So, I know it has been over two years since I updated this story. I don't know what happened, but I got inspired and decided to finish it now. So here is the last chapter.

Callie and Stef left the hospital about three hours later, Callie still feeling weak, but better.

When they arrived home, Callie went right to bed. Lena was awake, watching Mariana and clearly worrying about Callie when they got home. She helped Stef get the teen into the pullout bed before the two of them headed into the kitchen.

"I can't even imagine what they have been through," Stef said as Lena handed her a cup of tea, "Callie told me that last time she was sick like this, she still had to do her normal things and Jude ended up catching it. That was the night she destroyed her foster dad's car to protect Jude."

"Gosh," Lena murmured, looking at the sleeping girl in the next room.

"And," Stef said, pausing and biting her lip for a second, "She had a foster brother who, gosh, I can barely say it. He raped her Lena. She was barely fourteen and he…I can't even imagine."

Lena had tears in her eyes and she and Stef embraced.

After a few minutes, they both pulled away, drying their tears. "I think we need to make sure they stop getting thrown around," Lena said, looking at Stef, "I know we were good with our three, but I think we have room for two more."

"That's what I was going to tell you," Stef said, smiling at her wife, "They need stability and we can give it to them."

"Do you think they will want to stay with us though?" Lena asked, suddenly worried about how the two very guarded kids would react if they asked them to become a permanent part of the family.

"I don't know," Stef said, "But I hope they will. I didn't think I was ready for more, or even wanted more, but even though it's only been a month, I can't think of how our family would be without having them."

"Me too," Lena said, "And I think our kids will be alright with it. Mariana might take some convincing, but Jesus already protects Jude like a big brother and Brandon and Callie get along well."

"Well, Mari is going to have to learn to deal with it," Stef said, smiling at Lena.

"Are we really going to do this?" Lena asked, smiling.

"I think we are," Stef said, smiling and hugging Lena. They stayed that way for a while, until Stef yawned and they both realized what time it was.

"You should go to bed," Lena said, knowing Stef had to work the next day, "I'll make sure the girls are alright."

"Ok," Stef said, kissing Lena before heading for the stairs, "Hey, the doctor said to keep Callie on a clear liquid diet for twelve hours then try adding food. If she gets sick again, take her back in. I'll get the kids up in the morning and keep them quiet. Try to get some rest, love."

"Alright," Lena said, smiling at Stef. She then went back into the living room where Callie was out cold, but Mariana was awake, looking miserable.

"Sweetheart," Lena said, brushing a piece of hair from her warm forehead, "Can I get you anything?"

The girl shook her head, looking so much like the little girl Stef had brought home, in pain and scared.

"Try to get some sleep Mari," Lena said, stroking her hair before rubbing her back the way she did when she was younger and couldn't sleep.

Eventually, the teen fell into a restless sleep and Lena fell asleep in the chair, hoping this would be the last night of the dreaded bug.

Stef found them all sleeping when she came down the next morning, smiling as she snapped a picture on her phone before going upstairs and waking up the boys. She left a note for Lena on her way out the door, kissing each sleeping girl's head before racing to get the boys to school.

Lena woke up a while after everyone left. Her back was stiff from sleeping in the chair. She noticed Mariana was still sleeping. However, when she went over to Callie's side of the bed, she noticed the older girl was awake, just lying there.

"Hey," Lena said, smiling at her, "You feeling better?"

"A little," Callie said, voice scratchy from being so sick.

"Want to come into the kitchen and get something to drink?" Lena asked, feeling Callie's forehead and noticing she still had a slight fever, but nothing compared to the night before.

Callie nodded, sitting up, but putting her head in her hands as she felt a wave of vertigo.

"You alright?" Lena asked, rubbing her back.

"Yeah," Callie said, "just dizzy."

"Let's get some liquid in you and see if that helps," Lena said, helping Callie up, careful not to disturb Mariana.

Lena helped Callie to the table before going to the fridge.

"What would you like to drink?" she asked the teen, "You can have pedialyte, clear Gatorade, tea, or warm broth."

"Pedilyte," Callie said, knowing it was good for dehydration. Lena nodded and cracked a bottle of the liquid, pouring it into a cup for Callie.

