Cate tossed and turned. She couldn't sleep. She remembered how horrible Lux's foster mom had been to her. It didn't even seem to phase Lux.

Cate wondered how much worse Lux's other foster families must have been. Her conversation with Lux in the car haunted her. Mrs. Foster wasn't the first to hurt Lux, Cate thought sadly.

Cate called in sick the next morning.

She crept into the living room quietly, not wanting to wake Lux.

Cate paused in the doorway. She smiled as she watched Lux sleep. Lux looked so peaceful.

Cate noticed Lux's blanket had fallen onto the floor. She tiptoed over and covered Lux with the blanket.

Cate quietly slipped out the front door. She wanted to go get breakfast for her and Lux before Lux woke up.

Cate went to Starbucks. She needed her caffeine fix. It had been a rough night.

Cate studied the pastries in the glass display. Donuts, croissants, bagels, muffins, scones. She had no idea what Lux would like.

Cate noticed teenagers who looked about Lux's age drinking coffee. Did teenagers drink coffee? Cate hadn't started drinking coffee until she was in college. Even then she hadn't liked the taste. She drank it solely for the caffeine.

Cate rifled through her purse until her hand closed on her cell phone. She dialed Ryan out of habit before she remembered their fight.

"Hi," Ryan said when Cate was about to hang up.

Cate was startled. She hadn't expected him to answer. "Hi."

"You called me," Ryan reminded her after a moment of silence.

Cate hesitated then blurted out, "What do teenagers eat? For breakfast."

Ryan laughed. "I think it depends on the teenager."

"Thanks a lot," Cate muttered.

"Are you with Lux?" Ryan asked.

"Not with her exactly. She's still sleeping. I'm at Starbucks. I don't know what to feed her. Did you drink coffee when you were her age?" Cate said.

Ryan smiled. "No. I didn't drink coffee until college."

"Me either," Cate said. She sounded almost triumphant.

"I would get a couple of things and let Lux choose," Ryan said helpfully.

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Cate said.

"Does this mean Lux is at your house?" Ryan asked curiously.

"Yeah," Cate replied.

"Is she staying at your house?" Ryan wondered.

"No. She got emancipated. I'm co-signing her lease and then she's moving into a studio. She just stayed last night because she hasn't moved in yet," Cate explained.

"How old is she?" Ryan asked.

"Sixteen. Today's her birthday," Cate replied.

Ryan frowned. "She's only sixteen and she's moving into her own apartment?"

"I know. I know. I tried to talk to her about it and she walked away from me. She didn't want to hear it," Cate said regretfully.

"When you were sixteen, did you want to hear a lecture from your mom?" Ryan asked.

Cate frowned. "No, but that was different."

"How? You're her mom," Ryan said simply.

"Thanks for your help," Cate said distractedly as she approached the front of the line.

Cate hung up and smiled at the cashier. "Hi. I'd like a grande latte," she ordered her usual drink. "And a bagel, a donut and a, uh, blueberry muffin."

The cashier looked up in surprise.

"It's not all for me," Cate said defensively.

The cashier nodded and began putting the pastries in a bag for Cate.

"Do most teenagers drink coffee?" Cate asked.

The cashier stared at her. "Some do. Some don't."

"Is it like fifty percent do and fifty percent don't?" Cate tried again.

The cashier looked at Cate strangely. "I don't know the exact percentages."

Cate sighed. "OK. You work here. You take people's orders. What do most teenagers order?"

"The mocha frappuccino is popular," the cashier replied, though he was looking at Cate like she'd lost her mind.

"I'll take one of those, too," Cate said. She muttered under her breath, "Was that so difficult?"

Lux stirred when she heard Cate open the front door. She stretched lazily.

Cate came in, her hands full as she tried to balance two drinks and several bags of food.

Lux got up to help. She took the bags of food and followed Cate to the kitchen.

"Sorry I woke you up. I was trying to be quiet," Cate said.

"You didn't," Lux lied. She glanced at the food and smirked. "Did you order everything on the menu?"

"I, uh, didn't know what you liked," Cate said.

"Thanks." Lux grinned. She chose the donut.

Cate handed Lux the frappuccino.

"I'm glad you didn't buy one of every drink. That would've been expensive," Lux said lightly.

Cate smiled slightly.

"When you're ready, we can go sign the paperwork for the studio," Cate said when Lux finished eating.

Lux froze. She looked down at the tile floor. "I called the apartment manager and I don't need anyone to co-sign, but thanks."

"Are you sure?" Cate asked, frowning.

"Yeah," Lux replied, still not making eye contact with Cate.

Cate sighed. She'd wanted to do this for Lux. It was the least she could do. She'd done nothing for Lux for fifteen years, Cate thought miserably.

"I'm gonna go take a shower and get ready," Lux mumbled.

Cate heard the water in the shower turn off. She waited a few minutes before knocking on the bathroom door. "Lux?"

Cate opened the bathroom door before Lux answered. She gasped when she saw Lux.

"Cate!" Lux cried out, scrambling to cover more of her with the towel that was wrapped around her body. It was no use. The towel wasn't big enough to cover the many bruises that marred Lux's arms.

Cate stared in shock. "Did your foster mom do that to you?"

Lux nodded, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

Cate bit her lip to keep from crying. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Lux said.

"Yeah, it is," Cate said sadly.

"Can you, uh…" Lux nodded toward the door awkwardly.

"Oh, yeah," Cate said, backing slowly out of the bathroom.

