Torches

16

April 18, 1984

Stevie was sitting at the table multitasking, she was doing her homework and she was also grading papers and she was just about losing her mind. The semester was almost over and though she was losing her mind she was so happy to be going into the final year of her doctorate and she was just hoping that there wouldn't be too much strain between her and Lindsey because now was where the chips were falling. This year that was coming up was going to be her writing her dissertation and Lindsey was the one that would flat out tell her if it was good or if it was a piece of shit and she wasn't looking forward to it. She could hear Lindsey and Clara playing in the living room, along with the faint sound of the telephone ringing, and though it the girls first birthday they weren't having a big party until the following day and she wasn't necessarily looking forward to meeting Diane's parents. Stevie was taken out of her work when she felt a tug on her skirt. 

"Hey baby." She smiles scootching back on the kitchen chair. 

Clara starts trying to climb up Stevie's legs and Stevie swoops down and takes her into her arms. 

"How's my girl huh?" Stevie asks as Clara wraps her arms around Stevie's neck. 

"She just decided she was done with daddy today and she wanted to come see you." He smirks.

"Oh, you're never done with daddy are you?" Stevie inquires as Clara giggles and then turns her head to Lindsey. 

"The bakery called. Should I go pick the cake up now or should I wait until tomorrow?" Lindsey asks.

"Well. I dont' know what you got her first birthday cake to look like so I have no idea what to make her smash cake...but if you can't control yourself and think that you're going to eat it all tonight I'd say wait until tomorrow." She states rubbing Clara's denim dress glad back. It's paired with a black and white polka dotted top and a little white barret. 

"Do you want to come to the bakery with me?" Lindsey asks.

"I guess. But my final paper is due Monday." She shrugs.

"You'll be fine. Come on get your shoes lets go." Lindsey states. 

***

Walking into the bakery Stevie was holding Clara's hand and the little girl was toddling along as the young lady behind the counter smiled at them.

"How can I help you?" She asks.

"We're here to pick up an order for Buckingham." Lindsey smiles walking up to the counter as Stevie picks the baby up and situates her on her hip before oggling what's in the case. 

"Alright, i'll go get it." The girl smiles. 

"What are you looking at?" Lindsey questions. 

"I"m looking at these little fruit pizza thingys. They look really good." Stevie states.

"You know what, you're right. Those do look really good." He nods. 

"Here it is? Is there anything else that I can get you?" The woman comes back and hands Lindsey the quarter of a sheet cake box. 

"Yeah, um...we'll take four of these little fruit pizza thingys. And then we'll do a dozen of the muffins." He states.

"Which flavors?" The woman asks.

"Oh I don't know Four Blueberry, Four Chocolate Chip. We'll do two pumpkin chocolate chip and two lemon poppy seed." He explains.

***

That night as they were getting ready for bed, Lindsey who had been reading a student's report turned to Stevie.

"What's on your mind?" He asks as the woman flitters around the bedroom her black silk bathrobe billowing behind her. 

"Nothing, nothing's on my mind. I'm just mentally preparing for tomorrow." She bites her thumbnail. 

"What's there to prepare for. My family loves you." Lindsey shrugs.

"Your family loves me, but your late wife's family doesn't even know me and here I am taking their daughter's spot." Stevie states crawling onto the bed.

"Diana and I were never married. We were close though and I have called her my wife. But we were never married. Rick and Morgan, well they're a piece of work but I think they'll fall in love with you just like I did." Lindsey explains.

"You and Diana were never married?" Stevie asks.

"Never. We were engaged and in the process of planning our wedding when Clara came along. We stopped when we found out she was pregnant and then we picked it back up after Clara was born. They day after she died we were supposed to go file our paperwork." Lindsey explains.

"Oh Lindsey i'm sorry." Stevie sighs throwing her arms around his shoulders and nuzzling into his neck. 

"It's okay, honestly. I've moved on. Sure I miss Diana and I see her every single time I look at Clara but  now my life is about you. I love you so much." He looks at her.

"I love you to. Honestly." She smiles.

"Alright, now lets get some sleep we'll have some people here really early in the morning." Lindsey kisses her temple as Stevie nods and crawls into the bed completely. 

***

The next morning way too early for Stevie's liking, she was the one year old dressed in a pink plaid dress with a little woven "belt" and she's feeding her, her morning applesauce when a loud knock comes at the front door. It was broaching eight in the morning and she had the muffins that they bought laid out on the counter with some cut up fruit and she bit her lip before she handed Clara her spoon and headed for the front door. Lindsey was in the shower so she knew she had to be the one to open and unlock the front door and she was hoping to God that it was Ruth, Jeff, Greg, and their family. 

However she opened the door to a petite redheaded woman and a very burly man with salt and pepper hair. 

"Hello." Stevie gulps.

"Captain Rick King LAPD, this is my wife Morgan." He states.

"Um, Stephanie Nicks. Ugh, um...Clara's in the kitchen we have some muffins and fruit out." Stevie explains helping them into the house.

"So you are the woman that's helping raise my granddaughter...hmph." Rick huffs pushing past her and marching into the house as the redhead sighs.

"Don't worry about him. He's still grieving for Diana and while I am too, he blames himself. He was in charge of her unit and he sent her in there. It's nice to meet you Stephanie." Morgan smiles taking her hand.