I feel like The Fosters was a biggest cock tease in TV history. Five seasons of Callie and Brandon loving one another and then not ending up together? I am not okay with this. Even as I watch and enjoy Good Trouble, I still want my Brallie love story happy ending.
*Someone start a petition asking for Brallie endgame. I'll sign it! Haha
The series finale makes sense – I guess – but I don't watch leisure TV for it to make sense. I watch it for drama that leads to eventual warm fuzzies that are neatly packaged up and delivered with a freaking bow on top! Since I didn't get the fantasy ending that I know other people were hoping for as well, I'm writing one myself. I don't know if I did the characters justice, but this is my little love note to all the Brallie fans and my silent plea to the writers to give my favorite characters the fairytale love they deserve.
P.S. I loved Lexi, so she's here!
…..
1
Callie spotted Brandon before he saw her. He was wheeling his luggage right toward her, but he still hadn't seen her. He would soon, because now she was running. She was running full speed toward him – disregarding everyone she was bumping out of the way and dodging past. And at the last minute his eyes met hers. His bright green eyes lit up at the recognition and without thinking about it, he let go of his luggage and met her the last several feet. They clung to one another desperately. It reminded Callie of the way Brandon had held her when they were sixteen and he had showed up at her Girls United. He had looked beautiful then, and he looked beautiful now. Each time, his arms felt like home. She didn't want to let go, but she did just enough to look into his eyes. As soon as their gaze connected, they were kissing. Searching and kissing and grasping and the enormity of the situation brought tears to their eyes.
He had been in Amsterdam for a year, and before that they had been at separate schools, studying and becoming the people they wanted to be. They had made the best of the distance through phone calls and video chats – to the valid chagrin of his wife who thought he confided too much in Callie. It was during those moments of confidence – at first innocent calls and chats – that made them realize what they were missing. What they couldn't live without; and that was one another.
They pulled away slowly, their foreheads still pressed together.
"I'm so happy to see you. Video does you no justice," Brandon beamed, running his fingers through her hair before cupping her face – unable to resist the urge to press his lips to hers again.
It made Callie giggle, "Happy to see you too!"
"You know, I'm glad you were the only one available to meet me at the airport."
Callie agreed. For the first time in her life, she was thankful to be alone for this excursion. She didn't want to share Brandon with anyone else.
Jude was finishing finals and would join his family at the new house in a couple of weeks so that they could celebrate the winter holiday together. Jesus was still in Honduras – wooing his first love – and he would join the oldest Adams-Foster children at the Coterie when he arrived at the beginning of December. As for Mariana, she finally had a pitch for her app that seemed to be going somewhere. She had been almost giddy with excitement this morning when she and Callie parted ways. And their mothers had their hands full with a preschooler and a political campaign, so Brandon, under the guise of selflessness, had asked them to focus on that and not worry about meeting him at the airport. After all, he had Callie.
Brandon laced his fingers with Callie's and neither of them could stop smiling, "So I'm staying with you at the Coterie, right?" Brandon asked when they pulled part, the inevitable need for air the only thing separating them.
"Mhmm," Callie nodded and kissed him again. They didn't pull apart until the inevitable need for air separated them. When it did, Brandon noticed the slight frown on Callie's face, making her eyebrows knit together.
"What is it?"
"Unfortunately," Callie ran her hands down his chest, "staying at the Coterie means no sex since I share a room with Mariana…unless I can convince her to stay with Evan a couple of nights," she pondered aloud. "Or unless we do it in the shower."
"Well," Brandon hedged as he reached for her hand again, "when will Mariana be back today?"
Callie's eyes began to sparkle, "Not for hours."
2
"Remember what I said to you all those years ago?" Brandon asked her as they approached the Coterie.
"What?" the word was spoken on a hushed breath, afraid that too much of a disturbance would end their bliss.
"About not getting to end up with your one true love?"
She nodded, her eyes softening with the memory. The pain of it briefly overtaking her.
"I was wrong," Brandon spoke quickly. "I was wrong, and I've never been so relieved to be wrong in my entire life." He stopped walking suddenly, pulling Callie to a halt as well. When she looked up at him, he was kissing her. Hoping to convey the emotion of his relief at being wrong. It had been so long since he had been able to truly kiss her – years in fact – and he needed her to know what she meant to him.
