Whatever It Takes

Part 9

Stevie came down the following morning and found Lindsey in the kitchen, sipping coffee on his own. She stopped in the doorway for a moment, wondering if she should bother with a 'good morning'. She passed him by in silence. Lindsey glanced at her briefly and looked away.

"You didn't come to bed." Stevie spoke up as she moved to put the kettle on. 

"Didn't think that you wanted me to." Lindsey shrugged, putting his nearly empty cup down.

"I waited." Stevie said, opening one of the cabinets, she took a second to decide what kind of tea she wanted. "You slept in the studio?" Still not completely over the night before, she tried to keep calm and her voice even.

"Yeah." Lindsey replied and before his short answer could irritate her, he added. "Sleep is an overstatement."

"We can't keep doing this, Lindsey." Stevie shook her head, leaning against the kitchen counter. "We had a fight, but it's not the end of the world. Things aren't going to get better if we keep running away from each other."

"I didn't run away." Lindsey wanted to defend himself. "I gave you space. Isn't that what you always want after we argue?"

She remained quiet for a minute, taking deep calming breaths. "It felt a lot like you choosing the easy way out instead."

"What do you want from me?" Lindsey asked, clenching his fist. "I'm such an idiot, I don't understand, so please-"

"Lindsey..." Stevie sighed, running a hand over her face. "All I'm saying is that we can't keep making the same mistakes again. We both get angry quickly and that has already nearly ruined us. If we fight, it can't end with doors being slammed or one of us walking out."

"So, it's my fault." Lindsey stated. "It's fine, I'm used to it." He added with a shrug.

 "I'm not talking about last night." Stevie said, shaking her head. "I mean, in general." Hesitating for a moment, she approached him and pulled out a chair. "Linds." He unwillingly shifted his gaze over to her, when she reached for his hand. "We had a pretty good month before last night. A whole month." She repeated. "It's proof that we can change, one stupid fight doesn't ruin the progress we've made."

Lindsey sighed, closing his fingers around hers, he squeezed her hand gently. "I guess, I just assume that you want to get away from me too quickly. That's what we've been doing for a long time - we fight and then stay away from each other. I hated what happened last night." He paused and she gave him an apologetic smile. "I was halfway up the stairs, on my way to the bedroom, but-" He shrugged weakly. "I thought, you wouldn't want me there."

"Stop." Stevie brought her other hand up to caress his cheek. "Stop assuming things. Or I will drag you to marriage counseling." She add jokingly, finally making him crack a smile. 

"I'm sorry." Lindsey was the first to apologize.

"I'm sorry, too." Stevie replied and moved in to give him a kiss, which he didn't reject. 

"Daddy and me were supposed to make you breakfast." They turned towards Avery, who now stood a few steps away from them, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"Aw, it's okay, baby." Stevie smiled at her. She glanced at Lindsey once more, placing her hand on his shoulder as she stood up. "We can make breakfast together."

Avery, still barefoot, walked over to Stevie and wrapped her arms around her waist, silently apologizing for disobeying her mother's orders. Stevie put her arm around her too and bent down to kiss the top of Avery's curly head.