Chapter 13:
"What do you think we should get for the triplets for their 8th birthday?" Lilly asked as she watched her husband shaving.
Scotty's reflection shrugged and he wiped the excess shaving gel from his face. He turned to face her "I don't know baby" Scotty replied "I was thinking I might take the boys to a Philly's game"
Lilly shrugged "What about Laura, think she'd be upset if she didn't get to spend the day with her Daddy"
Scotty nodded "Well I suppose we could get them that dog they've been asking for, for years"
"I don't know Scotty, aren't they a little young to look after a dog?"
Scotty sat down on the edge of the bathtub "I was their age when my parents bought me a dog"
Lilly frowned "are you sure they are responsible enough?"
Scotty nodded "I think so, we gotta trust them sometime and besides, I would love to have a dog again"
Lilly stood up and moved to sit on his lap, flinging her arms around his neck. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek "Ok, if you're sure"
Scotty nodded "Yeah I'm sure"
Lilly sighed "ok, well I guess we could go to the pet shop on Sunday after church and they can pick out a puppy"
Scotty grinned "come on, admit it" he whispered as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder "you love to have a new cute little puppy running around"
"Yeah, and guess who'll have to clean up after it and feed it"
Scotty chuckled "I'll make sure that they look after it baby"
"I better get the kids ready, they are spending the day with Allie, she gonna take them to the zoo"
She stood up and walked out of the bathroom, leaving Scotty to finish getting ready for work.
"What's the surprise Daddy?" Laura asked as Scotty and Lilly pulled into the parking lot of the Mall on the following Sunday afternoon.
"You'll see" Lilly replied turning around in her seat to look at them.
They all hoped out of the car and headed into the Mall "where are we going?" James asked
"Mummy and I thought we'd get your birthday present early" Scotty announced as they stopped just outside the pet shop.
"We are getting our presents today?" Matthew asked excitedly "am I getting a new baseball glove?"
Lilly grinned "no not a baseball glove"
"Then what?"
Scotty smiled "we are getting you guys a puppy"
The triplets' eyes lit up and Laura started jumping up and down elatedly
"Are we really getting a doggy?" she asked
"Yeah Princesa, you're getting a doggy"
They immediately ran over to the windows of the pet shop, looking at all the cute puppies that they had for sale. They all wanted different puppies and in nearly every window they looked in they saw another one that they wanted. When the three of them reached the last window, they found one remaining chocolate Labrador puppy, looking rather lonesome all by himself.
"That one" they all said at once.
Scotty chuckled as he squatted down next to his children, looking in at the boisterous puppy that was leaping up and barking happily at the glass as if trying to reach them.
"Good choice guys, wanna go in and meet him"
"Yeah" they replied and they ran into the pet shop to ask the assistant if they could pat him.
"What do you think?" Scotty asked his wife as they walked into the shop after their children.
"He seems a little to excitable" Lilly said as she watched the puppy licking Laura's face.
"Oh come on Querida" Scotty replied and he tugged Lilly over to the puppy, lifting it out of Laura's arms and holding it up to his wife. Lilly rolled her eyes as the puppy wagged its tail and tried to squirm out of Scotty's arms. The puppy yapped happily and began to lick at Scotty's hands.
"I guess he's a cute" Lilly admitted after a little while and she reached out and scratched the top of the puppy's head.
"Can we get him Daddy?" Laura asked, tugging on Scotty's jacket.
"Sure Princesa, what do you say Querida?"
Lilly nodded "yeah alright"
"Yeah" The triplets jumped up and down
After paying for their new puppy and a few supplies for him, the six of them headed back home.
"We need to give the puppy a name" Scotty replied as he lowered the Labrador to the grass in the backyard and watched him start to explore his new home, his nose pressed so close to the ground he was practically inhaling the dirt. James, Matthew and Laura all started to shout out names, each of them slightly more ridiculous then the last. When Laura wanted to call the new Puppy Ariel, after the little mermaid, Scotty stepped in.
