Lena's phone went of in the middle of the night waking her up.
"Are all the kids home?" Stef asked sleepily next to her.
"It's Janet the social worker" Lena said reading the name across her phone.
"Hello" Lena said trying not to sound like she had just been dead asleep.
"Lena, I'm sorry to call so late but I have an emergency. I have a two month old in my back seat who really needs a place to stay" Janet said. Lena could hear the tension in her voice. She looked as Stef who nodded.
"Yeah bring her over" Lena said.
"Umm what's that" Jesus said as he and Callie came downstairs the next morning to see Stef giving a bottle to a tiny baby she was holding.
"It's a baby Jesus what does it look like?" Stef asked a chuckle in her voice.
"Why is there a baby here?" Mariana asked as she and Brandon came down.
"Janet called very early this morning, Her foster father had a medical emergency and they had to take him to the hospital, It's only for a few days" Lena said.
"Yeah that's what you said last time" Jesus said looking pointedly at Noah and Callie.
"Hey!" Callie pretended to be offended
"Kidding" He smiled at her.
"Well this really is just for a few days. She's going to be adopted by her foster parents but she's to little to have in the hospital all day" Stef said as the baby finished her bottle.
"What's it's name?" Mariana asked.
"HER name is Emma" Stef said propping the baby up on her shoulder starting to burp her. All the kids were gathered around watching her.
"What, guys?" Stef laughed looking at them
"I'v just never seen you with a baby before, your good at it momma" Mariana said.
"Well I did have one! I know i'm a little rusty but come on give me some credit" Stef laughed taking the baby down and settling her into her elbow.
"Where is she going to sleep? we don't have baby stuff and who's going to take care of her while your at work?" Brandon said.
"mom has the next few day off that's all we should need. and all your old crib and things are in the garage incase we ever did get a infant placement. I'm going to go in later today to set it up.
"Not in our room right, that looks like it cries a lot" Mariana said wrinkling her nose as the baby spit up a little. Callie laughed.
"Emma! Mariana, this poor baby has a name, and no she will be sleeping in mommy and my room. Stef said.
"Here let me take her you can eat" Lena reached for the baby taking her in her arms. Callie watched her. Lena looked like a natural as she danced around the kitchen humming quietly to the tiny baby tucked into her arm while cleaning up from cooking.
"Callie, you ok?" Lena asked seeing Callie watching her.
"Yeah, yeah fine" Callie sat down at the table.
"You know sweetie it's getting kind of warm for long sleeves" Stef told her.
"Oh, I know. I'm just always cold, I like them" Callie said tugging on her sleeves.
"Do you need some more short sleeve shirts? we can go shopping this weekend.." Lena started
"No! that's ok I have some, I'll start wearing them" Callie nodded cutting her off.
"Ok love" Lena nodded
"Wow, look at this place" Mariana said as the kids came home after school. The house was always neat but had a lived in look. Now everything was perfect and put away.
"How are we going to find anything in here now?" Jesus said looking around.
"Mom?" Mariana called
"Hey guys out here" Lena called from the patio. They went out back and found her gardening the baby napping in the shade.
"Wow, it looks amazing in here" Brandon said.
"Yes well turns out staying home with a baby, a little boring" Lena said making Callie smile.
"How was your day?" Lena asked putting down the shovel settling onto the swing. The kids gathered around her. Mariana and Noah sitting on either side of her while Callie and the older boys stood in front forming a little circle.
"I fell down in gym class" Noah said showing Lena his red elbow.
"Oh buddy, ouch i'm glad your ok" Lena said
"Can you look over my english essay" Jesus asked.
"Yeah sure go print it out and put it on the table"
"And I need you to listen to my piece it doesn't sound right" Brandon added.
"Yes i'd love to" Lena nodded.
"Can you help me dye my hair back again, I don't like the highlights anymore" Mariana said.
"Yeah you bet after dinner it's you and me. Noah love go take out your homework i'll be right in to help you" Lena said as the kids got up leaving only Callie. Callie sat down next to her taking the seat Noah had just vacated.
"What's up Callie girl? how was your day?" Lena asked running her fingers ever so slightly through Callie's hair. Callie sighed allowing herself to feel a tiny bit of comfort from the nickname she seemed to be getting more along with Lena's ever so gently touch. She looked down at the baby sleeping peacefully on her blanket under the tree.
"Do you think…do you think I could hold her?" Callie asked.
"Emma? yeah of course" Lena said she gently picked up the baby carrying her over to Callie.
"Have you ever held a baby before?"
"Not one so little"
"It's easy just support her little head in your elbow, there you go perfect" Lena said gently placing Emma in Callie's arms.
"She's heavy" Callie said surprised
"Not as breakable as they look huh?" Lena smiled sitting down next to her on the swing rocking it gently.
"What happened to her? Why is she in foster care?" Callie asked.
"Well sweetie they don't know who her dad is, and her mom had her rights taken away because she did some drugs when she was pregnant. Emma was born addicted to heroin." Lena said.
"Poor little baby" Callie said.
"Yes, but she has a happy story, she has been with her foster family since she was only a few hours old and she's going to be getting adopted on a few weeks by them, she's going to be just fine" Lena said smoothing the dress Emma had on.
"Your good with her" Callie said.
"Thank you sweetie"
"How come you never had a baby?" Callie asked.
"Well I never met the right person before. When Stef and I met Brandon was little, then the twins came along and we had three kids under the age of five. I don't know, the kids got older and I didn't really feel a need to anymore. I had my perfect little family" Lena said. Callie nodded understanding this.
"It's not DNA that makes a family sweetie, it's love" Lena told her.
"Look at us all cozy" Stef said as they gathered in the living room after dinner. Mariana sat on the couch giving Emma a bottle. Brandon was teaching Noah to play checkers, Jesus was watching helping Noah. Stef was reading her book and Callie sat on the floor at Lena's feet untangling yarn as Lena sat knitting.
"I know this doesn't happen, what are you kids all doing down here?" Lena asked making them laugh.
"You know what I think it is, it's that baby right there" Stef said nodding at little Emma.
"Hey she's kinda cute" Jesus said.
"Yeah and she doesn't cry as much as I thought she would" Brandon added. As if on que Emma let out a squawk.
"But her on your shoulder love pat her back a little, there you go she just has a little air in her belly Stef said telling Mariana what to do.
"Look at you Miss Thing, your good at that" Lena winked at her.
"Yeah well she's not all bad, she's pretty cute" Mariana said.
