*Trigger Warning*

A few days passed and it was established that Stevie would be Sara's godmother. Stevie sobbed each night; the pain of having her daughter so close but yet so far was overwhelming.

Stevie knew if she tried anything against Carol Ann, she would have the upper hand; after all, on a legal document, Sara was Carol Ann's daughter. Also, Don had the power to control Carol Ann. One wrong move and Don could just tell Carol Ann to leave the vineyard and Stevie would never see Sara again.

One afternoon, Stevie was in the living room and had just fed Sara a bottle. Stevie placed Sara down in her bassinet and was singing to her, Sara's eyes grew heavy and she drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly, Stevie saw movement in the corner of her eye. When she looked up, tears instantly flooded her vision at the sight of the person standing in front of her.

"Lindsey?" Stevie said as she took a step forward.
Lindsey smiled and stared at Stevie with so much love in his eyes. But his smile faded and pain was evident in his eyes. "Steph...I mean, should I still call you Stephanie or...Mrs. Henley?" He said sadly.
"Oh Linds..." Stevie said as she launched herself into his arms.

Their lips met and they kissed passionately. When they pulled away Lindsey held onto her and said as he looked over to the bassinet. "Is the baby the reason you married Don? That means you..."
"No! I've never cheated on you. I would never." Stevie said as her tears rolled down her cheeks. "Sara's yours! The day daddy found out about us was the day I was going to tell you I was pregnant."
"Oh Steph! I'm so sorry I doubted you." Lindsey said as he kissed her lips once again.
He pulled away and asked. "Can I hold her?"

Stevie smiled through her tears and nodded her head. She walked over to the bassinet and lifted Sara up and held her close. Stevie then walked over to Lindsey and placed Sara in his arms.

Lindsey smiled as happy tears appeared in his eyes. He took in Sara's appearance and just gushed about how beautiful she was.
"Sara. That's a beautiful name Steph. She's perfect." He said as he caressed Sara's chubby cheek. Sara stirred then opened her eyes and stared straight at Lindsey. "Hey Sara. It's daddy. Nice to meet you."

After having a moment, Stevie and Lindsey sat down the sofa and Stevie told him everything that had happened since he left the vineyard.

Once Stevie was done, Lindsey felt angry.
"Oh Stephanie, I should have stayed and confronted your father. I should have stayed and fought for you! Instead, I ran off like a coward." He said. "Now because I didn't, you can't really have our daughter back. This is insane! I can't believe your father did this!"

"Stevie?" Christine's voice came from the outside the living room. Christine then walked in and her eyes grew wide. "Buckingham! Oh goodness!"
"Hi Christine." Lindsey replied. "It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too!" Christine said with a smile. She had hoped now that Lindsey was back, everything would be set right.
"Chris, could you take Sara upstairs? She drifted off to sleep for few minutes, and I know she'll be cranky if she doesn't go back to sleep." Stevie said softly.
"Of course love." Christine said.
Lindsey kissed his daughter's cheek and said. "I'll see you very soon Sara. I promise that you, mommy and I will be together without anyone forcing us apart."

Christine smiled and took Sara from Lindsey and walked upstairs leaving Stevie and Lindsey alone.

Lindsey stepped forward and held Stevie close to him. "Stevie...I promise you that we will get our daughter back. I also, promise to never leave your side again." He said emotionally. "Steph, we should leave the vineyard and I will take care of you and Sara. I have a better paying job now and my boss is helping me go to school so I can become a doctor. I have my own apartment, you and Sara can stay with me. I can take you and Sara away tomorrow!"
"Lindsey...I would love nothing more than to leave with you, but, I'm afraid. Don will kill you when he finds out." Stevie said with fear in her voice.
"I won't let that happen." Lindsey said confidently. "We will be far away from here before he finds out you left."
"Lindsey...I don't know. What about mama and the vineyard? I can't leave." Stevie said as she sobbed.
"Yes you can." Lindsey said. "Please come with me and we will figure out everything else later. Trust me."
Stevie stared into Lindsey eyes and finally she made up her mind. She smiled then said. "Alright, I'll pack tonight for me and Sara. We'll leave with you."
"I love you Stephanie." Lindsey said.
"I love you too Lindsey." Stevie replied.

They kissed each other's lips and they got lost in that moment. Everything else melted away and it was just Lindsey and Stevie. It seemed like forever before a booming voice interrupted their moment.

"Get your hands off of my wife!" Don yelled out as he rushed into the living room.
"Never! Now that I'm back, I'm going to fight for Stevie and our daughter." Lindsey said as he stood his full height, not backing down. "You tricked her into marrying you! She told you she didn't love you. She's not your wife. I don't care what a piece of paper says!"

Before Stevie could react, Don pushed her to the side and he attacked Lindsey. Don and Lindsey rolled around on the floor as they punched each other.

"No! Please stop!" Stevie said as she tried to pull Don away from Lindsey but he just pushed her again.

Lindsey saw red and suddenly he got the upper hand and was winning the fight. Don managed to get away and he quickly grabbed the same rifle that Eric had used to point at Lindsey all those months ago. Don pointed it straight at Lindsey's chest.

Stevie gasped and said. "No Don! Please don't kill him!"
Don didn't respond to her; he just stared at Lindsey and said. "Get the hell out of this house and never come back again or I swear the next time you won't be so lucky Buckingham!"
Lindsey stood up and said. "Fine. I'll leave. But I won't stay away."

Before Lindsey left, he looked straight into Stevie's eyes and without words he told her he was coming back for her. She nodded her head in understanding then Lindsey left through the front door.

Don lowered the rifle and said. "You know, I was actually thinking about helping you get Sara back but after seeing you with Buckingham well...you'll just have to get used to just being her godmother and nothing more."

