"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!" Lexie greeted her with a hug and they sat down
as Callie ordered a cup of tea.
"I know, work has been so busy! And I feel like the time after the wedding just flew by" Callie nodded.
"Mari said you guys had a good time in Hawaii! You could use a tan though" Lexie laughed a little.
"Oh no, not this girl, it was amazing though, I can't wait to go back" Callie smile.
"You want food?" Lexie asked picking up her menu.
"Ehh I'm been kind of off the past few days, I think I got a bug from one of the kids" Callie shook her head as her cup of tea came.
"You do look pale" Lexie said looking up at her searching Callie's face.
"Gee thinks" Callie laughed taking a sip from her mug as Lexie ordered french toast.
"So, how is everything with Will?"
"It's good, he hasn't had any more PTSD attacks since a month before the wedding, he seems calmer now too" Callie nodded.
"Did they say the attacks would go away for good?"
"No, they probably won't but it's common with war vets, especially ones stations in Iraq. They give him the tools to make them less sever and get through them and they do work, eventually he will get them less and less" Callie shrugged.
"That's good, I can't imagine what he went through"
"Yeah he doesn't like to talk about it so I don't know much either. But he is doing better now" Callie nodded.
"And you, how's everything going with you?"
"It's good, work is busy but I love it, It's nice to be able to take a breather now that all the wedding rush is done"
"Have you seen Mari?"
"I saw her Sunday at dinner but not since then why?"
"Maybe you should ask her… She has a new guy I'm kind of worried about" Lexie said.
"Worried about why?" Callie asked putting her mug down leaning forward to give her full attention to Lexie.
"I don't know, it's just a weird feeling. We were at my apartment the other night and he kept calling and texting her, like he was checking up on her or something" Lexie said.
"Like controlling? Mariana would never allow herself to be controlled like that" Callie shook her head
"I don't know, maybe I was just reading to much into it. Just keep an eye out for me ok? Something about this guy doesn't feel right"
"Yeah, yeah I will." Callie assured her.
"Hey baby, you look pale" Lena said as Callie walked through the front door. Leave it to her momma to to notice first thing.
"Gee thanks" Callie muttered pretending to be annoyed.
"Sorry baby" Lena laughed pressing her lips to Callie's forehead.
"I have just been kind of under the weather the past few days" Callie shrugged following Lena into the living room.
"Hey!" Jude smiled coming down the stairs
"Hey! What's up?" Callie asked as Jude plopped down on the couch next to her.
"Applying to collages" Jude sighed.
"Aww poor Judeicorn has his pick of schools" Mariana teased coming from the kitchen.
"Shut up!" Jude laughed.
"You should be proud, I know you worked really hard" Callie said greeting Mariana with a hug. She really wanted to talk to her sister about what Lexie had said earlier but knew better then to bring it up in front of everyone else.
"Where's Will?" Mariana asked.
"Meeting me here after work" Callie said.
"Do you have pictures of Hawaii yet?" Mariana asked.
"No, I have not had the chance to print them and organize them"
"Lazy bum you came back 4 weeks ago" Mariana cried.
"I know I know, work has been crazy" Callie sighed.
"Maybe that's why you aren't feeling well you can't stress you out" Lena said.
"Momma i'm fine" Callie laughed a little as the front door opened.
"Hello!" Jesus called.
"Hey we're in here" Mariana called as he walked into living room
"Hey, is dinner ready?" He asked.
"Jesus" Callie laughed shaking her head.
"Let me go check it" Lena chuckled getting up to give him a hug before going into the kitchen.
"Hello!" Stef called walking through the front door followed closely by Frankie and Brandon.
"Hey, everyone is here" Brandon said as they came in with grocery bags.
"Sissys!" Frankie cried throwing her arms around her sisters.
"Hi babies" Stef put her bags down greeting everyone with a hug and a kiss.
"Oh baby, you feeling ok?" Stef asked when she got to Callie.
"Yeah, just a little off, momma thinks I'm stressed" Callie said.
"Well baby you need to take it easy" Stef said gently rubbing her hand up and down Callie's arm.
"I will, I promise" Callie nodded as the doorbell rang. Everyone glanced at each other.
"Who the hell rings the bell?" Jesus asked as Brandon reached to open it. Will was standing in the doorway.
"Hi, you rang the bell? We never ring the bell" Callie said going to great him.
