Beauty and the Beast

23

November 25

Lindsey was frozen at the waterfall. They got down there and he couldn't for the life of him spur the horse forward and Stevie was getting antsy. 

"Oh for Christ Sakes Lindsey." She spits thrusting Bella into his arms and taking the reins. 

"I'm sorry I'm just freaking out is all," Lindsey replies holding Bella up to his sternum and holding her like that, her little head nuzzling into his chest.

"I know you are, but you're never going to make progress if you don't just do it." She spurs the horses on and they venture past the waterfall and Lindsey lets out a sigh of relief when they get passed it and his chest doesn't feel like it's going to explode. 

As they approach the town the streets aren't necessarily bustling with people but there are a few floating around and Stevie tucks her child further into her chest, halfway through the trip Bella needed to be fed so they switched off and Lindsey still had control of the horse, but he took notice of what Stevie did and gave her a side eye and then a burly man came stalking to them. 

"Hello, Stephanie, great to see you back...who are um, these people?" The man inquires and Lindsey grows defensive holding back a growl.

"Hello Don, This is my um...my husband and this is our daughter." Stevie replies.

"So you turned down my marriage proposal for this man." Don looks him up and down.

"Yes because unlike with you, I actually feel something with him. Honey take a left." Stevie points to the fork in the road and Lindsey spurs the horses on glaring at the man that approached them as they pass.

"You almost married that guy?" Lindsey asks.

"No, I had sex with him and then for the following three years he stalked me and tried to get me to marry him and I flat out said NO. It's part of the reason I was oh so willing to stay up on the mountain with you. I wanted to get away from him." Stevie responds 

"Oh I see, how much further?" Lindsey asks.

"Its' pretty close, there's the bakery so you'll want to take a right at the bakery and then just follw the path it's the only house on the road. Christopher built it ground up." Stevie explains. 

***

Pulling up to Chris and Lori's house, Lindsey gulps, but he collects Bella into his arms and he cradles her to his chest and then being the gentleman that his is, helps Stevie out of the castle and then he goes to the door first. He knocks and Stevie can feel him tense as the door opens and because she's much shorter than him , her vision is blocked but she can tell that Lindsey holds Bella out to whomever is opposite them at the door.

"Bella Buckingham, Born October 3rd," He says, getting fed up with not being able to see, Stevie ducks under his arm and presses her back to his chest.

"Hi daddy." Stevie smiles seeing the man now holding his granddaughter. 

"Hey Teedee, I don't understand?" He looks at them.

"You knew I was having a baby." She puts her hands on her hips.

"Right, I knew you were having a baby but I didn't think you'd come down Sire." He looks at Lindsey.

"Please, call me Lindsey." Lindsey shakes his head.

"L-lindsey." He nods.

"Can we come in or did you guys eat all of dinner?" Stevie asks.

"We haven't eaten yet...Lori's struggling." Jess rolls his eyes. 

"Oh, well then I should probably go help her." Stevie chuckles kissing Lindsey's cheek and then her father's and makes her way into the house.