Quick updated author note before you read on (12 August 2016)
It has been brought to my attention that this story is thought to be a copy of Finding Carter. I am here to say only this chapter has similarities. I am not going to lie and say 'oh no, you are lying.' I am not going to be that type of writer and I know I am not that type of writer. When I came up with this idea of a story, Finding Carter was on my mind but I knew I cannot rewrite a story to make it The Fosters version. I have a different story from the show Finding Carter and so many different story lines. I really hope that you read this fan fiction and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It isn't a copy and I promise it won't have anything to indicate it is.
Love from Shaz.
Keep the love going!
one - found
Present
Stef
"I really, really miss our Cleo." Lena cooed softly as we were hugging each other in bed staring at the newborn photo of our baby girl who would be sixteen today. "Our blond haired, blue eyed baby girl."
"I miss her too." I replied as I kissed her neck with a sigh then got out of the embrace and out of bed. "I know one day we will be reunited with our darling bug.. We will." I reassured her like any other day and she nodded slowly with a sigh.
"I don't understand still.." Lena added as she followed my lead as we got ready for the day and to get all the kids up. "Why someone can be so heartless to kidnap an innocent newborn from her family." I shrugged as I put on my police uniform as she tied her brown, curly hair into a nice bun.
"I hope she is safe and she is being loved." I whispered the same words that I have always said to Lena who now was dressed and so was I. "I hope whoever has her is looking after our little girl, that is all I ask and will still ask of that person who kidnapped Cleo." We hugged each other then we got the family going for the day. I went to wake up Brandon, Jesus and Jude as Lena went to wake up Mariana and Callie. No one was in their beds and I smiled at Lena as we walked down the stairs seeing the table set with breakfast cooked.
"You guys." Lena cooed as we all embraced them in a big mama sandwich. "You are too amazing." We all sat down and started to eat our warm pan cakes that our children cooked for us.
Cleo
I smiled at Mama who drove us to the ice cream parlor for my birthday breakfast. "My baby is growing up too fast." Mama said softly as we sat in the ice cream parlor eating our sundaes with mine piled with gummy bears. "Still loving your gummy bears I can."
"Yes!" I replied with a cute smile on my face as she poked her tong out at me with a laugh. "I swear if you ever lose me, you would easily find me again at the nearest place that sell gummy bears."
"That is probably the truest thing I ever heard and can believe." Mama replied as she stroked my cheek with her index finger and a smile on her face. "My dearest Lacey, how I am so proud of you." I smiled wider at her as she got something out of her purse and handed it to me.
"What is this?" I whispered softly with a smile on my face and she returned the smile as she pointed to the box.
"Open it and see what it is." She ordered softly. I opened it slowly after reading the card and a pair of keys fell out of it and I quickly caught it. "I saved up a lot of money from working for you, darling. I saved up enough for a car and for your college when you finished high school." I squealed and hugged her excitedly.
"I am proud of you, Mama." I whispered into her neck as we hugged and stayed in that position for a while. "You are my role model." I heard her sigh in a happy way.
"You are my little gummy bear." She cooed as she stroked my hair softly and I smiled at that.
Past
Third person view
"Push, Stef!" Lena and Mike encouraged Stef as she cried and screamed.
"Come on, honey." Lena cooed as she stroked Stef's hair with her left hand and held Stef's hand with the other. "Remember this is for that little peanut that is about to pop out of you.. Our little baby that Mike helped us create." Lena smiled up at Mike who looked happy and teary too. Stef nodded and pushed as hard as she could possibly do until a baby came out crying.
"It's a she!" The nurse congratulated us as Lena cut the cord and the baby was cleaned off then placed into a blanket as Lena and Mike watched in awe at the little baby girl. "Let's get this one to her Mamas." The little baby was placed onto Stef's breast then Mike and Lena sat on both sides just watching the two interact. Stef finally looked up at the two people she can thank for giving her this beautiful girl.
"It's all been such an crazy ride." Stef whispered as a happy tear rolled down her face. "And I am happy to announce that the two names that you wanted me to choose are now both her names."
"Cleo." Lena whispered as she stroked the newborn's soft face as Mike smiled.
"Brianna." Mike finished as he smiled at Stef with a wink.
"Our precious darling bug." Stef whispered with a happy sigh coming out from her mouth as they all looked down at a now sleeping Cleo Brianna Adams Foster.
A few weeks later
Stef
I put Cleo down for a nap and let Brandon play with his toys for a bit longer since he wasn't getting tired and moody. I went to the laundry room to put some more washing on and put the other load into the dryer then decided to check on Cleo. She was still there sleeping soundly and cutely so I went to check up on Brandon since he is two years old and a cheeky toddler. "Hey B." I whispered as I kneeled down to him as he yawned cutely and a toy was slipping from his chubby hand. "Someone is a little tired now."
"Ma-ma." He whined a little as he dropped the toy and I picked him up. "Home?" I sighed realising he wanted Lena but she was out shopping.
