Sunday night Callie and Mariana were sitting outside on the front porch. Stef Mike and their 3 brothers were running around the driveway with the basketball.
"Is it good to be back?" Mariana asked.
"It's good, I needed it but I think I'm ready to go back home now" Callie said.
"You seem better" Mariana agreed.
"I feel better, momma says I just got overwhelmed and crashed. I did need so help back up but I feel a lot better now"
"And if not you know we have your back right?"
"Yeah, I know" Callie smiled at her sister.
"Callie, your computer is making a weird noise" Lena said opening the front door.
"What kind of noise?" Callie asked trying to stand up. Mariana jumped up and reached for her hand helping her up as they went back into the house. Callie opened her computer looking at the screen.
"It was Will, he was trying to call. oh no we missed it!" Callie cried. she was about to push the icon to call him back when Stef's computer started beeping.
"that's probably him looking for you!" Mariana cried as Lena grabbed the computer and Callie answered it. Suddenly Will's face appeared before them, it was grainy but Callie was just so happy to see him.
"Hi!" She cried.
"Hey! I tried to call you but there was no answer and I figured you would be here" He was smiling just as big as she was.
"Where ensue would I be? How are you? How was your trip there?" Callie asked. Mariana and Lena went into the kitchen giving her some room as Callie settled into the couch.
"The flight was good really smooth. We stopped at a base in Germany for a few days. We just got to camp last night"
"How does everything seem?"
"It's not bad, better then the one I was at last time" Will shrugged and Callie knew that was all he was going to say.
"How are you?" He asked.
"Good, I had some trouble after you left actually, I came to stay with my moms for a few days but I am a lot better now"
"Your ok?"
"Yeah, really I am" Callie assured him.
"And hows the baby?"
"She's good, kicking like crazy today, hopefully she gets it all out now so I can sleep tonight" Callie said. Will laughed and she wanted to reach through the screen and touch him. Damn technology for not being more advanced.
"Are you alone?" Will asked.
"Kind of, momma and Mariana are in the kitchen. Why? I'm not getting dirty with you mister" Calle said making him laugh again. She was glad to see he seemed to be his old self even though he was a world away.
"I was just thinking about the name, we never decided on one"
"I like them both which ever one you want"
"Well…then I think we should go with the second one" Will said quietly, they were planing on keeping the name a secret from everyone until she was born, something that was driving Lena crazy.
"Your sure, both of them?" Callie asked.
"Yeah, really like it."
"Good, me too" Callie smiled.
"Did you guys eat yet?"
"No, momma is still cooking"
"What's she making?"
"I don't know actually" Callie said picking up the computer walking into the kitchen.
"Will wants to know what's for dinner" Callie said.
"Oh my goodness hi! How are you?" Lena cried as she and Mariana jumped into Will's view.
"I'm good, a little jealous we had hot dogs and beans for dinner tonight" Will said.
"eww" Mariana made a face.
"Well we are having green bean casserole with pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots and some cherry pie for dessert" Lena smiled.
"Oh my god that's better then I imagined" Will threw his head back sighing making them all laugh.
"Hey it looks pretty quiet there, where is everyone else?"
"they are outside playing basketball getting nice and smell to crowed around the table" Mariana wrinkled her nose.
"I'll take you to say hi" Callie laughed carrying the computer outside stopping on the front porch.
Frankie was sitting on Mike's shoulders as he blocked Jude from a shot. Stef was covering Jesus but Callie was pretty sure holding someone back by their shirt was illegal in basketball. Poor Stef would never admit Jesus was getting strong enough to over power her. Brandon grabbed the ball passing it to his dad who shot it smoothly even with Frankie on him.
"Hey guys, Will want's to say hi" Callie called. Everyone stopped short causing Jude to ram into the back of Brandon. Stef dropped the ball and it rolled onto the grass as they ran over gathering around the computer trying to shove their faces into Will's view.
"Hi!" Frankie cried.
"How are you? How was the flight?"
"We miss you!"
"You look good"
"When are you coming home?" Everyone asked as once. Will laughed seeing them all. They talked for a little bit before Will got a five minute warning. Callie took the computer back into the living room for some quiet again.
"Can you call a lot?" She asked.
"I can try, the lines are pretty long, but I will try to call you at least once a week"
"Good, I miss you a lot"
"I miss you a lot too."
"Be safe"
"I will, take care of yourself"
"I will" Callie promised.
"I love you, I'll talk to you again soon."
"I love you too, bye" Callie said blowing him a kiss before the computer went black. She closed it putting it on the coffee table.
"He seems good" Lena said coming into the room.
"Yeah, he does, I hope he stays that way" Callie nodded.
"You know he will more then likely have some things to struggle with when he comes home. Will coming home safe is enough, you guys can handle to rest together"
"I know it will be a transition, they always say its a hard transition for them back home and we wont be in the same place as when he left. We will have a newborn, What if the PTSD is bad, I won't be able to leave him alone with her" Callie suddenly thought.
"I wouldn't worry about that now, him coming home is the light at the end of the tunnel, just get to that point and then you can figure everything after that out as you go."
