AN: I am so very tired. Working full time is much harder than mixing work and University together. There are probably a lot more mistakes in this chapter. Forgive me, I am too tiered to proof read. Maybe I will edit this chapter few days later.

Hope you enjoy :)

Callie POV

Stef's sobs slowly started to turn into sniffs after what felt like 10 minutes. It was still hard for me to wrap my head around as to how much Stef cares about me. I had never imagined that anyone besides Amy, would love me like this. It still feels unbelievable and impossible, even though this person is crying in my arms right this second.

I kept running my hand over her back in circles to try and sooth her down. Stef stirred and leaned away from me a moment later. She raised her hands up to her face to wipe away the tears from her cheeks. Her eyes were all red and puffy.

What surprised me the most, was that Stef didn't seem to be embarrassed about. Whenever I cry, even when only mom sees me, I feel embarrassed about it. To me crying has always associated with weakness. A weakness that others can exploit and use against me. But Stef, she is not embarrassed or ashamed about crying, not even a little bit.

Stef run her palms over her cheeks once again, before she let out a breath and lowered her hands to her lap. She was no longer sniffing or hiccuping, no tears were streaming down her cheeks. I guess she cried it all out.

"It happened long time ago and, honestly, I had been through worse," I don't know what I was thinking when I said that. I guess, I wasn't. Once those words left my mouth, I realized how bad it sounded.

Stef looked to me not amused "That's not helping Callie!"

"Sorry," I mumble back quietly and offer her back a little smile. She bites and smiles back at me. I get up from the arm holder and go sit down on the coffee table, which the armchair was turned to.

"Why did he do it?" Stef asks me when I sat down. Her voice was very quiet and soft. It felt like she was afraid to ask it. Afraid that I will get upset about it.

I gave a little shoulder shrug back at first. As I looked down to the floor between us, away from her hurt and sad look, I answered her "I wasn't good enough...smart enough. Changing schools is hard, it's very changeling. And at that time, when I was living with him, I wasn't doing so great. Him being a teacher in the school I went to...let's just say, it didn't make things easier. He expected things from me, that I simply couldn't carry out."

"He hit you, because you weren't getting B's and A's?"

"Only A's!" I corrected Stef as I briefly glanced up to her "A's and A+ were the only two grades allowed in his house. And I was, at the best case, a C grade student so..." I cut the sentence short, as at that moment, I wasn't sure what else needed to be said. It seemed quite obvious that a punishment for me was necessary.

When I said that, Stef sat at the very end of the arm chair and reached for my hand. She took my hand between both of her and held it tenderly, yet firmly.

"I never had bruises from his fists. My arms never had bruises in the form of his fingerprints from when he grabbed me. My ribs were never sore from when he kicked me. I never had a split lip,black eye or bloody nose. My body was only covered in welts from his belt." I clarified as I blinked back the tears that appeared in my eyes again

Stef closed her eyes for a second as she took in all of the new information. I knew it was hard to hear. When I told about Malloc to Amy, she looked just as devastated as Stef did right now.

"I'm...I'm sorry he did that to you" Stef breathed out as another tear rolled down her cheek "I wish we had fostered you, then nothing like that would have ever happened to you-"

"Don't you dare blame yourself, Stef" I said loudly, when I saw guilt in Stef's eyes "It wasn't your fault! It was his! And only his! You are not responsible for the stuff that happened to me! It's not, it has never been and never will be your fault!"

"But if we had-" Stef tired to interject

"No!" I stop her before she finishes her thought "Don't do that! What happened to me, it wasn't your fault!" I detain a little pause, before I repeat to emphasize it to her "It was not your fault!"

She looked down to her lap momentary. When she looked back at me, tears were streaming down her cheeks freely. It was like she was no longer trying to hold them in "Knowing that we could have prevented that-" her voice cracked, she took in shaky breath and managed to continue "-you have no idea how much it hurts. It's uh...it...it's not a good feeling. It's pretty horrible feeling to live with" Stef took her left hand back to wipe away the tears on her cheek "I wish I could turn back time and fix the mistake we made 7 years ago"

I got up from the coffee table and keeled in front of Stef. It seemed to me, she needed a hug. Badly. And that's what I did, I wrapped my hands around and pulled her in hug.

