Beauty and the Beast

25

Lindsey and Stevie were packing up for the day, Jess standing next to them having already locked up the bakery when across the way Robin locks up the library and Stevie puts her hand on Lindsey's bicep.

"What?" He asks situating Bella around, She had been laying in his arms but he had moved her so she was laying on his shoulder. 

"Oh Jess, do you have any leftovers for me?" She runs over. 

"I do...here kiddo." Jess hands them over to her.

"Thank you, Jess, Hi Steves...Stevie?" She gasps looking at the woman.

"Hey Rob." Stevie throws her arms around her. 

"Will you be here on December 31st?" Robin questions.

"I don't know, why?" Stevie asks pulling away from the hug.

"That's the day i'm getting married and I want you to be my maid of honor." She explains. 

"You're...what?" Stevie questions.

"Yeah...his name is Kim Anderson, he's the veterinarian in town." She grins. 

"Oh Robin. Yes, i'll be here. I'll make sure i'm here. Lindsey, you're going to be on baby duty on December 31st." Stevie turns to the man that fathered her daughter. 

"Wait Lindsey...like King, Lindsey. Stevie why are you here with King Lindsey and is...is he holding your baby?" Robin gasps.

"Well I mean yes, he's the father of my baby." Stevie looks at her. 

"You...you slept with the King of Evercrest." She gasps.

"I live with the King of Evercrest...Up in the mountains." Stevie states.

"But you said there was a community and six families." Robin gawks.

"Well lets see. There's Lindsey and I, that's one. John and Christine that's two. They have a son. Mick and Sarah Fleetwood three. They have twin girls. Sharon isn't married, but she lives up there so that's four. It's the same deal with Margi so that's five. Then there's the messenger guy that comes down into town weekly. I"ve not met him properly just in passing but I think his name is Richard..." Stevie trails off.

"Yes, that's Richard Dashut and then there's Keith Olsen. Keith lives in the stables and takes care of the horses. He has a little apartment above the barn. I told him he could stay in the castle but he said no, he liked having his own space above the barn so I don't question it. But that just means that you haven't met him. But what if I wanted to go to the wedding with you?" Lindsey explains a slight pout present on his face.

"Fine, we'll just bring Sharon down and make her watch Bella. I think she and Lori will get along really well and she has no family here so she can just spend Christmas with us." Stevie sighs.

"Good." Lindsey nods.

"Oh Robin, please take something from the buggy." Stevie motions.

"I was hoping for the baby...but what's in the buggy?" She questions.

"Some stuff that was my mother and fathers. We've decided to give it away to the towns people. Today and tomorrow we're down here trying to give it away. But I think we've only given to like four people today and I don't think they believed me when I said that I was the king." He shrugs.

"Well you certaily don't look like the king. You're wearing a pair of denim pants a black teeshirt and an army green...over shirt." Robin tugs on the collar of the green shirt.

"Well what you expect me to wear?" Lindsey asks.

"Oh I don't know. A crown, gold lame, Royal blue." Robin shrugs.

"Ew...no, I hate that stuff. I don't even dress up for special occasions." Lindsey states.

"He only dressed up for me once." Stevie states kissing his cheek and then wiping the little bit of lipstick off of it. 

"So what will you wear to my wedding?" 

"Probably denim pants a teeshirt and a blazer." Lindsey states.

"I can get behind that...alright, i'm starved. Robin pick something out and then spread the word. Please spread the word." Stevie instructs pushing Robin towards the goodies. 

"Oh look at this." She holds up the little clock.

"It's yours if you want it." Lindsey nods.

"Thank you Lindsey...can I call you Lindsey." She looks at him.

"Only because I'm dating your best friend." Lindsey winks handing the baby over to Robin.

"Oh Stevie look at her...she's precious." Robin coos.

"She's tiny. Half the time i'm scared that we're going to break her." Stevie sighs.

"Tiny like her mother." Lindsey kisses Stevie's head and Robin swoons.

"What's her name?" Robin inquires.

"Bella Lindsey." Stevie grins as Lindsey wraps his arms around her and glasps his hands at her stomach. 

"Beautiful. Her name suits her." Robin nods.

"Robin, would you like to join us for dinner?" Jess questions peering at his watch.

"Actually...could I. I'm exhausted. We were busy at the library today." She sighs.

"I know, i've been watching it all day. We have tons of Thanksgiving left overs. I think Lori said something about makeing hot turkey sandwhiches." She smiles.

"Hot turkey sandwiches?" Lindsey wrinkles his nose, 

"Yes, it's a thanskgiving delicacy down here. You've been spoiled and now it's time for you to live like a real person...C'mon Robin climb in. We'll follow you daddy." Stevie grins taking Lindsey's hand and climbing up into the carriage. 

"Madam." he holds out his hand for Robin who smiles and takes it and climbs in next to Stevie.

"Oh my god, he's got manners." She swoons.

"Yeah, that one took a while I had to train him." Stevie replies as Lindsey hops up.

"You didn't train me, you just had to dust me off a little bit." Lindsey explains.

***
Robin holds Bella all the way back to Chris and Lori's house but Jess takes her and then Lindsey reaches up and picks Robin up and hoists her out of the carriage and then he does the same thing with Stevie and then he wraps his arms around her waist and leads her into the house. 

"Hey Robin." Lori waves when they enter the house. 

"Howdy." Robin waves.

"Lori, do you think you can watch Bella tomorrow. I loved having her in town with me today but my arms are so sore from holding her all day and we even switched off." Stevie sighs looking at Jess who is cuddling the baby on the couch. 

"I would love to watch my niece tomorrow and maybe i'll even bring her into town." Lori coos. 

 "Oh wonderful." Stevie smiles. 

"So when are you guys leaving?" Robin asks going to help Lori with the dinner. 

"We're leaving Sunday morning. I have to go back to work." Lindsey sighs.

"Ha, like you work." Stevie laughs. 

"I work. I look over my people. Have you all lived a good life down here?" Lindsey questions.

"Taxes could be lowered, but other than that yeah." Chris nods. 

"See, but nice try...i'm nto lowering taxes. That was the last thing my father did before he died and i'm not going to undo it." Lindsey shakes his head. 

"Fine, just thought i'd try." Chris sighs.