These Dreams

Tender Moments

"Stef?" Lena whispered as the two were looking up at the ceiling not even realizing the other was awake. But each had been just enjoying what might be the last few moments they could spend together for a long time. That thought alone was heartbreaking but they were trying so hard not to focus their 16 year old brains on it.

"Yeah baby?"

"Are you awake?"

"Yeah. You ok? You feeling ok? You need a doctor?"

"No, no, I'm ok." Lena said now turning to face the blonde and leaning on her arm as the blonde did the same tucking Lena's curl behind her ear. " I just had a dream and woke up. But I realized it wasn't a dream. You really are here."

"Sure I am baby. I'm right here with you." All Stef could do was smile as she began to stroke Lena's cheek.

"I know and I don't want you to leave. But I know you will need to. It's so hard here without you. I mean I miss being with you everyday in California and I miss it there too.  I don't care about my stupid cousin or what anyone said about us. I just know I love you and I want you to be my girlfriend forever. Well when they change the laws which I hope they do one day I hope we can get married and have kids."

"Lena I know this sucks. It really does and I try not to let it get me down. I miss you too baby, I do so much and I promise you to god I will wait for you. I am not interested in anyone else but you. We will go to college together if we can or close by and be with each other. Forever and I will marry you Lena. One day I will for dam sure and you will be my wife and we will have as many babies as you want."

Smiling at the blonde Lena gently grabbed her hand holding it.

"I love you Stefanie Marie."

"And I love you too Lena Elizabeth."  Smiling at the girl who made her heart race faster then anything Stef leaned in and pressed her lips against Lena's. They didn't let go for anything as images of their future floated in both their minds over and over.

--------------------------

Almost 30 years later

"That is so sweet moms!" Mariana said as she wiped tears from her eyes as did Callie and even Jude. Brandon was smiling as well along with Jesus, and their little foster brother Corey for they had to admit they never heard the entire story either. "I mean it's like  a tragic love story and the fact that you both waited for each other. I just can't. That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. How come you never told us this story? We knew it took you guys time to get together but we didn't know the history was like that."

"Not sure babe I guess mama and I were waiting for the right time. When we felt you could really understand how hard it was back then to be together if you were gay. It has its moments now but it was much much harder then. Very."

"It's so sweet you knew at 16 that mama was for you and that mom was for you. Was it just your gut?" Callie asked directing her question to Lena as she smiled wide at both women holding 2 year old Frankie in her arms.

"It was my gut for sure. I mean mom was very affectionate and so sweet not to mention cool and as you heard I was terribly shy."

"Shy yes you were baby but I was far from cool." Stef joked as all the kids laughed. 

"Oh baby you were so cool. Very. I know mom doesn't seem like she was guys or is because we are older now but she was. Very much so especially when she wore those jeans." Stef could only wink as Lena blushed at her for in her eyes she looked just as she did when they were 16. Even if Stef now had wrinkles and laugh lines being that they were now  close to 45,  and that she wore reading glasses, and that her hair was much shorter she was beautiful still to Lena. Beautiful and she had become the person she wanted to become for years. Truthfully the image of when she first met her in Tess's bedroom that day almost 30 years ago never ever left her mind. Ever.  

It was the same for Stef and always would be for Lena had always been beautiful in her eyes and she as well never ever forgot the first time she laid eyes on her.  At that time Lena was hiding behind her big glasses and big hair that she was so embarrassed by.  But she had blossomed into something Stef always saw. Always and no longer did she hide but Lena embraced everything about herself and had become a confident strong woman in more ways then one. That was the person Stef always saw from the very beginning.

"Yes it was only after we had all of you I became an annoying, uptight pain in the ass." She joked as the kids laughed once again.

"Ahh you're not so bad mom. We get it. But the story is so super sweet even if Gran sounds like she made it so hard." Callie said.

"Only in the beginning. She came around when she realized we were serious and not splitting apart. I mean she knew I was never giving up on mama ever and I never did. But we understood later on she didn't want mama to get hurt and wanted the best for her. Which I did as well and still do " Smiling once again at her wife all the kids were so curious about how the rest of the story went on.

"But what happened after you visited mama in Ohio mom?" Corey asked as what he referred to both women as put a big grin on their faces.

"Ahh we don't want to bore you all." Stef said.

"You totally aren't. Please! Please tell us. Plus we need to know what happened to evil Tess!" The latin girl begged as Callie along with her brothers began to beg as well. The cop could only look to her wife smiling as they continued on with the story going back nearly 30 years once again.

"Well...