I know what most of you are going to say, but I've been swamped guys. School, work, family. All consumed me these last two months, but I'm on summer break and that gives me a break in the schedule for you guys. So cut me some slack enjoy the chapter, marvel in the fact that Fosters is back next week, and love me. Enjoy.
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The room is so quite.. So quite Stef thought Callie might actually hear her heart pounding against her chest. This is the first time Stef had been alone with her daughter since the accident, and as Stef looks back, since the twins entered their home. Stef looks at her daughter from her spot by the window and watches as Callie bites on her thumb. She's trying to calm herself and Stef can tell she is tempted to put her thumb into her mouth. She misses her daughter, to be truthful, Stef didn't think Callie was going to make it. When she got the phone call, she wasn't sure what to think, but her thoughts definitely went negative. Watching Callie struggle to find words to talk to her was making Stef uneasy. She doesn't want to force Callie into talking.
"What's going to happen to us?" Callie asks and Stef gives her a confused look.
"What do you mean love?" Stef asks and Callie looks down at her hands.
"With everything that has happened, when our family falls apart what happens to us." Callie asks and Stef watches her daughter carefully waiting for her to look up, but when she doesn't Stef feels tears sting at her eyes. Callie believes that their family is going to fall apart.
"Callie, our family isn't going to fall apart, and as for us, we are forever my love." Stef moves closer to Callie. Callie stays silent contemplating what Stef had said. Deciding to believe, or not to believe.
"I didn't mean-" Callie turns to see Stef closer to her and pauses. She wasn't ready to be anywhere near her mom.
"I meant Jude and I." Callie finishes softly after backing up slightly.
"Honey, you don't worry about that. Jude and you are safe. Our family is not going to fall apart and you are just a kid my love, so just be a kid."
"You know, I've been hearing that a lot lately. Just be a kid Callie, you are just a kid. But in light of recent events, I've been forced to grow up and face the harsh reality that is my life. I may never be able to do what I love. Brandon's dad almost killed me, I've been feeling everything from hate to love, to pain, to just plain misery and I don't want this any more. I want..." Callie wipes furiously at her tears trying to hold it together as she watches the tears pour from her moms eyes. She has never let her mom see her in such pain.
"I want it all to go away. I just.." Callie its cut off by Stef's arms wrapping her into a hug. Callie stiffens at first before wrapping her own arms around we mom and sinking into her.
"I'm so sorry baby." Stef whispers in her daughters hair. She had no idea the pain Callie was carrying. "You.." Stef pulls back to look Callie in her tear covered face. "You are so beautiful, and smart, and so damn.. Strong. You never ever have to hide your feeling from me, or mama. You are our most prized possession. You Jude and Brandon, you are absolutely our babies, and you grow up when you are ready. Mike will pay for what he did, and you will be able to play again, and I will be by your side every single step of the way, and I will never leave." Stef looks into Callie's eyes, showing her the honesty her words hold. Callie squeezes her eyes shut and allows the tears to continue to fall.
"I don't want to hurt anymore mommy." Callie whimpers and Stef brings her daughter into her arms, holding her as she sobs. Stef feels the weight of her daughters words on her.
"I have you my love." Stef whispers and allows Callie to cry against her. They migrate to the bed, where Stef carefully lays down with Callie against her chest. Tears still free falling from Callie's eyes. Stef just holds her and allows Callie to feel safe for the first time in months.
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Brandon nervously fidgets at the table as his moms sit across from him and Callie. Brandon looks over at Callie who refuses to make eye contact with him before looking back at his moms.
"We both have to testify?" Brandon asks and Stef nods her head.
"Afraid so bud. But if either of you are uncomfortable with that, you don't have to." Stef watches both of her kids for some type of reaction.
"Will it help put him in jail for a long time?" Callie asks and Brandon whips his head quickly at the question.
"Hey!" Brandon exclaims. "That's my dad."
"That's my attacker." Callie bites back looking at her brother.
"He didn't attack you Callie!" Brandon argues back.
"Oh yea? What would you call it Brandon?" Callie yells.
"An accident!" Brandon says standing up, towering over the injured Callie.
"Ok! Hey! That is enough you two." Stef says standing up. Both kids look over at her and quiet down.
