Stevie was giddy as a child as they made their way onto the plane back home. She held Lindsey's hand, kissing his knuckles.
"You're not excited at all, are you?" Lindsey asked with a smirk.
"Not at all" she replied with a giggle. "Oh, I miss them so much!"
"Me too." He leaned over and kissed her temple as they took their seats. It would be a long flight so she had stocked herself up on magazines and movies to watch on her phone. "You look beautiful, Steph."
"Thank you. More like well rested, though, and happy."
"It suits you" He nuzzled her neck with his nose, kissing the soft skin just below her ear. She smiled warmly, turning her head to allow him more access. "I love you, Mrs Buckingham"
"I love you too, Mr Buckingham."
"How much?" he asked.
"More than I could possibly explain."
"Try" he said and she giggled.
"Alright, well, enough to give you three children, for starters."
"Four" he said, tapping her tummy.
"That's right, four. I love you enough to marry you twice."
"True" he said.
"But if you want the real answer...I love you so much that I ache for you, I'm addicted to you on a cellular level. I crave your presence and miss you the second you leave my sight. Each day with you makes me feel more complete than I ever have in my life. Twenty years with you by my side feels so short because there are many more ahead of us but at the same time, I also don't remember a time before you came into my life. That night we met changed me for the better. We have these little stars tattooed on our body forever. When we broke up I resented them because it was a constant reminder of our love that I thought was lost."
"And now?"
"Just like the marking I was terrified to get, we have endured and in turn you have made me more brave. With you, I'm not some scared little girl anymore." By the end, she was in tears and he kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you. God, that was beautiful." He wiped a tear from his eye.
"I know you were just joking but I needed you to know."
"I'm not as good with words as you."
"It doesn't matter. Just tell me you feel the same."
"I do. Oh, Stephanie, when I first met you I think I had given up on love but by the time we danced and I sang those words to you, I changed my mind. I knew that no matter what happened, if I never saw you again, that what we had together for that brief moment was so special."
"Me too."
"But I loved you from that very second."
"I loved you too"
"Twenty years." he said, a wistful romance in his voice.
"Twenty years." Stevie echoed. She lay her head on his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head repeatedly. The silence that followed was comfortable with Stevie wrapped in Lindsey's arms. She drifted off to sleep and he sat listening to the sound of her soft, even breathing.
---
Only an hour later, she stirred, turning to kiss his lips softly. "Hey" she said, sleepily.
![](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/121830327-288-k591314.jpg)
YOU ARE READING
Home
FanfictionDirect Sequel to Wide Open Spaces (AU) Newly re-married Stevie and Lindsey, their life with their three children (Callie, Dylan and Iris) and a new little one (or two!) on the way.