She bit her lip just trying to stop crying. She wanted to be wrong but it was all too familiar.
Lindsey was told that he could stay with her, not wanting her to become very distraught again
Finally they reached her room
"We're going to do an ultrasound," the doctor informed her
She hung her head
"Let's get a team in here just incase," he told his assistant
She ran out to go get them
"Let's see what's going on in there," he patted Stevie's hand, pulling up her shirt and placing the gel on her belly
She bit her lip with anxiety
Joe barged into the room
"Stevie! What's going on?? Is everything okay??"
"Joe!" She reached for him, causing Lindsey to step out of the way
He ran over and hugged her
The doctor pressed the transducer to Stevie's stomach, and moved it around slowly, "I'm here," Joe kissed her head
She nodded anxiously.
The doctor turned the volume up and an extremely fast heart beat was heard, "We have to calm you down, Mrs. Buckingham," he announced, turning to the nurse and requesting a sedative
Of course this did nothing but unsettle her even more.
"I'm going to give you something to calm you down, you two are under a lot of stress," He said as the nurse handed him the drugs
She recoiled from them at first, scared that it would harm the baby.
"It's safe," the doctor assured. "Let them do it, baby," Joe kissed her head
She finally relented and let them inject the medicine into her arm.
Stevie's eyes rolled back and she relaxed back into the bed. "Let's get her into her own room."
Lindsey just watched, scared.
"Only one of you may go back with us," a nurse stopped he and Joe
They shared a questioning look
"I'm the father," Joe defended, stepping forward to follow Stevie
The nurse nodded and without hesitation they both left Lindsey in the dust.
"She's my wife," he mumbled to himself, not at all approving of being left behind
He paced the waiting room anxiously
Meanwhile, Joe was pacing Stevie's room waiting for her to wake up.
It was over an hour before she did.
"Hey," Joe said softly, stroking her hair out of her face
She smiled at him hazily. "Hey"
"Everything's fine," he smiled back, "the baby is perfect."
She broke down out of relief.
"You just got a little too upset."
She thought about her fight with Lindsey.
"I knew he wasn't taking care of you," Joe gritted
She glared at him. "You don't know anything."
"I know that you go upset about something," he pointed out
She looked down at the floor coldly. "It doesn't matter if I did, it doesn't concern you."
"It does if I end up at the hospital with my child in danger because something upset you."
She looked up at him guiltily. "I'm sorry, I'll try harder not to get so worked up."
"Keep the baby safe, I will take care of the rest," Joe told her
She nodded.
"Can I get you anything?"
She shook her head then thought. "Where's Lindsey?"
"He's in the waiting room," Joe sat down on the bed with her
She bit her lip then asked, "Can you get him for me?"
"Only one of us can be in here with you."
She opened her mouth to speak then took a deep breath, pausing. "Joe, can we just have five minutes then I'll tell him to come get you...please, I need to see him."
"Okay," he nodded, leaving and exchanging places with Lindsey
Lindsey came in slowly.
"Hey baby," Stevie held out her hand
He slowly made his way to her side and took her hand.
"H-how is everything?" He asked uneasily
She smiled at him tearfully. "They're okay."
"That's good," Lindsey nodded, not meeting her eyes
She let his hand go. She knew this would happen. "You can go if you don't want to be here." She said quietly. "You don't have to."
"It's not that."
She touched his arm gently, "Then what is it?"
"I didn't mean to upset you, I just get dramatic sometimes," Lindsey sat in the chair next to the bed
She shook her head. "Lindsey, I'm not mad at you okay? Can we just start over? I'm okay, the baby is okay, let's just.. Not fight anymore?"
"I can do that," he agreed, being interrupted by Joe. "It's been five minutes."
They both looked over at him, Lindsey no where near amused. Stevie just nodded quietly. "I told him he could come back in five minutes, I'm sorry. But hopefully I'll be out of here soon and we can go home." She tried to explain and help him not lose his cool.
"I wait at home after I get the kids," he replied coldly, standing up and leaving
She sighed
"Have you thought of any names," Joe asked, taking the seat that Lindsey previously occupied
She shrugged, "not really"
"Do you think they're a boy or a girl?"
She thought for a moment. "I'm not sure....I'll be happy either way though."
