But You Stood By My Side

WritingIsLoveAndLife

AN: Hello, everyone! I'm WritingIsLoveAndLife and this is my very first fan fiction story. I've been writing original work for over three-and-a-half years though, so I consider myself a seasoned writer.

This is going to be a fan fic based on the Freeform/ABC Spark drama The Fosters, which is a show I'm obsessed with. I particularly love the coupling of Jude and Connor, so they are going to be the main focus. I've been toying with idea of doing a fic about these two for a long time, so I hope everyone will enjoy it.

The title is a lyric from the song "Loved Me Back to Life" by Céline Dion. It's a fantastic song; so feel free to check it out, if you want.

Disclaimer: Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg created The Fosters. I claim no ownership of the series or characters. I claim absolutely no ownership of the series or characters. I merely respect the show, and wish to pay tribute while continuing to sharpen my writing skills.

Prologue

I'll never forget the day I met Jude Adams-Foster. I was thirteen, in the seventh grade and had lived in San Diego, California all my life. My entire world centered on sports, baseball in particular.

Until the day I met Jude.

I was walking down the halls of Anchor Beach Charter School, when I unceremoniously bowled him over.

He was a timid kid with a bowl haircut. He seemed so lost (figuratively and literally) and all I remember is feeling as though I wanted to wrap him up in a hug and never let go.

But I didn't do that. Every inch of my being cried out for me hug the boy, but back then, hell hath no fury like Adam Stevens. And boy did I know it. Behind the father of the year façade was one ruthless, terrifying man with very warped views of masculinity that he had hammered into me since birth.

Even at thirteen, I knew my father was someone not to cross. So, I did the next best thing:

I hauled him to his feet, introduced myself and offered to show him around. He accepted my offer with a small smile, and, looking back, it was most likely at this point that Jude Adams-Foster (then Jacob) had me completely, irrevocably hooked.

We soon became as close as it was for platonic male friends to become. It all started with the nail polish (or "war paint" as we've taken to calling it). He wore it to school and got shoved around by vicious bullies.

I went out that night and bought the same midnight blue hue he had on. I wore it the next day in a show of solidarity. It was then that we truly became friends.

Next, we did a project together. It was then that I learned a little bit more about his past, and ended the evening by giving him my 200-dollar handheld gaming console.

After that, it seemingly all went to hell.

I took him to the batting cages where my father saw him pat me on the back and assumed him to be gay. Then, there was his whole anti-label, "I don't want to be anybody's secret" rant. Then, I lied to him, telling him I stood up to my father when, really, I had only snuck out. We ended up playing spin-the-bottle that night. One near-kiss and one angry Adam Stevens later, and our relationship was more frayed than ever, setting the stage for our seventh grade camping trip and one incident in a tent that would change everything.

A make-up, and some mixed messages during a double date at the movies and a sleepover led to another kiss, in the bedroom he shared with his adoptive brother Jesus.

But it wasn't until I got a bullet to the foot that everything both fell apart and came together.

I came out as gay to my dad (something he had previously termed as "his worst nightmare"), broke up with my girlfriend Daria (who moved shortly after), came out to Jude (who responded by doing one of the single bravest things he ever could do for me) and started dating him.

We've been together ever since, my stint in Los Angeles be damned. And, looking back after 10 years, I would not change anything.

It wasn't easy, but I am where I find myself today because of it.

I find myself 23, sitting at a table at the most expensive restaurant in San Diego with the love of my life, a velvet box tucked into the inside pocket of my suit jacket that grows heavier as the minutes pass.

As usual, it's Jude who snaps me from my reverie.

"Earth to Connor!" he exclaims, waving a hand in front of my face. "Are you okay? You looked a million miles away there for a second."

"Yeah, babe," I respond, just a tad too quickly. "I'm fine. Just thinking about your surprise is all."

Jude scowls. "What do you up to Connor Stevens?" he asks. "You know I hate surprises."

"Well, you'll like this one, I promise!" I assure him, reaching over to place my hand on top of his.

He grunts, and goes back to his pasta dish, twirling the last of it around his fork and bringing it to his mouth, before swallowing it with the remainder of his glass of chardonnay.

He waits for me to finish the rest of my meal before we get the bill and I lead him out of the restaurant into the mild San Diego evening.

"Let's take a walk," I suggest to him, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Sure," he agrees, taking off his suit jacket and folding it over his arm, before offering me his hand.

And so, we snake our way through San Diego until we reach a place both he and I know very well: Anchor Beach.

Jude gives me a half-hearted glare. "Connor…" he says, in mock warning.

I place a finger to his lips. "Shush, Jude! Just a little further until your surprise."

He sighs, and allows me to drag him through our old school to the beach, where a familiar tune starts to play: Matt Alber's cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"

'The clock strikes upon the hour, and the sun begins to fade…'

"You want to dance?" I ask him, offering him my hand.

He takes it. "I'd love to."

We dance through the song, my hand on his back holding him close, and his head on my shoulder.

"I love you, Jude," I whisper to him as the song fades.

He pulls back to look at me. "And I love you, Connor," he tells me. "But do you mind telling me why we're here now?"

"So impatient!" I scoff. "I can show you better than I could tell you."

I take a deep breath, kneel and pull the velvet box out of its place in my jacket.

He laughs, trying to keep the tears from spilling over. I smile at him.

"Jude," I begin. "It's hard to believe that we've been dating for 10 years. I still remember the first time I saw you. I knew you were special. And you are, you truly are. We've been through so much in this past decade, faced many obstacles that have threatened to derail us. But you stood by my side through everything. I want to ensure that you stay by my side for the rest of our lives. So, Jude Jacob Adams-Foster, will you do me the great honor of being my husband?"

I open the ring box.

A tear slides down his cheek, and he wipes it away. When he speaks, it's only one word, spoken softly, but with an undeniable firmness: "Yes."

AN #2: Well, there you have it: the prologue. Please let me know how I did in a review. Also, I don't have a lot of ideas for this fic, so your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Until next time,

WritingIsLoveAndLife