"She's perfect."
Newborn fingers reflexively closed around her thumb as she kissed the tufts of dark hair on the baby's head.
"She's so peaceful, too. No trouble at all."
"Really? I wonder where she gets that from."
Lindsey thought better than to respond. Sometimes it wasn't clear whether or not Stevie was joking, so he just smiled as she gently rocked his daughter. It seemed to get easier to see her with his children each time it happened. The pang of regret that they weren't her children too seemed to soften, but in moments like this, when she looked so maternal, it was still hard to ignore.
"It does suit you."
She couldn't suppress a bright smile, the kind that wrinkled her nose.
"Well, actually -"
"Stevie! You're looking so great!" Kristen bounced over and draped herself around Lindsey, a grin Stevie knew was a fraction too wide to be genuine plastered over her face. "You know, all things considered, I mean. You really almost died, huh?"
"Well, technically I did die, a few times. My heart stopped. But I don't really like to talk too much about it -"
"Oh of course. Glad I wasn't there, blood really freaks me out...ugh," she shuddered dramatically as Stevie raised an eyebrow at a cringing Lindsey. "Anyway, what are you talking about?"
"We -"
"Gotta say - sorry to jump in - cards on the table, it's a real relief not having to worry about the two of you being alone together anymore. Not your type, right?" She laughed so loudly baby Stella jumped in Stevie's arms, and she started rocking her again to settle her. "I guess I should be more worried you're going to come onto me now, huh? Right?"
"Kristen, if you were the last human on -"
"Uh, it really doesn't work like that honey. And anyway, Stevie's not like, fully lesbian, right? What is it they call it?"
She saw the panic in his face as he desperately tried to defuse the bomb before it exploded, and did her mental count to ten.
"Bisexual, but I really don't like to label it. I just happen to love -"
"Hey, is that Sheryl?"
She turned around to where Kristen was looking across the other side of the airport lounge. They'd commandeered the entire lounge privately to say their goodbyes to family, and for Lindsey to introduce the band and crew to baby Stella, before heading off for the next leg of the tour. Sheryl had stayed at home - neither of them had slept well the previous night, news of the trial taking the shine off of seeing the baby, and Sheryl was exhausted. She spent most of the day in bed. Stevie had kissed her sleeping face when she left in the late afternoon and crept out, leaving a note to say goodbye for when she woke up.
She caught Stevie's eye across the room before distributing hugs and hellos to everyone as they approached her. She was wearing the San Jose State sweater given to Stevie, which buried her and hid any signs of pregnancy, and was carrying a back pack. She smiled warmly at the three of them as she made her way over.
"Hi, you! Who's this?" Stevie was surprised for a second as she remembered she was still holding the baby.
"This is Stella," said Lindsey, kissing Sheryl on both cheeks. Stevie never told him Sheryl knew about what happened that night during recording, and she was quite happy to keep it that way as it brought out Lindsey's most courteous side, probably resulting from a guilty conscience, around her. "Do you want to hold her?"
"Sure - can I just steal Stevie for a second first?"
"Oh - yeah. Sure." Despite being objectively fine with Stevie and Sheryl being in a relationship, it was still jarring for Lindsey to see Stevie with anyone. As he took Stella from her arms, he had to stop himself doing a double take when Stevie took Sheryl's face in her hands and kissed her lightly before linking fingers with her and walking to a corner with more privacy. He realized with a jolt how Stevie must have felt all these years seeing him with Kristen, who was watching events unfold with fascination.
"You see Kristen's face?" Sheryl grinned wickedly.
"Oh my god, she's crazy, don't even go there. So what's going on? What are you doing here?"
"Don't you want me here?" She teased.
"Of course I do, it's just -" she checked her watch, "- we'll be leaving in like, 5 minutes. You've come all this way..."
"I know, I just made it. I'd have been so mad if I'd had to get the next flight." Stevie frowned, confused. "Surprise!"
"Are you serious?!" She squealed and threw her arms around her.
"I wasn't ready to be away from you. It's gonna be your birthday soon, and I didn't want to miss that. And next few weeks are going to be important, baby-wise. People are going to notice so we're going to have to think about managing that, plus there's so much to plan, and...I didn't want to be at home with my thoughts after the call yesterday. I just felt like I should be with you. So, canceled my plans and here we both are! Your little groupies. Go mama!"
"You are...perfect. You're perfect. I don't know what I did to deserve you." She kissed her again, feeling the Buckinghams' eyes on them and deliberately throwing in an ass grab for good measure. For the first time, she remembered the look on Lindsey's face when he'd walked in on her and Sheryl the night of the attack and smiled, knowing he'd be thinking about it too. It was childish, but right now, she didn't care.
"So, I guess we should tell the family, huh?" She nodded over Stevie's shoulder to the rest of the band. Stevie turned to look at the faces of those she loved around the room. Her heart was so full. Even Kristen's attempts to get a rise out of her couldn't bring her down as she took Sheryl's hand and cleared her throat.
"Hey everybody, before we go, I have something to tell you."
