Lindsey awoke before Stevie in the morning, the sun hadn't even risen yet. He simply laid there, smoothing Stevie's hair and kissing her forehead. Lindsey knew that this would be his last moments alone with her.
"Good morning" he whispered, kissing her temple. Her eyelashes fluttered and she turned to cuddle into his side in her sleep. "You're so beautiful."
Lindsey kissed her honey hair, holding her against him. "You take care of Mommy," Lindsey spoke to her stomach, "Okay, Sara?"
He knew he wouldn't get an answer back but was certain things were going to be okay. He unlocked the door so her parents wouldn't be suspicious and carefully climbed out the window per Stevie's request.

A little while later, Stevie woke up, humming with satisfaction because of her gorgeous slumber. She touched the bed next to her and sat up, realizing Lindsey was gone.
Letting out a sigh she stretched, touching the place where he had slept, "I love you..."

Her mother knocked on her door almost as soon as those words left her mouth, "Tee, who are you talking to? Why is the door locked?"
"No one, and it's just stuck" Stevie said, getting up to open the door. It genuinely was stuck as she realized Lindsey must have unlocked it in his way out.

"It's time to get up, honey. We have to get you packed to leave."

"Alright. Let me change, then maybe we can get started after breakfast. I'm starving!"
"I'm taking you to your appointment today as well," Barbara told her, "I'll arrange breakfast."
"Thanks, mama." Stevie shut the door and went through her closet choosing an outfit.
Stevie didn't know if a dress or pants would be a better option for the appointment...she had never been to one before. "Fuck it," she grabbed a pair of pants off the hanger and a floral blouse
Putting them on, she realized there were getting snug. She frowned, there were her "fat" pants, when she was bloated from being on her period or on thanksgiving from her mother's heavenly pies. The blouse was alright for now but she knew that shopping trip her mother promised was definitely in order before she went off to school.
Stevie chose the other pair of stretchy pants, slipping then on and sighing in relief as they felt amazing. "Breakfast is ready!" Barbara called upstairs a
"Thank you!" Stevie called. "I bet you're hungry too, sweet baby" She stroked her belly. "Let's eat."

She went downstairs and sat down at the kitchen table. Chris and her father were already sat down and her mother was making up plates.
"I've got it, Mom," Stevie took her own plate and fixed her own plate. "Good morning," Stevie said softly, she was afraid to look at her brother and father
"Morning" her father said, not looking up from his newspaper.

"Yeah, morning" Chris said.
"How is school?" Stevie asked her brother, trying to make an effort
"You'd know if you were there." Chris said and hurt Stevie's feelings.
"Have you asked anyone to prom?" Stevie tried to ignore the ache in her heart
"No, everyone is talking about you and Norman Bates. I'll be lucky if I'll ever get anyone to go anywhere with me again."
"Chris...it can't be that bad?"
"Oh isn't it? You disappear and I'm your gopher, fetching your work from school to bring back to you. You've gone into hiding and don't let anyone but the freak know where you are. There are rumors. You're so selfish you don't even realize what everyone else has to deal with covering up for you, you only think of you and your life. What about me?" Chris shouted, standing up from the table. "You've made me as much of an outcast as your stupid boyfriend was."
Stevie sat at the table, utterly shocked, "Chris...I'm sorry... I didn't mean for any of this to happen!"
"Of course you didn't, because you never think. I covered for you so many times, Stevie, and I've gotten in trouble for you. I'm tired of everything being about you!"
"What can I do to make it better?" Stevie stood to approach him

"Just leave already!"
"I'm leaving after my appointment"

"Not soon enough!" Chris stormed off and Stevie watched him leave. Yes she and Chris had spats here and there but never like this.

"I think he hates me" Stevie thought aloud.
"He's just hurt, Tee," Barbara said sympathetically

"I want to do something nice for him before I leave..."
"Leaving him alone will be enough" Jess said. "He will cool down eventually"
"If I give you the money will you give him a new record player and vinyls?" Stevie asked her father
"Don't you think it would mean more to him coming from you?" He gave her a look and she sighed, knowing he was right.
"I won't have time, I'm leaving right after my appointment. I was going to have you get it after I left."
"Alright" Jess said, "Eat your breakfast. You need your strength."

"Okay" She sat down and began to eat, looking toward the staircase to see if her brother would come back down but he never did.
"Can I take Chris his breakfast?" Stevie asked silently

"He will eat if he's hungry enough."
"I'm worried about him."

"He will be fine"

Stevie sighed, picking at her food. "Can I go upstairs? I don't feel much like eating."
"You need to eat," Barbara pushed her plate toward her

"Okay..."
She took a few bites, feeling sick to her stomach. She was upset and nervous, never a good combination for her already often irritated stomach.
"I can't eat anymore...I'm going to pack," Stevie rushed up to her room, seeing a note on her window sill that Lindsey must have left her while she was downstairs
She picked it up and smiled, pressing the paper to her growing belly. "A note from daddy. See, he didn't leave us, did he baby?"

