Oh man that episode was tough to watch. Hopefully this chapter makes everyone feel a little better. Your reviews have been amazing keep em' coming and remember to answer the question at the end...I try and give my readers what they want. Read, review and Enjoy!
None of the kids knew where Jude was or when he was last seen causing the moms to jump into action. Stef was on the phone to Conner's parents while Lena was on the phone with Matt and Gina's parents thinking if he was anywhere it would be with his friends.
"Conner's mom said Conner left the house to go to the mall around noon and he isn't due home until curfew. She tried calling him but he didn't answer, she is going to call back if she hears from him."
"Basically the same story I got from Matt's parents."
"So that basically means they are all together right," Callie asked hoping this was a good sign?
"Odds are yes," Lena said still feeling very unsettled.
"He has his phone off," Stef exclaimed checking her find my phone app. "He is in so much trouble."
"Ok can we just focus here," Lena said trying to keep everyone on target. "Matt and Conner are both out and are mysteriously unreachable. Everyone is due home in about 2 hours and we need to figure out what to do."
"Jude will come home. I think we just give him a little space to figure things out," Stef suggested.
"And if he is really missing," Callie said going right to worst case scenario. "Do we lose two hours in trying to find him?"
"You're going to file a missing persons report?"
Callie started to say something and then stopped. She knew that was a bit extreme and found herself at a loss for words.
"Fine he has an hour and half before he has to be home….we wait," Callie agreed.
"I am going to go plug my phone in, it's about to die and I want to make sure it is charged if Jude calls," Stef said excusing herself.
All the kids not sure what to do turned to Lena for direction.
"I know it is not going to be easy but I need everyone to try and relax. There is no reason to believe Jude won't come home when he is supposed to. Dinner is on the table try and get something to eat I am going to go check on mom."
Brandon, Callie, Jesus and Mariana all watched as Lena left the kitchen. Brandon was the oldest and felt the responsibility to keep this family together.
"I know we are all worried about Jude but he will be back. We have all been there guys…we have all had those moments where for one reason or another we just needed to get away and not be found for a little while….but we always came back and he will too," Brandon said hoping that reminding them of their past they would realize it was just a part of growing up.
"Yeah Brandon is right," Mariana added knowing Callie needed a little more comfort. "We have all been there and growing up in this house it is only normal to need a little alone time from all the craziness."
"We should all try and eat something and he will probably be back before we clean everything up," Brandon said passing out the plates.
Callie took a plate but then set it down on the table before heading into the living room.
"Guys eat I'll go check on her…and really Jude will be ok," Brandon promised.
Brandon walked into the living room to see Callie curled up on the couch starring out the giant glass window. He walked over and gently sat next to her not wanting to startle her. He rubbed her back and waited a few minutes before speaking.
"I know you are worried about him…but you can't protect him from everything."
"What if this is my fault? What if Robert and Sophia are too much for Jude to handle and I'm the reason he left?"
"Callie, baby you're not responsible for Jude. Life is going to throw a lot of things at him…I know it already has…he needs to learn how to deal with thing his way. We don't know why he left and what's bothering him but when he comes back we will figure it out. We will talk to him and help him find other productive ways to deal with his issues. Correct me if I am wrong but you ran away…you packed up your stuff and had every intention of walking away from all this. Jude is coming back he just needs time to process."
"I wish I could protect him from everything."
"Just like I wish I could protect you from everything but I can't."
Callie nodded understanding but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"Everything will be ok," Brandon whispered pulling Callie into his arms.
Meanwhile upstairs Lena walked into their bedroom to see Stef lying on the bed a pillow covering her face. She gave Stef a few minutes and soon heard her let out a muffled scream into the pillow.
"Feel better," Lena asked with a smirk?
"No," came her muffled reply.
Lena walked over to the bed and took the pillow off her wife's face. She leaned down and gave her a kiss before brushing back her hair.
"Just think this is the last one we have to worry about running away," Lena said with a smile.
Stef looked at her wife like she was insane before she burst out laughing.
"You're right…thank god because I can't go through this again. It is like a rite of passage for these kids or something."
"It could be worse I guess. Now we just need to figure out what triggered his need to separate and help him through it."
