Hello friends! Good evening. How are we all doing? Hopefully well. Hopefully better than me LOL. No, I'm fine, really. Probably just being dramatic but thank you all for your wonderful reviews regarding the last chapter! I hope your Valentine's Day went well too haha. This one's a bit random but I guess I can stop saying that because they're all super random? Like not cohesive in the slightest but hopefully it still goes over well anyway.

Yeah so hey. I don't have much else to say LOL. I hope you're all trucking through life. If you're in the north and being bombarded with snow and cold, fear not! Winter is almost over. If you're in the south, like me, and being bombarded with wonderful beautiful weather, begin to fear because summer is almost here and it's going to get hot and busy. Okay. I've rambled my stupid thoughts long enough haha. Thank you, I love you all, and enjoy this chapter. Title comes from "Welcome to the World" by Nicolette Larson. Also, once upon a time Troian did this amazing podcast where she talked about all kinds of shit and one those things was where Spencer came from/how she came to be. Her answer was incredible and so I stole it and formulated it for this chapter. For the life of me I can't remember which podcast this is, but this wasn't my original idea so I wanted to make that clear. Kay byesies.


love is all around you and here to stay

They're going to be parents.

It doesn't scare him at first. In fact, he's so delighted, he spins her in circles, kisses her over and over, and they make love twice. All of their belongings are packed away in preparation for their upcoming move to New York, so they celebrate with a final dinner at the Grille and order champagne for a toast, which Spencer doesn't drink, of course. On the drive back to the loft, they fantasize about what their child will look like, what he or she will like and dislike, and all the different things they'll be able to do together as a family. It's when he's fresh from a shower and brushing his teeth that the fear begins to settle in. Parents; they're going to be parents. He's going to be a father and as exciting and fulfilling as that is, it's also completely terrifying.

He has no frame of reference, really. His father is less than stellar and the only thing he's learned from the elder Cavanaugh is the type of father he does not want to be. They're still young; perhaps too young to be doing this. They're in the middle of a move, Spencer's still in school and Toby's had a steady job for all of about five minutes… This is not going to be easy. And parenting in general isn't easy, but he imagines they've only rocked the boat with every little obstacle they now have to overcome. He's trying to remain as positive as he can; it's who he is and who Spencer's always needed him to be. But he's not going to lie and say he isn't mildly frightened. This is certainly a stepping-stone he hadn't yet expected.

When he returns to their bedroom, Spencer's combing through her wet hair with her fingers, her laptop on the bed before her, reading wide-eyed. He sits beside her, asking, "What are you reading about?"

"Pre-term labor," Spencer replies reluctantly. "It's terrifying."

"Then why are you reading about it?" He wonders and she shrugs.

"I need to be prepared," She tells him and clicks on another article, immediately gasping. "Ew! Why did I click on this?"

Toby balks, "Gross! What is that?"

"It's what the placenta looks like," Spencer gags. "Oh my god, celebrities are eating them!"

"That's disgusting," Toby shakes his head and then points out a related article. "What is SIDS?"

"I don't know," Spencer replies and begins to read aloud. "Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, is the sudden unexplained death of a child less than one year of age. SIDS usually occurs during sleep between the hours of midnight and nine a.m. There is usually no evidence of struggle and no noise produced. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown."

Toby's eyes are wide with shock. "Oh my god."

"So we could do literally everything right," Spencer says quietly, her voice full of horror. "And the baby could still just…"

Toby takes the laptop and closes it, placing it aside. "That's enough internet for now."

They sit for a moment in silence before Spencer says, "Are we ready for this?"

"Is anyone ever ready?" Toby wonders. "I mean, we're still young but… That could be a good thing."

Spencer bites her lip, admitting, "I don't know how to be a mom."

"You're going to be a great mom," Toby assures her. "Really. I have no doubt in my mind."

She smiles just a bit. "You put too much faith in me."

"You don't put enough faith in you," Toby counters. "Look, it's scary. It is. You're scared and I get it; I am too."

