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.
Reviews:
CabbieLoverSAC22: Thankyou for your review. I am glad to hear that you loved the chapter. I appreciate it.
Niko1ester: Thank you for your review. Makes me happy to know that you liked the chapter.
Karrtoonmonkey: Thank you for your review.
Lazytown2000: Aww sorry that I made you cry. I am glad that I was able to write the emotions I wanted to display if I made you cry. sorry again. Thank you for your review.
Sara1287: Thank you for your review.
Kenyast25: Thankyou for your review. Callie and Stef are my favourites as well. They have amazing chemistry for not being related and I just love writing about them. I appreciate the review and you made me blush. I've never considered myself a good writer, I only began writing to help with my depression and just fell in love with writing. To see your review has made me happy. So, a big thank you.
Also thankyou to all the guest reviewers. I appreciate every single one.
Previously:
Emotional day, a lot of tears
Rylan and the Moms talk about Rylans upcoming birthday. The girl afraid and worried but her talk with the Moms helped her.
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3rd JULY Thursday Morning.
To say the house was in chaos was an understatement. The kids were all excited about the day ahead and were running around getting everything they needed to take with them to make this day more epic.
No matter how many times the Moms told them to slow down, the 6 kids never listened. In the end both Lena and Stef let the kids do what they needed. As long as they were out the door by no later then 9am, then that was fine with them.
By the time it was time to go, Stef and Brandon had managed to pack everything into the two cars ready for today. A full day of swimming and playing at the beach with a fish and chip lunch on the beach was on the agenda for today.
"B, Jude and Rylan with me. The rest in Mamas car. Let get going." Stef told everyone and soon enough the two cars were making their way down the street towards the beach.
Stef looked in her rear-view mirror and could see the undercover police car not too far away from them that contained two agents. Until the mob boss and his people were captured, the family would have two undercover agents follow them at a distance for their protection and the other would remain at the house. Stef was a little glad, more eyes on her family the better.
"Mommy, I'm hungry." Rylan piped up from her seat. She was behind the passenger seat in her car seat with Jude next to her and Brandon in the passenger seat.
"You just had breakfast sweets. Once we get to the beach and unload the car, we will talk to Mama ok?" Stef told the girl as she looked at her through the rear-view mirror catching the girls eyes before looking straight back at the road.
"Alllllriiiiight." Ryaln sighed out. Stef chuckled.
"Do you think Mama will come in and body board with us Mom?" Jude asked with interest.
"I'm sure if you ask her, she will. Mama rarely turns down a chance to body board. You know how much she loves to either surf or body board." Stef told the boy with a smile, catching his eyes in the rear view just like she had with Rylan. Jude beamed in excitement.
"It's still so weird knowing that Mama can surf and body board. She doesn't look like a sporty person." Jude explained, the smile still on his face as he thought about the day ahead.
"Mama is full of surprises." Brandon said turning in his seat to see his brother and little sister. The little girl pouting and swinging her legs.
"I've come to realise that. It's pretty cool though." Jude replied smiling at his brother and then catching Stefs eyes in the mirror.
"That it is bubby." Stef responded happily as they pulled into the parking lot of the beach and pulled up into the bay next to Lena's car.
"Alright, B can you Unbuckle Rylan?" Stef asked the teen as she unbuckled herself and opened her door.
"Sure Mom." Brandon responded as he unbuckled himself and got out just as Jude closed the door on his side and headed towards Lena's car to help unpack.
"Mommy, I'm hungry." Rylan said with a whine as Brandon set her down on the grassed area next to the cars.
"Rylan, I told you once the cars are unloaded then we will talk to Mama about food." Stef told the girl. She had noticed that Rylan had been happy this morning but as they got closer to the beach she became more agitated and whiney.
"But I'm hungry now." Rylan whined, stomping her foot. Stef blew out a sigh and took the calm approach. Lena gave Rylan a raised eyebrow but knew that Stef had it handled, she let her wife deal with the little girl.
"I think someone needs a few moments to calm down. "Stef told the girl, giving her a raised eyebrow, hoping she would change her attitude before she suffered the consequences of her actions.
