Sad Angel

You Can Do This

Christine caught Stevie before she could slump to the floor. "Oh god. Stevie! Barbara! Barbara!"
Christine gently moved Stevie from her chair to the ground.
Chris suddenly burst through the back door. "What happened?!" He exclaimed as he bent down close to Stevie.
"I was telling her what Karen had said and she...she fainted." Christine said sobbing. "I shouldn't have told her!"
Chris lifted Stevie up and carried her to the sofa; he began to try to wake her. "Stephanie! Come on sis wake up."
Barbara and Jess came downstairs and quickly saw what was happening.

Stevie began to stir, her head moved from side to side. Before she opened her eyes she was sobbing. "Why? Why did they have to find out about me?" She said weakly. "I didn't want that. Please tell me they don't know that I'm pregnant."
"No, they don't. They just know that it was you that Don attacked. Karen said the reporters think you're in L.A. They are camped out in front of your house." Christine said.
Stevie continued sob. "No one can know that I'm pregnant. They can't find out this way; I had Karen write out a statement from me saying that I had a surrogate to have my child. If they find out, he'll know this is his child. Don will know."
Stevie was quiet for a moment then said. "Christine, could you help me upstairs? I just want to go to bed, please."
Christine hesitated then helped Stevie stand.

Once Christine helped Stevie into bed, she covered Stevie with a blanket. "Do you need anything Stevie?"
"No, I just want to sleep." Stevie said sniffling.
"Stevie?" Christine said voice full of concern.
"Chris, I'm fine, really." Stevie replied unconvincingly.
Christine felt defeated, she wanted to help her best friend but knew Stevie had shut down and would not open up right now. "Fine, I'll let you be but I will check on you in a bit."
Stevie nodded, then as soon as Christine shut the door Stevie sobbed harder.
She cradled her belly with both hands. "Oh my baby girl! No one can know! He can't know that you are his! I wish Lindsey was here!"

Stevie cried until there wasn't anymore tears to shed. She finally fell asleep; her baby girl actually quite that night feeling Stevie's distress, she didn't move the entire night. However, Stevie woke up a couple of times throughout the night to a strange sensation but couldn't place it. She thought it was the Braxton Hicks contractions but a little stronger.

It was 8 am; Stevie woke up to a sharp pain in her abdomen. She sat up, her hand pressed where she felt the pain.
The pain passed a few seconds later. She slowly relaxed back into bed, she pulled the covers up to her chin. She couldn't go back to sleep but she didn't want to get up either. She also felt something was different; the baby was in a much lower position.

Barbara peeked into Stevie's room and saw that she was awake. She stepped into the room and sat down on the bed. "Teedee."
Stevie closed her eyes and tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Oh Teedee. My baby girl. I wish I could take your pain away. I hate seeing you so upset."
Stevie sat up then hugged her mother tightly and sobbed. They stayed that way for a few minutes.
Barbara pulled away and looked into Stevie's eyes. "Stephanie, I want you to please try not to think about what's going on in L.A. okay? None of that matters right now. No one knows where you are and you know no one in town will tell them you are here; they respect us and our privacy. You have to stay strong for your baby girl." Barbara said softly trying her best to comfort her daughter.
Stevie nodded and smiled a small smile. "Okay mom, I'll try."
"That's my girl! Now, I know you don't get up around this time but why don't you get out of bed, get dressed and come join us for breakfast. We have guests." Barbara said brightly.
"I'm gonna take a quick shower first then I'll meet you downstairs." Stevie said.

Stevie finished with her shower and was drying off when the sharp pain returned. She breathed through it then continued to get dressed after the pain went away and made her way downstairs.

"Good morning Steph!" Lindsey said, he walked up and hugged her.
Tears filled her eyes once again. "I'm so glad you're here!" She held on to him closely or as much as her belly would allow.
"Shhhh...it's okay Stevie. It's all going to be okay. Let's not think about that." He soothed her knowing she was silently sobbing. Karen had called him after talking with Christine, he knew the media circus that was outside of Stevie's home.
They were both distracted when Stevie felt something hit her leg. She looked down and saw Stella demanding her attention, she couldn't help but giggle at her. Stevie wiped her tears away as Lindsey lifted Stella up from the floor and brought her close to Stevie.
Stevie smiled at the little girl and stroked her cheek. She kissed Stella's forehead and stayed close. She knew she wasn't feeling well enough to carry Stella.
"Where's Will and Leelee?" Stevie asked.
"They are outside playing on the swing set with your dad." Lindsey replied.
"Daddy is outside?" Stevie asked worriedly.
"Yep, he says he's feeling so much better today. They are having a blast." Lindsey said brightly.
Stevie smiled, glad that her father was feeling better; for the past few weeks she had been so worried about him.