"Alright come on dude!" Stef called as she blocked Jesus from shooting the basketball in the driveway. Callie laughed as Stef passed her the ball and she scooted around Brandon trying to steal it before tossing it in scoring.
"Yeah!" Stef yelled running over to give her a double high five.
"Show off" Jesus muttered.
"Go Callie!" Noah yelled from the street where he was riding his bike up and down. Lena had just taken the training wheels off a few days ago and he was still covered in all kinds of protective gear. Mariana sat on the porch swing with Lena watching everything.
"Ok next basket wins then it's time to go have dinner" Stef said looking up as it started to get dark.
"No way we're up by 4" Jesus said.
"Oh yeah you wish!" Callie called as a car came down the road.
"Noah car" Lena called as he pulled his bike over to the side hoping off onto the grass. They were all surprised when the car pulled into the driveway. Stef glanced at Lena who shrugged, they were not expecting anyone. Callie held the ball on her hip as they all watched Stef's father climb out of the drivers seat.
"Dad?" Stef said surprised.
"Hey everyone" Frank nodded.
"Hi grandpa" Brandon and Jesus said going over to great him. Stef stayed where she was. Mariana hopped off the porch to go say hi but Lena didn't move and Noah ran up the lawn to her side.
"Hey hey wow look at how big you all are" Frank said looking over the three kids who went to them.
"What are you doing here dad?" Stef asked.
"I wanted to bring you something" Frank said stepping closer to her.
"what?"
"The car" Callie saw Stef's eyes widen as she looked over the car. It was a big SUV, 9 seater. Stef gave a little laugh.
"I don't understand" She shook her head.
"Well I know you got another one on the way and…you can't fit 6 kids in your car I thought since Lena's parents helped buy the house I could help out with a car"
"No thank you dad" Stef said. Brandon and the twins sensed the tension and backed up. Callie took the ball going down to the street, they followed her passing it around trying to make it look like they were not listening.
"Oh come on, just take it Stephanie"
"Dad, why? why are you doing this? what is this? I can't even remember the last time you were anywhere near my house unless you were picking up one of the boys to make sure they were doing something incredible masculine with you" Stef said raising her voice.
"I'm just trying to help out" Frank said.
"Thank you for the car dad but we can not accept it" Stef said going into the house and closing the door. Frank looked up at Lena standing on the porch but Callie knew she could not say anything. He shook his head getting back in the car and leaving.
"Bubba go put your bike away ok, 5 minutes until dinner guys" Lena called to the older kids making their way back into the driveway as she went into the house. Stef was laying on the couch her feet up arm thrown over her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I know we need the car" Stef said not looking up as she came in.
"No, no it's ok he's your dad if you don't think we should take it I understand" Lena said sitting down next to her.
"I just don't want to own him anything"
"Stef I get it, I do. But maybe it wasn't just about us owing him something. You just told him about the baby and he goes out to get us a car? Maybe it's about him being sorry" Lena offered.
"So you think I was to hard on him" Stef cried.
"I just think, maybe after 11 years he's looking for a little forgiveness. And yes you were quick to shut him down." Lena said. Stef sighed, she knew she was stubborn with a quick temper. Lena was calm and level headed and had a good way of balancing her out.
"Ok, I was going to being him groceries this weekend, I will talk to him" Stef agreed patting Lena's leg.
"Good" Lena sighed.
"Ok, I'm going to go call the kids in, do you need help getting up?" She asked standing up.
"Please" Lena smiled holding her and out as Stef helped her stand up from he deep couch.
Saturday morning was in full swing when Callie came down the stairs.
"Morning love, there's sausage and eggs on the table and fresh bread if you want some toast" Lena greeted her.
"Yum" Callie smiled taking a seat at the table across from Brandon.
"Hey are you going to the party at Finn's tonight, I mean I know you guys broke up but your friends right?" Brandon asked.
"Umm yeah, but no, I'm not, I don't think we're quiet there yet" Callie said feeling Lena's eyes on her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lena asked.
"No, I mean, it's good. I just don't feel like going out today" Callie nodded.
"Well is it ok if I go to the party?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah, of course" Callie nodded as Mariana and Jesus came down the stairs.
"Morning" Jesus said reaching for a plate of food.
"wow everyones up pretty early today! does this mean you all want to go baby shopping with Momma and I?" Lena asked.
"Baby shopping?" Jesus asked.
"Yeah, we need a crib and some clothes and probably a swing and a bunch of stuff like that, we could use some man power" Lena said handing him a list.
"Oh my god clothes! I'm there, I call dressing the baby" Mariana cried.
"Where is momma is she working?" Brandon asked.
"No she went to bring some groceries to your grandpa I expect her home anytime" Lena said.
"This is a lot of stuff, where is this baby going to fit?" Jesus asked looking over the list Lena had made
"Well the crib will be in momma and I's room for a while, and she will need a swing, people swear by them for infants. Momma and I were talking about adding more space, we were thinking of taking it from your room" Lena said. Callie caught the twinkle in her eye. Before Jesus could argue back Lena's phone rang and she went into the nook reaching for it.
"Hey love you almost home?" Lena asked. Callie watched her listen to Stef on the there line, she glanced at the kids then went upstairs and Callie heard her door shut.
