25 Times Stef And Callie From "The Fosters" Gave Everyone The Feels

It's not where you come from; it's where you sob uncontrollably.

1. "You're not disposable, Callie. You're not worthless."

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Episode: "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1)

This relationship gave us feels from the very beginning. When Callie runs off to rescue her brother from an abusive foster father, Stef is right behind her. When they safely make it out of the house, Callie assumes that they're going to send her away, but makes them promise her that "Jude will be somewhere safe." Stef quickly reassures her that she matters just as much as her little brother, and Callie gives a tiny smile in response. Tears.

2. "We're very sorry that we didn't believe you."

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Episode: "Consequently" (season 1, episode 2)

Stef and Lena accidentally accuse Callie of selling pills at school, even though it turns out she's innocent. Oops. Luckily, they're big enough to admit when they screw up, and apologize as soon as they realize their mistake. Stef and Lena tell Callie that they feel trust is something that has to be earned, and that they'd really like to start earning hers.

3. "I've got a friend at the DA's office I'm talking to about Liam."

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Episode: "Clean" (season 1, episode 8)

The last episode ended with Callie's heartbreaking revelation to Stef and Lena that she had been raped by a foster brother in a previous home. At the beginning of this one, Stef informs Callie that she's already working to get her justice--proving once again that she's willing to fight for her and here for the long haul.

4. The Proud Smile

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Episode: "I Do" (season 1, episode 10)

The case with Liam doesn't go Callie's way (because literally nothing ever does), but she decides that she's not going to lie to the court, even though that would mean Liam would go to jail for a different crime. Stef flashes her a tiny smile for being brave and honest, and you can tell Callie is proud of herself too.

5. The First Hug

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Episode: "I Do" (season 1, episode 10)

The whole Adams Foster family parties it up at Stef and Lena's gooorgeous wedding. In the middle of all the hilarious dancing, Stef pulls Callie aside to give her a hug and a reassuring wink. It's a small but satisfying moment to end to the first half of season 1.

6. "He's amazing, and so is his sister."

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Episode: "The Honeymoon" (season 1, episode 11)

After Callie runs away after kissing Brandon, Stef is (understandably) freaking out and feeling guilty. Her mother tries to calm her down, telling her that it's not her fault, and that Jude is a great kid. Stef agrees, and informs her that Callie is too. It's poignant to see just how hurt and upset Stef is at Callie being gone. It shows how much she truly cares about her and loves her.

7. "I just don't want her to think that we don't care."

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Episode: "Things Unsaid" (season 1, episode 13)

After work one day, Stef decides to stop by Girls United, the group home Callie is in. She's feeling guilty that she didn't take Callie back in right away, and wants her to know she sent her to the group home because she cares, not because she doesn't. Even though she's not allowed to see Callie (ugh, stupid protocol), the fact she came speaks volumes to Callie, who sees her leave while looking out the window.

8. "Hi, beautiful."

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Episode: "Family Day" (season 1, episode 14)

Callie finally stops pushing other kids into glass shower doors and sneaking out to hug her foster brothers long enough to get her privileges back, meaning the family can go visit her at Girls United. It's been a long three episodes since Stef and Callie have had any real interaction, and this scene does a great job satisfying our little Stef/Callie loving hearts. Just look at how happy and adorable they are.

9. "I feel like I have five separate hearts running around outside of me: it's you kids."

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Episode: "Padre" (season 1, episode 15)

Stef and Callie share a heart-to-heart about Callie's mother's passing after Stef's father dies. It's crazy emotional and incredibly fulfilling, because you can tell every episode before this was building up to this moment. It's beautiful to think about how much Stef and Callie's relationship has developed. Callie went from calling Stef a dyke to breaking down and opening up to Stef--trusting her enough to let her comfort her. Stef went from being upset with Lena for taking Callie in to referring to her as her own child. Watch the clip, grab some tissues, and observe a masterclass on character growth.

10. "We're all on probation."

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Episode: "Escapes and Reversals" (season 1, episode 18)

Lena, Stef, and Callie all sit together at Jesus' wrestling match (yay sports!), and the cutest thing about it is that it's just so normal, which isn't something Callie has gotten a lot of in her life. At the match, Stef and Callie have a little disagreement about friends being good or bad influences. It's an argument many people can relate to, and Stef and Lena are naturally a little overprotective considering Callie still isn't legally their daughter. It's all good though, because from the looks of it they made up pretty fast.

11. "You wanna talk about it?"

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Episode: "Don't Let Go" (season 1, episode 19)

Callie skips group therapy, and Stef and Lena aren't too happy. Callie tells them she had a bad day, and didn't want to deal with it, and Stef asks if she wants to talk about it. Callie declines, but then gives her a spontaneous hug, which Stef is surprised by. She's happy Callie feels comfortable enough to do that, but she's also suspicious, because her maternal instincts are on point.

12. "I just want you both to know how much Jude and I love you."

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Episode: "Don't Let Go" (season 1, episode 19)

Feeling a little guilty about sneaking off to see (who she believes to be) her biological father and then agreeing to meet with him, Callie reminds Stef and Lena that she loves them, and nothing will change that. Even though Stef and Lena already know, it's sweet to see their faces light up, and to hear Callie say the "I love you" first.

13. "Please do not worry. You've got a home run."

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Episode: "Things Unknown" (season 2, episode 1)

Jude's new birth certificate confirming he's adopted arrives in the mail. It's exciting, and everyone is ecstatic, but it's obvious that Callie feels a little disappointed she doesn't have one, as well as nervous that the judge won't approve her adoption. Stef tells her to relax and not to worry, giving her a reassuring squeeze. The fact that she picks up on Callie's carefully guarded emotions shows how much she cares.

