The Gift

Barnaby readjusted his grip on the wheel. He took a deep breath as he checked his rearview mirror. “Why am I nervous? Everything was fine at the store,” Barnaby wondered to himself as checked on the present again. When the toymaker showed it to him it seemed absolutely perfect. For some reason though Barnaby was beginning to second guess this idea with each stop light he caught. This light he sent texted Evelyna to know if she is home. Fortunately she responded by the next light to tell him she was just began putting the groceries away. “Thank goodness,” Barnaby whispered as he pulled up to her building.

He began the long ride up the elevator. Evelyna lived high in her building which made it great for her to leave through a window but a really long ride for Barnaby to double and triple check his appearance. The ride up the elevator was taxing enough but the few moments in front of her door was longest it ever felt. He knocked on her door and almost instantly wanted to run. His feet though stayed in one spot. So his hands began running through his hair. Finally he remembered last time he had this feeling. It was the feeling he had when he gave her the necklace for her birthday! ‘Oh no,’ Barnaby thought to himself. That night was not entirely a surprise for her as he asked her out on a dare. She was all right with taking that dare from him. But the necklace surprise seemed to mess her up for the rest of the night. She did not even talk to him for 3 days afterwards. And it was another few days before they had a normal conversation. This was so much more meaningful to them as a team, as friends. What will happen if she doesn’t like this one? The door finally opened

“Barnaby?” Evelyna began as the door creaked open. Though the sight before her was not what she expected. Barnaby was standing with his hand behind his head. But the big surprise was the little golden stuffed rabbit in a harness and goggles. It had little while strings that lead up to a net over a large red balloon that was so big Evelyna could not see it top part of it behind the doorframe. “What the,” slipped from Evelyna’s lips before a little chuckle did. Her hand covers her mouth so she could hide the biggest grin under it. “And who is this little cutie pie you brought with you today?” Evelyna questioned trying to be playful. She smiled but a finger over her lip as she almost bites it in eagerness. A small pink line appeared as she tried to hold back her playfulness.  

Barnaby tried to make a sound but ended rubbing his head for a moment as a matching blush appeared on his face. “Here!” Barnaby shouted as he tried to push the stuffed rabbit toward Evelyna. The balloon bounced on the doorframe causing his shoulders to shot up in a moment of worry. Thankfully Evelyna’s shock was something she recovered from quickly as she pulled the strings down in enough time for the balloon to make it through the doorway safely. Her other hand cupped under Barnaby’s to help support the rabbit. “This is for you,” Barnaby finally was able to say.

“Thank you. Would you like to come in and tell me about this little guy?” Evelyna asked as her hand moved down the strings onto his arm. Her fingers than danced over his forearm before scoping up the small golden tan rabbit in her arms; afterward it was not long before it was wrapped in her arms.

Barnaby closed the door behind him as he watched her play with her new gift. She hugged it tightly to her chest. Then she held it up so her chin would fit right between its ears. She fiddled with its goggles and ran her hand all over the rabbit curiously inspect each part of it. Afterward she smiled at its face and kissed the little pink nose. Barnaby blushes fully after watching her enjoy her gift bunny. “So um you like it?” Barnaby asked shuffling only slightly further into her apartment.

“I love him,” Evelyna answered without hesistation and a large smile on her lips. Her pure honesty caused a full blush on Barnaby’s face. So much that even his ears were beginning to burn. He turned his face sideways as he tried to cover his mouth as the thoughts were racing in his head. Till he felts something warm touching his free hand. “Come on! You’ve barely come in,” Evelyna bantered as she wove her fingers into his. She almost pulled Barnaby away from the door.

“You really like it?” Barnaby kept repeating as though he disbelieved it.

“I love him!” Evelyna replied without hesitation but a little bounce in her step instead.

Baranby closed the distance between them as he hugged her from behind. “That’s good. But why do you keep saying him?” Barnaby asked as he rested his head on her shoulder.

Evelyna wiggled back and forth till she found a comfortable spot for her to lean into Barnaby. “Because whoever made this little guy stitched a little pattern into his butt area here,” Evelyna explained as she tilted the stuffed rabbit. “Just under his tail is a mark showing this little one as a boy bunny. I know it is because it is just like that time you turned into a rabbit!” Evelyna happily recalled. She enjoyed taking care of the pint size bunny.