Stevie stood still, tears streaming down her face. Her head hung low and her heart ached even more.

Don stormed out of the room and left Stevie standing there. Stevie then made her way to the sofa then sat down and quickly gathered her thoughts. Before she had doubts about leaving everything behind, but now, she knew that Lindsey's plan was the right thing to do. As long as she had Sara and Lindsey by her side then nothing else mattered. Yes, she would miss her mother but in order to have her daughter call her mommy then she had to do this.

Determined, she rushed upstairs and packed as much as she could. She packed more of Sara's belongings than hers. She could go without as long as Sara was taken care of. Once she finished packing, she hid her suitcases away and went to look for her mother. She needed to tell her goodbye for now.

Barbara of course didn't want Stevie to go but she knew this would be the only way her daughter could be happy. After all, this wasn't a goodbye, it was "I'll see you later."

"Let me spend time with Sara tonight." Barbara said. "Who's knows when I will see you both again."
Stevie smiled and said. "Of course mama. I'll bring her by your room later tonight."

Later in the evening, a big storm was brewing outside and the dark clouds hung over the vineyard. Don was out of the house and he was drinking at the pub. He was still heated from seeing Lindsey kissing Stevie. How he wanted to kill Lindsey in that moment but he restrained himself.

It began to pour heavily and thunder rumbled through the sky. Stevie looked outside worriedly; she had this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't explain.

Stevie was holding Sara in her arms and telling her about their trip that they would be taking very soon. Sara stared up at Stevie as she spoke; of course not understanding anything Stevie was saying. Stevie chuckled at the look on Sara's face.

"Oh, you look just like your daddy." Stevie said happily. "You know, just between you and me, I am really scared. Carol Ann has a legal document saying your her daughter and...I'm afraid Don will make her report me to the police." Stevie stopped speaking as she had begun to cry. "I still can't believe that daddy made Carol Ann do this. Because of that damn paper, legally Carol Ann could say I stole you away from her. Sorry mommy cursed, I'm just...anyway, Lindsey feels confident that we will get everything sorted out. I love you baby girl. To the moon and back."
Sara smiled up at Stevie and cooed; Stevie wiped her tears away and smiled down her daughter. "I know, I have faith that we will be okay." She kissed Sara's cheek and continued to look out the window for a few more minutes before making Sara a bottle for her next feeding.

A few hours later, the storm had passed. It was still raining but not as hard as before.

Stevie got herself and Sara ready for bed. Stevie put on her nightgown then dressed Sara in a pink onesie.  "You're staying in grandma's room tonight." Stevie said as she dressed her. "So be a good girl and don't give her any trouble."

Stevie then picked Sara up and took her Barbara's bedroom. Stevie kissed Sara goodnight then hugged her mother then she was on her way back to her bedroom.

Stevie had fallen asleep thinking about Lindsey. She was woken up by a noise outside the door. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Stevie looked towards the door then got up as she saw it open. "Who's there?" She said as she moved towards it.

Don came into view as he stumbled in.
Stevie could instantly smell the alcohol coming from him.

"Don, get out of my room!" Stevie said as she tried to push him out the door.
Don laughed at her effort then grabbed her wrist and pushed her further inside her bedroom. He closed the door behind him and locked it.
"Don, what are you doing? I said get out of my room." Stevie tried again. "You're drunk! Get out!"
"I think not." Don slurred. "You're my wife Stevie. I have needs. It's time to act like my wife."
Don took a step toward Stevie and she took a step back.
"Hell no! I told you Don when I married you it wasn't for love." Stevie said.
"I don't care anymore. You're my wife and I want to sleep with my wife!" Don said as he grabbed Stevie.

Stevie cried out as his grip hurt her; she tried to push him away but Don was too strong. Don threw her on her bed and got on top of her.

"No Don please, don't do this!" Stevie sobbed. "I don't want this!"
Don grabbed her hands and held them above her head. "Oh, but I do." He said menacingly.

Don then made sure he had a hold of her hands with one of his hands while the other worked on his belt buckle and the zipper of his jeans.
Stevie still struggled and was trying to get loose but before she knew it, Don had ripped off her panties then he entered her harshly.
Stevie cried out in pain and she tried to scream but Don put a hand over her mouth.

Don thrusted into her hard and fast; he didn't care that Stevie had tears rolling down her cheeks nor did he care of the pain he was causing her.

Once Don emptied himself into Stevie, he rolled off of her and said. "Now I can finally say that I have a wife. God Stevie, you felt so good."

Don then stood up and put himself away then just like nothing happened, he unlocked the door and walked out of the room leaving Stevie curled into a ball in the middle of the bed.

Stevie couldn't believe what just happened; why did her life have to be this way? Why did she trust Don in the first place? So many thoughts rushed through Stevie's head she felt as if it would explode.

After a few minutes, Stevie got up from the bed and limped to the bathroom. She then looked into the floor length mirror and saw the blood that was trailing down her inner legs.

She quickly turned away and turned the shower on. She took off her nightgown and stepped into the shower. She grabbed a washcloth and poured some body wash onto it then she began to scrub at her skin. She felt Don all over her and she scrubbed even more harshly. She needed to get him off of her. By the time she felt the water turn cold, her skin was red from how hard she was scrubbing.

When Stevie stepped out of the shower she grabbed a clean nightgown and put it on. She then went over to her bed and stripped it. Evidence of what Don had done was still there and she couldn't bare to look at it. She then placed new sheets on her bed then she got under the covers.

Stevie cried herself to sleep that night and the only thing that kept her from shutting down was the thought that she and Sara would be leaving with Lindsey in just a few hours.