Callie and Stef did get up for their run in the morning. Stef told Callie to put on warmish play clothes since the morning air was cool. For the first run, Stef determined to see how far Callie could run and then they would walk home from there. She showed her daughter how to properly stretch in the driveway and they started off in a slow jog. "I can go faster, Mom." Callie said not at all out of breath.

"We will work up to it. When you start a new running regiment it is always good to start off slower and work up. How about we stay at this pace until we get to the end of the block and then we speed up just a little more?"

At about a mile, Stef could tell that Callie was just about out of steam. "Okay, Bug, now we sprint and then we can cool down with a walk the rest of the way home. Ready?"

Before Stef said go, Callie took off running. Stef smiled before running after her and quickly overtaking the little girl. She then slowed down a stopped for Callie to catch up while she got her breath. "So, how was it?"

"Good. Did we go a mile?"

"Yep and it will be a little more by the time we walk the rest of the way home."

"Are you going to run some more without me? Usually you are gone longer than this."

"No, I think I am good for today. Are you okay? You haven't asked to sleep with us for a long time now when you weren't sick."

"I'm fine. I just thought it would be easier for you…" Callie said lamely.

"Right… You know even at ten it is okay if you need us or even just want us."

"I guess I just didn't want to be alone. I know that Mari was in my room, but she was sleeping already and she was covering all of her bed with her arms. If you said no, I was going to try Jude next. So, it wasn't really about you."

"Ah, I see. Just anyone. If Jude hadn't worked out, maybe the neighbor's house?" Stef teased.

"It's not like that, Mom…" Callie said rolling her eyes a little. "Maybe I just needed a little time with my moms. Colleen was younger than you when she, well um, died. I just got a little scared when I laid down by myself. I am sure that I will be okay tonight."

"Well, if you aren't, Bug, you know where we are. Just like we said last night, you are always welcome. That's what were are there for."

XXXX

"The run went well, Callie probably does need some counseling just like you said. She was afraid to sleep alone last night, by the way. She has showered and allowed you to dry her hair. I would say this morning had already been successful." Stef reported kissing Lena as she made breakfast.

"Sounds like it. I will talk to the school counselor this morning to see if she can talk to Callie today. It probably won't take much as long as we keep assuring her that we are here and we love her." Lena carefully put the eggs onto five plates and started taking them over to the breakfast bar. "Would you go get the kids so that we can get to school on time?"

"Sure! No problem!" Stef started up the stairs only to hear yelling.

"Leave him alone, Jesus! Jude is my brother and my responsibility!" Callie shrieked and it was followed by a thud.

"Don't put your hands on my brother!" Mariana yelled after her.

Stef made it to the boys' room only to see Jesus getting up and approaching Callie angrily. Jude was cowering in a corner. Callie and Mariana were standing almost nose to nose. "Okay, guys, break it off now. Jude, Mama says breakfast is ready. Go get Brandon and eat. You three have a seat. Callie over there, Jesus there, and Mariana there." Stef said pointing at three separate areas.

Callie gave Mariana another shove before heading to her area. "Mom, did you see that? Did you see what Callie did to my sister?" Jesus asked hopping back up.

"I did and it was unacceptable. Sit back down. What is going on with you three?"

"I came in here to make sure that Jude didn't need anything. Jesus was making fun of him, so I told him to stop."

"And she shoved me just like she did to Mari." Jesus pointed out.

"Did you shove your brother, Callie?" Stef asked.

"No. I shoved Jesus. He wasn't being nice to my real brother. I had to do something because I am all Jude has." Callie explained.

"Jesus is also your brother. As you can see he is not pretend or fake. We do not shove in this family. Jude is not your responsibility, he is mine, just like you. What were you doing to Jude, Jesus?"

"Nothing. I just told him that he needed a haircut but that he should wait for Mama and not do it himself. He thought it was funny, he was laughing. I would never hurt my little brother, I promise. Then Callie came and shoved me out of nowhere."

"Is that what happened, Callie?"

"I am not sure on all of it. I just know that I heard Jesus making fun of Jude cutting his hair. I had to defend him because he is my responsibility. I am his only family, just me no one else."

"I see. I think you owe both Jesus and Mariana an apology."

"Not until Jesus apologizes to my real brother." Callie answered back haughtily.

"Let's get one thing clear to all of you. I have five children. All five of those children are mine and are part of the same family. Just as all of you belong to me, you all belong to each other. We have no real siblings and fake siblings. Yes, you have some who were born to the same person, but now you are all mine. We are all one family. Mama and I are in charge of all of you. I can deal with Jesus and Jude in a little while. Right now, I am saying that you, Callie, need to apologize to your brother and sister for shoving them."

"They are not my brother and sister. Jude is my only brother."

