AN:Thank you all for the support - for reading, reviewing, following, for adding the story to favorites. You are all amazing people! I appreciate all of the support!

I know, right now Callie is having a rough time. But I promise, it will get better...in some time...not right away. But it will! Just have some faith in me, please :)

Hope you enjoy :)

Jude POV

The moment I saw, through the kitchen window, moms walking across the yard, I jumped up from the stool I was sitting on and moved closer to the back doors, waiting for them to enter.

"What did she say?" I ask the moment mom opened the doors. Moms didn't look too surprised to see me waiting for them.

"Relax, sweetie," Mom patted my shoulder gently, while Lena closed the doors behind her

"I can't!" I reply anxiously "Not unless you tell me what happened!" I had expected for Callie to come right in after them, but she didn't "Where is she?"

"She wanted to be alone for a little while," mama explained to me

I look between my moms "Is she going to-"

"Callie is not leaving! At least not for another few weeks," mom reassured me before I could finish my sentence. She knew exactly what I was going to ask. Thankfully, the answer I wanted to hear and the answer mom gave me was the same.

"Are you sure?" It's not that I didn't believe moms, but I simply had to double check that Callie is not going to leave me again

"We are sure, honey," mama gently rubbed my upper arm and smiled down at me, giving me the same reassuring smile she offered me, when they followed Callie out

"I'm sure Callie will join us back shortly," mom said looking between Lena and me "Let's go join others in the living room," she gestured to the living room, where the chatter was coming from

Some 15 minutes had passed. I was sitting with others in the living room. The atmosphere in this room was great – everyone was laughing, chatting, smiling. But I couldn't fully join in the fun, because I kept watching the doors, I kept listening for the doors to open – waiting for Callie to come back and join us.

I stood up from the armchair. The moment I was up to my feet, mama asked "Where you going Jude?"

"I will go check on Callie," I said as I started to walk out

As I was walked out to the porch, I kept thinking of the worst possible outcome – that she has left unnoticed, while everyone else, including me, was in the house. I would never forgive myself, if that happened. Thankfully, I saw light coming from underneath the doors. I felt huge relief.

I walked up to the doors and stopped. Slowly I lifted my hand up, but I kept my knuckles inch from the doors. The sniffs I heard from coming from the room, stopped me from knocking. I froze momentarily.

I lower my hand down and lean a bit closer to the doors "Callie?" I ask as I place my hand on the door nub

The sniffing stopped "...yeah?" she replied. I heard some moving in the room, like she was shifting around the bed.

"Can I come in?" I ask carefully, hoping to hear an positive answer

"...yes," Callie replied. My hand was already on the cold handle. I push the doors open and peak a look in before I walk in. Callie was laying on the bed, face down in the pillows. She moved her left hand up to her face, to her eyes and wiped it. Then she turned her head to the other side, so she couldn't see me. Or maybe so I wouldn't see her.

I close the doors behind and make my way over to her, without any further hesitation. While I was walking to the bed, I was looking around the room trying to see if she had packed her stuff. But her room looked the same it did before today. Nothing seemed to be missing at the first glance. There wasn't any packed bag or anything that was a cause for concern about her staying here.

When I was up to the other side of the bed, I kicked off my shoes and crawled in the bed next to her. I laid down on my right side, facing her, my right hand under my head, knees slightly bent. Callie's eyes were red, her face puffy. There were wet spots on the pillows as well as her shirt sleeves from the tears.

"Why are you crying?" I ask in a whisper, as I reached over to her face, to wipe the tear that just now fell down her cheek

She sucked in a breath, trying to control her emotions "Just...a lot has been going on this week...and now you are officially adopted..." Callie sniffed, her lower lip whimpered a little "...it's harder than I thought it was going to be..."

"What can I do?" I ask in a whisper as I caress her cheek fondly. My heart broke for her. I hated that it was my fault. I hated that I have hurt my sister so much.

"Hold me?" it sounded more like a question. Actually, Callie sounded like a younger version of herself. It has been a long time since she has asked to be comforted. Last time I saw her this vulnerable, was 4 years ago.

"Come here!" I didn't hesitate to answer. I was going to do everything that is in my power to help her, comfort her and show her just how much she means to me. I needed to show her that me being adopted - doesn't mean we are no longer family or that I don't care about her.

Quickly, I changed my position. I turned on my back and made myself comfortable in this sort of sitting, sort of laying down position. My head was to the pillow, that was placed up to the headboard. Callie scooted closer to me and pressed her head to my chest and wrapped her arm around me.

"I'm not going anywhere," I whisper to her as I wrap my hands around her to hold her closer to me "I'm right here," I kissed the top of her head "I love you, Cal!"

