Title: In Love With The Girl (sequel to FJTOM)

Rating: M for Mature (adult content and strong language)

Pairing: Brallie

Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Five years after Callie left home, Brandon moves to New York for an internship with a local music company. Just as he settles into his new home, a familiar face turns his world upside down.

A/N: The prequel may be found here: For Just This One Moment (since I can't link [stupid FFN *grumblegrumblegrumble*] just go to livejournal and look for Sweetholiday09. The story will be the first entry on the page. Also, be warned: this piece contains explicit graphic adult content and has therefore restricted to anyone under the age of 18. therefore, if you are a minor, don't bother following the link and just read the story below.)

For months after Callie had left the Fosters it seemed as if time had stopped. Nobody wanted to admit that Callie was gone for good to parts unknown but that had been the unavoidable truth. So life went on, but Callie Jacobs was never forgotten. Every so often Brandon would drive around town hoping for some sign of the girl who had disappeared with his heart even though he knew it was futile. Callie was gone and she was never coming back. But it had become something of a routine for him, and sometimes Jude when the younger boy opted to tag along.

Five years down the road and Brandon still caught himself doing the same things once in awhile. In those five years so many things had changed and yet the one constant thing in his life was the torch that he carried in his soul for the girl who had disappeared without a trace. Jude had been officially made a Foster, Mariana and Jesus had graduated and gone off to colleges upstate, and now Brandon was getting ready to embark on a cross-country journey for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intern with one of the most famous record companies in the country.

Even though he disliked the thought of leaving when Callie still hadn't been found, everyone else around him had moved and Brandon knew that the time had come for him to live his life as well. The idea of not being able to drive around the familiar streets of San Diego to look for her was upsetting, but Brandon knew he had to let go and move on. So when the opportunity had presented itself two weeks prior, he had accepted with Callie and his parents in mind.

As he packed various things into his suitcase in anticipation of the changes tomorrow would bring, Brandon paused at the sight of the family photo on his bedside table. A soft smile pulled at the corners of his lips as he sat down on his bed and held the photo aloft in his hand, caressing it gently. It was the photo they had taken together at his mother's and stepmother's wedding, and Callie's face was smiling up at him brightly, cheeks flushed a brilliant pink from all of the evening's festivities. Memories of them dancing together as a family, and their first stolen kisses as a couple flashed through his mind.

A knock at his door pulled Brandon out of his thoughts. "Hey B, finished packing yet?"

Brandon looked up at his mother and smiled as she settled down next to him, her thin arm coming to rest across his shoulder. "Yeah, almost. Just a few more things."

Stefanie lifted the picture from her son's hands and stared at it sadly, gently caressing Callie's image with her thumb. "We all miss her B, but you can't put your life on hold anymore. She wouldn't want that."

Even though Brandon knew his mother was right, that Callie wouldn't have wanted him to wait around for her, a part of him was still hesitant about leaving. He wanted to be around if Callie ever decided to come home. "I know Mom, but... What if Callie comes home and there's nobody there? I don't want her to think that we forgot about her and moved on as if she hadn't ever existed."

Stefanie smiled softly and pressed a kiss to Brandon's temple. "There will always be somebody here waiting for Callie to walk through that door. But it doesn't have to be you, B."

Brandon nodded and leaned into his mother's warmth. "I know Mom, but I want it to be."

Stefanie laughed and pressed another kiss to the top of her son's head. "Oh, you are your father's son alright. I promise you Brandon, the moment Callie comes home Lena and I will call you. You'll be the first to know, okay?"

Brandon smiled at his mother and pressed a kiss to her thin cheek. "Thanks, Mom."

Amused by her son's actions, Stefanie pushed herself off the bed, placed the picture back on his table, and ruffled his hair. "Okay, well, I'm going to let you finish packing and get to bed. You've got an early day tomorrow. Goodnight B."

"Okay. Night mom." Brandon watched quietly as his mother left the room and suppressed an exasperated sigh when a familiar red-head appeared in his doorway.

Stefanie blinked in shock and smiled at her son's girlfriend. "Talya. It's late, what brings you here?"

After Callie had left, Talya had diligently worked her way back into Brandon's life, sticking to his side like glue whenever she had free time. And now that Brandon was to fly across the country, she was here to remind him who he belonged to. "Hi Missus Foster! I just wanted to come say goodbye to Brandon and give him the present I forgot to bring to the party, since I won't be able to see him tomorrow. I promise I won't be long."

Stefanie nodded and disappeared down the hall, leaving Brandon alone in his room with Talya. Smiling brightly, Talya plopped down next to the object of her obsession and handed him a velvet box. "Here, a going away present from me to you."

Brandon nodded and opened the little black box, a slightly perplexed expression gracing his handsome features as he stared at the object glinting up at him beneath the dim light of his room. "Funny... I always thought I was going to be the one to pop the question after graduation."

Talya giggled and pushed Brandon's shoulder playfully. "I'm not proposing silly. It's a promise ring, to remind you that you have someone waiting for you back home. See? I have one too."

The white gold, diamond studded band staring back at him from Talya's right ring finger was indeed a smaller replica of his own, only his was void of any kind of diamond. But the real meaning behind Talya's gift was not lost to Brandon, who nonchalantly slid the ring onto his finger and tossed the box into his open suitcase. "Thanks but you should just call it what it is. You're just marking your territory because heaven forbid some hussy has the audacity to flirt with me while you aren't around to snarl at her."

Offended by Brandon's clear lack of tact, Talya shot off of the bed and stalked towards the door angrily. "Why do you have to be so cynical about everything? Why can't I just get you something because I want to?"

Brandon rolled his eyes and held his hand aloft to show off his shiny new shackle. "A ring, Talya? Coming from someone like Lexi, sure, it's a sincere gift because she actually trusts Jesus. But we both know that the thought of me living alone on the other side of the country scares you the same way Callie scared you when she first moved in. Short of you coming with me, this is the only way you could think of to keep the girls away and we both know it."

Anger flashed in Talya's eyes, but rather than losing her temper she opted for a scathing glare instead. "Whatever. Take it however you want. I'm leaving. Have fun in New York."

And then Brandon was alone again, listening to Talya's heavy steps as she raced down the stairs. Instead of going after her like he would have on some other occasion, Brandon pushed his suitcase to the floor and rolled over onto his bed with a heavy sigh. Even though it wasn't how he had planned on saying goodbye to his on-and-off girlfriend, he couldn't really bring himself to care.

Noting the time on his bedside clock, Brandon stripped down to his shirt and boxers and slid into bed, glancing one last time at the family photo before turning off the light.

At 8 o'clock the next morning Brandon said farewell to his family and loaded all of his worldly belongings into the back of his father's car. With a final glance back at the place where his life had begun, Brandon climbed into the passenger seat and smiled at his father.

"Let's go, Dad. It's time for me to live my life."