AN- Hey guys! Fosters Coming soon! Eeek.. Someone asked me to warn you if I was putting spoilers in.. Well this story is kind of an AU... It's not going off the show's time frame at all. So there will be no spoilers I promise! Safe to read! Thank you again for all the love! You make this story so fun to write! I just love you readers! Sorry it took me a bit longer it was a busy week and I hit a wall for a moment. Then I stopped trying to force something and this chapter wrote it's self :) Enjoy!
"Coffee?" Sharon asked as Lena came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes
"Godsend" Lena mumbled as she sat down at the counter while Sharon poured her a cup her a cup and slid it down the counter to her daughter in law. Lena let out a sigh as she wrapped her hands around the mug. "Thank you for coming. I know Stef and I said we didn't need you…" She paused before looking up "But I've learned something from my kids the past few days. You're never too old to need your mother or mom in law" She smiled as Sharon came around the counter and kissed Lena's cheek. "I am just so glad you are okay. I swear my heart stopped beating the day I saw on the news that Anchor Beach was being shot at. I just couldn't think about anything else but you and my grandchildren."
"Good Morning Lena Elizabeth" Dana said coming down the stairs stopping behind her daughter to wrap her arms around her from behind. Resting her chin on her daughter's shoulder. "Did you sleep well?"
Lena yawned and shook her head "No, not really. Between Callie, Mariana and I we all had nightmares last night a few times and all of us ended up in the same bed. Mostly because Stef and I were too tired to do anything else after we calmed the girls. Then there elbows in ribs, toes in legs, fingers in eyes."
"Yeah, that's why I never a fan of sharing a bed with children" Dana shook her head as Lena laughed "That was all Stef! Once the girls were settled from their nightmares they didn't move."
Sharon snorted as she poured Dana a cup of coffee "Something's never change. Sleeping with that girl is like sleeping with a tornado. I don't know how you do it."
"That's where having the girls in bed with us hindered us" Lena yawned "Because they were in her space. It's not so bad when she has lots of room."
Dana shook her head as she took her cup and slid onto the stool next to Lena. "So the girls are having nightmares? Is that…" She paused trying to find the right wording.
"All three of us are mom" Lena yawned "The counselor said it's fairly normal. There's a whole array of symptoms that come from something this traumatic. Anger, guilt, sadness, nightmares, headaches and more. It's all normal. Just weird talking about it like this to you guys" She said looking down "Because I am in it too, and it's harder to see those things about yourself. I see it in the girls."
"I am sorry that you and the girls went through such a traumatic event" Dana said "I don't have any other words. I wish I could make it better for you."
"You came" Lena said softly "And I didn't realize how badly I wanted you here until I saw you."
Dana patted her knew while she watched Sharon pull out eggs and bacon to start making breakfast for the troops.
"What is planned for your day?" Dana asked finding it impossible to keep her hands from touching Lena. Either but patting her knee or arm rubbing her back. It was like she just had to see for herself she was really sitting next to her.
Lena glanced at the clock on the stove "In an hour and a half I have to take Callie to her counseling appointment. She missed yesterdays."
"You have to take her?" Dana asked "Or can Stef?"
"It's supposed to be me" Lena explained "We go together on this one. Since we lived through the moments together. We'll set up her personal ones later."
"I see" Dana nodded as Jude came into the kitchen rubbing his eyes
Lena turned at the shuffling of feet to see him and held her arm open to him "Hey little man" She said softly "I need a good morning Jude hug."
Jude didn't hesitate in walking right into her arms burying is face in her side as she rubbed his back resting her chin on the top of his head. "Love you" She whispered into his ear.
After several minutes he finally pulled away and took the seat on the other side of Lena smiling at Sharon "I like Eggs and bacon good choice." He turned to Lena "Mom, can Connor come over today? Or can I go over there?"
Lena chewed her lip "You know buddy grandma's just got here I would rather we kept it as a family day. Maybe later this week?"