14. "You cannot honestly tell me that you have to get home when you’re letting Callie be ripped out of ours."

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Episode: "Things Unknown" (season 2, episode 1)

Stef and Lena accidentally let their foster license expire because they have like 750 kids and 2900 things going on and they're only human. A social worker removes Callie from their home and places her with this awful lady that locks her in a freaking room. Stef immediately tries to make it right, turning into the fiercest mama bear on the planet when the judge in charge of Callie's case isn't moving quickly enough on her case.

15. "It's okay to want to know."

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Episode: "Say Something" (season 2, episode 4)

It turns out that Donald isn't Callie's biological father, but instead a man named Robert Quinn. Callie decides that she wants to meet him and his family, and Stef is right beside her, supporting her through the visit. Instead of being upset she wants to meet them, Stef encourages her to, telling her it's okay to want to know where she came from.

16. "Are you okay?"

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Episode: "Girls Reunited" (season 2, episode 8)

Callie goes back to visit some of her old friends from the group home, which is nice, but then there's a fire that almost kills Callie, which is less nice. Callie calls Stef to pick her up, and Stef drives there in the middle of the night still in her pajamas. If that's not love, I don't know what is. Stef asks her approximately 500 times if she's okay, and Callie reassures her she is. She conveniently leaves out the part about running back into a burning building to save her friends, which is probably smart.

17. "You and me, we're a lot alike."

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Episode: "Leaky Faucets" (season 2, episode 9)

Callie, Wyatt, and almost every citizen of Mission Bay go to a street festival. At the festival, Callie spies Liam, her rapist. Wyatt punches him in the face and basically it's just a big mess. Stef comes in to check on her that evening, and they share a sweet little heartwarming moment. Stef tells Callie that there's no shame in falling apart sometimes, and reminisces on how similar the two of them are. Feels galore.

18. "I need your help."

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Episode: "Stay" (season 2, episode 13)

Callie's friend, Kiara, calls her to tell her that her foster parents are in a violent fight and she's worried about her safety and the safety of the other foster children in the house. Instead of trying to handle it on her own, Callie goes to wake Stef up. It's a moment of trust, and again a sign of character growth. Mere months ago, Callie never would have done that.

19. Lean on Me

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Episode: "Stay" (season 2, episode 13)

After being told she is going to have to go back and live with her old foster parents, Kiara runs away, leaving a note on Callie's bed. It's disappointing, considering Stef and Callie both worked so hard to help her out of this situation. One of the most powerful things about this scene is that there is no dialogue. Stef hands her the note, they both sit on the steps together in silence, and Stef rests her head on Callie's shoulder. It's a moment of exhaustion and mutual comfort, and one of the first times we see Stef letting herself be vulnerable.

20. "I think I should go live with Robert."

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Episode: "If You Only Knew" (season 2, episode 16)

After calling Robert when the police questioned her about her involvement in Daphne kidnapping her child, Callie feels rather stuck. She feels trapped and obligated to go live with Robert because he helped her out, and is worried about how Stef and Lena would react if she told them the truth. When she breaks the news that she's going to go live with her dad, it's pretty heartbreaking. They try to be strong and supportive, but Stef and Lena are both clearly saddened by this news.

21. “We love you very much, and we would never in a million years stop trying to adopt you, but if you’re tired of fighting…we don’t want you to feel like you’re letting us down."

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Episode: "The Silence She Keeps" (season 2, episode 17)

Putting their own sadness aside, Stef and Lena reassure Callie that they're not disappointed with her or mad at her for her decision to live with Robert. Although they would never give up on her, they understand if she's tired of constantly trying to fight the system. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, as the thought of Callie not living with them is painful for everyone.

22. "Nothing you can do is gonna make us not want you."

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Episode: "Now Hear This" (season 2, episode 18)

The truth comes out, and Callie finally admits the real reason she is planning on going to live with Robert. She reveals that she was afraid Stef and Lena wouldn't want to adopt her anymore because she keeps messing up. Stef reassures her that they will always want her no matter what she does, and that they will never give up on her. Grab about five boxes of tissues for this one--trust me, you'll need them.

23. "Hola."

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Episode: "Going South" (season 3, episode 5)

Callie and Brandon sneak across the border to go hang gliding in Mexico. When they get back, Stef is waiting on the couch with a blue mug of coffee and a sarcastic comment. It's a more lighthearted moment in the grand scheme of things, because it feels so normal. It's the first time Stef has a chance to give Callie a normal lecture, and the consequences of Callie's actions aren't life-changing for once. Stef is also pretty savage. I mean, letting them know she knows where they were by greeting them in Spanish? Classic.

24. "This is the last hurdle that we have to jump over and then you can come home."

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Episode: "Idyllwild" (season 3, episode 9)

Some crazy circumstances have Callie once again living with Rita. However, she doesn't have the burden of having to gain privileges, meaning that she can have visitors pretty much whenever. Stef comes and visits her, promising there is only one more hurdle they have to get over before she can officially be adopted and their legal child forever. Bonus points for the forehead kiss; it's pretty precious.

25. "This is one of the happiest days of my life."

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Episode: "Lucky" (season 3, episode 10)

The moment we have all been waiting for. Callie finally, after more than 50 episodes, gets adopted. She is legally an Adams Foster. The looks of joy and celebration on everyone's faces is fantastic. Stef hugs a beaming Callie and says that it's one of the happiest days of her life. Ours too, Stef.