"Yeah well, I have never gone in without you I was not sure what the procedure was" Will said
"The procedure is to open the door and yell hello" Mariana smiled at him making them all laugh as they headed into the dining room. Callie hung back greeting her new husband with a kiss.
"Feeling better?" Will asked.
"Kind of" Callie shrugged
"I felt so weird walking in with out you" Will said. Callie laughed.
"Really it's ok, moms just want you to make yourself at home when your here, it's your family now too, come on I think momma is ready for us" Callie said as they went into the kitchen and everyone took their seats around the table.
"Pasta!" Lena smiled placing a big bowl on the table. She passed Callie's shoulder with it and Callie had the sudden urge to puke again.
"I umm, I'm going to go grab some water from the garage" Callie cried jumping up.
"Sweetie we have water" Lena said giving her a look.
"I know, I just like it out of the bottle, It helps me keep up with my intake, I'll be right back" Callie cried rushing out the back door. She stood in the yard away from the windows taking deep breaths until the feeling passed.
"So, how far along are you?" Callie jumped at the voice reeling around seeing her sister.
"What!?" Callie asked.
"Moms keep saying how pale you are, you went running the minute you smelled momma's food." Mariana said.
"I'm not…I'm not pregnant" Callie shook her head.
"Are you sure? because if I was you I'd take a test or something, unless you have your period" Mariana said.
"I…I yeah" Callie said wracking her brain for the last time she had her period. She was known to skip a month or two sometimes when she was stressed out.
"I know you had it the month before the wedding, did you get it since?" Mariana asked.
"Ummm no" Callie said suddenly realizing she hadn't, the time had escaped her when she thought back to how long ago that was.
"Callie!" Mariana cried
"Oh my god do moms know!" Callie sighed hiding her head in her hands.
"No, I backed you up about the water thing so your good, but how are you going to get through dinner?" Mariana asked.
"Ugh stick with salad and hopefully everyone else at the table distracts them, I guess I should take a test" Callie sighed.
"Yes! and tell me the minute you find out!" Mariana cried.
"Ok ok, let's go back in there before they suspect something" Callie said.
"Wait! you need the water or they are really going to suspect something. Mariana cried.
"Oh your right!" Callie cried
"Oh my god your going to have a baby!"
"Shhh! We don't know yet, besides I'm still convinced mom has the house bugged" Callie said. as the girls went over to the garage giggling.
Dinner passed excruciatingly slow as Callie longed to talk to Will.
"Sweetie your not eating" Lena said as Callie picked at her salad.
"Yea, sorry momma I'm just not feeling like putting anything heavy in my stomach" Callie said.
"Here love how about some soup" Lena said getting up filling a bowl for her and popping it in the microwave. Mariana shot Callie a look she tried to ignore as Lena put the warm bowl in front of her. Callie prepared herself to hold back nausea again but as she smelled her momma's homemade chicken soup Callie suddenly felt herself hungry.
"Thank you" Callie smiled grabbing her spoon as she ate hungrily. Family dinner passed as it usually had. Chatter and laughter, teasing and love. Callie missed this being a part of her everyday routine but she was grateful that they all made it a point to have dinner at their moms every Sunday night. Frankie and Jude were the only two left living at home but it never seemed to be empty. They all spent a lot to time at their moms house and Callie liked being less then a mile away from the big house. Something about being in walking distance of her moms house made Callie feel both safe and a little child like. But if what Mariana thought was true, Callie had a feeling buying a house so close was going to pay off.
Finally they said goodnight and Will took Callie's hand as they walked out to the car.
"Text me" Mariana gave her a quick hug climbing into the passenger seat of Brandon's car.
"What's that about?" Will asked as Callie climbed into his jeep and he pulled out of the driveway.
"Ummm well, Mariana was thinking that I might be pregnant, and after she pointed it out, I think she might be right" Callie said.
"What!" Will cried stepping on the break making them both lunge forward.
"Maybe I should have waited until we were out of the car" Callie muttered.
"But how? We were…What?" Will said.
"Can we just stop and get a test before we start freaking out?" Callie asked.
"But we're safe?" Will said.
"Not the wedding night" Callie said looking at him as she thought back. They had been overly tired, but so happy, excited and slightly drunk, the combination of which leading to things getting primal very quickly neither of them being able to stop and think straight.
