Charlotte sat nervously on the porch of her home as she waited for the girls to get off the school bus. Mia had to leave for a little while to get some of her things from her house. Although any nerves Char may have had melted away as she saw the bus pull up and her girls step off.
"Mama!!!" Her youngest daughter, Elaina, shouted when she saw who was on the porch. Ellie was Charlotte's mini me and was only 6 years old.
"Mom! You're back!" Her oldest, Renee, smiled the biggest she had in a long time. She was 12 years old and she loved no one more than her mom. "I missed you, mom. " She threw her arms around Charlotte who was a bit taken back since her daughter had been so distant lately. Afterall, she was going through pre teen things so she didn't take it personally.
"I missed you Renee! And of course I missed my Elaina bear!! " she wrapped her arms around the girls and attempted to spin them around the porch. It ended with all three on the ground laughing until their bellies hurt.
"Girls, Mama never wants to be away from you that long ever again." She smiled, looking down at her amazing daughters. "Mama loves you-" she cuts herself with a kiss on Elaina's head," And mama loves you too!-" once again cut off but this time for a kiss on Renee's nose.
She helped the girls inside and made them a snack before the two headed up to their rooms. School could be really tiring so Charlotte understood why they needed some downtime. She found herself yawning and laying down onto the couch, picking up her phone after hearing it buzz.
"I made it home safe, Sweetheart." Oh how that made her heart flutter.
"Coming back soon, Mia?"
"Patience, Char. 😉"
Charlotte found herself groaning and she just couldn't keep Mia off of her mind. One would assume that she'd be thinking about the car, but nope. She couldn't stop thinking about how gentle Mia had been with her when bringing her home and how she made sure she was okay. She always knew that Mia had a bit of a thing for her but she never knew how serious it was. To hear that Mia had been wanting Charlotte to be hers since their first time meeting, that made her stomach churn. But yet, when Mia had the chance to, she didn't.
Charlotte shakes the thought of her head, "That's just the bare minimum." She laughs to herself. Yet something was so sweet about Mia having the chance to take advantage of her while she was drunk but she chose to change her and clean her up instead? And to let Charlotte choose when things would change or shift? She never has any sort of control over any of that with her ex husband. So to have someone who was willing to wait and let her call the shots to make her feel comfortable made her want Mia that much more.
She was nervous because she wasn't sure what to tell the kids. She could probably tell Renee the truth about what had happened the night before with her father, but she didn't want to tell Ellie the full truth. If she was going to tell Renee, she'd have to try and do it in an unbiased way but she wasn't sure how to do that.
Woah.
She's getting way ahead of herself. The only reason she'd have to tell the girls is if Mia is really going to be with her. She should take a step back and just enjoy in this moment. She doesn't want to mess it up by rushing. Even though Mia worked in a nursery, she knew kids weren't exactly her strong suit. She didn't want Mia to feel like she had to be involved with the kids especially if they were just having fun.
Fuck, Charlotte really hopes that this isn't just fun because she might be falling for Mia. She had never felt this way about someone in her whole life. She wasn't sure if Mia felt the same way as her or not, but she could always hope that she does.
Charlotte's thoughts were interrupted up by a knock on the door. She sprang up to open it and had a big cheesy grin on her face when she saw Mia.
"Hi sweetheart. Care to help me bring in some things?"
"Of course, let me grab my shoes and I'll be out to help." Charlotte thought for a moment wondering what all Mia may have brought with her. She followed the red head out the door and out to the car.
Mia swung open the door and handed a suitcase to her to carry inside. She herself grabbed the second suitcase before escorting Charlotte inside with her hand on the small of her back. It was the little ways to claim Char as her own that made her heart skip a beat.
"My goodness Mia, are you trying to move in?" Charlotte laughs.
"Oh sweetheart, not to be forward but I don't want you here by yourself with the girls. It's not safe and I want to make sure you still have someone to help out." Mia gives a quick kiss to her temple and sets her suitcase down.
If Charlotte could have it her way, Mia would never leave but she knew that was a but unrealistic. "How long are you planning to stay?"
"Hm.. until an Angel is asking me to leave." She winks at Charlotte as she pulls out a few things and sets them down on the counter.
