Momma! where's my ipod?" Mariana called down the stairs.
"Love I have not touched it, it's wherever you left it" Stef called back Callie could hear that Stef was trying not to sound as annoyed as she really was.
"I found it, Why is mom always moving our stuff" Mariana said coming down the stairs joining Callie and the boys by the table.
"Yeah she rearranged all my draws yesterday" Brandon nodded.
"And she made us move the couch three times because she didn't like where it was" Jesus added.
"You guys give Mom a break ok, we all need to just take it easy on mommy until the baby comes; and after that too" Stef said.
"She color coded all my legos" Noah added and Stef burst out laughing.
"It's called nesting guys, It's what all mom's do before the baby is born. It's a need to get everything ready. Which reminds my little dude we are going to have to find a place for your legos up in your room. We can't have those downstairs anymore the baby could choke on one" Stef said.
"So we just have to go with it?" Mariana asked.
"Yes, Miss Thing yes you do we give Mom everything she wants from now until after the baby is born because let me tell you it is hard work growing a person. That includes a quiet house when Mommy is resting" Stef said.
"Ugh it's going to be a long month" Jesus sighed.
"And on the subject of letting mom rest you guys I think she would really appreciate a little help around here. You know she won't be able to do much for a few weeks after the baby is born. She does a lot around here but I think if we can divide everything up it won't be to much work. So Mariana and Callie you guys are in change of laundry. B maybe you could start doing the grocery shopping and taxing your brothers and sisters a little more? It's uncomfortable for Mom to drive now. Jesus and Noah, you two are in charge of cleaning, just pick stuff up so Mom doesn't have to, and maybe dust every few days. And I am going to start cooking" Stef said.
"Oh man" Jesus muttered.
"I'm going on a hunger strike until Mom is back" Mariana added.
"Hey now! I am not that bad!….Well we can survive on take out and grilled cheese for a few weeks" Stef sighed.
"Come on guys we just need to pull together for mom ok. She's in the home stretch but she's staring to get really uncomfortable so let's just try to keep her happy ok you know Mom does a lot around here so she deserves a little break" Stef said.
Stef woke up as Lena rolled over suddenly letting out a groan. Stef closed her yes trying to go back to sleep when Lena flipped over again with an annoyed sigh.
"What's wrong love?" Stef asked.
"She won't stop kicking me!" Lena said. Stef gave her a little smile.
"Your going to miss that in a few weeks"
"No no I am not I will be so glad to sleep without my insides being squeeze toys" Lena said rolling onto her back her belly so large under the blankets.
"Will you talk to her, please" Lena asked. Stef nodded sitting up a little she leaned over so her head was near Lena's belly resting her hand on the baby.
"Hey little girl, hello, we can't wait to meet you. I know you don't know it but its actually the middle of the night out hear and if you don't give your mommy a break…well I think she might not like you so much anymore. so you settle down in there and go to sleep. your big appearance is coming up and we can't wait to meet you" Stef whispered. They are both silent for a minute then Stef lay back down next to Lena.
"See she listened to me" Stef said as Lena lay her head on her shoulder.
"She's such a momma's girl" Lena laughed a little shaking her head.
"hell yeah she is!" Stef smiled.
"Callie, I saw Bill today he dropped off this for you" Lena said handing Callie a big envelop as she and Mariana came into the house.
"Why did you see Bill?" Callie asked nervous.
"I just talked about closing our foster license, I think 6 kids is all we can handle for now" Lena said and Callie relaxed.
"What is it?" Callie looked at the envelope, it was plain with just her name on it.
"i did not ask, he just said it was for you" Lena said. Callie opened it up pulling out a folded piece of paper.
Callie - I am sorry it took so long to track this down. Over the years it got lost between files and was just found this week. It appears after your mother died one of her friends went through the house and gathered some things for you and your brother and gave them to us for safe keeping. You were supposed to get them years ago but you were never in a home long enough to get them. Congratulations on your adoption! Bill.
Callie reached in pulling out a small stack of pictures putting them on the table. The first one made her gasp. There was her mother, exactly as Callie remembered her about a month before the accident smiling at their old kitchen table, there was another with her mother holding her as a baby, one with Callie about 6 holding Noah in her lap as a newborn. One of Callie as a toddler running through wild flowers with a pink sundress on and the last one was of Noah as a baby laying on the bed and Callie and her mom in the same position kneeling by the bed their head on their hands looking at Noah. Tears sprung into Callie's eyes and she heard Lena cross the room instantly beside her pulling her into a hug. Lena did't say anything and Callie knew there was nothing to say. After a few minutes she heard Stef come home and found them the same way in the kitchen.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours Callie girl?" Stef whispered pulling up a chair next to Callie. Lena handed Stef the pictures.