"But, you don't think…"
"It only takes once, let's just get a test" Callie said.
"Yeah, what like CVS?"
"Yeah theres one on the corner" Callie pointed him down the street.
"Do your moms know?"
"No! god no, I think one more slip and they will suspect though, I just don't want to say anything yet"
"Yeah, yeah no let's just take a breather" Will nodded pulling onto the parking lot as they both went into the drug store.
"Wow theres a lot of options" Will said as they stood in the aisle.
"Ok well let's get like 3 different ones, that way there will be no way to be unsure right?" Callie asked.
"Yeah, what are the best ones?" Will asked. Callie reached for the three she heard the most about and Will paid for them. The short ride home was silent.
"Ok, I guess I'll go pee" Callie said as they went into the house and she went into the bathroom. When she opened the door she almost plowed into Will waiting outside.
"We have to wait" She said stepping back as he joined her in the bathroom.
"I know I didn't say this before, I was a little bit in shock, but if this is true, are you happy?" Will asked. Callie sighed, she had not allowed herself to go into the what if. What if she was? Was she ready? What if she wasn't, would she be sad?
"I guess, I wish we have like a few more months to enjoy being married, but yeah, I think if this is true, I would be happy" Callie bit her lip looking up at him.
"Would you?" She asked.
"Yeah, yeah I could be very happy" Will said. leaning down to kiss her but Callie stopped him putting her hand on his lips.
"Let's not get happy yet" she whispered.
"I love you crazy lady, baby or not, you always make me happy" Will laughed and she let him kiss her this time. She felt herself melt into him as she always did. He had big strong arms that encased her whole body and she loved feeling so small when he held her.
"Ok, we have to look" Will said.
"I can't, will you just tell me?" Callie asked. Will nodded looking over at the counter.
"Callie" He whispered.
"What?" Callie asked.
"Get happy" Will said as a huge smile spread across his face.
"No way!" Callie cried running over to see all three tests were positive.
"Oh my god! we're going to have a baby!" Callie cried as Will lifted her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around his waste and he twirled her around as she threw her head back laughing.
"Oh my god we're having a baby!" Will cried.
When they calmed down Callie took a picture of the tests sending them to her sister before they settled into the couch.
"I can't believe this" Will sighed pulling Callie onto his chest.
"I'm just glad to have a reason for the sickness" Callie smiled.
"Yeah, your going to have to ask your momma for more soup" Will said making her laugh. Callie's phone started to ring and she glanced at the screen.
"It's my sister" she smiled.
"answer it or you know she will never stop" Will chuckled.
"Ok, cover your ears" Callie said.
"Why?" Will asked as Callie pressed answer and Mariana's shriek filled the room.
"When girls go out to celebrate something, don't they get drunk?" Will asked standing in the doorway of the bathroom watching Callie tie up her hair.
"You watch to many chick flicks" Callie laughed.
"But I'm not wrong" Will raised his eyebrows.
"We aren't necessarily celebrating the baby. You know Mariana and Lexie, they use anything as an excuse to party. Besides Amanda and Morgan are going it's just a girls night out, and I'm the driver so it all works out" Callie said.
"I just worry about you, it is a Thursday night, and you have been so tired lately" Will sighed.
"I'm pregnant not terminally ill, we won't be out late besides I can sleep until 12 tomorrow, please stop worrying" Callie turned to him.
"Hey, your pregnant, and not feeling well, I get to worry a little."
"Ok but don't worry a lot, I will be home before midnight, promise" Callie said giving him a kiss.
"alright" Will smiled as the front door opened.
"Hello!" Mariana called.
"Hey, I thought I was picking you up" Callie said greeting her in the living room as they kissed each other on the cheek.
"I thought I would save you a bit of a drive and come here, if I get to drunk tonight can i just crash on your couch?"
"Of course, that's a cute dress" Callie said looking her sister over. It was more modest then Mariana usually wore on their nights out.
"I thought I would keep the girls in today, are you ready?"
"Yeah let me grab my bag" Callie reached for her purse Will handed her.
"Have fun" Will said giving her a kiss she returned.
"Don't worry I'll watch her" Mariana gave Will a wink as the girls left the house.
"So I had lunch with Lexie a few days ago" Callie said as Mariana's phone dinged with a text message.
"Oh yeah? Sorry I couldn't make it, how was that?" Mariana asked.
