How Green Becomes Wood

"Now we get to go stuff them!" Claire told him, and after waiting for Alec to pick his scent, she went to find someone to stuff the bears for them. "We get to press on the peddle, it's so simple but I kind of love it."
 
It took Alec a few agonizing moments to pick a scent, and he ended up going with a lovely sweet orange scent. He followed Claire excitedly, grinning. "Do we really get to push the pedal? That is awesome!"
 
After finding an employee, and confirming they totally still wanted to do the heart ceremony, the employee began stuffing the bears for them, letting Alec and Claire step on the pedal to control the whimsical stuffing machine. The employee let them decide how firm or soft they wanted it to be, explaining firmer ones sat up better, but softer ones were more huggable. Claire absolutely chose the softer option.
 
Alec went for a somewhat firmer stuffing, but still on the soft side. He wanted it to sit up a little, but still be huggable. As the bear came together, he fell more and more in love with it. It was cute and delightful!
 
Once they were stuffed, but before they were sewed up, the employee reached into her apron and pulled out a few different satin hearts for them to choose from. They were all either red or red-and-white gingham. After careful consideration, Claire chose a gingham heart, "When I was a kid, I'd only ever choose the solid red ones, but I'm trying to grow as a person."
 
Alec also chose the gingham one. "I really like the dual colors." And he secretly liked the idea of his bear's heart matching hers. He didn't know what he'd do if they ended up breaking up, if this was committing too much too soon, but he did honestly like the red and white, so he was sure it'd be fine. A teddy bear would always be a teddy bear.
 
After they had them, the employee had them shake the heart in their hands and blow on it to wake and warm the heart. Then they had them rub it on their foreheads for smarts, their back for support, their hearts for love, their arms so their new friend would give big hugs, and on their toes to make them toe-tally awesome. It was silly, but Claire did every step without minding if it made her look uncool.

Then, finally, the employee told them to make a wish on the heart before giving it a kiss. Holding it tight in her hand, Claire shut her eyes, her eyebrows coming together. Her lipstick left a faint pink stain on the white fabric, and after she made her wish, she took a quick, immediate, and subconscious look at Alec before putting the heart in her blueberry cow as she was told to.
 
When Claire followed along with zero hesitation, Alec did the same, feeling shy at first, but gradually getting into the spirit of it. It was fun, and sweet. He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking of a wish. There was only one thing he really wanted that felt wish-worthy, not that he fully believed in wishes, so he made it quick, awkwardly kissed the heart while trying not to think or where it had been, and tucked it into the bear.

"That is a cute ritual. I kind of liked it," he admitted to Claire.
 
"Oh, no, I'm okay. I think, honestly, this cow is so cute I think clothes would just ruin it. Plus, she's so soft! Her poor fur would all be matted down," Claire replied, nuzzling her cheek against the blue toy, this time trying to look cute.
 
Alec stared at her, unaware of the sappy look coming over his face as he watched her. She and that cow were the most adorable thing on the face of the planet. He wished he could take a picture and save this moment forever. He shook himself out of it quickly and smiled. "You're right. She doesn't need anything to improve her." He wasn't talking about the cow. "A bow will be a cherry on top. I think I might get a bowtie or a - Oh! How about a unicorn horn?"
 
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