"Something happened" Mariana said worriedly.
"you worry to much" Jesus said.
"She went up and shut the door" Mariana shot him a look
"Where's Noah?" Callie asked looking around.
"He's outback with his GI joe's" Brandon said and Callie went to the door spotting her brother playing in the grass.
"Guys I have to go meet momma, just stay here ok." Lena said coming down
"what happened?" Mariana asked.
"Momma and I will be home soon to talk to you guys ok, it's ok" Lena said grabbing her bag and going out the door.
"Come on let's clean up breakfast" Jesus said starting to pick up the dishes.
An hour later Lena and Stef came home.
"Hey guys can we talk to you for a minute" Stef called gathering them all in the nook. Lena sat with them as Stef stood in front of them all.
"So guys I have some bad news. Unfortunately it looks like Grandpa had a heart attack, he died." Stef said. Mariana gave a little gasp. Jesus and Brandon were silent. Callie was surprised by how calm Stef was.
"When?" Jesus asked.
"They think sometime last night, I went to go being him some groceries this morning and he was gone"
"You found him?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah, I did" Stef nodded.
"What's going to happen now?" Mariana asked curling into Lena's side as tears pooled in her eyes. Noah picked up on her emotion as put his head on Callie's shoulder.
"So I have to set up the funeral, make a few phone calls, I think Tuesday, the sooner the better" Stef said.
"Can we do anything to help?" Jesus asked. Stef gave him a strong smile.
"i will let you know if something comes up, thank you love, does anyone have any questions or want to say anything?" Stef asked. The room was quiet except for Mariana's sniffles as Lena ran her fingers through her hair. Brandon looked down at his feet. Jesus's leg was bouncing up and down the way it always did when he was uncomfortable. Noah sat with his head on Callie's shoulder while Callie twirled her necklace around between her fingers.
"Ok babies, well if you feel you need to talk you know mom and I are here right?" They all nodded.
"Ok, dismissed" Stef said gently. They all got up and gave Stef a hug before going their separate ways around the house silently.
"Ok, well I have to call the funeral home, and go pick out a stone, oh and I should call his paster…" Stef said running through a list of things in her head going over to the kitchen table.
"What can I do?" Lena asked getting up and following her.
"Nothing love, thank you, I just need to do this" Stef said.
"Ok" Lena sighed knowing better then to argue with her. Stef sat down picking up her phone and the computer to look up numbers. Lena sat beside her quietly but hoping to offer some kind of support.
"What's a funeral like?" Mariana asked as the girls were sitting in their room. Callie thought for a minute then shrugged.
"It's ok, people tell you how sorry they are and you sit in the church for a while, they you go to someplace else and it's not supposed to be as sad, I don't remember much of my moms"
"I have never been to one"
"What was your grandpa like?" Callie asked sitting on her bed.
"He was nice, I know you probably don't think so, anytime he was here for more then 10 minutes he and momma would argue but he tried. Momma always tried to forgive him, she said it wasn't his fault it was how he was raised. He tried, he used to watch Brandon a lot when he was little before momma left Mike. A few times a year he could take the boys to a baseball game or something like that, he brought me a few times too. He was really into baseball like momma is. He used to come over for dinner sometimes but not much the past few years. He was a good guy, I just wish he would have accepted momma for loving mom" Mariana sighed. Callie nodded. There was a knock on the door and Jesus came in.
"Momma's back, mom says it's time to eat" He said. they got up following him downstairs. Noah was helping Lena set the table. He had been really attached to her since Stef had talked to them that morning. They sat in silence waiting for Stef to talk first.
"So everything is sorted out the funeral will on Tuesday. And after we will have a little gathering here" Stef said.
"When?"
"It's an all day thing, so I need you all to get the work you will miss on Monday" Stef said. Callie watched her closely, she could have been talking about the weather with the amount of emotion she put into the conversation. She was starting to understand why Lena and Stef were always saying Callie was so much like her.
"Is Grandma coming?" Brandon asked. Callie didn't hear much about Stef's mom in Florida. But she called once a week to talk to Stef for a while and seemed to be more approving of her marriage.
"Umm no" Stef shook her head.
"Why not?" Marian asked surprised.
"It's last minute, she has a lot going on, and they haven't been married for 20 years, I think it is just easier for everyone this way" Stef said. They all went quiet again pushing food around their plates. Lena looked up and down the table worriedly, She was mostly worried about Stef, Lena knew she could get closed of and reserved when something like this happened and she needed to get into her wife's feelings, but right now they had all the kids to focus on. She had made roasted chicken and salad but no one seemed to be touching it. Lena stood gathering all their plates putting them off to the side on the counter.
"What are you doing?" Jesus asked. Lena went into the fridge pulling out dough, sauce, cheese and any other toppings she could think if placing them on the table as everyone watched her surprised.
"Forget healthy eating, let's make pizza" Lena said as smiles spread across the faces around the table. Lena always insisted they eat healthy for her to be breaking her one rule was rare.
"Mariana, Noah roll our the dough please. Jesus preheat the oven, Callie and Brandon start cutting these up, anything we can think of on a pizza let's put it. We can make the most disgustingly good pizza tonight" Lena said as the kids jumped up.
