A/N – Sorry it's been a while, I had a busy few days. My grandpa was visiting, so I spent some time with him, I went to a concert last night and saw my favorite band of all time, Weezer. They were awesome, as usual. They played my favorite song too, which is weird, because I heard they don't play it live often, so it must have been fate. Oh, and Panic! At the Disco was there, too, no biggie.

But here's the biggest reason I didn't post the couple of days. I found out Anton Yelchin died, and that really broke my heart. He was probably my first celebrity crush and also he's the person that really got me into watching movies. I first saw in Terminator Salvation back in 2009 when I was only eleven years old, or not even yet. After that it was Star Trek, then Charlie Bartlett, an episode of Criminal Minds, Odd Thomas, and so much more. He was a great actor and he could have gone on to do great things, more than he's already done. I cried when I found out what happened and sometimes I still can't believe he's gone. All my condolences go out to his friends and family and I hope he's happy wherever he is. RIP, my hero.

CrazyCaz – Sorry you find Callie annoying, she is only thirteen in this story, so when she gets older she will mature more. She is Donna's daughter though, so… lol.

Anyway, here's another chapter for my pretties, enjoy!

May 26, 2001

Callie snuck back into her room through her window after her curfew on a school night. She'd been sneaking out for a couple of weeks now to see Chris in the park. She was slowly working up the nerve to ask him if he wanted to go out sometime, maybe to a movie or something, since she knew a dinner date wouldn't be his style, it involved too much talking. Which he wasn't good at.

It was past nine, Callie knew that, and her curfew was at seven. She lied to her mother and told her she was doing homework and she usually left her alone after that, giving Callie enough time to go out.

But tonight, Donna caught her.

Callie opened her window and climbed clumsily back into her bedroom, her hair soaking wet from the drizzling rain outside. When her feet hit the floor and she stood up straight her bedroom light flicked on and Callie looked up, eyes wide and she caught eyes with her mother.

Shit.

Callie smiled nervously, "Hey Mom…"

"Save it, Callie," Donna snapped, her arms crossed, "Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you."

Callie sighed and slumped her shoulders, "You want the truth?"

Donna rolled her eyes, "Of course, I want the truth."

Callie shrugged and threw her backpack down on the ground, "Fine, but you're not going to like it," Callie stopped talking for a moment as she stepped over to her mother, shivering a little from being wet. She looked up at her mother and said, "I was at the park with Chris."

Donna dropped her arms by her sides and furrowed her brow, "How long have you two been meeting at the park?"

Callie shrugged, "Three weeks, maybe."

"Three weeks?!" Donna seemed shocked by this. She would have thought a week, maybe a week and a half tops, but three weeks?

"Yeah, we didn't want to tell you because we knew you'd flip a lid," Callie said, "I know you don't like me hanging out with Chris that much, so to see him more often than you know about, I've been sneaking out."

"Does Eric know about these little meetup's you've been having?" Donna asked.

Callie shrugged, "I don't think so. But that's not the point."

"No, the point is, if you want to go out, you ask permission first, got it?" Donna snapped, glaring at her daughter.

Callie threw her arms out the side and sent a glare back her mother's way, "But that's not fair! If I had asked you, you'd have said no!"

"No I wouldn't have!" Donna snapped back.

Callie nodded, "Yes you would have! I know you don't like Chris!"

Donna shook her head, "That's not true, I think Chris is a very nice boy."

Callie slumped her shoulders and crossed her arms, "Really? Then why do you always get mad with me when we're hanging out?"

Donna slumped her shoulders as well, "I don't."

Callie smiled irritably, "That's a HUGE lie! And you know it!"

"I'm not mad at you for hanging out with him," Donna said, "I don't like the fact that you, you know, like him… That way."

Callie raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Did Jackie tell you that? GOD! I told her not to! She never listens!"

"No, Callie! Jackie didn't tell me that," Donna snapped, "It's pretty obvious."

Callie rolled her eyes, "So what if I like him? Why do you have such a problem with that?"

"I just do, okay?" Donna replied.

"Why?! You've got to have a reason!" Callie cried, throwing her arms out to her sides in anger and frustration.