"It's all right" I whisper to her, when Stef lowers her head to my shoulder. I feel her grip the back of my shirt in her fists "I'm okay! it wasn't your fault. I'm all right."

"I love you so much, Callie!" Stef says in my neck, without loosing the grip on me or leaning away from me. I felt that my shirt got these little wet spots on my shoulder, where Stef's tears landed.

"I love you too" I reply tightening the grip on her as I press my head to her side of the head

"Don't let go. Not yet" Stef begged when I had stirred a little to lean out of the hug

"Okay" I say and remain in my position, hugging her

I don't know how I hadn't heard mom walk in the house. Stef and I only realized she's here, when we heard her say warily and slowly "Hey, guys...what's going on?"

We both lean out of the hug. I jump up to my feet as Stef stands up. When I glanced to Stef, I she wiped the tears away from her cheeks as again.

"Nothing much" I tell mom and glance to Stef by my side once more "Talking...about stuff"

"Talking is good," Mom replies as she watches both of us

"Lena was-" I momentary turn to Stef as I gesture to her "Stef said that Lena remembered her attacker this morning," Stef next to me nodded her head to confirm what I just said

Mom look stops at Stef "Yes, I heard. They brought him in today!"

"They did?" Stef asked instantly as she liven up once mom mentioned that Malloc was arrested

"Yeah...Allen and Harrison are interrogating right now," Mom said as she lowered her gym bag on the ground. Her keys remained in her hand, she was jiggling them in her palm.

"Did he come clean?" Stef was very interested in the subject

"Not that I know of. They have barely started to talk to him, so...give them few hours. He will break. They always do." Mom explained to Stef

"Did he lawyer up?"

Mom shook her head "Stef, Allen will probably call you when they get something out of him. I'm not the person to ask these questions, because, you know, I am not the one interrogating him. I'm here, talking to you"

"I know, I know" Stef rubbed her forehead "I'm sorry...I just-" Stef took in a shaky breath. I slip my hand in her palm and give it a squeeze. When Stef glances down to our hands, a small, weak smile appears on her lips "-I just want this whole thing to be over. I want him locked away, I want him out of our lives. For good!"

Mom nods back understanding "You don't have to explain Stef. I understand"

"Uh, I should probably get back. Lena is waiting for me," Stef said looking between me and mom

"Bye kiddo!" Stef says before pulling me a quick hug

"Bye," I answer her when she walks up to mom

Stef stops right in front of Amy. Mom places her hand on Stef's upper arm to try and cheer her up a bit "It's going to be okay Stef"

Stef pulls mom in a hug as well. I don't think I had ever seen them hug. To me, it always seemed like they had more like a best bud/partner relationship. Their relationship started when they were paired up at work. And that relationship is the base of their friendship now. Neither one is the super girly type that hugs and kisses other grown ups whenever they see each other (kids – that's a whole different story). Instead of hugging they usually gave each other a should pats, I have seen them fist bump as well. But most of the time, they just greet each other with words – no touch is necessary.

Mom glanced over Stef's shoulder to me with utter confusion in her face. She was surprised by this act of affection/physical contact. But after her confusion passed, she hugged Stef back.

Stef POV

November 28th

When I entered our bedroom with a tray in my hands, Lena stirred on the bed. She must have heard me walk up the stairs. Lena slowly woke up as I walked in. There was still sleep in her eyes.

"Hi, love. How did you sleep?" I ask softly as I place the tray down on the nightstand for now, till Lena wakes up. For now, I sit down on the side of the bed. My hand rests gently on her leg.

"Quite good actually," Lena replied as she stretches on the bed

"Are you hungry? I made you a soup and sandwiches to go with" I nod to the nightstand where the tray stood. Her stomach growls when her eyes land on the food next to her

"Smells good," Lena says and runs her tongue over her lower lip quickly as she eyed the food on the tray

I smile back at her and stand up to take the tray "Let me get that for you."

"Wait," Lena reaches for my forearm to stop me in my motion "I need to go to bathroom first"

"Of course. Do you need any help-" I asked taking one step away from the bed, to give her some room to stand up

"I got it," She replied quite confident, but she was still holding on to my forearm for safety reasons, if her head spins

"Slowly, my love" I remind her quietly as I watch her move her legs over the bed side

"Mm-hmm" Lena hums as stands up. Her grip on my arm tightens, the moment she stood up. I saw her close her eye – her head must have gotten dizzy. The speed she stood up, must have still had been too fast. I take a step closer and I am now standing by her side. My left arm was placed on her lower back, to steady her.