"You know what while we are all here maybe we should talk about our camping trip" Stef said.
"Oh yeah!" Jesus said.
"Camping?" Noah asked
"Yes, we go every July for a long weekend" Lena said.
"I'v never been" Noah said.
"Oh you will love it, we swim in the lake, go hiking in the woods, Brandon can teach you how to fish and at night, every night, we have a fire with s'mores" Stef told him.
"What's a s'more?" Noah asked. Everyone in the room stopped gaping at him.
"He's never been camping" Callie said looking at them all.
"Oh my dear boy, S'mores are the perfect summer treat! you roast a marshmallow over the fire until it is soft and gooey, They you sandwich it between two gram crackers with a little chocolate and it's just melt in your mouth goodness!" Stef said making everyone laugh at her description.
"Let's go camping!" Noah cried jumping up over turning the board. Lena burst out laughing.
"What about you Callie girl have you ever been?"
"No, but I'd like to" Callie said.
"Alright then, That's seven for camping" Stef clapped her hands.
"Momma and I will book the site some time this week and let you guys know the dates" Lena said.
"Can you get the one by the lake again?" Jesus asked.
"We will certainly try, that way fun last year being able to swim anytime" Stef nodded.
"I don't know how to swim" Noah said.
"Well we'll just have to teach you won't we" Stef smiled winking at him.
"AWW does she have to go" Mariana asked when the doorbell rang a few nights later.
"She has a momma who will be very happy to see her" Lena said standing up with the baby as Stef answered the door.
"Hi" A young blond women said walking into the entry way.
"Oh my goodness she got so much bigger! Thank you so much for taking care of her! we missed her so much" The women said taking Emma as Lena handed her to her and kissing her all over.
"Oh we loved having her, she got a lot of love here" Lena said.
"Thank you so much, everything happened so suddenly my husband was flown to the hospital I didn't want to leave her but I had to go to him"
"Of course, I hope everything is ok?" Stef said.
"Oh yes he's coming home tomorrow huh yes Daddy will be home tomorrow he missed you" The women said showering Emma with more kisses. Callie smiled watching her.
"Well it was our pleasure, anytime you need a babysitter let us know we'd be happy to" Lena said.
"I may take you up on that, we don't have much family around, oh but right now I can't even think about putting her down ever again." The women said.
"I know the feeling" Stef smiled at her.
"Thank you again" the women said heading out the door.
"It's quiet" Callie said after they had been gone a minute.
"It's like I don't know what to do with my hands when they aren't holding a baby" Mariana said. Stef burst out laughing.
"Oh my we will miss her but it will be good to sleep through the night again huh love?" Stef said putting an arm around Lena.
"Thank's for helping me get those seeds in the ground" Lena said as she and Callie came in from the back door.
"Yeah, I like gardening, it will look pretty with they come up" Callie said.
"Why don't you wash your hands i'll fix us some lunch" Lena said drying her hands and reaching for the bread. Callie rolled up her sleeves with her back to Lena and began washing her very dirty hands.
"hey can you hand me that plate?" Lena asked. Callie reached for the plate next to her handing it to Lena. In her rush she forgot to put her sleeve back down. She knew the instant she turned to Lena holding the plate out she was caught. Without thinking Callie dropped the plate in her hast to hide her arm as the plate when crashing to the ground. Callie felt her face get hot and her heart pound out of her chest as she knelt to the ground trying to pick up the glass.
"I'm sorry, i'm so sorry" She said starting to pick up the pieces of broken plate. Noah and Jesus came running down the stairs to see what had happened
"It's ok, stand there don't move ok you don't have shoes on. I'm going to go get a broom don't move, it's ok boys a plate just fell." Lena said running into the pantry and grabbing the broom she swept up all the glass.
"Is Callie in trouble?" Noah whispered his eyes wide. Callie herself felt her own heart starting to pound harder. She doubted Lena ever raised a hand to one of the kids but it was habit for Callie to expect it.
"No, of course not" Lena said gently looking at him.
"I'm really sorry" Callie said again.
"It's ok sweetie, it was just an accident." Lena put her hand out to rest on Callie's arm but Callie involuntary flinched and Lena drew it back immediately resting it by her side and Callie appreciated that she was making a point to look as less threatening as possible.
"I'm not mad. It's ok" Lena said assuring both of them and Callie felt herself calm down a little bit.
"Go get some shoes on ok incase I missed anything" Lena said. Callie ran into the entryway and put on some shoes. Noah relaxed going back into the living room with Jesus. Callie crept back to the kitchen to sneak around the wall. She was hoping in the mist of all the craziness she could sneak upstairs and Lena would forget about her lunch.
"Hello i'm home" Stef called coming in the front door behind her making Callie jump.
"Hey Callie girl" Stef greeted her giving her a weird look for being so jumpy.
"Callie come on back and have lunch" Lena called. Callie went into the kitchen grabbing a plate. Stef was close behind her.
"Hey love" Stef said greeting Lena with a kiss.
"Hey, Callie and I did some planting and we were just about to go have lunch on the deck, why don't you join us" Lena said. She gave Stef a look Callie couldn't read but knew it was not in her favor.
"Actually i'm not all that hungry" Callie said.
"Come sit then it's so nice out" Lena said. Callie knew there was no getting out of what just happened. She dragged her feet following the two women out to the table on the deck. Lena shut the door behind her.
"How's school going?" Lena asked her when they were all sitting down putting Callie's plate in front of her.
"Fine" Callie said picking at the crust of her sandwich.
"And boys? all Mariana talks about are boys but I never hear you say anything about them" Lena said.
"Just get to the point Lena" Callie sighed. Stef looked at her surprised at her tone but Lena nodded taking a deep breath.
"I saw your arm sweetie, I'm sorry you have been feeling so down" Lena said gently. Callie saw a look of understanding cross Stef's face.
"It's nothing" Callie brushed it off.
"It's not nothing, I know that you have had to deal with a lot and you found that way of coping that worked for you, but sweetie maybe we can talk about another way. There are easier and healthier ways to deal with your feelings." Lena was being so gentle and understanding Callie felt like she was going to cry. That surprised her, crying was not typically an emotion she felt before coming here. But now it seemed tot be creeping up on her more and more often.
"They are just old" Callie said.
"Do you mind if I take a look sweetie, maybe we can help you" Stef offered. They were being to nice Callie hated it she thought she would feel better if they yelled at her.
