Since that conversation with Mariana and after that with Brandon, Callie couldn't stop thinking of telling moms. She missed her chance again. She missed the chance to tell them when Brandon offered to her to do it. She got scared again and she saw how her fear broke their hearts again. She hated being such a coward. She wished she could have been brave. Preparing this Romeo and Juliet took a lot toll on her. Some lyrics Brandon wrote were about her, hell, all of them were about them, their love, their feelings and how much it hurts. They were so screwed. AJ realized she has feelings for Brandon and she had no idea that Courtney knew too. One wrong step could cost them a lot. Jack's death started something she simply couldn't control anymore. She exposed Justine and that costed her. Justine made public fact that Stef took restraining order against Brandon and she also said two of them had sexual relationship. That fact could ruin Callie and take away her credibility. Now, instead of someone who exposed Justine, she became someone who threatened Justine and who spread lies to protect her ''dirty'' secret. After what happened with journalists, she went to Lena's office and Lena called Stef right away. This was something that concerned the entire family. Stef's and Lena's faces were blank after Callie told them that the allegations were true. They just stood with their mouth hung opened and for few minutes none of the women said anything. Lena was hoping it was not true and that she heard it wrong, but both of them knew it was very possible. She and Stef had their doubts when the pregnancy test appeared and they were missing from the house. Stef was first to snap out of the shock.
''We are going home!''
She called her boss and told she has a family emergency and she sent Lena to get the rest of the kids. Brandon was not at school at the moment so she sent him a message to get home as soon as possible because she will haunt him down if she had to. Mariana, Jesus and Jude had no idea what was happening. Stef and Lena decided not to speak about anything until they are at home. Ride home was tense and very silent. All of the kids were sure they were the reason for their mothers' anger. Jude started getting interested in faith and moms didn't believe in God. Mariana was seeing Mat and Nick at the same time, and moms were against cheating and Jesus believed they found out he spoke to Gabe's officer and now they were angry. Callie was silent trying to keep herself together. She didn't wat to talk about what happened and things it might provoke. When they got home, Lena sent them to the living room.
''Mom, what is going on?''
''Stef will tell you in a minute. We are waiting for your brother Mariana.''
''Good luck with that. He is with his girlfriend.''
''I am aware of that.''
They all took a seat and just waited for Brandon. Callie knew this would be bad and the rest of the kids were killed by suspension of not knowing what is going on. None of them spoke. Few minutes later, Brandon came into the house with Courtney behind him.
''What is going on mom? Who died?''
''You will!''
He turned pail. He was aware that they might have learned he gave money to Courtney. Stef eyed him pretty angry, but she didn't want to start anything in front of that girl. It was not her fault her son did something stupid. She turned towards Courtney and tried to be polite.
''I will ask you to leave us now. We have to solve something, as a family.''
''Mom, you can't do it. She is with me and she will stay. All you want to say, you can say in front of her.''
''Is that so?''
''Yes!''
''Ok, then I can't wait for you to tell us all how could you sleep with Callie?!''
Brandon didn't expect it. All the kids and Courtney looked at him in horror or surprise. He had to think fast.
''Mrs. Adams Foster, I will leave now… Apparently there are so much unclear things in this family… See you Brandon.''
He barely noticed she left the house. He had to think fast. How could he deny it.
''What? Where did you get that idea?''
Moms looked at him very angry and disappointed. Before any of them spoke, Callie did.
''They know…I had to tell them. They wanted to sue Justine. She exposed us… GU, restraining order…everything is out now… Journalists asked about us… They said I did it because Justine wanted to expose us… ''
That was the first time he saw her. She was sitting in the chair, so small with her eyes red and so scared and broken. He took a seat and looked at the floor. It was all out now… Moms and their siblings knew it all now. He saw angry looks of Mariana and Jude, but he ignored them. Callie mattered now. He got off the chair and kneeled in front of Callie. He took her hands and tried to smile.
''You told her? We agreed that no one, but Matt and Daphne…''
Mariana was surprised to hear Matt knew all along about Brandon and Callie's secret and never exposed them or told her.
