AN: Thank you everyone for the nice words and the support. Means a lot to me. I'm glad that you are enjyoing this. It makes it all worth it.

As to why I stress myself out, why I'm so hard on myself - well, Brian1972 actually said it, and I qoute - "I must confess knowing several stuff that is going to happen beforehand takes away some of the drive of the story". This is the reason why I worry so much. Because you know how this is gonna go/how it will end. There isn't a lot of surpirse elemet I can add. I am constantly scared that you will get bored or you will no longer find it interesting. This stroy doesn't have a lot of Adams Fosters characters, so I am scared that you will find it too AU and not want to stick around any longer. I don't want to dissapoint you.

But, thankfully, that is only my problem, not yours! You don't have to worry about anything. Just sit back, take a sip of hot coco or tea, realx and enjoy this chapter :) I hope you like it.

Callie POV

February 6th

I was sitting at the kitchen table with a soda can in my left hand and my physics homework on the table in front of me. We handed the homework in last Friday, but it was handed back to us today. There was a lot of red color in my homework. This homework was given to us so we could practice for our big test that was going to be this Friday. Looking at the homework, it was pretty clear to me - I will get an F in this upcoming test.

"What's with the long face?" I heard Andy's voice coming from the hallway. Quickly I closed my workbook and shoved it in my backpack, hiding it from his eyes.

"Uh-oh," Andy sang out as he came inside the kitchen "That bad?"

"Huh?" I hummed out, pretending that I didn't know what he was talking about, and raised the soda up to my lips to take a sip

"That looked very much like homework or something," He said walking to the fridge. Andy pulled the fridge doors open, scanned the content. Once he found, what he was looking for, he reached for it. He was holding a soda can in his hand as he closed the fridge. Andy opened the can as he walked up to the table.

"By your reaction, I am guessing, you did not get the best grade for it," Andy said before taking a sip of his drink. He lowering his soda can down "How did you do?"

"Fine," I said with hesitation as I averted my eyes down to the soda can I was holding. I kept spinning the can around in my hands nervously.

Andy pulled out a chair from the other side of the table and sat down "I'm not your foster parent or guardian. I won't get mad. You can tell me," I remained silent. There was no reason why I should tell him. I barely know him. He's not my foster parent – I don't have to inform him about how I do in school. I don't own him an answer.

When Andy realized that I won't tell him anything, he spoke up "Well, if you need any help-"

"I don't!" I retorted stubbornly, interrupting him

Deep down I knew – I needed help. Otherwise I will fail. This school was harder than any other school that I have gone to before But I guess, I can blame my 3 months in Juvie for that. It wasn't like the education level in Juvenile Detnetion faccilty was as high as public school. I missed a lot in those 3 months and it's hard to catch up with the rest of the class. Not to mention that the very begining of my semester, started off bad. I was in a bad place, battling demons.

Andy nodded his head once "But if you do, we are all around. You just have to ask. Amy, me, Harold or Linda – we can help. Don't be shy, okay?" He smiled at me "You shouldn't be embarrassed about asking for help. Everyone needs some help time by time."

He took a deep breath in and tapped his hand to the table "Okay. I will be around if you need anything," he said standing up

When he was at the back doors and pulled them open, I turned around in my chair and watched how he walked out to the porch. Once he was gone, I pulled my homework out to examine it again. I sighed deeply, when I looked at the mark D- the teacher had written down in red ink. This grade won't effect my semester grade, it was simply there to illustrate, how we could potentially do on the test so we would know how hard we need to study and prepare for it. I need to prepare. A lot. So I grabbed all of my stuff and went upstairs to start.

~o~o~o~

Holding my book and notepad close to my chest with my left hand, I pushed the bedroom doors open a little. Just enough so I could peak my head in. I saw Amy laid down on the bed, on her back. Her legs bent underneath the blanket, but her arms were clenched together on her stomach. The blanket was up to her waist. She was staring up to the ceiling.

"Amy?" I said quietly to get her attention

She turned her head to look at the doors. Once she saw me standing there, Amy moved – she pushed herself up on her elbow.

