AN- When I started this story, with the random little idea I had, I never knew it would turn into this. I didn't outline, I just wrote what came to me when it came to me, the only thing that was ever planned was the scene when Lena gave Callie the teddy bear. Wow that was a crazy long time ago too! I couldn't have done this story with you guys, the reviews, favorites comments and love gave this story a life of it's own! All things must come to end though... Or... To be continued? That is the question...

The Fosters

Sleep still hadn't been perfect, Mariana still had a night terror, but only one. Callie still tossed and turned, but did sleep.

Stef and Lena were able to calm Mariana down and went back to their own bed, where they slept the rest of the night kid free. For the first time in over a week they got at least five hours of sleep total. First time in days.

Morning came much to fast for Lena's liking however, she would have loved to stay in bed for a few more hours.

"Morning is here all over again" She grumbled as she shut off the alarm.

Stef rubbed her face "Right?" she rolled to her side and peered down at the air bed by her bed. "Good morning my babies" She smiled at the two teen girls who rubbing their own eyes and yawning.

"Morning mom" Mariana said with a smile as she sat up. "I am going to go snag a hot shower" She climbed out of the bed, making the air bed jostle causing Callie to grunt.

"How are you feeling love?" Stef asked as she sat up as well.

"Okay" Callie yawned "Okay enough to go to school!"

Lena smiled as she got out of bed and stretched "We'll see slug a bug" She warned the girl "I am going to go start coffee and breakfast, I call the shower after Mariana."

"Callie and I took showers last time" Stef smirked "We had lots of hot water, didn't we sweets?"

Callie nodded as she put her arm over her eyes and nodded "Waking up is hard work" She mumbled.

"Tell me about it" Stef said as she got up and stretched before jumping onto the air bed with Callie making her jump and groan. "Mooooom" Callie stretched out sounding just like an annoyed teenager.

Lena smiled from the doorway thankful she had witnessed that moment between the two This moment brought her heart so much joy just hearing her daughter sound like a normal annoyed teenager.

Stef laughed as she began to poke Callie's sides getting more grunts.

"Stop" Callie whined and groaned as Lena rolled her eyes "If you make her pee her pants, you're cleaning it up" she called to her wife before leaving the room.

Stef leaned down over Callie and began pecking her forehead with lots of little kisses before she left her lips lingering for a few moments to check for sign of fever. Feeling that she felt normal she began to peck at her again which caused Callie to groan and try to cover her face. "You've got morning breath, mom gross!

Stef laughed before rolling to the side "Aren't you a ray of sunshine this morning"

Callie again found herself groaning "There should be laws, against someone being as darn perky as you are this early."

Stef laughed again and patted Callie's stomach "Up and at em my love, we'll go down stairs and have some breakfast, Once you've been up and out of bed for about ten minutes, I'll check you for fever, if you don't have a fever you may go to school, if you do have a fever then you'll stay home with the grandparents today."

Callie rubbed her eyes as she climbed out of bed "How long are they here for?"

"As of last night until Friday evening." Stef said as she climbed off the air bed "The day you are no longer mama grounded!"

"Then I can sleep in my own bed!" Callie said happily as she too climbed out of bed "In my own room!"

Stef nodded "Yes, my love, but you do know if you ever have a rough night you can come in here yes?"

Callie nodded "I know"

"You know, that mama and I love you?"

Callie smiled and nodded "Too early for the mushy stuff, but yes mom. I know."

"You also know if there is something you want to talk about. Anything from your past, dreams of your future…"

"I know" Callie insisted. "I get it,"

Stef stopped at the doorway and looked at her daughter. "You're a strong kid, who has a lot of life under her belt for such a young age, and I am proud of you, but you don't always have to be strong. You've got mama and I to be strong for you. We really want you to be a kid"

"Why?" Callie groaned "Why are you doing this so early in the morning? I know!"

Stef tilted her head to the side "I just worry about you, that's my job as your mom."

Callie wrapped her arms around herself tightly as she eyed Stef "I know, thank you, but I am fine!"

Stef nodded "I get that, I just wanted to remind you. You've gone through a lot the last few days. It never hurts to be reminded."

Callie walked over to Stef and wrapped her arms around her. "I love you!'

Stef smiled and kissed the top of her head "Alright sassy pants, go down stairs eat something so we can give your medicine and check you. I am going to go wake up the smelly boys."

Callie giggled them "Climb on them the way you did me! You're morning breath will get them up."

Stef swatted her bottom playfully. "Watch it kid!"

"Scary" Callie mock rolled her eyes before she took off running once Stef narrowed her eyes at her.

Stef blew on her nails and rubbed them against her pj pants "Yep, that's what I thought, this mom still has it."

The Fosters

It was decided that Lena would take the kids to school herself so Stef could get to work on time. Callie was fever free and was given the go ahead to go to school. With strict orders to check in with Lena during breaks for medication and fever checks. If any sign of fever came on Sharon was being called and she would come get her.

Callie agreed to the terms, but had faith that she'd make it through the day. She'd even hidden ibuprofen in the secret pocket of her back pack and made sure to pack a water bottle. She wasn't getting sent home! She was going to finish this day of school just like her brothers and sister, just like her mother.

Lena walked Callie to her first class. "You know, if you get too tired, or it's too much you can come find me?"

