This is the end of Episode 17. Only a few more episodes until this part ends. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Thanks again for all of the reviews! You all know how to make my day!

By the way I don't own the Fosters. If I did I think I would have an infinite amount of cool points!

Episode 17 Chapter 5

Brandon was now sitting in front of his moms and dad. He couldn't stop twiddling his thumbs. He couldn't believe they figured it out.

"Come on Brandon. I'm waiting to hear what you have to say. Why haven't you gone to your lessons in over a month?" Mike was furious. He wanted answers.

Brandon didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of a good lie. "I don't want to take lessons anymore." That wasn't a complete lie. He wanted to spend all of his time with Lauren. She was a beautiful girl, and she liked him. That's all he cared about.

"Why not?" Lena asked. "You are so talented." Lena could remember the first time he ever played the piano. It was magical.

"I just want to practice by myself from now on." Brandon thought that sounded better than anything else he could think of. "I don't really like my piano teacher."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Stef asked.

Brandon shrugged.

"I've been giving you money for weeks. What have you done with it?" Mike wanted answers.

Brandon pulled the money out of his wallet and handed it to his dad. "Here."

"You've just been holding onto it?"

Brandon nodded. Luckily for him Lauren had given him the money earlier. He didn't know what he would do without her. "I didn't want you know that I wasn't going. I knew you would be disappointed."

"You are right, Brandon. We are." Stef didn't know what else to say. "You know you can come to us about anything." She knew she sounded like a broken record when it came to this topic.

Brandon knew that wasn't true. They didn't want to know everything about him.

"I think your new found attitude has to do with Lauren." Mike decided to bring it up. "I don't think that you should see her anymore."

"What?" Brandon stood up. "You can't do that. You can't tell me who I can and cannot date." Brandon yelled.

"I'm your dad. I can parent you how I see fit." Mike stood up. He was now yelling too. "And I think that girl is bad news."

"You don't know her." Brandon was pissed. "You have your money back. That should be all that matters."

"Brandon, it isn't about the money. This is about you and your behavior."

Brandon was about to yell again, but Stef motioned for him not to speak. "Brandon, go to your room." She told him. Yelling and fighting wasn't going to solve anything. "One of us will be up in a little bit to discuss this further."

"Fine." Brandon stomped off. He wasn't going to let them stop keep him from Lauren.

Once Brandon was out of earshot Mike spoke up. "I wasn't done talking to him."

"You weren't talking to him Mike. You were yelling." Stef hated playing the middleman. "And by the way you weren't getting anywhere with him."

"Well what do you suggest we do?"

Stef looked over at Lena. She always had the best suggestions. "We can't keep him from Lauren. He has to realize who she is without interference from us."

"Lena, you know as well as I do that he is spending too much time with that girl."

"Yes. I agree. That's why we need to come up with a solution." Lena told him.

Stef smiled. Her wife was brilliant. She looked at Mike. "Mike, I don't like Brandon's relationship with Lauren any more than you do. I'm also not a fan of his new found attitude. But we can't push him away. We have to figure out something else."

"We can try it your way for now." Mike agreed. He wasn't happy about it.

Jesus was in his room. He was staring at his lap top. He couldn't find the right words. Nothing seemed to sound right. He loved Lexi.

Hey Lexi,

I'm glad that we have gotten to talk. I miss you every day. I miss your beautiful smile. I wish that things could be different. I wish that you were here. But you aren't here and I'm not there. The only thing that we can do is move on. I'm sorry that it has to be this way. Getting over you is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. I don't know if I ever will be over you. I love you. But you were right. We have to move on.

Love,
Jesus

His heart was broken, but he knew he had made the right decision. He was with Emma now. And she made him happy.

Brandon was in his room waiting him impending punishment. He knew they would send his dad up to talk to him. He didn't want to talk to his dad. All they ever seemed to do was argue.

Knock. Knock.

"Come in." He turned to the door. He was surprised to see Lena.

"Hi." She walked into his room. "You think you can talk to me without yelling." She sat on the edge of the bed. Stef and Mike figured Lena could talk to Brandon without yelling. She was always more calm than the two of them.

Brandon nodded. He knew that is why they sent her. "So how many weeks am I grounded?"

"A week." Lena gave him the news. He was pleasantly surprised. "You are lucky that we were able to talk your dad down. He isn't too happy with you."

"Yeah I know."

"But neither are we. Brandon, I know you well enough to know that something is bothering you." Lena hoped that she could breakdown the wall he had built. "Unlike your dad I don't think that it has anything to do with Lauren. There is something else going on in that head of yours. Especially if you aren't interested in piano anymore."

"I'm still interested in piano. I just don't want to take lessons anymore. There is no crime in that."

