"Please don't make me go to that…"

"Language, Daphne." Lena reminded her.

"I didn't even say nothing." Daphne muttered knowing that she really was about to, Lena was correct. "Anyway, I don't want to go to that class about having a baby. I have a class like that at school already. Besides, you said you were going with me tonight. Stef hates me."

Lena sighed. "First of all, Stef doesn't hate you. If she didn't she wouldn't be giving up her lunch hour to go to this class. Second, yes, you must go to the class. A girl in your class had her baby today. It was very early. You need all the information you can get. You know I would love to go with you, but I can't. I have to stay home with my sick babies. It would be hard to leave them by themselves for an hour if they were well, but sick I just can't do it. You will understand it one day really soon when your little girl is sick."

"MAMA! I am thirsty!" Callie yelled from upstairs.

"I am going to get you water right now, Callie." Lena answered breaking her own rule of not yelling in the house.

"Mom gave us juice because she says vitamin C is healthy for sick kids. I want juice like Mom would give me."

"Me too, Mama!" She heard Brandon chime in.

"Of course you do. I will get four juices." Lena said heading to the kitchen.

"MAMA! I need you!" Jesus called out.

"And my babies need me. Grab this plate of dinner and go wait by the door for Stef. She could be here anytime. Have fun at the class." Lena sort of leaned into a girl to give a semblance of a hug even though her arms were full of cups with lids filled with juice. "Learn something."

Daphne waited by the door filled with a small sense of dread. This class itself was not her idea of a good time. Attending with Stef made it feel all the worse. In Daphne's short life, cops were not protectors of the community. Rather, they were the ones who took her back to abusive homes, the ones who looked at her suspiciously, and the ones who ultimately arrested her. Daphne and Stef had some pleasant interactions, but it was obvious that Stef still didn't trust the girl at all.

When Stef pulled in the driveway, Daphne quietly left the house and got into the car. "Lena sent you this." She said thrusting the plate into Stef's hands.

"You will have to thank her on my behalf. What are we having?"

"We had soup. You are having leftover macaroni salad again. Lena didn't think soup would travel well." Daphne said halfway apologetically knowing that Stef ate that for lunch as well as dinner the night before.

"I am sure it will be good again this time… I guess Lena made the soup that always makes our children feel better when they are sick?" Stef asked trying to make small talk.

"That's what she said. It was good."

"Everything Lena makes is good… "Stef said mostly to herself. "Maybe I can have some tomorrow or tonight when I get home from work… How are my kids doing?"

"I guess they were okay. I mean, they are still sick if that's what you want to know. Jude was watching a movie when I left. He seemed happy enough." Daphne answered looking back out her own window.

"I imagine they are all happier now that they have their mama, her soup, her songs, and her cuddles…. She is seriously amazing. I cannot imagine my life without her." Stef said almost to herself.

Daphne didn't answer as her anxiety was rising some when the pulled into the parking lot. She hoped that this class would not make her look stupid in front of Stef and the other participants. She was still unsure about keeping this baby anyway. It really wasn't her idea to get pregnant in the first place and the baby's father was certainly never going to be involved. Which lead to her next dread: would she be the only one here with someone other than the baby's father?

"We are here." Stef announced opening the door and shaking Daphne from her thoughts. "Lena said it was in room 105, but I bet we can follow those ladies in since they are more than likely headed to the same place. What do you think?"

"If we have to go, I guess we should go on…"

"Lena definitely said we must. It won't be so bad, though."

Stef and Daphne found an empty table in the back of the room. Daphne was relieved to see several other women there either alone or with someone like a mother. Then the instructor walked in. She was a tiny woman in her early thirties and way too perky for such a class. "I am so excited to see all of you here again for class. I think I also see a few new faces. Would you ladies in the back there like to introduce yourselves?"

Daphne shrank down in here seat trying unsuccessfully to disappear. Stef saw this and spoke herself. "I am Stef and this is my foster daughter, Daphne. Um, she is the one having the baby."

The last line got a few giggles from the other students who could clearly tell which of them was having a baby. "Welcome Stef and Daphne! We are so glad you are here! Today we are going to start off by talking about what to expect when you water breaks… Do any of you already have a story about this?"

Stef cringed a little. She was sort of hoping that today's topic would be something that would not include bodily fluids. After listening to around five stories of water breaking, she was at her own breaking point. "Maybe since we have heard so many oh so graphic descriptions of this event, you could go ahead and fake it so we could leave?" She quietly whispered to her foster daughter.

