Welcome To The Family, Duke
“Alicia!” Leighton calls from their living room.
“What?” Alicia calls from the bedroom.
“Can you come here? It’s an emergency!” Leighton replies. Alicia comes running into the living room, looking around anxiously.
“What’s wrong?! Are you hurt?!” she asks, checking Leighton for any kind of harm.
“No, I’m fine! But look!” Leighton says, pointing to her laptop resting on the coffee table. Alicia looks and sighs when she sees a puppy on Leighton’s computer screen and she knows where this is going.
“Okay first of all, don’t scare me like that. And second of all, Leighton, why are you looking at dogs?”
“Because I want one!” Leighton says excitedly. Alicia sighs and sits next to her girlfriend on the couch.
“Leighton, no.” Alicia says.
“Why not?” Leighton pouts, “He’s so cute!” she says, holding the computer up to Alicia. Alicia has to admit, the dog on screen is adorable.
“Princess-”
“No no no, hear me out!” Leighton says. “Look at him: he’s a 3 month old chihuahua terrier mix, and house trained, and he’s up for adoption!” Leighton explains, swiping through the pictures on the dog’s profile on the pet website.
“Leighton, do you really think we can take care of a dog right now? I mean we have crazy schedules. With my premed classes and how intense your math classes are getting?
“Baby I know we can do this! We won’t have to worry about potty training him or getting him fixed, plus he’s so freaking cute!” Leighton squeals. Alicia thinks it over: it would be nice to have a dog in the house, and their apartment complex allows pets… and Leighton looks absolutely adorable begging for a dog. And they have a stable financial income between them to pay for dog expenses.
“Okay… let’s go get a dog!” Alicia says with a smile. Leighton squeals and kisses all over Alicia’s face.
“Thank you thank you thank you!” Leighton says excitedly and she rushes to put her shoes on. Alicia follows behind her, laughing.
As soon as they meet the puppy in person, Alicia and Leighton fall completely in love.
“Look at him!” Alicia says in awe. “He’s so tiny!”
“I can’t wait till he’s ours!” Leighton says. They quickly sign the adoption papers and pay the fee for their new puppy who is just as excited to meet them! He yips and licks all over Alicia’s face as Leighton signs the papers and schedules appointments for him to get his shots! As they walk out of the animal shelter, Alicia can’t stop herself from smiling. The puppy settles down in the car and falls asleep on Leighton’s lap and stays asleep until they get inside their apartment.
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” Leighton asks as she and Alicia set up the pee pads and dog bed for the puppy, who they have named Duke.
“Yes, you have, but I’m open to hearing it again.” Alicia smirks, kissing Leighton’s cheek.
“Well I love you so much! And I love our little dog son!” Leighton says, placing Duke in his bed.
“Oh god, Leighton, please tell me we’re not going to be those people who treat their dog like their kid.”
“Oh, we’re absolutely going to be those people!”