Thank you SO much again for your support guys! I'm so glad you're enjoying this story!

As usual mistakes are mine!

Oh and because it is an AU a few things :

In this story "Brallie" is done and over with (sorry guys, I never really liked the idea, nor do I like Brandon..NO OFFENCE peace if you do!); Jesus and Emma are back together (they're too good together to be apart!), Jesus is not going to Colorado just yet... Basically this is the last year of High school for B. So 2 more Callie and so on!

Most of what happened in the show happened in this story, I just sometimes twisted a few things...Let me know if you're confused!

Hope you enjoy this one!

ENCRYPTED

From : SergeantSFoster

To : MamaAdamsFoster

My dearest Lena,

I just have five minutes to myself before training so this will be short

How are you? How are the babies? Is Callie still not talking to me?

Things are good here. I'm staying in camp away from danger, as promised. The training is going well. It is so hot here it makes San Diego feel like Seattle! But wait until you check out my tan ;P

I miss you, I miss your arms and your voice and I miss home, but headquarters had me told I will be able to visit soon. I'm very excited! I can't wait to see you all.

Love love love,

Stef.

Lena sighed. It had been three months since Stef had left. She was supposed to be gone for a short eight weeks, set up the training program overseas and come home. But as usual, things did not go as planned. She had a whole year before she would be able to retire from the army and it looked like she would have to serve the entire Twelve months remaining in Iraq.

Lena sighed again, two parents raising five kids – 4 being teenagers and a pre-teen- was hard enough, but doing it alone was nearly impossible. She put on a brave face though, her kids needed her to be strong. But she couldn't help breaking down at night. She'd wear Stef's Padres jersey and cuddle up on her wife's side of the bed crying herself to sleep every night. She missed her wife. She missed her voice, her love, her support, she missed waking up next to her and making love to her. Her scent was everywhere in the room and it made her miss Stef even more.

She held back her tears as she replied to her wife.

From MamaAdamsFoster

To SergeantSFoster

Dear Stef,

The children are fine.

Mariana is back to being a brunette, she's really progressing in her dance team and it looks like they have a good chance at competing!

Jesus is back on his meds, he's struggling with Algebra but Emma is being a great tutor.

Brandon is rocking it with the band – I think he and Lou-the singer of the band might be dating, but I'm on it don't worry! He's also practicing a lot for Juilliard, it looks like his hand is doing better, or at least he compensating somehow!

Jude is keeping his grades up and Connor is able to visit once again – His dad is cutting him some slack which is a good thing! That man irritates me to the highest point, but we are courteous to each other.

As for Callie, don't worry. She's holding up. She goes to group every saturday and is managing work and school. She just loves you so much she's worried of losing you. She is not-so-secretly avidly reading all the e-mails that you send which I post of the fridge (only the ones that are childproofed, don't worry!)

I'm doing fine, Mike is helping out a lot, it's very nice of him! He comes for dinner three times a week and takes the kids to their classes, He even comes to Jesus's wrestling competitions! You should see Jesus on the mat Stef, I'm still scared every time he competes, but he's thriving, it's impressive!

You coming home? I can't wait! Do you have a time frame? Oh that sexy army tan! You'll have to send me pictures ;P (and not the kind I can post on the fridge!)

I miss you, we all miss you. I went shopping the other day and I have a whole week worth of nightgown that are just waiting for your return...

Do you know if you're going to be able to video chat anytime soon?

I'm glad you're staying at base.

Please stay safe,

I love you more than you know!

Your Lena.