"It was good, she said you had a new boyfriend, you didn't tell me?"
"It's not official yet" Mariana said as her phone went off again.
"Is that him?"
"Yeah, he likes to talk a lot, he's chatty" Mariana shrugged.
"Oh wow he sounds perfect for you" Callie tried to joke with her.
"He just always has a lot to say. He's nice though, he got me these earrings" Mariana said putting her hair behind her ears.
"Oh wow those are pretty" Callie glanced over at them.
"Thanks" Mariana turned back to her phone.
"What's his name?"
"Javier, Javie"
"Oh spanish guy"
"Yeah" Mariana said typing out a message
"Your going to put that away when we get there right? I was looking forward to a girls night"
"Yeah, yeah I will" Mariana sighed.
"Ok one more round then we should go" Callie laughed as they went to sit back down at their table.
"So tell me, how do you feel?" Amanda asked as they settled back into their seats.
"Well now that I have a reason for the sickness somehow it doesn't feel so sick like anymore. I'm a little more tired then usual but other then that I feel really good" Callie said.
"God your moms must have died" Morgan shook her head.
"They don't know yet. It's so early I probably should not have told you guys yet! But we want to find a really special way to tell them" Callie said.
"I think anyway you tell them they will be so happy" Lexie said.
"Oh god are you kidding, their first grandchild, you will be lucky if they don't sell the house and move in with you" Mariana said making them all laugh. Callie wouldn't put it past her moms to consider it, or at least offer.
"Well I hope you tape their reactions" Lexie said.
"I know Lena's going to cry, Stef is a bit of a mystery though, that will be surprising to see" Callie said as Mariana's phone rang.
"I'll be back" Mariana said frowning at the caller Id and going outside.
"that's the third phone cal tonight" Lexie whispered.
"I know, I'v been counting, it is always him?" Callie whispered back.
"Yeah, I see his name on the screen"
"Maybe they are fighting or something" Callie offered.
"I'm telling you something is not right" Lexie said as Mariana came back to the table.
"Ok, ready to go?" Mariana asked as everyone looked at her surprised. Mariana was always the last one to suggest they leave anywhere.
"What? I just don't want Callie to get tired" She said.
"Yeah, we should go" Lexie nodded as they stood up grabbing their coats.
"Want to order a pizza?" Callie asked as she pulled into the driveway.
"no, I should get going"
"I thought you were staying over tonight?" Callie said turning to her sister.
"Well I'm not drunk, we both have work tomorrow, besides Javier is waiting for me"
"He's living with you?" Callie asked surprised.
"No, he just wanted to spend the night together"
"Was he nervous about you going out?"
"No, it's fine"
"He called you a lot."
"Callie" Mariana sighed and Callie could tell she was getting annoyed with her.
"You would tell me if something was up right?" Callie asked.
"He just wanted to spend some time together, he works a lot and we didn't get to see each other this week. He was a little pissed I went out on his night off but it's fine" Mariana said.
"Ok" Callie sighed not wanting to argue with her. They sat in silence in the car for a minute neither of them saying anything.
"So see you Sunday?" Callie asked.
"Yeah" Mariana nodded smiling to tell her they were ok as she leaned over and they kissed each other on the cheek before Mariana got out walking to her car and Callie went in the front door. Will was up waiting for her.
"How was girls night out?" He asked as Callie lay on the couch next to him putting her head on his shoulder.
"Good, but I'm tired" she yawned.
"Let's get you to bed" Will said as they went through their nighttime routine and she crawled into bed next to him. He put his strong arm around her and Callie put her head on his chest. Soon Will's breathing got steady and he was asleep but Callie stared up at the ceiling think about what Lexie had said.
"Hi bud!" Callie smiled at her brother as he made his way to the table she was sitting at.
"Hey, you look like your feeling better today" Jude smiled sitting down across from her.
"Thanks I am" Callie said. She wished she could tell her brother about the baby but she wasn't ready yet, she wanted to make sure everything was ok first. She knew it was her own fear of hopping to high that was holding her back but something inside her was telling her not to.
"Moms said to come back with a full report on you" Jude said.
"Of course they did, tell them I feel much better and am not stressing myself out any longer and they can see for themselves at dinner tomorrow" Callie said.
"Ok, how are you really?" Jude asked.
"Really? Work is kicking my butt. I have so much to catch up on, I have 6 home visits on Monday"
"Are you expecting any removals?"
