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.
Previously:
Rylan shows her parents what she found and tells them a memory she just had.
Rylan and the rest of the family watch the disc Rylan found in her Parents things.
xxxxxx
July 2nd Wednesday
Rylan continued to snuggle in her Mother's arms. Watching her birth mother and father just made her emotional. She couldn't really pinpoint one emotion but she knew her heart hurt.
She was lucky to have had a set of biological family that loved her and now she was lucky to have another set of parents that love her. She knew she was luckier than most and she would always remember that and cherish it.
Rylan just wanted to stay in this snuggle with both her Mothers and so when her Moms phone rung from the kitchen, Rylan groan and buried herself more into her Mama while her Mom got up to go answer it. Before she left, Stef placed a kiss to Rylan's head, gave Lena a smile and then headed into the kitchen.
The other kids all left the living room after watching Rylan's biological parents. They wanted to give the little girl come space with the Moms. They felt emotional so they could only guess how emotional Rylan was feeling.
Xxxxxxx
While Stef was on the phone Lena sat with her baby girl in the quiet living room. The only sounds were their breathing as she cuddled Rylan. Rylan sat sideways on her Mamas lap her head resting on Lena's chest listening to her heart, her back against the arm rest and her feet on the sofa.
They stayed quiet for some time, Rylan twisting the rings on her Mamas fingers slowly, the movement calming and making her relaxed. Lena just holding her baby, she treasured these moments because as the kids got older these moments came less and less.
"Are you ok sweetheart?" Lena asked the little girl softly before placing a kiss to the little girls temple.
"I love you Mama." Rylan whispered softly from her position. Not moving.
"I love you too." Lena telling the girl, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
"My heart hurts." Rylan's soft voice spoke after another few minutes of silence. Her voice full of sadness and on the edge of sobbing.
Rylan moved from her position, so she was now straddling her Mamas lap and buried her face into her Mamas neck and clutched at her biological mothers sweater, her grip firm on it. Lena's shampoo and lotion always smelt the best and was the best to calm her down. Lena pulled the girl close as she could without hurting her and slowly rocked her.
It was in that Moment that Stef had returned, and her heart hurt for the little girl. Her little girl. She felt choked up at Rylans words.
"Oh sweetheart. Your Mom and dad loved you a lot. They would be so proud of you. They will always be with you." Lena told the girl, and she shared a sad look with Stef before Stef moved towards the sofa and took a seat so she could wrap both of her arms around the little girl and Lena. They snuggled Rylan into them tighter, her little body shaking due to sobs.
"We love you sweetheart." Stef quietly whispered to her as she rubbed the girls back and then placed a kiss to Lena's temple.
With her Moms holding her and the day being so emotional, Rylan drifted off into slumber on her Mamas chest.
"Who was that on the phone?" Lena asked softly so that they didn't wake the girl, even though she wouldn't wake since she was used to the noise as they did live in a house with 8 people.
"That was Jamie Gleeson. The girls blood tests and urinalysis came back all clear." Stef told Lena. Immediately Lena sighed out in relief. That was one worry that they didn't have to stress over anymore.
"I'm so glad." Lena finally spoke, cuddling Rylan closer to her.
"Me too love. Me too." Stef whispered kissing Rylan's temple before she got up and headed into the kitchen.
With the little girl now fast asleep in her arms, Lena placed her on the sofa and covered her with a blanket. Kissing the girls forehead and brushing some strands of the red hair from her head, Lena folded the sweater that had fallen out of Rylan's grip and placed it on the coffee table before she headed over to the DVD player and took out the disk. She carefully put it away and placed it next to the tv so it wouldn't get damaged or lost. That one was a keeper.
Xxxxxxxx
Their day had so far been so emotional that the older kids had all gone upstairs and were entertaining themselves quietly while Rylan slept on the sofa where Lena had laid her down once she had fallen asleep.
Currently the Moms were in the kitchen just having some time to themselves to do a few things that they needed to do.
Lena sipping on tea and Stef on coffee as they paid bills and did other paperwork that they needed while they could without the kids bugging them or asking them questions. The house was eerily quiet for 8 people.
