Stevie and Lindsey hadn't been on speaking terms. They only communicated if it were about one of their children and they absolutely had to, but usually they would ask one twin to talk to the other parent for them. After the kiss at the diner and the fight that followed, they had separate bedrooms once again. It killed Stevie how quickly they deteriorated. How could she have been so stupid? She tried to move forward, to mend her relationship, but her cellphone was constantly ringing. It was always Brock. She would watch the light go from Lindsey's eyes and he would lose motivation to try to fix things with her. She wished she had never met up with Brock. If she could turn back time, she wouldn't have even entertained the idea.

Lindsey was at work all day and it was just Stevie and Iris, as the kids were at school. She had finished her housework and sat on the couch, turning on the tv. She couldn't concentrate as she flipped the channels. Nothing was that interesting so she turned the tv back off. She sighed, checking her phone. Another missed called, another voicemail. After a few more minutes of sitting there and letting herself overthink, Iris asked for her attention with a string of babbled syllables and she was all too happy to play with her. Her bouncy golden curls and pink pout get her every time, picking up her crawling daughter and kissing her all over. The baby giggled, grasping into her mother. She sat on the floor with Iris and tested her furniture cruising skills with a toy. She placed it on the furthest couch cushion and watched her side step toward it, holding on to the chair, then the couch. When she got bored of this, she crawled the rest of the way to the toy and stood up again to retrieve it. Stevie laughed and shook her head.

"You are just like your brother and sister! Eye on the prize. But you, my little darling, want to get to your goal the fastest you can. So determined." Stevie kissed her little head, playing another game with her. She walked the little stuffed bunny to her and Iris stared at it in anticipation as she sat on the floor. She clapped excitedly, watching the toy grow near. Stevie made the bunny kiss her daughter's nose and the baby giggled again. She was always so happy. Stevie was just about to do it again when the phone rang for possibly the millionth time. She rolled her eyes, getting up to grab the phone to look at the ID. She was sure she knew who it was, though. Once she made it over to where her phone sat, the ringing stopped. "Oh well" she said, shrugging her shoulders. She didn't care to answer anyway. She made herself a cup of tea, turned on the radio and watched her baby playing with her beloved bunny from the doorway. Iris loved music and began to bounce to the beat as she played.

I'm jealous, I'm overzealous
When I'm down, I get real down
When I'm high, I don't come down
I get angry, baby, believe me
I could love you just like that
And I could leave you just this fast

But you don't judge me
'Cause if you did, baby, I would judge you too
No, you don't judge me
'Cause if you did, baby, I would judge you too

She pulled herself away long enough to make a little snack, having barely eaten all day. She got out fruit and yogurt and began to eat it as she waited for her tea to steep.

'Cause I got issues
But you got 'em too
So give 'em all to me
And I'll give mine to you
Bask in the glory
Of all our problems
'Cause we got the kind of love
It takes to solve 'em

Yeah, I got issues
And one of them is how bad I need you

The song was almost too much but she endured the torment. She pushed and pushed Lindsey and sometimes he would push and push her. There was always turmoil, some sort of line that was always being crossed.

You do shit on purpose
You get mad and you break things
Feel bad, try to fix things
But you're perfect
Poorly wired circuit
And got hands like an ocean
Push you out, pull you back in

'Cause you don't judge me
'Cause if you did, baby, I would judge you too
No, you don't judge me
'Cause you see it from same point of view

'Cause I got issues
But you got 'em too
So give 'em all to me
And I'll give mine to you
Bask in the glory
Of all our problems
'Cause we got the kind of love
It takes to solve 'em

Yeah, I got issues
And one of them is how bad I need you

Stevie willed herself not to cry. She wasn't coping with being apart from Lindsey. They hadn't slept together in the same room for almost one full month. Both were obviously suffering but too stubborn to give in. Stevie had apologized but when Lindsey wouldn't accept it, she was discouraged from trying again. She didn't want their love story to be over and she hoped he didn't either.

