Chapter six, pick-up sticks:

Lena stirred as she heard the alarm go off on Stef's phone. She reached across her partner, who groaned in response. She fell back to her side of the bed, "Stef, time to get up. It's 5:45."

Stef stumbled out of bed, bleary eyes and disoriented, "I'll get Callie, you get Jude?" Receiving a yes, the blonde set out for the girl's room. She opened the door quietly―Mariana would not take kindly to being waken up any earlier than she had to be.

Stef tiptoed to Callie's bed and was surprised to find it empty, the covers thrown back. Did she get up before us? She headed down the hallway and down the stairs. Stef checked the living room and the kitchen and when she found them both empty, she started to get worried. Callie wouldn't just leave, would she? Stef raced up the stairs as quietly as she could and nearly ran right into Lena.

"Whoa," Lena whispered putting a hand out to steady her partner, "What's wrong?"

"I can't find Callie!" Stef stage whispered, "She's not in her room or downstairs, I don't know―"

"Um, guys?"

Both women turned around to see Callie standing near the top of the stairs. She was still in her pajamas with one of Brandon's sweatshirts on top and Mariana's rain boots on her feet. She was clutching her guitar in one hand, a confused look on her face.

"Where the hell were you?!"

Callie instinctually backed up as she heard the angry voice, nearly tripping down the first step, "I…I couldn't sleep…"

Stef sighed, scrubbing a hand over her face, "No, Sweets. I'm sorry for yelling. I'm not angry with you."

Callie nodded, although she made no move to step any closer to the women, "I'm gonna…can I shower?"

"You can use our bathroom," Lena answered, "Jude is in the other one." Callie nodded and made her way down the hall to grab her clothes, pressing herself against the wall in an attempt to avoid Stef.

Once she was gone, Stef covered her eyes with her hands, "My god, that child must be terrified of me."

Lena pressed a kiss to her head, "Because you two are exactly alike." She walked away before Stef could question her.

Jesus, Mariana, and Brandon sat at the kitchen table, a bowl of cereal in front of each of them. They were alone for the morning but when they got back from school, Sharon would be at the house.

"Brandon, pass me the―"

"I think Mom and Mama should adopt Jude and Callie." Jesus and Brandon looked up from their respective bowls at Mariana's random interjection. Seeing that they were waiting for an explanation, she continued, "Well, it's just…do you guys really want to see them go to another foster home? Where they could get hurt? Again?"

"Of course not," Brandon answered immediately, putting his spoon down, "Are you sure? Jesus?"

Jesus nodded, "Yeah, totally. Callie and Jude are cool."

Mariana smiled, "It would be nice to not be the only girl anymore."

"We have two moms!" Jesus argued, "And I'm pretty sure they're girls unless I'm mistaken…"

Mariana rolled her eyes as she took out her phone, "You know what I mean."

To: Lena

Brandon, Jesus & I have agreed that there is enough to go around :)

Stef, Lena, Callie, and Jude were about an hour from their destination. They had left the house early, 6:30, and stopped for breakfast and snacks before making the long journey. Lena volunteered to drive for the first half, allowing Stef to catch up on some much needed sleep. Jude and Callie were sitting together in the backseat; Jude opted for the middle seat so that he could be close to is big sister.

"Callie? Do you think Grandma will like me?" He asked quietly. Callie inwardly sighed. She knew how desperately Jude wanted a family to call his own; one that didn't change every couple of months, but she had a bad feeling brewing in the pit of her stomach and she didn't want to give him any false hope.

"You're a great boy," Callie answered carefully, "Who wouldn't like you?" Jude seemed satisfied with this answer and leaned back in his seat. Callie took out her phone to check the time and was surprised to see messages waiting for her.

From: Mariana

Love u and Jude, plz tell him

From: Jesus

Can't wait for u guys 2 come home, Mariana is killing me!

Callie smiled before checking the remaining message from Brandon.

From: Brandon

You're a good big sister. See you both soon.

Callie discreetly turned her head towards the window as her eyes grew a bit misty. It was nice to have a sense of family. She shook her head. Not family, foster family. She couldn't allow herself to get attached; they probably wouldn't be there long before something bad happened like it always did. Callie looked at the kind women in the front of the car, and at her baby brother who seemed to be happier than he had been in his entire life.

