“What?” Tarin said as Lee rolled her eyes and slipped into the chair, “We both know that if I try to figure this out we’ll end up walking five or six extra miles out of our way.” It was true, Tarin had always relied on public transportation or taxis to take him wherever he needed to go in the city. Lee was the one who’d done all the walking. It would be incredibly expensive to take taxis to all the places they were going to go that day, so the best option was to let Lee plan things out.

In what seemed like no time, Lee had plotted out a course of action and was asking him if it sounded good. “You know I trust your sense of direction beyond a doubt.” He said with a grin, let’s go.

Fifteen minutes later saw Tarin and Lee making their way into a pet shop that looked a little too large for its own good. There were obvious signs of corporate America everywhere and the signs proclaimed that the store only put animals up for adoption that had been rescued from shelters. Tarin hmmm’d at this and as they approached the Plexiglas that separated the kennels from the rest of the store, he took note that all of the dogs present were older ones. Well past the puppy stage, he turned to Lee.

“What do you think? I was kind of thinking more along the lines of a puppy…not that some of these guys aren’t great too though…” Tarin said, moving forward to bend down and look at a big eyed basset hound looking balefully out through the glass. As Tarin pressed his hand against it, the dog licked it and wagged it’s tail.

“Aw hell Lee…we’re going to end up with like eight dogs.” Tarin said, looking up helplessly at his wife.

The walk to the first pet store was nice; they went at a good pace, but yet at the same time still slow enough for it to be comfortable in their lazy Saturday plan.

But as they reached that first store and were walking through the doors, Lee noticed that Tarin didn't seem all that impressed. Despite that, in no time they reached a large stretch of Plexiglas which separated them the dogs for sale. Try though she looked, Lee didn't see any puppies in there, though.

A fact which Tarin echoed a moment later. "That's what we were talking about getting," Lee said slowly, though there was a smile on her face as she watched her husband bend down and touch the glass in front of one of the dogs.

Then Lee saw Tarin look up at her, and as she heard his words, she simply shook her head. "We are not going to get eight dogs," she replied, though her tone was gentle. "Our apartment isn't big enough for a single, large dog, how do you think we'd be able to deal with multiple dogs?"

That said, Lee rubbed Tarin's shoulder briefly as she looked in at the dogs for another minute. "Did you want to keep looking here, or continue on?"

Tarin sighed, looking at the basset hound again before standing up and shaking his head, “I was exaggerating, love, but you’re right. This guy’s super cute, anyway. I’m sure someone will take him.” He said. “I think a puppy would be best, that way we can make him ours from the beginning. No bad habits to break.”

As he stood, Tarin looked around the store and shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t think there’s going to be anything here for us. Maybe coming back here afterwards would be a good idea, though.” He added, gesturing towards some very reasonably priced puppy accessories and food dishes. “We’ll have to see if we end up with a boy or a girl first, though. Wouldn’t want to gender confuse the poor thing with the wrong colored doggy bed and bowls.”

Out of the shop they went and towards the new one. The pace was still a comfortable one and Tarin snagged Lee’s hand as they made their way. It was a really warm day and there were a lot of people, and bikers out. Tarin also noticed a lot of dogs. He noticed them with a grin, he and Lee were going to be those people.

The next shop was much more like the pet shops Tarin was used to seeing and in they went. Yeah, this was much more like it. There were little display cases lining the walls and a different puppy slept, ate, played, or barked in each one. Almost immediately a plump, grandma looking lady approached them.

“Welcome, welcome.” She said ushering them further into the store, “Looking for a puppy?”

Tarin nodded, “Yup.” The woman smiled, “Well, all these little guys are hand raised, and they take turns coming home with me and my daughters and son-in-laws. So they’re friendly as heck. Let me know if there’s anyone you want to see closer.”

The woman walked away and Tarin turned to Lee, raising an eyebrow and hmm’ing appreciatively. “Where do you want to start?”

So it was decided, they were definitely getting a puppy, not simply just a dog. Which meant that they were going to have to continue on in their search. But Tarin wanted to wait to find out whether they were going to be getting a boy or girl before they got the food and water dishes, a dog bed, and all that stuff, because he didn't want to gender confuse the thing?

