Over the next several days Callie was practically walking on sunshine. She had not, to her knowledge, ever felt the way she currently felt. She did not even truly know what to call this feeling.

Stef and Lena had sat everyone down after school Wednesday and talked to them, but, apparently, the family of five had been discussing adopting Callie and Jude for some time because no one besides Jude seemed surprised when Stef had told them all they were planning on adopting the two young children.

Everyone had seemed very excited, even Frankie who was still mad at Callie about the entire necklace thing. Jude had been shocked and then lunged at Lena and Stef, crying much like Callie had.

Callie had taken that time to sneak away from the family she would soon be able to call her own because she'd been overwhelmed by the entire situation. She was happy, but still overwhelmed.

She'd walked out the back door and sat under the tree in the backyard.

Jesus had watched her leave the house and then followed her, making sure to make enough noise on his way to sit by her because he didn't want to spook her.

"Why are you out here," Jesus asked her.

Callie shrugged, but didn't say anything.

"I remember what it's like to feel like no one wants you and then to be overwhelmed to find out someone actually does. Moms don't think I remember life before them. Mariana doesn't. I do. My biological mom used to leave us for days alone. She did a lot of drugs. Then we went to one foster home after another until we were dumped off at the police station and Mom brought us home. We weren't here long before she and Mama asked Brandon if he cared if they adopted us. He said yes — he said there was plenty enough to go around for all of us."

"Who is Brandon," Callie asked Jesus, turning her head to the side so she could see him.

"He was our brother. Mom's biological son. He was killed in a car accident when we were five and he was six. His dad was driving drunk. That's why Mom got so upset when you ran from her into the street the other day," Jesus explained quietly.

"How'd you know about that?"

Jesus laughed, "Have you met Mariana? She told me about it. She was surprised Mom smacked you. I wasn't though. I didn't have to be there to know you scared Mom to death," Jesus explained.

Callie turned red and placed her head back on her knees.

"Do you really not care if they adopt us," Callie asked him.

"There is enough to go around, Cals. You deserve a home where you are taken care of. Everyone does. And yea, Mom and Mama can't save everyone, but they can save you and Jude."

Callie sat there for several moments, a small smile coming across her face.

"Why doesn't she ever talk about Brandon," Callie asked Jesus. Callie was starting to unfold from her position a small bit.

"She misses him. I think it hurts her to talk about him. I know she talks to Mama about him. And on his birthday and the day he died, we try to go on vacation. We have pictures of him around the house, just not as many as of me, Mariana, and Frankie because he was only six. He would be seventeen now."

"Do you think he would want Jude and me to be adopted by your moms?"

Jesus smiled and looked over at Callie, "Yea, I think he would definitely want you and Jude to be adopted by our moms. Remember that, if nothing else, Cals, they're going to adopt you. They are your moms, too."

"Not yet," Callie whispered.

"Yes, now. They are your moms, too."

"What if something goes wrong? What if they decide they don't want to adopt us? It takes forever to adopt kids — That is forever they have to change their minds," Callie said, staring off into the distance.

"Won't happen. I promise you. If they even thought for a second they wouldn't adopt you after telling you they wanted, too, I would never forgive them. But, don't forget, Cals, I know them. And I think you know them, too," Jesus said.

"Yea," Callie whispered. After that, the conversation was done. But Callie had a lot to think about.


Callie was sitting on her bed, thinking about her talk with Jesus. She needed to go talk to Stef. She needed to tell her she was sorry for scaring her when she ran out in the middle of the street. It hadn't really occurred to her that the reason Stef was so angry was because maybe, just maybe, she really did care. Maybe, so did Lena.

"What are you starring at," Mariana asked, bringing Callie out of her thoughts.

"Nothing," Callie said, looking down at her lap.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Callie. Geeze, lighten up."

"When are you going to tell them you already got your belly button pierced?"

Mariana froze and looked at Callie.

"How did you know about that," Mariana asked, her hands on her hips.

Callie rolled her eyes.

"You know I sleep in here, too, right? Don't worry. I am not a snitch. I just wanted to know when you were going to tell."

"I'm not planning on telling them," Mariana said.

"Why? They're going to find out when you go swimming, or when you wear some of your shirts," Callie said.

"Yea, well, just don't tell, okay," Mariana said, "we are practically sisters now and sisters don't tell on each other."

