That kiss was something none of them expected to feel that good and right. Brandon just looked at her equally stunned face and kept silent. She approached him and kissed him again. This time it was different. It was more intense and hands on than before. Their make out session was interrupted by delivery boy. He was at the house gate and he needed to be buzzed in. She moved away from Brandon and pressed the button for him to enter. She turned back to B who stood silent and just looking at her.
''I… I never expected it to be like that.''
''I know.''
''I believed it would be different.''
''Different?''
''Less intense and easier to stop and step away.''
She smiled at him and paid for the food.
''Call the kids.''
Brandon climbed part of the stairs and shouted very loud for them to come and eat. He came down and started helping Callie with the food. She opened all the boxes and put them on the dining room table. Beth and Seth got the glasses and took their seats. Brandon and Callie were sharing food and they haven't really noticed how their kids were looking at them. They were putting in each other's plates what they knew other person liked or disliked and Beth wondered how they never really noticed all these small things. He knew when to pass her a napkin, she knew to fill his glass even before he said he wanted more and watching them do the dishes was another clue that they were not really siblings. They always stood too close, no matter who was doing the rinsing and who was loading the washer. After they were done with dishes, Callie and Brandon went to their rooms to shower and change into something more comfortable. When he was done, he got down to the kitchen and poured some white wine for both of them. Callie joined him soon. She was in yoga pants and his old flannel shirt he spent a lot of time looking for. As soon as she saw the way he looked at her, she realized what she had on.
''Nice shirt.''
''Oh, sush…''
She took a seat on the floor beside him and took her glass. They looked at each other and smiled.
''To us…''
''To no more secrets in the house.''
Brandon just nodded. She was right. No more secrets. He took her glass and put it on the small table beside him. He laced their fingers and kissed her hand. She smiled at him and kissed him.
''I missed this.''
''I missed you B.''
They kissed again and this time it was neither that gentle nor innocent. He got her hair out of the bun and finally tangled his fingers in it. It was still wet and finally curly as he loved it the most. Lately Callie always had it up so he didn't know how long it got and if it still had that messy curly moment he loved the most. Callie broke the kiss and nuzzled into his neck.
''I am still waiting for something to happen… To wake up and realize this is not real.''
He kissed the top of her head.
''I know… I feel the same. I am also waiting for something to happen and for us to go back to what was before.''
''If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up. I want to live this dream forever.''
''Me too Callie.''
Their little moment was interrupted by their kids. Callie saw them first and jumped away from Brandon. Brandon had no idea what happened, until he saw their kids standing at the entrance of the living room. He couldn't decipher their faces. They somehow looked happy and sad. Some weird mix he couldn't explain to himself. Beth was the one to break the weird silence and tension.
''I'm sorry dad… We had no idea…''
''No, it's ok… We shouldn't have…''
Beth realized that Brandon and Callie were ashamed. She took a seat on the floor across from them. Seth joined her and took her hand. She leaned and put her free hand over Brandon's.
''No, dad… You should have… You had every right… We're sorry we ruined your moment. You've waited for it for so long and we just….''
He took Callie's hand and smiled at the teens.
''There is no way two of you can ruin anything. You are our children.''
''And two of you should not to be embarrassed or anything. I speak for Seth and myself. We just want you to be happy and to finally have your chance.''
Callie looked at them and then at Brandon.
''We do have so many things to talk about.''
Beth smiled at her.
''We do, but we don't have to do it now. We have plenty of time for all the conversations. But the most important is that we are ok with two of you being together. In all honesty, you've been dating for months now. Only difference is PDA that we expected to be more awkward.''
Callie and Brandon were confused. What did Beth mean when she said they've been dating for months?
''What do you mean?''
''Well, dancing lessons, movies, dinners with Mat and his wife. Dad picking you up after drinks with your friends because you are tipsy. Playing cards in the evening over few glasses of wine. Hiking every now and then.''
All of them were surprised that Beth kept such a close tabs on what they did and how often. Seth wanted to break the ice from his side.
''Yeah, the only difference now is that two of you actually know now that you are dating.''
Callie threw a pillow at him.
''Smartass…''
''So, what happens now? Are we giving each other THE TALK? I am not sure how that works in our circumstances…''
''There will not be the talk for us young man. I am still your mother and I am the adult here.''
''Really?''
''Yes, really…''
''Ok… So, you, as a responsible adult will lead by example?''
Brandon was giving his best not to laugh at the back and forth between mother and a son.
''I am sure that your dad and his finance would love to have you with them. It is his turn to be the target of your attitude young man.''
''Auc! Mom! Now you sound like grandma Stef, especially with that young man. It's getting clear who raised you.''
And that killed the mood. Mentioning Stef was not a good move from Seth. He noticed how everyone looked at him. Beth elbowed him and narrowed her eyes.
''Seth! Really?!''
''I am sorry… I didn't mean it.''
Callie gave him a small smile.
''It's ok… She did raise me in a way… You are not that wrong… It's just…Some old wounds were opened today and I think B and I will need some time to speak or think about Stef without a moment of bitterness.''
''And I get it. I am sorry mom… And I never really wanted you and uncle B to feel uncomfortable.''
After calling him uncle, all four of them cringed.
''Maybe we could drop that aunt and uncle. I don't think it fits after recent events. I believe I speak for me and Callie. We are not your uncle and aunt, escpecially now that we are together and you are too.''
''So dad, how should we call you?''
''By our names?''
Callie nodded.
''I think it's for the best. We can figure out something else along the way if calling us by our names doesn't work out for us as a family.''
Seth took Beth's hand and smiled and then looked at their parents.
''We are going to get a lot of shit for this.''
''I don't care anymore. I've waited so long for Brandon and I to find our way back. I am not going down without fight this time.''
