It was the summer of 2008 at 10 o'clock and night when a demon attacked Piper and Leo at the Manor. Four year old, Chris woke up when he heard the commotion from downstairs, and Melinda who was only a year old woke up crying. Five year old, Wyatt woke up and picked up his baby sister from her crib. Chris started to run downstairs so Wyatt followed him. Wyatt hadn't been able to stop Chris in time and he witnessed the demon kill his mommy, daddy, and little brother.
That night an Elder came down and bound Wyatt and Melinda's powers. The next morning social services came and took the two kids to a foster home. The foster home didn't last and six months later they were onto the next foster home.
It has been years since the day Piper and Leo died though. Melinda is now twelve years old and she doesn't remember her parents or brother, Chris at all, and Wyatt is sixteen years old. Wyatt and Melinda are currently being fostered by Stef and Lena Foster. Stef has a son, Brandon from a previous marriage, who is a freshman in college, and Stef and Lena's kids, Callie is a senior in high school, Mariana is a junior while her twin brother, Jesus is at boarding school, and Jude is a freshman in high school. Their kids call Stef mom and Lena momma.
One day when Melinda and Wyatt were sitting in the living room at Stef and Lena's house. They were talking to each other about how they feel about their foster family.
"So Mel, would you want Stef and Lena to adopt us if they decided to?" Wyatt asked his little sister
Melinda nodded, "Yes Wy I would. They are the nicest foster parents we've had, even if they are lesbian."
Wyatt nodded, "Yeah I wouldn't mind either. Would you still want to be adopted by them if they don't adopt me?"
Melinda frowned and looked sad, "I don't know probably not though. You're all I really know. You've always been there for me."
Wyatt nodded, "That's understandable."
A few minutes later, Callie walked into the living room. Callie smiled at Wyatt and Melinda, "Hi Wyatt. Hi Melinda. How are you?"
Melinda looked at Wyatt. Wyatt replied, "Hi Callie. We're good."
Callie nodded and smiled, "That's good. I'm glad."
Melinda then looked at Callie with kind of sad, but hopeful eyes, "Callie, do you think Lena and Stef will adopt Wyatt and I?"
Callie sat down across from Wyatt and Melinda, "There is no doubt in my mind that my moms will adopt both of you."
Melinda nodded, "Okay"
Wyatt stood up and headed for the front door, "I'm going to go for a walk."
Callie and Melinda nodded, but Melinda looked at Wyatt like he was abandoning her.
Wyatt walked out the front door and walked away from his foster house. As he walked, he thought about all the foster home that he and his sister had been in. The previous foster home hadn't been abusive like the others but the foster parents acted like Wyatt and Melinda didn't even exist. The siblings ended up running away from that home when they found out that their Aunt Paige was a social worker. They went to their aunt to see if she wanted them and they were disappointed to learn that she couldn't take them in even though she wanted to. Wyatt was angry and he vandalized her car. He then ended up in Juvie while Melinda ended up in an abusive foster home with no one to protect her. When Wyatt thought about that memory he started to cry and become angry. He realized he was still mad at his and his sister's aunt for not taking them in. He started to run far away.
Back at Stef and Lena's house, Lena had just finished cooking dinner, and Stef was helping set the table.
"Kids! Dinner is ready!" Lena called
Most of the kids ran to the table but Melinda just walked while she wondered where Wyatt was. She knew he wouldn't just leave her.
After all the kids minus Wyatt were sitting at the table, Stef asked, "Where's Wyatt?"
"He went for a walk about ten to fifteen minutes ago." Melinda replied
Stef nodded, "Okay well he'll probably be back soon."
"Can we eat?" Mariana asked "I'm hungry."
Lena thought about it for a minute, "Uh sure I guess."
"May I be excused?" Melinda asked
"Sure" Stef replied nodding
Melinda got up from the table and ran upstairs to the room that she shared with Mariana and Callie. She sat on her bed. She was upset that everyone was eating without Wyatt.
Downstairs at the table Jude said, "Mom, Momma, Conner invited me to dinner on Friday? Can I go?"
"We'll think about it, bud" Stef said
"Okay mom" Jude replied
Callie looked up at her moms and asked, "Hey mom, momma, this boy in my class. His name is Reed. He asked me to go to the upcoming dance with him. Can I go?"
Lena thought about it and then looked at Stef. Stef replied, "Momma and I have to think about it, and we'd have to meet this boy, Reed. You can invite him over for dinner on Friday or Saturday."
"Okay mom" Callie replied
The kids sat eating quietly while Lena and Stef sat eating while worrying about Wyatt.
Meanwhile Wyatt was still running away from his foster house. He wasn't sure why but he knew that Melinda would have a better chance of getting adopted without him. He also didn't really believe Callie about Stef and Lena adopting both him and Melinda. Wyatt had also completely forgotten that he had his phone that Stef and Lena gave him.
At Stef and Lena's house, it had been an hour since Wyatt left for his walk and Melinda still hadn't eaten dinner. Lena walked up to the girls' room and sat on the edge of Melinda's bed. She gently rubbed Melinda's back, "Hey sweets, you know you have to eat something."
Melinda replied by asking, "Is Wyatt back?"
"No sweetie, but Stef is looking for him." Lena replied
"Then I'm not eating." Melinda said "I'm not eating until Wyatt is back."