"You good?" I ask when I see her open her eye back up. Lena stands still for a moment to steady herself.

"Yep. Head spun a little. I'm okay now," She replied and headed towards the bathroom

When Lena walked in the bathroom, my phone in my pocket buzzed. I had received a text from Callie. She was asking me if she could come over today and see Lena. I don't reply her instantly, because I needed to ask Lena that first.

Callie of course was always welcomed here, but this visit was under a little bit different circumstances and Callie understood that. She knows that Lena may not be up for visitors if she was tired and just wanted to rest. Some days, when you are sick or injured, you simply don't want to see anyone from outside the family circle. You just want piece and quiet.

Lena came out of the bathroom two minutes later. Once she was crawled back up in the bed and settled down comfortably, with a pillow behind her back, I placed the tray of food over her legs.

"Bon appetit!" I smile at Lena when I place the tray down

"Thanks, honey" Lena replied as she reached for the spoon. I once again sit back down on the bed side.

After few spoons of soup, Lena asked "Was that one of the kids?"

"Huh?" I tilt my head sideways slightly and frown up my face as I was confused by her question

"Your phone. I heard your phone buzz," Lena clarified "If it was one of the kids, I hope you texted them back, that I am okay and that they don't need to worry about me"

The first two days, when Lena got back home from hospital, the kids checked in on mama few times a day. All the calls and texts came to me, because Lena was staying away from all the technologies, like phones, TV, laptops, tablet. Mariana called me 2 times and texted 4 times. The other kids were close by. Well, only Frankie didn't call or text, because she was in kindergarten and she doesn't have a phone. But I was sure, if she was few years older, she would have called and texted just as much as the other kids.

"Not ours," I answer with a small smirk

"Callie? What did she want?" Lena asked right before she lifted spoon full of soup up to her lips

"She wanted to know if you are up for visitors. Callie wants to visit you after school" I explained to Lena

"Oh" Lena smiles back "What did you reply?"

"I didn't. Not yet. I wanted to ask - if you are up for a visit. Maybe you are not feeling like it"

"You can text her back that she can come over," Lena said with a little smile "It is always nice to have her here"

"Will do," I smiled back and reached for my phone to text Callie back

After I picked up Frankie from kindergarten, I waited at the Anchor Beach for few of my kids and Callie. Jude got out of the school and into my car first. That guaranteed him the spot in the front next to me.

While we waited for Mariana and Callie, Jude and I talked about his day. I also had to listen for the second time, about Frankie's day in kindergarten, about the new game they were playing in recess, because she was telling Jude about it as well. Mariana and Callie both came out of the school at the same, giggling about something. The girls both got in the backseat, next to Frankie and then we were off to home.

Once we got home, all three – Frankie, Jude and Mariana – headed straight upstairs to go see their mama. Callie lingered in the kitchen with me for a little while.

"So, uh..." Callie spoke up nervously "did you tell someone?"

"Tell someone what?" I asked back as I washed my hands, so I could start making dinner

"About, you know…Malloc, what he did to me" Callie answered in a hushed voice. She was most likely worried that one of the other kids could overhear her. I could bet my life on, that Callie doesn't want Jude to know about what Malloc did. She simply doesn't want to worry him.

I was drying my hands in the towel when I turned to her. My back was pressed at the counter besides me. I shook my head and replied in a hushed voices as well "No...I didn't tell anyone. I wasn't sure if you wanted anyone else to know."

"Oh, good!" Callie breathed out as she was nodding her head back as well. After a little while she sat down at the table. Callie placed her elbows on the table and looked down to her hands as she asked me "Not even Lena?"

"No," I placed the towel down and walked to the table. Callie looked up to me curious "I didn't want to upset her. She's having a hard time as it is..."

Callie kept on nodding her head slowly, her lower lip was sucked in, her eyes were averted to the table in front of her. I could tell the wheels were turning in the girls head.

"Don't you think Lena should know?"

"Maybe. Maybe not" I said slowly and thoughtfully after a little while "If she should learn about it, I think, you should be the one to tell her, not me, because it's your story to tell."

"Won't she learn about it in the trial?" Callie asked back curiously

I pressed my lips together, forming a straight line as I thought about it "Yeah, she probably will."

