Troubling Love

You left me.

Sarah carefully scanned the menu that she held in front of her, she tried to find something that her stomach desired. Stefani had decided to go to a  outdoor restaurant since it was a nice day outside, it wasn't hot and humid but it wasn't cold either, it was perfect. The two girls sat outside near the ocean, hearing the waves crash along the shoreline and smelling the fresh saltwater. "See anything you like baby?" Asked Stefani. Sarah nodded, "I'll probably eat sushi, more specifically california rolls." Stefani giggled, "I see that your favorite type of sushi hasn't changed." Sarah smiled at her, "Nope, and I bet you it never will." Stefani looked at the menu in front of her, "Well, since you like them so much maybe I'll try them too." She winked at her daughter, earning a laugh from the teenager. "So, we talked in the meeting when you went up to the rooftop and everyone decided that they love your idea for the make up palette so they're going to go with the stupid love palette." Stefani smiled. Sarahs eye grew wide, "Really?" She asked. Stefani nodded her head, "Yes, they took what you said into consideration and decided that, that palette was the best fit." Sarah dramatically moved her hair out of her face, "Well, I suppose that I am useful." Sarah dramatically emphasized. Stefani raised a brow, "You've always been helpful baby, what do you mean?" She laughed. Sarah shrugged, curling her lips into a smile, "I don't know, I guess I'm just helpful for once." Stefani reached for Sarah's hand holding the teenagers tiny one in hers, "What do you mean by that?" Sarah sighed, "Nothing, it just felt good to do something right for once." Sarah shrugged it off. Stefani got up from her seat and sat on the chair next to Sarah's seat, she embraced her daughter in a hug, kissing the girls hair, "You've done a lot of things right, don't bring yourself down like that." Stefani frowned. Sarah hid her face in her mother's neck, she became red with embarrassment once she felt tears well up in her eyes. Stefani seemed to notice, she hugged her daughter a bit tighter, "What's got you so upset baby doll? Talk to me." The blonde whispered. Sarah shook her head, "I, um," the girl paused in fear. She wanted to spill everything about her fight with Elle but fearful thoughts ran through her mind. Stefani let her daughter go, she looked her daughter in the eyes, wiping Sarah's tears with the pad of her thumb, "Hey, it's okay baby. I'm right here, just talk to me." The singer comforted. Her daughter looked away, paying close attention to the ocean and it's gorgeous view. She sighed before continuing, "Before you woke up this morning I went downstairs and headed in the dining room while Bo finished breakfast. Elle was in there before I was, I attempted to talk to her." Sarah looked over at Stefani, eyes filled with more tears, "Mom, she, she told me that teenagers in her grade called you names, convincing her into believing that you'd abandon her again. Calling you a freak, and they thought that because you came back she wouldn't be the bad girl that she used to be. So she pushed herself away from you, she continued to be the party girl she was in hope to satisfy others. She doesn't hate you mom, she really wants to have the relationship you guys once had. She just doesn't know how to fight. She's also hurt because you left, she told me she'd never forgive you." Sarah spilled out. She immediately looked away from her mother once she finished, Sarah didn't want to see the horrified look on her mother's face. The teenager didn't care that other people could see them, there wasn't a lot of people outside anyway and all of them were caught up in conversations of their own. Stefani rubbed her hand up and down Sarah's back, "Why didn't you tell me babe?" The blonde questioned. Sarah pressed her lips in a line before speaking, "I didn't want to stress you out even more." She excused. Stefani pulled her daughters chair closer to hers, the blonde kissed the top of her daughters head, "You weren't going to stress me out Sarah, you know, even if it doesn't look like it, you children are my top priorities. I love you both so much that it's almost terrifying, I'll always have time for you both. Don't hesitate to ask or tell me something, I'm here, I'll listen." Sarah smiled, "Thank you mama, I love you." Stefani hugged her daughter, "I love you more."

Both girls ordered their food after a long couple minutes of procrastinating, Stefani decided to actually make the decision to try california rolls which made Sarah excited. Stefani chatted with her daughter about a variety of many things, she told Sarah about Addison being on the list which brought pure joy to Sarah. She didn't feel jealous, that feeling had left her heart long ago. The teenagers only wish was to bring Addie back where she belongs, she could tell that Addison was slowly sinking each day. Reading through the lines of, 'I'm fine', I'm doing okay', ''I feel better today.' Wasn't very hard for Sarah, she knew what those words meant a lot of the time. It's like your way of screaming for help but no one really realizes. Sarah opened her mouth to answer a question her mother had asked her but before she could a man quickly passed by their table in a rush, he dug in his pockets in a rush to find something, as he moved quickly Sarah had noticed that his ring had fallen out of his pocket but the stranger was to fast to hear the clink of the silver ring hitting the deck. Sarah pushed back her chair, standing up from the table, she grabbed the ring that laid on the deck and slowly approached the stranger who was pacing up and down the steps that lead to the beach. Her anxiety rushed to her, pumping her adrenaline, her hands began to feel jittery, and her mind began to run. She hesitantly tapped the man on the shoulders, noticing that he was on the phone with someone, "I, uh, s-sir." Sarah reached out. The man looked up at the teenager, "I'll call you back later Morgan, I've got to go. Yes I know, this is important but I can't talk right now." The man lowered his phone from his ear, giving Sarah a warm smile, "Hello, can I help you with something?" The older man asked kindly. Sarah shook her head, clearing her throat before she forcefully spoke, "Um, well you rushed by my table and you didn't notice that you dropped your ring." Sarah held out the silver band on the palm of her hand, the strangers eyes widened, "Oh god I must've been walking too fast, thank you so much." He took the ring out of Sarah's hand and placed it back onto his ring finger. Before Sarah had the chance to respond she felt a hand on her shoulder, a familiar hand, "There you are darling, I was wondering where you ran off too." Sarah smiled, "Oh, um, he dropped his ring, I was just returning it." She replied. Stefani nodded, before making eye contact with the stranger. But when she did, her voice seemed to get caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in shock. That man was no stranger, in fact, Stefani practically wished in that moment that he was. "M-Michael?" She forced out, his name still managed to almost knock the wind out of her. The mans eyes squinted, trying to identify the woman, though it didn't take long, he knew that voice like the back of his hand, "Stefani." He replied. Right in front of Stefani was the man that abandoned her, that helped create their children, that made many promises that he never fulfilled. Every little moment the two shared together practically flashed before her eyes, every tear that was shed, every laugh that was heard, every smile that was seen, every fight that had broken out between the two, and the most heartbreaking memory played in her head,