During her lunch break Erin met with Kelly and together they ventured to the nearest toy store in search of a gift for Kenny. Erin was overwhelmed by the vast quantity of seemingly useless but brightly coloured plastic toys filling the shelves. They split up hoping to cover more ground. A few minutes later Erin had found some interesting toys in the educational section and went to find Kelly. He was crouched down laughing as he pressed the buttons on a toy firetruck.
"Won't he have one of those already?" Erin asked trying to be serious though his laughter was contagious.
"Probably" He replied pressing the siren button one last time before standing up.
"How about this one?" Erin asked pointing to a police helicopter toy.
"Definitely not!" Kelly declared moving further down the aisle.
"What about these?" Erin asked holding up a cute set of animal print building blocks.
"They won't make noises and drive Herrmann nuts" Kelly complained.
"So that's what we're looking for" She chuckled turning on the spot to try and locate a particularly noisy toy, the colours were so distracting it was hard to single one out.
"I have found the perfect thing" Kelly announced selecting a box and bringing it to show Erin. She read the package sceptically, it was a large red plastic toy with almost a hundred tiny buttons on the front, each a perfect tiny illustration that made a corresponding sound when pressed.
"That'll do it" Erin agreed after pressing a couple of the buttons, a deranged sounding cow noise followed by ridiculously fake clapping.
"Now we just need some wrapping paper and a card" Kelly said marching triumphantly to the checkout. Once he'd purchased the toy he made his way to a newsagent where he purchased wrapping paper and a card with matching firetruck print.
"Will you be okay to wrap it?" She asked watching him struggle to fit his three purchases in the one bag without bending the card or crumpling the paper.
"I'll figure it out" He said confidently, how hard could it be? Once he'd dropped Erin off at work he found out. It took nearly half an hour for him to wrangle the paper and sticky tape around the toy, he had given up on trying to be neat. He figured Kenny wouldn't mind anyway. Exhausted and covered in tiny offcuts of sticky tape he placed the toy by the door and flopped onto the couch. Having recovered from his disastrous wrapping attempt he spent a few minutes picking sticky tape off himself and the table before showering and getting ready for the party. Kelly watched a rerun of the previous nights basketball game then decided it was time pick Erin up. She couldn't help but laugh when Kelly handed her the gift.
"Nice job" She commented gently removing her hand from the corner where the tape was the wrong way up.
"I let Shay do all the wrapping" He defended, it was the first time he'd brought her up and maintained his smile.
"That would explain it" She accepted finding a safe way to hold the gift that didn't threaten to expose the present.
"We can leave whenever you want, just let me know" Kelly informed pulling up in the already crowded street.
"I've been looking forward to this all day, we aren't going to throw the present at the kid and run" She said wondering if she would come to regret the statement. Kelly had warned her that the Herrmann house could be chaotic.
"Welcome" Cindy Herrmann half sang when she opened the door, she pulled Kelly into an eager hug then turned to Erin looking surprised.
"Hello" Erin said while the older woman inspected her carefully.
"This is Erin, my..." Kelly tried to introduce struggling to define their relationship, girlfriend sounded much too immature.
"Your?" Erin asked enjoying watching him flounder.
"Amazing, wonderful, beautiful...Otis!" Kelly answered running off to avoid the question.
"This is exciting" Cindy said looking down at Erin's belly.
"It is" Erin replied, knowing Cindy would be a great ally.
"You sound nervous, don't be, you're part of the family now" Cindy instructed. That was easier than Erin had been expecting. "Enjoy the party" Cindy said rushing off as the doorbell sounded again. Erin made her way towards the noise finding herself amongst a crowd of people some she recognised, others she didn't.
"I found the birthday boy!" Kelly announced carrying in the squirming toddler into the room. The crowd cheered before returning to their own conversations. Kelly brought Kenny over and introduced him to Erin who pulled faces until the baby laughed. "See you've got this down" Kelly commented struggling to hold the kid as he writhed with laughter. She gave him a look that suggested he should refrain from commenting on the topic.
"Ahh, I've been looking for him" Dawson said taking Kenny from Kelly.
