Page 88 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“But why does he always get to choose? I don’t love the sand, but you don’t see me vetoing the beach.”

“Yeah, but you’re softhearted,” Gerard said with clear affection, “You’d never make him go to the snow.”

Meredith rolled her eyes. “Well, if you have to be here, don’t distract us. We’re supposed to be shopping.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Gerard said, standing up straighter. “Put me to work.”

Meredith immediately shoved the few hangers she had been holding into Gerard’s arms.

“I don’t want to hear any whining later when you’re behind schedule on whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing today instead of this,” she said with a sniff.

“Shouldn’t you know that, oh keeper of the schedule?” Gerard asked cheekily.

Meredith shoved another hanger into his hands.

***

Two stores and many changes of clothes later, Meredith convinced Elliot to stand for a tailor measuring. She’d said that it would really help her with future purchases if he’d submit to the experience. Mattia had made him go through the same process so Elliot’s clothes could be tailored in the way Mattia had wanted, so at least Elliot wasn’t unfamiliar with it.

This measuring was infinitely nicer than the one he’d done with Mattia though, Meredith and Gerard distracted him thewhole time with a story about a time they’d been vacationing in Tokyo and Nikolai had been mobbed by adorable Japanese fangirls because he resembled some villain in a popular show over there. Nikolai had ended up signing papers and notebooks after trying and failing to explain that it wasn’t his face on them, and he still felt guilty about it to this day.

The measuring flew by with their animated commentary, and by the end Elliot was even trying to hold back giggles.

It was fun to be around such comradery. Mattia surrounded himself with people who agreed with whatever he said, but he didn’t havefriends. If one of those people said something Mattia didn’t like, Mattia got upset.

But even when Gerard teased her and Meredith swatted him, it was clear they liked each other. Cared about each other.

Family,Meredith had said.

When the measuring was done, Meredith took them to a culinary store.

Elliot felt slightly guilty about picking out some kitchen utensils and a pasta maker, but with Gerard at his side egging him on and Meredith reminding him that he had a salary now, he let himself put them in the cart

Wandering deeper into the store, Elliot discovered that Gerard also liked knives.

Really liked knives.

They lost almost an hour in the knife section chatting. Gerard asked him his favorites and got Elliot talking as they went back and forth looking at the store's selections.

Eventually they agreed on the best set in the store, which Gerard immediately tried to put into the cart alongside the other utensils and the pasta maker.

Elliot shook his head and took them back out. “Nikolai already has a very nice set of knives,” he explained.

“Right, but you don’t have your own knives,” Gerard said.

“Oh, I–I mean I don’t need any right now,” Elliot said, putting the box back.

Gerard narrowed his eyes, then huffed. “Fine, then at least get the ice cream machine. Nikolai loves ice cream.Ilove ice cream.”

Meredith’s muffled laugh from the next aisle over had Gerard’s eyes flickering that way with glee. Before he knew it, Elliot was smiling too.

“Should I?” Elliot asked.

“Yes,” Gerard said immediately with a firm nod. “Definitely. Meri?”

“Sure,” she said from the other aisle. “Nikolai does like ice cream.”

Gerard beamed like he was proud. “See?” He said as he put it in the cart.

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