First Meeting

The movies had it all wrong, Lena Adams was sure of it. She'd been with women who challenged her intellectually, women who rocked her world sexually, and women who were perfect visually. But it had never been enough. None of them had that quality, the one that she couldn't quite figure out, but the one she knew she needed. None of them had that spark that she'd dreamed of since she'd seen her first black and white movie, the one she'd fallen in love with as a teenager. She'd watched the romance bloom on screen, captivated by the love she saw there, the chemistry that flowed between them, the sparks she practically felt when they touched and kissed. She'd been captivated and moved, becoming determined to find a romance equally as beautiful to call her own. But then she'd grown up, been a part of real relationships, seen the types of women she'd been with. Of course they'd all been nice, enough for the moment, but they weren't it. They weren't what she'd been searching for.

Although she'd sworn off women for the moment, convinced that she was destined to be alone, Lena found herself in the loud bar. It was dark but the colorful lights revealed a glimpse of what was going on around her, women on women, spilt drinks, and a whole lot of morning regrets. She almost had to laugh, remembering a time when this was her life, and wondering how the hell she got back here. She sidled up to the bar, yelling her order to the bartender with an award winning grin. The bartender shot her a smirk and she leaned on the cool glass. Tapping her fingers, her eyes scanned the room, finally settling about 5 feet away from her. A blonde on a stool. All she could see was a leather clad arm, rested on the glass bar top. Her face was turned away, a curtain of silky blonde all Lena could see. She watched the woman's hands for a moment, one scratching absentmindedly on the side of her glass, the other fidgeting nervously. When her head finally turned, Lena was still staring and their eyes met. It was brief and though Lena smiled, the blonde turned her head away. Lena eyed the glass in the woman's hand, noting that it was almost empty before turning back to the bartender. A gin and water was pushed her way and she leaned onto the bar, asking the stout woman behind what they mysterious blonde was drinking.

"Jack and coke. You want me to send another her way?"

Lena fished some money out of her pocket, settling it on the bar top, "Please."

She watched silently as the minutes ticked by and suddenly the drink was pushed to the blonde. She watched as confusion crept over the blondes profile but the bartender leaned over, pointing a finger in Lena's direction who gave a small wave and a smile. She couldn't help as pride welled up in her chest as the blonde smiled. But then her stomach dropped as the blonde closed her hand around her glass and hopped off her stool. Lena saw as she eyed the empty stool next to her and her stomach filled with butterflies. She hadn't expected anything to really come of the drink, she just felt like doing something nice for the nervous blonde.

The woman settled next to her and Lena finally looked up. And what she saw didn't disappoint. A cute perky nose, expressive eyes, a strong jaw. She opened her mouth to speak but then the blonde smiled, that knee weakening smile and her lips closed. Her mind had turned to mush.

"Thank you, for the drink."

Lena snapped back to reality and plastered on a smile, "You're very welcome," she extended her hand, "Lena Adams."

"Lena, pretty name," The blonde smile and extended her hand, "Stef Foster."

"It's nice to meet you Stef."

They both smiled and a silence befell them, Lena's eyes shifted. She was a natural at this, an award winning flirt but the knots in her stomach and the frog in her throat were making it impossible to speak.

"So," Stef began and Lena turned to see a goofy grin plastered on her face, "What's a beautiful girl like you, doing in a place like this?" She waggled her eyebrows and the brunette laughed aloud.

"Well," Lena smiled, "I'm new in town and I got a little lost and ended up here. Do you think you could give me directions to your apartment?"

The two women shared a mischievous glance and a smirk before they burst into laughter.

"You know," Stef said looking around, "You might be asked to leave soon. You're making the other women look bad."

Before they knew it, the two were completely relaxed into their stools together; any awkwardness felt was completely gone. Lena was enchanted by the beauty of this woman, unsure of how someone so gorgeous could be so down to earth and silly. Stef was completely taken aback by the brunettes stunning looks and the complete ease she felt in the woman's smile.

