Chapter 13

Stef pulled up into the garage of their house and pushed the gearshift into park. She looked over to her daughter and watched as she stared back at the house with a blank expression on her face. The cop wondered if getting up and starting to grab their bags from the trunk would be the smartest move.

It would be quick and painless for the both of them.

But she couldn't help but fear what pushing Callie would do. It seemed as if that was all she was doing lately.

"Let me know when you're ready," the blonde suggested in a gentle tone. "We don't have to go in right away. We can take as long as you need."

Callie took a deep breath before she turned to look at the woman. The teen simply stared at her in confusion.

"What's wrong?" Stef asked, wondering just what she had done wrong this time.

"This," Callie gestured to her mother. "The way you're treating me. Like if I'm a doll or something. You're talking as if I might just break if you make the wrong move."

Stef took in a deep breath. "Well, maybe I don't want to make the wrong move again, Callie. I'm just trying to give you the option, my love."

"I've already made my choice," the teen said simply. "I've decided to come back."

"And I'm proud of you for doing that. I know this all must've been very difficult for you–"

"You're doing it again," Callie interrupted as she shook her head and stared back at the house. She didn't like being treated as if everyone had to walk around eggshells in her presence. As if she'd change her mind and leave again, the second things got hard. "Stef, you're asking me to trust you without you being able to trust me…being able to trust that I want to stay."

Stef sighed. "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, sweets. I just want you to feel a hundred percent comfortable when you walk back into that house. I didn't want you to feel like I was pushing you because–"

"You're afraid I'd want to leave," Callie finished for her.

There was a short silence after the girl spoke. Stef knew that her daughter was right but she didn't want to admit it.

"Well, I won't," the teen tried to assure her.

"Well," Stef nodded. "Then, good."

Callie took in a deep breath as she watched Stef open the front door of her home. She was nervous more than anything but she had to do this. She had to at least try. The last thing she wanted to do was spend the rest of her life wondering "What if?"

And what pulled her in even more was the thought of seeing her baby brother again.

She didn't care how old he was. To her, Jude was always the baby and the best part of all of this.

"She's here. Come quick!" Callie heard Mariana yell not very far from the doorway. Callie expected them to be there but the last thing she expected was to have to see them all at once.

Stef pulled the door all the way open and smiled at the rest of her children who were practically running toward the entrance.

"Callie!" Jude shouted before he threw his arms around his sister the instant he saw her. She barely got a glimpse of his face but it was enough to make her smile widen as she embraced him with a tighter grip. It wasn't until he got so close to her that she could remember just how much she loved and still loves him.

"Jude," she said with a smile as she closed her eyes and took in the moment that she longed for since the day she left. How could I leave ever leave him? She thought to herself suddenly.

"We missed you," Mariana added as she forced herself into their hug.

"I'm glad that your back," Brandon added in a soft tone which caused Callie to open her eyes and meet his gaze.

"Same here," Jesus said.

"Okay," Stef yelled. "Mariana, Jude, let's try not to suffocate her the second she walks in the door. We don't want her dead yet," she tried to joke even though she considered that it might've been too early to do so.

Mariana and Jude let go of her.

"So where have you been? Where are you living? We have so much to catch up on," Mariana continued. "Like seriously, you have no idea how gloomy this house has been without you."

"Yeah," Brandon mumbled as he squinted his eyes at Mariana for her choice of words. "It was pretty gloomy."

Stef decided to chime in, "Jesus, why don't you be a gentleman and bring Callie's bag up to her room. Brandon, you can grab mine and do the same."

"You want your bag in Callie's room?" Brandon asked her.

"No, B. My room. Take it to my room," she rolled her eyes. "Where's Mama?"

"Right here," Lena said as she made her way out of the kitchen and towards the hallway where everyone else was. Her eyes immediately met Stef's and the blonde couldn't help but notice the gleam in her eyes. She hated being apart from Stef and regretted how their last interaction turned out. Stef walked over to her wife and kissed her on the lips and pulled away. "I'm sorry for what I said," Lena said with tears in her eyes.

"Honey, we're fine," Stef assured her as she held the woman's head in her hands.

Lena nodded before falling into her wife's arms once more. The brunette knew she messed up by letting Stef go, but she tried to do the right thing by asking her to come back.

It wasn't until she opened her eyes again to meet Callie's that she felt a strange feeling take over her body. She didn't feel warm and safe anymore.

A hard feeling of regret and started to sweep over her. Her heart froze as if she wasn't sure she'd made the right choice again.

She wanted to love Callie. She wanted to have the unconditional love that all mothers should have for their children. But she couldn't help how she felt when she physically saw her other daughter. It was anger, fear, hope, and resentment all at once.

Callie looked away from the woman after getting an awful feeling from that look she didn't quite understand. I told Stef I can do this, she repeated in her mind. Everything's going to be fine, she tried to convince herself.