Just a few more chapters left! I can't believe this! This chapter is Callie/Lena and the next few chapters after that focus on the rest of the family and a little bit of Stef which I haven't really explored much in this story! I am looking forward to it. Thank you again for all your support and reviews it means the world to me. Enjoy!

Also WARNING there is mention of Callie's rape in this chapter.. Not overly graphic but I just wanted to give you a heads up!

Lena and Callie lay side by side letting the warm California sun warm their backs as they kept their eyes on the water. Neither one talking both lost in their own thoughts but enjoying each other's company. Lena's eyes ended up on a young mother in the water with a little girl probably no older then six in the water. The girl had long dark hair pulled back in a tight bread and she was watching her mother intently as she was trying to show her how to surf. Taking in every word and every movement, Lena's eyes traveled to Callie for a second. She could picture her being like that as a child. One that was intense and watched everything intensely in order to get it. Lena wondered if that's how Callie would be when she did in fact get her chance to teach her some of the tricks she did know.

She noticed Callie looking up at her studying her slightly. She could tell Callie wanted to talk but didn't know how to start. Lena's eyes traveled back to the mother and daughter in the water for a moment. She hoped that wouldn't always be the case. She hoped some day Callie would practically run to her when she wanted to talk. Her eyes went back to Callie after a moment, but the girl had made major growth since the first day they had her in their home.

"We've had rough couple of days huh slug a bug?" Lena asked looking at Callie looked up at Lena raising her eyebrow before a smile broke out and she gave a slight laugh "Rough? You're going with rough?"

Lena used her shoulder to nudge Callie "Come on you've got something better?"

Callie shook her head before she sat up and crossed her legs under "How was your meeting mama?" She asked she started spelling out her name in the sand.

"Honestly Callie, it was hard"

Callie's hand stilled as her eyes traveled up to Lena not expecting an honest answer.

"I was sitting in room full of familiar faces, but there were some faces not there anymore and they aren't going to be there again" Lena sighed as she rolled in front of Callie so she could write in the sand with her daughter. "That was hard to know they were gone, and to be talking about Monday making up a schedule for the day was hard when my heart wasn't in it. I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Callie tilted her head to the side "Me?"

Lena nodded "Yeah, I was having a hard time being away from your brothers and your sister and mom and you and then I couldn't stop thinking about how we spent those last few hours that day in the school. Me holding onto you so tightly, that I feared later that I bruised you."

"You didn't bruise me, but I did scratch you" Callie touched Lena's back where there was light scratch marks. "Sorry mama."

Lena shook her head "If I had bruised you, in that case I wouldn't be sorry. I was holding onto you with everything I had. Because you're mine and I needed to keep you safe." She went back tracing her name in the sand "So please don't be sorry that you held onto me so tightly and I got a few scratches."

Callie watched as Lena kept writing in the sand so far she had Lena loves…

"I can't get that day out of my head either" Callie admitted "Every time I closes my eyes I hear the echoing sounds of the hall. I hear the beating of my heart inside of my ears. I can see the fear in your eyes. I can smell the perfume you were wearing. Mama" Callie's eyes were huge "I've never been so scared in my life. Not even when Liam.."

Lena's hand stilled in the sand as she turned slightly to get a better look at Callie. Her heart again feeling heavy in her chest for her daughter. She knew traumatic stress could bring up other traumatic stress memories. This is why she had wanted Callie to talk to their counselor the other day. Her daughter most likely had some sort of PTSD going on.

Callie bit her lip "I mean, I was scared that night with Liam and it hurt.. Mama it hurt a lot"

Lena closed her eyes for a second before opening them and reaching out and grabbing Callie's hands holding them tightly. She wanted to sit up and pull the girl into her lap and just hold her and make all the pain go away but she knew if she did that Callie would shut down.

This was rare from Callie being open and honest and sharing deep feelings. She doubted Callie ever really shared this much before.

