"So I've heard a bit about you lately." Stef teased, Taylor stayed home with Stef as Lena and the rest of the kids went out shopping. Taylor smiled nervously, "Like what?" Stef laughed lightly trying to keep from hurting herself, "Well let's see... maybe the fact that you can sing." Taylor laughed, "I'm gonna kill Mariana and Jude. No I sound like a peacock if I try, it's just a hobby." Stef rolled her eyes, "What else do I not know? Huh? Oh right you were holding hands with the girl from the park, crying to her, I heard." Taylor turned bright red at that comment, "You've been home for a day, what's with the teasing already?" Stef smiled, "It's my job as mom." Taylor smiled, "I'm glad you're alright. I was really scared that you... well you know." Taylor crawled into the bed with Stef and just let Stef tease her a little more.
"What's with the cake mix?" Jesus asked going through the cart in the middle of the store instead of helping grab stuff they needed. Lena smiled, "Someone's birthday." Jude quickly looked at Callie knowing it wasn't either of them and then saw the confused looks on everyone elses face, "Taylor?" He asked. Lena just nodded, "We agreed that even with everything that happened we couldn't forget about it." The family quickly finished the rest of their shopping trip.
Stef sighed seeing how far away Taylor stayed from her when she lied down in the bed. Everyone was acting as if they would break Stef, she hated her children treating her like someone who needed to be watched after. "Sorry, I'm doing the whole treating you different thing aren't I?" Taylor asked hearing Stef sigh. Taylor rolled over so she could face Stef, "Can I ask something that didn't really get addressed because well, because everything happened?" Stef couldn't think what Taylor was talking about but agreed to answer anyways. Taylor closed her eyes, "What does it mean that someone reported the bruise? Am I gonna get taken away from here?" Stef looked straight at Taylor, "No one's going to take you out of here. No matter what happens Lena and I will make sure of that. What it means is that there is a record of someone hitting you. Lena and I were discussing what we were going to do next when you heard us talking." Taylor nodded and then hugged Stef burying her face into Stef's shoulder. "Can this work so that I'm not theirs anymore?" She whispered. Stef hugged the girl tighter, poor Taylor, what a suckish way for the girl to start her birthday. "We can try." Stef promised.
The kids went into the house carrying armfuls of food and bringing it to the kitchen. "So, what are we doing?" Brandon asked pulling the cake mix out of one of the bags. "Birthdays tend to be a big thing around here." Mariana smiled as she added to the conversation. Lena smiled at the excitement her kids were showing, "Just a small cake and maybe the beach after dinner. Nothing too big for Taylor, she doesn't want the attention which is why she didn't tell us." Jesus laughed, "Well, I have the perfect gift then, Abby's coming over." Lena grinned, "Teasing on a birthday? Jesus we have raised you well." She joked.
"Did it hurt?" Taylor asked Stef after just lying next to her for several moments. Stef thought for a minute, "Yeah, I went into shock though." Taylor just nodded, "I'm sorry." Stef laughed and sat up, "Well unless you shot me I don't see why." Taylor looked mortified at Stef for a moment and then smiled, "I guess not." Stef smiled, "I think we need to go downstairs, Lena will want to see us." Taylor nodded and helped Stef up, much to Stef's disagreement.
"Hurry! I hear them coming!" Jude ran into the kitchen. Callie, Stef and Mariana just laughed, "It's done buddy. Calm down, you're gonna ruin the surprise." Jesus, Brandon and Abby all slipped in the back door at the last minute. Lena motioned for all the kids to go to the living room quickly before Taylor came in. "Hey Lena, Stef's in the other room. She said you would want to see the two of us?" Shrugging her shoulders the teen turned around to go back into the living room but waited so she could walk next to Lena.