Daphne looked at her as if she were crazy for a moment before smiling. "You are still in uniform, you could have a work emergency, you know. We wouldn't have to tell Lena."

"No, she would know…. She always knows…"

"Stef, you seem to have a lot to say. Would you like to share a story with the class?" The instructor asked seeming to not even dream that they were talking about something else.

"Um, well, my story isn't as interesting as the ones we have heard so far, so, I don't think I need to tell anyone else about it…."

"Nonsense! Everyone's story is special and we can learn from a wide variety of experiences. Go ahead."

Stef looked to Daphne for help and she just shrugged a little. "I was induced and the doctor actually caused my water to break. It was disgusting and I was glad I was in the hospital where I did not have to clean it up."

"Thank you for sharing, Stef! Many women have experiences just like that. It isn't always dramatic, some don't even know when it has happened. Does anyone know what you should do after your water breaks?"

Daphne turned to Stef and whispered. "Get to the hospital and have the baby."

"I think induction is the way to go. Just have the baby. I will go with you to the doctor the next time and get that set up."

They made it through the rest of the class in a similar manner and by the end, they had reached a new understanding of each other. "Really, if you have ever seen the first ten minutes of 'Look Who's Talking' you probably know everything you need to know." Stef joked on the way to the car.

"I have never even heard of that movie."

"I am sure I can find a copy and we can watch it sometime after the kids are in bed. It is much better than this crap."

Daphne raised her eyebrows. "I am pretty certain that is on Lena's list of words…"

"I don't see Lena here. Do you?"

Daphne gave Stef a bigger smile and a little bit of a giggle. "Nope. And for the record, after you left, the kids told Lena that they wanted her to do things like their mom would. So it is not just you."

The house was quiet when Stef dropped Daphne back off at the house. She sort of felt like she was sneaking into the house in the middle of the night when in reality it was just after eight. Daphne was a little unsure on what to do. She decided to make her way to her bedroom. Lena, caught her at the top of the stairs. "I finally got everyone to sleep. Grab your book and we will read downstairs tonight so that we don't disturb them."

Daphne had been hoping that the class would count as the reading for the night, but recognized that she was not going to get out of it. She quickly got the book, went back downstairs and settled on the couch. Lena came in a few minutes later with two cups of tea. "I wasn't sure if you liked this kind, but it is one of my favorite for quiet evenings." Lena handed the girl her cup and then took a sip herself as she settled in. "Did you and Stef have a good time in class?"

Daphne thought a moment before answering. The class itself had been terrible, but spending the time with Stef had been good. "Yes, I think we did."

XXX

"I laid out all of their meds on the counter. Remember that Jesus does not need to take his other medication this morning. Mariana's is the liquid kind since she doesn't take pills very well. I will be home with Jude right after school and I will pick up all of their school work today. Call me if you need me." Lena explained gathering up her things.

"I am their mom also you know. I did pick up their medicine yesterday so I know all about it. Just go to work, we will be fine."

"Don't give them anymore juice and make them rest today. I left their soup in the refrigerator. I may come home during lunch to just check in."

Stef stopped Lena's words with a little kiss. "Whatever you want to do would be great, but don't worry because I have this."

"Call or text if anyone has a fever today. I will come straight home…" Stef gave her a bigger kiss.

"I will even text if no one has a fever. Now, you don't want to be late for work. I know you hate that."

Lena left the house only to open the door again. "Come on, Jude. You are coming with me."

Stef gave him a hug and kiss before he left for school and then went to check on the kids upstairs.

She was careful to not disturb Jesus who was still sound asleep. The other kids were all mostly awake now although a bit groggy.

"Where's Mama?" Brandon asked sitting up some.

"Mama went to work. We are going to spend the day together. Doesn't that sound fun?" Stef answered putting a hand on his head.

"I guess so… Mama kisses my head to check my temperature. I like that better."

"I know. I am going to actually use a thermometer here in a few minutes. I think you are okay right now, though." Stef smoothed down his hair a little. "Are you all up for a movie this morning?"

"Yes! I want to watch The Fast and the Furious! Please, Mom? It has everything and I think it is my turn." Jesus answered waking up quickly and seeming to be back to his normal self.

"I am not sure that is one of your choices today, son. Mama and I don't like you to watch things like that. It is kind of intense for someone your age. How about we do breakfast and meds first? How does toast sound?" Stef asked thinking that toast would be bland for their stomachs.

"It sounds sort of scratchy. I think I want fried eggs with the yolk a little runny." Callie suggested and everyone else quickly agreed.

