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Chapter 16 – The Toy Store

Samuel and Karen transported down to Plentitude's shopping area. It was afternoon there, and the wind blew Karen's hair. She grabbed it and looked back at Samuel, who took her hand.

"Wow. Windy today." He told her.

She looked around and realized they were in a park with lovely flowers, trees, and statues. "This isn't where we arrived the last time I came."

"Oh. Yeah, Genie prefers to arrive near the fountain. There's a restaurant there in the lake."

They began to walk together, Karen hugging his arm. "Yeah. We ate there, sortof."

"What do you mean, sortof?"

Karen told him about Tony's chat with the odd man, and how they all felt unsafe. "So, we all left."

He stopped walking and looked at her. "Do you feel safe, now?"

She smiled, "Of course. I'm with you."

Just as she said that, some odd furry creatures walked by, growling at one another. She followed them with her eyes. "And a family of bigfoot."

Samuel playfully scolded her. "Now, now. Think what you must look like to them."

"Like I shaved?"

Samuel laughed with her and they walked towards the shopping arena, hand in hand.

As they stepped into the huge shopping mall, Karen looked around at the tall, circular building. "There are so many stores here. I remember Genie knew just where to go."

"Well, let's do this logically. We need to get you and I both some clothing."

"You mostly. I'm alright."

"Nah. You need some new things. And I thought that we might get Halley some stuff, too."

She smiled back at him. "Baby stuff?"

"It's a lot easier to get things here than back at home." He reasoned. "Or would you prefer to eat, first?"

She smiled. "Let's get some of that dish you love."

"Postronoe? Yes! They don't have that Nebvan's. Okay, we'll get that first. Then do the shopping. Then go to eat, again."

Karen giggled as Samuel put his arm around her waist and they walked down the hallways together.

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After eating as much Postronoe as they could, and enjoying some odd drink that Karen insisted was her new favorite, Samuel took her to a few shops. They purchased nearly a complete new wardrobe for both of them. Dresses of different colors and such beautiful things for her. Things to relax in, things to wear on the beach at home, and some beautiful pieces of lingerie. Shoes, and jackets along with a few formal dresses that she insisted he would simply have to take her someplace where that would be appropriate to wear.

"With so much brown." Samuel teased. "Maybe you're Quauthin?"

She had giggled at his teasing.

Samuel's clothing was much simpler. He took her to a shop where he was digitally scanned. He then told the clerk what he wanted. At least that's what Karen imagined he had done. The clerk had her rather distracted. She, if she was a she, looked more like a large praying mantis who stood upright. She didn't move too far from Samuel the entire time, in fear of the five foot tall insect that was apparently speaking to Samuel, who didn't seem to find the situation strange at all.

He smiled back at her, "And that's sorted. They will package it together and send it to the ship for us."

"That's it?" She asked in disbelief.

He grinned. "Yep. Oh, the guys will want some more pants. Thanks for reminding me."

Karen giggled, "You're welcome."

Samuel turned back to the odd clerk and ask for something else in the same strange language he had used before. Karen had been so distracted by the clerk that she hadn't noticed that Samuel was even speaking a different language until now. She couldn't help but to be impressed.

He turned back to her and took her hand again. "Right then. Where next?"

She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Samuel, you totally have me a loss with this."

He laughed. "Toy store! Yes! My favorite one is just up the hall."

They walked together with their arms around one another's waist. Samuel was positivity smiling ear to ear when they walked inside of the toy store. Karen knew immediately they had arrived from the bright primary colors and smaller species with their parents. To the side, there were several children jumping on a large, enclosed trampoline. Next to it was a glass enclosure that held a zero gravity room. Samuel smiled at it. "There's one of those on the ship."

Karen smiled as he rose her hand to his mouth and kissed it. They walked over to the side of the store where everything was pink.

"Pink is a universal thing, huh?"

Samuel was looking at the shelves. "Yeah, however….green is what you get for boys. Blue is just a tradition from earth."

She looked around. The shelves were loaded with all sorts of odd, brightly colored toys. Samuel knelt down to take a closer look at an orange, monster looking toy that had blocks in his mouth. "Oh, I remember this."

He took it off of the shelf and showed it to Karen. "I had one of these. Arles would have it pick up our blocks."

Karen smiled as he twisted the wheels on it, and the monster's mouth moved and it growled furiously. "That didn't scare you?"

"Nah." He told her. "I loved this. We're getting one of these for sure."

A familiar little girl with bouncy curls ran around the corner. "Daddy! Let's look over here -"

Genie's eyes lit up as she realized who was standing in front of her. "Doctor Sam!"

"Hi, Gene." Samuel greeted her.

Karen smiled at her. "Hello, Genie."

