"Jemmaaa," Fitz cooed, causing the aforementioned scientist to turn her head. He was holding up a tiny onesie with monkeys on it, of all things. And they were holding flasks and beakers with a bib that proudly read "Mad Scientist in Training."

She rolled her eyes. "You've got to be kidding me,"

"But it's so cute!" Fitz grinned, flapping a sleeve at her. "Come on, Jems. Please?"

"Oh, I wasn't saying no," she smirked at him, pushing the shopping cart towards him. He looked like a smug child as he dropped the onesie into the cart.

They continued their browsing, Fitz occasionally flashing her outfits that he found to be acceptable (which, privately, she thought all matched his own current wardrobe) and she herself flipping through various books. Ten minutes later, she finally decided to speak up.

"You know," she started with quiet nonchalance. "You're taking awfully quick to this whole dad-thing,"

She caught a glimpse of him flushing.

"I, um, you know . . ." He scratched nervously behind his ear, sighing finally. "I'm a bit excited, alright?"

Jemma allowed herself a soft smile. "Really?"

He nodded bashfully. "Yeah. I mean, a tiny little thing that's as smart and beautiful as you, and still likes monkeys and food like me." He grinned. "Seems a bit perfect to me,"

Jemma felt herself flush. "You think I'm pretty?"

"I, um," He turned scarlet. "Yeah. Ahm, I'm not blind, Jemma."

She busied herself with flipping through a stroller pamphlet. "Well then, it's a good thing I'm not either. You are rather handsome too, you know,"

Jemma took pride in the way he nervously returned to his browsing, a soft feeling fluttering in her chest.

She stuffed it down as far as she could. Over and over she had to repeat to herself that this was simply attraction - base human instinct. Of course carrying a man's child was going to make said man all the more attractive, and the hormones being released likely weren't helping in that area.

It also didn't help that they hadn't ever quite defined that night. Surely there had to be a good amount of pining on both accounts to have lead to . . . that specific activity. Perhaps Fitz really did look at her as, well, more. He certainly seemed excited enough ar the prospect of raising a child with her. How many college age men could you count that reacted to a pregnancy with elation?

And not just that, but also paying for as much as he could manage. Less than two weeks after finding out, Fitz had worked around the clock to sell his Mouse Hole technology. And now, two and a half months after that night, he'd managed to find a buyer who offered a kind sum, and didn't spend a cent of it on himself. Instead, he opened a trust fund for the baby's college, and after ensuring monthly payments would be made, used the remaining money to take care of impending needs. Which brought them to today, shopping for bassinets and strollers, and taking a long detour through the clothing department.

Her mind flashed back to the few boyfriends she'd had before Fitz. None of them would have done such a thing, but Fitz had barely thought twice before making the arrangements. That, truly, was devotion if she'd ever seen it.

It's for the baby, Jemma. Not you.

She swallowed tersely, eyes drawn to the tiny pile of unisex onesies in the cart. Perhaps it was, she decided. But nonetheless, she could at least pretend it was somewhat for her.

"You don't think this a bit presumptuous of us, do you?" Jemma asked, fingering a pair of small shoes. "Already getting supplies, and I've barely hit my first trimester."

Fitz shrugged unapologetically. "Technically, the obstetrician said you're in your third, even if we know otherwise." he held a knit cap up for her to see. "So, personally, I think this is just getting a head start on things."

Jemma let out a small laugh, watching his blue eyes twinkling with joy at all the baby items collected in their cart. In a loving relationship or not, it was going to be okay, she decided. Fitz wasn't the type to pick up and leave when another girl crossed their path, especially after what his own father had done to him. He would be here, best friend or more.

"I mean, we won't know the gender for at least another two months." Jemma carried on, picking out a few of Fitz's selections from the cart. "If we're getting anything, it has to be unisex."

Fitz frowned as Jemma placed a small dress back on the shelf, followed by a headband. "Okay, Jems," he muttered. "But it's a girl, I'm telling you,"

Jemma scoffed. "Please, Fitz. There's no possible way you can tell,"

"No," he grinned mischievously. "But I have a fifty percent chance of being right."

"And a fifty percent chance of it being a boy." She returned, tilting her chin at him.

"Oh, so you're sure of it being a boy now, are you?"

Jemma crinkled her nose at him. "Maybe. I'm the one carrying it around, after all. I'd know out of the two of us,"

He stuck his tongue out childishly at her, adding a blanket to the cart.

"Oh, my!" crooned the elderly lady at the counter as they unloaded their cart. "Aren't you two just the cutest couple?"

Jemma caught Fitz going beet red to her left, stumbling for a response, but she swiftly laid a hand in his arm. "Thank you," she responded with a quick nod, smiling.

He cast her a questioning glance, but luckily their psychic link seemed to be in working order as he played along. He swooped to press a kiss to her cheek.

The cashier cooed. "And how far along are you, dear? Not too far, I presume,"

"Almost three months now," Jemma smiled politely. "We're just getting a bit of a start on things, you know?"

"Strange, how that woman assumed we were a couple." Fitz mentioned, pushing the cart out to Jemma's Prius. "Everyone seems to, really."

Jemma flushed. "It seems so. I don't quite understand though. We can just be friends, can't we?"

Fitz nodded, beginning to lift their bags into the trunk. "Yeah, o' course. People have kids together all the time. Doesn't mean they're married or something."

Jemma nodded thoughtfully, watching as Fitz closed the trunk and pushed the cart to the corral. He reappeared a moment later, swinging into the passenger seat next to her.

She blew a breath out, mussing the few strands of hair in her eyes. "Everything seems to be changing so fast, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," Fitz agreed softly. "But at least we've still got each other, right? The last thing I'd want is for any of this to change,"

Jemma nodded quietly, starting the ignition in silence.

But it already has.

Would love to hear what you think!