The Dream Is Not Over

"Can We...Talk?"

Lindsey's POV

I can't let this go any longer. I'm tired of running away from this; I have to talk to my son. I jog down the stairs, and walk through the living room, not seeing anyone at first. It's like the house is empty. I sigh, my hands on my hips until I get a glimpse of my wife flitting around the kitchen. She was so tired before, I have no idea why she's decided to cook.

"Hey, Steph."

She looks up, smiling at me. "Hey, babe."

I can't resist wrapping my arms around her from behind. I kiss her shoulder, then the gentle curve of her neck, forgetting my task. "I thought you were tired."

"I was, but now I'm hungry."

"We just had lunch!" I exclaim and I feel a change in her body language. She tenses. I can tell I hurt her feelings. I'm sure she took that as me passing some sort of judgment, which I wasn't, but she's sensitive right now. I have to fix this. "Uh, but, it's uh..." Her brow furrows and I can't think, I don't want to make this worse. "Sorry...uh, what are you making?" Smooth, Lindsey.

"Fudge," she says flatly. There's no inflection, no happiness...not even a little anger.

"Smells good, Steph!"

"Thank you." I smooth my hands over her growing belly and she stops me. "Can I be alone?"

I take my hands off her and she sighs. "I'm sorry for the offhand comment. I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay." She reduces the heat to a simmer and steps away from the stove for a moment.

"It's not okay," I take her hands, looking into her eyes. "I'm sorry I upset you."

"I really shouldn't be making fudge, I'm gaining too much weight as it is." A sympathetic look creases my features and she looks away. She hates that. "I don't need you to feel sorry for me. It's my own fault."

"I don't feel sorry for you. I care about you. Stevie, I don't think you're gaining too much weight at all. If you think that's what I meant, then you're wrong." She's quiet. "If you want fudge, make fudge. If you're hungry, you should be eating. That baby needs it."

"I shouldn't indulge in every craving."

"Yes you should." I tell her passionately and she giggles, looking up at me.

"I'm going to be as big as a house."

"You are not."

"You don't think I'm too big?" She bites her lip in anticipation of my answer.

"Never! I think you're beautiful, angel."

"Thank you, Linds." She hugs me briefly but I pull her back into me as she tries to pull away.

"You're welcome. You are the most beautiful and sexy woman I know."

"I'm definitely not sexy."

"Yes you are." I stroke her cheek, her big brown eyes looking up at me so sweetly. God, she's gorgeous and she doesn't even have to try. "I love you."

"I love you too." she says. Her voice is so soft and gentle. I don't want to let her go. What I want to do is take her upstairs. "I need to finish cooking or my recipe will be ruined."

"I know." I lower my eyes, creating a little space between us, but then she kisses me deeply.

"When I'm finished, I'll come find you, I promise. Thank you for making me feel better about this."

"You have nothing to feel bad about, baby. I love your body. You're giving me a second child, how could I not?"

She doesn't say anything else but she doesn't have to. The way she looks at me is enough. I look out the back door, watching my son pace with his fingers laced on top of his head. He probably doesn't want to talk to me... I kiss the back of Stevie's head and she smiles as she continues with her project. I open the back door and step out. The air changes immediately.