Lena came back into the house with the girls after having their nails done. Even though they were certainly dry already, Mariana had insisted on someone else helping with her seatbelt and car door so that her nails wouldn't chip. "Okay girls, we had lunch, we got your nails done, and now it is time for both of you to go lay down."

"Do the boys have to lay down for a while too, Mama?" Callie asked challenging.

"Of course. I am rounding them up next." Lena said giving Callie a quick rub to her shoulder. "You all had an early morning and this might be a late night." Mariana started for the stairs, but Callie hung back some. "Right now, Callie."

Reluctantly, Callie made her way up the stairs and into her room. Mariana was already laying down, but looking wide awake. "Will they play One Direction at the dance today?"

"I don't know. They played lots of things at the dance last year. The only one I really remember caused Mama to freak out. She made them turn it off." Callie giggled a little. "I am not sure what the song was, but it was really funny."

Mariana rolled her eyes and threw a stuffed bear at her sister. "Be serious, Callie! Like is the music going to be good or is it all going to be the old stuff our moms like?"

Callie threw the bear back before answering a little more thoughtfully. "It was a mix, I think." Callie sighed a little. "Well, if you must know, I danced with Mama during 'What a Wonderful World' and I danced with Mom during 'You are so Beautiful.' There were faster songs, too. Brandon and I both did YMCA until Mom joined in."

It was Mariana's turn to sigh. "It sounds so nice. I can hardly wait to go."

"It was nice." Callie thought about how during her dance with her mom, Stef mouthed the words of the song to her. "It was really special and I am going to be happy to share it with you this year."

Stef had been outside the door debating about when to tell the girls to stop talking. Instead she just listened. She teared up with her own memory of seeing Callie and Brandon both all dressed up and looking so much older. As much as she had made fun of the dance to Lena before attending it, just as Callie stated, it had been special. Dancing with her two kids had brought back all of the memories of holding Brandon the first time, teaching Callie to swim, sharing an ice cream cone with both of them at the beach, and then transitioning from being Mommy to Mom.

"And you say I am the sappy one." Lena said walking up behind Stef interrupting her thoughts.

XXXX

Lena volunteered to drop Jude off at Conner's house since she had to help set up for the dance. That left Stef with the oldest four kids to finish and bring to the dance. Fortunately for Stef, all of them were old enough to get themselves most of the way ready. Unfortunately, they all needed her at the same time.

"Mom! I still can't get my tie right!" Jesus said as Stef tried to work on her own make up.

"Just a minute. Let me finish and then I will do it. Just be patient."

"Mama said you would make sure that my hair didn't get messed up after I got my dress on. Is it Mommy?" Marianna asked also coming into the bathroom.

"She doesn't have time to check that Mari, because she needs to do my tie first." Jesus insisted.

"Actually, I have time for neither of you. Go wait downstairs. I will come see you down there when I am done." Stef said getting above the twins.

As soon as Callie saw the twins leaving, she entered the bathroom. "I would like to wear some make-up, Mom. Mama said you could do it for me."

"If I put make-up on you, I will have to put it on Mari also. So, it just isn't going to happen. Sorry."

"How about you do mine and then tell her no?" Callie asked. "Mama let me wear make-up to the funeral. Not just lip gloss either. Lots of girls will be wearing make-up. Please?"

"If there is time. Go get your sister back up here so I can do at least some for both of you. While you are at it, go tell Brandon to help Jesus with his tie."

"Okay, thanks Mom!" Callie said leaving Stef alone in the bathroom again. She glanced at the clock and saw that they really needed to be leaving the house in less than fifteen minutes.

Twenty minutes later they were on the way. "We aren't going to be late, are we Mom?" Brandon asked eying the clock.

"No. Mama said the line to get in is very long. We are just saving some waiting in line time. Besides, I can get to school a little faster than Mama, so you don't need to watch the time."

"Mama says that going too fast never gets you anywhere faster. You will always get slowed down somehow and it makes it take longer." Jesus said watching the speedometer.

