Chapter 10

Start Of Something New

Brandon gets the keys out as he unlocks the door. He has his keyboard and stand while AJ has his suitcase and his dad has his totes. He opens the door and waits for them to walk in. he hears his dad laugh and hurries inside. The couch both chairs and the end and coffee tables are all gone.

"Ah Brandon how is it that you are sleeping on the couch?" Mike asks.

"What, wait! There was a couch there just this morning!" Brandon says.

"Brandon calm down son I believe you. You can see the leg marks in the carpet." Mike laughs at him.

"I bet Robert had someone more it all out. He was talking about taking Callie out to buy new furniture so she could make it more to her liking." Brandon tells him.

Callie walks into the cafe to see Robert sitting at a table in the back. She starts walking his way when he sees her he stands up. Callie walks right up to him and hugs him. He is a little surprised by it but returns the hug at once. He notices the little shiver that runs through her.

"Rough day?" He asks.

"Yes and no. There were some good things that happened but some bad ones to. Sorry I just kind of needed a hug." She tells him.

"No need to be sorry Callie that is what I am here for. I will give you my support when ever you need it or don't need it. That is what parents do." Robert says.

"Not all parents." Callie says sadly.

"Let me guess things went south with Stef and Lena?" Robert asks.

"Lena was ok, but Stef was like a completely different person today. She basically threw Brandon out. Called me a whore and a floozy. It was bad dad." Callie tells him.

"I will talk to her." Robert says.

"No, please don't dad. I want to handle this on my own. For Brandon as much as me. I have to show him I will be there for him no matter what people say or do to me. That want look like what I am doing if my dad jumps in and rescues me. If you want to do something to help, don't freak about Brandon staying with me till his dad gets a 3 bedroom place." Callie says.

"So Brandon's only place to stay besides with you is his dads on the couch?" He asks.

"Yeah." Callie says.

"Of course he would have chosen your couch." Robert chuckles.

"Why do you say that?" Callie asks.

"Cause if I had the choice of sleeping on the couch of my dads and sleeping on the couch of a beautiful young woman who I happen to be head over heels in love with. She wins ever time." Robert laughs.

"That is kinda what Brandon said to his dad. That is what I wanted to talk to you about. I told Brandon to show his dad where the place was and to go ahead and put his stuff in the room. I hope you don't mind." Callie says.

"No sweetheart that is fine, but I think we better go to the house."

"Why?"

"Cause I had all the living room furniture and the table and chairs removed so you could get new." Robert says with a smirk.

"Oh great they are going to think we are sleeping in the same bed." Callie gets up at a dead run for the door as Robert pays the bill laughing all the time.

Callie arrives at the house and runs for her room. She opens the door in a rush and is talking before anyone can even say hi.

"My dad had the couch removed we are going to be buying another one today. I swear he slept in here last night. It isn't what it looks like." Callie says.

"Really cause it looks like there is no couch and my son is sharing the floor with a some dust." Mike says making it seem like he is mad.

"No Mike I promise he slept... Wait what did you say?" She asks.

"That he slept on the floor." Mike says as he burst out laughing.

"I already went over this with him much in the same way you just did." Brandon says.

He walks up and wraps his arms around her. As she sighs and rest her head on his chest. Then she smacks him hard on the arm.

"You could have said something! I was so worried your dad would get the wrong impression!" Callie tries to act mad but the laughter is just under the surface.

"But you looked so cute rushing in here all in a panic." Brandon says as he tries to dance away only to be shoved back into her smack by AJ.

"What the hell dude you are suppose to be on my side." Brandon laughs.

"I am but it is fun watching her kick your ass." AJ laughs.

"Can anyone join this little party or is it invite only?" Robert asks.

"Come on in to the pick on and kick Brandon's ass party." Brandon says as he gets smacked on the arm by Callie, punched in the shoulder by AJ and smacked in the back of the head by Mike. "Ouch that hurts!"

"Hey stop picking on my one day hopefully to be brother in law." Sophia says as she runs in and push people away from Brandon. "Don't worry I got your back Brandon."

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Callie asks as she winks at Brandon who smiles.

"Of course I do he needs someone on his side." Sophia says, then starts squealing when Brandon starts tickling her.

"Now you see why we were kicking his ass." Callie laughs.