"Like banana pizza!?" Noah cried.
"Sure let's try it! except instead of the red saucy let's use this" Lena said pulling out a can of whipped cream.
"Wow mom look at you" Mariana cried amazed Lena laughed. The kitchen came more alive as everyone started discussing what to put on the pizza and teasing each other again. Lena watched them walking over to Stef giving her a kiss.
"thank you" Stef whispered.
"Come on, let's make a banana pizza" Lena smiled.
Stef walked into her father's house holding Brandon on her hip.
"Hey dad" She called walking into the living room and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey darling, he asleep?" Frank asked gesturing to the toddler in her arms.
"Yeah fell asleep in the car, what me to put him on the bed?" Stef asked.
"Oh no i'll take him" Frank said as Stef passed Brandon to him.
"So how's Mike?"
"He's good" Stef sighed putting Brandon's bag of stuff on the floor.
"Did you let him move back in yet?"
"We're still trying to figure things out dad"
"Well alright, hey you have B's first day of school tomorrow right? At that Anchor Beach is it?"
"Yeah, he's really excited" Stef smiled at the change of topic.
"And work? How's the force since your old man retired?" Frank asked.
"It's not the same dad, but you deserve the rest. you should hear captain complain about the rookie that replaced you" Stef laughed.
"Yeah, at least she has you, alright well I'll see you when you get off, I thought I would take him to the park after his nap." Frank said.
"Thank you dad he would love that" Stef leaned up giving her father a kiss on the cheek before walking around him to give Brandon a kiss on his nose and brushing his hair from his eyes.
Stef jumped awake from her dream squinting in the light. It was early, the events of the last few days came back to her.
"Are you ok?" Lena asked putting her arm around her.
"Yeah, yeah I think i'm going to go get ready" Stef said sitting up pushing the blankets off her.
"It's early" Lena said sitting up rubbing her back, she was getting to the point where it was bothering her when she woke up.
"I know, but you know how crazy the showers get in the morning, go back to sleep love" Stef said giving her a kiss and walking out to the bathroom closing the door. Lena sighed.
Callie lay awake in her bed. She hadn't slept much, with everything going on in the house she kept thinking about when her mom had died. They were placed in a strange foster home and their moms friends and coworkers kept coming by to see the kids, Callie begged to go home with one of them but they never took the kids. The people stopping by and flowers arriving the past two days had been enough of a reminder, she was dreading sitting through the funeral today. She couldn't believe how well Stef was holding everything together.
"Are you awake?" Mariana asked from across the room.
"Yeah" Callie whispered.
"I would rather go to school" Mariana said. Callie got up crossing the room climbing into Mariana's bed next to her.
"momma doesn't seem sad" Callie said.
"Momma never shows when she is" Mariana said as there was a knock at the door and Lena popped her head in. She smiled at the girls curled up in bed together.
"Why don't you guys claim the first showers before the boys get up, I thought we could make momma a big breakfast today" Lena said.
"Ok" Callie and Mariana both agreed getting up.
"You girls know if you want to talk about anything momma and I are here right? It's a day to be sad but you don't have to be sad alone right" Lena said pulling Mariana close to her and running her hand over Callie's cheek.
"Yeah" Mariana nodded giving Lena a hug and grabbing her towel heading into the bathroom.
"You ok my love?"Lena asked. Callie nodded biting her lip looking up to meet Lena's eyes as she saw she was waiting for the rest of her answer.
"It's stupid, I did't even know him" Callie said
"Well, a lot of times when things like this happen we don't just feel sad about the person who dies. It makes us remember all the other people who died. I know something like this must be making you miss your mom" Lena said. Callie nodded and Lena pulled her in for a hug.
"I'm ok" Callie said holding tight to the back of Lena's shirt
"I know my love, but it's ok not to be" Lena whispered giving her a last hug before going into her bedroom where Stef was doing her make up in the bathroom.
"The girls are up" Lena said
"Oh good, they will take the longest to get ready anyway" Stef said.
"I know today is not going to be easy for you, so anything you want ok?" Lena said gently.
"I'm fine love" Stef said.
"I know, but I know your upset you didn't get to talk to him."
"Well that's life, no regrets right" Stef muttered. Lena just nodded
"I should go start getting the boys up"
"Hey, just…I know you want to be there for me and all the kids today and I love you for that but just please go easy, today is hard on everyone but your the only one due in 6 weeks. I don't want you taking everything on" Stef said.
"Stef i'm fine" Lena assured her.
"I know, I know you are, but I will be able to relax a little more today if I know your ok so please, for me, this is what I want" Stef said.
"Ok" Lena nodded and Stef leaned in giving her a kiss
"thank you my love"
They stood outside the church a few hours later, the last to go in. All the girls had on black dresses, and the boys were all in their suite. It was unusually cold for an April day and the wind was blowing hard as Callie tried to keep her hair tucked behind her ears.
"Ok guys so they are going to roll the casket down first and we are going to follow it and take a seat in the front ok" Stef said. Everyone just nodded. the music started and Stef lead them into the back of the church.