Lee took a deep breath and rolled her eyes slightly as they made their way out of the shop. "You know, I don't think 'gender confusion' would be a huge problem for a dog," she said as she felt Tarin grasping her hand as they walked. "Can you really see me wrapping anything up in pink, whether it's a boy or a girl?"

It didn't take too long to get to the next store, and almost as soon as they stepped foot inside, Lee thought this was much more like what they were looking for. At least she could see some puppies here almost as soon as she stepped inside.

After the woman - the owner? - had walked away and Tarin asked her where she wanted to start, Lee glanced around the shop. Where did she want to start? "How about over there?" Lee asked, pointing to some nearby cages where there were a number of dogs who looked rather active at the moment.

A couple minutes of looking revealed a pattern to Lee; the bottom row of cages were for dog breeds that would grow much larger than what she and Tarin had in mind, the second, and occasional third, row of cages were for the smaller breeds.

Then Lee saw a playful little white dog she just had to stop at. Standing there, her head tilted to the side a bit, she looked with a small smile on her face. Japanese Spitz, Lee read from the little sheet in the corner of the cage. Not a breed she was at all familiar with, but this little guy was cute.

"What do you think of this one?" Lee asked, turning to look over at Tarin briefly.

Tarin liked the woman who ran the shop and he also liked the fact that she said they took the puppies home with them at night. Somehow it seemed nicer than leaving them in the shop all the time. If the dogs at the last store had been too old, then with this shop they’d definitely come to the right place. A closer look at the lined walls showed something of a pattern. The larger dogs were on bottom and got smaller as the rows went up. Tarin had a feeling they were middle to third row people.

Lee was already looking and it didn’t take her very long to find a little guy that caught her eye. Moving forward, so he had the right angle to look into the little plastic box. Inside was a little white ball of fur with a black nose and a pink tongue. “Oh Lee…” Tarin said, a smile growing on his face as he looked at the little guy. He turned his head and looked in the next kennel and burst out laughing. An even smallerball of fluff, this time brown, teetered around its kennel on tiny legs. The tag on the outside of the kennel marked it as a Pomeranian. Tarin had seen what they grew into and he shook his head. He liked the bigger one better.

“He’s super cute Lee. Probably going to be lots of brushing though, how do you feel about that? Let’s keep looking and then come back to him.”

Along the kennels Tarin moved, looking at this dog and that. The Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos did absolutely nothing for him, as did the Min Pins and Yorkies. All the puppies were cute, but knowing what they’d grow into didn’t impress Tarin. In front of one of the kennels, Tarin stopped and actually aww’d. Inside the kennel a little French Bulldog puppy rolled around, doing a beautiful job of annihilating the chew toy that the shop owners had put in with him.

“Look at this guy.” Tarin said, bending down to get a better look. Again, Tarin had a sinking feeling that they were going to end up with eight dogs. How were they supposed to leave anything they liked behind? Tarin had already halfway fallen in love with two and they had just entered the store.

Realizing that his behavior was boarder lining on feminine, he stood up and straightened his shirt self-consciously. Clearing his throat, he shrugged, “Find anyone else you really like?” he asked, hoping Lee would either find a puppy that both of them were obsessed with or just suggest that they take them all.

Lee's smile was growing as she looked into the cage containing the little white Japanese Spitz puppy. And Tarin agreed that he was cute, but also suggested that they keep looking. He was right, they could always come back once they had made their way around the shop, and they hadn't even looked at half of the dogs yet.

So on they continued, at least until Lee heard Tarin actually let out a soft 'aww'. Stopping, Lee turned to look in the cage he was staring at as well, and couldn't help but make a similar noise herself as she watched the small dog trying to devour a chew toy. Tarin was right, they were going to end up with like eight dogs, weren't they?

And right next to that bulldog, Lee saw a little brown and white dog just sitting in its cage, head cocked to the side and ears flopping, as it looked out at her.

"Oh my god..." She murmured as she moved over and bent down in front of the cage. "Aren't you just the cutest little thing?"

Noticing the attention, the dog crouched down before playfully pouncing toward the front of the cage and then jumping away.

