There Is Enough To Go Around

Chapter 6

As the family returned home, Mila seemed tired, her head resting on Lena's shoulders. It was nearly eight o'clock, and it had been a long and eventful day for everyone. As the kids wandered off to finish homework and go to their respected rooms, Lena sat with Mila in the kitchen, checking over Jude's homework, while Stef made Mila her bath. The little one looked as if she hadn't been properly cleaned up in weeks, and Lena was itching for it to be over with. If the girl was going to react to this as she had done with everything else, it was going to take quite a bit longer than the rest of the kids when they were little.

"Alright Love, bring her up," Stef called from on top of the stairs. Lena sighed quietly, as she made her way up the stairs, Mila clinging onto Lena a little tighter due to Lena's tense, nervous body. Once they made it to the master bath, Lena closed the door behind her and attempted to set the girl down, who only continued to cling to her.

"C'mon little one, it's bath time...we got lots of toys and bubble bath! Look, see!" Stef explained excitedly, as she pointed to the formed bubbles and the rubber duckie that floated about the tub. Mila looked at it curiously at first, even putting her finger into the water to test and play with the bubbles that stuck to her fingers. She stood still as Stef proceeded to take off her clothes, but once she was left in her diaper, her eyes got wide and she immediately started to back up from the blonde, as her head shook quickly. Lena tried to grab her, hoping Mila would respond better to her, but Mila managed to dodge her too and stood up against the wall.

"What's wrong honey? Don't you want to get all clean?" Lena asked softly, as she tried again to reach for the toddler who started to shake but was only met with the toddler managing to get out of her reach.

"No! No, no no no no," Mila responded, as she continued to shake her head. Stef and Lena looked at her baffled, surprised by not only her sudden temperament change but her sudden use to use her words.

"Why not? Are you scared of the water?" Stef asked as she squatted next to her wife.

"No bath. Mama says." the toddler replied, as her arms crossed across her chest. She tried to act superior, but in reality, both the mothers could see the uncertainty and disgust at even the mention of someone else seeing her naked. And why wouldn't she be? Her mother was her sole provider, her only caretaker, no one else was even supposed to talk to the girl, much less than bathe her.

"You know Mila, you are right. Your mama probably said that only she can, but right now, we are taking care of you. And just like the rest of the kids, you need to stay clean. I am sure your mama would want you clean while she is getting better, don't you think?" Lena asked as she watched the toddler ponder the thought. She still looked uncertain, and wouldn't move from the wall.

"It will be quick, but we need to wash your hair and body. But if you can't go to the tub yourself, I will have to help you. What do you choose?" Lena asked, her tone getting serious. There was no way of sweet-talking the toddler into this one. Mila sighed but refused to move, her foot stomping on the ground. Stef couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the girl's little tantrum, but she tried to hide it, to show the seriousness of the situation Lena tried to create. Lena got up and grabbed the girl, who responded by trying to wiggle out of the brunette's arms while she let the little cries escape from her mouth, tears beginning to form.

"I think she is just tired hon. Brandon would cry over everything when he was tired." Stef said her wife finished undressing the wiggly toddler and place her into the tub. Mila continued to pout and cry until Stef began to play with her involving the rubber duck and placing a glob of bubbles on her head, which made her giggle while Lena washed her.

As Lena put the warm washcloth to clean off her body, she was relieved not to see any sign of abuse, (some of their foster children showing some when they first arrived) but was shocked to see how tiny she really was. Sure, she changed and dressed the little one, but Mila wasn't one to sit still during that time. Her ribs could be visibly seen and her legs looked easily breakable. She knew that was one thing she would need to get advice from the doctor when they went in from her checkup. Checkup. That would go well.

"Alright, all clean. Let's get some jammies on." Lena announced, and Mila stood up in the tub, eager to get out. She looked like she had enjoyed the playtime with Stef, but it would take some getting used to, just like everything else.

Lena scooped her out with the oversized towel and brought her to the bed to dry her off.

"Stef, look how tiny she is. This is definite neglect..."

"I don't think it was intentional babe...her mom just couldn't afford much. Bill said that the mother didn't look too much different than Miss Mila. But we are gonna fatten you up, huh?" Stef replied as she tickled Mila's bare tummy, gaining a smile.

After Lena dressed her, she went downstairs with Mila on her hip, to get some milk for bed and say goodnight to the rest of the kids. While Lena was out, Mariana snuck into her mom's room, where Stef was laying down, already dressed in her pajamas.

"Hey Miss Thing, are you going to bed?" Stef asked, a little curious at her daughter's entrance. Usually, the kids coming into their room meant they were either sad, scared, or needed to ask for something.

"Yeah, I just wanted to ask...why Mila is so quiet and small? Was she hit like Callie was? She only clings to Mama." Mariana asked timidly.

Stef's heart sank a little. She hadn't really thought too much about what the other kids had thought of the quiet toddler, but no doubt that Mila had arrived much like Mariana did when she first arrived. Stef could only imagine what her younger daughter thought as she watched the new girl come into their home, and act very much as the young Latina girl did.

"Actually Love, she was neglected and very closed off from the world. It was only her and her mother, but the mother couldn't afford much. Neighbors said that the two barely left their house, so Mila really never knew anyone other than her mother."

"Oh...so she is kind of like me when I first arrived?"

Stef sighed to herself and gave her daughter a soft smile. "Yes, she is. Come here hon. Come snuggle with your old mom." Mariana happily complied, as she climbed into the bed, and snuggled close to Stef.

"When you came to us, you refused to speak. At all. You did exactly what Mila does, only nodding and shaking her head when answering. The only time you did talk was to Jesus." Stef started.

"He was the only one I trusted..."

"You both were small, and you especially flighty. It took a while for you to cling to either me or Mama."

"But I did eventually, and spoke."

"And now we get to see who you truly were. Trauma does that to children so young, but they respond in different ways. Both you and Callie were closed off, but you two opened up. Over time, Mila will too."

"So she clings to Mama because she has no Jesus?"

Stef laughed. "Yeah. She is a lot younger than you were, and she really does need someone to care for her and is used to depending on someone for comfort. Without her mother, she chose to choose Mama, whom I am guessing is probably more like Mila's mom."

"Oh...it is kind of nice to have a little kid around. A little sister in particular." Mariana responded, feeling a little sad about what could have been with Frankie. Stef picked up Marina's securities quickly and held onto the girl a little tighter.

"I know, I like it too."

Looks like the Foster family is getting a little attached...