Months passed. It was Christmas, and Murdoc didn't expect this kind of present. Paula was under the Christmas tree, which was a plastic palm tree lit with shoddy bulbs that some didn't work while others blinked. Paula was wearing his sweater and a hat, some black pants, and a red shiny ribbon tied around her growing belly. Murdoc took a minute as he stood in the hallway. He itched the scruff on his chin confused. "Ya mean yer not old enough for menopause yet?" He asked. Immediately Paula threw a throw pillow at him. "You dick!" She cackled. Sure he was being Murdoc, but Murdoc was hers. Paula just learned to understand when he was kidding or not.
Murdoc grinned anyway and sat by her, rubbing her stomach and tickling it with a long pointy nail. "So I knocked you up eh?" He asked. Paula nodded. "I know its not your first but-"
"Not my first? This is exaggeration at its finest I'd say!" Murdoc chuckled. "I got kids who got kids now. I know you won't let me live that fact down, but its true!" Murdoc confessed with a solid smirk. He wasn't drunk yet. Paula knew it cause he was being cherry. Soon he was bound to get drunk and maybe more grumpy. And since Paula was pregnant he was only gonna continue drinking more so then usual. Paula thought often about the what ifs. What if Murdoc got sober? Impossible. But if Murdoc was more...positive he might dial it down perhaps. Soon she was gonna give him a new reason to think positive. He was gonna have another baby. Maybe it would help him kick the habit. But of course while she was thinking Murdoc was having a victory swig from some Eggnog. Her face tingling like it did when she got a bad feeling. Regardless Paula took the Eggnog and set it away from Murdoc. "I wanna open presents first before you're too drunk to remembah anyfin," Paula said. Murdoc looked her in the eyes and felt softer. Caving in. He nodded and scooted by her side.
The two bought gifts only for each other. The two didn't have a lot of friends together except a few regulars at the bar the recognized Murdoc. No one close enough to Christmas shop for. Murdoc had gotten Paula an old shirt. It was merchandise with his face on it. A joke gift on intention, but Paula wore it immediately anyway since it was the largest size available, perfect for sleeping in. Even with the slight bump on her stomach and weight gained with age, the shirt slipped off her shoulders. Her hair poured on her cheeks like rain.
Murdoc opened a present. They weren't poor but too lazy to buy real wrapping paper, so they used newspaper. He had gotten a shelf to keep wine and other alcohols. More fancy. "You could put it in the bar but it'll be a good decoration for the Winnebago either way." Paula said smiling. Murdoc grinned. "I think it'll be better in the Winney," he admitted setting it behind him. Paula clapped once and remembered something "That's right! I almost forgot hold on." Paula said standing up and excitedly heading for their room. In the drawer she took out a cactus that she gave a small scarf and googly eyes. She walked out and gave it to Murdoc. "For the Winnebago, you don't gotta water it a whole lot to maintain it and he's gonna keep you company," Paula said trying to look upbeat and not like she was being childish. In hindsight the gift was a dumb idea probably. "So its a he?" Murdoc asked as he took the cactus and held it, inspecting him. "The googly eyes are my favorite part. His name is Greg now. Greg the cactus. Thanks." Murdoc said smiling. "I actually have a hula girl on my dash board I think," Murdoc admitted. Paula lit up. "So he can have a girlfriend! So now you won't be lonely with the new cactus friend and he won't be lonely cause he's gonna have a-"
"Her name is Louise. Respect the lady Paula," Murdoc said waving a finger at her.
The two were far too sober. Paula especially.
But this lead to them acting really goofy even without drunken antics. "Louise? That's my middle name," Paula said raising a brow. Murdoc flinched. "Did I subconsciously do that...? I completely forgot..."
Murdoc's voice trailed off. Why had this been so much like him? How much had he and Paula shared together before...? "First the silver cross and now..." Murdoc thought out loud. Paula touched his chin and rubbed his cheek with her thumb. "Hey now, don't worry..." She consoled as she rubbed his cheek up and down. "I can bring your memory back...that's gonna be the best Christmas gift I have to offer you," Paula said. Murdoc tried to shake off his guilt. He ruffled his hair and heaved a sigh. "I'm tired. Can we please take a holiday nap?" Murdoc asked, dodging the subject. "That would be the best Christmas gift of all right now."
Paula took his hand and they stood. Walking together they went to the bed room. As they laid side by side Murdoc examined Paula's slowly growing womb. She must have been five months along now. Perhaps she was starting to come to a conclusion that maybe she would be knocked up since the very beginning and hadn't drank much lately. Paula wasn't remotely dumb. Murdoc was sure she had to have planned to reveal this as her present no doubt. He picked a wise woman, but he knew as he clutched her belly in his hand full well that she hadn't in turn picked a wise man for herself. Maybe he would be better off sparing her and running off again. After all he had done to piss her off. After forgetting what they'd been through, by drinking those thoughts and memories away on purpose. He had truly crippled himself.