Callie stood on tiptoe and pressed herself more firmly to Brandon, letting herself get caught up in kissing on the sidewalk. As their kiss ended, she let her lips ghost against his as she spoke the words, "Me too," before pressing her mouth firmly to his in a kiss she hoped conveyed how much she loved him as well – how much she had always loved him.
"It took eight years," Brandon said when their lips parted, "but we finally made it."
"I love you," Callie told him. "I've never been good at admitting it to you or myself, but I do. Love you, I mean."
Brandon grinned, "For the record, I love you too."
Callie brushed her hands down his chest, her fingers fluttering against the buttons on his shirt, "We're almost there," she smiled, and it lit up her brown eyes – a sight Brandon had desperately missed.
"Yeah?" He smiled at her cheeky grin.
"Yeah," it was almost a whisper.
When they finally made it into Callie and Mariana's bedroom, Brandon waited until he heard the secure click of the lock before scooping Callie into his arms and carrying her over to the bed he knew was hers. The weight of his body was a welcome reprieve for Callie – something she had not allowed herself to miss for the past eight years. The only time they had ever had sex was when they were seventeen, but Callie remembered feeling exactly the same way she did now – butterflies in her stomach and a tenderness in her chest that reminded her that she would always love this man.
Slowly, they began to undress one another, and they were both surprised by the level of restraint they were showing. Callie and Brandon had each indulged in their fair share of fantasies. Forbidden daydreams and images of ripping the other's clothing off now replaced with the reality of a tenderness they had not expected for their sexual reunion.
"You're more beautiful than I remember," Brandon cooed into her ear, eliciting a giggle from Callie. And it was true. She was breathtaking. His memory of mapping her naked body with both his hands and lips burned in his mind forever. He remembered the dips and curves that were slowly coming into view. The freckles and childhood scars. Everything about her was familiar, but somehow new. Callie had undoubtedly gotten more beautiful with each passing year that Brandon knew her. Her hardened edges made just slightly softer with years of unconditional love. But he also adored the spark and determination that remained as a prominent twinkle in her dark brown eyes – eyes that seemed to contain the whole universe.
"I've missed you so much," she ran her fingers through his hair as they stared into one another's eyes. She didn't just mean she had missed him for the past year. She had missed him for years. Missed their closeness, their conversations. She missed everything they had shared.
"I've missed you inside of me too," she added seductively, which made Brandon moan before kissing her firmly. Just as firmly, he pushed himself into the warm V of her legs; and the sudden feeling of it made Callie grip his hair tightly, her own body rising to meet his.
Reluctantly, Brandon pulled his mouth from hers to ask, "Do we need a –"
Before he could finish the question, Callie was shaking her head, "No, I'm on the pill. And I got tested about a month ago," her voice quieted slightly, "when I knew you were coming back."
Somehow, the simple admittance made him love her even more. She wanted this. She had hoped for this.
They gazed into one another's eyes for a long moment before Brandon spoke, "It's just been Eliza; and we started using condoms after the pregnancy scare."
Callie nodded, but she didn't like to think about Brandon's wife. She had loved him so much longer than Eliza had, but she still felt guilty. She and Brandon had made many selfish decisions to be with one another, but the thought of hurting Eliza by loving Brandon felt especially painful. Maybe it was because Eliza had known all along. The late night/early morning video calls, the inside jokes, the shared memories, the things left unsaid. Eliza had seen and heard it all. She had watched her husband fall more and more in love with the woman who was supposed to be his sister. Callie had watched Eliza watch it; and Callie had not done a thing to stop it from happening because she wanted to fall more in love with Brandon too.
"Where did you go just then?" Brandon's gentle voice brought Callie back to reality. His hand was caressing her cheek.
"Nowhere," she promised, but the look in his eyes made her sigh and admit it to him, "I was thinking about Eliza. I feel guilty for wanting you. For loving you when you promised to love her."
"Hey," his lips searched hers for a comforting moment, "That's all on me. I should have never married her. Don't feel guilty. You aren't doing anything wrong, Callie."
Callie let out a breathy, sarcastic laugh, unable to believe him. Hadn't she done some things wrong? She was wrong for not stopping the wedding, for not kissing Brandon as they sat beside the pool, for going to Jamie's room instead. She was wrong for it all. She thought it had been the right choice at the time. She thought that she was being selfless for once, giving him a happy ending that he deserved. Little did she know, she was just prolonging both of their heartbreaks until they found their way back.
