But You Stood By My Side

WritingIsLoveAndLife

AN: We've broken 4700 hits everybody! We're inching up on 5000, which will mean another marathon writing session. I never expected to get this many hits when I started the story. You're all so amazing and wonderful. I have the absolute best readers ever.

This chapter, in Jude's POV, will cover the twins coming home for the first time. As well, Callie will pay our family a visit to ask for their assistance in taking down a new (but familiar) threat.

I've had four reviews posted to the last chapter since I published it, so I'll go ahead and answer those now:

Nuke Rose: I'm so glad you loved the last chapter! The conversation between BC and Marina about Zane will definitely be interesting, to say the least…

Speaking of Zane, if you're getting a weird vibe off of him, then I'm doing my job. I'm glad you are excited to read his back-story. He definitely has a few stories to tell. As for whether he'll attempt to get in between BC and Marina… well, I'm not giving anything away.

To answer your question: no story in this fandom that I've ever read has made use of an asexual character. Zane indentifying as such would be interesting, but it just wouldn't fit the story. It's a very interesting idea, though.

I'm glad you're excited to see BC step into the role of big brother with the twins. It's going to be a lot of fun to write the new family dynamic.

Thanks for the review, my friend. Enjoy the chapter, and the rest of the story!

Shin-X 25: Yes, BC did indeed go to his father's for some comfort, and very much took a liking to his foster siblings. Writing him in the big brother role is going to be a lot of fun for me. Connor's cooking mishaps were very fun for me to write. I'm glad you enjoyed them!

If you're not getting a read on Zane and where I'm going with him, that is because I don't want you to get a read on him yet. All will be revealed in due time, I promise. The character definitely has some stories to tell…

The next chapter is here! I hope you enjoy it, and the rest of the story! Thanks for the review.

Guest: I'm glad you're excited to see what happens with BC and Zane, and that you're looking forward to finding out what Marina knows about him. I'm sorry for teasing you, but all will be revealed in due time. I'm glad you're excited to see the new family dynamic. You want more chapters? They're on the way, starting with this one! Enjoy the chapter, and the rest of the story. And thank you for the review.

Techaton: You read the prologue and all 24 chapters in one night? Color me impressed! I don't even think I read that fast… I'm so glad you love the story. It's one of your favorites of all-time on this site? Thank you very, very much! That's incredibly kind of you to say.

Enjoy this chapter, and the rest of the story! Thank you for the review, and for the follow and favorite of this story. I sincerely appreciate it.

Disclaimer: Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg created The Fosters. I claim no ownership of the series or its characters. I merely respect the series and wish to pay tribute to it, while continuing to sharpen my writing skills. The only characters I do claim ownership of are my OC's: BC Adams-Foster-Stevens (née Anderson), Marina Reyes, Jan Stevens, Dean Williams (even though he's out of the story), Mark Wells, Bob Olsen, Mary Stevens, Theo Stevens, Ryan Clark, Zane Johnson, and the twins Christian and Hannah Davis, as well as any further OC's I choose to create and insert into this story in the future.

Chapter 25

The twins come home today, for the first time. And truthfully, that is the only thing that is getting me through today. The thought that, even with all of the bad that I have to deal with as part of my job, at least Connor, BC and I will be able to give Christian and Hannah a good, safe, loving home. At least we can prevent those two from bouncing around the system aimlessly. At least we can prevent them from growing up way too fast.

Callie and I weren't lucky like that. But we were lucky in the end, to find the Adams-Fosters. And now, thanks to them and Rita and Bill, we have careers dedicated to helping the very kids that we see so much of our old selves in. I'm officially the top social worker in San Diego, and Callie is one of the most respected voices on foster care in America.

I'm just leaving a routine home inspection, and getting in my car when I notice a message from her on my phone. I put it on speaker and begin driving home for the night as he voice sounds throughout the vehicle:

"Hey Jude, it's me. Listen, I know you have the twins coming home tonight but I really need to talk to you, Connor and BC. I've just found out something that could put all of our family, especially me, in a great deal of jeopardy. I need help, little brother. Call me back when you can. I love you."

