Stef had run home and changed into her uniform. She could still feel the warm spot on her arm from when Lena had put her hand on her arm but the running away afterward had saddened and confused her. She wasn't sure what she had done to offend her but she wanted to make it right.

She got to the station and clocked in when she ran into Mike. The SDPD was still a good ol' boy's club. Even though her and Mike had started together and he had had far more issues and write ups, he had still risen faster than her and was actually her superior officer.

"Hi Mike. You look like hell." She said. So she was right, it was the drinking that had kept him occupied all weekend.

"Thanks Stef. You look beautiful." He tried kissing her but she turned her head and it landed on cheek. "How's Brandon?"

"Well if you had checked your messages and called back, then you'd know that today was his first official day of school. We won the school lottery and he's at Anchor Beach Charter school."

"No kidding. That's great. Look, sorry about this weekend. I was tied up. How about I take him this weekend instead? You could even come with us, if you want."

"Sure Mike. Whatever works for you because we have no other plans. I'll have Brandon ready for you at 6 on Friday. Just, don't be late. Or at least call. That work for you?" Stef was fuming. But, she knew she should take Mike up on any offer to see Brandon, if for Brandon's sake no less. Brandon really loved him and she knew he would be happy about anytime he got to spend with his Dad. She stalked off before he could continue speaking.

Her shift ended at 3 and she took off her uniform shirt to pick up Brandon. She always wore an undershirt of some kind and today it was a fitted black tshirt. After today, her Mom would do the dropping off and picking up of Brandon but she had wanted to be there on his first day. Stef had forgotten to adjust for traffic. By the time she pulled into the school it was 3:50 and the place was cleared out. She rushed inside and found Lena watching over Callie and Brandon as they played on the playground.

"I'm so sorry. The traffic was just horrible." She said as she trotted over.

Lena smiled at her and said, "It's fine."

Brandon and Callie had joined them by this time and they had both wrapped themselves around their Moms.

"You're late Mommy. But, I was a big boy. Ms. Adams said that Mommy's never forget their babies and we could play until you got here and then you did. Ms. Adams was right."

"Yes Ms. Adams was right. I would never forget my little man. I couldn't live without you." She said as she looked into Lena's eyes.

Lena blushed and turned to Callie. "Why don't you say bye to your new friend and we can go."

"Can Callie come over and play with us? She's my new friend. She's a really good friend Mommy. Can she?" Brandon asked excitedly.

"I really would like to thank you for all that you've done for us. If you'd let me, I'd love to take you and Callie out to dinner."

Callie looked up at her Mama hopefully as Lena looked into those gorgeous hazel eyes. She wanted to say no, being around this woman for too long was dangerous. She made her body feel things that Lena hadn't felt in a long time. Still, she couldn't say no when those eyes were pleading with her.

"Sure," she heard herself say before she could talk herself out of it.

They agreed on a place nearby and each jumped into their respective cars with their children. Both discreetly sent texts to their mothers that they were taking the kids out for dinner and not to expect them. They met back up at a pizza place that also had a children's game room. They ordered a small cheese for the kids to share and a medium half pepperoni for Stef and half veggie lovers for Lena for the two of them to share. They gave the kids a plateful of quarters and waited for their order to be called.

"So, do you live around here?" Stef asked. She really knew very little about this woman.

"No. I mean yes. I mean we're going to. I've purchased a house but we're still waiting on a few things. Hopefully Callie and I will be able to move in the next few days. Until then we're staying with my parents."

Stef looked at her sheepishly. She didn't want to admit that so was she. She hadn't yet told her that she was separated and for some reason she felt safer that way. She instead changed the subject.

"So how do you like the job?"

"I love it." Lena said with a huge smile. "My boss is a lil.. but most bosses are I guess. Aside from her, I love it."

"Again, I'm really sorry for being late today. I just really wanted to be there for him on his first day. It seems that he and your little girl are already friends though. Brandon doesn't usually make friends this easily."

Lena looked at her contemplating and then decided to jump in. She liked Stef and didn't think it would be a problem. "Well, if you're looking for playmates for Brandon, we have kinda kid sharing club. It's me, my sister Lisa who's the mother of Jaleyn whom you've met and Ethan whom you haven't, my best friends Jenna and Kelly, whom I've known since high school, and their son Garrett. We make playdates, babysit, and just help one another out as parents. We're going to be over at the playground on Saturday at 9:30. That would give Brandon the opportunity to get to know more kids without the pressure of a crowded classroom."

Stef still didn't want to admit that she was separated or that Brandon was going to be with his father this weekend so she glad when their order was called and she ran over and grabbed it. They called the kids over and chatted while eating. The kids hugged one another goodbye as Stef and Lena finally settled on a handshake after an extended pause. They went their separate ways while both tried not thinking of the other on the way home.