AN: continues from the last chapter

The first place they went was buybuyBaby. It was strangely exciting to be going out preparing for a new member of the family and they all felt it. Ethan had been walking, running even, but he couldn't now, thanks to the heavy cast covering most of his left leg. It hadn't seemed worthwhile to get crutches for an 18month old child. Ressler carried him again, but he wanted to face forward so that he could see and Liz knew that that was going to be heavy in no time. Ethan weighed 32 pounds, which according to his pediatrician was off the charts heavy, the average child of European descent his age was only about 23 or 24. He had also said it was not worrisome, because the weight came from his build and not excess fat. He said that Ethan had a huge physical genetic potential, which meant that if he remained healthy he would likely be a very big man some day.

Right now though Ressler had to carry him all the time and Liz couldn't really switch off with him because Ethan wouldn't let her touch him.

"How about we find one of those front baby carriers first" she suggested to Ressler, "then you can carry him that way and it will be your back and shoulders, not your arms."

"Yah that sounds easier on my body" said Ressler, bumping Liz with his elbow as Ethan wiggled in his arms. "I'm getting to be an old guy and this one won't stop wiggling."

"Oh, you old man" said Liz, playing along.

"What about you huh?" Ressler asked Ethan. "Should we get you a carrier so that you can watch and wiggle to your heart's content." He tickled the boy and nuzzled his neck making funny noises. Ethan giggled and said "yah".

"Did you hear that Liz?" asked Ressler, beeming with joy and pride. "He giggled and he answered me. That's my boy". He hugged Ethan tight until he giggled and squeaked again.

They headed to the aisle with strap-on carriers and looked at the options. There were a few that would work, but Liz picked a slightly bigger one.

"Are you sure that one's not too big for him?" asked Ressler. "I mean, we don't want him falling out."

"Let's try it, it should be fine" said Liz. "Here hold him away from your body" Ressler did, holding him at arms length as Liz buckled the carrier on Ressler's torso, she had to release the straps to get them to meet in the back. "I mean you have six more weeks of this, Don, and he's only going to get bigger in that time. And if we want it for trips or anything we might use it for a few years yet and he's going to be a big kid. You don't make small babies, mister." The front folded down so Liz did that and Ressler settled Ethan's legs in the leg holes and folded the front back up, snapping it in place. Ethan fit well, but he could also fit for some time to come.

"Yah this is good" said Ressler, checking out the whole contraption. Ethan was kicking his good leg, patting the cast on his left arm with his right hand, and babbling something to himself fluently, with very few actual words.

"I feel like he's more of a baby than I thought he would be" said Ressler to Liz. "I mean he doesn't talk much. Is he behind? I mean I don't know any of the milestones."

"No, he's not behind. Talking is slow, he probably only knows about 20 words, that's normal for his age. Talking is slower then walking" she reassured him. "You know what, while we're here let's just get a parent milestones book."

"Oooh, books" said Ressler, "we should get some kids books too."

"We'll get there Don, just hold your horses. Now that we got Ethan out of the way, lets get a big giant cart because we got a lot of stuff to get."

"Okay" said Ressler, turning around and heading back to the door. Now that his arms were freed he could push a cart, so he took the one on the end and set off. He wasn't really in any hurry, he was just going to work his way through the store.

"Okay" said Liz, making a list on her phone. "So we need some big stuff, including a bed and dresser and such for his bedroom, but I'm sure there are better and cheaper places to get that stuff. Maybe we can go to some home store when we are done here and get that stuff there. Clothes we can get mostly at Walmart or Carter's or some other kids store. Here we need mostly smaller things, toys, books, games, bottles, a soother maybe, should we get him a soother?"

"What's that?" asked Ressler, already looking at a cute blanket on the shelf beside him. It was blue with a bear on it, not very big, more like a baby blanket, but man it was cute.

"Like a pacifier."

"Well, if he doesn't have one now, let's not start it."

"Yah, probably a good call" said Liz.