''I didn't. I never told anyone but Daphne and she was not someone who would tell on us.''
''You will be ok... I will make sure you are safe…''
She shook her head. She didn't believe it would be ok. It was over now.
''It's all over…''
''NO! NO! If they try to make some problems I will tell them that you didn't want it…''
''Brandon… I could never do that to you… That is like accusing you of rape and I will not do that.''
''Why? It could keep you in the house…''
''At what price Brandon? You would have a record…''
''I don't care!''
Stef got involved.
''That is out of the question! I will not let you do it Brandon…unless…''
Brandon and Callie looked at Stef not sure what she was saying.
''Is it true? Did you force her?''
Lena and the kids looked at Stef with horror on their faces. They never saw that question coming. They knew he would never force Callie to have sex with him. Now they were pretty sure he still had feelings for her. Before Brandon had a chance to speak, Callie did.
''How could you even think of that? Brandon would never do something like that.''
''I don't know what to think of it all. I have a feeling I don't know my own children anymore.''
Jesus, Mariana and Jude sat in silence and watched what was happening. Jude got off the sofa and looked at her with despise and disappointment.
''I knew you were a liar Callie… I told you that I know that you lie about things.''
''What?''
''You said nothing happened with two of you.''
''Jude, at the time you asked, it was true. We never crossed that night.''
Lena was next to speak.
''When did it happen?''
Callie took a deep breath and answered.
''Idyllwild…''
''Oh, God… The day before your adoption was recommended?''
Callie nodded.
''Yes.''
''How? Why? You knew you were not allowed to do it?''
''She was not living with us anymore and…''
''And what Brandon? That made it OK?''
''NO!''
Callie saw how he tensed and just squeezed his hand.
''Shouting will bring us nowhere. Please, don't do it… Let me talk, ok?''
He exhaled and nodded…
''I knew Carmen lied and I knew I have to do something for Rita. I recorded her confession and on that recording is also her comment about me and Brandon kissing on the fundraiser. I sent it to Rita and she used it to defend herself and clean her name. I was sure I would never get adopted so I…''
Steff cut her off.
''So, you believed it was ok to sleep with Brandon?''
''No, I believed there was nothing more keeping us apart.''
Stef couldn't believe her ears.
''What?''
''I didn't sleep with Brandon just because… I slept with him because I love him… And it was much more than just sex. I made love to the boy I am in love with and I spent the entire night in his arms so happy and more at ''home'' than ever in my life. ''
Mariana looked at them.
''That is where you spent the night? I always believed it was with Matt…''
''No, he was with me until it was time to meet you.''
Stef had million questions now. She was very angry at her son and daughter. She had no idea what happens now? What are the actions they should take?
''What happened after?''
''We came home. We had every intention of telling you and telling you that we are together, that we want to be together.''
Lena tried to be calm and stop Stef from interrupting. She was angry too, but she also knew she had to keep calm in order to hear the entire story.
''And why you didn't?''
''Because all of you said the adoption was on and…''
Brandon started to cry.
'' She wanted to call Robert to take her in, be her dad and legal guardian, but I stopped her. I love her enough to give up all of my dreams for her to be safe and have home. I couldn't have lived with the knowledge she was placed into some bad family because of me…if Robert said no or judge didn't let him take her… So, I told her to…I told her to get adopted and that it would be ok.''
Callie was crying too.
''I told her that her happiness means more than anything to me and that I want her to have a family who will love her. I knew I was not enough…Even you mom believed I was not worth her giving up the adoption to be with me. You told us that numerous times.''
She wiped his tears and turned him to face her.
''B…''
Before he said anything, Stef spoke and what she said left them all out of their minds.
''So, before we do anything radical, you will do what I say…''
''Mom…''
''I am talking now. You will date her. You will make sure to get it out of your system and make sure you know what the thing you want is.''
''What?''
''I am so tired of all of you blaming me for everything. You said Brandon I didn't take your feelings into account, and that I left Callie no choice. This will change, now I am doing it. For two weeks you will be together and will have time to decide what you want to do with this mess.''