Jude's shoulders slumped a little as he looked down at his hands. "We did a family day yesterday."
Lena ran her finger tips up and down Jude's spine "I know bud, but it's really a family week and your grandma's weren't here yesterday for it."
"You and Callie are leaving in a little bit" He argued "How is that a family day?"
"For a little bit" She clarified "Just for her appointment. Jude we're coming back."
"Then you have a meeting I am sure." He challenged as she glared at her "I don't see why I can't spend some time with Connor! It's not fair. All that's going on around here is Mariana and Callie being emotional."
"That's enough young man" Stef's voice was heard from behind them and they turned to see her coming down the stairs she gave Jude her warning look before heading to the coffee pot "It's too early in the morning for this."
Jude raised his eyebrow at her "It's not fair, that's all I am saying. I want to see Connor."
"Not today" Lena said holding up her hand "We'll talk later in the week. Today I want to spend the day with my kids and my mother's."
Jude sighed "Yeah, but you're leaving for an appointment and I am sure you have a meeting to go to. Our lives have to go back to normal at some point mom. I am not asking for a lot. I am asking for time with my friend."
"Jude keep it up bud and you won't see him until you go back to school" Stef warned "Mama said no. Respect that please."
Jude sighed loudly and mumbled something under his breath causing Stef to narrow her eyes at him. "Jude do you need to go back to bed for a little while? You're kind of cranky this morning."
"Yeah. I guess I do" He snapped as he hopped off the stool ready to head back upstairs when Lena caught his arm. She pulled him into her side and he practically melted in. He hung onto her and the two remained silent just holding onto each other.
He pulled away after a few minutes and blushed "I am sorry mama. I didn't meant to argue. I just…"
"It is okay bud" She assured him "I get it, it's been a rough few days for you and you want some normalcy too. We'll see if Connor can come over tomorrow for dinner. Okay?"
Jude nodded "Okay"
Lena pulled him back into her arms and hugged him tightly "I love you."
"Love you too mama" She planted a kiss on the top of his head "You know I think your mom could use a good Jude hug too."
"Mmmhmm yes please" Stef said putting down her coffee mug so she wouldn't accidentally burn her child as he left Lena's arms and went to Stef's.
She pulled him against her wrapping him up in a big bear hug before blew a raspberry on his forehead causing him to squeal as he tried to break the hug laughing "Gross mom! That's gross."
Stef managed to keep him contained in her arms before she started tickling which cause him to squeal again before his big laughter started echoing the kitchen.
"Mom stop" He begged between his laughter as he struggled against Stef.
"Stefanie the child is turning purple I swear" Sharon shook her head as Lena laughed "Stef, honey if he pees his pants you're cleaning it up."
"I am not going to make him his pee his pants" She shook her head "Just close to it." She teased tickling him a little more as he pleaded with her to stop before she pulled away and planted a big kiss on his cheek "I love you Mr. Man."
Jude smiled and nodded "Love you too mom" He said but quickly stepped away from her just in case she still had more tickling inside her.
"Come here" Sharon held an arm open "Come help me make all this bacon, I'll keep you safe. She won't dare try that with me."
"Grandma's are the best aren't they?" Lena smirked at her son as Stef went to Lena and kissed her cheek "Thanks love" she teased.
Lena ran her hand up and down Stef's back "With the mom's here do you want to come with Callie and I to our appointment? Maybe hear for yourself what she's feeling? What is said to her?"
Stef looked at mother "Do you guys mind staying alone with the kids for a little while? They are fine but we have liked having an adult home…"
"We get it" Dana nodded "And there is nothing more we'd like to do then spend sometime with these kids"
"Mariana gets nervous" Stef went on only to have her mother hold up her hand "We've got this Stefanie, you go with your wife we'll watch the rest of the hoodlums"
Jude looked up in mock hurt "I am not a hoodlum. I am the cute one."
"He does have a point there" Lena nodded "He is the cute one."