"I'm not scared," Spencer shakes her head and at her husband's pointed look, she backtracks. "Not scared, just… I don't know, a little nervous, I guess."

He regards her for just a moment before asking, "Can I tell you something?"

She nods eagerly. "You can tell me anything."

"My Mom wanted a big family," Toby begins. "Like four or five kids at the least. But she had a really rough pregnancy and an even more difficult labor that ended in an emergency cesarean. And I guess that was pretty scarring and when you put that together with whom I turned out to be, I remained an only child. I guess my Dad always wanted a son he could throw a ball around with or watch football on Sundays with or someone who was respectable enough to carry on the family business. So when I had zero interest in all of that… I mean, I always would rather read a book or draw… And so I guess my Dad just kind of convinced my Mom that they were good. They didn't need any more kids. He never got behind who I was; he was always disappointed."

Spencer's eyes are full of heartbreak and she takes his hand, saying, "You're perfect just the way you are. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, especially him."

"It doesn't bother me," Toby tells her honestly. "My point is, only my Mom wanted a family. My Dad wanted… an heir, or something. He wanted a carbon copy of himself. That's what he thought parenting was. So I've got way less of a chance of being a good parent than you do, Spence. Look at where I came from and look at what I've got to work with. My family is a mess."

"Right, because mine's perfect?" Spencer replies. "Did I ever tell you that I was an accident?"

He exclaims, "You were what?"

"Yeah, that secret came out during Melissa's bachelorette party when my mother had one too many Jager bombs," Spencer says. "And why my mother was invited is a story for another time, but regardless, it made me feel a lot of things about myself and somehow, oddly made a lot of sense."

Toby smirks. "Really? I can't say I was expecting that."

"Why not?" Spencer inquires. "They had one perfect child, but they still pretty much hated each other and they were bickering and bickering back and forth for years. And with the DiLaurentises and with Jason and with all of that happening right next door, there was tension building for years. So they got drunk and had a blow out fight and, as much as it physically pains me to say this, a lot of angry hate sex. It's disgusting. Like, I'm literally the product of a drunken one-night stand. I mean, who knows if I would even be here if they didn't have that massive fight? What does that say about where I came from, Toby? If your family is mess, mine is a disaster."

"Wow," Toby shakes his head. "Well, we're off to a rough start."

Spencer chuckles a bit. "Yeah. We really are."

"At least our child wasn't conceived with some ulterior motive," Toby shrugs. "Or… drunkenly."

"I don't know," Spencer considers. "We did have a lot of champagne on our mini honeymoon."

"And a lot of sex," Toby says. "You know, we actually should've seen this coming."

"We should have, I mean, mathematically speaking," She laughs. "I don't know why, but… I'm not nearly as nervous as I was before."

"That's because you and I know we'll be better than our parents," Toby tells her. "There is no possible way we could be any worse."

They kiss lovingly for a moment before Toby asks, "How far along are you? When should we be expecting our little bundle of joy?"

"I don't know," Spencer replies. "I just took a test. I haven't seen a doctor yet. But I did make an appointment for Wednesday, right before we leave. Will you come with me?"

"Of course," He agrees. "And we should probably tell our parents before we go. I don't know when we'll be back in Rosewood again."

"That's true," Spencer considers. "But you're supposed to wait until after the three-month mark, right? For good luck?"

"You're asking me?" Toby wonders. "This is my first kid too."

"I just don't know how any of this works," Spencer says. "But you and I'll figure it out, right?"

"Yeah," Toby assures her. "We've got this."


This is the longest doctor appointment of her life.

She's already gotten a physical, a blood test and a pap smear. A urine sample came next and then a dozen and one questions about her medical history, her gynecological health details and if she'd had a past of smoking, drinking or drug use (that last one had gotten her and though Dr. Thomas had asked judgment free, she already felt like a terrible mother). Next was a complete and thorough review of the Hastings and Cavanaugh families' medical history, recounting chronic or serious illnesses that could be hereditary and it leaves both of them with their heads spinning. Dr. Thomas asks if anyone in either of their families has ever had a genetic disorder and asks if they would like to schedule any prenatal testing for said disorders during her own gestation. They disagree together. They aren't worried and the odds are in their favor, but even if something should happen, nothing could make them love their child any less.