"Most likely the addition of Robert and Sophia but we will let him tell us….after I huge him and kiss him and ground him until he is 30."
"Well, let's try more for the hugging and kissing over the grounding him until he is 30 please. We want him to talk to us not feel like he is going to get in trouble every time he does."
"I know but still not telling anyone where he is going, turning the find my phone app off and being unreachable is not ok."
"I know...it is just one of the many things we will talk to him about."
Both paused when they heard the front door open and a slight commotion coming from downstairs. They knew Jude had to have just arrived home. Lena grabbed Stef's arms gently reminding her to tread lightly.
"Hey buddy," Lena said greeting their son.
"Sweets lets go into the living room to talk please."
Jude turned to head into the living room shrugging off his sister's embrace. Callie was about to follow him when Lena stopped her.
"Guys I think it would be best if mom and I talked to Jude alone," Lena suggested although it really wasn't a suggestion.
"But something is clearly wrong with him…."
"I know love and mama and I will talk to him."
"But I…"
"Callie you're not his mom you're his sister…mama and I will talk to him and then you can talk to him later."
Callie let out a sigh that more resembled a huff. She was usually very good about relinquishing her motherly role over Jude but on occasion she slipped back into it and Stef had to remind her who was in charge.
"Fine….we will be upstairs having lots and lots of sex," Callie said with a tude as she went upstairs.
"Condoms are in the bathroom, lubes in the drawer," Stef hollered after her.
Brandon stood there slightly shocked and caught in the most awkward moment ever.
"Umm we aren't….we wouldn't….she is just mad," he finally settled on.
"I know love she is just trying to push my buttons. You go calm her down and we will talk to Jude."
"But I…can't we….why do you get the easy job?"
"Oh yeah being the mama is just such a walk in the park…move it mister," Lena turned him and pointed him towards the stairs.
Lena tried to hide her smile as she heard Brandon mumble about girl's monthly friends and this being the sucky job of being a boyfriend and Callie's mood swings. She wanted to tell him it would get better but really it would only get worse.
"How was your day sweets," Stef asked sitting next to him on the couch?
Jude shrugged.
"Ok I guess."
"Did you tell anyone you were going out today," she asked wanting to ask rather then tell?
Jude's silence was all the answer Stef needed.
"Is it ok to leave the house and no tell anyone where you are going?"
"No," he mumbled.
"I'm sorry I am old and my hearing is going a bit you're going to have to repeat that a little louder and maybe in my good ear," Stef said leaning in.
"No, it's not ok to leave without telling anyone where I am going."
"And I believe we have already had the conversation about making sure our phones are on at all times. Can I see your phone please?"
Jude reached into his pocket and turned over the phone. She saw it was on but in airplane mode blocking all cellular services.
"Cute…he put it in airplane mode."
"Jude is there a reason you left without wanting to be found."
"I didn't think anyone would care."
Stef and Lena were a little shocked at that reply.
"Bubby of course we care where you are and that you're ok."
"Which we are getting the feeling everything is not ok. We can't help unless we know what's going on though."
Stef and Lena gave their son a moment to gather his thoughts and figure out what he wanted to say. Jude opened his mouth a couple times and closed it again before finally spilling his guts.
"Everyone is going to leave me," he confessed. "Brandon is in NY most of the year, Callie is in college and now has this whole new family to be with, Mariana is going off to college and Jesus is working now mama is going for the Principal job and your back in school ….everyone is off doing their own thing. All my siblings are leaving and my moms are busy working and in school. I am stuck in high school and can't do anything about it."
"You most certainly can do something about it buddy…in fact your doing something about it right now. You're talking to us and telling us how you feel. I am not going to lie we are all going through a lot of changes again this year. Sometimes I feel exactly the way you do," Stef confessed to her son.
"You do," he asked unsure?
"Absolutely….last year my first two babies graduated and headed off to college…my oldest son resides on the east coast. This year two more of my babies have graduated and are venturing into the big world without me to protect them….it is a scary thing for a mom."
"How do you deal with it?"
"Well, I talk to mama about it a lot and she makes me feel better. I also talk to my babies and make sure they know how much I love them and will miss them and how they better come back home as much as possible," Stef said with a smile.
