~Two and Half Years Earlier~
"Lyric, please..." Stevie had tears in her eyes as she bounced her daughter on her hip, trying to get her to calm down.
She had been crying since they'd gotten to Paris. Her poor ears had been bothering her the entire flight and by the time they had landed, she was screaming and her mother was crying.
Stevie had a million things to do, but before they even got to their new townhouse, they had to find an emergency room to get her something to help... Anything to get her to settle her down.
"She misses dad." Pierce was sitting on the living room floor, being that most of their furniture hadn't arrived yet. "Me, too." His voice was soft and sad- it nearly broke his moms heart.
He was only three at the time and incredibly confused. He had gone from living in a home with two parents and a million people around them constantly to sitting in a house with nothing in it but the bags they had brought and a pull out couch.
"I'm so sorry." Stevie whispered to both kids, tears streaming down her cheeks as she listened to her daughters loud cries.
It was gut wrenching. Cries that no mother ever wanted to hear their child cry.
"Don't be sorry, mommy." Pierce creased a brow, not used to seeing Stevie get so upset.
Usually she was the level headed parent. She was the one that calmed down the storms that would arise and reassure everyone that things would be okay... She seemed incredibly overwhelmed, which made both of her children feel the same way.
"Mama," Lyric whined, head on her chest.
"It's okay." She assured, leaving a soft kiss on the babies head. "It'll be okay." She repeated, trying to make herself believe it as well.
~~~
"Lindsey..." she let out a soft sigh, staring into his blue eyes. "If we do this, you have to promise me that you'll stay for them." She didn't mean with her- she meant those kids.
If she was going to introduce him in that way, he couldn't be a lame father again... He had to step up, or else she really wouldn't forgive him- ever again.
He didn't hesitate, nodding his head in agreement. "I want this so bad and I hate that I let you down so many times." Lindsey had only been in Paris a week and to say he'd had an epiphany might be an understatement.
He had caught this glimpse into a life he never knew about. He wasn't home much when they all lived together- he made himself scarce.
She leaned in again, kissing his lips one more time as her heart began to beat a little faster. "Promise me..." she whispered in the softest, most gentle but weak tone of voice. "Promise me that I won't regret letting you back into this world." She had tears in her eyes, blurring her vision as she scanned over his face.
Pushing her into the counter gently, his hand got lost in her long blonde hair. "I promise you that I will do everything I can to make it up to you." Lindsey was going to try his best- that he could promise. "And I won't let you down again." He told her, leaving a couple of kisses on her jaw line.
She closed her eyes as she sank into him, head meeting his chest as he began to rub her back. "Don't let me down." Stevie couldn't take that again- she couldn't put her kids through it again.
"I won't, baby."
~~~
"Mommy...." Lyric was holding onto her hand, looking over the edge of the pool at the still blue water. "I'm scared..." she whispered as her eyes traveled up to see Stevie.
They were at the hotel, after the kids had begged their mother to let them go swimming... Lyric was really regretting it now. She had never swam before, and it sounded like fun until she saw the water.
"Come on, sweetie." Lindsey was already in the pool, close to the edge and holding out his arms for her.
"It's so much fun, Lyric!" Pierce was already splashing around, going under the water and jumping off the edge even though his mom asked him not to do either.
Lyric creased a brow, looking around the empty room. "It's deep..." she squeezed her moms hand, not daring enough to let go.
"What if mom got in, too?" He knew it was a long shoot, but he also knew the soft spot Stevie had for her kids.
Stevie cracked a soft smile, eyes meeting Lindsey's for a brief moment. "I'll go in with you, sweetie." She nodded her head lightly, still holding onto her daughters hand as she began to lead the way toward the steps.
It took the four year old another moment to investigate the water, making sure there was nothing floating at the bottom or anything else that might be suspicious. "You first..." she nudged the blonde, motioning for her descend the steps first.
Lindsey chuckled, leaning back against the wall of the pool as he watched his wife flinch from how cold the water was.
"It's chilly." She warned with a smile as she held out her hands for Lyric.
Since Stevie was in, she knew it was okay. So with her arm floats on, she decided to just jump off the edge with a splash, which shocked both of her parents.
"Brave little girl." Stevie clapped her hands, not going too far into the deep end and instead lingering close to the edge... not far from Lindsey.
"A little fish." He agreed with a nod, watching as she tried to paddle her arms like her brother.
"I wanna be a mermaid." She had the sweetest smile on her face as she kicked her feet and moved her arms, trying her best but not moving fast.
"You can be anything you want." Lindsey grinned, keeping his eyes on her as she began to move towards the other end.
Stevie's heart skipped a beat, more than relived to see him being the father she knew he could be.
"I wanna jump again." Lyric was already paddling back, having gotten too nervous to swim all the way to where her brother was.
"Honey..." Stevie shook her head softly, getting ready to tell her that it probably wasn't the best idea to do that.
"Lindsey, will catch me." She assured, glancing back to make sure her dad would.
"I'll catch you." He chuckled, nodding his head lightly. "You have to be careful though and jump far away from the edge." Lindsey reminded her, holding out his hands to catch her.
Plugging her nose and closing her eyes, the little girl that was just afraid of the water, jumped out and right into her fathers arms. Her loud laughs echoed through the room, which caused Stevie and Lindsey to chuckle as well.
"I am a fish." She was on the move again, wandering over to the other side once more.
Stevie swam towards her husband, slipping her arm around his waist from behind as her head met his back. "I love you." She told him, closing her eyes when she felt him take her hand in his.
He titled his head to the side, looking at her from over his shoulder. "I love you, baby."
