Months ago, Stef met the love of her life. It's been filled with hand holding, cuddling, romantic dinners, long walks on the beach and Stef still hadn't found the courage to take the next step, not that Lena was complaining or pressuring her. Stef realized that Lena meant every word she had ever spoken to her about patience, she seemed to simply enjoy their alone time. Stef almost kissed her once, but chickened out at the last second. She felt like an inexperienced teenager again. It's not that she didn't know how to kiss, she didn't know how to kiss a woman, what if it were different? What if Lena didn't like it? What if they took it a step further and she wasn't able to please Lena? The thought alone terrified her, so she hadn't made a move yet. But Stef was starting to worry she might be losing the interest of one Lena Adams.

"Can I ask you a question."

"You always do that."

"Do what?"

"Ask if you can ask, it's so cute." Lena chuckled. They were walking hand in hand on the beach early on a Sunday morning. Lena stopped her stride to stand in front of Stef. "Ask away baby."

"Are we together? I mean we've never talked about it."

"I think you just might be stuck with me."

"So...you're my girlfriend?"

"Yes. Is that alright?"

"Yeah...of course. Um..."

"Something else on your mind?" Lena asked.

"Yeah, I was wondering, why don't you...you don't really flirt anymore."

"Ah, you noticed that did you?" Lena asked.

"Of course I noticed."

"I just don't want you to feel like I'm trying to get in your pants all the time."

"So you don't want to get in my pants?" Stef asked playfully.

"Are you kidding me right now? Stef, you have no clue. Seriously, if you could peek into my mind..." Lena stared off into the ocean. She loved Stef and would wait as long as it took for her to be comfortable, but her body was aching for her. She wanted to explore Stef's body all night long, but she hadn't so much as tried to kiss her. Lena knew she wasn't ready, and she respected that.

"Am I...uh, making you wait too long?"

"No, it's not that. I just want to be with you. All the time. In every position my dirty little mind can think of."

"Oh."

"I'm fine though don't worry about me." Lena assured her. Just then it started to rain. "Oh my goodness, it never rains!" Lena yelled.

"Come on let's get you to your car, come on Lena." Stef urged but Lena didn't budge.

"Come on Stef let's play in the rain. We live in California, this is a rarity!" Lena titled her head back and let the drops of rain fall on her face, her arms were open and her smile was wide. Stef thought she had never looked so beautiful. Stef picked Lena up and twirled her around. Lena put her arms around her girlfriend's neck and smiled at her. When she put her down her arms stayed in place around her hips, this made Lena tighten her grip around Stef's neck. She pulled her in for a hug. The rain soaked them both and they enjoyed the sensation as they held each other. Stef pulled back slightly.

"Lena?"

"Hmm?"

"I...I love you." Lena was wide eyed.

At that moment the waves to her right came to a still. All color that surrounded them faded. All sounds evaporated into thin air. She no longer felt the rain drops fall on her body. All she felt were the strong arms of the woman she loved holding her tight. And the throbbing in her chest and her core. Her heart ringed in her ears and she wasn't quite sure if this was real or not. She took a deep breath and exhaled relief. "I love you too Stef. In a way I've never loved. In a way that I've only ever dreamed of."

Stef looked at Lena for an endless amount of time, her eyes staring at her lips. She couldn't wait any longer to know what they felt like. She took her time closing the distance between their lips, leaning in ever so slowly. Lena didn't move, she allowed Stef to be completely in control of their first kiss. She inched her lips towards hers at a snail like pace but Lena didn't mind. This moment was perfection and she wanted to soak up every second in order to burn the memory in her brain. She wanted to close her eyes, but her body wouldn't let her, she had to see Stef, she had to make sure she wouldn't disappear. Their lips met for the first time and Lena relaxed and closed her eyes, they lingered for a moment, then Lena pulled away, waiting to gauge Stef's reaction. Stef smiled as they looked at each other. The kiss was quick but it was sweet and tender, just what they both needed. Stef closed her eyes and leaned in again. The sweetness and slow pace was soon forgotten when their tongues met. They held each other close and their bodies begged for oxygen, but their desire to be close in a way they never had, won out over the need to take a breath. They breathed heavily in one another's mouths and their arms were wrapped tightly around each other. Stef's around Lena's waist and occasionally wandering up and down her back. And Lena's around Stef's neck and eventually settled in her blond locks. They stood like that, for over an hour, as close as they could get, kissing with rain falling all around them and spectators glancing.

