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It was a quiet day for the ghostbusters, that meant today Janine could sneak off to pick up Callie. She normally would when she could for Egon. It's not that he didn't want to, and he did go when he could. But most days he's either on a bust or on a roll in the lab that he didn't want to stop. So Janine offered, and little Callie loved the red head. So it was a win win.
The walk to the school was quick, now she just had to wait. To Janine, waiting was the worst, but she'd stand there in a blizzard for this girl. She loved her like she was her own. In a sense she was, Janine is the one raising the child with her father but she wasn't her biological baby. The ringing of the bell pulled her from her thoughts. Children pouring out the doors.
"Neen!" Callie comes running to her with open arms.
"Hey princess." Janine smiles as she picks up the blonde, pushing a curl out of her face. Making her laugh a little.
Their walk home was filled with the little girls' animated retellings of today's events. Janine listens, soaking in every word and reacts accordingly. Soon enough they were out of the autumn chill and in the comforting warmth of the firehouse.
"Homework?"
The girl shakes her head quickly, her golden curls going wild.
"Okay, up the stairs. I'll go get Dad." She smiles and places her down watching her run up the stairs. Turning Janine heads for the basement lab. Listening for extra voices as she enters.
"Darling?" She calls, grabbing his attention.
"Hmm?" Egon hums acknowledging her, but not looking up.
"Callie's here." She smiles as her love's head whips up to look at her. His own smile started to grow. A smile that was only for his two girls. Janine offers a hand to him, which he takes carefully.
"Go see her." She whispers.
"In a second." Egon counters, leaning down to carefully kiss Janine. He might not be the greatest with romance but after about 5 months of being together, he learned what she likes.
Pulling back she beams. Squeezing his hand before letting go and heading up, him following. The secretary stops at her desk, listening as the little girl squeals when she sees her dad. A warm smile speading across her face.
"Daydreaming on the job Red?" Venkman's voice pulls her out of the warm thoughts she had.
"Not anymore." She huff, shooting her co-worker a glare.
"Lemme take a guess, Spengs and a child? Your child with him." She wanted to smack the shit eating grin off his face.
"What I dream about isn't any of your concerns Venkman." She huffs.
"And that means I'm correct." He gloats, leaning on the desk. "I still don't see why you haven't asked him out yet. He's head over heels for you."
She nods slightly, she didn't know why they kept it a secret but they did. Not really intentionally. Janine just respected Egon's rather private lifestyle.
"Maybe one day." She shrugs, earning a look from the ghostbuster.
"Whatever you say Red." He laughs and walks off.
The rest of the evening went on rather uneventfully. One or two simple calls, but nothing big. Everyone headed home or to bed. Janine decides to spend the night with the Spengler's.
The rest of the week went on like that, but Friday. Friday Egon went to pick up Callie, letting Janine know that he was going.
"See you soon." She smiles at him. Waving as Egon left.
The time while Egon was gone, nothing really happened. She took calls, but it was nothing of importance.
When the door opens Janine's head perks up.
"Mommy!!" Callie calls as she runs to Janine's desk. The look of shock on both their faces.
"Did Egon's kid just call you Mom Red?" Venkman comments. A smirk on his face. She stutters and shakes her head.
Callie tugs on her skirt, Janine looks down and picks her up.
"Hey Callie," She says softly. "How was school?"
The little girl excitedly rambles. "And my friends were talking about things their mommies do for them."
Janine raised a brow. Listening to her story.
"And I thinking, you do what their mommies do." Callie says with a smile. "So you are my mommy."
Janine blinks slightly at her.
"What do I do?" She asked carefully.
"Well, you pick me up from school, make dinner, help with my hair, give daddy kisses."
That last part caused the both to blush brightly.
"Kisses huh there kido." Peter smirks, leaning closer to Callie. Who nods excitedly.
"Yes! A lot. Especially when she stays the night." She hums.
"Alright princess, you got homework?" Janine asks, trying to change the subject. Callie shaking her head.
"Smart kid." She mutters under her breath. Getting up anyways she walks upstairs with her.
"So Spengs you got something you need to tell us?" Peter asked Egon, who looked so dumbfounded about what happened.
"Shut up Peter." He mumbles and heads down stairs to his lab.
Upstairs Janine sits with Callie. "Do you really see me as your mom Callie?"
The young girl thought for a moment then nodded, causing Janine to let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"That's a conversation we'll have to have with your dad okay?" She says and Callie nods. Going back to colouring.
In that moment nemours thoughts filled her head, what if this scared Egon away? What if he wasn't ready? What if he was? Is she? Yes Janine loved the girl like she was her own, but was she ready to commit to the mother thing? Many more thoughts occupied her mind, she didn't hear the foot steps climbing the stairs or walk over. It wasn't until Egon took her hand she noticed him.
"Hey.." He whispered looking at her with a worried expression.
"Hi." She whispers back.
"I'm sorry about that." He apologized, but she wasn't sure what for.
"It's okay. Kids can say the darndest things." She waves her free hand, trying to brush it off. Egon nods and sits next to her.
"She really does see you as a mom, huh?"
Janine nods, looking at him. Worry lacing every muscle in her face. Egon nods slowly.
"You can talk to her if that makes you uncomfortable."
"No. I'm quite alright with it." Egon states, looking over the redhead. "Are you?"
There it was the question she was dreading. How she answers will affect the relationship going forward.
"I don't." She says after a moment's thought. She loved Egon, and Callie. And if the sweet girl sees her as a mother figure, she'll be the best mom possible.
"But now the boys know. You'll kiss me more in the office?" Janine teased after a moment of comfortable silence, watching Callie colour.
The question made Egon's face burn but he nodded silently, causing the secretary to sport a triumphant smirk.