Chapter Text
LENA POV
"STEF! You made it!!" Diamond says, running over to Stef who I see walking towards us. We had just gotten to the boardwalk a little while ago to meet her for an early dinner in between her shifts, especially since she was working a double with Mike.
I knew that shit was grueling for her, even if she rarely complained.
Right now, we were all just relieved that the fucking riots were over, considering it had been a month. But the city was still a fucking mess, and I was still without a job. Yes, it was stressful as fuck, but I had put my house up for sale and the girls and I were staying with Stef most of the time. Especially since I had just enrolled them in the school near her apartment in Long Beach. A school they really seemed to love.
But after school many days, they were with Mama Fran and Mama Debbie while I went looking for work. I was grateful for the help, especially since our life felt a little unstable right now.
Yeah, they could have gone back to their old school, but Stef and I made the choice not to send Kia back there, and to change schools all together for both my girls. We felt it was safer and since we planned on moving to Long Beach; we felt it was a good option.
Me and my mama were another story, though right now. I hadn't really spoken to her too much since we had dinner a few weeks ago at Mama Fran and Mama Debbies since she mentioned my father. I wasn't pissed at her, but we avoided the topic much like we did when I was growing up. Even if her memory was short.
"Ahh my babies!" Stef smiles wide, opening her arms for both of my girls who quickly run over to her and she hugs them both. All I can do is smile and think about how long she and Kia have come, which makes me smile too."Of course I made it, sweethearts. I love having dinner with my girls and by the beach? Who wouldn't want that? You girls taking care of your mama?" I hear her ask as she looks over at me and winks.
Makes me fucking blush as she walks over to me and softly kisses me right on the lips. Gently, I stoke her cheek and wink back at her as both my girls giggle.
"And how are you, love?"
"Better now. You?"
"Same, beautiful." She says, taking a seat beside me along with my girls. Right now, Stef and I were moving along in our relationship and staying with her had been nice. She was very open with me, honest, and she told me she dug into my brother's case and Josie's.
I had told her to stay out of it, but it seemed she couldn't help herself. Did it annoy me? Yes! I didn't want her fucking up a job she worked so hard to get, but she was bullheaded at times. Very.
FLASHBACK
"I told you not to get into that, baby. I told you." I say to her as I'm sipping on a glass of wine while we sit on her balcony.
"I know sweets. I know it. But I care about you, love. I care about you and Kia. Listen, you know how much I love my job."
"Yeah, which is why I said to leave it alone. It doesn't bring Kenny back or Josie, Stef."
"I know that, baby. I know, and as much as I love my job, I don't agree with what some cops have done. There are bad ones, but most of us are good."
"I know that, and if anyone has shown me that, it's you and Mike. Baby, it's what it is. My brother was shot because he had a gun on him. Even if I never believed that shit."
"He didn't Lena. He didn't have a gun."
"What do you mean? The fucking report said he had a gun." I say, looking at her as she shakes her head.
"Yeah, I know. But there was a lot of cover up on that love. Alot. And it's messy." She says as I look hard at her, and her face softens and she grabs my hand, holding it.
"Messy how?"
"Len, you are the love of my life. You are. And you and those girls mean the world to me. More than this job. I-
"Stef, look, I loved my brother. My girls loved him and my mother. We went through hell with the LAPD and just everything. I don't wanna dig that shit up, and I don't wanna fucking know. I don't baby." I get up now and lean against the balcony railing. "I know you meant well, I know it. And I'm strong. Yeah. But leave it, baby. Please."
Looking at me with nothing but worry on her face, she nods her head and gets up, gently grabbing my hand.
"Len, I-
"Listen. I'm not mad at you, baby. I'm not mad at you for being you. My family went through a lot with this shit."
"I understand, baby. I'm sorry." She soothes, stroking my cheek.
"It's alright. Just leave it. Okay? I can't take much more of that, and neither can my mama. Leave it be, baby. That and Josie."
FLASHBACK ENDS
I know she meant well, which is why I wasn't angry with her. Even if that is somewhat surprising because I feel like this woman was making me softer. Even my girls noticed.
But we had an amazing relationship, and one I would not trade for a damn thing.
On her days off, we always went to her place, and she would cook. We'd watch movies, play board games and go to the beach. Course, Kia had shown Stef the list of places she wanted to live and she loved the fact that Kia wanted to live on Mama Fran and Mama Debbie's block. So did I, actually.
"Why don't you sweet girls go get us another round of shakes and some burgers? Yes?" She says, handing Kia money as I gently push her hand out the way and take money out of my wallet.
"Stef, you always pay." I say.
"And? Kia, take this hurry!" She jokes as Kia and Diamond laugh, running over to order burgers with the money in hand.
"Stef, I can pay."
"Yeah, I know. But save it." She winks, grabbing my hand and holding it as I sigh. "Baby, I want to pay, not because I think you don't have it. But I like to." She says and I look over at her as she softly smiles. "How was the job search today?"
"Slow." I say, biting into my fries as I watch Kia and Diamond hold hands on line.
"Lena, I can help you money wise. I-
"What? No. The house is on the market. I don't know how fast it will sell, but no."
"Well, if it sells slow, I can help you. You know I don't mind."
"'I'm not taking your money, Stef. No. Now, what's happening with that little bitch in juvie? She keeping Kia's name out of her mouth?" I change the subject as Stef looks at me and gently rubs my hand.
"Babe, I'm not gonna let you go destitute. I won't. And you don't need to leave your home if you don't want to love. I would never force that."
"I don't feel that way. You know I want us together in our own home. I just, you living in Watts with us is not an option. As you know. If I can find a job, I can keep up the payments until it sells. That's my plan, Stefanie. And that house, yeah, means a lot to me, but what we have, you and me and with my girls, means far more." I say as she smiles and nods. "And since I can give my girls a better life with both of us together, and they want that too, that's what I'll do."
"I know. But. I am here, honey."
"I know. They really love where you and Mama Fran and Debbie live. They love that school over there, too. Kia loves it, and Diamond has made friends."
"I know it. I'm glad about that, sweetheart, and that it worked out. But in terms of Mariana and the gun and such, I spoke to the gang unit and I've been keeping track. Mariana has no credibility, is the thing, and Kia has never been in trouble. That works in her favor. The gang unit has been itching to take down this family. For a while."
"Okay, but we don't snitch Stef. She doesn't need to say anything, right?"
"No. No way. She wasn't there when the store was robbed. Plus video was recovered and shows Mariana was the shooter along with the two other girls. I know Kia was in possession of the gun prior, but with no record that could at most get her community service. But they are really just after this gang, babe. Not Kia."
"Okay, and what about you? You still got that bounty over your head with that fucking gang?" I ask as the girls come back over, placing the food down. Of course, Stef had been honest with me about the gang and all that, and yes, I was worried about her. But she assured me she wasn't in harm's way.
"I am starving!" She says as she looks over at me again and gently grabs my hand. "I am not in danger. Promise." She whispers, winking at me as I nod. And that was a relief because I was ready to spend the rest of my life with this woman and couldn't wait to do so.
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I wonder if Lena will change her mind about not wanting to know about what happened with her brother?