I DON'T OWN THE FOSTERS, IF I DID THAT WOULD BE REALLY AWESOME BUT SADLY I DON'T.
('THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST ME')
Callie knew, Callie knew that the whole world was against her. This just proved it to her. What happens when Callie gets sick Christmas eve, how will the family take it? Will relationships end? Will this be the last straw for Callie? Will anything ever be the same again?
AN: So this story was requested by a reader and I hope I do it ok. I promised I would write the story and so I am. :)
Things to know before reading:
JUDE IS ADOPTED
JUDE IS CALLIES HALF BROTHER LIKE IN THE SHOW.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS REVIEWED, FOLLOWED AND ADDED THE STORY OR ME TO THEIR FAVOURITES.
Previously:
By the end of the letter, Callie had even more tears streaming down her face. She was thankful that Robert had sent the letter to the CPS Board, this could help sway the outcome in her favour. Also Robert not being selfish made Callie love him more. She would visit him a lot more and get to know him before he died that way she had some memories of him.
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The meeting was over, Callie would return to the group home until the CPS board came to a decision. Although Callie was not happy about that, she knew that this is the way it had to go.
Saying goodbye to her Moms again was hard. She was still reeling from Roberts Letter. She felt proud, proud of him for stepping forward and taking responsibility of her, making his wishes clear. For once Callie had luck on her side, she was feeling more lucky and she had a good gut feeling, only time would tell.
That night Callie went to bed with a smile on her face, she finally had hope. Hope that her future looked bright now.
Xxxxxxx
Brandon sat in the living room staring out the window, waiting for the car to arrive home signalling his Moms arrival. The others were upstairs doing homework, they were keeping busy to let the time go faster.
"They're home, they're home." Brandon called loudly to his siblings after seeing the car coming down the road from his spot a the window.
Soon enough footsteps upstairs could be heard as Mariana, Jude and Jesus bounded down the stairs and towards the front door where Brandon was standing, the door wide open.
Lena and Stef got out of the car and the kids happy faces all sunk at the sight of the two of them. Stef and Lena gave each other a sad smile before heading towards the kids standing on the porch.
"Where is Callie?" Jude asked hopefully as he looked around them and at the car just in case Callie was sitting in the car.
"Back at the group home." Judes whole demeanour changed as his shoulders slumped and he looked to the floor.
"So shes not coming back." Jude stated as he continued to look at the floor.
"Lets go inside and we can talk more." Stef said as she ushered the family inside to the living room, making sure the front door was locked behind them.
Soon enough the 4 kids were all sitting on the sofa while their Moms sat on the coffee table facing them. Jesus, Jude and Mariana on the couch while Brandon sat on the arm rest of the couch on Jesus's side.
"So?" Brandon looked at the Moms waiting for an explanation.
"The CPS board have got to talk and consider the possibilities, for now Callie will remain at the foster home." Stef said and before the kids could say something Lena got right into positive mode.
"Mom and I feel very hopeful that Callie will be home by the end of the week." Lena said hopefully, she was remaining positive after all.
"How can you be so sure?" Jude asked uncertainly, looking at his Moms with a raised eyebrow.
"We just know honey." Lena said with a smile as she leant forward and clasped one of his hands in her own.
"Nothing ever goes right for Callie." Jude mumbled but the family heard it and Lena and Stef smiled sadly.
"Luck is changing guys, we just need to think positive. No negative thoughts." Stef explained to the kids, her voice not giving away any fear. The kids all looked at each other and nodded.
"Ok, no negative thoughts." Mariana said nodding positively. The others all following suit.
"We will never stop fighting for her. Just remember that." Stef added to reassure the kids.
"We know." Brandon said as the others all nodded their agreement. Seeing as the conversation on the topic was over, it was time to go into typical Mom mode and that is what Stef and Lena did.
"Alright, has all your homework been done?" Lena asked looking from one kid to the next.
Each of them gave different answers but in the end all of them had homework to finish.
"Ok go get that done before dinner." Lena said as the kids all stood up to leave the living room.
"How does pizza sound?" Stef called to the kids retreating forms.
"Awesome." Jesus said fist pumping the air before moving hastily up the stairs. The other giving their opinion before following Jesus's lead and heading upstairs.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Dinner had been eaten without complaint, well obviously, it was pizza. The kids watched a movie, trying to spend family time together and remain positive. It was hard to not notice the hole in the family where Callie was suppose to be but each and everyone of them knew that Callie would fill that hole eventually. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow but soon.
The kids had headed up to bed half an hour ago which gave the Moms some time together downstairs. They would head upstairs soon and check on the kids before retiring for the night.
Mariana sat on her bed in the dark. Her back against her headboard and her knees to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees as she looked at the empty bed across from her.
Her sisters bed. The sister, that her brothers and herself had pushed away and were horrible too. No matter what Callie or her Moms said, Mariana still felt really guilty for the way she acted towards Callie. If she hadn't have been horrible, Callie would be sleeping in that bed right now, would be in this house safe and sound and would finally be adopted.
Mariana knew she had a lot to make up for. She was going to be the best sister possible to Callie when Callie returned.