"I don't need help" she shook her head
"Listen if you want to get rid of me that's fine, just don't get rid of Noah ok. Screw keeping us together, he likes it here" Callie said. Lena came to sit next to her and Stef shook her head.
"My love, we aren't going to get rid of you, we would never do that, we just want to help you, but for us to do that you need to be totally honest with us. Trust is something you have to earn, and we would really like to start earning yours." Stef said.
"We just want to help you anyway we can" Lena said ever so gently placing a hand on Callie's back. Callie looked down at her hands in her lap. She played with the hem of her sleeve for a minute and no one said anything. Finally she pushed it up and put her arm on the table. Stef reached out taking Callie's hand in her's across the table. Callie looked down at her toes but she could feel Lena ever so gently running her fingers over the scars. Years of white scars ran up and down the inside of Callie's forearm. She didn't even like to look at it herself, they always reminded her of the stories behind them.
"Are these from today?" She asked Callie stoping near the angry red ones. Callie shook her head.
"Yesterday?" Lena asked. Callie hesitated then nodded.
"I'm going to go get the first aid kit, we can put something on them so they don't get infected. I'll be right back" Lena said standing up. she was gone for a few minutes before coming back she started to clean and bandage the new wounds.
"what do you feel, when you do this?" Lena asked.
"I feel…like I'm going to explode"
"And doing this, makes it come out of you? So you don't explode." Lena said. Callie looked up at her surprised she understood.
"I understand the feeling of needing control love, I can't imagine everything you have been through. I am sorry we didn't see this earlier and help you. We would like to help you now" Stef said.
"How?" Callie asked.
"We can look into some kind of therapy, and maybe the three of us can come up with another way for you to deal with your feelings. I think when you get the urge to hurt yourself one thing you can do is not be alone. Come find Lena or I. you don't have to say anything just being around people may make you feel better and take some of the temptation away" Stef said.
"Ok" Callie nodded.
"Why don't you go inside ok, watch some tv, get out of your head" Lena offered. Callie nodded. Lena was usually the one always telling them to turn the TV off. The fact she was suggesting it surprised Callie.
When the door closed behind her Lena sank into her chair.
"I …I can't believe we didn't see this" She shook her head covering her eyes with her hands.
"I mean she's the definition of a kid who self harms I should have payed more attention" Lena sighed.
"It's not your fault. Callie hid it well, There were no signs of it besides the long sleeves. We know now, how do we proceed?" Stef asked
"We should have done all this the first day they came. We should create a safe space for her where she can remove herself from any temptations. Like the nook in the kitchen. She's in public view and can sit and read or do homework. We have to be available to her 24/7 I mean we are but we have to actually show her we are. We need to lock up all medications, and your gun…" Lena said.
"My gun you think she would…" Stef cut her off.
"Until we get her assessed. I'm not taking any chances, I know your always lock it up but maybe if we move the safe, fine a new hiding place something so theres no temptation" Lena said
"Ok, god I can't believe this is happening" Stef sighed.
"She will be ok, it will be hard but she will be ok" Lena said pulling Stef into a hug.
"So we got you into a group therapy, They meet everyday it's foster kids just like you, with some self harm and depression just like you" Lena told Callie alone that night in her bedroom.
"Ok" Callie nodded.
"They meet everyday, but I think we are going to start with twice a week and see what you think, of course you can go more if you think it would help, or if your having a bad day."
"Ok" Callie nodded again.
"And Stef and I want you to know we are always available to you, you can always come find one of us and talk or not talk, whatever you want, and when you start feeling some urges maybe you could try to go to the nook in the kitchen. I mean there is always someone in the kitchen and it's a good place to do homework or study just be around people. And Stef and I will know when you are there that you might be having a hard time and see if we can help you out." Lena said.
"Ok" Callie nodded again
"I know this is not fun to talk about, but we just want you to start feeling better" Lena said gently.
"I know" Callie nodded.
"Ok my love, go to bed soon ok." Lena leaned over placing an ever so gentle kiss on Callie's forehead before leaving her room.
Later that night Callie sat on her bed. Mariana was listing to music through her headphones and painting her nails. a familiar feeling streamed through Callie's blood. She rocked back and forth on her bed. Then tapped her foot repeatedly trying to distract her mind she pulled out a book then put it away. She put the tip of her thumb in her mouth biting down hard. She was trying so hard not to get up and get into the bathroom but she felt like her skin was crawling. She got up and started walking back and forth across her room.
"What are you doing?" Mariana asked.
"I'll be back" Callie said getting up and going down the hall. Stef and Lena were reading in bed. the floorboards creaked under Callie's feet and they both turned to look at her. Callie stood in the doorway, she hesitated for a minute, no one said anything finally she went in sitting on the floor with her back resting on the bed. She pulled out her phone and started playing on it. Stef turned to Lena who put her fingers to her lips shaking her head. Stef went back to her book trying hard not to keep checking on Callie.
"Ok I'm going to bed" Lena sighed turning off her light a while later.
"Oh me too" Stef yawned suddenly remembering Callie was sitting on the floor next to her. She leaned over the bed then waved Lena over. Lena leaned over and they both watched Callie sleeping curled up in a ball on their bedroom floor. Lena got up and covered her with a blanket putting a pillow near her head.
"What does this mean?" Stef asked as they both lay down in the dark.
"It mean that she didn't do it. as bad as she wanted to. She didn't. It means today, we gained some trust and she made a big step in recovery" Lena sighed sinking back onto her pillows.
"Jesus it's not safe" Mariana said.
"Look it's not that far I'll walk there and be back in an hour" Jesus said putting on a coat.
"But that's the worst town, she won't go to rehab" Mariana said.
"You don't know that, I want to try, Just stay here don't tell moms anything and i'll be back in an hour" Jesus said.
"Where's he going?" Callie asked walking into her room as Jesus walked out.
"To meet Anna, to bring her money" Mariana said.
"You guys have got to stop doing this" Callie shook her head.
"I know, this is the last time, he just wants to see her for himself or something he said he will be back in an hour. Mom's won't be home by then" Mariana said.
"You better hope not" Callie said. Both girls kept checking this phones.
An hour passed, then another. Stef and Lena came home from their date night. Mariana sat on her bed chewing her finger nails as Callie watched the clock. Everything ticked by slowly as they sat in silence.
"where is he?" Callie asked.
"I don't know I texted him and called, he's not answering" Mariana said.
"You need to tell them, what if something happened?" Callie said.
