Leelee has a burst of energy, a break from being so tired recently and decided to get a move on with her shopping. Her mother was reading peacefully on the couch as she entered the room and the young girl paused.

"Mom?" Leelee asked.

Stevie looked up, removing her reading glasses and closing her book. "Yes, sweetie?"

"Will you...will you go shopping with me? I need some new pants. My jeans are so tight and the hair tie trick you taught me ain't working so well anymore."

"We can, sweetheart. Do you want your father to come?" Stevie asked, placing the book on the table as she stood

"I thought a girl's day would be nice, y'know?" Leelee answered shyly

"That's perfectly fine," Stevie smiled calmly, inside she was jumping for joy.
Stevie went upstairs to freshen up quickly and when she came back down, Leelee had her purse on her shoulder and was ready to go.

"I hope I didn't take too long," Stevie said, blushing slightly. She remembered Lindsey complaining about how long it took her to get ready for years. She had almost developed a complex over it.

"You're fine, mom. I'm just happy to get some time alone with you." She extended her hand and her mother took it. "I'm in desperate need of help today!"
"Let me call a car and then we will be on our way," Stevie smiled

"Mom, I can drive," Lee reminded her. The thought hadn't even crossed Stevie's mind as she wasn't there when Leelee acquired her license.

"Oh, right," Stevie chuckled, brushing it off as Lee grabbed her keys and set them on their way to the mall
Stevie was buzzing with excitement internally as she watched her daughter maneuver through traffic like a pro. She had grown up so much when she was gone and it shocked her at times. Today, it was pleasant. The drive was quiet, save for the radio set to just a low hum in the background. Leelee parked and removed the key from the ignition.

"I didn't scare you, did I?" Leelee asked with a chuckle.

"No, I think you did a beautiful job. Much better than I was."

"Dad told me some stories..." Lee said and this time Stevie had to laugh.

"I'm sure he did."
"He said you almost killed him."

"I did not! Your father likes to over exaggerate," Stevie defended

"You're forgetting that I know you, Mom. His stories were believable," Lee chuckled

"Maybe just a little bit, but it still wasn't that bad."
Lee loved to see this side of her mother. Her eyes were bright, just like her smile and she felt as if she really had her mother back.

"Okay, fine, I will believe you...but I'm still not letting you drive." Lee joked.

"Deal." Stevie extended a hand and Leelee shook it. Stevie giggled girlishly and Lee's eyes sparkled with happiness. Her mother's laugh never got old.
"So what kind of things were you looking for clothes wise," Stevie asked as they walked into the department store

"Yoga pants and loose shirts?" She shrugged
"I think maternity clothes have come a long way since I was pregnant with you. We would basically tent ourselves until we had our figure back!" Stevie said, remember all of those matronly dresses. "There are a lot of options now. We can buy whatever you want."
"I hope I find something that I'll like." Lee said

"I'm sure you will," Stevie browsed through the clothes

"None of these are for a sixteen year old girl," Lee sighed
"Start with basics. A simple black, grey or white shirt, black pants. Those are universal. Maybe you can put some of your personality in accessories." Leelee huffed. "Don't get defeated already. This is only the first store."
"They're all old lady clothes," Leelee was already losing her patience, "Why can't I just wear yoga pants?"
"That's fine for around the house, sweetheart but what about when you leave the house, and need to do something important?"

"Then I won't leave the house," Leelee said and Stevie chuckled.

"I know it's hard. The changes happening to your body is one the most difficult things about pregnancy but it's worth it. I promise you. This is such a short amount of time and I want you to enjoy it."

"It feels like I've been pregnant forever."

"I know that's feeling too," Stevie said. She flipped through a rack and found a stylish look pair of jeans with a band at the waist to accommodate a growing belly. From across the room, she spotted a black top in a stack on the table and gravitated toward it. She looked through the sizes and carefully chose a medium. Not too small, not too big. She smiled, hoping it would be something Leelee would like. "How about this?," she asked with a smile.
Leelee's eyes seemed to light up, "I like it," she felt the jeans, "how long will these last me?"
"They should last you the whole rest of your pregnancy. Try them on and get a feel for them. We can always go a size up or a size down. Whatever fits the best."

