Disclaimer: I do not own the Fosters.

As Stef walked into the house, all she heard was the happy chatter of all of her children. They were all talking about how their day had been, but Lena was extremely quite, only offering a word or two here and there. Stef loved her family so much and would do anything to protect them which is what she would be doing later tonight, for now though, she just wanted to have a nice evening with her kids.

Jude was the first to notice his mom walk in the door. He immediatly ran over and gave her a big hug. He was the first of all of the kids to notice that there was something going on between his moms, but for now he was just happy that they were hving a family dinner.

"Hi my babies, did you all have a good day?" Stef asked and received a nod and a mumble from each of her children as they enjoyed their dinner.

"I left a plate in the oven for you Stef," was all Lena managed.

"Thanks, I am starved."

In an attempt to make Lena a little more comfortable and to keep things normal for her kids, she walked over and hugged Lena while placing a kiss on her head. She then joined in on the dinner conversation and tried as hard as she could to act normal. She was hoping that no one would notice her red, swollen eyes from all of the crying she had done and luckily no one seemed to.

After dinner, Stef went up to shower and change. What she didn't expect was for Jude to be waiting for her outside of her bedroom door.

"Hey Jude, whats up?"

"Are you an Mama okay?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"You seem so sad and Mama has also been acting funny."

"Why don't you come into our room and we can talk, okay?"

With that statement, Jude automatically became apprehensive, but Stef also knew that regardless of the fact that he had been adopted, Jude just sometimes needed some reassurance. She wasn't sure how she would offer him that, but since he had come to her when he would normally go to Lena, she decided that they really needed to have a conversation.

Once inside the room, Stef closed the door and directed Jude to the bed. She then took a seat beside him.

"Honey, I want you to know that there have been a lot of things going on lately, but I also need you to know that nothing is going to change how much we love you, ever."

"Does that mean that you an Mama aren't going to be together anymore," Jude asked with a noticeable amount of worry in his voice.

"No, Mama and I are in all of this together. We love each other so much and nothing is going to change that. I just think that we need some time to work past a few things. Mama has been having a really hard time lately between Frankie and the accident, so I think that she just needs some time to heal. I even think that I could use a little time myself. You know what its like to keep things inside, sometimes they just don't want to stay there."

"I do know Mom. Sometimes it is so hard to keep things in, even when they want to come out. Callie is like that, but she always pretends that nothing bothers her."

"You know Jude, I think you are right and I think that Callie and I are a lot alike. Right now, I think that Mama just needs some time to take care of herself and so things are a little tense between us. I don't want you to worry though, Mama and I will be fine, we always have been. I really appreciate you being worried about her though and coming to me. We love you so much Jude and we are so happy that you are a part of this family."

"I love you too Mom. I know that you will make sure everything is alright, you always do."

With that statement, Stef couldn't help but pull her son into an enormous hug. She was so lucky that those kids had found them and Jude was so much like Lena that just the thought made her smile.

"Jude, can you ask Mama to come up here for me and will you pick out a movie for you and your siblings to watch?"

"Sure Mom, anything for you and Mama."

Soon he was headed out the door and she started to think about what she needed to say to Lena.

Lena was washing dishes in the kitchen when Jude came wondering in. He had picked out a movie and gathered his brothers and sisters in the living room, now he just had to get Lena upstairs.

"Hi baby, what are you doing?" Lena asked with curiosity lacing her voice.

"Mom said that we should watch a movie, but she wanted me to ask you to come upstairs while we do. I think she wants to talk to you alone."

Those words scared Lena half to death. When she sent the kids to watch a movie while they talked it was either about something really good or something really bad. Since Stef had been acting so strangely, she was leaning towards the something bad part.

"Okay, go have fun with your brothers and sisters and I will go up and see Mom in just a minute."

Jude must have sensed her feelings because the next thing that came out of his mouth shocked her.

"Everything is going to be just fine Mama."

He then gave her a huge hug and then made his way out to the living room.

Lena finished the last few dishes and then started the dreaded trek up to her and Stef's room. She really wasn't sure what was waiting for her, but she decided that she better just rip off the band aid.

She opened the door to their room and saw Stef sitting on the edge of the bed, still wearing her uniform. Her gun and belt was put away, but she still had on everything else. That too make Lena anxious since Stef had gone to shower and change over 20 minutes ago. Lena slowly shut the door once inside and finally had to ask, "What's going on Stef, Jude said you wanted to see me?"

"Lena, please sit down, we need to talk."