A/N: My continued thanks to you all for your feedback and support. Already over one hundred reviews - so unexpected. Here's more.


Chapter 7

Sunday, April 14, 2013

"Here's her bottle," Eliza, Callie's nurse, said as she entered the room, handing it to Lena.

"Great, thanks."

"Let me know if you need something else."

Lena nodded as Eliza checked on another patient.

"Time for some lunch, Callie. Does that sound good?"

Callie had pulled herself up into a standing position, holding on to the rails.

"C'mere, you." Lena lifted Callie out of her crib and sat her down in her lap, letting her feed herself.

Callie had graduated to the non-critical floor the day before. Her fever was almost gone, she was eating on her own, and her lungs were drying out.

"There you go. Good girl," she smiled as her foster daughter sucked on the bottle's nipple. "Boy, you're hungry. It's not a race, Callie. Take a breath."

Lena was right; Callie was drinking too fast, causing her to cough. She was alarmed for a moment, then realized she wasn't choking. She put Callie onto her shoulder, patting her back. "I told you. Big breaths. You're okay. It's okay."

Callie was panicking, not understanding that she'd irritated her sensitive lungs. Her crying only made her cough more.

"Did you spook yourself? Yeah. It's okay, sweetheart," Lena conversed in a soothing tone, giving the baby time to calm down. It took another minute, but Callie settled.

"Yeah. See? You're okay. Wanna try again?"

Callie took the bottle again, her pace slower this time.

"Much better," Lena hummed, watching her eat and look up at her.

"Hey," said a soft voice from the doorway.

Lena turned to see her wife. "Hey, yourself."

"You okay, Cal? Gave yourself a scare, huh?" Stef asked the tiny brunette, cluing Lena in that she'd witnessed the two of them moments ago.

"You did great," Stef murmured to Lena, squeezing her shoulder. "You stayed calm, which helped her."

Lena nodded.

"So, lunch time?" Stef assumed.

"Yep."

"What do you know? It's mine, too."

"Dr. Vanjay doesn't see why she can't finish her antibiotics at home."

Stef smiled. Their home was Callie's, for now, anyway. "She's made quite the turn-around. And you know why, Cal? 'Cause you're tough. You're teaching me a thing or two."

"How do you want to celebrate tonight? I could pick up a cake," Lena suggested, as it was Stef's birthday.

"That's alright, love. I'll get it. Have someone notify me when Callie's discharged. Take her straight to the house."

"Alright."

"I just wanted to stop in before I grab a quick bite. Love you." Stef leaned down for a kiss.

"You'll be busting out soon, kid. Make sure Lena behaves herself," the blonde winked at Callie, smoothing her head.

Stef had one last look at them together, grateful for the opportunity they'd been given.

[][][][][][]

"Cake's here!" Stef called out as she opened the front door. There was already evidence of a baby's presence as she looked around the living room, spying a few toys on the floor. In the coming days, it would be expected.

"We're in the kitchen!" Lena answered.

Stef found her wife at the stove and Callie in a high chair, occupying herself with some plush blocks. "Well, hi, pretty girl. Whatcha got there? New blocks?"

Stef set the small chocolate cake on the counter, along with a vanilla cupcake. "I wasn't sure if Callie, here, is a chocolate fan. We'll have to see."

Lena turned to greet her wife. "Good thinking. Hi." She wrapped her arms around Stef's middle. "Happy Birthday," she wished her softly, kissing her tenderly.

"Thank you, my love. It is a happy one, indeed. And lest we forget, Miss Callie turned nine months on Thursday. Double the celebration."

Stef went to her, sitting down. "We are so glad to have you, Callie. And we are so, so glad that you are feeling better. This beats that hospital by a mile, doesn't it? Doesn't it?" Stef tickled the baby's side, extracting a smile.

"Have you given her the tour yet?" the blonde asked her other half.

"I thought I'd wait for you. This needs to simmer a bit more," Lena replied, stirring the contents of a saucepan.