"One, I'm really hoping not, but I think it might turn into it." Callie sighed.
"From a foster family?"
"Yeah, the child doesn't get along well with siblings, The family loves the kid wants him to stay but if he's not happy I have to take him" Callie shrugged.
"that sucks, foster siblings are so hard to like" Jude sighed as the waiter came and they gave their drink orders.
"I think parents just expect to take home these kids of all different back grounds and they will be friends. I they and tell them it doesn't work that way, just because you have 3 girls between the ages of 5 and 7 doesn't mean its going to be like having triplets"
"Thats for sure" Jude nodded.
"I just wish kids never had to be removed from birth families, its so hard to fit into the mold of a new family your just thrown into. Alright enough about work how are you?"
"Good, I asked moms about me getting a job"
"No fair! we were never allowed jobs until we were in collage!" Callie cried.
"The perks of being from the younger group, they ease up on the rules. Yesterday Momma brought home soda for root beer floats because Frankie lost her first tooth." Jude beamed as Callie reached across the table swatting his arm.
"No it would only be a Saturday morning thing, 4 hours at best."
"Doing what?"
"Well you know I want to be a teacher, so I thought I could get in some hours to put on my application tutoring" Jude said.
"That's not a bad idea, but you know you don't have any trouble finding a job, you have one waiting for you at the best charter school in the state" Callie said.
"I know, but I don't want to be handed it just because momma does all the hiring"
"That's not the only reason why, you worked really hard, you identify with kids well and you have the patients to really run a classroom."
"Well they are thinking about it, I said It would give me a chance to brush up on some stuff too you know, but we'll see what they say. Maybe you could pull some strings for me? Put in a good word?" Jude asked.
"Like what mention how if would be good for you to start saving" Callie laughed.
"Exactly! Come on mom listens to you"
"I will try" Callie smiled.
"Thanks! I think I want the pancakes , what are you going to get?"
"Callie" The nurse called as Callie looked up from her chair. She turned to Will as they both stood up following the nurse back into the exam room.
"So we confirmed your positive pregnancy test, congratulations"
"Thank you" Callie smiled.
"So we are just going to go through some questions and then see if we can hear a heartbeat and get a little picture"
"Perfect" Callie smiled. She answered the many questions that were asked and took the sample of vitamins they gave her.
"Ok, so why don't you lie back, pull your shirt up a little bit and we will see if we can see anything" The doctor said as Callie lay down pulling her shirt up exposing her flat stomach. She reached out for Will and he took her hand coming to stand beside her.
"Ok so there is the heart that flash right there, it looks perfect and this, is your baby" Callie watched as a little gray shape filled the screen in front of her.
"Oh wow" Will breathed, but Callie felt like her breath was taken from her body as she watched the little shape moving
"Can you print a picture?" She asked.
"I sure can, everything looks very healthy, your about 10 weeks along so you are almost done with your first trimester"
"Wow" Callie sighed unable to pull her eyes from the screen.
"I want to tell my moms, tonight" Callie said as Will pulled out of the parking lot.
"Good! I hate keeping this from them, I feel like your mom already knows" Will smiled a little.
"I think I know the perfect way to do it too" Callie laughed.
"Oh yeah, how?"
"You'll see, can we stop at the store and get a photo album?"
"You bet" Will winked at her taking her hand in his and kissing the knuckles.
"Hey Momma! I finally printed out the pictures from our trip, you want to see?" Callie asked finding Lena in the nook that evening.
"Oh yes show me" Lena cried sitting up straighter.
"Where's mom?" Callie asked.
"She's out back running around with your sister, oh wow look at that beach!" Lena cried opening the first page as Will took a seat next to her.
"Hold on let me get mom don't look at anymore" Callie cried running to the back door calling her mom inside.
"Hey baby" Stef came over giving her a kiss, Frankie close behind wrapping her arms around Callie's waist.
"We brought pictures from Hawaii want to see?" Callie asked.
"Oh yeah, maybe momma and I should go there for our honeymoon we never took" Stef said winking at her sitting next to Lena in the nook. Callie sat down next to her and Frankie crawled into her lap. Callie ran her fingers through her sisters long curly hair as Lena flipped through the pages and Callie calmly tried to talk about the pictures. she felt like she was jumping out of her skin. She glanced up at Will who gave her a little smirk and she almost burst out laughing. Finally Lena got to the last few.