"Your right, it feels so far away anyway" Callie nodded.
Tuesday was Callie's first day back in her house alone. She was more comfortable with the quiet all around her then she had been before and kept herself busy. She was folding the laundry after making hereof dinner when Brandon knocked on the door and came in.
"How do I look?" He asked. She glanced over him in a suite and tie all dressed up. It was nothing now, he was usually dressed for concerts and performances, it was rare that he ask her for reassurance though.
"You look good, why?" Callie asked. Brandon reached into his pocket pulling out a little box and popping it open.
"You bought a ring!" Callie cried looking at the sparkling diamond in his hand.
"I'm going to ask her tonight" He said.
"Oh my goodness, did you ask her dad? What are you going to do?" Callie asked excited as he sat down next to her putting the ring back in his pocket.
"I asked her dad, Will was right it is just about giving advice but it was the right thing to do. I have reservations to her favorite restaurant, and then we are going to go to the orchestra and after that take a walk by the river and I thought I would ask her there"
"That sounds wonderful" Callie smiled.
"I'm nervous" Brandon admitted.
"You know she will say yes. Don't be nervous, just say what you feel don't over think it"
"Maybe I should get a real girls perspective on this" Brandon said looking around the room as Callie punched his shoulder making them both laugh.
"So no over thinking, I just hope it's still a surprise by the end of the night"
"It might not be, I mean she knows it's coming sooner or later right? But it will be special and take her breath away no matter what" Callie said.
"Your right, this tie is good? I have a black one?"
"That one is good. Are you going to moms'?"
"No way, I'm nervous enough I don't need mom freaking me out anymore." Brandon said making Callie laugh. Her older brother did look nervous, he kept pulling on his tie and fixing the seam in his pants .
"Don't be, you guys are amazing together, just let life happen" Callie said. Brandon turned to her raising his eye brows.
"Since when did you become miss optimistic?" He asked
"Since I stopped trying to control everything, life will happen. No one ever manages to control it, we just have to learn to roll with and find the good as it comes"
"Wow, good thing you came back home you have been spending to much time with momma" Brandon said making Callie laugh.
"Ok I better go, I just left work I have to go pick her up"
"Good luck! And hey if she says no you can come here and I'll watch you drink Will's big bottle to scotch" Callie said as he stood up.
"Don't" Brandon held up his mans making her laugh.
"She will say yes, just make sure you go slow enough so you can both remember it" Callie said.
"I like positive Callie" Brandon said opening the door.
"Shut up" Callie yelled he winked at her closing the door behind him.
The next morning Callie woke up to a group message from Stef demanding everyone attend dinner at their house tonight. Callie smiled, she had a feeling she knew exactly what this announcement would be. Megan had said yes.
"Hi I'm Callie Adams Foster" Callie said addressing the women behind the table.
"Here for the parenting class?"
"Yes" Callie nodded
"Great, and do you have a partner?"
"Umm no, no it's just me. My husband is away in active duty" Callie said.
"Will you be giving birth alone?"
"I haven't totally figured everything out, he was called away pretty suddenly" Callie bit her lip.
"Ok, well if I might I would recommend having someone there, it can be tough doing it alone, but come on and grab a doll"
"Thanks" Callie said going into the room. She knew the women was right, She didn't want to do this alone, in fact she didn't want to do this at all without Will.
"Hi my love" Stef said as Callie pulled into the driveway where Stef was getting out of her own car.
"Hey" Callie smiled.
"What's wrong?"
"I was actually wondering if I could talk to you and momma about something" Callie said.
"Yeah come on it let me go change out of this uniform" Stef put her arm around her as they went up the front steps of the porch. Frankie was sitting on the bottom step her chin in her hands. Jude was on the couch with his arms crossed glaring at her across the hallway.
"What happened?" Stef asked. Frankie looked up from her time out spot sticking out her lower lip trying to give Stef the puppy dog eyes.
"Mommy Jude is mean!" Frankie cried.
"She poured jelly all over my essay after I told her not to!" Jude cried.
"Francesca! is this true?" Stef cried turning to her.
"But mommy, it was an accident!"
"It was not! she held the open jar over my paper and watched it drip and then just all fall on top of it" Jude said.
"Momma says not to leave your things hanging around" Frankie shot at him.
"I left it there to remind her to look at it!" Jude shot back.
"Ok, speaking of Momma where is she?" Stef asked
"She went to get some flowers for the garden, she should be back soon" Jude said.
"Mommy can I get up now?" Frankie asked hanging on Stef's leg.
"No, you may not! your brother is right sit back down." Stef said sternly as Frankie sulked over to the step and Stef went past her upstairs to change.
"Come on" Jude said leading Callie into the kitchen as Frankie watched them unable to move from her seat.
"What are you doing here?" Jude asked sitting down at the table. Callie got herself a glass of water sitting down across from him.
"I just wanted to talk to moms about a few things, with the baby coming and all I might need some help" Callie said.
"I can help you" Jude perked up.