"Brandon- No- I - Was - On - Your side!" Sophia gets out between breaths and laughing from being tickled.

"Yeah I know but I couldn't let that little remark about hopefully one day to be brother in law go." He says as he stops tickling her.

"Hello Mike it is nice to see you again." Robert says as they stand by the door allowing the teens their fun.

"Hello Robert, nice to see you as well." Mike says as they shake hands.

"What say us old folks go out to the patio and drink some lemonade while these young folks have their fun." Robert says.

"Sounds like a plan." Mike says as he follows Robert out the door.

"This is a sweet place Callie." AJ says.

"Thanks. My dad wanted to give me space to get use to everything and for us to get to know each other. So he figured this would be a good way to start. I like it cause if I stay close for college I am sure he will let me stay here as well." Callie says.

"That would be a good plan. Plus like you said it gives you guys time to really get to know each other with out feeling crowded." Brandon says.

"Yeah that was what dad was worried about was crowding her. Making her feel like it had to be right now. I think it is working, we all seem relaxed about the whole situation." Sophia says.

"It is working I am starting to relax and feel like I belong. Like maybe we can make it to a normal father/daughter relationship." Callie says, as Brandon hugs her from behind.

Callie feels his arms go around her and closes her eyes and leans back into him. She is slowly starting to feel safe in his arms again, like nothing can ever hurt her as long as he is holding her. She never thought she would ever get to feel that way again. She was positive no other guy out there would ever be able to make her feel this way.

"You know I have no idea why I didn't see it before now." AJ says.

"What is that?" Callie asks with her eyes still closed.

"You two. Seeing you together now and thinking back to how you were all along. I can see it now. You two just fit together, you just work together, and you look great together. You were right Callie I never stood a chance." AJ says.

"No you didn't, sorry. There will never be another person for me other than Brandon. We lost that for a time on more than one occasion, but we are slowly finding it again. This time neither hell or high water is going to make me turn away from it. This is where I belong. This is where I want to be, and this is where I plan on spending the rest of my life. Safe in his arms." Callie says as tears form in Sophia's eyes and AJ nods.

"I can see that. I am happy for you both, I know you will figure it out." AJ says.

"They better or I am going to kick both of their butts!" Sophia says as they all laugh.

"Nice to hear that sweetheart but I think you will have to leave them so we can go shopping for furniture." Robert says from the door.

"Yeah AJ we really need to get back to the house. You have to finish your work for school and I need to get ready to return to work on Monday." Mike says.

"Ok see you guys later." AJ says as he fist bumps them all.

"See You."

"Later."

"Bye."

"Ok dad lets go. You want to come Brandon?" Callie asks.

"No if you guys don't mind I think I am going to stay here. Maybe set up my keyboard and play a little." Brandon says.

"Sounds good. Why don't you move those benches out of that walk in bay and set it up there?" Callie says.

"You sure?"

"Yep I think it would be the perfect place for it. Plus it would be close to the way you had it at your moms." Callie says.

"Ok I will do it."

"Brandon just set them outside the door here I will have someone come get them and take them to the storage unit. Ready to go Callie?" Robert informs.

"Yep, see you soon." Callie says.

She steps out of his arms and turns and this time she kisses him, it is the first time since this all began she made the first move. He kisses her back a little hesitant at first but that goes away quickly. She then breaks the kiss and follows her dad out the door.

"You know you are a really cool dad." AJ says.

"Why do you say that?" Mike asks.

"I don't know too many dads who would let their underage son stay at his some what girlfriend's house, especially with the living arrangements the way they are," AJ says.

"Well I doubt I could have stopped it. They have a lot of pent up emotion inside of them. They need time together to figure that all out. Me trying to run rough shod over him would have just driven him farther away. Be sides I meant what I said to Callie, I don't think Brandon can do any better than her. So I am going to support my son and allow him to spread his wings and fly." Mike says.

"Yeah she really is a great person. I know she made mistakes, but I think that was more out of wanting to please everyone else besides herself and Brandon of course. Being a foster kid myself I get where she is coming from when she said that. We have to worry about a lot of things someone like Brandon doesn't, nor do I think he completely understands. But I am sure Callie will get him there in time." AJ says.