Lux dressed quickly and emerged from the bathroom. Cate watched sadly as Lux packed her things.

"Are you ready?" Cate asked.

Lux glanced around the living room to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything before nodding.

Cate smiled. "Let's go."

Lux stared at Cate. "Uh, Cate, you don't have to go with me. Remember? I don't need you to co-sign."

"I'll give you a ride and help you move in," Cate said.

Lux shook her head. "Thanks, but I don't need help." Lux held up her bag. "This is it."

Cate frowned. "You don't have anything else? Furniture? Dishes?"

Lux shrugged. "It's not a house. It's a studio."

"Let's go shopping. I'll get furniture for your apartment. We can decorate it," Cate said, smiling. She knew it didn't make up for fifteen years, but she desperately wanted to do something for her daughter.

"You don't have to do that," Lux said.

"I want to," Cate said truthfully.

Lux shifted uncomfortably. She was touched that Cate wanted to do this for her, but it would be kind of hard for Cate to help her decorate a nonexistent apartment.

"No, Cate, really. You don't have to spend that much money on me," Lux insisted.

Cate's face fell.

"It's a teeny tiny studio. You can't fit a lot of furniture in it," Lux added, not wanting to hurt Cate's feelings.

Cate's expression was still disappointed but she tried to hide it. "I can at least give you a ride."

Lux nodded and forced herself to smile.

Lux couldn't bring herself to hurt Cate's feelings again. She hoped she could keep Cate from coming in with her, though.

Lux gave Cate directions to Bug's apartment building.

"That's my school," Lux said, gesturing toward Longfellow High School as they drove past it.

Cate looked out the window interestedly. She frowned when she saw it. It looked better equipped for criminals and gang members than teenagers.

"You can drop me off here," Lux said suddenly.

"Wait. I'll park and come in," Cate said.

"No, you don't have to," Lux said a little too quickly.

"I want to see your apartment and make sure I don't need to co-sign," Cate said.

"There's, like, no parking around here," Lux tried again.

"There's a space right over there." Cate gestured toward a parking space across the street.

Lux frowned.

Cate parked and looked at Lux expectantly.

Lux sucked in a breath. "Cate, I'm not moving into a studio."

"But, you told the judge-" Cate began.

"I lied," Lux cut her off.

"Lux, I don't understand," Cate said.

"I didn't think telling her the truth would go over well," Lux mumbled.

"Which is?" Cate asked, meeting Lux's gaze.

Lux sighed. "I'm moving in with my boyfriend, my best friend and her boyfriend."

Cate narrowed her eyes, clearly surprised and less than thrilled at the revelation. "Wait. Your boyfriend?"

Lux nodded sheepishly. "Bug."

Cate made a face. "Bug?"

Lux nodded.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I know you may think you're in love, but you're only sixteen. Moving in with someone is a big step," Cate said.

Lux rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Cate frowned. "Is this about money? Because I can help you out."

Lux smirked. "No, it's not about money."

Cate hesitated, not sure she wanted to know the answer to her next question. "Do you love him?"

Lux stared at Cate as though the answer was obvious. "Yeah." She opened the passenger door and grabbed her bag out of the backseat.

Cate got out of the car. She took Lux's bag from her without thinking.

Lux looked at Cate, surprised. "You're still coming in?"

Cate nodded.

Lux shifted uncomfortably. Introducing Cate to Bug would be awkward.

Lux led the way to apartment 303 and knocked on the door.

Both Cate and Lux held their breath. Lux was hoping that Bug wouldn't be there.

The door opened slowly. Bug grinned when he saw Lux and pulled her to him. "Where have you been? We were gonna call the police."

Lux looked at Bug anxiously, unsure if he'd be happy to see her or angry that she didn't come over last night. She smiled slightly when she saw his expression.

Cate gave Bug a once-over and made a face. Her daughter's boyfriend had a spider web tattooed on his neck. This was not OK. She grimaced when Lux hugged Bug.

After a moment Lux pulled away and motioned toward Cate. "Cate, this is my boyfriend, Bug. Bug, this is…" Lux trailed off awkwardly, unsure what to call Cate. "My birth mom."

Cate nodded politely though her expression remained grim. "Hi."

Bug didn't acknowledge Cate. Instead he turned his attention back to Lux. "Did she sign the form?"

Lux stared at Bug quizzically.

"To give up her parental rights?" Bug reminded Lux. The only reason Lux had found her birth parents was to get the form signed so she could get emancipated.

"Yeah," Lux replied.

Tasha and Gavin emerged from the back of the apartment. They stared at Cate as though she was an animal on display at the zoo.

"This is your mom?" Tasha asked incredulously.

Lux nodded.

"Cate Cassidy?" Tasha said.

Cate nodded and smiled slightly.

Tasha smirked. "I recognize you from the billboards. The slutty ones."

Cate blushed slightly and looked down.

"Tasha," Lux said reproachfully.

Cate looked at Lux. "Do you want to have your friends over tonight? I can cook."

Lux stared at Cate, her brow furrowed in confusion. She'd only been to Cate's house once. It was weird to have Cate inviting her friends over as though it was perfectly natural.

"For your birthday," Cate added when she saw Lux's expression.

Lux smiled slightly.

"I couldn't forget your birthday," Cate said meaningfully, meeting Lux's gaze.

"OK," Lux agreed.

Cate turned toward the door to leave. "Do you need me to pick you up?"

"No," Lux replied.