Thirty Kisses
Kiss #26
You would never have thought that Mai Valentine would be a big sap on the inside. She was tough, cool, biting Mai Valentine. However, when confronted with a pet shop full of baby animals, she turned into a big sack of "Awwwwww!"
"Joey! Joey! Look at this one!" She held up a chocolate brown Labrador who was squirming and yelping.
"Nyeh? I thought you said you wanted a cat?"
"But it's so cute! And erm... I kind of already bought it."
"What?" He exclaimed as Mai grinned guiltily at him. "Ah you're lucky it's so cute," he conceded, taking the puppy from Mai and bringing it up to his face, "Isn't she lucky you're so cute!" He cooed to the puppy in a baby voice. Mai laughed.
"Very macho, Joseph!"
After purchasing a dog bed, a lead, collar and dog food. Joey, Mai and the news addition left the pet shop and returned home. They squabbled over names for the puppy – a boy – on the journey back and once inside the house, Mai began fixing lunch while Joey took the pup outside. The dog came bounding inside and Joey followed, running to keep up with it. Mai began chasing the puppy in the other direction, making it change paths so quickly it ran into the sofa. She laughed and scooped him up. "The dog food's on the table."
"Eh?" Joey said, inspecting the food. "You're giving the dog a grilled cheese sandwich?"
"No that's for you!"
"Very funny, Missy." He scowled, dropping down on the couch.
"So," she said, sitting down beside him. "Aren't you going to ask me why I changed my mind from getting a cat?"
"Why?" He asked, shoving his face full of food.
"Disgusting. Anyway, I thought we could use the extra security. You, know this little one could be our guard dog." Joey raised his eyebrow as the dog ran into the sofa again. "And," Mai continued, her voice quavering slightly "I've heard that dogs are better with children than cats."
Joey scoffed. "What d'you care about that for? You don't know any kids apart from..." He trailed off at the meaningful look Mai was giving him. "You... You're not talking about Yu-Gi and Téa's kid are you?" She shook her head slowly, reached forward and grabbed his hand, placing it on her stomach. "You...You? Me? Us?" He stuttered. This time she nodded, eyes full of meaning. Joey found he couldn't speak and could only stare disbelievingly, but happily at his hands.
"We're having a baby," she smiled and Joey looked up to find tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Suddenly they were both laughing and crying at the same time. Joey pulled them both so they were standing and kissed with more intensity than perhaps he ever had, his hands still on her stomach, the puppy yapping at their heels.