Twisted

4

October 2, 1983

Around five in the evening, Stevie dressed in her more casual clothing, a pair of light washed bell bottoms with a chiffon blouse tucked into the waist a green blazer thrown over the top, a pair of black six-inch booties on her feet, was perched at her desk in the public family meeting room. Mick Fleetwood sat across from her at the desk she was looking at Lindsey Buckingham's file. Mick had originally intended to wake Stevie up and go over her courting prospects, but when he walked into her bedroom to see Lindsey Buckingham laid out on his stomach, his bare ass in the air as he had kicked the blankets off, and Stevie, fully clothed in her nightie latched onto his shoulder he came to the conclusion that they'd be talking solely about Duke Lindsey Buckingham.

"His birthday is tomorrow." She states.

"Is it?" Mick inquires.

"Mhm, you should make us a reservation, at a nice restaurant. Make it our... second public appearance together." She falls back into her desk chair.

"Second?" Mick cocks an eyebrow. 

"Either tonight or tomorrow, we have to go to the grocery store and get groceries. I've been here for two months, but my kitchen still seems really bare." She sighs.

"Yes, why is that?" Mick asks.

"Were you snooping?" 

"Last night at the ball. I got peckish around 2:30 when catering left for the night. You have rabbit food and one-serving meals."

"Exactly, so Lindsey and I need to get groceries. He's moving in here so I need to have what he likes. I don't have a cook or maids." She points out. 

"Well alright, Rohber's at say seven-thirty tomorrow night?" He asks.

"Perfect." She nods. 

It was at that moment, when Lindsey walked into her office. "Oh I'm sorry I..." 

"No, no we're discussing you." Mick waves him in. 

"Oh what are we discussing?" He asks.

"You two are going grocery shopping tonight, and then tomorrow night you'll be going to Rohber's for dinner." Mick explains. 

"Yes, now I have a very important question." She looks at him.

"Okay." He nods.

"What is your favorite flavor of cake..." She trails off.

"Cake is cake to me. I don't really have a favorite, but you don't have to get me a birthday cake." He shakes his head.

"I'm not getting, I'm making...shall I surprise you then?" She asks.

"If you insist on giving me a birthday cake then go ahead." He nods.

"Wonderful." She smirks.

"So what were you guys talking about?" 

"What's in store for you both." Mick tells him.

"And what is in store for us?" Lindsey goes behind Stevie's desk and leans on the back of her chair peering over her shoulder to view his file in her hand. 

"Grocery Store tonight. Rohber's tomorrow night. The goal is to get you both in the public eye. October 13th, Stephanie you are unveiling the exhibit about your father at the Everfi museum. Lindsey you will be attending. October 29th, Stevie's annual halloween party. Dressing up is expected. I' thinking a couples costume for the two of you. November 24th, the family Thanksgiving. Every year the family photo is taken at the family thanksgiving gathering, you'll be in attendance. December is filled with various Christmas functions all of which you will be in attendance for. The first one is December 1st, the unveiling of the Everfi Christmas tree at the city center. That will be when you officially propose to her. December 5th, engagement photoshoot.  December 15th, it's the annual palace Christmas Gala. It's open to the public, there's live entertainment. You will be there. Your crowning will be on December 18th. Broadcasted to the public." 

"My crowning?" Lindsey cocks an eyebrow. 

"You're a Duke Linds. On the 18th, I'll officially crown you a prince of Everfi so our marriage is considered legal. We'll be of the same class then. You'll still keep your Duke title you'll just have another one as well." Stevie explains.

"Oh, okay." He shrugs. 

"Directly after the crowning, of course you will have a ball to celebrate your promotion so to speak. Then you'll be seen together at Christmas Eve mass on December 24th. You will also be on the float with her that opens the Christmas Day Parade. You two will ring in the new year together from the balcony where you'll share a kiss. Every year the count down to New Years takes place on Palace grounds. We erect a ball and everything. January 6th you will be seen there to support your queen as she's coronated. You'll be the one placing the crown on her head. Afterwards you will both be at the ball to celebrate that of the queen's crowning.  Then you both will go into hiding to prepare for the wedding which we be held Sunday January 29th. February 1st, you two will officially be the King and Queen of Everfi." Mick finishes his statement.

"That's a lot and someone is going to have to write that down for me. But I'm down for it." Lindsey shrugs.

"I already did." She picks something up and holds it back to him.

"Well aren't you a little planner." He bends down and whispers in her ear before kissing her cheek. She jolts not expecting it at first but then she sighs and brings a hand up to his cheek. 

***

Mick had hired cameras to be at the grocery store in hiding to snap their candid pictures so as soon as Lindsey helped her out of the car, she divulged that she didn't know how to drive, Lindsey rolled his eyes but agreed to be her live in chauffeur if he could be from here on out, he grabbed her hand. 

At one point, she wrapped her arm around his waist and his hand found her lower back, and as they were walking around the store, they knew a photographer was following them, they had shared a hug while waiting for the deli guy to slice their turkey, ham, and chicken for sandwiches. And then 500 dollars later they were loading up his SUV. 

"500 hundred dollars Lindsey Buckingham...500. What the Hell did we buy?" She asks. 

"Um let's see..." he starts going through the bag. "Chicken strips,  meatballs, shrimp. bread, donuts, almonds, pistachios,  sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, onions, romaine lettuce hearts, baby potatoes, big potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, asparagus, tomatoes, yellow, green, and red peppers, zucchini, yellow and green, broccoli, cauliflower, grapes, bananas, oranges, apples, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, breakfast sausage, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, I promise you're going to love pulled pork sandwiches....what else, turkey bacon, ground turkey, ground beef, smoked sausage, chicken breasts, bone-in pork chops. Bone-less pork chops, several different types of steak, roast, pork loin, cornbread mix, tortilla shells, taco seasoning, salsa, enchilada sauce, refried beans, black beans, Spanish rice, A bazillion different soups, chicken broth, ranch seasoning packet, white rice, cheesy rice, brown rice, three different salad dressings, jambalaya mix, red beans and rice mix, nine different types of beans, four different types of pasta noodles. three spaghetti sauces, one Alfredo sauce, soy sauce, sugar snap peas, corn, green beans, mayo, taco shell, two bricks of cheese, green chili and tomato mixture, macaroni and cheese three boxes, stuffing, This is the baking stuff you got for my birthday, pancake mix, syrup, blueberry muffins, raspberry jam, honey, oatmeal, peanut butter, English muffins, bagels, cheerios, Hershey's chocolate powder, iced peach tea mix, lemonade mix, raspberry iced tea mix, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, water, coke and Diet Coke, little mini cherry pie snacks, honey buns, mixed nuts, trial mix, granola bars, popcorn, animal crackers, ritz crackers, tortilla chips, regular potato chips, French onion dip, sour cream, two types of coffee creamer because god forbid you drink something other than vanilla, butter, eggs, cream cheese, sliced cheese, shredded cheese, two four packs of blueberry yogurt, and milk....what the fuck are the cooks making?" He asks. 

She knew they were being photographed so while he was rifling through the bags she had her arms around his waist and her head pressed between his shoulder blades and she was lightly scratching his stomach. 

"We don't have cooks. I'm making everything." She tells him, kissing his shoulder blades. 

"Well I do sincerely hope that we can eat all of this before the expiration dates." He tells her.

"We will. I promise." She nods.