Stef POV
We are running around the living room trying to get things together before they wake up. Mike brought over a new wide recliner with enough room for two people. We put their favorite movies on and their favorite snacks out. We've set up some blankets and pillows on the chair to make them comfortable. We are going to be serving them anything they want today, they just have to relax. "Stef, honey, where is everyone? Me and Callie are awake." We wait until they turn the corner till we scream, "Surprise!" Lena gets a little flustered but I can clearly see how they quickly grabbed hands and held on tight. Maybe us yelling at them wasn't the best idea, but they are trying to keep everyone from seeing that it scared them. "So Mama, Cal, we decided to make y'all comfortable today. You both are to sit in the recliner together and relax. You need something, tell one of us and we will get it. Spend time together and talk, sleep, watch your favorite movies. Do whatever you guys want. We will join you for the movies but we are going to attempt to cook dinner while y'all relax. We love you guys and we just wanted to let you guys know that." I take pride in everything Jesus just said and I wink at them causing Callie to giggle. "Thank you, we appreciate it. But I think I can speak for Cal and I when I say this means the world to us." I lead them over to the chair and place a blanket over them as they cuddle into each other. "Hey kids can you guys go ahead and go change while I talk to Mama and Callie?" They all nod their heads and take off up the stairs. I turn back to my girls and they are watching me intently. "So my loves, I didn't want to ask this immediately cause I didn't want to bombard either of you. But I need to know so that way I can help and we can figure things out. Did.." I take a deep breath while I try to work up the nerves to ask them what I'm terrified of. "Were you guys raped?" I watch as they take in the seriousness of the question before they answer. "Mom don't worry we are fine and no." I relax a little at Callie's answer but I still feel like they are keeping something from me. "Okay well y'all relax and I'm going to go start the food. I love you both so much."
Lena POV
"Callie you know we can tell her if you want right? All she can do is help us. We need it." She sighs and pulls away from me, rolling herself around so she isn't facing me anymore. I take this opportunity to wrap my arms around her waist, laying my head on her shoulder. "Cal, talk to me baby girl. Don't shut me out just cause we don't agree." I watch as she plays with the strings on the blanket and I can practically feel her anxiety. "You can tell mom about you if you want. But I don't want her knowing about me. It's my story to tell people when and if I want to. I know you guys don't keep secrets but you can't tell her this because you don't have the right to. I didn't just witness yours or experience mine. I rexperienced the ones with Liam and I'm exhausted from having to tell people and not getting any justice. I'm tired of fighting mama. Sometimes I don't understand the point of why I'm going through all of this. I know mom would help me and love me but she'd also blame herself for not getting to me fast enough." My heart breaks at what she's telling me but I know she's right. I feel her start to cry and it's not long until I'm joining her. My baby has been through hell and I hate it. I have decided that keeping Stef in the dark about my rape is probably the best thing for me to do. Simply because I'm not sure how she'll take it and I don't want to think about it.
Callie POV
"Hey Mama and Callie, what do you want to eat?" Brandon is interrupting this moment and all it does is piss me off. "We are in the middle of talking Brandon! Why the hell do you always have to interrupt everything? Did you ever think that maybe picking out something to eat can be overwhelming? Especially when its deciding what everyone will eat! Why the hell do I have to choose everything. Maybe I don't want to think all the time. I just went through utter hell and I don't want to think anymore!" I'm standing up at this point and I'm spiraling into a panic attack and I know it. I turn around to see Mama looking at me with concern in her eyes. I hate that she worries about me. I turn back around to see Brandon in shock and everyone staring at me. Mom is looking like she just wants to hold me. All of a sudden Stef and Jesus are reaching out to me and I react on instinct. "Stop! Please don't hurt me. I'm sorry." They freeze and they look between each other pained. I glance to Lena begging for help and she just nods. I dive back into her arms in the recliner and my whole body is shaking in sobs. "Shhh baby. Its okay, relax." I feel Lena rubbing her hands through my hair but what I'm not prepared for is Stef picking me up and sitting down beneath me, rocking me and Lena trying to relax me. While everyone goes back to cooking. But I'm tense the whole time. She eventually realizes it's not helping and tries to leave. "Mom I'm sorry I didn't mean it. Well I meant that I didn't want to think." She sighed before walking back over to me. "Hey listen, we all know you didn't mean most of that. It's okay but honey you need to talk to one of us when you feel like you're spiraling. We'll help you. Why don't you go take a nice hot bath in mine and Mama's bathroom and we'll figure out food and plans so that way you don't have to worry about it. Okay?" I nod and lean over to kiss Lena on the cheek, "I love you mama." She smiles back and I walk up the steps.