"No, I don't." Rylan pouted, crossing her arms, and stomping her foot.
"Come with me." Stef told the girl, softly grabbing her arm and guiding her to a bench not too far from the cars.
"You will sit here for time out. You have 5 minutes to think about why you are in time out. Do you understand?" Rylan crossed her arms and pouted some more as she looked at the ground, not meeting Stefs eyes but gave a slight nod.
Stef headed back to the cars where the kids were grabbing things and heading down to the sand. Lena and Stef locked the cars and Lena went ahead to the older kids while Stef moved a little closer to Rylan. The little girl swinging her legs back and forth on the seat and obviously pouting.
Once everything was unloaded from the cars. Stef gave Lena a nod and then watched as her wife locked her car and followed the older kids down to the beach. Stef locked her car and then moved even closer to the pouting red head.
"Rylan, come here please!" Stef called as she stood about two metres from the girl. Rylan immediately moved towards her Mom but didn't look up from the floor.
"Do you know why I put you in time out?" Stef asked as she knelt down in front of the girl so she wasn't towering over her. Rylan nodded.
"Look at me please. Do you know why I put you in time out?" Stef asked again once Rylan had given her eye contact.
"Because I stomped my foot and was rude." Came Rylans soft reply as she looked into her mother's eyes.
"And do you think that was acceptable behaviour?" Stef asked softly but sternly. The little girl shook her head.
"No Mommy." Came her verbal reply.
"What should you do next time?" Stef asked watching as the girl fidgeted with her fingers and bit her lip but remained keeping eye contact like her mother liked.
"Listen to what you had said and waited. Also not stomped my foot." Rylan responded softly.
"Good girl." Stef praised the girl for her response. Rylan immediately launched into Stefs arms once her mother had accepted her answer. Tears fell down her face as she sobbed. Stef sighed and rubbed the girls back. She knew there was much more going on with the girl but couldn't do anything until Rylan decided to tell her.
"I'm sorry Mommy. "Rylan sniffled.
"I know you are sweet girl. Now let go to Mama and the others." Stef said as she stood up from her kneeling position. She was definitely ready to go have some fun with the family.
"Can you carry me? Please?" Rylan asked softly looking at her Mom with pouty lips and fluttering eyes that Stef was sure Mariana had probably taught the girl.
"I can do that for you my sweet girl." Stef chuckled out as she swung the girl into her arms.
Xxxxxxxx
"Not too far out please." Lena's voice called out to the older kids before she saw Rylan and Stef in her peripherals coming down towards her. The little girl looked to have been crying. She would talk to Stef about what was going on later when little ears weren't around.
"Hi sweetheart." Lena cooed softly to the girl as Stef got to them.
"Hi mama." Rylan whispered softly from her position on her mom's hip.
"Are you ready for some fun?" Lena asked the girl as she took a seat on the blanket.
"Yeah. Can we build sandcastles?" Rylan asked her Mama as Stef placed Rylan down on the blanket in front of Lena.
"We sure can. Now let's get you some food, yeah?" Lena responded, knowing the girl wanted food if her tantrum earlier was anything to go by.
"Yes please." Lena kissed the girl's temple before going into the cooler and pulling out a banana and handing it to Rylan.
"Thanks Mama." Rylan said as she took the banana and began peeling it.
"You're welcome." Lena responded as Stef sat down on the blanket that was spread on the sand, settling Rylan in her lap as the little girl munched happily on her banana.
While Rylan was eating her banana, Stef took the time to braid Rylans hair. It had been brushed but needed to be put up so that the wind and the water did not make it knotted.
"Look Lena, the red is starting to fade." Stef said gesturing to Rylans hair as she braided it. Lena peaked closer at the girl's hair with a smile.
"I can't wait for the red to be gone. I miss having my little blonde baby. I also noticed it more with Callies hair yesterday as her natural hair is obviously darker." Lena explained before planting a kiss to the little girl's temple. Rylan smiled at her Mama.
"Alright let's put some sunscreen on you and then you can go play with the others." Stef told Rylan once she had finished her Banana.
