AN: I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited and followed this story. Thank you, you are all amazing readers. I hope you liked reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

There is going to be a sequel. Your response was just too amazing. I'm not sure when I will post it, but it's coming, so keep your eyes open.

Jude POV

Once the nail polish had dried, Mariana handed me the blue nail polish bottle "Here, paint mine now!"

"Really, what if I mess it up?"

"You won't" Mariana encouraged me and extended her right hand closer to me. It took me a lot longer than when she did mine, but after some while I was done. Here nails weren't done nearly as neat as she did mine. But Mariana didn't complain.

"It's bad" I examine her nails and compare them to my blue nails

"It's not bad. It's great. I love it!" Mariana said holding her hands out, waiting till the nail polish dries

"You should have asked Callie to do yours. I bet she could have done it better," I replied as I looked down to my blue nails

"Maybe Callie wants you to do hers-" Mariana stopped in mid sentence and looked around the room "Where did Callie go?"

My head snaps up the second Mariana said that. Next second I am looking around the room as well.

"Probably went to bathroom" Jesus replied when he reached for sweet roll

But something didn't feel quite right. Call it a gut feeling if you like. I get up to my feet and walk out of the room to see for myself. I checked the whole first floor and even the backyard before I hurried up to check the second floor. Once I found it empty as well, panic set in. I sprinted down the stairs, to front doors to look for her stuff. Her shoes and coat is gone.

"Callie's gone!" I call from the front doors in a panic tone

"She was just here bud. Probably went to bathroom" Stef said back casually, she didn't sound worried

"No!" Upset, I shout back at Stef when I walk to the doorway. Everyone's head snaps at me as I continue to speak in raised voice "Her coat and shoes are gone! I checked the whole house! She is not here!" I gesture to the front doors " She left! Again!"

Finally, I saw worry in moms eyes. My eyes travel to Brandon, who was sitting at the piano.

"What did you tell her!" I shout at him as my brain picked him as the one to blame for this

"Wow!" Brandon lifted his hands up in defense "I did not say anything Jude! I have been sitting here for last 30 minutes!"

"Then why did she leave! You must have said something to her!" I accuse him, probably falsely

"Jude...honey, calm down" Lena came up to me, while Stef hurried pass me heading for the stairs

"No, he must have said something to her!" I pointed to Brandon and gave him a mean look

"I did not say anything!" Brandon said back in defense "I promise!"

"Maybe she went out to get fresh air" Sharon said trying to think of an explanation

"Did you check the backyard?" Stuart said standing up

I shook my head back "I already checked everywhere! She is not here!" I look up to Lena, who was running her hand softly over my shoulder blade, trying to sooth me, calm me down

"Why did she leave?" I ask Lena when I look up to her. Sometimes I do not understand why Callie does what she does. This was one of the time. I desperately wanted to know the reason behind her actions. Why would she want to leave this? Everything was going so great. I thought she was having fun, she looked like she was having fun.

I guess I was wrong. I guess I don't know my sister anymore. I should have known something wasn't right.

"I don't—I don't know, sweetie" Lena said honestly looking straight to my eyes. After a brief moment Stef runs back down the stairs.

"Lena, let's go!" Stef says walking pass me. She sounded and looked like she was in her cop mode.

"I'm going with!" I tell Stef after Lena kissed the top of my head

"No, no you are not. You will stay home, mama and I will handle this!" Stef stated firmly and put her coat on. Lena grabbed her coat from the hanger and quickly slipped her feet in her boots.

"Yes, I am! Callie is my sister!"

"It's not up for a discussion, Jude" Stef said leaving no room for argument. She opened the doors and both of them walked out the next second, closing the doors behind them.

Callie POV

I was pacing back and forth in my living room - waiting. When the doorbell rang, I sprinted to the doors and opened them without even looking through the peep-hole.

As Martin walked inside the apartment he asked me straight away "What is going on Callie? What was so important that couldn't wait till the morning?" He turned around to face me when he was about two steps in the living room

I close the doors behind him and walk pass him "I need you to do something for me"

"Can't it wait till morning? It is Christmas evening for god's sake" He asked back, placing his hands in his suit pants pockets. When I finally looked at him and took in his appearance, I saw that he was dressed up. He was probably celebrating Christmas with his girlfriend and her family. But this was too important, too urgent. It couldn't wait.

