AN- This is a 2 part kind of chapter.. Mostly focused on Stef! I've seen this happening since I started writing chapter 1.. Kind of fun to write! Thank you for the reviews and love! You guys are the best!
For those who saw tonight's ep already.. Didn't you love it? For those who didn't and it's coming.. I have to say Love it! :) Enjoy!
The Fosters
The rest of Friday went smooth sailing for the Adams Foster clan they played hard at the beach. Stuart true to his word had taken them all out for pizza, which the kids just loved. They came home cleaned out the cars showered beach off of them, and were sent to bed. Brandon had pushed in another air bed into Jesus and Jude's room now that Stuart was there giving his grandparents his room while Sharon stayed in the girls room. Mariana decided that for the remainder of the time her grandmother was here she'd still stay in her mom's room with Callie on the other air bed. Which turned out to be the best for her. As the girl was plagued by nightmareish sleep all night. Stef and Lena ended each taking turns getting up with her and calming her back down and no matter how fast they acted on getting her quieted down she would in turn wake Callie so the mother that wasn't dealing with Mariana would have to try and sooth a started Callie back to sleep and with the lack of sleep from the night before when Lena had disappeared it was safe to say that all four Adams Foster women were exhausted by Saturday morning.
"Coffee?" Sharon asked as Lena, Stef and Callie stumbled into the kitchen.
"Can you give it to me in IV form? Just keep it coming?" Stef asked holding out her arm dramatically.
"Rough night?" Sharon asked "I didn't hear anything."
"Because Stef and I were on it the minute we heard a whimper." Lena supplied "So we didn't have a whole house full of people. Instead just a room full."
"Sorry baby dolls" She said pouring them each a cup of coffee while Callie pulled out some orange juice helping herself to a big glass.
"Which one had a rough night?" Sharon asked noticing Mariana had not come down with them.
"All of us" Callie mumbled as Stef shook her head at her.
"Mariana is fine during the days, it's just when she closes her eyes she's taken over by nightmares. Every hour or so she was up crying, or screaming, at one point she threw up she was so upset." Lena shook her head "I don't know how to fix nightmares."
"Where is she now?"
Stef pointed up "Shower, Lena suggested it would calm her nerves."
Sharon nodded "It's true it is relaxing. You should give her counselor a call see what she recommends."
"That's a good idea" Lena said grabbing her phone from the counter "I am going to go do that right now, Callie stay with mom" She smiled as she winked at her daughter. "Maybe you two can plan with grandma what we should do today." She called behind her as she slipped out the back door.
Stef waited until Lena was gone before digging in the back of the cupboards for a box of cereal. She quickly poured herself a bowl and Callie one before stashing the box again.
Callie peered into the bowl to discover it was the sugary corn pop cereal her and Stef both loved but Lena frowned upon.
"We deserve it" Stef winked "Now eat quick, before mama catches us."
"Stefanie Marie" Sharon shook her head as an amused smile took over her face.
"What ma?" Stef asked with a mouth full of food.
Callie let out a small giggle "If you get into trouble with mama don't bring me down with you."
"Hey, you're eating it too! If I go down, I am taking you down with me" She said poking the girl in the ribs getting her to squeal slight.
"Be careful" Sharon winced "Don't make her choke."
"It's okay I know the Heimlich" Stef laughed as Callie rolled her eyes "Thanks mom"
Mariana came down the stairs a few minutes later rubbing her eyes.
"Hi baby" Stef held her arm out to her "Come'eremylove" She said as she tried to swallow a big bite of cereal.
Mariana moved over to Stef who surprised her by scooting her stool out just a little and pulling her on her lap sideways "I just need to snuggle my princess"
Mariana didn't object she was too tired too she leaned in to Stef closing her eyes contently letting out a soft sigh.
Stef rubbed her back for a moment before she went back to eating with one hand while the other one was wrapped tightly around her daughter's waist.
"Now that's a picture" Lena smiled as she walked back into the kitchen from outside covering her hand with her heart.
Mariana opened her eyes for a moment and looked to Lena "Morning mama"
Morning Honey" She smiled as Callie quickly drank the milk from her bowl giving Stef a wink as she got rid of the evidence.
Lena took her seat again going back to her coffee.
"Well?" Stef asked
"She gave us some tips to try tonight, but it's a PTSD thing and it happens."
"I am not crazy?" Mariana asked opening her eyes again looking to Lena.
"Of course not Mariana, honey you lived through a very traumatic event. Your brain is processing."
Stef squeezed her a little tighter "Love you."
"It's funny" Mariana mumbled rubbing her arms
"What's funny sweets?" Stef asked tilting her head to the side.
