AN Thanks for all of the reviews! I was having some computer issues and some time issues, but I think I am back now. :)

"Wake up, Callie! It is a little earlier than normal, but I thought it would be good to go do something this morning. Let's go." Stef said gently shaking Callie, but trying to stay quiet.

"Mom! It's like five in the morning and we ran yesterday." Callie grumbled.

"And we are going somewhere else today. Get up. I have something I want to show you."

Callie got up and threw on some of the running clothes her and Stef had bought a few weeks back. Early mornings were not really her thing, but she was curious about what her mom wanted to show her.

"We are actually going to take the car and go out to a little place I used to go with my dad sometimes. How does that sound?"

Callie climbed in the car and buckled her seatbelt. "Are we going to keep this a secret from Mama?"

"Nope. I told her my plans last night." Stef replied before started the car. "This spot right over here the best spot in the whole world to watch the sunrise. That's why I had to get you up so early."

"How do you know it is the best spot? Have you seen it from lot of other places?"

"I just know, Bug. The only thing that makes my spot better is sharing it with someone that I love. Today, you are that person."

"Have you brought Mama here?"

"Of course. The first night we left you guys with my mom, we came here. We have come several times since then. Sometimes, though, when I come with Mama I miss the sunrise because I get distracted by her beauty…"

"Oh, Mom! That is way too much information…" Callie said giggling.

"Brandon has been out here before, too. He may not remember, though, because it has been a long time. In fact, I think I brought both of you out here once sometime after the wedding. I hadn't remembered that until now. Anyway, I want to share it with you again today."

Stef parked the car and got out a blanket and a thermos from the back of the car. She spread out the blanket and the two had a seat close together. Stef poured a little of the hot liquid into the lid of the thermos.

"This is sort of a mocha drink, heavy on the hot chocolate, light on the coffee." Stef handed the lid to Callie and she took a drink.

"Thanks, Mom."

Stef pulled her daughter close to her and after some silence she spoke again. "Today is a new day, Bug. We can put aside most of yesterday and today can be different. Do you see what I am saying?"

"I think so. Yesterday did have some issues."

"If you think back to the twins' adoption, you may remember that Grams told Mariana that she would take her to get her ears pierced from a real place. Do you remember what Mama and I said?"

"You said that Grams could take her when she turned twelve. That's your rule."

"Exactly. Mariana will be twelve in just a few years. That is soon enough to have holes in her ears. You do know why you were grounded, though, right? It really wasn't the ear piercing as much as plotting with Brandon."

"I know and I deserved it." Callie and Stef watched the sunrise again without speaking for a while. "The sunrise is really pretty. I think I do remember when you brought us up here. Brandon and I rolled down the hill over there and you had to carry us back up. Then we went home and Mama had to pick the grass out of my hair before school."

"Yes, it did go something like that. Then I thought I should wait to bring you here again. Maybe you weren't quite old enough to enjoy it yet. You are going to be eleven soon, Callie. I am not sure where all of the time has gone. I do know that you could be a great helper for your Mama today rather than causing her more work like yesterday. What do you think?"

"I will do it. I will help her today."

When the sun was all the way up, Stef looked at her watch. "Well, I think it is time for us to be heading home. I have to go to work today and I want to come home to good times." Stef said again helping Callie up and gathering up their things.

XXX

"If you really want to help me, Callie, how about if you go take water bottles to all the kids playing outside?" Lena said becoming exhausted not only with the meal preparations, but also with Callie constantly needing direction.

"Okay, Mama!" Callie loaded up her arms with water and ran outside. Even after the dispute yesterday, it was agreed that the boys could have the basketball back. Dylan and Grant were out playing again this morning. Callie handed both of them water before heading toward the front yard. Phil was outside watching Brandon, Jesus, and Matt ride bikes. When they boys wanted to ride, Callie offered her bike so Matt because she was going to help her mama all day. Matt accepted when he saw that her bike was blue rather than pink. Callie handed enough water for all four to Phil.

"Thanks, Callie! I think the boys got out Mariana's bike if you want to ride with them for a few minutes. They are getting ready to race. Your mama said that was one of your favorite things."

Callie looked over to Mariana's bike tempted for a minute. "No thanks. I am helping today. Maybe later."

Then the boys came racing by and Matthew one the race. "Great job, Matt! Are you guys going to race again?" Phil called.

The boys brought their bikes into the driveway and walked over to get the water. "Maybe in a minute. I think we need a drink first. Thank for the water, Callie." Matthew said reaching for a bottle.

"You should borrow my bike and race Matt, Callie! He is really fast, but I think you could beat him." Brandon said getting a good drink of water.

"No way! She couldn't beat him!" Jesus said. "I couldn't even beat him!"

"I am faster than you, Jesus! I think I could beat Matt easily if I wasn't helping Mama today."