"I have documentation that says otherwise. I am a mother of five children, that makes them your brother and sister. If you are not going to apologize, then you are going to go to your room to cool off. Either Mama or I will be back to talk to you in a few minutes."

Callie walked past Stef acting very mad. "You aren't my real mother either." Stef then heard Callie's bedroom door slam closed.

"How about you two go on downstairs? Go have some breakfast and tell Mama that I need to talk to her up here for a minute."

"Is Callie going to apologize?" Jesus asked again.

"Yes, after she cools down she will do that. Just go right now." The twins left the room quietly.

Stef could hear Callie stomping around her room rather than sitting still to cool off. She waited a little while before she knocked and walked in. "Don't you even knock before coming in here?" Callie yelled.

"I did, Bug, you just didn't hear me, what is going on in here?" Stef asked seeing that all of the posters from the girls' walls were now on the ground, some of them torn into several pieces. The dresser drawers were also dumped and one drawer looked broken.

"Nothing." Callie said looking up from destroying her freshly made bed.

"I am getting tired of you saying nothing is happening. Calm down!" Callie threw her pillow at Stef who easily caught it and approached the girl. Callie started wildly flailing her arms trying to made contact, but Stef wrapped her in a tight hug. "Sweetheart, stop! Mommy is here."

Lena got the message from the twins and upon hearing the commotion hurried upstairs to join her wife and daughter. "Oh, Baby!" Lena also put her arms around Callie securing her into a very tight cocoon. "Put your hand on Mama's heart, Baby." Lena said as Stef released her hold on one of Callie's arms. "Feel it beat, slow and steady. See if you can calm down your heart to feel like mine. Take deep breaths, in and out."

Callie calmed a few minutes later and the moms went and sat down on her bed with her. "I feel kind of tired and sick, Mama." Callie said after a little while.

"I can see that you would feel that way. You basically just had a panic attack. You should probably take a nap. Mom is off work today so she can stay with you all day. I have to go to work today, but I will come home for lunch and then just as quickly as possible after school."

Callie nodded a little. "Am I in big trouble?"

"Not really. You still need to make some apologies and later you will need to clean up your room, but otherwise we are more concerned than angry with you, Bug." Stef explained. "Let's take you back into my room for your nap. Your bed needs a little help before someone could actually sleep in it."

Lena and Stef guided Callie onto their bed and then stepped back into the hallway together. "I will call Mari's counselor and see if she can get Callie in this morning. I do have to go to work, but call if you need anything. Her breakfast is downstairs. See if she will eat a little something when she wakes up."

"We will be fine. I know she will want Mama snuggles, but I think it will be good for the two of us to spend the day together. Send Mari up with the breakfast as well as Callie's favorite movies before you go."

Lena went back into the room to say good bye to Callie. Then she came back up and kissed her wife. "I love you. I will let you know when she can have an appointment."

"Love you, too." Stef went back into her bedroom. By the time Mariana made it up the stairs, Callie was already asleep. "Your sister isn't feeling very well. Thanks for bring these things up to us. Have a good day at school, Baby."

Mariana gave Stef a hug and kissed her cheek. "It will be good having Mama and Jude back at school at least. Will she feel better tonight?"

"I hope so. She really didn't mean that you aren't her sister, you know. I think it was the sick part of her speaking. Regardless, she will still apologize later."

Mariana nodded slowly. "It is okay, Mom. I understand. I love you and I will see you afterschool."

"Love you, too, Miss Thing. Go learn something." Mariana left the room softly closing the door behind her. Callie stirred a little and Stef pulled her closer. "Rest easy, Bug, Mommy isn't leaving you today."

XXX

Lena called within an hour to tell Stef that the counselor said to bring her right away. She always tried to leave the first two hours of the day for emergencies and this would definitely qualify. Stef gently kissed Callie to wake her up. "Open your eyes, Love Bug. Your nap is over for right now, we have to get ready to go to the doctor."

"Please just let me sleep. I don't think I am really sick…" Callie mumbled.

"No, Bug, wake up, please. I am taking you to see a counselor. It is someone you can talk to about all the feelings that you have inside. Mama and I were very concerned with you this morning and we would like you to talk to this lady. It is the same one that Mari goes to talk to every now and then, it won't be so bad."

"Is she going to make me play with toys? Mari said she played with toys there and she doesn't really like to go. Couldn't I just talk to you?"

"Apparently not if this morning was any indication. I thought things were going well. We ran, you showered, Mama helped with your hair. Then all the sudden you became something else. You didn't come talk to me and tell me what was going on. Instead you lashed out at your brother over a very small conflict. That's not normal for you. And I am unsure on the toys question. Mari was little when she started there so it might be different."

