Stef POV

I open up the fridge to see what food I have to work with, I am on dinner duty tonight which is not a regular occurrence, I would hate to admit it but I'm definitely not the chef in the family. I only cook once in a blue moon usually when Lena has to work late, most of the time I will end up ordering take out but the kids should have a proper meal after their first day back to school. They all looked exhausted when they jumped in the car at the end of the school day, I thought Callie was going to fall asleep at one point, she definitely hasn't been herself the past two weeks. I find a container of mince, Lena must have pulled this out of the freezer this morning, I grab it out and place it on the table. I move to the pantry to see if there is any inspiration for tonight's meal, pasta, rice, potatoes and bread rolls, I grab out the bread rolls, "Burgers it is" I say to myself. Going back to the fridge I grab out all the other ingredients to go into tonight's dinner. As I prepare dinner, I look out of the kitchen window, a smile appears on my face as I watch Jesus and Jude kicking a ball to each other. It has been a very quiet afternoon, much like the morning, the girls went straight upstairs when we arrived home and Brandon said he was going to practice for his upcoming recital in the garage. I asked the kids if they had homework to do but they all replied with a no, whether that is the truth or not I can't be sure but because it is the first day back I'm willing to let it slide. Jesus and Jude walk inside as I am mixing the burger ingredients in a bowl, Jude is in hysterics and Jesus is covered in mud, "You okay sweets?" I ask Jesus with a smirk, he gives me a glare "Yeah. I fell in the mud, I'm going to go have shower" he storms off up the stairs, once he has left the room I look to Jude and we both let out a burst of laughter. Jude places his soccer ball next to the back door and walks over to the kitchen bench "do you want any help with dinner Mom?", "That would be great sweets, do you want to start cutting up the salad?" "Sure" Jude replies with a smile, he is always the one to help with dinner, he likes to be close to Mama or I when we are in the house.

Jude and I have been busy in the kitchen, dinner is almost ready and Jude is just placing the plates around the table. Lena should be home any minute she messaged me about fifteen minutes ago to let me know her meeting had just finished; she was going to pack up and head straight home. Lena sent me a message earlier in the day mentioning that something interesting had happened at school today, she said not to worry but she will talk to me when she gets home. The oven chimes signalling the burger buns are warmed and dinner is ready to be served, I head over to the bottom of the stairs "Dinner is ready!" I hear footsteps instantly making their way out of the bedrooms. The door opens just as I turn around to make my way back to the kitchen, Lena walks in with a pile of paperwork, her laptop bag and her handbag hanging off her shoulder. I rush over to help her get through the door "Hi love, here hand me that so you don't drop anything" I grab the pile paperwork and give Lena a kiss before I take the pile through to the living area and place it on the coffee table. The kids are all bounding down the stairs at this point each welcoming Lena home in their own way. Once the kids are out of the entryway I turn back to Lena "So what happened today? I know you said not to worry but I can't help it", Lena looks at me and I can see a mixture of emotions show on her face "No need to worry but we do need to have a chat, let's go have some dinner first the kids are waiting but I promise I will fill you in later" Lena gives me kiss and holds my hand, pulling me behind her into the kitchen where I can hear the family busy talking amongst themselves.

