When Stef drove to Lena's apartment she heart sunk. Lena's car wasn't outside but she decided to ring the doorbell anyways just in case. But sure enough there was no answer. Lena obviously wasn't home and Stef had no idea where she'd gone or when she'd be back. For all she knew she was away for the week and wouldn't be back until it was time for school to start again.

Stef didn't know what to do. She didn't want to do this over the phone but she knew that she couldn't wait a week. This had to be done now, especially if Lena was in town and just not home. Stef dialed Lena's number and felt her heart beat faster with every ring. Just when she was convinced that the phone would disconnect without being answered she heard Lena on the other end.

"Hello." Came the voice that Stef longed to hear.

"Lena." Stef said in relief.

"Stef." Lena said, somewhat curtly.

"Where are you?" Stef asked.

"At the school" Lena answered, wondering why Stef wanted to know.

"I need to talk to you." Stef told her.

"Stef..." Lena began to protest but Stef stopped her.

"Just a few minutes, please." She begged.

"Okay..." Lena began, planning to set a time and place.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." Stef interrupted before Lena could change her mind.

"Okay." Lena sighed, knowing there was no way out of this.


Ten minutes later Lena saw Stef standing against her car through the office window and headed towards her. Her gut told her that this was a bad idea and that she was just getting herself deeper into a bad situation but even she wasn't strong enough to just ignore Stef. She had spent the last ten minutes reciting exactly what she planned to say to Stef, determined not to get sucked into a relationship that was obviously not going anywhere.

"I'm not doing this, I'm not, I'm not getting involved with a married woman." Lena said the moment she reached Stef in the parking lot. "Women like you, you are just passing through but this is where I live Stef."

"I told Mike and I told my dad and I told all of my... well most of my friends." Stef interrupted her, desperate to get it out. "I told them I'm gay." She said to clarify. "I even used the word lesbian." She added, making it more official. She watched as Lena's face went from one of determination to teary-eyed nervousness before she continued. "I told them that I met a woman that I can't live without and I... I belong with you Lena" She said.

Stef waited for Lena to say something, anything but when the woman remained silent and the look of nervousness didn't seem to leave her face Stef herself became nervous - did Lena really not want her? Somehow that thought never struck her. She thought that once she got over this then they could be together.

"That is if you'll still..." Stef began.

"You had me at lesbian." Lena interrupted, shaking her head 'no' at where Stef was going.

Stef smiled in relief as she looked at the love of her life and then not wanting to be apart for a moment longer and reached out to hold her by the arms, finally getting to feel the softness of the skin she couldn't get out of her mind.

Lena took a step closer to Stef and held the woman as Stef's arms wrapped around her as well. She couldn't believe this was actually happening - that Stef had actually made this work. She knew right then that she was never letting Stef go. When she had walked out here she was determined not to let Stef talk her into something she didn't want but instead Stef had told her exactly what she'd wanted to hear.

Stef leaned into Lena. Though Stef had initiated their first kiss she felt like, though she was in it, was actually watching it happen to someone else. But this time she was more sure of herself and so she leaned in and when her lips met Lena's it felt absolutely perfect. This was their first real kiss, one that wasn't a trial run but more of a commitment.

When they pulled away both women had smiles spreading right across their faces. The tears that had been pooling in Lena's eyes spilled over. She never dreamed she'd find someone who was willing to change her entire life for her but here she was - her perfect woman.

"I hope those are happy tears." Stef smiled softly as she brushed them away with her thumb.

"They are." Lena assured as she smiled too. "The happiest."


When Lena got back into school she was giddy with joy and the silly grin would not leave her face. She was going over to Stef's house once she finished up at school and they were going to have dinner together. Brandon would be there so it was just going to be a quick, friendly dinner but still, as long as she was with Stef she was happy.

"You look happy." Andy Gomez, the principal, commented when Lena came back in.

Lena's smile grew wider. The man had a soft spot for her, said she always reminded him of his daughter.

"I met someone." Lena said. "And she changed her whole life around to be with me." Her voice was still filled with surprise at that fact.

"That's great kid." Andy said sincerely. He knew Lena was gay, as did most of the staff and no one seemed to mind. What each person did privately wasn't any of their business and besides Lena was kind and great at her job so really there was nothing to dislike. "Just make sure you tell her to treat you right or else I'll kick her behind." The older man said with a fatherly firmness.

Lena smiled. "You do that and she'll throw you're in jail." Lena teased. "She's a cop."

Andy shook his head in disbelief. "You sure know how to pick 'em." He said teasingly.

The two were alone in the administration office. Andy was in for two days because he had two more days before his entire family arrived for thanksgiving and Lena offered to help as a way to pass the time and distract herself from the woman she had thought she'd been done with for good. Since no one else was around Lena decided to get this out in the open.

"There's just one thing." Lena said, causing Andy to look back up from the lesson plan he was approving. "She's a parent." Lena said nervously. There wasn't exactly a written rule that stated the staff couldn't date a parent but it sort of seemed like an unwritten one.

Andy looked like he was thinking for a moment so Lena tried to explain.

"It just happened and it wasn't planned and I promise..." Lena began but Andy cut her off with the raise of his hand.

"Just don't let it interfere with your work or the child in question." Andy said. "As long as that goes smoothly, I don't see anything wrong with it."

Once again that silly grin spread across Lena's face and she was tempted to reach across the table and give the elderly man a hug.

"Get back to work Adams." Andy said in mock sternness. "I told you this can't affect your performance."

Lena got busy with her work but she could see that the smile hadn't left the principal's face either.


"Hey B." Stef said, entering the little boy's room.

"Look mom." Brandon said, pointing to some Lego structure he had made that she couldn't identify.

"I see." Stef said, tempted to ask him what it was but fearing that would result in a whole new discussion about the zoo. "Can you come sit for a second." She said, taking a seat on his bed and waiting for him to join her.

"What's up?" Brandon asked, in a manner that made him seem much more grown up than he was.

Stef smiled before she began. "So what do you think about Lena coming over for dinner tonight?" She asked.

"Who's Lena?" Brandon asked with a frown.

"Um... Ms. Adams." Stef corrected, realizing that to the boy she was nothing more than an adult at school.

"Okay." Brandon shrugged. He'd gotten to know her a bit over the last four months, probably better than any other teacher but still it hadn't been anything extra special.

"You don't mind?" Stef asked to make certain.

"No." Brandon said frankly. "I like Ms. Adams, she has the best cookies."

"Okay." Stef said, unsure of what to say next. She'd expected something more from him - maybe curiosity as to why or a reluctance at having a teacher at school join them but the boy seemed fine.

She got up and Brandon headed back to his mystery construction and just as Stef was about to leave the boy stopped her.

"What are we having?" Brandon asked, knowing that when people came over Stef usually tried to make something better than their everyday food.

"I was thinking we'd use the grill." Stef said, knowing it was the one thing she was always good at. "And you can help me make a salad."

"Okay." Brandon shrugged again like it was no big deal.