X

Cuddling and, or making out on Lena's couch had become quite the past time for Stef, but the were still taking it slow. Since their first kiss a month ago, Lena has been nothing but respectful, and Stef appreciated it. But a part of her wants Lena to throw her against a wall and take her. The other part is afraid if that happens, she won't know what to do except run away. So she's grateful that Lena lets her take the lead. She'd be lying if she said that the beautiful math teacher didn't scare the life right out of her. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want to make love to her. More over, she'd be lying if she said she was ready for more than kissing.

"Stef?" Lena began, breathless from their kissing.

"Yes, love?"

"Don't break my heart." Stef had never seen fear in Lena's eyes, ever. But there it was. It was more than fear, it was complete terror encompassing the enchanting chocolate eyes she'd grown to love so much.

"I'd never even dream of that Lena." Stef tries to seal her words with a kiss, from underneath her girlfriend, but Lena pulls back, putting her body weight in her hands, resting on Stef's shoulders.

"Um...Stef, listen. I had just started to get over Gretchen when we met. Well, when I started stalking you." That earned a light chuckle from Stef. She loved everything about Lena, but none more than her sense of humor. "That breakup hit me pretty hard, but I don't think it was half as catastrophic as our breakup would be. You have the power to break me Stef. I know this because...because I'm certain of what I want from you. What I want with you."

"Yeah? What's that, love?"

"You, all of you. Forever." The last word of her declaration was just above a whisper, but clearly heard. Stef moved to reposition herself for the serious talk they obviously needed to have. She sat up as best she could with Lena still weighing her down. Lena reluctantly moved to sit up too. With their shoulders grazing and sitting upright on the couch, they stared ahead, neither knowing where to start.

"I didn't know you felt that...strongly." She knew.

"If you don't want the same thing, tell me right now." Lena said while staring at the hands she was opening and closing in her lap.

"I do. I want you too. Forever? How can you know that?" For reasons she didn't know, Stef always found herself needing reassurance from Lena.

"Easy. You just know these things." Lena braves a look at her girlfriend, who is smiling kindly at her. "I told you this before Stef." She paused. "Do you not want this?"

"Actually. More than anything. I just don't know where to start."

"Start? We've been inseparable for half of a year."

"I know, but we still haven't..." Now Stef is the one who can't meet Lena's eyes.

"Why do you constantly bring that up?"

"Because...what if we, you know...and..."

"Don't even finish that sentence." Lena interrupts. "Sex is not the most important part of relationship. Furthermore I'll teach you everything you need to know." Lena purrs, as she cups Stef's face to make her look at her. "There is no need to worry about that department. I'll take my time. And it will be sensational, I can tell."

"How?" Stef's curiosity peaked

"You're an incredible kisser, and there are tons of things I can think of to put your mouth to good use. But," Lena says abruptly, changing her tone from one of seduction to one of determination. "there are other things that make me wary, none of them have to do with you or I pleasing each other. Trust me, we will."

"So what are these other things?"

"Brandon, your parents, my parents. Our life together. You being comfortable with me, with us. With our love, for the world to see. I'm concerned with you not letting me in completely, I'm concerned with us not progressing, and growing together."

Stef's heart began to ache at the thought of Lena not knowing how much she means to her. "I know I've been...reserved, but listen to me love, you mean so much to me. I love you, with all my heart. Trust that, and trust me. Eventually I'll be comfortable with being more open, having you meet B and such. Honestly now that I have you I can't imagine my life without you." Stef turned to face her more and she mirrored her movements. "I don't even remember what life was like before you. It's like...it's like...sometimes I think to myself that I don't even know how I made it the first twenty-eight years of my life without you. I wonder how I even lived, Lena I..." Her words were promptly cut short by the passionate kiss Lena gave her. They pulled away breathless.

"Okay...I believe you."