"Well, alright, then. C'mon, Cal. Up you come." Stef lifted her from the high chair and to her shoulder. "Let's acquaint you with your new digs. Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times."

Lena followed them as Stef took Callie to the breakfast nook off the kitchen.

"Here's the nook. This big couch is super comfy. We have a lot of books. This is the half bath and the dining room table we never use. You're already familiar with the living room; lots of play time to be had there."

They went upstairs.

"Here's the office, where I'll make lesson plans and grade papers," Lena said of the first room, joining in. There were a couple of desks, file cabinets, Lena's laptop, and a printer, along with pictures and mementos.

"And I'll research and write articles, just work stuff. It's not very fun," Stef added before moving on.

"This is a spare bedroom. Not very exciting. Here's the full bathroom. It's quite spacious, yes? A nice, big tub for baths."

Callie babbled happily.

"She's easily impressed," Lena smirked.

Next, Stef opened her and Lena's bedroom door. "This is our room. If you ever need us, day or night, just scoot on in. Or scream, whatever."

"And finally...here's your room, Cal. What do you think? You get all this space all to yourself. You lucky duck."

While a bit sparse, it had potential to be a warm, safe space for her.

"It still needs a bit of work, but you sort of dropped in our laps. You forgive us, right?" Lena asked her. "Show her the crib."

Stef placed her in it. Callie was unsure for a moment, but quickly held the rails and bounced on her mattress, laughing.

Stef looked at Lena. "I believe that is the Callie seal of approval, wouldn't you say?"

The three of them returned to the kitchen where Lena dished up Stef's birthday dinner: homemade fettuccine alfredo with chicken and broccoli.

"This is great, baby. Thank you. And what will Callie be having?" Stef wondered.

"Chicken, some soft noodles, and sweet potatoes," Lena answered, setting a small plate on Callie's high chair and sitting down next to her.

"I bet you're hungry, Cal. Dig in," Stef encouraged her.

Callie pinched a cube of chicken between her fingers, brought it to her mouth, and took a bite.

"Okay, there's a win," Lena smiled, having some food, herself.

Callie was not very successful at feeding herself the sweet potatoes, so, Lena spoon-fed her periodically.

"She'll get the hang of it," Stef said. "She'll be eating us out of house and home before we know it."

Lena helped herself to more salad. "How was work?"

"Fine. Busy. Did Dr. Vanjay give any specific discharge instructions?"

"No. Just to finish her medicine and keep an eye on her."

Stef nodded. "We can do that. This is delicious, between this and cake, I'll need large scrubs tomorrow."

Lena laughed before changing the subject. "You said the daycare will take her in the morning?"

"Yes. Everything is all settled." Stef's hospital provided a full-service daycare for employees and staff. She handled the forms and toured the facility on Thursday and Callie had been accepted. "Do you wanna pick her up or should I?"

"I'll come get her."

"Maybe we can make some kind of schedule or something so you don't have to come downtown every day."

"Yeah, maybe."

They heard the front door open and shut. "I hear it's somebody's birthday..." a voice sang.

Stef and Lena both looked at each other, slightly panicked. They had planned on informing their parents about Callie tomorrow.

Stef's mom, Sharon, walked into the kitchen, gift bag in-hand.

"Hello—who do we have here?" the older woman asked as her eyes settled on their foster daughter. "I didn't realize you had a guest."

Lena smiled tightly. "Hi, Sharon."

Stef cleared her throat. "Mom, hi. You could have called first."

"I know, but what's the fun in that? I wanted to surprise you."

Stef stood up from the table and joined Lena on the opposite side of Callie's high chair. "This is Callie."

"Are you babysitting?"

"No, um...we're her foster parents."

Now, it was Sharon's turn to be surprised. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"Three days ago."

"And just when were you going to tell me, Stefanie?"

"Tomorrow, actually," Stef chuckled awkwardly.

"What brought this on?"

