"Hey cowboy!" Stevie called from the couch, notebook in her lap. She had been writing in a fury all afternoon. The only thing to stop the swirl of words and music in her head was the sound of the door opening and closing. The thud of his boots on the floorboards rang out over his voice when he mumbled a quick hello. Stevie leapt off sofa and wandered into the entryway, leaning against the wall separating him from the living room. He looked up and smiled.

"You're beautiful," he said. "A sight for sore eyes."

She blushed, bowing her head in a simpering manner and biting her lip. He could still melt her heart with just a couple words, he always could. It was something she had missed—the Mystique of Lindsey. He took off his boots and lay them in the floor next to a pair of Stevie's burgundy suede ones. They positively dwarfed hers. "So I suppose everything went well?"

"It sure did," he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She squealed, barreling into him and throwing her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek, pulling back to look at the still partially disguised man. "Hold on, baby, let me change."

"Alright, make yourself at home. I think I have a little good news, myself."

"Oh yeah?" He asked. "Alex called?"

"He did..." Stevie trialed off, a sparkle in her eyes and though Lindsey was thrilled for her, he was also flooded with jealousy and anger over the producer's comments once again. He clenched his fist. "Anyway, I'm sure Summer will be just as excited over the ice cream." She tossed her leisurely gaze to toward the carton of chocolate now covered in a sheen of condensation on the small table that held a bowl for keys and miscellaneous trinkets. She picked it up and kissed him once again. "Slip into something more comfortable." She moved to walk away but he reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her gently back to him.

"We aren't going to go out and celebrate? What about the black dress?"

Stevie's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know about the black dress?"

"How do you think?" Lindsey asked and Stevie clucked her tongue, knowing instantly.

"She doesn't know how to keep a secret, does she?"

"Not from her old man," he replied and Stevie shook her head.

"Why is it that the Buckinghams always have to gang up on me?"

"Makin' up for lost time, I guess." He took the ice cream from her hands and put it back on the table behind her. He wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed her shoulder, then worked his way slowly up her neck and across her jawline.

"It's going to melt," she told him softly.

"Let it. It's on sale at the store." he whispered back, making her giggle. She let him continue to pepper hot kisses anywhere he could reach, turning her head to give him better access to her favorite spots. His fingers worked deftly into her hip, massaging the soft skin there. He applied light but deliberate pressure, making sure she didn't pull away again. He never wanted to let her go. If he had his way, they would be upstairs right then. He felt on top of the world. He had his job back, he would be working with his girlfriend again, their relationship was better than ever and Summer was the light of his life. He was doing what he loved. Almost like a vision, he could see himself in a big, beautiful new home, driving a nice car and performing on stages all over the world. When Stevie wasn't beside him there, she would be at home, tending to their children, singing to them or reading to them as she rocked them gently in her arms. Stevie looked up at him, stroking his face and he awoke from his trance. She smiled and he mirrored it. "What?"

"You had this beautiful look on your face as if you were caught in a daydream."

"I was, but I hope to make that daydream a reality."

"Anything I can do to help?" she asked and he shook his head.

"Let's just stay like this, forever, face...to face." He kissed her ever so softly and her eyes closed instinctively. Their lips lingered, lazily pressed against the other's as his arms tightened around her.

"Hi daddy! Are you a rockstar yet?" The tiny, enthusiastic voice startled the couple and the little girl laughed.

Lindsey reluctantly pulled away from his girlfriend. "Not quite, but I did get the job."

"Half way there," Summer commented. "So I suppose there's ice cream?"

"Do you only think with your stomach?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow and she nodded.

"I am a Buckingham, after all."

Lindsey chuckled and moved around the older petite blonde to get to his daughter. He scooped her up in his arms and swung her around, causing her to scream her giggles at the top of her lungs. Stevie stood back in amazement. She loved watching Lindsey as a father. Suddenly, a thought hit her and she hurried toward the notepad previously discarded on the sofa and scrawled her thoughts down before they escaped her— a song, inspired by Lindsey, not surprising at all. She smiled, humming to herself as the two Buckinghams entered the main room. Summer was on her father's back, softly digging her heels into his sides as if he were a horse.

"Yah! Giddy up!" the spirited girl shouted far above the din of her mother's ever-working, ever-creative mind. Stevie turned around and chuckled to herself. The two were quite a pair. Summer kicked again, her blonde, unruly curls falling all around her as she hoisted the carton of ice cream above her head. "Hi Ho Silver! Away!" She bounced on her father's back, coaxing him into a whinny and a dramatic gallop. She giggled once again, "Whoa!," then was carried away. Stevie leaned against the couch, just watching.

Robin stumbled downstairs, hair a wreck and eyes barely open to function. "Stevie, your children are soooo loud!" she moaned, trying to tidy her hair. "I have to work."