"Is this your mom?" Stef asked. Callie nodded.
"Wow, you look just like her" Stef breathed looking through them.
"Oh my goodness look at you" Stef smiled seeing the ones of little Callie.
"I think some of these need to be put up around the house, we need baby pictures of you and your brother" Lena said making Callie smile.
"Tell me about this women Callie" Stef said holding up the picture of just Callie's mom.
"She used to sing, all the time, especially when she was cooking. My dad wasn't around much so she did a lot on her own sometimes she got frustrated and would yell but I know she was probably just so tired. Noah used to cry all the time and she would dance around the living room with him like slow dancing and it always made him stop, and she hated peas with a passion" Callie said making Stef laugh.
"You must be happy to have these" Lena said.
"I am" Callie nodded as Noah came into the kitchen.
"What happened?" He asked seeing the tears in Callie's eyes.
"Come here, I want to show you something" Callie said as Noah walked over to her side.
"See this, this is our birth mom, that's me and you" Callie said showing him the pictures.
"Wow, she looks like us" Noah said surprised.
"Well yeah, we have her DNA" Callie said.
"We don't have your DNA?" Noah asked turning to Lena not really sure what DNA really was.
"No my sweet boy you don't" Stef said.
"But you know what? DNA doesn't make a family, love does" Callie said looking at Lena using the line she always told the kids. Lena smiled at her gently kissing her forehead.
"Ok just lean back on me" Stef said pulling Lena's shoulders back a little bit.
"I'm going to squish you" Lena said.
"You are not love come on, it's supposed to be relaxing" Stef said as Lena lay back into her resting her head on Stef's shoulder letting out a sigh as Stef rubbed her back. They were in their birthing class with 10 other couples.
"and your sure you want to do this natural?" Stef asked.
"Yes, I want to really experience it, I can do it" Lena said.
"I know baby, I know you can I just want to make sure you know there is no shame in needing relief" Stef said her hand traveling further down Lena's back to where she always had a lot of tightness lately.
"how's that?"
"Mmm perfect" Lena hummed and Stef felt her relax into her more.
"Ok look at this, does everyone see what Stephanie is doing here, this is exactly what you should be doing!" The teacher said directing everyones attention to Stef and Lena. Lena sat up a little bit and Stef felt herself turn a little red.
"Lena is relaxed, Stef is reliving the pressure on her back she is being supportive of the mother's choice…perfect" The teacher said.
"Oh well it's probably a little bit easier when you were the person in that position before" Stef shrugged as Lena leaned into her again.
"Hey what's that thing with your hands?" The man next to her asked leaning over.
"Oh I just make a fist and use my knuckles right here near her spine, there's a lot of pressure there from being on her feet" Stef said demonstrating as two other guys looked on.
"What about the breathing?"
"Well I do the breathing with her, personally I think it feels kind of stupid so if you do all of it with them it makes it not feel as bad, and it is really calming for both" Stef said.
"Oh man did you see me I rocked that birthing class." Stef said on the way home.
"You are so competitive" Lena chuckled a little
"Love everyone was asking me questions, even the teacher was impressed, oh yeah i'm going to rule that delivery room" Stef winked at her making Lena laugh again.
"Do you think I shouldn't do natural?" Lena asked after a minute.
"I think if you want to you should, I just want you to know that there is no shame in trying to find some comfort or relive. It's a marathon love not a sprint. Whatever you want to do I support you" Stef said.
"You didn't do natural, and you have a higher pain tolerance, if you couldn't I probably wont be able to" Lena said.
"No I didn't but I was alone in there, I refused to let them call my mom and Mike was out of town and couldn't get back in time. I was 20 years old, scared and alone and it hurt and I was so tired. But you have done so much research, you know what to expect, I will not leave your side and I think if you want to you should, I know you are looking for the experience, but you will get it no matter what. At the end of that day, or god forbid days, we will have our baby and that is all that will matter" Stef said. Lena reached across taking her hand and Stef brought it up kissing her knuckles.
"Alright everyone listen up" Stef called at breakfast the Thursday morning. The room grew silent.
"Alright, So mom and I are taking a little baby moon vacation this weekend"
"Whats a babymoon?" Noah asked.
"It's when mom and I go away for our last weekend of peace before the baby comes" Stef said.
"where are you going?" Mariana asked.
"Not far, just a little inn about an hour away, that way if your sister decided to come we don't have to worry" Lena said.