They would never be her real family, but it was nice to pretend for the time being.

Callie was jolted awake as the car ran over a bump. She looked down at Jude who was still asleep. Stef was awake now and driving and Lena was in the passenger seat. Callie ran a hand through her hair; they must have stopped while she was asleep. She looked out the window and saw that they were pulling up to the hotel that they would be staying at for the next few days.

"Hey, Callie," Lena greeted whispered, seeing Jude was still asleep, "Sleep well?"

The teen nodded, and glanced at the clock on the dashboard, it was 1:28 PM. "What's the plan for today?"

"Well," Lena began, "We're going to get settled in the hotel, eat and rest, and then we're going to go to the wake, okay? It starts at 7."

Stef pulled the car into a parking spot and shut off the car, "Alright, we're here. Callie, wake up Jude please."

Callie did as she was told and the motley crew grabbed their luggage before making their way to the entrance of the hotel. They rented a single room with two queen sized beds, one for Callie and Jude and the other for Stef and Lena. Jude walked in and immediately fell onto a bed, continuing his nap from the car. Callie moved to take his shoes off but was surprised to see Lena already taking care of it, unfolding the blanket from the foot of the bed and covering Jude. Callie was not used to seeing someone else take care of her baby brother and she wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"I saw a Panera on the way here, I'm going to go pick up some food," Stef said, placing her duffle bag on the unoccupied bed, "Callie, can you come with me please? I could use some help."

"Um…" Callie looked at Jude who was dead asleep and made no movement towards the door.

Lena smiled, "I'll be here the whole time; he'll be okay," she assured Callie gently.

Callie nodded and brushed some hair out of her face, "Yeah, okay. Let's go."

Stef glanced at Callie quickly before turning her eyes back to the road. The brunette was holding herself up rigidly, sitting as far away from Stef as the seat would allow. She hadn't said a word since they got into the vehicle.

"Callie? Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Are you mad at me?"

"Well, are you mad at me?"

Stef pulled up at a stop light and looked at Callie who was playing with her fingers, "Callie," she waited until she was looking into brown eyes, "I'm not mad at you, Sweets. Why do you think that? Because of this morning?" Callie simply shrugged. The light turned green and Stef pressed on the gas. She pulled up to Panera and parked the car before shutting off the engine. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned towards Callie.

"Please look at me, Baby." Callie hesitated before bringing her eyes up to Stef's. She was surprised to see not anger or annoyance but pure love. It was new to her, but very welcome.

"The reason I yelled at you," Stef began, "Is because I was scared."

Callie raised an eyebrow, "Why were you scared?"

"Well I thought you had left," Stef explained, "I couldn't find you anywhere and I started to panic."

Callie shook her head, "But…why? It's just me."

Stef reached out and took Callie's hands who immediately tried to shake off the grip but the blonde police officer held on tight, "Callie, what did I tell you that night you found Jude? What did I say, Sweets?"

Callie sniffled and a single tear sneaked its way down her face, "You said I wasn't disposable…that I'm not worthless."

"And I meant that, Callie," Stef said, wiping away the tear with her thumb, "I wasn't lying to you. You are such an amazing girl, yeah? Can't you see that?" Callie looked down and shook her head, and in that same moment Stef felt her heart break into a million pieces. She wished she could personally pummel anyone who contributed to the way Callie felt at this particular moment.

"Come here, Love." Stef pulled Callie into her arms and held her tight. A moment passed before Stef felt the girl begin to shudder with sobs. Callie reached up a hand to cover her mouth but Stef grabbed it and held it tightly in her own, "You're allowed to cry, Baby. Lena says you're just like me. We want to be strong for everyone all the time but we shouldn't be. We shouldn't have to put on a brave face or bottle our feelings inside. Sometimes, you just need to cry." Callie tightened her grip on Stef and allowed herself to cry without restraint. She cried for the misery she had endured throughout her life. She cried for Jude, who she never stopped worrying about. She cried for her mom and now her dad. She cried because finally, she could.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I will be ringing in 2014 with the family and then coming home so they can come back to my house for the traditional New Year's Day soup. I have soooo much homework to do! I didn't hit me until yesterday just how much I have…

Let's pray to some Supreme Being that is gets done!

-Liv