"Just one race, Callie! I have to show Brandon I could beat you. It would only take a few minutes. Your mama won't mind much. She said this morning you could go riding with us as long as my dad watched and we didn't leave this area. Please, Callie?" Matthew pleaded.

"Just one race." Callie said going over to Mariana's bike. Matt had brought his own helmet so she was able to find her own. "I am not sure if this bike is as fast as mine. Give me a little while to get used to it."

Phil took a picture of the kids and sent it to his wife as well as Stef and Lena. Lena sent a reply thanking him for keeping Callie occupied for a few minutes. The kids raced by again with Callie and Matthew being almost tied. Callie pulled it out at the very last.

"See, I can beat anyone! Callie said riding back by on the bike again.

"I want a rematch!" Matthew said good naturedly. "Could we ride around a little more and then race one more time?"

Without even thinking, Callie agreed and the four kids continued riding their bikes. Callie went on to beat Matthew and other boys two more times, but Matthew and Jesus both also pulled out wins. Phil called them in as the last race finished.

"I think you all need to get cleaned up and play inside for a little while. Lena said you all could get some snacks in the kitchen since lunch is going to be late."

Callie looked at the clock when she got inside and could not believe how long she was outside. Her breathing became shallow and she got light headed. "Mama! Come quick!" Brandon called. He had not really seen Callie have a panic attack before, but he had heard a conversation from his moms about watching for the signs.

Lena came running into the room and caught Callie before she hit the floor. "Sweetheart! You are okay. Breathe for me, baby. Put your hand right here on Mama's heart and concentrate on breathing with me. You can do this."

A few minutes later, Callie was back breathing normally again. "I am sorry, Mama." She said quietly.

"There is nothing for you to apologize for. Now, I made a few sandwiches if you would like to eat a little something. If you are thirsty, we have juice and water both. Does any of that sound good?"

"Not really. I feel really tired. Maybe I could just have a nap?"

"Sure. I will take you up to my room. Do you want to put on pajamas or grab anything special from your room, Love?"

"No, I just really want to sleep." Callie said already walking toward the stairs on her own.

"Sure." Lena went to help Callie up the stairs, but also pulled out her phone to text Stef. She immediately got a reply. "Mom is free for a bit. She wants to talk to you before you go to sleep."

Callie looked at Lena and shook her head quickly. "No, please don't make me talk to Mom! Just let me sleep! Please, Mama!"

Lena was curious about this outburst, but I also didn't want to trigger another attack. "It is no big deal. She just wanted to make sure you were okay. I will tell you that you are fine, but want to sleep right now. I know she will understand. You know that she won't be upset with you over having another panic attack. We are all trying to work together on this."

"I know, Mama. I just don't feel like talking right now." Callie climbed up on the bed and laid down on Lena's side.

"I am going to wake you up in about twenty minutes. Your friend said that was long enough to sleep after one of these attacks. Would you like me to stay with you until you go to sleep?"

"No, thank you." Callie closed her eyes and quickly went to sleep.

Lena walked back down the stairs to find everyone except Jude and Jace waiting for an explanation. "Callie is fine. Just a little tired."

"She didn't look fine, Mama. She was kind of shaky and breathing all funny. I think she was having one of those attacks like you told Mom about."

"Brandon, Mom and I have both talked to you about listening to adult conversations. Callie is fine. Did you boys get your snack yet?" Lena said sternly.

"I had a little, but I could eat more." Jesus said heading back to the kitchen.

"Only another half a sandwich, Jesus. We are eating our big Thanksgiving meal in just another couple of hours. Did anyone tell the little boys there was food?"

"I will go tell them." Phil said quietly leaving the others still standing there hoping to hear something more about what happened to Callie.

Karen stopped her meal preparation for a moment and went to help Lena out a little. "I think it would be good if Brandon and Matthew went to change clothes and then maybe we could start movie in the family room. I think we brought some that maybe some of you haven't seen before."

"That would be perfect." Lena said giving Karen a small smile before heading back to what she had been working on before.

"But Mama, we are grounded…" Mariana reminded her. "That's why Lilly and I had to just do things down here where you could watch us but we couldn't watch TV."

"Then you should consider this a bonus." Lena noticed Jesus finishing up his second half a sandwich. "That is more than enough. If you eat so much now you won't be hungry later."

"I still will be hungry. I am always hungry." Jesus said snatching an apple from the fruit bowl.

"I know you say that, but I still have to say no more." Lena said taking the fruit back from her middle son. "Go change clothes and join the others for a movie, please."

"Yes, Mama." Jesus said as he left the room.

Karen came back in about that time. "So you told me that Callie had a few panic attacks since your trip to Chicago. Are they getting better?"

"Yes, she really is doing fine. I mean, she had two the first day we were back here, but until today she had only had two others. She was able to come find me at school before the third one and Stef was with her during the fourth one. It has been a few weeks since then, though. I really thought we were done. I will need to document this one when she wakes back up. We are trying to figure out what keeps triggering these episodes."