"Ok Mommy." Rylan replied as Lena handed Stef the sunscreen. It did not take long to cover the girl in sunscreen as she was only a tiny thing.
"Alright, all covered sweets. Go have fun. "Stef told the girl as she placed a hat on the little red head.
"Mommy come with me?" Rylan asked as she picked up her sandcastle gear and looked at her blonde mother.
"I'll be down in a minute sweetheart. Go join the others." Rylan nodded and then ran down to the water.
Both Moms watched their little itty-bitty child run down the sand to her brothers and sisters.
"Come here my love. Let me sunscreen you." Stef said as she grabbed the other sunscreen from the bag. They had to have two different types. One lower grade for Lena, Jesus and Mariana because of their tanned skin and a higher grade one for Callie, Jude, Stef, Brandon and Rylan because of their lighter skin tone that would definitely burn.
"Thanks honey. I'll do you next." Lena told her wife as she sat in front of her on the blanket.
"Lena! We are on a public beach." Stef gasped out in mock shock, pretending to look around to see if anyone had heard.
"Really Stef?" Lena asked, shaking her head in amusement, and playfully hitting Stef in the thigh.
"You walked right into that one my love." Stef chuckled out as she applied the sunscreen to her wife's body.
"What's going on with little miss?" Lena asked as Stefs hands worked the sunscreen onto her skin.
"I don't know. It has something to do with the beach, she was happy this morning but the closer we got to the beach she got more agitated and whinier. " Stef explained and Lena nodded.
"Understandable. Her first experience was having him here so that kind of ruined it but what else about the beach could frighten her? He is gone." Lena pondered out loud. Knowing that Stef would understand who she was talking about.
"I don't know, we just have to watch her." Stef told Lena as the two switched so Lena could apply sunscreen to Stef
"So, are you going to body board today my love?" Stef asked as Lena massaged the sunscreen into her neck.
"I think I might. The water looks perfect for it. "Lena said looking out to the water where the older kids were playing and where Rylan sat on the sand with her plastic buckets and shovel.
"Well then, let's go join our troop."
Both Moms walked hand in hand towards the water. Each carrying a body board in their spare hand.
"Come on Moms." Jesus called as he noticed his parents heading towards them.
"We're coming Jesus." Lena called back giving a smile to Rylan as she passed the girl on the sand.
Both Moms walked into the water with the older kids while Rylan remained sitting on the sand digging and playing with her sandcastle set.
The Moms joined Jesus and Jude out further from the two teen girls and Brandon, where the older boy was teaching Jude to body board, both laughing at his attempts.
Rylan remained on the sand digging and building. She watched her family play, a smile on her face.
Rylan looked down at her sandcastle as the water slowly came up due to the waves and puddled into the hole she had dug. Rylan began to dig a big hole around her castle when a shadow appeared above her blocking the sun.
Rylan looked up and came face to face with Jude. She smiled at her brothers smiling face.
"Come on Rylan." Rylan shook her head fast as her brother held his hand out. Soon enough Jesus was standing next to Jude.
"Let's go have fun." Jesus laughed out as he picked up the little girl and situating her on his hip before walking towards the water. Rylan saw that they were heading towards the water, and she started to panic and struggle to get out of her brother's arms.
"No, No, NOOO." Rylan continued to struggle in her brother's arms as they went into the water. Jesus not realising that she was not having fun. He had done this to both of his sisters, and they acted the same way, protesting but in the end laughing.
"Put her down Jesus." Jude told the older boy, seeing that Rylan was getting scared, and tears were falling.
"MOMMY! MAMA!" Rylan screamed as the water was now at her stomach height. She was no longer struggling in her brother's arms, she was holding onto him for dear life. Jesus stopped laughing seeing that Rylan had screamed and was now clinging to him tightly.
Lena being the closest, had run through the water and scooped the little girl out of the boy's arms.
"Hey, hey. Shhhh Mamas got you. Its ok." Lena said trying to sooth the freaked out little girl as she made her way towards the sand.
"Don't let me go. Don't let me go." Rylan whispered out through sobs as she clung to Lena, her whole body shaking in fear, she had been that scared.
