AN- Here it is! The Sequal to Safe In Your Arms... Healing, growing and discovering is all in store for the Foster Family.

I hope this brings you as much joy as Safe In Your Arms did.

Lots of love to you guys!

Our Safe Home….

"Summer" Lena announced coming into the kitchen "Today is the first day of summer break!"

Stef mocked glared at her over her mug "Yeah, yeah rub it in. You and the kids get to stay home all day while I go slave over a desk, and chase criminals down alleys in the sweltering heat."

Lena smirked "Come on Stef, the kids and I deserve this break. The last six weeks were hard."

Stef snorted "That's an understatement, I don't be grudge you, your summer" She assured her.

"After the shooting, the kids headed back to school and finished up the last six weeks like champs. I know that wasn't easy on them. Callie and Mariana are still going back forth on sleepless nights. Jesus had a hard time finishing out this year without his buddy around. I don't think he realized how big of part of his life Emma still was even though their friendship had gone different ways."

Lena poured herself a cup of coffee and sat on a stool reaching for a peach. "I am a bit worried about him" She said honestly "I think, I want to get him back into the counseling. It's really benefiting the girls."

Stef nodded "Does he want to see her?"

Lena shrugged "I am not sure, I haven't asked him about it honestly."

"I don't see any harm in it" Stef shrugged as she snatched a piece of bacon from the plate she just made. She scanned the room to make sure no kids were coming in. "I know last night, I said I'd come home for lunch and have lunch with you and whatever children were home for the day, but I got a call this morning. Bill finally has time to meet with me."

Lena's eyes darted to the stair well before back to Stef "Really? Can he help?"

Stef shrugged "He thinks he might be able to help."

Lena nodded "Stef, are you sure you want to do this?"

Stef nodded "Something isn't right there Lena, there's been little things that have gone off as warning flags to me in the past six weeks, and it started with that visit with Doctor Hopper when her infection wouldn't go away. As her mother, I can't ignore those signs. Can you?"

Lena thought it over and shook her head "NO, I can't. I can't do the helpless feeling any longer. Not as a mother."

"Agreed"

It wasn't even a second later they heard footsteps on the stairs.

"Oh one of our first summer breakers is up" Stef said turning her attention to the door taking a guess on which child it was, and she was right to find it Brandon.

"Hey B" She greeted him "Don't you know it's summer break baby?"

Brandon smiled and nodded "It is almost eight mom, I slept in almost two hours."

"Good point" She nodded "What are your plans for this glamorous day?"

"I volunteered down at the camp that's being held on the Varisity street for under privileged kids, it's a two week camp. I am doing the music portion."

Stef's eyes lit up "Oh, really? How come you didn't say anything? That's great baby!"

"I wasn't sure I could do it at first, for some reason they took forever to get me the dates, I just found out two days ago it's this week and next. I told them if it was the week of our annual family camping trip I was out."

"Smart boy"

"Do you need me to make you a lunch?" Lena asked getting up

"Oh, you don't have to" He shook his head.

"Do you need one?" Lena asked

He nodded

"Then, I'll make you one. Its summer break I don't have to play Vice Principal anymore. Right now I can just do mom things."

Brandon grabbed a banana "Sure, then thank you" He glanced at Stef "I am going to run and grab a shower. If I don't see you today, have a good day at work mom. Tell Dad if you see him we're still on for our man time camping trip and both Jude and Jesus are in."

Stef nodded "So they agreed huh?"

"We're going to roast a pizza, you they think they'd turn that down?"

Lena shook her head "That sounds messy."

"And delusions!" Stef groaned "I am jealous!"

"We can try it on our camping trip if it works well" Brandon assured her.

Lena crinkled her nose "I feel like someone is going to cheese burn themselves and we are going to spend half our time in the ER."

"You worry too much" Stef rolled her eyes as Brandon let out a little chuckle "Cheese burns.. That'll be mom. Mainly because she never waits for her food to cool."

"I like good, hot food!" Stef defended herself as she tossed a peach at Brandon who ducked it but surprisingly to everyone Callie managed to catch it as she was coming into the kitchen "well how did know I wanted this?" She asked taking a bite before slipping on a stool.

"Good morning my love" Stef winked at her. "Did you sleep okay?"

Callie shrugged "Yeah, fine I guess" as she looked down and focused on her peach not making eye contact with Stef.