"All right, I know this has all been really overwhelming, but there's just a few more things we have to cover," Dr. Thomas tells them. "You're very healthy and I know you'll have no problem maintaining that, but it is now more important than ever to eat a healthy diet and keep yourself in check. On average and based on your BMI, you should gain about twenty-five to thirty-five pounds throughout the pregnancy, where it'll be about one to five pounds for the first trimester and then about a pound a week from there on out."

Spencer's eyes widen. "A pound a week?"

"I know that sounds like a lot," Dr. Thomas grins. "But about 90% of that weight is going straight to the baby."

"And where's the rest going?" Spencer wonders and then shakes her head. "Never mind, I think I can guess."

Her husband and doctor chuckle. "Here are a few pamphlets for you on choosing the right prenatal vitamins, foods you should avoid, eating well and some common discomforts of early pregnancy. Now you are due late January, which would make you about eight or so weeks along, so have you been experiencing any symptoms lately?"

"A couple headaches here and there," Spencer shrugs. "A little nausea, but I haven't vomited yet. Hoping to avoid morning sickness, you know?"

"It's probably wishful thinking," Toby puts in and Dr. Thomas smiles.

"It probably is," She replies. "But that's good. I do want to make you aware of a few symptoms you should never ignore, however. Now these are going to be things like severe abdominal pain, bleeding or spotting, pelvic pressure or cramping, painful urination, severe vomiting, chills or a fever of 100 degrees or higher, any swelling, difficulty breathing, dizziness or exposure to communicable diseases."

Spencer shakes her head. "I might need you to write those down."

"Luckily for you, I already did," Dr. Thomas says, handing her a sheet of paper. "Basically, your early pregnancy symptoms are completely normal, but if they worsen or persist into the second trimester, I want to know about it immediately."

"Okay. Will do."

"Great," Dr. Thomas replies. "And now the fun part."

She begins to type away into the computer beside her and directs Spencer to lie back against the headrest. "Would you like to see your baby?"

"We can…" Toby stammers. "We can see the baby?"

"Of course," Dr. Thomas says. "At eight weeks, the baby is about the size of a raspberry, so he or she'll be small, but still there. You won't see any discernible features just yet, but you will be able to see the heartbeat. And hear it, too, if we're lucky."

Spencer's speechless and wide-eyed as Dr. Thomas focuses the screen, squirts a bit of gel onto her stomach and rubs the transducer around just a little. She grins and points towards a tiny dark sac right in the middle and says, "There's your baby. This right here is going to be the spinal cord and that tiny little circle is his or her head. And see that little blinking circle right there? That's the heart."

"Oh my god," Spencer finally emits, her eyes glued to the screen. "That's our baby."

"That's our baby," Toby echoes, his expression mirroring hers.

"It is," Dr. Thomas chuckles. "Tiny little bugger, but very strong heartbeat. Very healthy. Let me see if I can get it…"

She clicks a couple buttons and flips a switch and then, the entire room is surrounded in the sound of their tiny child's heartbeat. The satisfying whoosh-whoosh sound brings tears to her eyes. This is real; there is a real, living human inside of her. "Oh my god. Oh my god."

"That's our baby," Toby says again and then turns to her, professing, "I love you so much, Spence."

"I love you too," She grins and pulls his mouth to hers.

On the other side, Dr. Thomas says, "I'll make some print outs for you. It'll be a good thing to show your families."

The printer whirs beside them and Spencer remembers she can't exactly keep this to herself. Sure, the girls had been the first to know and Toby had been so, so excited when she'd told him… But she's twenty-four and still en route to her doctoral degree. They have a tiny apartment secured in New York and barely enough money to sustain themselves. It isn't likely her parents are going to react as positively as her friends and husband had. But, strangely, she isn't as terrified as she once was. Seeing that tiny little fluttering heartbeat, the teeny human she and Toby had created, had brought out a fierce protectiveness within her and if her family can't accept that, than she'll go find someone who will.