"I am sure it did baby" She nodded trying to not cry thinking about her little girl in such a vulnerable situation. "I am sure he didn't take his time, I am sure he was rough not taking any precautions to help you out a little, to make it easier on you. Sex usually hurts the first time. However there are things and steps that can be done to make it not so bad. I bet he didn't do any of those things as he was on a power trip. It was about controlling you. It wasn't ever about sex. Usually isn't when it comes to rape."

Callie's face turned red and tears fell "It just hurt so bad but Jude wasn't there and it was just me and that was okay. You know because Jude was safe."

Lena squeezed Callie's hands "Yeah, you are such a great big sister baby girl."

"So it wasn't as scary" Callie swallowed hard "But on Monday I wasn't by myself." Tears were falling faster and harder and Callie's breathing was getting shakier. Lena wished she and Stef had brought water with them when they moved Callie down the beach from everyone else to talk to her.

Lena sat up and grabbed Callie's chin in her hands "Honey, take a deep breath" She took one and watched as Callie watched her intently much like the little girl in the water with her mother. She watched as Callie carefully followed Lena's actions doing the same with her breathing. "Good girl" Lena praised softly.

Callie shook her head "I have to finish" She said so quietly Lena almost missed it.

"With the shooting you and Mariana were there" She shook her head "Two people that mean the world to me. I mean Mariana has become quickly one of my best friends and the best sister a girl could ask for."

Lena smiled slightly at Callie's words. When Callie first moved in with them Mariana was less then pleased and when they first started sharing a room she thought for sure Mariana was going to lose it. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, both Stef and Lena noticed a little bond forming between the two of them. Silent eye conversations, little bits of giggling here or there, texting each other in the same room most likely talking about the mom in the room as they would look up at each other and laugh. Listening to the two of them talk in loud whispers and more giggling well past the bed time hours. They rarely put a stop to it when they heard it as they knew the girls were bonding and that was one of the most heart warming feelings Lena had ever experienced watching.

"I mean when we left her there" Callie's bigger then before "And I knew it was to keep her safe. Hide her from them ya know. I knew why you were doing it and I agreed with it. But when we were away from her, I felt like the worst big sister ever. My whole life I have done everything in my power to protect Jude and I was just leaving here there!"

"Oh Callie, oh my love bug" Lena shook her head "Baby, you didn't fail her. I am the one that put her there. Not you. It was my call as a mom. I was giving her, her best chance at that moment. That's my job." She reached out and brushed a tear away from Callie's cheek. "I am her mom and I knew in my heart as scary as that was for right at that moment that was right for her. Baby your job is to love her and be her friend and be her sister but your job isn't to take care of her. Or Jude or Jesus or Brandon" Lena shook her head "That's mine and mom's job."

Callie just shrugged and looked away, Lena made a mental note to talk with Stef about this. They would have to work with Callie on making sure she didn't feel responsible for her siblings. Make sure she was just being a kid.

Lena could tell Callie had more to say so she nudged her lightly with her arm "What else is going on in your head Callie Q?"

"You were there" Callie whispered "And I was holding onto you" She looked away "And I was holding onto you. I mean at one point my ear was to your back and I could hear your heart beating. It was beating so fast that I was worried you were going to have a heart attack." Callie let out a sigh "And then we heard Andrew as we were listening to him saying how he wanted to hurt you." A sob took over Callie's body and she wiped angrily at her eyes. "I realized and I mean really realized just how much I loved you. How you really had become my mom. I had this fire in my stomach like I used to feel when Jude was in trouble and I would take a punishment for him. When I would fight for him. I wanted that for you. I wanted you. I wanted you to be okay. I wanted us to be okay. I wanted Andrew to die!"

Another loud sob shook Callie's body as she fell onto the towel. "I am so horrible" She cried as Lena pulled her quickly into arms.

"Does that make you hate me?" She asked as calmed herself slightly pulling away from Lena and instantly shutting down the emotions she had just let out "Does it make you hate me because I wanted someone dead?"

"No!" Lena shook her head "I could never hate you Callie! Ever! Nothing you can do or say or think or feel could make me hate you. That is a normal response when someone threatens someone you love. It's natural sweetheart."

