Hi guys! I started working on my newest story and decided to post for you guys! I am still working on Safe In Your Arms so no worries that one should be updated tomorrow! I just thought I'd surprise you with this one. I kind of love writing Callie and the moms. This story will have a lot of them, but it will also focus on the rest of this amazing family. I rated this one T as it will have hard topics. I'll also place a warning if it is going to be a harder to read chapter.
I am so nervous.. :) Enjoy
Stef was humming to herself as she poured a cup of coffee enjoying the few moments of quiet she had until her family all began trickling down the stairs to start their days. This was her favorite time of the day sitting in the kitchen quietly soaking up the moments of silence and then greeting each person as they ended up in the kitchen. It was always a surprise at who was the first down, and who the last one was. She would think she had it figured it out and then her crazy family would change it up on her. Usually it just depended on what kid had what going on the night before and if they showered that night or needed one that morning.
"Hey baby" Lena smiled as she came down the stairs heading straight the coffee pot.
"Morning love" Stef moved to her and pulled her in her arms kissing her quickly before letting her get to her coffee just as more feet were heard on the stairs and Brandon and Jude showing up in the kitchen.
"Good Morning my babies" She smiled at them "I made some bacon and pancakes this morning they are sitting in the oven staying warm. Eat up."
Jude's face lit up "Best mom ever" He said as Brandon moved to the oven to pull the items out.
"How does the day look?" Stef asked snagging a piece of bacon from the tray Brandon had just put out.
"Busy" Lena said pulling out her calendar. "Mariana has a dentist appointment at four"
"Who do you have down as taking her?"
"Me" Lena yawned as she looked back to the calendar "I have a meeting until three thirty. She's going to stay around the school and I'll take her. Brandon is going to his dad's tonight for a game?"
Brandon nodded "Yeah he has tickets to the game tonight, I'll just spend the night."
Lena nodded "Okay, so we won't have B home tonight for dinner."
Stef nodded "Have fun tonight baby, I have to say I am kind of jealous."
Brandon gave a slight smile "As you should be, it's going to be an awesome game. I'll text you play by plays."
"Gee thanks" Stef ruffled his hair.
"It's the least I can do" He smirked
"Jude buddy you have that tutoring group right after school, lets out at three thirty. So why don't you come with me to Mariana's dentist appointment. You can keep me company in the lobby. We can work on homework or just talk."
Jude nodded "Okay"
"So we know what Brandon, Jude and Mariana have going on today" Stef mentally noted "What about the other two?"
"Jesus has practice, he should be home before six." Lena kept her eyes on the calendar "And Callie has nothing at all."
"No group?"
Lena shook her head "She's been already this week and has another one on Saturday."
"Must be nice" Stef mused "Nothing on the schedule it's kind of like a vacation day."
Brandon shook his head "There's still school. That's not a vacation day."
"What's not a vacation day?" Mariana asked coming down rubbing her eyes "Can we have a vacation day?"
"Yeah, Saturday" Stef winked at her "Good Morning Miss Thing."
Mariana crinkled up her nose "Can you not be so bright this early, it's annoying."
"Oh someone woke up the wrong side" Stef shook her head as she poured her a glass of orange juice.
"Thanks mom" Mariana said taking the orange juice and an apple from the dish. "I didn't sleep well last night. Callie didn't sleep well last night."
"Too hot in your room?" Lena asked knowing that had been a problem in the past for Mariana "Is your fan not working again?"
"No, not too hot" She shook her head "I don't think Callie's feeling super well."
Lena raised her eyebrow "Really? Is she up yet?" She asked standing up.
Mariana nodded "Yeah, she's in the room getting dressed."
"What makes you think she's not feeling good, baby girl?" Stef asked tilting her head to the side as Jude moved closer to Stef taking in this conversation.
"She's pale for starters, which is not a great look on her" She shook her head "She tossed and turned when she was in bed and then she got up multiple times in the night."
"I am going to go check on her" Lena said as Jesus came running down the stairs almost knocking her backwards. Thankfully she was able to grab the rail to steady herself.
"Jesus" Lena shook her head "You have to slow down on the stairs."
