Jude and Connor were lying side by side, talking animatedly between themselves about almost anything that came to their minds. Both boys quick to brush against the other or touch one another. Delighting in the feeling that they no longer had anything to hide from one another.

"I think she will freeze up like a mannequin," Connor said.

Jude protested, "Nuh-uh, Im gonna have to hide behind you just in case she throws her purse at me."

"Why would she do that?" Connor asked.

At present, Connor had a hand rested on Jude's legs, absently tracing patterns on the covers as they spoke. They were discussing how Daria would react to seeing them together for the first time when Jude was finally able to return to school.

"Well," Jude said mischievously, "I did sorta steal you away from her."

Connor feigned considering this point, "Good point." He finally agreed.

"Yup."

Connor realised the implication, "Hey! You would let her throw the purse at me?" He looked at Jude.

"Well yeah, I mean, you're the baseball captain, you can catch fast flying objects."

Connor chuckled, "No arguing with that logic then."

Neither of them had hear the door open. "Really?!" Mariana exclaimed dramatically as she swept in, "Would you two get a room!"

Connor instantly flew of the bed, a blush rising in his cheeks as he moved to stand beside it. "Umm… we weren't," he stammered, "nothing was happening."

Jude glared at his sister and said, deadpan, "We already have a room. You're in it."

Mariana let out a small chuckle, "Good to see you're feeling better."

Before either boy could reply, the rest of the family, and Adam, came walking in. Callie cast a glance over Connor, raising an eyebrow at his hair. Blush creeping higher, he tried to straighten it out before anyone else could notice. He felt nervous and was tempted to reach for Jude's hand. But his father was in the room and that would be awkward.

"How are you feeling, bubba?" Lena asked Jude, stepping up to the bed.

Stef joined her, "I hope Connor hasn't tired you out before we get a turn to visit." She teased.

Connor smiled, "We just spoke, that's all."

Jesus snickered, "Just spoke? Yea right."

"Jesus!" Jude reprimanded, glaring at his brother.

"What?" he asked in mock innocence, "I said nothing."

"I'm fine, Mama, really." Jude replied.

Stef rubbed his forearm affectionately, "I'm glad, honey. But still, you take it easy. Don't make me handcuff you to the bed."

Her remark earned a chuckle from the others.

"When you are all done with this cliché display," Mariana interrupted, "we have a surprise for you, Jude."

The boy's brow furrowed, "A surprise?"

"Yea," Callie said brightly, "You are going to love it."

Looking between his sisters, Jude felt a little uneasy, "When you two are both on the same page, it scares me."

"That hurts my feelings," Callie said.

Jude looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "They say the truth does hurt."

Brandon and Jesus burst out laughing. Stef and Lena looked at one another, their adopted son was somewhat famous in the Adams-Foster home for his sass.

"Meow!" Mariana made a claw, "I see the Judicorn has his claws out."

Connor smirked at the use of his nickname, this earned him a smack to the arm. "I saw that." Jude said in explanation.

"I'm innocent," Connor protested, trying not to laugh.

"C'mon bud," Stef intervened, "it's not a bad surprise. Probably."

Adam looked on bewildered, not sure what to say. Looking to Connor for a cue, all his son could offer was a shrug.

"It's an absolutely amazing, one of a kind surprise." Mariana told him.

"And," Callie added, "it is totally you."

Brandon had to hide his face. Through giggles, all Jesus could offer was, "Yea buddy, totally."

Jude seemed to relent a little. "Alright fine, what is it?"

Mariana looked at him, "Close your eyes first."

Jude sat upright in his bed, "What? That wasn't part of the deal."

"We didn't make any deal." Callie reminded him, "You were too busy protesting."

"With good reason," he replied.

Stef interjected, "Don't worry bud, if its anything bad, I'll arrest them on the spot."

Mariana looked at her mother, mock hurt, "That is not fair. I'm a model citizen!"

Lena couldn't hold back any longer and joined in the laughing.

Callie looked at her, "Mama! You too!" Which was met with a nod from her new mother.

"So, what's the surprise?" Connor asked.

"No." Mariana told him, "Jude has to close his eyes first."

Jude sighed, "Why?"

Callie answered this time, "So you can get the full effect at once."

Seeing now way out of this predicament, Jude relented to the pressure of his sisters and closed his eyes.

