Chapter 1

"I cannot believe you took my cards! I already told you that I need to buy more supplies for my classroom. Mason, this is crazy". Lena was fuming as she paced the small office. It smelled of musky wet wood and moth balls. And with the clutter of papers and files everywhere she was starting to feel caged in.

Lena was two seconds away from throwing everything all across the room if this man did not look up at her. The older gentleman continued to look down at the file in front of him. As soon as he heard her stop talking he looked up to her intense gaze.

"I remember you saying that which is precisely why I have your debit and credit cards. You don't understand budgeting. I don't have time for you to be wasting all of this money on decorating a little room for kids who don't even care. Besides, didn't you see I left you $50 at home? Just make that work," he said as he went back to reading the file on his desk.

"Mason. I am not your child, I am your fiancé. A good portion of that money is mine. So you better give me back my cards now!" Lena leaned forward with both of her hands firmly on the desk as she scowled at this man. He first looked at her hand then up at her. "Or what?" he challenged.

If looks could kill she would have been condemned him to hell. She could not believe that she was stuck in this situation with him; with this man who is damn near twice her age. Granted no one would be able to think he was too much older than her if her just bothered to dye his salt and pepper hair, but he claims it "fit his role".

He got up from behind the desk and moved to the front where he hovered over her. "Listen, sounds like you are having a rough morning. I'll give you another $50 and the loan you some more in the morning".

"Loan? I don't need this". She turned to walk away when he suddenly grabbed her arm. She looked back at him daring him, "Do you really want to give your entire precinct a show today?" He paused and rethought his actions before letting go, "I love you too, Lena. By the way, you should make a stop at home and fix your hair. I see some of your curls are trying to break free".

Lena snatched her arm away as she walked out of the office slamming the door behind her. She was finally able to exhale as she ran her fingers through the roots of her hair. It wasn't even no one and she was already exhausted. She was honestly a sweet, loving, and gentle person; but whenever she's around Mason especially since the engagement she has to be stronger.

…

"So how's everything with Ana? Was the doctor's appointment ok?" Stef asked her partner as she took a sip of her coffee and glanced to the perp they just arrested in the back seat. He was just a teen, looked no older than 15 years old. They caught him selling drugs outside of a park. Stef was honestly heart broken, but he has to do her job.

"She's doing great actually. No more body brace. Everything has healed nicely, you know. She's in a lot less pain. She hates using the crutches though. So I convinced her to at least use a cane for when she's going to be walking or standing for a while, just in case".

Mike and Stef have been partners literally since the beginning. They were neighbors since they were young. They even went to school together all the way through high school and decided to become police officers together. They even dated from the end of high school up until about four years ago. Luckily for them everything ended on a good note. Their four year relationship was fine, but it just felt like an awkward friends with benefits commitment. Come to find out, Stef made the realization that she was a lesbian and Mike was in love with a woman he met named Ana. Now at almost 30, Mike was happily married and Stef was happily committed to the one night stands that helped her ease a void she didn't know how to fill. But she was glad that through it all her and Mike remained close.

They literally looked out for each other. Especially now with the stress of his wife's car accident. She was basically hit off of the road by someone texting and driving. Ana had broken ribs, collapsed lung, and the inability to walk after the impact. It was a lot for him not to turn back to drinking with all of the medical bills rolling in, the extra shifts he had to pick up, and making sure his wife continued to get better. But Stef constantly looked after him so that he could look after his wife.

After a few more minutes of casual conversation they arrived to the station. They retrieved their backseat rider. Once they walked through the door the realization of what was happening must have sunken in, he seemed tense ad shaken up. This didn't go unnoticed by the two cops as they exchanged the same look. "Come on, kid. Let's go call your mother and let her know where you are," Mike said as he led him to the phones. "I'll get a jump on the paperwork," Stef said as she looked over her shoulder in pursuit of her desk.

She should have watched where she was going because by the time she turned around she slapped dead into someone else causing the woman to drop her phone and stumble back from the impact. "I'm sorry! Are you alright?" Stef said quickly retrieving the phone from the ground and handing it back to the woman. She was momentarily stuck for words as she gazed at the most beautiful woman she has ever seen. Her golden skin was enchanting, paired with her big brown orbs and nice full lips. Her slender build was perfect. And though she just wore jeans, a blouse and sandals her style was fitting.

Lena awkwardly smiled with a small, "Thank you. I should have been paying more attention". Once she had her phone she walked past her; she hated being in that building unless she absolutely had to. "Wait!" Stef called out to her. Lena whipped around, perplexed as to what else she could need. "Yes?"

"Well, uhm, is your phone ok?" Lena spun it around examining it. "Yes I think so. It's just a block of metal and plastic. Worse things could happen," she chuckled nervously as she stepped a bit closer. Stef nervously pulled at the collar of her uniform, "Yeah. I guess you're right. But here, in case it is broken". Lena was so amused by this woman. She didn't have many friends but she could somehow see her I her day to day life. Stef pulled out her contact card and a pen and wrote her home and cell number on the back and handed it to her.

"Stephanie Marie Foster" Lena read out loud. "You can just call me Stef," she blushed. Lena looked up and smiled, giving her her hand to shake. "Lena Elizabeth Adams". "Hi Lena," Stef said as she shook her hand. "Well I will definitely see you around, Stef. I have to go but it was a pleasure meeting you" Lena said backing away. "Same here".

