"Hello! Moms! Frankie!" Callie called opening the door to the big house

"Ahh there's the bride!" Stef said coming from the living room wrapping Callie in a hug.

"How was the honeymoon?" Lena asked coming from the kitchen wrapping Callie in a hug of her own as Stef greeted Will.

"It was good, so relaxing" Callie smiled

"Well that's what you want your honeymoon to be" Stef winked at Will as Callie made a face.

"Alright let's keep it clean" Lena sighed.

"Sissy! what did you bring me" Frankie asked leaping into Callie's arms. at almost 7 she was to big to be held and Lena always protested when she did. But as the baby of the family sometimes Callie and her siblings couldn't resist treating her as the toddler she had long since grown out of.

"Oh course I did, come sit" Callie said plopping her onto the couch. Frankie's wild curls bounced with every movement her head made. They were growing out but were an an awkward stage of long enough to stand up and not long enough to go down leading to a little girl with big hair. Lena had long since given up trying to tame them and just worked to keep them out of her eyes until they were long enough to go down.

"Here moms this is for you, and this is yours" Callie said handing Stef and Frankie each a bag as Will sat down next to her.

"Oh it's beautiful!" Lena cried as Stef pulled out a picture.

"It's the sunset over the volcano, it's hand painted from the actual thing, the artist sits there every evening and no two are exactly alike because the sunset is never the same" Callie said.

"Thank you! it's lovely" Stef smiled

"Oh wow!" Frankie cried pulling out a big seashell and a doll.

"That shell is from the beach, you can hear the ocean, it you put it to your ear, and that doll is in traditional Hawaiian dress" Callie told her as Frankie lifted he shell to her ear.

"It works! listen mom!" Frankie said running over to Stef putting it to her ear. Callie smiled watching them, though her moms were considered young to have four grown children they had aged over the past few years. Stef had developed some wrinkles around her mouth and eyes when she smiled that Callie had actually come to love and Lena had some light streaks of gray running through her curls. But Frankie kept them both young and Callie knew it would be a long time before either of her moms actually started aging.

"What do you say?" Lena whispered to Frankie.

"Thank you sissy" Frankie smiled throwing her arms around Callie.

"Thanks Will" Frankie said giving Will a hug after.

"Are you guys hungry? Lena asked.

"Oh yeah, I could eat" Callie said looking at Will who nodded his agreement.

"Good, your siblings should be here soon for dinner" Lena said

"I made my shrimp scampi for tonight" Stef smiled.

"Can I help?" Callie asked.

"No no sit! everyone will want to hear about your trip" Lena said patting her knee as she went over to the ling table in the kitchen.

"So what kind of things did you guys do?" Stef asked putting her feet up on the coffee table. Stef still worked on the police force with Mike as her partner. Stef never changed and Callie loved that things with her mom were always a constant. She always knew exactly what to expect when it came to her mom. Lena was the principal at Anchor Beach, but she swore the job was easier now that less of her own children were in the building.

"Well we went snorkeling at the reef, it was amazing you could reach out and touch the fish" Will started saying. Stef and Frankie were very into his story but Callie found herself watching the doorway. As soon as it opened her ears perked up.

"Hello!" She heard the familiar voice. Callie jumped up almost crashing into her sister as Mariana descended the stairs into the kitchen.

"AHHH" Mariana screeched making Frankie cover her ears as Callie flew into her arms.

"I missed you!" Mariana cried

"I missed you too!" Callie agreed. And she had, 10 days away from her sister was to long as far as Callie was concerned even if they had talked everyday. Long gone were the days Callie and Mariana treated each other like civil roommates. Now they were sisters, they were more then sisters, Mariana was Callie's best friend, they did everything together.

Mariana had graduated from collage the year before with a degree in Mathematics and was a software engineer by day. At night she took classes in design and was starting to become a fashion designer. The many personalities of Mariana were really working out for her. At 22 she had recently started renting a little studio apartment in the city 20 minutes away. Callie missed having her sister so close but she loved when they had their once a week girls nights out sometimes with Lexie or some of their other friends. Mariana had dates here and there but no one had stuck around long term. Her sister was to sassy and free spirited to be tied down yet.

