Chapter 20.

Callie dipped her toes in the warm bath water. "Perfect," she nodded, turning off the tap. She looked over at Brandon, who was wearing nothing but a towel. "Ready to get in?"

"Yeah," he said, turning to her. He dropped his towel and climbed into the steamy water.

Callie shrugged off her bathrobe, and got in with him. The hot water stung her skin at first, but she quickly got used to it, leaning against the tub, letting the soreness in her muscles wash away. She and Brandon had moved all her things into his apartment that day. In one week, she would leave for England, but in the meantime, Caitlin had found a new roommate, who needed to move in right away. Callie would miss living with her friend, she knew, but she had to admit, she was looking forward to playing house with Brandon for the next seven days, and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could before they faced the seven-month separation.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she felt Brandon probe between her legs with his big toe. She giggled and splashed some water at him with her foot.

"Come here," he said, holding out his arms. "I can't reach when you're all the way over there."

She sighed and turned around, sinking into the nook between his thighs, the water lapping against her chest. "Better?"

"Much," he nodded, putting his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. "I love you."

"I love you too," she told him, leaning back against him as he slid his hands down her body. She arched her back when he slid his finger inside her, and moaned quietly when he added another.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his lips hovering over her ear. She looked back at him, and he touched his lips to hers, hungrily.

When their fingers were wrinkled and the water had become tepid, they stepped out of the tub. Brandon handed her a towel, and she dried off, squeezing the water out of her wet hair.

"I guess we shouldn't bother getting dressed," she laughed. They both knew where the evening was headed; no matter what they did together, it always ended with sex. They simply couldn't keep their hands off of each other. Not that they were complaining.

"Good call," Brandon nodded. He hung his towel on the towel rack, and lifted her over his shoulder and carried her to his bed.

Exposed to the cooler air of the bedroom, Callie felt gooseflesh rise on her skin. It was soon replaced with warmth, when Brandon climbed in and crawled under the sheet, next to her. She rolled over on her side so their bodies were parallel, touching in all the right places, and kissed him on the mouth.

"Hold on," said Brandon, when they parted. He opened his nightstand drawer, and began to dig around in it. Callie glanced over his shoulder to see that the drawer held a box of tissues, his phone and iPod, and a box of unopened condoms, among other odds and ends. Finally, he found what he was looking for, and slid the drawer closed. "I have something for you," he said, concealing an object in his hand.

"What is it?" she asked. Her first instinct was to think it was a ring, but it was really too soon for that. She watched him expectantly, waiting to see what would happen next.

Finally, he opened his hand. It held a key. "I had this made for you," he told her. "It's a key to the apartment. I thought you should have it since you're gonna be living here for a little while."

Callie took the key from his hand, cradling it in her palm. "Thanks," she said, pulling the sheet up around her. "That was sweet of you."

"Well," he playfully shrugged. "I'm a sweet guy."

"The sweetest," she said, smiling, as she set the key on the nightstand. She hugged him around the neck, and rubbed her nose against his. "Make love to me," she whispered, looking into his eyes.

He grabbed her up in his arms and kissed her, and she laid back on the mattress. She spread her legs, letting her knees drop down, and he moved over her, filling in the space.

Their last day together came much too fast. Callie could hardly believe that soon, she would be on the other side of the world, miles and miles of ocean between them. She stared at him as they ate breakfast at the counter, wanting to memorize every inch of his handsome face.

"What?" he asked, looking up. "Do I have something in my teeth?" He swiped his napkin across his mouth.

"No," she laughed. "It's just... I love you."

"I love you too," he smiled, squeezing her hand. "More than anything."

"You know," he said, after a long pause. "When you come home, we should make this a more permanent arrangement."

Callie looked at him, tilting her head to the side.

"I can't get enough of you," he told her. "This week has been great. I don't want it to end, actually. And, I mean, living together was always part of the plan, wasn't it?"

Nodding, Callie smiled from ear to ear. "Brandon, I would love to live with you. I can't think of anything I want more."

He let out a gush of breath, seeming relieved, and reached out to hug her.

"Does it have to be this apartment, though?" she asked, once he let her go.

"You don't like it?" He looked around. His apartment was a total man cave, just large enough for a single guy. But he wasn't single anymore; he had his Callie. It became obvious that something would have to change.

"It's okay," she replied, glancing down at her cereal bowl, which sat on the ugly orange counter top. "But I don't know about the kitchen. This breakfast nook thing takes up most of the space, and, well... I kind of have my heart set on a real table and chairs. Don't you?"

Brandon leaned in to kiss her, and their eyes met. He held her gaze, his mouth turning up in a loveable smile. "When you get back, we'll find a new place, and then we'll pick out a kitchen table together."

One Year Earlier:

"Aren't you going to miss being home?" Sophia asked, folding one of Callie's sweaters and handing it to her.

"No," she replied, laying the sweater in the moving box she was filling. "Not at all."

"Hey!" her little sister cried, insulted.

"Okay, okay," Callie laughed, ruffling Sophia's hair. "I'll miss you, kiddo. And the pool." She sat down on the edge of the bed, and draped her arm around her sister's shoulder. "But college is freedom. And," she added in her best Scottish accent, "I want m' freedom."

"Brave," Sophia nodded, recognizing the line from her favorite movie. She glanced up at Callie, wistfully. "I'm going to miss you. You're my only friend."

