Calm Before the Storm

Author's Note: This is the first story in a series of One Shots I will be writing, getting one out hopefully every week. I need topics for the next one! Please comment or PM me a prompt and I will be sure to give you a shout-out and credit for the idea.

This first one is by a guest named Maisy O. and she suggested a scene where Stef cuts Callie's hair.

I set it after the episode Sex Ed, (4 x 15) the night before another daunting meeting with Robert's lawyers.

P.S. I've decided to end Grounded and I am still working on Temperature, but writer's block has been killing me.

The stars glistened in the dark sky as Callie stared up at them, laying on the lush grass. Her eyes explored each speckle, possibly contemplating her own life as she lost herself in the vastness of space. That was, until a pair of confused blue eyes pulled her from her thoughts.

Stef bent over, her face blocking Callie's view of the stars. Stef chuckled. "When Mama told me you were out here, I thought she was crazy." Stef took Callie's hands and pulled her up, bringing her daughter into her side. Stef opened the door to the kitchen, holding it open as Callie stepped through. Callie strolled towards the fridge, finding a bottle of water and taking a seat on one of the bar stools lined up to the counter.

Stef stood with the arms rested on the counter, looking her daughter up and down. Seemingly out of nowhere, she opened one of the cabinets and pulled out an old white sheet and some sharp scissors from the nearest drawer.

"Your hair is getting so long. It seems unmanageable these days, Cal." Stef thought aloud, placing the objects on the counter. Callie shrugged.

"Come here." Stef said, patting a nearby seat. Callie suspiciously shuffled over, sitting where Stef gestured her to.

"Your hair is still wet from your shower, yes?" Stef asked, running a hand through her hair.

"What are you doing?" Callie asked, smiling a bit. Stef grinned in response. "I'm going to cut you hair."

Callie jumped up from the chair, giggling. "I'd rather not be bald, thanks."

Stef chuckled, pushing her daughter back to the chair by her shoulders. "Very funny. I'll have you know that in high school I used to cut my best friend's hair all the time." Callie raised an eyebrow at her mother.

"It's true! I did it in all sorts of styles! I can surely handle doing a little trim on your sweet head." Stef said, pressing a kiss to Callie's hairline.

Stef picked out a hair tie from Lena's purse and effortlessly tied Callie's hair up. She draped the sheet around Callie's shoulders and neck and clipped it with some clothespins, securing it around her daughter.

"Wait here a minute, love." Stef said, running upstairs to grab some essential supplies: a comb, brush, bobby pins, a spray bottle, and a hair dryer. She jogged back to Callie, who patiently sat on the chair.

"All right, babe. You ready?" Stef asked lovingly, spritzing her hair and pulling it out of the pony tail. She combed it out, gently untangling each knot from her daughter's dark brown locks. After clipping the ends off each lock of Callie's hair, Stef laid the scissors on the counter and turned on the blow dryer, circling it around her head.

As Stef swept up the hair from the kitchen floor, Callie went about returning each item to its correct place. Her efforts were rewarded with a lingering hug, an act of love that was beneficial to both parties.

Stef walked up the stairs with Callie buried in her shoulder, leading her to the bedroom that she shared with her sister. As Callie climbed into her bed, Stef knelt by her side, smiling sentimentally at this precious and common bedtime routine. Stef smoothed the blankets over her daughter's sleepy figure, saying goodnight with a kiss on the forehead. Stef left the room that night with a sad smile on her face, praying to anyone listening to give Callie luck in the upcoming trial.