I do not own the fosters. I wish I did because it is an amazing show and is very inspiring.

IMPORTANT DETAILS for this story:

Callie got Adopted the same day as Jude, her biological father is Donald.

Callie did go through the ordeal with Liam but she kept a few things hidden from everyone.

LENA got the principals position and lost the baby.

I don't know where Sharon, Dana and Stuart live. So Im saying that Sharon lives in the California area. While Dana and Stuart live in Florida.

AN: JUST ANSWERING A QUESTION FOR A GUEST REVIEWER. RYLAN CAN GO ON A CAMPING TRIP I GUESS. ONLY IF LENA AND STEF DON'T TAKE HER OUT OF THE STATE OR ASK FOR APPROVAL. HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

ALSO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG. LIFE JUST GETS IN THE WAY I GUESS. HOPE YOU LIKE THIS ONE, NEXT ONE WILL BE UP SOONISH I HOPE.

Previously:

"Alright, you get showered then its time to hit the road. Then you can show me tonight how babies are made." Stef smirked and waggled her eyebrows at her wife before kissing Lenas temple.

"Really Stef?" Lena put her hands on her hips and shook her head in amusement.

"What?" Stef asked innocently, smirking because she knew what she had done.

"We lack the equipment and we have 6 children already." Lena stated. Stef shrugged her shoulders and took Lena back in her arms.

"Practising is fun though." Stef again waggled her eyebrows and pulled Lena into a searing kiss.

"Get out of here and go entertain the children we do have." Lena said after the kiss had ended, although she really needed a cold shower now.

"Fine, fine. Love you." Stef smirked, placed a kiss on Lenas cheek and headed out of the room, knowing fully well what she had done to her wife and she couldn't help but feel proud.

"Love you too crazy woman." Lena responded as Stef left the bedroom, she shook her head and headed into the bathroom for her shower, her cold shower thanks to her very hot wife.

xxxxxxx

Callie stood in the room she shared with her sisters. She was currently alone and slowly packing the last of the things she would need to take camping with her.

Callie smiled at one of the three photos that were on her nightstand. The photo of her, Mariana and Rylan cuddled up on the swing on the front porch was one of her favourites. All smiling as they had just had a tickle war. The big smile on Rylans face was amazing. Callie couldn't believe that a little girl who had gone through so much pain, could still smile like that.

Tears streamed down Callies cheeks, she wished she could be that happy right now. So much was going on and she just couldn't see herself being that happy at the moment, yet Rylan was. Callie couldn't help but smile through the tears as she looked at one of the other photos. This photo contained all the Adams Foster females. Lena and Stef were sitting on the sofa with Mariana in the middle of them. Callie leaning up against Lenas legs and Rylan sitting on Stefs lap. It had been taken a few days prior.

Callie picked the photo up and traced the frame with a finger. She couldn't understand, she couldn't understand how someone wanted to hurt one of them or her and that made Callie mad. She was tired of all the bad stuff happening in her life and just wanted something good to come of it, yes Liam was in jail and thats a start but it didn't really make a big impact.

Callie sat on her bed. She pulled her knees to her chest and leant her back against the wall as she stared at the photo clutched in her hand.

"Almo...Hey, hey ,hey. Callie talk to me." Mariana walked in and spotted her big sister sitting on her bed crying with her knees to her chest and chin resting on them, clutching a photo frame. Marianas heart broke at the sight of her. Her strong sister was now emotionally drained and tired and Mariana could see that, she had felt that a few times in her life.

Mariana walked over and took a seat on Callies Left. She placed an arm around her big sister, Callie leant to the left and put her head on Marianas shoulder. Grateful for the comfort that her sister was giving her.

"Im tired." Callie sighed out as she sniffled.

"Talk to me Callie. Tell me whats on your mind?" Mariana asked quietly.