"No, I don't!" Donna snapped back.

"Yes, you do!" Callie shouted, "Is it because you don't want me growing up too fast? Is that it?"

Donna shook her head, "No."

"Is it because we're a couple of years apart?" Callie asked another question.

"No," Donna kept replying.

"Then what is it?" Callie was getting sick of this.

"There's no reason," Donna said.

"There has to be!" Callie was getting angrier and angrier by the second.

"Callie!" Donna cried in return.

"Mom!" Callie snapped back, "Just tell me!"

"It's because there's something wrong with him!" Donna finally yelled.

Callie was taken aback as Donna calmed down and continued, "Chris isn't good enough for you. I want somebody who can take care of you and protect you, not the other way around… Chris isn't… A strong enough person for you. Physically, mentally or emotionally."

Callie crossed her arms and glared at her mother, "For your information, Mom, Chris is strong in all of those areas. Just because he's a little smaller than most guys, doesn't mean he isn't strong. Just because he doesn't talk much, doesn't mean he's stupid. And just because he's a little more sensitive than most guys, doesn't mean he's weak. And have you ever stopped to think that maybe I can take care of myself and maybe, just maybe, Chris and I need each other."

Donna was silent as Callie ranted on, "I know I'm only thirteen years old and I probably shouldn't be thinking these things, but I think I know love when I feel it. I feel that for Chris. And I don't just love him in a romantic kind of way, but just love him as a person. Because Chris is a beautiful person," Callie was started to get upset, Donna could hear it in her voice, "He's smart, kind, funny without realizing it, and he's brave. And I really wish you could see that."

Callie stormed out of her room past her mother, tears forming in her eyes. Donna turned towards her and followed her out of her room, "Callie—"

"No Mom!" Callie cried, spinning around to face her, a stern finger pointed upwards at her, "I really wish you'd actually sit down and get to know him, because he's a really great guy. But I guess you'll never know that."

"Callie, please, just let me explain," Donna pleaded as Callie started for the door, her whole body shaking with cold.

"I don't want to hear it, you've said what you've had to say," Callie snapped, swinging the door open and looking back at her mother, "I'll be back in the morning."

"Callie—" But it was too late, Callie walked out the door and slammed it shut behind her.

The phone rang as Eric was sleeping on the couch. He had had a long day and really just wanted to sleep, so he ignored it. But it rang again. And again. After the third time, Eric decided to get up and go get it, realizing it may be something important.

Eric walked across the living room to get to the kitchen where the phone sat, his bare feet smacking against the tile floor clumsily. Eric ran a hand over his eyes to wipe the sleep from them as he picked up the phone, fumbling with it for a moment. The number on the tiny orange screen was Donna's, which made Eric furrow his brow. Why was she calling so late?

Eric pushed the answer button and held the phone up to his ear, "Hello?"

"Eric, is Callie there?!" Donna sounded frantic, her voice worried and scratchy, as if she'd been crying.

Eric furrowed his brow and shook his head, "No, she's not. Why, what happened?"

"She ran off! I tried going after her, but she's too fast! I have no idea where she went and I'm so worried!" She was starting to panic.

Eric put his hand and tried calming her down, "Okay, Donna, I need you to calm down and tell me exactly what happened. Okay?"

Eric heard Donna take a few panicked breaths and tried slowing it down, but it proved to be only slightly effective, but it was something, "Okay…"

"Okay. Now what happened?" Eric asked again, hoping to get a more informative answer.

"We got into an argument because she had snuck out," Donna said, "Her and Chris have been sneaking out late at night… She told me they've been doing that because I didn't like Chris and I might freak out and now I am and I don't know what to do…"

"Donna, Donna! Calm down," Eric said, "I'm sure she's fine."

Eric turned around and started towards Chris's room as he kept Donna on the line, "I'm going to go check Chris's room right now, okay? I'll see if she's here."

"Okay…" Eric could hear Donna's heavy breathing on the other end as he walked down the hall.

