The next day, Alastor, Vox, and a finally fever-free Niffty set off to shop for wedding suits. Niffty, still with a small lingering cough, tagged along eagerly, darting between racks of fabric and buzzing with her usual energy.

As they examined a selection of suits, Niffty was hit by a sudden coughing fit. Alastor, patting her back gently, murmured apologies to the store clerk, a sharply dressed woman who didn't seem pleased to be working with them.

With a dismissive look, she scoffed, "Why on earth would you bring her here if she's sick? Can't you just keep her home? That's just stupid and irresponsible parenting." She shot Alastor a scathing glare. "Maybe you shouldn't even be a parent if you can't take care of a child."

A strained silence filled the air as Alastor's face fell. Vox took a step forward, ready to cut in, but Alastor stopped him with a raised hand. The hurt in his eyes shifted to an exhausted determination as he looked directly at the woman, his voice trembling with the weight of his words.

"You don't get to tell me how to take care of her," he said quietly, then the words poured out in a mix of frustration and pain. "She's all I've got, and I am doing the best I can. And she's... she's not even mine. I never had kids, because I died before I got the chance. And even if I'd lived, I wouldn't have been able to have a child—not in the life I had, not being... not being gay." He stopped to catch his breath, visibly shaken, his voice thick. "I know she's sick; I caught it first, but I still took care of her! I dragged myself around, day after day, making sure she was safe, that she was warm, that she had everything she needed, while I was sick as a fucking dog, but did I stop? No, because I CAN take care of a child!."

The woman looked at him, taken aback, but Alastor's words kept coming, each one heavier than the last. "Don't you ever assume you know what someone's going through, or how they parent. I feel bad every day that she got sick, but I've done everything I can. And I won't apologize for that."

He finished in near-tears, turning away to compose himself. Vox stood beside him, speechless, the revelation of Alastor's illness settling in as he reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

The woman, silent and visibly chastened, muttered a quiet apology before slipping away to find them another salesperson.

Alastor walked off towards the bathroom to collect himself, leaving Vox and Niffty in a lingering silence. Niffty, glancing up with watery eyes, started to sniffle.

"Did I make Alastor sad, Vox?" she asked, voice small and worried. Her fingers clutched tightly onto the fabric of his jacket.

Vox bent down, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "No, honey, not at all. He wasn't upset with you. He was just telling that lady exactly how much he cares about you."

Niffty sniffled, looking a little reassured, but her face still held worry. "Are you sure?"

Vox grinned, an unmistakable glint of mischief lighting up his eyes. "Absolutely sure. In fact, he was pretty much just telling her to shove it!."

At that, Niffty burst into laughter, her tears drying as she giggled at Vox's exaggerated tone. Vox laughed along with her, relieved to see her spirits lifted.

Vox took Niffty's hand and led her to the bathrooms, calling out, "Alastor? Where'd you go?"

A faint reply came from the unisex stall, "I'm in here." The lock clicked open, and Alastor stepped out, looking a bit more composed but still carrying the weight of his earlier emotions.

Vox raised an eyebrow, giving him a comforting smirk. "I didn't have to come after you," Alastor muttered softly, brushing a hand over his face. Vox glanced down at Niffty, giving Alastor a reassuring nudge. "Hey, Niffty had to pee anyway," he replied, keeping things light.

Alastor nodded and turned to Niffty, who was already slipping into one of the stalls. "Alright, sweetheart, we're right outside," he assured her, closing the door gently.

Once they were in the hallway, Alastor turned to Vox, his usual confidence flickering. With a shaky breath, he leaned into Vox, resting his head against his chest. "Please, tell me the truth... am I a bad father figure?" he whispered. "I'm trying so hard, Vox. But maybe I'm... not enough."

Vox wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. "Alastor, no way. You're doing great. She's lucky to have someone who cares as much as you do." He pulled back slightly, meeting Alastor's eyes with a soft smile. "And, by the way, that bitch? She's just a miserable cunt, probably angry because no one's ever going to put a baby in her," he added with a grin, making Alastor stifle a laugh.

Vox patted his shoulder. "How about we forget the wedding stress for today and just go wild? Let's get useless stuff, toys, and the worst junk food we can find."

Alastor managed a small, grateful smile. "I think... that actually sounds perfect."

Niffty came bursting out of the bathroom stall, her breaths shallow and frantic. Alastor bent down, gently patting her hair. "Hey, hey, breathe, sweetheart. What's wrong?"

Between hurried breaths, Niffty stammered, "I-I left Bunny with the mean lady!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she buried her face in Alastor's shoulder, her tiny frame trembling.

Without a moment's hesitation, they made their way back to the store. Vox took the lead as they entered, his face darkening when he spotted the same woman by the counter. The woman glanced at them with an annoyed sneer. "What do you want now?" she asked icily.

Vox leaned down to Alastor. "Let me handle this," he muttered, then gestured for Alastor to walk with Niffty, who was still clutching his shoulder tightly. Alastor carried her out of earshot, whispering comforting words as he walked her down the aisle, trying to calm her down.

Vox stepped up to the woman, his eyes narrow and voice sharp. "There was a stuffed bunny here when we left. Have you seen it?"

The woman shrugged with an irritating smirk, glancing back at Niffty. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Vox's patience snapped. "Alright, here's the deal. If I find out you've taken it or hidden it, I'll make sure this place is shut down by tomorrow morning."