“Eve!” Barnaby whined before digging his head into her hair. That time while he did not mind the time with her the rest of it was nothing pleasant for him. Barnaby’s arms lay around her waist as he kept her from turning back around. ‘The toymaker didn’t have to do that. Kinda surprised she checked that though,’ Barnaby thought as he came to rest on her. Evelyna wiggled closer to him and put one hand on his arm. “Hum?” Barnaby indicated as he looked at her.

“Now I really can hold the best bunnies ever,” Evelyna almost whispered as she held onto his arm.

Barnaby’s face erupted in red as he felt a heat burst inside him. His arms closed tightly around Evelyna as he almost wedged her into his shoulder. “The name’s Barnaby,” he muttered automatically into her ear. Evelyna laughs as she nuzzles into Barnaby. Despite wanting to hug him back there was not much wiggle room for that at the moment. “Hey hold him up for me again,” Barnaby began as he took the phone out of his pocket. Evelyna just sorta nodded as she was slightly confused. Bunny turned his phone to a picture of them together, he slide his hand around her waist. Evelyna turned the stuffed rabbit around so it was in the center as leaned closer to Barnaby. “Here we go,” Barnaby said holding up his phone. Right as his finger pushed the button a warm moist pressure shocked him from the side. Evelyna kissed his cheek for a few moments before moving down to his chin. Barnaby’s eyes were so wide open the green color almost disappeared like in a field of snow. Evelyna managed to take a few steps away while still holding her new toy before Barnaby recovered enough to snap another picture of her holding it. “You really love it,” was all Barnaby managed to say.

“Yes, I do,” evelyna repeated with a gentle smile. She had it resting on her chest as she stroked its ears. Her fingers ran down to its backpack. She played with the strings. “How did you ever decide on a skydiving para-trooping bunny?” Evelyna was very curious about the concept. She could not even pick the best phrase to describe it.

“The toy designer and I worked together on it. So you really love it,” Barnaby said as though he could not believe the sentiment.

Evelyna sighed as she saw Barnaby beginning to spin in a mental circle again. “Yes. His detailing is beautiful; the fur is so luxuries, his dark brown leather with pink accents is adorable. Plus the concept of making him look like an adventure is adorable. And his backpack is the cutest thing! Also I think that is biggest balloon I’ve seen in a while. It is going to be incredible to have around. I’ve sorta wondered if I could float on one that size. It must have been fun to fit in your car. Oh,” Evelyna halted her excited review as something struck her mind. She turned back to Barnaby. “Are you ok with this? With what happened a little while ago,” Evelyna began to question as she put the small bunny down on the coffee and went to the big ‘bunny’ now taking a seat at her counter. His head was down in his hand since he leaned forward. “Barnaby?” Evelyna asked as her hands came on his shoulders.

“No its fine,” Barnaby managed as the top of his head touched her stomach. “I gave him to you because you saved mine. The big one and some of the others in my mind,” Barnaby explained as he wrapped his arms around her again. He looked up at her to reveal a few tears had begun down his face. “And it is great to know that this one is in the right spot,” Barnaby finished a little up turn came to the corner of his lip.

“Barnaby!” Evelyna tried to shout but her voice fell short. Instead it dripped in concern. Her hands quickly wrapped his cheeks as her thumbs massaged his tears. After a moment of his eyes closed Evelyna slide his glasses off. While one hand carefully placed them on the counter the other guided his to her chest. It than worked its way along his chin, through his hair and brought it up to her lips. She gave him a peek on the forehead before placing him just below her collar. ‘You were that anxious,’ Evelyna thought as she stroked his back. Barnaby just brought his arms a little closer as the sound of her heartbeat released the tension in him.

“Evelyna, can I ask you a question?” Barnaby asked breaking the silence. He leaned back enough to be able to look up at Evelyna.

“Sure,” Evelyna replied quickly. Though the thought that nothing good ever came up when he began that why.

Barnaby took a deep breath, “Will you go out with me?”

