AN- Sorry about missing a day in our count down to the new season. I got sick.. blah... Still not feeling the best. But here ya go! :) Enjoy.
After twenty minutes Lena's sobs had died down. Her breathing was still a labored but she managed to calm herself down and pulled away from Stef. "I am sorry"
Stef put her shirt back and then grabbed Lena's face in her hands and used her thumbs to wipe away some still flowing tears "For what? You didn't do anything wrong. You have nothing to be sorry for."
Lena shook her head "For leaving, we just told Callie yesterday we don't run."
"You didn't run" Stef shook her head "You weren't running from us were you? You called me when you realized you needed help. You were just collecting your thoughts."
"No, I wasn't running from you" She agreed "Or our babies. I would never leave you guys. I don't know what happened though. I felt like I was drowning and I didn't want the kids to see that. I just got into the drivers seat and I started to drive, until I realized I didn't know where I was and I called you. Then I saw what time it was. The kids must be so worried."
Stef shrugged "A little after dinner and you weren't home still they got a little uneasy" She wasn't going to lie to her wife. "They calmed once they realized you called."
"What about Jude and Callie?" She asked
"Jude was in the same boat as Brandon, Jesus and Mariana. He wasn't really worried until it was after dinner and you weren't home."
"And Callie? Our mothers?" Lena asked finally climbing up from the ground.
"Our mothers were worried" Stef smiled "Their moms. We would be too." Stef got up as well "Your mother is outside."
Lena looked up surprised "What?"
"Honey" Stef held up her hands "I needed someone to come with me. So they could drive the other car home. I wanted to be with you. Your mother is going to want to see you."
Lena's lip stuck out a little "She's going to be so made at me."
Stef shook her head "No, honey she's not. She's just concerned
Lena sniffed and nodded as she wiped her eyes "Callie? You haven't answered me about her."
Stef nodded "She's upset. She kind of retreated."
"How?" Lena asked wrapping her arms around herself feeling even more guilty about just leaving.
"Into herself. Shut down I guess. She stopped talking, wouldn't eat. Walked around all day carrying the bear you gave her. Wrapped up in one of your sweatshirts."
Lena pinched the bridge of her nose "God, I am a terrible mother" She whimpered as the tears began to fall over again.
"Oh no" Stef shook her head "No, Lena. You're not a terrible mother. You're the best mother there is! You love all your kids with everything you have! You're human. You've been through something traumatic and you are handling grief in your way. You weren't running from our kids. You were always going to come home to them."
Lena nodded "Of course. Actually can we go now? I want my babies."
Stef smiled and nodded "I want our babies too. Why don't you go out and see your mom. Then we will go home and hug our babies?"
Lena nodded as she headed to the door opening it to find her mother standing there arm raised ready to knock.
"Lena Elizabeth"
"Mama" Lena let out a soft sob before falling into her mother's embrace "I am so sorry mama. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't mean to let my emotions lead me."
Dana rocked her daughter kissing the top of her head. "I am just glad you're okay."
Lena nodded against her "I am okay. I just want to go home."
Dana rubbed her back as she held her "That's a good plan" She nodded "Why don't you and Stef get into your car and head home."
Stef came out of the room shutting the door behind her "I am going to go check out of the room."
"No" Dana shook her head "I am going to do that. You get your wife home to her kids. I am sure you'll need gas and maybe something for Lena to eat. You two should go now."
Stef handed Dana the keys before putting her hands on Lena's back "Lets go love. Are you hungry?"
Dana handed Stef a wad of cash "Get gas, and food."
"Dana we…"
"Let me" She said seriously "You have five kids to take care of. Let me take care of my one."
Stef took the cash and put it into her pocket "Okay. Thank you."
Dana kissed Lena one more time "I love you baby girl."
Lena gave a small smile "Love you too."
Stef winked at Dana before leading her wife away to the other car and helping her in.
"It's late, but I am sure we can find a gas station and get some fake chemical doughnuts and diesel coffee"
Lena leaned her against the window "Sounds perfect baby."
