Story in a nutshell: Elena meets Sofia through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program.

Authors Note: I dropped my second sweetheart's day theme fic because it was just going to re-explain what happened in the episode except framed as a story from Marlena's POV. So I went back to some of my previous old reviews and stories seeing if anything from them catches my attention from the top down. It's another AU but someone was interested in seeing how Sofia and Elena met so here it is. Next is the Antonia story becoming captain when I get a chance (it is started but not sure when it'll be finished, stupid writers block). Then from there you'll see the order i'm going from. I'm not doing any new requests until the entire list is filled.

I had to give Sofia a last name since she didn't have one in the series. I hope someone thinks that its really clever that Sofia's last name is Shoemaker and her mom owns a Payless. Like if that doesn't allude to Sofia's background in the show I don't know what will.

Elena skimmed over the file in front of her. It was just a simple sheet of paper she had from meeting with her advisor. Sofia Shoemaker was about ten years old. She lived somewhere near her Arizona town. She flipped the portfolio closed and hugged it close to her.

Then kept an eye out for the man from the Big Brother's Big Sister's program and her new little sister. They had agreed to meet at a local ice cream shop right near Sofia's Elementary School. Ice cream on her for the day and hopefully to win over the young girl. Elena sat at the picnic table right outside to be noticed as soon as possible.

Checking her make up in her compact and then clicked to make sure her car was for sure locked; did she sit back and relax. It was kind of fun seeing who would come up to buy ice cream next. Sometimes it would a couple on a date or another time it would a family of eight one time.

"Elena," called a voice startling her from her gaze at the rather large family.

In front of her was a man dressed in a dark cyan button down shirt with a lighter one underneath. The sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark sunglasses sitting on his head. He was small and wiry like a fox.

"Zuzo!" said Elena gesturing to a seat. He was her support specialist from the program. His real name was Zachary Zazo but he never went by something like Zach. "You know I never did get the reason behind your nickname. Besides that, your first and last name start with a Z."

She grinned at him as he pulled up a seat and shook his head. "Sorry, only my college roommates will know how I got my nickname."

"Oh, so someone does know," said Elena quirking an eyebrow teasing him.

"You know too much, now I can't ever see you again," said Zuzo shaking his head.

The two laughed before he put down his briefcase. Yikes there was a lot of different forms she still had to fill out. Elena had already gone through a three-week background check. Ready to sign even more papers with her name on it, she clicked her pen.

"I read through Sofia's questionnaire," said Elena carefully. "It looks like we have a lot in common. I hope her mom's business is going okay. I heard Payless filed for bankruptcy."

"Well this is when she's going to need you the most," said Zuzo comfortingly.

She sighed and continued to skim through the paperwork. Too bad she didn't have someone she knew from a legal place to make sure all this sounded good. Her cousin wasn't her first choice and Gabe was still working on his law degree. Besides this between her, Zuzo, and Sofia.

Just then the bus dropped off four kids from the school. Two ran in down the street from the shop. Another person crossed the street. Then the little girl with a purple shirt on a huge white flower on it. Her brown hair curled slightly on the end. That was when Elena knew that this was Sofia.

Shyly she walked over to them.

"Hi Mr. Zazo," she said carefully and then perked up at seeing Elena and waved eagerly. "Is this my big sister?"

"Yes it," said Zuzo. "Sofia, I'd like you to meet Elena Castillo. Elena this is Sofia Shoemaker."

"Hi," said Elena ready to pick her up and hug her but restrained herself. "I'm buying everyone ice cream. Is a tutti frutti okay?"

That was one of her favorite flavors according to the questionnaire.

"Yea," said Sofia her eyes bright and smile grew larger. "You remembered my favorite flavor."

"Well I do have your file," admitted Elena. "But we have plenty of time to learn more about each other. Let me go in and get it."

With that she sat up and walked in to order three cones. Then doubled back to make sure that Zuzo also wanted tutti frutti. Thankfully he didn't mind before she returned with the old fashioned cones to boot. So far so great she thought grinning to herself. So far so great!

Elena sat down next to them and put all their paperwork aside.

"I figured maybe some ice breaker games or something?" asked Zuzo.

"I think we got this," said Elena and winked at Sofia. Her new little sister giggled and nodded herself knowing that it was going to be pretty easy for them to get along. So easy that they would just hit it off she hoped before ELena turned to her. "Sofia is your favorite book still Number the Stars?"

"Yep, is yours still Harry Potter?" she asked.

"Yes," she said cheering a little in her mind that Sofia remembered. "How's the ice cream?"

"Fantastic," she said before the two girls just started to talk like they were old friends.

Zuzo watched them a bit amused and a bit in awe, usually it took awhile for "bigs" and "littles" (the short form of saying big sister or little sister) to get along so well. This was a pleasant surprise, however, and just watched them become each others best friends. He kept up interjecting here and there helping guide things along. It looked like they had no problems. Elena even offered to help Sofia with her homework who gladly accepted the help. After homework they went and got a second small scoop of ice cream as a treat.

Then made plans to see each other again as soon as they could.

"I can show you my college if you want," said Elena.

"I want you to meet my teachers," said Sofia. "Miss Flora is my main teacher and she's so nice."

"Until next week?" Elena was pretty proud of herself that this went so well.

"Next week," said Sofia giving her a hug.

Hugging her back the two parted ways before heading home. Zuzo would check in from time to time. She pushed aside the thought of her finance class and smiled more to herself. Right now Elena wanted to spend sometime with Isabel today too.