Strings

Lost And Found

"It is. But you didn't end up there. You made a choice Stef and you always did. Sure you played with fire occasionally but it seems you never went too far. Something always prevented you from fully diving in. Almost like you tested it to see how far you could go but you always brought yourself back. Back to the path that you knew was right. You didn't end up with someone like Lena by accident. You didn't end up with an amazing little girl like Callie and you didn't end up with an amazing woman like Sharon. Those were all gifts."

"Sharon hates me."

"Why would you say that?"

"She raised me better then this. She saw what I was doing. She saw me getting high and messing up.  She saw it. She saw me acting out in Juvie, she saw me get pregnant at 16.  She saw it all. " I said bursting into tears as I covered my eyes with my hands from embarrassment. But I soon felt her wrap he arms around me as I cried harder then ever.

"Stef it's ok honey. Look, no one in this life is perfect. No one. I've messed up many times. Many, many times. And Sharon I can't imagine her hating you. I am sure she understood what you were going through and I am sure she is proud of what you have accomplished in the last few months. That wasn't easy. Hey I am not easy to live with I know this." She admitted as we both let out a laugh. "The point is that you chose to do the right thing.  You chose to better yourself, you chose to fight for what you wanted and you never gave up."

"I couldn't."

"I know. I know you couldn't and cant. It's very admirable and I can already see what an amazing cop you will be. Mike said you're a ball buster. Which I already knew and can see myself." Smiling wide I shook my head as she held my hand.

"And Callie, listen I am not an advocate of becoming pregnant so young but it happened. It did and you gave birth to a beautiful little girl. One you will have custody of. You will.  Stef I have learned that everyone we meet in life and come across in life has a purpose and their is reason. Some are here for a short time some for a longer time. But they each show us something and teach us something. I know Sharon wasn't around for a long time but I am sure she influenced your life more then anyone.

"She did. She was my mama."

"Of courses she was and she always will be. And you carry her around inside you just like you do Lena and Callie. That never goes away and never will. Don't be so hard on yourself Stef. Life is not easy but you are doing well. In a week you will take that GED, you will pass and then you hit the academy. I know it."

"Thank you. Thank you for everything."

"Thank me by being the cop, the woman and the mother I know you are. Ok?"

"Ok."

"Alright let's get some sleep. Long day."

"Ok. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Stef."

Nodding my head and walking into my room I nearly fainted at what was on my bed. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me as I walked over realizing it wasn't. It was my guitar. Not just any guitar it was mine. I saw all the scratches, the dents and the tape marks from all the pictures I always stuck on it. Feeling tears fall down my eyes I touched it soon seeing Cap in the doorway.

"Was hard to track down but I did. Found it at pawn shop."

Not thinking anything of it I ran to her hugging her tightly as she was shocked and wrapped her arms around me as well. I knew she wasn't a very affectionate person but I didn't care for she had no idea what she had done. None at all as I felt her hug me back harder.

"Thank you, thank you so much. Thank you."

"You're welcome Stef. You're welcome."

---------------

Five years later

"So if you don't make problems there won't be any problems. Got it?" The heavyset woman said to young brown eyed nine year old. Walking over and dumping her things onto the ripped and torn mattress it had been almost five years since Callie Foster had seen her mother. One minute she was in her arms the next she was never to be seen again. She didn't even have a photo, nothing for when she was taken from the Stewards, the last loving home she had, she was not allowed to bring anything. Not even the things her mother had gotten her. But after moving to nearly twenty different homes since then she had pretty much given up any hope in seeing her mother again. She  did remember a few things but even those started to fade. Her long blonde hair she use to play with and how affectionately she spoke to her. On most nights when she couldn't sleep she would allow herself to fade into the memories of her mothers voice and the songs she use to play and sing to her on the guitar. But maybe those things never happened for as she grew older it grew harder for her to distinguish reality verse dreams. Anger also began to take over as well for each home she went to they claimed her mother had given her up and no longer wanted her. At first she refused to believe it but after being moved to Seattle she was almost left with no choice.

"Dinner is at 6. If you aren't there you don't eat. You make trouble and this belt around my waist will become friends with your butt. You get to school on your own I'm not a babysitter. We all have chores and they start before school. So I expect you up at 5 to start them. Miss them and don't do them and that closet will become your new room. Got it?"

Looking to the woman Callie nodded her head up and down as five other children ran onto the cold room jumping into their beds that lacked the proper blankets that would keep them warm at night. Seattle was much colder then San Diego and it always rained and was grey.

"You share a bed with Mariana." She said pushing the five year old into the room who didn't look at Callie as the woman slammed the door.

"Haha! You get the bed wetter!" The kids teased as Mariana remained still avoiding any eye contact with Callie. But the young nine year old gently grabbed her hands and knelt down to her ignoring the other kids.

"It's ok I use to wet the bed too." She said smiling as Mariana now looked into Callie's soft eyes and an instant friendship was formed between the two.