And one of them is how bad I need you
(I got issues, you got 'em too)

'Cause I got issues
(I got)
But you got 'em too
So give 'em all to me
(You got 'em too)
And I'll give mine to you
Bask in the glory
(I got issues)
Of all our problems
'Cause we got the kind of love
(You got 'em too)
It takes to solve 'em

Yeah, I got issues (I got)
And one of them is how bad I need you (You got 'em too)
Yeah, I got issues (I got issues)
And one of them is how bad I need you (You got 'em too)
Yeah, I got issues (I got)
And one of them is how bad I need you

The song ended, the next one more positive so she left the radio to play. She put her tea cup and her bowl with the remnants of her fruit and yogurt on the end table, going back to play with her baby daughter. Just as she sat down, the phone rang again. She ran to pick it up, ready to tell Brock off. She was so tired of being bothered.

"What" she says, hitting the green accept button on the screen.

"Stevie..." the man on the other line said.

"Lindsey?"

"Stephanie, I'm going to need you to come to the hospital. There's been an accident"

"What?" Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Drop Iris off with your mom. I already took Callie."

"Oh my god, Dylan! What happened to my little boy?" she asked, and time stopped.

"Steph, he's got a really bad concussion, a couple broken bones and they couldn't keep him awake. He was skateboarding and he fell. He fell really hard. He woke up for a moment and the school called 911 but by the time the paramedics arrived, he was out again." He continued to speak but she wasn't listening anymore. She hung up, gathered Iris's belongings and rushed out to the car. Stevie went to her parents' house that they had purchased in the area and could barely speak. Barbara took the baby from her, kissed her daughter's cheek and told her to go and call her later. She nodded and went back to the car. She drove as fast as she could to the hospital. She burst through the doors and Lindsey met her, wrapping her in his arms.

"When will we get a break?" she asks, tears flowing freely down her face.

"I don't know"

"Where is he? Have you seen him?"

"I've seen him but he's not awake yet. Let's get a visitor pass then I can take you back" she simply nodded as he took her to the desk, gave the nurse her details. She buzzed them in, allowing them to go back. She followed him down the long hallway, and he pulled her into him, clasping her hand in his as they came upon the door. He pushed the door open and Stevie immediately began to cry.

"I can't do this" Stevie says, unable to look at their boy on the bed.

"Yes you can. You're strong"

"No I'm not" she sobbed.

"You are. You're strong, you're brave. Where do you think our kids get their strength?" She shakes their head. "Listen, I know we have our issues but you can lean on me. We need to stick together right now, we need each other more than ever. Our little boy needs us."

"He does" she confirms, trying to take in what he was saying.

"And just because I'm upset, or hurt...it doesn't mean I don't love you." He admits.

"You love me?"

"You shouldn't be so surprised. I've been in love with you for over 20 years. I will always love you."

"I love you too, Lindsey" she says. She was crying so much and he couldn't stand not comforting her again. He pulled her body into his, kissing her softly on the forehead but she hoped it would be her lips. She knew she couldn't ask for anymore than the confirmation of his enduring love but oh how she wished. She pushed her own heartache aside and they both focused on their son. She stroked Dylan's beautiful chocolate waves and kissed his cheek. "My sweet boy...please come back to us. We love you so much"

Lindsey watches Stevie, how loving and nurturing she was. The sadness and pain in her eyes only intensified as she spoke to her son without any response. He was quiet and spoke very few words normally but he has such expressive eyes. She longed to look into the blue grey oceans that matched his father and sister. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" Lindsey asked, touching her shoulder. She shook her head. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine" she says.

"He is going to pull through, Steph. I promise. He will be fine"

"I hope you're right"

"I know I'm right" he tells her. He gives her a weak smile and she returns it. "I will be right back"

He left the room and she sighed. "I promise you, we will fix this. Your daddy and I will get better but you have to promise to get better too, okay? I need my little poet and muse to be reunited. Your baby sister loves you so much. You make her laugh more than anyone. We all need you, Dylan. Please come back to us, sweet boy. I couldn't survive if I lost you." She lay her head in his lap and cried, praying he would recover as Lindsey promised.

Cause I got issues
But you got 'em too
So give 'em all to me
And I'll give mine to you
Bask in the glory
Of all our problems
'Cause we got the kind of love
It takes to solve 'em
Yeah, I got issues
And one of them is how bad I need you

A/N: A long one! I hope you like this chapter and you are still enjoying my story. Side note: when I first heard this song, I started crying. I love this song so much. Please listen to it ❤️❤️