Hey guys, so I loved all the love and support I have been getting lately. Makes me feel really good and I love it. I hope you guys keep it up. Here is your next chapter. Enjoy!
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Callie stands in front of her mirror staring at her reflection. She tilts her head and examines herself carefully. Today was her first day of therapy and she was... unsure? She tilts her head to the other side and looks at herself again. A lot has happened since she sat on the beach and talked to Stef. Spilling everything the best she could. She's still not sure what's going to happen but what she does know is that she is safe.
"Hey Love." Stef peaks her head in her room and Callie looks from the mirror and at her mom. Callie offers her a tight smile and looks back at the mirror. Stef walks over and stands behind her, placing her hand on her daughter's shoulders.
"You look nice." Stef smiles and Callie tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and looks at her mom through the mirror.
"Do you think they will tell me what's wrong with me?" Callie asks and Stef pauses. She had the instinct to tell her daughter, she is perfect and there is nothing wrong with her. But Stef knows that's a lie. Something is wrong and she knows telling Callie the opposite would give her the impression that her behavior is normal... normal. Stef shakes her head at the word. What is normal. Until Stef and Lena took in Callie and her brothers, normal was being beaten, ignored, and starved.
"Mom." Stef is pulled out of her thoughts by Callie's worried voice. Stef looks at her daughter and leans down and kisses her hair.
"I think they will tell us exactly what we need to hear." Stef says and smiles against Callie's head and looks right into her daughter's eyes.
"There you two are." Lena walks into Callie room and places her hand on Stef's shoulder. "You guys ready?" She asks both of them but she really directs the question to Callie.
"Mom?" Caleb walks into the room and all three turn their heads. Caleb looks at them and Stef and Lena can't help but to admire their son. He was almost as tall as Stef, long brown floppy hair, bright green eyes, lightly tanned skin, and defiantly more toned since he started football. He was an excellent twin brother and quickly agreed to therapy, mostly in moral support for Callie but Also to encourage Jude to go as well. They all needed it and it was a relief when all of them eventually agreed to go.
"We are ready." Lena smiles and Caleb turns to leave Callie's room.
"Hey bud." Stef walks over to Caleb and he turns to look at her.
"I'm very proud of you for being a supportive big brother." Stef says and runs her hand through Caleb's hair. Caleb looks over at Callie who is leaning against Lena and shrugs his shoulders.
"It's kind of my job." Caleb says simply. Stef smirks and brings him into a hug. "I love you very much. Both of you." Stef says and looks at Callie and Lena.
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"Callie! Run."
Callie's heart drops into her stomach as she keeps her eyes closed. She knows where she is. She is in therapy. She is sitting next to Caleb in therapy, but some reason this memory has taken over every fiber in her being.
"Run!" Caleb screams. She sees the terror on Caleb's face, she can feel Jude trembling in her arms. The memory is so real, but she isn't there. She is here. She is here yet she is terrified. She makes eyes contact with her therapist and watches as her mouth moves. Obviously asking her a question. Callie shakes her head lightly and looks back at the therapist. She can't hear her. Callie tries again to focus but her face is wet and her vision is shrinking. Everything around her is becoming blurry and fading into black. She looks down at her hands and they can't stay still. She feels warm on her face and looks into her brother's eyes. They are calm, they are soothing. He is talking. She can tell. Caleb takes her shaky hand and places it over his heart. Its beating steady, she counts the beats in her head, closing her eyes.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Callie opens her eyes and sees Caleb looking right back at her.
"Hi." He whispers and Callie just stares. She can hear him, but she too afraid to respond. Caleb smiles and tucks hair behind her ear. He stands up and looks at the therapist.
"We are don." He states. The therapist is surprised and taken aback.
"Caleb.." She starts to protest but Caleb is quick to gather Callie and Jude.
"Done." Caleb stops her and walks towards the door with Callie and Jude, leaving quickly. He walks out into the waiting area and past Lena and Stef.
"Caleb?" Stef questions and He walks past them quickly without a word. Stef looks over at Lena and then back from where Caleb came from. The therapist walks out and Stef turns to her.
"What's going on?" The therapist by the name of Danielle smiles reassuringly at them.