I'm immediately alert. My sister hasn't sounded this vulnerable in years. Whatever she needs to talk about must be big.

I touch the button on my steering wheel that enables hands-free calling.

"Say a command," the computerized voice drones.

"Call Callie," I say clearly.

"Calling Callie…" the voice announces. The call connects after the first ring.

"Hey Jude," breathes the voice on the other end.

"Hey Cal," I greet her. "I just got your message. You're okay to swing by the house and talk with us. Bring AJ, and the two of you can meet the twins, okay?"

"Okay," she breathes.

"I'm not going to lie, Callie," I tell her. "You have me really, really concerned right now."

"Well, I wish I could assuage your concerns, but I can't," she says. "This is big. It could cause a firestorm if we don't contain it."

"Okay, I believe you," I tell her. "I'm just driving home from work now. I'll be home in 15 minutes or so. I know BC was walking home with Marina, so he'll be home if you get there before me. I'm going to call Connor and tell him you're coming over, okay?"

"You do that," she says. "I'll see you soon."

"I love you, Callie," I tell her.

"Love you too, little brother," she says.

The call disconnects, and I immediately dial Connor.

"Hey, babe," his voice answers.

"Hey love," I reply. "I'm on my way home from work. Callie is going to stop by. She needs to talk to you, BC and I. It's apparently urgent."

"Jude…" Connor sighs. "You know we have the twins coming by with Bill tonight."

"Babe, she sounded so desperate and vulnerable. I haven't heard her like that in years," I reason. "I know we have the twins coming with Bill, so I invited Callie and AJ to come meet them. That way, we'll still be there for the twins, but also for Callie. She needs us, Connor…"

"I know," he breathes. "I'll delegate to my staff and I'll be home from the stadium as soon as I can."

"Okay," I say. "I love you, babe. I'll see you soon."

"I love you, too," he responds.

I disconnect the call, and focus on getting home. The whole drive, Callie's message and thoughts of the twins are never far from my mind.

Arriving home, I rush out of my vehicle and swing the front door to the house open. "I'm home!" I call.

"In the kitchen!" BC calls.

I follow his voice and see Callie and AJ sitting at our kitchen table across from BC, with Callie looking stressed out of her mind.

BC fixes me with a look. 'What's going on, Daddy?' his eyes ask.

'Later…' I return, and he nods.

Right now, I have my older sister to attend to. I drop my briefcase to the floor with a clatter and move to take her into an embrace.

"You're okay, Cal," I reassure her. "Whatever it is, you're not alone, okay? We'll take care of it. All of us, together. That's what family does, right?"

I feel her nod into my chest. I share a look with AJ and BC, who are looking at me with wide eyes. BC has never seen Callie quite like this before. AJ has, and he's the one who can usually calm her, but right now, she needs me, and he knows it.

We hear the door swing open, and I know Connor has returned home. He comes into the kitchen, and freezes, seeing Callie.

"Hey, everyone…" he says carefully. "What's going on?"

Callie straightens up, wipes her eyes, and says, "Today, I received a threatening phone call to my office. This call threatened me and our family, my business and my reputation with irreparable harm."

AJ darkens. "Who was it, Cal?"

She inhales and exhales, looking at each of us. "Justina Marks," she breathes out.

'Okay… I was not expecting that…'

"Justina Marks?" I question. "You mean the pro-privatization social care advocate who you fired years ago?"

She nods. "She's threatening to end my career and "expose" me the same way I did her unless I agree to everything she wants…"

"And what is it that she wants, Cal?" I ask.

Callie exhales, and hands me a tablet. "This is her list…"

I scan it over:

1) A public, formal apology to me over your heel turn at the foster care symposium

2) 50% equity stake in the company that I helped to expand

3) For Jude Adams-Foster-Stevens to place a percentage of all kids in his care into privatized foster homes

I look up. "Has this woman lost it?" I ask. "There is no way in hell I'll be placing kids in my jurisdiction into privatized homes."

"It gets worse…" Callie shudders.