"Who's staying with us?" Brandon asked.
"Well, we put a lot of thought into it and we decided your dad was going to stay, However you guys know he works a lot of weekend hours so that means Saturday evening into Sunday morning when we come home, you guys will be alone so we are going to ask you guys to step up, ok just order some pizza have a calm night in no fighting. Callie and Brandon you guys are in charge." Lena said. Callie tried to avoid the eye contact Mariana was trying to give her, she knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Can you guys do that, give mom a little rest weekend before things get crazy with the baby?" Stef asked.
"Oh yeah" Jesus said
"Of course, you guys deserve this" Brandon said.
"Thank you guys, ok go get ready for school" Lena said.
"Will you be here when we come home?" Noah asked.
"We will make sure to wait for you before we leave" Stef assured him
"Ok so if we don't have a party we would be like the worst teenagers in the world" Mariana said as soon as they were out of the car and Lena was far enough away.
"Mariana moms would kill us" Callie said.
"But…my dad would let us have a friend over, so if we each have a friend.." Brandon started
"That's right that's already 8 people, and we mine as well round it off to ten" Jesus nodded
"Brandon your moms left us in charge" Callie cried.
"Yeah and we're not doing anything we wouldn't do if they were not home right, I mean it's saturday night what's the harm in a few people" Jesus said.
"Ok, yeah but if we get caught it's not my idea" Callie agreed.
"Yes!" Mariana cried.
"Ok call us if you guys have any problems, Mike you too" Lena said as everyone stood in the entryway.
"We'll be fine" Mike said as Stef came down the stairs with a suitcase.
"Go to bed on time ok. 8:30 for Noah and 10:30 for everyone else you all have school tomorrow" Lena said.
"We know mom" Brandon said.
"And not to much junk food, I know you guys are getting pizza for dinner tomorrow so have some veggies tonight" Lena said.
"Mommy we will be fine! Enjoy your trip, relax we will call you if anything happens" Mariana said.
"This is the number to the hotel, but of course call our cell's first, the first aid kit is in the bathroom and remember you can't run the washing machine and and dish washer at the same time" Stef said.
"We know momma" Callie laughed.
"Ok, come here bubba, listen to Mike ok, Callie and B are in charge after he leaves all of you, be good" Steph said going around giving each kid a hug and kiss as Lena did the same.
"It will all be fine I have everything under control!" Mike assured them.
"Ok, we love you" Stef called.
"Have a good weekend" Jesus called after them as they left the house getting into the car.
"wow I thought they would never leave, ok so dinner, I know Lena usually makes you guys something healthy right?" Mike asked.
"She made pasta already, we just have to heat it up, and theres salad and fruit" Callie said.
"Alright pre made that's perfect, ok let's go heat that up and eat" Mike said.
"Nooo!" Noah yelled running through the house at 9:00"
"Whats going on?" Mariana asked opening the door to the girls bedroom.
"Umm apparently I'm not reading right" Mike sighed.
"I'll do it, Noah, where are you?" Callie asked looking around the upstairs.
"He ran in here" Brandon called from his bedroom. Callie went in to find Noah laying under the bed.
"Your to big for this Noah, what's the problem?" Callie asked as Brandon pulled him out.
"Mike doesn't read it like mom! I want mom!" Noah yelled.
"Ok, how about I read it tonight, ok" Callie offered. Noah nodded as she lead him back to his room. reading to him from the last chapter Lena had left off at. 15 minutes later he was asleep, Callie found Mike standing in the hallway already looking tired.
"And your moms want another baby!" He cried.
"Well for starters there's two of them, and Noah doesn't usually do that to mom" Callie laughed. Mike followed her back to her room standing awkwardly in the girls bedroom door.
"Ok, so are you two all set, do you need anything?" Mike asked.
"We're good" Mariana sad.
"Ok, go to bed soon ok, I'll be downstairs on the couch if you need me" Mike said.
"Ok" Callie nodded.
"Ok, well good night" Mike said closing their door going to say good night to Brandon and Jesus. Mariana giggled when he was gone.
"He doesn't do girls well huh?" Callie asked.
"He tries, but he works with guys, he lived alone, Brandon is a boy…" Mariana said.
"He looks so tired and moms only left like 5 hours ago"
"Good think he only has to make it through tomorrow, he would never last the weekend" Mariana said making Callie laugh.
Friday morning Callie came downstairs to the usual craziness.
"Ok guys, eggs, eat up" Mike said spooning some eggs onto Noah's plate.
"Oh i don't eat eggs anymore" Mariana said coming to the table. Callie saw Jesus roll his eyes at just one of Mariana's latest new things she would be over in a week. Lena was usually really good about being on top of it.
