#nickvie

Stevie made her way into her daughter's room, seeing Misty sitting up in her bed. "What's wrong, babygirl?" she asked as she walked over to sit beside the girl.

"How I ge' up hewe?" Misty asked, brows knitted together.

"I carried you. You fell asleep in the car on the way home from lunch. Auntie Chris and I didn't want to wake you, so I carried you up here. Why, sweetheart?" Stevie asked, brows furrowed.

"I sweep walk... some'imes I don' wemember when I do ih." Misty explained.

Stevie brushed the girl's hair behind her ear before cupping her face softly. "That's okay. Thank you for telling me though."

"Mhm," Misty nodded softly. "Is Aun' Chwis still hewe?"

"She is, but, sweetheart, you didn't sleep long. I want you to try and sleep some more, okay?"

The small blonde pouted. "I wanna day bye-byes to hew."

"I'll make sure she's still here when you wake up, okay?" Stevie asked.

Misty nodded softly before laying back down. "Pwomise?"

"Promise," Stevie said before leaning down to place a kiss on top of Misty's forehead. "I'll be downstairs if you need me."

"'Kay," the girl smiled before closing her eyes and put her thumb back into her mouth.

Stevie smiled before getting back up and left the room. She made her way back downstairs to see Christine still on the sofa, thankfully. Part of her worried Chris would leave while she was gone. It was always a worry that was in the back of her mind when she was with anyone, but she had to remind herself that the woman wasn't like her past lover's. She walked around the couch before retaking her seat next to Christine, who seemed to be in her own world.

"Everything okay?" Chris asked, her attention returning back to Stevie as she sat down.

"Yes. She just wondered how she got to bed. She wanted to say bye to you, but I told her to get some more sleep. So, you have to stay until she's up." Stevie explained.

"Is that your way of keeping me here?" the older woman raised a brow.

"Maybe..." Stevie smirked cheekily.

"You could just ask, and I'll stay," Chris said as she took Stevie's hand again.

"Really?"

"You really don't have much faith in me, do you?"

The younger blonde looked down, staring at their hands as she laced their fingers together. "I do. I'm sorry." She said softly. "I'm just so used to people leaving... walking out on me. I should know you would never do that to me."

"I wouldn't, Steph," Christine said. "Never."

"But you have to fly home in a couple of days, don't you?"

Chris nodded. "I can always come back, though."

"You hate flying though..." Stevie murmured as she rested her head on the other woman's shoulder.

"I'll fly to see you."

The younger woman smiled, looking up. "Really?"

"Really." Christine smiled. "So, Misty's birthday is in a couple of weeks. What do you have planned for the little angel?"

"Well, my parents will be here in a few days to meet her... I had something in mind for her birthday, but I'm not sure everyone will be up for it." Stevie explained.

"Everyone?"

"She's absolutely obsessed with the band, and I was thinking of doing a little private concert for her. That way the boys can meet her. I was even thinking of asking Lori and Sharron to come."

The older woman smiled. "You know, she would have a heart attack over that." She chuckled.

Stevie nodded, smiling as she laughed. "I know."

"I'm in even if the boys aren't. I'll come to play for you."

The shorter singer couldn't help but smile. "Her birthday is the 29th, can you make it back by then?" she asked.

"Of course. Can I stay with you instead of at a hotel?"

"You don't have to ask," Stevie said before leaning up to gently kiss Christine's lips.

Christine's free hand softly cupped Stevie's cheek, caressing her soft, pale skin.

Stevie smiled at the small touch before gently pulling away, her forehead resting against the other's. "I've missed this." She whispered.

"I have too, darling." Chris smiled.

"You know... she won't be up for at least another hour," Stevie said before biting her lip.

"And if she wakes?" the keyboardist asked as she raised a brow.

Stevie chewed on her lip as she thought.

"Another time, my love. Isn't there a role about being with someone after rehab?" Chris asked.

"Well... yes..." the younger woman murmured.

"Then, we'll wait."

