I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

CXXV.

~ Five Years Later ~

Walking into the little girl's bedroom, Stevie looked over at her empty though made bed and she got on her knees, to flip up the skirt and look under.

But suddenly, the sound muffled giggles filled the room.

"Where's my girl at?" she asked, smirking as she stood and rested her hands on her hips. "I wonder where that precious little girl has gone?" she crept over, avoiding the spot she knew she was. "Is she behind this door..." she swiftly moved it to take a glance.

Her giggles continued while the sound of Lindsey shushing her caught the woman's attention---it made her heart throb.

"You know, it's a real bummer I can't find my Water Lily, because I can't tell her the fun news..." she lingered, walking over to open the drawer.

The girl gasped.

"I wonder where she could be..." she continued, pulling fresh clothes out for her while she was in the room. "I have to tell her that Jeff Junior's coming over..."

Suddenly the dark haired little girl busted out from the closet and she made herself known.

"You found me, you found me!" she jumped up and down.

Lindsey crawled out from the closet and he groaned as he stood up, pulling the little girl into himself.

Stevie giggled.

"That's not how you play hide and seek, sweetheart," he pressed kisses to the side of her face, tickling her.

Her laugh was contagious and endless.

"However that is how you manipulate a game..." he pointed at his wife, smirking at her as he stood tall.

She shrugged her shoulders, settling her outfit on the bed for her.

"Mommy, is J.J. really coming over?" she then wondered, getting up on her bed.

"Yes, he is," she assured, turning to open her arms for her. "Not just J.J. but Robert and Kristen, and guess who else is back?

"Sissy and Damon are back from their trip?" her eyes went wide.

"Yes, they got home yesterday, but guess who else will be back?"

"Nicky?"

"Mhmm," she nodded. "Nicholas and Grace are finally done at school for the summer."

"They're home?!" she sprung forward, ever excited to hear that her big brother would be returning after 16 weeks.

"Yes, lovebug, they're on their way as we speak," she embraced her tightly and kissed her head, more or less trying to calm her down.

"I thought Shannon and Damon weren't coming home till Monday?" Lindsey wondered.

"She called me yesterday from the airport and told me she was feeling sick so they were coming home early," she shrugged.

"I'm so excited to see my big sissy and Nicky and J.J.!" she hopped off the bed, making a huge thud as she landed on her bare feet.

"I knew you would be, so I'm hoping you'll take a bath before everybody comes," she mentioned, lifting her brow.

She pursed her lips.

"She's gonna get all dirty again..." Lindsey smirked. "Especially if they go in the pool."

"Well, yeah... But look at her," she retorted. "It'll make me feel better, and later, if they do get in the pool, I can rinse her off..." she assured. "Could you assist?" she asked.