Callie woke up and looked around the room confused. She was in Steff and Lena's empty bedroom. The memories from the night before came flooding back. Callie had a tough night waking up from another nightmare and waking up sick several times. But she knew what she needed to do. She sat up planning on getting ready for school when a wave of nausea hit her and she once again emptied the contents of her stomach into the trash can that Lena had placed next to the bed the night before.

She slowly stood up and heeded down stairs to get an outfit. She knew that even though she was still sick and push through the day. She couldn't risk getting kicked out. She couldn't risk getting Jude kicked out. Even with Steff's words running through her mind, "You are loved and you are wanted," she still knew she could not risk it.

The Fosters are the first home she has been in for over 6 years that she truly feels wanted. She just needed to get through the morning without Lena and Steff seeing that she was still sick.

On her way to the living room she ran into Steff.

"Hey sweets you feeling any better this morning? You had a pretty rough night last night."

"Yeah I'm feeling a lot better I'm just going to take a shower and get ready for school."

"Are you sure? You don't have to go if you still don't feel well. You can stay home for a day it wont be a problem."

"No really I'm feeling a lot better today I think I will be fine going to school."

Callie went to the living room to get her clothes and quickly ran to the bathroom to take a bath. Just like the first night Callie arrived at the Fosters she had to take a bath because she felt to weak to stand. She ran her bath water as she sat down on the toilet seat feeling a little nauseous.

She stood up and took off her shirt, looking in the mirror at all of the scars on her stomach. With her fingers, she traced all of her scars the memories running through her head, remembering how she got each scar. She didn't only have scars on her stomach though she had them all over her body. They were a painful memory of how much she has been though in her short 16 years.

She continued tracing all of the scars as a tear fell down her cheek. She traced them one by one. She turned around looking at her back. Her back was the worst from all of the times she had a leather belt and belt buckle smacked against her bare skin.

She was brought out of her thoughts when she realized the water was going to run over the tub if she didn't turn it off. She took the rest of her clothes off as she sat down in the tub reveling more scars. She pulled her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes, silently crying.

Callie heard a knock on the door and jumped from where she was still sitting in the bathtub. She heard Lena's voice.

"Callie sweetie are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine, sorry I'm almost done."

" It's fine honey, let me know if you need anything breakfast is ready when you are done."

Lena walked back to the kitchen not so convinced by Callie's words.

Callie stood up grabbing her towel of the counter and drained the water from the tub. She slowly dried of and got dressed as she started to feel nauseous again. Already being sick and then crying didn't help her stomach feel any better.

She finished getting dressed and was about to brush her teeth when she ran over to the toilet and threw up. She grabbed her stomach and let a tear slip down her cheek as she wiped her mouth and got up to brush her teeth.

She knew this was going to be a long day, and she didn't know how she was going to make it through breakfast without getting sick. Callie finished getting ready and walked into the kitchen where all of the kids where now sitting down to eat.

Lena looked over at Callie and smiled. "morning sunshine."

"Good morning." Callie did her best to smile back.

The kids where half way done eating when Steff put a pancake on callie's plate and sat down to join the rest of the family for breakfast. The smell of the food was already making Callie's stomach turn so she played with her food acting like she was eating it.

"Callie are you ok honey do you still not feel good?"

"No I'm fine I'm just not really hungry that's all."

"Just try to eat a few bites for me I don't want you going to school on an empty stomach."

Callie lifted the fork full of pancakes to her mouth but the smell was to much for her and before she could even take a bit she got up running to the bathroom and vomited for the 3rd time that day.

Once again, like a repeat of last night Steff ran after her holding her hair back and rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"I'm sorry.. I can go pack my stuff but can you promise me to keep Jude safe?"

"Oh sweetie no it's ok calm down, baby. I told you last night, I'm not going to send you away for getting sick. Callie if you ever fell sick or if your in pain you need to tell me or Lena. Never try and hide that from us you don't have to do that any more sweetie."

"Ok, but I'm still sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry for. Lets get you to the couch so you can rest"

"I can't I need to go to school."

"Callie your not going to school as sick as you are you are going to stay home with me and get some rest."

Stef helped Callie up and walked her out to the couch passing though the kitchen on the way. Brandon and Jude saw how sick Callie looked and instantly worried.

"Is Callie ok?"

" Yeah B she just has a stomach bug and isn't feeling to well she is going to stay home today and rest.

Lena looked over at Jude and saw unleashed tears in the little boys eyes. "Jude, Callie's going to be ok she is just a little under the weather"

"Are you going to send us away?"

"No Jude you guys are staying right here and your not going anywhere."

"She ruins everything I hate her! She always gets us kicked out."

Jude, don't say that! I know you don't mean that, but you don't say those things about your sister. Go upstairs to your room. I will get you when it is time to leave. B, Jesus, Mariana, you guys should go to your rooms or outside for a few minutes.

