Hope Here

Our Baby

Lena's PoV
I couldn't believe it. There she was - our baby. She looked so beautiful and grown-up that I found it hard to get any words out.
"Honey, I'm finding it difficult to believe that it's really you, really our baby stood in front of us!" I exclaimed, wiping the flowing tears from my eyes.
"You look so gorgeous and grown-up too, Callie" chimed in Stef, placing her hands to her face, in awe of how much she has changed.
And Callie had changed. And for the good too. She no longer looked . . . broken. No longer looked as if she had lost all hope. She was happy, finally, a constant smile on her face.
"I can't get over you" I sighed, cupping my hands on her cheeks. She beamed at me, and I pecked her nose.
Callie was then nearly wrestled to the ground by Mariana, whose tears were streaming down faster than Niagara Falls. The pair reconciled, enveloping each other with giant hugs. The height difference was almost humorous.
"Oh my God Callie, it's been far too long. I've missed you so so so much!" cried Mariana through sobs.
"Too long indeed!" Callie agreed. Then she joked: "You must have grown at least another inch by now!"
Mariana chuckled, then made way for Jesus. He - who now towered over Callie - hugged her in a gentle, brotherly kind of way. It was by far one of the sweetest things I've ever seen him do.
He bent down and whispered something into her ear, then proceeded to kiss her forehead. Callie looked a little dumbfounded, which was curious. And then Jude took over.
Jude was the age Callie was when she moved out. He was just a little taller than she was, perhaps a foot? He whimpered a little - a heartbreaking sound if ever there was any - and then immediately wrapped his arms around his sister. Callie didn't even have to hesitate, she simply reciprocated the action instantaneously.
After a short while, the pair broke apart. Callie kissed both of his cheeks, a tear rolling down hers.
"I've missed you big guy. And I love you more than anyone, you know that?"
Jude quickly peered round Callie's shoulder to the man who appeared to be her date, then looked back.
"I know."
Callie kissed his forehead, and he smiled at her. She smiled back.
Then came for the part everybody had held their breath for. Callie and Brandon communicating after almost three years.
Brandon approached Callie, his head and shoulders slumped low. He tilted his head up, and smiled a quick smile at her. She tried her best to smile back, and I felt my heart break inside.
We all remembered a time when Brandon admitted his deep and profound love for Callie - it was the reason she had run off the first time. We also remembered when Callie was risking everything to have a relationship with him, a relationship which ended in disaster. . .
"Welcome back to L.A" was all Brandon said.
Callie swallowed, and thanked him. What she then did next, I had not been expecting at least. She hugged Brandon. She snaked her arms round his neck and stood on tiptoes. It took Brandon a little while to realise what was happening, but it wasn't before long that he then placed his own arms around Callie's waist and buried his face into her shoulder.
Something drew my eye away from the pair, something that had distracted everyone.
Jude was greeting Callie's boyfriend.
Even Callie and Brandon tore away to look.
"You must be Jude? Callie has told me so much about you, I feel like I've known you in forever" smiled the handsome blonde, in a suave and sultry Australian accent.
Callie made her way back over to the man, and put an arm around his shoulder.
"Everyone, this is Joey Lennox, my boyfriend. Joey, this is . . . my family" Callie introduced with a warm smile.
Joey grinned at us, showing off his adorable dimples. I could see Mariana drooling slightly out the corner of my eyes.
"It is such an honour, and a pleasure, to meet you all" he said, raising a hand out to us. Stef took it, and he kissed the top of it. Stef chuckled, as did I when he did it to me. Mariana blushed. Fortunately, he merely shook hands with Brandon, Jesus and Jude.
"My God Callie, what a catch!" I told her, giving her my nod of approval. She giggled.
"I have the most perfect idea" suddenly chirped Stef. "How's about - since it's getting quite late now - we treat you two to dinner, tomorrow night. That way we can hear about how you met, and what you do, Joey!"
It was a good idea, actually. I was rather tired, and I could see that everyone else was. We were all just trying not to act like it so we could spend more time with Callie and her delicious beau.
"Definitely, Stef, that sounds perfect" answered Callie. She looked to Joey, who was nodding.
"That would be great, but how about we treat you? Please, I would love to" Joey insisted.
I glanced at Stef, who surprised by this man's willingness to pay for a dinner for a family he has never met before. It was more than generous, certainly.
Before there could be any arguments or disagreements whatsoever, Callie interjected.
"We'll sort that out tomorrow, but how about we all rest up tonight, and meet up again tomorrow. Any restraint ideas?"
"How about The Bonsai Tree?" Brandon offered. We all hummed in agreement, and smiled.
"Well we better get home now, but we cannot wait to see you both tomorrow" I cried, hugging them both.
"I'll hardly be able to get any sleep due to the excitement!" Callie joked.
And with that we all said farewell, and went our seperate ways . . . for now . . .