Stef had been told to not discuss anything with the kids until Lena could be home later that night. So, she went home to see what sort of havoc was left by leaving the kids alone for an hour and a half.

"So, um Mom, how did things go?" Brandon asked trying, but failing, to sound confident.

"Very well. When Mama comes home we will talk to you a little more. Until then, do you have any homework?"

"I did it earlier."

"I see. Did everyone else finish also?"

"Um, I think so. Well, I think Callie is still working on something."

"But you are done?" Brandon nodded hesitantly. "Interesting. So, where is everyone, I thought I would be greeted by more than just you."

"Some girl called and Mariana went over to her house. Callie's upstairs, you know, doing homework or something. Jesus and Jude are playing a game… Uno, I think." Brandon said not looking Stef in the eye.

"So if I go upstairs, I will see you brothers not playing video games since Jesus is grounded from them, right? And I thought that Mama's rule was that all homework happened in the kitchen at the bar. Why would Callie work upstairs?" The some girl part sounded odd to Stef also, but figured she could get more information from Callie.

"Maybe she is doing something other than homework, I should go check."

"That's okay, I sort of want to change into sweats. So, I will go see the others." Stef started up the stairs and laughed a little at Brandon's expression. He had never been a great liar and she would certainly correct him on it later. For now she wanted to see what was really going on. As suspected, Jesus was playing on his 3DS that he had gone into his moms' room to get back. "Excuse me, sir. I believe that still belongs to me."

"Oh, hey, Mom. I didn't hear you come home." He said turning off the game and trying to get it behind his back.

Stef walked over to him and held out her hand. He signed but handed it back to her. She gave him a playful swat. "Did you think you would get this put back before I got home? You have to be faster than that to fool your mothers, Boy."

"So, I guess I won't have video games next week either?"

"You are guessing correctly. Go on downstairs, Bud. I will see you there in a little while."

Stef peeked in Jude's room to see him playing happily on the floor with his cars. "Mommy! You are home!" He said standing up and running to Stef.

"I am home, Little Man. Did you mind your brother and sister?"

"Yes. And I did all of my homework except I saved my reading for you! I need to read the book the teacher sent and I also want to read my library book with you. I got one about a pony with a horn on its head."

"A unicorn?" Stef suggested.

"Maybe. The pony looks pretty. Can we get a pony?"

"Nope. We live inside the city and to own a pony you have to live outside of the city. Plus, the ones with the horns are a little hard to come by. Maybe we can look a store for a toy one sometime. You have some birthday money still, right?"

"That isn't really the same." Jude said looking a little sad. "Maybe Grams would get me one. I will ask her when she calls next time…"

"Remember we don't ask your grandparents for presents. We love them for more than what they give us. And if you talk to my dad about it, be sure and say horse instead of pony…"

"Why?"

"Just trust me on this one. I will be downstairs in just a little while if you want to get one of your books to read with me. I just need to check on Callie first." Jude started to leave the room. "On second thought, pick up your toys first. Then meet me downstairs."

Jude headed back in without a complaint to pick up his toys. Stef smiled and headed to Callie's room. She knocked before she entered.

"Mom! I didn't say to come in… What if I had been changing clothes?" Callie protested trying to put away whatever was spread out all over her bed.

"First, you weren't changing and even if you were, I am your mother. That means I have seen you naked before. Second, you used to come into my bathroom while I was showering. I now have the right to invade your privacy anytime I would like. What are you working on?"

"Just some stuff for school."

"Homework?"

"Kind of. I am done now, though."

"What is your mama's rule about homework?"

Callie sighed and rolled her eyes. At ten this was already becoming quite common. "We do it downstairs in the kitchen. Mama wasn't home and the boys were being loud. I needed it to be quiet and I wanted to be alone. I do all my work and it isn't a big deal."

"I am pleased you do all of your work. However, it is a big deal to us. How was it possibly too loud downstairs, though, when Jesus and Jude were both playing up here? What are you really working on Callie? I want the truth this time without an eye roll."

"Nothing."

Stef reached behind her daughter for the notebook she had stuck behind her back. She opened it to see "Callie Marie Scott" scrolled hundreds of times on the first page, not Lena signatures as she suspected. "Oh, I see what this nothing is… You have a crush. What is this Scott's first name?"

"Trevor… We aren't going out or anything, though. He doesn't even know that I like him and maybe I really don't. Just don't make a big deal out of this…."

"My baby girl has her first crush on a boy! I cannot wait to meet Trevor on your field trip coming up. Maybe I should call your teacher and see if he could be put into our group…"

Callie looked mortified. "My teacher isn't looking for parent volunteers and you should probably just go on to work that day. This is why I didn't tell you about Trevor. You have to make a big deal out of everything."

