"It's still not fair... If there's someone you can look to for anything, it's still important to be able to once in a while. Then again, I may only think that way since I rely on my sister for a lot most of the time..."

Again, Erika gave a sad little smile. 'My brother and I didn't have much contact for years after we got on the street. I had no one for ten years before we started living together.'

Joe thought for a moment. "I'll bug my sister and see if she has any ideas. I'm not letting you just be stuck like this, y'know."

Erika's smile widened and became a less sad; she even let out a little giggle. 'My brother keeps saying that. I guess with two of you on my case, I'll have to change.'

Joe laughed a bit in response. "Well, you have one smart brother I think then."

Erika giggled as she led the way towards the door. 'The store's not far from here,' she said. 'Just a couple of blocks.'

He nodded simply, making sure he had anything he needed and then holding the door for her. "After you."

Erika nodded her thanks as she walked through. 'When's your sister's friend due?'

"Next month. I'd promised to send a gift last month, but, well... Never really ended up getting to." He laughed nervously. "Mind if I ask when you are?"

'Not for another seven months yet. I'm only nine weeks in,' Erika said.

He smiled simply to her. "That's still time for me to get something for you then... But I'd rather not forget this time."

'See, this is what happens when you're a workaholic,' Erika said, grinning. 'You forget things non-work-related.'

"I know, I know. Doesn't mean it's easy to stop though." He grinned slightly in return, patting her head lightly to play with her hair for a moment. "Is that it?" He pointed to the store soon after he saw it, smiling to her easily.

Erika nodded. 'That's the one.' She waited until it was safe to cross the street, then did so. 'Apparently, the place has good deals on good-quality stuff. Hopefully things aren't too expensive...'

"Eh, expensive is also something based on a person and not a general thing. What's expensive to you or me is likely far from it to my sister."

'True,' Erika said. 'A millionaire wouldn't mind a nine-hundred dollar crib, but that's a bit steep for me.'

"Yeah, probably would be for me too." He laughed, smiling to her. "Well, we can find something for you can't we?"

Erika gave a small smile. 'Hopefully. I might have to wait a couple of pay cheques for the more expensive things.'

"Eh, it's at least worth a try, isn't it? To look for something that'll be useful fast, I mean."

Erika nodded. 'The problem is, I'm going to need so much right away. A car seat, a crib, a change table, diapers, clothes...'

"Let's stick to what you can afford for now and we can work on the others as we go okay? That's usually a better way to handle it." He nodded, smiling simply. "And some of those aren't necessary- particularly the change table. If you can't afford one and have a large ironing board, I can tell you right now that works- we used that technique all the time at the orphanage with the infants that came around."

Erika grinned. 'I haven't got an ironing board,' she said, opening the door to the store. 'I don't even had much furniture. I eat dinner off one of those TV-trays.'

"Eh, I like eating on the floor anyway so I always did that." He laughed, smiling. "Gimme a plate or tray and food and I'm set to eat anywhere. Though some people don't like that." He shrugged it off finally, looking at the store. "Looks like we made it."

'Yeah,' Erika said, stepping inside and looking around. She looked back at Joe. 'Should I stock up on clothes first, do you think?'

"Clothes and diapers are equally important I think first, but that's not necessarily my area of expertise. Makes the most sense to me though."