Stevie felt a sense of dread wash over her as she entered the studio. She double checked the room number and went right inside. She sat at the piano and began going over Dreams. Her voice sounded clear that day, despite all the crying she had been doing. She knew she had to work things out with Lindsey and help him get to know their daughter more before diving into anything with Alex, if she ever did. She never thought she would have a choice like this to make. And as much as she was angry at Lindsey, she still cared about him on some level, even if she didn't know what level that was.

The room was chilly and Stevie shivered, pulling her cardigan around her. She wore jeans and a halter top with her signature platform boots, how could she be cold? She looked up and saw Alex. He breezed right by her, reading through memos and notes, never making eye contact with her. She slammed her fingers down on the keys as he passed by her again and she had had enough.

"Alex" she said.

"Yes, Miss Nicks?"

"Can we cut the Miss Nicks shit? Why are you being weird?"

"I'm not. What I did was unprofessional and I don't want to talk about it."

"It wasn't in the studio, it was in my home."

"And it upset you."

"I'm going through a lot right now. I never said I didn't like you, Alex, I just--" Stevie stopped as the door opened and someone came into the room. They watched as the long, shaggy haired fellow she knew now to be Dean, fiddled with his bass guitar.

"Sorry" He raised his hand and bowed his head, leaving the room.

Alex nodded. "It's the wrong time, right?"

"You dated my best friend. I'd have to ask her first, and, I have a lot to sort out with Lindsey. You understand, don't you?" Her eyes pleaded with him. "I just need time."

"Okay."

"Thank you." Stevie kissed his cheek and he smiled. The next person that came in made his smile fade and he stepped away from Stevie, sitting in a chair off in the corner.

"Hey!" Lindsey waved and Stevie felt their old feelings coming back. "Can I introduce you to the guys? I think you only know one of their names."

"Yeah. Dean." Stevie said.

"Right. Uh, this is Terrence Monroe."

The man shook her hand, the long earring that dangled from his ear moving as well. "Call me Terry. My mom's the only one who calls me Terrence."

"He's the coolest cat I know." Lindsey told her.

"Hey what about me?" The blonde, curly haired man said.

Lindsey chuckled. "He's the other coolest cat I know." he said and Terry rolled his eyes.

"Traitor!" he shouted jokingly and Lindsey shook his head.

"Love you too, man" Stevie chuckled at the interaction. The blonde haired man shook her hand. "And this is the famous Luke Davis!"

"Linds, you can't say someone's famous until people actually know who they are!" The man clapped his friend on the shoulder.

"Hey, we speak things into existence, right, Steph?"

She nodded; she told him the exact thing many years so. He remembered. She smiled sadly.

"Thanks, man" Luke walked away to join Terry and Dean on the couch.

"Stevie, I wanted to apologize for the other day. I acted like an ass when you had every right to be mad at me. I've done some things I'm not proud of but I'm going to try my best to make it up to you both someday."

"I know, and that's water under the bridge."

"I know you. You can forgive but it's going to be hard to forget this. Please, I want to fix it."

"Lindsey...please, not here."

"Okay. Can I see you after this?"

"Alone, or with Summer?" Stevie asked.

"I would love to see Summer but I know you're in protective mode with her right now. I don't want to do anything that will make you uncomfortable."

Stevie nodded. "I appreciate that. Yeah, okay, we can go somewhere."

"Thank you, Stevie. Can I...hug you?"

"Sure." She reached out her arms and he walked into them, holding her so tightly. She wrapped her arms around him and inhaled his cologne. It was the same after all these years. It felt right to be in his arms, only breaking apart when Alex cleared his throat.

"Are we ready to start?" the producer asked.

"Yeah" Stevie said softly, wiping a tear that was threatening to fall. Lindsey's fingers trailed down her forearm and he laced them with hers. She smiled up at him but it hurt her somewhere deep inside. She could feel herself falling.

"Why don't we do it a capella? Dean can create a bass line, Terry can come in on drums, Luke follow on guitar...you're good at improvisation. You and Lindsey can fight it out for lead."

"You can take it, Luke." Lindsey offered.

"No, it's all you. You're better at following than I am. You can hear stuff other people can't. You're bionic or some shit." Luke told him.

Lindsey smiled broadly. "Okay, fine..." Lindsey grabbed his guitar and sat next to Stevie. It felt so normal. She began to sing and he automatically began to create. Stevie smiled. The song was about him but somehow those bitter feelings she had, made the way he played sound even better. Terry and Dean came in next and Luke added a few licks here and there. The moment Lindsey began to sing harmony after hearing the chorus the first time, Stevie had to stop.

She suddenly got up and left the room. Everyone stopped and Lindsey looked to Alex. "Me or you?" he asked and Alex shrugged. "I'll be back, hopefully with Stevie."

Lindsey booked it out of the room, looking for Stevie. He didn't have to go very far until he heard her sniffling. "I'm sorry" she said, knowing he was right there.

"Don't be. What happened in there?"

"Your voice." she said and he jammed his hands into his jeans pocket.

"I'm sorry, I won't sing with you. It was an old habit but I can put the kibosh on it."

"No, I liked it and it felt so..."

"Natural?" he asked and she nodded. "Yeah, me too."

Stevie turned around to finally face him. He had tears in his eyes too. "Why does life have to beat us up like this, Linds?"

He laughed dryly. "I don't know, honey." His words sounded so soft and velvety in her ear, his stormy blue eyes looking into her soulful brown ones. He leaned down a little and she looked up, their lips brushing softly against each other's.