Charlie POV

I feel myself starting to come back to consciousness, I can instantly feel pain across my entire body, I let out a groan as I pull my arm up and place it on my forehead, my head is throbbing. I start to remember the events that led up to this moment, nausea hits me as I remember, the smell of the apartment, the noises I heard coming from the bedroom and the beating I took as Shaun used me as his personal punching bag. I open my eyes slowly and try to push myself up to a sitting position, a wave of dizziness hits me so I have to pause half way up. How long have I been out? where is Shaun? I push myself up that little bit further until I am seated, resting my back against the kitchen island. Looking around the room I can see that it is now dark outside meaning it has to be at least 8 o'clock, I continue my gaze across the room and notice that the red shoes are gone from the kitchen floor. Suddenly a loud grunt comes from Shauns bedroom, I can't help but jump at the sudden noise, I have to place a hand on my ribs as they protest against my sudden movement. A serious of snores come after the grunt, at least I don't have to worry about Shaun at this moment, I feel a little bit of relief at this thought. I rest my head back against the island, my thoughts are racing, I need to come up with a plan, I can't stay here anymore, not with Shaun on drugs, things could get even worse than what happened tonight. I brace myself for the pain I know I'm going to feel and I begin to push my body up to a standing position, I use the kitchen island to steady myself before I quietly grab my duffel bag, everything I need to survive is in this bag. My ribs are burning but nothing is going to stop me now, I have made my decision, I am leaving. Slowly I make my way to the front door, I'm more careful than I have ever been before, Shaun is not going to hear me this time. I am halfway across the room when I notice Shauns wallet resting on the coffee table, I am not one to steal but I need some money to get me back on my feet and at the moment I only have about twelve dollars resting in the front pocket of my bag. I make my way to the coffee table and open the wallet, inside I find two twenty doll bills and a bunch of ones, I grab them all and stuff the money into my jean pockets. Placing the wallet back on the table I then make my way to the door and off I go, out into the night, without a destination, without a plan, it's just me now.

Stef POV

I have just finished doing the rounds and the kids are all asleep, they crashed out not long after dinner, they must have been exhausted. I make my way to the master bedroom, Lena is already in bed, I roll back the covers and jump in next to her "So now that the kids are asleep, what happened today love?" Lena sits up a little, she then turns her body towards me, I feel this is going to be a serious conversation. Lena lets out a sign before she begins talking "So I met someone today, someone I never thought I would meet", Lena falls silent for a minute and looks down at her hands, she looks as if she is contemplating how to word her next sentence. After a period of silence, I ask "Who was it love?" Lena looks up "I met Charlie, Charlie Jacobs" I feel my jaw drop "H..how did you meet Charlie? Where did you meet Charlie? Was she okay?" I have so many questions I just want to keep asking Lena but I can already tell she is feeling overwhelmed. Lena sighs before she begins telling me about her meeting of Charlie earlier today, by the end of story I am up on my feet pacing the room, I feel Lenas eyes on me as I pace back and forwards "Lena we need to find her! You said yourself she was hurt, she was in trouble!", I feel panic rising in my chest, I don't even know this girl but I feel connected, I feel the need to protect her from whatever bad is happening in her life. Lena sighs again "It's not that simple Stef, I don't have any information on her apart from her name, she could be anywhere, you have already tried to find information on her before but you came up dry how is this time going to be any different?" I stare at Lena, she has unshed tears in her eyes "I don't know Lena, I don't know what we can do but I can't sit here and do nothing when a child is in danger, a child who shares the same DNA as two of our children!" Lena grabs my hand and guides me back to the bed, she then sits in front of me, both my hands in hers, she always has a way to calm me down when I get into a state. After a few deep breaths Lena looks into my eyes "Listen to me love, we cannot be sure that Charlie is even in any danger" I try to interrupt but Lena stops me "We also need to take into account that we have five of our own children, what if Charlie does need help.. are we in a place where we can bring her into our home, we already struggle some weeks as it is" I open my mouth again but Lena is quick to start talking "If Charlie needs help then we will try everything, everything we can to help her but there are no guarantees that we will actually find her, I will call Bill first thing tomorrow morning to see if there is any information into where Charlie is now and the details about her adoption but for now, for tonight, there is nothing we can do" I think about what Lena has said and I know it's the truth, there is nothing we can do in this very moment but how am I supposed to sleep when this bombshell has just been placed into my life, I am worried, I am confused, there are so many thoughts running through my mind right now. Lena can tell that I am lost in my emotions and thoughts, she pulls me into an embrace "We will figure this out love, I'm confused too but tonight we need to sleep, tomorrow we will come up with a plan but I don't think we should tell Callie or Jude just yet" I nod my head in agreement as I adjust the blanket and slide under the covers. Lena kisses me goodnight before she turns the light off, I am lying on my back staring at the roof, wherever you are Charlie I hope you are okay, I hope you are safe, if not I am going to find you, I promise I am going to find you.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please keep reviewing. Let me know what you think, is there anything you want me to try incorporate in future chapters.