Thank you for all the response to this story, I appreciate it. Let me know what you think if you get the chance. This is a story with some strong subject matter, please read carefully. And I still don't own The Fosters or any characters.
The night went on without incident. At dinner Callie was fairly quiet, but the moms were expecting that behavior. No one really picked up on it except Jude, who kept glancing her way. She tried to reassure him that she was alright, although Jude didn't believe her he didn't want to make her more upset by asking questions. Jude figured he could ask her later. Callie also avoided being alone with either mom, sticking close to Jude or Mariana.
Since it was a Friday that meant family movie night, which was fine by everyone. Partway through the movie popcorn was eaten and everyone was sprawled across the living room. Callie was so caught up in the movie she forgot about the day for a bit. Therefore, when she needed to use the bathroom she didn't think twice about getting up and heading out of the room alone. Stef and Lena shared a look, lena resting her hand on her wife's forearm for a moment. They shared a look reminding Stef to be gentle and she quickly followed Callie out of the room.
As Stef stood there, waiting outside the bathroom door, she thought of what approach she should take in approaching the teenager. Callie for her part actually only had to use the restroom and was quickly done. She jumped when she opened the door and saw Stef standing there with her arms crossed and a serious expression adorning her face.
"You've been playing quite the game of hide and seek tonight." Stef stated raising her eyebrow.
"And it wasn't even game night." Callie quipped back, both smirked at the comment.
"How about we take a little detour to the kitchen on the way back?" She stated more than asked.
"I would hate to miss some big plot twist." The teen said as she tried to move away and back to the safety provided by being around others to not have this conversation. Stef, on the other hand, had enough of this dodging.
"It wasn't a question."
"Sure sounded like one Stef"
"Fine. Sweets, go to the kitchen. Now." Stef said placing a hand on the small of the girls back. "Better?"
Callie knowing she just lost scoffed in response and shuffled her feet as slow as possible to the kitchen. The teen sat at the farthest stool at the table, but Stef just moved to sit next to her. The sounds from the action movie were wafting into the kitchen, making Callie feel more detached from the family then she already felt. Dropping her head and playing with her hands she wasn't going to make it easy for Stef.
"What is going on with you love?" Stef leaned closer to her soon to be daughter and dropped her voice to the verge of whispering.
"Nothing" was the mumbled reply.
"Mama and I are worried about you. We can't help if we don't know whats wrong." Stef encouraged.
"Nothing is wrong." Callie mumbled again, still not raising her head. Stef tried not to smile at the blatant lie, who did she think she was fooling?
"If nothing is wrong then why can't you look at me?"
"I can. I just don't want to." Her voice hovering at a whine. Callie knew she couldn't look Stef in the eye and lie to her, Stef knew that too.
"Then look at me, please." Stef said in a bit firmer of a voice.
Whether it actually took ten minutes or it felt like ten minutes was up for debate, but finally Callie raised her head and their eyes caught. Callie could see the love and concern in her soon to be moms eyes. Stef could see the fear and pain in her daughters. She could also see them well with tears she was trying not to let fall.
"Come here love" Stef said pulling the girl into her arms. Although the body she embraced stiffened at the contact, she relaxed and wrapped her arms around the woman. Soon after Stef could feel the tears From Callies face dripping onto her skin. Stef started whispering reassurances into her ear.
As the movie was ending Lena made her way to the kitchen to check on the situation. She found them still in the embrace. Offering a sad smile to her wife she nodded to the living room, indicating the end to the silence. Stef nodded and whispered something into Callie's ear, which was soon followed by a shaking head. After another unknown comment was whispered Callie backed away and wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. Lena smiled over at Callie once her face was revealed, despite the tear tracks adorning her cheeks Callie offered a small smile back.
"Go get washed up for bed and changed and meet us in our room please." Stef instructed Callie. Callie just nodded, although unsure if she should actually follow the direction to go to moms room. Lena embraced her in a half hug as she went to leave and the other kids started bounding around the house again.
"Everything alright?" Lena asked with a raised brow.
"I'm okay, but I don't think she is. I don't really know whats going on, but she just cried. The last time i saw her cry like that was after the funeral." Stef said with a far off look.
"That means she's starting to feel safe here. It's a good thing." Lena offered as she walked up and wrapped her wife in her arms.
"Let's head up before she changes her mind." Lena said grasping Stefs hand as they approached the stairs.
"That's if she went to our room at all." Stef pointed out.