"No peeking," Connor ribbed him.

Jude turned his face toward the other boy's voice, eyes still closed, "Yeah, yeah."

"Hey," Adam finally spoke up, "it probably won't be that bad."

Jude scrunched his eyebrows together and Connor smiled, secretly a little encouraged that his father had voluntarily included himself in the situation. It was a small thing, but a sign that perhaps things wouldn't be as difficult going forward as he had expected.

He felt the movement in the blanket as Mariana placed the gift on his bed. He was dreading the revealing. But he supposed his siblings meant well.

"Okay," she said at last, "open your eyes."

Hesitantly, he cracked his eyes open a bit, seeing a strangely shaped outline at first. Then, taking a leap, he opened his eyes.

Before him, sat on his knees was a large, abundantly fluffy unicorn. With fur that was every colour of the rainbow.

All eyes in the room were on him. Waiting for his response.

"Well?" Callie prodded, "What do you think?"

He continued to stare at the object.

"Earth to Jude." Mariana waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Isn't it great?"

Looking directly at her, he responded, "Uummm…."

Connor looked at Jude, wondering what was running through the boy's mind as he stared at the unicorn resting on his knees. He was keeping in a chuckle, sure that Jude, who did not like surprises, was running a thousand thoughts a second.

"Don't keep us in suspense, bud." Stef prodded."

Jesus added, "Yeah dude, you like it?"

Jude snapped to attention, "It's um, different."

"That's sort of the point, Jude." Brandon told him, "You know, because you're 'different' now too."

"What you mean now?" Jesus teased, "Jude's always been a bit of a left-handed monkey wrench."

Mariana looked at her twin, "How do you even know what that is?"

"Hey! I'm a guy, I know my way around tools."

Lena looked at her son and shook her head. Jesus had a particular talent for putting both feet in his mouth at once.

"I think it's rather interesting," Adam spoke up again.

Connor looked at his father a bit surprised, "You do?"

Adam shifted a bit, wary of the eyes on him now, "Well yeah, unicorns are unique. And aren't those the colours of the LGBT community?"

Everyone looked at him, Jude with particular curiosity.

"What?"

Stef said lightly, "We're just surprised you knew that, Adam."

The man shrugged, "What can I say? Google is your friend."

This comment was met with all round chuckles and eased the tension.

"He isn't wrong you know," Mariana said, "about the colours."

"What do you mean?" Jude asked her.

Callie stepped in, "That's why we chose it, because of the colours. To show we support you."

"And love you." Mariana added.

"No matter what," Brandon chimed in.

Stef and Lena beamed at their children with pride. This was the sort of thing that made them realise them know that all their efforts and teachings to the children were not in vain.

"That's awesome." Connor said, looking from Mariana to Callie.

"At the price we paid, it better be." Jesus huffed. Brandon immediately drove an elbow into his ribs.

"Ow!"

"What did I tell you?" he glared, "Take one for the team!"

"Okay, okay." Jesus said, rubbing his ribs.

Jude smiled at his siblings antics, they certainly were not normal by any means, but they were his family and he loved them.

"Thank you, guys," he told them, "It's great. I can't wait to put it up in my room."

"Aww, you're welcome buddy." Callie said, moving to hug him.

Mariana was bouncing on the spot, "I knew you would love it," she squealed.

"Love is a very strong word." Jude said almost in a whisper.

Connor couldn't resist taking the opportunity to tease him, "Hey, what are we going to call him?"

Jude looked at him curiously, "Him?"

"Well obviously," Brandon joined in, "It's clearly a guy."

Jude looked suspicious. Clearly, they had a goal in mind.

"I've got it." Connor said, sounding triumphant, "We can call him Judicornius."

This suggestion was met by laughter from the others. Mariana and Callie high-fiving each other.

"It's perfect." Lena added.

Jude looked at Connor with a huff, "Really?! You too?"

Through giggles, Connor looked at him and teased, "A Judicornius for Judicorn, its brilliant."

Jude smirked at the older boy and shook his head, "My own boyfriend has turned against me."

At that the others fell silent and looked at him. He realised instantly what he had said and looked to Connor, eyes wide.

"Your own what now?" Adam asked looking from one boy to the other.

Connor cleared his throat and said softly, "I guess… ah… maybe… we should probably explain."