Stevie got into the passenger seat and waited for Lindsey to come out. He joined her a few minutes later and took her hand in his.

"Can I ask you something?" His eyes were wide, and his energy was all over the place.

"Anything" she says, unnerved by his urgency. As soon as she spoke, he seemed to visibly relax and it made Stevie feel a lot better. He stroked her knuckles with his thumb and looked into her dark brown eyes.

"A few days ago, we had no future at all and then overnight, everything changed. We're recommitting to each other and I never want to let you go again. I guess what I want to say is, Angel, will you wear my ring again?" He asks and presents the silver ring she had handed back to him.

"Yes" she says, leaning in for a kiss and fighting tears. He puts the ring back on her finger and she admires it. It's a simple ring but it's hers and it's finally back where it belongs. It means more to her than just about any other ring she's ever received.

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need
To see me through

"I love you so much" he says.

"I love you too, honey."

"This feels really right."

"It's a shame we wasted so much time."

"At least we spent everyday together and we have never missed a moment of our children's lives."

"That's true" she says, nodding. "I'm so lucky to have you."

"And I, you."

Sometimes it seems the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you've got the love I need
To see me through

When food is gone you are my daily meal, oh
When friends are gone I know my savior's love is real
Your love is real

"I can't wait to see them" she says as he starts the car. The journey to her parents' house is short and they pull into the driveway. Lindsey gets out of the car and opens her door for her, helping her out. She smiles her gratitude and they walk up to the front door, excited to see their children. Stevie knocks softly, the door immediately opening.

"TeeDee!" Her mother says, hugging her.

"Mama!"

"How are you, sweet girl? Come in!" She ushers the couple inside.

"I'm great" Stevie says, smiling up at Lindsey. 

"I'm glad. You seem to be doing better, Lindsey"

"I am. Steph is staying."

"No Texas, no Brock?" Barbara asked, arching an eyebrow.

"A thing of the past" Stevie says.

"Good girl"

"I take it you didn't like him?"

Jess is crossing through the living room and hears the conversation. "Welcome back, baby girl. I knew you'd make the right choice" He kisses the top of her head.

"You didn't like him either?"

"Not that he needs to but he didn't ask us for your hand. It's the principle of the thing. Call me old fashioned. Lindsey asked, rather begged us, all those years ago."

Stevie was shocked, not so much with Brock's behavior but Lindsey's. "He...he asked you for permission to marry me?"

Her parents chuckle and her mother wraps an arm around her father. Barbara has never told her the story before. "Yes, he asked us. He was so cute and nervous. If I remember correctly, it was after a conference that Mr Hadley had sent him to."

Cause you got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love

"He came here before heading home and he told us how in love he was and how much he cared about you." Her mother continued. "He said you hadn't talked about it but he wanted it to be okay with us before he asked, no matter what your answer might be. He was so tired, had no money and he was so thin and hungry. He said he didn't feel worthy to ask but we could see how much he wanted you to be his wife."

Lindsey's hand found Stevie's and she looked at him briefly as he laced his fingers with hers.

Time after time I think "Oh Lord what's the use?"
Time after time I think it's just no good
'Cause sooner or later in life, the things you love you lose
But you got the love I need
To see me through

"So your mama made him dinner and I thought it over. By the time he was done eating, which was no time at all, I knew I was going to agree."

"But he made me work for it," Lindsey said with a laugh.

"Damn right" her father said with a wink. "I made him go home to you. I wanted to see if it really mattered to him. He called me everyday for a week. He got on my nerves!" He laughed. "He kept telling me he wouldn't ask if he wasn't serious and if I didn't say it was okay, no proposal would be made. I told him he could marry you if he stopped calling!" Lindsey laughs, nodding and Jess slaps his former son in law's back as one would a dear, old friend. "A few nights later, you called us with news of your pregnancy, TeeDee."

You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love

"Wait...you didn't marry me because of the babies?" Stevie asks Lindsey, tears in her eyes.