"It's okay to say you didn't, if you didn't." Stef said cautiously. A lot of healing had happened in the last six weeks, for the girls but they still had their days that were tough, and some days Callie was like a land mind. One wrong look, gesture or comment would set her off. Her counselor kept assuring Stef and Lena that this was normal. Callie was an extreme PTSD victim she'd lived through more than one event in her life to contribute PTSD, a lot of emotions, wounds and scars that the girl needed to work with on her own time. So Stef and Lena worked with her patiently some days it required tough love, other days it required knowing Callie needed physical touch and time with the moms. She'd never admit, but the moms were learning her body language tone and more. They'd either nip the attitude the minute it started or depending on her body language would drag her off somewhere private and just hug her or curl up with her and talk. Stef was now trying to gauge how Lena's day would be.

Callie nodded "I know, it was fine, I guess' She repeated herself after she swallowed a bite of peach.

"You going to hang around here today?" Stef asked hoping she'd say yes. She also wondered if Callie would rebuke the idea of a summer nap time forced upon her schedule. It was clear to her that her child could benefit from a nap, but her child would probably argue that idea.

Callie nodded "Yeah, I don't have plans today, tomorrow Daphne and I are going to play mini golf. I am treating her to it for her birthday."

"Oh, that sounds like fun" Stef nodded "Do you need money to get her a present?"

Callie shrugged "well… I don't…"

"Why don't you and I go get her a gift today?" Lena piped up as she dropped Brandon's sandwich in a baggie. "We can have a girls date, maybe even lunch?"

"Oh" Callie rubbed her forehead "Um, I don't know, I mean.."

"Come on Cal" Lena pressed "It'll be fun."

"I only have enough allowance saved for the golfing, lunch and the bus tomorrow!" She exclaimed becoming visibly upset.

Stef placed her hand on Callie's shoulder in an attempt to calm her and warn her of her attitude.

"It's fine honey, I missed all those years of buying birthday gifts for your friends with you" Lena tried "I want to do it, and don't you think it would brighten Daphne's day? She's a pretty special friend"

Callie hated taking help, she was independent and having the moms buy her anything always seemed to agitate her.

"I'd go Callie" Brandon piped up "Lunch out with mom? That's always fun."

Lena winked at him "Funny, you didn't use to think that when you were six"

"Yeah, that's because you wouldn't take me to McDonalds" He argued "But now I appreciate your finer taste for sophisticated foods."

Stef laughed and Callie rolled her eyes "I still like a good burger, beer and fries" Stef whispered into Callie's ear actually earning a smile.

Lena shook her head "None of you complain when I feed you amazing healthy foods."

"But none of complain when we get a burger and fries either" Stef teased as she went over to Lena and gave her a side hug.

Lena rolled her eyes but then turned her focus back to Callie. "So?"

"Fine" Callie exhaled

"Oh, don't make it sound like it'll be torture to spend the day with your mother, missy" Stef said in a teasing voice but her eyes told her she was serious.

Callie nodded and stood up. "I am going to go get ready for the day."

They watched her go and Stef turned to Lena "If you can get her to nap this afternoon that might help you."

Lena shrugged "I may try, but she's got a counseling appointment at four. So I'll probably take her to lunch around one, then shopping then to her counseling appointment" Lena said as she took some hamburger meat out of the freezer "Tacos for dinner?"

Stef's eyes lit up "Right to my heart, you are a woman that knows how to get right to my heart. Through my stomach."

Lena laughed and found herself rolling her eyes yet again "Go to work you goofball, and call me when your meeting is over?"

Stef nodded "Absolutely!" She kissed Lena's cheek "Tell my sleeping summer babies, that I love them."

Lena nodded "I will, have a good day at work."

"If you need me, just call" Stef reminder her.

Lena nodded "We'll be fine."

Stef grabbed her keys and blew her a kiss. "B, have fun with the little loves. I can't wait to hear how it went tonight. OH and wear sunscreen"

Brandon laughed "Yes mom."

Stef pointed her finger at him before walking out the door.

"Someone who has her energy this early in the summer, should be locked up" Brandon shook his head. "Now, I really gotta get that shower" He said making his run from the room.

"Agreed" Lena nodded as she tossed in some freshly made cookies into Brandon's lunch.