I continue reading:

4) A formal statement from Callie Hensdale (née Adams-Foster) praising the benefits of privatization and calling for the reintroduction and passing of Bill SB-3301 in the Statehouse

5) An executive job at San Diego Social Services arranged for by Jude Adams-Foster-Stevens, accompanied by a glowing personal recommendation

6) A formal pardon on all charges against me, and a formal apology by Captain Roberts and Officer Stefanie Marie Adams-Foster of the San Diego police department for their impropriety in the handling of the case against me

7) A monetary sum of $1.5 million dollars for irreparable damage to my professional career, and for pain and suffering.

Failure to comply with all demands will result in a hostile takeover of the company founded by Callie Hensdale, amongst other actions that could include the revocation of the foster licenses of Jude and Connor Adams-Foster-Stevens, the loss of badge by Stefanie Marie Adams-Foster and the removal of Lena Adams-Foster as Principal of Anchor Beach Charter School.

Sincerely,

Justina Marks

I pass the tablet around, so that AJ, Connor and BC can read the list. BC pales. AJ and Connor shake with barely controlled anger.

"Who does that woman think she is?" Connor blusters.

"Does she think she can just come out of the woodwork 10 years later and threaten our family?" AJ demands.

"Apparently so…" Callie sighs, rubbing her forehead. "I don't know what else we can do though…"

"We have to do something!" BC exclaims.

"We will," I say firmly.

Callie's head snaps up. "And what will we do, Jude?" she snaps at me.

"We'll fight back," I say, looking around at those assembled. "Connor and I did the same thing with Dean Williams. We'll do it again with Justina, but we might have to use multiple tactics to pull it off."

"Would that work?" everyone questions me.

"I can't say for sure, but, if we have to go down, at least we'll go down fighting…"

Callie exhales and nods. "I'm in."

AJ looks at me as well, before taking Callie's hand and squeezing. "I'm in too," he says.

"Count me in too, Judicorn!" Connor agrees.

"And BC makes four!" my son adds. "If we can get the rest of the family on board too, we'll be unstoppable."

"I'll make the call now," Connor excuses himself.

Beside Callie, AJ laughs. "The twins are going to have one hell of a homecoming…"

Our entire family ends up joining us for dinner. Brandon and Courtney even call in on video chat from New York, as we brief our family on the actions and threats of Justina Marks. By the time dinner is over, we have managed to get them all to join our crusade against her.

Brandon and Courtney disconnect the video call to book a flight back to San Diego. The rest of the family goes about helping to clean up the dishes. I'm exempt however, as are BC and Momma, because we cooked everything.

The doorbell rings, and BC and I go to answer it together. We see Bill standing behind the twins. "Hi," he says, as Hannah immediately launches herself at BC, knocking him backwards.

I see Christian roll his eyes in the corner of my vision. I just know he's going to be so much like Callie. God knows what these two have seen and been through over the years.

"Come on in Bill, Christian," I say, as BC and I step aside to allow them entry into our home.

We lead Bill and the twins to the kitchen, and his eyes widen as he takes in our entire family.

Mariana immediately descends on the twins, wrapping them up in one of her infamously tight hugs.

Bill watches, amusement flickering in her eyes at my sister's behavior. "I wasn't aware that you two were having a family gathering tonight," he tells me.

Connor has come off of drying dishes to greet the twins and talk to Bill. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me back into his body. "Trust me Bill," he says. "Neither did we…"

AN #2: So, the twins are now with Jude and Connor! And they got a very unexpected welcoming from the entire family. Did you all like how I integrated the character of Justina Marks? The next chapter will be in Connor's POV, and will include the conversation between Jude, Connor and BC about how to deal with telling Marina about BC's feelings for Zane. As well, the family adapts to having two new members. Hannah and BC bond, and Jude and Connor deal with a wary Christian.

I'm going to take a short break from writing but I'll try to get another couple of chapters up before I go to bed. I make no promises, but hopefully, you should all get at least one more chapter tonight.

Until next time,

WritingIsLoveAndLife