Stef sighed. One of the hardest part of being away – apart from obvious reasons- was keeping their relationship sincere. She knew Lena was worried sick about her, on top of having to deal with the kids alone so she always kept her e-mails shorts and upbeat. And Lena was keeping it light as well, because even though Stef wanted to know everything, she was in a war zone thousands of miles away and her wife was protecting her. But she always kept her informed of everything that was happening in the kids lives. She knew Brandon was working hard and hoped to go to Julliard next year. His hand wasn't a 100% yet, but he started playing classical again. He hoped to be scouted soon and maybe get a scholarship to the prestigious university. Jude was coming out of his shell and he and Connor looked like they might soon be ready to announce their love to the world. Mariana had a hard time making friends since Lexi left but she was having fun with her dance team and seems to be good friends with a girl named Tia. Jesus and Callie had both been suspended for three days at the beginning of the school year; for defending Lena's honour in the hallway. Some kid in junior year was complaining about Lena intervention in his math class and had called her names afterwards. Callie and Jesus were passing by and called the kid out on it. He insulted Lena and Jesus had pushed him against the locker. Callie defended Lena and they both got in trouble when the principal walked by as Callie had yelled "At least our mom's hot. YO MAMA'S SO FAT..." and Jesus had finished "SHE DOESN'T NEED THE INTERNET, SHE'S ALREADY WORLDWIDE".

Stef was glad she was away for once, as she had laughed so hard upon reading the email related the incident. From Lena's writing the soldier could feel she was touched by her kids love and them defending her, and beyond happy Jesus and Callie were bonding. But the behaviour had been inappropriate and they were both grounded for three weeks on top of having detention and suspension.

Reading this always made Stef feel like she was still a part of the family. Like she still had her place with them. She thought of Callie. Her deployment had been hard on all the kids but Callie took it the hardest.

Four month ago

"It's time."

"I know."

They kissed and held hands as they went downstairs. All five children were sitting on the couch and floor in the living room.

Stef took a deep breath as she sat on the armchair. Lena still holding her hand, sat on the arm.

"So." She said softly.

"You're going back aren't you." Brandon said staring at his hands.

"Yes. I am being deployed to Iraq." Better come with it straight, Stef thought. "But it will be different. I 'm only being sent there to train the troops. I'll be staying at base and will not be sent to combat zone".

"I can't believe you're leaving us to go to war" Mariana said looking at her mom. She was hurt.

"Honey, mom would stay here if she had a choice. But she's been told to go and she has to. We just have to accept it."

"Well it sucks". Jesus said, holding his twin's hand.

"I know". Stef said, trying to hold back her tears.

"How long will you be gone for?" Jude asked, moving closer to his mom.

"Right after graduation. I will be leaving late june. And all I know for now is that I will set up training, train the troops and form new trainers on the field. I want you to know that I love you and that a year from now I will be able to retire from the army."

The kids stayed silent. They were crushed and hurt and didn't know what to say.

"This is Bullshit". Callie said as she stormed out of the house.

Lena stood up but Stef stopped her.

"Please, let me talk to her. I'll be back babies, why don't you go have breakfast?"

They all hugged their mother before moving on to the kitchen. Stef stepped outside and found Callie on the swing. She was staring blankly at the street, holding her knees against her chest.

"Callie" The mother said softly, sitting close to her daughter, but not touching her.

She waited a few minutes but the young woman didn't answer.

"Callie I know you're scared. I am too. But love I have to go".

"Is the war more important than us?"

"Of course not Callie; Nothing is more important than you, your brothers and sisters and mama to me. Nothing."

"Then why are you going?"

Stef closed her eyes and sighed. Being a soldier's family was tough. And it was all so new to Jude and Callie.

"Love I have one more year before I can retire from the army. I have to do what I'm told. If I don't I'll be court marshalled and sent to jail, and I'll be gone for more than a year..."

"Why did you even join the army in the first place?"

"Well. I wanted to be a cop like my dad, you see. But we never got along.. We got into a fight when I turned eighteen so I enrolled to get away from him. By the time I was given the option to retire or get promoted I felt like there was nothing else I could do..So I got promoted. And now I'm at the point where when I retire I'll have a good pension... Callie it's not what I want but I have to go. I'll be home before you know it."

"I can't do this. I won't!"

