Saturday morning, Sara, Callie's friend is dropped off. Stevie greets the girl at the door, hugging her as if she had known her forever. That's how she wanted people around her to feel, comfortable and safe.

"Callie is in her room. Would you like me to show you the way?"

"No thank you Mrs..."

"Ms Nicks, but call me Stevie, everyone does."

Sara, a blonde haired girl with dark brown eyes, smiles. "Okay then, Stevie"

"Alright. Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

"I'm fine"

"Well, let me know if you need anything. I'm here. Make yourself at home"

"Wow, thanks" Sara leaves to go find Callie.

Stevie walks down the hall, seeing her little dogs waiting for her with tails wagging behind the gate. "Mocha, Clio, my babies!" she squeals in a high pitched voice. The dogs get even more excited and she opens the gate for them. They scurry around her feet and she smiles. They follow her to Lindsey's side of the horseshoe where she knocks on his office door. "Linds, take a break. Callie's friend is here" she says.

"I have to get this done. I have a deadline, and it's already been pushed back"

"Give me an hour, please? I want to spend time with you" She continues to speak through the door much to her annoyance, her voice high and sweet. He doesn't answer but she hears shuffling before the door swings open.

"Why do you still use that baby voice when you want something? It drives me crazy!"

"Does it make you mad?" She asks, big brown eyes staring up at him.

"Goddammit you're cute..." He says, instantly disarmed, smiling down at her and she smiles back. "You got my attention, now what do you want?"

"I'm bored"

"Is that it?"

"Isn't that enough?"

"Call Brock. It's no longer my job to entertain you"

"That was mean, Lindsey" she says, looking visibly hurt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that" he says, regretting how he made her feel.

"Then why did you say it?"

"I'm stressed to the max, Steves. I'm buried up to my eyeballs in drawings and plans from just about every side and I need some peace and quiet"

"I'm sorry. I won't bother you again." She slaps her thigh. "Come on babies" she says to her dogs who were also staring up at him expectantly. She turns to leave and he touches her bare shoulder.

"Stevie..."

"No, don't worry, I will leave you alone. I'm going to be baking cookies. Maybe I will see if the girls want to help"

"What's Dylan doing?" He asks, in hopes she will stay and talk.

"A couple of his friends want to swim later. They will be here in time for the BBQ."

"Did you invite anyone?"

Stevie shakes her head "No."

"Brock?"

"He's busy"

"He should make time for you."

"No one around here seems to want to. What's new?" She says, passive aggressively.

"Okay you need to stop this right now" His voice booms without him meaning for it to and it makes her stop in her tracks. "You and those kids are everything to me. I'm working and I know I'm busy and don't have time for anyone recently but I swear, in another week, I will be all yours. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes." She stammers. "I'm sorry" Her eyes are wide, tears forming immediately and he shakes his head, pulling her swiftly into a hug.

"I'm sorry for scaring you."

"It's okay" she whispers

"No, it's not. I shouldn't speak to you like that." He holds her a moment longer, not speaking just yet. He takes a deep breath, inhaling her intoxicating scent. "You drive me up the freakin wall sometimes, Steph"

"I know"

"...But that's something I would never change. I love you just the way you are" he says and she knows it's true.

"I will leave you be now. See ya later"

"I'll come out, I just wanted to be finished by the afternoon so we could spend the evening with the kids and stuff"

"That was your plan?"

"Yes, angel"

"Then you don't have to come out of your cave just yet. I'm being selfish. Intercom me if you need anything, I'll bring it to you"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Don't work too hard"

"I'll try" He waves and shuts the door back, this time locking it.

She smiles and swishes her way back down the hallway, past the kids' bedrooms. Lots of giggling from Callie and Sara and silence behind Dylan's door. She peaks in, seeing he's asleep in his desk chair, leaned back slightly with his arms flopped out to either side. She stifles a giggle. That boy has always been able to fall asleep anywhere. It's the funniest thing. She goes through to the kitchen and makes a cup of tea. While it's steeping, she gets out all she needs to make cookies. She's about to begin when she remembers she wants to ask Callie and Sara if they want to help.

She's just about to get them when the girls come barreling toward her. "Whoa, why are you running? You nearly knocked my block off!" Stevie says.

"Sorry, mama" Callie says with a laugh. "We're hungry"

"Alright, what are you wanting?"

"Pizza!" They say in unison.

