Take My Hand

Ultimatum

The past two weeks had been wonderful, Lindsey was practically at Stevie's every second of the day, her not even bringing up Carol Ann anymore because it was only met with the same fast subject change

Stevie couldn't believe how amazing Lindsey was, he would hold her hair when she was throwing up, he would rub her feet when they started hurting, this pregnancy had pulled them closer together and they were both more than happy with that fact

Lindsey couldn't make it round till this evening, Stevie was milling around her house when the doorbell went, getting excited thinking it was Lindsey she ran to the door and opened it, gasping at it being the last person she expected

"Don..."

"Hi Stevie, can I come in?" She didn't say anything, just stepping to the side to let him in, walking in he invited himself to sit, annoying Stevie straight away

"Sit down why don't you"

"So are you still pregnant?" He wasn't beating around the bush

"Me, oh I'm fine, thanks for asking" She said sarcastically

"Well are you?"

"Yes Don I am still pregnant"

"Why?"

"Because it's a life Don! Just because you don't want them doesn't mean that I don't"

"So your going to do this all by yourself?"

"No"

"No?" He asked

"No Lindsey has offered to help me all through this"

"Lindsey Buckingham is going to help you raise another mans child?" Don scoffed and Stevie nodded

"And what's going to happen when he needs to be there for his girlfriend and his child huh? What then?"

"He's said he won't let me do it by myself, he's my best friend Don he wouldn't let me go through this alone"

"Look, I was doing some serious thinking, and I'm willing, if you terminate this pregnancy that I will forget the cheating that you did with him, I'll marry you like you always wanted and then when things settle down with our bands we can have children then"

"Don I can't get rid of this baby" 

"Why? I'm not helping raising it, and no matter what you say Lindsey won't either!"

"HE WILL!" Stevie shouted, the tears falling face down her face

"THINK ABOUT IT YOU SILLY WOMAN!"

"He'll be there! He promised me!"

"Oh well if he promised it must be true then!"

"It is!"

"Why are you so dense Stevie! Think about it, your pregnant with my child and your telling me he is going to give up time watching his girlfriend finish their pregnancy and welcome their baby together into this world to spend time with you and a baby that isn't even his? You think he's going to want to look at this baby, or look at you and know that what's inside you has nothing to do with him? You think he's going to love either of you?" The more he spoke the more Stevie realised he was right, why would Lindsey give up spending time with his own flesh and blood

"Do you see where I'm coming from?" Stevie nodded sadly, with her tears still flowing

"We have plenty of time to have children Stevie, we need this time for us to make things big with our music, you think Mick is going to be pleased that you've only been in his band for a few years and your going to leave to have a baby already?"

"So if I do what you want you'll marry me?" Don nodded

"Okay Don..."

Stevie sat on her bathroom floor, holding her stomach for hours after Don left, all he had said was right and this was the best thing for them and their careers, and the best thing for her and Lindsey, she wouldn't take the opportunity of him becoming a father from him  to look after a baby he could never love as his own

"Mommy will always love you baby, you hear that?" She spoke to the tiny being inside her

~

The band had a meeting the next afternoon, it didn't last long and Stevie needed to talk to Lindsey, she needed to let him know what had happened, waiting till everybody left she asked him whether they could speak

"Sure angel what's up? Hows you two doing?" he rubbed her belly slightly and Stevie covered his hand with her own

"That's what I wanted to talk about"

"Okay go a head"

"I'm scheduled for a termination tomorrow..." She watched instant tears spring to his eyes

"What?...Why?..."

"Don came round and made some valid points"

"Stevie don't listen to him! You will not go through with this! I won't allow it!" he shook her slightly and she yelled at him

"YOU DON'T HAVE A SAY IN THIS! YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER!" She regretted her words instantly by the hurt that came to his face

"I know Stevie, but you know I could love them like they were mine"

"What Don said was right, you have your own child coming with another woman, you won't be able to look at me or them..." she placed her hand on her stomach "because deep down you know they won't be yours! Carol Ann is having your child, your own blood! Be with her, look after her, you'll be an amazing father"

"But I want to be that to your little one Steph..."

"WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING! I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FATHER TO MY BABY!" Lindsey didn't speak so Stevie carried on, without yelling this time

"Don's told me there is plenty of time for us to have a baby, we need to focus on the bands right now, he's said he will marry me if I do this"

"He means that much to you that you would give up a child to marry him? and you think he will actually marry you? Your dumber than I ever thought if you do!"

"I want to be loved Lindsey!"

"I LOVE YOU!"

"YOU CAN'T! You're having a baby with someone else! Go and enjoy that, you don't need us dragging you down"

"Steph..."

"No Lindsey! It's final, I will not be continuing with this pregnancy..."

Lindsey wiped his tears away and picked up his jacket from the back of the chair "Well I hope he's worth it Stevie!"

"Linds..."

"No...You know what breaks my heart the most? The fact that both of the women I was sleeping with are pregnant but neither of them are with my child" Lindsey slammed the door behind him, leaving a shocked Stevie in his wake