"Sorry mama" He blushed "Are you alright?"
"I am fine" She assured him "But I could have easily fallen and gotten hurt or one of your siblings so please remember you don't have to be in a hurry all the time."
"Yes mom" He nodded before he tried his hardest to slow his pace down.
"I am fine" Lena turned back to know Stef would be standing close to the stairs after seeing that. "He's sorry, just let it go" She warned knowing how protective her wife could be.
Stef nodded "Jesus, my boy let's get some bacon into you"
Lena shook her head "Nice Stef" She laughed before turning around and heading back up the stairs this time making it up the stairs. She went to the girl's room and knocked softly on the door "Callie, it's me I am going to come in"
She didn't get a response telling her to wait or anything so pushed the door open slowly and stepped in. She found Callie sitting on her bed her school bag beside her. Mariana was right the girl was pale.
"Good morning Slug a bug."
Callie stood "I am coming, sorry. I was just thinking" She grabbed her bag and placed it over her shoulder.
"Hang on a second" Lena shook her head "Sit back down honey"
Callie looked at Lena as if she'd grown a second "I need to get down and eat, so I am not late for school.
"You're not hungry though" Lena shook her head as she put her hands on Callie's shoulders and pushed gently down onto her bed and then removed her book bag from her hands before placing her hand on her daughter's forehead "Oh you are warm"
"I am fine" Callie shrugged as she stood back up "I can go to school."
Lena shook her head "No, not in this house. When you're sick you stay home and honey, I can tell you don't feel great. Get back in your jammies then curl up in bed. I'll bring up some fever reducer water and toast in a minute."
"Lena" Callie shook her head "I don't miss school. I am fine."
"Callie" Lena pushed her back down again "I am saying no."
"To school?" Callie raised her eyebrow "Who tells a kid they can't go to school?"
"This mom" Lena pointed to herself "And you get kind of cranky when you don't feel well I see"
Callie glared at her "I do not!"
Lena rolled her eyes but smiled "In this house, it's okay to get sick. You're not in trouble, you won't be in trouble unless you fight me on the school issue. Either way babe you're not going. So you can either not go change into your jammies and rest, or you cannot go, fight me on it. Get in your jammies and get grounded. The choice is yours my friend the choice is yours."
Callie eyed Lena "I have a test! Mr. Ackerson said we couldn't miss or we automatically fail. I have to keep my grades up! Or.. I get a bad report!"
"Honey" Lena shook her head "Who's your mom standing right in front of you?"
Callie crinkled her forehead "um you?"
"I will talk to Mr. Ackerson, he will not fail you. He just put that in place because this is a big test worth lots of your grade and kids sometimes like to skip. You are legitimately sick and you're my kid and I get the call on if you go to school or if you are staying home. You won't fail, and you won't get a bad report. I promise you."
Callie rubbed the bridge of her nose eyeing Lena for a minute trying to decide if she trusted that or not.
"Grounded or not you're staying home. Make a wise choice Callie girl" Lena replied softly as she walked over to Callie's dresser opening it and pulling a clean pair of cozy pjs walking back to her and holding them out.
"It's not a bad thing to be sick sweetheart."
Callie took what Lena was offering and set them down at the foot of her bed she kicked off her shoes and crawled up her bed curling up into a fetal position rubbing her nose with her pointer finger.
"You really feel awful don't you?" Lena asked sitting beside her as she watched Callie shrug the best she could laying down "I am fine."
"I hate those words" Lena sighed as she brushed her fingers through Callie's hair "Mom and I are going to break you of those words my little miss. I'll be right back" She said covering Callie with the blanket from the end of her bed placing the pjs next to Callie in case she decided to get the strength to change.
Lena left the room and went back down the stairs. Stef tilted her head to the side "What's the verdict mama?"
"She's sick and stubborn" Lena smiled "She needs to stay home today."
"Is she going to be okay?" Jude asked biting his lip in concern.
"Oh bubby" Lena ran her fingers through his hair "She's fine, it's most likely just a bug. "
Stef made a slight humming noise as she was obviously thinking through her day. "You know Callie's never been sick in our home before. I am going to stay home with her."
