Stevie and Lindsey were up early the next morning. Their bags were packed and breakfast was being cooked in the kitchen. They got dressed separately, Stevie in the bathroom and Lindsey in the bedroom. Stevie seemed to have popped overnight and evidence of their growing baby was becoming obvious. Before, her body just felt different and you couldn't really tell but it wasn't just the weight gain now. She emerged from the bathroom in a blouse with a fitted waist, and a long skirt with makeup and hair done. She immediately started looking for her boots, as she had somehow misplaced them.

"Linds, have you seen my boots? The brown ones?" She asks. Lindsey turns to face her, pulling on a tee shirt and stares at her. "What? Do I not look okay?"

"Don't be self conscious. You look great." He says, going to her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "When did this happen?" He strokes her sides.

"I have no idea." She says "I told you the baby is growing like a weed"

"I see that"

"And you're sure I look okay? Nothing really fits"

"You have never, ever looked more beautiful to me. I feel an overwhelming sense of pride just looking at you"

"Young and virile man" Stevie jokes.

"I'll show you virile" he says, pressing his arousal against her.

"I think you've shown me enough. Come on, I'm hungry"

"Fine. Have you checked under the bed?"

"What?" She asks with an adorable confused chuckle.

"Your boots"

"Oh, right. No."

"I'll look. I don't need you smashing my baby" he says and she rolls her eyes.

"From what I've been told they are very safe in there. It's just uncomfortable to lay on my stomach now."

Lindsey lays on his front, looking under the bed. He finds one and presents it to her. "Jesus, Steph. You have great hiding places"

"Hush"

He looks around the room and it's literally nowhere in sight. "Hmm..." He starts looking in odd places, places her other boot couldn't possibly be. There was a space between the headboard and the wall. "They say you find things in the last place you look" he says, laughing at his own corny joke. "Ah-ha!"

"My hero!" Stevie squeals. "What's it doing back there?"

"Remember when I asked you to..."

"Shhh, I remember now. You don't have to say it" Stevie tells him, blushing. She sits down on the edge of the bed to put on her boots. She smells the food and her stomach is growling. "I'm so hungry"

"So I heard"

"This is your fault, you know" Stevie says, rising to her new full height.

"Yes, because you had absolutely no part"

"Right" she says, simpering. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, kissing her temple as they walk down the hall to meet Gertrude and Ruth in the kitchen.

"Stevie, darling! Look at you!" Ruth said. "My grand baby is trying to show off"

"Yes they are" Lindsey says, touching his wife's bump.

"Doesn't she look just adorable, Gertie?"

"Yes, very" Gertrude replies in a very unimpressed manner, sitting her coffee. Stevie's shoulders slump a little. She thought she had made so much progress with her only to feel back at square one. Gertrude was so hot and cold, sometimes very nice and other times very cutting.

"Thank you" Stevie said and Lindsey gave her a squeeze hearing the sadness in her voice.

"Sit down, kids I can make you a plate. I made you an omelette Stevie, Lindsey said you still like those"

"You shouldn't have. Thank you!"

"Anything, my dear. It was no trouble at all" Ruth makes her plate first and sits it in front of her. She looks up, giving a grateful smile and Ruth pats her shoulder. Across from her, Gertie is staring holes into her.

"Ruth, you remember my friend is coming by today?"

"Oh yes, what did you say her name was?"

"Carol" Gertrude says with a slight smile.

Stevie drops her fork. "Carol?" She asks.

"Don't talk with you mouth full" Gertie scolded.

"She's not a child. She was just surprised. We know someone with that name." Lindsey said, defending his wife. Couldn't possibly be the same person, could it?

The room fell silent as Stevie chewed, waiting until she was allowed to speak again. "Your friend, her name is Carol?"

"Yes, it is"

"Doesn't happen to go by Carol Ann, does she?" Stevie's eyes grew wide waiting for the answer.

"She does" Gertie's answers were short and it made the couple frustrated. She wasn't giving up any information at all.

"It's got to be a coincidence, babe" Lindsey takes Stevie's hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb as their finger lace.

"Carol Ann Harris?" Stevie asked, her heart beating out of her chest.

"I believe that is her full name, yes."

"Strike Two." Lindsey mutters.

"Small, blonde, young..." Stevie guesses.

"Yes and looks at little like you, actually. Lovely girl. Met her back home in my little town. I think she knew Lindsey. She's back in Los Angeles and since she's in the area, I invited her here."

"Mom...did you know that's who she was bringing here?" Lindsey asked and Ruth looked shocked at the revelation.

"I, I was just told her name was Carol. I assumed..."

"Excuse me" Stevie says, getting up from the table and rushing back to the bedroom. She began to dry heave, overwhelmed by what she had just heard. Lindsey follows close behind, holding back her hair in case she is actually sick.

"Some reaction, Steph" Lindsey says, trying to lighten the mood as the heaves subside.

"I can't be here. I have to leave." Stevie says, not registering anything Lindsey had said to her.

"Calm down, nothing is going to happen"

"The letters" Stevie said.

"Letters? What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. I, I want to leave now"

"Okay, okay."

"I've had a strange feeling all night long and all this morning. Last night, when you woke up and asked if I was okay...I knew something like this was going to happen"

"A vision?" He half asked, not really sure if he believes in his wife's abilities. She's always had a colorful way of explaining things and he was never sure if this was one of those things.

"No, just...I don't feel safe, this baby isn't safe." She says, touching her stomach briefly. "Deep down, I feel like she's planning something. Why else would she be coming?"

"To see Gertie"

"She has to know who she is...she's crazy but she's not stupid. I can't be here. Are we going to leave or not?"

"You're serious?"

"Dead serious" she says.

"Alright, we can go"

"Thank you! You're a life saver" Stevie says, clinging to him. Involuntary tears falling down her face.

"Breathe, honey. Think of the baby. Baby can't breathe if you don't"

"I know, I...I'm so nervous"

"Don't be. I'll take the bags to the car"

"Thank you"

"I don't want a repeat of Hawaii. You're pregnant and as sexy as that cat fight was..."

Lindsey managed to get a smile out of her so he was satisfied. He didn't even mind the punch to the arm he had to endure because of it.