Eric could see the light on from underneath Chris's door and he could hear him rummaging around in there. Eric raised an eyebrow and pushed the door open gently and revealed, on the other side, Chris going through his clothes, trying to find a clean shirt.

"Chris?" Eric spoke, spooking the boy.

Chris jumped and yelped a little bit as he looked up at Eric, a hand on his chest, "Eric, you scared me!"

Eric ignored him and asked him, "What are you doing?"

Chris start fidgeting nervously, flicking his fingers as he always did when he was nervous, "Um, I was just, uh… I needed a—a clean shirt, because mine was uh, was dirty…"

Eric nodded, "Yeah, it doesn't look dirty, it looks wet."

"Uh…" Chris looked down at his feet, his body shaking with cold.

"You're not in trouble, just put on some warm clothes, okay? I don't want you getting sick," Eric said as he turned to leave, but not before asking, "Oh, do you know where Callie is? Donna's on the phone and she says she ran off."

Chris looked up at Eric in alarm, "What? Is she okay?"

Eric shrugged tiredly, "I don't know, that's why I'm asking you if you know where she might be."

Chris shook his head, "No, we were just at the park. We don't really go anywhere else…"

Eric nodded and went back to talking to Donna, "He doesn't know where she is, sorry."

"Oh god, Callie…" Donna was on the verge on tears once again.

"Okay, listen," Eric said as he went to the door and grabbed his shoes, "I'm going to go out and try and find her, okay? Me and Jackie take them out sometimes, maybe I can find her."

"Um, okay," Donna said, "I'll meet you at your place in ten minutes."

Eric nodded, "Okay, see you then."

Eric then hung up and put the phone down on the table by the door as he slipped his old dirty shoes on, just now realizing Chris standing behind him.

"Hey bud," Eric said as he tied his shoes.

"I'm coming with you," Chris said as he fidgeted behind Eric, staring blankly at the wall next to the door.

Eric shook his head, "No, you're not. You're staying here and getting some rest."

Chris shook his head in return, "No, I'm coming with you. I want to make sure she's okay."

Eric sighed as he stood and nodded, "There's no swaying you, is there?"

Chris shook his head again, "Uh, no."

Eric nodded and gestured for him to follow, "Okay, come on. Let's get going, wouldn't want to keep Donna waiting."

0-0-0-0-0

Jackie sat in her new apartment watching TV that night, eating a large bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Nothing was interesting on TV, really, but she had to do something. It was king of boring living by herself, but it was also kind of peaceful. She enjoyed it most of the time, but tonight was not one of those nights. So thank God somebody knocked on the door.

Jackie looked up from the TV when she heard the frantic rapping against the wood. Raising an eyebrow, she set her bowl down and stood, wrapping her bathrobe around herself as she headed for the door. It was nice having company, but it was also a little late, so she was curious as to it would be. She was sometimes nervous, though, as she was a single female living alone in New York City.

Jackie slowly opened the door and peeked out the small crack and furrowed her brow when he saw who it was. She swung the door open and looked down at the person, a look of concern and surprise on her face, "Callie? What are you doing here?" Jackie then softened her gaze when she saw the tears streaming down the young girls face, "What's wrong?"

Callie angrily wiped the tears from her face and eyes as she pushed past Jackie into her apartment, "Mom and I got into an argument."

Jackie closed the door after her and turned around to face her, crossing her arms over her chest, "About what?"

Callie gave Jackie a look after rolling her eyes, "What do you think?"

Jackie nodded, "Chris."

Callie nodded and went to sit on the couch. Jackie then noticed Callie was soaking wet, so she rushed to the closet and pulled a thick blanket down and brought it to the shaking girl. Callie took the blanket from Jackie and wrapped it around herself, but it didn't really help much, as her clothes were still soaking wet and Callie's feet were freezing.

Jackie sat down next to the girl and looked down at her curiously, "Can you tell me what happened?"

Callie kept her eyes glued to the floor in front of her as she shivered, the blanket wrapped tightly around her, "Well, Mom caught me sneaking back into my room after I had snuck out to go see Chris."

Jackie smiled teasingly, "Awe, how romantic," When she saw Callie's glare, she frowned, "But, also very bad. You shouldn't sneak out in the middle of the night."