"Are you sure?" Lena asked pulling the medicine basket down taking out some Tylenol and the thermometer "I could reschedule my appointment?"
"I worked my four tens this week" She smiled "I am off today love, I was just going to go in and catch up on some paper work. However I can go grab that and work on it here."
Lena nodded "That's a good plan, um you'll keep me posted if she needs anything? Her state health insurance card is in in my night stand with all the other kids…"
"I know love" Stef smiled "If I deem she needs a doctor appointment I will grab it."
Lena nodded "Sorry, I feel like a new parent here. We haven't had Callie or Jude sick before. We don't know their tics, what bothers them what makes them feel better."
Jude raised his eyebrow "What? What do you mean? We take medicine and suck it up! Being sick just gets us in trouble."
"Not in this house" Stef promised him "In this house, you get rest and you stay on top of it so you don't get sicker, and you don't go to school that only gets other people sick and is hard on your body." She smiled "And then us moms take care of you. You see Brandon loves Sprite Saltine crackers and a warm rag on his head when he sick. Mariana likes to take warm baths and then curl up in mine and mama's bed with our heated blanket around her watching Life Time movies."
Mariana blushed "And soaps."
Jude shook his head with a smile on his face "That sounds nice."
"Jesus likes to stay in his bed wrapped in blankets listening to music" Stef smiled "That's what makes them feel comforted. Now we can tell they are sick because of how they act. Jesus gets really quiet and really still and doesn't eat. Brandon gets really um for a lack of better words whiny"
"Hey!" Brandon exclaimed
"Sorry B, but it's true you become my baby again when you're sick."
Lena snickered and nodded
"And Mariana?" Jude
"She is cuddly and demanding" Stef smiled as she patted Mariana's back.
Mariana nodded "Yeah, I'll own that."
"So you see Jude, mama and I don't know how you and Callie run when you are sick and what we can do to make you feel better. I want to be home with your sister today so I can observe that."
Jude took a moment to process then nodded "Good, Callie deserves someone looking out for her. It's been a long time since someone has. Though she won't like it and will fight you on it." Jude warned "She's snappy when she's sick and quiet. She doesn't like to let people know what she's feeling. It's weakness."
Stef nodded "Yeah, I kind of figured bud. Don't worry about her baby. She's in good hands."
Lena nodded "The best" She promised as she buttered toast and put it on a tray she had pulled out that now had Tylenol, juice, water a warm wash rag and the thermometer. "I'll just take this up to her, when I come down we need to leave guys."
She got four nods as they began eating faster. "Wait, babe I am going to come up with you" She smiled "So I am going to say goodbye now to my babies" She quickly darted around the room kissing each one of them on the top of the head "Have a good day babies, go out there and make me proud."
Jude eagerly nodded the rest just shook their heads.
"Love you all my knuckle heads" Stef blew them a kiss before following Lena up the stairs.
Lena didn't knock this time she just entered the room to find Callie hadn't moved. "You know love bug, you'd be more comfortable in your pjs."
Callie sighed "I don't care"
"Alright then" Lena smiled "It's up to you."
"Sweets" Stef said sitting down on the edge of the bed and ran her finger up Callie's arm "Can you tell me what doesn't feel good?"
"I am fine" Callie insisted "I don't need anything. Maybe just a nap is all I need."
Lena put the tray down and knelt in front of Callie's bed running her fingers over the girl's forehead "You are so brave and tough" She smiled "I love you honey" She leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I brought you up some Tylenol and toast that I want you to eat and take." She said seriously "I am going to head into work but mom's staying home with you today."
Callie groaned "Why? I don't need anyone to stay home with me, in fact I don't need to stay home! I am not that sick."
"Well, unfortunately for you Cal" Stef said taking the thermometer and putting it in her ear after turning it on. "You don't get a say."
Callie went to push Stef's hand away from her ear as Lena caught "Don't Callie" She shook her head "It's not a sign of weakness to let someone take care of you."
"102.2" Stef shook her head "Yeah your fine sweetheart, get up get your shoes on and head to school." She shook her head "Because that's fine."
