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: REVIEW ANSWERS.
Hey all. Thank you for reviewing my story, it means a lot to me to see all the comments from you all. Your comments are what keeps me going with this story. I will finish it, I promise. I cant believe it has been 5 years since I first started the story. Time sure does fly. Anyway ill answer your reviews now.
BrallieorMerDer:
Thank you for your kind words. Even now they mean a lot. Im sorry about your dog. It doesnt matter if your bestfriend is human or animal, the pain and hurt is all the same. I hope the days get easier for you. Loss is something no one can get over, it just takes time.
niko1ester:
thanks for the review. I love seeing your name pop up, knowing I have regular reviews is pretty awesome
Comegetit:
Thank you for your review. Tikka misala is awesome and delicious. Im not much of a fan of super spicy things aswell. It sucks because spicy food smells so good. Getting older really is annoying, haha.
Becks1947:
it makes me smile to see that you are excited for Rylans adoption. I don't know where I am going with Rylans adoption at this stage, will she or wont she be adopted? I dont know yet. I think there are going to be a few things before the adoption thing is worked through. Thanks for reviewing.
Lazytown2000:
thanks for the review. Happy to see your name pop up again.
Also thanks to all the guest reviewers without a name.
I didn't get time to go through all the reviews from earlier chapters but im going to make it my goal to answer all reviews from this chapter and onwards.
Anyway on with the chapter.
Previously:
Rylan and the family look through the first two boxes that the FBI gave her.
Callie goes to therapy, has a nightmare and goes to her Mothers for help and comfort.
Xxxxxxxx
July 2nd Wednesday Morning.
GIRLS ROOM
The light from the morning sun cast its rays into the girls bedroom. The blinds on the windows doing nothing to help shield the brightness.
On any other day the light would have annoyed Rylan but today it didn't. She was laying in her bed staring at the photo frame of her parents, the light hitting the photo frame perfectly, giving it an angelic glow.
She hadn't let go of the frame since yesterday when she had found it in the box. Having something physical in her hands that showed that her biological parents were actually real and not figments of her imagination was the best thing in the world.
Although she was holding and looking at it because it was sentimental, she was also seeing if she could remember anything about them. A simple sound or smell or even a happy memory was all that Rylan wanted but it wasn't happening.
In the bed across from Rylan, Mariana was slowly waking up. Once she adjusted to the brightness of the room she could see that Callie wasn't in her bed and Rylan looked deep in thought as she stared at the frame that Mariana knew was all too familiar.
Mariana slides out of her bed and pads across the bedroom floor towards the bunk bed that her sisters share. Mariana lets a slight cough out to alert Rylan. The little girl looks up from her photo frame and then scoots over, allowing Mariana to slip into the bed.
Immediately Rylan lays her head on her sisters shoulder and the two of them stare at the frame in silence for a moment.
"Do you remember anything?" Mariana asks softly, breaking the silence.
"No." Rylan whispers back, not taking her eyes off of the picture of her parents.
"I'm sure you will in time." Mariana whispers, reassuring the girl. Rylan sighs and she looks from her frame to her sister. Mariana catches Rylans blue eyes an can see the tears welling up in them. Her heart hurt for her sister.
"I don't remember my dad at all and all I can see when I think of my birth Mom is her dying." Rylan got out before the tears started falling and turned to sobs. Rylan turned her head and buried it in Marianas neck. Mariana cuddled the little girl to her. She had no idea how to respond so she just comforted her sister.
"You look so much like your mother." Mariana whispered once Rylans sobbing calmed a little. Rylan took her face out of Marianas neck and looked back at the photo and studied it again.
"Mama said that too." Rylan said with a small smile on her face. She liked the idea of looking like her biological Mother.
"Your Mother was very beautiful, just like you are." Rylan smiled a happy smile and nodded.
"She is very pretty." Rylan says agreeing with her sister, tracing a finger down her mothers face. Mariana smiles before placing a kiss to her sisters head that lays on her shoulder.
"Do you think she misses me?" Rylan asks, turning her face to look at Mariana.
"I know she misses you, how can someone not miss their baby girl who is as cute as you? Even if you can't see her, she is watching over you. She will always be with you no matter where you are." Mariana explains with a smile. Rylan listening closely a small smile on her own face.
"Really?" Rylan asks looking hopeful.
"Yeah shes right here." Mariana tells her sister as she points to Rylans heart. Rylan smiles as she places her hand on her heart after Mariana removes her hand.
"I like that thought." Mariana smiled and nodded, agreeing.
"I like that thought too." Rylan giggled, feeling a lot more happier now then she did when she first woke up.
"Can we go find Callie?" Rylan asked as she slipped her photo frame under her pillow.
"Sure, I was gonna go look for her after talking to you, now we can both go look for our missing sister." Rylan smiled and slipped out of the bed behind Mariana. The two heading out of the room to look for Callie.