"It can't! It can't wait, because if I wait, I may change my mind!"

"Change your mind about what?"

"I want to withdraw my suit for custody!"

Martin looks shocked and confused. He takes his hands out of his pockets "What? Why?"

"I just do!" I state back and pace to the other side of the room

"Did something happened? Did they found out some dirt about you and now are black mailing you?"

"What?! No! They are not black mailing me," I turn around and shut down that speculations at once

"Then what? I don't understand! Few weeks ago you were ready to do no matter what was necessary to get legal guardianship of Jude and now you...you want to withdraw your suit?"

"A lot can happen in few weeks" I say matter-of-factly

"So something did happen?" Martin presses on the topic

"No! Well, yes...Maybe!" I mutter back

"Callie, come on. Talk to me. I need to know what happened? What made you change your mind?" He asked back in more caring voice

I hesitate at first, but then decide to tell him "I went to them for Christmas, okay!"

Martin still looks baffled "I don't understand"

I pace to the window, my back turned to Martin. Tears whelm up in my eyes "You didn't see him, okay? He looked truly happy. This family- they love him. Everyone loves him there. Jude loves being part of this family. I could never give him a family. I am the one that is standing between him and his forever family."

Tears are now streaming down my cheeks, when I turn back to face Martin "He has been on his own for 8 years. I want him to be a part of a family again. I want him part of this family. They will take great care of him, I know that. If you had seen him today, you would understand..."

Martin's face had softened a lot, I saw sympathy in his eyes, as well as sadness "If that is what you truly want..."

"It is! Jude deserves a family! He has waited long enough," I reply as I wipe the tears away from my cheeks with my palms "Is there any paperwork or anything that has to be handed in?"

"Well, I will call-" Martin was interrupted when someone knocked at my door. He looks over to the hallway, to the doors.

"You expecting someone?" Martin asked me, when the knocking stopped

"Callie! We know you are in there!" Stef called from the other side

"Who's that?" Martin asked when I froze in my spot, staring at the hallway

"Stef..." I whisper and look to Martin, who still looked puzzled "One of Jude's moms"

"Callie, please open up. We want to talk!" Lena calls me a moment later, in a much softer voice than Stef did. I assume it was Stef who banged on the doors again, as I hadn't answered them.

"We are not leaving until you talk to us!" Stef called. Knowing Stef, I can assume that statement was true. They won't leave, till I talk to them. I had no way out.

I run my hands over my cheeks once more, to get rid of the evidence that I had cried. When I get my courage up, I walk to the front doors. Stef kept on knocking till I turned the door nub. For few seconds we stand in front of one another, not saying anything.

"Why did you leave?" Lena spoke up first

"I had to" I reply emotionless

"You had to?" Stef chuckled, sounded like a frustrated laugh "What about Jude? You left without saying a singe word to him. No explanation, no nothing! Do you know how worried he is about you?"

"It's for the best" I reply matter-of-factly

"For whom?" Lena asked taking me by surprise

I tighten the grip around the door nub, that I was still holding on and shift in my stand "For everyone" I say in detached tone of voice

"Oh, please" Stef said not believe me

I heard Martin coming closer to the front doors. I think he stopped at the end of the small hallway. Stef and Lena both look pass me, to him.

"What is going on?" Lena ask me when she looks back to me. I look over my shoulder to Martin for a brief moment.

"I'm withdrawing my suit for custody" I state looking back to the two woman

"What are you talking about?" Stef blurred out shocked. Lena next to her looked just as surprised.

"He should live with you. You can adopt him!" I had trouble keeping the detached, emotionless, cold tone of voice as these two woman were looking at me. Before I opened the doors, I was determinate not to show them any kind of emotions. I didn't want to show them, how hard this decision is affecting me. The task was way harder than I initially thought. Tears once again threatened to fall. I have to look away from their gaze to keep my composure "I won't stand your way. I will be out of your life for good. You will never see me again!"

"We don't want that" Lena said at once "If adopting Jude means, we will never see you again - we don't want that. We don't want you out of our lives, quite the opposite actually"

All I was thinking about after Lena's statement, was how I screwed up Jude's chanced of getting adopted. Jude had found a family, all on his own. A family that wanted him. And the second I walk back in his life, I mess it up. They no longer want him. Jude will hate me for this. I will hate myself for what I did. I don't know how I will be able to look him in the eyes. Will he ever forgive me? Was this something he could forgive?