They have plans to meet her parents for lunch and, they find out when they arrive, Melissa has weaseled her way into the meeting as well. She's somehow worked it out so that she gets full-time pay for her part-time hours and that way she can still be a working girl with income and Wren's devoted little housewife all in one. It makes zero sense to Spencer, but nothing Melissa's done ever has. Vivian is away with the nanny and Wren is in surgery, which is somewhat of a relief. They're halfway through lunch when Spencer feels like this is a pretty good time to bring up their big news. That, or she can't listen to her father and sister share their views on the politics of Rosewood. It's legitimately putting her to sleep.

She clears her throat and says, "Toby and I actually had a bit of an ulterior motive in wanting to meet you guys for lunch today."

"I thought it was because you're leaving town?" Peter wonders. "You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"

"Friday, actually, Dad, and yeah, it is because of that, but also there's something else," Spencer says. "We have an announcement we want to make."

"An announcement?" Veronica questions and then gasps. "You're graduating early."

"No," Spencer shakes her head and this doesn't cease her mother's probing.

"You're deferring?" Veronica asks. "Spencer, Columbia is very expensive, and-"

"Mom, I know, okay? I've been there before. I'm not deferring," Spencer rolls her eyes. "And this isn't about me. I said we have an announcement, remember?"

Melissa gasps and says, "Oh my god, you're pregnant."

Their parents' eyes snap to the couple, namely their younger daughter. "Are you?"

"Uh… Yeah," Spencer nods and she has no idea why she feels like a child being scolded. Isn't this supposed to be a happy announcement? "Yeah, I am. Toby and I are going to be parents. In January."

She glances to her side and notes the paralyzing terror on Toby's face. She can't blame him. Her parents are making this as though they're still teenagers, caught in the act. Veronica's blinking rapidly, as though she can't process the news. "Spencer, I… This is wonderful. Really, it is, I'm just… It's such a surprise."

"I'm not going to pretend it wasn't a surprise for us, too," Toby says in an attempt to bring levity to the situation. Spencer smiles and her mother chuckles just a bit.

"I knew it," Melissa grins. "I could just tell. I don't know if it's because I'm your sister or because I've been pregnant before, but I just sensed it. Oh, I'm going to be an aunt! Viv's going to have a little cousin!"

"But Spencer, you're… You're still in school," Peter says stubbornly. "Have you thought about how difficult this is going to be?"

"Yes, Dad, it's all I've been thinking about," Spencer frowns. "But I'm not sixteen anymore. I think I can handle it."

"Peter, please," Veronica chastises. "Did you not hear what she said? We're getting another grandchild!"

"And I'm thrilled, make no mistake about that," Peter says and Melissa interjects.

"Have you had any morning sickness yet?"

"Not really," Spencer shakes her head. "A little nausea, but-"

"Look, if you do get it, sucking on lemon drops really helps," Melissa advises. "And tea with honey and some cold compresses always helped me with the headaches."

"Thanks," Spencer nods. "That's actually really helpful."

"What about the cord blood? Have you thought about whether or not you're going to bank it?" Melissa then wonders and Spencer shrugs.

"I don't know," She replies. "I don't really know anything about it."

"Oh, it's a quick and painless procedure. Takes five minutes," Melissa replies. "Plus it'll be good to have the blood on file just in case, God forbid, anything should happen down the road. We did it with Viv, and I'd do it again."

"I guess we'll have to think about that, then," Spencer nods.

"Is your apartment even big enough for three?" Peter then asks. "Because when you showed me pictures, Spence, it barely looked big enough for two."

"Dad," Spencer rolls her eyes. "It'll be fine. Babies are small, right?"

"But they come with a lot of baggage," Peter says and Veronica nods.

