I'm not familiar with the Toledo Zoo layout so no need to call me out lol
A monkey on crack was how Santana would describe their zoo adventure to her parents when they returned home, and she wouldn't want it any other way, they wanted to stay together as a group and since the zoo was Santana's idea for Brittany they were going to the penguins first. Beth safely tucked into her stroller the baby slept as they walked from the van to the entrance, where they took a group picture, Mike wrapped around Quinn smiling at Matt as he stood slightly to the side taking the picture of the group with his phone. "Is it still a selfie if you have other people in the picture with you?" Matt asked sending the photo to his parents.
"Everybody remember where we parked." Mike spoke up as they went through the entrance.
"I hope they have penguins in the gift shop." Brittany glanced back at the one by the entrance and exit.
"I'm sure they do sweetie." Santana glanced around for a 'you are here' sign.
"I got this." Mike pulled a zoo map out of his back pocket, pointing the direction they needed to go Mike folded the map keeping it in hand "The aquarium is by the penguins and there's a gift shop over there too."
"Yes!" Brittany squealed, Santana grabbed her hand before she could run off "They have African penguins here, they only get a little over two feet tall and they weigh a lot less than Lord Tubbington, the boys are bigger than the girls." Brittany happily babbled, Santana smiled "They like small fish and squids but not the big ones, like this big. Brittany held her fingers two inches apart.
"And small crustations." Santana piped up and then glared at Quinn who smirked at her, Quinn knew most of the time Santana let Brittany control the remote which, oddly enough, meant watching educational animal shows. Even though they were headed for the penguins they stopped at the other habitats on their way. "Look sweetie, flamingos."
"They get their pink color from the food they eat." Brittany said letting Santana's hand go and lifting her camera to take a picture, standing next to Matt she took a few quick pictures.
"Wait they're not born pink?" Mercedes asked confused.
"Nope," Brittany shook her head returning to Santana's side "they're like a gray-red." taking Santana's hand Brittany started walking to the next exhibit. "Siberian tigers are also called Amur, Korean, Ussurian and Manchurian tigers." Brittany rattled off as they stopped in front of the tigers "Panthera tigris tigris." letting Santana's hand go Brittany moved next to Matt to take a picture.
"He's beautiful." Quinn watched a large tiger taking a drink of water.
"He's huge." Mercedes added when she stepped up to the barrier, taking a picture with her phone she turned the camera on Quinn and Mike taking a quick picture of the duo and stroller.
Santana noted the bathrooms and food places they passed once they started on their way to the penguins, Mike remained by Quinn's side showing her the map. "The wolves and giraffes are back that way."
"We can catch them on our way out." Santana gestured to the petting zoo "Looks like the big rats are first."
"Snack Shack!" Brittany called out seeing a small building right by the petting zoo.
"Where does she put it all?" Mercedes asked in awe, the blonde dancer was eating as much as the boys.
"Hollow legs." Quinn shrugged, Brittany never had to worry about the diets that Sue put them on, she did them but it never affected her weight.
"Can we get some?"
"Of course sweetie." Santana squeezed Brittany's hand telling Quinn "We'll be over there."
"Take the stroller." taking Beth out of the stroller she handed the baby to Mike.
"I'll take it." Mercedes took the stroller from Quinn.
"You're not coming?" Quinn asked adjusting Beth's blanket.
"Nope, it's a big rat and I don't even like the small ones." Mercedes shook her head, pushing the stroller she heard Quinn laugh and the boys start arguing.
"It's the largest living rodent in the world, the world." Mike asserted.
"There were sloths as big as elephants." Matt pointed out "Elephants, and they lived on the ground."
"And we see how that worked out for them, extinct." Mike shook his head "Capybaras are great on land and in the water."
"Sloths are better."
"Are not." Mike scoffed.
"Are so."
"Not."
"So."
Laughing at the boys Santana pointed at a table "What do you want?"
"Just a drink, I'm still full from second breakfast." Mercedes chuckled sitting at the table.
"Isn't he amazing?" Mike marveled at the giant capybara "He's related to the guinea pig who's also a rodent."
Matt shook his head pointing at the large animal "There is no way that's related to a guinea pig."
"He's right." Quinn chuckled pointing at the sign on the fence "Closest relatives include the guinea pig and rock cavies." Quinn made a mental note to look up what the second animal was. Taking a quick picture with her phone Quinn joined the boys at the fence.
"I'll take a picture of you guys." Matt held up his camera, Quinn handed her phone to Matt.