"So, Callie and Rylan's birthdays are coming up. Callie already said she wanted to go bowling as a family and then her and Wyatt would probably go watch a movie in the afternoon. "Lena explained to her wife. Stef took her glasses off and set them next to her paperwork so she could give Lena her full attention. Also, she was getting a head ache and paperwork was not going to help get rid of it.
"That sounds good. Has Rylan mentioned anything about her birthday or what she wants to do?" Stef asked as she moved to get a glass of water, hopefully the headache she was starting to get was because she was either tired or hadn't drunk enough water and not because it was a start of a migraine.
Lena put her paperwork to the side so she could face Stef. She looked a little concerned at her wife before answering.
"I haven't heard anything. She saw that it was her birthday coming up when we saw her birth certificate but hasn't said anything." Lena explained. Stef nodded as she continued to sip her water.
"We can ask her when she wakes." Stef said with a nod.
"Speaking of Rylan." Lena said as she nodded her head towards the kitchen entry way where the little girl was standing, rubbing her eyes.
"Hey sweet girl. You want some water?" Stef asked as she looked at Rylan. Rylan yawned and then nodded as she made her way towards her Mama.
Lena scooped the little red head onto her lap. Rylan's back to her front as Stef got the girls water bottle from the fridge.
"Here you go munchkin." Stef said handing the water bottle to Rylan before taking a seat next to Lena and continued to sip her water. She would go get some medicine in a bit, hopefully get rid of it before it got extreme.
"Thank you, Mommy." Rylan yawned out before taking a sip of her water.
"Did you sleep ok?" Lena asked and got a nod in reply.
"So, Mama and I were talking and your birthday is coming up. What did you want to do for your birthday?" Immediately Lena felt the girl tense which didn't go unnoticed by the cop in the room.
"I need the bathroom." Rylan said as she placed her water bottle on the table and slipped off her Mamas lap and headed towards the bathroom in a speedy walk.
"You saw that right?" Lena asked just to make sure.
"Yeah, something is going on with that baby girl. I thought all kids would jump for joy and get excited about birthdays, I thought her especially." Stef said as she looked to where the little girl had left.
"We will talk to her Honey." Lena said placing a hand on Stefs hand that was resting on the table.
The Moms continued with their paperwork and hot drinks, and water in Stefs case, as they waited for the little girl to come back from the bathroom. Neither of them thought that the little girl would avoid them after, but it turned out Rylan did. As soon as she finished in the bathroom, Rylan vanished up the stairs and into her room.
Xxxxx
July 2nd Wednesday 2.30pm
"Mariana come on love, we got to go." Stef called up the stairs to her daughter. They needed to go now so they could get to Marianas therapist appointment which was at 3pm. So, they needed to leave now to be on time.
Mariana rolled her eyes as she came down the stairs. Her Mother always yelled even though her Mama told them to go up the stairs instead of yelling.
"I'm right here Mom. No need to yell." Mariana said which caused Stef to give her a playful glare.
"Ok, let's go. "Mariana rolled her eyes as Stef turned and gave the girl a wink which had the teen chuckling and shaking her head in amusement.
As Stef and Mariana left, Rylan poked her head out of her bedroom door. Now she only had her Mama to avoid for now.
"Why are you hiding up here for?" Callie asked the little girl, knowing her sister well by now.
Rylan turned around from the door and walked back into the room and sat next to Callie on the floor. Callie was currently reading a book from her summer reading list but had put a mark in, so she didn't lose her page and looked at her little sister.
"I'm not hiding." Rylan rushed out when Callie looked at her with her raised eyebrow.
"Ok, maybe I am." Rylan finally relented knowing she couldn't hide anything from her eldest sister.
"Why?" Callie asked looking at the red head. Rylan sighed as she looked at her hands and fiddled with a small hole in her jeans.
"They asked me about my birthday." Rylan said softly, even though Callie could hear it.
"I know its soon. We have birthdays close together which is cool." Callie said still not understanding why the girl was hiding.
"I guess." Callie again raised her eyebrow at the girls less than enthusiastic response.
"What's up? Tell me what's wrong?" Callie asked the little girl, pulling her into her lap so that Rylan was sitting with her butt in Callies lap and her legs wrapped around her sister's hips, so they were facing each other.