The Fosters

Stef ran into the little diner out of breath. She spotted Bill right away and quickly slid into the chair across from him. "I am so sorry, I am late! Speeding tickets galore" She laughed.

He offered a smile and nodded "It's okay. First off how are Jude and Callie? Settled in okay?"

She nodded "Oh yes, I can't even picture a time where they weren't there honestly. It's like they are perfect fit to our family puzzle. Thank you for having Lena take her. You changed our lives Bill for the better."

He smiled "I love a good success story" He admitted. "How are they doing after the school shooting? That had to be intense?"

Stef picked up her water and sipped it for a moment before setting it back down. "It was intense, and it was hard on my wife and girls. It was hard on all the children really, but the girls lived it. I mean Callie and Lena were shot."

"I am so sorry" Bill said sincerely.

"It did bring out some good things though" She smiled "It brought us closer as a family, but I am discovering it rattled some skeletons that are hidden in my children's closets."

He nodded "You know, I wasn't Callie and Jude's social work at first right? Well when you called to see if I could track down more on her files, I started looking into it."

Stef straightened herself her stomach turning she didn't like Bill's tone. "Their original social worker Sue Henley was fired."

Stef cringed "Why?"

"She hid details, lost evidence. Placed kids with bad foster parents, to get a cut of the money"

"That is disgusting" Stef shook her head. "Yes" He agreed "Her goal was to always get foster kids adopted out quickly. So if kids had pre existing medical conditions she'd hide it. If she felt that would hinder kids from getting adopted, and it was families that she could get a cut of the money."

"I hope she got more then fired" Stef shook her head "I hope she got some jail time!"

Bill reached next to him and pulled out a a few file folders "I don't know what happened to her, but after talking to you I managed to track down their medical records took me a few weeks, I am sorry."

Stef's reached for the files "These are my children's medical records?"

"From birth" Bill nodded "Every cold, ear infection, stitch, Did you know that Jude had children's asthma? It looks like he out grew it, but that would have been handy to know. Explains the two hospitalizations we had with him when he was nine, pneumonia. I'd watch that."

Stef pulled the files to her chest. "You just gave Lena and I the greatest gift possible, knowledge!"

"Stef, when I met Callie she was already a shut down child, I did my best for her, but there is a lot I didn't know. I really tried my best to make up from her first social worker, but those children have seen a lot of life."

"Oh, we are aware" Stef nodded "Lena and I comment on that daily, our kids are wise beyond their years forced to grow up too fast. We're here to offer them their childhood back."

Bill smiled "They're good kids, they deserve a chance at happiness" He said sipping his coffee and then raised his eyebrow "Uh, Stef, did you tell Lena we were meeting here?"

Stef shook her head "Not here, I told her we were having lunch but not here, why?"

Bill motioned with his head, Stef turned around to see Lena and Callie standing in the entry way waiting to be seated. "Oh, are you kidding me? Out of all the diners in the city they end up here!" She bit her lip hoping they wouldn't see them she was about to turn around and tell Bill to play it cool when she saw it. Callie's eyes caught hers. She let out a little gasp and took several steps back. Lena had quick reflex and grabbed her arm before she could get to far away then scanned the room to see what Callie had seen her eyes landing on Bill and Stef. Realization filled her features. She quickly pulled herself together and smiled.

Stef flipped the files over so Callie's name wasn't on it and waved.

"What are you two doing here my loves?" She asked

Lena pulled Callie over to Stef's table with her "Hey honey, she greeted"

"Why are you with him?" Callie demanded not beating around the bush. "Do you not want me anymore? Is it because of the other night? When I yelled at you to go away?"

"What?" Stef got up "No! Callie come on you know we want you! I tell you every day how much I love you, when have I ever lied to you?"

Lena wrapped her arm around Callie's shoulder "Sweetheart, mom is a cop dealing with social workers is part of her job remember. Yours ours. I promise you."

Bill nodded as he stood up as well "Actually, I was just leaving, so looks like you might have just scored a lunch date with both of your moms." He stopped in front of her. "Are you doing alright?"

Callie nodded looking down at her shoes.

"You've got a good thing going on here" He said tapping her shoulder "You see that right?"

Callie nodded "Of course, I see that" She glared at him "I don't need you messing with it."

"Callie" Stef warned "Attitude, sit down love"

Lena took a seat across from Stef and pulled Callie into the seat next to her. "Lunch with both your mom's. Kind of fun"

"Yeah, I guess" She mumbled eyeing Bill.