"You're too little to go in there now but when you're bigger we'll come back so you can go in and meet him." Mike whispered to Beth kissing the top of her sunhat covered head as he turned her towards the camera. Cuddling up to Mike's side Quinn slipped her arm around his waist before resting her free hand on Beth's belly, looking up at Mike the blonde smiled before turning her attention to Matt and his camera. Matt of coursed snapped a quick picture of Quinn looking up at Mike. Mike continued to carry Beth around the petting zoo telling her about all the different animals "These are bunnies, they're soft and fluffy." Switching Beth to Quinn's arms Mike pulled out his phone "Let's get a picture for Daddy with the bunnies." Quinn smiled kneeling next to a floppy eared bunny so Mike could take a picture, taking a couple pictures he sent one to Quinn, he thought it would be awkward to send one to Puck himself.
"If anybody's a hobbit it's Santana it's you, two breakfasts and a lunch and it's only 11 am." Mercedes chuckled as Santana dug into the hamburger in front of her, burger in hand and still at her mouth Santana flipped off the curvy black girl.
"Oooh do they have anything with bacon?"
"And they're back." Mercedes laughed hearing Quinn excitement.
Santana nodded continuing to eat, "I'll get it." Mike volunteered, pulling out a chair for Quinn he made sure she was seated before tugging Matt with him to the line.
"The otters are by the aquarium," Brittany pointed at the map. "and the sloths and giraffes are on the way to the wolves that are over there." Brittany pointed in the opposite direction.
"We can take this path it goes by the apes circles back to here and then by the birds before going back to the entrance area where the wolves, giraffes and sloths are." Quinn traced the paths leading to the animals.
"Sounds like a plan." Santana agreed.
After eating lunch, feeding and changing the baby the group took more pictures before heading to the gift shop where they spent sometime and bought a few things for themselves and others.
Then it was on to the penguins, Beth happily sleeping in her stroller as Mike took over pushing to give Quinn a break. "They think these guys are related to Galapagos penguins."
"Aren't all penguins related?" Matt asked taking a picture of one of the penguins.
"These guys are closer cousins than the other ones." Brittany said lifting her own camera to take a picture. "They live up to 30 years in zoos because nobody's going to eat them here."
"So next time we come to the zoo these guys should still be here." Matt said pulling his phone out of his pocket "Group photo." scrunching together they smiled before heading to the aquarium.
Quinn pushed the stroller through the aquarium reading the information on the different fish and other creatures as they passed, Matt as promised took pictures of all the different creatures that appeared in Nemo for his sisters. "Lined seahorse, hippocampus erectus. They eat minute crustaceans and brine shrimp. Here's your clown fish Matt." Quinn pointed at one of the aquariums as she walked to another one.
Brittany stared at the creature "The North Pacific giant octopus, it's found along the California coast but also Japan and the Korean Peninsula."
"How does she know this stuff?" Mercedes shook her head amused.
"It's animals, she just seems to remember facts about animals." Quinn shrugged taking a couple pictures of Santana and Brittany in front of the aquarium holding hands.
"They eat shrimp and crabs, lobsters and clams." Brittany waved at the octopus. "Hi!"
"Look at the size of him." Mike marveled.
"I read that they have to keep a close eye on them because a couple have escaped their aquariums." Quinn said joining the others.
"Cool." Matt took a picture. "I think my sisters will like this."
Taking a quick drink Puck pulled his phone out of his pocket he'd gotten multiple texts while they were putting the walls up. "Check it out, they've seen penguins and bunnies." Puck held his phone up so Finn could see the pictures.
"Cool." Finn nodded taking a drink of his water. "I think we're doing good, do you think we are?"
"If we keep the pace we're going we'll have this done and be ahead of schedule." Puck tucked his phone back in his pocket. "Ready?"
"Ready." Finn agreed.
They were almost finished with the gazebo, if they finished early enough Puck was going to start on the pond, he had all the parts in his van.
"We'll be able to plant everything tomorrow even if I have to finish up the pond, we'll plant the trees together and I'll show you where I want which flowers."
"Okay." Finn bobbed his head, he didn't mind listening to Puck, the mohawked teen knew what he was doing. "I'm glad she's having a good time, Mike's a nice guy, I hope he sticks around."
"Mercedes'll beat his ass if he hurts her." Puck reminded him.
"Here they are." Quinn pointed at the sign, "Sea otters spend more time in the water than the river otter, the sea otters are the ones that bust open sea urchins with a rock."