Callie looked down sadly, wishing she hadn't been so quick to dismiss home. "Aww, you have friends, Soph."

"I have mom and dad's friends' kids," Sophia replied. "They're not my friends. They never ask me to do anything outside the club." She brushed a stray tear from her cheek. "You're my best friend in the world, Callie. It won't be the same with out you."

She gently squeezed Sophia's arm. As excited as she was to break away from her biological family, she would miss her little sister, who had made the last few years bearable. "Quick. Hop in my suitcase!" she teased.

Sophia gave her a weak smile, her tears glistening in her brown eyes.

"Come here, bug," Callie sighed. She pulled her younger sister into her arms and kissed her. "I love you, baby girl," she told her, pressing her lips to her forehead. "And that will never change. I'm only gonna be an hour away. You can come visit me any time you want."

"Promise?" Sophia asked, looking up at her.

"Cross my heart," she nodded, drawing an X over her chest. "And just for the record, you're my best friend too."

"Callie!" Robert called up the stairs. "Time to go!"

"Coming!" she called back. She reached out to hug and kiss Sophia one more time. "See you soon, baby."

"Bye," Sophia sighed.

Callie stood in the airport, facing her two families, who stood in two separate clusters. The strap of her carry-on bag dug into her shoulder, and her heart was heavy. She was really on her way to London, about to leave behind everything and everyone she knew.

She approached the Quinns first. "Well, I guess this is it..." She smiled shyly.

"Good luck, honey," said Robert, patting her shoulder. He stepped forward and gave her a formal hug. "I love you."

She nodded in her usual way. "Thanks."

"Do you have your passport and ticket?"

She nodded again. "Of course."

"Good luck, Callie," said Jill, stepping forward. "Stay out of trouble and study hard."

"I will," she replied, before turning to Sophia, and looking into her sweet, round face. "See you soon, kiddo."

Sophia threw her arms around her, and hugged her as if she would never see her again. "Bye, Callie. I love you. I'll miss you."

"I love you too, baby." She pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and smoothed back her hair. "Take care of yourself."

Turning around, Callie's eyes welled with tears as she faced the Fosters. She walked over to them slowly; it felt as if they were suspended in slow motion. When she reached them, both Stef and Lena gathered her in their arms at once, in a group hug. Smooshed between them in a mama sandwich, she succumbed to her tears.

"We're gonna miss you like crazy, slug-a-bug," Stef told her, holding her face in her hands and giving her a kiss.

"We love you, darling," said Lena. "Let us know when you get there?"

"I will," she promised. "We'll talk every day." She smiled through her tears. This crazy, beautiful family owned her heart completely.

"You guys are the best moms in the world," told her foster mothers, in a choked voice. "I love you both so much." She gave them each an extra hug before facing her siblings.

After she said her 'see you soons' to Mariana and Jesus, she grabbed Jude up in her arms and squeezed his slight frame. "I can't believe how tall you've gotten," she laughed. Her baby brother was now taller than her. She dried her tears with a wrinkled tissue. "I'm gonna miss you, buddy."

"I'll miss you too," he told her. "Good luck." He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"I love you, Jude," she said with a smile, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Love you too," he said quietly, looking away before she could see that he was crying.

Next, Callie knew, would be the hardest goodbye of all: Brandon.

"We'll give you two some privacy," said Stef, leading the family back a few feet. She looked over at the Quinns, imploring them to do the same.

"I'm going to miss you so much, baby," Brandon told her, as tears slid from his green eyes, dripping from the end of his nose.

"Don't cry," Callie told him. "You're gonna make me cry." But it was too late for that; her tears were already coming. She went back into Brandon's open arms, laying her face against his chest, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

Brandon kissed the top of her head, then tilted her chin up and smashed his lips against hers. "I wish I could handcuff myself to you," he teased, lightening the sorrow-filled moment.

Callie smiled mischievously. "Ooh. Sounds kinky." She blushed a little, remembering the glorious lovemaking they'd shared just that morning, and the panties she'd purposely left on his bedroom floor for him to discover later. "Seriously though," she added. "An ocean can't keep us apart."

"I know," he agreed. "We've been through so much, and it's only brought us closer." He caressed her cheek with his thumb. "This won't be any different. And you'll be home for Christmas, right?"

"Yup." Their lips met in a passionate kiss. Callie deepened it, leaning into him as he slipped his tongue into her mouth for what would be the last time in a long time. Just when they parted, the call for her flight came over the loudspeaker.

"I have to go now," she told him, pecking his lips. "I love you."

"I love you more," he smiled giving her a quick, final hug. "Don't fall for any English blokes."

"I won't," she laughed. She blew him a kiss, walking backward, then waved to everyone else. "Bye!"

She boarded her plane and found her seat, her eyes welling with fresh tears. If it were a movie, she thought, she would hurry off the plane at the last minute and run straight into Brandon's arms. He would lift her up and swing her around, and they would cling to each other, kissing as the ending credits rolled. But it was real life, and she had a commitment to keep. As much as her heart ached for him, the plane was already rolling down the runway, on it's way to another continent. Sighing, she unzipped the pocket of her bag and took out her iPod and the key to Brandon's apartment. She put her earbuds in her ears and sat back in her seat, gripping the key in her hand.

To Be Continued