Stevie came back three hours later and Lindsey was fast asleep on the sofa. She smiled, taking off her shoes and tip toed over to him. She sat beside him on her knees, just looking at him a moment. She stroked his beautiful head of curls and placed a hand on his cheek. His eyes slowly opened and her smile grew more broad.

"Steph...you're back" he said, his voice softened by sleep.

"Of course I am, silly. You didn't have to wait up for me."

"I didn't." He sat up straighter and rubbed his eyes. "I feel asleep, but I wanted to make sure you were okay when you came back. How was it?"

"It was good. He was really kind, funny, a real gentleman. He pulled my chair out and opened doors...it was nice." Lindsey nodded, making a mental note to be more chivalrous.

"What did you guys talk about?"

"You really want to know?" she cocked her head, and he nodded once more. "You. We talked about your friendship with Alan, and how wonderful you are. The rest of the time, we talked about Arabella."

"Did you have fun?"

"I did. Thank you for setting me up with him. I know you don't like this crazy experiment but I appreciate you taking care of me and making sure the guy we found was going to be good."

"I want to protect you. I don't want my wife just going out with anyone." he joked and she nudged him playfully with a girlish giggle.

"Well, I'm going to get ready for bed. I hope everything here was okay when I was gone."

"It was. Arabella was an angel. Barely a peep the entire time."

"Perfect." She wanted to kiss him but she couldn't, it was against the rules. She turned and headed to the bathroom to take off her makeup, brush her teeth and change into a nightie. Lindsey walked past and looked her direction briefly. Stevie's eyes met his in the mirror then he was gone. She sighed, turning off the light and going to her room. She pulled back the covers and buried herself beneath. It was lonely without him. It brought back memories of those years they had spent in separate rooms. She missed his arms around her, and just knowing he was there. She closed her eyes and fell into a restless sleep.

----

The next morning, Stevie awoke to their daughter bouncing on the bed but she did not open her eyes. Arabella's messy curls were stuck every which way and she was giggling gleefully. Stevie opened one eye very slowly and smiled, sitting up abruptly and grabbing the little girl. She pulled her into her arms and started tickling her.

"Mommy!" Arabella squealed between giggles.

"What do you think you're doing jumping on the bed, my little monkey?" The tickling ceased and kisses followed- more giggling. Lindsey entered the bedroom and got onto the bed as well, scooping up their daughter and running away with her. "Hey! Bring her back!" Stevie shouted after him, laughing as well.

"Gonna have to get her yourself!" She jumped out of bed and put on her slippers, going after the two of them. When she got to the kitchen, she was shocked. Breakfast was ready. Waffles, eggs, bacon and glasses of orange juice were already set out. Arabella had a plate of food that was cut up for her and Lindsey grinned proudly.

"You did this?" she asked as she watched Lindsey sit Arabella down in her high chair.

"Yeah, I thought you'd be hungry."

"I think you're holding out on me, Linds. You used to be a terrible cook."

"I have my moments. I wanted to surprise you. Is it okay?"

"It's amazing, thank you."

"Well, let's eat, since Arabella started without us." Stevie looked over at their daughter who was eating double fisted and giggled. Stevie sat down across from Lindsey and began to eat. Their silence was comfortable and Lindsey glanced up at her every once in a while. Starting in on her third section of her waffle, Lindsey finally spoke up. "How about you and I go on a date?"

"Hmm?" Stevie asked.

"A date. Like maybe, tomorrow night or...whenever?" he shrugged, almost dismissing his own question, thinking it was a stupid thing to ask.

"I have a date with Alan again tomorrow night."

"What?" Lindsey stopped eating, chewing and swallowing his mouthful.

"He asked me out again and I accepted." Lindsey felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He had hoped it would be a one time thing and he could try to forget this whole thing even happened. He was quiet and she could tell he was thinking. "Do you want me to cancel?"

"No I, this is what you're supposed to do, get a feel of someone who isn't me."

"For."

"For? What?"

"For, a feel for. Lindsey, I'm not going to do anything you wouldn't do."

"That's what scares me. I messed up, Steph, more times than I could count and each time..." He looked down at his plate and poked his fork into a piece of his waffle, playing with it.

"No one could ever take your place." she reassured him. "You're my husband, the father of our gorgeous daughter but above all that, I'm so in love with you. Don't forget that."

"I won't." he said and she reached for his hand across the table.

"We're just doing this temporarily. Our life won't be like this forever and we can move forward making music, having babies and living our very best life- together."

"Alright." He looked up at her and cracked a smile. "Just don't go falling in love with him."

"I won't, you know why?" He shrugged. "Because he's not you."

"I love you, Stevie."

"I love you too."

"Luv oo too!" Arabella said and they both laughed.

"And we love you most of all, baby girl." Lindsey got up and kissed their daughter's head, grabbing himself a few more pieces of bacon. He refilled Stevie's orange juice glass and checked in on how Arabella was doing, sitting down when he was satisfied. Stevie smiled at him and he at her, happy to spend these blissful and often dreamed about moments together at last.