The idea for this one shot originated a few months ago when I thought about how Stef's birthday was never celebrated in the show, considering everyone else had some kind of birthday shindig at some point. Since last Tuesday's episode was about this very thing, I decided to work on this idea some more. This story focuses on Mariana and Callie trying to come up with a plan for a birthday gift and all of the mishaps and usual drama that come along with it. This is purely fluff, just saying.

ATTENTION: This story is set where Callie is 14 and Mariana is 13. I wrote this story a while ago and just noticed how immature the characters seemed so I wanted to push back their ages. For the sake of this story, Aaron and Callie met back then and he had already transitioned. They skipped school and went on an adventure together, which is where Callie took the pictures and why she doesn't want Stef to see them.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the story! -AJ

Up to No Good

"So can you come to the mall tomorrow?" 13 year old Mariana asked impatiently as she waited for her nails to dry.

"You asked me that literally two seconds ago. I said I'd check on it." Callie replied to her sister, opening the calendar app on her phone. The girls sat comfortably in their bedroom, the evening wind brushing through the small opening in Callie's window.

"Nobody uses the calendar app, Cals. I swear, you are like an old lady." Mariana said, her eyes on the screen of her phone.

"Oh crap." Callie said, not bothering to listen to Mariana's insulting comment.

"What? Do you have plans or something?"

"No. This is much worse. Mom's birthday is on Sunday." Callie said, moving her hand to cover her mouth.

Mariana looked disbelievingly at the date on the lock screen of her phone. "Oh… my god. I completely forgot. April 14th…"

"Well… She didn't mention it…" Callie said, trying to justify their moment of ignorance.

"Mom never makes a big deal about her birthdays. She's kinda cruel that way." Mariana told her sister.

"Well we need a gift! What does Stef even like?" Callie said, standing from her bed to pace.

"Callie, calm down. It's Thursday now, so we have some time…"

"Mariana! 2 days is not much time at all!" Callie exclaimed, ambling angrily to her sister's bed.

Callie crossed her arms. Just as she was about to open her mouth to chastise Mariana again, the door opened to reveal Stef, who gave a perplexed smile to both of her daughters.

"Hey… what's with the anger there, Cal?" Stef said, reaching out a hand to rub Callie's shoulder.

"Umm…" Callie tried to whip up an explanation.

"Well whatever it was that you were getting all mad about, it can wait till tomorrow. It is time to turn out the lights. You two have school in the morning and you need some rest." Stef led Callie back to her bed before moving the covers back so her daughter could lay down. She tucked them back on top of Callie snuggly, kissing her forehead. "Watch your temper, baby," Stef whispered with a smile as Callie rolled her eyes. She pulled Callie's phone from her hands and set it on the bedside table before walking to Mariana's bed and delivering a similar goodnight salutation.

"Get some sleep, babies." Stef said in a hushed voice, turning off the light and shutting the door gently behind her.

Mariana and Callie sat in the darkness for some time, each deep in thought about possible gift ideas for their mother. But after a half-hour long brainstorming session, both teens were at a loss. They decided to sleep on it, hopeful that a new day would bring some brilliant plan.

Before breakfast, they decided to enlist the help of their brothers. Popping into the room shared by Jesus and Jude, they began a conversation. Seeing the meeting from his open door, Brandon sauntered over, curious about what his siblings were up to.

Callie closed the door quietly, not wanting to attract any attention from Stef and Lena.

"What's up?" Jesus asked.

"Mom's birthday is Sunday. We have no idea what to get her."

"Damn…" Jesus said, looking at Jude, who nodded in response. "I sorta forgot Mom even had a birthday."

"I knew," Brandon said, speaking up. His smug expression immediately disappeared when he saw his sisters' unimpressed faces. "Sorry." He stifled, ducking his head.

"So back to the point…" Callie said, trying to regroup the conversation. "We definitely need to come up with something, and quick!"

"Well… I already got her a present…" Jude said, looking around at his siblings.

"Yeah? What did you get her? We're all lost." Jesus said, eyeing his brother.

"I'm not telling you guys!" Jude said in a sassy tone. "You'll steal my idea!"

"Thanks for nothing!" Mariana exclaimed, gently pushing him outside the room and closing the door behind him.

"Hey, babies, let's go! It's almost time for school!" Stef's voice carried upstairs, startling the remaining siblings in the room as they all scrambled down for breakfast.

The kids had all met during lunch, in which time they had successfully devised the perfect group of gifts for Stef, even reuniting Jude with the group to help out on the project. The Adams Foster children were quite impressed with their gift idea: Callie, Mariana, and Brandon were to learn and rehearse Stef's favorite song, Callie was to set up a makeshift photography studio in the backyard where the kids would appear in a portrait, and Jesus would make vouchers for them all to do a day of yard work to get the yard ready for summer. After school that day, they all set off to work, Brandon helping Callie to set up the tripod that refused to stay in the right position, and Mariana picked the perfect backdrop for their family photo.

They took several shots, with Callie promising to edit them later in the afternoon. The current focus was to restore the backyard to its former appearance, considering Stef would be home from work in about an hour.

Callie and Mariana sat in their room while Callie flipped through the photos on her phone. "C'mere," She said, gesturing to Mariana who joined her on the bed.

"I like that one the best, I think." Mariana said, pointing to a particular photo. "Are there more?"

"Yeah, I think so…" Callie said absentmindedly, her focus drifting.

Mariana looked at a few more pictures, uttering the occasional "ew" or "not bad." Until, that was, she instead inquired: "Ooh! Who is that hottie?"

Callie's head jerked around, her attention on her phone. She gasped as the sultry face of Aaron Baker at the beach looked up at her through the screen.

"Mariana! Give me that!" Callie yelled, reaching for the device.

"Not until you tell me who he is!"

"No, Mariana! Give me my phone!"

Mariana took off running, leaving their bedroom and rushing downstairs.