The Doctor appeared right behind her. He smiled at his son and shook his hand. "Imagine me finding you lot in a toy store."

Samuel laughed. "Yeah. Getting some things for Halley."

Genie put her hands on her hips. "Who is Halley?"

The Doctor cleared his throat. "Umm. Well, Doctor Sam, and Karen are going to have a baby."

Genie covered her mouth in surprise. "Are you really?"

Karen laughed at her reaction. "Yes. We're looking for somethings for her. Would you like to help?"

Genie put her hands back on her hips. "You're sure this is a girl, right? A boy named Halley would be strange."

Samuel laughed. "Yes. It's a girl, Gene."

Genie was already a pro at shopping in the store by then. "Well, I know what she needs. I have two baby brothers, and they love things that are bright. Sam likes this!"

She pulled a teddy bear out that held a rectangular mirror.

Samuel took it in his hand. "He does?"

Genie nodded, "Yeah. He looks at it and talks to himself."

Karen giggled, "Yeah, I've seen someone do that."

Samuel rolled his eyes at Karen as the Doctor laughed.

Genie continued. "And, she's going to need some dolls. I know where they all are. Daddy, I'll take Karen over there."

The Doctor pointed at her. "Stay with Karen. Yes."

Genie took Karen's hand and they walked away.

The Doctor pointed at the monster block toy Samuel still held. "That's weird. Looks like animated bacteria."

Samuel laughed, "I used to have one exactly like it."

"Did you?"

Samuel nodded. "Yeah. Arles and I would use it to pick up blocks and frighten Genie with."

The Doctor smiled and pulled another one off of the shelf. "Well, I just put a large package of blocks in our bin. I'll toss this in there, as well."

Samuel grinned. "Yeah, we probably should have gotten at least a basket. I haven't been here in years."

The Doctor nodded. "Ummm. Where are you and Karen going after this?"

"I thought we might go see about a cot. The other necessary things. Then Nebvans-"

The Doctor pointed at him. "They are holding that table all night, so no rush. Umm."

"Want to join us?"

"Nah. But, thanks. I have to get Genie back and to bed. When you return, no rush, I need you to give someone an exam."

"An exam? Why?"

"Because….well." He cleared his throat. "I suppose congratulations are in order."

"Congratulations? Why?"

"Well, ummm…."

"You're rather frightening me, Dad-"

"Ashena has met with me, and your Papa-"

"Oh, shit-" Samuel mumbled.

"And she's declared you-"

Samuel closed his eyes and sighed, "Oh, please not that-"

"Princeps."

Samuel was sure he had misheard. "Princeps?"

"Yeah, what did you think I was going to say?"

Samuel laughed in relief. "Not that. Wow. Princeps? Why? That's what you do."

"I rather got into a bit of trouble recently, and my involvement with an exam to the Queen of the Andromedans, well…. You just have to do it."

"What the hell did you do?"

The Doctor groaned, "Ah. It's a misunderstanding."

Samuel grinned. "A misunderstanding? Funny, that defense never works for me."

"Noted. What the hell is Lewis on about with you?"

"Why? What has he said?"

"What should he have said?"

"I'm not confessing to anything."

The Doctor nodded. "Whatever you need to confess to, he says he's spoken to you about it."

"Oh, that. Well…."

Karen and Genie couldn't have had better timing. Genie bounced back to them holding a basket full of small, plush dolls. "There! She'll love those! They are small, like Sam's rabbit that he loves."

Samuel looked confused to his Dad. "A rabbit?"

The Doctor nodded, "Yeah, it's this, small white, plush rabbit. About as big as your hand. We probably should get another one while we're here."

Genie was looking at the shelves where they were standing. "Oh! Daddy! Can we get this?"

"Try 'may we get this?'" he corrected her.

Genie pulled out a bright drum. "May we get this?"

"For who?" The Doctor asked.

"Sam!" Genie smiled.

Samuel knelt down beside of her and pulled out a toy guitar. "Get this for Sam. Get the drum for Arles. Trust me."

Genie smiled and handed the drum to her Dad. "Okay. This will be easy for Arles to play. He'll love it!"

The Doctor complained. "Genie, Arles can't even sit up yet."

"Then, Sammy can play it. What else should we get Sam and Arles, Doctor Sam?"

Sam grinned at her. "Trains. And little starships. The ones that make that noise."

Genie clapped her hands and became excited. "Oh! Those sound like fun!"

Samuel turned and pointed to another part of the store. "They would be over there."

Genie cheered. "Come on, Daddy!"

She grabbed his free hand and drug him away. "Genie. We're supposed to be getting toys for you?"

"We'll get back to that. Besides. I didn't know they had trains."

The Doctor groaned at Samuel, "Yeah, cheers."