She grabbed a piece of luggage from the closet and began to pick out some clothes she could wear for a while. There wasn't much she saw to take. She grabbed toiletries and a few trinkets to put in her bag.

"Wanna hear what daddy said?" Stevie asked the baby.
Stevie sat on her bed, opening the letter and seeing Lindsey's mother's handwriting on the note.

Dear Stevie,
Thank you for seeing something in me that I never had seen in myself. You taught me that not everyone wanted to belittle me for being different. I know that we have made some mistakes, but I am so glad that they happened as you and I have only grown close together. I promise to visit you when you come to Texas and to make sure that you have everything you need. I will look after the baby while you are in school and at college. I want you to know that I love you and I am so sorry that we can't go to our first appointment together. Please write to me and have your mother keep my family up on the baby. I love you, Angel. Take care of Sara.

Your Lindsey
Tears came to her eyes and she folded the piece of paper up. She shoved the note into her suitcase as her mother entered her room.

"Hey, honey, everything okay?"

"He can't make it..." Stevie wept.
"Who can't make it?" Barbara asked, pulled Stevie into her arms

"Lindsey can't make it to the appointment..."

"Well why not? You don't think he's getting cold feet?"
"He left me a note. He told me he would raise the baby while I was away at school and college so I know he loves us still, but...I want him there with me."
"Give him a call. We don't have much time."
Stevie hurried to the phone and dialed his phone number. She heard the line open up but no one spoke. "Hello" Stevie said. "May I speak with Lindsey?"
"Steph..." Lindsey's voice was shaky, "Im not allowed to go."
"Why not? It was all planned out, and you were coming on the drive to Texas with me..."
"Mom and Dad are scared that I will try to stay in Texas. They don't want me to try something...it makes me sick to my stomach."
"Can they drive you down, just so they know you will go home with them?"

"I don't think so, Stevie, but I promise, I will visit as soon as possible and I will not miss the birth of our beautiful baby."

Stevie smiled though she was in tears. "Okay"
"Please don't cry...can I come see you right now? Are you free?"

"Be quick, we have to leave soon," Stevie sniffled
"See you in a minute, angel" Lindsey said, hanging up the phone.
Stevie opened her window, seeing Lindsey sprinting toward her home. "Hey!" Stevie chuckled as she kissed his cheek

"Hey," Lindsey returned her kiss, "Do you need help with packing?"
"I think I've got it but maybe you could keep me company."

"I'd love to."
Stevie kissed him deeply, "I'm going to miss you..."

"Send me pictures every month of the baby, I want to watch them grow..."
"I wish you could come with me"

"Me too."

"I don't want to go."

"You can't have second thoughts now. It's decided. I wish you didn't have to go but everything will be okay."

"Look at you giving me a pep talk" she said with a smirk
"I want you to feel comfortable and at peace," Kissing her forehead

"I love you," Stevie rested her head against his shoulder, "Thank you...."

"The pleasure is all mine."
Stevie knew time was running out but she savored these last moments with him. "I will call you when I get to school so you will have my number. I know it's long distance."

"Write me letters. I want to get better at it for you"
"Keep reading those books, you'll be able to read her bedtime stories like a champ," Stevie smiled, seeing Lindsey gush with happiness.

"I'll keep her safe until you get done with school..."
"I know you will. You're going to be a great father." Stevie's hand traveled to her stomach and Lindsey's followed.

"I love you both so much. It's killing me that I won't see you everyday."
"It's hurting me too...I don't want to do it alone..."

"I can't change my mind now..."
Stevie settled back into Lindsey's arms. She didn't want to talk anymore. She was well aware nothing could change. Everything was set in motion. She would be leaving after her doctor's appointment. Barbara knocked on her daughter's door and the color drained form Lindsey's face.

"Shit" she said. He kissed her quickly, looking into her eyes a moment longer than he probably should have.
He raced into the bathroom, jumping into the bathtub and closing the shower curtain

Barbara walked into Stevie's room and took one look at her daughter, "Lindsey, come on out dear."
"I'm not here" Lindsey said and Stevie rolled her eyes dramatically.

Her mother smiled as Lindsey made his way out of the bathroom. "The general rule is not to speak for yourself when you're somewhere you aren't supposed to be."

Stevie giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Are you mad?" Lindsey had an obvious hard time looking her in the eyes

"No I'm not mad, you two should say goodbye. I'm not going to keep you from her."
"Bye, Steph, and bye baby." He hugged her, pulling away to rub her growing belly.

"Bye, Linds."

"I'll miss you."

"We'll miss you too" Stevie held him a little longer.
She could feel his tears against her neck, hugging him tighter as he then pulled away, "Call me later..."
"Okay" She stroked his face and kissed him one last time.

"Stevie, if we don't go now, we're going to be late" Barbara said.
"Bye...." Lindsey loosened his grip on her hand and watched as Barbara took her suitcase and Stevie followed her downstairs.
He sighed, thinking about all he would miss when she was away. He wished he could leave too. He climbed out of the window from which he came, hurrying home.