"Hey," she answered in a hushed voice, watching me

I pushed the doors open a little bit more, so I could stand in the doorway. Nervously I contort my mouth to one side and avert my look down to the carpet.

"Come on in," Amy said sitting up on the bed. Her back now rested against the headboard.

I only took one small step deeper in the room. It felt strange, being in the master bedroom of my foster mother. It was her room and I didn't feel like I should be here. That's why I didn't walk further in, I stayed close enough to the doors, so I could leave quickly.

"What's with the books?" Amy asked, when I hadn't said anything to her

I looked to the book and notepad that I had with me. Few minutes ago, I thought this was a good idea. Okay, well, not exactly good idea, but not terrible idea. Andy had said I should ask for help. A little while ago, when I was sitting at my dest, looking down to the phyiscs homework, I thought I could actually go through with it. Now it felt like the most terrible idea I have ever come up with. All I wanted to do right now, was just back up, till I was out of the room, and run back to my room, close the doors behind. Amy had a hard time as it was. I shouldn't trouble Amy with my problems as well, making her life even more harder.

"Never mind...it's nothing," I shook my head and took a small step back, deciding that I should leave her alone

"Hey, hey, hey! Callie!" Amy tossed her blanket aside and jumped out of the bed, when I was turning around

Next moment I was walking out of her room as fast as I could and hurried back to my room. When I entered my room, I closed the doors behind me. After that, I walked up to the desk, tossed the book and notepad down and sat down at my desk. Shaking my head, I was scolding myself for actually thinking about going to Amy for help. It was stupid.

I heard my bedroom doors open "Callie?" I heard Amy's voice

Briefly, I looked over my shoulder to Amy, who now stood in the doorway. Her right side was pressed to the door frame, but her left hand was on the door nub.

"It's nothing!" I repeat myself as I turn back to my desk and flip my book open "I'm sorry I bothered you,"

"May I come in?" Amy asked, when I was pretending to read the book to look busy

"It's your house," I mumbled back

When I heard the floor creak a little, I looked over my shoulder, to see if she was leaving. But Amy was still there, still standing in the doorway, watching me. I nodded my head back before looking back at my book. I reached for my pen and clicked it on.

I heard Amy walking towards me. She took a seat at the end of the bed. I glanced to her, when I felt her eyes on me.

"You can talk to me, Callie. I'm here, I'm all ears!" She said, looking to my eyes "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?

Looking at Amy, I got a feeling from her, that she won't leave till she hears, what I wanted to talk to her about. I let my hands fall down to my lap. My mind was racing with diffrent thoughts, like the possible outcomes if I asked her for help. Mostly, those weren't good thoughts. I kept thinking back to my previous homes, where no foster parent ever had offered to help with homework, where they all said to leave them alone and not waste their times with my crap.

"I have a test on Friday," I said looking down to my hands, taking a chance with Amy, in hope that she will not just laugh in my face. Andy had sounded so certain, when he said they they would all help me if I would go to them for help. I guess, I just needed to see it with my own two eyes to belive him. Believe what he was preaching about this family.

"Okay," Amy shifted a little and leaned towards me "In what subject?" she asked on the spot

"Physics," I answered quietly "I don't understand any of the formulas I will have to use," I admitted shamefully afterward

"Well, maybe I can help," Amy replied, making me look up to her. It seemed that Andy was right. "We can look at the formulas and the tasks together. How does that sound?"

When I nodded my head back, agreeing to her helping me with physics, Amy shifted. She remained sitting on my bed, but she no longer was sitting on the edge of it. Her back was against the wall, her legs stretched out. They reached over the side of the bed. Amy patted on the bed next to her asking me to join her.

I grabbed my book and notepad and walked up to the bed. When I was at the bed, I crawled up on it. I sat next to Amy, with my legs crossed under me and my back against the wall. Once I was comfortable, I placed the book over my legs and opened it to the section that I will have the test about.