"That they do," She agrees. "And we are going to spoil that kid endlessly."

"Toby," Melissa then says. "Are you ready to run to McDonalds at two a.m. for French fries? That's what you're in for."

Toby laughs. "Whatever I have to do, I will do it happily. Honestly, whatever Spencer wants… I'll find a way to get it for her."

Spencer grins at him and Melissa nods her approval. "Good answer. Definitely watch your waistline, though. Sympathy weight gain is a real thing; Wren gained, like, fifteen pounds. He was so scandalized. I mean, it's gone now, but-"

"What about childcare?" Peter then asks. "I mean, you're going to be working and in school. The baby's going to have to go somewhere. But of course, that's an added expense, too."

"We'll help them, Peter," Veronica answers and Peter shakes his head.

"We don't live in the city."

"Okay, so now we'll have an excuse to visit," Melissa adds. "As if Barneys and Bendels weren't enough, right?"

As the three continue their monologues, Toby turns to Spencer and says, "I'm lost."

"You and me both," Spencer agrees. "But at least it went kind of well, right?"

Toby then frowns despite the situation. "Can't say telling my family will be the same."

And the very next day, that's exactly what they do. Hand in hand, they ascend the porch steps to Toby's childhood home and ring the bell. Toby seems calm and cool and collected, but the hand firmly grasped in her own is shaking. It shouldn't have to be like this. Daniel Cavanaugh has never been warm and inviting, and Spencer still can't figure out what his issue is with her, but this is his only child bringing him some of the greatest news he could ever hope to receive. She doesn't say this often, but she actually hopes he'll prove Toby wrong and react as positively as he can. Spencer can count on one hand the amount of times she's had a conversation with this man; when they went for a very, very brief dinner to announce their engagement, when he'd offered her a tight-lipped congratulations at their wedding… and end of list. She isn't Hanna; she doesn't need everyone to like her. But this man is her family too, technically, and a clean slate might be nice.

Toby sighs heavily when a few minutes go by with no answer and rings the bell again, accompanying this with a few heavy knocks. Spencer asks, "Do you not want me here? Would you rather do this alone?"

"No," Toby shakes his head. "No, I want you here. I need you here. If he reacts the way I'm expecting, I'll need you to make sure I don't strangle him to death."

Spencer smirks. "You don't have a violent bone in your body."

He shrugs. "Still."

She watches the irritation and a slight tremor of fear pass over his face and asks, lightly, "Do you really think they won't be happy for us?"

"I don't know," Toby says quietly and knocks on the door a second time. "I hope they will, but…"

"But," Spencer fills in. "A baby means you're stuck with me for life and your Dad doesn't want that."

"Spence," His eyes meet hers finally, sympathetically. "It's not like that. It isn't you."

"It's not?" She questions. "Because he seemed to make it pretty clear in the past that he's not my biggest fan."

Before he can offer a reply, the front door opens, but it isn't Daniel on the threshold. It's Heather, Toby's stepmother, and she seems genuinely surprised that they're there. "Oh. Toby, Spencer, hi. What are you doing here?"

"Well, we live here," Toby replies smartly and Spencer squeezes his hand in warning. If he doesn't start with claws out, maybe they won't, either.

Heather purses her lips and says, "I thought your father said you'd moved to New York."

"We're leaving tomorrow," Toby corrects her. "And we wanted to talk to him before we left."

"He's not here." Heather informs them. "Was he expecting you?"

"Yes," Toby sighs. "I talked to him two days ago to confirm it. He said to come by on Thursday, because-"

"He never mentioned it to me," Heather replies and then steps aside. "Well come in, I guess, and wait for him."

She shuts the front door behind them and then disappears into the depths of the house. Spencer's only been inside Toby's childhood home once and she's only ever been in Jenna's room. But as Toby leads her to the living room, she realizes every room in this house is basically like a shrine to Toby's stepsister. There are pictures of her all over the walls, the mantel on the fireplace, and awards she's won in frames alongside the window. There are a few photographs of Daniel and Heather and a couple of anniversary cards along the desk in the corner. There is no record of Toby ever having lived here at all; no pictures, no belongings, nothing. Her heart clenches in her chest, but Toby seems remarkably unfazed, and she wonders if this is what the house looked like when he'd lived here, too. Always an outsider, even on the inside.

