Another update! :) I am still exploring a little bit of Callie right now. The next two chapters are kind of focusing on Callie's demons.
Then we've got some Lena stuff coming up. Followed by a little of Stef/Mariana and the boys who are kind of getting the short stick in this story.. :( I hope you guys hang in there for the ride! 20 chapters! Wow! I couldn't do this with out your support! You are the best readers there are! I can't thank you enough
"That was an awesome day mom" Jude said with a yawn from the backseat "That sandcastle we made with mama was so awesome!"
"The draw bridge was a nice touch" Brandon added "That and the sparkling flag pole on the outside for the castle was cool. Leave it to Mariana to carry nail polish with her at all times"
"You have to be prepared." She mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.
"Mama is an excellent sand castle builder" Stef laughed "I am sorry this mom is a clutz and tripped and fell into before we left."
"Foster Adams land forever destroyed by giant old mom" Jesus laughed as Stef looked in the rear view mirror "Watch it punk" She teased "Or I am going to make you walk the rest of the way home."
"Oh a block" Jesus laughed "I am shaking in my shorts.
"As you should be" Stef laughed "A wet willie is coming your way when you least expect it."
"Ew" Mariana groaned "Gross."
"Bring it" Jesus shot back
"Dude" Brandon shook his head "That never goes well for you."
"She's older now" Jesus chuckled "Can't run as far."
"Wet willie and a wedgie boy" Stef warned causing Jude to giggle.
Lena shook her head before turning in her seat to smile at her exhausted kids. They may have been bantering back and forth with their mother but each one of them had their head propped by an arm and were fighting to keep their eyes open. Stef and she had worn them out. Tubing, junk food, sand castles, family relays, charades, lots of laughter. It was a good day. However she was thankful to get home and get the kids and herself into bed.
"Callie is out" She commented to Stef as they pulled into the driveway. "She also slept an hour on the beach blanket while were getting dinner ready"
Stef glanced in the rear view mirror and nodded "Just a reminder she's still sick. I gave her Tylenol after lunch she felt like she was getting warm again."
"I'll check her temp when we get inside" Lena agreed as Stef pulled into their driveway "Boys, I need you guys to get all the beach stuff out of the trunk and into the garage please. Air it out."
"Yes, mom" Jude nodded eager to help his brother.
"I'll get Callie" Stef said as she parked the car and took her seat belt off. Lena nodded but was staring at the house.
Stef climbed out of the car and went to Callie's side of the car thankful that she didn't sit in the second row with the two seater. Like she normally did if they were all together. She carefully unbuckled her seatbelt but was stopped from carefully waking the girl when Lena cleared her throat "Stef, the lights are on in the house."
Mariana's head snapped up as she quit putting things back in her purse.
Stef turned to the house "Odd" She mumbled "We left when it was day light."
"I'll go check it out."
"NO!" Mariana screamed and ear piercing scream that made everyone jump including Callie who was startled and jumped fast her head connecting to Stef's face.
Stef inhaled sharply as her hand flew up to her nose.
"MAMA no. No Mama" Mariana continued to scream in hysterics as Lena turned around quickly to find Stef holding her nose blood seeping between her fingers. Mariana hysterical and Callie frozen and pale.
"Mama don't go!" Mariana sobbed as she flew from the car trying to get to Lena. "What if someone is in there that's going to shoot you! Mama no! You can't go in there! Call the cops!"
"Hey" Brandon whistled trying to capture his sister's attention "Mariana relax" He said gently as he pointed up to the porch "Look it's just our grandmothers."
Mariana by this point had grabbed a hold of Lena and slid to the grounding her mother's legs in her arms as she began to rock. Her breathing very labored
Lena's hand went to the top of Mariana's head as she spotted her and Stef's mothers quickly flying down the porch to the scene.
"Mom are you okay?" Jude asked rushing to Stef who was still holding her nose and trying to blink away the involuntary tears. While Callie stared at her with big wide eyes full of fear.