"Work? Is that what you're calling staying out all night with your boss?" Stevie quirked a tawny eyebrow and Robin's eyes widened.

"I don't stay out all night!"

"He's been working you around the clock. You either enjoy it or..." Stevie shrugged, her tan shoulders lifting to her ear level and staying there, a look on her face which told Robin she was hip to her game.

"Well, I guess I have been spending a bit more time with Ryan than usual."

"Ryan, huh? Mm, things are getting serious."

"Not at all!" Robin blushed.

"Your pink cheeks totally make me believe your very unlikely story, Rob!" Stevie teased.

"Fine, you win."

"Haha! Victory is mine!," Stevie said, clasping her hands above her head in self-congratulations.

"You've been hanging out with Buckingham too long. He's rubbing off on you." Rob didn't look as pleased as her friend who chuckled at her expense.

"And what did you mean, my children?" Stevie asked, suddenly halting her celebration as the realization hit her.

This time, Robin laughed. "Isn't it obvious? Lindsey seems to enjoy all of the little games Summer comes up with more than she does. He's loud, obnoxious, he's a slob and if I have find another pair of his tight-whiteys left in the dryer, I'm going to lose my everloving mind!"

Her blonde friend puckered her lip in mock sympathy. "Poor thing! I will just have to tell Lindsey not to wash his clothes or enjoy the company of his daughter. The little thing will be heartbroken but definitely—" Stevie cracked up, unable to keep a straight face. "Obey," she said through her giggles. "Good one, Rob, I'll run it past him." She clapped her friend on the shoulder, passing into the kitchen where the other two had already dug into the ice cream with a large serving spoon. "What on earth!" Stevie exclaimed as the two sugar-high Buckinghams looked up at her, frozen like two raccoons found going through a trash bin. Summer climbed down from her crossed legged position on the counter immediately and Lindsey straightened his posture, knowing she disapproved.

"Uh..." Lindsey couldn't come up with a reason why there were no bowls in sight. He averted his gaze, trying to resist giving into the fire behind her chocolate eyes. He scratched the back of his neck nervously like a scolded child and replaced the lid on the carton, pushing it aside.

"What is the meaning of this?" Her soft, smoky voice was sure and unwavering.

"I-It was melting," Lindsey stammered. "I...I didn't want it to...melt." The moment he said it, he groaned, knowing that was a stupid response.

"Alright." She said but she looked as if she wanted a further explanation of such uncivilized behavior. He didn't have one, staring at her, deer in the headlights. Suddenly, her stern look broke, her eyes crinkling in the corners with a smile that lit up her entire face. "I'm just kidding." She fell into a fit of giggles and for once since she had entered the room, he could breathe.

"Good God, Steph, you gave me a heart attack!" He pulled her toward the counter top and kissed her temple. "I think you get a sick thrill out of using the mom voice on me."

"I do, you're right." She smiled up at him as he pressed himself against her back. "It's just so funny:"

"You're twisted." He kissed the top of her head this time and she turned around.

"I suppose I am," she agreed and he chuckled.

"Want a bite, Mommy?" Summer asked, the top already popped off the ice cream again and the basin of the serving spoon heaping with rich chocolate ice cream.

"Not that much," she said and Lindsey scraped off the remainder on the edge of the paper carton, lessening the amount on the spoon. He fed it to her sensually and Summer watched with furrowed brows, confused as her father leaned into her mother, his skillful fingers kneading her hip. "Mmm," Stevie moaned.

Just then, a more alert Robin swooped in and tried to save the little girl from the sight before. "That's enough now! Let's go upstairs and wash up for dinner. How about pizza?" the protective surrogate aunt said in a panic.

"What are they...?" Summer asked slowly, unable to draw her gaze from the couple kissing and giggling quietly to each other. Her father's arms were still wrapped around her mother but his hands wandered occasionally, causing Stevie to giggle all the more when she pulled his hands back up to her waist as he continued to feed her and tease her with a spoon of soupy chocolate ice cream.

"Grown up things." Robin found it hard not to watch as well but tore her eyes away, urging the child to come with her. "Upstairs," she repeated.

"Okay," she finally said. "Pizza?"

The older woman nodded vigorously and tugged her gently into the hall and toward the stairs.

"YUCK!" Robin said loudly, breaking the spell the couple had on each other. They looked at her briefly and feigned innocence until she left.

"So where were we?" Lindsey asked in a seductive whisper. "Oh yes!" He leaned forward and devoured her neck like a rabid vampire, kissing and sucking the skin there, causing his girlfriend to squeal with amorous delight.

"Oh Linds! You're so, so bad!," she said breathlessly, raking her fingernails through his soft curls.