"Do you think something happened?"
"I think he said he would be home a long time ago" Callie said.
"I should go tell them?"
"Yeah"
"Will you come with me?"
"Fine" Callie sighed getting up they made their way downstairs where the two women were laying on the couch watching a movie.
"Hi girls come join us we just started it" Stef said.
"I have to tell you guys something" Mariana said. the tone of her voice made Lena pause the movie as they both sat up. Mariana quickly filled them in on what happened she was still taking when Stef got up walking into the study.
"Stef, Stephanie what are you doing?" Lena asked Callie watched as Stef moved a picture from the wall reviling a safe. She punched in the code and pulled out a gun. Callie was shocked to see in in Stef's hands. Callie knew she had one for work but it always hung on her belt, like a decoration almost. To watch Stef hold it in her hands and load it before slipping it into her back pocked gave Callie the chills.
"Stef we should call the police" Lena said standing right behind her
"I am the police Lena, besides he wasn't kidnaped he left on his free will there's nothing they can do. Mariana write down that address now" Stef said as Mariana rushed into the kitchen Callie watched Stef load the gun.
"A gun though Stef really?" Lena said
"That's the worse part of town Lena who knows what is going on I won't use it unless I have to. Mariana now!" Stef yelled as Mariana came running in handing her the address. Stef put the gun in her belt loop.
"I'll be right back" Stef said going out the front door. Lena watched her go the reached for her phone.
"Hi Mike, I need favor" Lena said.
Stef turned out the head lights and rolled the car slowly coming to a stop in front of the house Mariana had directed her too. Everything looked dark she got out of the car. Her heart jumped into her throat and she put her hand on her gun as another car rolled up behind her. She was relieved to see Mike get out of the drivers seat.
"What are you doing here?" Stef asked.
"Lena called you in back up, is he in there?"
"I don't know, it look pretty dark" Stef said looking over the run down house. The lights were off and part of her hoped her son wasn't in there. Another part hoped he was because if he wasn't at the address Mariana had given her he was truly missing.
"We can clear it anyway" Mike said. They strolled up to the door Stef knocked
"Anybody home?" She called There was no answer
"Police open up" She said a little more firmly. This time they heard a noise inside the house
"Jesus?" Stef called opening the unlocked front door.
"Drugs!" Mike said as they both noticed the coffee table covered with needles and heard another noise in the back of the house
"Police!" She yelled flipping on the lights as they both held their guns out. The room was empty but they made their way towards the sound.
"Go i'll cover you" Mike said Stef went through the house.
"Jesus!" She called. More noise. she threw open the door to a back room just in time to see a big male figure standing over her. Stef heard the pop of a gun that wasn't her's and everything went black.
Lena had explained the situation to Brandon and the four of them waited by her phone not saying much. Mariana bit her lip not able to look at Lena. When her phone rang Lena grabbed it.
"Hello?" She said.
"Mike?….What?!…yeah yeah…Jesus?…no I'll be right there" Lena said. She hung up the phone.
"ummm Momma had an accident, she was shot. get into the car we have to go to the hospital. Callie go wake Noah up" Lena said scrambling for her keys and purse. Mariana went pale white. Callie felt the air leave her lungs as she ran up the stairs into her brother's room.
"Now!" Lena yelled from the front door. It was not like Lena to yell ever. The fact that she was so on edge was making Callie even more nervous.
Lena marched into the hospital as the kids followed closely behind.
"Where are they?" Lena asked seeing Mike. Callie quickly settled Noah into a chair trying to distract him
"mom" Jesus said coming up behind her.
"You ok, you alright?" Lena asked giving him a hug holding him tightly in her arms.
"Yeah" Jesus nodded. Lena released him turning back to Mike.
"The guys found him a few blocks away. He was safe. She's here. they are working on her" Mike said.
"How did this happen?" Lena asked.
"Jesus wasn't at the house, We went in looking for him there was a guy with a gun" Mike said.
"Where were you?" Lena asked
"Mr Foster" A doctor said coming out into the waiting room
"Yeah how is she?" Mike asked as he and Lena stepped closer to her.
"Your wife's condition is critical" The doctor said.
"Um she's my ex-wife this is…" Mike said turning to Lena
"I'm her partner" Lena said
"Oh ok, we have her trauma team working on her" The doctor said turning to Lena.
"Can I see her?" Lena asked.
"As soon as she is stable"
"She's not stable" Lena said her voice cracking.
"Her lung collapsed, she lost a lot of blood" The doctor said
"Is she going to make it?" Lena asked.
"We're doing everything we can, as soon as she is stable we will bring you back" the doctor said and went back down the hall.
"Was Anna there, did she do this?" Mariana asked as everyone turned to her.
"No, she was with me a few blocks away" Jesus said. Callie couldn't read the look on Lena's face as she stared at the twins. Jesus and Mariana both looked like they were feeling horrible.
"Look don't be mad at him, this is my fault" Mariana said. Lena looked from one twin to the other not saying anything. Mike stepped up
"Let's give your mom some space ok, come on over here let's sit" He said leading the twins to Noah, Callie followed. Brandon stepped up wrapping Lena in a tight hug and she held onto him. Callie watched them from her seat.
"Perfect, now back to C, the B, G good!" Lena cried sitting besides Brandon on the piano bench. Brandon beamed looking up at her.
"Your doing really well, a little more practice and we can try and play something longer" Lena told him.
"Do you think I will be as good as you some day?" Brandon's little voice asked running his little fingers over the ivory keys.
"I think you maybe better then me very soon, we may have to find you a real piano teacher" Lena laughed as Stef came into the room.
"I like our new house" Brandon said looking around the living room again. In the 2 day since they had moved in he had said that a lot.
"That's because you love the room to run circled around the whole downstairs" Stef laughed
"And I like the piano!" Brandon challenged.
"Tell momma what you just played by yourself" Lena encouraged him.
"I played if your happy and you know it! Mommy says I'm getting really good! right?" Brandon asked turning to Lena. Lena felt her mouth hang open. She not sure if Brandon was asking if he was right to call her mom or if he was getting good. She looked up at Stef who was smiling at her. Lena felt like her heart was going to melt, she had always wanted someone to call her mom and now it had just popped out of this little boy's mouth like nothing. Brandon didn't notice her surprise as he hopped off the piano bench running into the back yard.
"He's been calling you that behind your back for a week now, he asked if it was right and I said he was. I didn't want to tell you, I wanted you to hear it from him first, but I think your officially mom now" Stef said. Lena felt her eyes well up with tears as Stef pulled her into a hug.