"Im tired Mari. Im tired of being strong, im tired of keeping my emotions in check and im tired of being scared. Im just tired in general. Some maniac is after one of us and I hate not knowing what is going to happen. I can't help but feel scared knowing that at any moment one of us could be taken and that scares the crap out of me." Callie managed to get out before she broke down again. The tears that had began to dry up now replaced by new ones descending from the girls eyes.

"Its all going to be ok Cal." Mariana responded. Callie sighed and turned her head to the side so she could look at Marianas face. Mariana smiled a sad smile and waited for Callie to talk.

"You don't know that." Callie whispered. Mariana sighed but nodded.

"Ok but I do know that Moms will do anything to protect you, protect all of us. You don't need to keep your wall up Cal. Its ok to bring it down and its ok to be scared." Mariana responded. Callie smiled a small smile, loving that Mariana was trying to help her, even though Callie didn't know how to help herself.

"I know but I don't like feeling weak." Callie mumbled but Mariana was able to hear her. Mariana unwrapped her arm from around Callies shoulders and turned so she was sitting infront of her sister. Mariana took Callies hands in both of hers and made her sister look into her eyes.

"You are not weak Callie. Showing emotions doesn't make you weak, it means you are human." Mariana said, her voice hard. She was trying to drill it into Callies brain.

"Its just hard to let go and show my emotions. I want to be tough all the time but its so draining." Mariana nodded in understanding. Callie had come a long way since the first night in the house.

"You don't need to be tough in front of your family, Cal. We love you for who you are. No need to hide a thing. Crying is good. You are crying now and im not judging you because I love you." Mariana smiled when she got a smile from Callie.

"I guess, it feels good to cry. I feel like a weight had fallen off of my shoulders." Callie responded as she put her legs down and sat crossed legged in front of her sister.

"Just let everyone in and let them carry the weight on their shoulders. You don't need to bear the whole lot. We are family and we stick together through the tough times and the fun times." Mariana said as she reached up and wiped away Callies tears and then planted a kiss to her sisters cheek. Callie reached out hugged Mariana to her.

"Thank you Mari." Callie whispered into her sisters ear before releasing her and sitting back down. Both facing each other.

"No need to thank me Cal. Its what sisters are for." Mariana beamed brightly as she said this, flicking her pony tail behind her causing Callie to chuckle. Mariana really was someone she could talk to and she was lucky.

"I defiantly got lucky in the sisters department." Mariana smiled and nodded.

"Callie? Mommy told me to come ask you if you needed help." The two teens turned to look over at Rylan standing in the room.

"Come here mini. I need a sister hug." Callie said holding her arms out. Rylan smiled and made her way over.

"I can do that." She said as Callie lifted her onto the bed and sat her between the two of them. Mariana reached over and hugged Rylan and then Callie joined in.

"Sister sandwich." Mariana beamed out with Rylan laughing between them. She had seen that Callie had been upset and now that she was smiling made Rylan feel better. She hated when someone she loved was upset.

"I love you two, so so much." Callie whispered before placng a kiss on Rylans temple and then Mariana. Mariana winked at Callie. She was glad she had talked to Callie and made her feel a little better.

Callie still had a long way to go before she fully trusted to let her emotions spill out but she was working on it. Glad to have had Mariana help her understand a few things.

"Love you Cal, Love you Mini." Mariana whispered back.

"Love you both." Rylan squealed, squeezing her sisters tightly as the three of them laughed and chuckled.

Callie didn't feel as tired or emotionally drained anymore. The talking with her sister and the hugs and kisses with both her sisters had done the trick for now. She really was lucky to have sisters like them and a family like she did.

xxxxxxxx

After finishing their own individual packing the whole family was in the living room going over the last minute things. Checking off the things from the checklist that Lena had made.

"Alright finish packing the car, we are out of her in half hour. Jesus, Grab the blue cooler, Brandon grab the red cooler, Jude the blue carry bag and Mariana the big pink carry bag. Callie can you grab mine and moms pillows please. Also if anyone sees anything that needs to be brought with us, grab it please." Lena went over her list. Things were finally almost packed. It was crazy trying to organise a vacation with 6 kids and a wife to worry about.

