Mariana had been dropped off at Jordyn's house a few minutes before the other girls arrived. She immediately got out the snacks to show that she had upheld her end of the deal. "I brought cheese crackers and chocolate chip cookies. My mom took me to the store to buy them."

"I guess that will work." Jordyn said snidely. "Let's see the sleeping bag."

Mariana carefully took her new sleeping bag out of its cover. "It has no cartoon characters on it. Grams bought it for me just a few days ago."

"I kind of like it. You should give it to me. Your grams or whoever can find another one for you, right?"

"No, I have to take everything home that I brought tonight. My mom is going to check. I will be in big trouble if anything is missing." Just then the phone in Mariana's purse made a noise.

"What was that?"

Mariana wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but she got out the phone Lena had sent with her. "I brought my cell phone. I think I just got a text." It was from Stef reminding her that she was loved and to let them know if she needed anything.

"You have a phone? Let me see it."

"I am not supposed to let anyone else touch it."

"I bet it is your mommy's phone that she sent with you because you are a baby who probably can't make it over here all night long. That way you can call and be taken home. Am I right?"

"No, it is my phone." Mariana lied.

She was interrupted by other girls beginning to arrive. Over half of them had sleeping bags with cartoon characters, but strangely, Jordyn left them alone. Mariana sort of thought things would be better once the other girls arrived and they were for a while. Jordyn's mother ordered pizza and they watched a movie together in their pajamas. During the movie several of the girls painted each other's nails. Mariana found herself having a great time and thinking her moms had certainly been wrong after all. Then the movie ended.

"So, Mariana has her own phone." Jordyn started sounding a little taunting again. "Get it out and show everyone."

"Really?" One of the other girls asked. "I thought your family had like a million kids… We only have two kids and my mom says she can barely keep us in clothes much less cell phones. I want to see it."

Mariana looked uncomfortable and made no move to get her mama's phone out. "I don't think I should."

"Well, she says it is hers…. I don't believe her. Mariana, let us see your phone now." Jordyn said again with more force. This time Mariana obediently got it out and handed it to the bully. "Look, you got a text from your mommy saying that she loves you. Or maybe she was trying to send that your other mom. You are all weird freaks. You know that, right? I mean who has two moms anyway? And so many kids that came from all over the place?"

"Don't make fun of my family." Mariana said quietly with seemingly little conviction.

"Or what? Your sister will come hit me again? If she does, we will sue. Whose phone is this anyway?" Jordyn looked up contact list. "Why would you have Principal Sanchez's number in your phone and like all the teachers from school? This is so not your phone."

"It is my mama's phone." Mariana finally admitted. "She just said I could use it tonight."

"Well, I think I am going to use it. I am going to text Principal Sanchez and tell her that she is an ugly witch."

"But she will think it came from my mama and she will get in trouble." Mariana said trying to get the phone back.

"Exactly. Then maybe your family of freaks will move since your mom will no longer have a job."

Mariana started to cry. "Please, give it back!"

Jordyn stood up and held the phone out of Mariana's reach. "Or maybe I will throw it in the toilet and ruin it. Then your mothers would send you back to whatever orphanage you are from."

"I didn't come from an orphanage and I am adopted they can't give me back. Just give me the phone!" Mariana cried.

"What are you going to give me instead?" Jordyn taunted.

The other girls just watched until Jordyn actually took the phone into the bathroom with everyone following. "STOP!" Someone else yelled.

Jordyn froze for a second to see who was opposing her. "Who said that?"

"I did." A girl said from the back of the group. "Give her back the phone, Jordyn."

"I cannot believe you are taking the freak's side, Hannah. We might not be able to be friends anymore."

"I think you are right." Hannah said. "You have always been sort of a bully, but this time you have gone too far. Give it back!"

Hannah's outburst seemed to inspire a few more girls who inspired more until all the rest of the girls were demanding Jordyn to give the phone back. She became flustered and was a little unsure what to do before the yelling drew her mother upstairs. "Jordyn, sweetheart, give back the phone. I think it might be time for all of your little friends to go on home."

XXXX

Mariana and Stef rode in silence on the way home. Mariana handed her mama the cell phone on her way in the door and took her sleeping bag to the tent with her siblings. "Did you find out what happened?" Lena asked Stef quietly.