"Mama is generally right, but we aren't going fast enough to get pulled over. You are with a cop anyway. I would probably get away with just a warning."

"Oh. I think I want to be a cop like you. Then I can do all kinds of things and only get a warning. Maybe I can even like shoot people…" Jesus said.

"No, sir! That is not how it works. I better not ever hear you talk like that again. I have never had to shoot someone at work and I hope that I never will." She pulled into the parking lot. "Okay, Babies, I told Mama I would remind you to save a dance for each of us. We are doing pictures at some point and you need to stay in the gym where we can see you at all times. Got it?"

"Yes. Mom." They chorused.

"Is Mama going to meet us outside like she did for Brandon last year?" Callie asked clearly a little bit nervous.

"Why, Bug? Is your mom no longer enough for you?" Stef said with a smirk before observing Callie's facial expression. "I am sure she is. Mama said she would set up and clean up so that she could attend the entire dance with her. Actually, I believe that is Mama coming out the door right now."

Lena made her way through the parking lot to her family. Jesus and Callie immediately clung to her. "Oh! You all look so beautiful and handsome! I feel so proud to be going to this dance with you. Let's go get in line."

The family got in line and shortly made it to the gym. Jesus looked around the room completely overwhelmed with the games and the snacks being offered. Lena saw his expression and guided him toward the area pictures were being taken. "Let's get our pictures taken before punch gets spilled on your clothing." Lena said wisely.

"I still have to beat Callie in that basketball game over there, too. Don't forget that, Mama."

"I know. We should also get your picture taken before you play too hard in your nice clothes. Grams, Gramps, and Grandma all want to see you looking your very best."

Jesus became very antsy before it finally became their turn for pictures. Lena had one taken of her with Callie and Jesus. Then Stef took one with Brandon and Mariana. The photographer had a hard time getting all six of them in a picture, but finally managed by moving things around a little. As soon as the pictures were over, Jesus practically ran to the other side of the gym to the basketball game. Callie looked at her mama for confirmation before joining him. Brandon saw a few of his friends and wandered over toward them, leaving Mariana a little lost.

"Do you see anything you want to do?" Stef asked gently after watching her a few minutes.

"I am just looking…." Mariana saw a few other girls from her class with their fathers. She started to shrink back before remembering Dana's words to be confident. "Mommy, do you think you could dance with me first?"

"I would be honored." Stef took one of Mariana's hands and they walked out to the area set aside for dancing. At first the little girl was tense, but just being with her mom loosened her up right away.

After two songs, Stef was ready for a short break. "How about we stop and have a little punch and a cookie?"

"Okay, but this is a Taylor Swift song!"

"That we can enjoy just as much from the snack table." Stef felt like she was dragging Mariana over there and didn't realize until they got there that Jordyn was already there. When Jordyn saw them she looked startled and started to walk off.

"Hi Jordyn." Mariana said once more using her confidence. "You look very nice!"

"Oh, hi, Mariana…. Thanks. You look pretty also…." Jordyn answered being strangely polite obviously due to Stef being there.

"Thank you. Do you remember my mom?"

"Yes. Hello Mrs. Adams Foster…."

"Hi, Jordyn. Are you having a nice time here?" Stef asked smiling at the uncomfortable girl.

"Yes…" Just then Jordyn's mom walked up and joined Stef and Mariana.

"There you are! I have been looking all over for you. I had someone save my spot in the picture line." Jordyn's mom grabbed her shoulder and fairly roughly started shoving her that direction. Jordyn looked kind embarrassed.

"Is her dad over there?" Mariana asked Stef quietly.

"I don't think so. Honey, Jordyn's dad isn't really around much. I think he lives in Europe from what I know of the family. Her parents are divorced. I thought you knew that."

"I knew I hadn't met him, but she has never told us anything like that before… She said I would be the only girl here without a father. Maybe it is like Mama says and she only says things like that because she wants what I have. I have two parents that love me and lots of brothers and a sister. Jordyn only has her mom."