The Fosters
"Four am" Stef whispered to Lena as the two headed into the house "Hopefully everyone in the house is asleep. I let my mother know we were coming home and to go to bed."
Lena nodded as she pushed open the door to the silent dark house. She turned on the light then jumped slightly at the figuring sitting on the stairs.
"Hey mama"
"B" She put her hand over her heart "You scared me to death. You should be in bed honey."
"I wanted to see you first" He said softly standing up and coming down to meet his mother's. "I needed to see you."
"I am okay" She promised as she went to him wrapping her arms around him holding her tight.
"I am so sorry mama" He whispered "I am sorry this happened to you. You're a great mother. That woman was wrong today."
Lena held Brandon's face in her hands studying his blueish gray eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too." He said hugging her again. "Everyone who knows you, is blessed" He whispered "And all five of us kids that have the honor of calling you mama are the five luckiest kids in the world"
Lena wiped away tears from her cheeks as she looked into Brandon's eyes.
"It's going to be okay mama" He promised her "We'll get through this together."
Lena nodded as she kissed him "Yeah baby we will."
Stef patted Brandon's back "You should head up to bed baby boy."
Brandon nodded "You guys going to too?"
"Yeah" Lena nodded "I am exhausted."
"We're probably going to sleep in" Stef said after a minute
"I know, I'll make sure we keep it down" He promised.
"Are you the only awake?" Stef asked as she headed for the stairs "Yeah, Grandma went to bed a few hours ago. Callie and Mariana went when she did. Jesus and Jude went before that.."
He looked around "Do you mind if I wait up for Grandma to get home" noticing Dana wasn't with them yet.
"She should be home any minute" Stef nodded "She had to get gas too and she left after us."
Brandon nodded "I just want to make sure everyone is in bed, before I go."
Stef knew the feeling no doubt in her mind he was her son. "Sure B. Get to bed after she's home. If something comes up you know where to find us."
She walked over to him kissing his forehead "Love you"
"Love you too mom"
Stef wrapped her arms around Lena again then led her upstairs to their room. She pushed the door open very quietly and helped Lena to the bathroom trying to make up too much noise so they wouldn't wake their room guests. "Should we just skip our bed?" Stef asked once they were in the bathroom the door shut behind them before she turned on their light. She headed to the sink where Mariana had obviously laid out their pjs. Save the move from our bed to the air bed tonight?"
Lena yawned as she quickly stripped out of her clothing and threw on her pjs "It's four am. Night is over."
"Do you want to sleep on our bed then?" She asked as she began brushing her teeth.
"If they are restless when we go out there we'll join them" She said tiredly "If they are sound asleep our bed. I want to do what least disputes them."
Stef nodded as she watched Lena brush her teeth. She could still see Lena's sad eyes. However she wasn't crying anymore. That was good."
"I can't remember the last time I was this tired' Lena mumbled as she put her tooth brush down.
"I bet you are baby" She whispered as she changed too. Lets climb into bed and sleep what little bit we can before five kids are up."
Lena nodded as she crept into their room stopping at the base of the air bed to look down at her girls. She knelt down by the bed and studied them.
"I am home" She whispered
"I know" A soft voice said back "I knew you were coming home. Did you have a nice drive mama?"
"I needed it Miss. Thing. I am sorry I scared you."
"You didn't scare me" Mariana promised "You promised me you'd always come back for me. Just like I knew you would when you put me in the bench. I knew this was no different. You scared someone else though" She whispered.
"Don't bring me into this Mari" Callie mumbled as she rolled over turning back to Lena and scooting out purposely to take up more room on the bed so Lena couldn't join them. "Now be quiet. I am trying to sleep Mariana."
"Callie' Stef warned "Baby, not now."
Callie kept her eyes closed and remained silent.
Lena nodded as she got up deciding Callie needed space and she was too exhausted to fight with her right now. I love you girls" She said softly as she kneeled on the air bed to lean over Callie to kiss Marina "Love you princess. Get some more sleep."
Marina nodded "Love you too"
Lena went to run her fingers through Callie's hair only to have her sense it and pull the blanket over her head "Trying to sleep" She mumbled "tired."