"What do you mean?" Stef asked surprised as Callie broke into tears.

"I won't lose another mom. I just can't."

Stef held Callie in her arms as the teenager cried. It took ten minutes for the girl to calm down.

"I love you." Callie whispered.

"Oh I love you too slug-a-bug. So. Much!"

"I'm still super mad at you."

"I know. I'm not blaming you".

Callie stood up and went to the kitchen after their conversation. Stef stayed on the porch for awhile. She understood Callie's anger. It hurt but she was glad the girl was expressing her feelings.

Callie was more distant with Stef after her outburst. She barely talked at dinner. She was courteous but nothing more, Stef suffered in silence, not wanting to make things worst.

"Sergeant?"

"Yes private?"

"Headquarters on the line for you."

"Thank you."

"Sergeant Foster, sir"

"Foster, how are you holding up?"

She smiled, it was Major Mcdonnell, her superior back in San Diego. The two of them had served in Afghanistan and he was the one who called her family after the ambush and had her sent home. He was now coordinating the human resources and held the power to send her home for a visit.

"It's going well sir. The rookies will be ready for combat before you know it sir".

"Glad to hear it Sergeant, we have a special mission for you".

"For me sir?" Stef asked, swallowing nervously.

"Yes. Nothing too complicated. We need to show the rookies how the work is done on the field.

"Sir?"

"I know you're not supposed to leave camp sergeant, but I need you to lead a recon mission. We heard their might be some insurgent in a village nearby. You'll be briefed shortly but don't worry Sergeant ; like I mentioned, it's just a recon mission. You'll be miles away from the action!

"Sir. I just..."

"It's an order Sergeant. After that, we'll talk about sending you home alright?"

The video call ended and Stef's head fell in her hands. How was it possible? She couldn't go back. How was she going to tell Lena and the kids? Callie? She breathed deeply. Now was not the time to break down, she had to train a group of twenty rookies.

"Ya ok there mom?"

"I'm fine Tommy. Thank you."

"It'll be ok Sergeant, you're the best around here."

Tom O'malley was a civilian IT in camp. He was a veteran who got wounded after his first tour in Iraq three years ago. His spine was crushed and he had lost his legs, but he was a genius in communication and technology. The army decided to hire him as civilian but everyone kept on calling him Private.

He was one of the few people whom Stef really talked to. He wasn't in the army anymore, therefore she didn't feel like she needed to be the strong sergeant with him. He missed home as much as she did and they took a liking in each other. He called her mom jokingly most of the time, as Stef's motherly instincts were well known -an secretly appreciated- around camp.

"I don't think mom will be calling today babies, I'm sorry." Lena said heavily.

Stef had told her that she'd be online this weekend but she hadn't been and she didn't write either. Lena couldn't shake off the awful feeling in her stomach. But she was relatively safe at base, right? She was training young troops around camp. That was it. Why wasn't she responding to her emails? She knew connection problems were recurrent in Iraq but still, Stef hardly went a day without sending a picture, or even just a few words.

"Mom is ok right mama?"

"Yes Judicorn" she answered affectionately, stroking her son's hair. "Mom is probably busy, or the internet's down. Nothing to worry about."

"Alright, guys Three days mission, everyone comes back ok? We go, we take pictures, we take a look around, we come back. Nothing more nothing less, got it?"

"Aie aie sir!"

Stef swallowed hard as she stepped in the chopper that was taking her away from safety. They had been briefed a mere half hour about this mission, followed by two hours of planning. They had been told that as of now every communication with the outside was on hold, and that they would be waiting for the perfect window to launch the recon mission. It had come so fast Stef didn't even realize what was happening until now.

She had promised her family she would stayed away from combat, and she was now going to a recon mission with half her team being rookies.

"If there is a god, now is time for you to show me you're not as bad as I thought" Stef prayed, holding her gun tightly.

Thanks for reading guys! Stay tuned for another chapter sometimes this week ! :)