"Nope, but I think she will tell us in the morning. The important thing is she knows the truth now about Jordyn and she made it home with her stuff. If they are all settled, I guess we can go back up stairs and get comfortable ourselves." Stef said suggestively.

"My parents will be upstairs with us, Babe. It isn't happening."

"That didn't slow us down last night." Stef said raising her eyebrows.

"Last night lots of people were upstairs. Tonight it is just us and them. Much more awkward. Not happening. I think we will have a baby join us tonight anyway."

"Jude seemed happy down there, I think he will make it down there all night long. Again, he joined us early this morning and it still made no difference last night."

"Not Jude. Mariana. I bet anything that she comes in within the next hour. We need to be ready for her. So, that means we put on pajamas and leave the door unlocked. Tomorrow night will be better for other stuff."

Lena's prediction was fairly accurate. Mariana knocked about an hour later and was invited in immediately. She crawled to her favorite spot between her moms. "Jordyn isn't a good friend. You were right."

"Well, I am sorry that you had to find that out this way. Do you want to tell us what happened?" Lena asked turning to face her daughter.

"She was just really mean. Plenty of other girls had cartoon characters on their pajamas and sleeping bags. It was just me that she picked on. She threatened to throw your phone in the toilet just to ruin it. She said I should be sent back to the orphanage. She called us all weird and freaks."

"And what did you do, Baby?" Stef asked causing Mariana to turn toward her.

"I told her no and I told her to stop. I tried to get the phone back. I told her I was adopted and there was no orphanage. But then the best thing of all happened."

"What was that?" Lena asked trying to suppress a yawn.

"A girl that I don't know very well, Hannah, told her to stop, too. Then everyone else did, too. Her mom sent us all home because she even saw Jordyn being mean. So, she isn't a good friend, but the other girls in my class might be. I think maybe on Monday I should ask Hannah if she would like to play with Lexie and me. That is assuming Lexie still wants to be my friend."

"She will. Real friends are like that. You did well tonight, Miss Thing. Your sister was worried, you know."

"Callie didn't want me to go. Thanks for letting me anyway." Mariana said closing her eyes. She finally felt comfortable and safe in between her mothers in her own house.

Both mothers leaned over about the same time and each kissed a cheek. "Our moms were right." Lena whispered. "She needed space. She needed to stand on her own feet."

When Stef woke up the next morning, Mariana had been replaced by Jude. She was surprised the switch had not woken her up. Recently, almost every morning around four thirty or five Jude would appear in their bed to finish out the night. This was a big compromise from how he really wanted to be sleeping with them all night long every night. Stef suspected on the nights she worked he did stay with Lena all night, but that was Lena's thing. Brandon was similar when he was a little smaller so it didn't seem so very odd.

Stef slowly got out of bed so that she would not disturb her wife or son. Jude noticed the slight change in warmth and snuggled closer to Lena. Stef smiled and covered him in a blanket. Then she left the room and crept down the stairs to check on her campers.

Sharon was already up and stretching. "I am not saying that I am old, Stefanie, but sleeping on the couch last night nearly killed my back. I wouldn't do this for any other kids. My grandbabies, though, are worth it." The two women walked into the kitchen. Sharon sat down while Stef started the coffee. "I was happy to see Mariana back with us last night. It felt more complete. I guess her night didn't go as well as she planned?"

"Not really, no. We were concerned about her too, and more than happy to pick her up even though it was close to midnight. I wasn't going to tell you this, but it was just like you and Dana said. We gave her space and she stood up for herself. Jordyn's mom actually sent all of the girls home when she witnessed the behavior. Maybe there is hope for that girl yet."

"Mariana or Jordyn?" Sharon asked with a wink.

"Both I guess. You know, Mom, I have been doing some thinking the last few days. Dad is crazy about Callie, but now virtually ignores Brandon as he has not turned out to be the rough boy he was hoping for. His comments to Jude a few days ago were inexcusable. He helped raise that kid for the first four years of his life and now because my six year old is interested in unicorns he is labelled as a pansy. Jude didn't understand, but Brandon did. What if one of my kids does turn out to be gay like me? Will Dad accept them?"

"I am not sure what to tell you, Stefanie. I know your dad loves you very much, but he has a hard time showing it. In his world, males hunt, play sports, bring home most of the income, and drink. Women care for the kids and house. You broke the mold. Your kids continue to surprise us all. Just give you father time. He is mostly supportive of your wife now and like you said he is crazy about Callie. He will be proud of the others someday, it might just take time for him to see what you have just expressed. I often say that you are just like me, but in reality you have plenty of your father in you."