"Ok, let's get the over with" Stef said and Callie saw her take a deep breath and Lena reached out giving her hand a squeeze. Lena and Stef started walking down first holding hands. Brandon followed close behind. Jesus reached out taking his twin sisters hand giving her a strong smile before following behind Brandon. Callie put her arm around Noah's shoulders right behind them. As she walked behind her siblings past all the people she couldn't help but think about her mom's funeral her arm around her brother just like this as they made their way through the church.
"Ok guys, people are on their way over so let's be quick" Stef said leading the family back into the house. Callie felt like the morning had dragged on and the day should be over by now. But everyone was coming back to their house for food and talking.
"Ok Brandon, I need you on vegetables, Callie can you please put the rolls in the oven, Mariana and Jesus can you start setting up the table cloths and put the folding table in the living room. Noah can you please put a stack of paper places and napkins on each table" Lena said. Everyone nodded and Callie couldn't help but notice the tone her moms were using. Though both women rarely yelled, and never barked out orders, Callie was sure she had never heard Lena raise her voice and Stef only did when she was very very worried. They were both speaking very calm and gently today, Stef sounded tired and Lena looked drained, as if they were just trying to hold everything together until the day was over. But then again thats what they all seemed to be doing. Mariana had been crying or on the verge of tears since Saturday. Brandon was quiet and solum keeping to himself a lot more then usual. Callie kept trying to push memories of her mom dying into the back of her mind but they kept threatening to come back up. Jesus was a lot more helpful, his usual sarcasm and teasing had been replaced by keeping close to his sister and trying to help his moms out. Even Noah was picking up on everyone's vibe and Callie could see he was trying to follow all the rules and not bother anyone. Callie knew poor Lena was existed and physically uncomfortable and even stoic Stef seemed to be at the end of her rope. She wished they could just lock the door and have a quiet rest of the day.
"Don't forget your padres colors please" Stef said as they all climbed the stairs. Because her dad was such a big fan of the padres and baseball in general they had decided to wear that for after. The boys all had a jersey to wear and the girls had a t-shirt to pull on over their dress.
"What was it like, when your mom died?" Mariana asked as she and Callie were in the kitchen rolling up pigs in blankets.
"It was sad, and confusing. Noah screamed for like 2 days straight. We were in this emergency care foster home, they were actually really nice. People kept saying how our dad was alive but I didn't understand why we couldn't see him. I was so sure he was going to come at any minute to get us"
"Was it sad?"
"yeah, yeah I don't really like to think about it, it was probably the worst I have ever felt in my whole life" Callie nodded.
"I used to think that when my birth mom was gone for weeks at a time, I used to think she was dead. It's weird but it never really bothered me, I always felt that as long as Jesus was there it was ok" Mariana said. Callie closed her eyes as an image of her mother came into her face. Callie still remembered the night she died like it was yesterday.
"I'm umm I'm going to go get the door" Callie said as the doorbell rang and she jumped up rushing to open it.
"Hey" Mike said
"Hey, come on it" Callie stood back letting him enter the house.
"It's quiet" Mike looked around.
"Yeah your the first one here, I think everyone is setting up" Callie said.
"Ok, hey how's your momma?" Mike asked. Callie shrugged.
"Hard to say"
"Yeah, yeah that sounds about right, alright put me to work what needs to be done?" Mike asked.
"I think moms said something about filling the coolers with ice" Callie said
"Ok, I'm on it" Mike smiled to her heading into the garage. Callie sat down on the couch taking a deep breath as Brandon came down the stairs.
"Did I hear dad?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, he just went to get the coolers in the garage" Callie nodded.
"Oh, cool" Brandon sat down next to her.
"Hey listen, I'm sorry about your grandfather. I mean I know everyone is sad but you actually knew him the longest" Callie said.
"Yeah, yeah he was cool, he used to take care of me a lot when I was little actually, When mom and dad's work schedules over lapped. We had fun, he was heart broken the day he found out I couldn't throw a baseball" Brandon laughed a little.
"It must have been nice, having that time with him"
"It was, he was a good guy, but after my moms started dating he wasn't around much. I know he was good but…he just couldn't get past the face that momma was not happy with my dad, but she was with mom. I was to young to remember much, of when they started dating Grandpa used to say it wasn't fair that I never got a say I never got a say. Not that I would change anything, I love having two moms. And I know I'm better off and momma is better off, but momma and grandpa were so close, I think it really broke her heart that he didn't accept her."
"It's sad, Sometimes I think Noah and I are lucky, our parents didn't have a choice." Callie said.
"what do you mean?"
"like the twins, their mom left them for drugs. Our mom wouldn't leave us. If she had a choice she would still be here taking care of us. The fact that the choice wasn't her's to make…it almost makes it easier" Callie said. Brandon nodded not saying anything.
"Of course you wouldn't know what that's like Mr three parents" Callie smiled elbowing him.
"Hey, it's not my fault i'm so lovable, besides it's not all its cracked up to be. And you have Robert"
"Yeah but he's not a parent. He's like… That uncle that comes once a month and gives you everything you want for one night then goes home. I know he's trying, and what he does is fine I couldn't ask for anything more. But that's not a parent, and I'm ok with that. I mean I want to get to know my birth father but I'm not looking for an actual father" Callie said as the doorbell range again.
"Ok gang look alive all hands on deck" Stef said going to open the door clapping her hands.