"Ah, I do have to make a big deal over everything that is my Love Bug's life, it is true. However, you are wrong about your teacher not looking for parents to go with you. She said both Mama and I could go. It was kind of odd there was no note about that, though."

Callie had a dawn of understanding that showed up as guilt all over her face before she suppressed it. "Very odd. I guess though that you sign so many things to enroll someone that it would be a waste of paper to sign more, right?"

"Hmmm, something like that. How about you put these things away and join the rest of us downstairs. Jude is going to do some reading then we are going to figure out dinner. Sound good?"

"Yes, except I don't think pancakes are a good dinner so I hope we are either doing take out or Mama left something that just needs to be heated up." Callie said cheekily dodging out of Stef's arm length. "I vote Chinese."

"You all cook with Mama all the time. Surely you can cook something for me tonight if you don't like what I can make… By the way when is your sister coming home?"

"I am not sure. Maybe tomorrow. Lexie called and Mariana just walked over there. I didn't really hear the details."

"I see. That's a pretty long walk, and sort of odd that she didn't call to ask permission to stay the night. I should probably call over there and talk to Lexie's mother in a bit. We would really like to have all of our babies home tonight."

Again Callie looked mortified before trying to even out her expression. "How about if I just run over there while Jude is reading? It is just a few blocks. That would be easier for you, right, Mom?"

"Right, what are you not telling me, Bug? If I call the Rivera's, will I not find Mariana there?"

"Well, you know how it can be, they start off over there, but sometimes end up at someone else's place. It really is why we all need our own cell phones. B and I are ten after all. If she had a phone you could just call her directly right now." Callie tried to change the subject.

"I believe they also have tracking devices on those phones. I would be able just to find out what you are not telling me that way. All I can say is that she better not be at Jordyn's house because the last time she was there she came back crying because the other girls bullied her badly. Mama and I both said we did not want her going back there for a while."

"I am sure that is not where they went…" Callie lied ineffectively. "Anyway, I will go get her from… Lexie's house. Then we can get Chinese?"

"You find your sister and then we will see about the food."

Callie slipped on her shoes before starting off the opposite direction of Lexie's house to Jordyn's house that was much closer. She was aware that Mariana had been told not to go back to that house, but thought it would all be okay. The kids (except Jude) had been walking themselves home from school rather than waiting the hour with their mama recently. As a result they were allowed to stay alone during the conferences. The kids reasoned that they would have a little over two hours this particular afternoon and planned accordingly. Everyone (except Jude) was carrying some guilt over things they were currently up to, so this seemed like a good time to do anything they thought they would be banned from when their mothers got home. Stef had crashed their plans coming home more than thirty minutes before they had anticipated.

Callie rang the bell and shifted foot to foot on the front porch with nervous energy. Jordyn's mom, a lovely blond woman who looked like she could be a model, answered the door. "Um, hello. I am Callie Adams Foster. My sister, Mariana, came over here and my mom says it is time for her to come home."

"Oh, yes… Come on in, Callie. The girls are upstairs." The woman said opening the door wider and pointing toward the stairs.

"Thank you, ma'am." Callie said politely as she walked to the stairs.

"Jordyn's room in the first door on the left."

Callie could hear the girls before she got to the top of the stairs. "Well, you can come to my next sleepover if you give me those shoes you wore to school yesterday. You know, the pink tennis shows with the lime green trim."

"Those shoes are still new! My mama would notice if I gave them away! I could make you another bracelet or give you the cookie from my lunch…"

"You never bring good cookies. I like Oreos. You bring weird things with cranberries or raisins. And you can't bring any more of your stupid bracelets to school. All they do is break anyway. No, it is your shoes or you can't come."

"If I give you my shoes I won't have any to wear to school… my moms said I couldn't get any more shoes until after Christmas. They are expensive."

"Then I guess you will have to go hang out with that Lexie girl who is Mexican like you, then won't you?"

"Jordyn…" Mariana pleaded not even bothering to correct her on Lexie's ethnicity.

Callie opened the door with some anger. "Leave my sister alone! She doesn't have you give you her shoes! Look around, you have lots of shoes already. You are just a bully." Callie turned to her little sister. "Let's go home, Mari."

"I see that your need your big sister to deal with things for you." Jordyn smirked. "You are such a baby!"

"Callie!" Mariana protested. "I don't need your help. I can do this myself!"

"I know you could, but you don't have to… Plus, this is not your biggest concern, Mom is already home!"

Mariana's eyes became wide. "Does she know I am here?"

"No, but we need to get home quickly."

"Yes, Mariana, run home to your mommy, or should I say mommies? You two and your moms are all freaks."

"Don't bring my mothers into this!" Callie said before popping Jordyn in the nose. "Let's go Mari!"

XXXX

Stef had just finished listening to Jude read the unicorn book. She heard Brandon answer their home phone and stuck the mostly pink covered-book on the floor. "I better see who that is. Hop up for me."