"Why not?" Mike asked.
"Chickens are treated really bad, like awful, like 1,000 charmed into a shoe box or something" Mariana said.
"Well i'm pretty sure these are cage free" Mike said going to check the box.
"Yes more for me" Jesus cried grabbing the pan and scraping it all onto his plate.
"Can I have cereal?" Noah asked.
"Yeah sure, here" Mike grabbed the box as Callie picked up some bowls passing one to him and one to Mariana.
"B, you should eat something" Mike said grabbing the lunch meat from the fridge.
"Oh dad no ham" Brandon said reaching for the last of the eggs.
"Why not?" Mike asked.
"I mean it's fine for me but Mariana won't eat it because of the pigs and Noah doesn't like it" Brandon said. Mike sighed.
"Jesus, Callie you like ham?" Mike asked. Callie nodded
"Just no mustard" she said
"Ham's good, But i'm going to need two sandwiched otherwise i'm starving to death" Jesus said.
"Um ok then I can make what turkey for you two?" Mike asked Noah. Noah nodded but Mariana shook her head.
"The birds?" Mike asked. Mariana nodded.
"Ok, umm how about peanut butter? anybody abusing the peanuts?" Mike asked.
"I mean it's kind of fattening" Mariana said. Callie kicked her under the table.
"But that's cool" Mariana said.
"Ok good!" Mike said reaching into the pantry
"Wait when does school start?" He asked looking up at the clock
"Umm 7:55" Callie said looking at the clock seeing it was already 7:35
"What! aren't you guys supposed to walk, Brandon help me with this" Mike said tossing him sandwiches and brown bags as he threw them together.
"ok good" Mike said throwing a slice of ham between bread and throwing it in a bag. Callie couldn't help but wrinkle her nose, it was a far cry from Lena's gourmet sandwiches she packed them everyday with the dressing, and everything else added in.
"Wait you can take Lena's car. B you drive them and then you can drive yourself to school, ok everyone fan out find the keys" Mike yelled still throwing sandwiches into the bags.
"Got them" Jesus said reaching for the bowl on the counter where they kept them.
"good! Ok we're got ok two ham for you, ham no mustard for you, turkey for you, and slightly fattening but still ok peanut butter for you" Mike called handing out the brown bags.
"Ok backpacks everyone, ok go! you can't be late your moms are going to kill me" Mike called as the kids filed out of the kitchen. They hopped into the car Brandon turned the key a few times and nothing happened.
"We're screwed" Mariana said.
"Ok come on" Brandon said leading the way back into the house Mike was slumped in a chair at the table admits the mess that was breakfast.
"Mom's car won't start" Brandon said.
"Oh ok everyone in my car, let's go" Mike cried jumping up.
"We don't all fit" Mariana said.
"We'll make it work come on" Mike said.
"This is ridiculous how do your mom's do this?" Mike asked pulling the car out of the driveway with the four younger kids crammed in the back seat.
That afternoon Callie heard a bunch of girls talking in the hallway.
"hey change of plans party at Mariana's" one of them said.
"Wait what's happening?" Callie asked.
"Yeah you didn't tell us you were having a party" Amanda said.
"It's supposed to be like this tiny..small..Where did you hear we were having a party?" Callie asked.
"Mariana, and Brandon" The girls said. Callie turned down the hallway catching Mariana.
"How many people are you inviting?" Callie asked her.
"What" it was Brandon's idea" Mariana said as he walked by
"I'm just having a few people ever to jam with and some to listen" Brandon said.
"You guys heard moms we're not supposed to have any people over" Callie said.
"Hey all I did was invite the dance girls" Mariana shook her head.
"Who ware inviting people who are probably inviting people" Callie said.
"Well that's not my fault" Mariana smiled
"You have to cancel it" Callie said.
"Umm last I checked I don't take orders from you" Brandon said.
"Well our mom's left me in charge" Callie said.
"No they left us both in charge" Brandon said.
"Exactly, which is why we should both…." Callie started.
"You know it's our baby moon two guys, there's going to be a baby, which means this is the last time our moms are ever going to go away again for at least 5 or 6 years. And there is going to be a screaming crying stinky baby in the house from now until the time we like move out. which means that this is our only chance to have a party a big party. And it's not like we are one kid, we are 4 teenagers alone in a house, that's like basically moms permission to have a party." Mariana said. Brandon nodded
"We're having a bigger party!" Jesus cried walking up.
"No! Where did you come from?" Callie asked him.