Callie looked out the window at Noah climbing the big tree outside. The house was full of people talking and mingling. Many of the officers from Stef's station were here along with a bunch of Frank's friends as well as her mom's friends. There were a bunch of people playing poker at the table in the living room. Callie had to admit the house was a lot less sad then she thought it would be.
"Thank's for doing the dishes love" Lena said taking a plate from her to dry.
"No problem, it's quieter in here" Callie smiled.
"I know it can be a little over whelming" Lena nodded giving Callie a light kiss on the top of her head. Callie smiled her fingers when to her neck searching for her necklace out of habit. But they found nothing. Callie put her arms around her neck not feeling the chain. Her heart was racing as she looked at the floor around her.
"What's wrong?" Brandon asked watching her from where he was sitting at the table.
"My necklace, I can't find my necklace!" Callie cried looking into the sink and then all over the table. She suddenly felt like the walls were closing in around her.
"That gold coin, did you take it off?" Mariana asked. Stef walked in and now everyone in the family was watching her run around the room breathing hard.
"No! No! I never take it off" Callie cried running over to the trash can and looking in.
"Retrace your steps, where have you been since we got home?" Brandon asked.
"Everywhere, I have been everywhere!" Callie yelled tears springing into her eyes
"Callie it's ok, we can replace it" Lena told her gently.
"No! NO! It's not ok! You can't!" Callie yelled at her and ran into the backyard she started looking through the garden where she had been earlier to get some air.
"Callie? what's wrong?" Noah asked coming over
"My necklace, I can't find it" Callie said starting to dig through the dirt. She heard the back door close and footsteps on the deck.
"Bub can you give me a minute to talk to Callie?" Stef asked Noah.
"It was our mom's necklace" Noah whispered. Stef nodded beginning to understand as Noah turned to go inside. Callie stood up looking at Stef.
"Mom was only trying to help" Stef said gently.
"I know, I'm sorry" Callie said her mind still racing.
"Honey that necklace is not your mom. I know it's important to you" Stef said Callie's hands went to her neck again coming up empty.
"It's the only thing of her I have left" Callie said hearing the catch in her throat
"No it's not honey, you have her and all those memories and those are never going to get lost" Stef whispered. Callie knew if she opened her mouth she would start crying hard. She kept it clamped shut looking past Stef trying to breath normal.
"sit down, talk to me" Stef said pulling two chairs from the patio table across from each other, she sat in one and Callie felt herself sink into the other.
"You know you never said one word about your mom, tell me about this women who created this amazing girl sitting in front of me" Stef whispered. Callie was quiet for a minute
"I..I didn't kiss her goodbye" Callie gasped trying not to cry
"You what?" Stef asked
"i….The…" Callie stopped trying to catch her breath and Stef waited.
"The night she died I didn't…" Callie said. She felt the tears escaping down her cheeks and she took a shaky breath in.
"Aww Baby" Stef took Callie's hand in hers.
"I should have kissed her goodbye" Callie finally wailed and started to cry hard. she realized she couldn't remember the last time she had actually let herself really cry without trying to stop.
"Aww honey" Stef said pulling her in for a hug and Callie hid her face in her neck unable to stop. Stef let her stay there for a long time until she caught her breath. Callie took a deep breath taking in the comforting smell. Stef always smelled faintly of vanilla and just like Lena's coconut shampoo Callie always found comfort in it.
"You know that last thing I told my dad was to pretty much take the car and shove it" Stef said. Callie felt herself laugh for a minute. Stef pulled away kneeling in front of her.
"It's hard when you lost someone you love and you don't ever want to feel that pain again. The problem with that is to make sure that doesn't happen is you shut yourself off, but when you stop loving that's no way to live" Stef whispered and Callie felt herself starting to cry again.
"I know it's scary to open yourself back up again, I'm scared, I regret a lot with my dad." Stef said.
"but you think they know, that we regret it?" Callie asked.
"Yeah, yeah baby they know, your mom is an angel to you, you will always have her inside you no matter what" Stef said running her fingers through Callie's hair she gave her a wink. Callie leaned forward wrapping her arms around Stef's neck.
"I love you momma" She whispered.
"Oh my love, you have no idea" Stef said
Stef sat outside in the driveway alone in the car from her dad. It was dark now, the house was quiet. Everyone had just left she could see through the living room window Brandon sitting at the piano. Mike sat around the coffee table with Jesus and Noah playing cards. Callie was sitting on the couch with Mariana and Stef was glad to see her smiling again. Lena had her feet up and her eyes closed as she ran her fingers through Mariana's long hair. Stef was sure Lena took just as much comfort in the action as she was trying to give Mariana.
"Thank you for the car dad, it's going to be a life saver, I won't have to get a mini van" Stef muttered running her hands over the steering wheel. suddenly something caught her eye she looked up to see snow falling from the sky dropping onto the windshield.
"I love you daddy" Stef whispered.
"Callie girl, look what I found in the cushions of the nook" Lena said coming into the girls bedroom later that night.
"My necklace!" Callie cried seeing it dangle between Lena's fingers she jumped off her bed running over to her.
"The clasp looks like it broke and it much have slid off your neck, we can get it replaced tomorrow but I thought you would want this for safe keeping" Lena said.