Callie rolled her eyes and continued, "Well, me and Mom proceeded to argue about me sneaking out and then she started talking bad about Chris, saying she didn't want me being with him."

Jackie looked at Callie expectedly, "Why not? Did she say?"

Callie nodded, fresh tears fogging her vision, "She said she didn't want me being with him because there was something wrong with him."

Jackie raised her eyebrows at that. And just when she thought Donna was slowly coming back to being respectable, "What? There's nothing wrong with him, he's just… Odd."

Callie shook her head, "No, she's right. She could've phrased it differently, but, that's Mom for ye'."

Jackie furrowed her brow again in curiosity, "She's right? What do you mean?"

Callie looked up at Jackie. Maybe she shouldn't have come here after all, "That's not important."

Jackie tilted her head, "Callie."

Callie sighed and looked down at her hands before she answered Jackie's question, "About a month ago, Chris told me he has a thing called Asperger's… Do you know what that is?"

Jackie was shocked for a moment, and she really didn't know why. It was believable, he showed many symptoms, but Jackie never really thought about that, "Yeah, I'm familiar with the disorder."

"Good, so you can see how Mom's being completely unfair, right?" Callie asked expectedly.

Jackie nodded, "Yeah, totally."

Callie smiled, "Yeah, right!"

Jackie then frowned at Callie, "But you still shouldn't have run off. She's probably worried sick about you."

Callie frowned and glared at Jackie, but then slumped her shoulders and nodded, "Yeah, I know… I don't know why, but I just ran. It was like it was out of my control."

Jackie nodded, "I know. You were just upset, it's completely understandable. But don't expect not to be in trouble."

Callie nodded, "Okay…" Callie looked up at Jackie, "Do you think she's looking for me?"

Jackie nodded, "Most likely."

Callie sighed and looked down at her feet, "Can I use your phone?"

Jackie nodded at the young, naïve girl, "Of course."

Callie stood and slowly slunk over to Jackie's house phone, nervousness, anger, hurt and confusion all swirling around inside her. She didn't even know what she felt right now, it was so confusing. Callie picked up the phone and dialed her home number and waited as it rang. When nobody picked up, it confirmed that Donna had left the apartment and had started searching for Callie, so Callie left a voice mail, telling her mother where she had went if she didn't find her.

When the phone beeped, Callie left her voicemail.

0-0-0-0-0

Eric, Donna and Chris walked down the sidewalk after leaving the park, confirming that Callie hadn't gone back there. Eric had brought an umbrella with them this time, he didn't want to risk him or Donna getting sick, or Chris getting sicker.

As they walked down the sidewalk, Chris shivering the whole time, he looked up at Donna as the group stayed silent in the search for Callie.

"Miss Donna?" Chris said politely, breaking the tension and silence once and for all.

Donna looked down at the boy at her name being called and gave him a curious look, "Yes?"

Chris averted her gaze and asked, "Why did Callie run off?"

Donna tensed her shoulders as Eric gave the boy a brief look as he held the umbrella above all their heads. Donna cleared her throat before answering his question, "We got into an argument."

Chris nodded, "Was it about me?"

Donna's shoulders tensed even more, if that was even possible. She gave Chris a curious look and raised an eyebrow, "How did—"

"Callie told me you don't like me," Chris rambled on as he looked down at his feet as they continued to walk, "She's says you think I'm weird."

Donna gave the teenager a sympathetic look, "Chris, I don't hate you, okay?"

Chris furrowed his brow, "Then why don't you like it when me and Callie are together?"

Donna sighed through her nose and hesitated before answering the question, "That's... That's hard to explain."

Chris adjusted his shoulders and responded with, "I—I think me and Callie get along great… She's my first REAL friend. Most people just use me for school work or a project or something, because I get better grades than most. But… Callie doesn't care about all that. She's just my friend, because she wants to be. I've never been so happy until I was with her. She makes me forget that I'm depressed sometimes, you know?"

Donna looked down at her feet in shame. Well, that made her feel like shit.