"Hmmm, she was just outside riding bikes with the boys. Do you think that had something to do with it?"

"Well, we suspected that after the first one. She had been running with Stef and then got ready for school. She got into an issue with Jesus, had some uncharacteristic rage and then an attack. Another one was after PE at school. Her counselor, though, says that exercise should actually relieve stress. Most days she runs with Stef she is fine. I just don't know."

"Maybe we should question the boys a little more. Maybe something happened outside between them." Karen said hopefully.

"All the other times it has been something that Callie has internalized that no one else even knew about. It is like Callie used to come talk to Stef or me when she was upset. Now she doesn't. Instead she keeps it all inside until it comes out like this. Part of that is her preteen hormones and not wanting us to know everything anymore, but the panic attacks didn't start until after Chicago."

"Do you regret taking the kids to the funeral? I mean as one adoptive parent to another, was it a good idea? I just don't know what I would do under the same circumstances."

"Well, yes and no. I still think it was the right choice. I do wish that we had somehow gone to see Colleen before then, although I also know what would have been almost impossible. I think it did shake Callie's whole world and it feels like it has been a difficult fight to get her back. I still believe that she should get to know where she came from."

Jude and Jace walked in then ending the conversation. Lena's timer also went off so she left the cooking to Karen temporarily when she went to check on Callie. "Hey, Babes. It's time to wake up." Lena said kissing Callie's forehead and shaking her slightly.

"Do I have to wake up? I think I could sleep a little more." Callie said slowly not fully opening her eyes.

"Yes, you must get up. We need to have a little conversation and then I need to get back to the cooking because we are a little behind schedule as it is. Those potatoes won't mash themselves you know."

Callie sat up a little. "I could mash them, Mama. It is my fault you are behind."

"I am not sure how it could be your fault that everything has taken a little longer than I considered it would or that we started later than I planned. You have already helped me out quite a lot today. I think it would be best if you watch the movie with the others." As soon as Lena saw the look on Callie's face she knew she had said the wrong thing. "Just talk to me, baby. Remember that you are supposed to be talking to Mom and me about what you are feeling."

"I talked to Mom about feelings this morning, remember?"

"I do remember, but that was before. When you were little I always gave you choices. Your choice now is to either talk to me or we will call Mom. Either way you are not in trouble, but we do need to know what is going through your mind right now."

"I will talk to you, just don't tell Mom." Callie looked at Lena for approval and then sighed. "Can you at least wait to tell Mom for a few days?" Still not getting the approval that she needed. "I just really messed up, that's all. You say I am not in trouble, but I will be."

"You know that we both love you, right?" Callie nodded. "How about if we call Mom and we sort this out altogether with her on the phone? That way if, like you say, she is unhappy with you she will have time to cool off before getting home. I will talk to her and I promise you will not be in any trouble." Lena said feeling confident that Callie had really done nothing wrong.

Lena called Stef who picked up immediately. "Is she okay? Do I need to come home early?"

"I'm fine, Mom."

"Oh, baby, I am so glad to hear your voice. Mama said you had another attack. I thought after our time this morning today would go better…."

Lena interrupted seeing that once again Callie was tensing up. "Callie was just getting ready to tell us what she was thinking. I will remind both of you that she is not in trouble. I told her we would listen. So whenever you are ready, Callie."

"I tried to help out today, but instead I rode my bike with some of the boys. Mama just sent me outside to give the others water. I thought I was only gone a few minutes. I was really gone over an hour. I am sorry that I wasn't a better helper." At this confession, Callie began to cry quietly.

Both mothers were stunned for a moment. Lena gathered Callie up on her lap before Stef broke the silence. "Phil took pictures of you riding. Maybe he didn't mention that I texted and said it looked like things were going well. When I said to help Mama, I just meant by getting along and making sure whoever you were with was staying out of extra trouble. Your friends are only here until tomorrow. I want you to spend time with them. That's why your grounding did not extend to doing things with them while they are here. I thought you understood that, Baby. I am sorry that I didn't explain better."

XXX

"I am thankful for my mama, my mommy, my friends, my sisters, my brothers, my toys, my school, my teacher, my cars, my train tracks, my bike, the United States…"

"Great job, Jude." Stef said interrupting him as it seemed like he could go all day. "That brings us to you, Jesus. What are you thankful for?"

This was the Adams Foster Thanksgiving tradition before they ate their Thanksgiving meal. "I would be really thankful if I got my video games back." He answered hopefully.

"Try again." Stef said giving him a glare.

"Fine. I am thankful for enough food to eat, a nice house to live in, and a family that I can now officially call mine."

"Callie?" Lena said looking at her daughter.

Callie thought for just a moment. "I am thankful that we are all here together and for new mornings."

"Hmm, me too, Baby." Stef said with a wink.