[cross posted. Takes place the morning after this.]

Taye and Idina stood on the other side of the examination table, looking at the doctor. "You mean, she's sick?" Idina asked, looking down at the little kitten the doctor held, reaching out to gently rub her between the ears.

"A coccicidial infection," he replied. "Very common if you found her on the street. She invariably ate something that was infected and that's all that was needed. It's good you found her before it got worse. We'll put her on antiobiotics and as long as you keep her well-hydrated and safe, then she should be fine. But we want to give her all her other vaccinations while she's here too. We'll wait to spay her until she's a little older."

"Poor girl," Taye said, watching the exhausted-looking kitten in the doctor's hands. "You know we've got a dog, too? Will he be at risk?"

"Not at all, especially once she's on the meds. Just make sure to keep him out of her litter box, if he's into that kind of thing," the doctor joked.

"Um, ew," Idina replied with a nose wrinkle.

Ew was right Taye thought with a smile. But knowing how curious Benny was... "How old do you think she is?" He watched as Idina took the kitten from the doctor's offering hands, cuddling it in the corner of her arms. He felt a pang of something sweet watching her nestle there so trustingly, thinking that one day it would be their baby in Idina's arms, just like that.

"A good question. With her size, it's hard to tell with her being underweight and dehydrated," the doctor answered. "I'd guess ten weeks, just about. But I'll be able to better tell when you bring her back for the follow up. Let me get the shots ready and we'll get her vaccinated and get you the antibiotics to give her." He gave them a smile as he stepped out.

"Poor baby," Idina crooned, to the kitten, who turned her face to Idina's to sniff her nose. "It's a good thing we found you! Who knows what might've happened!"

"Next stop the pet store?" Taye asked, he put his hands on Idina's shoulder, rubbing them as he looked at the kitten she cradled as the little animal began purring as if recognizing the feeling of warmth and caring.

"Definitely. All kinds of treats for our girl," Idina sing-songed.

It wasn't long, three shots and instructions on how to give the antibiotics and they were out the door with a hefty bill and a kitten who promised to be healthy. As she rode in the carrier in the backseat, Idina turned to Taye. "Now we just need a name." She hadn't been in a hurry in case they'd found out the worst.

"Hmmm," Taye considered as they drove to the pet store to pick up the rest of what was necessary for the latest addition to their household. "We've got a Benny, do we need a Maureen?" he asked teasingly.

"Oh, lord, this better not be a diva kitten!" She replied, shaking her head. "No, that might not be good. Hmmmm... I'll say no to Mimi too, since I keep hearing a nasal whine in my head."

"No divas," Taye agreed as he drove. "Hmmm. How about Kit? Or Ghost?" he proposed.

"Kit Cat?" Idina had to laugh. "I'd think chocolate every time. And Miss Sadie might be offended if she's no longer the only ghost in the house." Turning around, she looked into the back seat. "But she's a fighter, that's for sure. Someone who's not afraid. Who's willing to try to do most anything, I think."

"We are not naming her Cat Woman. Or Xena," Taye laughed. "And Boadicea is a lot of name for one small girl."

"Geez, honey!" Idina giggled. "No, we aren't! Hmmmm...." Turning back around, Idina rested her head against the headrest to think. "We should call her Elphaba," she joked. "Defying gravity."

"Elphie for short?" Taye spared a smiling glance from the road. "Elphie...I like it."

"Elphie." Reaching back, Idina wiggled her fingers in the carrier door for the kitten to bat at. "You'll take on the world, won't you, little?" She leaned forward and kissed Taye's cheek. "Our family keeps growing."

"That's what makes a home," Taye said, satisfied.

At that, Idina rested her hand on Taye's leg as he drove. Really, she thought, that said it all.