"Is this cute?" asked Ressler "or is he too old?" He held up the blanket in his hand. "It's so soft."

"Well, it's not really good for his bed, but it's cute."

"What do you think Ethan?" asked Ressler, pushing the blanket at Ethan. He kicked again and reached for it with his good hand, grabbing it and clutching on.

"I think he likes it" said Ressler, gently prying it away again and throwing it in the cart. Agnes seen it and decided she liked it too so she pulled a pink one with a unicorn off the shelf and said she wanted it.

"I see this being a problem" said Liz. "She's going to get jealous that Ethan's getting so much stuff."

"Well how about this" said Ressler. "Aggie?" she looked up at him, still holding the blanket. "Come here" said Ressler. Carefully without hurting Ethan he picked up Agnes and sat her sideways in the top of the cart. "Listen, honey, you can have the blanket but we aren't going to get lots of stuff for you today, only lots for Ethan okay? Do you know why?"

"No" said Agnes, a little bummed but listening at least. "Because you have lots of toys and books at home already, right? Think about your room and your tent and your toys, you have lots of things. Does Ethan have anything at home?"

"No" said Agnes, "he doesn't have anything at home."

"No, because he's never been there. We need to get stuff for his room and toys and books for him. So how about you stay here and look at the things we get him and you can tell us if you think he would like them, okay? How does that sound?"

"I can stay in the cart?" asked Agnes. "Mom says I'm too heavy to lift up here when we go to town."

"Well, Daddy is here today and he can lift you down later, so you can stay here" he looked at Liz and winked. She smiled back so he knew she agreed. Issue averted.

And it worked. Agnes stayed up in the cart, her blanket in her lap and looked at the things that filled the cart.

They got some baby spoons and plates of hard plastic and some sippy cups and bottles, because he still was likely drinking from them. When they took them off the shelf Ethan starting babbling about "miwk" and grabbing at them so it seemed a safe bet that he used those before. They also got some baby snacks, crackers and chewy cookies, which had Ethan saying "snack" in a very cute way. Thankfully everything he seen only stayed in his mind until he seen something else which kept him from crying for things.

When they had everything they needed for the kitchen and pantry they headed for the toy aisle. That took a but longer because they weren't entirely sure what his favourite toys were and they couldn't really set him on the floor and let him pick. There was no toy he hated really because he was a baby and they all seemed fascinating to his simple mind. He seemed to really like farm toys and construction toys though. Equipment with wheels and such so they got a bit more of that than anything else. They finally settled on a huge farm set, a smaller construction set and a army set. It seemed generic to Liz, but Ethan was happy and bubbly so Liz went with it. Some of those sets had small pieces that they would have to take away for a while, so Liz got him some stuffies and colorful block sets and puzzles to keep him busy until he reached the stage where he stopped putting everything in his mouth.

Ressler needed to be monitored in the book section, because if it were up to him he would have gotten most of the ones that they didn't already have.

"I think books are great. I'm a book guy Liz"

"They are, Don, and I know you are a book guy, but we can't get them all, there is so many."

"Okay" said Ressler, "party pooper". He stuck out his bottom lip.

"Oh you, you're worse than him" she said, pointing at Ethan. Her smile gave her away though and soon they were both laughing.

"I mean, books are good for kids, helps stimulate their minds and all" said Liz, "but may I remind you that this isn't supposed to be the expensive stop today."

"Money is not an immediate issue for me Liz" said Ressler, "I get paid quite a bit - more than you even and I've been alone, saving up for years."

"I know" said Liz, "but still, it'll surprise you. And this is just the beginning. It's going to be years before these two, or any more we met be blessed with, are off to College. Kids are expensive Ressler."

She was right, he didn't really know that yet, but he believed her.

"Just start with like 15 now" said Liz, "can always get more later".

"Okay" said Ressler and he dutifully picked out 15 books.

By that time the cart was fuller than expected with other odds and ends in it and they headed for the tills. The lines were quite long and they ended up entering one at the same time as an older lady with one toy set.