Xxxxxxxxx
July 2nd Wednesday Morning.
MOMS ROOM.
Callie, Stef and Lena found it hard waking up this morning. With Callies nightmare and breakdown, the three of the were exhausted.
The three of them lay awake in the big bed together. Callie emotionally exhausted but comfortable and content with laying between her Mothers.
Lena and Stef were tired and felt drained but they were more then happy to just snuggle with their eldest daughter in the quiet. They may be tired and exhausted today but they were glad they were able to help Callie last night.
"You ok this morning bug?" Lena asked the teen, snuggling into Callies back a little more and placing a kiss to the teens temple.
"Honestly?" Callie asks softly as she unburied her face from Stefs neck to answer her Mama.
"Yeah sweets, honestly." Stef replied to the teen running her hand up and down Callies arm that was slung across Stefs stomach.
Callie lay there in her Mothers arms as she thought about how she was feeling. The mothers let her sort through her head, giving her time.
"I'm emotionally exhausted but I feel lighter getting some things off my chest." Callie explained quietly. It was still so new to her, speaking her mind and thoughts but she was willing to try so that she felt better and her head felt lighter. Stef smiled, glad that Callie was trying.
"I'm glad bug. So therapy is helpful then?" Lena asked hesitant to bring up therapy after last night but the topic needed to be brought up. Stef and Lena waited for Callie to tense at the mention of therapy but were both surprised that she didn't and that made them proud.
"I really hate to say it but yeah. As much as I hate therapy, it works." Callie said softly, knowing that admitting it wasn't showing weakness, she was showing strength and courage to admitting she needed help.
Stef and Lena shared a grin and look over the teens head and before they could respond Callie spoke again.
"Just so you know, I may complain about going but I'm a teenager and we complain about everything, even when we know its for our benefit." Callie said with a teasing grin.
"We know!" Both Moms exclaimed dramatically before they shot a quick look at each other and went in for a tickle attack on the teen between them.
Callies laughed filled the bedroom as her Moms tickled her. Even though she was emotionally drained, this was just what she needed from her Mothers. Their comfort, support and love.
"I love you both so much." Callie told her Moms as soon as they had finished their tickling and the three of them were laying on their backs catching their breaths from laughing.
"We love you too bug." Both Lena and Stef said at the same time as they both leaned over to kiss Callie on a temple and pull her into a hug.
The trio were broken from their cuddles as the door made a little squeak as it was opened and two heads peaked into the room.
"Morning Mommy, Morning Mama, Morning Callie." Rylan greeted happily once she saw that they were awake, pushing the door open wider and walking in.
"Morning Moms, Callie." Mariana said at the same time as Rylan.
"Morning." Callie, Lena and Stef replied at the same time.
"Come join us."Stef says as her and Lena scoot so they are on the edges of the mattress with enough room for their three daughters in the middle. Stef, Rylan, Mariana, Callie and Lena in that order.
"All my favourite girls. You know what this calls for Mama?" Stef said as she leant on her elbow to look at her wife over their daughters. Lena chuckled at the mischievous glint in Stefs eyes.
"Mama sandwich." Lena called with a laugh as she and Stef snuggled the three girls together in a mama sandwich and smothered the girls with kisses as they all laughed.
Xxxx
It was around 8am when the boys finally decide to join the girls downstairs. It wasn't because they had an alarm or woke up on their own, no. It was the smell of french toast and bacon that woke the hungry teen boys.
As Lena stared at her family digging into the breakfast that herself, Stef and their daughters made, she couldn't help the smile on her face. Even the thought of the growing boys and Stef eating them out of house and home, she wouldn't change a thing. She loved her life, the ups and downs, all of it.
"So what are we doing today Mama?" Jesus asked before shoving a slice of bacon into his mouth.
"Well Mom and I thought it was be good to have a lazy day. Pyjamas, movies and family. What do you guys think?" Lena asked the kids for their opinions. She was kind of hoping it would be fine because she was tired and she knew her wife and eldest daughter were as well.
"I'm down." Jesus said with a nod.
"Me too." Brandon agreed raising his fork
The girls all just nod along with Jude.
"Also Mariana you have therapy at 3 so you can have lazy day till then." Mariana sighed but nodded.
Callie was honestly thankful for the lazy day. She was mentally exhausted and tired in general to even think about being social today.
"Alright so finish breakfast, Mariana you and Jude are on dishes, Jesus is on trash duty." Stef told them getting groans but that didn't phase her as the kids did that every time they were reminded to do their chore.
XXXXX
With breakfast all cleaned up and the kids all settled around the living room in their pyjamas with blankets and pillows ready to start movie lazy day.