Twenty-five minutes go by and there's no sign of Daniel Cavanaugh. Heather goes about her housework and makes lunch and returns a few phone calls as if the couple is not even there. With every passing minute, Toby grows more and more agitated and Spencer can feel the tension radiating off of him. She places a soothing hand on his arm and says, "It's okay. I'm sure he'll be back soon."

"Yeah, and I'm sure he conveniently forgot we were coming," He frowns. "Let's just go. We'll send them an email after the baby's born and they can figure it out from there."

"Do you really want your parents to find out they're grandparents through email?" Spencer implores. "Toby, it's okay. I don't mind waiting."

"You know what? I don't even know if I want them to be active grandparents," Toby then says. "Your parents are fine. I've seen them with Vivian and they're actually better at this than I would've expected. No offense."

She smirks. "None taken."

"But mine?" He probes. "God, they can't do anything right. And I don't want the baby anywhere near Jenna, who they're obsessed with. I just… I don't know."

Spencer senses there's more. "You just what?"

He doesn't look at her when he admits. "I just wish my Mom was here."

Her heart breaks and at first, she doesn't know what to say. Then, an idea hits her. "Do you want to go tell her?"

He glances at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"When we leave," Spencer clarifies. "Do you want to go to the mausoleum and visit her? Tell her she's going to be a grandmother?"

For a moment, he's quiet. Then he smiles and nods slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd really like that. Thank you."

The garage door opens, then, and they can hear a car door slam and footsteps in the mudroom. Daniel's in great spirits when he comes in but Heather greets him with the news. "Your son's here."

And though they're two rooms away, they make no effort to muffle their voices and Spencer and Toby can hear every word. "What's Toby doing here?"

"I don't know, Daniel," Heather sighs. "He says you told him to come by on Thursday so you could talk."

"Oh, right, that's right," Daniel says and then asks, gruffly, "Is she here?"

Heather affirms, "Yes, they're both here."

She's not going to pretend it doesn't sting, but she keeps her face neutral. Toby does not. Angrily, he stands and beckons for her to follow. "Let's go. We're leaving. I'm not dealing with this."

"No, Toby, it's fine," Spencer pleads. "I'm fine. He's here now, so let's just get it over with and then we can move on."

"Did you hear what you just said? Get it over with? So we can move on?" Toby fumes. "That should not be how we go into this."

"I know," Spencer agrees, standing too. "Believe me, I know that more than anyone."

"I'm sick of it," Toby replies. "We're not telling them. They don't deserve to know about the baby if they can't even accept the baby's mother."

"Excuse me?"

Their heads snap in the direction of the doorway, where both Daniel and Heather are standing there, wide-eyed in surprise. Toby says nothing and Spencer's drowning in the uncomfortable silence, so she utters, "Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh… We came here to tell you that we're expecting a baby. I'm sorry you had to find out like this."

Heather's paralyzed with shock, but Daniel says, "A baby?"

He says this as though they've just told him he's contracted the avian flu or herpes. Disgusted, Toby says, "Yeah, I'm going to be a Dad. And I'm going to be nothing like you."

He turns without another word and storms out of the house and Spencer's caught in a whirlwind of emotion. The Cavanaughs are still staring at her, incredulous, and she can't stand when anyone treats Toby without the utmost respect that he deserves. She also can't hold her tongue; it's never been her strong suit. "I'm really disappointed. I thought you'd be happy. I mean, who doesn't get excited about a baby, right?"

She turns to go and on second thought, adds, "Your son is the greatest man I know. He's thoughtful and kind and caring… If our baby is anything like him, I'd never take advantage of that."