"It's okay love" Stef said to Callie as she tried to reassure she was fine. "Just a nose bleed baby doll. Son can you get me some napkins" She asked Jude while winking at Callie. Desperately trying to calm her.
After hearing Mariana's screams Sharon and Dana had come running from the house to meet their kids and grandkids outside.
"Stefanie what on earth?" Sharon ran to her daughter putting her hand on her back and quickly rushing her away leaving a blood trail behind.
Lena watched them go before turning her focus to Mariana"Its okay sweetheart, come on lets inside. Everyone inside now please. We can get the car unloaded after everyone calms down." She insisted as Dana knelt down and helped Lena pull Mariana up to her feet.
"Come on Slug a bug" Lena called to the frozen Callie as she held out a free arm to Callie.
Callie rubbed her face but stayed frozen in her seat. Her thoughts on Stef and seeing the blood. Knowing she'd caused it. Her mother was bleeding because she'd been a baby and jumped. How stupid could one be. She thought to herself.
"Oh sweet Callie" Dana moved over to Callie and brushed her thumbs against the girls cheek before leaning in and pulling her into a bear hug. Crushing Callie into her chest. She began to feel her shake in her arms. "It's alright baby doll." She said soothingly "Let's get you inside." She helped Callie out of the car and into the house.
"Mom what are you doing here?" Lena asks "as she helps Mariana to the couch so she can sit and hold her still shaken daughter. She opens up her arm to the other side for Callie. "Come here sweetheart."
"Look around Lena Elizabeth" Dana said as she tried to guide Callie to the couch to her mother's arms only to have the girl lock her legs refusing to move. "Look at these little faces you love so very much. IF you and Stef found even if they were fully grown adults that they had been in some kind of real dangerous situation where they were tormented and traumatized possibly hurt would you really wait a week to see them?"
Lena looked at the faces in the room. Jude, Brandon and Jesus sitting on the ground by Lena's feet making sure she was alright. She felt Mariana sniff in her arm and hug Lena tighter and her eyes traveled to Callie. Her big brown eyes looked so tired, so confused, scared and showed pain.
"Come here baby" She tried again just wanting to hold her daughter close to her. Give her some of her own strength. She watched as Dana pushed against her. Her knees still locked refusing to move. "Callie, come here. Come see me please" Lena requested again trying a different tone. Sighing when it didn't work. She then looked to her mother "No, I suppose I see your point. I wouldn't be able to stay away from any of these faces. If the situation were the same."
Dana let go of Callie and moved over to Lena bending down and grabbing her face in her hands holding it firmly "I love you" She said softly before kissing her twice. "Sharon and I won't be in the way, we'll get a hotel room or something. I just needed to see you."
Lena shook her head quickly as she let go of Mariana for a minute wrapping her arms tightly around her mother. "The girls have been sleeping in our room. They can still, we have it set up for them. They can stay there tonight. You and Sharon can take their room." She bit down on her lip as she locked eyes with her mother. "Oh mom."
"It's okay baby" She whispered as she rocked her slightly.
"Let's go get the stuff out of the car" Brandon cleared his throat to the boys deciding that Lena was fine and had her mother there.
"When you get back grandma has gifts and lots of them" Dana called to the boys while she kept her arms around Lena.
Finally Lena pulled away and stood up while Dana took her spot pulling Mariana into her arms "I need a grandbaby girl snuggle"
Mariana smiled despite what she was feeling and buried herself into her grandmother causing Dana's smile to grow bigger and brighter. While Lena headed over to where Callie stood frozen.
"Hey Callie" She said reaching for her only to have her duck away "No. Don't touch me." She shook her head "Just leave me alone. Gosh Lena, just leave me alone! I don't want to be touched or coddled. I am not a baby! I am fine" She snapped before running for the stairs only to have Stef coming down them with her mother beside her, now freshly changed into her pjs and an ice pack in her hands.
"Whoa, hold up young lady" She said stopping her in mid run and pushed her back towards the living room.