"I actually have another meeting" Bill smiled "Cal, take care say hi to Jude. Just for the record seeing you makes me happy, because you're a kid that I placed in a forever family, a loving forever family."

Callie took a deep breath and gave him a weak smile. "Yeah, I suppose I owe you a thank you. You did promise Jude and I would you would find us a home that was perfect for us, and you did insist on having Lena, my mom take a chance on me."

"You're a special girl Callie, and some day I hope you see what we all see in you."

Callie blushed and began to play with some sugar packets. "Thanks"

"Stef, Lena" Bill nodded "Always nice seeing you" He smiled "Take care ladies, talk to you soon."

Stef smiled "Thanks again Bill.

He waved and left

Stef sat back down in her chair moving her file folders to the empty chair next to her. "I can't believe out of all the places in town you two ended up here."

Lena shrugged "This place has high reviews, Callie wanted to try it."

"Apparently like mother like daughter huh?" Callie asked with a small smile before looking down "Mom?"

"Yes, my love?" Stef asked leaning in knowing what Callie was going to say was going to be in her quieter voice and it would be hard to hear.

"I am sorry, I kind of freaked out" She said glancing up at Stef with a guilt written all over her face, "I know I was out of line with Bill, and you. Just seeing you two together, gave me a brief moment of panic. I had this voice come into my head that was really loud. It was screaming that you didn't want me anymore. Because since the shooting, I've been sort of a pain for you, the mama grounding, and the infected wound that took several doctors visits to heal, and sleepless nights. I thought maybe it became too much for you." She brought in her lip and bit down "I know you love me, but the voice was louder then mine."

Lena wrapped her arms around Callie's shoulders while Stef grabbed her hand and pulled it over rubbing her thumb on the back of Callie's hand. "If that voice ever comes back you come straight to me or mama, and you let us talk that voice down! I guarantee our voices are louder, and more fierce because we're your mothers and that voice is hurting you, so we'll get rid of it! I promise"

"Agreed" Lena said whispering into Callie's ear "Even my whispers, of I love you like this are louder" She kissed Callie's cheek. Callie blushed and smiled pulling her hand away and straightening herself out. They were in public after all. "So, mom will you split a burger and fries with me while mama has some healthy salad."

"Throw in a milk shake and you got yourself a deal" Stef winked

The Fosters

FB

"Hey sweets" Stef said crawling onto the air bed next to her daughter "You survived your first day back to school, how was it?"

"Wasn't as bad as I thought" She admitted rubbing the bridge of her nose, while her eyes drooped a little.

"Mama, said you came and saw her, for all your meds good girl" She praised running her finger across her daughter's cheek bone.

"Mmm hmm"

"But the day took a lot of you" Sef observed "Because it's six PM and you're crashing, time to be honest with me yes?"

Callie looked to Stef her teddy bear wrapped up in her arms. Lena's sweatshirt wrapped around her tightly. Looking so much younger and smaller then she was. It always amazed Stef how one moment her daughter could seem mature and wise beyond her years, and then the next moment look like a little girl who desperately needed her mommy "You're not feeling good are you?"

Callie shook her head "Not the best"

"Your arm hurt?"

She shrugged "Not too bad, I think I am just fighting an infection and today was a long day."

"Fair" Stef said leaning in and kissing her cheek "How much ibuprofen did you smuggle?

Callie's eyes got big "Uh"

"I am your mom" Stef tapped her nose "I know you, I also knew it was in your bag when you went to school today, I knew you'd do anything to mask that fever of yours. Today was important to you, I get that. You wanted to be back, you wanted to be with mama and you wanted to prove you were both safe. That's why I allowed it. However here and now, lets make a deal, and I'll let this slide."

Callie nodded "Mmm k"

"If you don't feel good, even if it's a headache you let me know. I promise I won't always baby you, but as your mother I just want to know what's going on with your body so if needed I can help. Okay?"

Callie nodded her chin hitting her bear as her eyes closed "Yes, mom"

"Music to my ears, love bug" She leaned in and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Sleep baby, you're safe in our home, you're loved, you did. Now just sleep."

Callie's eyes shut and Stef ran her fingers over her forehead for a few moments until the girl was sleeping.

"You're safe baby" She whispered to her sleeping daughter "In our safe home."