Callie got even more thoughtful "Won't that get her upset?"

"Maybe a little. But she would understand why neither one of us told her"

"It would probably be better if she learned about it from one of us," Callie said looking straight at me

"Like I said, Callie. It's up to you. If you don't want to, you don't have to tell anyone. I won't tell anyone, even Lena, unless you want me to tell her" I reassured Callie and reached for her hand on the table "It's your choice, love!"

Callie POV

I peaked in the bedroom and saw Frankie, Jude and Mariana all sitting on the bed around Lena, surrounding her. Jude was telling her about their day, as the rest of them were listening. Lena, even thought her eye was still swollen shut and her nose still had a plaster over, was smiling. It's the little things in life, that can make a persons day. Lena was simply happy, when she was around her kids, that much I know. She doesn't need much. Her wife and kids made her happy.

I knocked on the door quietly, grabbing everyone's attention "Hey, is there room for another one?"

"Of course!" Lena exclaimed happily and waved at me to come in "Come sit down. Stef said you would be stopping by."

"I just wanted to check in and see how you how you are doing," I told her as I crawled up on the end of the bed, by Lena's feet

"I'm better each day," Lena says with a quite a positive view to it

"How's your head?" I asked glancing to her swollen and black eye. The injury looked very painful. Her nose too. Even though it was hidden behind the plaster, it seemed painful.

"Little bit dizzy when I stand up or turn my head too fast, but other than that, I can't complain"

The 5 of us chatted about small stuff for the 15 minutes or so. Mariana was the first one who left the room. She went to help Stef in the kitchen. Jude was the next one to leave. He wanted to start his homework so he would less to do on weekends. Frankie left last, she went to Stef as well. Probably not to help in kitchen, but to just be around her mom.

"So, what is it that you could not say to me when the other kids were around?" Lena asked the moment we heard Frankie head down the stairs

"What makes you think I have something to say that I couldn't say around others?" I raise my eyebrow at her

"I have known you for a while now Callie. I think I have gotten pretty good at reading you!"

I chuckled back "You got me"

"What is it, honey?" Lena asked in a worried tone. I shifted and crossed my legs underneath me. For the time being, I was looking down to the bed, away from her look that was full of concern about me. She was the one injured, yet she was worried about me. It should be the other way around.

I take a deep sigh and speak up very slowly, as I was still building up the courage to actually bring the subject up "Do you remember the time…back when we just had met-" I looked up to her "I think it was February, when I kind of hated you?"

Lena chuckled back "Yeah, I remember. You were ignoring me whenever you came to visit Jude. Won't deny, I was hurt a little"

I scratch my forehead nervously "And do you remember, when you drove over to our place. I was painting the garage and you decided to help me"

"You and Amy had bet that you couldn't paint the garage without a daub on your clothes," Lena said pointed to me as she tried to recall the event "Didn't you win 30 dollars or something?"

I nodded my head back "50 dollars!" I corrected her with a smirk "But because you blabbed to my mom, I also lost the 50 dollars because of you," I said causing Lena to laugh out softly

"That's right. I had forgotten about that second part," Lena replied back and reached for the pillow behind her back. She moved the pillow slightly and got herself comfortable.

"Do you remember what we talked about?" I asked her and started to bite my lower lip as I waited for her to answered

"Uh...if I am correct, it was about...Mr. Malloc" Lena said as her face dropped when she remembered. The smile had disappeared from her face. She got suspicious the next moment "Why are you asking me this, Callie?"

"You told me, that if I wanted to, I could talk to you about it. About...him. About what he did to me." A lump formed in my that the moment those words left my mouth. There was no going back now.

Lena remained silent as she sat and watched me closely. Her mouth was slightly parted, she looked partly scared, partly confused, but mostly she looked worried about where this conversation was going.

"I want to talk about it," I stated back as my hear was beating fast in my chest

"W-why?" Lena stuttered out "Why now?"

"Because-" I moved closer to her. When I was by her side, I sat down on my knees and slowly and carefully reached for her sleeve. I glanced up to her, for permission, before I carefully started to roll up her sleeve. The welts had gotten less visible, they weren't as red as before and they didn't stand out so much, but they were still there. The scars from the belt were still there.

"Because know you know. Now you know what he did to me," I said in a whisper as I gently traced one of the welt with my finger