Callie studied the little girl, hoping that Rylan would say what was on her mind. She waited patiently for Rylan to get her thoughts together.
"I haven't had a birthday since I was very little and even then, I don't remember." Rylan finally said trying to get what she wanted to say out.
"Well Moms want to give you one, what's the problem with that? It's a day to celebrate you being born." Callie told the girl trying to encourage her.
"I haven't even thought of my birthday. I haven't had one since before I was three and, and..." Rylan said, trailing off her eyes getting watery, and her throat closed up. She had cried so much today but she couldn't stop.
It was then Callie partially understood. She only partially understood because she knew Rylan was leaving something out.
"And your Mom was the one who celebrated with you, and you don't want to make her unhappy." Callie said which got her a nod.
"Yeah." Rylan whispered looking down at her hands. Callie raised her hand and used a finger to push the girls chin so that Callie could looked into the blue eyes that reminded her so much of their blonde mother.
"I'm sure your Mom would be happy for you. She would want you to celebrate your birthday as it is the day you were born and made her a mother." Callie explained, making sure the little girl was listening.
"I don't know." Rylan sighed out. Everything was just so hard these days, like she said before, her heart hurt.
"Why don't you go talk to Mama about it." Callie suggested.
"No!" Rylan shouted, not loud enough to send people running into the room but loud enough to shock Callie a little at her tone. Rylan gave her sister an apologetic look.
"I'm not ready to talk about it to Mama or Mom." Rylan explained softly.
"Ok, well I won't say anything, but you should when you are ready." Callie told Rylan, who nodded.
"Thanks Callie." Rylan said leaning forward to wrap her arms around her sister's neck. Callie wrapped both arms around her little sisters back and the two of them just hugged and cuddled each other.
Xxxxxxx
July 2nd Wednesday Dinner time 6.00pm
Rylan continued to avoid the Moms, and both knew that there was something wrong with her, they would speak to her after dinner. For now, they let her be.
Soon dinner was being placed on the table and Stef called the kids to come and eat.
Jude and Jesus were the first ones into the kitchen like normal, then Brandon and Mariana followed by Callie and Rylan trailing in last.
"Alright dig in. Mama made your favourite." Stef told the kids as she placed a bottle of juice on the table.
"Yes." Jesus said excitedly as he started to fill his plate.
Collectively chicken enchiladas were a family favourite and they rarely had leftovers. Lena usually cooked enchiladas once a week because they were just easy to make and everyone loved them, and it was usually the only dinner that no one complained about and the one dinner that Jesus didn't cover in Ketchup.
"So, what's our plans for tomorrow Moms?" Brandon asked as he finished putting salad on his plate and started to eat.
"Well, I was thinking we do another beach day, everyone loves the beach. What do you all think?" Stef asked everyone at the table.
"I'm in." Jude and Mariana said at the same time.
"Same." Brandon agreed.
"Can we take down the body boards?" Jesus asked.
"That can be arranged." Lena told the boy. She loved body boarding just as much as the kids so of course she would agree.
"Awesome." Callie and Jesus said giving each other a high five.
"Can I take my sandcastle set?" Lena and Stef smiled and nodded. They were happy that Rylan had spoken to them, it had been a few hours since they had heard her voice.
"So, we all agree?" All the kids nodded, happy with the plans for tomorrow.
"Also, Jesus, you have your therapist appointment at 4." Lena told the teen, reminding him.
"Whyyyyy?' Jesus complained a fun day ending with therapy sucked so bad. Both Moms gave him a look and he sighed before going back to eating. He knew therapy was for the best, but it still sucked.
"So, Mama told me that you wanted to do a family day of bowling for your birthday, lunch at a restaurant and then maybe you going to the movies with Wyatt?" Stef asked Callie. Both Moms noticing that Rylan's body tensed up. They were still unsure as to why, but they were slowly seeing that it might have something to do with the little girls birthday.
"Yeah. If that's alright with you?" Callie said looking at her Mothers for confirmation.
"I like the idea. Sounds like fun. If that's what you want to do then we can do that." Stef told the teen. Callie smiled. She really liked her birthdays now that she's adopted and in a loving home.