"Surprise!" Jesus laughed at Taylor's face when she saw Abby sitting in between Jude and Stef on the couch with a cake. "Crap. Crap. Crap." Taylor muttered turning around to run to the kitchen, Lena stopped her, "Happy Birthday!" Taylor smiled, "Uh, Thanks. I had been hoping everyone would forget because of everything. Yeah I'm fifteen now. Yay! Okay go home thanks for bringing a friend from the park." Callie and Stef snorted at the "friend" comment. "Fine. I'm explaining something right now though." Taylor sighed clearly defeated, "This is Abby." Taylor smiled and motioned for Abby to come stand next to her. Taylor slipped her hand into Abby's, "She's my...my girlfriend. The nobody from the park. We've been seeing each other for five months and Jesus has been an alibi when we went out." Stef and Lena laughed at how Taylor's face light up when she said "girlfriend". Taylor smiled, "So there, let the teasing commence. But I get the cake." Taylor stuck her tongue out, ruffling Judes hair and lightly shoving Jesus. Lena laughed, "Not so quick there's a few things we need to do before cake. Like I think I heard there were gifts involved later on, and maybe speeches now?" Taylor shook her head vigorously, "Please no. Why speeches? Why even talk?" Stef laughed, "That makes it a definate yes."
Taylor managed to slip away and hide in the kitchen while her family was completely embarrassing her. Callie had been standing in the doorway for two minutes, "That was pretty lame in there." She joked to Taylor. Taylor smiled, "I didn't know what to say, everyone knew and I just didn't want that secret anymore. Are they done yet?" Callie laughed, "They are never going to be done, you kept your girlfriend of several months hidden, they are gonna be annoying moms forever." Callie smiled. "Thanks. I know it must suck for you and Jude, not having many birthday parties growing up and all and this is one of those times when I should stop talking huh?" Taylor began to ramble when Stef and Lena called all of the kids out so they could say goodbye to Abby and have a little family meeting.
"Thank you for telling them. I'm glad you did." Abby whispered giving Taylor a quick goodbye hug. Abby smiled to Jude, "Remember what I said little dude?" She asked him, he smiled evilly and shook his head. "See you Jesus, be at the park soon I assume? Nice to meet you Mariana and Callie." Brandon shook Abby's hand all official like, "Jeez three brothers? Thanks Taylor, way to make sure I got the don't hurt my sister speech huh?" Abby joked. "And a pleasure to meet you on average circumstances, thank you for inviting me." Abby smiled warmly as she shook both Stef and Lena's hand.
Lena and Stef sat all the kids back down in the living room explaining that they needed to make an important announcement. Ironically, as all the children began to settle Jesus made the same joke Taylor had made only a week or so ago, "Girl or boy?" He laughed. Stef shot him a look. "Okay, we wanted all our babies to be the first ones to know this but, Momma and I are going to get married." Stef smiled. Lena was beaming. Mariana jumped up and hugged her two moms, "Cool! We'll have to go buy all of us dresses for the wedding!" Stef and Lena chuckled, as the other kids followed Mariana's example and stood to hug the two women. When everyone had calmed down again Lena told them to go upstairs and change because they were going to the beach for Taylors birthday.
"Hey Stef, Lena? Can I talk to you really quick?" Jude asked poking his head into their bedroom. Lena smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, "Sure bud. Is everything alright?" Jude smiled, "Yeah. Uh, before we go to the beach can we go to this coffee shop? Abby said something about an uh...open mic night every friday that she and Taylor go to? Well todays Friday so there's one tonight and Abby wanted a surprise for Taylor." Stef laughed, "You're taking the blame for it though, you ready for that Jude." Jude nodded, "I can run faster than Taylor." He joked.
"Where are we going? The beach is the other way." Mariana was looking out the window clearly confused. Taylor looked up from the unopened envelope in her hand, "Oh no. What's going on?" Lena managed to keep a straight face, "Nothing stop being so suspicious." Jude muffled a quick laugh not being able to contain it. Taylor spun around to face him but Brandon stopped her and began to talk to her, "Are you gonna open that sometime soon?" Taylor continued to flip the unopened envelope in her hand, "You guys really didn't have to do anything for me." All the kids shrugged, "We have no idea what that is, its from moms." Stef smiled seeing Taylors quick small flash across her face, Stef only hoped that Taylor would wait to read it.