Brandon was the next to arrive greeting Callie and Will with a warm hug. Brandon was a piano teacher, one of the most sought after in the state to teach children of all ages. He also played in an orchestra, had composed many pieces on his own and liked to do some jingles for advertising for fun when he had extra time. He was still the typical big brother of the house always the calm collected one there at the drop of a hat whenever someone asked. He lived in the city as well a few blocks away from Mariana but he had a very serious girlfriend Megan and Callie knew it was only a matter of time before they got engaged. Megan was a sweet girl who made him happy and got along really well with the rest of the family.

Jesus was still the sports star of the family. He was good in everything but he went to college on a full basketball scholarship and played for the varsity team since he was a freshman. He took less classes to focus on his sports so he was in his last year, he lived on campus 15 minutes away but was home almost every night for a home cooked meal. He had talked about joining the force with Stef but when a full scholarship came through there was no way their moms were letting him pass that up. He lived and breathed basketball now and was hoping to go pro next year. But he knew that could only last so long and was still talking about joining the force some day which made Stef proud and Lena look like she was going to throw up every time he mentioned it.

Jude came home from drama club and Callie greeted her youngest brother with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. Jude was 17 and the oldest still living at home. He was in his senior year at Anchor Beach, all the hard work Lena had put into helping him catch up had paid off because he was in all advanced placement classes and looking at big name collages. He identified himself as gay, not that that really mattered in this family. Everyone treated him the same way they always had and he was comfortable talking to any of them about anything. Callie remembered the day he had officially come out 2 years ago. He had asked everyone to gather in the living room and had almost nervously announced he was gay. The room was silent for a minute before Stef just nodded.

"We know, love. But thank you for officially telling us." She had said gently

"Let us know if you have any questions about anything ok, you can still ask us" Lena assured him.

"Cool, so what's for dinner?" Jesus had asked with a shrug

"Hey Jude now you can come with Callie and me when we go checking out guys" Mariana had smiled. Callie still remember the smile that spread across her brother's face as everyone just kind of shrugged and nodded at his announcement. Everyone had just played it off, they were not surprised of course but Callie could still feel the love pulsing through the room and knew her brother could too. After Lena had gathered him in a hug and told him the same thing they had been telling them his whole life with them. 'It didn't matter, they all loved him anyway no matter what and always would.' Callie's relationship with her brother had changed as they got older and he felt more like her brother then her own child a fact that made her both happy and sad. She knew their years in the foster system would always keep them close, but now those years felt like a lifetime ago.

Francesca the youngest at 7 was truly the baby of the family. Callie loved that to Frankie the family just was. To her their moms had always been married and the siblings had always been just that. There was no foster care or adoption of custody battles, to her they just, were. She knew that Callie, Jude and the twins were adopted, they never kept anything from her, but it was just all the same in her eyes. She didn't know any different and Callie loved that. Frankie was the spitting image of Lena with her mocha skin and bouncy curly, her eyes had a sparkle that reminded Callie of Lena's mother and she had a sweet little smile that no one could resist. On the outside she was all Lena. But on the inside Frankie was a feisty little girl with an independent attitude. She could make them all laugh at her smart, sassy comments and could keep up with Stef's banter and wit, it was easy to forget how young she truly was. But at the end of the night she would crawl into someone's lap with her head on their shoulder and Callie suddenly remember that infant baby sister she had fallen so madly in love with.

When everyone was inside and dinner was ready Stef gathered them all at the table. They sat in their usual seats but now Will sat between Callie and Jude on Stef's end. Will got along really well in her family, sometimes he felt like the missing piece. He understood how important her family was to her and really respected their importance in her life. He had even asked all of their permission to marry her before purposing to her. He was kind and respectful to her moms and they treated him like a son. He and Brandon often got together for a beer when Mariana and Callie had their girls nights and they were quickly becoming good friends. Jesus often invited him over to watch the game or go to the gym and workout together. Mariana had approved of him since day one and he really respected how close Callie and her sister were. He treated Mariana like his own little sister always driving her home when she had been drinking to much or letting her know when a guy was acting sketchy around her. He was just as protective of her as Brandon and Jesus were. Jude and Will got along really well which was most important to Callie. Despite having very little in common they always leveled with each other and could talk about anything. Will gave Jude advice on boys and Jude like talking to Will about his job as an engineer. Somehow they always found a common interest and could spend hours talking about things. And Frankie of course loved him, Callie had been with Will since Frankie was 4 so she knew her sister had very little memories of life before Will was in it. To Frankie Will was just another older brother.