"Hey Miss Thing, why are you still awake?" Mariana looked over to the door to see the outline of her Mom.
"I cant sleep." Mariana sighed out as Stef made her way into the room and sat on the bed beside Mariana, her back against the headboard an arm wrapped around the teens shoulders.
"Want to talk about it?" Stef asked before kissing Marianas temple. All Stef got in return was a shrug and then Mariana leant into her moms side, her eyes looking over at Callies bed. Stef was happy to hold her daughter. Although she would have liked to have known what was on the girls mind.
"I miss Callie." Mariana whispered, her eyes still on Callies bed.
"We all do." Stef whispered back as Mariana stretched her legs out under her blanket and lay her arms on her lap.
"I know its just..." Mariana started to say but slowly trailed off, instead choosing to fiddle with the blanket over her lap.
"Its just what sweets?" Stef pressed the girl. She wanted to help Mariana with whatever was keeping her awake.
"I still feel guilty, im always going to feel guilty." Mariana finally said and Stef let out a sigh.
"There is nothing..." Stef started but was cut off by Mariana.
"No Mom, there is a lot to feel guilty about. We were horrible to her. She would still be here, she would still be in this house and in that bed if we hadn't acted horribly." Mariana explained, tears falling down her cheek. Stef kissed Marianas head and comforted her daughter.
"Things happen for a reason. Yes, you were horrible but we cant change the past, we can only look to the future." Mariana sighed and wiped tears from her cheek but it was useless as more just replaced the ones she wiped away.
"Ill never take having brothers and my sister for granted ever again, no matter what they do or say. Even if they do make me mad." Mariana said and Stef smiled knowingly as she squeezed the teen.
"Im glad to hear that. Callie forgives you all, you know." Stef stated and Mariana nodded.
"I know but its hard to wrap my mind around her forgiveness. She really has a big heart, I dont know if I could have been so forgiving in her position." Mariana explained to her Mom. Callie really had the biggest heart that was filled with so much love.
"She sure does have a big heart sweets. Everyone is different but you would eventually forgive, if you were her." Mariana smiled as she looked over at Callies bed. Her big sister is the best sister in the whole world.
"You alright to sleep now?" Stef asked the teen.
"Yeah, thanks Mom." Stef smiled as she stood from the bed and helped Mariana get into bed properly.
Mariana slid down in her bed so she was under the covers and looked up at her mom as Stef leant down and placed a kiss to the teens head and tucked her in.
"Love you Mom." Mariana said as she pulled Stef into a hug.
"Love you too Miss Thing." Stef replied heading to the door to leave the room.
"I Love you Callie." Mariana whispered as she rolled over and snuggled down more into the warmth her bed provided.
Stef smiled at hearing the whispered sentence from her daughter. It melted her heart to know that Mariana loved her big sister no matter what the distance between them was.
Xxxxxxx
It had been days since the meeting with the CPS board. Callie had been on edge as every day clicked by. She wanted to be out of here, she wanted to be in her Moms arms, hang out with her siblings. She wanted to be home.
It was early Tuesday morning at the Adams foster household. Stef was upstairs getting ready for work and Lena was downstairs getting breakfast organised. Slowly the kids trickled down the stairs and into the kitchen for breakfast now that they were all dressed for school.
Stef was the last one down, all dressed in her cop uniform. The kids all greeted their Mom once she entered the kitchen.
"Morning my babies." Came Stefs reply to her kids as she made her way over to the coffee pot, kissing each kid on the head as well as placing a kiss to Lenas lips in greeting as she passed.
"Alright, ill be taking you all to school. You guys have fifteen minutes to be ready and out at the car." Lena explained to the kids before taking a bite of a strawberry sitting in her bowl of fruit salad.
The kids all nodding as they finished off their breakfast before they had to leave. Stef stood next to the coffee pot, her lower back leaning against the bench as she observed her wife and kids. Her eyes immediately landing on a vacant spot where Callie usually sat. Seeing it empty made her heart clench and her throat go dry as she willed the water in her eyes to not form tears and to go away. Her family wasn't complete without the teen, it felt so wrong with Callie not being here. She couldn't wait for the day where that spot would be once again filled by the absent teen.
"Alright lets go." Lena spoke pulling Stef out of her daze. Giving Stef a peck, Lena ushered the kids towards the door. Stef following them to the front door.
"Bye honey." Lena said to her wife with a smile as Lena shouldered her handbag and then pecked Stef again.
"Bye love. Bye babies." Stef called after finding her voice. Standing at the front door as she watched 4 of her five children head towards the car followed by her wife.
"Bye Mom." Came the reply of her kids as they got into Lenas car. Stef remained standing at the front door as she watched Lenas car pull out and head down the road towards the school. Once the car was out of sight, Stef closed the door and headed into the kitchen to finish her coffee. She didn't have to be in very early today, so she could take her time getting ready, gathering the paperwork she had brought home and have some breakfast.
With the kids and Lena out of the house, Stef was left in sudden quietness. It was a weird feeling. It was also unusual for the house to be so quiet with the amount of people that live in it. Stef couldn't even relish in the the peace as her phone rang.