"Thank you, I'm sorry I yelled at you" Callie said giving Lena a hug.
"It's ok sweetie" Lena said
"Hey loves" Stef said knocking on the doorway.
"Momma look" Callie cried holding up her necklace. Lena didn't miss that Callie had called Stef momma. Though she knew it was coming it still made her smile.
"Oh look at that, you must have had an angel looking out for you" Stef winked at her smiling over her head at Lena.
"I'm so tired" Mariana sighed coming in to sit on her bed.
"Yeah it was a draining day" Stef agreed sitting down next to her.
"You found mom's necklace" Noah cried walking by and seeing it in Callie's hands.
"Can I hold it?" He asked Callie nodded gently placing it in his hands. She sat down her her bed and Lena sat next to her.
"Hey momma we cleaned up everything downstairs" Brandon said following him in and leaning against the doorway.
"Thank you love" Stef smiled.
"Hey what's everyone doing in here?" Jesus asked walking by the doorway
"Oh we're just hanging out" Lena smiled as Jesus came in sitting in Callie's desk chair.
"Is your dad in heaven?" Noah asked Stef. Callie saw Steph think for a minute.
"Yeah, yeah I think he is" Stef nodded.
"Heaven is nice, that's where our mom is, maybe they know each other" Noah said.
"You know I bet they do" Lena nodded.
"I remember one time grandpa took me to a padres game, he said when he died he was going to come back and haunt the field" Jesus said making them all laugh.
"You know they first away game my dad took me to was in Chicago, That was the first time I ever saw snow, I was so confused. I didn't know what was happening. He loved to tell that story" Stef said with a little laugh.
"He was a good guy" Mariana nodded
"He was, he wasn't perfect, no one is, and I wish he could have gotten to know each of you better and spent more time here. But he knew what he believed in so fiercely and despite mom and I being against everything he believed in, he tried hard to understand it and he loved all of us no matter what" Stef said.
"Yeah, I'm going to miss him" Brandon nodded.
"Me too bud" Steph said putting her arm around him.
Callie lay in her bed her necklace squeezed in her hand. The house had been quiet, to quiet for Callie. Mariana had been right today was draining, all day Callie had been having flashbacks to the night her mom died and she felt to jumpy to fall asleep. Everytime she closed her eyes saw saw the figure of her mom standing in her doorway the same as she had the night she had died saying goodbye to her. Callie got up putting her necklace on her nightstand going into the hallway. Noah was asleep in his bed and she stood watching him for a minute. She was glad he was to young to remember that night. She did, their babysitter, a girl down the street had been staying, Callie remember it getting later and later until there was a knock on the door. A women was there she introduced herself to Callie as a women from social services. She told her her mother had died and her father was going to jail. Callie remembered not fully understanding any of it as she showed the women were there stuff was and helped her pack their bags. She remembered she had carried Noah out to the car, She had asked the lady about the rest of their stuff. The women had said they would go back for it, but they never did. That was the last time Callie saw her house, she had no pictures, no favorite toys, nothing. She remembered Noah crying for days and Callie couldn't do anything to calm him. As they got older she always felt like she had failed her mother because she couldn't protect her brother. She went down the hall standing in Stef and Lena's doorway. In the dark she saw Lena's eyes open and silently call her over lifting the blanket. Callie crawled underneath going between the two women.
"You ok Callie girl?" Stef whispered.
"Yeah" Callie said. She curled into Lena's side and Stef put her arm around her and Callie suddenly felt herself falling asleep.
"How was that party at Kelly's Saturday?" Callie asked Mariana as they were getting ready for school Monday morning.
"Ugh horrible" Mariana sighed.
"Why?" Callie laughed.
"You know that kid Chase I have had a crush on?"
"Yeah?"
"Well I was talking to Sarah, you know Jesus's old girlfriend and she said that guys love it when you are flirty, and that her move is to take off her underwear and put it in the guys pocket"
"Oh my god Mariana you didn't!" Callie cried.
"I did, I put it in his pocket and when upstairs and he came up to find me" Mariana said.
"Wait, did you sleep with him!" Callie yelled to loudly.
"SSHHH!, No I didn't. But he got wicked pissed, Something about leading him on" Mariana sighed.
"Well yeah, you kind of did" Callie said.
"Well I didn't mean to, It was just supposed to be a make out kind of thing" Mariana said.
"Well, last I checked, you don't have to take off your underwear to make out" Callie said pulling her shirt over her head.
"Ugh can we just never talk about this again, please. I'm just going to avoid Chase all day" Mariana shook her head picking up her bag.
"Well I for one think it's funny" Callie said following her downstairs.
"Morning ladies" Stef greeted them.
"Mariana, how was your weekend? I feel like we haven't seen you since you left to sleep over Lexie's friday night" Lena said as Mariana picked up a waffle.
"Oh you know, they had a big dinner and stuff, Enchiladas" Mariana shrugged.
"Ok, thank's for the detail" Stef chuckled.
"This place is so High School" Callie sighed walking with Mariana to their lockers after lunch.
"They are totally talking about me, I bet Chase told everyone" Mariana sighed as they walked by all the clicks of girls
"Who cares, everyone still talks about me as the poor foster kid" Callie shrugged
"Well, you kind of were"
"Right, and you kind of did put your underwear in Chase's pocket" Callie teased back. Mariana sighed crossing her arms.
