August 1999
Stevie was nine months pregnant and ready to go. She wanted to meet her daughter. She couldn't wait to see her little face; to see who she took after, to hold her little hands. Stevie already knew this baby girl was going to be perfect.
Lindsey walked into the house with a sleeping Max. They had spent the day together so Stevie could get some rest. Her mother was putting the finishing touches on the nursery and at this point in the pregnancy, the doctor had refused to let her out of bed unless absolutely necessary.
She heard Lindsey put Max in his crib and he hesitantly knocked on her door. They hadn't seen each other since their last conversation. Her mother had been bringing Max back and forth, but today she was unable to pick him up.
Stevie put down the journal she was scribbling in when she heard a knock on the door, "come in."
"Hey," Lindsey says, walking in nervously, "how are you feeling?"
She looks up at him, "I feel okay; so does Lizzie. Why don't you close the door and sit down so we can talk."
"Is that a good idea?" He asks, sitting down on the side of her bed.
"Relax, I don't want to fight with you today."
"So what do you want?" He asks.
"I wanted to talk to you about your decision to move out of the city."
"Oh, honey, we don't have to do this right now. I know that's a stressful topic and it's not good for you," Lindsey says worriedly.
"No, it's okay. I'm alright. I just wanted to tell you that if you really want to move away, I respect that. I don't like it, but I respect it."
"So you don't care if I move away?"
Stevie looks at him and rolls her eyes, "that's not what I said. However, we do have to set down some....rules. Lizzie won't be able to be away from me for long periods of time at first since I'll be breastfeeding. My mother can bring her to you for a couple hours during the day if you'd like that. Of course, you're welcome here too, but I'll be here."
Lindsey nods a little, "so it's just okay with you if....I move away?"
"If that's what will make you happy. All I want is for you to be happy; even if that means you need to get away from me. I love you very much and I have to learn how to respect your decisions. All I ask is that you remain being the great father I know you are," she says, reaching for his hand.
"I can do that," Lindsey squeezes her hand gently, "I love you too, you know."
Stevie moves her hand away to wipe her eyes, "please don't."
"Okay, I'm sorry."
Stevie grabs his hand again and squeezes it tight. She winces and groans.
Lindsey looks at her, "what's wrong?"
"I'm nine months pregnant, Lindsey. I'm having a contraction!" She squeezes his hand again as another contraction rips through her.
"Should we go to the hospital?" Lindsey asks her, looking panicked.
Stevie waves him off, "no, I still have a day or two left. My contractions aren't that close together."
"How do you know?"
She chuckles, "I have done this before."
He laughs, "oh, right," Lindsey pauses for a moment before he speaks again, "hey Steph, I want to ask you something, but if you say no, I totally understand."
Stevie sits back against the headboard with her hands on her belly, rubbing it gently. She nods for Lindsey to continue.
"I was just wondering...since you think you're going to be ready to have Lizzie any day now, if maybe I could stay here in one of the guest rooms. I would like to be here when you go into labor since I wasn't able to when Max was born. I want to be the one to take you to the hospital," he explains, not looking at her and instead pulling on a rogue string on her comforter.
Stevie swats his hand away and pulls the string off. She looks up at him and smiles, "I think that would be okay, and it would make Max very happy."
Lindsey smirks, "you're not going to invite me to stay in your bed?"
She shakes her head, "no. I know you're not interested in that and I think...it's best to give you your space. You have to do what makes you happy and if that's not me, that's okay."
"Well, thank you for respecting my choices," he leans over and kisses her on the forehead. She grabs his hand and squeezes as another contraction hits.
"I hate you, Lindsey Buckingham," she groans.
"It's not my fault!" She glares at him and he sighs a little, "okay yeah, it is my fault a little."
She takes a deep breath once the pain passes, "I don't think I can do this again."
"Steph....I hate to break it to you but you're at the point of no return."
She wipes her eyes, "I'm too old for this."
"No you are not. You are the strongest, bravest person I know. You can do this. You're bringing our baby girl into the world. What is more beautiful than that?" He squeezes the hand he's still holding gently and smiles at her. She smiles right back.
"You're right. I can do this; but this is it. No more," she says sternly.
Lindsey laughs, "deal."
"Linds, you know I really mean it when I say I want you to be happy, right?"
"I know. I can tell something within you has changed. You're a lot more selfless."
"I'm just trying to be a better person. I would never want to hurt our children the way I hurt you," she explains.
He nods a little, "well, for what it's worth, I think you're doing a great job. I....understand all the resentment you had against me and I understand if it's still there because I left again."
"At first, it was, but then when I realized that this time you left because of me, I decided that I needed to change some things within myself. That person who made you leave is not the person I want to be. She certainly isn't the person I want raising our children."
Lindsey tucks some hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek. Her breath hitches for a moment, thinking he might kiss her, before the cries of their son interrupt the moment.
They both stand, but Lindsey glances back at her, "get your butt back in bed."
She laughs and crawls back into bed, waiting on Lindsey to bring her son to her.
As she waits, another contraction rips through her and her water breaks.
It was probably time to go to the hospital now.
Author's Note: Shoutout to Laceandpaperflowers for continuing to support and encourage me. She's the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Go check out her amazing fics.
