Author's Note:

Really brief all! Just wanted to thank everyone again for any Reviews, Faves or Follows! I honestly and truly appreciate every single one (even just to tell me that you don't like Brallie, though they can be a bit disheartening). But, I just have to shout out one reviewer in particular, who gave me an extremely thorough review that REALLY just made my week! Thank you so MUCH Prazeodymium for your amazing, thoughtfully written and appreciative review. You absolutely understood everything that I was trying to express-and even stumbled upon some of the upcoming content that I had already written but hadn't yet posted. It means a lot to know that anyone can understand the emotions that you are trying to convey in anything that you write even "just" a Fanfiction. Lol.

Now that I am done with thanking everyone I just want to say that for anyone who is waiting out the chapters for Stef and Callie, I promise you that it is coming. I was going off on quite a few tangents, and had almost written a full novel, before I realized it! But I finally trimmed things down enough to where I have the full outline of my story for anything unwritten and believe me, I do have things in store for Stef and Callie and that is the reason for the massive buildup. I really appreciate everyone for sticking with me and again, thank you for any and all support that you have given or will give.

Peaces!

Chapter 10:

Hurts. Love.

(Christmas Eve.)

"Well this is awkward." Mariana said as she and Callie walked into the Quinn's kitchen together with a dish that Lena had prepared.

"I know," Callie said shaking her head. "I'm starting to think that maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

"What wasn't?" Grandma Dana said as she walked in with a dramatic flourish as was her usual entrance. The long green Grecian floor-length gown was way over-the-top for a Christmas dinner, but then when it came to her flair for drama, nothing ever was.

"Um, just…" Callie said trailing off and looking to Mariana for help.

"Having Hurricane Mom and Tropical Storm Robert under the same roof." Mariana said and Callie nudged her harshly.

"Um…OW?!" Mariana said hitting Callie back lightly and staring at her incredulously, "Why are you hitting me? Everyone knows it. Did you see the way they stared at one another at the door? They couldn't even shake hands."

Mariana was right of course, but Callie preferred to imagine that the tension was all in her mind. Having Mariana voicing it loud and clear didn't help matters at all.

"That's enough, Mariana." Dana said walking the casserole dish over to the counter. "Now, you listen here my sweethearts." She said as she turned around and stared at both girls. "Yes, things are tense. Sometimes things are like that in families. But, this is Christmas, and we are all together and the adults in this family love all of you too much to let anything else get in the way of that. Alright?"

Callie and Mariana looked at one another and Mariana gave her a reassuring smile. Inwardly, Callie breathed a sigh of relief. Dana was right of course. They would all keep it together tonight of all nights.

"Alright." Callie said nodding at Dana.

Later On At the Christmas Dinner Table

"So, how are things going at the school?" Jill said to Lena from across the table. Lena smiled and swallowed whatever she was currently chewing before answering "They are going. Right now, we are actually working on something that will make the school more inclusive."

"Really?"

"Really. I am not supposed to talk about it too much, but I have almost all of the signatures needed to bring it to the board and…"

Callie smiled at Lena and Jill's exchange. The two of them were definitely an example of "cooler heads" prevailing when it came to their spouses. And it was nice to hear them finding something to chat about in common.

Although she wasn't paying too much attention, Mariana was right in the middle of telling Callie all about how happy she was to be once again leading the STEAM group, but this time at a national competition for a mathematics scholarship for all participants. Mariana's history with the team had been somewhat tarnished by her behavior at a Robotic completion, that was partially impacted by her use, at the time, of ADD pills that she'd thought would help her focus. Instead they just turned her into a semi-raging lunatic.

But apparently all was forgiven and going into senior year, the members were willing to admit that Mariana was still the best possible leader for their hoped championship.

On the other side of the table, Jesus and Jude were semi-arguing over who would be able to eat more potatoes, with Sophia tossing her hat in the ring to declare that she could out-eat both of them.

Both grandmothers were speaking with their significant others about "grandparent things" Callie supposed and Robert and Stef were noticeably silent. Though, Callie noted that Robert hadn't stopped guzzling wine since the Adam Fosters had appeared in his larger than life dining room.

Callie tried not to, but still her eyes searched for his seat and even knowing that he wouldn't be here, it still hurt.

She'd wanted everyone she loved here.

And everyone she loved wasn't.

"Hello?" Callie said, as she answered the phone and stepped away from the crowd of girls in the main room of the Dreams. Girls. Center.

"Hey, Callie. It's me." Brandon began and already there was a tone of regret in his voice.

Callie hated herself for the words she spoke, but she knew him too well to even pretend to say anything else.

"What's wrong?" Callie said quietly as she exited the center's noisy main room, closing the door and hearing the loud click in the vacant hallway.