"Awesome. Thanks Moms." Callie said cheerfully, she too had noticed her sister but at least she understood why the girl was tensing. Her Moms had no clue. Hopefully, Rylan would talk to them soon.
"What about you Rylan? What do you want to do for your birthday?" Lena asked. Hopefully, the little girl would tell them something.
The little girl just continued to eat pretending that they had not said anything. She wasn't ready to talk about her birthday.
"How about we got the inside fun land you like so much?" Jude suggested seeing that the little girl hadn't said anything. Jesus groaned and looked at Jude.
"That's only for little kids. It would be so boring." Jesus complained to the boy. The Mothers focused on the little girl before looking at the other kids. The Moms taking mental notes of the suggestions just in case they had to plan one or give the girl ideas.
"She is a little kid and it's her birthday." Jude argued right back,
"What about the trampoline park?" Mariana said to get the boys to stop arguing.
"That sounds like fun." Jude said while Jesus nodded, his mouth full of food to talk.
"Or the zoo." Brandon piped up.
Rylan was starting to feel overwhelmed and before anyone knew it the little girl had pushed her nearly full plate away, slipped out of her seat and rushed out of the kitchen and then the sound of a door slamming upstairs made the family stop mid-sentence and look at each other.
Callie sighed and before her mothers could leave the table Callie told them to wait.
"Just let her calm down. She's a little overwhelmed." Callie told the two women who were getting up from the table. Both stopped moving and looked at their eldest daughter with raised eyebrows which meant explain more.
"You know why she is upset?" Lena asked, wanting information.
"Yeah, but it's not for me to say." Callie told them with a nod. Both Moms just looked at each other before they sat down and finished their dinner along with the others. Giving the little girl upstairs some time to calm down and give her some space.
The dinner table was now quiet. Everyone Minds apart from Callies was thinking about what might have upset the little girl.
Xxxxxxxxx
After Rylan had gone upstairs, the rest of the family had finished eating and then the dinner dishes were cleaned up and the kids remained downstairs and decided to watch a movie while they let their Moms head upstairs to talk with Rylan.
Stef and Lena walked up stairs slowly. Both wondering what the little girl was thinking, why she was upset.
All that the two of them knew was that they were going to get to the bottom of it tonight.
The girl's door was closed, and so Stef knocked on the door.
"Can we come in sweets?" Stef called through the door and waited.
"Yeah." Came the small voice of their youngest.
"The Moms opened the door and walked into the girl's room and immediately their eyes landed on their little girl curled up in a ball on her bed, her bee toy snuggled in her arms along with her bio mothers sweater.
The Moms walked further into the room and Rylan sat up with her back against the wall and her knees to her chest as she cuddles her sweater and bee toy. Stef and Lena knelt on the floor next to the bed facing Rylan.
The space between the two beds on the bunk was too small for the two adults to sit next to the girl.
"Hey sweetheart." Lena said softly.
"Hi." Rylan replied in a whisper.
"What's going on baby? Can you tell Mommy?" Stef asked as placed a hand on the little girl's foot and used her thumb to rub small circles for comfort.
Rylan looked at the two of them before sighing softly.
"My birthday." The little girl whispered. Both Moms nodded. They had seen her tense whenever a birthday was mentioned today.
"What about your birthday sweetheart?" Lena asked softly. They didn't want Rylan to shut them out, so they were treading lightly.
The Moms waited as the little girl processed her thoughts. They would be patient, they needed to be patient.
"I haven't had a birthday in about 3 years, and I forgot all about my birthday." Rylan told them. Although both Moms could tell there was a bit more to it than that, but they went with it. At least the girl was talking.
"Well, you were very young baby girl." Stef said to Rylan. Rylan nodded and blinked rapidly, her eyes were watery, and she was sick and tired or crying, it felt like that was all that she had done today.
"It's, it's just that..." Rylan started, she just couldn't get the words out.
"You can tell us honey, whatever is on your mind you can speak it." Stef said softly, hoping to comfort the girl with a soothing voice.