"Alright, everyone settled?" Stef asked the kids as she and Lena took vacant seats around the living room. Lena, Mariana and Jude sat on the large sofa. Jesus and Callie lay on the floor on their stomachs, Stef sat in a single arm chair next to the one occupied by Brandon and Rylan was no where to be found.
"So Where is Rylan and what Movie are we watching?" Lena asked after noticing the little red head wasn't in the room.
"Bathroom. Well we decided on Santa Clause. Even though its not Christmas, its still a funny movie and family favourite." Jude explained. Lena nodded.
"Good choice, I like it. Alright Jude my man, put it in." Jude smiled excitedly as he grabbed the movie off of the coffee table that had been pushed to the side and put the movie in.
Just as the main menu screen came on Rylan ran into the room and wedged herself between Callie and Jesus on the floor. Stef chuckled at the little girl before clicking play on the remote.
So Wednesday was looking like a good day.
Xxxxxxxx
July 2nd Wednesday Late Morning.
With the family engrossed in the family favourite, The Santa Clause, Rylan was able to sneak out of the living room quite easily.
Although she liked spending time with her family and the movie was one of her favourites, she just needed some time to herself right now.
Rylan headed towards the kitchen and into the study nook where the boxes of her biological parents things had been put for safe keeping. Rylan took a look at the boxes she had opened, she pushed box number one that was full of paperwork to the side and pulled box number two towards her. It had family albums in it and Rylan wanted to look at it more, hoping to remember something.
Rylan took a seat on the bench in the study nook and began to dig around in the box.
Rylan could hear the movie in the other room still playing and so she grabbed a few albums and scooted back into a comfortable position to look at the albums.
Rylan remained in the study nook for the next few hours. Stef and Lena had both walked in to check on the girl, having seen that she probably needed some time alone, the two of them let her be. She would seek them out if she needed them.
After a couple of hours looking at the albums, Rylan began to get frustrated. She could see pictures of her with people other then her parents but she could not remember anything. Wiping a tear away, she looked over at the last box.
The third and final box had been cut opened at the top but had not been looked in yet. The first two boxes had been paper work, albums and frames. Rylan was intrigued to find out what was in box number 3.
Slowly Rylan scooted from the bench and placed all the albums she had looked at away in the second box before pulling the last box towards her. She took a few breaths before slowly moving to open it.
The first thing she could see when she opened the box was red fabric. Pulling out the red fabric, it turned out to be a red button up mans shirt. So it was probably her dads. Rylans fingers slid along the fabric, it was soft but looked well worn.
Rylan held the fabric to her nose and inhaled. It had a slight smell to it but it wasn't a horrible smell, it was nice, like the sprays Brandon and Jesus wore. Rylan put it neatly to the side and dug through the rest of the box.
There were more shirts and pants of her fathers and as she continued to dig she found a single cd disk with the words 'all about love' written on it, a bottle of cologne, womens perfume, as well as small statues and ornaments all neatly wrapped in plastic, a note book and other small knick-knacks that probably meant soemething to her parents at one point.
At the bottom of the box were more clothes. Rylan picked up the first item, it was a cream piece of fabric and held it up in front of her to get a better look at it. It was a cream sweater, it was soft and looked well worn but loved, it was her mothers.
Rylan hugged it to her chest, inhaling the slight smell. This smell was familiar. As Soon as Rylan smelt it she got a memory, it was like it had happened yesterday.
"Flashback"
"Up, Momma up." A little Rylan stared up at her Mother who was typing away on her computer. She turned around at the sound of her little girl. A smile made its way to her face as she looked at the little girl who looked so much like herself.
"Ok, baby girl. Up you come." Samantha said as she scooped the little blonde into her arms. Immediately Rylans head nestled into her mothers chest, inhaling the smell that was just her Mom.
"Are you getting tired My heart?" Samantha softly spoke to the child as she leant back in her seat and rubbed her daughters back. Rylans yawn was her answer. Samantha smiled and kissed the top of her daughters head.
"Just close your eyes then." Rylan yawned again and nuzzled in further as her mother began to sing her to sleep.
" You gave me a gift, so I'll give one to you.
This song that I'm singing, I wrote it for you
'cause the gift that you gave me is the look through your eyes
See the world with its wonders
so that hope will abide.
We all are connected, the earth, stars and sea…
As the moon reflects sunlight your light shines on me.
It's all about love, it's all about giving.
Love has no end and no beginning.
You live in me and I live in you…
"I love you my Heart. Always remember that." Samantha whispered to her sleeping daughter once she had finished singing and then placed a loving and gentle kiss to the crown of her daughters head.
"End of flashback"
"I remember." Rylan said with a smile on her face as she hugged the cream sweater to her body more tightly. She remembered something and that was a start.
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Song: DEVON WEIGEL – ALL ABOUT LOVE
I really love this song. It is so sweet.