Series of one shots based on Stef and Callie's relationship and the moments I would like to see. This story takes place during the Christmas special. Stef and Callie have a late night talk about the present that was dropped off for foster kids.

STEF POV

Coming down the steps at 2am I was bright awake after Lena and I had wrapped what seemed to be a million presents for the kids. Well a million and one maybe. It was cold for San Diego and the kids were wishing for a white Christmas. Wasn't likely but I didn't want to bust my babies dreams. Turning the kettle on I hear quiet footsteps come down the back stairs.

"Did we forget a present to wrap." I said sarcastically assuming it was Lena. After not hearing a response I turn around to see Callie standing awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey sweets I'm sorry I thought you were mama."

"No, ..um sorry am I bothering you?" she says shyly. Callie had only been living with us for a few months and the poor girl was still concerned that she was always bothering me or Lena.

"Love, I told you many times you never bother me." I walked over to her as she stood in front of me avoiding any eye contact.

"You ok? What are you doing up my love?" I gently touch the side of her face tucking her hair behind her ear as she looks up at me and her smile widens.

"MM I don't know can't sleep. I thought I'd just turn the Tv on or something." Callie walked awkwardly away from me and into the living room. I had a feeling what was bothering her. That present that the social workers brought by earlier for foster kids.I knew she was upset about it as I guess I would be too. Callie wanted terribly just to get out of the system and Lena and I were working as hard and as fast as we could to adopt her. The unfortunate part was the constant roadblocks we kept running into which were just unavoidable. I watched my daughter plop on the couch and turn the tv on as I decided to dump the idea of having tea and make some hot chocolate instead. As I got another mug out from the pantry I noticed my daughter was immersed in watching, "It's a Wonderful Life." It was one of my favorites too and I again smiled as I realized how much Callie was like me. I never gave birth to a daughter but I had thought to myself many times what she would be like if I ever had. I was thinking she would be a lot like Callie. Pouring the hot chocolate into both mugs I walk into the living room.

"Cal?" I said sitting next to her.

"Yeah?" She mumbles still not taking her eyes off the TV.

"I made some hot chocolate. Take some honey."

She turns to look at me.

"Oh you didn't have too...I." she says looking unsure and again avoiding my eyes.

"I can drink both." I said as she looked up at me and I winked.

"Take it my love I made it for both of us."

"Thanks." She smiles.

"Now, talk to me love and turn that off for a second." She looked at me again and I knew she didn't want to talk.

"Just for a bit." I assured her as she turned the tv off and folded her legs on the couch as I leaned back.

"You're upset about the present I know." I took a sip as Callie looked at me surprised. I think she was still shocked sometimes that I could read her brain. I think it still caught her off guard.

"I..I don't really care about it." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh no? Well that's good because it doesn't mean you will be a foster kid forever and it doesn't mean that any of us see you that way." My eyes looked over to hers as she looked down and took a sip of her hot chocolate.

" I most certainly don't see you that way baby."

"Well their really is no other way to see me Stef. That's all I am. It doesn't matter."

"Oh Callie my love," I placed my hot chocolate on the table. "That is not the only way to see you honey. Just because you aren't adopted yet by us does not mean it will not happen."

I watched her play with her fingers. She always did that when she was nervous.

"It's just taking forever I mean we get so close and then something happens. I don't understand." She looked up at me and her eyes were red as I could tell she wanted to avoid crying. I placed my hand on top of her leg and looked into her soft eyes. They were so sweet and still had some sense of innocence in them. I think I was trying to let her keep that little bit she had left.

" I know it's been a long road love. But it doesn't mean it will always be like this. Life can be, well life can be funny. And sometimes the thing we want the most feels like it takes forever to get. But me and Mama are not giving up. Ever. We will fight and fight and fight again for you. You are our baby." I lift her chin up and she looks into my eyes.

" And sometimes if we really want it all the roadblocks, pitfalls, pain, sadness we just work through to get it. I mean that's how I felt once I finally told Mama I loved her." This time she looked up at me on her own with a surprised look.

"Were you scared to tell her?" she said curiously.

"MM I was. I was scared but honestly I was more scared of what other people thought." I smiled taking another sip of hot chocolate.

"You don't seem that way….I mean scared. You are a cop and that's like the scariest job ever."

"It has its moments babe. But I definitely get scared love. Definitely. I mean even as cop there are times that are frightening. Like one time this convenience store was getting robbed. And the guy committing the crime had a little kid at gunpoint. Probably abou Jude's age or younger. At that moment I was terrified. Almost like my heart was going to beat out of my chest or stop all completely." I took another sip of my hot chocolate and placed it on the table.