"Like that, only I want my eggs to not be runny at all, but I don't like pepper on them. Mama never puts pepper on my eggs." Mariana added.

"Oh, and I like ketchup on the side of mine and I want the eggs really runny." Jesus said.

"What about you B? Any new preference on your egg?" Stef asked rolling her eyes a bit.

"Nope. I do want some bacon with it, though." Once again everyone agreed that bacon did sound nice.

"I want my bacon crisp." Callie said.

"I like mine sort of chewy. When it is crisp it tastes burned." "I would rather have sausage." The twins answered together.

Stef felt overwhelmed with their demands until she saw Daphne standing in the doorway. "So, Brandon wants a fried egg and bacon, is that crispy or chewy?"

"Crispy like Callie's."

"Perfect, Callie wants a slightly over easy egg with crispy bacon. Jesus wants an over easy egg with sausage and ketchup, and Mariana wants her eggs well done with chewy bacon. Does that sound right?" All of the kids answered affirmatively. "In that case, I will go work on breakfast while Stef here does whatever else it is that you need done."

"Thank you, Daphne. I owe you one." Stef said giving her a very sincere smile.

"I will keep that in mind."

XXXX

By the time Daphne got on her bus to go to school the kids were fed and the dishes had been washed. Stef was sad to see the girl leave. "You said we would watch a movie next, remember, Mom? I want to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre since you said I couldn't pick The Fast and the Furious. Please, Mom?"

"We don't even own that movie, Son. Even if we did I wouldn't show it to you. You are not old enough for that kind of violence. How about Cars? You have always liked that one."

Jesus made a face. "I haven't liked that movie since I was a little kid. Mike let us watch…" Brandon elbowed Jesus hard in the stomach. "Ow! Hey!"

"Enough." Stef said separating the boys. "None of that. If Mike let you watch something at his house, that is different than here. How about a Harry Potter movie? Jude isn't here and I don't think you have seen all of those. They certainly aren't for little kids."

"Harry Potter gives me nightmares, Mommy!" Mariana wailed. "You have to wait to watch those when I am not here, too."

"That's not true! Mariana just says that when she doesn't want to watch something." Brandon interjected.

"How do you know? You aren't in my head!"

"We don't really know, but it does seem odd that last week anything with dinosaurs gave you nightmares and the week before it was ninjas…" Callie added before being interrupted.

"Again, that is enough. Jesus, choose something reasonable or I will pick for you."

"Fine. Mama let us watch one of the Star Wars movies last week, maybe we can watch another one of those?" Jesus asked after a little time to think.

"That sounds like an okay choice. I will go get the next one."

"Wait, Mommy! I think that Star Wars also scares me…"

"You may either close your eyes and sleep or you may go back to your own room then, Mari." Mariana looked like she was about to protest. "Everyone else is watching that movie."

"Mama always says…" Marianna whined.

Stef was clearly annoyed. "Mama isn't here; this mom is. No one is forcing you to stay in this room."

Mariana did stay in the room and if she were honest she would have said that she actually even enjoyed the movie before she had fallen back asleep. Stef was delighted to see three out of four the kids sleeping again by the end of the movie.

"Mom? Do you think we could talk? I mean everyone else is asleep and all." Callie asked looking at Stef with a few tears in her eyes.

"Of course, Bug. How about if we go back to your room?" Stef picked Callie up off the bed to help her get out without disturbing anyone else. They both settled on Callie's bed. "What's up?"

"Well, Luke was sorta adopted just like me, you know. He found out that his real, I mean birth, dad was a bad guy and that's like me too. But, Luke didn't even recognize his dad. I always thought that if I saw mine I would just know inside. It feels funny that I may have seen him before I just didn't know it."

"Oh, Bug. You have more of your mama in you than I even knew. I never considered it to be more than just a movie much less be about adoption… I can sort of see what you are thinking, though. Luke's father did turn out to be of the dark side, but in real life no one is all good or all bad. Your dad made some choices that were not the best, but I promise that he also made some good ones. As far as recognizing him goes, you really haven't met him, just like Luke hadn't met his. Family, though, is more than what you were born into. Luke, just like you, had parents that loved him and helped him become something different than his birth father. Do you understand what I am getting at?" Stef asked gently stroking Callie's hair.

"I think so. I am lucky that you and Mama found me."

"We are the lucky ones. Oh, and in Luke's defense, his father was all dressed up in that big black suit and he couldn't even see his face. Most likely if you met your dad, he would not look like that. It would at least give you a fighting chance of recognizing him."