"That was when were were scuba diving, the fish were beautiful if you go you have to try that" Callie said as Lena flipped to the back page. Callie had covered the last picture with a piece of paper. On it she had written 'And this is what happened on the wedding night'
"Oh man we don't want to see that, what are you showing us, cover your eyes baby" Stef cried pretending to make a scene and cover Frankie's face. Callie laughed but she saw a flash of understanding cross Lena's face as she flipped up the paper and under it Callie had placed the ultrasound picture from this morning.
"Callie Adams Fos-..Stephanie!" Lena yelled as Stef's head snapped to her and Lena flipped the book over holding the picture in front of Stef's face. Callie saw Stef's eyes go wide as she took in the picture and both her moms turned to her. Callie smiled knowing what was coming setting her sister on the nook bench a safe distance away.
"No?" Stef asked as a smile spread across her face. Callie nodded smiling putting her hand on her belly.
"10 weeks today" Callie said. Lena let out a shriek jumping up and rushing into Callie's arms practically lifting her off her feet as she smothered her in a tight hug. Stef leapt over the coffee table to join them.
"Oh my god I hate you! You waited 10 weeks! William get in here!" Stef yelled as Will came to join their hug. Frankie sat where Callie had left her staring at them her mouth open.
"Oh my god, your going to have a baby! Lena cried as Stef smothered Callie's face in kisses.
"Oh I am going to spoil this baby so much" Lena cried making Callie laugh. She had expected no less from her moms. When they finally let her go Callie went back kneeling in front of her sister.
"Frankie your going to be a Auntie" Callie said.
"Sissy is having a baby aren't you so happy" Lena cried.
"Oh wow!" Frankie yelled jumping up.
"Oh my gosh did you tell your brothers and sisters yet?" Stef asked as they settled back down.
"Mariana knows for a month now, I'll tell Jude tonight and I'll give Brandon and Jesus a call soon." Callie said.
"Your sister knew and kept it from us!" Stef cried horrified.
"Well your staying for dinner, you can tell your brother at dinner, Jesus is coming to so you can tell him then also" Lena said. Callie laughed at how assertive Lena was being.
"Yes momma" Callie said.
"What do you want, you name it? Oh do you want your favorite lasagna?" Lena asked going over to the fridge. Callie shrugged.
"Anything tomato has been making me feel sick" Callie said.
"Ahh good times that morning sickness" Stef smiled wrapping her arms around Callie's shoulders.
"How about roasted chicken, with potatoes and carrots, and Italian bread" Lena asked.
"Prefect" Callie smiled
"And I will use the leftovers to make you some chicken soup to take home, it will be easy on your stomach, oh and I just bought a ton of oranges I'll squeeze you some nice organic orange juice you should have one glass a day, oh and kale! i'll send you home with a salad" Lena said pulling things out of the refrigerator.
"Oh no mom you don't have to. I can.." Callie started Lena looked at her over the fridge door.
"No, no you waited 10 weeks to tell me! thats 10 weeks I have to make up for taking care of you" Lena cried before going back to the food.
"Accept it sweets" Stef laughed a little sitting back and putting her feet up.
"Yeah I can do that" Will said sitting like her making the three of them laugh.
Jude and Jesus came in just as Lena was putting dinner on the table.
"There you are! Just in time" Stef greeted them as they took their seats around the table.
"Smells good" Jude said.
"Some wine love? Will knuckle head you guys want a beer?" Stef asked.
"No thank you" Will said.
"I'm good" Jesus shook his head.
"Solidarity huh?" Lena smiled as Will as Stef poured a glass of wine for Lena and herself.
"Wow no wine for Callie's that's not like you" Jesus said said as they started eating.
"Jeez you act like I'm an alcoholic" Callie said
"Well I know how you like wine with your dinner"
"Well, this is not Sunday night dinner" Callie shot back at her brother.
"That's right, why are you here?" Jude asked turning to her sister.
"Oh come on, Jesus doesn't live here either" Stef said.
"But he eats here every night" Jude pointed out.
"That's true, we were thinking about canceling you meal plan through the school dude" Lena said.
"That's cool, your food is better" Jesus shrugged shoving fork full of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"Actually, there is a reason we are here today" Callie said.
"I know it" Jesus smirked at her ignoring the look Lena gave him.