"You go ahead" said Liz, "you only have one thing."

"Thank-you so much" she said, budging ahead of them. She looked at them with their full cart, Agnes looking through books in the front seat and Ethan clutching a Teddy Bear. "Wow looks like someone's getting a new room or something" she said.

"Yah, yah, sure" said Liz. "Not quite but we'll go with that."

"It's my granddaughters birthday tomorrow" said the old lady. "You guys have a beautiful family" she said. Suddenly very aware that by all appearances that's what they were Liz jumped at the opportunity.

"Thank-you" she said, "can I ask a favor?"

"Of course" said the lady as the line inched ahead.

"Can you take a picture?" asked Liz, "we don't have any."

It wasn't exactly a great place for the first family picture but it was better than no picture at all.

"Of course" the lady bumped her basket to her elbow and accepted Liz's phone. Ressler scooped Agnes out of the cart, sitting her on the top and holding her with one arm while he held Liz with the other. Ethan just hung off his chest. They all smiled, except Ethan, but he looked up at least, and the lady snapped a few pictures.

"What happened?" she asked, "if you don't mind my asking"

It took them a second to figure out what she meant but then Liz realized she was referring to the casts that Ethan had.

"He was in a car accident" she said, "he got lucky actually. And that's how we met him, we never knew he existed."

It seemed like a lot of information to share with some woman that they didn't know at all, but Liz didn't think it would matter. Tomorrow they would just be the nameless family from the baby store again.

"We are taking him home today, that's why we need all this stuff."

"Aaaww" said the lady. "That's so sad, well I'm glad you got to meet him." She didn't say anything about the fact that she now knew that Ethan was obviously only Ressler's child and not Liz's. It wasn't any of her business.

"He looks just like his Dad" she said as she placed her game set on the conveyer belt at the checkout. "Precious".

"I know" said Liz, hugging Ressler's arm briefly before beginning to unload their cart.

"I hope you guys have a good life" she said as she left, "oh to be young like that again." She wished them well and walked away.

"I hope that someday we are her" said Liz. "Happy life, out buying a gift for our grandkid's birthday."

"Me too" said Ressler, but their dreaming was cut short by the rather annoyed look of the cashier. She didn't have all day.

They didn't leave the store until after 2 o'clock in the afternoon, it had taken them longer than they thought. There was a mall close by that had both a Homegoods store and a Children's Place. It seemed like a good place to stop because one had clothes and the other had a bed and dresser and things for his room.

On the way there Aram called Liz. When she answered it bumped straight to the vehicle so everyone could hear.

"Hey guys" he said in greeting.

"Hey?" said Liz hesitantly, unsure of the necessity behind the phone call.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Uhh, we're getting what we need to clothe our son, and have a place for him to sleep and food to eat. You know all those good things" said Liz. She turned to Ressler and they exchanged concerned glances.

"Oh, how's that going? How's he doing?"

"As well as can be expected. He had a huge crying fit this morning but he has calmed down a lot and we haven't heard him since. He loves his new Daddy."

"So he's good in public - like around other people?" asked Aram.

"Yah" said Ressler, "as long as he's by me. He isn't quite so nice towards Liz yet."

"Oh okay' said Aram, "well that's good to hear. I should probably get back to work. We think we found the location on the father. Alright - see you later - bye."

"Bye" said Ressler and Liz hesitantly as the line hung up.

"Man, we can't leave the office for one day and stuff happens" said Liz.

"Yah, they are up to something" agreed Ressler. "Well, we're here," he pulled into a parking space.

They went to Children's Place first.

"It is so much easier finding clothes for a boy" said Liz from the middle of the boy's section.

"I don't know" said Ressler, "I mean what size is he even?" Ethan was in the carrier on his chest again, clutching a rabbit stuffy they had gotten at the last stop, and Agnes was holding the handle on their wheeled basket, taking her big girl job very seriously.

