Where the Heart Lives

Chapter Three: Shopping

"Oooh, look at the cute little duckies! They're on a blue blankie! Oooh, it's so soft! Willard, we have to get the blue ducky blankie!"

Willard chuckled softly. "Abbie, we've already got five blankets. One with teddy bears, one with frogs, two with lambs, and one solid green one."

Abbie pouted at him. "I know, but…duckies!" She shook the blanket at him, and he shook his head in amusement.

"Put it in the cart." Abbie squealed in delight and dropped it in the cart. "Do you have enough blankets now?"

"I suppose. Now we get to go pick out cute little onesies!"

Willard smiled at his wife's enthusiasm. They had driven into the city to go baby-shopping, and Abbie was in heaven. Her initial fear had been replaced by eagerness and a strange desire to buy everything in the baby store. Willard had to gently remind her that they were not millionaires, and that their baby probably didn't need a lot of fancy accessories just yet. Abbie had pouted, but agreed to curtail her shopping frenzy.

"Willard, look at this cute outfit! It's got a doggy on it! Oooh, look at this pretty green dress!"

"Abbie, why don't you wait until next week before you start buying dresses? Dr. Silver said that was when you'd find out the sex of our baby. I'd hate for you to stock up on dresses only to find out you're having a boy. The poor child would have quite the strange upbringing."

Abbie sighed. "I know, but the dress is so pretty!" Willard gave her a look, and she frowned. "Very well. No pretty green dress today. I'm going to go find the stuffed animals. Give me the cart."

Willard surrendered the cart, and Abbie set off. She returned a few moments later, and Willard didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The cart was piled full of stuffed animals-dogs, cats, tigers, horses, and…Willard chuckled…even a giant penguin. He walked over to her, standing in front of the cart. "Abbie? Remember what we talked about earlier? You can't buy the store's entire supply of stuffed animals. Pick out three." Abbie huffed.

"But Willard…"

"No buts, Abbie. Three stuffed animals."

Abbie hemmed and hawed, then finally sighed in exasperation. "Very well. Can I pick out one big one and two little ones, or three little ones, or three big ones, or two big ones and one little one; do they all have to be the same kind?"

Willard buried his face in his hands. "Abbie, I don't care. Just pick out three stuffed animals."

Abbie huffed. "Okay, the panda bear, the doggie, and the penguin."

Willard glared at her. "Be more specific. You've got three panda bears and six dogs in that cart."

"The medium sized panda, the German Shepherd, and the penguin."

Willard smiled. "Good choice, babe. Very cute too. Tell you what-I'll go put the rest of the stuffed animals back, and then take you to the Café here to get something to eat. We can finish our shopping expedition after lunch."

Abbie grinned. "Sounds like a plan, I'm starving." Willard chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"Well, then let's go eat."

The shopping trip was a monumental success, and Abbie and Willard returned home laden down with packages. Willard kicked the front door shut with his foot, placed the bags he was carrying on the table, and then collapsed on the couch, eyes shut in exhaustion.

Plato, who was sleeping on Willard's pillow, heard her humans, and squeaked in delight, running out to greet them. Abbie scooped her up, giving her a kiss between the ears. "Hello girl. You miss us?" Plato chittered, and Abbie smiled. "I'll take that as a yes. Go see Willard."

Plato ran over to Willard, nuzzling his face. Willard opened his eyes, smiling softly. "Hey Plato. I'm glad to see you too, girl." Plato chittered happily.

Abbie grinned, then sat next to Willard and shut her eyes. "So, I think we did pretty well this trip."

Willard gawped at her in shock. "This trip?" he squeaked out. "Abbie, you bought enough clothes to last until the babe is three. Not to mention we've got a crib that needs assembling, myriad bath toys, blankets, enough diapers for thirty kids, plus bath toys, towels, blankets, and stuffed animals. What is there left to buy?"

Abbie shook her head sympathetically at him. "Oh, you poor, naïve, man. There's a lot more things that need to be bought. Not necessarily for the wee one, though. I saw this beautiful sketch pad…"

"What about the one I gave you for Christmas?"

Abbie smiled. "That's all full up, love. Want to see what I drew?" Willard nodded, and Abbie walked into the bedroom, returning with the sketchbook. "Here."

Willard flipped through the book, smiling. "Abbie, these are all pictures of me." He stopped at one picture, gulping. "When…when did you draw this one?" The drawing depicted him sleeping, a soft, peaceful expression on his face.

Abbie kissed him. "A few nights ago, I woke up and looked over at you, and you just looked so peaceful and happy that I reached for my pad and pencil. I thought about waking you, but realized I liked this picture more."

Willard kissed her softly, and then smiled. "I've got something for you." He reached in his jacket pocket, pulling out a folded envelope. "I wrote this the night we found out about the babe. Now, I'm not much of a writer, but…"

He handed her the envelope, and Abbie opened it, unfolding the letter.

'To my Annabelle.

My Annabelle, my beauty Queen, My love, my soul, my endless dream.

My light, my life, my joy, my hope, my one and only, my gorgeous wife.

Abbie, you are all those things to me and so much more. You are the reason for me being here and not in the asylum. You were able to bring me out of my shell in a way that nobody had ever been able to do. You reawakened a part of me that I had feared long dead, and I will forever be grateful to you for that.

I was so scared when I asked you to marry me-scared that you would laugh in my face, or worse, refuse me outright. I know that those were foolish thoughts, but I couldn't stop them from whispering in my head. But when you said yes, it felt as though my entire world had ceased to be, and instead I was in Heaven, holding the love of my life in my arms.

And now you are carrying my child, and the sheer joy and elation I feel at that thought makes me dizzy with wonder. I want nothing more than to see our child grow up. I want to see if he (or she) will have your gorgeous hazel eyes and that adorably crooked smile of yours. I want to watch our babe take those first steps, and I want to see that first radiant smile when he recognizes us as his daddy and mommy. I want to hear his first words, and listen to you sing lullabies to him while you rock him to sleep. But most of all, I want him to realize what a true blessing his Mommy is and how deeply and utterly I love her.

I love you, my Annabelle.'

Abbie looked over at Willard, tears running down her face. "Willard, I…" she threw her arms around him, kissing him soundly, pouring every ounce of her love and devotion into the kiss. "I love you too, My Willard."

Author's Note: I hope no one minds the shortness of these chapters. Good News: I'll be getting the Willard DVD Saturday! (Thank you Candy! I dedicate this Chapter to you for your sheer awesomeness!*Hugs*)