ALTERNATE ENDING 1, CHAPTER 10

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Lena's visit to the doctor eased her troubled mind some. The absorption was holding, the babies were doing fine, and everything else looked okay.

Lisa was at the house when she and Angelique pulled up. Angelique helped her inside and Lisa brought out a tray that held some lunch she picked up for the two of them.

"So, how're things?" Lisa asked.

"Good. They're healthy and the absorption hasn't increased. Even though Callie did do a cannonball right onto my belly this morning."

Lisa stared openmouthed. Lena waved her away.

"It was an accident. She realized Gretchen was gone and she was feeling really emotional. So was I for that matter. I let her kiss me." Lena admitted to her sister.

Again Lisa's mouth dropped open. "Wait, what?!"

"Nothing happened. It was just, everything was so overwhelming. I can't take care of my daughter properly, I'm terrified of not being able to deliver properly, there's a madman on the loose then, Gretchen said she had to leave. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I got really emotional and clingy and I didn't want to let her go."

"So?"

"So that was it. We both had a really hard time letting her go. At least when she was here, Callie had her other Mommy around. But, without her, it felt like we were on our own."

"Okay but, what's changed?"

"Stef wants to get married."

"Isn't she still married?"

"Her divorce will be final in 3 months. And before you say it, yes I do know what I'm doing."

"Really? So you've thought about Brandon having visitations with his Dad in prison and what happens when he comes home and wants to talk about him? Or how you're going to explain to Callie that her stepbrother's Father is the man who hurt her Mama and her babies, or when his Dad gets out of prison and wants to visit his son. Lena. Really?"

Lena had stopped eating and started crying. Lisa took her hands in hers and made her look at her, "Lena, I know you want this whole thing to work out. But, if you can't even have an honest conversation about what all of those things are going to look like then, I just don't see how this is going to work." Lisa took her in her arms as her sister's tears turned into sobs.

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Today was a rare easy day for Stef. She had to go to some training meetings earlier so she was able to spend the afternoon catching up on paperwork. She actually was even able to wrap things up early. She got off of work and texted Lena and asked if she needed anything. When Lena responded no, she texted back that she was going to go and pick up the kids and maybe do something fun for a while.

She got to the school and the first issue that arose was her not being able to sign Callie out of school. She had to have Lena call and okay her picking her up and then Callie really didn't want to go with her. She knew that she and Callie still had a way to go but, she thought they had made a little headway that morning. Apparently she and Callie were not on the same page as far as this was concerned. Again, she had to get Lena on the phone to tell her that it was okay.

She had decided to take the kids to a waterpark which meant running to both houses and getting their suits and then getting them changed and out the door. Lena also sent Angelique as backup to helping with the kids. Stef was a little upset but didn't want to show it in front of the kids. Didn't Lena trust her?

By the time they got there, both kids were already cranky. Then, the kids saw the fountains shooting up to the sky, the waterslide, and the water that changed colors and danced to music. There was no stopping either of them then. They ran around laughing and playing. They took a lot of pics and videos and sent them to Lena. It was a pretty good day.

Once home, she went to work getting the kids bathed before dinner. This opened a new door of challenges with Callie who still didn't want Stef taking care of her. Stef decided to get Brandon's bath out of the way first, and then she could concentrate on the Callie situation.

After she got Brandon dressed, she went downstairs for Callie. "Where's Callie? It's her turn to bathe," she asked Lena.

"Angelique is bathing her in my tub."

Stef looked at Lena for a moment then jumped in, "What's going on now?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you insinuating that I can't be trusted with Callie." Lena looked at her shocked. "You sent Angelique with us when I took the kids to the waterpark, and now Angelique's bathing Callie, all of this after we've already talked about me being here to specifically help you out and wanting to spend more time with Callie. What's going on?"

"Callie likes and trusts Angelique which is why I'm allowing her to give her a bath. I thought it would be faster and easier than having Callie sit out here freezing."

Stef looked at Lena dubiously. She wanted to continue to prod her but Sharon interrupted and called them all to dinner at the same time that Angelique and Callie came down the stairs from the bathtub.

Stef sighed and then helped Lena up. "We're not finished yet," she told her as they made their way to the kitchen table.

After dinner, Angelique went to clean up while everyone else went into the living room. Stef plugged her phone into the tv and everyone oohed, aahed, laughed, and told tales about the waterpark adventure. Lena eyes glistened with tears but they didn't spill over.

Angelique finished the dishes and then told Lena that she was going to do a sweep and start locking up.

"Why are you crying Mama?" Callie asked noticing her Mama's wet eyes.

"I'm not baby. Mama's just a little misty is all. I'm just really glad that you had a good day." Lena kissed her and snuggled her close to assure that all was well.

"It's what they used to call sensitive women who couldn't control themselves in my day," Sharon piped up. "When you're having a baby, everything makes you cry. I used to fall apart at hallmark commercials."

"I don't want a baby if it's going to make me cry all the time," Brandon said.

Everyone laughed and Stef tousled his hair. "You're going to feel completely different when you grow up. But, that's not until forever from now," She tickled him and then kissed him when his giggles died down.

Angelique returned and said that everything was locked up, upstairs and down and that all that was left was turning on the alarm. She told the kids that she'd be back in the morning.

Brandon gave a big yawn in his Mom's face and Stef turned to Lena and Callie and announced, "I think it's bedtime for all the little people. Come on, Callie. Let's get you two into bed." Stef held out her hand to Callie.

Callie looked at her hand and then looked the other way, "I'm sleeping with my Mama tonight."

Lena held up her hand to stop Stef continuing, "That's fine with me. I could use a little cuddle time with my Callie Q. Come on Cals, let's go." Lena stood and grabbed Callie's hand as they made their way upstairs.

"Well, I guess that's my cue to go. I do have these two little rascals all day tomorrow right?"

"Yes, Mom. And thank you by the way. For everything."

Sharon kissed her and Brandon before heading out the door. "This is what Mother's live for. Taking care of grandkids and giving them back when we're done. I wouldn't trade one minute of it." She waved and left.

Stef locked up and switched on the alarm. She took Brandon upstairs but as she tried to lay him down, he balked. "What is it babe?"

He hesitated for a moment before saying quietly, "Everyone gets to sleep in the big bed."

"You want to sleep with us tonight?" When he nodded she said, "Of course you do. Let's go bub."

They went into the bedroom and she laid him down next to Callie. "See what you started?" she asked looking over at Lena.

Lena smiled faintly and Brandon leaned over Callie to give her a hug and kiss. He started to draw back then he gave Callie a kiss as well.

"Eew," Callie cried as she rubbed her cheek. "Don't slobber on me."

"Okay, okay. If you're both going to be in here then it's straight to sleep. If not, you're going to have to go back to your own beds." Lena scolded.

Stef gathered her things and went into the bathroom. She got ready for bed and went back into the room. The kids were already asleep having been worn out from their day at the park. She had expected and hoped for that. But, Lena being asleep also was really starting to worry her. She climbed in beside Brandon and read for a while before she fell asleep.