"I saw the family pow wow in the hall" Jesus shrugged.
"Come on you guys, do you really want to get into more trouble?" Callie asked.
"We only get into trouble if we get caught" Jesus said.
"and we won't" Brandon said putting his arm around him.
"Fine, but moms said no one comes inside the house, so no one will come into the house" Callie said.
"Ok party in the back yard" Brandon cried high fiveing the twins.
"Yes momma we're fine, dad just left a little while ago and we actually just ordered some pizza for dinner" Brandon said we Jesus walked by him with 15 pizzas in his arm.
"And how's Callie?" Stef asked.
"Oh she's…you know holding down the fort" Brandon said as Callie tapped a no entry line across the doorway leading outside.
"umm what are people going to do when they have to use the bathroom?" Brandon asked hanging up the phone
"I guess that's your problem isn't it" Callie told him
"Great, people are going to pee all over mom's flowers" Brandon sighed
"People get drunk and things get destroyed Brandon"
"God when did yo become so Anal"
"When did you become such an ass" Callie shot back.
"What if we just let people use the bathroom off the kitchen" Brandon said.
"fine but your cleaning it" Callie said. Brandon sighed going outside as Mariana came in beaming.
"What?" Callie asked.
"I just have never see you guys act so much like brother and sister" Mariana said.
The party was in full swing as the sun went down.
"Hey guy's thank's for coming there's beer on the table" Mariana greeted everyone. Brandon was setting up his music stuff on the deck.
"Ok Noah is set up with a movie I told him not to answer the house phone if moms called" Callie told Brandon coming downstairs.
"hey man, wow can I have a sip?" Brandon asked as Jesus came walking over with a red plastic cup in his hands. he shrugged handing it to Brandon. Brandon smelled it then dumped it into the grass.
"What the!" Jesus cried.
"What's wrong with you, get out of here" Brandon said
"Hey! off of the swing! it's not a playground!" Callie yelled as three boys were messing around on the porch swing
"Lighten up! Callie come dance" Mariana called waving her over. Callie hesitated as Lexie came up behind her.
"Come on, your only young once this is for the memories" Lexie told her dragging her over to her sister and group of friends. Callie felt herself loosen up and started dancing. She forgot about watching the house and was having fun when suddenly Jesus came running over.
"Dudes the neighbors just called, we gota get everyone out" He said.
"Well how?" Brandon asked
"Play! That's what they came here for right, play something so they will leave" Callie cried. Brandon went up to the keyboard and started playing. His friend grabbed the guitar joining in. They played for a while and Callie started to relax again, people were dancing and having fun, she was dancing around with her friends and lost all track of time. They stepped off the stage to take a break and Callie went inside to check on Noah.
"We have a serious problem I just butt dialed momma and she's calling me back!" Jesus cried running up to Brandon.
"Ummmm" Brando froze as Mariana came running over.
"Mommy's calling me what do I do?" Mariana cried waving her phone.
"Come on" Brandon cried leading them into the house as Callie ran into the living room.
"You guys momma's calling me" Callie cried.
"Answer it, Shut up!" Brandon called out the window as Callie answered her phone.
"Hey what's up?" Callie said trying to sound surprised.
"Umm no everyone is fine why?…oh really, well we were just watching some dumb action movie with the volume up really high so maybe that's why no one heard your calls" Callie said as Brandon nodded along.
"Oh yeah everyone is here, say hi" Callie said putting her phone on speaker
"Hi moms" The other kids called.
"Where's Noah?" Stef asked.
"he umm, he fell asleep" Brandon said.
"With the volume that high? What were you guys watching? it wasn't something violent was it?" Stef asked.
"Oh no it it wasn't" Jesus said.
"Ok well don't stay up to late guys" Stef said.
"We won't" The all choursed.
"We love you"
"love you too" They all called before Callie hung up her phone.
"Do you think they bought it?" Jesus asked
"They might have" Brandon said.
"Well don't go thanking me all at once or anything" Mariana said.
"Well at least nothing terrible happened, can we just get everyone out of here please?" Callie asked glancing at the clock reading midnight. They all nodded. Suddenly the porch swing came crashing through the front window as the boys were playing on it. Everyone turned to look at it horrified as glass shattered all over the living room and couch.
"What are we going to tell moms" Brandon asked as they were all cleaning up the glass after everyone left
"Maybe a bird flew through the window" Jesus offered.
"What like a pterodactyl?" Mariana asked.
"We could fix it, we just go out really early before they come home and get the glass" Callie offered.
"We could, I helped my dad fix one before We just glaze it and pop it in" Brandon agreed.
