Chapter 2

"Come on Tess. Can you at least pretend to look like you aren't about to slaughter the next person that speaks to you". Stef said annoyed by Tess's demeanor.

They were sitting in the waiting room of Lena's office. Everything felt so warm and welcoming. Stef imagined that the environment itself would seems so serious and corporate. Filled with people that cared more about their hourly rates than actually helping. But already she could tell that this was different. It was clear that Lena, as the owner of the office, took great pride just based off of appearance alone.

But the tranquility of the office did not seem to be working for her fiance. "Stef, I am just a little upset that you scheduled this appointment so early and without confirming with me is all," Tess stated flipping through a wedding magazine she tends to carry around with her everywhere.

"It's 9am and you are a teacher; you are usually up by now. I didn't see what the issue would be".

"It's Saturday. Don't you like to sleep in on your days off?" Tess said finally looking up at Stef with an equally annoyed face.

"Unless you wanted to do this right after work or separately, this is the only time slot she is here on weekends".

"Because she actually wants to enjoy her weekends" Tess mumbled looking back to her magazine.

"You know what, forget it" Stef said getting up and grabbing her jacket, "Let's just go".

Tess grabbed her hand, instantly feeling bad. "Ok Stef, I'm sorry. You know how I am in the mornings. Just sit down. It's fine".

Kelly was watching the whole ordeal play out. After Lena's break up she was kind of hesitant to leave her alone especially in a new city. Lena was one to disappear, stay to herself, and just bury herself in her work. So she volunteered to be her receptionist and put her career temporarily on hold.

But it was moments like this that made this job worth wild, pure entertainment. Watching the two bicker wasn't the funny part just how they interacted with each other. It was as if they were constantly running back and forth over that line of love and hate. Also, they were a visually appealing couple. The blonde one seemed to be more so the dominant of the two. She had short blonde hair and hazel eyes that seemed to hold a lifetime of stories. Though she wore dress pants and a jacket she looked pretty fit underneath. From what she could tell, she was Stef. For Tess, she was just as visually appeasing. She appeared to be an African American woman, with incredible coco smooth skin. she wore her dark hair straight and just above her shoulders Her attire was just was professional as her partner's. But she was definitely the more feminine one as she wore blue dress the ended right above the knee, high heels that she somehow found the energy to walk in this morning, and a huge black designer purse that she could tell housed more than just one bridal magazine.

If she was gay she would definitely consider one or both of them. But Lena, she definitely had a challenge in more ways than one. The one thing that made Lena such a favored therapist amongst couples was the fact that she was gay. Straight couple felt added comfort knowing that a single therapist wasn't just looking for a failing relationship to take over. And most lesbian couples tend to move in with each other by date two.

Kelly picked up the phone and called Lena in her office, "Yes they are ready for you". But before she hung up the phone she sent Lena a quick text.

"Good luck with these two".

Lena saw her phone ding with Kelly's text. "That bad huh?" She whispered into the receiver.

Kelly just texted her reply, "The blonde one seems ok, just ticked. The other one…let us pray".

Transforming her laugh into a welcoming smile Lena walked out of her office and looked towards the dysfunctional couple waiting for her. She didn't even bother to look at Kelly knowing that as soon as she did she would loose control.

But it wasn't Kelly that she needed to worry about. It was the smile that suddenly appeared on the blonde's face and the look in her eye that Lena couldn't quite place. Trying to maintain professionalism she went to look towards the darker toned woman but she was preoccupied with adjusting herself as they both stood. Walking closer, their eyes continued to stay looked as Lena's smile became more genuine.

Trying to match the voices to faces, she was pretty positive that the blonde was Stef, considering she was also more welcoming on the phone as well.

As she came closer she introduced herself causing Tess to look up herself and give her own rendition of a smile. Though Lena could see right through it she was thankful as she reached for her hand to shake first. "I'm Tess," she said politely, "Nice to meet you".

"Likewise," Lena voiced mentally relaxing now that she was sure of who was who. Thus, she turned and continued, "So you must be Stef".

"Yes. Lena, glad to be able to place a face with a voice."

For the corner of her eye Lena could see that Tess clearly had a smug look as Lena said Stef's name. Something that she was definitely going to address in a moment just to insure that everything got started on the correct foot.

Then in the next moment it dawned on her that she was still shaking Stef's hand and could have sworn that she felt her graze her thumb over the back of hand. Letting go she gave Stef a look but didn't receive and see any response that indicated that Stef even knew what she just did.