"Well I know you guys know I ave not been feeling that well lately…" Callie started.
"Are you sick?" Jude interrupted her looking worried.
"No! No I'm totally fine" Callie assured him.
"So then what?" Jesus asked.
"I'm pregnant" Callie said Jude's eyes got wide and his mouth dropped.
"Congratulations! Wow that was fast!" Jesus cried as he jumped up to shake Will's hand and pulled Callie into a hug, Lena laughed at his reaction.
"Jude, say something" Callie said turning to her brother with Jesus was settled down.
"I just can't believe it, that's great" Jude smiled giving her a warm hug. Callie knew his thought process, it was similar to her own when she found out. Although the came from this bag family of 8 people, 9 if they were counting Will. Truly, their family was very small, if she allowed herself to think back her true blood family was just her and Jude, and now this little baby. She hardly ever thought of Jude as just her's anymore. But something like this suddenly made her feel like it was just them again.
"When do you know if its a boy or girl?" Frankie asked.
"Not for a while, 2 months maybe" Callie said. as they all returned back to their plates.
"Do you have any preference?" Stef asked.
"I want a girl" Frankie cried making them all laugh.
"We know you do little one" Callie smiled at her.
"What's easier girls or boys?" Will asked looking at Stef and Lena.
"Oh god…it's hard to say" Lena said leaning back in her chair thinking about it.
"I think girls are easier as kids, but boys are easier as teenagers" Stef said. Lena nodded her agreement.
"Who was your toughest kid?" Will asked.
"Oh man pitting us in the hot seat!" Stef cried as Callie, Jude and Jesus all looked pointedly at their moms.
"They all had their days of course, they all had times to shine and times to fail. There were the days when one was easier then the others but I wouldn't say any one of them had easy or hard days the outnumbered the rest of them" Lena said.
"Really? I always though I was your hardest" Callie said looking at Lena seriously. She knew she had thrown her moms for a loop when she was younger.
"Like when she was here all of 30 minutes and was calling you guys dykes" Jesus said. Stef, Lena and Jude burst out laughing as Will's mouth hung open starting at her.
"That is out of context" Callie told him
"Really because I believe that is exactly the context it happened in" Jesus said as Callie threw her roll across the table to him
"Oh my love you did give us a run for our money your first few weeks here. But it was so worth it. No you were not our hardest, no child took more work or love then another over all but they did each have their days" Lena smiled at Callie.
"I will say one thing though, I can not wait to hear your momma walking around the halls at school and some kid calling her grandma" Stef said making everyone laugh.
"Callie Adams Foster" Callie answered her work phone as she was driving to work.
"Ms Adams Foster this is Caption Burns from San Diego police area 4 we have a report of disturbance in a house with young children and we are looking for a social worker on call" A voice said.
"Of course what's the address?" Callie asked as the Caption gave an address she was familiar with.
"I'm about 5 minutes away" Callie said.
"That's perfect"
"thank you for the call" Callie said hanging up her phone she turned her car around heading in the direction of the address. It was not often social workers on call actually got a call, and when it was a call from the police it was never be good. Stef's department was area 3 so Callie knew it was unlikely anyone from her moms station was there which made her worry even more. It was never fun going on these calls but if there was a friendly face there, even if it was someone she just knew by name, not necessarily mom or Mike it made it a little easier. Arriving at the house there were already three cop cars parked. Callie climbed out of her own car flashing her badge being allowed through.
"Your the social worker?" a stern looking man walked up to her
"Yes sir, Callie Adams Foster" Callie nodded if there was one thing Stef had drilled into the heads of all the kids it was respect.
"Any relation to Stephanie?"
"Yes sir I'm her daughter"
"Good, they sent us a good one for once" The police officer muttered making Callie crack a smile.
"I'm office Gold. We just stormed the house, we have officers in there now searching, the parents are cuffed and laying on the ground but the kids seemed to have barricaded themselves in the bedroom. The neighbors think there are three small children, maybe 4. One of them a pretty young baby" Gold told her
"Do we have names or anything?" Callie asked tying her hair up as Gold lead her up the walk to the run down looking house.
