Jolting at the sound of the alarm clock, Stevie quickly reached out from under the comforter to hit the off button, which caused silence to wash over the empty room. It was three in the morning and she could feel the tension already flooding the house.... She was dreading what the day had to bring.
"Are you awake?" His voice caused her to flinch, a light gasp escaping her.
"Where are you?" She slid up the headboard, turning on her nightstand lamp to see him.
He was on the accent couch across their bedroom, wrapped up in a throw blanket and still half asleep.
He had come in a little after ten the night before, once everyone else in the house had settled down enough for him to leave them alone. They had all decided to spend the night and the last thing he wanted was anyone to ask questions about their sleeping arrangements... It just made life easier that way.
Squinting his eyes, Lindsey let out a soft laugh. "Right here." He gave her a simple wave.
"Why aren't you in bed?" She questioned, sinking back down into the sheets to stay warm for just a few more minutes.
"I didn't want you to feel bombarded." He knew he wasn't in the clear quite yet and until things got back to normal, he figured a little space would do them some good.
She frowned, closing her eyes as she tossed the blanket over her head. "Are the kids here?" She mumbled, so unenthused. She hated mornings.
And, on top of that, she couldn't believe the day was already there... It had come so quickly and she was nervous. She wasn't totally certain that she was doing the right thing and every time she looked at Lindsey, it just reminded her of that.
She wanted him to support her, and at that point, she wasn't sure he would ever come around.
"They all spent the night." The only two that had planned to stay ahead of time was Elise and Kash, just to help make sure the morning ran as smooth as possible.... The other three decided, after a couple of shots and a night swim that they'd all crash there too.
Nodding her head, she flipped on her side, tossing the blankets back to slip out of that safety net. "I guess, I should get up." She had to be at the hospital at five for check in and she was really hoping that by eight, she'd be recovering.
Half heartedly, Lindsey threw his legs over the edge of the couch, a deep sigh filling the air around them as he stood up. "Come here." He held out a hand, offering to help her stand up, and then he wrapped her in his arms tight.
"Are you okay?" She whispered, both arms circling his neck as he gave her a soft squeeze.
Nodding lightly, she could feel him shrug. "I just want you to know that I love you." He did love her- a lot, but he also knew that they had shared a rocky couple of weeks leading up to that moment.
"I love you more." Her head met his chest as she let out a sigh.
"Knock, knock?" Elise's hand softly met the door as Levy pushed it open and flicked on the big light.
"Everyone dressed?" He teased, a smile on his face as he trailed through his parents bedroom.
Stevie backed away, letting go of Lindsey. "How'd you sleep in your old bed?" She joke, giving him a quick hug.
"Like a baby." He assured, kissing the top of her head.
"Because you are one." Elise was leaning against the doorframe, still in her pajamas with her hair in a big bun on top of her head.
"Did you make coffee?" Lindsey creased a brow, a soft smirk on his face as he moved around her to get down stairs.
Turning around to follow him, Elise laughed quietly. "I was waiting for you." They bickered all the way down the hallway, like usual.
"I'm happy you're here." Stevie melted into his side as he kept one arm around her shoulders.
"You kidding?" He half grinned, shaking his head softly. "And leave you here all alone with these goofballs?" He led her out in the hall, where the sound of chaos greeted them.
It was clinking coffee cups, loud voices and subtle laughs that carried all the way up the stairs. It felt like they had suddenly been transported fifteen years into the past.
When the boys were teenagers and six rolled around each morning, it was like WWE smack down in the kitchen. They would be throwing waffles, yelling about whose socks they were really wearing and fighting over who would eat the rest of the ice cream.... it was crazy, but she would have been lying if she said that she didn't miss it sometimes.
"How are you doing?" Levy felt like he hadn't had much time to talk to her, not just the two of them at least and definitely not about everything that was going on.
He wanted her to know that he was always there for her, even if he didn't have time to hang around the house like Kash did. He loved her just as much and if he had the time to pick her up for breakfast, or take her out to dinner on a weekday, he would do it too... He was just happy that Kash could.
"I'm good, honey." She shrugged, one hand meeting the railing as he lingered behind her to head down the stairs.
"Let me know if you need me to knock their heads together." He whispered, just pulling her leg... to some extent.
Levy and Crosby were the exact opposite, even when it came to the parents they got along with. Levy and Lindsey couldn't find common ground for a long time.... a really long time.
"Oh, I'll keep that in mind." She smiled a little once they hit the bottom of the steps.
In the kitchen, it was hectic. Everyone was floating around each other, none of them being big morning people... Tensions were high, that was a given.
"Good morning, Stevie." Lucy was sitting on a barstool, a bright smile trailing across her face.
Stevie couldn't decided if she was genuinely that sunny, or if she was just trying to win her way into their family. "Good morning, babies." She rubbed Kash's arm as she slipped through the room.
"Good morning, mom." Crosby slid a cup of coffee across the counter, a warm smiling melting her heart almost instantly.
~
"I can't do it." Her head rolled to the side, staring at her husband, who had been silent since they'd gotten there.
He was the only one she wanted in the room, which she was certain upset Lucy... It was too much and she wanted him, that was all.
"Then let's go home." He had started really panicking in the car, but tried to relax as best he could. It worked for about ten seconds and then he was back to thinking about all the worst case scenarios.
"You're supposed to tell me that it's going to be okay." She mumbled, closing her eyes as warm tears fell down her cheeks.
The doctor hadn't even come into the room and she was already so worried... She had also been thinking about everything that could go wrong, but she was more concerned about a baby, while he was focused on his wife.
They were both anxious, just about two different things.
"You're gonna be great, baby."
