What if Stef and Lena had been at the lake to help Callie and Jude realize the other's point of view.

(Takes place right after Callie and Jude's fight in Mother Nature (214). Chapter one will be Stef and Callie and chapter two Lena and Jude.)

"Jude, what are you doing?" Callie asked, reaching out to stop her brother from going further into the water.

"I can swim, Callie." Jude retaliated, shrugging out of her grasp. "I don't need you to watch me and I'm not afraid of the water because it's dark. I'm not a baby."

"I know that..." Callie defended, thinking that no matter what age he is she'll try to protect him.

"Stop treating me like one." Jude interrupted. "I'm thirteen, and everyone keeps treating me like a kid because you do."

Callie looked stunned, trying to find a way to make Jude understand how she felt but before she could even process the words Jude was ready to leave.

"You know what, just get out of my way and leave me alone." Jude said before wading off towards the edge of the water and presumably back to his tent to change leaving Callie standing there, still facing the lake, trying not to feel too hurt by what had just happened.

Stef and Lena had been strolling hand in hand, looking from some piece and quiet and some privacy from the kids for a while and decided to take a walk down to the water when they heard Jude's attack towards Callie. Both women watched and waited right until the end before making a move. They knew that both kids needed to at least get their anger, frustration and motives out instead of quieting them but unfortunately, Callie never said anything - she just listened and then stood absolutely still while Jude walked away.

It was only then that the mom's looked at each other and without even using words decided that one had to talk to Callie and the other had to follow Jude and it was obvious to both of them which one would go after which child.

With one last squeeze of the other's hand both women let go and went their separate ways to help their children understand each other's point of view.

"Tough day?" Stef asked, as she waded into the water as far as her shorts would let her.

Callie turned around at the sound of her mom's voice and just looked at her, the hurt still evident in her face.

"Come sit." Stef said, moving over to the pier and hoisting herself up onto it, waiting for Callie to do the same.

Callie reluctantly did as she was told. She hated anyone to see her vulnerable, even her mom's who she trusted completely. But right now she wasn't just vulnerable - she was hurt and she felt empty. The realization that Jude no longer needed her hurt more than she'd ever imagined.

"Growing up is hard." Stef began. "It's hard for kids and it's equally hard for the parents."

Callie looked at Stef questioningly, wondering what she meant.

"It's not easy to let them go when they suddenly decide they are independent." Stef explained with a smile.

"I just don't want anything to happen to him." Callie said.

"Neither do I." Stef said. "I don't want anything to happen to any of you. But I can't wrap you all up in bubble for the rest of your lives either."

Callie looked away, still hurt. Even Stef didn't really get it. Jude had been her entire life and she didn't know how to just let him go. He was the reason she'd survived. He had been her goal throughout. And hearing him ask her to leave him alone struck her hard.

"When Brandon was a baby he wanted me for everything." Stef continued with a different angle, realizing that Callie didn't understand. "I was on maternity leave and I was the one that did everything for him. He loved to play with Mike and our parents but when he needed something it was me he wanted. Then he turned one and I had to put him in daycare and trust random strangers to look out for him."

Callie now looked back at Stef, curious of how things had turned out.

Stef smiled, glad she'd gotten the girl's attention. "And I'm pretty sure his first teacher groaned every time she saw me coming. I had so many instructions and so many questions but I couldn't help it - he was my baby and I wasn't there every second anymore.

Callie remained silent. She knew where this was going but she wanted to know more. She wanted to know how Stef dealt with it all.

"But I had to let him go the more he grew. I had to watch him climb monkey bars and not rush towards him every time he made it past the second rung. I had to let him sort out is own battles over the sand toys and the swings. I wanted to help him, be there for him, protect him but I had to let him grow. We have to let them grow in order for them to learn. It's how they are able to tell right from wrong. We teach them as much as we can and then send them out there to practice. It's not easy and sometimes we have to be there when they come back broken but more often than not they are ready."

Once again Callie looked away, knowing that Stef was going to tell her it was time for her to let Jude grow too. But as Stef continued she realized that Stef felt more like she did.

