Lena pulled into the driveway, turned off the engine and leaned back in her seat, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. She was grateful it was Friday. It had been a long, busy week preparing for the new school year, and her body ached from exhaustion. She took a moment to relax, clearing her mind of the frustrations of her job, and thinking instead of the weekend ahead of her. It was her birthday tomorrow and Stef had promised her a family weekend, just the two of them and the kids. Perhaps a trip to the beach or a picnic in the garden.

Nothing crazy, just peaceful.

Except peace was not what greeted her when she walked through the front door. As she dropped her bag on the chair and shrugged of her jacket, there was an almighty clang from the kitchen and she heard Mariana squeal. She threw her jacket over the back of the chair, not bothering to hang it up with the others, and rushed into the kitchen.

She paused in the doorway and surveyed the mess that covered her normally pristine worktops. Jesus and Mariana were stood on either side of the counter, covered from head to toe in a white powder that she presumed was flour. There was no sign of Brandon. Stef was stood beside Jesus, her glasses perched on her nose as she read the recipe book in front of her with a serious frown crinkling her forehead. She was concentrating so hard that she didn't notice Lena's arrival.

There was just as much – perhaps more – flour and sugar spilled as there was in the mixing bowls, the butter stood melting in the summer heat, and a box of eggs lay cracked on the floor by Mariana's feet.

Jesus was the first to spot her. "Mama, we're making you a birthday cake!" he declared proudly.

Mariana was standing on a stool and she spun around a little too quickly, her legs wobbling. Lena stepped forward quickly, ready to catch her, but the young girl was unperturbed. "It's going to be chocolate!" she said.

Stef finally looked up from the recipe book, surprised by her wife's appearance. "Honey! You're home early…?" her voice trailed off as Lena shook her head. Stef's eyes wandered to the clock that told her it was just after five o'clock, and she winced.

Lena smiled sweetly at Jesus, while rubbing Mariana's back. "That's very nice of you all, thank you," Lena said kindly. She turned back to her wife. "Did you leave them unsupervised?"

Stef looked offended. "No, I was helping!"

Lena rolled her eyes. "I think it's supposed to be the other way around, honey. They're supposed to be helping you."

Stef feigned innocence and gestured towards the twins. "The kids, they ambushed me," Stef said.

Lena's eyebrows arched, her mouth twitching to hide a smile. "They're eight."

"They're very persuasive," Stef said with a pout.

Lena laughed, the tension starting to drop from her shoulders. "Why don't we clear up and start from the beginning?" she suggested. "First though, you two need to change. Why don't you go upstairs and run the bath? Mom will be there a minute to clean you up."

She held out her hands and helped Mariana to the ground, kissing her head affectionately. She caught Jesus on his way past and kissed the top of his hair too.

"I had it under control, you know," Stef objected once the twins were out of ear shot.

Lena laughed again, moving around the counter towards her wife and wrapping her arms around her waist, placing a gently kiss on Stef's cheek.

"No, you didn't," Lena teased. "But it was a very sweet thought."

Stef took a sudden step sideways, spinning Lena around and pressing her up against the counter, leaning into her.

"Oh!"

"I'll make it up to you, I promise," Stef said in a low voice.

Lena smirked, sliding Stef's reading glasses off her face and placing them gently on the worktop behind her. "You'd better."

She dipped her head slightly and caught Stef's lips in a deep kiss, the remaining stress in her body disappearing. It was a shout from upstairs that finally interrupted them.

"MOM!"

"You'd better go before they make a mess upstairs too," Lena said.

Stef grunted and pulled back, untangling herself from Lena's arms. Lena swiped her ass as she walked away.

"To be continued!" Lena called after her.

It was Stef's turn to smirk. "We'd better."