"It's ok I won't." Lena said easing herself down onto the blanket and wrapping herself and Rylan in a towel as she rocked back and forth, calming Rylan down.
Xxxxxxxx
Jesus watched in horror and guilt as his Mama cradled his frightened baby sister tightly to her as she headed out of the water.
Jesus had never wanted to frighten or hurt any of his siblings especially his sisters and seeing the fear all over Rylans face that he had put there made him so angry at himself.
"I'm sorry Mom." Jesus said as he saw his mother coming towards him in the corner of his eye. Stef was going to tell the boy off but seeing that he really was sorry and had not meant to scare or frighten the girl, she let up.
"Hey, its ok. None of us knew that she was frightened of the ocean. We all assumed that she was ok since she swam at the lake. We don't blame you, none of us do." Stef said reassuring the boy. She had come to that conclusion since last time Rylan had clung to herself while in the ocean and seeing Rylan clinging to Jesus gave her the idea.
Jesus turned to look his mother in the eyes.
"But I blame me." Jesus said before he took off out of the water and walked down the beach. Stef wanted to go after him, but it was obvious the boy needed to be alone to calm down.
"Just let him go calm down. We will give him time and then talk." Stef told the other kids as they were looking towards where Jesus had gone, Mariana making to move after him.
"Keep playing, I'm going to go see Mama and Rylan." Stef told the other four kids, The nodded but were less enthusiastic after what had just happened.
"Hey how is she?" Stef asked, taking a seat next to Lena on the blanket and looking down at the little girl who was asleep straddling Lena's lap, with her head against her Mamas chest listening to her heartbeat.
"She's calmed down now, worked herself up and fell asleep. Jesus?" Lena explained as she ran her hand up and down Rylans back soothingly.
"He's mad at himself for hurting his sister." Stef said as she looked down the beach to where Jesus sat on the sand by himself.
"He's not to blame though." Lena reassured Stef, the boy really wasn't at fault. The number of times he had done the same to the others.
"I told him that, but he blames himself. I'll give him time to cool off." Stef said as she continued to look down the beach at her son.
"I should have seen it sooner. The way she clung to me last time in the water. The lake was one thing, but the beach is a whole different ball game." Stef explained. Lena reached over with the hand that had been rubbing Rylans back and placed it on Stefs back and rubbed it like she had done for Rylan.
"Don't blame yourself either. No one knew. It would explain her agitated and whiny state though." Stef nodded. Her wife was right. So, Stef sighed and leant back so she was laying on her forearms staring out at the water where the four others were playing.
"So much for a relaxing beach day huh?" Lena removed her hand from Stefs back and placed it on Rylans back again.
"It's just a hiccup honey. We weren't to know that she would freak out." Lena said reassuringly giving Stef a sad smile when she looked at her.
"She didn't freak out last time though." Stef pointed out.
"That's because she walked to you and wanted to be out there on her own terms. We will talk to her when she wakes." Lena explained. Stef sighed.
"You ok here while I got be with the other kids?" Stef asked. Lena nodded.
"Yeah, it's still a fun day with a minor hiccup." Lena reassured with a smile.
Stef placed a kiss on Lenas lips before standing up and heading towards the water where four of their six kids continued to play.
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Lena continued to sit and watch the other four with Stef in the water as she cuddled Rylan. She also continued to peek down the beach where Jesus still sat.
Lena looked down at the little girl as she stirred from her nap.
"Hey sweetheart." Lena said softly to the little girl. Rylan yawned and rubbed her eyes before opening them up fully.
"Mama?" Rylan asked still in a daze from waking up.
"Mamas here." Lena cooed down at Rylan as the little girl raised her head from her position on her Mamas chest.
"No ocean." Rylan said shaking her head, remembering what had happened before she napped. The fear still in her eyes as she looked at her Mama. Lena sighed and placed a kiss to the girl's temple before Rylan snuggled back into Lena's chest.
"Are you ok?" Lena asked softly, rubbing Rylans back soothingly.