Lee had already fallen in love by the time she turned her head to look up at Tarin again. "This one?" she asked, though she had already made up her mind. Even if they ended up with two, or three, dogs, Lee was bringing this one home with her.

Tarin heard Lee speak and he knew that she was sold. They hadn’t even been in the pet shop for ten minutes, and Lee was totally sold. From where he was standing, still transfixed by the French Bulldog puppy, he couldn’t see who Lee was so addicted to.

Over he moved, and the look on Lee’s face was one that he could only remember seeing in one place…and they weren’t even sure that it was a real memory. He sighed. Whatever puppy this was, it was the one that was going to be going home with them. A look in the glass and Tarin smiled, if only slightly, the puppy was really cute. Really cute, and really small.

The long ears on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the little head with the huge eyes gave it an innocent and bright appearance and it was already interacting with Lee on a high level. Tarin bent to look into the kennel better and the little dog put a paw on the glass. It’s furry feet and light brown patches of fur were growing on Tarin like crazy.

“You want to see it closer?” Tarin said, not even waiting for Lee to answer before seeking out the owner of the shop and waving her over.

“Oh, the little Cavalier!” the woman exclaimed, already fishing a set of keys out of her pants pocket and unlocking the little slide lock on the front of the kennel. Back she pushed the front and out the puppy came, all wagging tail and lapping tongue. The woman turned and held the dog out to Tarin, but he nodded towards Lee. “Why don’t you let her hold….” He took a second to bend and look a little closer at the puppy, “him. Why don’t you let her hold him first.” This puppy really wasn’t bad…Tarin decided, casting a look over his shoulder at where the French Bulldog puppy was. They’d have to see, though he had a feeling that Lee’s mind was made up.

Lee felt Tarin moving closer to her once more, coming to stand beside her so he could look in at the puppy too, and she couldn't help the small laugh as she saw the dog press his paw against the glass as Tarin stepped close.

Then Lee heard Tarin speak, and she nodded her head. Of course she wanted to see the puppy closer. If they were going to be taking this little one home, they should really probably look at it closer, right?

So Lee straightened up, turning to look at Tarin so she could tell him exactly that, but he had already waved over to the owner of the shop, who was already on her way back toward them.

Stepping out of the way, Lee watched as the woman opened up the cage and picked up the dog, holding him out to Tarin. Only to have him nod toward her instead.

Reaching her hand out, Lee took the puppy, apparently a boy, in her arms, and held him there as he started licking her face the moment he was close enough. He was cute, he was small (and Lee figured that he wouldn't grow that big, definitely a good size for an apartment), he was active, and definitely friendly.

Lee had most definitely fallen in love with the dog.

Raising her eyes as the dog continued to squirm in her arms, tail wagging as it seemingly tried to climb up onto her shoulder, Lee looked over at Tarin, whose attention seemed to have been drawn back to the bulldog. "What do you think, hon?"

Yeah, this little guy was definitely going home with them. For a moment, Tarin cast a longing glance in the direction of the French bulldog puppy, but firmly reigned himself in at the thought of actually having two dogs running around in their apartment. It was just unreasonable. If they did well with the one dog, maybe after time they talk, but one was definitely enough.

Lee never really pushed the issue. By the, Tarin meant any. He couldn’t remember a time in their entire existence as a couple that she’d tried to weasel or beg anything out of him. It wasn’t the case either that Lee always got her way. They’d gotten very good, very early, at compromising and making sure that both of them were happy with the decisions that were made. Sometimes, Lee got the short end of the stick. Especially considering how lucky Tarin felt every day that Lee still wanted him around. Tarin was slightly disappointed in Lee’s choice of dog, it just wasn’t what Tarin pictured when he thought about himself with a dog. He saw this as an opportunity though, besides, the thing actually was really cute. Cute and probably not good for anything other than laying around and looking cute. he thought, as Lee further bonded, but he grinned.

“I think, that we’d better start filling out paperwork and finding out exactly what it is that this little guy is going to need from us.”

The shop keeper was nearly beside herself with glee, and once again Tarin complimented himself on his good taste in picking out pet shops, even if Lee was the one who had plotted their course.