"I thought you would like that" Stef smiled.
Jesus and Mariana sat against the wall. Lena sat with her back to them between Brandon and Mike. Callie sat across from them Noah asleep in the chair next to her.
She wasn't sure how long they were there when the doctor walked out again.
"She's stable, we need to get her up to imagining but you can see her briefly" She told Lena then looked around at all the kids.
"Only significant other for now" She said. Lena glanced at Brandon.
"It's ok, go" Brandon nodded to her as Lena followed the doctor back.
Lena was lead into a trauma room. Everything was beeping, there was blood on the towels and Stef's clothed were thrown in a blood covered heap on the floor. She had a tube in her mouth connected to a bag a nurse was pumping. Lena rushed to her side sitting beside her taking Stef's hand in hers.
"Hey, I'm here" Lena whispered as Stef's eyes fluttered open. Pain was all over Stef's face and Lena could hear her struggling to breath.
"that kids are ok" Lena said and instantly saw her face soften at her words.
"Jesus wasn't at the house. He's ok, he's here, we're all here. Your going to be ok." Lena whispered kissing Stef's forehead.
"Hi welcome to Anchor Beach" Stef heard a women saying sweetly. Brandon took her hand firmly in his little one glancing up at the women speaking.
"Hi, i'm sorry he's a little nervous" Stef said she looked up and her eyes fell on the most beautiful women she had ever seen.
"That's ok. Hi buddy, My name is Lena, guess what it's my first day here too" Lena knelt down talking to Brandon.
"I like your backpack" She winked at him.
"I'm Lena Adams the vice principal" Lena said standing up to Stef when she had won Brandon over.
'It's nice to meet you" Steph said as they firmly shook hands.
"I'd be happy to give you a little tour around, will your husband be coming?" Lena asked.
"Umm no he's not, we're not…" Stef said glancing down at the little boy holding so firmly to her hand.
"Ok, well, follow me Brandon let's go see your new room" Brandon reached up taking her hand in his free one. Lena surprised looked at Stef who smiled at her
Lena left Stef going out to the kids who stood as soon as she entered.
"Momma's going to be ok she's good, she opened her eyes, she's going to be ok, they asked if we would move up to the second floor waiting room" Lena said. Callie Brandon and Mike gathered close as Jesus and Mariana stood further back.
"Excuse me we need to get Mrs. Fosters insurance information" A women at the desk called.
"It's Ms" Lena said shortly correcting her she caught herself, taking a deep breath.
"Do I have to do that right now?" Lena asked.
"I'm sorry" The nurse said and Lena sighed walking up to the desk.
Brandon turned around shooting Mariana and Jesus a look.
"Brandon don't" Callie said getting between him and the twins.
"No, what the hell is wrong with you! I thought you didn't want anything to do with your birth mother, that she was a drug addict and a con artist" Brandon said walking up to them
"I was just trying to help her" Jesus said.
"And look how that turned out! We took you in when she abandoned you, when no one else wanted you and this is what you do!" Brandon said.
"Brandon stop" Callie whispered.
"Because of you my momma is in there fighting for her life" Brandon said.
"She's our momma too" Jesus said
"And you" Brandon turning his attention to Mariana who had been quiet this whole time
"You started all this!" Brandon said.
"Back off she feels bad enough" Jesus said.
"Yeah she should feel bad" Brandon said.
"Brandon that's enough walk away" Callie said stepping between them again. Brandon stopped and turned going down the hall.
"He didn't mean all that" Callie told Jesus and Mariana gently.
Mike carried Noah upstairs placing him on the chair next to Lena. Callie was grateful the little boy was sleeping through this. Lena sat next to Brandon playing with Noah's hair absentmindedly. Callie sat behind them with Mariana, Jesus was on the far wall. Mariana was silently crying tears falling onto her lap. Callie reached over taking her hand.
"Did they find Anna at the rehab shelter?" Jesus asked Mike.
"No, they say she came in and left quickly" Mike said. Jesus looked down shaking his head.
"Did you give her any money?" Mike asked.
"Just what I had on my, like 15 bucks we really screwed up" Jesus sighed.
"It's ok" Mike said patting his shoulder.
"Did you shoot him, Anna's boyfriend?" Jesus asked.
"Yeah" Mike nodded.
"Is he dead?"
"Yeah" Mike nodded.
"Good" Jesus said.
"Hey, when someone gets killed it's never good. no matter what they did" Mike told him. Jesus nodded understanding his words and went back to sit with Mariana. Mike took a seat next to Callie.
"Doing ok?" Mike asked her. Callie knew he was just trying to be nice but she was still a little on edge around him.
"Yeah" Callie said not meeting his eyes.
"She's going to be ok you know, I know you have not known her all that long but Stef is a fighter. There's no doubt in my mind she's going to be just fine" Mike said.
"It's just…I know Stef and Lena are good, but when stuff like this happens, the foster kids are always the first kicked out of the house. People can't handle all the pressure you know and Noah is still a kid.." Callie started surprised she was being so open.
"Hey, no way that's going to happen, I have seen the way you guys are with the family. Stef is going to be fine, and they are not going to toss you out like your nothing, you matter. I know you don't feel like you do, but you both matter, look at that, does that look like a women about to toss a kid out?" Mike asked pointing to Lena. Callie looked over at Lena running her soft long fingers through Noah's brown hair brushing it from his eyes and the running her hand up and down his back before starting over again.
"No" Callie whispered shaking her head.
"Stef told me that you guy have been through a lot of families. I'm sorry about that, but this one is different, trust me" Mike said. Callie nodded trying really hard to trust him.
"Ms Adams?" A doctor said coming in. Lena and Brandon jumped up.
"How is she?" Lena asked.
"Well the good news is beyond the lung there is no damage to any other organs" The new doctor told her.
"Oh thank god, and the bad news?" Lena asked.
'The bad news is the bullet fragments is still in her lodged near her spine, If it should move it could cause a lot of damage so we are going to have to go in and take it out." He told her.
"Can we see her?" Brandon asked.
"This is her son" Lena clarified.
"Yes, for a short time, but she's in ICU so immediate family only" The doctor said.
"Ok guys, momma has a tube in her throat. It looks scary but it's just there to help her breath. And there are some wires around her, they are just making sure she's still ok but we still have to be careful ok. " Lena said turning to the kids as Callie sat back down next to Noah.