"You think that will work?" Mariana asked
"I think it's our only choice" Brandon said.
"They are here, they just pulled up" Mariana cried as Jesus threw the rest of the trash away. They all ran to assemble at the door.
"Will it hold?" Callie asked looking at the repaired window.
"I wish it could sit a little longer but yeah, just no one push on it" Brandon whispered
"Welcome home" They all called as Stef opened the door.
"Hey" Lena laughed.
"well hey what's going on here?" Stef asked.
"Nothing we all just wanted to be here when you got home" Callie said.
"Yeah we missed you" Jesus said
"How was your trip, was it romantic?" Mariana asked
"Here let me take this" Brandon said as he and Jesus took their bags.
"Well isn't that nice" Stef said glancing at Lena.
"So? romantic?" Marian asked.
"Well actually it was, we started…" Stef said.
"whoo whoo we don't want to hear about it" Jesus interrupted her making them all laugh.
"So what about you guys how was your night, Mike do ok?" Lena asked. as Stef closed the door. It shut harder then she had intended and banged. Suddenly there was a crash and the glass in the broken window they had just replaced came crashing down shattering sending glass flying all over the room again. Stef and Lena ran around the corner to see what had happened leaving the kids standing in the entry way looking at each other.
"what happened?" Stef asked.
"Wow thats weird right, maybe we just had an earth quake" Jesus said.
"I'll get the broom" Brandon said running into the kitchen.
"My too" Mariana ran after him.
"Ok well so glad your back but homework waits for no man" Jesus said heading up the stairs.
"I'll um go see about a dust pan. Come on Noah" Callie said pulling him into the kitchen.
"Stop!" Stef yelled as everyone skidded to a stop in their tracks.
"assemble" Stef called as they all went back to the entry way.
"Now, mom and I know what happened here last night, who else knows what went on last night?" Steph asked. Everyone raised their hands looking down at their feet
"Oh good, well then Brandon can drive you big kids back to the glass store to get a new window and then you teenagers can all enjoy a weekend home next week because your grounded" Lena said.
"Aww man" everyone chorused.
"In Callie's defense, she told us not to, have the party" Brandon said
"No, I mean yeah I did but I didn't really make that much of an effort to stop it" Callie said.
"Well Noah didn't do anything" Jesus said.
"That's right!" Noah piped up making Lena crack a smile
"How did you know?" Mariana asked.
"Like three of the neighbors called, next time you have a house party keep them inside" Stef laughed
"We didn't want anything to break" Jesus said.
"Oh yes that worked out very well for you" Lena nodded gesturing to the window.
"We just wanted to have our own babymoon" Callie said.
"and I get that, but I need all of you to understand how dangerous it could have gotten" Lena said.
"we know, it was a bad idea we did end up kicking everyone out" Jesus nodded.
"Well i'm glad to hear you figured out the right decision, however it was to late, head over to the store and get a new glass" Stef said. The oldest kids nodded as Brandon took the keys and they loaded into Stef's car.
"Dude, totally worth it" Jesus said.
"Oh 100 percent" Brandon agreed as they all high fived.
"You think they got the message?" Lena asked as she and Stef stared out the broken window at the kids in the car.
"ohh no, but we were the ones who left four teenagers alone for the weekend, we basically asked for a party right" Stef laughed.
"Wow, it looks like babies R us threw up in here" Mariana said as she and Callie came into the kitchen where Stef and Lena were unpacking bags. Well we needed a lot of stuff, and this is not even the half of it. It's a good thing you kids are all home this weekend we need all hands on deck" Stef said.
"Where are we going to put all this stuff?" Callie asked looking at a big box with a picture of a swing on it.
"We are going to set it up around the house. Mommy's due date is only 2 weeks away we need to have everything ready, we are already way behind! We were supposed to go last month before Grandpa died." Stef said.
"This is wicked cute!" Mariana said pulling out a pink blanket as the boys walked in.
"Wow, girly alert" Jesus said
"We want a space to put the baby in every room, so we got a little swing, or seat or bassinet stand of every room down here. We spend so much time in every room we want the baby to be able to be close to us no matter where we are." Lena said. as Noah pulled out another box.
"And what's this?" Jesus asked pulling out a long piece of fabric
"It's a wrap. It's a way of holding the baby close to you and still being able to use your hands" Lena laughed taking it from him.
"You put a baby in that?"
"Yes watch" Lena smiled grabbing the big teddy bear from the nook she held it onto Jesus and expertly wrapped the fabric around them.
"Oh man look at you" Stef laughed as Mariana snapped a picture.
"Black mail" She winked.
