They have an off day from the studio and Lindsey tries to call Stevie but there is no answer. He sighs, putting the phone back down and sits at his desk, smoking his third, maybe forth joint of the day. He puts on a record and closes his eyes, laying on his leather couch. He drifts into every syllable sung, every kick of the bass drum and every vibration of the guitar strings easily, losing track of time and space. Almost in a trance, he only comes to when it goes silent.

"Time for side B" he says to himself, peeling himself off the couch to flip the record. Just as he puts the needle down, the phone rings. He groans, letting it ring a few times before he picks it up.

"Hey" he says, not disguising his annoyance in the least. He hates talking on the phone.

"Well, hey to you too. Is this a bad time? I can call back"

"Stevie? I didn't mean to be rude. Just listening to some music."

"Cool! Anyone I know?"

"England Dan. Nights Are Forever"

"Are you trying to tell me something? Sending me subliminal messages..."

"No?"

"I'd Really Love To See You Tonight..." she sings into the phone.

"If it were an offer, would you accept?" He asks, knocking his hip against the wall as he leans onto it lazily.

"I'd think about it" she says flirtatiously, curling the phone cord around her finger as she speaks to him.

"Fair enough"

"Well, you never established if it were really an offer. Don't want to get all dolled up for nothing"

"Alright, then I'm offering. Wanna hang out tonight?"

"Your place or...?"

"Wherever you want."

"I'm in the mood for Italian if you're up for it. There's a cute little place, Ricci's. Maybe you've been there?"

"I know of it. See you at 6?"

She looks at the clock "6:30?"

"Hmm you drive a hard bargain, lady, but alright. 6:30 it is" he says, playfully and she giggles.

"Perfect. See you then"

"See you, Stevie"

They hang up and both are very excited. Stevie is kind of shocked at herself. Flirting with Lindsey again? Is she really falling for him? This is ridiculous! She goes to get ready, opting for a casual, yet sexy look. A close fitting silky wrap top with kimono sleeves and tight bell bottoms jeans seems like a nice enough option, she thinks to herself as she looks at her reflection in the mirror. She slips on tall wooden platform shoes with leather straps and likes what she sees. She messes with her hair, making it a bit straighter with her signature long bangs framing her face and especially her eyes, perfectly. She does her make up in her usual Garbo fashion and layers on the bracelets, rings and necklaces. Finishing touches and she goes downstairs to wait for Lindsey.

The doorbell rings and she answers the door a little too quickly.

"Hey there!" She says, looking at him just like it were the first time. The familiar butterflies are fluttering around in her stomach instantly.

"Hey! Wow you look great" he says and she blushes.

"Thank you"

"I mean...damn, Stevie" He looks her up and down, marveling at her beautiful body.

"Stop!" She protests as he brings a fist to his mouth, biting his knuckles.

"Shall we go?" He asks, settling himself down, if only for Stevie's benefit. Poor thing was so embarrassed.

"Sure, just need my purse and I'm good to go" She goes back inside briefly, and has her purse on her shoulder in a flash, locking up the house.

"What made you choose Ricci's? I thought for sure you'd choose something Mexican. Isn't it your favorite?"

"It is. I don't know why I chose Italian, it just sounded good. Do you mind?"

"No, it's nice to do something different." He puts a hand on her knee and she places a hand over his. "Thank you for giving me a chance"

"You were very persistent"

"That I was. I didn't think you'd say yes so quickly."

"Trying to wear me down?"

"Maybe" he says and she chuckles.

Lindsey helps Stevie out of the car and they wait to be seated. They are swept to the back of the restaurant and told they wouldn't be bothered. They're still in awe of all of the special treatment they get and giggle to themselves as they get to the table.

"Can you believe it? We're real celebrities, Linds!" Stevie says, sitting close to him in the booth.

"Pretty cool, right?"

"Totally cool" The silence is comfortable as they look over the menu. A bottle of wine is shared and conversation is light. They're having a lot of fun together, just like they used to. Dinner is a hit!

The next week and a half goes by much the same way, even with studio time smack in the middle, things are going well. Too well. Just as they should have expected, something gets in the way once again.

"Lindsey!" A high pitched voice squeals from the doorway. Stevie looks up and sees Lindsey going to the cheap, reductive version of herself he's found in Carol Ann, kissing her. "I've missed you, did you miss me?"

"Of course I did! How could I not?" He says, kissing her again and pulling her into a long embrace. 

"We should catch up! What have you been doing besides missing me?" She asks as she practically drags him to the couch Stevie was sitting on, disrupting her writing. They're touching often, almost groping like eager, inexperienced lovers and it turns Stevie's stomach. She's getting less and less room on the couch so rises from her seat, grabbing her things.

"I'm tired, I will see your guys tomorrow. Is that okay?" Stevie asks Mick. Suddenly Lindsey is pulled out of his conversation with Carol and watches Stevie talking to the others.

"That's fine, love. Get some rest" Mick replies.

"I will. Bye, everyone" she says to the room. "Bye Lindsey" she whispers and leaves the studio space quickly. He realizes she left and is mentally kicking himself.

"Carol, I gotta take a leak. Talk to you in a second"

"How about a quickie in the bathroom, stud? Been a long time" she says, touching his face and body all over. He pushes her off him and down onto the couch, on a mission to find Stevie.

He spots her immediately in the hallway. "Stevie!" He calls and she scrambles to gather her things again, getting up quickly. "Don't leave"

"I won't be, unfortunately. At least, not yet. I had to call Robin since you drove me today." She explains, though she's not quite sure why. He doesn't deserve it, she thinks. "You must think I'm so stupid."

"Baby, I didn't know she was going to be here" he tries to touch her but she moves away.

"Please don't call me that. Is this some kind of pay back?"

"What??? Payback?"

"You make me fall for you again, really love you just as much or even more than I did before and then you bring her right back in the middle?"

"You...love me?"

"I always have, Lindsey" she says, tears falling down her face and he notices for the first time.

"Please don't cry. I love you too, Stevie. You know that."

"I can't talk about this with you. Please go back to Carol since you missed her so much." She's quiet a moment, thinking and biting her bottom lip. "God, you really had me, Lindsey. You're a real piece of work" She shakes her head. "There's my ride" she says, spotting Robin's car out the window.

"Can I call you?" He asks as she pushes the door open to leave.

"I don't think so" Her voice is so soft and he has to turn away.

He puts his forehead against the wall, banging it a couple of times. "Ughhhhh....why am I so stupid?"

And just like that, it's as if they had made no progress at all.

A/N: inspired by a couple different people and a couple different places