Ok so I know the wait was completely ridiculous and I apologize. I hope you guys don't yell to much. I should've let you guys know I went on vacation and things have been crazy. I'm sorry for making you guys wait, especially nightingale fans. We left on a huge cliff hanger and I will update that today I swear. Ummm in show news: I hope Callie gets adopted and Quinn signs the papers. I'm tired of this whole Braille story line. We know she is going to get adopted let's just hurry the process. Anyways guys I hope you enjoy the chapter! Enjoy!
xxxxxxxxxx
Stef Foster was exhausted. Two days after Stef told Callie and Brandon about Lena, they were hit with some type of stomach flu. Lena offered to come help, but Stef didn't want her getting sick, so, she went through it alone. She never felt like such a single mother in her life. Running around, getting soup, and juice, and medicine, and whatever else her babies needed. This was the first time they were both sick at the same time. When Callie is sick, she gets quite and doesn't ask for anything. So Stef has to guess what her baby needs. When Brandon gets sick, he is whiny and always needs to be within close proximity to Stef. It was hard. She was tired, and her kids were either throwing up, or needing something. Sleep was something she needed, and soon.
"Hello." Stef picks up her phone as she lays her head down on her kitchen table.
"Hi." Lena's soft voice rings through the phone and Stef can't stop the smile that forms on her face.
"Hi love." Stef says as she sits up and wipes her face.
"How are they?" Lena asks ad Stef looks up at the time. 10:36 am. The day has only just begun.
"Brandon's fever is breaking but Callie is still in the 100s." Stef reports running a hand through her hair.
"Are you sure you don't want me coming over? I can't keep an ear out while you sleep, shower, and eat." Lena offers. She was concerned about her girlfriend. She could hear the exhaustion in her voice, and every time they talked over the past few days, she was picking at some chips, or on her 4th cup of coffee. She wanted the twins better just as much as she did, but Stef's health was just as important to her.
"It's fine love. Maybe if Brandon's temp is down, you can hang out with him, while I try to get Callie better." Stef suggests, knowing Lena needed to do something.
"I can do that. And you can snuggle your baby back to health." Lena teases. She knows Stef has a giant soft spot for Callie that she doesn't have for Brandon. Stef sees so much of herself in Callie, she just favorites Callie without noticing but, she would never say that to Stef.
"Thanks love, I will let you know within the next few hours." Stef says not realizing her comment was a joke. Snuggling her daughter, in the bed, sounds just about perfect to her right now.
After hanging up the phone, Stef walks to Brandon's room and peaks her head in. Watching Spider-Man and drinking out of his water bottle, it's like he was a completely different kid from last night. Stef smiles and allows herself to just watch him. It amazes her everyday every time she looks at her babies, that she created that. She carried this two little babies in her and pushed them out, promising to love them no matter what, and she does. If nothing has proven that, the last two days should. She taps on the door before pushing it open and smiling at her son.
"How are feeling bub?" Stef asks and Brandon points to the TV.
"Spider-Man kicked a guy." He drinks out of his water bottle and Stef smiles. Yep he is all better. Brandon forgets his mother is standing there and turns his attention back to the tv. Stef watches him for a few more minutes before backing out and walking to Callie's room. She opens the door and finds Callie tossing and turning, trying to find some comfortable position.
"Hey bug." Stef whispers and walks over to her daughter. Callie turns over to look at her mom, tears in her eyes.
"Hey hey." Stef, alarmed by the tears, quickly gathers Callie into her arms. "Baby what's wrong? what's hurting?" Stef asks as Callie snuggles deeper into her mother embrace.
"My tummy, it hurts so bad." Callie cries and Stef feel tears sting her eyes. It could be from the lack of sleep, or hearing her baby in pain, either way, it brought her to sleep.
"I know baby love. Do you have potty? Or throw up?" Stef asks trying to figure out how to make it better.
"I'm tired." Callie says not answering either questions. Stef sighs and brings her legs on to the bed and tucks Callie under her arm. She lays her head on Callie's, and closes her eyes.
"Sleep baby, mommy's got you." Stef whispers before feeling her eyes drop and sleep come over her.
xxx
Stef awakes with a start as she takes in her surroundings. Callie's room, Callie's bed, Callie. Stef looks around her daughters room, but does not see her daughter. She gets up and walks out of her daughters room. It's dark outside now. She guesses it's about 7 maybe 8. She walks in to the kitchen, turns on the light, and find a note on the table.
Hey,
You were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn't wake you up. I took Callie and Brandon to my place for dinner. Call me when you wake up.
Lena
God this woman. She was perfect. Stef picks up her house phone and dials Lena's number. It's rings twice before Lena answers.
"Hey you. How did you sleep?" Lena asks.
"Pretty good. How is Callie?"
"Better. She ate some soup, but threw it up." Lena reports and Stef sighs.
"I'm going to take her to the doctor tomorrow." Lena listens to Stef take on the world and can't help but to frown.
"Let me go with you." Lena offers and Stef momentarily is caught off guard.
"Lena you don't have to do that." Stef says and Lena sighs.
"I know that Stef, I want to. If this is going to work, me and you, you have to start letting me in. Helping with the kids, talking to me.." Lena trails off and Stef runs a hand over her face.
"I'm sorry love." Stef apologizes and Lena doesn't respond.
"Lena?"
"Do you want me to drop them off?"
"Lena-"
"I get it Stef ok. You want to do this alone. But I can't be in a one sided relationship. I would trust you with my baby, just as I would expect you to trust me with your babies. But you don't trust me."
"That is not true."
"Then what is it? I don't understand."
"I've been doing this by myself Lena, even when Jamie was here, I was by myself. I don't know what tomorrow holds. I go to work not knowing if I'm coming home that night, I worry about Callie, because I was stupid enough to think meningitis can go away and I almost let my daughter die, I have a lot on my plate-"
"Let me hold some of it. We are in a
Partnership Stef, that's what happens. I take some of your problems and you take some of mine and we handle everything together. Sick children, bad days at work, who cooks, who cleans, punishments. We handle all of it, together." Lena takes a breath and Stef stays silent. Lena feels sadness wash over her as she realizes that Stef didn't sign up for what she wanted. Maybe Stef wanted to do this alone, and she was getting in the way. Maybe she was putting to much pressure on Stef, maybe integrating their lives wasn't such a good idea, maybe-
"What do you want for dinner?" Stef's voice cuts through her thoughts.
Maybe, she got it.
"Anything." Lena smiles into the phone and turns to look at the two children still glued to the tv.
xxxx
"Callie, honey, I need you to please pick up your toys." Stef says as she walks towards the front door.
"Hello my love." Stef smiles opening the door for her very pregnant girlfriend.
"Hi." Lena sighs walking in and Stef takes her bag.
"I hate brining bags over here." Stef sets Lena's bag by the door and takes her girlfriend in her arms.
"Well I told you there was a solution to that." Stef rubs Lena's lower back.
"I don't know Stef."
"You practically live here, and with the baby coming..."
"I will think about it." Lena cuts Stef off. Stef is about to respond but is cut short by a knock on the door.
"Sorry, it's probably my dad." Stef says before giving Lena a soft peck and pulling open the door. She puts on a smile expecting her dad but it immediately falls when she realizes who it is.
"Stef." The person greets and all Stef could muster was an equal greeting.
"Mike?"
xxxxxxx
WHAT! Mike is back? But for what? Callie and Brandon? Stef? What will this do to our favorite couple? What will this do to Callie and Brandon? You tell me. Review!