After dinner they all got up going about the house. Mariana and Callie helped Stef with the dishes. Jude and Will sat in the nook starting to discuss the many species of fish Will had seen snorkeling on their honeymoon. Brandon and Frankie sat by the piano playing and Lena and Jesus went into the backyard chatting about school and other things going on. Callie smiled feeling her family all around her as she dried the bowl Stef handed her.

Stef cleared the table after dinner a few night later. It had been a quiet night home with no extra children at the table which was a rare occasion.

"Baby go grab your book and I'll do your reading with you" Lena told Frankie who nodded going into the entryway to dig through her backpack.

"How's your homework bub?" Stef asked Jude.

"It's good, I just have to finish my history paper"

"Need any help?" Lena offered

"No it's not hard, just long" Jude sighed.

"Alright, well we are really proud of how hard you have been working this year love. You know it will really pay off next year. You have come a long way and we are very proud of you" Stef told him.

"Thanks" Jude flashed her a smile taking his computer into the living room to sit on the couch and work on his paper.

"Can we read chapter 9 today?" Frankie asked handing Lena her book.

"Yeah, Jude is in the living room so let's sit in the nook and not bother him" Lena said leading her other to the couch on the other side of the room. Frankie settled into the side of her and started reading out loud from her book. Stef smiled at the pair finishing the dishes before going over sitting on the other side of Frankie to join them. After a little while Lena sent Frankie upstairs to take a shower and she sat back putting her feet up.

"How was work today?" Stef asked as Lena folded into her side.

"Well, we came in under budget for the month so that means we get to put more money into the athletics program" Lena said.

"that's great!" Stef said.

"Yes, it's just no as exciting anymore without Jesus to get excited about it though" Lena sighed making Stef laugh.

"I thought you were glad to have all those troublesome Adams Foster kids out of your school she teased.

"I was, I am! Not finding them in the hallways skipping class anymore, but I do miss being able to check up on them whenever I want"

"that's what cell phones are for my love" Stef chuckled.

"Your right, besides I'm still waiting for all the trouble Frankie is going to pull when she gets older."

"Yes, and being your daughter I'm sure she will cause plenty of it"

"Oh please, that she gets from you" Lena said making Stef laughed again as she ducked her head to give Lena a kiss.

"Alright it's getting late, we should go say goodnight to the little one" Stef said standing up and Lena followed her up the stairs. They went into the girls room first where Frankie was sitting on her bed.

"Hey baby time for lights out ok" Stef said.

"Ok" Frankie nodded pulling back her blankets and getting under them.

"Good night baby" Lena gave her a kiss on the forehead tucking her in before Stef gave her a kiss of her own and turned off the light being sure to leave the door open and hallway light on. Both women crossed the hall going into the boys room where Jude was on his computer. Lena knocked on the open door frame before entering and Jude turned to them pulling off his head phones.

"We just wanted to say good night, don't stay up to late ok" Lena said.

"Ok" Jude nodded.

"How did your paper go?" Stef asked.

"Good, finished" Jude smiled.

"Good boy, see you in the morning" Stef said rumpling his hair and kissing his cheek

"Good night bub, mom and I are going to be downstair for a while" Lena said

"Ok, good night" Jude said turning back to his computer as they left his room going downstairs settling on the couch to watch TV with a glass of wine

"So how's the new house?" Robert asked Callie at dinner. Over the years Callie had come to better terms with her birth father. Once he backed off allowing her to get adopted she really started enjoying getting to know him. She loved when he he told her storied about her mom and how she was when she was young. Lena was right he did have a lot to offer her and she enjoyed learning about her birth family. They tried to get together for dinner once a month to catch up and chat. Robert was always trying to throw all kinds of money at Callie she was never comfortable accepting but she appreciated it was his way of trying to make up for what he felt he owed her. Mike was still more or a father figure in her life, but she appreciated everything that Robert was trying to do.

"It's good, We really like it"

"Three bedroom right?"

"Yes, well we turned one into my office"

"And how is work?" Robert asked.