"I hate trying on clothes!" She complained.

"I do too, but if you try them on and find the right fit, you can just buy a couple other pairs and alternate. You won't have to try on any more. They're a staple in your wardrobe."
Leelee took the jeans and shirt to the fitting room, she sighed in relief when she finally slipped on the pants that actually fit her. The shirt came next, It was form fitting and showed off her bump beautifully. Lee wiped a tear away from her eye as she noticed how much her child grew. A moment of realization hit that she was actually going to be a mother.

"Lee, you okay?" Stevie knocked on the door, jumping back when it opened. "Did everything fit?" Seeing that her daughter was back into her normal clothes

"I like the pants, but not the shirt."

"Was it the wrong size?"

"It showed too much, I just want a loose fitting top."

"But that will hide the baby," Stevie joked

"Exactly," Leelee replied seriously
Leelee shuffled past her, and Stevie was a bit caught off guard. She watched her daughter lean over the table looking for a bigger size, holding it up to herself then look for a larger one. She grew frustrated and walked out of the store. Stevie quickly purchased the jeans she had tried on and followed after her, not really sure what was going on.
"Honey-Sweetheart, hang on," Stevie rushed to catch up to Leelee, "Why don't you want to see your baby?"

"Because I'm sixteen! I'm not supposed to be doing this, much less showing it off!" Lee replied
"You're getting started a little sooner but it's nothing to be ashamed of. You're going to be a great mother." Stevie told her but Leelee shook her head.

"How can you be so sure? I'm your kid, after all."

The jab hurt but she couldn't let her know. Reaching for her daughter, the young girl slipped out of her grasp. Stevie sighed, watching her walk as far away from her as possible.
Stevie called Lindsey from a store phone, "Lindsey, can you come to the mall, please?" She was on the verge of tears

"Did something happen? Is everyone alright?" Lindsey panicked

"Leelee is upset and I don't think I'm the best one to calm her down..."
"Stevie, you're her mother. You're the perfect person."

"No, please, Lindsey. I really need your help."

"I'm coming. Don't leave, okay?"

"Okay." The moment he hung up, she felt the tears she tried so hard to stop start to fall. Hot, fast and salty streaks broke through the light barrier of makeup and revealed peachy toned bare skin. "God, please get here fast, Linds...please," she whispered to herself.
She looked around and tried to her a visual on her daughter but Lee was already long gone from her sight. Stevie didn't want anything to happen to her daughter so she decided to go look for her instead of waiting for Lindsey.
First, she checked the bathrooms. Not only do you have to go a lot during pregnancy, but it's a great place to hide out and be alone. Most of the doors were ajar and there were no legs visible under the stalls. Stevie stood in front of the mirror and moment and carefully wiped away the wrecked makeup with a paper towel. She didn't want to look like a crazy person, running wild through the mall, calling out her daughter's name, though that's exactly what she felt like doing. She hoped Lee hadn't left.
Stevie somewhat collected herself and turned to walk out until she heard a sniffle in the very last stall. She inched closer to the stall door and saw her daughters sandals.

"Leelee, can you let me in?" Stevie knocked softly
The sniffling stopped and it was like Leelee was holding her breath. Her mother had found her.

"Please, Lee." A couple of seconds passed when Stevie heard a click. The door opened and Stevie held it her arms to Leelee. Her daughter sniffed, pat away her tears with a  piece of toilet paper and reluctantly walked into her mother's arms.

"I'm sorry," Leelee said, her voice muffled by her mother's hair as she laid her head in the crook of her neck.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for. I didn't know that you felt that way," Stevie swayed softly with her

"We can shop more. I'll get the shirt," Leelee pulled back

"You don't have to get anything you don't feel comfortable wearing," Stevie placed her hands on her daughters shoulders
"Thanks, mom." Leelee smiles weakly and Stevie smiled back.