"So shall we begin?" Lena smiled and asked before leading them into her office still dodging Kelly's glances.

Entering Lena's office Stef was impressed with what she saw , with everything that she saw. The room itself was very relaxing, just like the waiting room. She had her degrees hung up in expensive looking oak frames and very silent muzak playing in the distance. So even if she couldn't muster up anything to say then at least they wouldn't be sitting in dead silence.

Then of course there was Lena. Stef absolutely had no idea that she would be reacting to her in the way that she was. There was no doubt about it that Lena was stunning. Stunning to the point where she almost forgot that she was there to work on her own relationship. But to finally see and meet this woman, Stef couldn't describe nor explain this sudden rush that was coursing through her body.

Lena was more than she even thought to imagine. She has never seen someone's hair as curly and voluminous as hers as it bounced with her walk. She wore a patterned skirt that fell right below her knee, with a brown belt holding it right to her narrow waist and a loose fitting white blouse that opened sightly at the top.

It was the closing of the door and Lena's voice that pulled her back. " I want you two to feel as comfortable as possible. You have the option of sitting on the couch and I will sit at the chair right here. But I understand that some people don't feel comfortable with that cliche. So we could also sit at my desk. The option is always yours, and you can switch up whenever. I can accommodate which ever you two choose".

Without hesitation Stef walked towards the desk and Tess walked after her, grabbing her hand and whispering, "Yes, I'm fine sitting here too Honey".

"Ok perfect," Lena began, "Before we start I want to make sure we all understand that this is a safe place to be open about all topics no matter what they are so that they can be discussed and worked on or even let go". Lena sat down in her chair as the two women did the same across from her.

"Tess, I noticed the uneasy reaction you had when I referred to Stephanie by Stef. Just to be clear, it is a name that she informed me would make her feel more comfortable. Why do you think that me calling her that name made you feel the opposite?" Lena questioned whole-heartedly. Her voice was firm but caring, and her honesty and bluntness was something that Tess respected.

"To be honest, I don't like when other women tend to feel so casual around her. I just find it inappropriate."

"Yes, that is very understandable. Stef, who exactly started calling you that or was it a name that you started to tell people to call you?"

Stef was glad that she wasn't the one currently under fire as she replied, "Uh my parents did when I was younger".

"So it is safe to say that people have been calling you this your entire life, including your mother?"

"Yes, she has"

"Ok. So though the name is casual and can seem like an intimate link from Stef to other women, it is a part of who she is. It's not healthy to take away from someone."

"You do have a point. I guess it is something I will just have to work on," Tess said sarcastically.

Lena noted the smirk that Stef seemed to have on her face the entirety of that conversation. But she soon knew that it would disappear.

"Now that that is cleared up. I called both of you and went over a few questions that I like to ask to sort of get a feel for my new couples". Lena pulls out her notepad as she notices bot women shifting in their seats.

"Tess, your answers. There was nothing wrong with any of them actually. They were all completely valid answers. Though there could have bee some factors playing at the time of our call, the lack of emotion and detail did raise a couple questions. I could tell that you are very happy to be engaged. It was mentioned quite a few times".

"Then how can you say that I lacked emotion if it was clear that I was happy"

"Because that was not what I was referring to. Yes, you are very happy to be engaged. But your excitement seemed to be centered more so around the engagement and being married rather than your partner herself. When I mentioned Stef you said very little to none about your relationship with her, So it caused me to be concerned about what you really desire."

Lena still couldn't help the look on Stef's face. Yes with that information she could tell that it bothered Stef, but yet she still had a cynical look as Tess was under fire.

"Stef I couldn't help but notice how much you are enjoying all of this. Normally when someone senses their partner in distress they will defend them or protect them, not smile and laugh at their uncomfortableness."

Stef tried to straighten out, not expecting Lena to call her out as Tess wore her own smile.

"In fact, that brings me to your responses. Now our conversation was brief, considering that you were working at the time. So I couldn't gain as much. Your answers were all from the heart. There was no doubt about that. Infant I have no questions of concerns about your answers it's more so on your response to me".

Stef had no idea where Lena was about to go with this. She knows that she was flirting a bit on the phone but she wouldn't bring that up would she?

"Multiple times throughout the call I purposefully referred to Tess as your partner instead of your fiancé. Not once did you consider correcting me. It made me wonder if maybe you aren't completely sure about what you want for the future of your relationship."

Stef could feel Tess's eyes on her but she refused to acknowledge. She just looked at Lena in disbelief.

