September 29, 1974

 Lindsey, Jeff, Greg, and Ruth had cashed the furniture voucher on Saturday after the ceremony and they had beaten The Nicks' to Santa Monica, and as soon as Lindsey pulled up to the house his mouth opened wide because he was in absolute shock. It was massive and it looked so elegant. 

"This can't be right." He shakes his head and they slowly venture up to the front door. 

"Well try the key." Ruth demands. So he does and when it fits in the lock and he turns it allowing him to open the door his mouth goes wide. 

The stairs were right across from the entrance about twelve feet from it, directly across from the arch way that led to no doubt the rest of the house was a built in shelving unit he had the family kick their shoes off and then they ventured further into the house, he walked into the arch way where there was a fire place on the left wall then there was a small little area that led into what looked like the dining room and just passed that little area he came across the kitchen there was a peninsula instead of an island but there was enough room for about four barstools. The kitchen was small but there were dark granite counter tops and dark brown cabinets. All new updated appliances, stove fridge, coffee maker, microwave. The kitchen however was open to the living room. There wasn't a fire place or anything of excitement in that area save for the bathroom off the living room, it was small a powder room just a sink and a toilet but then there were the brown painted French doors that led out to the most gorgeous back yard.

There was a patio and a pool and they were on the water, all they had to do was unlatch the gate and they'd be just steps from the beach. 

"I have a pool, a pool!" Lindsey cheers all three of the Buckingham Boys were swimmers. 

"Let's go check out the top floor." 

Upstairs there wasn't much just a hallway and some doors. the master bedroom was massive with a little balcony that looked over the pool and the beach there was a fire place in there and plenty of space. The master bathroom as gray and white marble and it had a little make up area for Stevie and Lindsey resigned himself to the fact that he probably wouldn't be sleeping in there. 

There were two other bathrooms identical to the master only smaller with a tub shower combination instead of just a separate jacuzzi tub and shower and three decently sized guest rooms. 

As the Buckingham's were walking downstairs the Nicks' were walking in. 

"I'm going to go sit on the beach for a little bit." Lindsey says before walking away from the small group that's gathering in the entry way. 

"Wait, beach?" Stevie asks grabbing his bicep.

"Yeah, we back up onto the beach and we have a pool." Lindsey nods pulling out of her hold and making his way to the back door. 

Lindsey goes out and sits on a log and he just looks at the ocean and starts thinking. He really wants a family and this is the perfect spot to raise a family but he's never going to get one and it hurts him a little bit. He gets lost in his thoughts when he feels someone tap his shoulder.

"My parents suggested that you and I go alone to pick out the furniture. But they close at five so we need to go now." She sighs.

"Do you know what you want to do in each of the rooms." He asks.

"I do know. Are you letting me decorate?" A smile shows up on her face.

"Well I'm certainly not good at it. All I ask for is that I decorate my room." He sighs.

"Your room?" Stevie questions.

"I didn't think you'd want me staying in the master so." He shrugs.

"No, you can stay in the master. I mean we are getting married. Just because I don't necessarily want to and we don't really know each other yet it's the principal of the thing." She gnaws on her lip. 

"Fine. If you want to go though, we should probably get going." Lindsey stands up and holds his hand out for her. She takes it gratefully and they make their way into the house. 

"WE'RE LEAVING!" Stevie calls 

"We'll have food waiting for you when you get back." Is a response from one of the mothers. 

When they return from the store almost all the entirety of the check is gone, they only have about 2 thousand dollars left and Stevie went all out, buying not only furniture but pots and pans, plates, cups, bedspreads, coffee mugs, a really fancy standup mixer.

Walking into their house they were greeted by pizza and their parents talking in a hushed whisper standing across from each other at the bar.

"Did you find some good stuff?" Barbara asks when they walk into the house. 

"The big stuff won't be here until tomorrow, but we have the smaller stuff if you want to help us carry it all in, it's in the back of Lindsey's truck." Stevie smiles. 

After Stevie had quickly rinsed off the dishes they bought the dug into the pizza and then Jess and Barbara cleared their throats.

"The Boys, Ruth, Barb, and I are going to head home after we eat. Drive through the night. Teedee, you have work tomorrow so you're staying here anyway. But we also think Lindsey should stay here as well." 

"I'm going to my shared apartment with Robin and Kim tonight." Stevie points her finger over her shoulder.

"Actually Robin and Kim are going to be dropping your stuff off here. This is your house and we're not going to keep paying rent on an apartment. Kim and Robin understand and we've had this conversation And besides their two years is coming up so they're going to need to get busy on a baby." Barbara smiles.

"So I have to stay here tonight too?" She asks.

"It'll give you and Lindsey a chance to get to know each other better. I think you'll be fine." 

That night as they were getting ready for bed, which was literally them laying out what would be their bed set and pillows on the floor in their bedroom and some of the extra blankets they bought, and Lindsey looked at Stevie.

"Which side do you sleep on?" 

"I sleep on the right side of the bed." She points. Lindsey just nodded and crawled in on the left side of the bed and got comfortable on his back. 

But sleeping with Stevie was a chore because she moved a lot in her sleep and she did this cricketing leg thing that several times resulted him being kicked, but then she latched onto his chest and that's when she finally settled soft snores falling in the crook of his neck. When her alarm clock went off however she was on her stomach next to him. It was awkward because they really didn't know what to do around each other but what made Lindsey feel the dirtiest was that he watched her get dressed in the morning without her knowing and she was pretty sexy, nothing he would every consider his type...he had always crushed on the taller girls with fuller breasts but there was something about her that had him dancing around in triumph because HE got HER.