Callie opened her eyes slowly and immediately knew Stef wasn't in the bed anymore by the cool spot coming from her side of the bed, but Lena was. So Callie rolled over and snuggled closely into Lena's chest, wrapping her hands into the bottom of Lena's shirt. She was so glad they didn't have to get up and go to school today.

She felt Lena's arm wrap around her and pull her close.

"Morning, love bug," Lena said sleepily, rubbing Callie's back.

"Morning, Mama. I don't want to start this day,"` Callie said, burrowing her head in Lena's chest.

Lena didn't say anything right away, instead taking the time to kiss the top of her child's head.

"We can't hide the day away, bug," Lena said softly.

"I'd rather. I don't want to go out today knowing what I know," Callie sniffed and used Lena's shirt to wipe her nose on.

"Want to tell me about what you and Mom talked about last night after your nightmare?" Lena asked cautiously.

Callie stiffened slightly and then burrowed her head further into Lena's chest.

"You want me to tell you about Liam. I feel like I have had enough of story time this weekend," Callie said.

"I know, love. I know this weekend has been really hard for you."

"I don't think Mom was very happy last night when I told her. You won't be happy either."

Lena moved back and forced Callie to look up at her.

"You know Mom wasn't mad at you, right, Callie? Mom was not mad at you at all," Lena said, rubbing Callie's back.

"Yea, I know. Mom was also really upset, though she tried to hide it. I don't want you to have to hide being upset about it, too," Callie explained.

"Callie, would you like to know a secret?"

Callie nodded her head in the affirmative.

"It won't matter if you tell me what Liam did to you or not, Love. I am upset with him — I am not, however, upset with you. You did nothing wrong. Liam was wrong."

Callie nodded and then turned her around so her back was against her mother's chest — and so she didn't have to look her in the eye when she talked. Once she was situated, she reached around and pulled Lena's around around her, bringing her mama's hand up to her face and taking one of her long, delicate fingers up to the bridge of her nose. For Callie, this was about as comfortable as it got.

"Liam was my foster brother. I don't know why he still lived with his mom and dad."

Lena felt her brow crease with confusion.

"What do you mean? Children usually live with their parents for a long time, Love Bug."

"No, I know that. But he was older. I think he was twenty-three, maybe older, when we lived there. He didn't work or anything," Callie said.

Lena's felt her frown deepen. Her baby had been molested by a grown man and it didn't make things any better — it made everything even worse, if that was possible. Though, nothing would ever make this better for her child.

"Do you want to tell me anything else, Bug?" Lena asked her.

"I hate him just as much as I hate Robert Quinn," Callie said with a bit of finality that scared Lena a bit. She was so young — to harbor that much hate for people at such a young age. It wasn't fair.

"Hate can do horrible things to you, Bug," Lena said quietly.

Callie turned around and looked up at Lena, confusion written all over her face.

"I don't understand," Callie told her.

"Hate can harm you more than it can the person you hate, Bug. I understand feeling hatred toward another, especially people like Robert and Liam. They hurt you — they hurt you in ways no one should ever have hurt you. But hate can make you bitter. And baby girl, you are only twelve years old. I don't want to see hatred turn you bitter."

"How would you feel, Mama? I may not actually be a teenager yet, but I am not stupid. Liam raped me and Robert Quinn fucked me over more than once, Don't you hate Robert Quinn?" Callie said quickly and quietly.

Lena's eyes widened in shock.

"Callie! No ma'am. You do not use that type of language," Lena said quickly.

It was Callie's turn to look up with wide eyes.

"I am sorry. I forgot I was talking to you, Mama."

"I don't want to hear you talk like that ever, okay? Words like that are not okay," Lena said gently, but sternly. She did not want to hear words like that coming from any of her children's mouths.

Callie looked away, ashamed that she had said what she had in front of Lena.

"Don't you hate Robert Quinn a little, though?"

Lena thought about what to say. Was she to be honest with Callie? Or was she to stretch the truth a little?

The thing about Callie was that she could read between the lines. She was twelve, but wiser than most adults. And Lena knew she had to be as honest with her child as possible. Which meant she had to share things she did not particularly like to share.

"I do hate him, Callie. He was not nice to me growing up when he visited my father. He is quite a bit older than me, but it did not stop him from tormenting me mercilessly. My father forbid him from coming to our home anymore when he found out he had been hitting me. I was around nine. My dad found out he had been hurting me after my arm was broken in a spiral fracture from Robert twisting my arm arm around."

"I am sorry he did that to you, Mama," Callie said, reaching up and putting her hand on Lena's face.

It truly amazed her how perceptive Callie truly was.

"Mama, I know what you are saying. I know what you mean when you say hate can make you bitter. I don't think I am bitter. At least not anymore. I have you and Mom now, and once I am adopted, I won't have nearly as much to worry about. But I do hate them. Robert made me realize the world didn't care about me and Jude. He made me bitter. And then Liam — Liam made me fearful. I was afraid to sleep. I was afraid to eat. I was afraid to ever be home alone. He made me hate myself more than I already did. He made me feel dirty."

Lena stared at her child for a long time without saying a word. What did you say to a child who was so wise and had seen so much hatred and horror in her short years?

"Callie, do you think you would be okay talking to a therapist?" Lena asked. It was something she and Stef had talked about at length, but, for now, they wanted the decision to be up Callie. They knew if Callie's nightmares grew worse, or if she refused to talk to either woman, they would have to make her go to therapy. But so far, Callie was flourishing with them and usually would talk to them about her feelings when prompted.

"Can I think about it?" Callie asked.

Lena nodded.

"Yes. You can definitely think about it."

"Does hating Robert Quinn make you bitter?" Callie asked.

Lena nodded.

"Yes, I think it does make me bitter at times. But I have something that has helped me be not quite so bitter."

"What?" Callie asked, genuinely curious.

"You. Bug, if it weren't for Robert, I wouldn't have you. So, I would not trade that for anything. I would not change a single thing Robert did to me. Why do you always call him by his first and last name, Callie?"

"It reminds me."

"What does it remind you of?"

"To never be a person like he is. That even though my name is Callie Quinn, I don't have to be like him. I don't have to be mean and hateful. Mama, when you adopt me, can you change my middle name, too?" Callie asked the last part suddenly.

Lena brought her child closer to her and kissed her head.

"I think Mom and I can do that for you if it is something you truly want," Lena said, understanding exactly why Callie would want and need her name changed.

"I think I will be okay, even if I am a little bitter," Callie whispered.

Lena brushed the hair out of Callie's face and looked down at her.

"Love Bug, I want nothing more than for you to never feel bitter about anything. But you are right. You will be okay, even if you are a little bitter. Because Mom and I are here for you now, and we will never let it consume you. We will never let bitterness consume you to the point it hurts you."

"That's what moms do," Callie said with a bit of finality.

Lena nodded and smiled slightly.

"Yes. That is exactly what moms do. They make sure you are safe, even if it is from yourself. Mom and I can let you make mistakes, but we will be here to keep you from making the big ones," Lena explained.

Callie nodded. She understood that. She understood exactly what her Mama was saying.

She then snuggled in close to Lena, resting her head on her chest, and falling back into a deep sleep. She felt completely safe in that moment, protected by her Mama's arms.