"Wow, this is cool, Mom you could cook with this" Jesus smiled
"Well that's not exactly safe, We will probably use it more for when we're running around with you kids or taking a walk outside." Lena shook her head.
"Isn't that what a stroller is for?" Brandon asked.
"Well infants like to be close, strollers can be over stimulating and babies feel far away, this way the baby is close and can view the world from a place where it feels safe" Lena said.
"Wow, thats very…little house on the prairie" Mariana said.
"It's called attachment parenting, mom and I have been reading a lot of books on it. It's supposed to be very helpful for babies, you kids should read them" Steph said unpacking a bag of socks and hats.
"What else is in it?" Callie asked interested.
"It's about baby wearing, cosleeping, not letting them cry it out, a lot of stuff, I can let you see the book if you want" Lena told her.
"yeah, that would be cool" Callie nodded.
"Why does a baby need so much stuff?" Noah asked
"Babies require a lot more then you would think" Stef told him.
"All babies do is cry" Noah muttered going into the back yard.
"We may have a but if a jealously problem" Jesus said as they all watched Noah surprised at his attitude. Noah was always in a good mood, he had been so excited about the baby.
"I think it finally hit him that he is going to have to share his mommy" Stef said gently. Callie nodded. Just like herself she knew Noah loved both their moms, but where Callie felt a connection to Steph, Noah felt a strong connection to Lena.
"Did we over do it with the pink?" Lena asked sitting up in her bed a few nights later. Stef followed her eyes over to the crib placed near the window close to their bed. Everything about the crib was pink. Stef chuckled planting a kiss on Lena's cheek
"Maybe we should, gone more gender neutral, less sugar and spice and everything nice" Lena said.
"No daughter of ours is going to be everything nice" Stef murmured making Lena laugh.
"What and I going to do about Noah?"
"I think Noah will be fine, it's totally normal, I think when the baby comes and he sees that nothing is going to change he will be fine"
"He just feels like such a little guy still sometimes."
"He is he will always be our little guy, just like B will always be my baby, and Jesus will always be that rambunctious toddler we were always chasing after, and Mariana will always be that scared little baby who didn't talk for a month, Callie will always feel as little as she did that first time she allowed herself to be hugged and Noah will always be that tiny boy who held your hand his first day of school. We will never see them as old as they actually are, that's our job." Stef said.
"I just wish there was something I could do for him now"
"Noah will come around love, he loves you and knows you will always be there" Stef said
"I guess" Lena nodded.
"plus now we know Jesus can wear her in that wrap thing and babysit" Stef said making Lena laugh at the picture again.
"He did look cute in that huh?" She said.
"I bet you any money one day we will come home to fine him wearing her in that"
"He is a softy, under all those wrestling muscles he has a big heart" Lena agreed.
"And of course her sisters are going to love her, they are both excited, Brandon too, I know he tries to hide it like Jesus but he is getting more excited as she gets closer" Stef said.
"Ok but let's not rush her, as uncomfortable as she's making me I would like the peace a little longer" Lena said making Stef laugh.
Callie jumped in her seat looking back at Mariana as Lena walked into their math classroom.
"Ok everyone, Miss Wolf had to leave suddenly today so I will be taking over for now" Lena said going behind the desk. Callie saw Mariana roll her eyes but she thought it was pretty funny. Lena sank down into the chair and Callie felt bad. Poor Lena was only weeks away from her due date and in no condition to be teaching a class she barley left her own desk anymore
"Ok let me take attendance" Lena pulled out the paper and started calling off names.
"Mariana" She called looking up to see both her daughters checking them both off shooting them a apologetic look.
"Ok, can anyone tell me what chapter you left off on?" Lena asked when she was done
"We were going over the homework on the projector" one boy called out.
"Right" Lena stood up trying to get everything in order but Callie jumped up.
"I'll set it up" She said turning on the projector and handing Lena everything so she could stay sitting at the desk.
"Thank you" Lena offered her a smile.
"I'm sorry Miss Thing, you know I wouldn't do it unless I had to" Lena sighed leading all the kids into the house.
"What happened?" Brandon asked.
"Momma came in to teach our math class and it was totally humiliating" Mariana sighed dramatically.
"Ha! that happened to me once" Jesus laughed
"It was not…I did nothing to embarrass you! no one would have known the difference" Lena said making her way into the kitchen.
"You called me sweetheart" Mariana cried.
"Ok, one slip!" Lena admitted.
"It really wasn't bad" Callie said.
"That's right, next time i'll call you love and ask you to answer all the questions, by the way Callie girl thank you for helping out" Lena said sinking into the nook putting her feet up.