Jude got up as Brandon entered the room with the phone. "It's for you, mom. I think it is Jordyn's mom and she sounds kind of mad."

"Of course she does." Stef said taking the phone. "This is Stef Adams Foster. What seems to be the problem?"

XXXX

"I told her you walked to Lexie's house and that you might spend the night."

"Why would you say that? Now I am going to be in trouble for not asking permission to sleep over! You have to get better at this, Cals."

"How did you get so good at sneaking around, anyway? You are younger than I am and haven't lived here as long… Anyway, if I told where you really were you would also be in trouble. Moms have told you to stay away from Jordyn. Why do you want her to be your friend, anyway?"

"She is popular and pretty. Lexie is okay, but I want to have lots of friends, not just one. Jordyn's life is perfect and I wish my life was like hers. Now, though, you have probably wrecked my chance to be her friend. Why did you have to hit her?"

"Jordyn is not a nice girl. I have told you that before. She called us freaks and was making fun of our family. I bet her life is not as perfect as you think. Isn't she an only child?"

"Yes." Mariana sighed. "She has a bedroom, a playroom, and a bathroom of her very own. She has a cell phone and her own laptop. Jordyn doesn't have to do chores like ever. Her mom takes her to buy new clothes and get her nails done almost every week. Her hair is blond, just like her mothers and it has just a little bit of natural curl. She always looks perfect."

"And yet she wants you to give her your shoes? I bet she is lonely. I would never want to be an only child. Can you imagine having no one to play with at your house? She has no one to share secrets with at night after the lights are turned out. I kind of feel sorry for her. Maybe that's why she is a bully."

"Maybe. I would give her my shoes just to be her friend, though. I do still have yours from last year that I could wear. They aren't that bad…"

"Seriously? Mama said we were keeping those shoes for when we go to the beach or getting really dirty. She would never let you wear those to school. If you give away your shoes, I am telling."

"If you tell about that, I am telling that you hit Jordyn!"

"That would tell moms that you were at Jordyn's house! You would get in trouble, too!" Callie shouted back at Mariana before seeing Stef standing on the front porch looking angry.

The girls both instantly fell silent. "Both of you upstairs, right now." Stef said firmly. The girls froze in their fear. "This is not an option. Mariana go to your room and Callie go to mine."

The girls looked at each other and then went past Stef to get up the stairs. At the top, Callie grabbed Mariana's hand. "At least we will be in trouble together. When Jordyn's in trouble, she is all alone."

"You are right, Callie. Thanks for being my sister." With that the girls separated.

XXXX

"Why do I feel like I was a much better parent yesterday than today, Stef?" Lena asked when she got home and had been informed on everything that happened in her absence.

"We just didn't know yesterday everything that we know today. That actually makes us better today, I think. So, where do we start?"

"Let's talk to the boys first. Girl drama kind of makes me sick to my stomach." Lena said with a smile. "Why didn't we just have boys?"

"Because we also love our little princesses? Need I remind you that you were the mother to my mini-me first? I brought a son into this family…"

"Hmmm… Yes, I guess it did go something like that. Let's go find Jude."

Jude was happily looking at his unicorn library book in the family room again while some cartoon was on the TV. "Mama! Look it! I got this book at the library today! Mommy read it with me earlier, and I can't wait to read it with you, too!" Jude went to Lena for a hug and kiss.

"We will do that later tonight. Right now, Mommy and I want to talk to you about your conference. Your teacher would like you to stay with her after school sometimes to work on some math. How does that sound?"

"Good, Mama! I love my teacher. She is really nice."

"Perfect! She also said that you were helpful and kind. That's what Mommy and I love to hear about our Little Man." Lena said giving him another kiss.

"Mommy said we could order food when you came home. Jesus wants pizza. Is that what we are going to get?"

"How about you turn of the TV and then decide what you would like to eat best of all? Mommy will call it in and you can answer the door with your brothers when it comes."

Jude turned the TV off. "I want pizza, too. Can we get some with green peppers and olives, Mama? I like to eat that kind with you."

Lena smiled. "Of course. We will order a half vegetarian for us, half meat lovers for Mommy, and a cheese for the others to share. After Mommy calls, we are going to talk to Jesus and then he will be down here to help you."

"Is he in trouble for playing his games?" Jude asked.

"Yes, but not much."

"He is still my brother, then?" Jude asked.

"Yes, of course. Nothing could change that, Jude." Jude was the only one of the children who had never questioned Mariana and Jesus's permanence as they had been there basically all of his life. So this struck both women as odd. "Why?"

"Jesus said after the conference with his teacher you might change your minds about adopting him. Then he went into your room and got his 3DS. I thought he might not be my brother now. That's all." Jude gave his moms a nice smile. "I am glad we are keeping him."