"Maybe you can talk to him too. Let him know what it is like from someone outside of their relationship. That her fears are yours and a lot of foster kids too." Mike says.

"I might try that if you think it will help." AJ says.

"Couldn't hurt." Mike smiles as AJ nods.

"Callie are you ok?" Robert asks as they are looking at furniture.

"What oh yeah I am fine." She says.

"You seemed a long ways away." Robert says.

"Just thinking. I never expected it to be this hard to win him back. Nor did I expect as much friction between me and Stef. But I will get through it." Callie says.

"I know you will sweetheart, you are a very strong young lady."Robert says.

"Thanks. I think I like this set." Callie says.

She points to a set that is dark in color with matching browns blacks and grays mixed into a kind of swirling effect. It is soft to set on and has two pillows that go on either end by the arm rests.

"Are you sure?" Robert asks.

"Yep these are the ones and look it even has end tables and a coffee table to go with it." Callie says.

"Ok is there anything else you need before we go pay?" Robert asks.

"Yeah there is, would you mind if I met you at the car I need to buy a couple of things?" Callie asks.

"No that is fine do you have enough money?" Robert asks.

"Yeah I do, but thanks. I will see you out there In a few. They won't be able to deliver these till tomorrow will they?" Callie asks.

"Probably not. But we can put Brandon in the guest room for a night." Robert says.

"I am not sure he would be comfortable in there dad. He slept on the floor last night I am sure one more night won't hurt him." Callie says.

"You know there is more than enough room In that bed you sleep in for you two to share with out crossing the line you don't think you are ready for." Robert says.

"DAD! I am not going to talk about that with you. Besides I am not sure we are ready for that either, in fact I am sure we aren't." Callie says.

"Ok Ok just saying is all." Robert laughs.

"Yeah well don't." Callie laughs back.

"Ok see you at the car." Robert says.

Callie makes her way to her door and walks in to see Brandon sitting at his Keyboard playing the Idyllwild piece he wrote. She stands there and listens to him play as tears form in her eyes again. It never fails to amaze her at just how talented he really is. The way he can make her feel as he plays. The emotion he puts into playing. Like him and the piano are one in the same. He can make you feel what he feels as he plays. When he stops playing she walks a little farther into the room.

"You know you can have that now." She says.

"Maybe one day soon. How do you know what it is about?" Brandon asks.

"Cause I know you Brandon. I also know that through it all you never lost your feelings for me. It was me that got lost, which in turn led me to hurt you. Some times it amazes me that you still love me after everything I did." Callie says.

"Yeah, but you can't help who you fall in love with. Trust me I could never hate you, and not for lack of trying. I wanted to hate you, I wanted for you to mean nothing to me so the pain would stop. All the wanting in the world didn't change the fact I just can't stop loving you." Brandon says.

"I know and I know I deserve some of your hatred. I wish I could take it all back, all of the pain I have caused you. All of the times I denied you. It was wrong of me, one day when we are In a better place in our relationship I will try to explain it better." Callie says.

"Why wait?" Brandon asks.

"Cause right now it would sound more like an excuse. I have no excuse nor am I going to try to give you one. What I did was stupid and selfish in the wrong way. All I can do is say I am sorry it will never happen again, and that I Love You." She says.

"Ok." Brandon says.

"The couch won't get here till tomorrow as I am sure you guessed since it is 10 pm. I am sorry but you will have to crash on the floor one more night. I'll get your pillow and blanket." She says.

"I already got them. The floor is fine Callie it won't kill me." Brandon says.

"Ok well it has been a long day and I am tired, so if there is nothing else you need, I think I am going to turn in for the night." Callie says.

"No I am good thanks. Think I will turn in too. I will see you in the morning." He says as he walks up and gives her a light kiss.

"Ok." She says and goes into her room.

For the next hour they toss and turn trying to sleep. For Callie she knows he is out there. For Brandon he know what his heart wants. Neither is sure just how ready they are. Neither is sure how long it will take for them to get back to where they want to be. They just know they need to try. To walk out on a love like theirs was a crime.

Callie gets out of bed and walks out to the living room. Brandon hears her and sits up looking at her. She bends down and grabs his hand urging him to stand. When he is on his feet, with out a word she leads him to her room and they enter and she closes the door.