Lena answered this time. "Callie was a patient of Stef's. She treated her, but she was brought back in after her pneumonia reoccurred."

"Pneumonia? Is she alright?" Sharon inquired, concerned, walking closer to them.

"She's doing much better. She had a short stay in Intensive Care, but was discharged today," Stef informed her.

Callie coughed a bit, dry, her lungs still healing. Stef patted her back.

"When did you first meet her?"

"Last week. Her mom abandoned her in an apartment. Then, her foster placement left her at the police station. She was pretty bad off, terribly sick. That's when I stepped in."

"Oh, my word. The poor lamb. Hi, Callie. I'm Sharon, Stef's mommy. Gosh, I guess this means I'm a grandma."

"We don't know how long this will be for," Stef said, not wanting to overwhelm her mother any further.

"Has anyone found her mom?"

"No, but, right now, this is temporary, as far as the state is concerned."

Sharon and Lena shared a look, knowing Stef had already fallen hard for this baby. "Well, until then, we're family, aren't we, Callie? What a beautiful child. Those eyes and that hair."

"Would you like something to eat, Sharon?" Lena offered politely. The three of them weren't quite done with their meal.

"No, thank you, Lena. You guys can finish, and then, we'll have cake."

They did so, with Lena wiping Callie's face and hands. Callie's goofy smile clued her in to their next move. "Oh, Stef...I think someone needs to be changed..."

Stef chuckled. "Oh, so, I'm Diaper Mom, huh? We're gonna have to even up these tallies. Okay. We'll be right back."

Sharon waited until her daughter was upstairs before speaking up. "So, what do you think of all this? Quite sudden."

Lena nodded. "It is. But I'm glad we can give Callie a place to stay that's safe, for now."

"I know my daughter can push and steamroll—"

"It's not like that. We both agreed to this. I was resistant at first."

"Understandable."

"Hesitant. I still am. But, me and Stef, we're working on things."

"What you guys have been through would break most couples apart, and no one could blame you. You'll come out the other side stronger than ever. Just be there for her."

Sharon placed her hand on top of her daughter-in-law's, smiling.

Lena turned the question around on her. "What do you think?" She felt a bit uneasy at what Sharon might say.

Sharon saw how Stef was with Callie: warm, caring, and maternal. A few of the attributes that made her a great doctor. She was on cloud nine. She had no doubt that Lena would be the same. "I think it's wonderful."

[][][][][][]

After the cake was eaten (and Sharon insisted on singing 'Happy Birthday'), Stef opened the bag her mom brought, containing a card and a pair of bacon socks.

Stef held them up, an amused smirk on her face.

"What? You love bacon," Sharon shrugged as Stef read the card.

"Thank you, Mom," she said, clearly touched by what was written inside it. She loved receiving them, even now.

"You're welcome, doll. Now, what did your wife get you...?"

"Oh, that's for later," Lena smirked.

"Yes, after Callie has had a bath," Stef agreed, now talking to her. "Did you get frosting in your hair, silly girl? You like both cakes, huh? A girl after my own heart. Not too much of a sugar high, though. You need your sleep."

"Well, I shouldn't overstay my welcome," Sharon decided, standing. "You two will want to make sure Callie settles in for her first night."

"Yes. She's still not one hundred percent, it's gonna take her a few days. What do you say, Cal? Bath, bottle, and bed. Sound good?"

Stef hugged Sharon. "Good night, Mom. Be safe getting home. Love you."

"I love you, too, baby. Happy Birthday." She kissed her daughter's cheek.

Sharon and Lena said their goodbyes, as well.

"Alright, Callie. Don't keep them up too much, okay? You've got two of the best foster mommies anyone could ask for. Bye-bye," Sharon waved, then, left.

"I'm gonna get her in the tub, unless you want me to help clean up?"

Lena shook her head. "You're the birthday girl. I've got it."

They kissed before Stef took Callie upstairs.

