"Stef, I just don't know about this" Lena started as she and her blonde haired partner laid curled up in bed together, "with everything that has happened lately, I honestly don't know if I trust them enough…"
Stef turned to make her full on puppy dog face effective, "c'mon love, it's your birthday… we've had this planned for months now, you can't deny that we could definitely use some alone time."
Lena cracked a smile knowingly, "I know baby, but I just don't know if right now is the best time to go away for a night and leave them here, Alone. With no supervision. What so ever" she sighed before continuing, "I mean we have Mariana coming home drunk, Jesus impregnating…" Stef put her hand up to signal Lena to stop talking before rolling on her back and groaning.
"Please, I was there for ALL of it, no need to rehash…" Stef turned to look Lena in the eyes, "okay, what if I give them all a very stern talking to and lay down some pretty strict ground rules and consequences for breaking those ground rules? Would you reconsider? Please, please, please, please, please" Stef pleaded like a small child.
It was Lena's turn to roll over on her back and sigh. Stef continued pleading while mounting on top of her. "I miss you Mama," Stef whispered before planting a passionate kiss on Lena's lips. "I need some time to have you all to myself, I promise it will be worth it…" Stef went in for another passionate kiss.
"Fine, fine!" Lena gave in between kisses and laughter, "you don't play fair," they both smiled.
Lena motioned to finally get up and begin their Thursday but just before heading into the bathroom she turned back around, finger pointed directly at Stef, and added "but I swear to everything holy Stef, if something happens, it is not going to be just the kids who see consequences."
"Well then, it's a win – win, you know I love when you punish me" Stef smiled sultry.
Lena just rolled her eyes before heading into the adjoining bathroom and shutting the door behind her.
"MARI… let's go!" Stef yelled at up the back stairs for the youngest girl in the house.
"Is it really necessary for you to scream Stef?" Lena questioned when she re-entered the kitchen with the rest of the family, minus Mariana.
The kids chuckled in their breakfast plates at Lena's reprimand, as Stef retorted, "Yes, she is going to be late and we still have to have our important family meeting before school."
That statement easily grabbed everyone's attention, as Callie looked up from her phone, Jesus stopped rushing through last minute homework and Jude stopped eating mid-chew.
"Family meeting? About what?" Brandon questioned as he looked around at his present siblings for any guilty faces.
"Don't worry, no one is in trouble," Lena replied turning to lean against the counter next to Stef.
"Yet," Stef whispered loudly under her breath to Lena's dismay.
"And we intend to keep it that way." Lena firmly stated.
"So, what do we need to talk about then?" Jude asked sincerely with worry in his voice, just as Mariana entered the kitchen looking more fit to be going to some glamorous party than school.
"Morning Miss Thing, so glad you could join us," Stef said with sarcasm, completely ignoring Jude's inquisition.
"Well now that you're all here…" Lena began eyeing Mariana, "your Mom and I have something we would like to discuss with you guys."
"It appears Mike has to pick up a grave yard tomorrow night so he will be unable to stay with you guys while we head to Coronado for Mama's birthday…" Stef said apprehensively waiting for any reactions.
"So you guys are letting us stay here by ourselves?" Jesus chimed in excitedly. As the four other teenagers communicated with each other via looks.
Lena turned to Stef and gave her a concerned look, before adding "don't even BEGIN to formulate any ideas guys…"
"Now listen and listen good" Stef said in a no nonsense tone that got all their attention again, "Jude, you have already arranged to sleep over Connor's tomorrow night, so you're all set but the rest of you… there will be NO guests what so ever, you are not allowed to leave the house either. We will leave money for dinner and you guys can have it delivered. "
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, so you're telling me, that we just have to stay in the house and hang out with each other all night, on a FRIDAY?" Mariana asked absolutely appalled.
"Yes, love… it will be good for you guys, reconnect a bit." Lena affirmed softly. Thinking about the battles her and Jesus have been having over the whole Lexi situation.
This was met with four sighs and the start of four objections, "but I had plans to go to see a movie with Wyatt tomorrow night"
"And Talia got us tickets to a con…" Brandon was unable to finish.
Stef raised her voice to cease the arguing, "ok, enough! You can all change your plans because this is non-negotiable", she carried on, "watch a movie, play a board game, stay in your rooms and don't talk to one another for all I care, but you are not ruining your Mama's birthday or my alone time with her, so as I was saying, there will be NO guests, NO leaving, NO drinking, NO drugs, and please try not to kill each other…"
"Really Mom, drinking, drugs… you think the four of us are gonna sit around drinking and getting high." Jesus laughed.
"I am just throwing it out there, so there's no excuse if it so perhaps comes up."
Lena, who stayed mostly silently through the whole ordeal leaving it Stef to handle, since it was her idea in the first place, finally piped up, "guys, just please don't make us regret this, we are really putting a lot of trust in you all to behave and act responsibly."
"Oh, so help you if you don't," Stef began, "I can promise you, you will not see anything but the inside of your four walled bedrooms and school for a lonnnng time and you will be forgoing your privileges of anything remotely fun such as cell phones, internet, television, video games, music… shall I continue or do you get the idea?"
Brandon exhaled loudly, "I think we got it Moms."
"I need confirmation from everyone that we are all on the same page here…"
"No drinking, drugs, coming or going for me," Jesus joked, "but I cannot promise you someone won't end up seriously injured. But c'mon you are leaving the four of us in a very confined space for an extended period of time, you had to know this was a risk…"
"Confined space Jesus, you have the whole house!" Lena exclaimed.
"I got it," Callie cut off Jesus from responding.
"I don't like it, but I guess I have no choice in the matter," Mariana sighed dramatically, "and may I add, that I do not think it is fair that Jude can go out but we can't, and he is the YOUNGEST…"
Stef came over and dropped a kiss on her forehead, "you're right love, you don't have a choice and life isn't fair sweetie, so get used to it."
Jude looked down before quietly saying, "it's okay, I can stay here." He hated thinking that one of his new siblings would resent him for being able to go out and not them.
"No, no bud, you can go, these four have much more of an extensive track record than you…" Stef confirmed snidely.
It was now their turn to drop their heads, as they knew there was some definite truth in that statement. Jude never sold drugs, or came home drunk, or had unprotected sex or snuck out without his moms' knowing. They were all guilty of some major offence.
"Bottom line is, we're trusting you, please don't let us down," Lena reiterated before looking down at her watch and realizing they were running wayyy late.
"Oh god, we have to go or we all might end up with detention, me included," Lena panicked.
"Oh wow, it is late," Stef added, "out, out, out my loves, have a wonderful day," Stef called out as her family began filing out the door.
"See, no worries love, they are good kids, we can trust them," Stef whispered to Lena at the front door.
"I really hope you're right Stef," Lena replied softly, "I love you, call me at lunch," Lena finished before landing a kiss on Stef's lips.
"Love you more, babe, bye." Stef responded before closing the door and her eyes, thinking about how she really hoped she was making the right choice here.