"I am not sure why I got so angry. I will be better, though."

"It is not a matter of you acting better. Mama and I think just a couple of sessions will help you let go of your anger. You had a panic attack this morning, that was very scary for us and I am sure terrifying for you. In order for my baby to be healthy, you need to go to a doctor. Just like when you are sick we take you to the pediatrician."

"Will you stay with me the whole time?" Callie asked finally sitting up.

"Only if you want me to. I can wait outside if that makes you more comfortable. It is anything you want."

"Okay, well, I am already dressed. Mama braided my hair this morning so it is probably okay. Do I need to do anything else before we go?"

"Breakfast." Stef looked down at the cold scrambled eggs on the bedside table. "How about if we go through a drive through on your way to the doctor? You can eat in the car."

Callie got up and stretched some. "Will I be able to get a biscuit with bacon, egg, and cheese? I really like those. Then maybe we can share some coffee?"

"Yes on the biscuit, no on the coffee. When you graduate from high school and move away to college you can have all the coffee you want. Until then no."

"Please? Sometimes you give me just a sip. I am sorry that I was mean to Jesus and Mariana. I will go to the doctor without any more complaining. Please, Mommy?"

Stef laughed a little. "Still no. Have you considered law school? You are awfully good at pleading your case. Seriously, not a word about even asking about coffee to your mama."

Stef grabbed the car keys and her purse as she guided Callie out the door. The stopped at a McDonalds on the way over and got Callie her sandwich. Stef ordered coffee and did give Callie a few sips despite her earlier no.

"So, why are you acting funny, Mom?" Callie asked after about her fifth sip of the coffee when they were getting close the counselor's office.

"What do you mean, Bug?"

"Am I crazy? Is that what this is about? I think the doctor you are taking me to is for people who are a little crazy."

"You aren't crazy and neither are the other people in the office. Mariana still goes there occasionally and she is certainly not crazy. I would appreciate you not saying that when we get there. I just want this to be a special day for us."

"So that's why you got me a special breakfast and you are letting me drink coffee after you said no?" Callie asked.

"I let you have some every now and then. Besides, you woke up late enough that Mama's breakfast was cold. It is no big deal."

"It is a big deal, Mom. You always say that your no means no and not to ask again. Just two weeks ago you reheated my dinner because it was cold and made me eat it anyway when I went to a friend's house after school."

Stef sighed. "If I am being different, it's because I was concerned for you and I was hoping to get you to your appointment happy. Since when did you become the consistency police when you are getting an advantage? You should just be saying, 'Thank you, Mom.' As I am your mom unlike you said earlier today."

"Good point. Thank you, Mom." Callie parroted as Stef pulled into the parking lot.

Lena had done most of the taking of Mariana to this building, but Stef had done it enough to know where she was going. Callie had only been there once as Mariana's counselor had requested a time to watch her interact with each of her siblings a long time ago. Stef got Callie checked in and then took her to sit down while she filled out the paperwork.

Pretty soon the counselor came into the waiting room looking for Callie. "Hey, Callie. Do you remember me? We met a few years ago when you came to play with you sister."

"Not really. I don't even want to be here today. Are you going to make me play with toys like you do Mari?"

"Maybe not. Your paperwork says you are almost eleven. We might just sit down and talk instead. Let's go on back and get started, shall we?" Callie looked back at Stef. "I would really like to talk to you by yourself at first and then we will send for Mom later. Would that be okay?"

"It would be okay, I guess. She really wanted to come with us and be with me all the time. We are kind of having a special day and stuff."

The therapist read between the lines. "Well if that is what she wants she can come with us right now and then when she becomes comfortable she may come back in here and wait."

Callie looked toward Stef for confirmation that it would be okay and then she got up and made sure Stef was also standing up before making her way into the office area. She looked around the spots before going to sit on the couch and motioning Stef to come sit next to her.

"So, I heard that you just got back from taking a trip to Chicago. Do you want to tell me a little about it?"

"Not really. I don't think you really want to hear about the trip anyway. You want to hear about 'my feelings' about the funeral and stuff." Callie said using air quotes.

Stef didn't approve of the attitude, but she also knew that she really wasn't involved in this counseling session. She was only there until Callie felt okay about her leaving so she didn't correct it.

"That is a valid opinion. Funerals are never fun. My aunt died when I was about your age. I had only met her a few times, but my mom insisted on taking me to her funeral. I felt very sad that I really didn't know her. Do you know what I mean?"

"No." Callie said and then glanced at Stef.

"You know, I am okay with stepping out right now for a little while." Stef said standing up realizing that even though Callie wanted her there, she would not share while her mother was in the room. "Feel free to share your real feelings while I am gone. Make sure you mention destroying your room and lashing out at your brother."