Samuel laughed, "Sure."

They disappeared around the corner.

Karen turned back to him and smiled. "What was that about?"

"Oh, the trains and starships are really loud. I remember them being ban from the sitting room because they drove him mental." He grinned.

"Just remember, he's going to be giving stuff to our children."

Samuel laughed. "Oh, that's true. And I know I'll pay for that. Anyway. What else here to you think we should get?"

She looked at the shelves. "Gosh, I just don't know. It will probably be a while before she can play with any of this sort of thing."

"Yeah, and we'll be back soon. I'm sure."

Karen pulled out a drum and grinned. "For Arles and Halley?"

Samuel smiled. "Absolutely. For Uncle Arles. And in fact, we may want to get him an abacus to help him with his maths."

Karen laughed as Samuel put his arm around her and they walked out of the aisle.

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It was late at night and Lance stood at the bar of his and Jane's island home. He was looking over some notes and scratching his head.

Jane walked into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around him, "And hi."

He smiled as he rose up to look at her. She put her hand on his hip and slowly slid it over to his back as she looked at his notebook. "Still working on that?"

"Nah. Something else. An idea I had." He told her and turned around to face her. "How did the photos turn out?"

She walked over to the refrigerator and poured herself a glass of wine. "They are…stunning. There's one of Soli that you have to see."

Lance smiled. "I can't wait to see them."

"And there are two of you."

"Me? You were taking photos of them."

She poured him a glass. "I was taking photos of everyone. And I got one of you that just….wow."

He grinned. "Yeah?"

"I'm getting a frame. Putting it next to the bed." She told him as she handed him the glass of wine.

He smiled, "That's mad. I'm lying there next to you."

She sipped her wine. "In case I maybe, roll over?"

He laughed.

"Or maybe, you have to leave while I'm sleeping?"

He smiled and looked her up and down. She hadn't changed from her tank top and skirt that she had worn to the beach. Her skin looked darker. He was even still in his t-shirt and shorts, and could use a shave.

He told her, "I'm not planning on leaving."

"If Pepper and Soli need you-"

"Well, yeah. That's just because Tony is out. I'm his 'Fourth'."

"I'm not complaining Lance." She smiled.

"Well, I know we had planned to be on the ship tonight."

"There's plenty of time for that. We'll do it another night."

He almost said something and stopped himself.

"Okay, what is that?"

He sipped his wine. "Tomorrow. I want a date. I'm picking the place."

She sat down her wine and wrapped her arms around his neck. "A date, Tough Guy?"

He sat his wine down and rubbed her bum. "Yes. I'm thinking….a surprise."

She smiled and Lance felt his heart skip a beat. Before he knew he had done it, he had picked her up, and sat her on the cabinet. His lips crashed into hers and they began to snog. She pulled his t-shirt off and continued to kiss him as his hands found their way up her shirt.

"Lance." She said as he kissed her neck.

He didn't hear her. His mind was full of only one thing. He stepped back and pulled off her shirt. He returned to kissing her and managed to unfasten her bra without looking. She had already removed her skirt and knickers without him noticing. He was snogging her so heavily, she doubt he had even noticed he had also knocked over both wine glasses. She could feel the wine that she now sat in on the cabinet.

Lance's hands ran down her back and pressed her closer to him. He looked at her, startled. "Jane? Why are you so-"

She giggled. "You knocked over the wine."

He groaned, "Oh, that's made a mess."

She started to snog him again, and he forgot completely about the wine all over the cabinet, now dripping on the floor. He pushed his shorts down, and pulled her to him. She wrapped her legs around him as he easily slipped inside of her.

They continued to snog as he thrust inside of her. He rotated his hips, causing her to shout his name between her moans.

He looked at her. "This can't be comfortable for you-"

"Don't stop! What the hell!?"

He began to thrust again. "Right."

She moaned, "We'll….just….oh, do it here….and….then go someplace else…."

He continued to thrust and picked her up, still with him inside of her. She held onto him tightly as he walked into the sitting room. He sat down, gently, on the sofa and she took over, giving them both the friction they were enjoying.

After a few minutes, Lance laid his head on the back of the sofa and looked up at her. "Oh wow."

"Knickers have to come with us in space."

He laughed and closed his eyes.

She kissed him and ran her hands across his face. "I love this."

He didn't open his eyes. "I need to shave."

"Nah. Give it another day. Please?"

He opened his eyes and smiled. "Sure, Jane."

"Are you tired?" She asked.

"Are you?"

She giggled. "Not really. I know it's late, but-"

He flipped her where she was lying underneath him on the sofa.

"Lance!"

He rubbed her breast with one of his hands. "Tell me when you get tired of this."

She smiled, "It's going to take a while."

He began to snog her again.

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