"Look a slide." Brittany pointed.
"They're very playful, sea otters grow between 3 feet to around 4 and a half feet long." Quinn gestured to the otter display which pictured the different types of otters at their actual sizes. The otters were the last of what they wanted to see in the area so they headed for the path that lead back to the front and the rest of what they were looking for. Seeing Santana rubbing her lower back Quinn quietly asked "You okay Ducky?"
"I'm fine," Santana promised "just a back ache nothing more."
"How about we stop at the cafe for lunch?" Quinn suggested.
"Alright." Santana nodded, the cafe was after the great apes exhibit.
"You okay San?" Brittany asked seeing the concern in Quinn's eyes.
"Just talking about food with Quinn." Santana smiled.
"Hey we're going to try that cafe after we see the great apes and primates." Quinn called to the others that were walking ahead of them.
"Okay!" Matt yelled back
"You sure you're okay?" Brittany asked again.
"I promise sweetie, just a little back ache, my body's getting used to carrying the Beans that's all." Santana squeezed Brittany's hand before bring it to her lips and kissing it.
"Orangutans!" Matt called out.
"That's a big dude." Mercedes laughed.
"They start riding horseback and we're the hell out of here." Santana laughed.
"Movie nerd." Quinn teased as they caught up with the others.
"It's a classic." Santana argued. "But I mean they got it wrong, just because the gorillas are largest they made them the soldiers but really chimps are very aggressive and orangutans and smarter."
"Dude can you believe the size of that gorilla?" Matt looked at the photo again in his display.
"He was huge!" Mercedes agreed.
"Finn likes gorillas." Quinn said absentmindedly, her attention was on Santana.
"Because he's the size of one." Santana snorted.
"Pay up." Mercedes held her hand out to Matt who chuckled and dug in his pocket pulling out a dollar for Mercedes. "Knew she couldn't go the day without an insult."
"It's not an insult it's a size comparison." Santana stuck her tongue out.
"San you promised you'd be nice." Brittany pouted.
"Sorry sweetie, it just slipped out." Santana apologized kissing the blonde on the cheek, "Here I'll make it up to him." taking her phone out Santana quickly snapped a couple pictures of the gorillas sending it to Finn. "See." tucking her phone back Santana smiled at Brittany who nodded.
Rolling her eyes Mercedes handed the dollar back to a chuckling Matt muttering "Anything for Brittany."
Quinn hid her chuckle with a cough, the duo was having fun even if it was just betting on Santana's behavior.
They were on their lunch break when Finn checked his phone, he knew if it was an emergency his mom would call so he wasn't going to answer any text until break or lunch. Grinning he showed Puck "San sent me pictures of the gorillas, I can't wait until the girls are big enough to take to the zoo."
"We'll have to go together, I know they have Beth with them now but she's not old enough to do anything." Puck shrugged.
"Does it bug you?" Finn asked tucking his phone away.
"A little." Puck admitted. "But Quinn's gonna do stuff with her and I'm gonna do stuff with her that'll probably bug Quinn so, I mean what can I do tell her no, I'd be an asshole." shrugging Puck asked "Are you worried it's gonna bug you when Santana and Brittany take the girls to things you want to take them to?"
"Kinda." Finn nodded.
"Quinn invited me but we got this job to do so I said no, but I know I'll be able to take her to the zoo when she's older and it'll be great. No zoo trip is gonna be the same even if you see the same animals." Puck said checking his phone "We got five minutes.
"Yea, I guess you're right." Finn took a drink saying "When my girls get old enough we'll take them to the zoo with Beth."
"Deal." Puck shook Finn's hand.
After eating lunch, which Quinn quietly paid for, feeding and changing the baby they headed for the rest of the animals. "Sloths! See! So cool." Matt instantly started taking pictures, "There are two toed and three toed sloths, they can't see or hear really good so they find their food by smell." Mike took a couple pictures as well. "They don't know how long they live in the wild."
"They are seriously slow." Mercedes said watching one.
"Their fur acts as a camouflage to protect them from predators, they stay in trees for the most part."
"They poop once a week?" Santana scrunched her nose "I wish I didn't read that, that's gross."
"That's when they're most vulnerable."
"Nerds, the lot of you. Can't you just like an animal because it's cute?" Mercedes asked.
"Wolves." Santana piped up "They're gorgeous."
"Gift shop!" Mercedes pointed at a small kiosk.
"Sunglasses."