''Mom, what are you saying?''
''Congratulations, from now on, you are dating her. I want you to get it out of your system and not have same drama all over every six months. Whatever you feel, deal with it. Now, figure out your game plan. Just one thing, this doesn't leave this house until you figure things out. I am clear? Now, go to your rooms.''
They went upstairs and Callie went to her room with Mariana. Before Mariana said anything, Callie stopped her. ''I don't want to talk about it. Please drop it.''
For the first time ever Mariana didn't force things. She picked up her computer and put on her headphones. Jesus went to see Ana and Jude went with some of his friends for ice cream. Brandon tossed and turned for some time and tried to figure out what to do. He was in love with Callie, but he was also with Courtney. They had sex, he couldn't just leave her. He tried to call her, but she was not taking his calls. She just sent him a message that she was going back to her ex and that he should figure out what he feels for Callie before he hurts someone else again. He had to talk to Callie. She tried to avoid him as much as she could. She was not sure what to do and how to act. They all had diner together, but the room was dead silent. She and Brandon were on the dish duties, but they didn't dare to speak. There were so many questions they had to one another, but didn't dare to ask. Many of them were hard to ask because they would be a game changer. If he said he loved her, if she said the same, there was no going back to being siblings or pretending they are siblings. When they say these words or not say them, all changes. Right now, the answers were hidden and it was ok for them. They were afraid of putting labels on their relationship. She went to bed first and she couldn't sleep. At midnight she heard very familiar beep. He sent her a message to meet him in the garage after everyone goes to sleep. When house got silent, she went to garage and found Brandon playing his piano.
''Hey…''
''Hey… ''
There was awkward silence none of them dared to end. Brandon got off the chair and came to her. He hugged her and held her tight.
''You'll be ok. I promise.''
''You don't know that.''
''I do… I will never let anything happen to you. I promise.''
She moved away from him.
''What will we do Brandon?''
''I don't know.''
He only knew it felt good to have her this close again.
Stef and Lena were getting ready for bed and Lena had no idea how will they handle this situation in their house, and even less, she had no idea what was with Stef and this dating thing. Callie and Brandon were siblings now.
''Stef, what was that today? How can they date? They are brother and sister!''
''Ha! That is the point. It would be too awkward to date. They will come tomorrow or day after to tell us that they are just siblings and it was a mistake. After that, we can go on with our lives.''
''Are you sure?''
''Yes, I am. Just wait!''
Lena was not so sure that two teens are not going to take advantage of the offer Stef made them.
Callie and Brandon sat in silence and just held hands. It felt good, they felt safe and in a strange way, it felt like they were finally home.
''What will we do with what Stef said?''
''We listen to her, but do it our way?''
She looked at him surprised.
''You agree with her?''
''Yes, we will never have chance to move on or be really happy if we don't do this. We have a chance to see if we really can make it work or it's just an illusion.''
''What do you suggest?''
''We pick up our assignments for the next week and on Sunday early morning we leave.''
''Leave where?''
He got keys out of his pocket and showed them to her. She knew what they were. Those were keys to the cabin, the scene of the crime.
''Idyllwild?''
''Yes, we could go there.''
She nodded and touched the keys.
''I am so scared.''
''Don't be…''
''Brandon?''
''Yes?''
''Can I ask you something?''
''Yes?''
''Can you kiss me?''
He got the hair of her face and kissed her. It was a very gentle kiss and it was much different than the last one they shared. There was no passion or want; it was just pure tenderness and love. He wanted to be very gentle to her. To him she was just too fragile. After she broke the kiss, she touched his face and smiled at him.
''You were wrong… You were always more than enough… You still are…''
He looked her in the eyes and kissed inside of her hand.
''I should have called Robert… You shouldn't have stopped me…''
''Callie…''
''If I called him, none of this would have…''
''No, it's all my fault. If I stayed in my room.''
''No, I would have come to see you. Regardless of who made the first step, I know it would have been the same.''
''But you will stay without everything…''
''I don't care. I have you, don't I?''