"You're such a good girl, Lee. I'm so lucky to have you as my daughter and this baby will be lucky to have you as its mother
*"
"You'll have to help me a lot," Leelee told her

"I'll gladly help you. I don't want you to feel alone in this," Stevie kissed her head and led her out of the bathroom, bumping straight into Lindsey
"There you are! I've been looking for my girls everywhere!" He smiled broadly.

"Well, here we are." Stevie pulled her daughter into her side. "We have a little more shopping to do."

"May I join you? Afterward we can grab some lunch. How does that sound?"
"That sounds good," Leelee nodded, Lindsey wrapping his arm around her shoulders, kissing the side of her head

"Perfect," He smiled and followed his wife to the next store
Stevie was happy Lindsey was there  in case things got out of hand again. She couldn't help but feel a closeness to him that she had been missing. He laughed and joked with her in the store, holding up matronly, full coverage nursing bras and even strapping on the fake belly from the dressing room that women could use to test how long they would be able to wear their maternity clothes. Leelee got a kick out of it too, feeling much happier now that things weren't so serious. She decided to buy the top her mother had chosen. If she need be, she could wear a sweater over it until she felt comfortable.

"After this, we HAVE to eat," Leelee said, tugging on her father's arm.
"I agree, I'm starved," he rubbed the fake belly dramatically that he was sporting

"You look cute pregnant, Dad," Leelee chuckled

"Belly bump," he nudged her belly with his fake one
Stevie smiled. She always loved seeing the bond the two of them shared.

"You look ridiculous, Linds." Lindsey looked up at his wife and winked.

"I've been called worse," he told her. He tore the Velcro from the strap and took the fake bump off. "Let's gather up all these clothes, and check out. What did you have in mind for lunch?" Lindsey asked, looking at Leelee.
"Italian," Leelee answered

"We always have It-" he paused when he saw his daughters death glare, "Italian it is," he nodded
Stevie nodded quickly. "Italian sounds delicious! I'm dying for mezza luna! I feel like I haven't had it in ages."

"That sounds great!" Lindsey agree.

As soon as they paid, Lindsey turned to Stevie. "Since you guys drove together, would you like to ride with her meet me at the restaurant? She knows the way. It's her favorite."

"Sure, yeah. Of course."

"Great! I don't want her to be alone right now."

"Neither do I. Good thinking."

"You're an angel." He nudged her gently, giving her a handsome, boyish smile. Stevie caught up with her daughter and followed her to the car, and Lindsey walked farther to get to his.
"That was fun," Stevie commented

"It was," Lee agreed, her face draining color as she spotted one of her old friends "don't let them see me!"
"Who, honey? Why not?"

"Mom, please," Leelee pleaded.

"Don't worry about them." Stevie said, but she saw how mortified she was. "Let's drive. We don't want to keep your father waiting."

"O-okay." Leelee's hands shook as she put the key in the ignition and started the car. She pulled out of the parking lot, driving a little quicker than she would have normally.
"Lee, it's okay," Stevie soothed, encouraging her daughter to slow down

"They almost saw me. What if they would have come over to me?"

"But they didn't and it's all okay!"
"Next time I may not be so lucky." Leelee said, sighing. She chose to focus on her driving, trying to push the thought from her mind.

"Now that I know your sizes, if you need or want anything else, your father and I can pick it up for you."

"Thanks."

"But you can't hide forever."

"I don't want to talk about." Leelee gripped the steering wheel harder.

"Alright," Stevie said, putting her hands up in defense. "I'll leave you alone about it."
"Thank you," Lee replied as she pulled up to the restaurant, "Dad is already here." She got out and met her father at the car

"You're slowing up," Lindsey joke with her
"Believe it or not, my mother is the one who said I should drive slower."