"I think a boy would be nice," he smiled softly
She scoffed, "They're cute but when they scream they SCREAM!" She laughed
"I thought all babies were like that," he chuckled
She shook her head, "It's so funny...Will is so quiet now-his crying spells were just the worst! Now Lee when she was a baby she was SO quiet and now she's our chatter box!" She laughed
"It's so amazing how their personalities develop and change so drastically," Joe shook his head in awe
She smiled as she thought about it. "Yeah.."
"Can't wait to watch that happen."
She smiled at him sincerely. "You're going to love it."
"I mean seriously, Steph! I cannot wait to be a Dad!" He literally glowed with excitement
She picked up his hand in hers and squeezed it. "You're gonna be a great one."
"I have a confession to make," he smiled softly
She tilted her head a little, confused, "What?"
"Me and my impatient self has already started on the nursery. I just can't wait anymore, I get so excited and then I'll work on it little by little."
She laughed, "Really? Oh my goodness Joe we still have months to go!"
"I know! Trust me, they're neutral colors so it doesn't matter if I get he gender wrong."
She shook her head, "What are the colors?"
"It's like a really light gray and soft yellow, it doesn't sound like it goes together but I think that it looks nice."
She pictured it in her head and nodded. "It sounds beautiful."
"Thank you," Joe smiled, happy that she approved
"You should take a picture of it and show me sometime."
"I will. If you'd like you could come see it and help me pick out the rest of the furniture." She rubbed her stomach. "Maybe, but it sounds like you'd do alright by yourself."
"I want you to approve," he shrugged, "I was thinking about getting a small bed with the detachable rails-I doubt you would want me keeping a small baby by myself," Joe smiled
She nodded then thought for a moment. "What about when the baby has just been born....Joe you know they'll have to be with me for awhile right? You can see them all you want but at night and stuff...just the first little bit."
"Oh I know that," he nodded, "I just figured that you would t trust me to take care of them when they stay with me for a day or two at a time."
"Of course I would! Just...you have to be really careful and watch them so much more in those first days, weeks even. And it's not that you couldn't it's just that well, it's better for them to be closer to their mother then."
"Exactly, I think that it would benefit everyone in this situation if I didn't start keeping them immediately. Maybe when they are pushing a year."
She looked at him strangely.
"What? I read that those are the most important months for babies, they need their mother right there with them. It wouldn't be alright if I disrupted that."
She nodded. "You're right....we'll figure it out though...they need their father too."
"I'm not as important as your role in his life," Joe rested his hand over her stomach
"That's no where near being true."
"I-you have a husband to handle the nighttime shifts, what do you need me for?"
She looked him like he was crazy. "Joe, yes-Lindsey will help me out when I need help but Lindsey is not their father."
"God, this is so fucked up," Joe sighed
She ran a hand through her hair frustratingly
"I know.."
"I'm sorry that we are in his situation."
"Me too, but..something good will come out of it."
"Absolutely," Joe smiled, rubbing her stomach, "I feel like they grow everything I look at them."
She smiled, "I feel like they grow every minute."
"I can't even describe how amazing it is."
"You have no idea"
"This the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want you to know that."
She smiled at him brightly.
"So... I guess that I should go home, I'm sure you want to see your husband," Joe looked down, "Have the hospital send all of the billing information to me."
Stevie frowned, "Joe we can cover this you don't have to. Save some of this up, don't spend it all at once. Our little baby may want to go to college one day."
"Stevie we both have money pouring out of our ears, plus I promised that I would take care of the baby financially," he took a seat on the bed
She sighed heavily then nodded. "Okay"
"Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"I'm sure. Thank you."
"Alright, just call me with updates please. I'm going to go now," Joe kissed the corner of her mouth
She froze for a second and gave him a look then shook it off and nodded slowly. "Okay"
Joe gave her a small smile and left, Lindsey practically running in there seconds later
"Hey Linds, I thought you'd left?"
"The kids were begging me to see you, they're in the waiting room." Lindsey shoved his hands in his pockets, "so....Joe has a girlfriend huh?"
She looked at strangely at him. "What?"
"He had had a woman with him in the waiting room, she's been here the whole time? You didn't know?" Lindsey frowned
She just blinked for a second, dazed. She thought back to when he had said "I doubt you would want me keeping a small baby by myself,"
She felt so stupid, how could she not have realized that's what he had meant!