"Honey, we don't want just Jude," Stef said tenderly "We want you as well. We want to adopt both of you!" Stef added taking me by surprise

I stare at Stef for a while. I simply stare at her. Not saying anything. Not blinking. Not moving. I repeat the words she said over and over again in my mind. After what seemed like a minute -I started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Stef asked in returned, in a dead serious voice

I shook my head, still laughing "You want to...adopt me?" I press my left hand to my chest

"Yes" Both of them said at the same time. When my laughter dimmed down Lena added in a very no-nonsense manner "We want you to come live with us. We want you to be part of our family"

"Jude will never be able to chose between us" Stef continued "This way, Jude will have it all. A family and he would still be with his sister, with you! You two would be together."

"We are remodeling our garage. It would be a guest house, guest bedroom for you. You would have your own space" Lena added

"Did you hear me when I said, I am withdrawing." I emphasized the last word so they both hear it loud and clear "The custody battle is over! It's over! Jude is all yours! You don't have to pretend to like me or care about me. You don't have to play nice with me or even talk to me! So stop! Stop pretending that you care! Just stop!" I said in a raised voice, not believing a single word the say

It didn't seem real to me. Why would they want me? Why now? Why now that I am 18 a family would want me? I am unlovable. I'm not worth the trouble. I am worthless and disposable. My life doesn't matter. In my mind, I found no feasible explanation for what they just said. It is Jude, who they want. Not me. They don't want me.

"We are not pretending. We care about you, Callie! Just like we care about Jude!" Stef replied without missing a beat

"Bullshit!" I snap back harshly

"You think that now that you are 18, you don't need a family?" Stef asked back louder, in more firm voice

"I don't!"

"That's a lie and you know it!" Stef snapped back "You need a family just as much as Jude does. Maybe even more than Jude! But you are -like Dana said, too proud and too stubborn to admit it" Stef stated looking me straight to my eyes "You think you are doing Jude a favor by withdrawing your suit for custody?" Stef detained a small pause "You are not! You are hurting him instead! How do you think he is going to feel, when we say that you gave up on him? When we say that his sister, doesn't want him anymore? Huh, how do you think that will make him feel!?"

"I am not giving up on him!" I hated the way Stef made it sound, that's not what I am doing. I am not giving up on him "I am doing what is best for him! He can't choose, so I made the choice for him! I did what is best for him! He may not see it that way now, but later...in few years, he will understand! I did what I had to do, so he could have a better life!"

Lena glanced to Stef for a brief moment. I saw them interlock their fingers "Callie, I think you don't understood what we are offering to you" Stef started, but Lena picked up where Stef stopped

"We are offering a way, where Jude doesn't have to choose! We are offering you a place to live, where you don't have to worry about paying rent and being thrown out. We are offering you a chance to be 18, to be a kid. We are offering you to live with Jude, where you won't have to play the role of parent, but can be just his sister, were you don't have to be responsible for him. We are offering you a family. We are offering you a chance to be part of our family...along with Jude!"

"All you have to do, is say – Yes" Stef finished and now both of them waited an answer

Jude POV

Just shortly before midnight, the doors to the house opened. Everyone in the living room held their breath. I jumped up to my feet, impatiently waiting for moms and Callie to show in the hallway.

But only two people walked in. Callie did not walk in after them. Moms where holding hands. Both of them looked like they have been crying.

"Where's Callie?" I ask walking closer to them

"Jude..." Lena spoke up in the most softest voice "She...she withdrew her suit for custody"

"W-What?" I stutter back, taking one step away from them

"She wants us to adopt you" Stef added, her voice sounded like she was about to cry

"Where is she?" I almost shout at them, I was so upset "I want to see her! I need to talk to her!" I wanted to walk pass them, but Stef held me back

"She made up her mind. There is nothing you can do. There is nothing any one of us can do. She made her decision, Jude!" Stef said with tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked down to me

"No" I shook my head "Callie wouldn't do that. That's a lie!"

"Honey, I know it's hard" Lena said quietly "But she made up her mind. I am so sorry, baby"

"No...no!" I wanted to get to the doors again. I needed to see my sister. This can't end like this. She can't just leave me. Not again! Not like this. Please, not like this. She can't leave me! Not without saying anything! Callie gave up one. My own sister gave up one. She promised she would never leave me.

