Stef Foster is looking for the little girl she gave up for adoption twelve years ago. Lena Adams wants to adopt the young girl that has no one. What happens when both women come face to face in a battle for the same child?

(The original ending to the story Regrets and Reconciliations where instead of Max it's Stef who answers Lena's call after Callie's transplant (Chapter 56). How will Stef, Lena and Callie deal with being involved in each others lives?)

Author's Note:

As I'd mentioned in my Author's Note at the end of Regrets and Reconciliations, the end to that story was never my original intention. It was suggested to me by meyouthem123 and since I loved it so much and it seemed to fit so well with the story I decided to use it. But now here is the way I had initially intended to go so for those of you who were keen on seeing if and how Stef and Lena worked out their problems then here goes nothing. Hope you all enjoy it and thanks for reading.

I do suggest you read the Author's Note at the end of Regrets and Reconciliations (Chapter 66) first.

Love Junebug.

(PS: The beginning, in italics (paragraphs 1 and 2), is identical to Regrets and Reconciliations. Once the italics ends, that's where things change in this story).

Previously on… Regrets and Reconciliations:

Stefanie Marie Foster was a good kid, popular and respected by everyone. She came from a very influential and very high powered family. At fifteen she gave in to peer pressure and attended a party where got pregnant and had a baby girl that she was forced to give away by her very dominating father.

Callie was initially supposed to be adopted by the Jacob family right at infancy but when they learned that the baby had a congenital heart condition that would require several surgeries, an eventual transplant and possibly even mortality, they decided not to adopt her and Callie was then put into the foster system where she suffered for the next ten years.

Lena Adams was the daughter of very humble but loving parents and as a result of that she was able to open her heart and home to the ten year old girl that had absolutely no one. Two years pass and finally, after a long struggle-filled wait, a date was set for Callie's adoption, only to be halted by Stef who had been looking for Callie for the last two years.

Over the course of the next year Stef, with Lena's support, tried her hardest to make amends to Callie for the life she had led but Callie had remained bitter and angry towards Stef. Her behavior changed and she began doing things that were completely out of character for her including risking her life in order to be more popular and more like other kids her age. Lena, unfortunately, began blaming Stef for Callie's recent behavior and eventually forbid Stef to ever see Callie again which lead to the beginning of a custody battle that scared Callie to the point of seriously affecting her health. When Callie was hospitalized as a result of the battle Stef backed off and left them alone until Lena once again approached her to help with Callie's heart transplant and medical needs. The deal was that Stef would help get Callie the best of everything medicine could offer without being involved in the girl's life in order to avoid the risk of further complications and in exchange Lena would keep Stef informed of Callie's progress and treatment so that the blond wasn't left in the dark.

Stress is high and gripping as Callie finally goes into surgery and no one is able to truly understand how Lena feels as she waits for four grueling hours while her daughter's heart is removed and replaced with another one.

Excitedly, but with a hint of nervousness, Lena followed the doctor back to where Callie was and tears of joy made their way down Lena's face when she was finally able to actually see for herself that Callie was alive and doing well considering the major surgery she'd just had. By the time they had made it back there Callie had already fallen asleep again and she looked so small and pale in the hospital bed but still, it was enough for Lena to just see the steady rise and fall of her chest and hear the rhythmic beeping of the machines that monitored her heart.

A wave of relief flooded Lena and her whole body began to ache as it let go of the tension it had been holding and she needed a moment to herself - she needed some space and fresh air and she needed to clear her head. She rushed outside the hospital doors and just took a deep, calming breath, trying to settle her rolling stomach. Eventually she began to cry tears of relief and joy that her daughter was finally on the road to recovery, she was adopted and everything was falling into place. Suddenly there was only one thing that Lena wanted to do and that was call Stef and share the news with her for she knew that despite everyone's love and concern for Callie, no one would understand Lena's feelings more than Stef.

Quickly dialing a number she now knew by heart Lena nervously held her breath as she counted the rings before finally hearing the voice that instantly made her smile.

"Is it over? Is she okay?" Stef asked the moment that she answered the call, a clear indicator that she'd been waiting for this call for hours, ever since she received a text from Lena's phone informing her that Callie was being taken into surgery for a new heart.

"She's great." Lena said with a relieved smile. "She's groggy but she's okay. The surgery was a success and the doctors are hoping for a full recovery."

"Oh thank god." Stef said, so relieved that she was beginning to get a headache from the tension she'd been under for hours. "What did the doctors say? What's next?"

Lena spent the next fifteen to twenty minutes explaining everything that the doctor had said to Stef and the two discussed Lena's plans for Callie's after care and Stef promised Lena that she'd set up an account for Lena and put a standard amount into it each month for Callie's medical expenses and if she needed anything more then she just needed to let Stef know and more would be transferred.

"I appreciate that." Lena said, still quite a bit uncomfortable taking money from Stef like this but her first priority was to get the best available for her daughter and so she had to put her pride aside. "I promise you that it will only be used for Callie's medical expenses. I won't misuse your generosity." She tried to assure.

"Use it for whatever you need." Stef emphasized. "There's no condition here. Callie may need something that isn't necessarily medical and that's just as important. I'm not asking for any receipts here Lena. Once that money is in your account it belongs to you."

"I know you're not but that doesn't mean it should be spent on anything but what it was intended for. If Callie didn't absolutely need this I would never have come to you like that but her life literally depended on it."

"I know. I understand that." Stef assured. "And I know that growing up rich screams spoilt brat but the fact is that money isn't an issue for me so let me do whatever I can. If you need a little extra for house expenses or to extend your leave or whatever, just use it. I can handle the expenses. It isn't just Callie that needs to be taken care of. You need a break as well, if nothing else then so that you can be there for her."

But Lena didn't entirely agree. Yes, she needed to look after herself but it wasn't right to use Stef's money to by her own meals and run her own house while she sat at home and earned nothing. That money was for Callie and would be used for her alone and anything left over, should there be any, would be put towards her education for Lena knew that Stef would never take it back.

"Thank you but I'll manage." Lena said though her voice softened considerably. "But thank you for doing this for us. I know you love her and you're worried about her and I will tell you how she's doing."

"Thank you." Stef said, it was her turn to be grateful for being kept in the dark was beyond torturous. Once again an awkwardness settled between them as both were well aware that Stef was still not invited to visit Callie. "I will need to come down there and set up a joint account for us and it will require both our signatures. Do you think you'll be able to come to the bank with me for an hour or two?" She questioned, hoping that Lena could spend at least that much time with her.

"Of course." Lena smiled, despite the fact that Stef couldn't see her through the phone. "Just let me know when and I'll have my mom sit with Callie while I'm gone." She was so tempted to suggest that Stef come down to the hospital as well, just for a minute, but the image of a terrified, breathless, Callie still haunted her and so she just let it go.

"Okay." Stef said. "I'll fly down tomorrow and set it up and let you know."

After that the two once again discussed Callie's treatment, prognosis and aftercare. While waiting for the transplant to happen Stef had spent a lot of time researching treatments and care facilities and learned a lot and surprisingly Lena was open to Stef's input. The truth was that Lena was strapped for time what with taking care of Callie, trying to keep up with the regular chores and errands and attending school as often as possible to avoid unnecessary days off while Stef had had nothing but time as she waited and worried from a distance. Stef mentioned to Lena some of the places and people she'd researched and Lena told her how the doctors themselves and mentioned some of those same names and together they narrowed down the private nurse that Lena would hire to take care of all Callie's needs right through her recovery in isolation, the hospital and at home. What neither of them realized was just how good they actually worked together when they put everything else aside and focused solely on doing what was best for the child that they both loved dearly.