"Are you okay?" Lena asked seeing Stef come into the room with a very mad squirming Callie with Sharon right behind them.
Stef nodded "Fine love" She assured her "I've always been prone to bloody noses. You know that."
Sharon nodded "It's true, anything touched her nose at all as a little kid it would bleed."
"You owe mama an apology. You don't get to talk to her like that. Or with that tone." Stef said seriously as she pushed Callie towards Lena.
Callie set her chin as she eyed Lena before looking at Stef. "You're okay?"
Stef nodded "I am fine darling, it was an accident, wasn't your fault. You were asleep when something startled you. You had no idea I was leaning over you Cal. Wasn't mama's fault either so please apologize for the way you treated her."
"Doesn't matter" She shook her head "I still made you bleed! I did that! I hurt you! God! Just go away and leave me alone." She said yanking her arm away from Stef before running up the stairs.
Sharon raised her eyebrow "Well that's…"
"The story of our lives" Stef shook her head as she stepped into Sharon's arms who opened the up for her. "Just the story of our lives the last few days. It's hot and cold with that baby girl She's emotionally drowning mom"
"Oh sweetheart" She said rubbing her back "You've guys have been putting up with so much on your own."
"Thank you for not listening to us" Stef said with a slight laugh as she rested her chin on her mother's shoulder "And coming. I am glad to have my mom here."
"I am too" Lena said as she glanced up the stairs debating on if she should go or just leave her be for a little bit.
"You guys are staying here yes?" Stef said looking over her mother's shoulder at her mother in law with her chin still on her own mom's shoulder "You can stay in the girl's room. They can still stay with us. We have a big air mattress in our room. They've been staying with us."
"Mama the cars done" The boys came into the house together.
"Well perfect" Dana said standing up pulling the now calm Mariana up. "Grandma's touch" She said winking at Lena who looked surprised. "It's time for gifts! Then I am thinking bed time."
Stef wasn't surprised that not a single kid argued this. Her children were exhausted. They probably would have been alright with waiting until the morning for gifts.
"Where's Callie?" Jude asked with concern noticing his sister wasn't there for gifts.
"I think sis is too tired to stay up much longer" Lena shook her head "She can open her gifts in the morning."
Dana nodded "I'll save them for her."
"While you two have this" Stef said pulling away from her mother watching as Dana grabbed a bag with many gifts in it. She stopped her sentence and eyed the back "Spoil them much?"
"Oh that's just her bag" Sharon laughed "I still have one too."
Dana narrowed her eyes at her daughter in law "And there gifts in there for you and Lena too dear. Don't tell me I don't get to spoil them or you."
"Wouldn't dream of it" Stef smiled as she held up her hands. "But if you don't mind, I think Lena and I would like to go tuck Callie in for the night. Make sure her medications are given and her fever isn't coming back."
Sharon nodded "Yes of course, we've got these guys" She winked at the kids "Wait until you see what's in my bag. This Grandma is going to be your favorite."
"Hey" Dana feigned hurt before laughing.
Stef smiled "We'll be back" She assured the moms as she took Lena's hand and headed up stairs. She expected to find Callie in her room on her bed but not finding here there they found in their room on the air mattress changed into her pjs her bear tucked in her arms. Her thumb wrapped around her nose and her breathing slow.
"Dang that girl falls asleep fast." Stef shook her head as she moved to the air mattress.
"She's exhausted" Lena reminded her "We brought her out when she was sick, she didn't get the rest she should have. This doesn't surprise me at all."
"I need add more antibiotic to her arm, and it needs to air out." Stef sighed massaging her temples as Lena crawled on the bed "And she needs to take her oral antibiotic and Tylenol"
Lena nodded as she lay her head next to Callie and closed her eyes for a second. "You know the more she pushes me away, the more I just want to take her into my arms and hold her forever. That's when you know you're a mom. Despite the hurt feelings you want to hold onto your child."
Stef smiled down at her wife and daughter "Yeah, I know. I see why our moms are here. Why they didn't wait."