I was fighting in my mom's hands, struggling to get out of her hold "Let me go! Let me...Go! I need to see her! Let me go! Callie! No...no...I need to talk to her!" I cried out, while tears fell down my cheeks

Stef didn't let me go. She held on to my tighter. Mom pulled me closer to her chest and started to sooth me, while she was crying herself "Shhhh, baby, it will be okay"

I was still fighting against her. Trying desperately to get out of her hold. Mama came around and hugged me as well. That's when I stopped fighting and just started to cry, while being held by my moms.

Stef POV

Jude finally fell asleep after hours of crying. He was snuggled up to Lena's side, his head on Lena's chest. His hand had a death grip on Lena's shirt. Tear strains covered his cheeks.

I was still running my fingers gently through his hair. Lena's fingers were drawing small circles on his back, while Lena herself was staring up the ceiling. It was around 5 am, but the two of us were still awake. I doubt either one of us will sleep tonight (this morning). Too much had happened. There were too many thoughts in my mind. They won't let me sleep anyway.

I can't even imagine what Jude must feel like. Hearing that your sister is giving up on you must be devastating. And that's exactly how Jude looked – devastated. For years, they depended on each other. 2 years they waited to be reunited. But now, Callie goes and does this, without even talking to Jude. Without giving him an explanation. I bet, Jude not only feels devastated, but also betrayed. How will he ever recover from this?

I lean closer to Jude and press my lips to his temple. We never wanted for this to happen. Lena and I wanted to avoid heartbreak. We didn't want anyone to get hurt. But in the end, everyone got hurt.

"I'm sorry Jude" I whisper in the dark and kiss his temple again

"What are you sorry for, love?" Lena whispers back to me

"Everything. We couldn't protect him," I reply stroking his hair "I hate seeing my babies hurting. I hate that I can't do anything to fix this. I hate that, we couldn't talk Callie into coming to live with us."

I move my hand lower and caress Jude's cheek "Could we have done something differently, to avoid this?"

"We could have done many things differently, but I do not know if that would have changed the outcome" Lena said quietly in the dark "We will never know" She added sadly after a moment

I kiss Jude's cheek and then as careful as I can not to wake him, I sit up -my legs over the bed side, hands pressed to the bed, head down. A moment later I push myself up from the bed.

"Where are you going?" Lena asks quietly not to wake Jude

"To make myself cup of coffee. I won't be able to fall asleep anyway" I say as I walk around the bed

"I will maybe join you in few minutes" Lena said. Even though it was dark in the room, I saw how she looked down to the boy.

"Mm-hmm" I hum back as I tip toe out of the room

After I put on the kettle, I prepare my cup of coffee. Remembering Lena's words, I make another cup, just in case she does join me. If she doesn't, no big deal. I will drink it myself in hour or two.

As I wait for the water to boil, I head over to living room to look out the window. I wrap my hands around my stomach, to keep warm as I watch the street. It was still snowing. Under the street light, I saw how big the snowflakes were. It was a beautiful view. Calming and relaxing. Maybe if I look at the snow falling long enough, I will forgot what happened few hours ago.

But as I look around the street, something catches my eye on the porch. My arms fall down to my sides, when I got curious. I take one step closer to the window to have a better look on the porch. At first I thought my eyes were deceiving me. But now that I have a better look on the porch, I realize that my look didn't deceive me.

I hurry to the front door and turn the lock. The moment I open the doors, the person, who was sitting on the porch, jumps up to their feet and turns to me.

The light from the street was enough for me to recognize the person. She was covered in big, white flakes of snow. Her hair looked wet as the snowflakes had melted. She stood in front of me with a despair look in her eyes. But the longer I looked at her eyes, I realized she was wretched, perplexed, scared and remorseful as well. Overall, she looked miserable.

We stood like that, just staring at one another for some good minute. Neither one had said anything. The cold wind from the outside, was blowing in, giving me goosebumps. But I didn't move.

Callie shifted in her stand. Her right hand went up to her face and she rubbed the bridge of her nose the next second. She glanced sideways, away from my look. When she looked back at me she looked straight to my eyes. Callie run her tongue over her lips before she spoke.

"Yes" It was all that Callie said, but I got the message loud and clear

I took a step aside, with my right hand I gestured her to come in. She hesitated at first, but when she was finally over our doorstep, I closed the door behind her.

THE END