"Callie hit Jordyn based on Dad's advice to hit first and hit hard. Secretly, I was proud. I used to go by that advice myself it made perfect sense, except it really doesn't when I really think about it. Hitting Jordyn changed nothing for Mariana. It really just made Callie a bully for hitting someone smaller. Hannah, Mariana's new friend, did the right thing. She told Jordyn to stop and inspired a whole party of other girls to join her."

"Yes, this is true. Although, from the sound of things, I think a few more people punching her in the nose would also do her some good." Sharon laughed and winked. "Callie was right that Mariana needs to be a little more aggressive and learn to stand up for herself. You are also right when you say hitting is probably not the right step. Also, your father loves you and your family. His advice may not always be perfect, but his intentions are good. You and Lena are doing a fantastic job with your kids, Stefanie. Don't question that."

XXXX

"Jude, what are you doing, baby?" Lena asked her son later that day when he was in her flower bed covered in dirt. She had been watching him from the front window for some time and sort of wondered what he was doing.

"I am helping with your pansies, Mama. Grandpa says I am like them and that makes me very special, right? You said that your flowers needed lots of special care. I love to help you!" Jude said taking off a few petals in his loving ministrations.

"Yes, my flowers are special and so are you. Go ahead and hop out of my flower bed, sweetheart. I think I need to talk to you a little." Jude walked over to Lena and held up his arms. She picked him up and set him on the ground. "Let's go sit on the porch."

Jude took Lena's hand and sat down on the steps of the porch. "Did I do something bad, Mama? Am I going to get a timeout?" Jude asked sincerely.

"No, we just need to talk about what your grandpa said. Mommy and I are happy with whoever you become, you know that, right? We will love you no matter who you are friends with, no matter what job you want to have, no matter what you like to do, and no matter who you love someday."

Jude looked confused. "Yes, but you don't want me to be police officer like Mommy because that scares you. You also don't like me being friends with that one boy in my class because I am a nice boy, right? And I thought you didn't like when Jesus and I play games like we are shooting…"

"If you want to be a police officer, it would be okay. And, yeah, I don't like you hanging out with Dustin because he will get you in trouble. That is not my point, though. My point is that Mommy and I support who you are."

Jude looked at Lena funny. "I don't get it, Mama. Do you not like something I am doing? I will stop, I promise."

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. It is just that you said my flowers are special and it is true. You, however, are more special to me than any flowers. As my baby, you require more special care than them." Stef came out on the front porch and squeezed in on the other side of Jude. "Mommy and I love you lots."

"I love you, too." Jude said snuggling in. "I am just like your little pansy, right?"

Stef and Lena made eye contact over Jude's had. "I think what Mama has been trying to tell you is to not refer to yourself as a pansy. That's what we call flowers, not people. Grandpa misspoke when he said that a few days ago. He wasn't feeling well and had to leave right after he said that, remember?"

"Oh, really, Mama? Why didn't you just say that?" Jude asked looking up at Lena.

Lena laughed a little. "I don't know, Little Man, but that is what I was trying to say. Also stay out of my flowerbed. Those pansies are precious to me and I don't want even my favorite baby boy to destroy them. Got it?" Lena asked poking him in the ticklish spot on his stomach.

Jude giggled. "Okay, Mama."

"Go change clothes and get yourself cleaned up for lunch, Jude." Stef said pulling him to his feet. "Your grandparents want to take all of us out to eat because Grams and Gramps are leaving tonight."

"I want to take a shower! I can do it by myself like everyone else! Please?" He asked.

"Sure. I will be there in ten minutes to check on you, though." Stef said winking at Lena.

Jude took off running into the house, not even bothering to shut the front door all the way. "So, I am excited to see one of our kids likes to be clean. Maybe his excitement will spread to the others?" Stef said smiling a little more.

"Maybe. I think Frank needs to come back and apologize to our kids. If Jude took is comments this much to heart, imagine what a certain ten year old boy must be thinking. If Callie really registered all of this, she is probably ready to hit him also."

"You are right. Jude, though, is not ready for these sorts of talks. It is refreshing really. We should cling to his innocence while we can."