"Change is hard to deal with buddy, but I promise you no one is leaving you behind. We are a family and we will always be a family no matter where life's journey takes us. One day….far too soon for my liking…you're going to graduate high school and go off to college. Mom and I will be super sad but super excited to see our youngest baby grow and take on the world. Until then I think some more family nights are in order…what do you think? Would that help a little," Lena said wrapping her arms around Jude.
"Yeah, maybe," he said with a smile.
Upstairs Brandon had been talking to Callie trying to get her to settle down. She hated not being able to be with Jude when he was struggling. She knew the moms were doing their jobs but there were just times she wanted to be with him.
"You know moms are taking good care of him. He didn't seem that upset when he came home babe…he was probably just having a rough day. We all have them."
"I know…it's just there is so much going on right now and he doesn't even know everything yet. I don't want him to think things are spinning out of control. I remember feeling like that and I remember the suffocating effect it can have."
"You're right it can be overwhelming so much change is happening all at once…but you know what helps?"
"What?"
"Our grounding force….our rocks….our moms. No matter the chaos that is surrounding us they always make it better no matter what."
Callie knew Brandon was right and sighed giving in.
"I love you B. You're right…moms do make everything better but you're my grounding force…you're the person that makes everything better," she said leaning up to giving him a little kiss.
"You're my reason Cal….you're my reason for everything," he whispered pulling her close.
No other words needed to be said. Both teens settled on the bed and just enjoy the comfort the other brought. Brandon wrapped his arms around her and ran his hand softly up and down her back savoring these moments. It was almost an hour later before the moms appeared in his doorway.
"Is everything ok? Is Jude ok," Callie asked sitting up?
"Jude is fine love. He just needed a little reassurance from moms and a mama sandwich," Stef smiled.
"Good, I am glad," Callie said relaxing back into Brandon.
"However, we have another issue," Lena started. "We just got a phone call from Mark."
"Did everything come back from the DNA test ok?"
"It wasn't about that," Stef said zeroing in on her son.
Brandon gulped knowing what was coming.
"It turns out someone what to Roberts's house and made some threats."
Callie looked confused having no idea what Stef was talking about.
"I didn't threaten anyone," Brandon said defensively.
"You went to see Robert," Callie asked?
"Just once and I didn't threaten anyone."
"Well, while he is opting not to he thought about getting a restraining order."
"What? That is totally insane," Brandon cried. "Just because he has millions of dollars to throw around I will not back down and I would do it again and will….I don't care let him file a restraining order."
"Brandon you need to calm down. You're not going to do anyone any good if you get a restraining order slapped against you. That would mean whatever happens in the future you wouldn't be able to be with Callie if she needs to see Robert again."
Brandon's temper cooled knowing his mom was right. He wasn't going to back down to Robert however he knew he needed to be there for Callie more.
"What happened B," Lena asked trying to get facts.
"I went to his house and made a statement."
"What did you say?"
"In summary that I wasn't going to let him hurt Callie. He has done enough already and he has barely been around. I told him he needs to get his crap together and figure out what his plans are because flip flopping isn't going to cut it. I told him he needs to either man up or roll out. He couldn't use his own daughter to string Callie along he was either all in or all out."
Stef was actually a little impressed with her son. Not many people would have the courage to take on a very powerful man. It might not have been the best thought out plan but the sentiment was there.
"All right B no harm no foul this time but can we please not visit him again. I would rather not have to bail my son out of jail….all the other cops would make fun of me," stef said with a smirk.
"I promise mom if he behaves I will too."
"That is all I ask."
Stef and Lena both kissed their kids before leaving the room.
"You went to see Robert," Callie confirmed.
"I did."
"And you told him to figure his shit out."
"I did."
Callie kicked the door shut before attaching Brandon causing them both to fall on the bed in a furry of passion. She would never get tired of having Brandon stand up for her even when it might not have been the smartest move. He loved her above all else and would do anything for her.
Up Next Brandon unknowingly eats a pot brownie...another member of the family also accidentally eats one...but who?
A. Lena
B. Stef
C. Callie
D. Mariana
E. Jesus
F. Jude
