"What does she look like?" Stevie had been awake for only about half an hour, trying to get comfortable after spending some time in recovery.
It had been quite the process, especially since she had started having so many complications and on top of that- her doctor made it obvious just how worried he was when it came to her age. It was a lot, a lot more than it would have been under normal circumstances, but it was worth it- she knew that before she even laid eyes on that baby.
"She's absolutely perfect, Steph." Lindsey knew it was hard for her, but he also couldn't wait for Stevie to get to hold the little girl. "I can ask them to bring her in here." He had changed out of the scrubs they made him wear during the delivery- he was in a pair of sweatpants, and a hoodie by then, sitting in the chair right next to her bed.
He hadn't gone far, not in the slightest. He was right there the entire time, and only left the room for a couple of minutes to talk to the kids while she was asleep.
"Did Lucy already meet her?" She told herself, no matter what- she would not get in the way of that child and it's mother... After all, that wasn't her baby and she had no right to meet her first.
Letting out a sigh, Lindsey shook his head softly. "She won't be able to fly in until tomorrow night." He had to listen to it all morning- Lucy and Crosby fighting back and forth over the phone that is.
She was mad that he didn't tell her what was going on with his mother- she didn't know she was having as many complications as she was. And Crosby assured her, over and over again, that no one, not even Stevie knew what was happening. It was a nightmare, so Lindsey was secretly happy when all the kids had to go home- visiting hours had ended, which meant it was just him and Stevie... sometimes he liked it like that.
"Did Crosby see her?" She couldn't help but crack a little smile at the thought of his oldest baby with his new baby.
"He said she was too little, so he wasn't sure he wanted to hold her at first." He let out a soft chuckle as his eyes stayed glued on his wife.
Rolling her eyes playfully, she also laughed a tad. "She's only what? Four pounds?"
"Actually, she's five pounds and three ounces." He had spent quite a bit of time with her already- he had her face memorized and those big blue eyes captured his heart from the moment she looked up at him.
Lindsey thought the boys were great when they came along- he didn't know he could love somebody so quick. But that little girl... Being a grandpa was just different and he knew that right off the bat.
She had him wrapped around her little finger already.
"Lucy's not gonna be happy if I meet her first." She shrugged, eyes soft and voice sad. "I don't want her to be upset with me, Lindsey." That was her biggest fear... She didn't want to piss that woman off anymore than she already had.
She couldn't wait to hold that sweet girl, but she felt like she had to, because she would have rather been the last person in their family to meet her, then never get to see her.
"I'll ask a nurse to bring her in here." Pushing himself up from the chair, he totally disregarded what she had said. "If Lucy gets mad at you for holding the baby you carried for the last eight months, then she can talk to me about it." He had let a lot of stuff slide, but that? No, his wife didn't deserve to feel so anxious about overstepping her boundaries when there weren't any established in the first place.
Lucy was just over dramatic, and even disrespectful, two things Lindsey had no problem telling her right to her face if he had to.
"Linds..." she lingered for a long moment, trying to decide what was best, what she really wanted to do. "Will you put my hair up in a clip for me before she comes in?" She smirked, motioning towards her purse for him to dig through it and find a hair claw.
"Of course, I will." Returning that grin, he grabbed it right off the top of her bag and then trailed back towards the bed.
She was hooked up to tons of machines and cords still... more so than the baby in NICU was. The child was really healthy, even for coming early- she actually measured in at 34 weeks, instead of 33, which meant she would be able to head home sooner than later. But Stevie, on the other hand was the one under serious monitoring.
The doctor wanted her to stay in the hospital for a couple of extra days to keep her under seizure watch, though he also voiced his concerns about a stroke. She had started clotting in her legs pretty badly, which meant she wasn't able to be alone much, and especially not with the new baby.
It was kind of scary, but as long as that little girl was alright, Stevie knew everything was going to be okay.
"Alright, so..." Lindsey stood behind her, maneuvering around all the cords to run his fingers through her hair. "Open this for me." He handed her the clip as he began to gently twist her hair into a loose bun and then he clipped it into place a second later. "You're beautiful, baby." He whispered, kissing her head before he stepped back onto the tile floor.
"Thank you, Linds." Stevie tried to readjust herself as her eyes followed him through the room and right out the door.
She waited patiently for a couple of minutes, trying not to get too excited, but it was almost impossible. She felt like she had waited forever for that little girl to arrive, and when Lindsey walked into the room with a nurse right behind him, carrying a little pink blanket, her heart skipped a beat.
"Hi, Stephanie." The nurse greeted her with a gentle smile as she carefully set the tiny, five pound baby in her arms.
She had the darkest, curliest brown locks, and puffy, red cheeks... She was perfect- everything about her. From her ten little toes to the tip of her button nose.
Stevie was in love.
"Hi, there." She whispered, index finger slowly trailing the curve of her little round face. "You're just the sweetest little thing ever." She added, biting down on her lower lip when the baby's eyes slowly opened to reveal two little oceans.
"She is doing so well." The nurse assured, staring at the two. "We are still keeping a close eye on her, but she spent all night being monitored, and the doctor said she was really healthy. Everything came back great, which is why she's able to come visit you for awhile." She couldn't help but smile when Stevie glanced up at her and gave her a grin.
Looking back down at the girl, Stevie's eyes scanned over her face once again. "I'm going to have such a tough time letting you go."