"You are wise beyond your years, little one. Perhaps with all of this in mind, things can be different between the two of you? I don't mean for you to become a bully, but you can always know that her life isn't quite as perfect as what people might think." Stef gave her daughter a quick kiss to the head as the first few bars of "Dance with Cinderella" started. "Now, I think they are playing a song that is perfect for the two of us. May have this dance, princess?"

"Yes, Mommy." Mariana said giggling a little. As they danced, Stef mouthed the words to her much like she had done to Callie the year before.

At the end of the song, Stef convinced Mariana to dance the Cha Cha Slide with the other kids on the dance floor while she got some needed cool down time. She sat down at a table and saw her wife over by Jesus and Callie at the basketball game definitely trying to soothe hurt feelings of one or both of them. Brandon was at another game with some friends and Lena motioned for Callie to join him. Jesus was sent to dance with Mariana and a group of other kids.

Lena came back and sat down at the table. "So, I see that your dates are having some trouble there, Babe."

"Callie and Brandon get along so well. I wish she would just stick to hanging out with him and not having to compete so hard against Jesus that they fight."

"Yes, well, that's because she beats Brandon in almost any sort of sport and he doesn't really care. He can beat her in other areas and she is okay with that. It is a very easy relationship. Jesus, though, wants to win as badly as Callie."

"Right and which of us passed down an overly competitive nature to our kids?" Lena said teasing her wife.

"If I say me, is that letting you win?" Stef asked with a wink.

Lena rolled her eyes a bit and looked at her premade list of songs after last year's issue. "The next song is another slow one and a perfect mother and son dance. I was thinking I would grab Jesus if you want to get Brandon."

Mariana watched a little enviously from the side of the dance form watching her moms with her brothers. "Do you want to dance with me, Mari?" Callie asked quietly. "We could you know."

The younger girl hesitated and looked around a little bit more, then she turned back to her sister with a smile. "Thanks, Callie!"

At the end of the song, Jesus went toward the snack table and Lena shooed him away after one cookie and one slightly spilled cup of punch. He and Callie rushed back to the basketball game with Brandon leaving only Mariana behind.

"I want to dance more." Mariana said looking at each of her moms.

"Then go dance. We will watch you from the table over there." Stef said pointing toward some of their friends.

"No, I want to dance with both of you! It is a fast song and we can dance together. Please, Mommy? Remember the song we danced to earlier? The one when you said you would always dance with me?"

Stef and Lena exchanged a glance and a smile before being led back out to the dance floor by their little princess. By the end of that song, Lexi was trying to get Mariana's attention. Both mothers encouraged her to join her friend for at least a few minutes and finally got to sit back down.

Stef slipped her shoes off under the table. "My feet are killing me! This is what I get for wearing strappy heels to an elementary dance. Last year we danced twice. This year I have danced almost the entire time and we are not finished. Next year she is your date."

Lena giggled. "I told you to wear shoes that you are used to wearing… I wear heels to work almost every day. These shoes are fancier, but not so bad. When Mari comes back to us, I will take the next turn with her. Actually, two songs from now would be a good choice for you to go find Callie while I dance with Mariana. Just dance barefoot if that is more comfortable. You know Callie won't mind."

"Then we lack switching boys and you lack Callie, right? Then our dancing can be over for the night?" Lena nodded to confirm. "Barefoot is definitely the way to go when I dance with Callie, but I will need shoes with Jesus."

When Callie saw that Stef had taken off her shoes, she quickly stowed hers under the same table. "Babes, come back and put on your shoes please." Lena said quietly before Callie could get away.

"Mom took hers off. Mine didn't feel good either."

"Doesn't matter. Mom is an adult. We have a must wear shoe policy for students. If your toes got stepped on it would hurt much worse than your shoes. So, put them back on right now."