"Don't know names. There's drugs all over the house and a gun was locked in a safe in the master bedroom"
"Ok thanks" Callie nodded walking into the house, it had a musty smell that greater her instantly and made her stomach threaten to repeat her breakfast. There was trash and dirt everywhere, it was by far one of the worst houses Callie had been in. A young women who couldn't be much older then her lay on her stomach in the living room hands cuffed behind her back and a man a few years older was next to her. The women was crying as an officer was standing over then and two more were searching the house.
"Hi, My name is Callie, I'm a social worker" Callie said addressing the women.
"You can't take my kids!" She yelled Callie sat down on the floor next to her.
"Listen, I know this sucks, but let's face it, you can't take care of them right now, your going to jail and they need a safe place. Let me take them, I promise they will be safe and I'll make sure someone tells you where they are, you straighten out and you can get them back, but right now you don't really have a choice" Callie said gently but firmly, or that was how she hoped it came across. The women said nothing.
"What are their names, the oldest one? What's their name?" Callie asked.
"Sam, he's the oldest" The women finally said.
"Ok" Callie nodded standing up.
"Please make sure they are out of here before I bring the kids out, no one needs to see their parents like this" Callie addressed the officer who nodded. Callie went down the hall knocking on the only closed door, there was no answer.
"Sam? Sam are you in there?" Callie asked. She heard movement from inside but still no answer.
"Sam, my name is Callie, I'm here to help you and your siblings" Callie said.
"No Cops!" A firm voice said from behind the door.
"No, no I'm not a police officer. I'm just Callie, here's my badge see, you see my picture" Callie said taking her badge from her pocket and sliding it under the door.
"Your mom told me your name, she said you can come with me" Callie said. When there was still nothing. Finally the door handle turned and opened a crack. Callie was met with a little boy who could not be any older then 8.
"Hi" Callie offered a smiled at his hard looking face.
"No cops" He said again.
"No, no just me I promise" Callie said. the door opened wider and she took a step forward. Two little girls looking about three or four sat on the floor of a closet that the door had broken off of and a infant lay on a blanket at their feet.
"Hi guys, I'm not going to hurt you" Callie addressed the two girls who were cowering from her.
"My name is Callie, I'm going to take you somewhere safe ok" Callie said gently sitting down near them as Sam came over picking up the baby in his arms glaring at her.
"We aren't going with you! You can't take them" Sam cried.
"I'm going to take all of you ok, you will stay together, I won't separate you" Callie said.
"Promise?" One of the little girls looked up at her.
"I promise" Callie nodded. She quickly helped each of the kids pack a bag of their clothes and favorite stuffed animal and learned the girls were named Meredith and Brooklyn and the baby was a cousin living with them named Grace. In the short time it took Callie to gather their things the girls had all really taken to her. When she lead them back through the house their parents were gone and there was only officer Gold left.
"I'll call when I have a placement for them, please let their mother know immediately" Callie said.
"Will do Adams Foster" He nodded as Callie pulled the car seats out of her trunk and started buckling the kids into them.
"Where are we going to go?" Sam asked.
"I'm going to find you a nice home, with some nice people to take care of you for a little while until your mom and dad come back" Callie assured him as she climbed into the drivers seat.
"With you?" Sam asked, she looked back at him in the seat behind her and was surprised the hardness in his face was gone.
"Not in my house, but it will be a good house, and I will come visit you" Callie said. She stayed turned around looking at him waiting for him to ask more questions or say something. She knew exactly how he was feeling.
"Ok" Sam nodded.
"How was the placement the morning? I heard it was rough" one of Callie's coworkers Sarah asked that day at lunch. Callie gave a little shrug.
"It was, the house was pretty bad, but the kids were good, really good and I made sure they were settled in well."
"What's the foster family like?"
"They were really good. No other kids in the house which is good, they are going to need a lot of attention"
"And reunification? Do you think the parents will get them back?" Sarah asked. Callie shook her head sadly.
"They are going to jail on a lot of different charges. It will probably be 10 years before they get out. Their oldest boy will be 18 and the girls will be teenagers, I hate to say it but I think they would be better off adopted" Callie said.
"But the girls could be returned to their birth parents.
"Yes, and I think they probably will be, but these girls are so little, they have so few memories. Their growing up memories are going to be in foster care, god willing with this one family i just placed them with. They are going to see these people as parents and this will be their home for as long as they can remember. And then their parents will be out of jail and they will be rushed back to them and everything they know will be gone" Callie sighed.
"It doesn't seem fair does it?"
"No, no it doesn't" Callie shook her head