"Callie" Lena waved her over.
"It's ok i'll stay with Noah" Callie said.
"Ok" Lena nodded leading the way as Brandon, Jesus and Mariana followed her.
"I don't know about this Stef, I have been out since I was 16, you just got divorced from a man" Lena said as she met Stef in a coffee shop after work one afternoon.
"Lena it's been 3 weeks, just 3 weeks and I already know I can't live without you. I already told my parents and Mike that it was over." Stef whispered. Lena looked at her surprised.
"I know Lena, I knew the minute I saw you I couldn't do this anymore, I couldn't pretend I had to have you. And…I'm scared as hell because I have never felt like this before in my life and I have never been with a women so I am so out of my comfort zone but you make me feel comfortable" Stef went on. Lena leaned across the table kissing her for a long time.
"So..we're doing this?" Stef asked surprised when they finally broke apart. Lena laughed.
"Stephanie Foster, wold you like to have dinner with me, a real date, not a coffee date that we are pretending isn't a date" Lena said making Stef laugh.
"A real date huh Miss Adams?" Stef smiled.
"Honey we're here" Lena whispered rubbing Stef's arm with her thumb as they gathered around her bed. Stef had a breathing tube and a lot of wires hooked up to her. She was not waking up this time either as Lena spoke to her.
"Your doing really great, your going to be just fine, we love you so much" Lena said as Brandon reached out taking Stef's hand.
"Ok guys, Let's let momma rest" Lena said. The twins nodded leaving the room Brandon moved to follow them but Lena stopped him.
"Brandon, Take everyone home ok, get some sleep" Lena said.
"I want to say, what about dad?" Brandon asked.
"Your father has enough on his plate, I need you to step up. ok?" Lena said. She pulled put her keys handing them to him meeting his sad eyes.
"She's going to be ok baby. I'll stay with her all night, Come back in the morning ok, bring me some clothes please" Lena said pulling him into a hug.
"Mariana, Jesus, Brandon is in charge" Lena said as she released him. They nodded without a word and followed him down the hall. Lena found she couldn't meet her sad eyes as Mariana looked back at her. Lena turned going back to Stef.
"Brandon took the kids home, I'm trying really hard to forgive them. I'm sorry I'm not doing a better job, you would do a better job" Lena whispered laying her head on Stef's hand she finally allowed herself to cry.
Stef sat in her patrol car looking out the window, Mike was driving. This was the worst part of town and they were looking for a drug bust. Ahead something caught her eye, a young women and two small children were taking to an intimidating looking man. The man was gesturing angrily and the women looked like she was begging him. Mike pulled the car over so it was hidden and Stef rolled down her window.
"Just take them i'll give you the money tomorrow!" The women yelled.
"I'm not taking kids for drugs you promise me two girls, what am I going to do with a boy!" The man yelled. Mike and Stef glanced at each other before springing from the car guns drawn.
"Police!" Stef yelled. The women took off down the street. The man picked up the little girl in his arms dragging the little boy a few feet before ditching them dropping them so the little girl barley landed on her feet.
"Jesus" She cried Mike took off after the man and women as Stef called for back up. The little boy dragged his sister hiding both of them behind some trashcans.
Mariana remembered huddling into her brother, she heard more police cars and a few gun shots racing down the street. Suddenly a cop came over to them. she knelt before them smiling.
"Hi guy's my name is Stef" She said. Mariana looked at Jesus neither of them said anything. More gunshots went off and Mariana remembered crawling deeper into the trash can.
"I think I have something you might like" Stef said reaching into her chest pocket pulling out three lollipops offering them to the kids. Jesus reached out taking the yellow one and handing it to Mariana then went back and got the blue one for himself. They watched as Stef tour the wrapping off the red one putting it in her mouth and sad cross-legged on the dirty sidewalk in front of them.
"I'm Jesus and this is Mariana" Jesus said.
"Jesus and Mariana, nice to meet you" Stef said shaking his hand. More police cars rushed by. Mariana wasn't sure how long Stef sat there with them until everything was clear. Talking to them and asking them questions, drawing them pictures in the dirt. She remembered Jesus helping her crawl out and her feeling safe enough to take Stef's hand when the scene was clear.
"Is our mom coming back?" Jesus had asked looking up at Stef.
"No love, no not today" Stef told him sadly.
"Well, where are we going to sleep?" Jesus asked.
"How about you come home with me tonight. I have a little boy a few years older then you" Stef smiled at him.
"Ok" Jesus nodded. Mariana remembered riding home with Stef. She remembered being greeted by Lena and getting a warm bath and sitting patiently while Lena worked the snarls out of her long unkept hair. She remembered eating until she was full and curling up on the couch that night as Stef read the three kids a book before being tucked into a clean warm bed by both women.
When they got home Callie walked up the stairs following Brandon who was carrying Noah and tucked him into his bed.
"Must be nice to be little, sleep through everything" Brandon muttered leaning against the doorway while Callie covered her brother with a blanket.
"Yeah, he's going to wake up in the morning and this will all be over" Callie sighed walking back to her room. She went into the bathroom closing the door. Her skin was crawling again and she pinched the sensitive skin inside her wrist between her finger nails to feel some pain. She went into the sink under the cabinet and pulled at the looses board in the back. It opened and Callie reached her hand in. She was surprised when she found nothing there. She grabbed a flash light shining it into the spot and saw it empty. She threw the flash light across the room. Lena must have found her box and thrown it out. Callie stood up her heart pounding desperately searching the bathroom for anything sharp. She found nothing, all razors had been taking from the room, there was not even a nail file or scissors. She hated Lena, in this second she hated her for not trusting her enough and taking everything away. Callie sighed leaning against the cool tile.
"Hey Callie can you come here?" Brandon called from somewhere in the hallway.
"Umm yeah" Callie called back leaving the bathroom.
What are you doing in here?" Jesus asked finding Mariana in the living room littered with boxes some time later that night.
"Momma has been asking us to go through this stuff so she can make room in the closet" Mariana said looking up.
"I remember this" Jesus said reaching into one of the box's and pulling out a dirty blanket.
"Oh my night night" Mariana said.
"You would drag this with you everywhere, and scream your head off anytime i touched it." Jesus said making her smile. She reached in pulling out a frame with writing on it.
"Mom's gave us this when were were adopted." She said looking it over.