Callie sat up but Lena pushed her back "Mom was being sarcastic. You my friend are not going anywhere."
Stef nodded "Exactly"
Callie rolled her eyes "I am fine"
"Actually sit up" Lena instructed and helped her up. She put the Tylenol in her hand and handed her the water "Take those please"
Callie sighed but did as she was told before she fell back onto her pillow.
Stef ran her fingers through Callie's hair "Can you tell me what doesn't feel good? Does your stomach hurt? Do you feel like you are going to throw up?"
Callie crinkled her nose "No, not really" She looked away "Nothing feels wrong… I am…"
"Fine" Stef finished her sentence "Yeah, I know. I've heard."
Stef stood up "Babe, I'll walk you out"
Lena knew that was code for she wanted to talk.
"Since you are dressed Callie, I do need you to get your shoes on" She instructed "Sine you're fine after all. Be ready to leave the house if twenty."
Lena sighed before she leaned over and kissed Callie's forehead "Be a good listener today, and get rest. I'll see you this afternoon sweetheart"
"Be a good listener?" Callie mumbled "What am I four?"
"You're kind of acting like it" Lena said honestly
Callie shot Lena a glare slash pout as she rubbed the bridge of her nose "Bye, have a good day at work" She mumbled "Don't hand out too many detention slips."
"Yeah" Lena rolled her eyes "Miss. Grumpy pants. I love you."
Callie did manage to smile a little bit "I love you too."
Lena followed Stef out into the hall shutting the door behind her "Are you sure, you want to stay with her today? She's crabby and sometimes you two butt heads."
"I'll be a little bit more gracious with her" Stef promised "It's fine honey I am off anyways."
"Why are you dragging my sick baby out?" asked "I don't like that."
Stef held up her hands "Hey, she said she was fine"
"Obvious she doesn't know what she wants" Lena shook her head.
"Honey" Stef grabbed her hands "I am taking her to the station go grab my work and to the doctors office and then back to her bed."
"The doctors?" Lena asked "You don't want to wait it out?"
Stef shook her head "She's not talking and that's a high fever. We haven't taken her to the doctor before a check up isn't a bad thing. "
Lena sighed "If I am needed?"
"I'll call" Stef promised "But, I've taken kids to the doctor before."
Lena nodded "But the three that you have aren't as stubborn or have such a traumatized past."
"Baby" Stef grabbed her hands "I've got this. If something goes wrong I'll call you"
Lena nodded "Okay, just check in with me through the day"
"Yes love" Stef laughed as she put her hand on Lena's back and led her down the stairs "Have a good day" She gave her a tender kiss on her forehead "I love you."
"Love you too" Lena said softly "Do you want me to make the appointment?" She asked
"No, I've got it." Stef promised
"Okay, the number is on…"
"IN my phone" Stef laughed "Honey, I am their mom too I've got this! You're acting like a new mom."
Lena bit her lip "I am a new mom when it comes to Callie and Jude they are my newest babies."
"And mine"
Lena nodded "Okay, I love you bye baby" She said quickly before she ushered the kids out the door before be for she changed her mind.
The Fosters
"Sweets, I am just going to grab…"
"Foster" A male cop said catching Stef's attention "Can I see you for just a moment?"
Stef bit her lip "I've got my kid, I am not working, I am just grabbing paper work."
"I need your opinion on something, and you're the best"
Stef looked to Callie "Sit down at my desk love bug" She said sitting her down on her chair "I'll be right back"
Callie nodded as she watched Stef walk away with the officer. Her eyes traveled Stef's desk there were several picture frames filling her desk. Pictures of the twins and Brandon when they were young and pictures of Lena, Jude's newest school picture was taped to her computer screen. Callie smiled touching the smiling face. She loved seeing Jude's picture on her mother's desk. She then spotted a pretty silver frame away from the others by her phone. Callie picked it up her breath catching in her throat. She hadn't seen this picture before. Someone had snapped a picture of when Stef had been dancing with her and they ended up in a hug. The look of pure love and joy was clearly shown on Stef's face as well as Callie's.
