So here is chapter four! This one is a little long, but it is an important chapter.


The days following our date were relatively calm considering the usual chaos that is our family. Everyone was slowly getting used to the idea of Brandon and I being together. The rules surrounding our relationship were the same as they would be for any of the other kids; we can hang out together at the house alone with permission, we can be in each other's bedroom with the door open and if anything else is going to happen it better not happen under the mom's roof.

It's during these summer days with the family that I have been the happiest in my life; I have an amazing boyfriend, my little brother, and a family who loves me unconditionally but I also have father and sister to throw into the mix. Even though Robert and Sophia seem happy to have me as a part time part of their family, Robert's wife Jill doesn't seem as happy as they are with the addition.

I can't blame Jill for not instantly wanting me as a part of her family. I have experienced the feeling of not being wanted many times but at least now I can go home to a place where I belong. Hopefully as I get to know the Quinn family and they get to know the Adams-Foster household things will get better. At any rate the "family dinners" that Stef suggested should be interesting. The first of these bi-weekly dinners is taking place tonight, and to add to the fun Stef invited Mike over as well.

Since the moms want to give a good impression they have insisted that we kids have to clean the entire house. Brandon and I get to clean the bathroom, finish the laundry, fold it and then distribute it. Marianna gets to clean our room and sweep all the floors upstairs. Jude and Jesus are cleaning their room, the dining room and the living room which is a disaster after movie night last night. We have all been ordered to stay out of the kitchen while the moms clean up and start cooking dinner and lately due to the pregnancy Lena's mom swings have been unpredictable at best and no one wants to get in her way.

After cleaning the bathroom Brandon and I go to the laundry closest off the mom's bedroom, I take a load of laundry of the dryer and then Brandon puts a new one in while I put the last load in the washer. After getting the washer and dryer set and turned them on we go into the bedroom to fold the clothes and sort them into piles. I'm glad to have a menial job like laundry to do to keep my mind off dinner tonight, though I can tell Brandon knows something is up and wants to say something.

"So dinner tonight should be interesting, shouldn't it?" He starts, trying to fill the awkward silence that is starting to fill the room.

"It should be something; I mean our normal family dinners are crazy. Now we're adding my biological father, his wife, my half-sister, and your dad, I don't know what the adults were thinking" I tell him.

"That is very true, hopefully Marianna and Jesus don't start fighting again tonight, he might get food in her hair again and that would be a disaster." He laughs, referencing the spaghetti dinner we had the other night where Marianna insulted Jesus and he threw a meatball and then chaos ensued.

"It better not, the moms told us that we had to be respectful and civilized children tonight, which is harder than they think." I say, truthfully I'm scared of what will happen if something goes wrong tonight. I know the moms would never kick me out but I want Robert to believe that this is a good place for me to be, and that the moms are great parents.

A little while later after the house is clean and the laundry handed out and put away, we all start getting ready for dinner. I decide on a simple dress that falls to my knees and has short sleeves, it was a recent purchase that I got on a surprisingly non-dreadful shopping trip I took with the moms and Marianna. As I finish getting ready the doorbell rings and we all rush down to wait for the moms to open the door, standing in the order the moms insisted on. Jude is in front of me on the floor, Marianna and I are on the bottom step, Brandon is right behind me, and his hand on my shoulder, keeping me calm, and Jesus is beside him. The moms are standing over by the door.

After we are all in our positions and the doorbell has rung again Stef opens the door to reveal Mike. When we see that it was just Mike we all sigh, we had worked so hard to get situated in the right spot with ridiculous smiles on or faces for a person who is here every other day. When Mike saw us standing like that he burst out in laughter, doubling over in his fit of hysteria.

"Oh my God! Do you see yourselves right now? Stef, Lena you need to get a picture of this." He spits out trying to recover from laughing so hard.

"Hey man, that is so not cool! The moms want us to look civilized for the Quinns so we don't scare them off, no making fun of us!" Jesus says getting defensive.

The doorbell rings for the third time in a matter of minutes just as Jesus is finishing his rant. After a pointed look from the moms we get back into our spots with our shining smiles and Mike moves over to the archway that leads to the living room. After we're all set Stef opens the door and welcomes the Quinns in to introduce them to the rest of the family.

"Hi, welcome to our home, we are so happy that you were able to make it, this is my wife, Lena." Stef smiles and puts her arm around Lena.