"We didn't give you the gift of life, but in our hearts we know, the love we feel is deep and real, as if it had been so. For us to have each other is like a dream come true. No we didn't give you the gift of life, Life gave us the gift of you" Mariana read a tear falling down her cheek.
"What if they don't want us anymore?" She asked turning to Jesus. He looked down not sure what to say.
"Hey" Callie said walking into Lena and Stef's room Brandon had his back to her and jumped.
"You scared me, what took so long?" He said.
"Sorry, Noah woke up, I told him as much as I thought he would understand"
"Good… Um can you help me, I don't know what clothes to bring my mom" Brandon said.
"Yeah here let me" Callie said stepping up to the closet. She always envied Lena's style as she fingered through her many shirts.
"Do you remember when you told me that your moms asked you if they could adopt the twins. and you said yes because you thought there was enough to go around" Callie asked turning to him handing him a shirt.
"Yeah" Brandon said.
"Well you don't know what it's like to not have enough" Callie said gently.
"So I don't have a right to be angry" Brandon asked.
"No, But it means that you don't know what its like, why the people who brought you into the world and were supposed to love you more then anyone else…didn't" Callie said. Brandon nodded as Callie handed him jeans and a sweater from the closet completing the outfit.
"So don't be a jack ass" Callie whispered leaving the room.
Brandon want down the stairs finding the twins in the living room. They both looked up as he stood in the doorway not saying anything. He sat down across from them reaching into one of the box's pulling out a voice changer. He pressed the button that made his voice squeaky and held it up to his mouth.
"I'm sorry I'm an ass" Brandon said in the squeaky voice. Jesus took it from him holding it up to his mouth.
"I'm sorry your an ass too" Jesus squeaked making the three of them laugh.
"Look your my brother, and your my sister. And our moms are our moms." Brandon said. Mariana and Jesus looked at him and nodded.
"We should get some sleep, we have to go back the hospital in a few hours" Brandon said as Callie and Noah came into the room.
"Do we have to go to our rooms?" Mariana asked.
Callie wasn't sure how they did but eventually the house got dark and quiet. Mariana and Jesus were asleep on the couch. Brandon was on the chair next to them and Callie and Noah were on the floor between them.
"Callie" Noah whispered in the dark.
"Yeah?" Callie asked surprised he was still awake turning to face him.
"Is Stef going to die? like our mom?" Noah asked.
"No, she's not. This family is not like ours. They are lucky" Callie said firmly.
"Go to sleep" she whispered as Noah lay back down.
Callie wasn't sure if she slept or not, When she sun came up she got up quietly going to the kitchen. It was Saturday, Lena's pancakes day.
"Hey, did you sleep?" Brandon asked coming in a little while later
"Not really, you?"
"no" he shook his head.
"What are you making?" He asked looking into her bowl.
"Lena's famous pancakes" Callie smiled. Brandon nodded.
"Thanks" He whispered.
"Hey guys, you sleep ok?" Lena asked as the kids filed back into the waiting room.
"You could say that" Brandon shrugged taking a seat next to Lena. Mariana and Jesus sat in the back and Lena let them not saying anything.
"Hey, I like your shirt" Lena said suddenly noticing Callie was in one of her short sleeve shirts. She wore a lot of bracelets to cover her arm but Callie could see Lena was proud of her.
"Yeah well, why not" Callie shrugged
"I'm proud of you" Lena whispered taking her hand
"Like I had a choice" Callie said meeting her eyes
"You always have a choice, I can't take everything away, If you had really wanted to we both know you could have. it was you this time" Lena winked at her.
"Did they say how long she would be in surgery?" Brandon
"No, they were not sure" Lena shook her head.
"Did you eat anything?" Callie asked.
"I umm had some toast. What about you guys did you eat?" Lena asked.
"Callie made pancakes" Noah said as Callie pulled a baggie of some from her bag handing them to Lena.
"Thank you sweetie" Lena smiled at Callie. Noah sat down next to Lena placing his hands over her's that gripped the chair tightly. Lena sighed kissing the top of his head.
A little while later the doctor came in. Lena stood to see him.
"She did great, we removed all the bullet fragments" He said.
"But not the bullet?" Lena asked.
"Believe it or not is can be more harmful to take out sometimes. We are moving her up to recovery. I'll come get you when she's settled, we feel optimistic she's going to make a full recovery" The doctor said.
"Thank you" Lena sighed ringing her hands. The doctor nodded walking down the hall and Brandon walked up pulling Lena into a tight hug.
"She's going to be ok" Lena said pulling Callie then Noah to her. When she got to the twins Lena gave them a looser hug. Callie saw the hurt on Mariana's face as she watched Lena hug the other kids.
The doctor came to get her and Lena quickly followed him up to Stef's room. Stef looked much better, breathing on her own and less pale. Lena sighed with relief and gave Stef a kiss.
Stef mumbled something through her oxygen mask.
"No shh don't talk" Lena whispered.
"Will you" Stef said more clearly, she pulled the mask away from her mouth.
"Will you marry me?" Stef asked turning to Lena.
"I thought you would never ask" Lena smiled a tear falling down her cheek.
"Neither did I" Stef mumbled.
"Don't ever scare me like that again" Lena whispered.
"How are my babies?" Stef asked.
"They are ok, They were scared, they miss their momma" Lena said.
"And Mariana?" Stef asked.
Lena found Mariana sitting out in the garden. She watched her daughter for a minute. Mariana who took so much pride in her appearance looked like she had thrown on the first thing she found this morning. Her hair was in a messy bun and she had faint lines of makeup running down her face from crying, she looked tired and drained but to Lena she was still the most beautiful girl in the world. Lena walked over sitting next to her and Mariana looked up searching her face for something.
"Do you remember before all this, I asked you why you went behind our backs to meet with Anna?" Lena said
"Yeah" Mariana nodded.
"Well I have been thinking about that, and I don't think you know, I think what you were craving was more then just some supervised visit with your birth mom. You wanted a relationship with the women who gave birth to you, who you look like, who had it together now and maybe regretted not being able to keep you" Lena said A tear fell from Mariana's cheek and Lena looked up meeting her eyes for the first time in two days.
"I know if must be hard knowing that your birth mom chose drugs over you and your brother. I don't understand it, all I know is… We chose you, and you chose us. DNA doesn't make a family. Love does" Lena said turning to Mariana she took her hands in her's and put her face close.
"We love you, and that is never going to change, never not ever for a second" Lena whispered gathering Mariana up in her arms.