"Ok Mama." The kids all got on with their tasks. Stef was about to go grab the fishing poles but her phone rang, halting her from doing such task. Seeing the caller ID as Mike, she answered, wondering what he wanted.

"Hey Mike whats up?" Lena pointed to the kitchen, indicating that that is where she was going to be. Stef nodded before Lena walked away.

"Are you somewhere without the kids overhearing?" Mike asked. Stef raised an eyebrow in wonder. She was now curious as to what Mike wanted and so she headed outside to the backyard knowing that the kids were going to be out the front loading cars.

"Oh ummm...yeah I am now. What going on Mike?" Stef crossed her free arm across her chest and stared out into the backyard, waiting for Mike to deliver whatever bad news he was going to deliver.

"Its Liam." That name make Stef heart beat faster. She was thinking the worst when it came to him. He was suppose to be in jail and now she was afraid that he might have escaped or something.

"What about Liam Mike?" Stef asked cautiously biting her lip as she waited for the response. Mike knew not to stall it and so he just got it over and done with.

"He was killed in prison. Apparently word got out that he was a child rapist, Paedophile etc put a target on his back. They found him hanging by his bed sheet, looks like a suicide and they are ruling it a suicide even though everyone knows It wasn't." Mike explained. Stefs heart slowed right down. She was glad Liam was gone and that he couldn't hurt her family anymore, she didn't feel any remorse for him but she wasn't thrilled that he didn't have to live with what he had done and got the easy way out of it.

"Thank you Mike for letting me know." Stef said, thinking of how she would tell this to Lena, Rylan and Callie. Wondering what their reactions would be. Although she really didn't want to tell Callie and Rylan, mostly Rylan, she knew she probably would have to.

"You needed to know, It effects your kids. How you tell your family is up to you. Enjoy your camping trip and give Brandon a hug from me. Ill see him on Monday after his therapy appointment." Stef nodded as she turned to look into the kitchen window where her family was, before speaking.

"Thanks again mike. I will. Take care."

"See ya Stef." Stef heard his reply before she hung up on him. She continued to look in the kitchen window at her family. Lena was ordering the kids around and the kids looked to be like they were laughing at something.

Pulling herself together after receiving that news, Stef headed inside to get ready to go. They needed to be gone soon. The phone call forgotten until later where Stef would find time to tell Lena away from little ears.

"Alright car is packed. Lets get moving so we can hit the road." Lena announced as she looked at her wife walking in the back door. Lena could tell something was up but right now wasn't the time. Stef gave Lena a look and both of them nodded at their silent conversation.

"In the car kids." Stef called as she did a quick check to see if they hadn't left anything behind, grabbed her wallet, Sunglasses and keys and headed out behind her children to get the camping vacation under way.

xxxxxxxx

It wasn't a long drive to the camp site, only 2 hours, but the kids mainly Rylan did get restless. Callie and Stef were in Stefs car with all the gear while Lena drove her car with the kids.

Stef and Callie were almost halfway to the camp ground. The whole time neither had said anything but Stef knew her daughter well enough to know that she was thinking really hard about something, Plus she had seen that Callie had been crying but she waited for Callie to bring it up, hopefully she would. She decided that the silence was annoying her and that her daughter needed to talk and so she started the conversation.

"You're pretty quiet bug, don't you wanna talk to your old mom?" Callie who had been looking out her window, just staring out at the scenery, turned to look at her mom. Callie had a smile on her face at her mom calling herself old, whenever one of the kids said she was old they got a playful smack.

"You're not that old mom." Callie replied, Stef smiled and Leant over and kissed the teens temple. It never got old hearing one of her kids call her mom.

"Thank you baby, but still why are you quiet? Care to talk to me about what you are thinking?" Callie sighed as she looked at her lap. Her mom knew she had been crying, only those who really knew her could see that she had been crying, no matter how much she tried to compose herself.

