Chapter 9
All In Time
A/N: ok so I got two chapters done being proofed. So you guys get a bonus of two chapters in one day! Go me! lol
"Hello?"
"Mike we have a problem."
"What would that be Stef?"
"Our son. He stayed the night with her." Stef tells him.
"And that is something you didn't expect?"
"No I expected him to stay away from her after everything she has done to this family." Stef tells him.
"What exactly did she do to your family Stef. She told the truth to us all and faced the repercussions of the fact she lied in the first place. Or are you talking about the fact that she picked Brandon over the rest of you? I thought you would be happy that our son has a chance to be with someone he truly loves, and what happened yesterday can leave little doubt that she truly loves him. So where is the problem you are talking about?" Mike asks.
"He is choosing her over us. Don't you see that?" She asks.
"So? Stef he is 17 close to being 18. it is time for him to start forging his own way. Forming his on relationships away from the family. In short he is growing up. So of course he is going to choose her, I would be worried if he didn't. Stef you have to let your anger go or you will cause even more harm. What happened sucked yes, and I know you losing her hurt. But if you look at it honestly, you haven't really lost her. She still wants to be a part of your family just in a little different way. Does it really matter how she is a part of it? Or does it just matter that she is a part of it. I am telling you if you continue to push her away and try to keep Brandon from her you will lose them both. Is that what you want?" Mike asks.
"What I want is for someone to understand that what happened isn't right and we need to protect our son." Stef says.
"I agree we need to protect him. But right now I think we need to protect him more from you than Callie. Cause the way I see it you are close to doing ten times the damage she did. Do you want him turning away from you when he turns 18 and not talking to you or coming around? What happens if you push them both away? What are you going to do if they work out get married and have kids all with out you being any where near them? Why cause you were to stubborn to see the damage you are causing. I am telling you Stef back off of this one or lose him maybe for good." Mike says.
"You think you can do a better job? Fine after our talk I will send him to live with you. If he is going to choose her maybe it is the best he is with you." Stef says.
"Fine I will move to a 3 bedroom as soon as I can. Have him come talk to me as soon as he leaves there." Mike says,
"Fine." Stef says as she hangs up.
Brandon and Callie arrive at his house and walk up on the porch. Brandon stops and takes a breath. He lowers his head as if he is preparing himself for what is to come. Callie reaches out and takes his hand and smiles at him when he looks at her.
"You sure you want to do this? I have a feeling this is going to get ugly." Brandon asks.
"Brandon I am sure. I will not turn my back on you again. What ever happens in there we will get through it together. Just remember no matter what, I Love You." Callie says as she squeezes his hand.
"Callie."
"Brandon you don't have to say it back yet. I know it will take time. But it is how I feel, and from this day forward I will make sure I let you know how I feel and that I am not ashamed of it or you. So I will be telling you I love you a lot. When you are ready then you can say it back. Now lets go get this over with. I would like some alone time with you to talk some more." Callie says as he nods his head and walks in still holding her hand.
As they enter the house they can hear voices coming from the kitchen. They both take a breath as if to steel their nerves and look at each other. Callie nods and they walk into the kitchen. Stef sees Brandon first.
"It is about time you got home." She starts, then stops when she sees Callie and the fact they are holding hands. "What is she doing here? This is a family matter and last I checked she was no longer a part of this family!"
"Stef, calm down." Lena says.
"I will not calm down, I want to talk to my son with out her here." She says.
"First off I want her here. Cause to you she may not be family, but I realized something in the past couple of days. She if my family and I want her by my side. So if you want to talk to me you will do so with her standing right next to me. Besides this is as much about her as it is me." Brandon says his temper already showing, Callie tightens her hold on his hand for support.
"She is not your family!" Stef says.
"Stef you can't tell him that." Lena says.
"I can because it is true!"
"Right now I consider her more of my family than I do you." Brandon tells her, Stef snaps her head around and the anger is boiling.
"You are going to pick this hussy over you own mother. Tell me you are not going to pick this modern day whore over your own mother!" Stef yells.
"STEF!" Lena yells unbelieving what she had just called Callie.
Brandon's fist impacts the table so hard it rattles their coffee cups making the coffee slosh out and onto the table. Making both Stef and Lena lean back in shock. Callie moves so fast it almost appears as if she teleports in front of him. She slowly pushes him back a couple of steps. She takes his head in her hands and makes him look at her.
