chapter 5- Out and about

The apartment was unusually quiet as Noah glanced around after finishing his breakfast. His eyes landed on the peacefully sleeping toddler wrapped up snugly on the couch. Damion, however, was still slumped on the floor, his head resting awkwardly against the couch.

Noah rolled his eyes, muttering, "You’re really not gonna wake up, huh?" He walked over and nudged Damion’s shoulder. "Damion. Hey. It’s 10 a.m. Get your ass up."

Damion groaned, barely cracking an eye open. "Five more minutes," he mumbled before flopping back down.

Noah sighed dramatically, "Damion, the baby’s gonna need more than ‘five more minutes.’ Plus, your place looks like a warzone. If I trip over one more diaper, I swear—"

"Fine, fine, I’m up!" Damion finally sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. His messy hair and disheveled look made Noah laugh.

"Okay, Dad of the Year, what’s the plan for today? 'Cause clearly, your ‘wing it’ approach isn’t cutting it," Noah said with a smirk, gesturing to the chaotic state of the apartment.

Damion groaned again. "I dunno, man. What else am I supposed to do? I bought formula and diapers already."

"Yeah, two things," Noah replied, folding his arms. "You do know babies need, like, a whole list of stuff, right? Clothes? A crib? Actual baby wipes instead of paper towels?!"

Damion blinked. "Wait, you’re telling me paper towels aren’t baby wipes?"

Noah slapped his forehead dramatically. "God help this child. Okay, listen, you’re gonna grab your wallet, and we’re going shopping. This baby deserves better than your half-assed attempts."

"Shopping?" Damion winced. "Do I look like I know what babies need?"

"Exactly my point," Noah shot back, already grabbing his jacket. "Good thing you’ve got me. I’ll make the list; you just follow along and pay for it. Deal?"

Damion looked at Noah, still half-asleep, but the sincerity in Noah’s tone caught him off guard. He nodded. "Yeah... deal."

The toddler stirred slightly on the couch, letting out a tiny yawn, and both boys froze. "Aw, crap, she’s waking up," Damion whispered in panic.

"Relax, she’s fine," Noah said, picking her up carefully. She blinked up at him with her big, glistening eyes, and he smiled softly. "Alright, kiddo, let’s go buy you some real baby stuff."

Damion watched as Noah cradled the baby so naturally. For a moment, he felt a wave of relief. Maybe, just maybe, he could handle this—with Noah by his side.

The bustling city streets were alive with noise and energy as Noah and Damion stepped out of the apartment. Damion held the baby carefully, her tiny head resting on his shoulder, while Noah carried the diaper bag slung over one shoulder.

“You’re telling me we’re doing this without a stroller?” Noah asked, side-eyeing Damion.

Damion shrugged, looking defensive. “I didn’t exactly plan for… all this, okay? You’re lucky I even have baby formula at home.”

Noah rolled his eyes but softened his tone. “Fine. First stop, we’re getting you a stroller and some other essentials. You can’t just haul her around like a sack of potatoes.”

As they walked through the shopping district, Noah took the lead, listing everything Damion would need. “Alright, we’re talking diapers, a proper crib, clothes that don’t look like hand-me-downs from the 1800s, and, oh yeah, a stroller.”

Damion raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t babies supposed to grow out of things fast? Isn’t this… overkill?”

Noah stopped in his tracks and turned to face Damion. “You seriously want her sleeping in a drawer or something? Dude, she’s your kid. Invest in her.”

Damion sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility settle in his chest. “Alright, alright, you win. But you’re paying for lunch after this.”

Noah smirked. “Deal.”

They entered a baby store, and Damion was instantly overwhelmed by the pastel-colored chaos. Everything was tiny, frilly, or impossibly cute. Noah, however, moved through the aisles like a seasoned pro.

“This one,” Noah said, pointing to a sleek, collapsible stroller. “Easy to handle, lightweight, and it won’t make you look like a total rookie.”

Damion inspected the price tag and winced. “You sure this thing doesn’t fly or cook dinner too?”

“Stop being cheap,” Noah shot back. “Besides, think of it as an investment.”

After some debate (and a lot of convincing on Noah’s part), they left the store with several bags in tow and a shiny new stroller. The baby, nestled in Damion’s arms, cooed softly, as if approving their choices.

They decided to stop at a nearby café for lunch, settling at an outdoor table. Damion carefully placed the baby in the stroller, adjusting the straps while Noah ordered for them.

When Noah returned, he set down a tray with sandwiches and coffee. “So,” he started, biting into his sandwich, “what’s your plan? You can’t exactly keep winging this, you know.”

Damion sipped his coffee, his gaze fixed on the baby. “I don’t know yet. It’s all just… a lot.”

Noah leaned back in his chair, studying his friend. “Look, you’ve got me. We’ll figure this out together. But you’ve got to start taking it seriously. She’s not just some random responsibility. She’s… family.”

Damion looked up, a small smile forming. “Thanks, Noah. I mean it.”

The baby let out a tiny giggle, drawing both of their attention.

“See?” Noah said with a grin. “Even she thinks you’re doing alright.”

Damion chuckled, feeling a bit lighter.

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:) I just wanna thank you August, for your support i appreciate it ☺️✨💛💛

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