"That's really scarey. I don't know if I could do it. I mean do what you do everyday. I mean I try not to think about what you do."

"Oh yeah whys that?" I took my hand and slightly pushed Callie's hair behind her ears again.

"MM I don't know. I mean cops get hurt or they can get...you know." she looked away.

"Shot? Killed?" I said.

"Mm yeah."

"I understand but what I learned is you can't live your life in fear. I mean those are valid feeling love, very much so. Like your feelings about that present and feeling like you will never get out of the system. All valid feelings. But it's important not to walk around being afraid of life my love. She nodded at me.

"Cals you know something...you and I didn't hit it off so well huh?" I smiled and Callie looked to the side feeling embarrassed.

"You can admit it honey. We bumped heads a lot in the beginning." I laughed.

"Yeah...I was rude." She admitted.

"Ah..you were just protecting yourself. I understand that."

"I called you a dyke…..I..never apologized for that. I'm...I'm sorry for that Stef." I looked to her as her eyes looked sad, even embarrassed.

"I accept your apology honey." I knew at the time Lena and I had thrown her off.

"A Lot has changed in three months huh?"

"Yeah...I never thought I'd love you. You made me insane." Callie laughed and rolled her eyes as I smiled back at her laughing as well.

"Insane huh?" I lifted my eyebrows up.

"Yes you annoyed me." Callie laughed.

"Good so my job was done then." I laughed.

"Seriously my love, you have grown so much, and changed in such positive ways. Lena and I are so so proud of you baby." I winked at her and leaned in to give her a kiss on her soft forehead.

"Stef..I…I just want .." she looked down and I could tell she wanted to say something but was having a hard time.

"You just want what babygirl?"

"Well…" Callie got up slowly and walked out of the room to my surprise. A few moments later she walked in with a small box in her hand. She sat close to me on the couch.

"I wanted to give you this but didn't want to give it in front of everyone. It's technically Christmas." She smiled awkwardly at me and I could feel my heart beating faster and my face soften.

"I was your secret Santa." She smiled and I smiled back at her widely as I gently took the gift out of her hand and unwrapped it slowly. But I was not prepared for what I saw. A beautiful gold necklace with charm on it that read #1 Mom. It was that moment that my heart literally exploded and I was speechless as my eyes filled with tears and I wiped them slowly.

"My baby this is..this is the best present I have ever gotten." I looked up at her as I continued to wipe my eyes.

"I don't know if any of this will workout. If my adoption will work out but I wanted you to know how I feel. Even if it's really hard for me to tell you. I..I see you as my mom Stef. I really do and I have never felt this way or this much love for anyone but my mother. I just remember after she died and being in so many foster homes and then Juvie and group and just wishing that someone would love me as much as she had. I didn't know if that would ever happen. I just didn't and I gave up and just couldn't believe anything anymore. But then you and Lena came and I just felt like it was a fairytale. I still feel like it is sometimes because I'm just so happy. And no matter if I get adopted or not or things don't work out I just want you to know that you're my mom and always will be." Callie's eyes were filled with tears and I by this point was crying. I just couldn't even remotely hold it back anymore as the young girl hugged me and I hugged her back harder than I ever have.

"I love you mom. I love you so much." Callie said burying her face in my shirt as I held her tight.

"My babygirl I love you more then you could ever know. More than ever. Thank you love. Thank you so so much." I kissed her temples over and over as I gently pulled away and looked into her eyes wiping her tears.

"I didn't mean to make you cry." She said smiling.

"No this was good tears baby. Hearing you call me mom, it just, it's the most wonderful sound ever and those things you said. It's nice to know my love. It is." I kissed her forehead gently as the smile remained on our faces.

"How about you put this beautiful necklace on me?" I said as Callie let out a wider smile and I turned around as she gently placed the necklace around my neck and closed it. Turning back around I touched it as Callie admired it on me.

"Looking good?" I asked

" Looks good mama." The word again tugged my heart.

"Come here baby." She hugged me once again for what seemed like an hour and I wasn't letting go.

As I soon heard her snoring a bit I knew she must have fallen asleep in my arms so I moved slowly to lay on the couch as Callie wrapped her arm around me and laid her head on my chest. Looking out the window and to my surprise I saw snow falling and could only smile at the site.

"Mom, it's it's snowing." She said almost like a young five year old.

"Yeah, my love just for you. Just for you." I said as she laid her head back down on my chest and I rubbed her face gently.

My Christmas wish was this little girl and that's what I would certainly get no matter what. Lena and I would get her out of the system if it was the last thing we did.