"Brandon don't, regardless of anything else she is still your mom. She can call me whatever she wants, I am tough I can take it. Please control your temper and do this the right way. Remember, I Love You." She says holding eye contact with him, he nobs and kisses the back of her hands as he takes them away from his face. He then looks to where a stunned Stef and Lena are now standing.
"You can call me anything you like, and I mean any damn thing you want to. But you will not Call Callie a Whore again! She has had sex twice in her life, one of those times she was RAPED! Do not ever disrespect her like that in my presence again. You said you want to talk to me, it seems you really only want to try to tear us apart. I will not let that happen so if that is all I will get my stuff and leave your house. Lena when my real mom returns let me know. Talk to my dad he will know how to get a hold of me." Brandon says.
"Brandon go ahead I will be up in a minute." Callie says as he nods and heads up to his room.
"Callie you have to know we don't all think of you like that." Lena says.
Stef goes to walk out of the kitchen but Callie gets in her way and stands there looking her in the eyes. She sees the anger and hurt that is there, but can't believe she is going to allow that to ruin her relationship with her son.
"I know you are hurt and angry and frustrated with me. I also know I am the last person you want to see right now. I get that I do. But here is what you need to know. I am going to be a part of your sons life for a very long time. I will never turn my back on him nor will I ever deny my feelings for him ever again. I am here to stay and I will earn back his trust. I plan on him being my family and us having a family in the future. So what ever you have to do to get over this I would suggest you do it. Because it is silly for you to throw away your and his relationship cause you are mad at me. Find away to tolerate me Stef that way you still have your son." Callie says.
She turns and walks to the stairs were Brandon is standing. He has a suitcase a couple of tote bags his keyboard and stand for it. With out a word Callie grabs the keyboard, stand a tote and heads for the door. Brandon smiles and walks after her. They are met at the door by Lena. She hands him his car keys back and looks at Callie.
"Take the car Brandon you are going to need to be able to get around. We will get by with out. Besides you are the only two who can drive anyways. Please stay in touch." Lena says as they both nod and then walk out the door.
"You coming back to my place?" Callie asks.
"I need to go talk to my dad." Brandon says.
"Ok follow me back to my place we can drop off one of the cars and then go to your dads. Don't try to protest Brandon, I have said it more than once today. I am going to stand by your side. Regardless of what people call me or how they feel. So lets get this stuff in your car and park it in the garage at dad's. Then we can go to your dads so you can talk to him. Just remember my couch/floor is there if you need it." Callie tells him.
"Ok." Brandon says.
20 minutes later they are walking up to Mike's door getting ready to knock. Callie takes his hand again letting him know silently she is here for him. He places a kiss on the back of it before knocking on the door. AJ opens the door and smiles at them. He motions for them to come in side.
"Mike we have visitors." AJ says.
Mike walks around the corner and sees Brandon and Callie standing there and holding hands. He gets a smile that splits his face into. In fact both Mike and AJ are smiling like they are happy to see them.
"Brandon, Callie good to see you both. Come on in and have a seat. Was just about to watch the game but that can wait a bit right AJ?"
"Sure haven't got to see my foster brother in a day or so. We need to catch up." AJ says with a smile.
"Ok did I walk into the twilight zone or something?" Brandon asks, to which Callie giggles. "What these two are acting like nothing has happened. I know mom called you about the blow up this morning."
"No B she didn't. Lena did though so yeah I know about it. Callie I am sorry for what Stef called you she was way out of line, I make no excuses for her though. She has made her bed, she gets to lay in it. For me I will always welcome you into my home Callie. I see something on my sons face I haven't seen since the adoption, a smile. Some how I know that it is there because of you. So whatever our differences may have been in the past, that is over. B all I have to say to you is I Love You, your my son and I got your back." Mike says.
"Thanks dad." Brandon says.
"Yeah thanks Mike." Callie says.
"Ok AJ It is your turn. I know this can't be easy for you. Me getting Callie when I know you were interested in her. So let me have it." Brandon says.
AJ walks up to him and holds out his hand so Brandon can shake it. They shake like they did at Idyllwild. Brandon just smiles at him.
"Look no hard feelings the better man for her won. I can tell I never really stood a chance. This way I am out before I get my heart tore up. So yeah we are all good fos bro." AJ smiles.
"Brandon I have applied for a 3 bedroom, but it is going to take about a month or so to get into one. They are in high demand, but I have been here for a while so I will get first dibs on one when it becomes available. Till then you know the couch is comfortable and all yours." Mike says.
