AN- Ah you guys! The reviews and feedback are seriously the best. I was inspired so you got another chapter today! Happy Friday!

"Lena, love" Stef pushed open their bathroom door to find her wife just standing in front of the mirror staring at her reflection.

"Love?" She asked again "We have to leave in about twenty minutes for Callie's appointment." Stef said softly as she approached her wife slowly trying to gauge what she was thinking. "My love?"

Lena turned around and looked at Stef "There's a funeral this afternoon."

"What?"

"There is a funeral this afternoon" Lena repeated "Two days after the shooting there is a funeral for the twins that died in one of the classrooms."

Stef brought in her lip and bit down not really knowing what to say.

"Karina called she wants me or us. To go with her."

"Do you want to go?" Stef asked hesitantly not sure this was the best idea. "You don't have to go. You know that yes?"

Lena turned back to the sink as she studied herself in the mirror again "Last week at this very time we were all living our lives you know? I was at work the kids were in school and you and I were arguing over who was taking kids to what activity that night and who was preparing dinner. Those kids were at home living probably very similar lives and today there is a funeral for them. How did that happen? How can we not go back and fix this?"

Stef shook her head "Honey, I don't…"

"It's not fair!" Lena slammed her hand on the mirror before turning around and sinking to the ground "I don't want to go to Emma and Kate's funerals. Those fifteen year old girls should be in class this very second thinking about dances and summer."

Stef sank down next to her "I know, honey you don't have to go."

"No, we do have to go. Or I have to go! I don't want to go but I am the vice principal. I've known these kids for years. Emma and Jesus have been friends since they moved here." It was just at that moment as if he knew they were talking about him there was a knock on the bathroom door "Grandma's said you were up here" He called through the door "I just found out on Facebook that Kate and Emma's funeral is today" Stef swore she heard his voice crack

She quickly pulled the door open to find him shifting from foot to foot clearly nervous.

Lena looked up at the boy and sighed why had she not checked in on him? Why hadn't she realized that he was grieving the loss of a friend! She'd been so focused on her own grief and what the girls were going through she didn't stop to ask Jesus how he was feeling. Or Brandon. She knew he'd lost friends too. The boys had been solid rocks the last few days being strong for the women of the family but they were hurting too. They were scared too. Her eyes met him and she patted the ground next to her. "Come here bud."

Jesus walked into the bathroom sitting next to her resting his arms on his knees "Are you alright mama?" He asked quietly.

She nodded and then shook her head "No, not really. Are you alright?" She asked lacing her fingers around his hand while Stef sat down as well crossing her legs under her as she sat in front of her wife and son.

He sighed "I want to say yes."

"It's okay to not say yes" Stef encouraged.

Jesus looked at his mother's hand on hers. Once long ago his hand looked small in her's and now her hand looked small in his. Just reminded him how he was growing up and he was there son just like Brandon and it was his job to protect his mama's. He didn't worry about Stef too much though when she got shot it did remind him that she's not invincible like he used to think. So now he kept a better eye on her. Lena though tended to worry him more. Her heart of gold could be her undoing. He had to make sure no one ever took advantage of that.

"Emma and Kate's funeral is today" Lena confirmed after a few moments of silence "At one."

"Mama" His voice cracked a little as he was fighting off tears "When we first moved here and started going to school here. Emma was my first friend. She didn't make fun of my super hero shirt that the other boys thought I was too old to like. She didn't think I was a freak for having two moms or a sister who wore a princess dress everyday but didn't talk. She didn't judge me for the fact that Brandon was now my cool older brother but we weren't really brothers. She just liked me for me. It's never changed. We've always been friends. Checking in on each other. Texts. You know? I am going to miss my weekly morning Text messages. Or bumping into her in the hall. Or watching her play Volleyball. Or having her tell me how annoyed she was with Kate's constant talk about fashion. We got that being a twin wasn't always easy and not everyone would understand we could share things but in the end remember why we liked being a twin."