"That, I still feel just as safe in your arms now as I did when I was a little girl" She looked up at Stef "Do you remember the first time I actually let you hold me?"
Stef smiled fondly at the memory and nodded as she kissed Mariana's temple "I do, as if it was yesterday my little one. It was also the day you called me mommy."
Mariana nodded "I bet that scared you a little, huh?"
Stef shook her head "No, not at all it brought me so much joy."
"We were just foster care kids though." Mariana pointed out "The state could have come and taken us away at any time especially if our mother got clean."
"I knew that was a risk, but from day one mama and I wanted you guys" She said softly stroking her hair "It was a long process of course but we had already started filing what we needed to Foster to Adopt you. I knew that I was going to fight for you and your brother with everything I had."
Mariana smiled at the thought before turning slightly in Stef's arms so she could kiss her mother's forehead. "Love you mommy"
"I love you too, my beautiful Miss Thing"
Mariana slid off of Stef's lap and walked over to the fridge pulling out her favorite kind of yogurt. "What are we going to do today?"
"Wrestle the boys awake is probably the first start to the day." Stef said with a laugh "Then maybe we'll let your grandparents decide. However tomorrow I want a quiet day at home."
"Agreed" Lena nodded "Oh maybe we can make a big meal tomorrow"
"We're in for that" Dana smiled coming down the stairs "Maybe us four moms can go shopping at some point and pick things up. Like a ham?"
"I like how you think mom" Lena nodded as she got up and retrieved a note pad and pen
"Then the kids can all hang out and watch movies together while we cook." Dana smiled "Kind of like a mini Thanksgiving!"
"My belly likes that idea" Stef winked at Callie who just looked away ignoring the comment.
Stef frowned at her actions but let it go.
"We should make a list" Lena nodded "A shopping list so that when we go shopping we have it."
"Why don't you four go after breakfast" Stuart suggested "I'll stay with the kids."
"Yeah" Lena nodded "Get it done, and then we can do something fun this afternoon as a family"
"Us five" Stef corrected "Callie gets to come with us."
"Food shopping with our moms is torture enough" Mariana whispered to her sister "Food shopping, with our moms and their moms.. I am sorry Callie. I am not envious of you at all."
"Hey" Stef shook her head "Mariana, don't freak your sister out. It' not that bad."
"Enough" Lena shook her hands at her wife and daughters. "What kind of food do we want? Anything spefic?"
"Mama's mac and cheese?" Mariana asked with a hopeful look as she batted her eyes at Lena.
"Done" Lena nodded "What about you love bug?" She asked looking at Callie "Anything you love?"
"I don't care" Callie shrugged "I eat anything. You know that."
"Come on don't be a spoil sport" Lena shook her head "There's got to be something you would love to eat on the table tomorrow."
Callie shrugged again "Food? I always like food."
"Honey, just leave her" Stef shook her head "She's being a grump, don't let that ruin it for you. I would love some of my mother's butter milk rolls on the table."
Sharon groaned "Those are a pain Stefanie!"
"Please mommy" She batted her eyes "Pretty please"
"Alright" Sharon agreed
"I think Dana's mashed potatoes should be there" Sturat chipped in as the three boys came down the stairs.
"They live! They live" Stef cheered "The beasts live."
"I heard mention of food" Jesus's eyes were big "I heard of Grandma's mashed potatoes. What are we talking about?"
"We're having like a huge feast tomorrow" Mariana exclaimed "Like a Thanksgiving!"
"Chocolate pie?!" Jude jumped from foot to food "Will there be chocolate pie! Please"
"Jude" Callie shot him a look and instantly calmed down looking slightly embarrassed.
"Knock it off" Stef whispered tugging Callie's hair playfully.
"Don't" Callie pulled away pulling all her hair to the side shooting Stef a very annoyed glare.
"Stef" Lena cleared her throat hoping to defuse a situation she was too tired to deal with "I think your son loves chocolate pie like his mom."
Stef looked to Jude and winked "How about we get a whole chocolate pie just for you and me buddy?"
Jude grinned and nodded excitedly
"I hate chocolate pie" Jesuse shook his head "I want mama's apple pie."
"Oh!" Brandon nodded raising his hand "Me too."
Lena nodded "Sure boys" She wrote them down.
"I think we're going to need some veggies, maybe I can saute some broccoli."
"I would kind of like a Strawberry almond salad" Stuart added
"We could do chips and dips too" Mariana nodded "Like we have on Thanksgiving!"
"Genius" Stef nodded with a wink to Mariana.