"Hmm...okay, let me tell you what." Stevie brings her voice down to almost a whisper. "There might be a number to a yummy pizza place on the fridge. If you're quiet, you can order and take it to your room but don't tell Daddy" she emphasizes.

"You rock, mom!" Callie says, kissing her cheek.

"Thanks, just um...if you get caught don't say anything. Let me handle it"

"Will do" Callie goes to the fridge and finds the phone number instantly. She hops up on the counter, finding her mother's cell phone haphazardly tossed on the surface among miscellaneous pieces of mail and places the order.

"Cal, your mom is so cool! My mom would never let me do something like this" Sara says. Callie looks over at Stevie who is making the cookies on her own and nods.

"Yeah, she's totally cool."

"You're so lucky! Come on, let's go back to your room. You have to tell me about Seth" Sara says, taking her friend's hand.

"Wait...who is Seth?" Stevie's interest is piqued, a sly smile appearing on her face.

"Thanks Sara...uh, he's a boy"

"I gathered"

"And um, he's kind of cute"

"You're in 6th grade!" Stevie says.

"But he's in 7th grade" Callie says.

"So what's he like?" Stevie says. It's a new generation, they do things faster now so she wanted to be all ears. She would never want her daughter to go behind her back. She has to remain open.

"He plays soccer and he's really cute"

"I thought you said he was just kind of cute" Stevie teases, mixing the cookie dough.

"No, he's totally cute. And he's funny and smart."

"How come you've never invited him over?"

"What? I thought you and dad would give me a big fat no if I asked"

"No kissing, no...whatever kids these days do"

"Gross, mom, that wouldn't happen at all"

"Alright so what, you'd want to watch a movie or something? I'm cool with that"

"Yeah, your mom is way cool" Sara says again.

"And what about daddy?" Callie asks.

"I will help him understand" Stevie tells her daughter. "No boyfriends though. He is your friend and you can only hang out here or at school functions. No dates"

"Thanks mama. Did I ever tell you how much I love you?"

"God, you are my child!" She says, hugging her daughter who was literally her spitting image sometimes and it was scary. Her mannerisms were so spot on, mirroring her mother often. "I love you too, honey."

"Do you need any help?"

"Only if you want to."

"We'd love to Mrs...Stevie" Sara says and Callie giggles at her friend.

The girls help Stevie drop the cookies onto a pan and put them in the oven. They eagerly sit in front of the oven watching them bake through the window. The doorbell rings and Stevie answers it.

"Nicks-Buckingham?" The young man asks, looking down at the receipt taped to the box.

"Yeah, that's me" Stevie says. "How much will it be?" The boy finally looks at her and just stares for a moment, unable to speak. "Is twenty enough to cover it?" Still no answer and Stevie gives him a strange look.

"Is it here, Stevie?" Sara asks, running out to meet her. "Oh, hey David"

"Sara?" The boy finally speaks.

"Yeah, my mom dropped me off. Caleb is still at home so like, when you get off work you guys can hang or something"

"That would be cool" David gives Stevie another look up and down then turns and practically runs back to his car.

"I didn't pay!" Stevie shouts.

"Keep it! It's on the house" he shouts back and pulls out of the drive way quickly.

Stevie walks back into the house, food in hand and puts it on the counter. Callie gets up and opens the box to check that everything is right. It looks fine so she motions for Sara to follow her to her room.

"Thanks mommy" Callie says.

"You're welcome, baby"

"My brother's friend gave away another pizza! He thinks your mom is hot!" Sara said and the girls laugh.

"Didn't he get fired for that last time?"

"Yep" More giggling as Stevie takes the cookies out of the oven to cool.

"That's hilarious!" Callie says.

"Oh no, I don't want him to get in trouble. Maybe I should call the place back or go up there and pay for it" Stevie bites her bottom lip and plays with the charms on her bracelet, displaying a couple her many nervous habits.

"Don't worry about it. You're a beautiful woman. Take it as a compliment" Sara smiles at her and follows Callie to her bedroom. She hears the bedroom door shut and goes to the mirror, thinking over the girl's words and that free pizza she had gained by attractiveness alone.

"Hmmm...I guess I'm not too bad after all." Stevie says, inspecting her skin and raising onto her tiptoes to fuss with her dress and her hair. "You still got it, Nicks, still got it" She gives herself a smile, retrieves her now lukewarm tea from the counter in the kitchen and takes a sip, letting out a contented sigh. Today would be a good day.