"You already have a pair." Quinn reminded Santana.
"You can never have too many." Santana scoffed looking at Quinn over her sunglasses.
"Alright everybody grab a pair on my mom." Quinn gestured to the kiosk.
"You already bought us snacks." Matt said confused.
"I know but Mom wanted me to buy you guys stuff from her, and I figure accessories fit what my mom would buy everyone." Quinn explained.
"See we're doing great." Puck smiled at the nearly complete gazebo in front of them. "We just gotta put the seats in there and the pictures and it's done."
"I guess we do work good together when we're not distracted." Finn nodded.
"I wanna be better than my old man, he's a piece crap and he ran out on my mom after knocking some waitress up." Puck frowned.
"You're sticking by Quinn and taking care of your kid, you're already better than him." Finn promised.
"Thanks man." Puck nodded "Let's finish this up and then start on the pond."
"Ready when you are." Finn agreed.
"Hello beautiful." Santana murmured looking at the gray wolf slumbering in front of her. "How you ever became a poodle I will never understand."
"How that became a pug I'd like to know." Mercedes chuckled.
"Look San, that one's chasing a butterfly." Brittany pointed to another wolf, who was in fact chasing a butterfly that kept flying into his face and then flying away right before a paw could hit it.
"Oh that's fucked up, that butterfly's screwing with him." Santana said watching the butterfly go right back in the wolf's face. "Catch it and eat it dude." Santana called out getting the others attention.
"What is she..." Matt asked only for Mercedes to point at the wolf and butterfly, Matt immediately started filming the amusing chase.
"He's gonna catch it."
"No he's not." Mike shook his head.
"Bet me, it's a snack." Santana laughed as the wolf bounced after it like an excited puppy.
"You're on." Mike reached out shaking her hand.
They stayed and watched the chase until the end, with the wolf catching, eating and then gagging on the butterfly. "Pay up!" Santana held her hand out, laughing Mike handed her a dollar. "Now let's go before he hurls." After taking a few more pictures they headed for the giraffes
"Snacks!" Brittany squealed seeing a food kiosk.
"Gift shop." Quinn pointed.
"We'll keep Beth with us, you go shop." Santana waved Quinn away.
"Okay here." digging in her purse Quinn handed Mercedes money "Mom's treat, everyone." Mercedes took the money and stroller from Quinn nodding.
"Wait up, I got this." Mercedes moved to stand by Brittany "You guys order, I'll pay."
Taking Mike's hand Quinn walked to the little gift shop "I want to get your mom something, what does she like?"
The small group was waiting for the duo outside of the little shop, taking Beth out of her stroller Quinn had Mike put their shopping bag in it. "Hello my baby." Quinn kissed Beth on the forehead. "We're going to see the giraffes, Auntie Cedes loves them."
"Because they're cute." Mercedes pointed out the baby giraffe hiding behind it's mother. "I'm not a nerd about them like you guys." she teased.
"Well educated." Quinn corrected.
"Nerd." Mercedes laughed.
"Whatever." Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Give me my baby and take our picture." Mercedes wiggled her fingers. The blonde smirked handing her daughter to the other girl. "See baby you don't have to nerd out to have a favorite animal, you can like them because they're pretty."
"How you doing San?" Quinn asked seeing her rubbing her back again.
"I'm fine, nothing a hot shower won't cure." Santana promised. "We've had a good day."
"We've had a great day." Quinn promised "Aaaand she's stealing the baby." Quinn smirked as Mercedes walked to the final enclosure they were going to stop at, Santana chuckled. Staying with Santana while Matt and Brittany took pictures of the cheetahs Quinn gave the Latina's hand a squeeze. "It's really sweet that you're trying to mark things off her 'to do' list."
"I don't want to screw this up." Santana admitted. "Am I overdoing it?"
"No, you're doing great, I'm so proud of you." Quinn hugged her.
"Thanks Q." Santana hugged her back.
It was nearly closing time when they got out of the final gift shop, Quinn had managed to convince Santana to buy Brittany anything she wanted and she would cover it with the money her mom gave her so Brittany could have the perfect date. Putting Beth and the stroller in the van first the group made sure none of their breakable purchases were crushed as Quinn tossed a Toledo Zoo hoodie on everyone's chair before they climbed in the van with her and Beth. Pulling on their hoodies the group thanked Quinn as they piled into the van, Mike first so he was seated when they squeezed Brittany's large stuffed tiger into the space between Brittany and Santana's seats.