"She will be home soon.. When you wake up." I reassured him as I carried him to his superhero room and placed him into his toddler bed with a smile as his eyes drop slowly but he kept fighting sleep.
"Mummy." He put his arms out after I tucked him in and I smiled at his cuteness. "Story!" He happily said as he pointed to the book shelves. I shook my head with a laugh as I grab a book to read to him but fully knowing he was going to fall asleep on the first page I will read to him. I read the whole book even though he was far from awake and I smiled at him as I placed the book back into the book shelf.
"Sleep tight, B." I whispered as I tucked a strain of his hair behind his ear and made sure he was tucked in snugly as he likes then went to check on Cleo considering she would wake up crying around this time. It was a little dark and I sure I couldn't see her so I turned the lights on a little more so it is more like a dim then turned my attention to the open window that I swear wasn't opened by me or Lena. I looked over to the cot and there was no Cleo. "Cleo?" I whispered as I ran to the cot tripping over my own feet as I do. She wasn't there and I ran to the window seeing nothing but my parked car. How does one little baby get kidnapped in the space of 10 minutes? I ran to the phone and called the police then to Lena and Mike.
Present
Stef
I hoped into the police car with Mike in silence and drove around the city waiting for something to happen. "How are you holding up?" I looked over at Mike with a sigh and shrugged.
"The heartbreak never goes away." I answered him as we stopped at the cafe for our coffees as we got out and went in. "We are still trying to keep open minded about finding our Cleo but to be honest with you, I think we have lost her forever."
"Don't say that." Mike answered as we grabbed each a cup and filled it with coffees then payed for them with a few muffins to keep us going. We walked back to the police car and kept driving until we were called for a bad car accident. "Let's get going!" We drove to the crash and saw that a drunk was involved.
"When does it ever not involve a drunk?" I simply questioned to one of my co workers who were investigating the crash site to which she replied with a shrug and pointed to a young teen girl who was sitting there looking pale and sad.
"Her Mother was the one that got killed in this crash.. We aren't sure about her name or anything because she is in shock and won't speak to anyone." I nodded and saw that she looked quite familiar. I walked over to her as Mike collected information and I stopped before I got too close to make her feel comfortable.
"Hey there." I whispered softly and she looked up at me with her scared, blue eyes.
"Is my Mama really dead?" She spoke with such a sad, broken tone and I sat next to her with a sigh. She let me hold her as she cried as I nodded to tell her it was so.
"I am sorry this has happened." I spoke with a soft, genuine tone after she calmed down as I tucked some of her blond hair behind her ears. "What is your name, sweetie?"
"Lacey." She whispered after wiping her eyes and fixing her jumper that was covered in blood. Her hair was covered in blood too and she had cuts everywhere that were taken care of. "That is what I like to be called but my real name is Cleo." I had to double take what she said and she looked at me with confusion once I croaked out her name.
"Cleo Brianna?" I whispered softly and she looked at me with a surprised face.
"How did you know?" My mouth fell open as her innocent question hits me as I placed my hand on top of her shaky hands.
"Happy Birthday.." I croaked out as tears filled my eyes and she looked scared as she pulled away from me.
"How do you know me?" She screamed as she stood up and backed away from me as I tried to reach for her. I can't lose her again. "Stay away from me! You are scaring me!" I stopped and nodded. "Answer my question." Mike came running and saw my teary eyes.
"What is happening, Stef?" Mike whispered as he took my hand into his. I looked at him then looked back at my blond hair, blue eyed baby girl.
"We found her, Mike." I whispered with a smile as I looked at him and looked back at our baby. "Oh.. My precious Cleo."
"What is happening?" She cried out impatiently as she angrily grabbed her bloody hair and ran her fingers through it. "I don't understand!"
"Let's take her back to the station." Mike whispered to me softly. "We can explain everything there." He looked at Cleo who was shaking and crying.
"I just want to go home with my Mama who is dead!" Cleo screamed and fell to the ground crying. "I don't know what's happening.. I want my Mama!" I held my hand to my heart as guilt and sadness filled my insides as Mike carried Cleo to the police car and strapped her in as she softly cried to herself. We drove slowly back to the police station and guided her in then took her to our shared office. I sat her down, placed a warm blanket around her and handed her a warm hot chocolate which she sighed and took.
"Cleo.."
"Lacey.." She whispered looking down at her warm hot chocolate. "My name is Lacey." I grabbed a photo of her as a new born and handed it to her.
"You were kidnapped from us." I whispered as she looked at it and shook her head.
"You have got the wrong girl."
"No, baby." Mike whispered finally as he kneeled in front of his little girl who we let become her father too. "You are biologically ours." She looked at us finally with a confused and scared look.
"I don't believe you!" She yelled and threw the photo away from her, and stood up then stormed out of the room leaving the blanket and hot chocolate behind.