"I'm serious," Brandon called her back again, "You aren't married, Callie. You are not cheating on anyone."
"I'm sort of cheating on our family."
"Do you…do you want to stop this?" Brandon was afraid of her answer.
"No," the response was immediate. "Absolutely not; and that's exactly why I feel guilty. I don't want this to end. Ever. I want you forever."
"Me too," the relief in his voice was enough to make Callie fall in love with him all over again.
"I want you to make love to me now."
So he did.
3
"Brandon, why don't you play something for us?" Jesus suggested from his seat beside Lexi. They had arrived at the Coterie just a few days ago, throwing sleeping arrangements into chaos when Mariana volunteered to share her bed with Lexi – like when we were in high school, Mariana had reminisced – to which Jesus had loudly protested and argued with her for an hour before Alice suggested they text Dennis to see if Jesus could sleep in his room. That had led to the headache of Lexi having to choose who she shared a bed with and loud complaints from Mariana that Lexi and Jesus could have sex anytime, but they would only be at the Coterie for two weeks.
Callie and Brandon had both been exhausted just listening to the exchange; and it was only today that everyone was finally in better spirits.
They were all sitting on the roof, enjoying the weather after a pleasant dinner.
Brandon gave a wan smile, "Pass me the guitar, Cal."
She did and Brandon strummed a few chords before beginning, "I think we might be outlaws…"
"Eww," Mariana interrupted loudly. "Why are you playing the song you wrote for Lou like a million years ago?"
"Because," Brandon began slowly, "I didn't write it for Lou a million years ago." He left the comment hanging for long enough for Lexi, ever the romantic, to squeal – realization hitting her before everyone else. Brandon smiled softly before continuing, "I wrote it for Callie a million years ago," his eyes met Callie's and he was surprised to see her blushing, a shy smile on her face.
"Wow," Mariana sighed loudly. "You were, like, really in love back then weren't you." It was more a statement than a question.
"Yeah," Callie affirmed, her voice soft, a little bit dreamy.
"And now," Brandon added of their love.
"Always have been," she leaned over to press a soft kiss to Brandon's mouth.
"Eww!" Mariana and Jesus both shrieked.
"Listen," Mariana held her hand up, "I know you two are in love, but please have a little sympathy for those of us who are still thinking about you as siblings. It's going to take us some time to get used to seeing this; and to be honest, I'm still even a little weirded out that you're sharing a bed."
"Did you ever write any other songs for Callie?" Lexi asked as she visibly swooned, her presence a surprising yet welcome balance to Miss Thing.
"Loads," Brandon admitted easily. "R & J was all about me and Callie."
"Yikes," Jesus added. "It must have been awkward when Mat and Mariana sang that one to you and Eliza at the rehearsal dinner."
"It wasn't terrible," Callie supplied the answer this time. "Besides, he was looking at me the whole time anyway."
Brandon simply smiled in affirmation, kissing Callie again despite protests from Mariana.
"You know," Jesus laughed, "someday when you two get married, Callie doesn't even have to change her name."
4
That night Callie was soaking in the bath as Mariana engaged in her hour-long face care routine and Lexi sat on Gael's bed painting her toenails. He was away for the weekend, and they had convinced Alice to unlock his door after producing the text he sent to Mariana affirming it was okay for them to spend a couple hours in the room under the condition that they not mess with any of his things. His was the only place in the whole Coterie with a tub; and Callie desperately wanted a soak.
Jesus and Brandon were gathering some of Brandon's odds and ends from the condo he had shared with Eliza once upon a time; and Callie was thankful for the time with the two other women.
"So," Mariana hedged, looking at Callie from the mirror, "have you and Brandon told moms?"
Mariana watched Callie shake his head slowly before answering in a whisper, "No. I don't know what to say."
Then, Mariana was surprised to see Callie wiping tears away.
"Hey," she rushed over, kneeling by the side of the bathtub. She used her own hands to wipe away Callie's tears. "What's wrong?"
"What if they hate me?" Callie asked in a small voice. "What if loving Brandon destroys our family?"
Mariana's arms were around in an instant, "That's not going to happen. Ever. You're forgetting, most of your family is right here and we support you. Me, Jesus, Jude. We support you and we know how much you and Brandon love one another. You aren't ruining us. I love you, and I will always be your sister."
Callie turned in the water so that she could hug Mariana back, "I love you too. You're the best sister."
