Stevie awoke the next morning, stiff as a board. Her body had really taken a beating from the night before but somehow being wrapped in Lindsey's arms made it all worth it.

He had woken quite a while before but he didn't dare move

"Morning" he said into her hair

"Morning"

"How you feeling?" He asked

"Like I've been punched in the face"

"Not funny, Steph," Lindsey scolded

"I know, I just really don't know what to say to you. I feel ashamed about this whole thing."

"Why honey?"

"Because I choose him and not you, I know for a fact you would never ever raise your hand to me, or threaten my child"

"Stephanie, I'll admit that I was angry...but in the state you came to me in last night I hold no resentment towards you."

"Thank you, Lindsey." She clung to him, burying her head into his neck

"I'm telling the truth though when I say if I ever see him again..." Lindsey held himself back before he got angry again

"I know!" She answered then added, "Linds? What about Emma? Was that her name?"

"Don't worry about her," Lindsey replied

"How can I not?"

"She's nobody Steph"

"Nobody that answered your phone and came out of your room naked" Stevie said with some sarcasm

"Answered my phone? Did you phone me?" He asked

"Yes, after Jimmy pulled my hair. I wanted to hear your voice," Stevie told him

"Steph, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"You weren't to know, you just make me feel safe that's all, and that's what I needed"

"I'm not going anywhere again, and neither are you" he kissed her head once more

"You there's a possibility that Jimmy will come here looking for me," Stevie raised her head to look at him

"I do, and I'll be ready for him. He's not going to get away with doing this to you," Lindsey told her. He got quiet and she could tell that something was bothering him badly

"Linds?"

"Steph he didn't-he didn't....rape you...did he?"

Stevie looked at him and then placed her hand in his

"Why ask a question that you wouldn't be able handle an answer to?" She placed her head against his

"I need to know Steph, did he?" Lindsey became increasingly distress. He didn't seem angry, he seemed devastated

"There were times when I wasn't exactly completely willing..." Stevie finally stated, and waiting for Lindsey to speak again.

"Stevie," Lindsey broke down, holding her tiny body tightly against him. She's never seen him cry like this before, he was a complete mess.

"Baby, it's okay...I'm alright" she tried to convince him but his body just continued to wrack with sobs

"Linds...please don't cry!"

"I shouldn't have let you go with him! I shouldn't have left you in the first place! I promise, Stephanie, I promise I'll be here for both of you!" He clung to her tightly. Her body was sore from being thrown against the wall, but she bared the pain to comfort him.

Eventually, she needed to sit straight, the angle she was at was killing her bruised ribs

"Lindsey, your beginning to hurt me" he flinched away and became apologetic

"Oh god I'm sorry! It's just..." Stevie turned lindseys head and silenced him by pressing her mouth lightly to his

"I understand, I need to get comfortable so I can hold you better," Stevie kissed his nose and sat up on the couch, "come here," she opened her arms for him.

He scooted over to her and laid on his side, he placed his head in her lap and turned so he was facing her belly

"Do you think she missed me?" He asked seriously

"I think she did. I've felt her move a few times since we've been talking, I've never felt her move before," Stevie smiled softly

She watched as Lindsey's face lit up with excitement. He placed his hands on either side and rubbed his nose against where she lay

"Hey again baby! Remember me? I'm your..." he realised his mistake and quickly shut up

"You're her Lindsey," Stevie smiled, running her fingers through his curls

He wouldn't lie and say he wasn't a touch disappointed at what she had called him but he would take whatever she gave him

"She's going to have you wrapped around her finger," Stevie told him.

"I'll happily take it all! God I love her so much" he couldn't put into words what he felt for the two people in front of him.

"Thank you so much for accepting her," Stevie said tearfully, "It means the world to me that she's going to have a father now."

"She always did have one Steph. We just have to hope the sperm donor doesn't come back here, because I don't think I'll be any use in jail" he can't help but get mad every time he thinks about Jimmy.

"I know that you're only trying to protect us," Stevie replied, "Please if he comes here, don't hit him unless he hits you first. I don't want there to be a fight."

"I can't promise that anymore, not after I know what he's done to you" Lindsey told her truthfully

"Just try...for her at least" she pointed to the body in between them

"I will try, but I'm not making promises"

"That's all I can ask," Stevie yawned, rubbing at her eyes

"Come on, let's get you to bed so you'll be comfortable."

"I'm not getting in the same bed as your other woman."

"Steph, she's not my other woman..." he said sighing

"Still she had no clothes on, I'm not laying on the same sheets that you've probably had sex on recently"

"Fine, I'll change the sheets, okay? Or are you just refusing the whole bed?" He asked rolling his eyes

"I'm refusing the whole bed," she crossed her arms

"Please tell me you are joking?"

"Do I look like I'm joking to you?" She replied

"Stephanie, come on, don't be like that," Lindsey sighed

"Be like what? I don feel comfortable being in the same bed that you had sex with her in."

"I can't just go out and buy a new bed"

"Why not?"

"Because they are expensive Steph!" He could believe she was actually refusing

"Then I'll stay on the couch," she said simply

"You.are.pregnant. what part of that do you not get? You are not sleeping on the couch!" He tried to pull her gently up from the couch

"Lindsey stop! My feet hurt!" She slapped at him

"Then I'll carry you in there!"

"No!"

"Stop being a baby!"

"Go change the sheets!"

Lindsey placed her back down on the couch and went into the bedrooms

Returning a few minuets later he gestured to the room

"Clean sheets..." scooping Stevie up he carried her to the bedroom and placed her down onto the bed

"Thanks," Stevie said quietly. "Steph what?" He asked looking at her intently

"Will you hold me?" She asked innocently

"Of course!"