"I love you too," Callie whispered back as she pressed a little bit closer to my side

Mariana POV

February 1st

3 days ago Jude was adopted. I couldn't be more happier about it. Finally he was part of our family. But even though I am incredibly happy about Jude joining our family, I couldn't help, but to feel for bad Callie.

Jesus and I thoughts that once Jude's adoption will be finalized, Callie would leave. Not that I want her to leave, but it just seemed like something Callie would do. I would not have blamed her if she left, though. If I had to see Jesus getting adopted without me, it would have ruined me. Living with people, who adopted your sibling, but didn't adopt you - would be incredibly painful.

But Callie appeared to be doing fine or should I say - pretended to be fine. Callie wasn't going to ruin it for Jude. The happy Callie - it's just a front! Over the years in the system she has, obviously, learned to hide her emotions, to bury her feelings. I don't have a doubt about it - it hurt her to see her brother being adopted without her.

No one besides moms and Callie knows, what they talked about that day in the garage. They have kept it between them. I would understand why Callie wouldn't talk about it, but moms haven't said anything as well. Not even to Jude. All that Jude cared about, was that Callie was still here, that she hasn't left him. He wasn't even slightly curious about what they discussed in the garage.

Over the last three days, I have noticed how moms were acting around her. They kept their distance, giving her the space she needs, but at the same time, they watched out for her. Moms would be there if she needs them, but they knew better than to try and push the girl. They knew the relationship they had right now, was very fragile.

Callie has leaned to moms for help few time before Jude's adoption, but now…now she seemed different. Almost like she doesn't really know how she felt about us, about Stef and Lena. It seems like Callie would want to trust them, lean on them for help, but something seems to be stopping her from fully opening up to them. I'm confident, Callie doesn't even know herself how she feels about Stef and Lena. Does she trust them? Does she dislike them for adopting her brother? In her toast, Callie explained just how grateful and thankful she is. Her toast came from her heart, that much I could tell. She meant every word she said, but there had to be some anger underneath there as well. The anger would explain, why she was snapping at mom left and right, the week leading up to the adoption.

Suddenly, the back doors are opened. The sudden noise pulled me out of my thoughts. I look away from the screen of the computer, that was in my lap, over to the kitchen. Callie walked in and closed the doors behind her. I don't think she has noticed me sitting in the nook are, in the dark.

She makes her way over to the coffee pot and starts to make herself a cup. I look down at the clock in my laptop – 11:38PM.

"Is it wise to drink coffee before bedtime?" I ask her, announcing myself. Callie jumped a little at my voice and turned towards me.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," I said lifting the laptop off from my legs as I turn on the couch, so that I would be facing the kitchen

"You didn't," Callie replied, clearly lying. She turned back to making herself coffee. I place the laptop on the couch, by my side. Callie glances to me briefly "Why are you sitting here? Why are you not in your room?"

"Needed a change of scenery I guess," I say with a small shoulder shrug "I couldn't concentrate upstairs," Callie turned to me, holding the coffee cup in her hand "I need to write a code for this program. It's not really coming to me right now. I'm coming up blank," I looked down to the laptop at my side

"Maybe you should sleep on it," Callie suggests as she walks close to the door

"Maybe you are right," I say with a sigh. When I looked back to Callie, I saw how she reached for the door handle

"Hey! Can I ask you something?" I blurred out before Callie managed to turn the door nub. To be honest, I didn't have anything I wanted to ask her. I simply didn't want her to leave. Actually, I wouldn't mind a little chat. Not about anything specific. I wanted company - company that wasn't by brothers or my moms.

Callie stopped in her tracks. She took her hand away from the door nub and turned to me "Sure," Callie lifted the cup up to her lips and took a sip of the coffee

"How did you do it?" I ask the first thing that popped in my mind

"Do what?" Callie raised her eyebrow at me, confused by my question

"Watch your brother being adopted without you?" I asked staring at her. Callie stared back at me, so I decided to comment on my question, about why I asked it "Jesus and I spoke about it and...honestly, I don't believe I could have gone through with it, like you did. I would have either run out of the hall or tried to stop it. If I had been in your position and Jesus would have been all I had…" I shook my head to finish my thought, letting her know, how I would have reacted to it. Jesus and I weren't far for being separated ourselves. The only reason, we got to stay together, was because of our moms. Callie and Jude's situation, simply got me thinking about how our lives could have been different if it wasn't for Stef and Lena.

Callie stared right back at me. For a moment, I thought she was going to snap at me and then storm out of the house. But she didn't. Callie averted her look down to the hot beverage in her hand. She lifted her other hand up to the cup as well and held it tightly between both of her hands.