"No....I didn't."
"He moved on pretty fast," Lindsey smirked
She nodded. "Yeah.... I guess he did." She didn't seem as excited and he questioned her on it.
"Well," he chuckled, "that's a huge relief."
"Yeah..."
"You act sad about this," Lindsey commented, shifting his weight onto one foot. Looking ver standoffish
She shook her head quickly. "No, no it's just... You're right. It was quick and I mean I know we were quick to get back together too but... I don't know. I guess it just kind've stings a little..I'm happy for it but.." He finished for her. "To think you could be replaced that easily?" She could hear it in his voice that he wasn't just talking about Joe. "Yeah..I'm sorry Lindsey-you know that."
"Well, I'm going to go get the kids," he changed the subject
She nodded.
The kids barreled into the room, pouncing on their mother as soon as they saw her
"Mama!" LeeLee tried her best to climb up into the bed but only failed until Lindsey helped her.
She laid on her mother and wrapped her arms around her neck, "Please stop coming here, it scares us," Lee begged
Stevie wrapped her arms tightly around her baby girl and squeezed her. "Oh I'm so sorry baby, so so sorry. I promise you we won't be back until it's time for you two to meet your new brother or sister."
"Pinky promise?" She held up her pinky
"Pinky promise."
Will was quiet, he hated hospitals, especially when his mother was in them.
"Will? Can you come sit with me honey?"
He shook his head timidly, staying seated at the foot of the bed
"Will? Please?" She held her arms out for him
"No," Will refused quietly, not being mean, just unsure
Stevie's heart broke but she only nodded.
"William," Lindsey said in a warning tone
The little boy slowly crawled up to Stevie and sat
She nudged him. "Will..what's wrong baby?"
"Nothing."
"Lindsey, can you take Lee to go get all of us some snacks from the cafe?"
"Of course," he picked Lee up, Will trying to sneak away with them
"William, stay with me? Please."
"I wanna go with Daddy," He turned back to look at her
"But then I'll be alone." She guilt tripped him into staying
"Okay," he silently sat in the big chair next to the window
"Will, talk to me baby. What's wrong?"
Will looked down at his lap and mumbled some sort of response
"What?"
"I hate the baby," he spoke up some
Her jaw dropped. "W-why?"
"They make you sick and everyone sad."
"Oh no! Will, it's not the baby's fault! Will, it's my job to stay healthy to keep the baby safe and I haven't been doing too good at it...if it's anyone's fault it's mine. Please don't hate them? They're gonna love you and they're going to need their big brother."
"I don't know what is going on but I am tired of it. I wanna go stay with Auntie Christine," his lip trembled
Her heart broke. "Will no, please don't baby. Give me another chance-I know I haven't been the best mother for you lately but...I love you so much and I promise I'm going to be there for you a lot more just please sweetheart-your my baby boy. I need you."
"You haven't been there at all," he commented, "You just set up play dates with our friends and we leave."
She started to cry and he felt bad about it and stood up to hug her.
"I'm sorry, Mommy," Will was quick to comfort her, Lindsey came back in, rushing to Stevie when he saw her tears. "Will what did you say?! She can't be getting upset!" Lindsey scolded, turning his attention back to Stevie.
Stevie quickly brushed Lindsey off making sure to collect herself then tend to Will. "No! No! Lindsey wait he's fine! He's fine! He didn't say anything!" He could tell from her outburst that something had been said but apparently she didn't want to upset Will and he didn't want to upset her so he apologized to Will and calmed down.
"Mommy I got you a candy bar," Lee climbed on the bed and handed the chocolate bar to her.
Stevie wiped at her tears and smiled at her. "Thanks Lee"
"You're welcome! We got Will-wait, where is Will?" Lee looked around the room
Stevie looked around becoming frantic as soon as she realized he had disappeared.
"Lindsey! Where is he!??!"
Lindsey looked in the bathroom and not finding him in there, running into the hall to search.

Several nurses joined in until eventually the whole hospital was on alert for the rock star's child. "He's gone, Steph."

"Authors Note: when will the drama end for this family?! Sorry for any mistakes!