"No. The crime was not telling us about it. Thank goodness you didn't do anything with that money."

If she only knew the truth.

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine."

Lena knew that wasn't true. "I'm sorry Brandon. But I refuse to believe that you just decided to quit taking lessons. You worked so hard to get that audition. You wouldn't just give it up like that."

Brandon shrugged. "It's my decision. You've always told me that."

"You are right. It is your decision. I just hope you won't give up on your dreams. If piano is still a part of your dreams." Lena kissed his forehead.

Brandon smiled. Lena had always been such a good influence on him. Brandon was a lot like her.

Lena had been the one that encourage Brandon to play. She had seen his talent even before he could.

Lena stood up. "There is one more thing. Your mom and dad and I have decided that since you have so much free time in the afternoons you need to get a job."

"A job?"

Lena nodded. "Yes. You have two weeks to find one or else we will find one for you."

"I thought I was grounded."

"You are." Lena told him. "You can stay afterschool with me and on our way home in the afternoons we will look around."

"Seriously?"

"Yep. This will be good for you Brandon. It will teach you responsibility."

Brandon nodded. This was just there way of keeping him away from Lauren. "What about Lauren?"

"You can see her when you are no longer grounded." Lena hoped that this would work. She was ready to have sweet Brandon back on the premises.

Mariana and Zac were at the park feeding the ducks. Mariana was having the best time. Somehow Zac was able to take her mind off everything she had been through. They ran out of bread. "I guess that's it." Zac told her. "I think the ducks are going to be sad."

"I'm sad. I am not ready for our afternoon to end."

"Yeah me either. But I have to work."

"Why are you working all the time?" Mariana asked without even really thinking about it.

Zac shrugged. He didn't want to tell her the truth. She wouldn't understand. No one could know. "I just have to."

"Does your mom work?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Zac just wanted to change the subject. "Please. We can talk about anything else."

"Sure." Mariana realized she had touched a nerve. "We can talk about whatever you want to talk about."

Zac didn't say anything.

"Thank you." Mariana decided this was the perfect time to thank him again.

"You don't have to keep thanking me. I didn't do anything."

"You were my friend. I don't know if you have noticed, but I don't have many of those lying around."

Zac smiled. "I was hoping maybe we could be more than friends." He was extremely nervous. He had never asked anyone to be his girlfriend. He knew it was risky considering his situation.

"Like?" Mariana was so excited. She knew Zac was one of the good ones.

"I've always kind of had a crush on you. I didn't think you even noticed me."

"I notice you." Mariana hugged him. "You are an awesome guy."

Zac leaned in and kissed her.

Mariana realized that Zac was what she had been wanting for so long. He was one of the good guys. They pulled apart. "I'd like to be more than friends too."

"I was hoping that's what you were going to say." Zac kissed her again.

Ryan walked into the Community Center. Rita was sitting on one of the couches reading. "What are you doing in here?" Ryan asked her. She never sat in the living space.

She patted the couch seat next to her.

Ryan looked at her. He was hesitant. She didn't look too happy. "What did I do?" He asked with his hands in the air.

Rita raised one eyebrow. "Just come sit with me."

Ryan did as he was told. "What's up?"

"I heard about your date last night."

Ryan smiled. "Yes and…"

"And…You don't know what the and is?" Rita knew Ryan was a smart boy.

"I want you to say it."

"Callie is sixteen."

"Really?" Ryan acted surprise. "I had no idea."

"Ryan," Rita's tone changed. She was more stern than usual. "Ryan I think you are an incredible young man. I also think that you are a great influence on Callie. But I'm not sure that you should date her."

"Oh come on Rita. I was expecting you to understand." Ryan was hopeful. "Callie and I are a lot alike. And she is wise beyond her years."

"I understand that. But it doesn't change the fact that you are her boss."

"Well I'll just stop being her boss."

"You can't do that." Rita informed him. "You know the volunteers are your responsibility."

"Then what do you suggest that I do?"

Rita thought for a moment. "Maybe you should just be her boss."

Ryan shook his head. "That's not what I want."

"Listen, Ryan…She won't be a volunteer forever. Besides I doubt very seriously that her moms are going to want the two of you to date."

Ryan didn't like that idea at all.

"Just take a step back. It isn't forever. If you still feel attracted to her in a couple of months then you might can take a go at it." Rita touched his leg. "If you take a moment to think about it I know you will agree with me."

Ryan stood up. "Yeah maybe." He knew he was going to like Callie no matter how long they waited.

He walked into the kitchen. His phone beeped. It was Callie. She needed a ride home. He was more than willing to pick her up.

Mike walked into his apartment. He had picked up a six pack.