"I want my mom too" Lena sighed "I am torn, I want to be here with her and I want to go be with my mom."
"I think we should wake her, get the medications we need into her and put her back to bed" Stef cleared her throat "Then go be with our mom's for a little bit."
Lena nodded as she lifted the back of Callie's shirt and ran her fingertip lightly up and down Callie's back. It was light enough to tickle. "Sweetheart, I need you to wake up for mom and I please."
Callie groaned and pulled away from Lena's fingertip rubbing her eyes "No, go away" She mumbled "I just want to sleep."
"I know you do baby" Lena said softly "But we have to get medicine into you and on you."
Callie groaned again as she shot a look to Stef "It's going to hurt again"
"Not as bad this time' Stef promised "I don't have to clean it. Just going to rub some of the cream on it and then we are leaving it unwrapped for the night. In fact" She smiled "You can stay in bed for all of this" She assured her "I just need you sitting up okay?"
Callie nodded as she sat up wrapping her arms around her knees. "I'll go get the Tylenol" Lena said climbing up off the bed.
"And I'll get the first aid stuff and thermometer" Stef called as she headed into the bathroom while Lena headed out passing Mariana on the way in "HI Miss Thing" She winked at her daughter.
"Oh good you're awake" Marina smiled as she flew to the bed "Grandma's have gifts for you, but they said you could open them in the morning. However there is one they said I could give you tonight." Mariana's eyes were big with excitement as she climbed onto the bed. She thrust a blue velvet box into Callie's hands with an excited smile on her face. "Open it!"
Callie opened the box and found a sterling silver necklace with a little circle pendent on it. Engraved were the words "A Sister Is A Forever Friend" She then pointed to her neck "Look I got one too" She smiled as she took Callie's necklace out and placed it around her neck. "You know, I was happy before you came along" Mariana stated as she took Callie's face in her hands. I didn't think anything was missing. Then you came along and at first I couldn't stand you." She laughed "And then very quickly you got into my heart, and I realized life had been missing something. I had been missing having a sister."
Callie's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Mariana to her. "I love having you as a sister too."
Mariana pulled back "Why are you shutting out mama?" She whispered "You're hurting yourself by doing that."
"But I am protecting her, and I'll do the same to mom."
"You're going to shut out mom too?" Mariana asked crinkling her nose "Good luck with that one, you're about to enter a boxing ring if you do that. Why Callie? Why do you want to do that?"
Callie looked down at the bear in her hands "When I was little, and was bad to my mom she died. I was bad the other day and Lena had gun pointed at her. I was bad today when I disobeyed her and ran away to float with you and not talk. Then I hurt Stef. I am a bad person Mariana and bad things happen to those I love."
Mariana frowned "Callie…"
"Alright, love" Stef came out of the bathroom "Let's get your arm done."
She smiled to Mariana "Did you say thank you to grandma's for all your nice gifts?"
Mariana nodded "Yeah, I am going to go tell them goodnight, change in my pjs and come back up here for bed."
"Oh good plan" Stef smiled "But first you got to give this mom a kiss."
Mariana giggled and rolled her eyes before leaning in and giving Stef a quick peck. "Thanks baby" Stef gave her a wink. "See you in a few minutes."
Mariana nodded "Yeah" She then headed out as Lena was coming in. "Hello again Miss. Thing" Lena laughed as she patted Mari's shoulder as she left the room.
"Water" She smiled holding up a bottled water for Callie "Tylenol" She said with the bottle in her hand "But first we need to take your temperature."
Stef looked over Callie's head at Lena and she cleared her throat clearly saying they needed to talk soon.
Lena nodded as she handed Callie the water and took the thermometer from beside Stef and placed it in Callie's ear.
"I am not a baby" Callie grumbled "I can do this myself."
"Nope" Stef shook her head "Actually you can't. After you threw that tantrum down stairs earlier it clearly indicated to me that you need mom time."