"I don't plan on telling them. How would that be fair to you? I am no snitch."

Mariana smiled at Callie. She definitely felt like they were starting to bond — even if it was with a secret she was keeping from her mothers.


"I'd never have thought Jude would cry like he did," Stef said as she started to change her clothes into her pajamas. Frankie and Jude had been bathed and were in bed, asleep. Callie had showered and was lying in bed, and the twins were now getting ready to head to bed after they finished watching a show on t.v.

"He is excited. They both are," Lena said as she took her bra off and reached for her pajamas top.

Both mothers were caught off guard when their door slammed open and Callie was standing in the doorway. Stef and Lena both went to grab their clothes faster than they had been previously.

"Callie," Stef admonished lightly. It wasn't a big deal the girl had come into their room, it had just caught them off guard. Jesus and Mariana always knocked, they could hear Frankie coming, and Jude never asked to come into their room.

"I need to talk to you," Callie stated matter of factly.

"Okay, you know we are always here to talk to you," Lena said, trying to put her shirt on without showing everything she had to her foster daughter. Finally she decided to just turn around and put her shirt on quickly.

"I've seen naked people before, Lena," Callie said, rolling her eyes. Why were these people so worried about seeing one another naked? She'd seen a million people naked in her life. It came with being a foster kid and going to juvie.

"I am sure you have, Callie, but …" Lena started when Callie cut her off, "I need to talk to Stef."

Lena nodded, "Okay. I will give you a bit while I go check on Frankie, Jude, and the twins."

Lena went to walk out the door when Callie grabbed her shirt and tugged on it. Lena looked down and watched Callie motion for her to bend down so she could whisper in her ear, "I wanna tell her I am sorry for running into traffic."

Lena smiled, "You are a good girl, Callie. I am proud of you. Go jump in bed and talk to Stef. I will be back in a little bit."

Callie nodded and then walked over to Stef and Lena's bed, climbing up into it, and then watching Stef finish getting dressed in her pajamas before coming over to the bed and sitting down beside Callie.

"What would you like to talk about, Bug," Stef asked.

Callie watched her quietly for several moments before crossing her legs and positioning herself directly in front of Stef.

"I wanted to tell you I was sorry for scaring you the other day. I didn't understand why you were so mad, but then me and Jesus …"

"Jesus and I …" Stef said automatically, causing Callie to blush and duck her head.

"Jesus and I talked this afternoon after you told everyone you were going to adopt Jude and me. I understand why you were mad now," Callie said quietly.

"Oh, Love, I was not mad. I was scared. I was so scared and upset. I was never mad. I truly love you, Callie. I want nothing but the best for you. You could have been killed."

"Like Brandon was. Jesus told me about him. I am really sorry I brought back those memories for you. I am really sorry."

Stef smiled sadly at Callie.

"I forgive you, Callie. I would never not forgive you for anything. Nothing you could do would change the way I feel about you."

"Really," Callie asked, quietly, scared that everything around her was a cruel joke, but daring to wish that it was all true.

"Really. I promise, Callie. Can I give you a hug, Love," Stef asked.

Callie nodded, tears starting to fall again. She felt like all she ever did was cry since coming to live with Stef and Lena.

Stef leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Callie, engulfing her in the love she so wanted the child to feel.

"I love you, Callie. I love you very much," Stef said, whispering in Callie's ear and then kissing the top of her head.


Lena walked in Jude's room to make sure he was covered up before she went to bed. Frankie was sound asleep, Mariana had been getting dressed for bed, and Jesus had already been half asleep when she'd walked into his room.

Jude had a bad habit of kicking his blankets off right before he fell asleep, and Lena wanted to make sure he was warm. He had been asleep earlier, so she was surprised to find him awake, his light brown eyes watching her as she climbed the bottom two steps up his loft bed.

"Hey, Bubba, why aren't you asleep?"

He shrugged and then turned to his side, putting his pinky in his mouth, something they had noticed he did when he was thinking and tired.

"Wanna tell me about it," Lena asked him.

He stared at her for a few moments before finally speaking up.

"Can I call you mama?"

Lena smiled, her eyes starting to shine with tears.

"I would love that, Bubba. I would love it very much," Lena said, kissing Jude's head and gently rubbing his back as he fell asleep with a smile on his face.