Linda POV

"I will go get Callie and see if Amy will join us at the dinner table," I said as I left Harold to take the rice of the fire and for Andy to finish setting the table

Amy still hasn't been joining the rest of us at the table for a meal. She waits till we are all done and then comes downstairs, grabs the dish we had left her, heats it up in microwave and then carries it upstairs to eat in her bedroom alone.

I think it had something to do with not seeing her husband and son at the table with her. Callie had mentioned to me, that the first morning, after they had come home from hospital, Amy had set the breakfast table for 4 people. Out of habbit. After the table was set and she had realized that she had set two plates too much, she had left for upstairs, looking very upset and sad, without having breakfast and without saying anything to Callie.

That must have been the first real blow after their death, when she realzied that her life will never be the same ever again. She had realized that she already had the last meal with them, that she will never see their faces at this table ever again.

When I had reached the second floor, I was surprised to see that Amy's bedroom doors where open. Usually they were closed. Curious about it, I walked up to Amy's room first.

"Amy?" I asked, stepping inside her bedroom. The bed was messy, blanket was tossed aside. But there was no sign of Amy.

I walked back out to the hallway and looked at Markus room. For a moment, I thought that maybe she was in there. Reminiscencing in memories of her son, looking at his unmade bed, his books that still stood open on the desk, his clothes that were tossed around. Amy didn't allow me to clean it up. She wanted for everything to be left the exact way Markus had left it that morning. Amy didn't allow me to touch a single thing in the room. She had stated loud and clear - no one is to enter Markus room.

When I reached for Markus bedroom door nub, I heard my daughters voice coming from Callie's bedroom "Look at the formula again," Curious as to what was going on, I walked closer to Callie's bedroom

"I am looking at it!" Callie said back sounding very frustrated with herself, possibly, even with Amy as well "I don't understand it!"

I stopped myself from walking in, because I didn't want to interrupt, what seemed to be a study session. I wanted to hear how Amy will handle this situation. Callie had once again gotten Amy to do something other than aimlessly sleep in her bed. The young girl seemed to be the only one, who can get through to my daughter.

"Yes, you do!" Amy replied calmly "Look at the formula again. Read it to me," Amy said, when I leaned at the wall by the bedroom doors, listening in on their conversation

"Kinetic energy equals..." Callie started in annoyed tone

"Equals?" Amy pushed her a little bit, when Callie wasn't continuing reading the formula

"Equals ½ of mass and square of the speed," Callie mumbled back after a little while

"Equals ½ of mass and square of the speed!" Amy repeated, what Callie had just said, only emphasized one of the words "Do you see the problem now?"

"Oh...so, this has to be in square?" Callie asked back, sounding like she finally understood where the problem was

"See, you got it!" Amy said praising Callie "So, what did we get?" Amy asked her after a little while

"Uhm..." Callie dragged out, giving herself more time to give the answer. I heard the pen scribbling against the paper "125000 J?"

"Are you asking me? You are the one who did the calculations!"

"125000 J," Callie corrected her tone, no longer sounding like she was asking

"That seems to be correct," Amy replied "Great job, Callie!"

It sounded like the problem was solved, so I decided to make an appearance.

"Dinner is ready!" I announced as I pushed the doors open wider. Smile appeared on my lips, when I saw that Amy and Callie were sitting on the bed together. Callie had her notepad in her lap, Amy had just reached to turn a page in the book, that was on her lap.

"We made rice with meatballs and salad on side!" I said smiling at the two of them

"Go on," Amy patted Callie's knee and nodded towards me

Callie closed her book and notepad and placed them on the bed. When she scooted to the edge, Callie turned her torso back to Amy, who hadn't moved from her spot yet.

"You should come too," Callie said to Amy

The two gazed at one another for a little while. Amy was gazing back at Callie, till she finally stirred and said "Okay,"

The two got off the bed. Callie walked out of her room and passed me first. Amy followed her out. Without saying anything to Amy, I followed the two of the downstairs.