The front door swings shut behind her and she suddenly feels like crying. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones or maybe it's the fact that her husband goes underappreciated by almost everyone who meets him. He's sitting inside the truck, taking deep, calming breaths when she enters and he immediately apologizes. "I'm so sorry, Spence."

"Why would you be sorry?" She implores. "You've done nothing wrong."

"I let it happen," Toby laments. "I let them treat you that way. I shouldn't have… I should've done something."

"You can't change their minds," Spencer shakes her head. "No one can."

"I will not let them treat our baby that way," Toby replies, adamant. "If that means they have nothing to do with him or her, then so be it."

Spencer offers, "Maybe they'll come around."

Despite the situation, Toby smiles. "Is that hope I hear in your voice?"

"Look, I'm no fan of the H word," Spencer grins. "But you are. And I'm a fan of you. So I thought I'd try it on for size."

He chuckles. "Looks good on you."

She sobers a bit and asks, "Are you ready to go see your Mom?"

"Yes," Toby nods. "And then let's get out of here. I'm getting really sick of Rosewood."

As always, she wholeheartedly agrees.


It's the first night in their new apartment and sirens sound outside and the entire place smells like their botched taco night. Toby's never seen someone puke so much in all his life. He disposed of the ground beef and made a meatless taco salad with what was leftover for himself, but Spencer kept her promise and ate nothing but saltine crackers. Morning sickness, they'd just learned, is not reserved solely for the morning. Opening all the windows in the apartment seemed to have worked in getting the smell of cooking meat out of their tiny abode and now, it's pushing ten o'clock and Spencer seems to be okay. She jumps into the shower as Toby climbs into bed, awaiting her. He flips open his laptop and begins to mindlessly pore over the internet before getting sucked into the land of online shopping. Target is advertising a free $25 gift card with every purchase of $150 or more on baby items and he snickers. Who spends that much on baby stuff?

Apparently everyone.

He's still balking at the prices when Spencer emerges moments later, towel drying her hair. "I brushed my teeth like four times, but I understand if you still don't want to kiss me. I could honestly do without the puking."

"You could puke a marathon and I'd still want to kiss you," He says, not looking up from the computer and then pauses, adding, "That might be the weirdest thing I've ever said."

She laughs and climbs into bed beside him. "What are you looking at?"

"Target," He says simply. "Turns out, baby stuff is expensive."

"Yeah, no shit," Spencer teases. "Look at all those strollers! How do you even know which one to choose?"

"Definitely not this one," Toby points out. "It's five hundred dollars!"

"That's a quadruple stroller," Spencer says, looking closer, and then clutches her stomach, asking, "How many do you think you put in here?"

He laughs. "Okay, fine. But this one's for only one baby and it's four hundred dollars. Not that much better."

"I guess we've got to do some research," Spencer replies. "But we can probably save some money, right? I mean, I married a carpenter. You can make a crib and a changing table, can't you?"

"Oh sure," Toby agrees. "I mean, I'm not going pay for things I can make myself."

"And I trust you more than I trust Sorelle or StorkCraft Portofino," Spencer says and then points to a thumbnail of a beautiful sleigh crib. "Can you make it like that? It's beautiful."

"Yeah," He says. "What I can't build, though, is a car seat and those things are like two hundred and fifty dollars. I don't understand."

"Yeah, and how do you even know which one to get?" Spencer asks. "The B-Safe, the KeyFit, the SnugRide… There's so many to choose from."

"Like you said, I guess we'll have to do a lot of research," Toby says. "No time like the present."

"Whichever one we choose," Spencer proposes. "I just want to make sure it's safe."

"I'll keep our little raspberry safe," Toby vows and Spencer chuckles. "I promise."

"I know you will," Spencer acknowledges. "You've always done a great job with me. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll be great at this new job, too."

"I love you so much," He says. "I love you, and I can't wait to take on this new adventure with you."

"I love you too. With all my heart," She replies. "And we're ready. I really think we can do this. God, why does it have to be so far away?"

"Patience, Spence," Toby chuckles. "Nine months will go by faster than you think."