As Lena was driving she could not help but revel in this new feeling that has taken her over. The blond haired woman seemed so nice and friendly. But she was a cop working under the control of Mason. He had a habit of driving her friends away. Which was why she kept her work friends and life a secret. She figured she could just do the same with this. Besides Stef didn't seem to know who she was. She just had this desire to get to know Stef more, something about her that she just couldn't put her finger on.

…

Shortly after, Lena arrived to her favorite store ever, Target. Even though Mason took her cards she still had her phone. Thankfully this store allowed her to pay through that. Mason may have control over their joint funds, but Lena was not a fool; she had a Master's degree in business and education for goodness sake. She had two separate accounts which she kept completely oblivious to her fiancé. She makes a hell of a lot more than he thinks she does. She saves up in the case of an emergency or if he tries to take everything from her. She knew that it was insane to stay with a person like this, but it was way more difficult than it seemed.

She was walking around picking up items for her classroom, since school began in a week, as well as a few personal items as well. From the corner of her eye she thought she saw someone that she knew as her heart race increased. She walked by a few aisles until she saw her right where she expected her to be; the toy aisle.

She walked closer to the dark haired 8 year old and knelt down right beside her without her even noticing. She was staring at a little doll that matched her with long dark hair, big brown eyes, and the most adorable rosy cheeks. "Hello, my sweet girl". Her head quickly turned to the voice next to her as her eyes lit up and she wore the biggest smile imaginable.

"Miss. Adams!" She basically threw herself into Lena's embrace. "I've missed you". Lena hugged her tight as her heart exploded. "I've missed you so much, Mariana, so, so much". Lena held tight to the small body in her arms as she stood up still holding her. "Are you here with Rita and the other girls"?

Mariana was a young foster child, who she had the privilege of teaching just last year in her fourth grade class. She was placed into the system just a year before that. Her father was placed in prison for beating her mother senseless and then convicted with murder when she died from the injuries. Mariana was very smart for her age. She even moved from kindergarten right to second grade. Thus she was able to get funding from the school to allow her to attend Anchor Beach for free as long as she maintained her grades. Lena didn't know anything about Mariana when she first stepped into her classroom, but they were both instantly drawn to each other.

Lena would watch over her at recess. Then, during lunch they would sometimes eat together and talk, even though Mariana was very vague about her life outside of school. It wasn't until Mariana started showing up to school tired and without eating or food that Lena found out her back story. She knew Rita from community service that the school partnered with Girls United to do over the weekends. Even though she kept older girls, she wanted to help. So Lena got Mariana out of her bad foster home and placed into GU.

"Yes. We are getting ready for school". "Then why are you over here by yourself missy? You didn't sneak away again, did you?" Mariana remained quiet and diverted her attention. "Mhm. Thought so. You're still a little girl, you have to stay close by to everyone else".

"The other girls pick on me because I'm little. They don't want me around".

"But what if something happened to you. I don't know what I would do without you around". Marian smiled at the woman looking back at her. "Miss. Adams"? "Yes my sweet girl". Mariana paused and looked down thinking against her original train of thought. Lena moved some hair out of the young girl's face. "Go ahead. Don't be afraid to ask me anything".

"Can I spend today with you, please?" There was so much hope and anticipation in her eyes. They never spent time together outside of school but there was no way she could say no. "I would love that. But I'm not sure if I can. Let's go find Rita".

Mariana held onto the side of the shopping cart as they made their way to the school supply section of the store. There was Rita with a couple of the other girls. "Mariana, what did I say about running off?" Rita stepped up to Mariana and Lena, but Mariana didn't leave Lena's side. "I'm sorry. I had to see if the doll was still there".

Rita looked to Lena and smiled, "How ya doin' Lena? We've missed hearing about the two of your lunch dates on a daily basis. This little one was crushed once she realized that you wouldn't be her teacher again".

"I'm doing well. I wish I could be her teacher again. I would be her teacher up until high school if I could". Mariana began to blush as she played with the hem of Lena's pants. "Actually, we sort of have a question for you". Lena felt like the nervous child next to her as she prepared to ask the question.

"I-uhm-have the next few days off. Like today and tomorrow. And we were kind of hoping we could spend the day together". Rita gave her a slightly more observant look. "So you want to have Mariana sleep over"?

"Sleep over?" Mariana thought. That would be amazing. She only thought for the evening; but if Rita said yes, then this would be awesome.

"Well, I mean I can al-always drop her off later then pick her up again tomorrow if that is a problem". Rita looked back and forth between the two. She knew that they both loved each other and cared deeply since day one. Over the summer Lena called GU weekly to check on Mariana and to make sure she was doing alright. On days when Lena didn't call, Mariana could not make it more than a few hours without mentioning her.

"I know that you two both know that's not allowed". Both girls' faces dropped. "But for you two I guess we can make an exception".

"Yay! A sleepover!" Mariana charged into Lena's, wrapping her arms around them. Once she finished discussing things with Rita, Lena decided to buy Mariana stuff since they were already in the store rather than driving all the way back to the group home. They picked up PJs, clothes, a new toothbrush and a few other small things. The two could not stop smiling, excited to spend the next 24 hours together.