The teen took a few small sips before setting th cup back on the counter.

"Thanks," she said, offering Lena a small smile.

"Your welcome," Lena said, sitting down next to the teen, "Now, normally, in the Foster home, when someone is sick, we spend the day curled up on the couch watching Disney movies. How does that sound?"

Callie smiled, putting her face down a bit before saying, "good."

"Good," Lena said, putting an arm around the teen, "But I think we are going to have to go upstairs to mine and Stef's room because waking a sleeping, sick Mariana is never a good idea."

Callie smiled slightly as Lena guided her up the stairs and into the bedroom.

"What would you like to watch?" Lena asked, opening the cabinet under the TV to reveal copious amounts of Disney movies.

"Do you have Little Mermaid ?" Callie asked shyly.

"Of course," Lena said, popping the DVD into the player before helping Callie get comfortable on the bed.

They settled in as the movie started, Lena putting her arm around Callie as the teen rested on her shoulder.

After a half hour, Lena looked over at the girl who was now asleep on her.

She looked peaceful, yet the lines on her face told of the pain she had suffered for several long years of her life. Lena felt her heart break a little as she watched her sleep, vowing to do whatever she could to protect her and her brother from harm as best as she could for as long as she could.

About an hour later, Callie was still sleeping, but Mariana came wandering into the bedroom.

"Hey Miss Thing," Lena said, patting the space next to her on the bed, "How are you feeling?"

"Better than last night," she said, rubbing her eyes as she put her head on her mom's chest.

"Want to try some pedialyte?" Lena asked, rubbing Mariana's back.

Mariana shook her head, snuggling closer to her mom as she fell asleep again. Mariana felt cooler than she had the night before which Lena was grateful for. She was hoping that both girls were done with the vomiting part of this bug.

After another few hours, Lena decided that the girls needed something in them so she snuck out from between them, heading down to the kitchen. She heated up some broth and filled two cups with pedialyte for the girls.

She carried the tray upstairs, setting it on her dresser before waking both of the girls. Callie ate some of the soup, but Mariana kinda just stirred it around, sipping on her drink instead.

Once the girls were done, Lena tucked them back into bed, both of them falling asleep again.

By the time Stef and the boys got home, the girls were awake again, both having kept down some pedialyte and more soup.

"How are my two favorite girls?" Stef asked, coming into the master bedroom to change.

"Better than last night," Mariana said, smiling at her mom as she kissed her forehead.

"How about you Callie Bug?" Stef asked, coming around to the other side of the bed.

"Better," Callie said sleepily.

"Mari's fever broke about an hour ago," Lena said, coming into the room, "And Callie's is lower. I think they'll both stay home again tomorrow, but they are definitely on the mend."

"Good," Stef said, smiling as she headed into the bathroom to change. The girls slept on the couch again that night because their mattresses were still wet.

By the next day, both girls were feeling better but Lena made them stay home.

"Need anything?" Callie asked Mariana as she went to get up.

"Something to drink would be great," Mariana said, offering the older girl a smile.

"Alright," Callie said, heading into the kitchen.

When Lena and the boys got home, Callie and Mariana were sleeping, curled up next to each other.

"I think Callie should stay with us," Mariana said sleepily that night as Stef was tucking her into bed while Callie was finishing up in the bathroom.

"Really?" Stef said, giving Mariana a look, "I thought you wanted her gone as soon as possible."

"No," Mariana said, "I think she should stay."

"So this bug was good for something after all," Stef said, brushing a piece of hair out of Mariana's face, "Mama and I are talking about having Callie and Jude stay here forever."

"Really?" a voice from behind them said.

Both turned to see Jude standing in the doorway.

"Yeah," Stef said, motioning for Jude to come over to them, "We need to talk to your case worker still but…"

"Callie," Jude called as his sister came in the room, "Guess what. They want to adopt us."

Callie looked at them strangely, not sure what to believe.

"Really?" she asked, looking at them.

"Yeah," Stef said as the rest of the family came into the room after hearing Jude yell.

After telling Brandon and Jesus, the whole family embraced in a hug, excited for what the future had for them.

So there it was. Thank you to everyone who stuck around for so long. I hope you liked the ending.