Writer's block and other stuff prevented me from getting this done as quick as I wanted to. I'm trying to pace out how I want things, and I feel like I'm not that great at it. So this chapter's probably gonna be just a little filler with some setup mixed in.

Hope no one minds


"And…" Beverly snapped another photo of her granddaughter in (yet another) a homemade sweater. When the picture came out, Beverly gave it a quick shake, looked at the image reverently, then (like she did with the others) assured aloud, "…this one's for the scrapbook," and set the more recent photo atop a pile of other Polaroid Pictures. "Doesn't my little darling look pretty in all her new outfits that Bubby made her?" No response. "Yes, well that's an unfair question because you look pretty in everything! Your mother did too, and thank God you take after her. Nothing against Geoffrey—he is a handsome gentleman—it's just…where was I going with this?" She literally shrugged this off. "Ooh, I can't wait to have you model your new ducky dress. I know there are a few others like the little brown one I—OH," a new thought occurred to Beverly, "remember Sweetheart: if at any time you need to…" Beverly started doing one of her more popular gestures, "…you know." She then slapped her hand to her forehead. "Oh, no of course you don't. Poppy, whenever you need to make," Beverly stressed out the word, but it still had no effect. "Make booms," another gesture that most assuredly went right over the infant's head. "Just give Bubby some sort of sign when you need to…" a certain smell caught Beverly's attention, "…do that. Come on," she picked up her granddaughter, "time for a couple quick changes."

"Adam Ferdinand Goldberg," Barry stormed into his brother's room.

"At least he got the first letter right, no use correcting him," Adam said to himself before directing attention to his brother. "What now, Barry?"

"I come to demand a truce."

"There's a catch."

"Yes and no. See: that money Dad gave me was for a trip to the mall tomorrow. I thought you and I might hang out there for a while."

"Isn't hanging out at the mall more of an Erica thing?"

"Yes—and don't tell her that both Paula Abdul and Debbie Gibson are doing promotional stuff there this weekend—but I found something that will appeal to us guys."

"Go on."

"B. Dalton is getting some book shipments for some upcoming sale week. A lot of rare, limited edition, collector's type stuff of books that quite frankly don't appeal to me because I'm not a nerd."

"That wasn't the least bit insulting."

"They're also getting some recently published books that have been personally autographed by certain authors. Tom Clancy, Sidney Sheldon, Robert Ludlum, Jackie Collins, Danielle Steel, and one Mr. Stephen King."

"No way!"

"Sale starts tomorrow. Admittedly, there are a few things I wanna check out. I figured we could set our fraternal competition aside and unite in our quest to get stuff before they sell out. Whaddya say?"

"I say: I'm in!"

"Awesome! We gotta get there the second that store opens and we'll need energy. That's why we're gonna basically need to ingest as much sugar and caffeine as humanly possible tomorrow morning." He thought of something. "I think I'll make us a pie for breakfast."

"You can cook?"

"Bake, actually. Campus was offering culinary lessons and the only one available was baking. I didn't really know there was different types of cooking going in and it doesn't offer much for full course meals. I can do desserts though. Quite frankly, I make a mean soufflé."

"I admit: this has my interest. I would not have pegged you of all people to be adapt at baking."

"And because I am, I will surely transfer my super awesome skills into regular cooking AND for sure win at food stuff in our sibling rivalry."

"I'm inclined to agree with this statement. I have been banned from using any and all cooking appliances at all NYU."

"Now that has my interest."

"Schwartz called again," Murray put emphasis on the last part as he sat down at the table. "Asked if we're sticking to the schedule or something I didn't care to pay attention to."

"What did you tell him?" Beverly inquired as she fed another spoonful of something green to her granddaughter.

"Oh, I didn't tell him anything. I do what I always do: let it go to voicemail and then delete the messages after."

"What if he says something important?"

"Hasn't yet."

"What you're doing can't be good for that boy's anxieties."

"Then when he calls again, you answer."

"I must have missed something. Are you mad at him? I thought you like Geoff."

"I do like him. He's the only boy I thought was ever good enough for my Peanut. As long as I've known him, he's always loved Erica. He's a good egg, and I'll be the first to admit that I've always liked him and Erica together. That's why I'm hoping he takes the hint, stops calling here, and spends time with his wife."

"He does make Erica happy."

"And spending time with our granddaughter makes us happy. Everyone wins."

"Maybe he would take the hint if you actually answered the phone and told him everything was alright."