"Sorry, I know it's annoying but of all the things to worry about, what these people think is nothing" Callie said.
"Your right" Mariana nodded turning to open her locker. As she did a dozen pairs or guys underwear fell onto the floor. Down the hall Chase and his friends started pointing and laughing. Mariana quickly scooped what she could off the floor as Callie grabbed some both girls ran over to the trashcan and started stuffing them in as fast as they could. As they did Lena came around the corner. She looked at all the boxers in the girls hands and raised an eyebrow.
"What's going on here?" She asked Callie bit her lip
"busted" Mariana whispered
"Mariana, please open your eyes" Lena said that afternoon as she and Stef were seated at the kitchen table with Mariana across from them.
"No, because If i do I have to actually acknowledge this is actually happening" Mariana said her eyes squeezed shut.
"Look honey we just want to talk to you about..The right ways to let a boy know you like him" Lena said.
"Oh my god. Please don't do this!" Mariana begged opening her eyes.
"Sorry! But this is important Mariana you don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. That's what it was yes? The wrong impression?" Stef asked.
"Yes! nothing happened"
"Ok good" Stef nodded.
"Mariana where did you even get such a crazy idea?" Lena asked.
"Sarah, she used on Je….Never mind" Mariana caught herself glancing up at her moms.
"Yes, please stop there" Stef nodded.
"Look I just…No one would believe that a boy like Chase would like me, I just wanted to prove them wrong" Mariana said
"Mariana" Stef sighed shaking her head
"Honey, trust me. Someday soon, much to soon for us, the right boy is going to want to be with you" Lena said standing up and giving her a hug.
"Yeah that's what everybody old says" Mariana sighed.
"Yes, and you should listen to them because they are wise and all knowing" Stef said making a face so Mariana would laugh.
"Ok beat it" Stef said as Mariana jumped down from her chair going up the stairs.
"Oh my god, why couldn't you be a boy" Stef sighed talking to Lena's stomach
"At least if she pulls stuff like this we can send her to her sisters to set her straight" Lena laughed
"Hello" Callie called coming in the front door.
"Hey sweetie how was horse back riding with Sophia?" Stef asked.
"Um really painful actually" Callie said making Lena laugh.
"Dinner is almost ready if you didn't eat at Roberts"
"No I didn't I said I wanted to eat here" Callie said.
"Go grab the rest of the kids?" Lena asked as Callie headed up the stairs.
"Hey, dinner" Callie said knocking on everyones door. They thundered down the stairs gathering around the table.
"Remind me to have the beam under the stairs checked" Stef muttered to Lena making her laugh.
"Ok babies, how was everyones day?" Stef asked as they started passing plated around.
"Noah don't you have something to tell momma?" Lena asked.
"Yeah, I got star of the day at school today" Noah said.
"Oh thats wonderful bub!" Stef smiled.
"that's good dude" Brandon agreed.
"I think I might start an astronomy club" Callie said.
"Oh really?" Stef asked
"Yeah, I mean you just need ten kids to join and a administrator to sign off and anyone can start a club, I have ten kids so…?" Callie asked turning to Lena who smiled
"I will sign off tomorrow just give me the list of kids" She nodded.
"I would join, that sounds cool" Brandon said.
"You should bring your telescope in and look at the stars at night" Mariana suggested
"Yeah, I bet we could record it and hook it up to a computer" Brandon agreed
"Oh yeah we could learn about that in science class, That would be much better then atoms and stuff" Jesus nodded. Suddenly Lena's fork fell to her hand and she rubbed her belly.
"Love?" Stef asked as all eyes fell on her.
"Sorry, the baby just started going crazy, she heard you all talking" Lena smiled.
"She moves when we talk?" Mariana asked.
"Oh yeah, she loves you all already, she gets so excited when she hears any of you" Lena said.
"Except for the momma, I'm the one who puts her to sleep" Stef said.
"Can I feel?" Mariana asked.
"Of course, come here," Lena said Mariana pushed back her chair going to stand near Lena. Callie followed her.
"Right here, there's a foot" Lena placed both their hands on her belly.
"Ok say something" She said.
"umm hi baby" Mariana said Callie waited, nothing.
"Talk a little more" Lena said.
"hi baby. It's Callie, the boys are looking at us like we are total weirdos so please move a little so we can sit back down" Callie said. Suddenly there was a bump under her hand.
"Wow" Callie said pulling her hand away surprised Mariana had tears in her eyes. Lena laughed.
"I told you, she loves her big brothers and sisters" she said.
"That has got to be the weirdest thing in the world" Callie said as she and Mariana sat back down.
"You boys want to feel?" Lena asked.
"I'm good" Jesus shook his head.
"Yeah..I'll like it more when it comes out" Brandon agreed making Stef roll her eyes.
"Ok let me feel again" Mariana said jumping up.
"Hey momma?" Noah asked walking into the bedroom.
"Yeah bub" Stef asked unlocking the safe and pulling out her gun getting ready for work Saturday morning. She put the bullets in and made sure the safety was on before putting it in her belt.
"That's your gun?" Noah asked not taking his eyes off of it.