"Stef Adams foster." Stef answered before taking a sip of her almost finished coffee.
"Hey Stef, its Bill." At hearing Bills voice, Stefs heart sped up. There was only a few things that Bill would be calling about and Stef hoped that this was the call that the family had been waiting for.
"Hey Bill what can I do for you?" Stef spoke, her voice holding caution and nervousness. Stef had no doubt that Bill heard the caution and nervousness in her voice.
"Its about Callie..."
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Bills phone call had rocked her. She was now on her way to meet Lena at the school. Sending a quick message to her wife to tell her she needs to talk, Stef immediately got in her car and drove.
Pulling up into the car park of the Anchor Beach Charter school, Stef let out a sigh. Wiping the tears from her face, Stef unbuckled herself and slid out of the car. She locked the car and headed inside the school to find her wife.
It felt longer, the walk to Lenas office. It was like the hallways never ended. Spying the office ahead of her, Stef took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
"Shes in her office." The receptionist smiled and said before Stef had even greeted her.
"Thanks." Stef smiled at the women and headed towards her wifes office door. Stef took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.
"Come in." Stef heard her wifes voice and entered. Immediately Lena was up out of her chair and over to her wife as she saw Stefs eyes were red from crying.
"Stef, whats wrong?" Lena said to her as she placed her hands on Stef cheeks, framing her face so she could look into Stefs beautiful eyes. All that Stef did was let out a sob as Lena then pulled her into an embrace.
"Shhhh." Lena soothed her sobbing wife. Lena was worried, Stef usually didn't cry like this. What had happened in the time she had left this morning till now?
"We can get her." Stef said although it was mumbled into Lenas neck.
"What?" Lena asked as she pulled Stef face away from her neck.
"We can get our girl." Stef said through hiccups and a smile was on her face. Stef wasn't upset, it was happy tears. Lenas eyes welled up, she was believing she was dreaming.
"Are you serious right now?" Lena asked as tears started to fall. Stef nodded.
"Bill called me not too long ago. I got off the phone just before I sent you a text." Lenas jaw dropped in shock as tears continued to fall.
"They can let us have her?" Lena asked again, still not believing what she was hearing coming out of her wifes mouth.
"Yep. Bill said that the decision wasn't easy but they knew we were right for Callie." Stef explained what Bill had said over the phone. A smile was now fully etched onto Lenas face, pure happiness shining in her eyes and Stef pulled her wife into her arms. The both of them smiling and sobbing in happiness. They believed this day would never come and suddenly it was here.
"We can get our girl?" Lena pulled away to ask, wanting to make sure that this really was real.
"We can get our girl." Stef nodded understanding why Lena kept asking.
"Theres something else." Stef said still smiling. Lena looked at Stef with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" Lena asked hesitantly although Stefs smile was helping her not feel so afraid.
"They gave the all clear for adoption and they even fast tracked it." Lenas jaw dropped for the second time that morning and then she smiled before asking.
"When?" Lena asked hopefully.
"Tomorrow." Lenas eyes went wide and her smile grew bigger.
"We can adopt her tomorrow? Why so fast?" Although Lena was happy, no excited was the word, she needed to know why everything was happening all at once and so fast.
"They believe Callie needs stability. They said Cal has been through so much and because the system failed her over and over again, the CPS board want to do right and with Callie wanting to be with us they agreed. They could see the love and how much we mean to Cal and how much she means to us. One less child in the foster system and one less child that wont need to wait to find their forever family." Stef explained what Bill had told her over the phone. Once again Stef pulled Lena into an embrace and the two of them sobbed and laughed with happiness.
"So when are we getting her?" Lenas asked after she pulled away from her wifes embrace, wiping tears away. Her whole body was radiating happiness and joy. This day started out amazing and it was going to end amazing because tonight, her whole family will be under one roof.
"The adoption appointment is for noon tomorrow. So we can leave work early today, get our girl and spend some time with her before the others get home." Stef explained as Lena nodded.
"Welcome home dinner?" Lena suggested before taking a sip of her water bottle to stay hydrated after the happy sobbing she had just done.
"Exactly." Stef smiled as she took the bottle from her wife as Lena had offered it to her.
"Im going to head into work now. Ill be finished early, you finish early and then we can pick our girl up. Ill get my mom to pick the others up and message the kids to let them know that My mom will pick them up from school." Stef explained to Lena as she got her phone out ready to message her mom.
"We will bring Cal home, tell her about the adoption, then wait for the kids to come home before we announce the news to the kids." Stef nodded, that was exactly what she was thinking as well.
"Ok, ill see you later. Bye My love." Stef said as she kissed and embraced Lena once more, happiness still radiating off of them both.
"Bye honey, be safe." Lena said as she was released from Stefs embrace and headed to her seat behind her desk.
"Always." Came Stefs reply before closed Lenas door behind her.
Lena smiled, took a deep breath and then got on with the things she needed to do this morning. All the non important stuff could wait till tomorrow because they were getting their daughter back.
More to come
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