Fifteen minutes later found them walking down the street, Lee still carrying the puppy as they made their way back to the first pet shop they’d been in. They’d sold some odds and ends at the little one they’d just left , but after seeing how much the dog cost, Tarin had decided that they’d survive if he and his wife donated a little money to discount corporate America.

“So,” Tarin said, turning to grin at Lee as he grabbed a cart for their purchases, “Do I need to ask where the spike collars are?”

She had asked Tarin what he thought of the puppy in her arms, but rather than answer right away, Lee just saw him glancing back again at that little bull dog. And, the bull dog was cute too, but there was just something about the little guy she was holding in her arms that had drawn her more.

But then he was turning to the shop owner, saying he figured they had better start the paperwork, and Lee couldn't help but grin at him.

It really didn't take very long before they were walking out of the shop, proud owners of a brand new puppy, and walking down the street. It was still so small though, and they hadn't exactly bought anything from that shop other than the dog, so Lee was still carrying it since they didn't yet have a leash.

And back into that first pet store they had visited. Only to have her stare in shock at Tarin as he asked about collars. "You can't be serious," Lee said as she continued to stare at her husband. "A spiked collar? You can't honestly think that would look good on him, can you?"

Then Lee had another thought, and glanced at the puppy for a moment before turning back to Tarin as they slowly made their way down the aisles of the store. "We do need a name for him, though, don't we?"

Lee had thought he was serious. Tarin raised an eyebrow, “Well, I’m not going to have a wimp dog, Lee. I don’t care how small he is.” The straight face only managed to stick around for a moment, though before he was laughing and shaking his head. “Of course I don’t think a spiked collar would look good on him…unless we were trying to take funny pictures.”

On he pushed the cart, towards the section of the store that seemed to be designated exactly for collars. There were about a hundred different ones and Tarin decided that it was probably going to be a good idea to let Lee pick out which one she thought was best.

Lee pointed out that they needed a name for the puppy and Tarin nodded his head. “Yeah, we can’t just call him puppy, can we? Anything sticking out to you right this moment?”

Tarin started running through names in his head, but they were all taken from members of bands he’d listened to as he grew up. Some of them just sounded completely ridiculous for a dog like the little one that they’d bought and others just didn’t seem right. Tarin shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t think it’s a decision we should make right off the cuff. Let’s at least think about it while we walk around the store.”

And walk around the store they did. Not only did they need a collar, but food bowls, a dog bed, puppy pads, food, toys, and pretty much everything else on the planet including what the exuberant employee had called puppy classes. They’d meet each Wednesday night at 7:30 at night. Tarin didn’t get it, but the woman had said that it would help potty train the puppy faster.

Finally, they’d paid, and were making their way back towards the apartment with the puppy and everything else. As they walked, Tarin kept going through names, then he stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk. “Axel.” He said with a bright grin, then walked forward to catch up with Lee.

“I think we should call him Axel….after Axel Rose.”

At least Tarin had realized on his own that a spiked collar was not going to be going on their puppy. That was a good thing. Though Tarin didn't have any suggestions at the moment for a name.

Then he turned that question back around on her, and she looked down in thought at the puppy's face for a couple moments as they made their way through the store. "No, nothing yet," she finally admitted.

By the time they had finished their trip around the store, Lee was shocked about everything that was needed with a new puppy. She hadn't thought they'd actually need that much, but looking in the cart, she realized that each and every thing served a very specific, and needed, purpose.

And, as with the puppy, much more expensive than Lee would have initially thought.

But finally they were making their way out of the store, and slowly making their way back home. When suddenly Tarin stopped. Frowning, Lee turned to look back at him, but he was already hurrying to catch up the couple of steps she had taken without him.

"Axel?" Lee questioned. Leave it to Tarin...

But, looking down at the puppy they had bought, it really didn't sound like that bad of an idea. And they were both really into music.

Plus, there was the fact that, based on how he had kept looking back at the bulldog, Tarin had wanted it, yet they had ended up with the spaniel.

"You know," Lee replied, turning back to look at Tarin with a smile as they walked. "I think Axel would work."