"Shh stop talking how great our cute one is" Stef held up her fingers to her lips as she spotted the girls coming down the stairs "It cause mutiny"
"Whatever mom" Mariana mumbled as she came in heading for the fridge
"Ah my ray of sunshine" Stef smiled as she went up behind her wrapping her in her arms as she rested her chin on Mariana's shoulder while the girl stood in front of the fridge scanning it for her favorite kind of yogurt and orange juice.
"Morning mommy" She mumbled but didn't shrug her off.
"Hey Slug a bug" Lena greeted Callie and much like she had earlier that morning with Jude she held her arm open to her inviting the girl in for a hug.
Callie rubbed her eyes and stepped into the open arms leaning into Lena's side. "Morning mama" She said tiredly
"You feeling okay?" Lena asked with concern as Stef and Mariana joined everyone at the counter.
"OH baby" Stef said looking up as she watched Callie lean further into Lena.
"Can I see your arm?" Lena asked while Stef pulled the medicine basket down.
Callie nodded and took off her sweatshirt and turned slightly so Lena could look at the arm. They had left it unbandaged to air out.
"Stef" Lena called her over as she looked at the inflammation and crustiness around the stitches.
"How long do we wait before we bring her back in?"
Dana winced and moved "I am going to go over here and help with breakfast" She said not being able to take the look of the wound.
"I am going to clean it again, apply more meds" Stef said "We'll have her take the oral mediation as well and set up a doctor appointment for tomorrow. Unless her fever is higher than it was yesterday."
"I'll check on her fever." Lena said rubbing Callie's good arm "If you go get the medical supplies to clean and bandage this baby back up."
Dana cleared her throat "Lena, you were shot too?"
Lena nodded and held up her arm "Underside of my arm."
Dana glanced in confusion at her arm trying to figure out how that happened
"Um" Callie cleared her throat catching Dana's eye "He um wanted to shoot me in front of Lena. He wanted her to suffer by watching one of her children die."
Sharon stopped stirring the eggs as Mariana moved closer to Dana who wrapped her arm around her while even Stef froze at the bottom of the stairs.
Callie cleared her throat "So he aimed his gun at me, and Lena must have seen it because all of a sudden she behind me and she wrapped her arms over mine." Callie pointed to the under part o Lena's arm "It was on top of mine when the bullet went between our arms grazing us. Though I don't know why they called it a graze when I feel like there is a chunk out our arms." Callie looked at hers "She just jumped up threw herself in front of gunfire not caring about her own life as she pulled me to the ground."
Lena wrapped reached for Callie but she slipped out of her reach "What were you thinking?" Callie yelled shocking everyone in the room.
"Callie" Jude shook his head "Stop."
"No" Callie snapped as she whirled around on Lena her eyes full of rage her face turning red "How?! How did you think we could live with out you?! How could you be so STUPID to put yourself in front of a bullet LENA" Tears welled up in her eyes and she pushed them away quickly "How could you put yourself in danger that could have KILLED YOU? You have FOUR other Children and a wife who need you! How do you think we could handle living with out you? Jude knows what it's like to lose a mom! How could you do that to him? How could you make him possibly lose another?"
"Callie" Stef finally spoke up moving towards the girl
"How could you do that to me?" She asked quieter as she stared at Lena trying to catch her breath. "How do you think we could be okay with you out? I can't lose another mom"
"Callie, baby" Stef grabbed her and she turned around quickly burying her face in Stef's chest as she cried while Stef stood rocking her looking over her shoulder who looked at Lena who was in shock at her daughter's out burst. The whole room was.
"Callie, honey" Lena said standing up and moving over to her wife and her daughter she sandwiched between the two of them so the girl couldn't run, which there was a good chance. "Honey, I am a mom and I am your mom. I'll never think twice about saving you. Ever. Your life will always come first to me."
"Life with out a mom is hard" Callie mumbled into Stef "I don't want to do it again."