"I…I can't make it home for Christmas. I'm sorry…"

It was a week before Christmas and Callie had spoken to Lena and Stef on the phone. They said that everyone was okay with coming. It was hard to remember sometimes that Brandon didn't live with them anymore. So "everyone" no longer automatically included him too.

Callie was silent in that moment and leaned against the stone cold wall, hugging her free arm around herself.

"Wh-…why not?" Callie said, her voice sounding sadder than she'd intended.

"It's just that it's not the best time right now, Callie. And I spoke to Mama earlier and I know that this is really important to you. So I just wanted to be the one to tell you myself."

Callie was silent again and in this moment for some reason all she could hear was Brandon's piece "Sanctuary" flooding around her. She wanted his arms around her.

Safeness.

Closeness.

For a few more moments, Callie just listened to Brandon breathe and tried to understand why she was suddenly sad and angry and hurt and worried.

Finally, Brandon's voice broke in again "Callie…? Are you okay?"

Callie swallowed in everything and then breathed out and said in a clearer voice,

"Yes, I am. I'm okay. I just…" Callie said slowly allowing the thoughts of why Brandon might not really be coming to encapsulate her "It's not because of…Robert…or the Quinns', is it?" She finished closing her eyes.

His home, his family, his Christmas. What else can I take from him?

"What...?" Brandon said, and paused trying to understand Callie's meaning. Then came his incredulous "What?! No, of course not, Callie! Why would you even say that?"

Callie couldn't even get upset at his angry timbre as she was too happy about what he'd just said "I just wanted to make sure, I mean…"

"Callie," Brandon broke in softly, "I would never purposefully not do something that would make you happy because of someone else. Anyone else." The silence hung and Callie missed him so much. But she kept it together. She closed her eyes and gulped slightly, imagining his eyes. The pensive look she knew he would have given her following that statement; he would lean in and force her to meet his eyes. Brandon Foster's signature "look in my eyes and see my sincerity" gesture.

"You know that, right?" Brandon's voice broke in, again.

"Yes. I know that."

"It's just…well, I didn't want to say anything, because I don't know how it's going to go. But, since a few weeks ago, when you came? I've been playing again…trying for things again. And I have this…well, it's not exactly a Christmas concert. But, I got the gig to play in this Christmas Classical Music Concert and it's going to be in Time Square and…that'll really look good if I…well, if I try for Juilliard, again."

Callie's smile nearly broke her face. "Oh my God! Brandon?! That is amazing!" she laughed out pushing herself away from the wall.

Brandon laughed a little as well, his nervous laugh, Callie noted and then thought: God, I hate myself for knowing his nervous laugh.

"Well…yea. I just didn't want to get everyone's hopes up. So I didn't tell anyone about it. But, I really think, I want to try again. And I just…I need to practice and stay focused and so, that's why I can't make it home." Brandon paused and then said "That's the only why." Callie nodded as though, he could see her and felt relief spilling over her.

"Well, thank you. For telling me, I mean." Callie said softly as she glanced over at Sela who was waving her back into the room.

"Of course. And I'll still see you guys again soon. It's just…not yet." Brandon said and Callie nodded again and breathed out in response.

"Okay. Soon, but not yet." Callie wondered if Brandon was thinking of them being together in this moment as she was but out loud she said only "Okay. Well, I'll be thinking of you." And realizing that maybe that statement revealed a bit too much, Callie added "...And knowing you're playing amazingly as always." As she slowly walked back towards the main room.

"Thanks," Brandon said and then after a slight hesitation, added "And I'll be thinking of you too." without further explanation.

They mutually ended the call and Callie spent the rest of the day trying to concentrate on anything but the image of familiar green-grey eyes.

"Earth to Callie?" Mariana said, waving a fork of food in Callie's face. Callie widened her eyes a bit as she hadn't meant to zone out.

"Mars to Mariana." Callie said, responding in the playful way she often would when Mariana used to say that to her.

Mariana laughed and said "I said: What about you? Are you excited about the New Year? Any big plans?"

Callie shook her head, absently wondering what Mariana's big plans were. She'd pull Jude aside and ask him as soon as possible. "I don't think so. But, then I've never been a big New Year's girl."

"Me either!" Sophia practically shouted across the table and smiled over at Callie.

"Actually," Robert said, piping up for the first time that Callie had been aware of "We usually go away for the New Year. You know," He paused and glared at Stef. "As a family?"

The room fell silent and Stef sipped her wine casually, saying nothing in response.

Jill broke in "Well, I wasn't sure if we would this year." She said smiling over at Stef and Lena as though answering a question that they hadn't even asked. "We haven't made any plans for it; so really, I think we'll just have a quiet night at home together."

Stef smiled tightly "Sounds nice." She said casually, but Callie could see the discomfort in her eyes.

"Does it, really?" Robert ground out and Callie whipped her head toward him,

"Dad…? Please don't do this…"

"Do what?" Dana said as she looked back and forth between Callie and Robert, "What exactly is happening here?"