"Callie, had a panic attack in our session and Caleb was able to calm her down, but he got cold feet and excused the three of them from the session." Danielle reports. Stef sighs and runs a hand through her hair.
"Were you able to figure anything out?" Lena asks as she places a reassuring hand on Stef's arm.
"Yes. They all have severe PTSD, especially Callie. Not to mention codependency and trust issues. These three kids have only had each other for a very long time and they had to learn to fight for themselves. It's going to be a ling uphill battle. Today was proof of that. I would like to slowly start seeing them separately, but for now group therapy is the best way to get them to open up." Danielle explains and Stef and Lena find themselves sitting down. The words sinking in. How broken are their babies? How are they going to fix this?
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Stef and Lena walk out the building and scan the parking lot. What the therapist said heavy on their minds. After a minute of scanning they find exactly who they were looking for. They find the three kids sitting on the curb. Callie with her head against Caleb's head and Jude in Caleb's lap. Caleb holding the both of them tightly, almost like a protective blanket. The moms take in the scene and feel their hearts break. The only strength these kids know is the strength they give each other. After a minute if watching they walk over slowly. When Stef squats in front of them, only Caleb looks up, tears falling out of his eyes.
"I thought I could let go. I thought I could just be a kid. But I'm the only one that can keep us together." Caleb says and Stef sticks her hand out and touches his face.
"It's not for you to keep together. It's time to make peace." Lena says and Stef wipes the tears from Caleb face.
"I'm sorry. I have to protect them. I promised her." Caleb stands up and leads Callie and Jude to the car. Both Callie and Jude not making eye contact with the moms. The moms watch helpless as their babies pull more and more away.
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Weeks go by and Stef and Lena watches from a distance as Caleb takes care of his siblings. Dealing with Callie's panic attacks, keeping a close eye on Jude, doing everything a parent should do. He does it almost effortlessly. For a while they try to get Caleb to put some trust in them, trying to help with things, but the more they push, the more Caleb pulls. Danielle says Callie's panic attacked triggered Caleb's defense and told them to just let him work it out himself. But the more space they give them, the more they pull away, their adoption was nearing and the moms have begun to have anxiety, fearing they might back out. But here they were, Caleb's football practice. Callie and Jude sit a few rows of bleachers in front of the moms and they watch silently. Caleb was back in full pads now, playing almost as if his appendix didn't burst. The moms watch in awe as their son moves across the field gracefully. They are so torn, is he their son still?
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Caleb looks at the bleachers and checks on Callie and Jude, before looking back at the field. He stands behind the center and calls out his play before he freezes. He hands up slowly and squints at the figure across the field. Caleb throws off his helmet and looks across the field and tears pool in his eyes. Almost as clear as day, he sees his mom. She is smiling at him and Caleb can't move. He wants to go to her but he can't move. His body won't move.
"Mom." He whispers but it feels as if he yelled it. She doesn't move, but she blows him a kiss and Caleb wipe the tears from his face.
"Why can't I move?" He yells again and She smiles.
"It's time to move on sweet boy." It sounds as if she is whispering in his ear but she's so far away.
"Mom, please don't leave." He feels a warm hand on his cheek and looks up and sees Lena smiling down at him.
"I'm not going anywhere." Lena squats in front of him and Stef kisses his head.
Caleb opens his eyes and stares at his celling. He wipes the tears that have fallen. It was a dream. He turns in his bed and looks at his door. He wants to go, go get in bed with his moms and feel their warmth comfort him. He continues to stare at the door before swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. He takes a step before freezing.
"Tell me this is right." Caleb tilts his head and looks up. After a minute of silence, the hat Stef gave Caleb falls on the floor. Caleb turns to look at it before walking over and picking it up. He examines it before putting it back on his desk. He sits on the foot of his bed and just stares at it. He brings his knees to his chest. It was the sign he asked for, but why does it feel so wrong?
"What are we looking at?" Caleb turns his head a realizes that both Lena and Stef have joined him on his bed.
"A sign." Caleb answers. Both moms continue to stare with him. All in complete silence and all completely content.
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So what did you guys think? I know it was several steps back, but it's not easy for them to trust. Let me know your thoughts and predictions and ideas! Review!
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