Lindsey waited until she was settled down before climbing in behind her, laying down and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her gently backwards until he could feel her back hit his front

"I love you" he breathed her in

"I love you too," she carefully turned to face him, pressing her forehead against his. "I don't know how to thank you."

"Steph, I've told you, you don't need to thank me! It's me that should be thanking you for taking me back!" He told her lovingly

"I love you more than life, of course I would, you and her are the most important people in the world"

Lindsey placed what seemed like hundreds of light kisses all over her face, "Marry me."

"What..." she pulled her head back fast, shocked

"Marry me" he repeated but suddenly unsure

"Lindsey..." she said uneasily, "I just got out of a bad relationship. I need time."

"We don't need time...we love each other, we will have a daughter"

"Lindsey I was engaged to Jimmy..." she blurted

"Stevie, you don't love him, you love me," Lindsey held her hands in his

"I'm not saying I do...I'm saying I don't want to get married" she tried to make him understand, but he didn't

"Why don't you want to want to be with me?" Lindsey asked

"Lindsey stop! I'm not saying that! But I'm not ready, I just want to focus on my daughter right now" she placed her hand on his arm

"I want that too! We could give her a proper family and she wouldn't be taken away!"

"Don't you dare guilt trip me into doing this to keep her, I'll keep her anyway, whether I have you or not!"

Lindsey sat up and slung his legs over the side of the bed, facing his back to her

"Lindsey please don't have yet another strop, you don't have to throw a tantrum because I said I wouldn't marry you" she spoke to his back

"But I love you and I want to take care of you and protect you," he said in a defeated tone

Stevie stood on her knees behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I love you too," she kissed his neck lightly

"Then become my wife...like you should of been, I should of asked you so many years ago" he placed his arm on Stevie's that were round him

"I can't do that right now, Lindsey. I'm not ready," Stevie kissed his shoulder and laid her head there

"Okay" was all he gave before getting up slowly, and going to take a shower

Standing letting the water run over him, he asked him self what he was doing wrong

He loved her, he cared for her, maybe he was being too clingy? He hated to upset her but he loved her and the baby so much.

He decided at that moment that he would back off a little, he wouldn't smother her, he would only touch her if she touched him first, maybe that's what she really wanted. Maybe she wanted his protection and not love, that is what broke his heart.

Walking back into the bedroom she was waiting for him to come out

"Linds..."

"Just leave it, it doesn't matter" he said plainly

"It does matter, you're upset," Stevie whined, feeling very guilty

"No, it doesn't."

"It doesn't matter, I'll get over it like I always do"

"Come back into bed for a bit a snuggle with me?" Stevie asked opening the covers for him

"It's alright, I'm going to go make myself a drink" he replied not looking at her as he walked out to the kitchen.

Stevie sat on the bed, completely stressed, she thought that she had completely lost him.

"Lindsey?" She called out, not being able to get out of bed because of her feet

She kept calling him but he still didn't answer her, she tried to put her feet out but couldn't put any pressure on them

"Lindsey?"

"Yes?" He finally called back, entering a few minutes later with a beer

"Why wouldn't you answer me? Where were you?"

"I was on the balcony" he said sipping his beer

"Come here," she patted the space on the bed beside her

Lindsey walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed, taking a swig of his beer.

"Hey" she said placing her hand on the back of his head and rubbing small motions

"Don't be distant with me baby" she added

"I figured that's what you wanted," Lindsey shrugged, casually drinking his beer

"Why would I want that? I love you Lindsey!" She moved her hand to his back

"I don't want to talk about it anymore" he was feeling so frustrated.

"Why not? Don't you love me?" She asked tearfully

"I do."

"Then why?"

"Stevie, you've just rejected my proposal, how do you expect me to feel?" He finally looked at her, tears in his eyes

"Not happy, but I need you now. I love you," she took his face into her hands.

"And I need you...but I feel like you don't want me for what I want you for" he looked down.

"Give me time. I'm not saying I'm going to marry you now, but maybe in the future."

"Fine..." he moved to his side and placed his hand over his face, it broke Stevie's heart to see but she wasn't going to give in

She laid down beside him and kissed the back of his neck, "I do love you."

"I know" he said unmoving, Stevie rolled him over by his shoulder and moved so she was on top of him.

"Do you love me?" Stevie leaned over and pressed her forehead against his

Grabbing her face with both hands he brought his face even closer

"You know I do!"

"You'll protect her, right? I have a feeling we will be seeing Jimmy again."

"I'll die before anything happens to her" Stevie knew from Lindsey's face that he was being dead serious

"Thank you," she kissed him softly

"Don't thank me for protecting your daughter" Stevie smiled down at him and stroked his cheek lovingly, rubbing her nose against his

"I think you should pick her name," Stevie told him

"What...?"

"I think you should pick her name" she repeated

"But she isn't mine..."

"She is now. You're are the only father she has as far as I'm concerned," Stevie laid her head forehead against his collar bone

Lindsey placed his hand on the back of her head and played with her hair

"Will she...call me daddy? or Lindsey?"

"Well I'd like 'Daddy' but it's whatever you're comfortable with," Stevie answered.

"Daddy" he didn't even have to think "Daddy...more than anything..."

"Then that's what she'll call you," Stevie kissed his collar bone

"Thank you so much!" He cried, wrapping his arms around her tight, he knew Jimmy would be back for his child, but he would fight for her tooth and nail.