Different Is Good

Twenty

The next morning Stevie awoke once more to Lindsey attacking her with kisses. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas" she chuckled sleepily. "Oh my goodness, I didn't realize I had slept so long."

"You must have been tired. Growing our baby girl is a lot of work." He smiled, rubbing her belly. "Ready to go downstairs?"

"Let me freshen up a bit and change my clothes."
"I am going to put on my flannel pajamas," Lindsey said, reaching for his red argyle pajamas
"You're going to look so cute."

"You should wear something a little Christmas-y too." She went to her drawer and looked through her nighties. She pulled out a short sleeved, loose fitting nightie that hit mid calf in a similar pattern to Lindsey's pajamas. There was a ribbon woven through the neckline that tied in a bow at the neck and he smiled as she held it up. "Who's going to be the cute one now?" He kissed her forehead.

"Still you" she said. "Hopefully it will still fit."
"I'm sure it will, baby. Let me know if you need help," kissing the back of her head as she disappeared into the bathroom
Lindsey fiddled with the things on her dresser, smelling her perfumes, running her fluffy makeup brushes across the palm of his hand or looking at old family pictures in tiny floral frames. He stopped when she emerged from the bathroom again.
"You look like something my Mom threw up," he said as soon as he saw her
Her eyes grew wide. She didn't know what to think. She searched his face for some sort of indicator but the more she looked at him, the less she found his remark very funny at all. In fact, it was hurtful.
Tears welled in her eyes, biting her lip as she rushed back into the bathroom

"Honey.... I'm sorry...." Lindsey sighed, "I didn't think."
He heard her sniffling and he knew he really messed up. The pitiful whimper was the last sound he could manage to hear before opening the bathroom door without her consent. He knelt down beside her as she sat on the edge of the tub in tears.
"Stevie, I'm sorry. You look sweet... I was trying to be funny." He rubbed her knee
"Something your mother threw up isn't funny!" Stevie said, pushing his hand off her.
"That was stupid of me, please forgive me," He sighed
"I don't even know what would possess you" she said sadly, looking up at him. She sighed as well. "I forgive you."
"I was joking, the dress reminds me of something my Mom has," Lindsey rubbed her leg once more, "I'm sorry, Steph."
"It's okay." She got up and walked past him, out of the bathroom. He followed, hoping he could make it up to her. He had read somewhere that hormones were raging at the end of the second trimester all the way to the end of the third when the baby would be born. She could experience mood swings, or cry a lot. She was more sensitive now and he had to be careful what he said so he wouldn't upset her. Downstairs, breakfast was made and Stevie sat down to eat. Lindsey waited until Stevie waved him over to sit next to her before taking his place at the table.
He kissed the side of her head, "I'll make your plate?"

"Merry Christmas!" Barbara smiled as she she brought in a large breakfast
"Merry Christmas!" Stevie said, clapping her hands together like an excited child.
"Oh Tee! We will have your little one next year!"
"We will! Sara's first Christmas!" Stevie rubbed her large belly.
"Oh it will be so precious!" Barbara clapped her hands together

"I can't wait to spoil her!"

"Neither can I!" Barbara said, excited over her granddaughter.
"We still get presents, right?" Lindsey asked
Stevie laughed and stroked his face. "We can always give gifts to each other but Sara comes first. She gets the most presents because she's our baby girl."
"I think she will have so many presents under the tree we won't be able to see the bottom!"
"If we can even wait until Christmas to give her presents." Stevie said and Lindsey chuckled.
"I'm sure I'll sneak her a few before then," Lindsey replied
"We won't be able to resist! She's going to be so cute! Maybe she will be crawling by then." Stevie's eyes lit up.
"Good morning Tee," Jess greeted as he came in from the living room
"Morning, daddy. Merry Christmas." Stevie beamed as he kissed the top of her head.
"Merry Christmas. Are you all ready to open presents?"
"Yes!" Stevie and Chris said in unison and their parents chuckled.
"I think the biggest one is for Lindsey!"
"Me?" Lindsey asked, pointing to himself. "Why me?" Stevie shrugged, biting her lip to suppress a burgeoning smile.
Lindsey gave Stevie a suspicious glance, standing and following everyone into the living room
He sat down in front of the gift and peeled back the paper on the long rectangular box. He looked up at her one last time.
"Open it," Stevie shifted excitedly, a huge smile on her face.

