0.9 Another Mother

-x-o Lena -x-o

I was on the tablet in the kitchen when Stef came in skipping happily. I looked up at her and raised an eye brow at her. "You seem chirpy." I pointed out placing my tablet down and focused on her as she grabbed a glass of water then sat in front of me.

"Because I am not afraid anymore, Lena!" Stef said with a huge smile on her face. "I am prepared to tell the kids what is happening and how much I am going to effect them in a positive way."

"Honey, stop for a second." I pleaded softly placing my hands on top of hers. "Please." Her smile dropped and I felt guilty but I was worried.

"You don't want to tell the kids that we are more than just friends?" Stef whispered sadly and I quickly shook my head.

"No! No. That is not why I am telling you to stop and think, honey." I answered her with a small smile on my face which quickly turned into a sad smile. "You have been here for one and a half days, and you want to throw this bombshell at them." She looked down as she thought about it for a second.

"You've been treating me like a guest, Lena." She whispered as she looked up at me with teary brown eyes. "They've been treating me like a guest and I know I am more than that to all of you. You know that but they don't."

"Babe, I didn't realise." I replied sadly as she wiped her eyes and tried to smile at me but I knew she was still hurting over Callie's coldness. "But, these things are going to take some time. I don't want to make them uncomfortable with you. I can already see you building an relationship with Jude and Mariana, and for that I am so glad but there is three other kids who you haven't connected much to either.."

"So, I can work on those relationships." She reassured me and I nodded as I patted her hand softly. "Lena, baby. I want to be a Mother to your lovely children and I can't help but be motherly to them already."

"I know, honey." I replied back with a small smile as she looked at me with a sad frown on her face. "I hope I am not making it difficult for you to show that side of you.. Or anything that is making it hard for you. Because maybe if you step up a little and be yourself more then the kids will see that they have another person who cares for them and you are being truly yourself." Stef nodded then looked over at my tablet which was laying amongst bills.

"I saw you last night when I went down to check on you." Stef admitted slowly with a soft, caring tone then she pointed to the tablet and bills. "You are struggling with the bills." I looked back at her as she was staring at me.

"Yeah.. I am." I admitted softly as I sighed and Stef smiled warmly at me.

"I want to help you with this.. That is the first thing I can start doing." She replied with an excited tone and a smile on her face. I laughed and shook my head.

"Is there a way I can stop you?" I questioned jokily and she laughed as she shook her head. "Thought not."

"I was an police officer before I had Callie with Mike." She pointed out as she grabbed my tablet and opened it up. "I am not sure what I can do to get my job back but I am sure I can pull a few swings."

"Uh.. Stef, you are having a law suit with them." I pointed out to her with raised eye brows. "No offence but I don't think they will be welcoming you with open arms until after." She laughed.

"No offence taken.." She replied as she was typing something and clicking things. "Actually, you have a good point." I looked at her with a pleased look as she looked up at me from the screen. "But Lena, when there's a will there's a way."

"I am kind of scared." I admitted softly as I got up to prepare dinner since it was getting closer to when everybody was getting back from their day plans and getting darker. "I can trust you right?"

"Of course!" Stef answered faking being offended been asked that question as she held her hand to her heart. I softly sighed realising she wanted to go back to being an police officer. I dropped the pan and she jumped up. "Lena, honey." She said as she picked up the pan as I stared at her. "Honey?"

"It only just hit me." I admitted softly to her as she placed the pan down and took me into her arms. "That my soon to be wife is going to be working in a dangerous work place." She held me and I wrapped my arms around her.

"OH MY GOD!" Mariana screamed and we both dropped our arms, and quickly turned our bodies to face her. "Why.. why are you hugging like that?" We looked at each other then looked back at Mariana.

"We didn't want you to see us like this.." I whispered as I put my hands out to her but she looked really shocked. "Well, not this soon."

"Well no shit sherlock." She answered back as she slowly walked in and took a seat. I glared at her.

"You don't get talk to us like that." I replied to her taking a seat in front of her and Stef followed. "No matter how shocked and angry you are."

"She has been here for two days and you are already at each other."

"We were just hugging, Mariana." Stef finally spoke and with a strong, firm tone. I looked at her with surprised but quickly stopped then looked back at Mariana. "It wasn't like we were kissing or having sex."

"OH GOD." Mariana covered her eyes. "I don't even want to picture that.. It's gross so stop." Stef looked at her with a little smile.

"I think your Mum and I've been really considerate of you and your siblings feelings." Stef continued once Mariana stopped having a fit. "We haven't been too intimate with each other and we weren't planning to do so until you all were comfortable with me in the house."

"Oh." Mariana answered as she looked down at the table with a sigh.

"Look, Mariana. I want to be honest with you." Stef said softly with a small smile on her face as Mariana looked back up at her. "I love your Mum deeply.. And I am hoping to marry her." Mariana looked shocked but didn't look upset. "And I don't just want to be a Mother to Callie, I want to be a Mother to you and your siblings."

"Really?" Mariana questioned with a little smile on her face which made me smile. "Like another Mother to tell us what to do?" She questioned with a joking tone which made us both laugh.

"I am sure we will be different.." I replied back with a little smile looking at Stef as she winked at me. "Stef is out of practice." I teased and she poked her tong at me as Mariana looked on with a smile.

"I am glad we had this talk with you." Stef added as we turned our attention to Mariana who looked more relaxed. "But, can you not say anything to anyone yet until we can find the right time to talk to them."

"My lips are sealed." Mariana answered back and pretended to zip her lips, and throw away the key. She got down from the chair and came over to Stef to hug her. "I am actually really glad we had this talk too. I felt a little uneasy and was coming to talk anyway."

"Good girl." I encouraged as I kissed her head as she was still hugging Stef. "Thanks for being so understanding."

"You are welcome.." She replied back as they pulled apart from their hug. "I need to head upstairs and get out of my swimmers." She added and ran out happily. I smiled at Stef who looked glad.

"That girl is such a sweetheart." I whispered starting to prepare dinner again as Stef sat there with a smile. "I just hope everybody else is as understanding as her."

"I am sure time with tell." Stef confirmed as she went back to the tablet as I started to chop vegetables. "Now, back to the issue with me working in a dangerous force." I sighed as I told her my fears for her and her comforting me.

Mariana is literally the complete opposite to how she was in the show when she had to share a room with Callie. I wanted to make her more understanding and less of how bratty she was at the beginning! Thanks for all the love! -Shaz