A/N: So apparently I still have readers that are still stuck on what happened in Life Unexpected to expect anything even remotely different. I am well aware that Trey didn't actually "rape" Lux in the show. Yes, I have watched it -_- Both seasons. More than once. However, I will remind you that they never really asked Lux about it and she never said she wasn't raped, so there was still a possibility. I have been dropping hints all over this fic, leading to that revelation, so you guys should've already realized where I was going with it. I've left plenty of author's notes (see chapters 6, 8, 16, 17, 28, 30) letting you know that I have tweaked a lot of what happened in Life Unexpected. I figured that 31 chapters in, you would have realized that by now...
Also, I specifically said that I would tweak the Valerie and Trey situation in an author's note in Chapter 16. In addition, I hinted what happened between them in my fic Repentance. All of these explanations are really tiring for me. Not only do I have to go back and figure out exactly where and how many times I've said it, but I'm sure those of you who are actually bothering to read thoroughly are getting annoyed too (I deeply apologize). I just don't think this fic should be called shady for doing this. ESPECIALLY, when I kept repeating myself again and again so it was quite obvious after a while. No one should've been really surprised.
Remember: I HAVE CHANGED A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO LUX IN LIFE UNEXPECTED. A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH LUX IN THAT SHOW IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.
Examples:
Lux wasn't mistaken for a stillborn
Bug didn't leave this early
Lux wasn't denied emancipation by the court
She didn't steal her birth certificate from the hospital
Her parents hadn't met up with her at the courthouse and blackmailed her into going home with one of them
Tasha didn't know what happened between Lux and Trey in the show, whereas here she does
Lux didn't meet Callie and Jude and get them kicked out
The flashbacks with Trey and Valerie didn't happen and were pretty obvious clues that I was going to delve deeper into that and mix it up.
Lux didn't sleepover at Eric's
She didn't meet Valerie at the supermarket
Tasha didn't take her to a bar and get drunk
She wasn't taken away from her parents by Fern because of that
Fern didn't take her back to Trey and Valerie's house
ETC. ETC. I'm sure there were many more differences that I can't get off the top of my tongue right now.
The point is, out of all these differences that you've read so far, I find it hard to believe that someone is suddenly surprised that I'm still switching it up. Honestly, I'm rather confused. This is fanfiction, right?
Don't get me wrong I support constructive criticism when it's there to help me out on what I need to work on, but criticism based on the readers not reading carefully is just…wow. Just wow…
Seriously though, I don't want to write the same stuff that happened in the show, but just add Stef and Mike into the dialogue instead of Cate and Baze. I don't like getting repetitive, and I enjoy taking a different route with pretty much everything I write. How many of you really want to read a repeat of what happened in the show? Because if that's what you want, stop reading now and watch re-runs. I promise that I will disappoint you. This is exactly why I'm reluctant to label this as a crossover. I don't know how many times I have to explain it…I just….Ugh!
IN ADDITION, ALL DRASTIC OCCURRENCES THAT HAPPEN IN THIS FIC SERVE A PURPOSE. I know some of you are upset that I had Fern take Lux away, but hopefully this chapter and the ones following it will get you to see why this is for the better.
This will be the last long-ass author's note I write, because I'm tired of repeating the same thing and am annoyed with myself as well. Now, this chapter is probably going to be shorter because I've had to do this and am exhausted already. But from now on, I'll just add the same short a/n in caps to every chapter.
Lena's POV
I watch as Brandon walks away and I take a deep breath before making my way down the stairs and into the basement. When I finally spot my wife, I can see that she's scraping away vigorously at the wall with a paint scraper. It's obvious that she's in a rush or pissed off or probably both.
I hate when she gets like this. It makes me feel so useless. She never wants to talk to me about what's bothering her, and it's what I'm here for.
She just keeps herself busy and pretends her problems aren't real. Like they can be whisked away if she focused on fixing the house enough or picking up extra shifts or off duty work. It was a crappy coping mechanism to me, and I've talked to her plenty of times about it but she hasn't stopped.
And rather than start an argument with her that would lead to nowhere, I glance around the room and look at the empty boxes of junk that we took out of the garage last year and placed in here… massive spider webs, which are the same sizes as our flat-screen in our bedroom, on all four corners of the basement… and multiple wooden shelves that would need to be removed by sledgehammers most likely. It dawns on me that we're really nowhere near finishing.
But instead of focusing on that, I try to be there for my wife the best way that I could.
Her way.
I pick up another paint scraper and walk over beside her and start scraping the paint off the wall too.
Suddenly, I can hear her hand movements soften and her head turn to meet my eyes. "Thanks, love," she said with a half-smile while I nod in response.
Callie's POV
What was wrong with me? I, of all people, should've see what was happening.
Especially after Liam.
I hate to think that the same thing happened to Lux.
Maybe not… Maybe it wasn't that bad. Maybe he was like our last foster-father instead. He might not have done what I'm thinking…
So why do I feel so guilty for hating her now?
And why would she do that to Stef after all of this. Where would she go? This was the only place I really felt safe, in a really long time. Was I stupid for wanting her to stay?
When I walk into my room, I see Mariana opening up her laptop and giving me a dirty look as I enter. I take in a deep breath to apologize, but she opens her mouth first.
