Whatever It Takes

Part 20

Lindsey, gripping the steering wheel tightly, paid close attention to the road ahead as he drove way under the speed limit, ignoring all of the other driver's beeping behind them. At each red light, he kept glancing at the rearview mirror to make sure that everyone was alright. The radio was on at a low volume, he got a little carried away, when a song he liked started playing and he turned it up a bit only to receive a disapproving glare seconds later. They drove in complete silence after that.

"We're home." Lindsey announced, turning to look at Stevie in the back. 

"I can see that." She nodded once, showing no intention of getting out of the car. 

"What's wrong?" Lindsey frowned, trying to read the expression on her face.

"I, uh-" Stevie paused, glancing to her left, she then looked at him again. "I'm afraid to move him." She whispered. "He looks so peaceful, I don't want to wake him up."

"Well, sweetheart, we can't exactly keep our son in the car forever." Lindsey said, trying to reason with her. "We've got that beautiful nursery ready for him. Don't you think he'd prefer that to the backseat?"

Stevie remained silent for a moment, her lips sealed into a thin line. Again, she looked at their baby boy before facing Lindsey. "You carry him inside and if you wake him up, you're the one getting him to fall asleep again."

No point or reason to argue, Lindsey thought and got out of the car. After several 'be careful' from Stevie, Lindsey had successfully managed to complete the task of taking Alex out of the car without waking him up. Alexander Gregory Buckingham was the name they agreed on. Alexander came from Lindsey and Gregory was Stevie's addition, in the memory of your brother, she told Lindsey and it made him tear up. 

"Be careful." Stevie spoke up again, when Lindsey stepped over the threshold into their home. 

"Stevie, he's fine. Everything's fine." Lindsey assured. He understood her, but it wasn't his first time around a helpless newborn either. "Don't freak out as I climb up the stairs."

"Okay okay." Stevie backed off now leaving some distance between them. 

Once they finally reached the nursery, Lindsey pushed the door open and smiled down at Alex, still sleeping to the amazement of his parents. "I think, you're really going to like it here." Lindsey said and Stevie fought back against telling him to shut up. 

"He's so-" Stevie paused, swallowing an unexpected lump of tears in her throat. "I can't believe he's here." She said, watching Lindsey carefully take their son into his arms. 

"I know." Lindsey nodded, staring at Alex's angelic face.

Stevie put her arm around Lindsey, standing beside him, she brought her other hand up, unable to resist the urge to gently stroke the boy's cheek with the back of her finger. "Still doesn't change the fact that I have no idea how to raise a boy." She added quietly, making Lindsey chuckle lowly.

"We're going to figure it out." Lindsey repeated what he'd been telling her for months. "You should rest." He turned his head slightly and pressed a kiss to her hair. "He's not going to sleep forever."

Stevie yawned as if on cue, she couldn't deny that she was completely exhausted. "Just for a little bit."

"As long as you need." Lindsey said. "The first diaper change is on me."

Stevie smiled, rising to stand on her tiptoes, she kissed him on the cheek. "Take good care of my baby."

"Your baby? Uh, excuse me-"

"Shh." Stevie pressed a finger against his lips. "You're going to wake him up." She stuck her tongue out, when he looked at her as if asking, are you kidding me? "I love you." Stevie now gave Lindsey a peck on the lips before she turned to leave the nursery and head straight to the master bedroom in hopes to get at least an hour of proper sleep in her own bed.