Callie nodded as she played with the strings on the hoodie she was wearing, another one of Lena's zip up around the house sweatshirts, Stef had snatched the other one away the night before to wash it, so Lena slipped one she'd worn just the other day to the girl. Lena knew it wasn't the sweatshirt that Callie had been drawn to. It was the fact that it smelled like Lena. That's what had brought her comfort when Lena had driven off that night.

When Lena and Callie had been running for their lives and hiding behind lockers. Callie had been so close to Lena, Tucked in right up against her. It had been the smell of Lena's shampoo, her body spray, and smell of freshly laundered clothing that had brought Callie a little bit of comfort in that terrifying moment. The familiar scene of one of her mother's.

Lena understood this better than anyone, she'd done the exact same thing when Stef had been shot. She had wrapped herself up in Stef's lounge around the house sweater, and it brought her a sense of peace.

Lena's long slender fingers reached out and tilted Callie's chin up so their eyes would meet.

"If you need me at all today, you know you can come to me?"

Callie nodded "Yes"

Lena smiled "Even, if it's just for a hug?"

Callie wrapped her arms around Lena and hugged her tightly resting her head on Lena's chest. She listened to Lena's heart beat for a few seconds, it was steady and soothing. Last week she had been behind Lena her head had ended up on Lena's back and then she had listened to her mother's heart beat while silently praying the shooters wouldn't find them. Her heart beat had been rapid and fast she was almost sure at one point it was going to beat out of her chest. So to hear it now, soothingly steady was relief. Tears began to fall as she stayed against Lena.

"Mama?" She whispered

Lena ran her fingers down Callie's arm "Sweetheart?"

Callie pulled away and looked up at her. "I, don't have the words right now, but I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. Life hasn't always seemed to go my way, but I think last Monday everything changed?"

Lena tilted her head to the side

"You lived, I didn't lose another mother, in fact" Callie bit her lip nervously "In fact I think it made us closer than ever, if I doubted before, I don't now! You and Stef are my mother's and this is my family and I belong. I am safe" She said softly. She pulled Lena again in for another hug feeling Lena's arms wrap around her tightly. "I am safe, safe in your arms."

The Fosters

FB

"No, Jesus stop trying to stick your finger in your sister's ear."

"eww" Mariana yelled as she ducked "Mom! Seriously why are we doing this?"

"Jude, buddy your shirt is tucked into your pants half way. Can you fix it?"

"Brandon, what happened to the red sweater I bought you?"

"It's hot!" He groaned

"Do, I look like care? Go get it"

Fine he grumbled as he left the room.

"Callie, you look beautiful, I love that dress on you baby, but I've asked for all cell phones to be put away for the day, this is a family day. If I see it again it's mine"

"Fine" She shrugged "But then you can't stalk me"

"I am not stalking you, there are rules! You are earning your trust back young lady. Put it away!"

"I have it on airplane mode!" Callie defended "I am taking pictures, believe me, we're going to want these pictures, the true feelings of the day"

"Mom, why do Callie and I have to wear matching dresses? I mean come on! It would have been cute when we were seven, now it's just dumb"

"Oh, they aren't the same dress they are two different colors!"

"Baby..."

"Don't you start too! Isn't this important to you? How hard is it?"

"It is important to me, but maybe Callie's pictures are more what we need"

"This is our first family Christmas card picture with our now family of seven! It's important to me!" Stef's voice cracked "This is where I get to show off my babies to the world."

Jude fixed his shirt and smiled "Callie, and I've never been in a Christmas card before, our mom didn't do them"

Callie handed her phone to Stef "I didn't realize how important this was to you, I am sorry." She bit her lip "I've seen happy family Christmas cards and I used to hate them" She admitted softly "Because they looked so happy, and I felt like Jude and I would never have that. It's kind of amusing to look at the pictures I just took and realize a family isn't picture perfect like you see on a Christmas card there are tones of crazy moments leading up to that picture, but you can clearly see the love in the picture."

Stef paused and looked at her taking in what her daughter said. "I am going a little over board aren't I?"

Callie bit her lip "Well, you've become a drill sergeant this morning, that's new, but I don't think I realized how important this was to you"

Stef laughed "Maybe, I've been a little crazy trying to organize the perfect picture. I am just so crazy proud of my family and I want the whole world to know"

Callie blushed before doing she didn't often do but she initiated a hug with Stef "I am glad I finally get to be a part of a picture perfect family picture."

Stef kissed her temple "Oh baby, you and Jude are the pieces we didn't even know were missing until we had you. I'll tone down my crazy" She promised "If you keep taking the true pictures, of our family until we pose for the picture perfect one we send out. I think you're pictures are going to bring me the biggest smiles some day when I look back on this day" She said handed the girl her phone back.

"Our first family Christmas card" Jude said happily as he wrapped his arms around her waist

"It's the first of many baby boy" Stef winked at him "Alright you hooligans lets move to the porch and pose pretty! Then I am kicking all your butts and a game of family back yard football!"

"Now you're talking" Jesus grinned as he ran out to the porch.

"That's worse then the picture" Mariana whined "But, I am sitting next to my sister in the picture. Us girls have to stick together" She said grabbing Callie's hand and pulling her outside.

"Is it wrong I want to show our beautiful family off to our family and friends?" Stef asked Lena as they walked towards the porch.

Lena shook her head as a big smile took over her head "No, not at all. Our family is beautiful the most perfect there is, and its ours. Yours and mine. Thank you for your love, and for giving me a house and five beautiful children"

Stef leaned in a kissed her cheek "Thank you, for my home and our children and your love."