June 15, 2026

"Thanks again Ethan for helping us shop."

"No problem, Josh."

All five people - Josh, Simon, Freya, Riley, and Ethan - wandered around the baby section of the mall. Walls lined with baby clothes, toys, and etcetera left them in a maze with no direction.

"Oh my gosh!" Freya gasps. "Look at these adorably tiny baby shoes!" She holds one in the palm of her hand

"It's the size of my pinky." Simon compares. Freya's hormones cause her eyes to well up with tears.

"Baby's are just so precious." she sniffles.

"I love babies." Riley adds. "Except when they cry. Especially at night." She frowns at the memories of when her brother was a newborn.

"Like I need to loose anymore sleep." Josh sighs, pushing the empty cart.

"Don't worry, Josh. I'll get up and take care of the baby at night." Simon offers. A mistake he doesn't know he's making yet. Yikes.

"Aw, thank you baby." They share a quick kiss.

"Right. So what are we shopping for?" Riley asks, unclear of their mission.

"Just baby supply stuff. Car seats, bottles, a high chair, maybe some play mats." Josh lists a few things. He looks through the aisles trying to avoid any gendered items since that part is still a mystery.

"Play mats?" Ethan inquires.

"You know the things where it's like a little foldout mat with toys hanging over it. The baby lays on its back." Josh tries to explain.

"Oh! I know what you're talking about. I think."

When they came across an intersection Josh stopped them. He decided to spilt everyone into two groups to get the shopping down faster. Group one consists of Josh, Ethan, and Riley; Group two is Simon and Freya.

Josh's group turns left while the other two continue straight. Riley watches Simon walk away, wondering why he is always unhappy around his surrogate. She brushes off her curiosity as she's probably overthinking nothing and follows the two older men down the aisle. Riley decides to stay quiet and just listen to their conversations.

"How much longer until the baby arrives?" Ethan asks.

"Three-ish months." Josh answers quickly. He grabs an assortment of baby toiletries (ie. wipes, ointments). He places the items next to the three boxes of Pamper diapers.

"Wow, time has flown by. That little thing will be here in no time." Ethan says but Josh doesn't respond. Riley just then realized the baby might be delivered while she's here. "Who's more excited? You or Simon?"

"Both." He cracks a smile. "Well, maybe Simon a little more because the reality of responsibility hasn't hit him yet so he's still running around carefree." Josh shakes his head.

"I would've thought Simon would be one giant nervous wreck."

"He was for the longest time. I don't know what got into him that he suddenly wanted to have tiny child. He just came home one day begging to have one. Maybe I just rubbed off on him." Josh shrugs.

"What about you, Riley?" Ethan turns to her, catching her off guard. "Are you excited?"

"Hel-ck yeah I am! I had been driving these two crazy for the longest time to get a kid! Now I can finally have another sibling! And they'll be raised by the best parents ever! So it's good to know they will be in a healthy, loving house." Riley beams with enthusiasm.

Ethan and Josh smile at her. They admire her compassion towards her two fathers, especially Josh whose cheeks are slightly pink. What she says remind him that him and Simon can do this. As cheesy as it is, they have the power of love.

"So, Josh, I mainly wanted to come along to uh - tell you something important." Ethan brings up. Josh looks back at him puzzled. "I am thinking... I'm ready to propose to, (insert name)." he says flustered.

"Really?" An approving, intrigued look on Josh's face suggested he's ready to get involved.

"Yeah, we've been together eight years now - ignoring the break up in the middle - and we keep talking about our future. As in one we share." Ethan dazes off for a second thinking about his girlfriend. "So I think it's time to make it 'official' official."

"That's wonderful, Ethan!"

Riley is happy for him but she feels it would be awkward to talk about his relationship when she's never met this girl.

"I was hoping you, Josh, could help me plan a special proposal since you are such a romantic yourself." Ethan claims.

"You want me to help?"

"Yeah! It worked out great with you and Simon. Maybe you can help set up something just as beautiful. I worry that if I do it myself it'll turn out crap and she'll be too embarrassed to say yes." he mumbles.

"Ethan, everything that night could've gone completely wrong and Simon still would've said yes. If she loves you, she loves you and nothing will stop her from saying yes." Josh gives his advice like the wise old man he is. "Your proposal should be something unique not a carbon copy of mine."

"Obviously I'll come up with my own idea customized just for her. I wanna do something so grandeur that it needs more than one person to help with the execution. So will you help me? Please?" Ethan pleads. He gets down on one knee for extra comical effect. Riley hopes Josh says yes. How could he say no to a face like Ethan's?

"Of course I will help." Josh laughs. "Now get off the dirty floor you goof."

"Thanks you so much, Josh! You're an amazing friend." Ethan hugs him and Riley chuckles at them.

"Oh please. Stop." Josh shakes his head. "We need to find a carseat now. We've wasted enough time standing here."

The three walk in the direction of the carseats when Simon and Freya call their names from behind. They look backwards to see the two blondes running their direction, hands full.

"Hey guys!" Josh greets them. "Cute hat, Si."

Simon puts his hand on his head feeling the silly frog hat that he is wearing.

"Oh, I forgot I had this on." He takes it off.

"Nice hat although it's way too small for your big head." Riley sasses. Ethan high fives her.

"Watch it missy." Simon glares.

"What did you two find?" Josh asks.

"A set of cute feeding bottles with animals on them." Freya shows everyone.

"And I found this awesome play mat!" Simon holds up the big box. Josh stares at the side of it.

"Were you trying to pick out the most expensive one you could find?" Josh speaks with a snarky tone in his voice.

"I told him to get a cheaper one but he was hell bent on getting this one." Freya says. Simon turns his chin up away from her.

"This one has a working piano attached." he whines. "I only want the best for our child." Simon declares.

"You can a kid the newest, bestest toy and they still prefer the box it came in." Josh raises an eyebrow.

"Then I guess he or she will be getting the best box with this purchase." Simon smirks. Riley has noticed that Simon one persistent man. He doesn't back down when Josh challenges him.

Unless it means an angry Josh. Then Simon gives up.

"Fine. But you have to pay me back."

"Okay. No problem."

"Good. Now let's get a carseat and get the hell out of here."