"No way! No way! Abby told you guys!" Taylor was screaming as the van pulled into a parking spot. "You guys are coming to an open mic night? Please tell me there's no party?" Jesus put his hand on Taylor's shoulders to cause her to stop jumping. The family followed Taylor in who they couldn't quite tell the emotions of. "Hey Taylor." Abby called and waved. A few other assorted people said hello to Taylor as she walked in and sat at the table Abby has reserved for the family. Abby greeted them, jumping right into conversations as if she had known Taylors family for years. "Abby your next get up here." The owner called pointing to Abby. Abby smiled and slipped her hand away from Taylor's. "I'll be back."
Abby waved out the the crowd, "Hey guys so you all know Taylor from all the other Friday nights. Today's her birthday so I dragged her family here for the first time. Most of them have never heard her sing and tonight, after my song to her, that's gonna change. Everyone alright with that?" The crowd began to cheer, Taylor family being the loudest. Taylor kept shaking her head no to Abby but she just threw her head back and began to sing.
There I was again tonight, forcing laughter, faking smiles
Same old, tired lonely place
Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy
Vanished when I saw your face
All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you
Your eyes whispered, "Have we met?" across the room, your silhouette
Starts to make its way to me
The playful conversation starts, counter all your quick remarks
Like passing notes in secrecy
Stef reached for Lena's hand and smiled after what Taylor had been through the two were gald that the teen had someone like Abby in her life. Jesus laughed at Brandon whose mouth was gaping open. Mariana whispered something to Callie and Jude causing Taylor to shot them a quick look. Otherwise Taylor's eyes were locked with Abby's Taylor smiling even with her face being bright red.
And it was enchanting to meet you
All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you
The lingering question kept me up, 2 a.m., who do you love?
I wonder 'til I'm wide awake
Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door
I'd open up and you would say Heyyy
It was enchanting to meet you
All I know is I was enchanted to meet you
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you
This is me praying that
This was the very first page, not where the storyline ends
My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again
These are the words I held back as I was leaving too soon
I was enchanted to meet you
Abby stepped off the stage walking over to Taylor and reached for her hand. Taylor laughed and pulled her hair in front of her face. Stef and Lena just smiling but giving Taylor a look of "we're supposed to be disapproving here."
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on
The song ended with everyone clapping and Abby just smiling at Taylor, "Do you regret telling them about me yet?" Taylor laughed, "Yeah I am. Thanks for the song. Now sit so people stop staring." Abby laughed, "There's only one more song till you're up." Taylor was surprised, "What? Not in front of them please." Taylor nodded her head backwards to the family straining to hear what was being said, sitting behind her. "Fine." Abby sighed faking surrender.
"Beach now?" Lena asked all the kids after a few more people had gone. Taylor nodded, "Can Abby come?" Stef laughed, "Sure, but you two have to stop the silent conversations." Taylor blushed. Jude laughed, "So Taylor I'm the one that Abby told and I told Stef and Lena. Are you gonna yell at me now?" Callie rolled her eyes always her brother causing trouble. Taylor laughed standing up, "Let's hope you can get into the car before Stef and Lena get there." Jude got up and ran out through the front door with Taylor chasing after him. "Thank you for allowing me to come." Abby was talking to Stef and Lena after the rest of the kids had run ahead. Lena smiled, "Taylor needs someone like you. You two are cute together." Stef nodded in agreement, "Just no making out on the beach tonight alright?" Abby laughed and ran ahead to the car.
"Here." Taylor decided after getting almost a quarter of a mile away down the beach. Jude dropped his stuff and got ready to run again seeing Taylor ready to chase him again, "Callie, Mariana you have to be on my side for this one right? He's not getting away with it?" Taylor had managed to con Callie and Mariana on her side while Jude managed to get Jesus and Lena on his. The two "teams" ran up and down the beach until Lena caught Taylor tickling her causing Taylor to pull both of them under the water, Jesus caught Mariana and threw her into the ocean, while Callie had lost her footing, falling in while Jude stayed perfectly dry. The six began to splash around laughing and shrieking.