Lena wrote it down then looked to her mothers "What do you say? Should we get ready and head to the store?"
Stuart raised his hand "I think while you guys are at the store, I am going to take the four remainder kids and do a little running around myself." He winked at Brandon "Trust me it'll be fun"
"Alright" Stef nodded "We'll leave you the kid friendlier car."
"Come on Cal, lets go get ready for a big shopping trip."
Callie sighed and hopped off her stool "Okay"
"We're going to have fun sweets" Stef promised "I am going to teach you all the games I play in the store."
"See" Mariana shook her head as she patted Callie's shoulder "That's exactly why I don't envy you."
"Enough peanut gallery" Stef warned as she swatted Mariana playfully "Or I am dragging your butt with us"
Mariana held up her hands "I am done"
Stef wrapped her arms around Callie's shoulders as she led her up the stairs.
"Are you sure I can't take her?" Stuart asked "I'll keep her by my side."
"Defeats the purpose of a mama grounding" Lena explained. "It's not supposed to be a blast. It's not torture but there things that need to make her uncomfortable."
"Alright" He sighed "I understand"
"Thanks Daddy" Lena nodded "It means a lot to me that you tried."
"She's a good kid"
"Oh yeah" Lena agreed "The best, but the mama grounding is more then a punishment. It's a trust exercise. It's us following through with our word."
"Stuart" Dana shook her head "Stop trying to rescue the girl from her mother. She's fine."
"I just want to spoil her while I am here" He held up his hands.
Lena got up and went behind her dad wrapping her arms around the back of him resting her chin on his shoulder "I love you daddy, thank you for loving my kids as much as I do."
"Easy to do" He smiled "You've got great kids Lena, I am so proud of you"
The Fosters
Her head was pounding she couldn't remember the exact moment it started coming on. Maybe driving for hours to get to her falling apart wife, maybe walking through a cemetery looking for her falling apart eldest daughter, maybe the six different times practically rocked her younger daughter back to sleep. Maybe it was when she was trying to play and listen to the boys to make sure their needs were being met. Maybe it was in the grocery store when Dana started picking at Lena for wanting to get off brand names, or wanting to try a new recipe out and watching Lena get more defensive and feisty. Maybe it was watching her mother's train wreck of a flirting session with the bag boy. Or maybe when Sharon insisted she drive that Lena and Stef were too wiped to do so, even though that was a fairly valid point, but that meant they were riding in the back seat and naturally put Callie in the middle who protested and all but pouted she was not given an option. Every time Stef or Lena even brushed upon the girls arms she would jerk them in front of her. Or hold her injured arm dramatically saying Stef's touching it was making it hurt beyond belief. She may have threatened to pull the car over and clean it if it was that big of an issue. Or maybe her head started to hurt when Callie's response was. "I'd like to see you pull this car over, considering you're in the back seat. If hadn't been for Lena reaching behind Callie and placing her hand on Stef's shoulder that child may have found herself walking beside the car to the store.
Or maybe it started throbbing when they got home with fifteen plus bags of food that the other kids couldn't be bothered to carry in since Stuart had gone to Best Buy let the kids pick out three brand new movies a piece for their movie a thon the next day. So they had to plan it out just right.
It could have started hurting when Stef saw the sad left out look in Callie's eyes that made her curse herself to sticking to her grounds with this mama grounding. Maybe her mother had been right. Maybe this was a punishment to herself.
Though it could have started when Jesus rode his skateboard through the kitchen knocking a pickle jar out of Lena's hand breaking the jar splashing juice and pickles over the entire kitchen.
Or maybe in fact her head started pounding the moment the jar breaking scared the living day lights out of Mariana and she started screaming.
She wasn't sure at what moment her head started hurting but now it was full on pounding and it felt like it was going to explode! She was sure of it. She couldn't take one more thing. She had taken Marina up to their bathroom, and washed her face brushed her hair calming her down. Now it was time for the two of them to take a nap. She was opening the bathroom door when the handle came off in her hand successfully trapping them together in her bathroom. When Mariana saw this and realized they couldn't get out she began to scream all over again.
"MAMA!" She pounded her fists on the door "MAMA HELP! HELP US HELP!"
Stef wanted to cringe and plug her ears. She was sure her head was going to take over and kill her now. With Mariana's panicked screams they weren't there long. Stuart and Lena burst through the door minutes later spotting the problem.
"I'll fix it" Stuart said taking the knob from Stef as he smiled "This shouldn't happen again.
Lena understanding Mariana's new fear of being trapped quickly stepped in and took over as she now tried to calm their daughter.
"Headache medicine where?" Stef asked wincing as Lena rocked Mariana in her arms.
