love in action

a little something for you

        Exhaustion.  That's all Stevie ever felt anymore.  The constant late shifts of serving tables filled with hungry people were starting to take its toll on her.  But of course, she would continue to bust her ass so that she could provide for her and her beautiful man.  As tired as she was, she knew she would do anything to help him, to help them, achieve their dreams.  She walked up the stairs of their shabby apartment complex, a smile managing to grace her tired features at the thought of him.  Lindsey seemed to have that affect on her.  She would always remember the day they decided to pack up and head to Los Angeles.  Two kids trying to make it big, and quite truthfully she had been scared to death.  What if nothing good came of the big move?  Even then, Lindsey was able to calm her fears down just by simply wrapping her in his strong arms and that was all the reassurance she ever needed.  Just knowing he was there.  She dug through her leather satchel for her keys, and unlocked the door to be greeted by a messy apartment.  She had reminded Lindsey just before leaving today to be sure to clean up!  Today was when Stevie would usually get their laundry done, but after picking up an even longer shift causing her to leave earlier than usual, she had asked Lindsey to take care of it instead.  Why did she expect to come home to anything differently?!  She kicked off her boots, stepping past the mound of clothes she had left by the door earlier that morning.  Walking towards the hall she could hear the familiar sound of Lindsey picking away at his guitar.

        "Lindsey Adams Buckingham!"  she yelled over the constant strumming of the guitar.  With that, he dropped the guitar out of his hands, looking up at her like a small boy caught in the act of something he shouldn't have been doing.

        "Stevie!  Baby i hadn't even heard you come in!"  he smiled sheepishly at her

        "Of course you didn't with your constant guitar playing!  Lindsey why didn't you clean up like i asked you this morning?  You know i don't have anytime at all anymore!  Why couldn't you just do the one thing i asked of you!  Here i am, gone working all day and i ask one favor from you one favor Lindsey and you still can't manage to do it!"  she was starting to raise her voice now, her frustration with work and frustsration with Lindsey all mingling into one internal storm.  With that she turned on her heel and stomped out of their bedroom.

        "Steph!  Wait up Steph, i'm sorry!"  Lindsey scrambled to his feet to run after his 5'1 girlfriend who was most definitely not happy with him tonight.  

        "No Lindsey!  Don't you dare 'Steph' me tonight!"  she was near tears now, unbelievably frustrated.

        "Baby i'm so sorry.  I know i fucked up.  I know i should have done something as simple as clean up our apartment this morning.  I know you probably think i take you and everything you do for granted, and it kills me that you might think that.  I know how hard you work so that we can have a roof over our heads and food to eat.  Even if it is just Hamburger Helper!"  he grinned at this, hoping to get a similar reaction from her but received nothing of the sort.. "listen, i know i screwed up Stevie.  But i really truly want you to know how grateful i am that you work so hard for us everyday.  The work you do for me everyday!  I'm sorry Steph.  I should have pulled through for you and i didn't and im so sorry."  with this she looked up at him through her messy bangs, her eyes bloodshot and filled with unshed tears.

        "I don't want you to think this is an excuse for me slacking off, but i actually wasn't sitting at home all day strumming that 'damn guitar.'  I actually ran out for a little bit to do some shopping."  

        "Some shopping?!  Lindsey we can't afford to go shopping!  Is this a joke?!"  Stevie started to turn away again, but Lindsey stopped her short, grabbing her elbow and spinning her back around towards him.  With this he earned a gasp from Stevie, and he immediately felt regret at spinning her around so quickly.  He pulled her close and tucked a stray wild curl behind her ear, stroking her tear stained face while he removed his hand. 

        "Steph please," with this he dug in his pockets for the little box containing her gift, "I just felt like doing something nice for you.  Like i said, i don't want you to think the things you do for us go unnoticed.. because they don't baby.  I don't deserve you in my life, and i can't believe you decide to stay with me after all the reasons i give you to leave me.  But i saw this, and i thought it would be beautiful on you.  It reminded me of all the sweet gestures you did for me, like sewing moons and stars onto my entire wardrobe."  he let out a chuckle and pulled out the box, opening it for her and pulling out a gold pendant necklace, with a beautiful crescent moon at the end of it.  Stevie was in tears again now, and not because of her frustration with him.

        "Oh Linds... thank you.  It's so beautiful, thank you so much.  I love you so much."  She looked up at him through her shaggy bangs and pulled him close, forcing his lips to meet hers.  She kissed him tenderly and while pulling away placed two soft kisses on each of his cheeks.  "my beautiful boy, i'll keep this and cherish it forever."  She smiled softly at him.

        "I'm sorry i let you down Steph.  That was never my intention.. I jus-"  with that she cut him off, pulling him to her lips once more but this time her kiss was more passionate.  Lindsey responded almost immediately to her, pulling her small hips to him as she tangled her fingers in his curly locks.

        "I guess work didn't exhaust you that much today Steph." he whispered between kisses.

        "Oh i could never be too tired for you baby."  he smiled as he kissed her words away, pulling her slowly back over the threshold of their bedroom.

        "Love you always Steph.. love you always."