A lone tear fell down his cheek hitting Lena's hand. "I am going to miss my friend. I want to be able to say goodbye to her."

Lena squeezed his hand as she pictured the little blonde girl that dressed almost the same as Jesus did as a kid running through their back yard. She remembered the cleaning up skinned knees and elbows when Jesus and Emma first started to learn to skateboard. As time went on she noticed that she wasn't around as much as both Jesus and Emma started to date and hang out with people and take up new activities. She also could count the times she saw them pass each other in the hall there was always a slug of the arm or a smile. Their friendship had grown apart slightly but was still there. Her heart broke for her son. To lose a friend that had been consistently there your whole life had to be hard. Why hadn't she put that together sooner? She really was becoming a terrible mother.

Stef reached out and patted Lena's leg almost as she had read her mind.

Jesus fought back more tears before silently leaning fully into Lena's embrace "Emma and I were going to skydiving when we graduated" He whispered "We've had it planned since fourth grade. Who am I going to skydive with?" He asked as finally the dam of tears broke and he was sobbing in Lena's shoulders "Why? Why did she have to die mama? She was a good person. She shouldn't have died! She should still be here! I need my friend mama."

Stef crawled closer wrapping the two of them into her arms as they both started to cry.

"This sounds terrible" He said in a sob "But I am glad she's not alone. She's got Kate. As much as she complained about her. Kate was her best friend. They wouldn't be able to live without each other. Mariana.. I couldn't." Jesus sniffled

"Shh baby" Stef held his chin in her hand as she wiped tears away "Mariana's fine baby. You're not alone. It's okay to cry" She assured him "It's okay to be angry too."

Jesus nodded and finally pulled away and wiped his eyes with his sleeves "So can we go?"

"Yes son" Stef nodded "We can go."

Lena nodded "We'll be there. Right after Callie's appointment we'll come back here have lunch and go."

Jesus nodded "Can I go down to the skate park for a little bit? I just need to clear my mind"

Stef leaned forward and kissed his forehead "I love you son."

He smiled and ran his fingers through his hair "Love you too."

Lena nodded "Go on honey, bring your phone with you. Okay?"

Jesus nodded as he stood up wiping his eyes one more time with his sleeve. "Thanks for uh um.."

Stef reached up and grabbed his hand as he pulled her up. "That's what we are here for."

He reached down and offered his hand to Lena who accepted it squeezing it for a moment. The two shared a look and nodded before he left the room quickly. He just need time.

"God, this just doesn't get any easier" Lena shook her head "How could I have not thought about Jesus? I read the names of the children that died. How did I not put together that one of my sons friends is dead. I am so focused on myself and the girls.."

"Lena. No" Stef said sternly grabbing Lena's hands tightly in hers squeezing a little harder than she normally would to get her full attention. Not enough to hurt but enough to really get her attention. "Don't do that Lena" She said forcefully trying to show her wife how serious she was. "Do not go down that path. Don't take blame that isn't there to take. You are grieving in your own way. Every single one of our children are handling this in their own way. As are you. I will not let you blame yourself. You are doing the best you can. You are doing better than I would be doing. You are being so loving and compassionate towards the girls. You keep calm when they are not. You're keeping me calm when they are not calm and I want to freak out. You're holding buckets under puking kids, doing laundry from kids that had accidents. Holding them while they cry. Wiping tears away. You're only one person Lena. One who went something traumatic and instead of focusing on you, you're taking care of your kids. Please don't blame yourself on how you're doing it. You were just there for Jesus. He knew he could come to you. He came here when he was ready because he knew he could count on you. Baby please" Stef said pulling Lena into her arms rocking her against her. "You're doing great baby!"

Lena let tears fall silently as she held onto her wife. "Don't let go" She whispered when she felt Stef shift under her.

"NO" Stef promised but she did manage to bring them both to the ground so she could just hold her. "I've got you angel." Stef whispered to Lena. "I've got you."

Lena let Stef rock her for a few more minutes before she pulled away abrutly and stood up wiping herself off. Her tone changing as she spoke. "Did the kids eat?"