"Yeah" Stef nodded.
"did you ever shoot anyone?"
"No, I'm lucky that I haver had to use it on anyone" Stef said Noah still wasn't taking his eyes off of it.
"what's going on bub?" Stef asked
"I…I always thought it was kind of fake"
"It's not, I need it to protect myself and other people sometimes" Stef said.
"Is your job dangerous?"
"It can be sometimes, but I am trained to keep myself safe, and you know I'm with Mike we make sure to keep each other safe" Stef said.
"Do you want to see my gun?" Stef asked. She had been through the same thing with Brandon and Jesus when they were younger.
"No" Noah said shaking his head.
"ok, well you know if you have any questions you can ask, but you don't need to worry" Stef told him.
"ok' Noah nodded.
"Ok love, go on downstairs" Stef said. He nodded leaving the room.
"Hey love" Stef said answering her phone as lunchtime as was customary for Lena to call.
"I think something is wrong" Lena said. Stef could hear the tension in her voice.
"What is it?"
"She has barley moved all day, She used to go crazy but she has hardly moved since I woke up" Lena said. Stef could hear she was on the verge of tears.
"Well sweetheart she may be sleeping, she's growing a lot…" Stef tried to think of something to calm Lena down.
"It's not right, she is never this still what if something is wrong?" Lena said.
"Ok, I'll call and make an appointment with your doctor, I'm sure everything is fine love but we'll go check ok" Stef said.
"Ok"
"ok take a deep breath it's going to be fine, I love you" Stef said.
"I love you too" Lena whispered hanging up. Stef made an appointment with her doctor for that afternoon and put her phone down on her desk laying her head in her shaky hands.
"Hey, everything ok?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, yeah Lena is just freaking out about the baby, I guess I kind of am too, she says she hasn't felt her move in a while" Stef said.
"Oh man, are you guys going in?"
"Yeah we have an appointment at 3"
"Alright, well let me know if you need me to stay with the kids"
"I will, thanks Mike" Stef nodded trying to get some more work done.
Lena tried to take a deep breath as she met the kids by the car when school was out.
"What's wrong mom?" Mariana asked as they pilled into the back of the car. Jesus sliding into the passenger seat.
"Nothing sweetie, when we get home momma and I have a doctors appointment so I need you guys to just start your homework ok, we will be hime for dinner" Lena said.
"Didn't you just have one like 2 days ago?" Jesus asked.
"Yeah we just have to check up on the baby" Lena nodded
"Is she ok?" Mariana asked.
"She's fine baby, come on guys how was everyones day?" Lena asked trying to keep everything normal as the kids chatted about their day. She was relieved to see Stef's car in the driveway when she pulled up.
"Hi babies" Stef called from the kitchen as they all piled into the house greeting her.
"hi love, we should go" Stef said giving Lena a kiss.
"Ok guys homework! we will be back soon" Lena called following Stef back out the front door.
"Doing ok my love?" Stef asked when they were on the porch.
"No" Lena said suddenly and burst into tears.
"It's ok, come here she's going to be just fine" Stef said pulling Lena into a hug rubbing her back letting her cry on her shoulder for a few minutes before Lena was able to calm herself down.
"It's going to be ok, let's go see our girl" Stef said running her hand over Lena's now very large belly.
"Ok" Lena nodded taking a deep breath. Stef held her hand as they drove to the doctors and they were taken right in.
"So what seems to be happening?" The doctor asked as Lena sat on the table and Stef stood behind her rubbing her shoulders.
"She was so active and it seems like today she suddenly stopped, there's very little movement and kicking" Lena said.
"Ok, why don't you lay back and we can take a look" Stef helped Lena lay back holding her hand tightly. The doctor put the wand over her stomach and Stef felt herself holding her breath for a minute until the familiar whooshing should filled the room.
"Her heart beat is perfect" The doctor assured them. Stef filled her lungs with air again wiping tears from Lena's cheeks giving her a kiss.
"the lack of movement maybe because she was resting, these last few weeks are major in development and she may just have needed to sleep all day, She could also be feeling kind of cramped, Lena you have a pretty small frame so she may just be a little squished" The doctor said and Stef felt both herself and Lena relax.
"See there she is, looks like she's sucking her little thumb" The picture of the babies' face appeared on the screen and Lena burst into a fresh batch or tears.
"Hi little one" Stef whispered.
"Yeah she's just getting a little squished, you only have about 4 weeks left, but I would make sure to have your hospital bag packed and everything you need. I would say. one or two weeks from now you could go anytime and have a perfectly healthy baby girl"
"Thank you" Lena said as Stef helped her to sit up. The doctor nodded leaving the room.
"Ok but don't come out yet we're not ready" Stef whispered to Lena's belly.
"I''m sorry I freaked out and freaked you out" Lena said.
"Oh of course not it's always better to be safe then sorry, besides we got to see her again" Stef said leaning to give Lena another kiss this one lasting longer then before
"Ok, we have 5 hungry children at home we need to feed" Lena said as Stef helped her down from the table.
"Let's order some pizza and call it a night, you can have a rest and take a nice bath, calm down a little after today" Stef said taking her hand and leading her to the car.
"Oh Stephanie I love you" Lena smiled earning herself another kiss.