Callie traced Stef's face in the picture and smiled she knew that Stef and Lena loved her and Jude but it still sometimes took her breath away to see it.
"Hey, easy with me" A voice brought Callie's thought away from the frame and up to an officer roughly holding onto a well dressed young man who was handcuffed and being moved. He paused in front of Stef's desk as he talked to another officer trying to find an empty interrogation room open.
"Callie?"
Callie shook her head as she hugged the picture frame of her and Stef to her tightly "Charlie?" She recognized the man under arrest "He was one of her former foster brothers. He'd been a good quiet kid, loved his scifi things. Had been waiting for his forever home, he'd been one of the sweet foster brothers they had. He had always looked out for them in the big home they had stayed in with two other foster kids."
"What are you doing here Callie? My god you just got prettier"
She blushed "I am waiting for my mom"
His eyes went to the desk "Adams Foster? You got adopted?"
"That is enough!" The officer shook him "Stop talking now" He told Charlie as he shifted so he was blocking Charlie from Callie's view.
"Room three is open" Mike's voice was heard coming behind Callie "Get him in there now" He said glaring at Charlie as Stef came back to her desk with all the commotion as she spotted Callie's big eyes and Mikes death ray glare.
"What's going on?" She demanded "Was that guy harassing my kid?"
"He knows your kid" Mike whispered into his ear "And we just brought him as he is a major player in a sex trafficking case of minors" He whispered into her ear so no one else could hear.
"Then why is he still out in the open" She demanded.
"There was a mix up" Mike shook his head "No one expected your kid to be at your desk either."
Stef watched as the guy craned his neck to see pass the officer "It was nice talking to you baby girl, glad to see you're doing so well.. So well"
Chills went down Stef's spine as she quickly
"Bye Charlie" Callie said innocently
Stef whirled around on her "You, hush now!" She snapped in her most serious of tones
Callie's eyes got wide Stef had never talked to her like that.
"Get him out of here Mike" She hissed "Now"
Mike pushed the officer and Charlie out quickly before Stef turned around and knelt in front of her. "Whatcha got?" She asked reaching up and carefully took the frame out of the very stunned Callie's hands. She smiled at the picture "Hmm one of my favorites, I even went out and bought a special frame just for it."
Callie shrugged "Can you get your paperwork so we can go?" She asked rolling her eyes as she dug her cell out of her pocket and unlocked the screen.
Stef cleared her throat "Callie, I…"
"Can you get a move on it please?" Callie snapped "I want to go!"
"Callie" Stef shook her head "I know you don't feel good, but you may not talk to me like that."
She said standing up and gathering her files as she noticed the girl frantically typing on her screen.
"Who are you texting?" She asked pulling the phone from the girl's hands.
"Hey!" Callie snapped standing as well "That's mine! Give it back Stef! I am trying to text my mom! You can't stop me from doing that!"
Stef looked at the screen to see she had in fact pulled up Lena's name. "Yeah, you can talk to mama later." She said grabbing her arm and pulling her close to her. "But before you do the attitude needs to change."
Callie pulled away and headed for the car quickly waiting by the back door to get in.
"Callie" Stef groaned "Get in the front, I am your mother, not your taxi driver."
Callie shook her head "Nope"
"Fine" Stef threw up her hands "I am not going to fight with you."
"I want to go to school, I am fine. I want to see Lena."
Stef shook her head "Sorry baby, you have a doctor appointment we are going to next" She said as she buckled up waiting for Callie to do the same.
The ride to the doctors officer was silent, more silence as they checked in. More silence as Stef filled out the paper work only getting shakes or nods when she asked Callie questions she just didn't know the answers too. Then they were called back into a room where Callie was checked over by a nurse before she left with instruction that the doctor would be with them soon.
"Can I have my phone back?" Callie grumbled
"No" Stef said sitting on the wheeled seat as she scooted in front of Callie placing her hands on her knees "I know you're mad at me baby, and that's okay. I am sorry I snapped at you back at the police station. I didn't mean to scare you, or hurt your feelings."