Everything that they discussed drew them further into each other. Not a word was uttered that made the other want to pull away, move on for the night. They were transfixed. As she watched Stef tell an animated story about her rookie days, Lena found her mind wandering back to that old black and white film. She couldn't help but smile. And when the bartender had to regretfully tell them that the bar would be closing soon, they both wished they were going home together, if only to talk some more.

They both pulled on their jackets, slung on their purses and made their way to the door as slowly as possible. Lena pulled her phone from her pocket, smacking the screen a few times.

"There's got to be something wrong with my phone," She sighed.

Stef frowned, taking in the fully functioning phone, "Why? What's wrong with it?"

"Your numbers not in it."

They both grinned, "One line for the road, I see," Stef laughed, "I like it."

She reached for the phone, her smile reaching from ear to ear but Lena's hand fell by her side. Stef looked up and noticed Lena's eyes were stuck on the hand that hovered awkwardly between them. Before Lena could even speak, Stef mentally kicked herself. There, between them in all of its glory, was the gold wedding band with the modest white diamond.

"You failed to mention the part where you were married."

"Lena, you'll never believe this-" Stef started but Lena had already turned away, pushing the door open with the strength of 12 angry men.

Stef groaned, they weren't even together and Mike was still messing up her life. She turned on her heel, prepared to run after the woman. The street was empty and she could see Lena, strutting angrily away from her, her arms crossed

"Lena, wait!" she called and began to follow her.

"Don't bother Stef!" Lena spat over her shoulder as she picked up her pace.

But Stef still caught up to her, grabbing her elbow, spinning her around, "What'd you think? That you were going to outrun a cop?"

"I was hoping."

"You didn't even let me explain-"

"I don't need to! Its women like you that make being gay a living hell. You come into this bar, flirt with me all night, make me think that maybe you're a little bit interested. And then you leave, go home to your husband and I'm left thinking about you while you're just happy someone paid some attention to you for once."

The words hit Stef hard and her eyes met the ground.

"You really don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course I do, do you think this is the first time?"

"The first time that a woman who left her husband because she realized she was gay but kept her ring on because she doesn't have to heart to tell her kid that she's never going back, became interested in you? Well I don't know, we didn't get that far into the conversation."

Both women stood there in a shocked silence. Lena, overloaded with information. Stef, completely dumbfounded that she would tell a practical stranger such a thing.

"What?" Was all Lena could mutter.

Stef sighed, turning around and leaning against the building they'd caught up to. Lena followed suit and stood next to her.

"I left my husband, about 2 months ago. But we haven't been together, I mean not really, for over a year." She paused and Lena ran a comforting hand down her forearm, "I took my son with me and he knows that mommy left for good but he's only 5. He still thinks that someday mommy and daddy will want to live together again. So now every time he sees my ring lying around the apartment he asks me to put it on, "because it makes me look a princess." But I know that's just his kid way of coping. And I can't bear to see him so sad. I usually take it off when I'm out, put it in my pocket or something but I guess I forgot."

Stef turned to Lena and forced out a half smile, "I'm sorry to put that on you but I didn't want you to think I was just some sleazy bored housewife."

"Stef," Lena breathed out and grabbed the blondes hand for a moment, "I'm so sorry. About your marriage. And for thinking you were just some slutty bisexual housewife." They both laughed a small laugh and Stef was happy that Lena had lightened the mood.

"So, does that mean I'm allowed to put my number in your phone now?"

[A/N] I left the ending to this one sort of open so you could decide for yourselves how Lena and Stef ended the night. I just want to say that my stories are all unrelated one shots which is why they don't take place in a particular order. And if you think some don't necessarily fit together, it's because I want to have creative freedom to write every situation differently.

And before you all get mad at me for being gone for so long, I fractured my wrist at work which is why there have been no updates in a while. I would have loved to update sooner but I have to let this baby heal. But I thank you for your patience and hope that my return will get some good reviews. You are all beautiful!