Strings

Taking Time

"Stef needs time. That's how she is and she needs to process." Lena said rubbing her forehead for she had no idea what to think or feel right now. Having just found out that Gina Foster was Stef's birth mother was a real bombshell that she never expected to hear.  But it was the truth and she also knew Stef  was not taking that news easy at all. This had been Stef's hardest thing to deal with in life and Lena was grateful the girls were out with Mike. And that was the other thing, how was Mike going to take this news?

"We know she's upset Lena. And it wasn't my intention to make her that upset. I..." Gina began but trailing off as Lena lets out a sigh glancing out the window. Captain Roberts had been beside herself as well and had spent the last hour looking for her with no luck. 

"Yeah I know. But it's not an easy thing to hear.  With all do respect, Gina,  Stef....she's one of the strongest people I've ever met in my life. But this part of her is very, it's very painful for her. In a way I can't describe and in a way that no one can describe. I understand that both of you needed to tell her this, I really get that and sure she should know.  But at the same time, it's hard to say if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Life threw her her far share of crap. And I've seen it from the time we were little kids. Cap, I know you took Stef in at 20, and you gave her a life and another chance. But I don't think even you know how hard this is for her. It's, its a pain that none of us know and she is still, she is still morning Sharon. Badly."

As both Gina and Cap listen to Lena intensely they were very aware she knew Stef better then anyone. Even better then herself as Cap took a seat feeling that ache in her heart all over again. The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt her daughter for Stef had been her life the last few years and in her mind she was her daughter. She loved her like one, treated her like one and saw her just as that. Gina threw them all a curve ball and everything right now was in limbo. Did she still want to adopt Stef? Of course but would Stef want her after this?

"Lean, you are right that I know Stef to a point. I do, but I don't know her like you do. Neither Gina or I do and I never saw how hard her life was."

"I thought I was doing the right thing for her. I had no idea her life was, or would be like that." Gina says feeling even more horrible then she ever had as Lena glanced back over to her.

"I know Gina. And I know it wasn't easy for you to do what you had to do. Things happen for a reason and that happened for a reason. I know for a fact Stef doesn't hate you. She just doesn't know what to do with this. I mean she just found out you're her mother and that Mike is her brother. All this time."

"I didn't know long Lena." Cap admits. "A few weeks and I didn't want to tell her until I knew for sure. Her or Mike."

"I'm sure it wasn't easy to find out Captain. But listen, I have an idea of where she might be so I'm going to go and talk to her. If you both don't mind waiting for the kids to come back. I'll text Mike and  let him know Stef and I had to do errands."

"Sure. We don't mind at all." Cap says as Gina can feel her heart even more heavier then usual. Grabbing her bag Lena heads out of the home knowing where Stef is. And as she takes the walk around the trail she sees the blonde on her usual rock. It was never hard for her to figure Stef out, not for her as she quietly takes a seat beside her.  Not saying a word she grabs Stef's hand as the blonde holds it back along with the tears that continued to fall down her face.

"I just needed a minute Len."

"I know baby. You take all the minutes you need."

"Callie and Mari ok?"

"Yes. They are still in town with Mike. He's taking them for pizza I told him we had to do some errands."

"He doesn't know."

"I know he doesn't baby." Lena said as the blonde throws a tiny rock into the stream feeling how heavy her heart is.

"I don't know how to feel Len. And usually I know how to feel. After everything in my life, you know all the hell, the pain, the sadness. The shit only you know. This, ha, this is something I never saw coming babe. What in the hell am I supposed to do with this? In my mind I never, well I stopped picturing what my birth mother looked like when I was around six. It just, it was something I didn't think of. I never even saw it as an option, I never knew her name, I never knew my fathers name, and..Mike I..I don't know. This is making my head hurt like fuck. I just want it to go away and I don't want to deal with any of it."

"Babe, you are entitled to feel that. After everything you have been through. But, you did like Gina before this. Right?"

"I mean, I didn't really think about it love. I just saw her as Mike's mother and a talented, shy woman. I don't know love."

"Are you angry with Cap?"

"I don't know. But it explains why she was acting how she was. Len, I'm lost in all this. I'm lost and the only thing I want right now is our girls, you and to go home. I don't want to talk to anyone. Not today."

"Ok baby. Ok." Lena said as she continued to hold the blondes hand as she can see the tears stream down her face. Normally she would press Stef, she would but today she would not. This was something she needed time to deal with and Lena was going to let her and that was something Stef appreciated.

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Poor Stef :/