"It's Christmas Eve." Lena said gently and glanced at Robert hard and then placed what Callie guessed was a calming hand over one of Stef's. "Please, can we not do this, you all?" But Callie knew that something bad was about to happen. Robert hardly ever lost his temper so the fact that he wasn't keeping it together now, just let her know that this wasn't going to be good. And that he had just downed his 4th glass of wine couldn't be a good sign.

"No," Stef said, setting down her glass and gently pulling her hand from Lena's, as she clasped them together and leaned on them tilting her head and looking straight at Robert. "If you have something to say, please just say it: I prefer the direct route."

"Alright," Robert said slamming down his napkin and clunking his glass on the table. "I find it laughable that you are able to sit here calmly eating. Acting as though everything is fine, when you've never even given so much as an apology."

"An apology?!" Stef nearly screamed and added an indignant laugh that made Callie want to disappear.

"For what? For loving Callie and wanting to keep her? For standing by my daughter-"

"My daughter!" Robert cut in.

"Our daughter." Jill and Lena said together, trying to calm things down.

"Callie is all of our daughter." Lena said, "We've discussed and we all know that it doesn't matter what a piece of paper says. We know this and we've all agreed to it."

"Yes." Robert said angrily, "But only after a judge reversed the adoption and forced you to agree. And why did he even have to do that?! Because you-" he pointed harshly at Stef "You thought it was a good idea to have my daughter living with a son who you felt so concerned about that you felt the need to get a restraining order against him! Great parenting, by the way."

"Now, you wait just a minute!" Stef's mom piped in "I don't care if you're the king of Timbuktu! You will not talk to my daughter like that."

"Please stop." Callie said in a near-whisper as Mariana jumped in,

"Look: whatever you deal is, don't talk about my brother. You barely know him."

"Exactly!" Robert said with a cruel laugh and shook his head "That's what I found out. I don't know him and I don't know any of you. Not really. You said you wanted what was best for my daughter but what you really wanted was to lie to me and pretend like everything was Ok, when you really knew it wasn't!"

"That's not what I wanted." Stef said, shaking her head "What I wanted was to keep my family together. I love all of my children. All 5 of them. And I loved Callie well before I knew that you even existed."

"Please stop." Callie said again, louder this time, the tears now streaking down her face.

"Right, but once you knew it, then what? Then you blackmail me, try to get Callie emancipated, you don't tell me about your son, and you adopt my daughter. And then, even when you found out about their…" Robert paused, seemingly searching for a word "…about their "relationship" you still never told me the truth. And as a parent, you had to know how I would feel to think about Callie being made to live with some…boy who'd…done that to her."

"Stop!" Callie yelled finally as she leapt from her chair and finally everyone turned and looked at her.

"I'm sorry," Callie said, shaking her head as she spoke through her tears "I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have asked you all to be together. I shouldn't have. It was selfish and it's not fair. Now everyone's Christmas is being ruined and it isn't right."

Lena matched Callie's emotion as she said quickly, "Callie, honey, no. This isn't your fault." And she moved forward to comfort Callie.

Callie backed away a little nearly tripping over her chair. "No!" she said as she held out her hands to prevent Lena from moving closer and Lena stopped. Callie looked over at Mariana and Sophia, then to Jude and Jesus "I'm so sorry, you guys."

Mariana was crying too, but shook her head at Callie and squeaked out "It's okay." and Jude reached over and gripped her hand.

"It's not your fault, Sis." Jesus said from across the table with a sad smile.

Callie looked at Robert and she'd honestly never been angrier at him. "I am sorry." She said in a harder tone as she stared her father down. "But Stef and Lena love me and Dana and Sharon. And all of them." She said motioning towards the Adams Fosters. "And I told you that they were my family. And I told you how important this was to me and still you pull something like this?!"

Robert hung his head a little and said softly, "I'm sorry."

"Yea, I know." Callie said shaking her head again gently. "But that doesn't change the fact that you did this anyway. And I'm sorry and I get that you're angry; I mean really, I am more familiar with that emotion than you might imagine. But if you want to be angry at anyone, then you have to be angry at me. You don't get to be angry at Stef or Lena. Alright? And you don't get to be angry at Brandon, either. Because he didn't do anything to me. The only thing that Brandon has ever done is love me. And I love him, so I don't want you saying things about him that would hurt him."

Callie paused and took a deep breath realizing that she was saying this in front of everyone. Every Adams Foster and every Quinn. But in the moment, she was too angry to be nervous or anxious about it. She would say her final piece and then bound up the staircase to her bedroom.

"And, I mean regardless of whatever issues you guys have or had with each other or me and the adoption or the reversal or whatever," Callie said glancing at each of the parents and then back to Robert "You have in common that you love your kids" she paused and motioned towards the other 4 kids who surrounded the table.

"So please: Would you stop hurting them?"