and the gang
SUMMARY: It's time for Piper to begin school
POV: Toby's
DISCLAIMER: The characters used from the West Wing do not belong to me; they are the property of Aaron Sorkin.
FOLLOWS: Go Team Go
**2**
CJ left almost two hours ago and it has been about that length of time that my daughter has been driving me insane with questions about the mall.
So when Josh finally rang my doorbell a little after noon I was probably a little too excited to see him.
"Thank God you're here," I cried out once I opened the door.
"Is he here? Is he here?" Piper screamed running down the staircase.
"If I had known I was going to get a welcome like this one I would have come earlier," Josh teased as he stepped inside.
Piper ran right into his arms and began to smother him with kisses, "I'm so happy you is finally here Uncle Josh."
"Well I'm glad I'm finally here too sweetie," Josh gave me a smile as he returned kisses on Piper's cheek.
I was in the process of feeding Keegan when Josh came to the door so I had brought him with me. He took that moment to lose interest in his bottle and started to fuss.
"Wow he's getting big," Josh observed.
"You think so?" I asked Josh while I worked on burping the baby. A few seconds later he belched.
"That he gets from CJ."
"Definitely," I agreed with a little laugh.
Josh put Piper back down and started to untie his shoe laces when Piper screamed, "STOP!"
Josh jerked his head up towards Piper wondering what he had done wrong. "Leave your shoes on we has to go out."
Now Josh looked at me for help. I took this time to take the baby back to the living room. "Oh no you don't," Josh called out after me.
I placed Keegan in his playpen and turned slightly to notice that Josh was standing not far from me, "If CJ catches you wearing your shoes in here she's going to kill you."
"If you don't tell me what trick you've got up your sleeve she's going to be too busy to worry about me."
"What do you mean?" I tried to ask innocently.
"Why can't I take my shoes off and why does your child think we're going out?"
"Cuz you guys are taking me to the mall for some new clothes shopping," Piper blabbed.
Josh closed his eyes and swallowed. I pointed to Piper, "You go get your shoes and jacket on and you," I pointed to Josh, "Stay just where you are." Josh was slowly trying to back up towards the front door.
"You said you needed help on your fence man you never said anything about shopping," Josh said with his hands raised.
"There's been a slight change in plans."
"Oh no no no no. I don't do malls."
"It won't take long. How hard can it be to pick out some clothes for a four year old?"
"I don't know and I don't plan on learning either."
"Josh I can't do it alone. I need your help."
"Here's some help. Stop procreating. It's causing me too many troubles with my ulcer."
I laughed at Josh, "You don't have an ulcer."
"My point exactly. If I go to the mall with you and Piper I'm going to wind up with one." Josh looked over at the playpen at Keegan, "What are you doing with him?"
"I figured I'd tie him up out back until we got home. What do you think I'm going to do Josh. I'm going to bring him with us."
"Toby I can't go to the mall with you. I don't even go for myself. Since eBay was invented I haven't had a reason too"
"You'll be fine Josh. I'll have Piper hold your hand so you don't get lost."
"Oh God," he said gulping. "Does CJ know about this?"
"Of course she does. And she doesn't think we can do it. So we have to show her how wrong she is."
"No we don't. Toby she's right with this one. Listen to the woman she's smart."
"Oh I see. Suddenly you're a supporting member of CJ's team now are you?"
"When it comes to this you bet your ass."
"Look at it this way. Atleast now you don't have to help me work on the fence."
"I wasn't planning on that either. I was just going to drink your beer and supervise."
Keegan started to cry so I scooped him back up and handed him to Josh, "Well you can still supervise."
I left the room and went upstairs to get ready. I heard Josh yell, "This isn't fair. You always get me here on false pretenses. There should be a law against this. You're seriously running our friendship over very thin ice."
Piper was ready to go and after I threw my watch on and grabbed the diaper bag I headed back downstairs. Josh was still standing where I had left him with Keegan in his arms. He was also holding the dog's leash.
"We have a baby carrier for him."
"It's for her," Josh said pointing at Piper.
I took Keegan from him and put his little summer jacket on and then grabbed my keys. "Okay we're ready to go."
Piper took hold of Josh's hand and lead him out the minivan, "Oh you've got to be kidding me. I'm not going in that kiddy mobile. If we're going to go let's atleast take my car."
"We can't. The car seat is in the van."
"Well I'm riding in the front then," he said more to Piper than to me. She just stuck her tongue out at him. That was my girl.
I loaded the kids up and hopped into the driver's seat and started the van up. "What mall are we going to anyway?"
"Winners," I answered.
"Winners?" Josh repeated.
"Yeah why?"
"Why? Oh no reason. It's just that we're going to look like a bunch of losers but if you don't mind who am I to complain," Josh reached over and flicked the air-conditioning on and then sat back.
I sighed and put the van into drive and on we went for our trip to the mall.