"I've loved you for awhile now" Callie admitted "Somewhere along the way you really became my mom. I was willing to do anything to protect you, like I do with Jude, but you kept trying to send me away!"

Lena used her thumbs to catch tears as she wiped them away before she grabbed Callie's face in her hands tilting it up so they had eye contact. "This world has forced you to believe that it's your job to put others first and yourself last, and yes that's an honorable quality. However sometimes you have to take care of yourself first, and Callie this is the most important part of what I am going to say. I love you bug. But in this house it is NOT your job to take care of me or to protect me. You can love me, and you can do things for me, and you can listen and do well in school and give me lots of your wonderful hugs those are things you can do." Lena used her thumb to rub circles over Callie's cheek "This is important Callie, in this house you have mom and you have me and it's our job to take care of you! Your needs are our first priority."

Callie pulled her chin away "But, I am older Lena, I can take care of myself."

And with that the name replaced the mama. Maybe Stef was right maybe it was time to take the plunge. She was calling them mom and mama and reffering their names when upset. They would have to address that later. At this moment there was something bigger to address "You are older" she agreed "And we expect things out of you. Your chores, your homework helping out when we need on things, but that doesn't change the fact that it's mine and your mom's job to take care of you, feed you, cloth you, keep you safe and love you. That's our job honey. Callie you didn't get a whole lot of that when you were in other homes even if you are older let mom and I do this. Enjoy your childhood baby. It goes fast"

"It's not that easy!" Callie exclaimed hitting her hands down on the towel. "It's not a switch I can just turn off!"

"That's why mom and I are going to keep working with you on it." Lena assured her "In our house your job is just to worry about Callie and making sure that you're doing what you need to be doing. Our job is the rest." Lena leaned forward and kissed Callie's forehead. "I would do it the same Callie, if we had to do that day over. I would do it the same. I would do my best fight every breath in my body to keep you safe."

"Why can't I do the same for you?" She asked softly "Why can't I protect you?"

"It's not your job" Lena said softly as she ran her fingers over Callie's forehead "I love you, and I love how much you love me."

Callie turned away her eyes traveling out the water her eyes finding the same mother and daughter Lena had been watching just before. It looks like they were taking a break from the surf lessons the little one was laying on the board while the mother kept a hold of it with one hand while the other hand holding on protectively to her back as the two just talked abut whatever they were talking about. Smiling and giggling every few minutes but never once did the mother's hands move from holding her daughter and the board securely in the water.

"Do you think she even realizes what she's doing? Holding her doubly safe?"

Lena shook her head "No, not really protecting your children just comes naturally Cal."

Callie looked to Lena "And when you kept me behind you, and you saw the gun and shoved us to the ground, did you think at all?"

Lena shook her head "No, I just acted honey. My child was in trouble."

Callie looked up at Lena "It's hard for me to fully grasp this. I've never had….."

"I know" Lena held her hands "But we're working together to figure this family life out, we're figuring out our mother daughter relationship and how that looks together."

Callie crinkled her nose and then smiled "Yeah, we have."

"It's the best" Lena smiled "I love being your mother. Callie things don't change over night. Mom and I know this. We just work together. Talking keeping doors and channels of communication open and Callie, lets go to counseling together."

Callie nodded "You and me?"

"You and me" Lena nodded "To work through our day. Together, with help."

"Alright" Callie agreed

"And you'll talk?"

She blushed and nodded before wrapping her arms around Lena "I am going to try to be the best daughter I can be for you. You saved me! And not just my life the day of the shooting before that when you believed in me when no one else did."

"I love you. I believe in you. As your mother told you once before Callie you are not worthless you are not disposable"

Callie tilted her head to the side "She told you she told me that?"

"Yeah, because in that moment she realized that was going to be her mission to make you see that, to feel it, to believe it, she said pulling her in for a tight hug. "Life isn't over night fix it's baby but we'll work through it together and mom and I are going to do the best to make sure your last few years of your childhood are the best and as carefree as we can make it. You have the rest of your life to be an adult. Right now just enjoy your youth."