When we had walked in the kitchen, Callie made her way to her usual spot at the table. She sat down at the left side of the table. Andy and Harold were both sitting at the opposite side. They both looked surprised that Amy had come down as well, but neither commented on it. I walked and sat down next to Callie at the side, leaving the end of the table free. Amy was standing in the middle of the kitchen, looking at the table.

"Andy made the salad," I said stopping the silence

"Yeah, so it's probably not a smart idea to eat them," Andy joked back as she put some on his plate "Want some?" he asked Amy with a huge smirk on his lips, holding a spoon full of them, reaching for Amy's plate with his other hand

Amy nodded her head back, but remained standing still. After Andy had put the salad, I took the plate from him and put rice and meatballs on Amy's plate.

"Here you go," I handed the plate to Amy. I could tell Amy was not going to sit down with us. She took two steps closer, took the plate from my hand and grabbed the fork and knife that were on the table.

"Thanks, mom," Amy said in a whisper before she turned around and walked out. Everyone watched how Amy walked away. Harold sighed heavily. Andy looked like he wanted to run after his sister and just hug her and never let her go.

"Well, at least she tried," Harold sighed before he cut in half his meatball

Callie still hadn't started to put food on her plate. She was still looking to the hallway, where Amy had walked off. So, I took her plate and put some food on as well.

"Eat up, honey," I told her, when I placed the plate back in front of her. Callie looked down to her plate.

"Can I eat upstairs?" She asked me, when she averted her attention to me

"You want...you want to eat upstairs?" I was taken a back by that question a little bit. Callie nodded her head back.

"Okay," I said after I exchanged a look with my husband. Callie grabbed her plate and tableware and disappeared up the stairs, like Amy had done just few seconds ago. I watched how the young girl walked out. Once she was out of my sight, I listened to the footsteps. It sounded like Callie walked to Amy's room, not hers.

I turned to Andy and Harold "I think we need to leave," I stated taking both of them by surprise

"What?" Harold asked and looked to his son, who shared the same shocked facial expression as his father

"Amy doesn't need us here,"

"What are you talking about, mom?" Andy called back confused "Of course she needs us! She is barely holding on!"

"Linda, she barely leaves her room!" Harold added, agreeing with his son

"She leaves her room for Callie!" I explained as I glanced to Andy "You said it yourself, few days ago, that Amy needs to find a reason, a purpose to get up in the morning," I detained a little pause to let them remember the conversation we had few days ago

"It's Callie!" Both of my boys exchanged a look with one another

"Callie was the one, who was with Amy, when she learned about Aaron and Markus death! She was the first person Amy leaned to after the tragedy and it's pretty obvious, to me at least, that Callie will remain to be that person to Amy!"

After a brief moment I added "Callie was the one, who held Amy's hand, when we buried Aaron and Markus. Callie was the one, who got Amy to leave the house for the first time after the funeral."

"Do you know, what Amy was doing, when I went upstairs?" Both Harold and Andy shook their heads after I had asked them the question

"She was in Callie's room. They were sitting on Callie's bed and Amy was helping Callie with physics homework!" I explained to them

I looked towards the hallway and gestured with my hand "Do you know, why Amy came downstairs tonight?"

When I looked back at Andy and Harold, Andy made an educated guess "Something to do with Callie?"

"Exactly!" I stated firmly "It wasn't because I told her that dinner is ready and that she needs to come downstairs. It was because Callie told her to!" Andy started to nod his head as she understood me

"So you want us to just...leave?" Harold asked me still a little bit skeptical. I could tell he didn't want to leave Amy. She was his little girl even now that she is a grown woman.

"Amy needs to get back to her own feet!" I looked between them "She can't do that, if we keep doing all the things for her. Right now, our presence here, isn't helping her. Unintetionally, we are stopping her from moving on. We need to leave, so Amy can start her new life with Callie!"

Callie POV

February 9th

We were at the airport. It was around some few minutes before 9 in the evening. Any minute now, the boarding in the plane will start. I was standing a little bit aside, letting Amy say goodbye to her parents and Andy.