"It's because of what I am, isn't it?" Chris asked.

Donna looked down at him in surprise as he continued, "It's because I have a disability?"

Eric turned to look at Chris and stopped walking completely. He handed the umbrella to Donna, giving her a dirty look in the process before he put his hands on Chris's shoulders, "Chris listen to me," He spoke softly, but sternly, "Don't you ever think that you are weird or different from everybody else just because you have something others can't relate to. You're not weird, you're just you. Okay?"

Chris nodded, not looking Eric in the eye, "Okay."

Eric nodded and wrapped his arms around the boy, giving him a brief hug, one that wasn't returned, and he gave him a peck on the side of his head before he pulled away. He looked down at Chris, then at Donna, then back to Chris. Eric smiled sweetly and ruffled his hair before he took the umbrella back from Donna and started walking again.

It was silent for a moment as they walked, nobody really knowing what to say. Donna kind of felt like shit now, though. She never meant to hurt Chris's feelings, but it was kind of hard not to when she said the things she said.

Chris continued walking closer to Donna than to Eric, acting as if he wanted to say something, but was too nervous to let anything out. Donna looked down at him and smiled sadly. Maybe he wasn't so bad. Maybe if she took time to get to know him, like Callie had said, maybe she'd see the real him. Donna was always one to jump to conclusions, never one to talk it out.

Maybe… Maybe when they found Callie they could all talk it out for once. Maybe Donna could try to understand this time.

"Listen Chris…" Donna started nervously, garnering the boy's attention, "I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings, I tend to do that sometimes without really thinking about others."

Chris nodded, "Me too."

Donna smiled a little at that and continued, "Look, you don't seem like a bad kid. From what I've seen, you're polite, kind, charming… Callie's told me you're funny, sweet, thoughtful…"

Donna looked down at the kid and noticed the red hue on his cheeks, making her smile, "You're not a bad looking kid, either, so I can see what she sees in you."

"Okay, can we not talk about this anymore," Chris said, wiping his glasses of the fog that the heat form his face produced.

Donna giggled, "What I'm trying to say is, maybe you and Callie hanging out together isn't so bad. I mean, at least she's not hanging out with a bunch of drug dealing, motorbike riding, fist fighting, jackasses."

Chris smiled a little at that and continued walking, but not speaking.

"Here we are," Eric interrupted, looking up at the building before them.

Donna raised an eyebrow, "You think she'll be here?"

Eric nodded, looking the building up and down, "There's a high possibility."

Donna adjusted her shoulders nodded, "Okay then, let's go."

0-0-0-0-0

"I'm sorry, Jackie," Callie spoke after what seemed like an hour of silence.

Jackie looked up at Callie and frowned, furrowing her eyebrows in confused curiosity, "Sorry for what?"

Callie averted Jackie's gaze and instead looked down at her pale hands in her lap, "For running off, it was really immature of me."

Jackie smiled sympathetically and scooted closer to the shivering girl, wrapping a warm and gentle arm around her shoulders, "Callie, you're thirteen. You're not supposed to be mature."

Callie giggled at that, but she still felt bad. She shook her head, "I know, but… I couldn't stayed and we could've talked about it, I'm just so…"

"Hotheaded?" Jackie answered after a moment.

Callie nodded and looked up at Jackie, "Yeah, that."

Jackie shrugged, "You get that from your mother. You two aren't so different, ye' know?"

Callie nodded and smirked a little, "Yeah, I know…"

Jackie smiled and rested her head against Callie's, her arms around her, trying to warm her, "Do you want me to take you home?"

Callie sniffled and nodded after a moment, "Yes, please."

Jackie nodded and stood, going to the door where her shoes sat, but before she could even think to reach for them, someone knocked on the door.

Jackie sighed and went for the door, opening it all the way to reveal a very worried Donna, a nervous looking Chris, and a very grumpy and tired Eric.

"Hey Jackie, is Callie here?" Eric asked, wiping his eye of sleep.

Jackie looked at Eric then at Donna and Chris, then back to Eric and nodded, "Yes, she is. Come in, please."

