There Is Enough To Go Around

Chapter 9

3 Months Ahead

Three months had passed, and changes were blossoming throughout the Adams-Foster household. Mila's measles had passed, and everyone was watching the little girl grow and thrive in the stable home. She had even celebrated her third birthday in November and was now entering into older toddlerhood. Her speech had grown remarkable, now talking in sentences,(well as well as a three-year-old could), though she was still incredibly shy with strangers and new situations. They learned of her behavior patterns, and what she liked, and who the little girl was. Though she talked more now, they knew she was always going to be more introverted and quiet, her most favorite activities being reading and coloring, but when she did not want to do something, she wasn't quiet about it.

Lena still insisted she go to a child's psychologist due to the issues she was brought in, and she still continued to struggle with separation anxiety every day Lena had to leave her. Most importantly, both mothers worried over Mila's actions when they would ask to visit her mother at the hospital. At night, Stef was still woken up in the middle of the night every couple of days out of the week due to Mila waking up crying for her Mama. But when the weekend came and they asked her whether she wanted to go, she would ask if her mother was awake. When the mother replied with a no, she would politely decline and continue with her playing. Mila's therapist insisted that it was normal, all children deal with situations differently, assuring the mothers that when she was ready to see her mother, to take her. Though this still worried Lena, she was at least content with the little girl gaining weight, and thriving and happy in her home.

Callie was upstairs, packing her bag for the night at Roberts. It had been a year since both Callie and Robert had met, and a year since he started attempting to get full custody of her. The process kept getting delayed and dragged on since Callie made no notion to want to be living with him. Though she was still a minor and could be taken out of her foster home in a minute, the system knew she had been through a lot and wanted her to be happy, but Robert was persistent. Not to mention the situation was complicated, and both parents were good for Callie. At least in the foster system's eyes. Mila sat on Callie's bed, her little legs swinging off the edge of the bed.

"Callie go bye-bye?" Mila asked, as she craned her neck to get a look at Callie's face, which was turned in the other direction.

"Yeah, Callie has to go bye-bye. I will be back tomorrow morning." she tried to smile for the kid's sake.

Though the little girl was quiet, it was obvious she had a big heart. Not only did she like to be comforted, but she also felt the need to comfort other people. Almost like a service dog, she could sense people's emotions very easily, and whenever she thought someone was sad, she would come up to them and hold their hand or cuddle up to their leg.

Mila jumped off the bed and clung to Callie's leg. Callie smiled, knowing the little girl knew she was upset. It wasn't her job to make her feel better, but Callie always felt a little better afterward. Mila had a calming effect on her, her ora always made everything seem innocent and normal. Much like Lena did.

"I don't like when you leave Callie," Mila said, as she clung on a little tighter. Callie scooped her up and hugged her close. Now it was Mila's time to be comforted. Callie liked this a lot better.

"Me either Munch. But I have to unless I can get adopted."

"And Lena and Stef can be your mommies?"

Just as Callie was about to answer, the doorbell rang. Callie sighed, knowing it was Robert, waiting to pick her up. She still had some stuff to do and pack, so she kissed Mila on the forehead and set her down.

"Can you keep Robert entertained while I finish getting ready? Make sure Stef answers the door though."

Mila crinkled her nose and her mouth formed into a little pout. Callie laughed.

"I will say goodbye to you before I go, I promise. Go on." Callie explained as she gave the girl a small pat towards the door. Mila went reluctantly, and bounded down the stairs step by step, before seeing Robert stand by the front door awkwardly, Stef already had already let him in. Mila shyly hid behind Stef's leg as the two adults interacted, Mila, holding onto Stef for her own security and because everyone knew how Stef felt about the Quinn family. At Mila's touch, her tense body relaxed almost immediately, as she scooped up the little girl. Robert looked at Mila quizzically. Normally the Fosters would drop off Callie, and Callie had never mentioned the toddler. Though, Callie never said much of anything to him.

"Who is this?" Robert found himself asking, the memories of Sophia that young, taking over his mind. Mila laid her head on Stef's shoulder shyly.

"C'mon Milly, he asked you a question. You don't want to be rude." Stef lightly scolded, though she really didn't want her foster daughter associating with Robert too much. He already was trying to take one of her daughters away.

"Mila." She answered quietly, as her head began to spring back up from Stef's shoulder.

"Hey Mila, what do you think Callie would want for Christmas?" Robert asked suddenly. He was going to ask Stef, but due to her harsh glares, he figured getting an answer out of the toddler would be easier.

"Her mommies," Mila answered without any hesitation. Both adults startled a little at the girl's answer. Little kids were known to be honest, Mila being no exception.

Robert was at a loss with the sudden blunt statement. Sure, he knew Callie wanted to be adopted by the Foster ladies, but he had fought so long for her. She was his daughter, and he wanted her to live with him. Isn't that what a good father would want?

"You know, I want Callie too," Robert answered, though he knew he sounded a little selfish and childish.

"But it's what Callie wants. She tells me...she cries sometimes too." Mila explained seriously, as she now kept her focus on the man.

"Do you think that Callie would ever want me?" Robert asked.

"Not when you make her sad," Mila said, as Stef just stared in amazement. Here was this three-year-old, giving advice to a nearly forty-year-old man. Her words seemed so simple, and yet they carried so much emotional meaning that made sense. So much, that it had silenced Robert. Just then, Callie came down, to witness the oddly silent group, her biological father's head facing the floor.

"Ready to go, babe?" Stef asked, as her daughter walked down the rest of the stairs, eyeing the party downstairs with confusion. She looked back at Stef. "Yeah."

"Alright....well we will see you tomorrow Callie Bug. I love you." Stef said, as she pulled her eldest daughter in for a hug and kissed her forehead.

"Love you too. Give Lena a hug for me, please. And everyone else." Callie asked, knowing she didn't have time to hug everyone. Besides, it was only for a day.

"Well do. Mila, say goodbye to Callie." Mila reached over to the teenager, who took her readily and gave her a big squeeze and kiss. "Bye kiddo, see you tomorrow," she said as she set the toddler on the floor. Once the pair exited the home, Stef couldn't help but let out a huge laugh and scoop up the little toddler again.

"He mad Stef?" Mila asked, confused as to why the woman was laughing.

"Probably, but I for one, couldn't be more proud."