Fall passed quickly. Robin gave birth to a little girl. Spinelli joined the Scorpio-Joneses for Thanksgiving again. Lulu was still in Shadybrook but being able to see Johnny whenever she wanted helped.
Soon it was the first week of December and Maxie was hanging out with Spinelli at Jason's, eating Chinese food.
"Uhhh." Maxie groaned as she leaned back and unbuttoned her jeans.
Spinelli glanced away from his laptop. "Is my Maximista okay?"
"I ate too much."
Spinelli looked at her waist.
"What?"
"The Jackal is just thinking that Maximista might want to purchase some…less restrictive attire."
"Are you calling me fat?"
"No, but you are pregnant."
"I'm not wearing maternity clothes, Spin. They're ugly."
"Surely someone makes clothes that fit my Junior Fashionista's style?"
"Not for sale in Port Charles." Maxie sulked.
Spinelli leaned over and kissed under her ear. "Then travel to the isle."
"Manhattan?"
"Yes. The Fashionista must surely know some designers you could drop in on."
"That's actually a really good idea." Excitement grew in Maxie's voice. "We could do a day trip."
"We?"
"Yeah. We could go to Central Park, and all the stores."
"Actually, the Jackal was thinking that you might wish to go with a female companion. Such as my sister."
"Robin's always with the baby."
"What about the Blonde One?"
"You know she's not allowed to. C'mon Spinelli, it'll be fun."
"Shopping?"
"We'll do more than shop. We can be tourists." She begged. "Please Spinelli, I do need new clothes."
"The Jackal has to work."
"Jason will let you."
Jason had entered the apartment. "Let him do what?"
Maxie jumped off the couch, Spinelli behind her.
"You'll let Spinelli come to New York with me to get maternity clothes."
Jason looked at Spinelli, who was waving him off. "Of course I will, Maxie. I'll even let you take my car."
Maxie hugged him as Spinelli collapsed to the couch.
--
The next day Spinelli was driving Jason's SUV through downtown New York City.
"Have you really never been here before, Spinelli?" Maxie asked from the passenger seat.
"No, the Jackal never had the time."
"Then we should be tourists."
"Let's just purchase Maximista's necessary attire and return to the less stressful traffic of Port Charles."
Maxie checked the address Jason had given them. "There," she pointed, "that's the parking garage."
Spinelli pulled in and left the car.
"Where to now?" He asked.
Maxie looked down the street. "I have an idea." She pulled him down the street and paid a woman on the corner. A red sightseeing bus stopped in front of them and she dragged him to the open top.
"What is the Tricky Fair One doing?"
"Sightseeing. This bus goes all over the city and we can get off and on as we please. And, lucky for us, it goes right by the stores Kate recommended."
"Lucky."
"C'mon. You'll love it. Everyone has to see New York at least once."
"Why?"
"Because it's awesome."
"It's a city. Noisy and loud."
"Spin, you're just a small town boy, aren't you?" Maxie slipped her arm around her head on his shoulder.
"Is the Jackal being mocked?"
"Just a little."
He grinned and kissed her.
The tour started, so they sat together and listened. Maxie tried to point out places she thought Spinelli would be interested in. They got off in the Fashion District.
"Okay, the first store Kate said to go to is right over…there it is, Spinelli." He looked at the store and only saw very bright colors.
"Come on." Maxie pulled him inside. "Now I'm thinking I want to mostly get dresses because the only way to make pants fit is with the elastic waist and I am not a fan of that." She began examining the clothes and chose some to try on.
This continued in the next few stores, Spinelli becoming laden with shopping bags. He had struck up random friendships with other men sitting outside the fitting rooms, talking about video games and babies. When they left the final store, he wrapped his arm around Maxie, and said, exhausted, "Where to now?"
"We're gonna get back on the bus and I thought we could go to Times Square?"
"Okay."
When they arrived in Times Square, Spinelli was busily exclaiming over some of the facts the tour guide had shared.
"It's much different than it appears on my screen, Maximista."
"That's because it's not pixels and stuff, it's real. C'mon," she grabbed his hand. "Let's go to the toy store."
They wandered through the toys, getting lost a few times. Maxie exclaimed over the little clothes, while Spinelli checked out toy computers and video games. Finally, they purchased a stuffed elephant for Robin's baby, a toy laptop and stuffed animals for their own child. Then they wandered Times Square, seeing the sights and hearing the sounds of the city.