"Oh. So forever then?"
"If that's what you want, Charlotte."
"You're what I want, Mia. Stay with me. Please."
Charlotte leaned across the counter and grabbed Mia's hands and leaned in for a kiss. It was raw and passionate. They pulled apart enough for their foreheads to touch and breathed in each other.
"Mia, you are what makes me feel safe. I've felt so seen, heard and loved in the last 24 hours. More than I've ever felt before in my whole life." She gushes out, her head still pressed against Mia's waiting for a reply.
"Charlotte, I would do anything to make you smile and if that means living out of a suitcase to be here with you. I'll do it, sweetheart." Mia brought her in for a kiss and pulled her in closer than before.
The two were so focused on each other that they hadn't heard Renee coming down the stairs.
"Mom?"
Oh fuck.
Charlotte pulled back quickly with a jump. "Renee! Hi darling." She looks to Mia nervously, "This is my good friend Mia. She's going to be staying with us for a little bit."
"I bet you're really good friends if you're kissing like that." Renee joked but it was clear she was uncomfortable and unsure. "What happened with dad?"
Charlotte brought Renee out to the living room to give her the full story. As much as it pained her to relive it and have to tell their daughter about his actions, she deserves to know. Renee was quiet for a long time before leaning over to hug her mom.
"Mama I'm sorry he did that and I'm really glad that uh... Mia was there to keep you safe." Renee finally spoke after their hug lasted several minutes. It was clear they both needed that moment of reconnection. Being a preteen was hard enough with your parents divorcing.
"Mia and I are trying to work things out as of right now. She's staying with us to help out with you girls. She puts on a tough front but deep down," Charlotte giggles," She's a big ol teddy bear. If you have anything to ask her, feel free. We want you to know that we know it's confusing and we want to hear you and make you feel seen, Renee. I know what it's like to feel forgotten about and I will never let that happen to you."
Renee thought for a moment before calling out to Mia, who was in the kitchen,"Mia? Can you come here a second?"
She rounds the corner,"Yes?"
"So... are you and my mom like dating?"
Mia stops and feels her cheek burn red,"Well honestly, I've been in love with your mother for a while now but I respected that she wasn't ready and she was prioritizing her daughters. When I found her at the bar that night, I was afraid and knew I had to take care of her. I love your mother very much and while we've not had much time to really think through things, I'd love for her to be my girlfriend and eventually my wife."
She found herself having a lump in her throat as she spoke, "Although I'm not sure how Charlotte feels about any of that. If you're uncomfortable with any of that, that's okay too. "
Charlotte couldn't believe her ears. Mia had been in love with her for months now? She felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest as she watched Mia with admiration.
Renee had a mischievous smile on her face and put her hands on her hips,"Judging by the look on mamas face, I think she'd like to be your girlfriend Mia."
"Oh Renee! " Charlotte laughed and gently nudged her,"I mean you're right but I'd like to tell her that myself!"
"So now I have 2 moms? That's pretty cool."
"Oh darling I'm not sure if Mia's comfortable with being called mom."
Mia took a moment to think before speaking,"Renee, call me whatever you'd like to. I'm good with whatever. Also start coming up with some good comebacks cause the "your mom" jokes are about to double."
The three of them laughed for a while and just talked. Eventually Ellie came downstairs and saw Mia and was very intrigued. She'd never seen someone with such pretty hair or eyes like Mia.
"Mama!" She exclaimed,"Mama! You brought princess with you?"
"Elaina, this is Mia. She's mommy's really good friend. You can call her Mia or anything else you'd like."
Ellie walks over to Mia and plops right down on her lap,"Are you a princess?"
Mia smiles and nuzzles the little girl close to her,"Princess? Oh yes, my dear, I'm the princess of pizza."
Speaking of pizza, everyone was starting to get hungry. They decided to order in some pizza and ice cream and watched a movie together. Little did they all know, they spent their first night as a family and they would never look back.

Authors Note
Hi loves! Updates may be a bit slower for the next week. My wedding is this Saturday and we are going on a honeymoon next week too. I'll try to write when I get the chance but no promises. I love you guys and really appreciate all of the support I've gotten from this story.

Thank you!!