Storms

It Worked!

The next day, after having him drive her home so she could grab some clothes and toiletries, Stevie was helping Lindsey unpack and she noticed he was gone for quite a while.

"You're not conning me into doing this all by myself!" she half-shouts, knowing he will hear her.

"Not my aim, dear!" He calls back and she smiles to herself.

"Get your adorable little ass out here!"

"Gimme a minute, woman!" She goes back to unloading plates, shaking her head at the fact he didn't wrap them or even put newspaper between them. Lindsey suddenly reappears with his hands tucked behind his back, leaning against the doorway.

"Yes? Finally ready to help me?" Stevie asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Um, I want to ask you a question."

"Okay?"

"Will you wear my ring?" He presents a box to her and opens it, falling clumsily to one knee.

"Where did you get this?"

"I'd been planning to ask you again. When we rekindled, I...I felt this strong pull to you. It was always there but these last months are something I don't want to ever give up. I want many more of them just like this with you as my wife. Please, marry me"

"You know, asking three times in 48 hours is a little excessive."

He shrugs. "That's me"

"That's true" she says, looking down at him. "Of course I'll wear your ring."

He slips it on her finger and stands up, embracing her. "Thank you" he says. "I love you so much, baby"

"I love you too. Is this why I've ended up putting your place together without you?"

"I was working up the courage."

"I already said yes about a million times"

"I know but this is a ring, Stevie. Everyone will see that someone has asked for your hand and you've accepted. This isn't just any ring you've purchased for yourself. This is a ring!" he says with emphasis.

"Yes it is." She looks down at her left hand and smiles. "It's beautiful and this feels right. Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Are you?"

"110%" she says and he kisses her again. There is a knock at the door and they both give themselves a curious look. He lets her go back to work. "You're not off the hook"

"I know, I know" he says, opening the door.

"Well, well, well. Look what we've got here!" The woman says, passing Lindsey. She put her bag down on the counter and Lindsey looked her up and down. She wore tight dark jeans, high ankle boots and a flowy top, a soft leather jacket tossed over it all. Her asymmetrical bob was in its natural slightly wavy state and her eye make up was dark.

"Hey Jenna, wasn't expecting you" he says, going over to kiss her cheek.

"I bet you weren't. Hey Stevie!" Jenna says, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Hey, honey. Love your outfit!"

"Thanks. Did you...stay over?"

"I might have" she said, playing coy to cover up the fact she was a little caught off guard, which wasn't unusual when Jenna was around.

"Oooh" Jenna cooed as if she was a little kid watching someone get in trouble.

"There is no 'oooh', we are adults afterall" Lindsey said.

"Yes you are" Jenna says. "So are you two back together or was it purely platonic?"

"There was nothing platonic about last night" Lindsey said under his breath and Stevie blushed a deep crimson.

"Ewww! Dad!" Jenna says, giving him a look and he laughed.

"You wanted to know all about it and now you're saying it was too much information?" He laughs a little, going back to Stevie to help her clear out the remaining boxes.

"Look at you two being all domestic, this is so adorable." Lindsey shoots her a look over his shoulder. "What? I love love, what can I say?"

"You can say you're going to help with these boxes" Lindsey tells her and she tuts softly.

"Sure, in these boots?"

"Take them off. No shoes in the house anyway"

"Oh really? A Stevie rule...you seem pretty cozy letting your lady make rules in your bachelor pad"

"I won't be a bachelor for long" he says and Stevie kisses him. Just as she was about to ask what that means, Jenna catches a glimpse of a giant diamond on her former boss's hand.

"Oh my god, stop the presses!" Jenna, known for a flair for the dramatic, was suddenly at a loss for words.

"I asked" Lindsey tells her, turning to face his eldest daughter.

"And I said yes" Stevie told her.

"Oh my god, you guys! It worked! I'm the best Matchmaker ever! Good job Jenna!" She says, patting herself on the back.

"Yeah, she's totally yours" Stevie said with a snort and he knocked her hip with his, making her laugh.

"So you're totally getting married? When?"

"When everything is final with Kristen, we will set a date but until then, this feels good."

"I cannot believe it. This is amazing!"

"I'm glad you think so. We aren't telling the world yet so keep your lips zipped, little girl" Lindsey points a finger at her and she nods.

"Your secret is safe with me but with a rock like that, someone is going to take notice"

Lindsey shrugs and steals a kiss from Stevie going back to work. "Y'know, we could get this all done today. It might look like home soon." Stevie says.

"Just for me to pack it all back up when I find a house." Lindsey says. "I should have left it all in boxes."

"Hush, lay down roots, even if it's a little while. Maybe then you won't be all tied up in knots and angry anymore. Your environment affects your vibe, you know?"

"You're still such a little hippie, Steph" he teases and he kisses her again.

"But you like it" she argues.

"I love it" Another kiss and Jenna just watches on for a minute. They really are meant to be. Jenna slips off her boots, becoming just as tiny as Stevie, and helps them unpack and get everything situated.

By the evening they are all tired and dying to sit down and relax. Jenna sits in one of Lindsey's big chairs while the lovebirds cuddle up in the couch watching a movie Lindsey had put on the tv. They call in a take out order, and the knock at the door alerts them it has arrived. Lindsey grabs the remote and pauses it to answer the door. He opens it and frowns.

"Hey" he says.

"Hey" the woman says, both standing awkwardly in front of each other.

"Is the food here, babe?" Stevie asks, padding toward him. She spots who is at the door and immediately takes a step back.

"So...what are you doing here?" he asked, no warmth in his voice at all.