"You raise a good point" said Liz, setting down the stack of shirts she held.

"I mean, this thing says 18 months" said Ressler, holding up a one piece pajama, "but there's no way we could get him in here, he's way too big. This thing is tiny."

Liz started laughing as she realized yet again how little he knew about this.

"Yah, they never fit the store sizing, honey". She came over and removed the offending article from his hand, folding it up again. "Agnes started out in like 3 month stuff and she's been ahead ever since. Ethan is wearing probably closer to like a 2 or even a 3, which are supposed to be years."

"Then why even bother having a sizing system?" asked Ressler, digging to the bottom of the stack for a bigger version of the same pajamas.

"Well maybe some babies fit them, like smaller ethnicities or something, I don't know."

"Or maybe the person that made the system never had children" said Ressler, "that's usually how things go".

"Here" said Liz holding up a size 2 and a size 3 sleeper. "Let's try these on him and that will tell us what size he is. It's too much work to try everything on with those casts, besides he looks tired."

He was beginning to get sleepy, but he was missing his nap so that was to be expected.

They took Ethan and Agnes to a change room and took Ethan out of the baby carrier on Ressler's chest and wiggled him into a sleeper. He fit the 2 but it was tight,

escpesially in the chest, almost too small. The 3 was a bit big but that seemed the better option if they didn't want to redo his closet within the month. When they put him back in the clothes he had been wearing they lifted him back to Ressler's chest.

"Can I put him in here the other way?" asked Ressler, "like facing me, so he can sleep?"

"Yah I think so" said Liz, "it's supposed to work both ways."

Carefully Ressler turned him and Liz pulled his legs through their holes. As soon as Ethan was facing Ressler he stuck his thumb in his mouth and laid his head on the center of Ressler's chest, nestled over his heart. Ressler cupped his head and pressed him closer briefly to tuck his rabbit teddy up between his head and Ressler's chest as a pillow. He was asleep in the time it took them to get out of the dressing room and back to the clothes rack.

They filled the wheeled basket that Agnes was dragging around with shirts and pants and pajamas and socks and shoes and ever other article of clothing a little boy might need. It was fairly heaping by the time they had made their way through the store, and when they walked out they both carried two huge bags.

They walked through the mall to Home sense instead of going back to the car. They spent some time looking at all the beds on display.

"I don't think it's worth getting a crib" said Liz, "I mean he's got to be almost past that, and I don't feel like getting a crib and then getting another bed in a few months from now."

"Yah" said Ressler, "I mean we don't know what she had him in, but I agree. That seems uneconomical."

Eventually a store employee came around to them and offered to help them find what they were looking for. They settled on a twin bed and a big dresser as well as a change table because they were looking at another year of diapers. Unfortunately that wouldn't all fit in their vehicle but the store offered same-day delivery at a reasonable price so they took it.

They gave the driver his address and then headed for home. They had frozen pizza in the freezer, that would have to do for supper because it was close to 5 and they still needed to set up a bed that night before Ethan could sleep.

"It feels so weird" said Ressler as he drove home, "looking in the rear view mirror and seeing a mini-me."

"A 'mini-me'" laughed Liz, mocking him. "Well I don't know about you" she decided, "but I love your mini-you. Now I don't have to wonder anymore"

"Wonder?" he asked, confused.

"Yah, what your child would look like. He's exactly as I imagined he would be, I'm just sorry I never got to be the one to give him to you."

"Me too" said Ressler, grasping her hand, "It's my biggest dream to have a child with you. You want it so bad - we both do. And I wish I could give you that Liz - I do - like you can't imagine. I want to see you pregnant with my baby. But if that can never happen I'm glad that I get a child of my own at least. Unconventional as it might originate, I still get to raise my baby. We still get to raise my baby. I'm glad for that Liz - I'm glad."

"Yah" she agreed and they lasped into an easy silence as he piloted them home, driving slower than normal, hyperaware of the precious cargo in the backseat.