ALTERNATE ENDING 1, CHAPTER 3

They awoke spooned together and once again Stef had to work all the kinks out of her muscles before she was able to stand straight upright. Lena smiled over at her.

"Good thing you're going home today."

"Morning to you too, my love." She said while laughing.

Stef jumped back onto the bed and gave her a few light tickles. "It's not funny!"

Lena kissed her by way of an apology and Stef leaned into her moaning. "Hmm… I could wake up like this everyday." Stef kissed her a few more times. "I've gotta go get dressed for work though. Do you need anything before I jump in the shower?"

"Nope." Lena reached for the phone, "I'm going to order up breakfast for 2 though. It should be here by the time you're done. Eggs over easy and toast?"

"Yes please. With lots and lots of bacon on the side."

They ate their breakfast in silence at first.

"So what time are you leaving here? I could pick you up." Stef offered.

"No thanks. It's okay. My family has this entire schedule thing worked out for me already. My parents hired a few nurses, my sister's nanny is now taking care of all 3 of the kids, and they've set up a visitation rotation where I'm never alone. I'm not sure which is going to drive me nuts faster bed rest, or never having a minute to myself because someone's always underneath me."

Stef grabbed her hand and made Lena look up at her. "It's not a bother to me babe. I told you already that I want to be here for you and that means in every way. I want to be here for the babies also. We're kinda starting to feel like a dirty little side secret. You haven't spent much time with Brandon and I've spent almost no time at all with Callie. I want this. I want all of you. I want us."

Lena nodded and leaned over to give Stef a quick kiss. Then they resumed eating.

"Am I at least going to see you later?" Stef finally asked.

"If you don't mind being around Gretchen then, sure." Stef made a face and Lena laughed. "She is still going to be a part of all of this. Everyone has to have dinner so you can bring Brandon and your Mom over and maybe order in or take out?" Lena shrugged.

"I'll pick up something on the way over." She kissed Lena. "I've gotta get to work. See you later baby."

Cocococococococococococo

Stef called Brandon and her Mom on the way to work and spoke with them until she got to the station. She was wrapping up the conversation when she mentioned them having dinner at Lena's tonight.

"Lena's stuck in a bed and has been eating take out and hospital food for days. I'm sure she'll enjoy some home cooking instead. I could actually pick the kids up early and go over there and cook. That way she'll have some company too." Sharon offered.

"Sounds great Mom. I'm sure she'll love that. She was telling me that her family already has a visitation rotation so she's not alone much of the day. Plus nurses and nannies. So, don't put yourself out over it."

"I'm not putting myself out. I like Lena. And I wouldn't mind being included in the rotation."

"I'll let her know. I'm here now Mom. Hand the phone to Brandon please so I can tell him I love him."

There was the sound of scuffling and Brandon jumped on the phone. "Bye Mommy. I have to go to school now."

"Wait!" She waited a second to make sure that he hadn't hung up. When there was no dial tone she told him, "I just wanted to say I love you. And have a good day at school today okay?"

"I love you too Mommy. Bye." This time she did get a dial tone.

When Stef got into the station, everyone went quiet. God this place is so high school, she thought to herself.

She punched in and was on her way to her desk when Captain Roberts called her into the office.

"Yes Captain?" Stef asked as she took the seat she was being offered. Stef had a lot of respect for the Captain. She was a black woman who had made her way up the ladder of an old good ol' boy system. She was an inspiration to her.

"I know that you and Mike have been separated for a while but, I need to make sure that this thing isn't going to affect your work here." The Captain had never been one to mince words.

"Mike is a grown man who makes his own decisions. If you're referring to what he did this weekend, I can assure you, with zero reservations that what comes next is all on him and will not affect my performance one bit. I didn't become an officer for Mike. I was already in the academy when I met him. This is my career and I take it seriously. I give 100% to my job regardless."

Captain Roberts nodded her head in acknowledgement and appreciation. "He's on unpaid suspension pending the outcome of a hearing." They both were able to read between the lines. Mike's career as a police officer was over. "I also hear that he's going to be issued a restraining order. And the Mayor is deeply embarrassed by all of this. This thing won't end well and it will only get worse as time goes."

"Well, I was aware of that as soon as I got the phone call." Stef said with a hint of anger in her voice.

Again, the Captain nodded. "Well, if there's nothing else, we're done here."

"Erm… there is… just one more thing." The Captain raised her eyebrows questioningly so Stef continued. "My girlfriend…" She paused and looked over at Captain Roberts to see how she was taking it. But, Captain Roberts had been around for a long time and had seen it all. She didn't even flinch or blink. She just nodded her understanding. She was well aware that Mike was in jail because of attacking a pregnant woman and despite her liking of Mike, she wasn't too happy about the situation either. "…she has a high risk pregnancy. And she's going to need a lot of help. I was wondering about if I needed time off." Stef said the last quickly.

"Well, if it's a baby the two of you are claiming together, then you have the right to 12 weeks off as per the Family Medical Leave Act but it is unpaid time off. You do have some vacation and sick days that you haven't used so far. But, the Leave Act only gives you time off starting after the baby is born not before. You're going to need to make other arrangements outside of your scheduled work time but, I think we can manage something. You will of course get leave if there's a family emergency."

"Twins, actually. She's having twins." Stef said absently thinking it over.

"Well, congratulations twice over then. Now, if there's nothing more, I expect you to keep your mind on work while you are here. I don't have to tell you how badly a situation can go with a distracted cop."

"No, ma'am. And thank you for your time."

"Get to work Foster."

Stef saluted the Captain then grinned cheekily and left the office.

She walked out of the office to a denful of hushes again. This is going to be a long day.

She walked over to her desk where she could feel the entire station staring her down, and found a box on top with a note lying across it. She opened the note and it merely read, Mike's bail. She looked up and around but everyone pretended they were busy. She shook her head and shoved the box aside before her partner jogged over. Thankfully, she had been given a rookie who knew that their place on the totem pole was too low to ask questions. David and she got along well enough though so she tried not to take things out on him too much.

David held the keys out to her. He knew Stef loved driving and being in control and he had no problems supporting a strong woman. "Ready?" He was openly gay and had always suspected that Stef was too. After hearing that Mike, who he considered an old school bully and brute, had been thrown in jail after attacking a woman, he was the only one who wasn't surprised.

"Always." Stef grabbed the keys from him on their way out. She left the box and its contents sitting on her desk in an apathetic manner.