Linda's right hand was resting gently on Amy's on neck, just like Amy had done few days to me, when she took away my blue duffle bag and promised me she wouldn't send me way. Linda was gazing to her daughters eyes, while she talking "You will be fine, Aims! Take it one day at time. Don't stress yourself out. Remember to take care of youself, Aims!" Linda smiled at Amy , her thumb moved gently over Amy's cheek, caressing it

"I wish you could stay few days longer," Amy said honestly after she averted her look down to the floor between them

"I'm sorry, honey. We can't," Linda replied genlty

It did seem strange, that Linda hadn't given any real reason as to why they couldn't stay longer. It wasn't like they had to go back home, because of work. Linda and Harold were both retired. Andy did though, so I do understand why he was leaving. As far as I knew, Amy's parents don't have any pets. And I think I would have heard by now, if there had been an emergencyback home.

"I'm just one call away, you know that, right?" Linda reminded Amy

"I know," Amy nodded her head

"Day or night. If you need to talk - call me!" Linda continued

"I will. I love you mom. Thank you for staying for as long as you did," Amy replied, sounding a bit more emotional than before. It seemed as she truly didn't want her mom to go.

"Oh, I love you too darling!" Linda said and pulled Amy in a tight hug. Amy rested my head to Linda's shoulder. When they finally ended the hug, Linda stepped aside letting Harold take her spot.

"We will come visit, when we can," Harold told Amy, right before Linda walked up to me. I averted my attention from Amy to Linda. She smiled at me, but for the moment, didn't say anything.

"Have a safe flight," I said stopping the silence between us

Linda's smile widened for a moment, that was until she spoke up "Can I can to you for a minute?"

"Uhm...sure," I sand and expeted for her to start the conversation, but she didn't

Linda nodded her head towards a side, asking me to followed her few steps further away from the rest of the family. I was slightly confused, as to why she wanted to speak to me, so that no one else would hear our conversation. We walked further away from the group together.

Linda glanced back to her family, when we stopped walking. With my eyes I followed her look. She was keeping her gaze on her daughter, who was talking to Harold and Andy at the moment. To me, Linda looked a little bit worried about her daughter. When Linda looked back at me, she didn't say anything at first. Briefly she averted her look down to the floor as she sighed deeply. She seemed to be very thoughtfull, I noticed she looked concerned, most likely about Amy.

Linda lifted her head up and finally looked at me. A smile appeared on her lips, when we made eye contact. It was a genuine smile, one that reached her eyes as well. She had wrinkles around her eyes.

"Right now," Linda briefly glanced to her daughter again "Amy has hard time showing it, but I hope you know that - she cares about you. A lot! She has cared ever since she first met you. And I know that you have come to care about my daughter as well!" Linda paused and just watched me for a little while "So, take care of one another. Be there for each other. You both need each other now more than ever. If it comes to it, don't be be affraid to give her some tough love. She may be angry and upset, but she will listen to you. She will always listen to you, because you matter to her!"

An annoucnement rang out, making Linda look away from me "Boarding to Flight SB2281, flight to Boston, is starting at Gate 8!"

Linda looked back at me and asked me with her her look alone, if I heard, understood and acknowlidged, what she told me. I nodded my head back letting her know that I did. Her smile widened a little. Lina reahced out to me and grabbed my palm, briefly and gently squeezing it, almost as if thanking me.

"Linda!" Harold called

"Comming!" Linda called back at her husband and we walked back towards the rest of the family

"If my sister is giving you any trouble, you give me a call! I will handle it!" Andy smirked at me as he pulled out the tickets from his jacket inner pocket

"Mm-hmm," I hummed back not sure how I was supposed to reply to that

"It was nice meeting you Callie. I hope we see you around more," Harold told me, holding his suitecase in his hand

"You too," I replied kindly

"Bye!" The three of them said before they took off to the gate. Amy and I both waved goodbye.

We watched how they walked pass the gates. When they were out of our sight, I saw in the corner of my eye, how Amy looked down to me. I glanced up to her, wondering what she will tell me.

"Well," Amy ehxaled deeply "It's just you and me now, kiddo!"