Lena walked into the living room seeing Callie curled up into Steff's side crying. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to ruin everything. I try to do things right, but I always mess everything up"

"Hey sweetie, Jude was just upset he didn't mean to say the things he did"

"But he was right I ruin everything if it where not for me Jude would have already been adopted"

"Shhh... It's ok, Callie, sweetie, calm down. That is not true. None of it is. And from what I gather you have given up so much to make sure Jude had a good life under the circumstances"

"No I.. I can't do anything right"

Lena was about to say something else when Steff looked down at Callie, noticing that she could barley keep her eyes open.

"Callie just lay down and rest, ok, Sweets?"

Callie shook her head and laid down falling asleep before her head hit the pillow. Steff pulled the blanket up to Callie's chin, tucking her in. She reached under her pillow to grab her stuffed bunny that she always slept with. Callie didn't know that Lena and Steff knew about the bunny. Being 16, she was embarrassed to still be sleeping with a stuffed animal, but she sleeps with him every night or she can't fall asleep. The stuffed bunny was given to her by her mother, right before she passed away. Steff and Lena would always wake up early and come down stairs to see the bunny tucked between Callie's arms.

Steff placed the bunny next to her and kissed her forehead. Steff and Lena went into the kitchen to clean up before Lena had to go to work.

Jude went up to his bedroom slamming the door behind him. Brandon and Jesus followed Jude to his room.

"Jude why did you say those things about Callie? You know she heard you right?"

"I just got mad. I actually like it here, and I don't want to leave. I don't want her to ruin things for us."

"She's sick why would you guys be sent away over Callie getting sick?"

"We have before. Its too much work for our foster parents to take care of us when we get sick."

"That's what parents do. If you are going to be a parent, you take care of you children when they are sick."

"But Steff and Lena are not out parents. They don't have to take care of Callie. They can just send us away."

"Jude, buddy, they are not going to send you guys away. Not over getting sick. Not over anything."

"Did she hear everything I said?"

"Yeah I think she did."

"I didn't mean to say it. I just said it in the heat of the moment."

"I know, but you really hurt her, Jude."

"She has done so much for me. She has given up so much for me. She gave up her childhood so that I didn't have to. She protects me and she loves me."

"Just give her time and she will come around and forgive you."

Jesus thought now might be a good time to get some information from Jude. "What kind of stuff has she protected you from?"

"Am I allowed to tell you?"

"You won't get in trouble, Jude. We would just like to know about her past so we can help her."

"Well, when I am going to get in trouble, she takes my punishments for me. A lot of times, she takes her own punishment and mine on top of that."

" What kind of punishments?"

"Well a lot of different punishments. Getting hit with a belt or a cord, sleeping outside in the rain or snow, sleeping in the basement, cold baths full of ice. Sometimes he would make her stay up all night without sleep and then go to school. If she fell asleep in class, she would have to stay up another night. Sometimes she would have to run on the treadmill for a few hours, and sometimes she just had to do a lot of chores. If she didn't do a good enough job with the chores she would have another punishment."

Brandon looked at Jesus with tears threatning to fall. "What caused her to get punished?"

"A lot of things. Getting a B on a test, talking without permission, if she was caught reading or singing. Those are just a few of them."

"Thanks for letting us know this, Jude. You guys are safe now and we are not going to let anything happen to you guys"

"Thanks Jesus"

"Come on my loves, it's time for school."

The kids ran down the stairs and headed out the door for school. Jude grabbed his backpack and ran into the living room, kissing Callie's forehead and whispers in her ear. "I love you Callie."

Callie woke up and looked over at the clock that read 12:08 she looked down and saw her stuffed bunny. She quickly grabbed it, putting it under her pillow. Steff sat in the chair across from the couch. She smiled when she watched Callie try to hide the stuffed bunny.

Callie looked around again and noticed Steff was in the room and she started blushing.

"How are you feeling honey?"

Callie sat up on the couch, checking to see if she would get nauseous. "I'm feeling better."

Steff gave her a look saying she didn't believe her.

"No, honestly. I still feel icky, but I don't feel like I'm going to throw up any more."

Steff smiled at her. "Well that's good. Would you like to watch a movie?"

"Are you sure? I can help you with chores or something."

"No, sweetie, you are still sick. You need to rest today."

"Ok, umm.. Yeah I guess a movie would be nice."

"What would you like to watch? We have a huge selection."

"I don't know, you can pick"

Steff got up and walked over to where the movies are stored. "Would you like to watch Nemo, Bugs Life, Jungle Book, Lion King, Snow White, or Beauty And The Beast?"

"I don't know, I have never seen any of them before"

Steff looked up at her with a shocked expression that turned into a sad one. "Ok well lets go with Lion King or Beauty And The Beast?"

"Ummm Beauty And The Beast, I guess."

Ok I'm going to get a snack would you like anything to eat or drink?"

"No thanks"

Steff went to the kitchen to get a snack. Shortly after, heard little footsteps coming into the kitchen.

"Ummm I changed my mind, is it ok if I get a glass of water?"

" Yeah sweetie the cups are right there."

Callie walked over to get a glass and went to fill it at the sink. She sat it down on the edge of the counter for minute, when Steff asked if she could hand her a glass. As she turned around to give Steff the cup, she accidental bumped her arm into her cup of water that was sitting on the counter. It fell on the floor with a thud, shattering into a few dozen little pieces.

