Lizzie plopped a muffin down on his desk.
Donald raised his eyes to her questioningly.
"What is that?" he asked dubiously.
"Breakfast," she replied simply.
"Why?"
"I can't bring my partner a pastry without an interrogation?" Her eyes were wide, her tone innocent, but she was still standing in front of his desk and he couldn't quell the suspicion rising in his gut.
His eyes narrowed doubtfully. "What do you want?"
Lizzie shifted her weight from foot to foot, a nervous smile playing on her lips. "I did it again," she admitted in a rush.
"You didn't" he visibly deflated, shoulder slumping towards his desk.
"It was an accident!" she insisted. "I didn't mean to!"
"We said we wouldn't"
"I know. But I did." she sat down heavily in a chair on the opposite side of his desk. She dropped her head into her hands defeatedly, elbows propped on her knees. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm sorry."
Donald's eyes chastised her. "We said after the last time that we wouldn't go back, not even to look."
"I know," she repeated, her eyes downcast in repentance.
He sighed heavily. "Well, just don't do it again. You know you can't-"
He froze when a tiny cheep issued from within her bag.
Donald's head snapped up, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What was that?" he rasped disapprovingly at her.
A sheepish expression stole across her face and she reached down and gently brought her oversized bag into her lap. He tracked her hesitant movements as she dipped her hand inside and slowly drew it out.
"No." He stared incredulously as she unfurled her fingers to reveal a tiny, yellow ball of fluff.
"We weren't even supposed to look again!" His eyes darted frantically between her face and the baby chick nestled in her palm. "You promised!" he hissed accusingly.
"I know. I'm sorry." Lizzie's face looked anything but as she stroked it's fuzzy head with her fingertip.
Don covered his head with his hands. "How did this even happen?"
Lizzie shrugged. "I need a light bulb and I was in Rural King and...and... it just happened. It was an accident!"
Donald rolled his eyes. "You have zero self-control," he bit out resignedly.
"I know; I'm hopeless." She nuzzled the baby chick up to her cheek. "But he's just so fluffy!" she exclaimed.
"I am so disappointed in you," Donald intoned with mock severity, shaking his head.
Lizzie sighed and hung her head remorsefully. "I know." She fixed him with her best innocent look. "But he is cute and after Easter, who knows what would have happened to him?"
Donald fumed but she could tell she was wearing him down.
"Well... just... don't let Cooper see it in here," he huffed. "And it had better not poop on my desk!" He pretended to return to his paperwork, shuffling folders around on his desk.
After a moment, Lizzie smiled at him. "Don?"
"Hmm?" He looked up at her, distractedly.
"Do you want to hold him?" she asked gently.
"Oh, thank God! I thought you'd never ask!"