"It's good, it's everything I thought it would be. But I really feel like I can make a difference you know? I mean as a social worker I am the front line for a lot of these kids and getting to be the one who has a voice for them is really humbling."

"You must see some tough stuff."

"Yeah, but the point is to take them from the tough stuff. Yeah theses kids come from a hard place but the reward of seeing them placed in a safe home and later adopted, or seeing their biological parents able to straighten their life out and get their children back makes it worth it" Callie nodded.

"Are you pro birth parents?"

"I think every case is different. It completely depends on the side and what the home lives are like."

"And Will how is he?"

"He's good, busy with work but he's up for a promotion actually, he might be the boss of the firm here in San Diego so that would be nice, less hours and more pay, how's Sophia?" Callie asked about her biological half sister. She and Sophia kept in touch but she went to collage on the east coast so it was mostly just phone calls every few weeks.

"She's doing well, she likes her school, she hates the cold but I guess that's expected of a California girl" Robert said laughing.

"I talked to her a few weeks ago she was telling me about her boyfriend Ryan"

"Oh please don't bring him up" Robert sighed rolling his eyes making Callie giggle.

"Hey babe? Have you seen my blue tie?" Will asked as Callie was in the shower a week later.

"Umm no, did you have it on vacation?" Callie asked washing the shampoo from her hair.

"No, I didn't take that one"

"Oh maybe in the closet by the hall" Callie said.

"Oh yes! got it!" Will called as Callie stepped out of the shower wrapping herself in a towel.

"What's your schedule like today?" Will asked coming into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"I have a home visit on that infant I was telling you about, and then I have lunch with Peter" Callie said

"Oh yeah? How is he?" Will asked.

"He's good, I told him I would look over his collage essay, It''s crazy to think a few years ago he was the first kid I was trying to place in a home and now he's applying to colleges" Callie smiled getting dressed and running a brush through her hair.

"Well, that's a success story" Will smiled at her going into the kitchen. Callie smiled finishing her hair and applying a light layer of make up before going into the kitchen were Will was by the stove.

"I have eggs and bagels" Will said.

"Oh yumm" Callie grabbed two plated sitting down at the table. Will put some on her plate and she picked up her fork as he sat across from her. Callie took a bite of the eggs but as soon as it touched her tung she felt her stomach churn, a horrible taste filled her mouth and she jumped up running into the bathroom barley making it before throwing up in the toilet. She sat back leaning against the wall catching her breath.

"What just happened?" Will asked handing her a glass of water.

"Oh, I have no idea, that was weird" Callie shook her head.

"Are you sick?"

"I don't think so, maybe I just wasn't feeling eggs today" Callie shook her head getting up and brushing her teeth.

"Maybe you should stay home?" Will watched her nervously.

"I'm fine really, I feel totally fine. It was just some fluke thing" Callie shrugged

"Fine, but if you start to feel sick come home" Will said.

"I will, I promise" Callie assured him.

Callie made it through the day feeling fine, she ate lunch and dinner no problem and forgot about being sick earlier that morning. But the next morning when she woke up she found herself suppressing a stomach ache and trying not to move to quickly as she got dressed. She passed on breakfast afraid of a repeat of the morning before.

"I wish you would eat" Will said as Callie drank her tea.

"I'm having coffee with Lexie later I will get pancakes then" Callie said. It wasn't a lie, she did have plans with Lexie to meet for breakfast before they both went to work, but at the time she had no intention of eating.

"Maybe you should call your moms what if you picked up some weird sickness on vacation" Will said.

"We came back almost 3 weeks ago, I am fine! please stop worrying" Callie sighed leaning across the table to give Will a kiss.

"Fine, but If you feel sick tomorrow you have to see a doctor"

"Deal" Callie nodded.

"So we have dinner at your moms tonight right?" Will asked.

"Yeah, I'll just walk over if you want to meet me there when you get out of work" Callie said.

"Yeah, that sounds good" Will nodded.

"Ok, I better go. I have an adoption this morning" Callie smiled. She had been a social worker for 3 years and adoption days never got less exciting. She loved seeing kids placed with permeant loving families.

"Ok, I love you have a good day. Tell Lexie I said hi!" Will said giving Callie another kiss as she grabbed her bag heading out the door.