"Honey" Lena made her turn around and look at her "I am right here. I didn't go anywhere." She ran her finger tips over Callie's forehead before she leaned in and kissed her twice. "Do you feel that Callie? That's me right here and now. I am still here. I didn't go anywhere.'
Callie pushed her away "No, don't. Just don't Lena. You didn't even think about what it could do to you to step in front of a bullet! You didn't think about us! You didn't about we couldn't survive with out you!"
Lena's own tears began to fall "And do you know what I thought in that moment Callie?" She asked with her voice shaking "I thought about this family couldn't survive with out you. Don't you get it you're not replaceable."
"You can't do that" Callie shook her head "You can't…."
"I…" Callie pushed away from Stef as well "I just need a break" She said using Stef's words.
"I need to clean your wound and take your temp." Stef cleared her throat she then glanced at Lena and cleared her throat.
"Okay, go on up to your room." She nodded "Get ready we have forty minutes until we need to go. You need to eat, and take medication. Figure out how that looks?"
Callie nodded as she avoided Lena's look before she ran out of the room.
"I wasn't expecting that one" Stef said honestly.
"When Callie's scared, she hides behind her anger" Jude said quietly "She's never wanted to get close to another adult again. She has and you got shot in front of her. You scared her. You made it a reality that you could die and leave us. Not to mention it's the same day as our mom died."
Lena wiped some tears away "Anger is a normal part of traumatic events." She said clearing her throat as her lip trembled "I need a break too" She mumbled before she left the room quickly.
"Mom?" Mariana looked up "Are we going to be okay?"
"Oh baby" Stef almost ran to her pulling her into her arms "Sweet baby we're going to be okay. Our family is going to be just fine. Because we are strong in love."
Mariana swallowed and nodded "But mama and Callie… they just left"
Stef shook her head "No they didn't. They didn't leave they are just calming down. We'll talk again soon. We have a counseling appointment for your sister. It's all going to be okay" She promised "One step at a time."
Mariana nodded as she held onto her mother. Not quite so sure she believed that at the moment.
The Fosters
FB
One month into this home one month in and Callie's heart had been taken over. She watched as Lena prepared dinner. Humming to herself while Callie worked on her homework. They were the only two home at the moment so the house was quieter than normal. In past foster homes Callie would have been hiding in her room at this point. Being alone with a Foster Parent was a no no in her book. However this family was different. Stef and Lena were different. They weren't Foster Parents who were wanting money. They had them in their home because they cared.
"Hey slug a bug" Lena said breaking Callie's attention.
Callie looked up quickly "Uh me?"
"You're the only one in this room with me" She smiled "You okay? You seemed lost. Do you need help with your homework" She said pausing what she was chopping to make sure she had Callie's eyes on hers.
"No, I am done" She said shutting her book.
"Oh good" Lena smiled "Good girl, proud of you" She moved over and kissed the top of Callie's head "And now I get the full attention of my Callie girl. So lets just talk."
"You want to talk to me?" Callie asked her eyes big "Am I in trouble? Oh" She bit her lip "Did you find a new family for us?"
"Sweetheart" Lena shook her head "Honey you aren't going anywhere. I just want to talk to my girl. I want to hear your voice and thoughts."
Callie smiled as she shrugged "My day was good, but I don't have anything major to talk about."
Lena sighed almost disappointed "Okay"
"But I want to stay here and help you" Callie smiled as her heart was screaming I just want to be near you. She got up and went and hugged Lena. "Thank you"
"For what sweetie?" Lena asked taking the hug stealing another kiss.
"For taking care of me" Callie said quietly
"Honey as long as I am around. You're needs are always going to come first. I love you! That's how I want to show you I love you."
Callie's heart slammed into her chest. Lena loved her? All she could do was nod.
"Always Callie you will always come first just as will the other kids. Always" She promised "Now why don't you help me wash some carrots."
Always first? Callie thought What the heck does that look like? She quickly shrugged it off and grabbed the carrot just content on being with Lena in the here and now.