“Of course, we go out all the time,” Evelyna answered without a thought. The pair had been out together many times. Each time they did something together Barnaby would ask her to go with him or she would ask him to go somewhere with her. This was not a new question.  

Barnaby sighed as he closed his eyes for a moment, “What I mean Evelyna is will go on a date with me?” Barnaby tried to clarify his question.

Evelyna froze in her place, “A date? A date, date? Not a ‘not-a-date- date?” Evelyna almost pointed at each word she said. She knees began shifting back and forth around each other.

“No running to hide under the blanket this time,” Barnaby said as he circled his shoulders around her as well as his arms were.

“Well than you should have brought one!” Evelyna almost pouted as she began to blush.

Barnaby chuckled as he watched her rock back and forth as she thought it over.  ‘She’s so cute,’ Barnaby thought as he leaned forward with a grin. He touched his nose to her. “Right, I’ll remember next time,” Barnaby said as he teased her.

“Will they still be fun and nice like the not-dates have been?” Evelyna wondered.

“Yes. I would just like to call them actual dates from now on,” Barnaby explained as he rubbed her sides trying to help keep her calm. “So, will you go out with me?” Barnaby asked again. The room went quiet.

“Yes,” Evelyna said after a moment. “I would be happy to go out with you Barnaby,” Evelyna answered as she touched Barnaby’s cheek.

Barnaby finally lived up to his nickname and sprung out of the stool. He scooped her up off the ground and almost bounced her butt off his arms as she kept getting moved higher. He only slowed down as she fell over his head laughing as his he nuzzles into her abs. She had a moment to wrap one arm around his head while using her other arm to brace on his shoulder. After a few moment Barnaby began to lower Evelyna a little till he can nuzzle his nose into her neck. His arms wrapped around her shoulders as his warm breathe washed over her. His hand moved her turtleneck down a must a small amount so his lips had enough room to caress her. Her hands slide up his side till they reach his shoulder blades then pulled herself tighter. She turned toward him when he finished on her neck to only be greeted by his ear. Which, she kindly greeted with a kiss.   Barnaby could not stop smiling. Evelyna just tries to hold him as tightly as she can.

“Ok let’s get heading to dinner!” Barnaby declared as he puts Evelyna down. She kissed his forehead on the way to the floor. He returned the kiss to her when her feet touch down. “Where is your coat and scarf?” Barnaby asked.

“They’re in the closet. Just a moment,” Evelyna said. She scooped up her new little bunny and moved him onto the corner of the couch. “There. Now he’ll greet me when I come back,” Evelyna finished as she looked over the scene of the golden bunny with a huge red balloon sitting on a pillow. She smiled at the scene.  

“You seem to be having fun with him already,” Barnaby said as he watched her maneuver around the table.

“Yes I am! Now I have a couch buddy. I just need to name him,” Evelyna began as Barnaby finished helping her put on her coat. “I was going to call him my honey bunny. But now I’m not sure which one of you should get that nickname now,” Evelyna suggested as she rubbed Barnaby’s bangs.

“Me. I’m your honey and already had the other nickname,” Barnaby almost boosted about his nicknames as he pulled Evelyna closer to him.  

“Awww,” Evelyna made the sound with a grin as she enjoyed the concept Barnaby saying he liked beginning called his honey. He was not one for nickname or anything informal so letting her call him anything besides his name was also something fun for her. Barnaby just grinned as she smiled about it. “Ok,” Evelyna agreed.

“We’ll think of another one for,, him?” Barnaby suggested still trying to get used to the concept of a stuffed animal being a male.

“All right!” Evelyna almost cheered. The concept of the two of them working together on it now was interesting. She put her scarf on, “Hey do I get one now too?” Evelyna wondered about getting a nickname from Barnaby since he picked on from her.  

“Nope,” Barnaby answered without a momentary break.

“Aw! But Tiger has one!” Evelyna pouted as the pair left the apartment.

“You still don’t get one,” Barnaby countered as he wrapped his arm around her arm. Evelyna gave a little humph that only Barnaby to chuckle as the pair walked down the hallway. Little did Evelyna realize that Barnaby was already calling her several different nicknames mentally whenever she came to mind. He just had not settled on which name would be best for her yet.