"If there's one thing I've learned from your family," Lexi's soft voice was beside Callie too, "it's that the love your moms have for each of you is unconditional. It might be hard at first, but I'm sure they only want you and Brandon to be happy, Callie."
Callie nodded, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"And besides," Lexi added for comic relief, "once you tell them, it's not going to be a surprise. They've got to have seen it coming. I saw it and I was in Honduras."
They all laughed and were quiet for a moment, Mariana still hugging Callie and Lexi holding her hand.
"Want me to come with you when you tell moms?" Mariana asked.
"Maybe," Callie sniffed.
"Talk to Brandon," Mariana encouraged. "Figure out how you all are going to do it, and if you need me, I'm here. So are Jude and Jesus and Lexi. We've got you."
5
"Harder," Callie whispered into Brandon's ear. They were trying to stay quiet, knowing that their siblings were sleeping in nearby rooms, but as Brandon moved exactly the way Callie wanted him to, she had to fight to stifle the moan that was bubbling up inside her. She clung to him more tightly, burying her face into his wet shoulder. Brandon entered her again, deeper this time. He chuckled and fought to pull Callie's arms from his neck so he could see her. Sex in the Coterie shower was not their preferred spot to make love, but they had to admit, the sensation of warm water against hot, slick skin heightened their arousal.
The grip of her leg around Brandon's waist tightened the closer Callie came to climax and she frantically searched his mouth, their tongues dueling in a heated kiss.
Callie gasped and her body spasmed, Brandon's arms the only thing holding her up; and as the rhythmic pull of her orgasm encompassed his hardened length, Brandon found his release deep inside her.
"Oh god," he didn't let go of Callie even as he felt himself going soft, "I can't believe I've gone so long without you. That gets better every time."
"Uh huh," Callie agreed with a contented sigh before peppering his face with kisses.
"I love you so much."
"Love you too."
6
"A kiss for luck?" Brandon asked as he and Callie sat in his car outside Stef and Lena's house.
Callie nodded and leaned over the console so that they could reach one another. Brandon's palms found her face, cupping her cheeks tenderly as they deepened their kiss.
"I love you," he told her as they pulled away.
"I love you too."
"Ready for this?"
"I got you, don't I?"
"Always."
"Well, then, let's go," Callie opened her door and waited for Brandon to round the car to her side. Once he was there, they entwined their fingers and headed up the walkway.
They rang the doorbell and waited on bated breath until in slung open. She said she was ready, but Brandon was afraid for her. Callie was tough, but she was also sweet and soft. She had the kindest heart he knew. A warm, gentle center that not everyone was privileged enough to see. When she let herself, she loved easily, but that meant she also hurt easily; and Brandon was afraid that today was going to hurt. Bad.
"My babies!" Stef wrapped her arms around both Callie and Brandon a millisecond after she threw the door open. She hugged them tightly and kissed their cheeks, "Come in! Mama is in the kitchen making Ka'maya a snack."
They followed Stef into the house and Brandon could feel Callie's fingers trembling. Stef had not noticed their linked hands in her excitement to see them, but Callie was almost certain Lena would notice immediately. She was regretting her decision not to bring Mariana along – if for nothing other than an added distraction.
Despite the tremble in her hands, Callie clung to Brandon until they entered the kitchen. It wasn't until Ka'maya noticed them that Callie let go.
"Callie!" the little girl squealed delightedly and hopped down from her chair, rushing into Callie's outstretched arms.
"Hi, Ka'maya," Callie knelt down to hug her affectionately. Their brown eyes connected and the idea of sharing children with Brandon someday suddenly entered Callie's mind.
"This is Brandon," Callie told Ka'maya gently, reaching her hand up to Brandon's and pulling him down to kneel with her at the little girl's level. "He's my very best friend. Will you say hi to him while I go hug Mama?"
She nodded, and the movement caused the small beads in her hair to clink together, a melodious tinkling sound filling the air.
Callie stood to greet Lena with hugs and the familiar call of how much they had missed one another.
"We're so happy to have you both here," Lena reached across the dining table and placed a hand on Both Callie and Brandon's once they were all seated.
Callie was undeniably happy to see her mothers too, but the nervous butterflies in her stomach were overpowering her joy – the idea of a terrible argument marring their reunion. The only comfort she currently felt was the warmth of Brandon's leg pressed against hers. If Stef and Lena had noticed how closely the two were sitting, they had not said anything.