"Look, Callie. I get that Lux is trying to get under your skin or whatever but that doesn't mean you can boss me around. You're not moms so stop treating me like they do. Just because you're one year older does—"
"You're right. I'm sorry," I interrupt. "It won't happen again," I tell her sincerely.
Her face freezes for a few seconds. "Okay," she nods once. "Good. Because I can take care of myself, you know. I mean," she smiles, "after all I've done, do you really think moms would send me away for drinking a cup of coffee?"
I chuckle, "You're right. Probably not."
"Definitely not," she assures me. "They wouldn't send you away either. You know that."
"Yes, I know."
"However… Idon'knowaboutLux. It sounds like they won't send her packing any time soon… unfortunately."
"Uh, I don't think we have to worry about that," I start. Mariana squints her eyes at me. "Um, …Lux called her social worker and asked for another placement. So you don't have to try and get rid of her anymore," I give her a half-smile.
"Oh…Well, I wasn't trying to get rid of her really, I was just…" Mariana paused. "So she's really gone?"
"I think so," I answer almost emotionless.
"Well, maybe its for the best," Mariana shrugs her shoulders. "Moms would've had a hard time getting her under control… And I was getting tired of seeing Stef cry and look stressed out over someone she barely knows—"
"Hey," we both hear a voice and watch as the door flies open and Brandon walks in. "Come on. Let's go," he says.
"Uh, rude much?" Mariana starts.
"Go where?" I ask.
"We're going to go help mom fix up the basement."
"Wait, didn't she leave?" I question.
"Lux got picked up and she's going to stay somewhere temporarily I guess…"
"Temporarily?" Mariana looks at me and then at Brandon. "I never heard of that…"
"Well, I guess moms have a way… They need to fix the basement up first I think."
"And what? We just have to help?" Mariana asks sarcastically.
"Mariana," I try to relax her.
"What? Look, no way. I have more important stuff to do. My life doesn't revolve around Lux… It's like even when she's not here, she's the center of attention."
"So it's not you for a change?" Brandon spits back.
"Excuse me?" Mariana retorts.
"You heard me. It's like ever since Lux has gotten here you've been like this jealous psycho or something?"
"Oh, I am not jealous!"
"Of course not…"
"Guys," I try to calm them both.
"Why are you taking her side?" Mariana yells at him. "You're supposed to be my brother. Since when are you on the same team as Lux?"
I take a deep breath and let it out.
"I'm not on the same team as anyone. I'm trying to make mom happy. This isn't about anyone but her, okay. "
"You know what? Brandon's right," I tell Mariana. "And you know I hate picking sides but I think we've all been a little selfish. I'm not going to lie. I wanted her gone even more than you did, especially when I found out who she was… But Lux leaving has helped me realize that we were all only thinking about ourselves…And if you really think about it, she's not really that bad—"
"Callie, do I really have to remind you that she got you and Jude kicked out of your old foster home?" Mariana asked sarcastically.
"Maybe that was a good thing… I mean, I didn't know those people very well… and I wouldn't have gone to juvie… and Lena wouldn't have taken me home. Then, I wouldn't have met either of you," I smile. "And you have to admit, Stef was pretty upset when she didn't know where Lux was for a day. I'm sure she's not taking this as easy as you are… I'm not saying you have to be best friends with her or anything, but maybe you can…tolerate her at least. For Stef?"
Mariana takes in a deep breath and I can tell that she's considering it.
"And me," Brandon buds in. "I mean, honestly I have enough sisters in my life right now. Believe me I do—"
"Get to the point, Brandon," I warn jokingly.
He smiles, "My point is that…I kind of want to get to know her too. No one can ever replace you two and having another girl to screw up our already tainted voting system on movie-night is going to suck, but I really think mom wants this... Why else would she be putting up with her snotty comments?"
"True," I agree. "But I have a feeling that moms aren't going to be putting up with that for too long. Newbies need some leeway but there's only so much they can take. We're going to have to train her," I say as I look specifically at Mariana. "And that's where you come in…"
"Me?" she asks skeptically. "No way. Why me?"
"Because you're a girl," Brandon says.
"So? She's your blood sister," Mariana responds.
"Who else knows your moms like the back of her hand?"
"…Like Lux will ever listen to me."
"She has to. You're her older sister by definition," Brandon tells her.
"Like I listen to Callie?" Mariana asks sarcastically.
"You did downstairs when I told you that you couldn't drink coffee," I smile.
"…Oh crap, I did," she realizes and her expression suddenly saddens.
I quickly get up to sit next to her, grabbing her shoulder and bringing her closer to me. "And that's okay, because that's what little sisters do. They listen to their much smarter older ones."
"I hate you," she mumbles.
"And I love you too," I answer as I pat her back. "The point is, being an older sister to another sister has its perks. Embrace the title," I finish as I stand up and start to follow Brandon.
"Embrace this!" Mariana retorts as she hurls her pillow to my back before I make my way out the door.
"Ouch! Okay…" I start as I pick up the same pillow and attack her with it.
"Uh? The basement?" Brandon asks in confusion.
"We'll be right there!" Mariana yells back.
To be continued…