"Try me," she sneered, her arms folded defiantly.

In a swift move, Vox stepped behind the counter, reaching around her. She shoved him back, sending him to the floor. But Vox sprang up in a second, shoving her to the ground with a forceful push, his hand raised threateningly as a charge of electricity sparked through his fingers.

"You realize I can literally taze you with a touch, right?" Vox said, his voice cold and composed. "And believe me, I'm ready to roll." He leaned in closer, letting her see the buzzing charge dancing over his fingertips. The woman's smug look faltered as she took in his expression.

With a terrified look, she pulled the plush bunny out from beneath the counter and handed it to him.

Vox straightened, brushing off his jacket, and took the bunny from her. Just as he turned to leave, he looked back over his shoulder and leaned down to her, voice low. "I'll be back here soon, and if I see you again? Well, it'll be your last day on the job. So, I'd suggest you run far and fast when that day comes."

The woman paled, and Vox shot her one last contemptuous look before making his way back to Alastor and Niffty, who were waiting anxiously near the entrance.

"Guess what?" he said cheerfully, kneeling down to Niffty's level as he handed her Bunny. Her eyes lit up, and she hugged Bunny close, relief flooding her face. Alastor gave Vox a small, appreciative nod.

"Alright, time to get out of this dump," Vox muttered, walking them toward the exit.

As they left the stuffy shop behind, Vox turned to Niffty with a grin. "Alright, little miss—what store do you want to go to? You can pick anything you want."

Niffty's eyes lit up, and she pointed excitedly to a toy store down the hall, where a huge, electric kids' monster truck gleamed in the window display.

Vox didn't even hesitate. "Done," he said, striding confidently into the toy store with Alastor and Niffty in tow. They barely made it to the counter before Vox was asking the attendant about the monster truck.

"Oh, that's one lucky kid!" the friendly lady at the counter beamed as she scanned their purchase. "It's already fully charged, so she can ride it all the way through the store if she wants!"

Alastor muttered a sarcastic "Yay..." under his breath, already envisioning Niffty gleefully crashing into shoppers as she zoomed around in her new toy. He sighed, shaking his head and knowing he'd be apologizing left and right soon enough.

Sure enough, the second the attendant set the truck down on the floor, Niffty hopped in, her face alight with excitement. With a grin from ear to ear, she gripped the steering wheel and took off, giggling wildly as she swerved around displays and zoomed past other shoppers, much to Vox's delight.

"Sorry! Excuse us!" Alastor said hastily, half-laughing and half-cringing as he followed after her, ducking out of the way of disapproving glances and the occasional toppled display.

Vox just chuckled, crossing his arms as he watched her tear through the aisles. "She's having the time of her life," he said proudly, leaning toward Alastor with a wink.

"Yeah, and I'm having the time of my life apologizing for it," Alastor replied, shaking his head as Niffty narrowly missed another shopper, shrieking with laughter.

Vox pointed at a shop across the way with a mischievous glint in his eye. "How about we check that store out next?" he smirked, gesturing to a rather bold adult store.

Alastor's eyes widened, and he gave Vox a disbelieving look before glancing back at Niffty, who was still happily zooming around in her monster truck. "We can't exactly go in there. We've got Niffty with us," he said, one eyebrow raised.

"She's too wrapped up in that truck to even notice," Vox countered, flashing a grin. "Besides, I planned this whole thing so she'd have something to keep her occupied while we browse."

With a sigh, Alastor conceded, but not before stepping in front of Niffty and stopping her little monster truck. He crouched down to her level, his voice half-stern, half-playful. "Listen here, Niffty. Drive it nice and slow, or no sweets for you later, alright?"

Niffty nodded with wide, determined eyes and restarted her cautious drive, navigating carefully between the store displays.

As they walked into the adult store, a friendly teen at the counter noticed them and stepped over, offering a smile. "Hey there, need any help with the little one? I can keep an eye on her, make sure she stays... distracted while you shop," she offered with a conspiratorial wink.

Alastor gave the young employee a grateful smile. "That would be... incredibly helpful," he said, glancing nervously at Vox, who was already sizing up the displays with his usual enthusiasm.

With Niffty safely under the watchful eye of their helpful attendant, Vox and Alastor finally had the chance to browse without distractions.

As they wandered deeper into the store, an enthusiastic employee approached them with a friendly grin. Leaning in, he rattled off a list of items and interests ranging from the playful to the rather extreme. Alastor blinked, brow arched in surprise, as the employee continued, "We've got everything here—handcuffs, restraints, even gear for... well, water sports."

"Wait... that's actually a thing? A... pee kink?" Alastor asked, genuinely bewildered.

With a sly smirk, Vox quickly pulled up a thumbnail preview on his phone from a "golden shower" video and showed it to Alastor. Alastor wrinkled his nose in disgust, shooting a disapproving look at the employee. "I think we'll pass on that one," he said politely, though he was clearly rattled.

The employee just chuckled, unphased, and went on to show them other items and toys that were a bit more their speed. After an extensive walk-through, Alastor and Vox eventually checked out, arms weighed down with two bags full of intriguing new items, from adventurous clothes to toys they couldn't wait to try out later.

"We deserve it," Vox grinned, pecking Alastor on the cheek and squeezing his hand as they made their way out of the store. Alastor, feeling unexpectedly giddy, couldn't help but smile as they walked back to collect Niffty, feeling like they'd had more than their fair share of fun for the day.