"Why don't you let Mummy pick his name" Scotty suggested
"Yeah, Mummy can pick the name" Matthew replied
"Ahh, I don't know" Lilly said, trying to rack her brain "how about Humphrey?" she suggested
At that exact moment the puppy stopped his exploration of the backyard and barked happily "He likes it" James said happily "Humphrey is a good name Mummy"
"Humphrey it is then" Scotty announced
And the kids all got to their feet and started to chase Humphrey around the yard as he wagged his tail happily.
"Thank God, I was starting to think he was gonna get stuck with a crazy Disney character name."
Lilly chuckled and kissed his cheek "you're welcome"
Bed time had been difficult that night, Laura, Matthew and James all wanted Humphrey to sleep in their rooms but Lilly had put her foot down. "Humphrey will be perfectly fine in the laundry" she said causing Laura's bottom lip to quiver.
"He has his own bed in there and he will be fine" Scotty added stooping to pick up Humphrey from the floor and carrying him from the room and down to the laundry room.
"He's too little sweetie, maybe when he gets a little older you and your brothers can take turns having him sleep in your rooms"
"Not fair" Matthew snapped "he's our puppy"
Lilly pressed a kiss to his forehead "I know honey but he can't, now come on and get in bed and I'll be in to tuck you in in a little bit"
"Ok" he replied and he and James slumped down the hallway to their room.
The summer holidays were over and the triplets had returned to school, much to Matthew and Laura's dismay. But James was thrilled, he always did enjoy school. Out of her three children he was definitely the most studious.
Lilly checked her watch and stared at the glass door of the diner. Lindsay was meant to be meeting her for lunch and she was really looking forward to it. She hadn't seen her best friend in nearly six months and she was feeling slightly guilt about that. Between the kids, her job and Scotty she just hadn't had the time.
The bell above the door jangled and Lindsay walked in, spotting her, and waved in her direction.
"Sorry I'm late Lil"
"No problem, sit down"
Lindsay slid into the booth opposite her and sighed "So glad that we are finally getting to get together, it seems like it's been forever"
"Sorry, life is crazy at the moment" Lilly replied.
Lindsay shook her head "never mind, my life has been really hectic as well. So what's been going on with you?"
Lilly smiled "well, Scotty started a new job with the FBI"
"He's a G-man? Nice"
Lilly chuckled "and I guess the biggest news is that I am….pregnant"
"Oh my god! Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I am nearly 9 weeks pregnant"
"Oh Lil that's really great"
"Thanks, Scotty and I are really excited"
"I bet you are"
Lilly sighed "enough about me, what's going on with you?"
Lindsay's smile broadened "do you remember that case I was telling you about 5 months ago, that little girl Tilly that we found in that crack house with her junkie mother?"
"Yeah" Lilly answered
"Well, we located her father, his name is David Edgerton. Turns out his ex, took their daughter and ran to Phoenix; he'd been trying to track them down ever since. He had no idea that his daughter was back in Philly. Anyway he was so grateful to have his daughter back that he invited me out to dinner with them to celebrate, one thing lead to another and we really connected. We've been dating ever since and about two weeks ago he asked me to Marry him and I said yes"
"You're getting married? Linds why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Lindsay quirked her eyebrow "why didn't you tell me that you we're pregnant?"
"Touché" Lilly replied sheepishly "congratulations though, you and David should come over for dinner on Saturday and bring Tilly she can play with Laura"
"Definitely" Lindsay replied happily "oh Lil, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am, a year ago I thought I'd never get married and now not only am I getting married, I am going to be a step mum to that gorgeous little girl. I can't wait"
"I am really happy for you Lindsay"
"Thanks Lil, I am happy for you and Scotty too"
Lilly smiled "So tell me more about this David guy"
And with a smile, Lindsay started to tell her oldest friend all about her fiancée.
A/N: I know this isn't the best chapter but I am getting to the good stuff. I promise. Thanks for the reviews so far I am glad you're enjoying it.