Stef nodded "Yes.."

"Did you check Callie for fever? Did you give her medication?"

"She came back down and ate" Stef nodded "She's quiet, but I cleaned her wound and her fevers at 99.00 we'll keep our eyes on it."

"Have you seen Brandon?" Lena asked "Is he awake?"

"He ate with the kids" Stef said tilting her head to the side as she watched Lena throw up walls around herself and her heart. "Love what are you doing?"

"Nothing" Shrugged as she grabbed her tooth brush "I am going to brush my teeth. Go down stairs kiss my kids, gather up Callie and you and I are taking her to her appointment. Then I am coming home and getting ready for a funeral. Figure out if you want to come with Jesus and I or not, but we are going." She then shoved her tooth brush into her mouth clearly indicating their conversation was over.

The Fosters

FB

Separated from his twin in a new school was the worst. His new foster mom's had told them they were doing this on purpose. They wanted Mariana to be in a different classroom. They wanted her to find her own voice. Jesus understood that talking for both of them was a lot of work. However he also knew Mariana was safe when she was with him. He could keep her safe and she knew that. She trusted him. She was counting on him to keep her safe. He also knew with her around he was never alone. He would always have someone to talk to or play with. Now he was in his own classroom with a different lunch and he missed his sister.

"Look at that new kid" A boy walked by pointing at Jesus "He's a baby look at him wearing a Spiderman shirt what a baby."

Jesus frowned Spiderman wasn't for babies all the kids in his neighborhood back home had loved them. He eyed this kid in polo shirt and nice shorts and glared at him his fists curling as he stood.

"I like Spiderman Keegan" A voice said from behind Jesus "I think it's cool."

Jesus turned around to see the kid that was defending him his jaw dropped when he saw the blonde girl from his class room standing behind him.

"You're a girl" Jesus gasped as Keegan rolled his eye at the two "Two babies"

"Keegan" She warned Jesus stepped forward ready to punch the guy when the girl grabbed his arm "Don't not worth the lunch dentation. Walk away Keegan" To Jesus's surprise he walked away.

"I am Emma" She smiled at Jesus "And I think your shirt is cool."

Jesus shook his head "Are you sure you're a girl? My sister thinks Spiderman is stupid"

Emma shrugged with a smile "So does mine, she'd much rather watch some dumb princess movie. But I think those are dumb."

Jesus laughed "Nice"

"Is your sister the new girl in Miss. Lacey's class?"

Jesus nodded "My twin sister Mariana"

"Cool" Emma grinned her brown eyes getting big as she pushed her blonde braid back "She's in a good class. My twin sister Kate is there and a girl named Lexie they will both make Mariana feel welcomed."

"You're a twin too?" Jesus nodded "And you like Spiderman? Wow?"

Emma nodded "Want to see my Pokemon cards? Do you like those?"

Jesus's eyes got big "No way! Yes! I have a few most got stolen in my last foster home but my new foster mom Stef too me and Mari shopping a few weeks for things to make us feel at home. I got new cards."

"Cool" Emma grinned

"My foster mom Lena also slipped an extra cookie in my lunch. Do you want it?"

Emma smiled "Sweet! Thank you" She said as she pulled him with her. "I like you Jesus" She said after a minute "You're not like all the preppy boys here who talk about the newest big toy they are getting or compare their parent's cars. You're cool."

Jesus smiled "Nah, stuff is just stuff. I don't care how much stuff I got. As long as Mariana and I together that's all that matters."

Emma smiled "Yeah. Me and Kate are the same way. Come on" She said grabbing his arm to move them quickly across the play yard to where her green and yellow backpack sat with her cards. Jesus grabbed his new red bag that was in the lineup and fished out the bag with the cookies. Maybe this school wasn't going to be so bad after all and maybe all the kids here weren't jerks and maybe just maybe he'd be okay without Mariana during class time at least. Because maybe he'd just found his friend in Emma.