Callie opened her mouth to argue, but saw the looks she was getting from both of her moms and decided to comply. As soon as her shoes were on, Stef took her over to the side of the room for a moment. "I really like the way that you started to talk back to Mama, but didn't. It shows you are really growing up and I am proud of you."

The song started and the two of them went to dance while Lena and Mariana danced on the other end of the dance floor. Once again Stef mouthed the words to the song to her daughter as they danced. At the end of the song she kissed Callie on the head again.

Jesus had been watching from the snack table for the dance to be over. He now had several dribbles of juice on his shirt and crumbs all over the place. His shirt was about half untucked. He ran over to Callie as soon as the song was over. "Come on, Callie! I found another game for us to play!"

"Whoa there, Jesus!" Stef said grabbing him back. "I think you need to go to the bathroom and try to clean yourself up some. You and I have a dance in a few minutes and I would really like to dance with a clean boy."

Callie looked at the situation for a moment. "I will help him, Mom. Come on, Jesus. I will get you a paper towel with soap and water. Mama always says to use that first. Then I can work on your hair. I think we can still make you presentable."

"Awe, Callie! You sound so like moms." Jesus said as he was dragged toward the bathrooms.

Stef watched and smiled before she felt someone by her side again. "Mommy, I want to dance again. Please?"

"I think Mama said she wanted to dance with you a little more, Sweets. How about you go find her?"

Mariana looked down a little. "Mama went to the bathroom. Please, Mommy? You are my date after all."

"Of course." Stef said wandering out to join her daughter in the fast song that was currently playing.

Lena got to the bathroom just in time to see Callie trying to clean up Jesus. "I think I can take this from here, Callie, if you want to go get a snack or something." Lena said cringing at the rough treatment Jesus's shirt was getting.

"That's okay, Mama. I think I almost have this. See, isn't that better?" Callie asked Jesus standing back to look at her work. "Now, you should tuck your shirt in and comb your hair."

Jesus scowled a little. "I think the red spot was smaller before…."

"It was smaller, but much redder. Besides, it almost doesn't show on your purple shirt…. Right, Mama?"

Both kids looked at Lena expectantly. "Um, I think it will be fine now. Thank you for your help, Callie." Lena was very glad she had already had their picture made as the stain was certainly bigger and was quite visible.

After the dance with the two boys, Lena found a chance right away to grab Callie. Stef once again danced with Mariana as the little girl was not content to sit and watch. Finally, it was time for the last song. Lena went and rounded up all of the kids so that the whole group of them could dance together. When the last few notes of "We are Family" ended, the lights in the gym came all the way on allowing for the families to gather up everything before they left.

"Can I stay and help Mama clean up?" Callie asked sweetly while Stef was putting her shoes back on.

"No." Stef answered without even looking up.

"Please, Mom? I promise I will help and not get in the way." Callie asked again hoping to stay.

"I still say no, but go ask Mama letting her know what I said." Stef conceded a little.

Callie took off running toward Lena. "Mama! Mom said I could stay help you. Please say yes!"

"Mom said you could stay? That doesn't make any sense…." Lena said looking over at Stef across the room. "Not tonight, Babe. How about I bring you to the next home basketball game instead? You can help me supervise and keep kids out of the hallways."

"Can I at least stay up until you get home?" Callie asked knowing this time she had already lost. "I just want to spend a little more time with you."

"Probably not. I am sorry. I would love to spend time with you also, but I will be here for a couple of hours tonight. You need to go to bed." Lena sighed. "Okay, here is what we are going to do, when you get home, I want all four of you to take showers and get into pajamas. Then, Mom will turn on a movie downstairs. If you are awake when I come home you can see me. If not, you can still sleep downstairs like a slumber party. Sound good?"

Callie took the compromise and the family made their way home. Lena arrived a few hours later to find Stef asleep on the couch and all four of the big kids asleep on the floor. She quietly walked around giving each of the kids a gentle kiss so as not to wake them. Stef woke up before Lena made her way to her wife. They both went upstairs exhausted, but happy after a good day.