"No offense dad but if I am going to have to sleep on a couch I think I will take Callie up on her couch, besides she is much better looking to wake up to." Brandon smile touching on the subject.
"Better looking? Why you no good little punk!" Mike says.
The next thing anyone knows is Mike and Brandon wrestling in the middle of the front room. Both trying to get a grip on the other, both laugh so hard neither can. Callie is standing there with a smile on her face watching father and son interact. She knows Brandon needed this. As much as she can support him she will, but even she can't take the place of a parent.
"We could have been great together." AJ says.
"No AJ we couldn't have. You would have always been second to Brandon. Every time he need someone I would have went to him. That wouldn't have been fair to you. It is better if we stay friends, we are friends right?" Callie asks.
"You are dating my fos bro of course we are friends." He smiles at her.
"Good. Now if you will excuse me I think my guy needs help."
Callie runs in and helps tackle Mike to the ground. The scene is one right out of the pages of a book where all ends happily ever after. Soon AJ joins them and laughter can be heard through out the apartment. Later they are all sitting around the table when Brandon gets up and goes to the restroom.
"Mike thanks for today. And for being cool about Brandon staying at my place. I know it isn't easy for you. But Brandon really needed one of his parents to stand up for him today." Callie says.
"Well from what I hear you did a damn good job of standing up for him with Stef." Mike smiles at her.
"Maybe I did, I know from now on I will do everything in my power to stand up for him. But even I can't take the place of a parent. We are still young Mike and though we have feelings for each other that even adults don't understand, we still need a parent every once in a while." Callie says.
"I am glad you know that. Speaks volumes about how much you have grown and changed since we first met. This may shock you, and you may not believe me at first. But I am glad you did come into our lives Callie. As happy as my son was before you did. It pales in comparison to how happy he is now. I for one am glad he found someone like you." Mike says.
"Someone like me?" Callie asks.
"It isn't a bad thing Callie. You have flaws that you own up to. You don't try to make people think you are perfect. With you what you see is what you get. Hold, I know you have made mistakes, hell we are all guilty of that. But when you do you own it you try to fix it, even when it cost you a great deal. No Callie I don't think my son could have found a better person to fall in love with." Mike says as Callie looks away to wipe a tear away.
"Thank you." She says with a broken voice.
Mike walks over to her and gives her a hug, as her tears flow for real. He just holds her a little tighter. He is sure she got the short end of the stick with Stef. He is also sure that his son will be forever linked to this young lady. He meant every word he said to her. Maybe when he first met her it would have been different, but not today.
"What's going on?" Brandon asks.
"Sorry your dad just said some very nice things, and after the last couple of days. I don't know I just thought it was going to be an uphill battle for me with your family. It was just nice to know there was one in our corner. Kind of hit a nerve, I am ok though Brandon. These are happy tears." She tells him as he wraps his arms around her and wipes the tears off of her cheeks.
"Thanks dad." Brandon says.
"No need to thank me B, I was just saying what I believe to be true." Brandon nods at him.
"Brandon why don't you take your dad and AJ to my place so they know where it is. The oval key unlocks my room. I have a couple of things I need to do. Then I will meet you there." Callie says as she hands him her house keys.
"Are you sure?" He asks holding up the keys.
"Yeah I trust you. Besides that way you can get you keyboard set up and your stuff inside. I promise I won't be too long." Callie says.
"Ok see you in a little while. I will walk you out." He says.
"No it is ok, stay here and talk with your dad. I will be ok." She says as she raises up and goes to lightly kiss his cheek when he turns his head so it becomes a kiss on the lips.
"Ok hurry home." He says, causing her whole face to light up.
"I will bye." She says as she walks out the door.
"Ok dad, AJ, want to see where I am going to be staying?" Brandon asks.
"Sure B lets go." Mike says.
"I wouldn't mind going." AJ says.
"Lets go."
Callie gets in her car and pulls out her phone. She searches her contacts until she finds her dads number. She dials it waiting for and answer.
"Hello?"
"Dad can we meet somewhere?" Callie asks.
"Sure Callie, is everything ok?" Robert asks.
"Yeah just need to talk to you is all."
"Ok well I can be at the house in like 10 minutes."
"No can we meet somewhere else first?" Callie asks.
"Sure there is a little cafe a couple of blocks from the house. Why don't we meet there." He suggest.
"Great be there in 15." She says,
"Ok."
