Chapter 3

"Stef I don't see the big deal. Just because I am about to get married I can't go out with friends?" Tess and Stef have been going at it for the best of 20 minutes now. It all started when Stef decided to surprise Stef with a romantic date, but when she got to Tess's apartment was met with her on her way out with her "friends".

"No I'm not saying that. I'm saying that you can skip a night out with you so called girl friends to be with your fiance. I am barely off at nights and for this one I wanted to enjoy it with someone that I cared about".

"That is the exact reason Stef, I'm just someone that you care about."

"At least I am making a damn effort Tess! What the hell am I to you then huh? I am trying to love you Tess, I really am. But you make it too damn hard. It's just too…" Stef felt her voice crack and just refused to show any more emotion.

Tossing her hands up in defeat she stormed out of the apartment leaving Tess behind yelling after her.

…

Sitting cross legged in the middle of her floor, in her most comfortable lounge wear and her hair up on top of her head, Lena had all of her clients' files spread out around her ready to examine each one.

It was finally her free weekend considering that her only appointment that weekend was Stef and Tess but they seemed to have rescheduled. Lucky for her that meant that she got to return back to her childhood home. Something that she did every free weekend. It was nice to be able to escape to her old Queen Anne style home, away from the city that started to seem lonelier than ever.

The house was left to her and Nate after their parents past away. But her brother and wife tend to frequent the house more often than she is able to her.

She was in the middle of reviewing one of her files when she heard a knock at her door, then in came Nate. "You never take a break from work do you?" He teased looking at the mess around the room. "Oh says the man who walks around the house in the middle of the night on surveillance".

"Well I have to make sure my sister isn't sneaking anyone inside". Lena just rolled her eyes because there was no one that she loved more than her older brother. He always had her best interests at heart. "But I came to tell you that dinner will be done in a few minutes so go wash up".

Making his way down the stairs Nate knew that he heard something, but brushed it off until he heard movement on the front porch.

Swinging the door open ready to yell at whom ever was lurking, he was slightly taken back when he saw Stef outside of his door. "Foster! You almost got tackled down", he laughed, "Come in".

Guiding her inside, the only unusual thing about this was that she showed up on a weekend. Nate has always told Stef that she is welcome to stay with him and his wife when her and Tess began to argue. "Just in time, Vanessa just finished up dinner".

"Good because I was getting tired of you making spaghetti" Stef joked, still feeling a bit unsettled from earlier.

"Big brother, I really hope you didn't make spaghetti again. You really need to learn a new…" But Lena was cut off once she saw Stef at the bottom of the stairs. When they eyes connected they were momentarily stunned. Yes Stef was fully aware that Lena was Nate's sister so she was bound to run into her at some point. And Lena knew that Stef sometimes occupied a room there during the weekdays when she was having trouble at home. But neither ever thought of this scenario.

"Hey if you two hate my cooking so much then you guys cook next time". They both ignored him fixed now on just each other.

"Hey…Stef. How are you?" Lena said not able to pull her eyes away from her.

Stef on the other hand wasn't sure what to do. But seeing Lena dressed casually in her yoga shorts and t-shirt was doing something to her.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know that you guys were having a little family thing". Stef went to turn around before Nate stopped her. "Yeah right, get your ass in here Foster. You can't leave me with these two". Nate said making his way into the kitchen".

"Yeah Stef. There's more than enough" Lena smiled as she finished her descend and followed after her brother.

At first dinner was a bit awkward to say the least. But after a few of Stef's jokes everyone seemed too loosen up. Especially now that dinner was over and they moved on to dessert and drinks.

Lena and Stef sat beside each other the whole time, but they were both too nervous to stare at the other for too long. "I'm surprised that you weren't out on the shooting range today. I swear you must get rewards points or something as much as you are out there" Nate joked holding his sleepy wife close to him as he finished off one of his beers.

"Yeah well they are closed today, lucky me".

"Do you go shooting regularly?" Lena asked feeling bold and facing her. "Yeah, actually. whenever I couldn't get any peace or you know feel like driving here, I would go practice. I'm a pretty good shot"

"A great shot," Vanessa added in, "Much better than your brother". Everyone laughed as Nate pretended to be hurt.

"That's the last time I bring you along" he said before kissing the top of her head.

"Hey Lena, I almost forgot. There is this woman at work…" Vanessa began but Nate quickly interjected. "Honey, after Gretchen I'm pretty sure you are fired as a match maker".

"But she is sweet. And I really think you would like her" she pleaded.

Lena could feel her face warming, especially when she glanced over and saw Stef giving her the most sympathetic look. "I think Nate is right. You're fired," she chuckled, "Besides I'm not really alright with dating right now", she said as she poured herself some more wine.

Stef wasn't sure why her heart sunk but her emotions were written on her face and it didn't go unnoticed either. So trying to change the subject Nate thought that he would do so by bringing up a somewhat comical yet awkward situation.

"But going back to GI Jane over here and her amazing gun handle. There was this one couple that I'm sure if Stef could she would have shot them".

"Oh God, not this story again," Stef said blushing drinking more of her beer.

"We had to go arrest this couple that was causing trouble at some convenience store. They already had like two strikes on them. The guy was so desperate to not get arrested that he tried his hardest to flirt with Stef. Was even trying to make deals and what not".

"See that part I found funny. I didn't mind that".

"No but when she told him that he was barking up the wrong tree he made his girlfriend start to flirt with her. Missing teeth and all"

"Oh my gosh," Lena said laughing in disbelief as her and Stef looked to each other.

"My thing was, do I look like I would be attracted to drug addicted toothless people? Then to top it off, she became enraged because I didn't find her attractive and started to put up a fight".

Every one went into a fit of laughter as they carried on each taunting Stef. "Hell, at least someone would've wanted to be with me" Stef mumbled but Lena heard her. She knew that there had to be a reason that Stef showed up on a Saturday night and it just reminded her even more of her place when it came to Stephanie Foster.

Vanessa stood up and stretched, "Ok, I'm heading to bed. I'm glad you all enjoyed the food. Stef are you staying the night".

"Oh no, I should be getting home"

"Yeah right," Nate said getting ready to follow his wife to bed, "It's late and you have been drinking. We washed your clothes from the past few times you were here. Everything should be up in the room. We'll see you in the morning. I'll make the pancakes". He said walking out giving her no room to protest.

"Well then…I guess I am staying" she said looking to Lena. But Lena had no idea how this was bound to turn out knowing that Stef, the one person who occasionally frequented her day dreams over the past week, will be right down the hall from her room.