Stef POV
"So my love, what brought her panic attack along?" I ask Lena knowing she has to know. The two of them have been glued to each other since they got home yesterday. She goes tense beside me and I know something is really wrong. "Uh.. nothing. Brandon walked in while we were talking and laying together and she just panicked. I just think she's getting overwhelmed easily." I watch as she gets up and walks to the window and I know something is bothering her. She's biting her lip and her hand is rubbing her neck. I wrap my arms around her and she goes tense and pushes me away. "Stop! Don't touch me." I'm shocked. "Lena, it's okay, you're home and safe." I take a step closer and quickly realize the mistake I just made. She backs herself into the corner. "Stop! Don't take another step closer!" I hear all the kids come into the living room and I know this isn't going to be pretty. They are breaking under the pressure of all that has happened. I reach out to her but I don't take another step closer. "Callie? Baby, where are you? Callie!" Shit, she's reliving this and the closer I get to her the more she's freaking out. I look over to the steps as I hear running.
I watch as Callie comes flying down the steps soaking wet wrapped in a towel. She falls hard missing a couple steps on the way down but makes her way to Lena. "What the hell happened?! What did you do?" I'm taken aback by the language my daughter is using at me. "Mommy, I'm right here. It's okay, I'm safe. You're safe." She goes and stands by Lena and Lena grabs her face. "Oh my baby, I'm so sorry. We are going to get out of this. Mom will come and get us. She probably already knows we are gone. She'll find us. I won't let anything happen to you... I'm so sorry." I listen as Lena relives what happens and my heart breaks. I didn't know they were gone till hours after the fact. What the hell did they go through that has my wife and daughter scared of everything?! "It's okay mama. We're safe, we are home. Here feel my hair, its wet. My hair wasn't wet when we were taken. We are home. Listen to my breathing, and follow me. Breathe." I watch as my daughter tries to reach out to her mother. Lena reaches over touching her hair and then looks to all of us and then the pain of what just happened hits her. "Stef, I'm sorry. Oh my babies, I'm so sorry." I waste no time walking to her now but I'm stopped when Callie places herself between us. "Honey you know I'm not going to hurt Mama. You know I'd never..." I'm met with soft eyes and a smile. "I know but tell her you're coming to her. They didn't let us know they were there until it was too late. We didn't know if we would separated or hurt, yet alone know if we were going to make it out of there alive. You can't just walk up on us when we are spiraling. That's why it got hard on me. Logically, I knew you and Jesus were just trying to help me but all it did was scare me. I only managed to be able to walk up to her, because I was the one she was looking for." I take in what my daughter just said and my heart broke. "I always knew you went through hell and we're crazy smart. But my daughter you are smarter than you should be at your age. I'm so sorry I didn't get there faster." I don't get to get anything else before Lena is in my arms and then Callie surrounds her, followed by the rest of them. "I'm so sorry guys, I didn't mean to freak out. Neither of us meant to. I just got overwhelmed and I'm sorry." Hearing Lena say this breaks my heart in more ways than I ever thought possible. "Hey mama, its okay. I was the same way after what happened with me and Jesus being in the car wreck. Its okay." I smile at my daughter trying to explain to her mother that it was okay. "Yeah, I felt the same way after Vico attacked me mom. These things are going to happen and we don't always have control of them. Hell, sorry, we don't always have control over how we react to them. But we have to react instead of holding it in. Mom even felt that way after she was shot, even though she will never admit to that. Same with Jude. He felt the same after he snuck out and that put Connor in the hospital. We've all been through something, that's changed us a little. So don't apologize for trying to be okay." I hear Callie and Lena start crying and then I feel Lena and Callie both trying to move. "Hey guys lets just break up the hug, we can stay in here but let's not suffocate them."I tell them and I watch as all the kids move away fast. Lena and Callie reach for each other and Callie whispers something causing Lena to laugh. I'm glad they are finding a way to connect but I hate that they are hiding something because its clearly hurting them. Things eventually calm down and I watch as they both go around the room talking to everyone but me and everyone seems to be happy and have calmed down and then I'm met with a hand on my face from Callie. "I'm sorry I cursed at you. I didn't mean it but trust me I've said worse when it comes to mama.." I watch as she trails off and looks at Lena. Some silent conversation happening between them. Something I'm clearly not going to find out right away. "But I'm sorry for cursing like that. You didn't deserve that. I love you so much and I know you feel bad for not getting there fast enough but its okay. You were trying and that's all that matters." I smile at her, as tears start to form in my eyes. "I love you too baby. How about you go help your siblings cook? I'm sure you'd love to keep busy and they'd love to spend time with you." She nods and then I grab Lena's hand kissing her softly on the lips and then I pick her up causing her to giggle as I take her upstairs.