All three of Jackie's visitors rushed in past her, Donna first. When they got into the room, Jackie closed the door behind her and looked towards the group, her arms crossed.

Donna looked down at her daughter as Callie looked up at her, "Callie…"

"Mom," Callie said, looking shocked up at her, "I'm really—"

Donna shook her head, "Are you okay?"

Callie gulped nervously and nodded, "Yes, I'm fine… I'm sorry if I worried you…" Callie said in a small voice.

Donna looked her daughter over, making sure she was one hundred percent okay, "That's okay, I'm just glad you're safe."

Callie nodded and stood slowly, the thick, soft blanket still wrapped firmly around her, "I promise I won't run off again, I was being stupid."

Donna shook her head, "I'm sorry, too… I shouldn't have said what I said. I really do like Chris, and if it's okay with you two, I'd like to take you guys out to lunch this weekend… We could all talk and, get to know each other."

Callie jerked her head up at this, her eyebrows knitted together in surprise and shock, "Really? You mean it?"

Donna smiled a little and nodded, "Yes, of course I mean it."

Callie smiled at that and stepped towards her mother, unsure of what to do though. So Donna reached out and embraced her daughter, kissing her on top of her head and whispering in her ear, "But don't think you're not grounded."

Callie giggled and nodded, "I sort of figured this would happen."

After a moment more of hugging, Callie pulled away from her mother and looked up at her. Donna smiled sadly down at Callie and wiped a stray black hair away from her eyes, kissing her on top of her head once more before letting her step back. Donna then turned to Jackie and smiled, "Thank you, for watching over her."

Jackie smiled and nodded, "Of course."

As the three adults talked about what had just happened, Callie slowly slunk over to Chris, who was standing awkwardly behind everyone. He was flicking his fingers nervously and looked at the wall over Callie's shoulder.

"Hi Chris," Callie smiled awkwardly at him as she stopped in front of him.

"Hi," He said, but that's all he said.

"I'm sorry I made Eric drag you all the way across town to find me, I'm sure you had better things to do," Callie said, frowning a little bit.

Chris then responded with, "No, I wanted to come."

Callie raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"I said I wanted to come," Chris replied.

Callie smiled a little and tilted her head to the side, "Why?"

Chris shrugged and looked down at his feet nervously, "Because I was worried about you."

Callie smiled and bent down a little bit, trying to get a glimpse of Chris's scarlet face. He was adorable. Callie thought.

"You were worried about me?" Callie smiled brightly, tightening her grip on her blanket, butterflies flying in her stomach.

Chris nodded and stayed silent.

"You're so sweet," Callie smiled as she inched closer to him.

Callie wasn't sure, but she could have swore she saw a brief smile make itself present on Chris's face. Callie then looked down at his hands that were clenching and unclenching nervously.

"Chris?" Callie started.

"Yes?"

Callie stood straight and eyed the nervous boy, "Can I ask you for something?"

"Yes," He repeated, still looking down at his mud covered shoes.

"Can you give me a hug?" Callie asked innocently and little did she know that the three adults in the room were watching the teens very closely, smiles on all of their faces.

"Yes," Chris replied once again, but remained still.

Callie let out a breath through her nose and smiled, tilting her head, "Chris, please give me a hug."

Chris nodded slightly and lifted his head as he stepped over to Callie. He held his arms out and she walked into them quickly, not hesitating at all. This was the first time Chris had ever willingly given her a hug, so she had to savor this moment, as it was very rare. Chris wrapped his arms awkwardly around Callie, and his hands hovered, as if he didn't know what to do with them.

As Callie rested her head on his chest and smiled, she said, "Just rest them on my back, Chris."

He did just that, but his touch was as light as a feather, but Callie still felt safe here. Despite Chris's clothes being just as wet as Callie's, he still felt warm, and that comforted her. She wrapped her smaller arms around his waist and hugged him tight and she felt him rest his head on top of hers, as if he were finally comfortable.

Jackie, Eric and Donna all smiled at the heartwarming moment between the kids. Maybe Donna should give him a chance, he did seem to make Callie really happy.

And that was all Donna wanted, was for Callie to be happy.