"I don't..." Callie trailed off, she quickly rubbed her nose. When both of her hands were back on the cup, her shoulders shrugged a little "I don't know," She slowly walked up to the couch and took a seat at the end of it. I pulled my legs up and wrapped my arms around my knees, as I sat and watched the older girl.

Callie's look was fixated on the cup in her hands, she spoke slowly, clearly wrapped in her thoughts "Everything that I have done – I did it for him. When he was just a baby, I promised my mom that I would look out for him, like a big sister would. I have held his hand as we crossed the street. I have read bedtime stories for him. I have covered for him, when he was in trouble with mom. I have given him the last of my ice cream, because he ate his first and he liked it so much..." Callie took a small pause, her look got more distant, her voice got lower "I have taken beatings for him. I have given my share of food to him, when he was hungry, because we weren't fed properly even though I was hungry myself. I have stayed with him and held him, while he's sick, when he has been injured, when he has had nightmares. I have been looking out for him for 15 years. Standing behind him in the court hall, was..." She took a deep breath in, when she exhaled, Callie glanced to me and finished "I needed to look out for him one last time,"

I quickly wipe my hand over my eyes to get rid of the tears that had formed, while I listened to Callie speak. I never thought Callie would open up to me like this. This was so unlike Callie. Sure, we had talked, but not about this delicate and sensitive topic. Hearing what Callie has to say, hearing how she felt, what was going through her mind, allowed me to see a completely different side of Callie. A more vulnerable one, a more emotional one – a more human side of her.

"He is still your brother," I said carefully "Just because he's adopted, doesn't mean he doesn't need you anymore," Callie simply shook her head "I think he needs you now more than ever,"

"He doesn't need me!" Callie shook her head. By her voice and her features, I could tell - she believed what she just said.

"Actually - you are right!" I said trying a different approach "He doesn't need you!" Callie gave me a look that said - thread carefully

"He doesn't need you to take a beating for him, because he is never going to be hurt in this house. He doesn't need you to share your food with him, because there is enough food in this house, he will never starve in this house! He doesn't need you to be his parent anymore, because he has two moms, that love him and will take care of him!" I detained a pause, before I got to the most important part

"But he does need you as his sister! He needs you because you are his family and you are the single most important person in his life!" I spoke slowly and emphasized the important words, so Callie would actually grasp what I was telling her, instead of just listening to me

Callie was staring at me, she leaned slightly towards me as she pulled her left hand in fist. I was holding my breath, waiting for her to say something back. Her mouth parted a little, I cringed a little, waiting to hear some retort or snap back. For a moment, I started to regret my tough approach on her.

Her mouth closed, her palm opened up and she leaned back to the couch backrest. She didn't say a word. Callie continued to slowly sip her coffee.

We sat in awkward silence for 2 long minutes. I started to feel slightly bad for being so blunt with her, but deep down, I knew someone had to say it to her. Grandma Dana could have probably done that, but she was not here. Callie needed to hear that.

I peaked a glance to the older girl. I couldn't help but to wonder - why hasn't she left and gone back to her room? Why didn't she snap at me and storm out? Maybe, she simply wanted company as well.

I might as well use the full potential of this moment. I know, what I was about to ask was another sensitive topic, but I simply couldn't resist "Why..." I stopped myself, because I got scared for a moment. I placed my feet on the ground and put my hands in my lap and tried again "Why were you sent to Juvie?" I ask her warily, afraid of her reaction. It felt like I was playing with fire trying or trying to provoke the Devil, because I knew, Callie was not big on talking, more specifically, sharing.

Callie glanced to me. She didn't say anything for few seconds. It seemed like she was actually considering answering it. I got a little bit excited to hear the answer. Her time in Juvie has been a mystery this whole time. I was curious. This was something I have been wondering about for a long time, since the infamous dinner took place.

Callie lifted the cup up to her lips with both of her hands, she paused "I protected my brother," she lifted the cup a little more and took a sip

"From whom?" I asked back knowing all to well, that this must be about the foster family they were staying at the time

"Our foster father," Callie lowered the cup down to her lap and, while looking down to it, she finished "He was beating Jude. I did what I had to!" she then looked at me "Jesus would have done the same thing for you!" I swallowed the lump in my throat. Right now, only the worst thoughts came to my mind - she hurt her foster father, she attacked another person...

Callie chuckled.

"What?" I asked surprised by her reaction

"I didn't hurt my foster father. I only smashed up his car!" Callie chuckled a little again "Don't deny it, I know you were thinking it!"

"No..." I tried to deny it, even thought she was right

"You so were!" Callie said laughing and took another sip of the coffee

"Maybe," I admitted looking down to my hands remorsefully. Callie's eyes moved to my laptop. I looked down to it. I reached for it, picking it up with my left hand "You want to check your Facebook account?" I held the laptop up

"No," Callie shook her head "Don't have one,"

It looked like Callie wanted to ask me something, but she decide against it. So, I figured I should encourage her "What is it?"