Lena sighed and rubbed Melinda's back again, "I'm sure Wyatt would want you to eat."
"But he's not here." Melinda said. She wasn't mad at Lena. She was mad at Wyatt for leaving her when he promised he would never leave her.
Stef was driving around looking for Wyatt. She tracking him with the gps tracking device that everyone has on their phones. When she finally found Wyatt he was sitting down at a bus stop while crying. Stef parked the car and then sat down next to Wyatt.
"Hey bud, I thought you could use some company." Stef said
"Just take care of my sister." Wyatt replied bluntly not looking at Stef, and instead looking down. Then he looked at Stef and asked, "Stef, are you and Lena planning on adopting Melinda?"
Stef nodded, "Yes, we are talking about it, and we are planning on adopting you too."
"Me? Why?" Wyatt asked. He was confused as to why they would want to adopt a sixteen year old broken and reserved foster child.
"Because all kids deserve a safe and loving home and family. Plus Lena and I have grown to love both you and Melinda." Stef told Wyatt
Wyatt nodded, "Okay"
Suddenly Stef's phone beeped and she looked at her phone, she saw that she had a text message from Lena. It said that Melinda was refusing to eat until Wyatt was back home.
"What do you say we go back home?" Stef asked "Lena just texted me and she said that Melinda is refusing to eat until you are back home."
Wyatt laughed slightly and smiled, "That sounds like my sister." He got up and walked towards Stef's car.
Stef got up and walked next to Wyatt. She got in the driver side of the car, while Wyatt got in the passenger side.
When they got home and Wyatt walked in the front door, he was greeted by his upset little sister.
"How could you leave me? How could you even think about leaving me when you promised you would never leave?" Melinda asked yelling at Wyatt
"Mel, I'm so sorry." Wyatt replied while going to hug his little sister.
"Chinga usted" Melinda spat at her brother.
Mariana who had heard slapped her hand to her mouth in shock of what Melinda had said.
Wyatt looked at Mariana, "Do you know what Melinda said?"
Mariana nodded, "Yes but I can't repeat it."
Stef walked in the room, "What can't you repeat, love?"
"The word that Melinda said."
Stef looked at Melinda, "Melinda, what did you say?"
"I told Wyatt Chinga usted." Melinda said repeated what she said earlier. Both Mariana and Stef clasped their hands to their mouth.
"Will someone please tell me what my little sister is saying?" Wyatt asked getting angry.
"It's Spanish for F you" Stef said
Wyatt looked at Melinda, "Where did you learn that word, Mel?"
"At the foster home I was at when you were in Juvie." Melinda replied
"Mariana, Wyatt, please go upstairs to your rooms. Lena and I need to talk to Melinda about appropriate language."
Wyatt and Mariana nodded and then walked upstairs.
Stef called, "Lena can you come here please."
Lena walked to where Stef was, "What is it?"
"Melinda told Wyatt f you in Spanish." Stef said
Lena looked shocked. She told Melinda, "Melinda, come sit on the couch. We need to talk to you."
Melinda sat on the couch.
"Do you understand that saying the f word is bad? Do you know what the f word means?" Lena asked
Melinda nodded, "Yes I do. I'm not five"
"Okay first lose the attitude." Stef said. Then she asked, "If you know what it means and that it is a bad word why did you say it, Melinda?"
"Because I was mad. Wyatt promised me he would never leave me and tonight he was going to. If Stef didn't go find him he would still be gone." Melinda ranted
"That's still not a reason to say the f word." Lena told Melinda "I think you should apologize to Wyatt."
"I'll apologize when he explains why he was going to leave me if the reason is good enough." Melinda replied
"Okay well then until you apologize you are grounded" Stef told Melinda
Melinda rolled her eyes, "Whatever this is just a foster home. It's not like I'm staying here."
"Actually Melinda we're planning on adopting you and Wyatt." Lena replied
Melinda looked shocked, "Really?"
Stef nodded, "Yes you and Wyatt are great kids you've just had bad luck so far."
Melinda nodded. She suddenly felt really bad knowing that she had disappointed the couple that wanted to adopt her and her brother. "I'm sorry."
"That's great but we're not the ones you need to apologize to, Wyatt is." Lena told Melinda
Melinda nodded, "I know."
Melinda got up and walked upstairs to the boys room. She walked in and sat on Wyatt's bed.
"I'm sorry for saying what I said to you." Melinda apologized
"And I'm sorry too for leaving you when I promised I wouldn't. I thought you would have a better chance of getting adopted without me." Wyatt explained
Melinda smiled, "Stef and Lena told me they are planning on adopting us both."
Wyatt smiled, "I know. Stef told me. It's great."
Melinda smiled and nodded, "I know"
That night Melinda had a dream about the day that Wyatt told her he would never leave. Melinda was only six years old and Wyatt was ten. Their foster dad was about to give them a really severe beating and Melinda was especially scared.
Wyatt hugged his little sister and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, Mel. I will never leave you."
"You promise, Wy?" Melinda asked hopefully
Wyatt nodded, "I promise. I love you so much."
"I love you so much too, Wy." Melinda said and hugged Wyatt back
Melinda woke up from the dream. She got out of bed and walked to the boy's room. She climbed into bed with Wyatt and snuggled close to him.
Melinda whispered in Wyatt's ear, "Thanks for always being there for me, Wy. I love you and I'm glad your my brother."