"Why did you?" Callie asked "It was just Charlie, he's harmless. I actually miss him."
"How do you know Charlie?" Stef questioned
"He was one of my favorite foster brothers. He was always good to Jude and Me. He was harmless."
Stef reached up and brushed some hair away from Callie's face "Love bug, he may have been harmless when he was your foster brother. However he was brought into the station because something is wrong."
"They were wrong! Charlie couldn't even hurt a fly" Callie defended
"Sometimes, things change baby girl. People change. When's the last time you saw him?"
Callie shrugged "A four years ago?"
Stef nodded "That's a lot of time for the world to change him. He's in trouble for doing some bad things to young girls like you. It scared me to see him talking so freely to you. That he knows you."
Callie shook her head "They were wrong! I just know it! Charlie's a great human being!"
Stef stood up and pulled Callie into her arms "I love your heart. For someone who has been through so much you've got the greatest heart baby. Mama always you're like me, but I see mama in you. You both share that forgiving, innocent loving heart. You have to trust me Cal's. Charlie has made bad choices and he's in a lot of trouble. I didn't like that he was talking to you. It scared me."
"Hello" The door opened as the doctor came in. "Hi Miss Callie! I am doctor Brewer, welcome to this wonderful family! I love your mother's and your siblings! Now I hear you're not feeling so well. Lets see if we can get you feeling better."
Callie's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Stef "Charlie's not bad, and I want to go home now please" She begged as she looked up at the doctor "I don't want to be here."
"Sorry" Stef said to Dr. Brewer "We're not having the best of days."
He nodded as he looked at Callie "I am going to tell you everything I am going to do, and your mom is going to be right here and if something really bothers you we'll stop. I promise. It's going to be okay."
Callie looked at Stef who nodded taking her hand and squeezing it. "I am right here."
Tears fell down Callie's cheeks as she embarrassedly wiped the tears away "I am sorry, I was a brat mom" She whispered
Stef winked at her "I forgive you. Now I want you feeling better"
The Fosters
"How is she?" Lena asked the minute she picked up her phone seeing Stef's caller ID.
Stef smiled on the other end "She's sleeping in her bed love. She wanted to talk to you but she passed out the minute she lay down." Stef pushed blonde hair out of her face. "Antibiotics in her system, she has a pretty bad UTI going on. Which embarrassed her greatly."
"What? Why?" Lena asked "Girls get those. Mariana used to get them every time we used bubble bath with her."
Stef nodded "The doctor asked if she was sexually active, I think she turned seven shades of red, but she did admit that she used the bubble bath in that spa basket thingy your mom sent her. That's it. She's just kept quiet about how awful she was feeling so it went full fledged we caught it right before it turned to a kidney infection thankfully" she sighed "We have to watch her, and stress communication" She mumbled "And Lena? Something else happened today. I am sure it's nothing but while I had Callie at the station she recognized one of her old foster siblings Charlie Grish and he was arrested as a suspect in a huge sex trafficking ring but Mike told me he just got out on bail.. Um"
Lena's breath caught in her throat "Stef, is she in danger?"
Stef shook her head "No, of course not! I just want you to up your security around the school if you can. He doesn't know where she lives or anything it's fine. Lets just talk to the girls well actually all the kids about internet safety and stranger danger again. Okay? It's fine I just want to stress to the kids making safe choices."
"Alright baby" Lena nodded "I'll bring home some pizza after Mariana's appointment and we'll picnic in the living room and chat with the kids. Brandon won't be there but we can pull him aside tomorrow"
Stef nodded "Right, I like that. I am going to go nap with Callie" She said softly "I love you sweetie, have a good day?"
"Snuggle her for me" Lena smiled "I'll see you soon" She said as she hung up her phone trying to push away the worry Stef just planted inside of her mind. "And when she's awake have her call me?"
"Was planning on it" Stef assured her "I meant to have her do it before, but her phone battery ended up dying in my purse and then she fell right to sleep when we got home. She'll call you soon. Love you"
"And I you" Lena added before hanging up the phone bringing in her lip as she thought about Callie talking to someone who was being investigated for sex trafficking.