"Or maybe it could be your sexuality that you are unsure about", Lena continued but not without a now angry Stef cutting her off. "My sexuality? Really? This is what I am honestly paying you for? My sexuality is definitely not something I am unsure about. As hard as I had to fight to prove my love for women, and to gain the respect and dignity I deserve, I know who I am. But that isn't something you, Dr. Adams would know about".

Lena was used to this reaction so it didn't phase her one bit. But she noticed that Stef deflected the first accusation, and that was exactly what she was looking for.

"Actually, Stef, I know exactly the feeling." Lena normally didn't mention parts of her personal life, but in this case she couldn't see how it would hurt.

Stef calmed down as she looked at her with thoughts ran through her head.

"I am not saying all this to put either of you on the hot seat or to jeopardize anything. But it is best that if we begin with all of our secrets out on the table and then build from what we have. You two have to trust that my main purpose is to have you both leave with in a better standing than when you first got here.

With everyone more relaxed the session went at a steadier pace. Lena got Stef to open up about her concerns, which quite honestly she didn't think she would do yet.

"In the beginning my parents weren't very supportive of my coming out. But now that my mother is so supportive I really want this all to be perfect, you know. I can't get into something that would make her believe that any of this is just for show or for laughs. Lena, I want her to see me happy, and in love, and to know that this is all I ever wanted".

The more Stef talked the more she knew in her heart the mistake that she was making, but she needed Lena to convince her that it will turn out alright. But it didn't take long for even Lena to be able to tell that what was on Stef's mind.

She looked over to Tess who was pretending as if she cared. She held Stef's hand and reassured her that things were going to work out. But once again Lena knew way back from the phone call, that Tess wanted a wedding and a marriage, and Stef just came with the package. She wasn't just protective of Stef because she loved her, she was protective because she didn't want anyone to take away what she really wanted.

After some time spent talking things over with Stef, Lena asked Tess what her concerns or woes were. It was no surprise that she somehow produced a laundry list of things. Though the issues were valid, such as, Stef signing them up for therapy without consulting her on any detail, Stef randomly deciding to cut her hair, where they would live, Stef leaving when they argue. It was no lie that Stef liked to be in control and make decisions.

Before they could go into much detail about it, Lena had to end the session. Since the first session was so heavy on the negatives and the sorrow filled moments that got them to the present, she gave them the assignment of finding three reasons that they love the other, and to be able to explain why. A tasks that is actually harder than it seems.

Lena stood and guided them to the door as she held it open. "Feel free to schedule that appointment with Kelly. Both of you have my cards, so use it if you ever need to. I look forward to working with the two of you even further".

Tess grabbed Stef's hand and lead her out of the door, giving Stef time to thank Lena as they walked out.

Closing the door Lena exhaled deeply as she slipped off her heels. She walked back to her desk and placed her hair on top of her head in a ponytail. She pulled out her notes and prepared to enter them into her computer for her files.

In the lobby Tess and Stef were trying their best to get along even for a little while. "Tess, love, go ahead and pick the next date. I can work with which ever. I think I left my phone in there. I will be right back."

Stef ran back to Lena's office and knocked quickly before walking in. Thinking that it was just Kelly, Lena didn't even have time to get herself together when she realized that Stef walked into her office. "Stef, what-"

But Stef just gracefully walked to the corner of Lena's desk, pulling at her shirt before saying, "I just wanted to apologize". Lena stood up herself and took a step towards her. It was then that Stef noticed her causal switch up. She looked down at Lena's bare feet and smiled. Without her heels she was just lined up eye to eye with her. With her hair pulled up she swore that she could see the tiny vein in her neck pulsating as she could smell more of her perfume.

"I didn't mean to be rude and blow up about the sexuality thing before. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you."

It was Lena's turn to smile as she focused on those hazel eyes in front of her. "It's ok, Stef, really. It is something that happens quite often". She placed a reassuring hand on Stef's shoulder, intending on pulling it away quickly. But when Stef place her hand on top of it that thought left her mind. Lena looked from there hand to Stef and this time she knew that Stef knew exactly what she was doing.

But as soon as they heard the door open again Lena pulled her hand away. Kelly looked at them suspiciously as she said, "Ms. Foster, your fiancé said that she would be waiting in the car", Kelly made sure to put emphasis on that one word.

Stef gave Lena one last smile before she turned and walked out the door past Kelly. "Found what you were looking for?" Kelly asks stopping Stef.

Stef gave a nervous smile before finally walking away.

Kelly turned and looked over to her very flushed friend who simply said, " That one is going to be trouble".