Lena stood at the sink, releasing a sigh. The past week had been such a whirlwind. She and her wife went from childless professionals to ones with a baby in that time. They were responsible for another person—a tiny, helpless person who would need them for everything for the foreseeable future. Now that Callie was out of the hospital, it was real.

At least Stef was embarking on this new adventure with her.

Once Lena put leftovers away and loaded the dishwasher, she went upstairs, hearing muted chatter and splashing from behind the bathroom door.

"You're the one who needs the bath, not me!" Stef laughed, turning when Lena came in. "Hey, love."

"I think someone's having fun. Hi, Callie," Lena addressed her with a wave of her fingers.

Callie splashed the bubbly water, wearing a toothless smile that could warm the coldest heart.

"Alright, my little mermaid, let's wash your hair." Stef wet Callie's head and massaged baby shampoo into her short, brown locks. She chuckled at Callie's reaction: her face relaxed, eyes closed. "You like that? I bet that feels good."

Callie coughed as Stef rinsed her hair.

"Yeah, this water's cooling down. Don't want you to get a chill, no. Lena, I'm tagging you in. Hand me a towel. You lift, I'll dry."

Lena took Callie out of the tub and Stef toweled her off before dressing her in her room.

"I'll go make a bottle and bring her medicine. Four ounces?" Lena asked, confirming the amount.

"Yeah," Stef nodded, grabbing a clean diaper.

Callie was waiting in a new set of pajamas by the time Lena returned with warm formula and her antibiotics.

Stef took the glass bottle and infant syringe. "Meds first. Open up, Callie. Come on. Good girl," she praised as the baby swallowed the liquid.

Callie fussed a bit, making a face at the taste.

"That's gonna make you all better, sweetie," Lena stated softly.

"Let's wash down that yucky stuff and get you drifting off to dreamland." Stef sat down with Callie in a tan rocking chair, cradling her as the little brunette drank from the bottle.

"I'll let you put her down. Good night, Callie," Lena wished her before leaving them.

Callie finished most of it before fatigue won out. Stef placed her drowsy foster daughter in the crib. "Close your eyes, love. Sweet dreams."

Callie fell asleep within minutes. Stef stayed a bit longer, relieved to hear soft, even breaths.

Stef quietly left the room, shutting the door.

"Callie's asleep," she announced as she found her wife in their bedroom.

"Good."

"Thank you," Stef said quietly.

"For what, babe?"

"Saying yes. I know this isn't easy for you. But you'll learn fast and I'm gonna be here every step of the way."

"You're so good with her," Lena sighed, tinged with envy. "It's like you know what she needs before she does."

"I have a decade of experience on you, in case you forgot. I didn't become fluent in Infant overnight."

Lena chuckled at that.

"And I won't always have the answers; you'll be outsmarting me before long. Honestly, I feel like I've been on autopilot, just reacting. Tonight will be the real test. Now, where's my present?" Stef grinned, child-like anticipation lighting up her features.

Lena pulled an envelope from the drawer of her bedside table. "Here we are."

Stef opened it and found a pair of tickets to see Melissa Etheridge at Humpheys by the Bay in September, along with a handwritten note.

Your not-so-subtle hints paid off. I can't wait to rock out with you. Happy Birthday.

Love always,

Lena

Stef's mouth dropped open a little. "Wait...these are third row seats."

"Yes, they are," Lena confirmed, smiling.

"Thank you, baby." Stef hugged her wife tightly. "Is that all?"

"Oh, I'm the gift that keeps on giving..." the brunette reminded her smoothly. "Or did you forget?"

"It's possible..."

"Well, I'll just have to refresh your memory, then, won't I?" Lena slid her hands down Stef's arms.

One kiss, and they were off to the races.


A/N: I originally thought of Sharon hearing Callie through the phone, but having her show up unannounced worked out way better. So, yes, in this story, Sharon never moved to Florida and lives locally.

Next will be Callie's first night with Stef and Lena (how do you think it will go?) and after that, I'm not sure, but don't worry, this story is gonna get rolling. Much is in store for these characters...