Dani walked out of the bedroom. "What is that?"

"I've had a bad day."

"I don't care." She grabbed the six pack. "You are an alcoholic. You can't just pick up some beer after a bad day."

Mike knew she was right. "I feel like I'm losing my son. He doesn't trust me anymore."

"Mike," Dani sat the beer on the counter. "Brandon is a sixteen year old boy. I would be worried if he wasn't acting out. That is completely normal. It doesn't mean that you are a bad father. You are a great father."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know you." Dani wrapped her arms around him. "You are an amazing man Mike Foster. Brandon is a very lucky young man."

"What did I do to deserve you?"

Dani always knew how to make him feel better.

"I was about to ask myself that same question." Dani kissed her man. Mike picked her up and carried her into his bedroom. At least she could take his mind off of Brandon and the beer he had purchased for a little while.

Callie gets into Ryan's car. "Thanks." She gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Brandon has the car today."

"I'm happy to see you."

Callie smiled. "I'm happy to see you too."

He started to drive.

"You'll have to drop me off down the street. Just in case Lena or Stef are outside. Brandon almost gave us up last night."

"After he is the one that got high?" Ryan wasn't sure that he like Brandon all that much. He seemed entitled or something.

Callie nodded. "I know. Brandon is such a baby."

"Yeah." Ryan looked over at Callie. She was perfect. "So." He looked back at the road as the car came to a stop.

"So what?" Callie could tell that something was on his mind.

"I think we should keep our relationship a secret."

"I thought that was what we were doing." Callie was confused. She thought their relationship was already a secret.

"I mean from everyone." Ryan sighed. "Rita thinks we should wait until you are no longer a volunteer."

Callie made a face. "I wish it could just be easy you know."

"Yeah me too."

"But I'm okay with keeping it a secret. It might actually be fun." She leaned over and kissed his cheek again.

"You are sure?"

"Yeah." Callie knew everything was going to be okay with Ryan in her life.

Jude was wiping down the kitchen counters. Lena walked in and smiled. He was working so hard. "Jude, you've done more chores than we gave you."

"I thought I needed to make up for doing something wrong." Jude sat down on one of the stools. "I really am sorry."

"I know buddy. At least you know not to do it again."

Jude nodded.

"We know that you are going to make mistakes Jude. That's what we are here for."

Jude wrapped his arms around her. "I love you mama."

Lena's heart melted. She loved her sweet boy.

"I love you too."

Stef was outside on her cellphone. "Yes sir thank you. I understand. I will talk to them and let you know. Thank you again." Stef hung up the phone. Things were never easy.

She walked into the kitchen where Lena was now sitting alone. "Hey," Lena greeted her. "You just missed Jude."

"We actually need to talk to him and Callie for that matter."

"What's wrong?" Lena could tell it wasn't good. "What did the adoption contact say?"

Stef sat down next to Lena. "We can't adopt them until we get their father to sign away his rights."

"Okay. That should be easy. He is prison."

Stef shook her head. "Nope. He has been out for a year."

"What?" Lena was appalled. "Callie nor Jude have ever mentioned that."

"I don't think they know."

Callie walked into the kitchen. "Hey." She realized they were looking at her funny. "What happened?" She was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Come sit down sweetie."

"Just please tell me what is going on."

Jude walked into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" Jude could feel the tension in the room.

"There is a minor delay in the adoption process." Stef started to explain.

"What?"

"Your father has to sign away his rights."

"That should be easy. He can't take care of us in jail." Callie told them. She didn't think this was anything to worry about.

"Honey he isn't in jail anymore." Lena informed her.

"How long has he been out?" Jude asked.

Stef looked at Lena. They had to tell them. "He has been out for a year. He lives pretty close by."

Callie was furious. Jude just sat there.

"Just tell him to sign the papers." Callie told them with no emotion in her face. She looked at Jude. "He is not our father. We don't want to have anything to do with him." With that said she stormed out of the room.

Jude was silent.

"Is that what you want, bud?"

Jude nodded. "Sure." And walked out of the room.

Stef rested her head on Lena's shoulder. "When are things going to get easier for those kids?" Stef's heart broke for them. There always seemed to be something they had to deal with.

Lena held Stef's hand. "When they officially become ours."

That couldn't happen soon enough for Stef.

So Brandon kind of weaseled his way out of it again. He is getting pretty good at that. But he won't be able to weasel himself out of things much longer.

Spoilers for the next Episode:

Stef and Lena make a decision regarding the donor situation.

Callie and Jude see their father.

Jesus finds himself pulled into issues that aren't his.

Ryan is confused by Brandon's bad attitude.

Frank makes another appearance.

Let me know what you thought!