He just smiled at her.
''Me neither. This time we are not depending of moms and you are not in danger of going back to the system. It's just us and what we make out of this.''
Beth looked at her dad and saw a different person. He and her mom never held one another the way he was now with Callie. He couldn't take his eyes of her, especially now when he could look at her all he wants without consequences. She felt bad for two of them, but also happy that she and Seth were born. Like everyone in the room, she had mixed feelings. Callie and Brandon felt sad they wasted all these years, but they couldn't regret their kids.
''Dad, can you tell us how it all started?''
He just looked at Callie and smiled.
''Oh, our story is the story for the books…''
He took some of his wine and started telling their children about the moment they met and how they fell in love. He told them how he was attracted to her from the moment he met her, but had no idea what was the pull toward this new girl. He told them that he was always the good kid, living by the rules and she told them how she had to do a lot of not so smart and good things to protect herself and Jude. They even spoke about Liam and Dani and how much the support they got from one another meant to them. They spoke of Rita, GU and how they wanted Callie to apply for independent living. They mentioned how they met AJ and how when he showed interest in Callie, moms loved it. He was allowed to date her, but Brandon was not. It didn't matter to them that Mike was his foster dad, he could do whatever he wanted and Brandon couldn't even look at her without being judged. Then they took some of their wine and spoke of Brandon's competition and the night in the cottage. Callie had some more wine and put her glass on the table. Her eyes were wet and she was trying to stop herself from crying.
''In many situations, I've heard how one night might change your life and I did believe it. I associated it with something bad. One night did change my life. My dad got drunk, crashed the car, killed my mom and I ended up in the foster care with Jude. One night Liam was drunk, he came to my room and took advantage of me. And that is how I lost my virginity. There were no candles lighting up the room, or romantic music or words spoken. It was painful, raw and I didn't want it. He did it few more times, but by then I learned to shut down my body. It's one of the worst things I experienced… When many spoke of sex as one of the best things in life, to me it was something dirty and unpleasant. I was ashamed of what was happening to me…
And then, Brandon happened. We were pretty sure I would not get adopted. And we finally had some courage to do something for ourselves. I wished I could freeze that night in time and space and relive it time after time. I was finally understanding what is the fuss all about. I finally knew the meaning of intimacy, desire and really connecting with my partner through physical act of love.''
Brandon kissed her hand.
''Callie fell asleep on my chest and I kept thinking that if I could pick one moment worth living for, it would be that moment. I had a feeling like nothing could beat that moment and amount of love I felt for her and got from her. I was wrong. Only moment that could compare to that was when I held you Beth for the first time. Those two moments were only times I felt unconditional love. Like, I would do anything for two of you, even give my life if it's needed.''
''But next morning when we came home, we found out that adoption was on. And the rest was history. I offered to Brandon to try to get my dad to reinstate his parental rights, but he didn't want me to give up a chance to have family and be safe. So, I got adopted and we both gave up the most important relationship we had in our lives at the time.''
Callie looked at Brandon and it was clear how much they were still in pain over what happened. And their kids saw how many regrets they had. It made them feel sad and a bit guilty. They wondered if their parents would have reconnected earlier if they were without kids?
''I started dating AJ. After some time, I got pregnant and we got married. I managed to finish college and find a work even with a baby in my life. You became my main focus in life Seth. I didn't have Brandon anymore, but I had you and somehow I felt like I had to give you so much to make up for the fact I didn't love your father and that he was cheating on me for a long time before I left him. You and my work became my focus in life. That is how I tried to fill the void B left.''
''My experience was not that different. I met Melissa and jumped into dating her because all I could think of was Callie. Holydays were nightmare for me because I had to see her. I had to see her with AJ and their kid and she was always good at faking she was ok. It took only one look for us to know that nothing was right, one look to know how everything with them felt wrong. I felt sick to my stomach every time I saw AJ hug or kiss her. I felt sick to my stomach knowing she was with someone else. It made me sick knowing she was having a family with someone else…and I would never have it with her.''
''I left your father and annulled the adoption. I rebuilt my relationship with Robert and those years we had, were good years. I felt bad after I lost him, but at least I had a moment with him. I had a dad for a minute. Lena gave me the job I always wanted and I really was happy there. I wanted to tell Brandon during some Christmas party about the annulment and divorce, but Stef pushed him into working things out with Melissa for you Beth. I couldn't wreck another home. Both Seth and AJ were not happy with me because of the divorce and splitting time between mom and dad, and I couldn't do it to you too Beth. And when Brandon came back and said he and Melissa were done, I felt like I could breathe again.''
''You mentioned dates Beth… And I promise nothing happened between us, until few hours ago. I couldn't dare to say what I felt and she was terrified too. So long has passed and now stakes are even bigger. We have two of you and now two of you are together. Whatever happens, it's going to be hard and we are terrified of what tomorrow brings.''
Beth came to her father and sat beside him.
''One day at the time dad… That's what you told me… One foot in front of the other and that is how the journey starts… Even if it doesn't work out for any of us, it is worth it, but I think it will. Two of you deserve your perfect ending in late eighties, surrounded with your five kids and twenty grandkids.''
That got them to laugh…
''Are you included in five or we have to start from scratch?''
''Brandon Michael Foster, I am not having five children, thank you very much…!''
''How about six? That is not five….''
''Very funny…''
Beth and Seth found it cute to see them like that and at the same time it was weird. Their parents were dating.
''We will not be talking about kids now. It's too soon… Only kids we talk about are the ones sitting in this room.''
''For now!''
She jumped into his lap and started tickling him. He tickled her back and it was sign for Seth and Beth to leave them alone. With Brandon and Callie distracted they could spend tome alone time in Seth's room doing what they were pretty sure their parents would end up doing very soon.