"next time i'm walking out of class, I have rights!" Mariana said going up the stairs. Lena threw her hands up sighing.
"It wasn't bad, I actually liked it" Callie said.
"thank you sweetie, maybe I should home school your sister, then she would get me all the time" Lena said. Callie laughed a little
"You both would not make it through the day"
"Your right about that, go on up and start your homework momma will be home soon" Lena said putting her head back closing her eyes. Callie stood up throwing her bag over her shoulder she stepped onto the landing of the stairs. Suddenly she turned back watching Lena relaxing, she walked back over planting a kiss on Lena's cheek surprising her.
"Love you mom" Callie said. Lena looked up at her and smiled, for weeks Callie had been going around calling Lena mom for good. It's not that Callie didn't want to, it was just never the right time. But now it had just seemed to roll off her tung like the most natural thing in the world and she wondered why she put it off for so long
"Love you to sweetie" Lena whispered giving Callie's hand a squeeze before letting her go and Callie went upstairs.
"Mariana, Jesus can you come down here please" Stef called up the stairs after dinner. She went back to the living room sitting down on the arm of the chair Lena was in as the twins came down the stairs.
"what's up?" Jesus asked
"Have a seat we just wanted to touch base with you on some things" Lena pointed to the couch where they sat side by side. Stef had a sudden flash back to them sitting just like that there first night here as little kids. They had been so scared and Stef was trying to talk to them in her very broken Spanish.
"So between Bill and some friend from work we found out that Anna did decide to keep her baby" Stef started gently. Mariana's face visibly sank.
"She can't! why?" Mariana cried
"How is that even allowed" Jesus asked.
"Well it seems that she moved in with her parents in New Mexico, and they are helping her out" Lena said.
"She's in a real rehab, her parents are good people they own a little bakery, the baby will be well taken care of" Stef said. She watched Mariana closely, she had been dreading having to talk to them about this, it could go in so many different directions.
"So she's clean?" Jesus asked.
"Wait, we have grandparents? Where the hell were they when we were little!" Mariana yelled. Lena visibly winched as the swearing she didn't allow in her house but she let it go.
"I don't know my love, maybe Anna was not willing to accept any kind of help back then, your mom was so young when she had you she may not have known better" Stef said.
"This is not fair! She shouldn't get a do over!" Mariana yelled.
"she left us, who cares" Jesus said.
"I care!"
"Why? She's some dumb addict who abandoned us for days at a time as babies, she loved getting high more then she loved her own kids" Jesus was hard and Mariana was on the verge of tears.
"Jesus, you need to understand that your mom was an addict, that's a disease one she couldn't control." Lena said.
"Still it should at least make you think twice when you have to kids" Jesus said.
"your right, it should" Stef nodded.
"It's not fair" Mariana said. Lena moved to sit next to her as Stef leaned forward putting a hand on Jesus's knee.
"It isn't fair, it's not fair that you guys had to go through that for years when your right there was relief, or there were people that could have helped you" Lena nodded.
"But then we wouldn't be here" Jesus said. Stef just nodded at him.
"It's not that I don't want to be here, it's just that I wish…I wish we started here and didn't have anything else." Mariana said.
"We do too, my baby. But you do have those years and it's ok, it's ok to talk about them or feel sad or mad about them" Lena said.
"I guess I just wish someone had cared enough about us to help her then" Mariana said.
"I guess as long as the baby is safe that's all the matters" Jesus said. Now Stef moved to sit next to him. Jesus would always be the protector no matter how old her got.
"We love you both very very much, I don't understand what was going on in your mother's head that day on the street when I meet you guys, but she is better now. Everything worked out just the way it was supposed to" Stef said.
"We didn't want to upset you guys, we just wanted you to know that we were looking out for the baby, and she is safe" Lena said.
"thank you" Mariana whispered laying her head on Lena's shoulder.
"And you dude, you ok?" Stef asked.
"Yeah, it all worked out" Jesus nodded allowing Stef to kiss his cheek and give him a hug.
"You guys know if you ever want to talk about anything you can come to us yes?" Stef asked. Both kids nodded. Stef put her arm around Jesus running her fingers through Mariana's hair. Jesus was holding Mariana's hand and leaning onto Stef despite his bigger size he still felt like the little boy to her. Mariana had her head on Lena's shoulder and Lena was running her hand up and down Jesus's arm. The four of them were sitting so close there was room for three more people on the couch.
"Do you guys have any questions?" Lena asked.
"Yeah…can we stay like this for a little while?" Mariana asked
"You bet" Stef winked at her.