"Strong stuff is down stairs baby" Lena called over Mariana's sobs.
Stef nodded and headed down the stairs to the kitchen catching a glance outside. Callie and Jude out on the back swing. "Oh no she didn't!" She growled to herself as she stormed outside.
"Callie Adams Foster! What are you doing out here?"
Callie's eyes got wide "It's Callie Jacob" She snapped "My name is Callie Jacob!"
"Callie" Jude tried to stop her, he had been climbing three when he fell down scraping up his hand. Callie had seen it from the window just as Lena had run up the stairs to Mariana's screams.
"I was just checking on my brother!" Callie glared "It's not a crime!"
Stef looked around "Really? Um excuse me do you see your mother out here?"
"Actually I do" She smirked "Looking right at her! So calm down! Don't get your panties all in a knot."
Jude winced "Mom, I fell, I scraped my hand. Callie saw she was just trying to help and mama had run up stairs…"
Stef's face softened as she talked to him. "I am sorry baby, why don't you run inside. Grandma will look at it."
Jude looked between his mother and sister before nodding "Yes mom" He replied before quickly running inside.
"Don't get my panties in a knot?" Stef asked so calmly and coolly that Callie actually took a step back. "Is that anyway to talk to your mother?"
Callie looked away "I was just…"
"Stef!" Lena came rushing out the back door as Jude had frantically told her that he thought Callie had pushed her to far and she may want to go out there if she really did in fact liked having five kids."
"She…"
"Go for a walk" Lena could practically see the steam coming from Stef's ears. IF she didn't send her to calm herself at this moment she would say something she would be sorry for later."
Stef shot Callie a disappointed look before storming out the yard the gate slamming a few minutes later.
"I am going to go follow her" Sharon said coming into the yard. "Don't worry about her. I've got this" She assured Lena.
Lena looked at Callie and snapped her fingers "Move it inside missy. Now"
Callie knew better then to argue and quickly did as she was told not wanting to set off another parent.
The Fosters
FB
Blood curdling scream that's how Stef would explain it. Her and Lena were out of bed like a flash running faster then they had ever ran to Mariana's room thinking for sure there would be a kidnapper in there trying to steal her with that scream. Or she'd fallen out of bed and broken her arm.
What they found was Mariana sitting on her bed with dried blood around her face and all over her bed and her night night. The little girl must have had a bloody nose at some point. It had dried but her blanket had been ruined.
"Night, night" She sobbed holding her blanket "Night night, ruined"
Lena grabbed a wipe from the container she kept in Mariana's room for when she had night time accidents and it was too late at night to bathe her. They'd baby wipe her down before putting new pjs on her and bringing her back to their bed. They'd learned the hard way a bath woke Mariana up way too much in the middle of the night.
Lena wiped her face hands down before Stef picked her up and the said ruined blanket that the little girl was sobbing over. She took her to where the washer and dryer were and quickly sprayed the blanket down with stain-remover spray and threw it in the wash.
"NIGHT NIGHT" Mariana sobbed as Stef held her tightly against her and slid down the wall holding Mariana to her.
"Night night is taking a bath. We'll wait right here." She assured her.
Lena joined them sitting beside Stef while Stef rocked the little one in her arms. Mariana's thumb had found her mouth and she looked wide eyed at Stef but was no longer making any noise, so Stef and Lena told her stories, sang her songs made up jokes and just when they didn't they could do anything more the washer stopped.
Stef settled Mariana on her hip and got up moving to the washer she pulled out the wet blankie and showed the girl "Look, night night is almost all better not a spot on it. Now it just needs to go in the dryer." She threw it in. Mariana's eyes till wide with fear. While they had been checking on Night Night Lena slipped out and grabbed a basket of books before she joined her wife and daughter in the bathroom.
Stef and Lena each took turns reading to Mariana for what seemed like hours but in reality was about forty minutes. The dryer buzzed and Stef quickly got up with Mariana still on her hip she reached into the dryer pulling a fresh warm blankie handing it to the little girl.
Mariana's thumb popped out of her mouth as her eyes got so big she wrapped her blanket up in one hand then wrapped her other arm around Stef burying her face in her chest for a few minutes before she pulled away big grin on her face. "Thank you mommy!"
Lena's eyes filled with tears as Stef was sure her heart stopped beating for a moment the little girl in her arms the one she knew was destined to be her daughter had just called her mommy for the first time. That was music to Stef's ears and was worth losing out on sleep in the middle of the night. She hugged her tightly to her taking in this very special once in a life time moment. Nothing compared to hearing one of her kids call her mommy.