High Priestess

5.14

July 4, 1980

Stevie's detox was forty days in total and as she was walking out of the hospital with Lindsey, Emlyn on her hip, and her 18-week bump on display she felt really good and instead of cloudy and hazy she was clear and her world felt like a whole bunch of sunshine and rainbows. 

"I just thought of something," Stevie states as they get ready to watch the fourth of July parade-even though Stevie was just out of the hospital she wanted to make sure that Emlyn got the whole fourth of July parade experience.  

"What?" Lindsey asks holding her hand over the counsel.

"Both of my pregnancies have been traumatic and it was around the same time when things started to go my way." Stevie smiles.

"We've got some strong baby's." Lindsey peers back in the backseat at Emlyn. 

"Her name is Pheonix, but what do you think about the nickname Nixi?" Stevie questions rubbing her stomach where her baby is kicking. 

"I think Nixi is a great nickname, especially knowing her mother's maiden name," Lindsey smirks.

"Who Nixi?" Emlyn calls from the backseat. 

Stevie turns around to the best of her ability and then she clears her throat.

"Nixi is short for Pheonix. Pheonix is your baby sister." Stevie explains.

"Nixi Sister?" 

"Yeah, Nixi is your sister." Stevie nods. 

***

Sitting at the fireworks, Stevie shifted uncomfortably, her hand falling to the underside of her stomach.

"What's up?" Lindsey questions.

"She's moving around a lot." Stevie states.

"You should do a Tarot card reading." Lindsey states.

"What?" She questions.

"Ask the same question you asked when you found out you were pregnant and see if the answer changed," Lindsey suggests.

"Will you do it with me, when we get home?" She questions.

"Well, I'll sit with you," Lindsey replies.

"That's fine." 

When they get home, Lindsey takes care of putting Emlyn to sleep while Stevie gets in the shower and changes into her seafoam green maternity negligee, and crawls into bed with him. She sits cross-legged and he lays by her hip, one hand holding his weight the other rubbing her stomach. 

She lets out a breath and then she grabs the cards out of her nightstand. 

"Is my baby going to die?" 

She flips the cards that fall and then Lindsey looks up at her. 

"Queen of Pentacles upright means working parent. The Emperess Femininity, Beauty, Nature, and Abundance. Wheel of Fortune, Good Luck...Lindsey's she's going to be okay." Stevie sniffles.

"We knew she was going to be okay didn't we?" Lindsey smiles kissing her stomach. 

"I know I freaked myself out but I'm her mother and I..." Stevie starts.

"You don't have to explain anything, I know." Lindsey nods.

"Talk to her, like you used to talk to Emmy," Stevie demands laying back and getting herself comfortable on the bed. 

"Hey, Pheonix. I'm your daddy. You've got one very strong momma and someday we'll tell you that story, But just know that she's so strong. And your big sister Emlyn loves you so much already I can't wait to see your relationship unfold together. Momma and I love you so much, now you just keep yourself safe and healthy in your momma's belly for a few more months and we'll see you in December huh?" Lindsey asks.

"December seems so far away." Stevie sighs.

"It'll be here before you know it. I can almost guarantee it." Lindsey states.

"Maybe for you anyway, you're not the pregnant one," Stevie replies. 

"And that may be true, but I have faith," Lindsey explains. 

Their conversation was waning and they were both about to fall asleep when their bedroom door pushed open. Emlyn peeped her head in and in her little pink floral nightgown she pads over to the giant king-sized bed and Stevie and Lindsey both look at her.

"What's the matter, baby?" Lindsey asks.

"I had a bad dweam." She mutters.

"Oh, sweet girl come here." Stevie looms over Lindsey with slight difficulty and she pulls the toddler into the bed with them. 

"Momma do you have bad dweams?" Emlyn asks snuggling up between her parents.

"All the time. Someday I'll share them with you, why I have them. How I got them in the first place, what they're about. But you're in the nightmares too. You were always with me when I had the nightmares happen...and that's what I think about, I think about how you were always with me and you protected me from everything." Stevie holds her to her chest and kisses her little head.

"I don't remember being with you, how was I with you?" Emlyn questions.

"You were in my belly like Nixi is right now," Stevie states bringing Emlyn's hand to her stomach.

"So I protected you from inside of you?" 

"You did ladybug and I am so glad that you did." Stevie smiles. 

"But you've gotta get some sleep okay baby?" Lindsey asks also kissing her head.

"Otay. Love Mama, Love Daddy, Love Nixi." She smiles sliding down into the bed and then cuddling up to her father's chest. 

"Just like when she was little," Lindsey smirks.

"Can't blame her, she's her daddy's little girl. I'm just mad that she's in her momma's spot." Stevie smiles rolling onto her left side and throwing her arm over her daughter like she was protecting her. 

"It might do you some good to be sleeping on your own pillow for a change." He leans over and kisses her before rolling onto his right side and placing his hand on Stevie's hip like he's protecting both of them. 

When Stevie wakes up in the morning, Lindsey's gone most likely for tour rehearsal and Emlyn is still snuggled up on her father's pillow facing Stevie. She yawns a little bit and then she starts brushing her finger along Emlyn's nose, and up into her brown curls. 

The girl's big brown eyes pop open and she smiles at her mom. "Momma." 

Emlyn launches herself into her Mom's arms and Stevie hugs her gratefully and then Stevie kisses her head. "What do you say, you and I go pick out stuff for your sister's room huh?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Yeah just you and me." Stevie nods.

Emlyn just nods and Stevie chuckles sitting upright in the bed.