Drabble Prompt: I wish I'd know you sooner


Stef and Lena watched as Jude escorted his date out the front door, waving one more time as the two boys—no, young men—drove away. Closing the door, Stef turned to her wife whose eyes were damp along the bottom, her lips pressed tight in a thin, shaky smile.

"Oh, love," she laughed in sympathy, knowing exactly where Lena's sentimental heart was lingering. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders while Lena leaned her forehead against her chest. "I can't believe it! Our last baby's last prom!" She toned down her celebratory joy for Lena's sake, but it couldn't be fully disguised. She was so proud. So happy that their youngest was getting to have the perfect prom night being exactly who he was without fear or shame. So much had changed since she was that age. There would be time for tears about growing up later. At the moment Stef couldn't feel anything but elation.

She gave Lena another squeeze and dropped a kiss to the top of her head before taking her hand and leading her to the kitchen.

By the time Stef had gotten them two generous glasses of wine, Lena had composed herself. Stef sat beside her in the breakfast nook so they touched from shoulder to knee, their fingers laced tightly together.

"You okay?" she asked, nudging her wife's temple with her nose before placing another kiss in the same spot.

"Mhmm." Lena squeezed Stef's hand. "I just can't believe all of them are all grown up."

Stef nodded her head in agreement. She had been thinking a lot about firsts and lasts lately as they watched their youngest reach every milestone. They'd had four other kids go through them all and yet they seemed even more significant this time around. A quiet lengthened between them, both wrapped up in their thoughts. Stef finally broke it. "I wish I could have known you sooner."

Lena turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

Stef shrugged. "I don't know. I just— Watching Jude go to prom with another guy… It made me wish I could have had that. That we could have."

A tender, understanding smile pulled at Lena's lips. "I know. But when we were going to prom, we couldn't have had that. I mean, I was already out and I didn't have it."

"Yeah." Stef sighed, settling herself down a little further into Lena's side. "I guess—I just think, if we'd met when we were kids, maybe I would have been brave enough to come out earlier, y'know? We could have spent almost our whole lives together." The wistfulness in her voice made Lena kiss the back of her hand.

"By the time we're old and gray, we will have spent almost our whole lives together."

"Joke's on you, babe. I'm already old and gray." Stef gave a hearty laugh and Lena shook her head, charmed despite herself, as usual.

"Well, I think our lives came together exactly when and how they were supposed to so that we could have everything we have now."

"I can't argue with that now, can I?" Stef clinked her glass against Lena's, and finished it off before setting it down.

"And anyway," Lena mused, "who's to say we would have made it if we'd met so young? What are the chances we'd still be together now? I was such a different person back then. I'm sure you were, too."

Stef barked a laugh and shook her head. She wasn't so sure about that.

Lena shot her an amused side eye. "I just mean, it's pretty rare for first loves to work out long-term. Even when they feel meant to be."

Stef gazed at her for a moment, a tender smile dancing in her eyes. "Jokes on you again, sweetheart." She patted Lena's leg. "Mine's working out just fine."

This time Lena's sideways glance was soft and blushing, and Stef winked at her. Lena set down her glass, turning to curl herself against Stef's side, pressing a kiss to the soft spot beneath her ear. "And aren't we both lucky for that?"