"It's nothing," Callie scratched her temple. She closed her eyes for a moment, but when she opened them, she blurred out "Could I use it for a moment? I just want to look something up! 5 minutes tops!"

"Sure, here you go!" I handed her my laptop, when she put the cup down on the floor by the couch "The code is saved, you can close the program!"

I don't try and see what she was looking up. I gave Callie the 5 minutes she asked for.

"Would you want to go to the mall together sometime?" I asked trying to keep the conversation going

"Why?" Callie glanced to me with raised eyebrow, trying to tell what are my intentions

"You know...just hang out. Browse the shops. I want new shoes," I ask as I listen to Callie typing on the laptop. She wasn't too fast at typing.

"Want?" Callie took notice of my choice of words, while she continued to look up whatever she was searching for

"I haven't bought new shoes in some few months!" I reasoned back with a smirk on my lips. Callie rolled her eyes and scoffed as she clicked on some page on something on the laptop.

The more I think about it, the more clearer her reaction seemed. She probably hasn't spent a dime to herself in months, maybe even years. Spending money on clothes or something she wants, or wishes to have - is a foreign concept to her. Just like it was to me, before I came to live with Stef and Lena. Before moms, I could only dream of getting the toys, clothes or stuff that I wanted.

"When was the last time you went shopping?" I asked her curiously as I scooted an inch closer to her. Her wardrobe choice hasn't slipped pass me. All her clothes looked to be wore for quite some time. Her shoes as well. But not once have I heard complain about it. She lives with what she has.

"Don't know...while ago, I guess!" Callie shrugged not taking her eyes off the screen, she continued to click and type on the laptop

"Don't you want to go?" I asked slightly more enthusiastic

"I don't have the time, nor money for that,"

"How about just for some ice cream then? After your shift or on some weekend, when you don't have work," I suggested

"Why do you want me to go to the mall with you so badly?" Callie paused briefly

"...I don't know. You are the closest thing I have to having a sister. All I have is brothers!"

Callie's mouth parted a little. I think I know what she wanted to say – I'm not your sister and never will be. But to my surprise, the second time around, Callie kept quiet and returned her attention to the screen.

Callie must have found whatever she was looking for "Do you have a paper and pen?"

"Umm..." I looked around to the shelves and then to the island table. I noticed mama's purse still on the island table, so I jumped off the couch and hurried to get a pen out of mom's purse and grabbed a paper from the printer

"Here you go," I handed the pen and paper to Callie. She took them and started to write something down.

When Callie was done writing down whatever information she found, she handed me the pen back and nodded to the island table "Does your mom often leaves her purse out like that?"

I watched her carefully, not sure that I liked that question "Don't even think about-"

"I'm not a thief!" Callie quickly shot back in raised voice, defending herself. We both stared at one another. Callie took a breaths to calm down and then continued quietly as she nodded towards the purse "It's just...in other foster homes, where Jude and I lived, no foster parent ever left their personal things out like that!"

"No one is a foster kid here!"

"Jude was," Callie challenged back

"We trust Jude!" I detained a pause "Stef and Lena trust you as well!"

"Yeah...so they've told!" Callie muttered back and lifted the laptop up to hand it to me "Thanks for letting me use it!"

"Hey, girls!" Lena walks in the room dressed in her PJ surprising us both "What are you two still doing up?" I glanced to the clock on my laptop, it was just 5 minutes before midnight

"We were just talking," I smile at mom as I watch how Callie folded the paper and after that lifted up the coffee cup up from the ground

"Good night!" Callie said getting up. Lena and I both say it back to her. Callie walked to the doors. Before she walked out, she looked back at me giving me a look.

Lena watched how Callie left and then looked at me "Did you two really talk?"

"Yeah," I nod back

"I meant, did she actually say something back or were you the only one speaking?" mama asks with a smirk on her lips

"Really mama?" I give mom an unimpressed look "That's something mom would say!"

"I'm sorry, your mom is rubbing off on me!" mama said with a smile on her lips "I'm sorry, honey!"

"Callie really did talk. We had a nice conversation," I say as place the laptop on my knees, ready to shut it off

"I'm glad you did," mama lifted her right hand up and tapped her index finger to her wrist "I think it's a little too late for computer. You should go to bed, Mari. You have school tomorrow!"

"I know! I'm shutting it off!"

"All right! Good night, love!"

"Goodnight mom!" Mom walked out, I heard her walk up the stairs

I returned back to the laptop to continue shutting it off, but I stopped, when I saw the internet page that Callie had left open. I look up to the backdoor, where Callie had walked out.

Did she wanted me to see this? Is this her way of asking for help?