Lindsey peeled back the rest of the power and opened the box, "Steph..." tears sprang to his eyes as he looked up at her
"Do you like it? I mean, is it okay?" Stevie asked and Lindsey nodded. He rose slightly to kiss her and she began to cry as well.
"Thank you!" Lindsey held her tightly. She helped him with the box as he pulled his old Martin guitar out. "How did you find it?"
"I tracked it down through the shop where you sold your guitar and I bought it back."

"You did all that for me?" he asked and she nodded.

"I would do anything for you."
Lindsey kissed her once more, "I'll play you your song later," he whispered in her ear. "Now open yours!"
Stevie smiled brightly and nodded. Her father handed her the box marked with her name and she looked at Lindsey. "Go ahead" he said encouragingly.
Stevie tore back the paper and opened the box, "Lindsey!" She gasped at the crescent moon necklace. Beside it was a smaller crescent moon for Sara
"We'll match!" she said, bursting into tears. "Thank you!" She hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder. He held her, rubbing her back.
"You're welcome, I had them made for you," Lindsey kissed her neck
"You're spoiling me." Stevie said.

"You deserve to spoiled, both of my girls do."
"Will you put mine on me?" She handed him the box and pulled up her hair
"Of course" He positioned himself behind her and carefully clasped it. "Now let me see" She turned to face him and he smiled. "It's even better than I thought." She touched the moon and smiled as well.

"You think so?"

"It's gorgeous, baby"

"I'll never take it off."
"I know that Sara will love hers as well," Lindsey said surely, "I love you."
"I love you too" She kisses him, rubbing noses after their lips separated.

"This one is for Sara, from Santa." Jess said, winking at his daughter. "Maybe the two of you can open it together."

While Stevie and Lindsey opened the package, Barbara and Jess gave Chris one of his. The boy tore open the thin, square gift and pumped his fist in the air.

"Wicked! The Who!" Chris exclaimed.
"I helped them pick it out," Stevie told him

"Good choice."
"Thanks!"

"So what did Mom and Dad, I mean Santa, get for Sara."

"Probably some of the most impossibly cute little sleepers, a few of those elasticated sleep sacks, and adorable little headbands with bows and flowers on them."

"All that fit in that box?" Chris asked.

"Baby clothes are tiny!" Barbara told him.

"With how big Stevie is, I doubt there will be anything tiny about Sara."

"Hey!" Stevie shouted.

"Your sister is not big. Be nice, it's Christmas." Jess reminded him.

"Fine, just an observation." Chris lifted his hands in defense. "I'm sorry for pointing out how big you are."

"That's not really an apology but I will accept it anyway." Stevie told him.

Lindsey rubbed her stomach softly, "You're not that big," Lindsey kissed the side of her head, "yet."
"Yet?" she asked, sounding wounded.

He knew he said the wrong thing. "Um, I mean, I like how big you're getting. I'd like if you got even bigger." Lindsey looked around, practically begging for a remedy.

"Keep digging, Linds. You might end up digging your way to China." Chris said, chuckling to himself.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way," Lindsey told Stevie, "I just meant that I'm excited to see you grow."
"It's okay, really." Stevie said, trying to get him to stop before he made her feel even worse. "Quite the way with words, Linds." He blushed, averting his gaze.
"I'm glad you like your necklace...."
"I love it, I really do and I can't wait until Sara's old enough to wear hers. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful gift." Stevie kissed his cheek. "I love you"
"I love you too," he smiled softly, his hands following the movements of the baby
She kissed him a couple more times, this time on the lips. Others were opening presents but the couple were in their own little world, just looking into each other's eyes.
"I'm so thankful for you."
"I'm even more thankful for you." Stevie smiled.

"Yuck!" Chris exclaimed.
"It's the best Christmas ever," Lindsey said