November 1998
Max was almost two months old and Stevie couldn't believe how quickly the time had flown by. She was finally able to get her parents to leave a week ago, as they were driving her crazy. She was ready to take on the task of handling her son on her own. Plus, she would be taking Max to Arizona for thanksgiving because Kristen's family was coming into town and Lindsey had to be with her and William.
Lindsey had been a constant in Max's life over the past eight weeks. He was there everyday. It was to the point where Stevie began to worry that he was spending too much time with Max and not enough time with his other son, who was only four months old. She knew the bond he had with Max was much different than the bond he had with William. She felt guilty for that, but she knew there was nothing she could do. It was completely up to Lindsey to deal with.
Stevie sat in the nursery, rocking her son while she fed him. It was nap time and she couldn't be more excited. She was exhausted and she had to admit, getting up every three hours with Max was difficult when she didn't have any help. It didn't matter though. She was so in love with her baby boy that she would give up sleep altogether if she needed to.
She fixed her shirt when he was done eating and propped him up on her shoulder, patting his back gently. Once he was sound asleep, she turned the baby monitor on and slipped out of the room into her own. She fell right into bed and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
When Stevie woke up, she could hear her son cooing in the baby monitor. She smiled to herself and then she heard Lindsey's voice as he spoke to their baby. She laid there quietly and just listened to them.
"And that's the story of how mommy and I met. You're bored, aren't you? You don't like my stories? That's okay. Mommy always tells them better," Lindsey was just rambling on and on.
Stevie chuckles at his words and drags herself out of bed and across the hall to the nursery. She leans against the doorway, just watching Lindsey with Max for a moment before he looks up and notices her.
"Hey mama," Lindsey says with a grin.
She walks into the room and goes over to lean down and kiss Max on the forehead, smiling when he looks up at her, "hey Linds, and good afternoon, chunky monkey."
"He was wide awake when I got here, but he was just being quiet and trying to fit his fist in his mouth," Lindsey says.
"Did he succeed?"
"Of course he did. He is my son."
Stevie laughs a little, "that's true."
Lindsey takes her hand and kisses the back of it, "how are you?"
"I'm good. I'm a little tired, but I think we're doing just fine," she says.
"Steph, why don't you let me stay the night? I can help out so you can get some rest," Lindsey suggests, not overly optimistic that she would accept his offer.
She nods a little, knowing when it's time to agree with the help that's being offered, "that would be great."
Lindsey looks at her surprised, "really? Okay, great."
"I'm not going to say no to a chance to get some sleep," Stevie says with a laugh.
"I wouldn't expect you to. Underneath all the baby puke, you're still you."
She laughs again, "you're an asshole."
"Hey! Watch your mouth in front of the baby!" He covers Max's ears and Stevie bursts into a fit of giggles.
"What do you want for dinner; pizza or Chinese?" Stevie asks, taking Max as Lindsey hands him over to her. He was starting to whimper and they both knew that was his 'I want my mommy' cry.
