When we get home, Barbara, Jess, Chis, Lori, Mom, and Fleetwood Mac meet us. My replacements included

"Oh Teedee, he's gorgeous. What's his name?" Barb asks.

"Joshua Lindsey Buckingham." Stevie smiles.

"Joshua Lindsey." Mick glares at me.

"Yes, Mick. I delivered him, Right where you're sitting in fact." I spit

"That's impossible." Mick crosses his arms.

"No Mick, he did. Friday I didn't come to the meeting because I had gone into labor. I was going to call when the power went out. Lindsey came here after. We were stuck here. Lindsey delivered the baby. And besides, he's my husband. My son can have the same name as his father." Stevie states.

"Stevie, I don't even know how you're still with him." Mick throws his arms up in exasperation.

"Mick, just stay out of it. It's not your battle. They're working it out. Rick Vito, Billy Burnette this is Lindsey Buckingham." Christine says as Sara walks over and sits with her.

"Our little poet's ball and chain." Rick coos.

"Your little Poet," I ask picking the baby up out of his carrier and holding him to my chest.

"Yes, Stevie's our little poet and Chrissie is our songbird." Billy chimes in.

"I see...Barb, would you like to hold him?" I ask turning my attention to my mother in law.

"Give him to your mother us Nicks' want to have a talk with you." Barbara smiles leading me upstairs. Lori, Chris, and Jess on our heels.

When we get to the guestroom I'm assuming they're staying in, Lori glares.

"I miss one day at work and show up to tour with two new guitarists. What the hell happened?" Lori spits.

"I'm surprised Stevie didn't tell you." I sigh.

"Sharon and I both tried to get it out of her but she said she was too ashamed." Lori shrugs plopping on the bed.

"Sara started telling me she hated it when we toured, the day you guys left for Rock a Little. As Fleetwood Mac was making this album Stevie was focused on not only her solo career but our kids as well. Both being in school now. We recorded right here in this house for maybe five months. We saw her for a total of two weeks. Everyone was furious. As we were going to tour rehearsal, Sara again told me that she didn't want me to leave. So I quit. Stevie flew off of the couch cut up my face with her fingernails and she was hitting me. So I retaliated, I pushed her off of me and chased her around. Eventually, I was strangling her over the hood of the car. Mick pulled me off of her and John fired me. Mick took Stevie to the hospital. I didn't do any damage, but she found out that she was pregnant. Came back home and kicked me out. I only saw my kids on the weekend and when they were on tour. I came home on Friday purely, purely by instinct. I found her doubled over out bed in labor. So, I delivered the baby. She literally asked me to move back in yesterday and I don't know if I want to. I told her I would, and I do love her so much, but I don't think I can be here anymore. Especially now, because at our legal meeting on Friday, her lawyers kept talking about getting her to charge me with attempted murder or file for divorce, or both even. I did screw up, I shouldn't have choked her, I get that and you guys should kill me or hate me but I did it out of self-defense." I say motioning to the small scar on my face.

Barbara just wraps her arms around me and I cry into her shoulder I cry for the first time in a very long time.

"Well, in other, happier news. Chris and I are getting Married." Lori breaks the silence. As I let out a teary chuckle.

"Does Steph know?" I ask wiping my eyes.'

"No, we don't want to steal your guys' thunder," Chris says

"Please do," I say.

"Are you sure?" Lori asks.

"Yes. I am absolutely sure. Besides she is your boss and she's going to need to know about you having to take time off for a honeymoon. I'm sure she already has things planned out for another album." I tell her

"Alright, let's go." Lori cheers.

"You go. I'm going to go sneak out and get my stuff to move back in." I say.

"I thought you weren't sure." Jess looks at me.

"I think I'll stay in the studio." I sigh.

"Alright, I'm going to go see my new grandbaby." Jess smiles walking downstairs.

***

I sneak back to my apartment to break the lease and collect my things. I linger awhile, and when I get back to our house Stevie was crying on the sofa. Everyone except for the Nicks' had gone and Barbara and Jess were doing the dishes. Lori was on the couch with Stevie doing her best to console her and Chris had the baby in the armchair.

"Stevie?" I ask.

"You left." She sobs.

"No baby, I want back to get my things from the apartment I was staying in. I really didn't feel welcome here with Fleetwood Mac anyway." I tell her as she latches onto my chest sobbing.

"Baby breathe, you're going to have a panic attack." I sooth.

She eventually falls asleep and I carry her to the master bedroom and put her in bed. Chris following me and placing the baby in the bassinet in our room.

"What's the matter with her?" I ask coming back downstairs.

"Her emotions are everywhere right now. Eventually, she'll be back to normal." Barbara says rubbing my shoulders and going upstairs, Jess following behind her. I finish my beer and then I go make myself at home down in the studio. I'm woken up shortly after to my wife pulling at me.

"Stevie what are you doing?" I ask groggily.

"Joshua was crying and when I got up to feed and change him you weren't in bed," Stevie says pulling at my arm to get me off of the day bed that's down there.

"Stevie, I'm not going to sleep with you for a while. You kicked me out. Part of me only thinks you asked me back because I delivered our baby. Right now, I'm perfectly fine sleeping down here until your family leaves then I'll go take one of the guest rooms. I'm sorry Stevie but that's how it's going to be." I explain.

"Lindsey, after almost fifteen years, I can't sleep without you." She shakes her head.

"But you do. Every time you go on tour. Stevie, you'll be fine. I'm right here. And in a few days, I'll be right down the hall if you need help. Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." I say kissing her forehead. With a teary smile, she walks out.

The next morning, when I walk into the kitchen, Stevie is cooking something on the stove the kids are fumbling around trying to get themselves ready, and Jess and Chris are sipping coffee at the bar. Lori and Barbara nowhere in sight.

"Daddy!" Sara yells running over to me. I hug her and then go face my son and wife.

"Shouldn't you be in bed icing your stitches?" I ask rubbing the sleeping newborn's cheek.

"Baby, I feel fine. I've done this before. I know when I'm going to need to slow down. Right now I'm not too bad." Stevie says kissing me and handing me a plate of bacon and eggs.

"I just don't want you to overdo anything. Alright, Kiddos. We eat and then we get in mom's SUV and go to school." I say going to sit at the table.

"Can I tell my class about Joshy?" Mason asks.

"Absolutely." I smile mussing his hair. He's had it cut, but the curls are still very there

When I return home, suitcases are sitting by the front door and my wife is laying on the couch feeding Josh and Barbara and Lori are doing the dishes.

"Lindsey, I really need to go ice myself. Could you?" She asks motioning to the baby. I nod and take him from her. He cries at the removal of his bottle and the changing of position.

"Oh, I know you're so mistreated," Stevie says in her baby voice.

She winces as she slowly climbs up the stairs. The Nick's leave around five and then we are officially on our own and outnumbered by children.