Happy Valentines Day everybody! Here is a chapter sent with love. Thanks to Mea23 and TheTBone as always for reading through part of this chapter. Worth noting as well that both thesameguest and Mea23 gave me scene suggestions for this chapter so thanks a lot to them! Remember you can always request scenes and if it fits in I'll definitely chuck it in there! Would love to know your thoughts/predictions!
Stef dawdled into the kitchen away from the buzz of people in the dining room. As if she hadn't been dreading this dinner enough her Dad had just showed up. Why? What's more, why had Lena invited him to stay? She wished she wouldn't insist on trying to make things right between her and Frank all the time. She knew she had her interests at heart, but she couldn't help but wish Lena wasn't so proactive.
As she dug into the cupboard, deliberately taking her time. She got the plate out but then spotted the wine glasses box they had dug out earlier. If Lena wanted her to wipe off the other glasses she should probably wipe of her father's too, right? That would give her another couple of minutes. The back door clicked open to reveal Jude and Kasey. She smirked as she watched her eldest daughter rubbing her temples, Jude's tirade of stories and excitement flowed from his sugar saturated tongue.
"Mom!" Kasey said relieved, hoping it may give her a break from Jude. She had loved the evening they'd spent together, but a full afternoon and evening with the twelve year old was starting to weigh her down.
"You're back! How was the movie?" She commented with a smile.
"Great! A lot of fun."
"Explosive! It was so cool! You should have seen the scene where -"
"Mom doesn't need to know the blow by blow, Jude." Kasey quickly silenced him. He not so subtly took the hint as he replied with an exaggerated wink. Stef picked up on it but she had known at the time of assignment the likelihood Kasey would add her touch. As long as Jude was fine and home in one piece she'd let whatever it was slide unless she had to address it. There was enough going on tonight to be nit-picking the possibility that Kasey hadn't been the strictest of chaperones.
"So...we're home and good, I can go now, right?" Kasey asked, one hand on the door handle.
"OK, OK, hold your horses. Did you have fun Jude?" Stef waved her hand beckoning her back as Kasey slumped down.
Jude bound forward to the table.
"It was awesome! We went to the movies and we went out for dinner and Connor and me got a brain freeze from the slushies!"
Stef's eyes widened, she wasn't sure she'd ever seen Jude hyper before. He still wore it with grace compared with most 12 year olds but it was still a sight to behold.
"Okay, do you wanna come join us for dinner or have you eaten too much already?"
"I'm good! I need to get my homework from my tutor done!" Stef and Kasey exchanged a look as Jesus entered.
"Why are you taking so long? Come on, Mom."
"Alright, alright." she shushed him.
"Why are you cleaning a wine glass? Are you trying to impress Gramps?" He proceeded to interrogate.
"Gramps is here? With the Catholics?" Kasey chipped in.
"You gotta be shittin' me!" Jude quipped inadvertently as all eyes turned to him. Kasey threw him a darting look.
"Sorry, it just came out." he shrugged with a cheeky smirk and a shrug.
"You guys saw Bazooka?" Jesus asked with awe.
"So Gramps is here..." Kasey darted out the room before Stef could comment. She threw an interrogating glare at Jude in her absence.
"We persuaded her. It wasn't too old for us, really." He pleaded, his face melting Stef's heart in a way Kasey's hadn't been able to in a long time. She shook her head and raised her eyebrows before responding.
"Okaaay, let's just say for Kasey's sake and yours that it will never be appropriate for that phrase. Especially in front of Lena."
Jude nodded.
"Can we go back, I don't wanna make it look like we've abandoned them..." Jesus whinged as Stef handed him the plate and wine glass.
"Right, right, go, go!" she waved him out of the room. "Jude, if you need anything just come down OK? You're more than welcome to join us."
"I know!" He beamed running off up the stairs.
Stef shook her head with a smile, it took her back to the days of pre-teens boys. The days when hyperactivity was her worst problem to deal with.
She sighed deeply and followed Jesus back into the dining room to catch the tail end of Kasey's conversation with Frank. She sat perched on Stef's chair as her Mom approached behind and set the crockery in front of their uninvited guest.
"I got out of the cast a couple weeks ago. Good to be able to go out again."
"How did you break it?" Ernie asked.
"I...uhm..." Jesus smirked into his glass as Kasey suddenly regretted the direction of conversation. "Nothing major. I fell, it was really just a hairline fracture."
"Up to no good, huh?" Frank teased, raising an eyebrow. "You're your mother's daughter." He quipped as Stef cleared her throat and looked to find comfort in Lena's eyes.
"That sounds like a good opportunity for a story..." Kasey offered.
"It sounds like a good opportunity for you to be going now." Stef whispered, tapping Kasey's shoulder.
"You scared I'll tell her about the out-of-state car debacle?" Franks replied.
"Dad..."
"That one'd do..." Kasey chimed in as Stef nipped her shoulders.
"Your mother's car broke down and she had to get towed -"
"Where from?" Jesus asked with a smirk.
"The way to a concert she cut school to drive to."
"Oh my God! Seriously?"
"Yes, Kasey - seriously." Stef took over irritated "The company called my Mom, she wasn't happy - it's not a big deal, it was a long time ago and -"
"What did Grandma do?"
"Did you get grounded?"
"Were you ever allowed to drive again?" The kids alternated as The Riveras shared a smile.
Stef looked at Lena, growing increasingly agitated. Her wife smiled back fondly as Frank struggled to think of which question to answer first.
"Didn't you have plans you were eager to get to, Kase? We would like to eat sometime tonight." Lena asked Kasey firmly as Stef finally pried her off her chair.
"And miss the chance to share more stories? You eat, I'll just pull up a chair." she smiled, picking up Stef's wine glass as Stef briskly pulled it away and finally fully ousted her away from the table.
"You could always share the story of where Jude's new catchphrase came from and why he's high as a kite." Stef widened her eyes at Kasey as Lena dipped her head curiously. Kasey clocked the glare and gave a defeated squint back to Stef.
"Fine, fine. I'll get going. Good to see you Gramps." She kissed his cheek as he pulled her down into a tight hug.
"See you later kid." He patted her back as she bound off waving goodbye to the others.
"High as a kite?" Sonya Rivera asked nervously as Stef gulped down the newly rescued wine.
"We're trying to get him to kick the habit." Jesus joked as Stef cleared her throat as a reprimand. She was amazed that even in Jesus' desperation to please the Riveras he had still been reverting to jokes. She knew it was a defense mechanism he'd probably picked up from her and Kasey when in nervous company.
"Sugar high. While Kasey may be a little carefree, she's not completely irresponsible." She threw another look at Jesus before smiling at the understanding Riveras who shared a mutual laugh.
"Well I know about that!" Ernie responded, winking at his daughter across the table. "Lexi's got me in a scrape or two in the past. He plunged into a story of adventures gone by as the family served out their meal.
"Did you see how cute he was? I should have brought him home with us." Mariana giggled stumbling along the sidewalk as Callie grabbed her arm.
"I think it's probably a good thing you didn't. I'm not sure your Moms would have welcomed him with open arms. They're gonna be pissed enough as it is."
"Oh Callie, quit worrying. I got this. We've snuck around plenty, for a Mom and and teacher our cops are pretty - oh my God! I totally got that mixed up!" she laughed.
"Good luck getting her to bed tonight." Wyatt commented, finally breaking his silence. He had been quite content to just let Mariana talk than have to think about being vaguely sociable.
"Surprised you're not thinking about getting Callie to bed!" Mariana laughed as Callie pinched her. "What? Come on, as if you two totally didn't get off at that party!"
Callie tugged her firmly as Wyatt lazily hid a smirk. His party may have turned into a bit of a bust but his mind right now had been bewitched by Callie over the events of the evening. He felt safe with her, they had a connection he hadn't felt with anyone before.
"If your Moms find out about this I don't think either of us will be leaving our bedroom. Seriously Mariana, I told you to just have one!"
"Oh stop being such a Mom and let loose, Callie. You should be enjoying yourself. Be a kid! We don't owe Moms anything." she sputtered out, her resentment resurfacing for a moment before she returned to her giddy rambling. "Hey look there's a car maybe they can give us a lift!" before Callie could hold her back, Mariana had her thumb stuck out over the road.
"Are you crazy?" Callie asked pulling her to the side.
"Shit, guys. That's a cop car!" Wyatt exclaimed as Callie gulped and Mariana laughed.
"Oops!"
"Are you kidding me?" Callie cursed to herself. She had texted Kasey again when she realised how drunk Mariana had been and although she wouldn't admit it, she wished she'd been more explicit in needing her help. She would know how to get out of this mess, or at least how to get Callie out of trouble with it. She thought of running but wasn't sure if it would look even more suspicious. They continued to walk hoping it may have missed the signal.
"Oh my God, what if it's Mom!" Mariana suggested covering her mouth with another laugh.
"Mom!" Mariana waving her arms at the car again. "Look away!" she giggled. The car began to slow and Wyatt leaped forward and grabbed Mariana running round the corner.
"Callie, run!" he suggested as Callie barely had time to process before the car pulled in.
"Ma'am?"
Oh great.
"Uhm, officer. Is there a problem?" she had never been more grateful that she'd avoided drinking.
"Pretty late for you kids to be out here. Everything OK?
"Fine!" she laughed nervously. "We're just waiting for our Mom to pick us up and thought you were her. My...brother and sister were kind of embarrassed when they realised you were a cop car. We're sorry to have bothered you."
The police officers exchanged a raised eyebrow.
"You mind calling your siblings -" he was interrupted as the radio buzzed.
"Dreyfus, we've gotta blue light." His partner interrupted. The officer looked nervously between the man next to him and the girl standing by his window.
"You guys sure you're OK?"
"Absolutely fine we live right over there." Callie assured him, doing her best to prove it was true.
The cop eyed her once more before another prompt from his partner.
"OK. You get home safe and stick together. Don't be flagging down any cars unless you're sure it's your Mom."
"Won't happen again, sir." Callie smiled as the officer nodded and pulled off. Callie exhaled deeply as Mariana emerged in a fit of laughter, Wyatt shaking his head behind.
"We are so sneaking you in the back." Callie warned before they made the final part of their journey.
"Holy henna, this party is a time bomb. Is this actually Wyatt's house?" Kasey asked Kelly, stepping over a passed out classmate.
"You sure you don't just wanna go to Scuro's?" Kelly asked, coughing through the smoke.
"Look, Callie texted saying Mariana was super drunk. I don't want her to have to handle that alone." She replied, taking in the scene around her. "I don't think I've ever seen this much damage at a house party." Kasey observed before stepping back with a wince as a kid jumped from the top of the stairs to a raucous cheer, denting the floor.
"OK, we need to find them and get out of here. If the cops bust this while I'm here and this gets back to my Mom she'll actually kill me."
"Anyone seen Callie or Mariana?" Kasey began to shout.
"Callie?" they moved their way through the party.
"Hey Kasey!" a drunk kid slumped towards her.
"Do I even know you?" she asked, pushing him off.
"No, but I think you're really hot and my friend said I wouldn't be able to get with you but I figure you could be persuaded." he lurched onto her as she pushed him off causing him to spill his beer across her front.
"Are you kidding me?" she yelled pushing him back before he stumbled back onto her.
Out of nowhere, another guy muscled in between them pulling him away.
"There a problem here?" He asked as the kid adjusted his shirt and spun away to throw up.
"You have some affect on the boys." The tall boy commented, Kasey pulling an unimpressed face at his remark.
"I'm Craig." He put his hand out as Kelly nudged Kasey in the arm.
"Kasey..." she nodded, limply taking his hand. "Thank you, but I can take care of myself."
"I'm sure you can, I was just protecting him from getting seriously hurt."
Kasey squinted at him, unsure of how to read him.
"Did I hear you were looking for someone?"
"My sisters. Well, sister and foster sister."
"Callie? Was it?"
"Yes...or Mariana. Have you seen either of them?"
The boy squinted looking around the room. "Afraid not. Can help you look though? My friend bailed ages ago. I was just about to leave."
"I don't want to keep you..."
"Meh, it's cool." He extended his arm out towards the next room. "So a foster sister? She been with you long?"
"Uhm, nope. just a few weeks. Hey, Garner you seen - oh my God!" Kasey shielded her eyes and took her jacket off to cover up a topless Talya.
"Here, let me." Craig grabbed up what he imagined was Talya's discarded top on the floor and threw it to Kasey.
The boys that had been surrounding her ran off
"Jerks!" Kasey shouted after them. "Are you OK?" She asked.
"I'm fine!" Talya slurred. "It's just the human body! You should be proud of it."
"Talya, come on. I think you need to get home."
"God, you Fosters are so preachy! Do you drink it in the water in your house?"
"Talya. Go home." Kasey gripped her arm and looked at her softly. Talya returned the glare intently for a moment before blinking back an insecure tear.
"Callie and Mariana walked back with Wyatt a little while ago." She replied lazily with a drunken pout.
"Why don't we head back now too, then?" Kasey suggested, grasping Talya's arm gently and looking over to Kelly who nodded.
"You know I was about to go just before you came - I don't mind walking you guys back." Craig offered.
Kasey and Kelly exchanged a look, Kelly urging Kasey on with her eyes.
"Can you give us a minute?" Kasey asked, letting go of Talya and pulling Kelly aside.
"Are you kidding? Some random hero swooping in? He has 'sleeze' written all over him."
"Oh let loose Kase, it's been ages since you had interest in a guy. He's kind of cute. Older. what harm can it do, none of us will be alone with him. We're all going same direction."
Kasey raised her eyebrow before shaking her head and looking back at the dimpled stranger. She took a deep breath before swapping gaze between all three of them.
"Come on, let's go."
The tall boy gave Kasey a smile as Kelly put her arm around Talya and walked ahead.
Kasey got out her phone and quickly typed out a message. For all of the mischief she would find herself in, she wouldn't walk home with a strange guy without a text to her Mom.
Next Chapter Preview: Kasey's choice in companion could spell trouble, Callie seeks advice on handling her foster Moms and tensions erupt after Mariana's reveal.
"Did she just say they're having sex? Lexi? What does she mean?" Sonya shook off Ernie's hand as she leaned forward, over the table, jumping out of her chair.
"What is the matter with you?" Stef snapped pulling Mariana aside as Callie gawped in panic. She knew she should have done more to stop this.
"What's the matter with me? You're the ones who gave them a green light and contraception." Mariana slurred, yanking her arm away.
