way, way back

 "Aw, he's the sweetest thing," Zoey clapped as baby Angel took a step toward her. She took him sometimes when Dan and Ivy needed to go out. Of course, she was alone at her place when it happened, but it wasn't long until Alfie noticed how strong the baby was getting.

"Oh, he's going to be a climber," He smiled as they both watched the baby struggle to flop up on the couch. "Did you teach him to do this?" He pointed at her as if she was going to be in trouble for sure. "What's Dan going to think?"

He went soon enough to get the wiggly baby who of course drooled all over Alfie, but he didn't frown. It was as if it was all a part of the process.

Zoey smiled. She liked watching them together. She thought of her conversations with Lexi and how she wanted a baby so badly. Zoey felt she needed to be around a baby first. Yes, she didn't feel baby-proof. Being around Angel had eased her into thinking that she could do it. Be a mom.

She remembered a few months ago when Dan brought Angel over that she loved holding him, the weight of him in her arms. It was like pure gold happiness dripping like sweet honey through her body. She'd never felt anything like it. Of course, she'd handed him over to Alfie. She wanted to know if he could feel it too, but he only smiled as if he didn't know what to do with a sleeping baby.

"We don't even have a crib," he'd said back then.

"Precisely, that's why we have to hold him," she told him. Of course, when he awoke, they were certain they couldn't suffice as parents. The crying just made them more nervous. 

"Maybe he needs a bath," Alfie said back then.

"No, he doesn't." No way was she ever going to bathe a baby. She'd made Alfie do the diaper changing. She thought even then she might get sick. Yes, she wanted Alfie to do the dirty work, but slowly she'd realized it was all a part of the process.

"What are you thinking?" Alfie asked as he held Angel up so he could sit up looking directly at her. His dark eyes were intense but he was so happy.

"Oh, you know," she sighed kind of shaking her head, no and then yes.

"We need to get married first," he said with a wince as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

She squinted. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," it kind of sounded like a joke, but she knew he was serious. "If we have a kid. We need to-"

She nodded they sat on the couch with the baby then.  Suddenly, it felt like a brave new world to her. All their friends were doing it. Well, she wasn't sure if Nora really wanted to have a baby. Would it be wrong if she said she would love to have a little one?

She nursed her bottom lip. Really, she was the worst at gardening. Of course, she didn't know why she thought it.

"You do want to get married don't you?" Alfie asked. She nodded. But was this a proposal? Oh, some girls would argue about that, but she wasn't like those girls. Oh, she was an old girl and she smiled at him. She was glad they could think on this together.