The family sat around the dinner table. "So Brandon," Stef asked, "How's the band?"

"Fine."

"She's really just asking how are things with Lou," Lena clarified.

"I am not!" Stef protested.

"Things with Lou are fine." Brandon said.

"Gotta love our angsty teenagers," Stef said to Lena.

"What about wrestling?" Lena asked Jesus.

"It's good. Coach says we're in good shape for our match this week."

"Connor and I present on our science project tomorrow." Jude informed everyone.

"Are you ready?" Stef asked.

"We have to run through it a couple more times." Jude admitted.

"When are you going to have time to do that?" Lena asked.

"I'm going to call him later tonight." Lena nodded. "Mariana?" Lena prompted her for an update.

"Got an 'A' on my math test," she said, but her voice lacked enthusiasm.

"That's great sweetie. Good work" said Stef.

Callie knew it was her turn. "Got a B+ on my English paper?"

"Also wonderful," Lena praised.

It was the stereotypical American family dinner (besides the two moms) but while everything seemed to be going well, Mariana was struggling quietly.

After dinner, Mariana called Emma. Please pick up. Please pick up. Please pick up. She thought to herself.

"Hi." Emma said.

"Hi. I needed to talk to you."

"Okay." Emma said, waiting for more of an explanation.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I acted so weird. It's just. It all just became so real when Jesus saw us and my moms talked to me and I'm kind of freaked."

"I get that," Emma said sympathetically.

Stef walked up the stairs to tell Mariana all of them were going out for ice cream. She was about to knock when she heard Mariana talking to someone.

Mariana continued. "And it's so annoying because everyone's like 'you have two moms. You should know that this isn't a big deal. You should know that it's normal. You should know that it's wonderful.' But just because I have two moms and I love them, doesn't mean I have to be excited about this. It doesn't mean it's how I wanted my life to go!"

Stef walked away from the door. She was too impacted by the words to interrupt. She wasn't mad, maybe a little hurt, but mostly just nostalgic. She knew that feeling. And she wished she could help Mariana. But she knew better than anyone, acceptance would only come with time.

On the other side of the conversation, Emma wasn't quite sure what to make of this. Sure, she'd wrestled with some of these same feelings herself but she wouldn't have said them to the girl she wanted to be her girlfriend! But Mariana operated quite differently from Emma. If it was in her head, it came out of her mouth.

Finally Emma replied. "Look. I know it's scary. But I like you. And I want to give this a shot. Do you?" Emma didn't mess around. She wanted an answer.

Mariana took a deep breath. "Yeah," she said, "I do."

"So movies Friday?"

"Movies Friday," Mariana confirmed

"Awesome. See you tomorrow."

"Emma?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime."