I am so sorry for the hiatus. I actually added this chapter so this episode is actually 7 chapters instead of the usual 6. I hope you all enjoy. Updates should continue as normal.
Thanks again for all the support. You guys are the best!
By the way I don't own the Fosters. If I did I think I would have an infinite amount of cool points!
Episode 16 Chapter 3
Stef and the four older kids were at home. She decided to take the rest of the day off. She would have to pick up an extra shift on the weekend. But she didn't mind. Weekend shifts always proved to be adventurous.
Stef was sitting outside on the loveseat. She needed some air. She was trying to process the events of the day. None of it made sense. She believed Mariana. But then it broke her heart that two teenagers could be so vindictive and heartless. It was all just so sad.
"Mom," she looked up to see Jesus leaning against the doorframe.
"Yes."
He was nervous. He wasn't sure if she was going to be pissed at him for fighting or proud that he took up for his sister. "Can I talk to you?"
"I think we should wait until your mama gets home." She wasn't prepared to talk to him without Lena. Stef actually felt like they should be more lenient on him. He had gotten a bum deal from the school.
Jesus walked further outside. "I knew you were going to say that. But I have something that I want to say, and I'm afraid I'll forget it by then." Jesus knew he probably wouldn't forget it, but he knew he could probably soften up his mom. Lena was way stricter about getting in trouble at school than Stef was. Stef was stricter about other things. He had learned that over the years.
Stef nodded and patted the spot next to her. "Alright. I'm listening."
Jesus let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry for fighting, but I'm not sorry for taking up for my sister." Jesus paused for a moment. "I know that Mariana has you and mama, but I'll always feel like I have to protect her. I'm her older brother even if it is only by a few minutes. I'm not going to let anyone hurt her." Jesus sighed. "I know that Chase is lying. He is an ass."
"Jesus," Stef warned.
"Sorry." But it was definitely the truth.
Stef smiled on the inside. Jesus was a good brother. She could remember the first time she met the twins. She knew right away that Jesus was the protector. It took them a long time to convince him to let them help. It isn't his job to take care of anyone but himself. And he has an awful hard time doing that.
"Jesus," Stef started. "I am all for you protecting your sister, but you know better than fighting."
Jesus nodded. "I know I do. I know that I have to learn how to control my temper."
Stef placed her hand on his shoulder and lightly gripped it. "Yes you do because if you don't there will be hell to pay."
"I know." He could tell she was serious. "I'm going to do better."
"I think you got a bum deal. You shouldn't have been suspended for three days." She knew she probably shouldn't tell him that. But Stef thought he deserved to know how she really felt.
Jesus smiled. "Really."
"Yes. But don't tell your mama I said that. I will deny, deny, deny." She ruffled his hair. "Go on upstairs."
Jesus stood up. "Thanks for understanding."
"Just remember that you are still in trouble. Your mama and I will discuss your punishment later."
"I know. Thanks mom." Jesus knew he wouldn't be in as much trouble as usual. He felt like they were going to go easy on him.
Jesus walked back into the house. Stef sat alone for only a few moments before she heard.
"Mom."
She looked up to see Brandon leaning against the doorframe. It was the same pose Jesus had made only minutes before.
"Yes."
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Brandon walked outside closer to his mom.
Stef was actually surprised that Brandon wanted to talk to her. He had been rather distant lately. She was worried about his recent behavior. She would welcome any conversation Brandon wanted to have with her. "Sure." She patted the spot next to her.
Brandon walked over and sat next to her.
"What would you like to talk about?"
"Am I grounded for skipping class?"
Stef hadn't thought about it. That was something that she and Lena would have to discuss. "Well you have already lost your car privileges for the week. I'll have to talk to your mama about skipping class. Is there somewhere you need to be?"
Brandon nodded. "Well I have piano today."
"Oh yeah. That's right." Stef had forgotten about that. "Okay." She didn't think that they would ground them. Lena would probably give them detention.
"So I can go?" Brandon asked, hopeful.
Stef nodded. "You can drive there, but I want you to come straight home."
Brandon nodded. "Awesome." Brandon stood up.
"Wait a minute." Stef pulled at his shirt, and he sat back down. "I want to talk to you."
"Okay." Brandon braced himself. He wasn't sure what she would want to talk about. "About what?"
"Do I have to have a reason to talk to my son?" Stef asked him.
Brandon shook his head. "I guess not."
"Tell me about piano. How's that going?"
"You really want to know about piano." Brandon was surprised. He always knew that she was proud of him, but she never really talked about piano. It wasn't her thing. It had always been something he shared with Lena.
"Yes of course."
Brandon smiled. "It's good." He couldn't really think of anything else to say. He hadn't gone to piano in a long time. He didn't want anyone to know the truth.
"That's all?" Stef questioned.
"Yep."
"Brandon, you know that you can talk to me about anything, yes?" Stef knew she sounded like a broken record. She had told him that many times over the last couple of months. She wasn't sure that he was listening.
"I know mom. But everything is fine." Brandon lied.
"How's your girlfriend?" Stef asked. She knew it was a touchy subject.
"She isn't my girlfriend." Brandon denied. "We are just hanging out."
"Like you and Tayla hung out?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Brandon stood up. "Thanks for letting me go to piano."
"Brandon," she stopped him. "I love you."
"I love you too." Brandon said as he walked back into the house.
Stef's face was filled with worry. There was something wrong with her son. She was a cop. It shouldn't be that hard to figure out.
She rested her head on the pillows and closed her eyes. She needed a few minutes of peace and quiet. Was that too much to ask for?
"Hi." She looked up to see Callie making a similar pose in the doorframe as Brandon and Jesus had made. Callie could tell by Stef's face that she was stressed. "I can come back later."
"No love that's okay." She patted the seat next to her. "Come sit."
Callie smiled and did as she was told.
"What's on your mind sweetheart?"
"I'm sorry." Callie told her.
"What are you sorry for?"
"For skipping class." Callie knew that it was wrong.
"Why did you?"
Callie sighed. She wasn't sure she wanted to tell her.
"Callie, you are the one that came out here to talk." Stef reminded her. She rested her hand on Callie's leg. "You can tell me anything."
Callie knew that was true. "I needed a breather."
"Callie." Stef gripped her leg gently. "I need a little more than that."
Callie looked down at the ground and tapped her foot. Maybe she should have just stayed upstairs with Mariana. Although Mariana's crying had really begun to get to her. "I'm tired of being labeled something that I'm not anymore. I feel like I will be juvie girl forever."
"Oh love you can't let that get to you."
"It does." Callie admitted. "When Kelsey called me that today it was like a knife to the heart. She doesn't know me. None of those kids know me."
"You are absolutely right. They don't know you. And you have nothing to prove to them." Stef smiled and touched Callie's chin. "Lena and I are very proud of you. You are going to do great things. That I am absolutely sure of." Stef sighed. "You know kids are cruel. That's evident in what happened to Mariana. You can't let them get to you. All we want you to do is prove them wrong."
Callie smiled. Stef always knew the right thing to say. "No more skipping class please."
Callie nodded. "Am I in trouble?" She asked. She hoped the answer was no.
"Well Lena and I will have to discuss it."
Callie nodded.
"I'm thinking detention." Stef knew how Lena's mind worked. They would have to punish them somehow.
"That sounds about right." Callie hugged her. "Thanks for the talk."
"Anytime sweetie." Stef held her tight. "I love you."
"I love you too, Stef." Callie smiled and then walked back into the house.
Stef couldn't believe how much she loved that girl and her brother. She couldn't imagine the Adams-Foster family without Jude or Callie.
She rested her head against the pillows again and closed her eyes.
Callie walked into the kitchen. Jesus was eating a banana and peanut butter. "How did your talk go with mom?" He asked her.
"Okay I guess." Callie grabbed a banana.
"Want some peanut butter?" He held up the jar.
"No that's okay." She smiled. Lena would freak out if she knew he was reusing the spoon over and over again. "How did your talk go?"
"I don't think that I'm going to be in as much trouble."
"That's good."
"How's Mariana?" Jesus asked. "I tried to talk to her earlier, but she didn't want to talk to me."
"I don't think she wants to talk to anyone." Callie informed him. "She's still pretty upset."
"I could kill Chase." Jesus hit his fist against the counter.
"I wouldn't let anyone else hear you say that."
"Yeah I know." Jesus was so mad. "Why would he do something like that to her?"
"My first guess is Kelsey." Callie knew that girl was bad news.
"Yeah well she is a bitch." Jesus said and then looked over his shoulder to make sure no one heard him besides Callie.
Callie smiled.
"Sure you don't want any peanut butter?" Jesus asked again.
Callie shook her head.
Jesus closed the lid on the peanut butter. "Your loss." Jesus placed the jar back into the cabinet. "When you go back to your room will you tell Mariana that I love her?"
Callie nodded.
"And that I will gladly beat anyone's ass that messes with her again."
"Sure."
Brandon was upstairs in his room pretending to get his stuff together for piano. His phone beeped.
Lauren: I can't wait to see you Goodie!
Brandon: I'll be there soon.
Brandon smiled. He was lying to his moms yet again. He was getting so good at it. He was sure they were never going to find out.
"Stef," Lena tapped on her wife's shoulder.
Stef opened her eyes. She must have fallen asleep. She smiled at Lena. "When did you get home?"
"Just a few minutes ago. How long have you been asleep?" Lena sat beside her wife.
"Not too long." Stef kissed her cheek.
Lena rested her head on Stef's shoulder. "This has been the longest day ever."
"Tell me about it."
"We didn't even get to look at donors."
"We can do that tonight after the kids are in bed." Stef told her.
"How are the kids?"
"They are upstairs. Except Brandon is at piano."
"Right." Lena sighed. "I can't believe Sanchez suspended Jesus for three days."
"The worst part is she let that little weasel off."
"What are we going to do?"
"I think we should give Mariana sometime. She will come to us when she is ready." Stef told her. She knew Mariana would want to talk about it eventually.
"You are right." Lena softly touched Stef's knee. "We will have to punish Jesus for fighting. And Callie and Brandon have detention."
"Sounds good." Stef knew her wife so well.
"You know I think that Sanchez has a vendetta out for our kids. She told me she was going to give Callie's parole officer a bad report."
"What?" Stef was shocked. Callie was doing so much better.
"Yeah. She said that her skipping class is proof that she is not getting better."
"Have I told you lately how much I hate that woman?" Stef just wanted to punch the lady. But she knew that was not professional.
"Stef," Lena warned. "Hate is a horrible word."
"I know, but it is the only one that fits my feelings for her."
Lena couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe one day she will retire and you can take over."
"I don't even know if I would want that."
"You would be a lot better than she is." Stef kissed her wife's neck. And then started to massage her shoulders.
"That feels like heaven." Lena moaned. It really had been the longest day ever. "Can we just stay like this forever?"
"I wish." Stef continued to massage her shoulders.
"Lena," Jude ran out onto the patio. "Can you help me with my math? I'm stuck."
Lena smiled and looked at Stef. "Of course buddy. I'll be there in a second."
"Thanks," Jude said as he vanished back into the house.
Lena stood up. "We will finish this night."
"I'm going to hold you to that." Stef laughed. "Oh the joys of having five kids." She whispered as she made herself comfortable again.
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