Destiny Rules: The Sequel

Chapter 2

A/N: Since the original Destiny Rules story occurred in 2007 and the storyline excluded the existence of the SYW album, I'm using that album/recording house as the basis for the album they record in this story. Obviously there will be many differences (including the presence of Christine!) but just using that a loose base. Hope that makes sense :)

January 7, 2010

Christine, Mick, and John sat around the living room of the rental house they were recording the new Fleetwood Mac album in. The three of them arrived over thirty minutes ago, spending the time reminiscing over holidays and things they hadn't spoken about since their last phone call. They waited impatiently for the remaining two members of the band to arrive, and it seemed as though they both were competing for most fashionably late today. Nerves were running high in the air. It had been 13 years since they all did The Dance together, which didn't really count as a new album, and over 20 since their final album as a five-some, Tango In The Night. The one that began the end for them all. Today marked the start of something new and exciting. Or so they hoped.

"Do we think Stevie and Lindsey are standing us up?" Mick laughed.

"Maybe they'll be arriving together," John grinned mischievously.

"None of that," Christine gave her ex-husband a look, "We all know we are skating on thin ice here with those two, let's not rock the boat so soon, okay?"

Outside the house, Stevie nervously twiddled her fingers in her lap as her car pulled into the driveway. She was late, she knew that, but she was hoping she would be the last one to arrive to avoid any unnecessary awkward encounters with Lindsey. Looking over at Karen as she parked the car, she nodded before turning to open the door. As she stepped out, she immediately found herself face to face with Lindsey, quickly realizing her plan backfired tremendously.

"Oh, hey," he stammered, equally surprised to see her showing up at the same exact time.

"I...." She tried to gain her bearings and confidence, "I'm running late, I figured I would have been the last one to get here."

"Oh, me too."

Finally meeting his eyes directly, she couldn't hold back a small smile at the sight of seeing him again, "Hi Lindsey."

"Hi Stevie."

They stood awkwardly for another second before finally hugging, her body loosely nestling against his as his arms wrapped around her. For a moment, they let themselves linger there, Lindsey's eyes closing at the feeling of holding her once again after so long. A rush ran through her body as she felt his hands tighten their grip on her. It was the sound of Karen's shoes on the concrete driveway that broke them from the softness of the hug, Stevie pulling back immediately as she remembered where she was and who she was hugging.

"I guess we should go inside?" She looked towards both him and Karen before nervously leading the way. The way he was looking at her was enough to unnerve her completely.

As soon as she walked into the house, Stevie made a beeline for Christine, pulling her into a hug before even getting a word out. For Stevie, Christine had always been a welcome source of comfort in the band. Especially when things were off with Lindsey. The guys spoke on the sidelines while Stevie and Chris cooed over each other's outfits, hair, and Christmases, giddily catching up since they'd seen each other last. It was impossible to deny the excitement in the air that they were all finally getting together to record a new album, but it was also impossible to deny that same tension in the air between Stevie and Lindsey. Though this time it was for different reasons.

"So," Lindsey clapped his hands together as they all stood around, "Should we get down to business?"

"Boring," Mick scoffed, "I was hoping we could just have a drink instead."