"I'll put that over there" Kelly said taking the present. Cindy pounced and Erin watched the blonde laughing at the pathetic wrapping attempt and Kelly's excuses. While it was no where near the best wrapped gift in the adults opinion it took Kenny a full ten minutes to open making it his favourite by far. Once the paper was off his dad helped him take the toy out of the box then shot Kelly a murderous glare as Kenny began to prod the buttons.
Erin used the fact that her baby was small as an excuse to loiter around the food, sampling everything before settling on fairy bread and fruit. Over the course of the evening she was introduced to the rest of the Herrmann tribe. As the party came to an end Erin joined Kelly and Chris in helping get the children ready for bed, a task that really did require all six hands.
"Thank you" Chris mouthed holding the youngest Herrmann asleep in his arms. Erin shook her head in response, there was no reason to be thanked when all she had done was help three year old Josie into her pajamas and convince her that the tiara wasn't really necessary for bed. Kelly got the older boys, Luke, Lee Henry and Nathan, into their beds then joined Erin at the top of the stairs.
"It's so quiet" She commented, all that could be heard was the clattering of plates downstairs and a soft murmur from the boys.
"Quick, before they all recharge" He joked heading down the stairs as quickly and quietly as he could. Erin followed him and watched as he pitched in to help clear the dishes as well.
"All in bed, I don't know how you do that without help" Chris announced when he arrived in the kitchen, he'd decided to give his wife the night off.
"They aren't that bad" Cindy commented giving her husband a stern look.
"Oh right! No they're great" He backtracked before turning on Kelly. "As godfather it is your duty, in times of dire need, to watch the children for an evening while we go see a movie" He said gesturing first to Kelly then to his wife and self.
"Of course, when?" Kelly asked, he felt bad that he hadn't spent more time with Kenny, especially after Shay, his godmother, had died.
"Next Tuesday" Chris said hopefully.
"I'm working, to make up for yesterday" Kelly said wondering if he could get out of work.
"I'll do it" Erin volunteered, the perfect opportunity to see if she was mother material.
"By yourself?" all three asked looking shocked.
"Sure, I mean I've never looked after five kids before but I have done some babysitting" Erin explained wondering why they looked so worried, she could handle it.
"I'll organise some sleepovers, that'll leave you with three" Cindy said surprising Erin with her willingness to leave her children with someone she'd spent less than ten minutes talking to.
"I can manage, I promise" Erin assured, Kelly was the only one still unconvinced.
"I'll have sorted through and found baby things for you by then too" Cindy said getting rather excited.
"Sounds great, what time?" Erin asked.
"Five thirty" Cindy answered mentally calculating where that would put each of the children in their busy schedule.
"I'll see you then" Erin said knowing Kelly was eager to leave.
"Sounds great, lovely to meet you Erin" Cindy said ushering the pair towards the front door.
"Thank you, it was a wonderful party" Kelly added before they left.
"That was actually really fun" Erin commented as she got into the car.
"You don't have to babysit if you don't want" He answered, mind still struggling to see her manage three kids alone.
"I volunteered" She reminded wondering why he was having such an issue with it.
"Okay, if you're happy" He insisted knowing it was the most important thing.
"What are you worried about?" She asked.
"Nothing. I just know you haven't got much experience with kids and taking on three at once is a big ask" He answered trying not to offend her.
"I have experience with kids, I looked after Liam and Emmy for almost a week after Jules died" She explained, "Its babies I know nothing about. Cindy knows everything about them so it won't hurt to do something for her in return"
"Sorry, I didn't realise you had everything all figured out" He said.
"Trust me" She said with a grin.
"I do" He said determinedly.
"Good, then you won't mind stopping by the convenience store" She answered. Confused but knowing better than to question it Kelly did as he was told. He was glad he did when she returned to the car and handed him an ice cream. They ate them quickly, the car heater melting them as quickly as a summer day, then headed home to bed.
Little reference to the fact that its the first day of summer! I love summer because it means watermelon, mango, my birthday and Christmas :D Erin babysitting should be fun!