"Don't hurt her alright? She's my little sister and a lot of people have broken her heart, you better not be one of them. Alright? Good." Brandon was trying to give Abby the I'm the older brother talk but Stef was laughing so hard that at one point he couldn't seem to get a word out. Abby nodded, "I'll keep that in mind but I'm less afraid of you, Jesus and Jude than I am of your moms, Mariana and Callie." Abby looked at Stef sheepishly as Stef laughed, "Smart girl."
Taylor managed to sneak away from the chaos she had started once Brandon joined, "Hey Stef, Mind if I walk with Abby for a minute, we'll stay in sight." Stef nodded but look at Abby and jokingly said, "Remember what I said earlier." Taylor was confused but sighed, "Moms aren't supposed to threaten the girlfriends until the second date!" She froze when she realized she had called Stef one of her moms but Stef just smiled and told the two to get lost.
"Thank you, for the song tonight. It was amazing, and for being so wonderful to Jude and all the other kids, they all of love you." Taylor said. Abby nodded, "Bonus points!" She laughed celebrating the victory. Taylor sat on the beach after walking far enough that she didn't think Stef could see much but close enough so she wouldn't get into trouble. "Abby, that song was the best birthday gift I've ever gotten. Thank you." Abby shook her head, "That wasn't your gift. That was just the wrapping, the gift is yet to come." Taylor looked quizzically at Abby, "What do you mean?" Abby laughed, "This is your gift." She slowly leaned into Taylor and pressed her lips to Taylors. Taylor eyes fluttered shut and softly returned the kiss. The emotions inside her were exploding with joy, surprise and pure passion. This is what everyone meant by the first kiss was perfect. The slight sea breeze blew the two girls hair into their faces and the two slowly pulled away. Abby smiled, "Happy birthday." Taylor was beaming and the two slowly walked back to the group who had been packing up. The family left the beach and returned to the house after dropping Abby off. Each of the kids said goodnight to Stef and Lena and Happy Birthday to Taylor.
Taylor was still smiling when she sat down on the couch to read the letter she had been playing with all night. "Now or never." She whispered opening the letter carefully.
Taylor,
You came to us one night with a large cut on your face crying and screaming. Shivering and frozen. We have watched a beautiful young women grow from that screaming girl before our eyes, into someone who refuses to hide who they are. Someone who is strong when they know it would just be easier to be weak. You have been a wonderful older sister to Jude and an great younger sister to the twins, Brandon and Callie. Most importantly we have seen you grow into a daughter. Our daughter, which is why our present to you is this. Almost one year two people gave you up, they hurt you. Those two people now are losing a fight to keep you. We need a final say from you but within weeks, if you should accept. You will have two moms who love you and a lot of siblings who could never live without you. Our gift to you is the gift of love. The gift of something you thought you were stealing. The gift of this being your family, even legally. A few court dates and it will be official to the state. Even though for the two of us it had been official for nine months. Our gift to you our daughter is home.
Love,
your moms
Lena and Stef
"Ha." Taylor cried out finishing the letter. She had tears streaming down her face even though she hadn't even realized that she had been crying. She slowly stood not sure if her legs would hold her and walked into the kitchen. Stef and Lena had been sitting there waiting for her to read the letter. "Moms?" Taylor choked and fell into the two womans arms. Stef laughed pulling Taylor back so she could look at them better, "The two best present for your birthday ever huh? Who won us or Abby?" Taylor turned red and laughed, "When do I go tell them it's all true and I should never go near those people again?" Lena hugged the girl, "Soon. Happy Birthday."
Authors note:
I felt that there was a lot that needed to be done in the "month" between episode nine and ten of the show. There may be a few more chapters of extra stuff I add in with a Lena/Stef and Taylor chapter. What do you all think? Reviews please. Thanks!