Chapter 17.

"It's going to be okay," Brandon whispered, clutching Callie's hand to his chest. "We have nothing to worry about." He raised her hand to his lips, kissing each finger. "I love you."

"I love you too," Callie whispered back, with a smile. She laughed. "I wish I could be as confident as you are."

"I'm not as brave as I look," he teased. "You ready?"

She nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

They got out to the car, and went the the Foster's front door.

"There's my babies!" Stef called, opening the door to greet them. Her smile lit her entire face.

"Hey, guys," said Lena. "Come on in!"

"Hi," Callie waved, feeling shy.

"Come here, love," said Stef, holding out her arms. "Let me hug you."

Callie walked into Stef's embrace, and as soon as her mother's arms were around her, squeezing her tight, her hands rubbing her back, she felt her eyes well with tears. Clinging to her mother, she tried to hide them.

"Honey," Stef chuckled, holding her daughter's face in her hands. "What are we gonna do with you, slug-a-bug? You cry every time you see us."

"I don't know," Callie hiccuped, through choked laughter. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, baby," Stef told her, hugging her back against her. "It's perfectly okay to cry."

Callie nodded, drying her tears with her sleeve. "I know it is. Thanks."

She and Brandon followed Stef and Lena further into the house, and greeted the rest of the family. Once things had quieted down, though, Brandon spoke up.

"Moms... can we talk to you a minute in private?"

They look at him curiously. "Is everything okay?" Lena asked, creasing her brow.

"Yeah," Brandon assured them. "Everything is fine."

"Why don't we go into the other room?" Stef suggested, motioning for them to follow.

Callie walked close to Brandon, her heart pounding. Once they were in the den, Lena shut the door behind them.

Brandon sat down, and Callie took the spot next to him. He reached over and squeezed her hand as their moms sat down across from them, watching them expectantly.

"So," said Brandon, jiggling his knee nervously. "I have some news for you. Callie and I both do, actually."

"What is it, B.?" Stef asked. "You're starting to worry me, here."

Brandon cleared his throat, placing his hand on the small of Callie's back. "Well, as you know, Callie and I met up again a while back, through mutual friends. Since then, we've both realized that we still, uh, have feelings for each other. We've been dating for a little while, and we think you should know that we're in a relationship."

Callie blushed as Stef and Lena stared at them, her blood pounding in her forehead. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"We would really like your support," Brandon finished, rubbing Callie soothingly between the shoulder blades. "We love and understand each other, and it would mean a lot to us if we had your blessing. Please?"

There was a pregnant pause, where no one spoke. Stef and Lena looked to each other, communicating without words. Wishing she could read their minds, Callie held her breath, waiting for everything to come crashing down around her.

Finally, Lena broke the silence. "It sounds like to two of you have given this some serious thought."

"We have," Brandon assured her. He glanced over at Callie, looking for support.

She nodded, agreeing with him. "We have," she added.

"If you want my opinion," said Stef, "I for one don't see a problem with the two of you being together." She turned to Lena. "I don't think either of us are really surprised by this news, are we?"

"What do you mean?" Callie interrupted, her curiosity getting the better of her nerves.

"Well," Stef told her. "You and Brandon have always had sort of a connection. You've have a lot of history together. I feel like this has been a long time coming." She smiled, patting Callie's knee. "I think this relationship could be good for you, in particular, sweetheart. You seem happy."

"I am," she nodded, beginning to breath easier. Maybe things were going to work out after all?

"I'm fine with it too," Lena told them. "You're both older now, living independently. This is a good time in your life to experience love. And I'm extremely proud of you coming to us about this. That shows a lot of maturity."

"It does," Stef agreed. "I want you to remember that, although love is exciting, relationships are hard work. But if you feel you're emotionally ready to take this step, you have our blessing."

"Thank you," Brandon breathed.

Callie rose to her feet and gave each of her moms a hug. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, honey," said Stef. "We love you both so much."

"Mom?" said Callie quietly, approaching Stef.

"Hi sweetheart," her mother said, looking up. She was reading the newspaper in a quiet corner of the living room.

Callie looked at her carefully, fidgeting. "Can I talk to you?"

"Of course," she nodded, setting the paper aside. She patted the spot next to her. "Have a seat."

Sitting down beside Stef, Callie shyly picked at her nails, unsure of what to say. Both Stef and Lena took the news of her and Brandon's relationship much better than she expected. But the fear of rejection was still there. It wouldn't go away until she was sure that her place in the family was still hers.

Stef wrapped her arm around Callie, resting her chin on top of her head. "So, what did you want to talk about, my love?"

Callie leaned into her, breathing in the light, lingering scent of her perfume. "Brandon," she finally admitted. "And me. Are you really okay with us?"

"I already said I was," Stef reminded her. "I am. I really, truly am."

"I know," she nodded. "But I mean, our relationship won't get in the way of me being a part of the family, will it? I still want to be your daughter. This won't change that, right?"

