"Ugh I hate baby shopping!" Greg whined as him, Nick, Catherine, Wendy and Sara walked into Babies 'R' Us.
"When was the last time you went baby shopping?" Sara shot back.
"Never," Greg said in a huff.
"See you don't know what it's like!" Wendy said as she picked up a little pink onesie with a princess crown on it. Greg smiled at Wendy and rolled his eyes. They had always teased each other. But for some reason Greg always thought Wendy as more then just a friend.
"Dude?" Nick asked as he punched Greg in the shoulder.
"What?" Greg protested quickly taking his eyes off of Wendy.
"I hope you know that the minute Hodges finds out that you like her, he will beat you to a bloody pulp with an eye dropper," Nick picked up some shoes.
"No shoes YET Nicky," Sara said handing Catherine some pjs.
"Is that even possible?" Greg asked looking at some socks.
"Hodges has his ways," Sara said from behind making both men jump and Catherine giggle.
"Are we getting a high chair and stuff like that?" Catherine asked as the 3 girls cooed over a pair of pants.
"No you are not child, we are taking care of that!" Mamma Stokes said placing a hand on Nick's shoulder.
"Mamma?" Nick asked surprised.
"No the muffin man!" Greg laughed.
"Oooohh muffins!" Catherine squealed.
"Yes son we are getting all that stuff for you. And some dippers," Judge said.
"How many dippers could you possibly need?" Greg asked making a face.
"Greg," Wendy turned and looked at him, "More dippers then women buy panties in a life time."
"Wow." Greg said pushing the cart full of clothes and bottles. Mandy came running towards the group.
"I am really sorry, but Hodges was getting pissed off and yeah," Mandy said out of breath.
"Ma, this is Mandy she works with us," Nick said with wide eyes as Wendy threw in some towels.
"Hi nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Stokes," Mandy said shaking there hands.
"Hush child call me Mamma. Everybody does, and this is Judge," Mamma said, "Now we need bedding what theme did you have in mind dear?" She walked over to Sara Catherine and Wendy Sara with Mandy right next to her.
"I was thinking jungle theme," Catherine said, "Nicky how about jungle theme?"
"And we can put a tail on Greg and hang him from the ceiling how does that sound?" Nick asked with a smile.
"Hey!" Greg said punching Nick back this time.
"Hey yourself. I think it's a great idea!" Nick said.
"Hey dad! Hey grandpa!" Lindsey said, "Oh my god we are going to be here for months!"
"Hi Linds, yeah this baby is going to have a lot of stuff to wear!" Judge said picking up a small pink dress out of the cart and putting to back in.
"I feel replaced!" Lindsey mumbled as they walked into the crib part of the store.
"I'll get another cart!" Mamma said, "Hi Linds!"
"Hey Mamma!" Lindsey said hugging her grandma.
"Don't worry you can always come live with me!" Greg said.
"My daughter won't live with Greggo!" Catherine called as she put some bed sheets into the cart.
"Fine," Lindsey whined.
"Cath can you take over from here? I wanna get home and do a few things!" Nick said, "Come on guys!"
"I'm coming!" Lindsey practically scrambled to go with the men.
"Have fun!" Wendy called.
"What do you have in mind Nick?" Judge asked walking out the door.
"Well I know Lindsey is great at painting, so I figured if we are doing jungle themed why not make her room a jungle?" Nick said getting into the car.
"But what about mom?" Lindsey asked getting into the front seat.
"They have your car and Mamma's car and Mandy's car. If they can't fit everything in then we will come back for them," Nick said as they pulled out of the parking space and out of the parking lot.
"Oh ok. Well we need to go to the paint store!" Lindsey said, "And we are going to need some more hands because I have seen all of you draw and you can't draw for beans!" Lindsey took out her phone and dialed her friends and talked for a little while. She grabbed her sketchbook out of her Kathy bag and started to sketch one of the walls. By the time they had pulled into the parking lot she was almost done.
"God your fast!" Greg said getting out of the car with Judge behind him.
"Ok so here is the plan. We need primer. We need different colors of green, yellow, pink, some white, black, orange-" Lindsey was cut short by Greg.
"The rainbow!" Greg shouted.
"Good boy Uncle Greggo! You know your colors!" Lindsey cooed as they walked into the store, "I was also thinking maybe we could do like a sunset, like the jungle on one side and the other walls for the jungle and then one has a sunset on a beach."
"I think she has a good idea," Judge said as the group walked up to the counter, there stood 2 men, one younger and an older one.
"What can I do for y'all today?" The older one asked.
"Ok I'm going to be an older sister and we need, paint and lots of it, here is what we have planned for the baby's room," Lindsey said sliding the pad across the table.
"Wow ok then lets get to work, I am Tim and this is Johnny," Tim introduced himself and Johnny, "What colors do you need?"
"We are doing a jungle theme with a sunset on a beach, so the rainbow basically, with white black and brown. And we need primer," Greg stepped up.