"Look, we didn't want an argument, we just want to know if you are comfortable." Lena says trying to defuse the tension.
"Callie?" Stef says looking at her daughter.
"I'm fine." Callie responds, her face stoic and her voice, emotionless.
"Brandon?" Lena says looking at her son. At first Brandon doesn't respond and the moms share a look before Lena calls his name again. He looks up, the pain, and the discontent obvious in his face.
"I don't know. Can I think about it?" Brandon asks the both moms nod.
"Of course." Stef says and Brandon offers a sad smile before sliding off his stool and escaping upstairs. Stef watches her son retreat up the stairs before giving all her attention to her daughter. She wasn't sure where they stood. After Callie criers in her arms she fell asleep, and after she woke up, Lena and the kids returned.
"Callie-"
"I'm going to hang out with Declan." Callie says, sliding off her own stool and escaping to the backyard. The moms watch before looking at each other.
"Wow." Is all Stef can manage and she feels Lena's hand slide up her back.
"Wow indeed." Lena confirms and she feels Stef's back tremble and she looks at her wife and notices tears falling and Stef trying to fight it.
"I'm just, trying so hard... To keep it all together." Lena stands and immediately brings Stef into her arms.
"I know love.. I know." Lena whispers as Stef cries in her arms.
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"You are the only person I can count on." Callie says as she Lena's against Declan. He lifts his head slightly before laying it back down. Callie plays with the spiked hair behind the dogs ears. "You are my best friend." Callie says moving to his paws where she smooths the fur down. Callie allows herself to enjoy the moment with her dog. Callie looks when she hears the gate creek open and sees Jesus slide in.
"Jesus?" Callie says and Jesus turns quickly, fear evident in his eyes, but that's not what Callie sees. What she sees his the bruising around his eye and along his jaw. "What happened to you?" Callie asks standing up and walking over to him, with Declan following.
"Nothing." Jesus says, his eyes casting downward towards his shoes.
"Who did this to you?" Callie asks carefully touching his face.
"No one." Jesus answers quietly.
"Jesus." Jesus looks up and Callie turns his head carefully to survey the damage. Jesus allows it and when Callie is done Jesus looks at her.
"Why do you care?" Jesus asks softly. Callie pauses and looks down at the boy. She isn't sure what is making her care. Maybe because she almost died, or maybe because she likes them, or maybe because they are about to leave...or maybe because.. Callie looks in Jesus's eyes... She sees herself. Before she was adopted, when she was thrown in the system and saw the abuse and callousness it possesses.
"Because no one deserves this." Callie answers and Jesus looks down at his shoes. "No one deserves..." Callie places a hand on his shoulder. "You don't deserve this." Jesus looks into the older girls eyes and gives a soft smile.
"It was some kids at school. I was just watching them ride their skateboards and.. I guess.. I don't know." Jesus says.
"They are jerks." Callie says and Jesus laughs and Callie laughs with him. "Come on, mama has the perfect cure for bully's and bruises." Callie takes Jesus's hand and leads him back to the house, where Declan follows loyally.
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After ice and ice cream, Lena was able to get all the kids down stairs and into the living room, while Stef washed her face and got ready for yet another emotionally charged conversation. Stef stood at the mirror and prepared for the ultimate shit storm. The twins were leaving and her kids were going to ask why. What was she supposed to say? They are leaving because we are shitty parents that can barely keep you three alive.
Stef moves away from the mirror and over to her bed. Knowing her kids, they will feel terrible knowing they are to blame for the relocation of the twins. How does Stef convince her three strong willed children that they aren't to blame. The parents were. Not parents, parent. Singular, her. She alone was to blame for this shit storm that was about to happen.
Stef picks up the folded piles of laundry and places them in the twins bag. She hopes that one day she would be able to see the twins again. Maybe she will be in a better place, her and her family. Stef grabs the bag and places it on her shoulder before making her way down to the living room.
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Soooo Callie and Stef had their moment.. Kind of.. What do you think will they get back to normal? Jesus and Callie had a moment, how will they react to the twins making an exit? Seems to be some strain between Lena and Stef and their relationship, how will that pan out? Let me know. Review!