Stef kissed Callie's hairline, snuggling her closer. "It won't change a thing, baby. Mama and I love you dearly, and no matter what happens, you will always be a member of this family. All we want is for you to be happy."

"I was just so worried," Callie confided. "You were so against Brandon and I being together before."

"You know," Stef told her, smoothing down her hair. "It's all about timing. When you were in foster care, if we'd allowed you and Brandon to date, both you and Jude would have been taken from us. You were a child, Callie, and you needed a safe, stable home. If you were out of our care, we wouldn't have been able to make sure you had the loving home you deserved. That was all that mattered."

"But..." she added, "... and I've never told this to anyone... I've always thought, if it were the right time and place, you and Brandon would make a cute couple. It wasn't the right time and place when you were our foster child, but maybe now, it is?"

"Do you really mean that?" Callie asked, skeptically, looking up.

"I do," Stef nodded. "You're the kind of girl I would want to see Brandon with. And I know that he'll respect you, and treat you well."

"He does," said Callie. "He's... amazing."

Stef smiled. "I'm glad, slug-a-bug."

She yawned loudly. "I'm beat. I think I'm gonna turn in. You?"

"I'd like to stay down here for a while, if it's okay," Callie told her, sitting back against the cushions.

"It's fine," she nodded. She leaned down and gave Callie a kiss. "I love you, baby."

"I love you too, mom."

In the light of the lamp, Stef's green eyes shone. "Don't stay up too late."

Three Years Earlier:

"What are you looking for?" Sophia asked impatiently, watching Callie scan the perfume counter at the mall.

"I'm looking for my favorite perfume," she explained, looking back at her sister. "But I can't find it."

"Can I help you with anything, dear?" the lady at the counter asked, approaching them.

"Maybe," Callie replied, unsure. "I'm looking for a certain perfume. I'm not sure if you have it..." her voice trailed off.

"What's it called?" the woman asked, looking to her questioningly.

"I don't know," she admitted, feeling self-conscious and a little embarrassed.

"You don't know the name of it?"

She shook her head. "No. I can't remember it." She tried to bring up the scent in her mind, so she could describe it. "It smells like the beach," she told the older woman. "Kind of salty, and flowery. But not too flowery. And it comes in a curvy, light blue bottle."

The woman nodded. "Hold on, dear. Let's take a look at what we've got." She indicated to a a few rows of bottles labeled 'tester,' sitting on the glass counter. "You're welcome to try these out, and see if any are a match."

"Thanks," said Callie. She began fingering the delicate glass bottles, sniffing a few every now and then.

"This one smells gross," Sophia whispered, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Callie took the bottle from her and smelled it. It was a heavy, almost oppressive musk. It most definitely wasn't the light, refreshing scent Stef wore. Even after she replaced the bottle in it's spot on the counter, the strong fragrance clung to her nostrils.

She picked up a few more bottles, occasionally spraying them into the air. None were a match. Her heart twinged with disappointment.

"They don't have it," Sophia sighed, looking back at the busyness outside the store. "Let's just go to the food court."

"Hold on," said Callie. "I'm not done yet." She glanced over at a large, dark bottle. Curious, she picked it up, feeling it's weight. Then, she set it down, tears springing to her eyes as the fell on a small blue bottle. "I don't believe it," she breathed.

The bottle had been hidden from view by the bigger one she was just looking at. She picked it up, cradling it in her hands. "This is it." She sprayed it on the inside of her wrist, and held it to her nose. It smelled like home.

That night, after she finished her homework, Callie went to her room and unwrapped her purchase. She traced the lines of the graceful blue bottle with her fingertip, then fluffed her pillow and misted the soft fragrance over it.

She set the perfume bottle in the middle of her dresser, then crawled into her bed, clutching her pillow to her chest. As she lay there, looking at the stars through her bedroom window, she breathed in Stef's signature scent. It was the scent that lingered behind when she'd kissed her goodnight; the scent of love and security.

She had two distinct memories of the perfume. Smelling it again brought them back with suck intensity, it was almost as if she were reliving them. The first time she noticed it was at Frank's funeral. It enveloped her as Stef comforted her, after she lost her mother's necklace. When she returned to Girl's United that evening, the scent clung to her dress, and the feeling of love stayed. She'd slept with her dress under her pillow that night, refusing to let the feeling slip away.

Her second memory was bittersweet. It occurred on Adoption Day. She was getting ready to go to court, straightening the floral dress that Lena had bought her, when Stef came into her room to see if she was ready.

"Almost," Callie had told her, smoothing down a stray chunk of hair.

Her foster mother smiled, standing behind her in the mirror. "I have just the finishing touch."

She went to her room, and returned with the perfume bottle. Turning Callie to face her, she spritzed the fragrance behind her ear. It was cold and tingly, and it sent a pleasant child down Callie's spine.

"There," Stef nodded, holding her soon-to-be daughter before her. "I think you're good to go, Ms. Callie Adams Fosters."

Callie hugged her pillow tighter, her tears traveling in rivers down her face. She closed her eyes, and imagined that she was back home, in her mother's arms.

To Be Continued