"Well congrats to you," Tim said.
"No he is the father," Greg pointed to Nick.
"Congrats," Johnny said smiling at Lindsey who smiled back at him.
"Johnny get me some green, forest green, moss green, UP forest green. All one gallon. Also so yellow, lemon, golden poppy, cream. French Rose, pink, lavender pink, fuchsia pink," Tim said. Johnny ran out and started grabbing paints and mixing them. Tim listed more colors, oranges, reds, and blues.
"The total is $150.00," Johnny said catching his breath. Nick pulled out his badge out of his pocket to get out his wallet.
"You all cops?" Tim asked.
"Yeah," Nick said.
"Take $50.00 off Johnny," Tim said.
"I got this," Greg said pulling out his wallet.
"Thanks Greggo," Nick said.
They paid and left. Lindsey was on the phone, "Yes come to my place, we are on the way there, call Lilly and Manny. Yeah and her to."
"Who was that?" Judge asked.
"Reinforcements. You people have the ability to paint of a rock," Lindsey rolled her eyes.
"Ha ha ha," Greg said. They pulled up to Catherine's house and started to unload the truck, 2 cars pulled up and 8 kids got out.
"Hey!" Lindsey said. More cars pulled up and the football team got out.
"Crap how many people do we need?" Nick asked.
Lindsey shook her head and spoke; "A monkey can draw and paint better then you all."
Greg made a face at her as the football team helped more the paint into the house. Lindsey followed them and directed them the room. Wendy pulled up and went in search of Lindsey.
"You called?" Wendy asked. She found Lindsey and some of her friends drawing on the walls of the baby's soon to be room.
"Yes, can you keep my mom at your house for a couple of days?" Lindsey stopped drawing and faced Wendy.
"Yeah that's fine, does she need anything?"
"The stuff is in her room." Lindsey went back to drawing, "Thanks Aunt Wendy."
"Any time hun! Send me pictures!" Wendy called leaving to find Catherine's stuff. Wendy had dropped Cath and Sara and Mama Stokes off at the hotel.
"Whoa," Judge said walking into the room. It was a few hours later and the walls had been primed and drawn on and they started panting, "I made a rocking chair in the basement for the room."
"Cool, be done in a couple. Where's dad and uncle Greggo?" Lindsey walked around looking at the walls.
"They are unloading the cars that your mom, Wendy, Grandma, and Sara filled," Judge watched Lindsey walk.
"Ok, Guys we have another 4 hours to get this painting done!" Lindsey called.
"YES MA'AM!" The group yelled. Lindsey smiled.
"And dad?" Lindsey turned.
"Last I saw of him he was pulling away in a car, no clue where he is going."
"Ok thanks." Lindsey followed her grandfather to the basement she looked at the light pink rocking chair, "This is great!"
"Will your mother like this?" Judge asked.
"She will love it!" Lindsey sang.
"Good." Lindsey hugged her grandpa and headed back up the stairs.
AT THE HOTEL….
"Nick?" Catherine asked. Mama Stokes, and Sara where down at the pool and Wendy went down after dropping her stuff off.
"Baby listen. I love you so much. And I don't want you to ever forget. You, this baby, and Lindsey are the best things that ever happened to me. I love you all. I am glad for that night and would do it over and over again. Catherine Lily Willows will you marry me Nicolas Stokes and make me the happiest man in the world?" Nick dropped to his knee and opened a little blue box with a big rock inside.
Catherine let out a high-pitched scream and hit her hand over her mouth and nodded. Tears of joy came running down her face as Nick picked her up, care to no hurt her belly, and hugged her, Catherine pulled him into a very passionate kiss, "I love you too."
BACK AT THE HOUSE:
"Step, step, step, turn right," Nick kept his hands on his fiancé's waist, directing her to the room.
"When can I take this stupid thing off?" Cath asked annoyed.
"Soon my love." They stopped in front of the room. Everyone, including Lindsey's helpers, stood there waiting for the very pregnant Catherine. Nick slipped off the black bandana from Cath's eyes. She saw everyone with stupid grins on their faces.
"Open the door ma," Lindsey stepped forwards. Catherine slowly opened the door. When the door was fully open, Catherine had a huge grin on her face. The room, was painted just like Lindsey had planned, with the sunset and jungle. There were some many different colors. The rocking chair that judge made sat in the corner with many different types of stuffed animals sitting on top of it. A short bookcase sat under the far window with all types of baby books. The crib was painted white, with vines and flowers climbing up it.
"Oh my god! You guys did this?" Catherine said in complete aw.
"Yes, all for you!" Lindsey said with a small smile.
"I love it! Thank y'all!" Cath chirped.
Everyone went downstairs for a BBQ. They all left around 10. Catherine showered and crawled into bed next to Nick.
"Good night," Catherine said into his chest.
"Good night love," Nick smiled stroking her head.