"I'm shocked!" Lindsey said, gabbing his chest through his shirt. "This one has a lead foot."

"Then she comes by it honestly," Stevie joked back. "Come on, let's go inside."
"Lee, we wanted to talk to you about something," Lindsey started

"If it's about me getting a job I was going to as soon as I could find something- I didn't want to just be selfish."

"Leelee, that's not at all an issue," Stevie replied, "we would never make you pay anything."
"Alright," Leelee said, feeling a bit ambushed. She gulped, looking between her parents. She felt anxious, and nervous for what was about to come.
"We want the three of us to go to a family therapist. I think that we would all benefit from it," Lindsey said delicately
"A therapist? For what? We're fine."

"Lee, a lot has happened to us and with your mother home, I think it's important that we try to heal. Clearing the air before the baby comes will be the best thing for us," Lindsey explained.

Stevie nodded in agreement, hesitatingly taking her daughter's hand. "I think it's a good idea, honey. We can't fight or suppress our emotions. It's not healthy."
"But what if this causes more problems?" Lee questioned

"I don't think it will, if it does then we will move past it," Lindsey shrugged

"Let me think about it."
"Alright, but either way, your mother and I have been thinking about marriage counseling."

"When did you two have the time to talk about this? I'm always with you." Leelee looked confused.
"When we stayed up the other morning when your father decided it would be a good idea to make a mixed drink at four in the morning," Stevie answered
Leelee seemed to be deep in thought and Lindsey knew better turns to keep pressing the issue. Stevie, not so much, but she followed his lead. Thankfully, the waiter came and they all ordered their meals. Conversation was struggling to stay light but whenever it would drop, Lindsey knew how to pick it back up. Stevie smiled, taking his hand beneath the table.
Lindsey looked over at her and grinned, he had missed his wife physically as well as emotionally. He missed sharing a bed with her and holding her, he hadn't hugged or held someone other than Lee in three years. Just feeling her hand in his was enough to give him a warm feeling.
When the meal was finished and Leelee had her fill, she was more than ready to go home.

"I'm so tired!" She whined. "I think I overdid it today."

"Are you alright to drive?" Lindsey asked and she nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. If you don't mind, mom, can you ride with dad? I have a lot of thinking to do."

Stevie looked at Lindsey and he nodded. "Sure. See you at home?"

"Yeah." Leelee smoothed her stomach, getting up from the table.
Lindsey kissed his daughters head once there were in the parking lot, "Drive safe. Come straight home."

"I will, I promise," she smiled, hugging her mother next and getting into her car. Stevie and Lindsey made it to his car and followed their daughter out of the parking lot.

"Lindsey, I went to the doctor and got tested..." Stevie said softly, he wouldn't touch her in any way until he knew that she hadn't gotten any diseases from her time on the road
"You did? And what did the doctor say?" Lindsey held his breath for a response. He was worried, nervous- he wanted his wife back more than anything and to start fresh.
"Everything came back fine," She smiled brightly, "it's okay."

"That's great news," Lindsey agreed
"I was so worried," she told him.

"I was too, but I'm glad you're okay." He fought the urge to hug her, to kiss her and express just how happy he was. Stevie had hoped for more enthusiasm, a little more of a reunion of sorts but that would take time. She didn't want to rush him.
"Do you think I could come to your room tonight?" Stevie played with the rings on her hands, avoiding his eyes as she focused on her lap
"I would like that," he admitted and she looked up at him.

"Really?"

"You're my wife. I miss you, Stevie."
"I miss you too, Lindsey. More then anything," Stevie leaned across the console and kissed his cheek

"I love you, Stevie," He finally admitted, divorce had been hanging over their head since her return

"I love you too."
He smiled, squeezing her hand as started the car and put it into gear. Things were falling into place and both of them felt a little lighter. Maybe marriage counseling would truly get them back to where they were.

"What should we do when we get home?" Lindsey asked.

"We can watch a movie, enjoy each other a little."

"Sounds like a plan."