"Believe me I will be asking you for help too, I need a lot of it." Callie nodded before noticing Jude's paper on the table.
"Wow, she really went for it huh?" Callie laughed at the sticky red jelly covered paper.
"I swear she's just like mom, she was mad because I would only let her have 2 cookies, she kept threatening me by holding the jar over the paper I said no and she dumped it." Jude said making Callie laugh
"Stubborn assertive girl, she certainly doesn't get that from momma" Callie agreed.
"Is this the evidence?" Stef asked coming in seeing the paper.
"Yeah, She's been there for ten minutes she should probably get up" Jude said looking over to the stairs.
"I will go" Stef said pulling the clip from her hair. Her tight police officer bun gave way to her long wavy mom hair falling down her back. Callie loved how it was so easy to distinguish the two by her hair. If it was wrapped up tight Stef was in full work cop mode. When she came home and it fell down lose she was her fun and silly mom again. Stef walked over to Frankie sitting down on the step next to her.
"Francesca do you understand why Jude was upset at you?" Stef asked. Frankie nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I put the Jelly on his paper"
"Was that the right thing to do?"
"No"
"No, that made Jude feel upset because he worked very hard on that paper and he left it out for momma to see. I think you hurt his feelings when you did that. What do you think?"
"I think I did" Frankie agreed quietly.
"I think so, do you have something to say to your brother?" Stef asked. Frankie nodded getting up walking over to Jude.
"I'm sorry" she said.
"I forgive you" Jude told her and she reached out wrapping her little arms around his waist.
"Why don't you go play out back for a while ok" Stef said. Frankie nodded running out the back door carefree again. Callie always admired how her moms did their parenting.
"Can you print another on?" Stef asked Jude.
"Yeah" Jude nodded going upstairs to his computer.
"She's got a fire in her huh?" Callie laughed watching her sister kick a soccer ball around outside.
"Oh yes she's going to be trouble when she gets older" Stef laughed a little as Lena came in the front door.
"Hi love, I was just wondering were you got to" Stef greeted her with a kiss taking the bag from her hand.
"I ran out to the nursery to grab some seeds, hi baby" Lena kissed the top of Callie's head putting the other bag in her hands on the table noticing the jelly mess.
"What happened here?" Lena asked.
"Oh that would be the handy work of your little one" Stef chuckled.
"Francesca …" Lena sighed
"Jude is printing out a new paper and she had her punishment" Stef said.
"Poor Jude" Lena laughed a little unpacking the bags as Jude came down putting the clean essay on the table and throwing the other in the trash.
"Thanks bubba I will look at it after dinner ok" Lena said. Jude nodded
"I'm going outside with Frankie" he said going out the back door as well.
"Oh Callie you wanted to talk to us" Stef said.
"Oh yeah" Callie nodded almost forgetting why she came here.
"What's up?" Lena asked putting everything down and going to sit next to her.
"Well I had my first parenting and birthing class yesterday, and everyone there has a partner, I mean I'm fine going alone but the lady said giving birth alone sucks and I guess she's probably right" Callie shrugged.
"It does, Mike missed Brandon's" Stef nodded.
"I know you guys are busy and everything but I was wondering if you would be there…when the baby come" Callie said.
"Oh my god of course!" Lena cried.
"You didn't think we would let you do this alone did you?" Stef asked.
"I mean, I would be ok on my own, don't feel like you have to…"
"Callie, mom and I kind of already counted on being there, at least for most of it, but since you asked of course we will stay" Lena said.
"Momma also arranged to have the week after you have her off so one of us will stay with you" Stef said.
"Oh no, you don't have to…." Callie started.
"Hey, I'm going to let you in on some information, having a baby is no cake walk, and neither is the recovery. you need to be in bed or on the couch for at least a few days and you need another person there to do everything else, plus it's always good to have a second set of hands with a newborn around. Will already put this into place before he left. Either momma or I will be there at night and momma will be there during the day" Stef said. Callie nodded breathing a little sigh of relief. if she was being honest she was petrified at the thought of being left alone with such a little baby.
"So your classes are Wednesday nights?" Stef asked. Callie nodded.
"Ok, well either momma or I will start going with you, because we could use a refresher, and give us the dates of your doctors appointments too" Stef said.
"Oh no! You guys don't have to come I don't want you taking more time off work" Callie shook her head.
"Hey if we are going to do this we are going to do it right, and if you are having this little girl at home I want to know exactly what is going on" Lena said taking her hand.
"you guys meddle to much you know that" Callie said cracking a smile.
"Well thats what happens when you have two moms" Stef said kissing her cheek.
Monday evening Callie was ordering baby furniture on her computer when her phone started to ring. Callie saw Stef's name flashing on the screen ands picked it up.
"Hello" Callie said.
"Hi love I need you to do me a big favor" Stef said.
"Sure what is it?" Callie asked.
"If momma calls can you tell her I'm at your house but I'm busy and can't come to the phone and that I will be home soon" Stef said.
"Why? where are you really?" Callie asked.
"Im…I'm at the hospital" Stef muttered.