Steff grabbed a towel and walked closer to Callie so that she could clean it up. When she got closer to Callie, she jerked away and coward into the counter.

"Callie, sweetie, it's ok." At this point, tears where falling down. Callie's cheeks

"I'm sorry, I'm s.. Sorry!"

"Callie, come here, baby."

Steff reached out and touched her shoulder, but she violently flinched away, whimpering.

"Callie, it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you. It's ok" She pulled Callie into a hug, and could feel Callie tense up under her hold but after a few seconds. She could feel her relax and lean into the hug.

They stood there in silence for a few minutes. Steff hugging her letting her know that everything was ok.

"I'm sorry for breaking your cup and getting water everywhere. What is my punishment? I would like to get it over with."

"Callie, you're not getting punished for spilling water. It was an accident." Callie looked up at Steff with a look of uncertainty.

"Go sit down on the couch while I clean this up. Then we will start the movie."

"I can clean it"

"No, sweets, just go sit down. I don't want you to cut your hands on this glass."

When Steff entered the living room, Callie was sitting on the couch with her knees to her chest, staring into space. Steff put the movie in and went over to where Callie was sitting.

"Callie.. Callie, baby" After the second time of Callie not answering, Steff gently shook her shoulder and Callie snapped out of it, looking up at Steff. "What? Sorry."

"It's ok, sweetie, you just spaced out for a little bit. Do you want to tell me what you where thinking about?"

Callie shook her head no and Steff left it at that. As the movie started, Steff sat down next to Callie, but made sure to give her some space and not get to close. About 15 minutes into the movie she looked over and saw Callie struggling to keep her eyes open.

"Callie, sweetie, you can go back to sleep if you would like."

She patted the seat next to her and Callie hesitated for a moment before scooting over to sit next to Steff and lay her head on her shoulder. Callie woke up a few hours later to the sound of the kids getting home from school. Steff got up and went out to the kitchen and Jude came in and sat down next to Callie.

"Call? I'm really sorry for the things I said this morning I was just upset I didn't mean what I said. It's just I actually like it here and I don't want to leave. I love you, Callie, and I don't know what I would do without you."

Callie pulled Jude into her side giving him a hug. "I know little man, I like it here too. I know that you where just upset."

"Do you think we will be able to stay here?"

"I don't think so buddy, this is only temporary."

"But I like it here and they are actually nice to us. They care about us."

"I know they do, but they can't keep us forever they are going to send us away eventually."

"Maybe this place is different."

" Yeah, maybe. Ok, go wash up and get ready for lunch."

"Ok I love you, Callie"

"I love you to Jude"

Steff joined Lena in the kitchen to help her make lunch. "Hey kids, why don't you go upstairs and work on your home work?" The kids ran upstairs.

" We need to find a way to get the kids to trust us. Callie is terrified that the first thing she does wrong, the first mistake she makes, that her and Jude will be sent away."

"I know, and we will figure it out. Maybe she just needs a little time."

"She accidentally dropped a cup today and broke it, you should have seen the poor girls face she was terrified. She thought I was going to hurt her and then give her a punishment."

"Ummm... mom?"

"What is it B is everything alright?"

" Yeah, sorry, I just heard you talking about Callie. Jude talked to us this morning and told us some things about Callie's past."

"What kind of things?"

"The things she was punished for, the punishments that she got, and how she took his punishments for him."

"What were her punishments, Brandon?"

"Well some of the things he told me are that she got hit with a belt or a cord, sleeping outside in the rain or snow, sleeping in the basement, cold baths full of ice, sometimes he would make her stay up all night without sleep and then go to school, if she fell asleep in class, she would have to stay up another night. Sometimes she would have to run on the treadmill for a few hours, and sometimes she just had to do a lot of chores."

"Ok, thank you, Brandon. Can you please go practice in your room for right now?"

" Sure mom"

"I knew she had a tough childhood, but I guess I didn't understand how tough. This little girl has had to grow up way too fast, and she missed out on her childhood. Now what I do know is that we need to work extra hard on earning her trust. Especially now that we know why she dosen't trust people. Then we need to give her a childhood that she never had and let her enjoy all of the things she missed out on.

Simple things like birthday cake, water balloon fights, bonfires, swimming, lets just let her be a kid for once.

"I think you're right. We will start working on this right now."

"Well I know something fun we can do tonight with the kids."

After eating lunch, the kids just hung out in there rooms for the rest of the day before Lena called all of the kids down for a movie night.

The kids gather in the living room with blankets and sleeping bags, While Lena and Steff went into the kitchen to make some popcorn. When they went back into the living room Callie, Jesus, Marian, where curled up on the couch, all of them practically laying on eachother. Brandon and Jude where on the floor in their sleeping bags.

Lena put the Lion King DVD in and they sat down to enjoy the movie and popcorn. Callie couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun. Just spending time with people she loves and people that love her.

Please let me know if you think I should continue with this story. Let me know what you would like to see in the following chapters. I'm open to anything, I would love to add your ideas into the story and I will give credit to you. Thanks for reading. :)