** A/N: I apologize preemptively to the people who already got this. For the easily confused, this chapter very DELIBERATELY mimics the show in the way in which they met. Although, I did put my own spin on the matter, and there is some additional info which will help you follow through. If you know how they met on the TV show and you don't want to rehash it then either move on, skip this chapter, or don't read the story altogether. Also, as I've stated repeatedly, this will NOT be a story with a happy ending and this ONE CHAPTER IS NOT THE ENTIRE STORY.

** A/N: This story is not a Lena meets Stef and it has little in common with the tv show. If that's what you're expecting then read no further. I can already tell you it won't go down that way. This story will not have a happy ending.

** A/N: As far as Stef not being Stef, that's because she is not and will not be the one from the tv show. This is a closeted Stef who is a lesbian who married a man for years because her Father told her it was a good idea as an adult woman who didn't live at home with him. This is not normal behavior for anyone IMO. She was broken. It took loving Lena to fix that part of her. This chapter is also NOT the culmination of the story. Nor a defining chapter. It's background info that gets you on the way.

Lena was exhausted. She had been ripping and running all day. Her morning sickness had finally started to kick in. She had really hoped she could skip that part of pregnancy this time around but now she was running for the bathroom every few hours. She had just recovered from her latest bout when her telecom buzzed and the secretary said that her 3 o'clock tour was waiting for her on the benches near the playground. Lena took a deep breath, counted to 20, swallowed some water and headed out.

Stef had signed in and dropped off her paperwork when the secretary invited her to wait outside near the play area for the vice principal. Mike had been a no show and Stef wasn't sure how she felt about that at the moment. She was watching the kids play when someone walked up to her. She looked up, and her mouth went dry. She was staring at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Hi, I'm Lena Adams, the vice principal." She said as she held out her hand.

Stef rose to shake her hand. "Hi. I'm Stef Foster." Stef couldn't stop staring. Her hand was so soft and warm. The handshake seemed to go on forever.

"So your son …?" Lena asked

"Uh," Stef started. She had no idea why she couldn't think clearly. She had never forgotten her son's name in her life. She was the one who had named him! "Brandon ..it's..his name's Brandon. " Stef mentally kicked herself for the stuttering.

"He will be starting preschool this fall?" she asked.

"Yes he's four." At least she could remember that much.

"Great!" Great? Lena cringed a little inside. She had no idea why she had said that. "Well, I would be glad to give you a tour. Tell you about our school and all of the wonderful opportunities we have to offer our students and parents. Are we waiting for your husband to join?"

"Uhh.. no he's not.. he.. uh.. he couldn't make it." Stef finally managed to stammer out. "I'm sorry," she said while laughing a little mostly at herself.

"OK well.. follow me." Lena said while turning to begin the tour.

"OK." Stef knew that she would follow her anywhere.

They were nearing the end of the tour which was near the front office when Lena felt her stomach give that old familiar lurch. O god, please no she thought to herself.

Stef watched as a panicked look took over the beautiful features of a face that she had found it hard to not stare at for the past 15 minutes.

"Excuse me." Lena said as she turned and ran to the restroom.

Lena felt like her stomach was emptying of everything she had ever eaten in her life. O God. This morning sickness was really doing a number on her.

She walked out and Mrs Foster was standing there with some wet napkins and a sympathetic smile on her face.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs Foster." Lena was so embarrassed. Grateful that she had at least made it on time but still embarrassed. Thankfully the tour ended in front of the offices where they would then go over any additional questions and then part.

"Please, call me Stef." She said with a warm caring smile. "I hope this wasn't because of my company."

"O god, no. I'm so sorry. Mrs. Fo-, I mean Stef. And please call me Lena by the way," She gratefully accepted the napkin then started to clean herself up.

Stef went outside to give her privacy. She should've been grossed out but all she could find it in her to do was to offer anything she could to help.

Lena walked out minutes later still feeling weak and embarrassed and looking a little pale and shaky on her feet. She gestured for Stef to follow her into her office while still apologizing profusely.

Stef waved away the apology and sat in the chair across from Lena's.

"So, that was actually the end of the tour. You've now seen all that we have to offer and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have." She said.

"Well, I was curious about the afterschool programs. Brandon's been going to daycare half the day and my Mom would pick him up and drop him off. With my schedule, things are up in the air alot. But, I don't want to overload him with school either. What do you suggest?"

"Well, we do offer a summer enrichment program which is going on now. And the activities don't start until later in the afternoon. The program only lasts from 10:30 to 3:30 and it helps them prepare for preschool. My daughter and nephews actually are enrolled and they all enjoy it. We've led an alternative life and this is the first time she's had something that resembles structure and she's actually thriving."

"Alternative life?"

"Yes, Callie was conceived in Italy and born in Spain. We've been traveling and never really had a permanent space until a couple of months ago. Before then, she's spent more time traveling than being in the States."

"Wow. Sounds exciting. Do you have any other children?" Stef was impressed and she was eager to hear more from this beautiful woman. Though nothing in her life could ever compare. The farthest away from home she'd ever been was Disneyland. She had never gone to college and it always made her feel a little awkward around people who had. Their conversation thus far had been kinda stilted. Stef couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity like she already knew this woman. But, she she had just met her!

She watched as Lena grabbed her midsection and squeezed while making the most adorable face.

"Oh! Morning sickness! I should've guessed."

"Well, it's not been made public yet and I'm not even showing but, yes." Lena confirmed while laughing.

Stef loved hearing her laugh. She wanted her to keep going. She fished around for a joke that would fit the circumstances but came up short. This woman made it difficult for her to think. Think, breathe, string words together to make sentences. Stef felt like the woman had cast a spell on her. One that she liked. Maybe too much.

Lena had been watching her face and felt the moment when Stef pulled away mentally. She didn't know what she had done and she was equally surprised to realize that it hurt her a little. She liked Stef. The conversation between the two of them flowed easily. Lena felt like she was talking to an old friend.

"So," Lena started, "If you bring back the forms, Brandon could actually even begin on Monday."

Stef felt like she was being dismissed and didn't like the feeling. But, she knew staying wasn't a good idea. Not when this woman had the ability to make her feel things she didn't even understand. She grabbed the papers and threw a hasty "Goodbye," behind her as she quickly walked out the door.

Cococococococococo

Stef had been sitting in her car for a few minutes now. She had no idea what had come over her. Here she was acting ridiculous over a meeting at school. She was an adult woman!

But, there was something about Lena that drew her in. Those dark chocolate eyes that you could see the world in. That laugh that made her whole face light up and her eyes crinkle. She had been wearing a tight long pencil skirt that showed off her incredibly long shapely legs. The way that her face expressed everything she was thinking. She was the most exquisite creature that Stef had ever seen. And she could never be around her again.

Stef was straight! She was straight and married! She was a straight married woman who loved her husband and even though they were going through a rough patch, she was not giving up on them. This time when Mike called, Stef was going to answer the phone like a good wife should.