Lena POV
I laugh as my wife tosses me onto the bed. "Stef, what are you doing?" I ask her as she locks the door. "I want us to talk. We don't have to do anything because I don't think you'd be able to handle it after what just happened downstairs. But we need to talk." I sigh and curl myself under the blankets not wanting this conversation to happen. "Lena, we always tell the kids that they need to use their words." I laugh at how she's trying to use my own words against me but all its doing is making me angry. "I don't want to talk about it Stef. I don't want to talk about it." I hear her sigh and few minutes pass before I realize she's crying. I quickly turn over and pull her to me. "Why are you crying?" She pulls me to her chest and begins to rock us. "I thought I lost you. Lena I don't need you to tell me everything that happened while you were there. Neither of you are ready for that. I just want to know how I can help you." I kiss her softly as she rubs my back but we are brought out of it when we hear a scream come from downstairs. I run to the door but I can't get the door unlocked. "Stef why did you lock the door? Oh my God Stef please help." She takes over and keeps telling me to breathe. She finally gets it unlocked and she rushes down the stairs with me behind her.
Callie POV
We decide to make spaghetti figuring its not only mine but both of our moms favorite. Once everything is done we quickly start picking on each other. It starts off as a simple thing of picking on Jesus and saying he's not as strong as he thinks he is. " Oh yeah Cal, we all know I'm stronger than all of you. But we don't know if you're ticklish." I tell them no but they all start in. "Jesus if you don't stop I'll put you in the closet." He stops and then looks to Brandon and Mariana, who both just look to me and smile. "No Jesus, this isn't funny. Don't do it." Before I can convince them that they won, they have me in the closet and are laughing. "Guys please let me out. Please. This isn't funny. Please." I'm getting hysterical at this point and all I can think of is being back in that room. I see what he's doing to mama and that's when I feel him. I scream. I bang on the door and then it finally opens. I see Jesus, Brandon, Mariana, and Jude all with tears in their eyes. "We're sorry Cal. We didn't know you'd get upset. We're so sorry." I look over to see Stef standing at the table and Lena behind her. "Baby come here." I walk towards Stef as she says this. But I run right past her and into Lena. I don't mean to hurt her but Lena is the only one who understands. "Mommy, I saw it all again." She wraps her arms around me and takes us outside. "Honey do you want me to come?" I listen as Mom asks Lena this and I'm surprised at how cold Lena sounds when she responds. "No." I turn back and look at mom, who looks like she just got shot. We sit down on the porch and she proceeds to tell me it isn't my fault. "What the hell do you mean its not my fault? If I hadn't been such a bitch, we wouldn't have got in that situation. I was being rude to you. All you were trying to do was help me find clothes but all I did was be a brat. That's why it was so easy for them to grab me and then you. Everything that happened to us in there is my fault! They put a gun to your head, they had one in my side. Lets not even forget how when we were in there, they threatened to shoot you on multiple accounts. Shit, lets not forget that they actually placed the barrel of the gun in my mouth at one point. You were scared out of your mind in that moment! What was I thinking? I was thinking that mom was never going to make it. That because I was selfish I lost my family again. I was hoping they would just end it for me because the pain was too much. So yes all of this is my fault!" I was pacing the yard at this point and I just wanted to throw something. I walked over to the firepit and picked up the mugs from last night. Turning one over in my hand, I quickly tossed it at the fence causing it to shatter. I quickly followed with the other. "Callie, it's okay. Please, just breathe." I'm not sure when Stef got outside but I'm pretty sure she had heard everything by the tears on her face and the ones on Mama's. They walk towards me hand in hand and I just fall.