"I thought of that, but it would require me having to talk to another person over a machine. So…nah."

"Hey guys," Adam greeted his parents as he started to set up his camera.

"What is this? What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna test this new equipment and get some video of Poppy. I'm not sure when Erica and Geoff are coming back tomorrow, so I should try to film her while she's still here."

"So why don't you film your thing tomorrow?"

"Barry and I were gonna go to the mall in the morning. We weren't sure how long we'd be gone, and I did promise I'd get some shots of the Pop."

"Don't call her that."

"Just pretend I'm not here and interact with the baby."

"Can you genuinely not be here?"

"Oh, stop being a grump," Beverly chided her husband. "Here," she took her granddaughter from her carrier, "you feel better after you've held your granddaughter."

"Alright," Adam pushed a button, "and we're rolling."

"Poppy just loves her time with Grampa," Beverly cooed as she placed Poppy in her grandfather's hold. "And Bubby loves seeing Grampa with his Mini Peanut."

"Hello, Princess," Murray kissed the top of his granddaughter's head and adjusted her in his hold. He then looked up at the camera. "What do you want me to do now?"

Adam shrugged. "I dunno; talk to her, make faces, feed her that nasty looking green stuff. I just gotta get video of everyone having a one-on-one interaction with the baby."

"And that includes you," Beverly pointed out.

"I doubt it. I'm the one who holds the camera. Also: she gets upset every time I'm near her."

"She's not getting upset now."

"That's because I'm at a respectable distance with a giant object obstructing my full view. Hey Dad, why don't you play 'peek-a-boo' with Poppy?"

"Because it's stupid," Murray snarked back.

"I'm sure it's not to her."

"Where's that dumb rabbit toy she likes?"

"Ooh Murray," Beverly started, "what about the old 'got your nose' bit you used to do with our kids when they were babies?"

"If it'll shut you people up," Murray diverted focus to his granddaughter. "Poppy," he did the thing, "got your nose." When Poppy reached for Murray's hand, Murray let out a genuine laugh of surprise that elicited some background laughter. "Want it back?" He pretended to put the nose back. "Boop," and then gently tapped it for good measure.

"This is gold," Adam commented as he continued filming. "Do it again, Dad."

Murray did. "Got your nose." After he booped her nose a second time, Poppy put her hand over her face as if to ensure the appendage was really there, which got another chuckle from Murray.

The phone rang in the background. "It's probably Geoff," Beverly determined. "I'll answer it this time."

Murray looked directly at the camera. "Geoff—and of course I know your name, Moron—you're a good guy, and I couldn't ask for a better father for my grandchild. I know you're gonna watch this in the future and I just want to take a moment to tell you that you're doing a great job with Poppy. I never doubted you, so you better stop doubting yourself. Relax. You got this. However, Beverly and I also know what we're doing—we raised your wife, didn't we? Speaking of Erica: stop bothering us and spend time with her! I'm actually encouraging you to do romantic things with my daughter; how many other father-in-laws do that?!"

"Mom does want more grandchildren," Adam felt the need to add.

"That's not the romantic encouragement I mean!" There was a sort of retching noise heard before Poppy spat up the contents of her dinner. "See, that idea even made Poppy sick!" He pointed to the camera. "And quit feeding her that nasty green stuff!"

"Wardrobe change!" Beverly cried out as she ran back onto the scene. "Adam, come up and get video of all the clothes I made for Poppy." A giddy Beverly took her granddaughter from her husband and carried the baby upstairs.

"Well," Adam started packing away his equipment, "this'll take all night."

"You'll also get video of your mom having her one-on-one time," Murray reminded.

"Yeah, but it's more fun watching you with Poppy."

"Really?"

Adam nodded. "I hardly saw you interact with kids growing up. I kinda thought you hated them."

"I kinda do when they're not mine."

"It's like I'm seeing a new side of you. I like it. You love Poppy so much and she clearly enjoys being with you."

"You think so?"

"Oh yeah," he finished doing what he was doing. "I never doubted you were gonna be an amazing grandfather; so you should stop doubting yourself." Father and son shared a smile between themselves before Adam headed upstairs.

Murray was still smiling as the family dog made her way over to him. "Hey Lucky," he greeted the pet before scratching behind her ears. "Feels like we haven't seen you in a while; where have you been hiding?"


I sometimes forget the Goldbergs have a dog. Am I the only one?