A/N: Right so, here is this chapter – in case you somehow can't tell (what?! Jess, stop talking rubbish…). I'm not sure how long this'll be, but hopefully it'll be… long enough(?). Also, I wrote it a little… differently, so please tell me what you think XD Yeah… As always, please please, please rate and/or review J Thanks :D

DISCLAIMER: I'll probably own a dodo before I own The Fosters…

CHAPTER FOUR

Mariana woke up to the sound of sobbing. It wasn't usual – she'd often wake up to her foster's sister's quiet crying. Normally when this happened, she'd just roll over onto her side and try to get back to sleep. She wouldn't do it to be selfish, or self-centred or anything like that – in fact she liked to think of it as quite the opposite. It was, after all, Callie who was upset, and everybody knew that she didn't like anyone seeing her so - that she didn't like to appear weak or vulnerable. In fact, had she'd known that Mariana was awake and listening to her gentle crying, she'd have forced herself to stop immediately and avoided her for the rest of the week – and even longer if Mariana tried to comfort or talk to her about it.

But that night was the fourth consecutive night that she'd found Callie sobbing, and she was beginning to worry, desperately wanting to be able to help her - to cheer her up. The question, though, was how.

…..

Stef was at her wits' end. For the past week and a half, Callie had been moody and withdraw, barely talking to anybody who wasn't her brother and was quickly reverting back to the scared, distrusting teen that Stef had met over a year ago. And her newfound attitude wasn't just at home, Stef knew for a fact that - though she'd never told her wife -Lena had received several complaint's about the girl's behaviour from various teachers who still spoke to her outside the school, none of them remotely good. It was like she didn't care, like she wanted to the girl she used to be – the sad girl who'd rather hide behind the wall she'd built herself than let anybody in. And that alone made Stef so sad. She desperately wanted to hug the girl, comfort her and offer he the security she obviously needed. She wanted to give her nothing but good memories, love and luck. She wanted Callie to be happy. But she wasn't, and Stef had no idea why.

"Moms?" A small, voice interrupted her thoughts. Shifting slightly in her bed, she saw Mariana standing nervously by the open door. "Moms, are either of you awake?"

She sat up, and smiled at her daughter. "You know how late it is, right?"

"Yes, sorry. I just…" Trailing off, Mariana let out a loud, if not slightly exaggerated sigh. "Idon'tknowwhattodomomshewon'tstopcrying."

"What?" Stef frowned at the obviously upset girl. "Hun, I didn't catch that. Say it again – but slower."

"Right. It's just… it's rthe fourth night, Mom, the fourth night she's just… cried. I'm worried, I mean, who knows why she's so upset – she never tells us anything!"

Realising that she was on the verge of hysterics, Stef got out of bed, moving over to Mariana and bringing her into a one armed hug.

"Miss Thing, it's okay. A little less drama and a bit more of an explanation would be great, but I'm sure I can figure the rest out otherwise." She smiled at her daughter, softening her words. "But if Callie – it is Callie you're on about, right – has been crying each week, why haven't you said anything to me or Mama?!"

She felt the girl shrug underneath her. "Yeah, it's Callie, and I don't know, not really. I knew she wouldn't want you guys to know or worry, and…" She paused and bit her lip. "I didn't want her to leave, or not want to be my sister anymore."

"Oh, Miss Thing." Stef sighed.

She wasn't cross with her, she couldn't be - they'd all had the same thought, the same worry; what if by asking Callie about her problems she changed her mind about joining their family? Mariana began to cry, and Stef could do nothing to comfort her, not without making promises that she couldn't guarantee would happen. Not without the possibility of giving her child false hope – and she'd promised herself years ago that she'd never do that.

"How about you sleep with me and Mama, tonight?" She smiled at the still crying Mariana, "And I'll talk to Callie in the morning."

"Okay, Mom." She crawled under the bed covers, snuggling into Stef as she too lay down.

"Miss Thing," Stef murmured, tucking a strand of her daughter's hair begging her ear, "You know, you're a good sister, right?"

Mariana nodded.

"And anybody would be lucky to have you as theirs."

Again, Mariana nodded, though this time considerably less certain.

Stef sighed, but decided against commenting. "Good, now get to sleep. Being a good sister won't help you at school tomorrow."

Mariana let out a small chuckle. "G'night, Mom."

"Good night, Miss Thing."

And with that the two of them fell, almost simultaneously, to sleep, both of them completely emotionally exhausted.

Across the hall from them, Callie continued to cry.