This is my first story for The Fosters, so I hope you will like it! It is mostly Callie and Stef centered, but I will do my best to add the other characters in it as well. Ideas and or Tips are very welcome and I will do my best to use them. This chapter is a bit short, but I used it as an introduction to the story. I will try to update a longer chapter later this weekend. Also, please keep in mind that English is not my first language.
Stef approached the house around dinner time, with her wife and all kids whirling around the kitchen. It had been a long day at work and she was glad she had the next day off. With all the drama's with their children and Lena loosing their baby she found it more and more difficult to face the every day drama at work. She couldn't think of having any other job since police work was truly her passion, she only wished she had a different passion at this moment in her meeting her family in the kitchen, she went up to their room to change in something more comfortable and to wash off the things she saw that day on duty.
In the kitchen Lena was cooking dinner for her family when she heard the door and footsteps on the stairs. She was relieved to hear Stef coming home since she wanted to speak to her about something that was bothering her. But Lena also knew it had to wait until they had some privacy, which was a difficult thing in this house. Maybe she would just put a movie on after dinner for the kids so they had some time alone, but as a vice principal she knew that homework better be done before the tv went on.
When Stef walked into the kitchen Lena felt relieve coming over her, Stef always had that effect on her. 'Hey honey, you are just in time for dinner." Lena said while giving her wife a kiss. She felt her wife's eyes exploring her face while she did so and before giving her a reply.
Stef then turned to their 5 kids while greeting them and checking them all over as she had done with Lena. Her eyes a lingered a few seconds longer on their oldest daughter before she stopped her scan and took place at the kitchen table at the same moment Lena had placed the last pan on the table.
'So how was school?' Stef asked to no one particular. Mariana, as usual, was the first to speak up. 'School was fine but dance class was great. We tried out a few routines and ended up with some amazing moves. One move was kinda tricky, but at the end of the class Tina helped me to master it. I just can't wait to our next performance.' Mariana rambled on. 'Haley was pissed though' Mariana added. 'Because someone hasn't texted her back…' she said while giving her twin brother a meaningful glance.
Stef couldn't resist a smile and noticed that Brandon and Jude could hardly control their laugh as Jesus was squirming in his chair. Stef didn't like this Hayley girl at all, but she let Jesus handle it on his own. It would be good for him she thought. ' So how was your day.' Stef directed her question on Callie. From Lena's look when she had entered the kitchen she knew something was bothering her wife, and usually it meant that something was up with the kids. She didn't liked to admit it, but her first guess was Callie. Callie, who was sitting at her left, just gave her a shrug without looking up from her plate. It was a gesture Callie used a lot in the beginning, but she had come a long way since and Stef wasn't going to let Callie get away with it. However she didn't wanted to say anything with the other kids in the room either. It would only close her more off. She glanced over to Lena who had witnessed it all and they gave each other a nod. Without talking to each other they had both shared their concerns.
After dinner Stef had put Marina and Jude to cleaning up the kitchen while she let Brandon go to band practice and send Jesus up to his room to do some homework. Callie went up to her room as soon as she could. 'So did something happen at school' Stef asked Lena while they entered their bedroom. 'I don't know.' Lena said while she picked up some clean laundry to fold it, but stopped halfway and stared ahead. 'When school was out I asked her to hang around for another 10 minutes for me to get my stuff and drive her home, but she just couldn't wait to get out of that place and started walking home instead. I don't know if something happened or if she is just lonely at school. She has no friends there or any interest in school activities, but that's nothing knew. I just get the feeling something is bothering her. A new issue.' Lena sighed trying to explain her concerns to her wife. 'Did you try talking to her?' Stef asked her, wondering what it would be this time. 'Yeah I did, she just shrug me off as she did during dinner. I though maybe you could talk to her. I think she will open up more to you.' Lena answered. 'That's not true!' Stef replied back 'She trust you just as much as she trust me' Stef added. 'Oh I know that honey, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that you and Callie are much alike and I think she feels that to. And she finds it more difficult to keep her strong face on when you make her look into your eyes.' Lena reassured her with a soft smile.
A couple minutes later Stef knocked on their daughters door and entered the room when she heard Callie saying to come in. Callie was on her bed half sitting up doing nothing in particular. 'Hey love' Stef greeted her while she took a place on her daughters bed so she could face her. 'I just taught to ask you again how school was, since I didn't got an answer earlier.' she said with a soft and gentle voice. She didn't wanted Callie to think she was angry at her. Callie who had been looking down at her hands lifted her face up to Stef and was almost tempted to give another shrug as a reply. However Stef raised her eyebrows to warn her off and Callie looked down at her hands before answering. 'School was okay.' she said without much emotion. 'Mama told me you couldn't wait to leave school grounds.' Stef said trying a different technic. 'Could you tell me why that is?' Stef asked her. 'I just wanted to go home.' Callie replied. 'But did something happen at school, did one of the kids say something to you?' Stef tried again. She knew Callie was an easy target at school. The last months have proved that and she wondered if they shouldn't have put Callie in a different school. 'No one said anything to me, they never do.' Was Callie's short reply. 'Callie…' Stef started, but before she could continue Callie broke her off. 'I just don't like school okay!.' It came out with some unusual attitude. 'I need to do homework.' Callie added while jumping off her bed to pick up her backpack. She gave Stef a look as to ask her to leave. Stef slowly stood up and walked over to Callie, who gave her an uncertain look. 'We are down the hall waiting for you when you are ready to talk.' Stef said before giving her daughter a kiss and leaving the bedroom.
'And?" Lena said as soon as Stef entered the bedroom. The laundry was almost folded and piles of clothes where sitting on their bed. It was unbelievable how much laundry five teenagers would throw in the hamper each week. 'She didn't say much, but I'm not less concerned. If this is just a fall back from everything that has happened to her in the last…, well in her whole life I think we can handle it. But I swear, if a new drama has found a way in her life I'm going to build a big house filled with fluffy pink things and puppies and kittens and lock you al up into it for the rest of your lives. Guarding the door myself.' Stef said with more emotion then usual in her voice. Lena stood up to pull her wife into her arms and give her a big warm hug. 'That's a deal.' she said, 'I just don't think the boys would like fluffy pink stuff much.' she added to bring a small smile on Stef's face.
Later that night Callie was lying in bed, twisting and twirling. From the sigh coming from the other side of the room Callie knew her sister couldn't catch sleep either, probably from the noise Callie was making. She just couldn't stop thinking about earlier that day. She new she must have interpreted it wrong, it couldn't be otherwise, but it didn't reassure her. She never like school much with all the gossips and starring. The kids there knew a bit to much about her and they rather didn't have anything to do with her. When she and Wyatt were on speaking terms it was easier, but even without him she would get through the day. One of her siblings usually checked upon her during the day and the teachers were mostly cool. Then there was Lena, she was alway close by in case she needed her. So she never felt unsafe at school, maybe unwanted but not unsafe. Now she wasn't so sure anymore.