"We're happy to see you too," Brandon finally spoke, "and we actually have some big news to share with you."
"Oh really," Stef's lilting voice asked. She was smiling at them both, "Well, what is it?"
As a slow silence filled the air, Stef's smile faltered.
Lena looked at Ka'maya, "Kam, honey, would you like to watch a movie while we talk to Brandon and Callie?" at the hesitant look on her little face, Lena added enticingly, "I'll even make you some popcorn."
"Okay!" she hopped up happily and rushed to the living room.
"Everyone remain silent while I get her settled. I mean it, don't start this conversation without me. Though I think I might have an idea of what you're going to say," Lena warned.
Callie fought back the nervousness. She and Brandon had talked about this. He was going to start the conversation. He was doing exactly what they had planned but she was still terrified.
Lena was back quickly, "Thank you," she said of the silence. She gave Stef's hand a squeeze, "What do you want to speak with us about?"
"You both know how much I missed everyone while I was in Amsterdam. I tried to keep in touch as much as possible, but I missed everyone so much. Callie was really a rock for me while I was there."
Stef and Lena smiled at Callie, their love for her evident. She just hoped it didn't disappear in the next few moments.
"I think what I appreciated the most about Amsterdam was that I got to talk to Callie freely with no expectations and no guilt. I didn't have to worry about what late night conversations with her might look like to everyone else; and it made me realize that I'm in love with Callie. All these years and I've never stopped loving her. It was just something I had to bury."
Callie had instinctively turned her body in towards his, an effort to show her support and love. She ran her hand gently down his arm.
"I…I love him too," Callie added. "Brandon is the first person I've ever loved like this, and that hasn't gone away," suddenly, tears began to burn at her eyes. They dripped down her cheeks, "We tried so hard not to feel it. We don't want to ruin our family, but I love him. So, so much. I can't imagine life without him. I don't want to imagine it."
Their mothers were unusually quiet. They shared a look that did not go unnoticed by Brandon or Callie.
"Moms, please say something," Brandon pleaded.
Lena was the first to speak, "Wh…what about Eliza?" the question was stuttered.
"I should have never married her," Brandon answered immediately.
"No," Callie still had her hand on his arm, "it's my fault. He only married her because I didn't stop him. He thought I didn't love him anymore," her breath hitched with emotions. "I should have come to you, Brandon." She turned to him then, but it was obvious to everyone the pain she felt.
"I should have come to your room that night. Like you did at Idyllwild. Or I should have kissed you by the pool. I should have done anything, but I didn't," she sobbed.
Brandon brought her into a hug. He wiped her tears and assured Callie that none of that was her fault.
Stef took a deep breath, "I am trying really hard to not yell right now because we have a five-year-old in the next room," her voice was calm and quiet, but it held a familiar harshness. "But I do not understand any of this. I thought we had this conversation a decade ago."
"I think Mom and I might need to have a conversation before we talk about this," Lena, ever the diplomat, suggested.
Brandon and Callie both nodded, but Stef held up her hand.
"No, no, no. I don't think that's necessary, Lena," Stef sighed and was quiet for a moment before continuing. "I think what happened is Mama and I just assumed this would all sort itself out. We never took it seriously the way we should have. We were serious about separating you too, though."
Both Stef and Lena took some time to share a silent conversation, their eyes betraying their feelings, "I think what happened is we stopped thinking about it, but we never asked you how you were feeling," Lena added. "We ignored both of your broken hearts."
This made tears spring to everyone's eyes.
"We're sorry, babies," Stef choked back a cry.
"We can see that you love each other," Lena motioned to the way Brandon was still holding Callie. "Mom is right. We should have talked about it years ago."
7
"You know what?" Brandon sighed into the quiet of Callie's room. Mariana had spent the night with Evan, so Callie and Brandon had hours to enjoy one another.
"What?" she kissed his naked shoulder.
"Jesus is right. When I ask you, you won't have to change your last name. And believe me, I'm going to ask you."
"And you know I'll say yes," their mouths connected, tongues entwined minutes before their bodies did as well. The feeling of being inside Callie was one he would never tire of. He still could not believe he had gone so long without her. How had he had one night with her and not gone back for more? Well, he wasn't ever making that mistake again. He was going to relish in her and cherish her forever. And she was going to do the same for him.