"My birthday before my Mom died, she was with me even though I can't really remember it and I don't want to make her unhappy. "Rylan explained to them just like she had said to Callie.
"I'm sure she would be happy for you to celebrate the day that you were born. It's the day that you made your Mom a mother." Stef explained, telling the girl and Rylan smiled a small smile at the words.
"That's what Callie said." Rylan said with a smile which made both Moms smile.
"She's a smart girl, your sister." Lena said and Rylan chuckled nodding.
"I know." Rylan said because she did know. She had the best siblings in the entire world.
Rylan went quiet and the Moms could tell there was something else on the girls mind.
"What is it sweets?" Stef said hoping to encourage her to open up the rest of the way.
"I don't even know what a birthday is supposed to be like." Rylan told them softly her face turning a light shade of red in embarrassment.
"No need to be embarrassed honey. You were in the system at a very young age and in homes that didn't do things, like celebrate your birthday, like they should have." Lena told the girl with a smile.
"What do you do at birthdays?" Rylan asked, her face still a shade of pink as she moved her legs so that they were now crossed and placed her bee toy and the sweater on her pillow.
"Well since it's your birthday you can do whatever activity you want to do for the day. If you want to go swimming, we can go swimming. If you want to go to the park or the movies. That kind of stuff. Birthdays are a special day to celebrate you." Stef explained and Rylan's eyes widened.
"Really?" Rylan asked, hoping that she wasn't dreaming because that would be awesome.
"Yeah, and guess what?" Stef asked, her face contained a smile as she was now excited to actually tell the girl all about birthdays, glad to have swayed the little girl's mind.
"What?" Rylan asked hopefully her eyes still wide, excitement shining in them. No hint of previous fear and sadness.
"Birthdays are also the day you can pick what you want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you get a cake." Stef told the girl in an enthusiastic voice. Lena just sitting back and letting Stef do the talking, she loved watching her wife interact with the kids. Just seeing Rylan face shining with excitement instead of sadness had made this emotional day seem so much better.
"Wooooow." The little girl said in awe. Birthdays seemed so much fun. She could not believe she actually missed out on all her last birthdays.
"Yeah, sound fun, right?" Stef asked with a big smile and chuckled when Rylan nodded really fast and scooted from across the bed and into her mother's arms with a big smile on her face. Lena and Stef chuckled before Rylan pulled away slightly to look at her mother's faces.
"Are you sure My Mom would be ok with me having a birthday?" Rylan asked, she just needed to make sure. She didn't want to make her mother unhappy.
"She would be happy to see that you are happy." Lena told the girl, conveying that it was alright through the softness of her voice and her words. A small smile still on the girl's face.
"Ok. Can I have some time to think of what I want to do?" Rylan asked. The Moms both nodded.
"Of course you can." Rylan gave them a big smile before she pounced on them again and hugged them so tight.
"Thank you, Moms." Rylan told them. The happiness and thankfulness could be heard in her voice.
"You are welcome." Stef replied before placing a kiss to the girl's temple.
"Thank you for loving me." Rylan softly spoke, hugging her mother's tightly to her.
"No thanks needed sweetheart. Loving you is easy." Lena said as she placed kisses at random intervals on the girl's temple.
"Moms?" Rylan called after a few moments and both pulled away so that the little girl stood in front of them.
"Yeah sweets" Stef said looking at Rylan and pushing a stray piece of red hair behind her ear.
"Is there dinner left? I'm hungry." Rylan asked with a cheeky smile on her face and both her Moms chuckled. Stef kissed Rylans temple before standing up.
"We saved your plate. Let's go reheat it." Stef told Rylan as she helped Lena up from the floor.
"Yeah, I needed to get off my knees. That was not a comfortable position." Stef said as she rubbed her knees and moved them to get the feeling back in them again. Lena chuckled and Rylan giggled.
"You're just getting old." Rylan told her Mom with a cheeky smile. Lena gave a small chuckle while Stef gasped in mock shock.
"Oh, she did not." Stef said as she looked at Lena with a raised eyebrow.
"She did." Lena nodded confirming, even though she had a big grin on her face.
Rylan squealed out and giggled as she ran out of the room. The Moms walking after her, both with big grins on their faces.
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