"It's gonna be okay, Steph." Lindsey followed her down the sidewalk, one hand on her hip as the other carried her bags.
She had just gotten out of the hospital, after having spent an entire week on seizure watch. It was rough, especially once Lucy swept in like a thief in the night and uprooted everyone from their all comfort. She had all sorts of questions about everything, and on the second morning she was there, she got into a huge argument with Stevie about how she was feeding the baby.
Stevie wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes, or get in the way, but she couldn't just sit there and watch her do it wrong... And she was doing it wrong- simple as that. But Lucy didn't want to be told how to take care of her child. She didn't want advice, especially not Stevie's advice.
Overall, the week was a nightmare and Stevie was happy to finally be discharged, right along with the baby... The baby that she was only able to hold a couple of times after Lucy arrived.
"I miss her already." Stevie whispered, tears filling the brims of her eyes as she brought her hand up to hide them as best she could.
She had cried all the way home, ever since she had to leave Everleigh with her parents in the parking lot at the hospital. They were going to stay with Levy, since that's where Crosby had been crashing for the couple weeks leading up to the baby's arrival. It was only temporary, just until the baby was released to fly back out to Chicago... or at least that was the plan at that moment in time.
However, Stevie begged Crosby to come to their house for awhile, so they could help with the baby, but Lucy wasn't having it. She wasn't going to spend time there, because she didn't want Stevie to try to run the show... It was Lucy's baby, not hers and she wasn't afraid to make that obvious.
Letting out a soft sigh, Lindsey unlocked the front door of their home. "We'll see her in a couple of days, honey." He gently pushed open the heavy wood, allowing his wife to slip into the foyer first.
Dragging one foot in front of the other, Stevie's heart sank at the thought of not seeing her for so long... She had seen her every day for nine days straight and carried her for almost eight months prior. "Did you see how sweet, and tiny she was in her little car seat?" She frowned, biting on her lower lip as she sat down in the accent chair.
"Baby," Lindsey knew it was going to be bad, but she was far worse than he could have even imagined. "How about we get cleaned up and then we'll go out to dinner?" He wanted to get her mind off of things and what better way to celebrate not being pregnant by a glass of wine?
Shaking her head, Stevie didn't even have to think about it- she didn't want to go out, not even in the slightest. "I just want to go to bed, Linds." She whispered, eyes falling to the floor.
She didn't want him to see how sad the whole situation made her, but he already knew. He could tell by the look in her eyes when watched Lucy buckled that baby into the car... Stevie was heart broken.
"We can't do this, Stephanie." He slowly bend down, falling on his knees right in front of her. "We have to go back to our normal lives at some point." He knew, for a fact that things wouldn't snap back any time soon, but he also knew that he couldn't allow her to spend too much time moping around their home.
Stevie grew quiet for a long moment, feeling his hand creep up her leg to comfort her in some way. "They're going to take her back to Chicago, Lindsey." She mumbled, softly shaking her head. "I don't think I'll ever be normal again." She admitted as her eyes finally met his.
Lindsey's hands met her cheeks softly, cradling her face. "You're the most amazing woman I know." He nodded his head gently, using the pad of his thumb to wipe away some of her tears. "We'll get through this, baby."
~
Across the city, at Levy's small, one bedroom apartment, things were a little less gloomy and a lot more hectic.
"Please, shhh." Lucy could hardly keep her eyes open as she gently rocked her baby back and forth in the dark living room.
Everleigh wouldn't settle down- she had fought sleep all night long. She just cried, and cried, and then cried some more. It was awful, especially after Lucy had started to cry too.
It was one big crying fest.
But she didn't know what to do. She had changed, fed, and burped the baby, but she was still so upset. No one could figure out what was wrong- not Lucy, not Crosby, not even Levy, who was up all night right along with them.
"Maybe we should take her for a car ride?" Levy was pacing the apartment- head pounding and heart racing.
He was certain by that point, even though it had only been one night that he didn't want children.
"Or maybe sing to her? My mom always sang to us." Levy could recite just about any lullaby- Stevie sang them all and it always calmed them down, even when they were in elementary school.
"Everleigh, it's okay." She totally ignored him as she continued to sway back and forth, trying her best... it just didn't seem like enough.
Crosby let out a deep sigh, falling back into the couch. "Maybe we should just call my mom." He shrugged, eyes following his wife around the room. "She would know what to do." Those were the wrong words- he realized that as soon as Lucy looked up at him.
"I would rather stay up all night long than ask that woman for help."