"Ah huh." Rylan nodded into her Mamas chest. Lena smiled and cuddled the girl tighter to her. Rylan just sighed in content.
"I don't like the ocean." Rylan mumbled out from her position against her Mamas chest. Lena held in her chuckle.
"You don't huh? Can you tell Mama why?" Rylan sat up more so she could see her Mamas face.
"It's big. Not like the lake at the camp. Ocean has lots and lots of water and not a lot of land." Rylan said trying to explain her thoughts and fear.
Lena began to understand the girls fear. The ocean was nothing like the little lake at the campground. At least at the lake the water wasn't too deep, and you could see land in all directions. The ocean only had the beach they were currently on and nothing but water for miles in front.
"It is big. You know Mama and Mommy will always look out for you as well as your siblings, right?" Rylan nodded, she understood that, but she was still scared.
"I don't like the big open water. "Rylan repeated with a shake of her head. Her face was so serious that even though Lena wanted to laugh, she did not.
"I know sweetheart. You do not have to go into the water. Just remember Mommy and I will always have you if you want to go out." Lena explained to Rylan as she cuddled back into Lena's chest.
xxxxxxx
Seeing that Jesus was making his way down the beach, Lena got the little girl to go down and finish her sandcastles so that she could talk to Jesus.
Lena stood from the blanket and walked towards the teen, he immediately wrapped his arms around Lena and buried his face into his Mamas neck.
"I'm sorry Mama. " He whispered. Lena hugged him tightly to her. She could hear the guilt in sadness in his voice.
"Hey, she's not mad at you. I promise." Lena said bringing the teens face away from her neck so she could look into his eyes. His eyes were watery and the guilt and anger at himself could be seen in his eyes.
"The fear in her eyes Mama. I never wanted to see that look on any of my siblings again and to know I put it there, I..." Jesus trailed off with a sigh. Rylans fearful face ingrained into his memories was something he could never forget. Lena pulled Jesus back into her. Letting him have the comfort he needed.
"It's ok. She will be ok. We did not know she had a fear of the open water. You were just trying to be a fun big brother. Its ok." Lena reassured the boy. Jesus nodded into her neck before pulling away and looking over to where Rylan sat on the sand.
"I guess I should talk to her." Jesus said softly. Although his Mama said Rylan did not blame him, self-blame was hard to let go and would remain for a while.
"You should. She really doesn't blame you." Lena told him. Trying to ingrain it into his head that the blame was not needed.
"I still blame me though." Jesus replied and Lena gave him a sad smile.
"I know you do. That's why you are a good big brother." Lena tells the boy as she places a kiss to his temple before he makes his way towards his little sister who is sitting in the sand by the water.
"Hey. "Jesus says softly to the little girl as he sits beside Rylan as she dug holes and built sandcastles.
"Are you ok?" Rylan immediately asks standing up looking into her brother's watery eyes.
"I'm sorry." Jesus tells the girl. His eyes look into Rylans blue ones and can't find any hate in them. His sister really was a kind soul.
"Don't need to be sorry." She tells Jesus, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder and giving it a pat.
"I do." Jesus says firmly but not to firm to scare her. He did not want to do that again, at all.
"I'm fine. You made a mistake. It happens." Rylan said with a shrug and a smile. Jesus chuckled.
"You sound so grown up." Rylan raised an eyebrow at her brother.
"I'm nearly seven that's almost an adult. "Jesus chuckled and Rylan walked into her big brothers arms and they hugged it out.
"Is there anything else that I should not do? I don't want to scare you or hurt you again?" Jesus asked the girl. Rylan frowned and put her finger on her chin as she thought. Jesus chuckled.
"Ummmm, no?" Rylan replied in more of a question then an answer. She did not know.
"If you think of anything, will you tell me?" Jesus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yep." Jesus chuckled and ruffled Rylans hair. The girl swatted at his hands making him laugh.
"Don't. You're messing up Mommy's braid." Rylan whined to her brother.
"You're it." Jesus said as he ruffled Rylans hair again before standing up and taking off down the beach. Rylan laughed.
"You cheated." She called in laughter as she raced after her brother down the beach.
More to come.
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