Callie wiped a tear away and nodded as she looked at the sand "Mama, what were you going to write?"

Lena smirked then finished writing in the sand. Lena Loves Her Callie Girl.

Callie's smile grew wider as she started to laugh "I love you too. Mama, can we go back to mom now please? I want to hang out with them. Maybe play scrabble with the grandmothers."

Lena nodded and stood up shaking the sand off her self before she reached down and helped Callie to her feet and grabbed the towels. Her eyes traveling to the mother daughter in the water, they were back to the lessons and the mother was proudly encouraging her daughter from beside cheering her on and Lena watched as the little girl actually stood up on her board and stayed on. The look of trust and excitement on the the daughter's face was great but the mother's pure joy and proud look just said it all.

"You look at us like that" Callie said casually before she pulled Lena's arm "Come on" She smiled "Lets go I am hungry."

"Coming, coming" Lena laughed as she allowed Callie to drag her back to their families spot.

The Fosters

FB

"Whatcha smiling about love?" Stef asked as she slipped into bed next to her wife "And have I told you lately how much I love your smile?" Especially your I am so incredibly proud I am going to burst smile"

Lena handed Stef a paper "I just went over Jude's math homework. He did it on his own tonight. I was in the kitchen with him making dinner but he did it on his own" She smiled so proudly "And look baby, he only missed one question! He's getting it!"

"Uh huh" Stef nodded as she went over the paper "He does have the perfect teacher! You're amazing with him. It helps. He wants to learn now. He wants to take in everything"

"Yeah?"

Stef nodded "He can pay attention in school now. Take time to put effort in. He's no longer worried about what's going to happen to Callie, or if they are going to get a next meal, or have new place to sleep, or if they are going to anger someone and get hurt. He feels safe. It shows in his smile. His hugs and now his school work. His brain is finally able to function as it should for a child his age. Taking in all the information put in front of him. Not focused on survival."

Lena rested her head against Stef's shoulder "You think?"

"I know"

"What about Callie? Her grades have been great since we got her."

"That's slightly different" Stef admitted "She's going to be a harder egg to crack that one. Her good grades were how she kept out of trouble and not noticed. I don't feel like her grades show that feels safe yet. She's getting there." Stef assured her. "I see so much progress in those kids. It warms my heart."

Lena nodded "Yeah! What a gift" She paused for a few moments "Do you think Callie is coming down with something?"

"I don't know, love why do you ask?"

"She's been really quiet this weekend. On her phone a lot. In her room not talking to Mariana as much or Jude for that matter. I just worry."

Stef tilted her head to the side as she thought about it "Yeah, I guess she was quiet at dinner tonight however Miss. Thing wasn't giving anyone much of a chance to talk."

Lena laughed and nodded "Yeah, that's true. Good point" She paused as a thought came to her. "I saw this opening for a photographer at the local theater club. There's an informational meeting tomorrow after school I am going to take her. Maybe get her involved. Spend sometime with her too. Just talking to her, I don't get to do that with her as much as I would like. Maybe she'll respond better to me one on one."

"I think that's a great idea love" Stef smiled "I like it."

Lena smiled to herself "Yeah, me too. I need some Callie girl time. Maybe she'll share her heart with me a little." She smiled "I love one on one time with our kids. We seriously have the five greatest kids in the world."

Stef nodded in agreement then looked at Jude's paper and squealed "Oh my gosh I can't contain my excitement baby! Look at our boy! I am so proud of him! I am so proud of you! I am just so happy that these kids all five of them are ours! I can't imagine a world with out my babies."

"I don't even want to think about it" Lena said running her fingers over Jude's name on the paper. "Not at all, that's a scary thought. It's not something I want to think about before bed. This world with out our kids"

Stef ran her fingers through Lena's curls as she took the paper out of Lena's hands and set it on the side table.

"I love you" She whispered into her ear "And our family."

"I am so proud of this family" Lena whispered as she lay next to Stef "Just so proud."