"No, I wanted to save for the most beautiful ring but I had no idea how long that would take. Every time I would save up a good amount, I had to use it for rent one month and the next, to fix our car when it broke down. It hurt that I couldn't afford a nice ring. I couldn't give you anything really special but I did my best."

"It was enough. I still treasure that ring. Money doesn't matter to me. I wanted you and that's why I said yes. All these years, I thought you proposed because I was pregnant...but that's not true" She inhales deeply, dissolving into tears and he embraced her. Her parents step away to give them space. "When I panicked the night before we got married, that's what it was about. I thought you wouldn't have asked me if I weren't pregnant and I began to question our future. I thought you were trying to fix the situation. I felt horrible, like I had trapped you and were just doing the right thing."

"No, baby. My god, all this time...you thought I didn't love you?"

"I knew you loved me Lindsey but I didn't know you loved me like this" she says, looking up at him.

"Angel, I wanted to be married when the babies were  born but I was dying to marry you anyway. You're it for me, Stevie." He says, the intensity in his eyes said it all. He was genuine. "I guess I should have told you."

"We haven't told each other how we have really felt about each other until recently. We thought the other one knew but we didn't. We just...didn't" she says, wiping her tears.

"No secrets ever again" he says.

"No secrets" She rises to her tip toes and kisses him.

You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love

"Lindsey, Stevie, mama is starting dinner. Any requests?" Jess asks and they both shake their heads. "Alright. Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, we're great" Stevie says with a nod.

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
'Cause I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need to see me through

They sit down with their kids on the couch. "Hey" Stevie says, and the kids break from their tv trance, so happy to see her.

"Mommy, you're really here!" Callie squealed, hugging her mother. "Why aren't you in Texas?"

"A lot of things have happened and we would love to talk about it with you both" Stevie is holding onto Lindsey for dear life. He strokes her hand, calming her nerves. Dylan turns off the tv, noticing how serious the tone is. "Brock and I broke up" Stevie says.

"Awesome!" The kids say excitedly, high fiving each other and generally celebrating the news.

"I thought you guys liked Brock. We would go and have dinner with him and do lots of fun things."

"Mom, we did like him at first" Dylan says. "But he really wasn't nice to us."

"Just last week, Brock and daddy were having a fight in the kitchen. I was woken up by it and Brock said really mean things about all of us. He talked so bad about you, mom and he said he didn't care about us" Callie says, looking as if she may cry and Lindsey hugs her to him.

"Lindsey?"

"It's true, Steph. It was an act. He saw your beauty and it blinded him. He admitted to you being his trophy."

"He never loved me" she says, frowning at the realization. He stroked her thigh, trying to comfort her as well as his daughter.

"Baby, don't think about it like that."

"He led me on."

"No, I'm sure he did love you but in the only way he knew how. You're beautiful but you deserve more than that, you certainly deserve so much more than being an afterthought." He said and he could see in her eyes she was really listening. "You will always be top on my list."

"Thank you" she says, letting him kiss her forehead.

"Don't be upset, honey"

"I don't mean to be, it's just..."

"Its hard to hear" he says and she nods. "If it makes any difference, I love you."

"It makes a world of difference. I love you too"

The kids are looking at the scene before them, never seeing their parents so open and honest about their feelings toward each other. "So....what happens next?" Dylan asks, his lips curling into a smirk.

"What do you mean?" Lindsey asks.

"Well...are you guys going to get married or something?"

Lindsey chuckles. "I don't think so, Dyl but we did want to tell you that your mother and I have decided to give it another shot."

"Really?" Callie asks, sensing the overwhelming love in the room.

"Yes" Stevie says, squeezing Lindsey's hand.

"I knew it!" She exclaimed. "Told you, Dylan! You owe me a dollar, a candy bar and you have to take over my dishwashing duties for a week!" Dylan groans but shakes on it, knowing he has to keep up with his end of the bargain.

"Fine" he says, withdrawing his hand from hers. Stevie and Lindsey look at each other, smiling and shaking their heads.

Kids!