"I know you could see that I had been crying." Callie stated looking over at her mom. Stef smiled and nodded, turing to look a Callie before looking back at the road.

"I know, I was just waiting for you to bring it up." Callie nodded in understanding.

"Im fine now, I have two of the best sisters in the world that are around to help me see things clearly." A smile firm on her lips as she thought about her sisters, the way Mariana stepped up and comforted her.

"Im glad to hear it. They do have way with words and just looking and their faces make me smile." Stef reached over and grabbed Callies hand in her own and squeezed. Callie squeezed back, both had a smile on their face as they sat in silence. Stef keeping an eye on the road as Callie looked out her window but thinking about how to explain to her mom, how she was feeling.

"Im just tired." Callie said after a couple of minutes silence.

"What are you tired of sweets?" Stef squeezed her daughters hand as encouragement.

"Everything. Im tired of being scared, tired of hiding my emotions, tired of fighting. Just tired in general." Stef could understand that, the girl held the weight of the world on her shoulders because thats what she had to do her whole life.

"Well you would be, you have kept everything to yourself because you had no one but Jude and you put on a brave face for him. Now you have people who can bear the load for you and give you a break." Callie chuckled and smiled. Her mom and sister both had said the same thing in the span of a couple of hours.

"I know mom, Mariana helped me see that and I told her I would try." Stef nodded.

"Good girl. Anything else on your mind?" Stef asked, risking a sideways glance at her teen. She could see that Callie had something else on her mind.

"Rylan." Callie whispered as she looked at her lap.

"What about Rylan?" Stef frowned, wondering why the teen was thinking so hard about Rylan.

"Her adoption? Is she still being adopted?" The kids all knew she was going to be adopted, Rylan herself knew she was going to be adopted, it was only a matter of time. Callie had been worried because it had been a while and no news on a court date.

"Honestly sweets, Mama and I are still planning to adopt her but there had been a slight bump." Callie raised her eyebrow, concern etched on her face. Stef gave Callie another glance and saw the concern the teen was showing.

"What kind of bump?" Callie asked hesitantly.

"Bill found a biological uncle and they are checking him out as we speak, we are going to be kept in the loop though." Callie frowned. A biological uncle could put a spanner in the works, he could take Rylan and they would never see her again.

"So there could be a possibility that she wont be adopted by us?" Callie asked. Stef sighed.

"Yeah." Stef sighed out, wishing that it wasn't possible.

"She is still going to be my sister, no matter where she is. Do you think that her uncle will let her visit us or us visit her?" Callie asked, already knowing the answer. She would keep track of Rylan, she was her little sister and just like she had done for Jude, Rylan was always going to be protected.

"I dunno. We have to see when the time comes. He might not be fit to take her. I have my fingers crossed that it doesn't go down that road and she can stay." Callie nodded.

"Ill have my fingers crossed too." Stef smiled and winked at Callie when the teen looked at her.

"Does Rylan know?" Callie asked after a second.

"Know what?" Stef raised an eyebrow, this time it was her turn to be confused.

"That she may have an uncle that could take her away from us?" Stef frowned and sighed.

"No, we haven't told her. We don't want to get her upset with the possibility that she could be taken." Callie nodded. Although she knew her moms were making a mistake by not telling her.

"Understandable, you do know that she has a right to know? She could be taken from this family without warning and that would hurt a lot more." Stef sighed, her daughter was right. Rylan did deserve to know. Making a quick decision, Stef decided that they were going to have to tell the little blonde.

"Mama and I were going to talk to her after camping. We just want to enjoy this little vacation before we have to get involved with life again." Callie nodded, accepting her mothers choice, glad It was a good choice but hating that this might be the last family vacation they took with Rylan.

"Yeah. Its going to be fun." Callie smiled, she was going to make the most of this camping trip with Rylan, god knows whats going to happen in the future.

"That it is my girl." Stef smiled slightly. She too was thinking that this could be the last vacation they shared with Rylan.

Sooooooo

what did you think?

More to come.

READ REVIEW AND ENJOY.