"That you are little one" Lena patted her thigh through the blanket. "I'll see you when we get up. I promise you that" She said before getting up and crawling into their own bed.
Stef frowned at Callie and yanked the blanket down. "Keep the blanket off your face" She warned as she patted her back "And watch how you speak to your mother."
Callie rolled onto her back and looked at Stef "I am tired. I am just trying to sleep. I can't have my bed. Grandma is in it."
"Alright" Stef nodded "If you're tired then close your eyes. I don't want to hear your voice again tonight. Since you are so tired"
Callie looked up at Stef and wrapped her arms around Stef's neck pulling her down for a big hug "Love you."
Stef looked down at the big eyes looking back up at her trying to see what was going through Callie's mind at this moment. Was this a jab at Lena because she was angry with her? Or did she really just need a hug.
"I love you too" She kissed her cheek deciding to leave it for now. "Love you too baby" She said to Mariana "Get some more sleep babies."
She got up and went to her side of her bed slipping in it lying next to Lena. All was quiet for a few a minutes before there was some rustling that that was heard from the air bed and some sniffling.
"Callie?" Lena whispered into the dark "Come on bug."
She moved over in their bed and knew it would be about ten seconds before the girl actually joined them. So she counted silently in her head and on the eighth second her bed was shifting as Callie crawled in next to her.
"I am sorry" She whispered before closing her eyes.
Lena ran her fingers through Callie's hair leaning over her for a moment to wipe a tear away and kiss her cheek.
"Love you baby."
"I love you to mama" She whispered as she closed her eyes as Lena wrapped her arms from behind her. Callie's hand grasping hers and the two drifted off to sleep together.
The Fosters
FB
Callie and Mariana climbed into the big air bed and settled in. Callie rolled to her side and looked at the empty bed next to her. "It's two am already" She said quietly. She sucked in her lip and bit down. Her mind remembering the night she went to bed with out her mother there and waking up the next morning to find out she had died. Seeing her parents big empty bed mad her stomach turn.
"She's coming home" Mariana said after a minute. "Callie mom is coming home."
Callie nodded "Yeah"
"You don't believe me?" Mariana guessed
Callie shrugged "You can't promise me that Mariana. I don't want to scare you. So I don't really want to talk about this."
"She didn't run away from us!" Marina promised. "She didn't abandon us."
"I know that!" Callie exhaled as she pulled her bear closer to her. "Good Night Mari"
"Don't start not talking again" Mariana sighed "I hate that. It scares me."
Callie sighed "Sorry" She mumbled "But your mom shouldn't have gotten behind a wheel so upset! She should have just stayed here with us!"
"You're mad at her" Mariana guessed
"She didn't make a safe choice" Callie mumbled "She shouldn't have gotten behind the wheel sad. Anything could happen. Just like my mom shouldn't have gotten into the car with my dad! She should have known better! She should have called a cab. Or she should have driven! Cars are dangerous Mariana and there is no promise you are coming home."
Mariana sighed "Callie, our mom is coming home. I know this. I promise you. She'll be home tonight. She'll crawl by our bed. She'll tuck us in. She'll kiss us. If she knows we are awake she'll talk to us."
Callie shook her head "You can't promise that."
"Callie, mom went to get her" She said grabbing her sister's hands. I know you are scared. I get it. I am scared a lot lately too but I know mom is coming home."
Callie sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose "I want my mom" she said quietly as Mariana ran her fingers through Callie's hair. "I am sorry Callie" She whispered "I am sorry you lost your mom."
Callie swallowed hard "I miss her, everyday but that's not the mom I was referring too."
Mariana leaned over and looked down at Callie "She's coming home." She assured her. "You'll see."
Callie bit her lip "You sure?"
Mariana nodded and leaned over and kissed her "I wouldn't lie to my big sister."
Callie smiled and nodded
"It's like being a little kid again" Mariana whispered "The sooner we go to sleep. The sooner our moms will be here."
Callie zipped Lena's sweater up tighter around her and wrapped her arms around her bear and allowed her eyes to close. Letting Mariana's words bring her comfort knowing that her parents would be home soon.