"We're happy for the invitation, and it's an honor to meet you Lena." Robert answers in a typical reply that company always gives.

"Let me introduce you the rest of our family; this is Jude, our youngest and Callie's half-brother, you of course know Callie and beside her is Marianna and behind her is her twin brother Jesus, behind Callie is Brandon, our oldest son and of course he is Callie's boyfriend." Lena says, pointing to each of us as she says our names, I see a slight look of disgust cross Jill's face when Lena mentions Brandon and I dating.

"And over here is Brandon's father Mike, though he is a father figure to all the kids." Stef says going over to stand by Mike.

"Well it is certainly a pleasure to meet you all, for those of you who I just met I'm Robert, Callie's biological father, this is my wife Jill and our daughter Sophia, Callie's half-sister." Robert tells everyone.

"Well now that all the introductions are out of the way, I say we go into the dining room as dinner is ready." Lena says, trying to diffuse the awkward silence that was starting to settle.

A few moments later we are all settled around the table and putting food on our plates. Since everyone is busy with making sure they have enough to eat no one is talking.

"So in our house going around the table letting each person tell the family what they did with their day is how we know what is going on with everyone, why don't we take that idea and go around the table and each say something about ourselves so we can get to know one another." Lena exclaims, trying to fill up a little bit of time while people are eating.

"I think that's a great idea love, B, do you want to start?" Stef says giving Brandon a look that is more demanding than it is suggestive.

"Sure Mom, so I'm Brandon, I'm about to start my senior year of high school and I play the piano." Brandon tells the table, looking to me so I can go next.

"I'm Callie, I'm also about to start my senior year of high school, I share a room with Mariana and I play the guitar." When I finish I turn towards Marianna so she can go.

"Well, I'm Marianna. I am going into eleventh grade and I am on the dance team at school." She says finishing quickly, she must be nervous because Marianna takes any chance she can to have all the attention.

Jude goes next, "I'm Jude and I am about to start my freshman year of high school. I really like to write." He finishes his turn quickly. I feel bad for Jude, it has to be weird meeting your sister's other family.

After Jude is Jesus, "I'm Jesus, I'm obviously also starting my junior year of high school and I'm on the wrestling team."

Once the Foster kids finish and Sophia has taken her turn, the parents each go talking about jobs, how long they have been married and other boring adult things. Not long after everyone has taken their turn dinner is finished and Lena ushers everyone into the living room as she serves cake for dessert with tea and coffee for the adults while the kids and Lena get cups of hot cocoa.

"Umm, I was wondering if I could use the restroom." Sophia says, unlike the last time we met this is one of the first things she has said all night.

"Of course, Jude do you want to show Sophia where the bathroom is please?" Stef answers, why she is trying to get Jude and Sophia alone but I'm worried so I decide to quickly slip up the stairs so I can hear what the talk about.

After walking up the stairs in silence, Jude points and tells her where the bathroom is.

"She is my sister to ya know." Sophia exclaims turning to Jude, before he has a chance to say anything Sophia continues; "just because you have had her for the last thirteen years doesn't mean you can keep her all to yourself, I deserve to know Callie as much as you do."

"I know, I have no problem with you getting to know Callie, she is an amazing big sister and if there is one thing I have learned while living here is that there is always enough love to spread around. I'm glad you're getting the chance to know Callie, so you can learn to spread love as well." With that, my amazing, normally quiet little brother turns around and goes down the stairs. After Sophia goes into the bathroom I sneak back down the stairs and join Brandon on the loveseat in the living room with everyone else.

A few hours later after everyone is finished their cake and Mike had left, Robert and his wife decide that is time that they are also getting home.

"Thank-you for the lovely evening, Lena you are a truly amazing cook. It was nice to meet you all." Robert says as they are all putting on their coats. After another round of thank-you and goodnight the Quinns leave and we all breathe a sigh of relief.

"Well kiddos, I think we can safely say that tonight was a success, thank you all for your cooperation with everything." Lena says starting to steer us all upstairs.

"Remember tomorrow we start getting ready for the Adams-Foster summer vacation, and trust us Mama and I have been planning this one for a while so you all better be at breakfast so you can find out what we're doing, now get to bed, all of you." Stef says and despite our curiosity we have no choice but to obey and head to bed, excited for what awaits us in the morning.


The family vacation is going to cause all sorts of Adams-Foster drama. Thanks for all the continued support, your reviews inspire me to continue writing.