Hi all - been a while! I have been extremely busy back in new term but also been hitting my new story, Transitions, hard. For anyone who is interested, and not yet reading, I'm basically taking each episode and filling in some of the scenes in between. The story is pretty much unchanging so it's very character development based rather than drama but as I'm using my AU character to draw out some of the unexplored feelings I am also adding a few extra little bits in too with her. You don't have to have read any of my other stories for it to work (as they're all future based) but there is the extra character in there - she's in essence just a teenage Stef. I know a lot of people don't like OCs so I understand that kind of story is not for everyone but there is a lot of expansion on the other characters too so if you fancy it I'd love to see you!

Anyway, enough plugging - this story is based on that between-the-scenes idea. Ages ago mcgirl6541 suggested a Moms chat with Mariana after the nose piercing and then recently TheTBone requested a Stef/Mariana bonding scene sort of about that topic. I haven't quite done tackling the nose ring specifically, but what it has resulted in is something a bit hallmarky and gushy about a lesson in self-esteem and not pretending to be someone you're not for anyone but I hope I've done it with Stef's flair. Let's face it, there's enough Polo hallmark movies to draw from! Thanks to TheTBone for reading through and for badgering me about getting this one done.

I hope you enjoy and, as always, would love to know your views! Thanks.

Mariana gazed out into the street from the wall of the cafe. The streetlights illuminated a catwalk for what seemed like an endless parade of happy couples flaunting their success at life.

She sighed deeply. She had spoken to Garrett after the show before he had been dragged away by adoring peers and although he had been sweet with his words she couldn't help but wonder why it never seemed more than that. She was giving the signals, she must be? Why was she getting none back?

"I've been looking for you, Miss Thing. Think we're going yo be making tracks. What you doing out here?" Stef took a seat next to her on the wall as Mariana looked ahead at yet another couple, cuddled up in a blissful stroll.

"Just getting some air." she replied with a half-hearted smile.

Stef could immediately tell the look. Mariana had been notably fragile in the blossom of Lexi and Jesus' romance and she knew that there had been more to her recent interest in poetry than a desire to improve her use of metaphors.

"Did something happen between you and Garrett?" she asked, brushing back a strand of her daughter's hair that was flapping in the wind.

"I don't wanna talk about it, Mom." she replied wistfully.

Stef smiled into the night air preparing herself for parent mode. She dipped her head to try and make eye contact. The glaring sparkle of Mariana's new piercing unsettled her. She knew it would take a bit of time to get used to and they were in no way done talking about that act of disobedience, but right now she couldn't ignore the lure of wanting to see her daughter smile. She'd have to put the face art feelings aside, but that didn't mean she couldn't use it to her advantage.

"Well, we're going to talk about something so we can either talk about why you're sad or we can talk about the metal bar you punctured your nose with. Your choice." she explained softly, raising her eyebrows.

Mariana snuck a look to see in her Mom's eyes what options she really had. Seeing no others, she sighed to take the former.

"I just don't know how I can throw myself at him any more obviously. He just seems completely oblivious. I mean, I've tried to watch his shows, tried performing for him, even tried to make myself look more like the kind of people he likes and still nothing. I'm never going to find someone." she plonked her chin into her hands and stared back out across the street.

Stef took a deep breath. At least it explained the piercing.

"Oh sweetheart." she sighed. Mariana had always been fragile, she had lacked stability for so many of her formative years that it was no surprise her confidence was lacking. She had gained a lot since then, especially with the support of her brother and Lexi, but right now it was clear that it was slipping - probably not helped by having two of her pillars crumble around her. Stef could see she was trying to stand out on her own and losing herself in the process.

"I think where you're going wrong is all of that "his" this and "his" that. You can't change yourself to try and be the person you think someone would want you to be, love." Mariana looked up at her Mom as Stef put an arm round her shoulders and pulled her in snugly. Mariana stayed rigid but couldn't help but cuddle in.

"You are a beautiful, talented, caring..."

"Mom..." Mariana winced, embarrassed at the typical motherly refrain.

"Hey, don't cut me off." Stef squeezed her. "See now I have to repeat it." she paused before picking it up with unbending emphasis. "You, Mariana Foster, are a beautiful, talented, caring, loving, wonderful young lady and you have so many unique traits and talents that I don't know why you would ever think you have to be anything other than yourself to impress anyone."

"But Jesus has Lexi, and Callie has Wyatt and -"

"- and you have someone out there who is going to love you just as much as you deserve; but they're going to love you for you." Stef glazed a hand over Mariana's cheek to redirect her eye contact to her own.

"Take it from someone who knows; living a lie may be easy at first but before you know it, it becomes harder and harder. Soon it's an effort you no longer have the strength to make and soon enough after that all you have left is the loneliness in people not appreciating all of the wonderful things that you in your way have to offer. What's worse, that person out there who is destined to love you for being you, the person who you never have to pretend in front of and whose life will shine a little brighter because of all of the things that come naturally to you" she poked the tip of Mariana's nose gently."They won't be able to see the things that should be drawing them to you."

Mariana nodded reluctantly.

"So don't be scared to try new things to find yourself, sweetheart, but not at the expense of the things you enjoy or the person you naturally are. The happiness you think you crave from a relationship is never going to be as rewarding as the happiness you get from being able to do the things that you love, maybe even one day with someone you love, understand? If you're not comfortable you're never going to be happy and what's more, they'll probably be able to tell and it will make them uncomfortable too."

"I get it." Mariana eventually spoke. "I just wish that we he liked me more, we have such a good time together I just figured it must mean he should like me."

"Garrett is a nice boy, and he loves spending time with you. I know he does and I know you know he does - but that's even more a sign that if there are things you don't share and there are other people that take his interest then maybe a romantic relationship is just not meant to be. Not everyone is suited to everyone in that way. You have to know when you have a good thing with someone that isn't more than just friendship, only then can you appreciate it for what it really is - just as you need to appreciate yourself in that way. You know there are probably things about him that you wouldn't want in a partner. Can you honestly say you wouldn't get frustrated with him not being interested in the things you enjoy doing?"

"I guess..." she conceded, a hint of a smile growing on her face that indicatd that the sadness was waning as well as giving Stef the green light to stray a little from the textbook.

"And this..." Stef pointed at the nose ring "this defacing of my beautiful piece of perfect art is not something you should make a habit of. Mainly because if you ever do anything like it again I'll make you go to school looking like Rudolf" she threatened playfully. "But more importantly because you have to remember you're beautiful the way you are and the right person will see that straight away - they may just have to be be worth waiting for."

Mariana paused for a moment as the pep talk ended. It wasn't anything she hadn't heard before but it still helped to put everything into perspective. If chasing someone was this hard and thankless then maybe Stef was right.

"I love you, Mom." she smiled as Stef pulled her tightly in again. She kissed her daughter's head a couple of times before fixing her hair back in place.

"I love you too, sweets. You feeling better?"

Mariana turned back to her with a smile and a nod leaving Stef with a feeling of motherly triumph.

"Good, then it's time we get home. You need to get to sleep so you can get up early tomorrow." Stef rubbed Mariana's back before rising off the wall.
She looked up at her confused.

"What's happening tomorrow?" she asked, following her up.

"Well, you need to be up bright and early for your morning lecture on why facial decorations without consent are a big no-no under our roof. Come on." Stef pulled a grumbling Mariana into a one-armed hug as the two of them walked back inside.

This one has been brewing for a while at the back of my mind but then the prompt of it again meant I wrote it in about an hour. Any more prompts, swing them my way and I may have the inspiration to whip it out quite fast! Thanks for reading!

By the way - how about those sneak peeks?! Eeeee!