Stevie sighed as she nodded. "Okay."

"I just don't want to fuck up anything for you, Steph. You're doing so good. You need to focus on yourself and Misty. I'll be back for her birthday, and we can talk about this again, okay?"

Stevie nodded once again. "Can I have another kiss?"

"You don't have to ask," Christine said before pressing her lip to Stevie's once more.

Another hour passed, Stevie and Chris hadn't spoken much more, but laid in each other's arms, sharing small, gentle kisses and relished in their warm embrace. Movement could be heard from upstairs, and Stevie knew her daughter was up.

"I'll be back." She said before pressing a final kiss to Christine's lips before getting up. She walked upstairs to see Misty walking out of her bedroom, rubbing her eyes with her fists. "Hey, babygirl. Did you sleep well?"

"Mhm." The girl nodded softly. "Gotta potty." She murmured before walking to the bathroom.

"Make sure to wash your hands!" Stevie said as the door shut.

"'Kay," Misty said. Once Misty walked back out, she had a sleepy smile on her lips before looking up at Stevie. "Ya lipsick is messy." She said.

Stevie's eyes went wide before stepping into the bathroom, seeing her light pink-ish/coral lipstick was smudged. She quickly cleaned it up before walking back out. "I, uh... took a nap too." She lied.

"Is Aun' Chwis sill here?" Misty asked with furrowed brows.

"Yes. She's downstairs."

"Yay!" Misty said before walking to the stairs. "Can ya cawwy me?" she asked.

"Of course," Stevie said before picking the girl up and carrying her downstairs.

"Hi, darling. Did you sleep well?" Chris asked as she stood up from the soda.

"Good." Misty smiled as she was set on the floor. Her brows furrowed when she noticed some of Christine's lipstick was smudged too. She looked back to Stevie, and then to the other woman again. "Why ya both have messy lipsick?" she asked.

Stevie looked to Christine with a worried look. "We both took a nap." She said quickly.

Chris glared at the other woman, it wasn't a believable lie after all.

"Oh... okay," Misty said softly.

Stevie let out a sigh in relief as she walked back over to the sofa, sitting back down. "Come here, sweetheart."

Chris sat back down as Misty climbed into her mother's lap, and Stevie couldn't help but smile that they both came to her.

Chris bit her lip as she noticed the other singer meant the girl, and not her. "I should get going." She said, clearly nervous.

"Stay," Stevie said as she grabbed Christine's hand with her free one.

"Pwease?" Misty asked with her big blue eyes staring into the keyboardist's own.

"Okay," Christine said, without hesitation.

Both Stevie and Misty smiled over her answer.

"Am I staying for dinner too?" she asked.

"If you'd like," Stevie said. "What do you think, babygirl?" she asked Misty.

"Yes!" Misty smiled.

"Okay," Chris chuckled.

That night, Christine stayed for dinner, which she helped Stevie make something simple for the three of them.

Misty watched them from the counter, smiling as she watched their playful banter, and when they occasionally sang along to whatever song came on the radio.

By the time Misty's bedtime came around, Christine decided it was time for her to head home, so she wasn't in the way.

"Misty, why don't you head upstairs while I show Chris out?" Stevie suggested.

Misty walked over to the British woman, hugging her legs. "See ya, Aun' Chwis!" She smiled.

"Bye, darling." Chris smiled as she hugged the girl back.

Misty smiled before heading to the stairs. She stopped before staring at them.

"Can you make your way up by yourself?" Stevie asked, seeing her daughter's hesitation.

"I 'hink so," Misty said before slowly making her way up.

Stevie smiled brightly before turning to Chris who was gathering her thinks. "Thank you for helping with dinner." She said.

"Of course. You know I like to cook, I just don't do it often." Christine said as they walked to the door.

Stevie glanced back to see the girl out of sight. She leaned up, kissing Christine's lips softly. "I know. Call me when you get home in a few days?"

"Always." The older woman said before cupping Stevie's cheeks and kissing her again. "I'll be back before you know it."

"I know."