After they all got to visit with Stef, Lena was going to take the kids home for a while. She lead the way out to the parking lot as they followed. When the doors opened Mariana saw some cops from Stef's department taking Anna out of the back of a cop car. Lena saw her and marched right up to her.
"Who's that?" Callie whispered to Mariana looking at the women in front of them. She has hollow sunken in eyes, dirty face and clothes, she seemed to be trying to hide from the family
"that's our birth mom" Jesus said glaring at her
"If you EVER go near My kids again it will be the last thing you do!" Lena yelled at Anna surprising everyone.
"Lena, take your kids home" One of the officers told her gently. Lena reached back putting her arm firmly around Mariana and taking Noah's hand as Anna was led away.
"Let's go home" She said strongly.
That night they settled back into their own rooms. The house was calm but they could all feel the presents of Stef missing. Even though they knew she would be fine, she was a big comforting presents in the house that everyone was just so used to. Lena put Noah to bed but he had asked for Callie and her heart broke as she listened to him ask his sister a million questions about their birth mom. Brandon was playing his keyboard in his room, something slow and sad that almost made Lena want to cry. Jesus was sitting on his bed quietly reading which was out of character for him. Lena noticed the framed poem they had given the twins on their adoption day hanging over his bed. She went in giving him a big hug and kiss good night. Callie was quiet in her room looking up at the ceiling and didn't sat much when Lena went to say goodnight to her. Mariana was already laying in her bed trying to sleep. Lena got into her own bed feeling the emptiness of it and was not one bit surprised when Mariana's figure appeared in the dark doorway a few minutes later. Lena had been waiting for her girl to come by. Without a word Lena moved to Steph's side of the bed holding up the blankets as Mariana crawled under them curling up next to her. Lena ran her fingers through her hair comforting both of them without any words. It had been a long two days, but everything was going to be fine now.
"Hey" Stef called quietly to Mariana who sat silently looking out the window. Lena had taken all the kids to the hospital after school and Stef was glad to see them. She was feeling much better and refused to be in the hospital bed anymore so she sat on the couch on the room now. Lena had taken the rest of the kids out to pick up some food knowing Stef needed some time with Mariana.
"Yeah?" Marian asked turning to her.
"Come here sit with me' Stef patted the couch. Mariana hesitated before getting down from the window sill and sitting next to Stef on the couch.
"Your quiet today" Stef said. Mariana just shrugged.
"Mom says you have been quiet at home too" Another shrug.
"sweets, talk to me what's wrong?" Stef asked gently pulling Mariana to her.
"I'm sorry I got you shot" Mariana said tears coming to her eyes immediately.
"Hey, no no, this is not your fault" Stef whispered gathering Mariana up in her arms.
"Yes it is, you went to that house because of me"
"No, no I went there because there was a possibility that your brother was in danger. If someone told me I would have been shot, guess what, I still would have gone. That's my job I'm the mom. I was shot because of my actions and my actions alone." Stef said as Mariana continued to cry quietly.
"I'm sorry" Mariana said again.
"No one blames you, I don't blame you. Are mom and I in love with the choices you and your brother made leading up to that night? No, we're not. But all of this, this whole outcome it not your fault" Stef said
"Are you sure?"
"Were you the one pointing the gun at me?" Stef asked. She felt Mariana shutter at the thought.
"Then it's not your fault" Stef said not waiting for her answer
"Well i'm sorry for my choices then" Mariana said.
"And I forgive you" Stef nodded. Mariana look up offering her a smile.
"Can I have my Miss Thing back now, I miss my girl" Stef whispered.
"Yes, you can" Marina smiled wiping a tear from her cheek.
"Come here my love" Stef smiled pulling Mariana into her good side for a hug.
"I love you, you know that yes?" Stef said.
"I love you too" Mariana sighed finally feeling a huge weight off her chest.
The next afternoon everyone waited with baited breath as a car pulled into the driveway.
"There's here!" Noah cried jumping up and down on the couch.
"Ok guys let's go" Brandon said as they all went out the front door.
"Ok easy on momma" Lena said as Stef got out of the passenger seat
"Oh please, come here my babies oh my gosh!" Stef said gathering them all in her arms.
"I'm so glad your home" Mariana said.
"Me to love, let's go inside yeah?" Stef said. Jesus took her elbow helping her in while Brandon took the bags from the trunk.
"I'll get the door!" Noah yelled running to open it.
"oh man it's good to be home" Stef said taking a seat at the kitchen table.
"I made you a card" Noah said placing his homemade paper in front of her.
"Oh thank you love it's beautiful" Stef said cupping his chin in her hand and kissing his cheek.
"We cleaned out the fridge. And the girls made a ton of meals so mom wouldn't have to cook we can just reheat" Brandon said.
"Jesus and I went through those box's and donated stuff" Mariana said.
"Wow look at you guys go!" Stef laughed
"We missed you" Noah said giving her a hug.
"I missed you guys too" Stef smiled.
"We actually have something to tell you guys" Lena said as they all sat around the table and Callie placed a glass of water in front of Stef.
"Is the camping trip off?" Noah asked.
"No sweet boy" Lena said.
"Well you guys know that mom and I are what they call domestic partners. We have lived together for 12 years and adopted children together, so in the eyes of our state we are seen as married" Stef said.
"But after what happened, momma and I decided we don't want to just be married because we lived together for a certain number of years. We want to be married because we stood in front of everyone we love and care about and told each other vows and confessed how much we love each other in front or everyone" Lena added
"Wait like a wedding!" Mariana cried excitedly.
"Yes Miss Thing like a wedding" Stef smiled.
"Ahhh!" Mariana cried clapping her hands making Noah cover his ears.
"Like with rings and everything?" Brandon asked.
"The rings the white dresses, the first dance everything and anything" Stef said.
"Congratulations" Jesus told them smiling.
"When is it?" Callie asked.
"We think 3 weeks maybe" Lena said.
"Three weeks!" Mariana cried horrified.
"Yes love, we thought we could have it here, in the backyard, put up some chairs, a little arch. Gramps is going to lead it and we would have a small group of people, and you guys of course That's all we need" Stef said.
"Oh my gosh! There's so much to do! I have to go on pintrest right now!" Mariana cried rushing up the stairs.
"How long do you think until her head explodes?" Stef laughed.
"Callie!" Mariana called back down the stairs.
"I guess I am helping plan the wedding" Callie laughed standing up.
"Hey if her eyes start to bug out make sure you push them back in" Lena called after her making everyone laugh again.