"And I was there." Stef went on. "I stood back and watched and waited. "And sometimes he made it through unscathed while other times he didn't. Sometimes he managed to get all the way across those bars and I was so proud of him but a few times he fell. The trick I learned was to be there for him when he did need me. When he fell and wasn't hurt he didn't need me to come help him up and dust off his knees, as much as I wanted to do it. But when he was hurt he would come to me on his own. He knew I was always there, ready for him when he needed me."

"But Jude never needs me anymore." Callie said, understanding what Stef was saying but still not ready to let go. "It's like he doesn't even remember the times he did need me - like they never existed."

"You're not Jude's mom." Stef said clearly. "But you had to act like it for far too long. That's something he doesn't understand and you don't completely understand it either."

Stef waited a moment for Callie's questioning frown to return to her face, knowing well that it would and she wasn't wrong.

"Kids take their parents for granted most of the time." Stef said with a nudge to Callie's shoulder. "So do you guys and that's the way it should be. It means we've done our job right. It means that our kids, or in your case Jude, knows that you'll always be there, it means that you've never let him down or given him a reason to feel like he ever has to fend for himself.

That thought made Callie feel just a little bit better. It wasn't completely true that she'd never let him down but the times she had had been so few and far between that overall she had protected him.

"He knows that even if he fights for independence for the little things you'll still be there if and when he needs you for the big things." Stef assured her daughter.

"He comes to you guys instead now." Callie said, her voice laced with sadness.

"That's a good thing love." Stef said sympathetically. She understood Callie's feelings but at the same time she wanted to lift as much of the burden that Callie had been carrying for so long. "We're here for both of you, it's our job. It's been easier for him to trust us and let us take over than it's been for you. We understand that it's hard for you but we want you to just be a child for a while. You've earned it and now that you are sure that Jude is safe you just have to take the plunge and trust us."

"I do trust you." Callie said quickly. She didn't want them to think for one second that she didn't trust them. It wasn't really about trust - just habit. Callie didn't know how to just be a kid, how not to worry about Jude.

"I know honey." Stef assured her. "I just mean, trust us when we tell you that it's okay to let go. And trust us that we know what you're going through as well."

"But Jude's right." Callie said, thinking of Stef's story. "He's not a baby. Brandon was back then."

"You think I got over it that fast?" Stef laughed teasingly. "I still struggle to let go."

"Really?" Callie asked, furrowing her brow.

"Absolutely." Stef said. "I struggle to let each one of you grow up. Now Brandon wants to go one tour for half the summer and I don't know about him but I certainly am not ready for that. The first time we had to allow Lena's parents to babysit the twins for us we were both a wreck and even now I panic when I think of them growing up. Jesus' first wrestling match I sat holding my breath the whole time and Mariana starting to date... god I can't even explain that one. I dread the thought of you and the twins learning to drive soon. We were apprehensive when you wanted a job, we didn't want people overworking you just when you'd started to have some order in your life. Even Jude is growing up so fast and he's our baby so we want to keep him little as long as we can."

"I never thought about it like that." Callie grinned, thinking of Stef's face when it was time for her to teach them how to drive. "I guess with five kids comes five times the anxiety."

"And five times the love, and five times the feeling of being proud and five times the hugs and kisses..." She trailed off as she wrapped Callie in a bear hug and kissed her all over her face making her giggle and squirm.

"I never knew how much we were missing." Callie said when Stef finally released her.

Stef looked at Callie and waited for her to continue, knowing that she had a reason for that comment.

"I always thought that if we weren't being hurt and were relatively warm and fed then life was good." Callie continued, watching the ripples in the water that her feet made as she gently moved them about. "I forgot what it was really like to be a part of a family, to have people who actually love you and care for you."

Stef silently reached out and wiped away the lone tear that had made it's way down Callie's cheek.

"I don't miss anything about our life in the system." Callie said, finally looking up at Stef. "I wouldn't trade anything you've done for us. I just don't like the feeling of being unneeded."

"You are not unneeded my love." Stef said, holding Callie's chin gently to maintain eye contact with her. "You most definitely are needed, by everyone in this family including Jude. You're just needed in a different way now."