Stef walked up and down the small second-floor hallway, gently rubbing Frankie's back, trying to get her settled
"Mom, seriously I'm trying to sleep," Mariana said, coming out of her room. Rubbing her eyes.
"You're not the only," Stef said raising her eyebrow.
"I've got a test in the morning."
"What would you like me to do?" Stef said as she carried on walking up and down, rubbing her three-month-old daughter in her arms.
"Can't you take her downstairs or something?" Mariana said.
"Would you like me to send her away while I'm at it?" Stef's voice was harsh.
"That's not what I meant Mom," Mariana said. "I just want to sleep."
"I would love a full nights sleep as well."
"Where is Mama?"
"Sleeping," Stef said, trying not to laugh
"Seriously."
"Yes, she needs her rest."
"And I don't," Mariana said going back into her room. Closing the door.
Stef took a deep breath as Frankie finally settled. Her tiny head of curls nuzzling against her Mommy's arms. Stef walked into her bedroom, gently putting Frankie into her cot. She kissed her one last time before slipping back into bed. She lay on her back. Her arm thrown over her forehead. Lena rolled over, snuggling into her. Stef smiled. Putting her arm around her. rubbing Lena's back
"Is she okay?" Lena mumbled.
"Yes, she's fine. She's sleeping."
"Good, rest now baby," Lena said, kissing Stef's chin
"I am."
"Love you,"
"I love you too," Stef said smiling. Before sleep claimed her.
The craziness of the morning routine took over, Stef had Franke strapped to her chest. The baby taking in the world around her as the craziness of five teenagers took over, the noise level was at it's usually dim of too much, Lena was making tea, as she was still off coffee. Stef looked at her watch,
"Right my babies, it's time for school," She said clapping her hands to get their attention and to get them moving.
"Do we all have to go with Brandon?" Jesus asked.
"If you wanna walk buddy you can." Stef said, "Mama and I have to take Frankie for her shots."
"You make her sound like a pet puppy," Mariana said off hand.
"Your sister is not a puppy. I asked for a puppy but instead, I got her." Stef said, kissing her daughters head.
"We were never making a puppy baby," Lena said,
"Eww," Jesus said.
"What?" Stef said looking at her son, who was looking at both his mother's like they had both gone crazy.
"I don't want to know about you two making Frankie."
"They didn't make her, they had help," Jude said, very matter-of-fact.
"I got your Mom pregnant," Stef said smiling
"I think you'll find Mom, that is biologically impossible," Jude said.
"But not impossible," Lena said. "Your Mom did her bit. Trust me."
"I don't want to hear this, la, la, la, la ,la," Jesus said putting his fingers into his ears.
"wow you'd think we weren't young and hip anymore," Stef said smiling as she followed her kids out to the car. She noticed the moving truck next door.
"Agh, we have new neighbors." Stef's voice changed as she spoke to Frankie, using what Lena now told her was her Frankie only voice. "look baby girl, we have new neighbors you never know there could be a play date in there for you. Would you like that? Yes, you would."
"Bye Mom, I do think you're going crazy," Mariana said, smiling
"Bye my babies, remember, family dinner is tonight, no making plans. Home by six Mama is cooking"
"If you were, we'd all be dead." Brandon shot back.
"Hey buddy, I heard that."
"I'm shaking in my boots," Brandon said.
"You should be," Stef said, Lena laughed as she walked down the path her hand slipping into Stef's as they watched their five teenagers leave. Stef shook her head.
"What did I do to end up with six kids?" She asked.
"You married me and you brought the twins home," Lena said.
"You bought Callie and Jude."
"You came as a package deal with Brandon when I meet you,"
"You gave birth to Frankie," Stef said,
"We're even, then aren't we?" Lena said, winking. Stef smiled. she couldn't help it. she turned, towards the house where the new neighbors were moving in and stopped. A woman she hadn't seen since high school was looking back at her.
"Oh…My…God. Stefanie Cooper."
Stef looks completely shocked, Lena moves closer to her wife, slipping her fingers into her Stef's, feeling Stef's fingers naturally engulfing hers.
"Tess," Stef said, "Tess Brown."
Lena knew at once who this was. this was the person that Stef had cuddled on a couch, she was the reason that Frank sent his daughter to a youth minister. And the reason she'd hidden her sexuality for so long. Lena suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to protect Stef.
Tess laughed
"It's Tess Bayfield now," Tess said, "My husband, Dean is just inside. Wow,"
Stef looked at Lena, she couldn't' speak her mouth had gone dry.
"Sorry, erm, Tess this is my wife Lena."
"Wife, really wow, nice to meet you." Tess reached out and shook Lena's hand.
"Nice to meet you too,"
"And who is this little one?" Tess said looking at Frankie who was staring at her with intent. Like she was trying to figure out if she was a friend.
"Frankie," Stef said. "This is Frankie." She kissed the top of her daughter head making Frankie look up at her. she pulled a face making Frankie giggle. Lena shook her head.
"I guess as you know Stef that you're not new to San Diego," Lena asked, her hand tightening around Stef's
"No, I grew up here but did my residency at John Hopkins where I meet my husband and I just stayed."
"Wow, so you're a doctor," Lena said softly
"Yeah," Tess looked at Stef. "I can't believe you're living next door."
"You won't be saying that when our teenagers get home," Stef said jokingly.
"We have one Logan."
"I see your one and raise you five."
"You have five teenagers," Tess said shocked.
"Yeah," Lena said smiling as Frankie, looked around, Len reached over and ran her finger down her daughter's nose.
"And this little one?" Tess said. "You guys are brave."
"Crazy, not brave," Stef said. "Erm we better go, we've gotta get this one off to the doctors office to have her shots. See ya around."
"Sure, once we are settled you should come for dinner," Tess said.
"Thanks," Lena said. "That would be nice."
Lena and Stef walked towards the SUV.
"You're good Mrs. Adams Foster," Stef said slowly as she strapped Frankie into her car seat.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you managed to get a lot of detail out of Tess, but didn't tell her much about us, apart from the fact we're married."
"Oh yeah, sure she will be asking questions before you know it," Lena said
"What makes you say that?"
"Stef she's the reason your dad sent you to a youth minister, she's your first crush. She's…"
"Not the woman I'm spending the rest of my life with, not the woman I'm deep, deeply in love with, not the woman I married. She's not the person I'm raising this crazy family. You are Lena."
"I know. I know." Lena said as she slipped into the passenger side. She looked to next door saw Tess and a man, a little older stood next to her watching them. She didn't know how to react. All she could say was when they were talking. She stood that little bit closer to Stef and held her hand a little bit harder. It bothered her. that this woman, who she'd just meet had known her wife.