"I didn't throw a tantrum" Callie defended as the thermometer beeped
"Back to a hundred" Lena sighed "Sorry baby. I know you must be wiped." She got out the Tylenol and handed it to Callie with her antibiotics. "Take these"
Callie did as she was told while Stef rubbed her arm "Alright done" She nodded "Now, it's time you lay back down and go to sleep."
Callie handed Lean the water as she lay back down on her pillow. Which Lena handed to Stef who put it on the floor by the bed.
"I don't need you to stay with me while I fall asleep. Go see your moms." Callie said as she lay down pulling a blanket around her.
"Right now, we're going to stay with you" Stef said as she and Lena each lay on a side of her. "Until you fall asleep."
"No" Callie said sitting back up "That's creepy go away."
"No"
"Yes"
"Callie lay down" Stef cleared her throat "Now. I am not playing games with you right now, and I am done. Young lady."
Callie eyed Stef and sighed before laying down "Sorry" She mumbled.
"We're not going anywhere" Stef said once Callie was laying down. "No matter what you do, what you say. How far you push. Mama and I aren't going anywhere."
Callie rolled away from Lena to look at Stef her eyes wide.
"You can yell, scream. Kick. Break things. Push us away. None of it is going to make us walk away from you. I know you're scared and you're sick right now and it's easier to push us away then accept our love "But baby it's not going to push us away. In fact it's screaming out to us to be closer. You'll lose out on your privileges for disrespect and you'll have consequences but it won't be mama and I leaving you."
"I don't want you around me" Callie's voice cracked telling them she didn't really mean it. "Just go away. Leave me alone! Just leave me alone before you regret it!"
Lena sat up and looked at Stef confused.
"Go away!" Callie yelled again "Before something worse happens to you." She then fled from the bed before they could stop her.
The Fosters
FB
"I liked that home" Jude's voice quivered as he and Callie were put in the back of Bill's home moving them to their next home.
Callie looked out the window as he put the car into drive. "It wasn't a bad home." She admitted
"Then why do they want us gone?" The seven year old asked.
Callie sighed "Because of me."
"What?" He asked crinkling his nose.
"Because I was getting bad grades, and I got in a fight at school."
Jude shook his head "No you didn't. You were attacked in school. They were making fun of you for not having a mommy."
"I have a mommy" Callie grumbled "She didn't leave us by choice. Not like these people are leaving us. I was bad. They don't want us. It's my fault. I am bad and people leave us."
Jude shook his head "You've done bad things' He agreed "But so have I. I stole from the store. Remember?"
Callie sighed "You were five. You didn't know better."
"You defended yourself Callie, and you were getting bad grades because we changed schools and it's different. You'll catch up. I even heard Darla say that. We aren't being moved because you were bad."
"I broke her vase! The one her mom gave her. Her mom died!"
"You tripped' Jude shook his head "She wasn't even mad Callie. She was more upset you got cut."
"I was bad Jude. You have to trust me on this. You're six you just don't understand!" Callie sighed "I am a bad seed! Bad things happen and people leave me."
"I don't think that's why we are leaving Darla" Jude argued "It can't be."
Bill turned his attention to the fighting siblings "Callie, Jude's right. Darla lost her job, she lost her house she has to move back home to where her dad lives in Utah. Sweetheart she's not sending you away because you were bad"
"You weren't there" Callie glared at him "Trust me. I lived it! She's sending us away because I am the demon child and she doesn't want to die like my mommy. I mean if what you're saying is true I was bad and she lost her job and all her money and now she's afraid she'll die because she's around me!"
Jude sighed and rubbed his sister's arm. He may be six but he knew that wasn't from truth actually He also knew that he couldn't reason with is sister right now. So he settled on holding her hand. Until he could prove to her. She wasn't bad and people weren't going to leave her because of a mistake or two.
"I love you Callie"
Callie squeezed his hand "I love you too baby, and I am sorry. I'll be better. I promise. I won't let you lose out on a family again because of me."
"I don't need another family, as long as I have you" He whispered.