Chapter seven straight from heaven! Bear with me; I had to put a Brandon Talya scene just to get things worked out. Without further a due:

Lena picked up her phone as it vibrated. She saw that she had one message from Stef and another from Mariana. She opened her partner's first.

From: Stef

Be back soon, had a talk with Callie. We are okay.

Lena smiled at this before checking her next message.

From: Mariana

Brandon, Jesus & I have agreed that there is enough to go around :)

Lena's eyes widened in surprise. She and Stef had been talking about adoption but had not asked the kids yet. They had wanted to get everything in order before talking to them. Seeing the text brought her a sense of relief that they wanted the same thing that she and Stef wanted.

To: Mariana

I love you all, xoxo

Brandon was playing a random melody on the keyboard in the music room before school when he heard a gentle rap on the door. He looked up to see Talya standing by the door. When Stef had been in the hospital, she had been there for him, but that was about it. He wanted to keep their relationship strictly platonic but it seemed that Talya had other plans in mind.

"What are you working on?" she asked, stepping into the room.

Brandon shrugged, eyes never leaving the keys, "Nothing, I was just messing around."

"Well it sounded good."

Brandon didn't reply. Talya got closer to him, taking a seat in an empty chair. She watched him play silently for a moment.

"So," she began, playing with the ends of her strawberry blonde hair, "What are you doing later on?"

Brandon sighed, "Look, this isn't really a good week―"

"Does this have to do with why all of you were absent yesterday?"

"It's nothing, Talya." Brandon answered as he stopped playing. He stood up and began to gather his things.

"Well the way you're acting makes it seem like something."

"Talya," Brandon took a deep breath, "It's just…It's been a rough few weeks with my mom getting shot and now we have other things to deal with―"

"Why can't you just tell me?"

"It's not my information to tell."

Talya's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you…is this about Callie?"

"I've gotta go―"

"Are you guys together now?"

Brandon barely kept himself from rolling his eyes, "No, Talya, of course not."

She smiled and moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Good, because I was hoping that maybe we could have another chance."

"No," Brandon answered, "Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"It's just…it's complicated." Brandon left the room quickly before he could be subjected to more questioning.

Callie held Jude's hand in a death grip as Stef finally pulled up to the funeral home. They were all dressed in black: Jude in a suit, Lena in a dress, Stef in dress pants, and Callie in a dress she had bought during a mall trip with Mariana. She looked out the window at the people entering the home and wondered if she would recognize any from when she was younger.

"Are you guys ready?" Lena's voice interrupted Callie's thoughts.

No.

"Yes."

"We can wait in here a few minutes?"

Can we wait in here forever?

"It's okay, let's go."

The four took off their seatbelts and got out of the car. Callie kept a strong grip on Jude's hand; he didn't complain. Stef took the lead which Callie was grateful for. They entered the funeral home which was dimly lit and crowded with people. There was another wake going on in another room. Callie spotted the room that held her father's body easily, it was labeled.

Christopher Jacob.

Callie stopped walking suddenly, causing Jude to stumble a bit. He gave his sister a look, "Callie?"

Seeing the look on Callie's face, Lena came up with an excuse, "Callie and I are going to run to the bathroom, we'll meet you guys inside, okay?"

Jude looked at Lena and then Callie before nodding, "Okay." Lena shared a look with Stef before leading Callie away down the hall. She spotted a bench and they sat down.

"You okay?"

Callie nodded, face a bit red, "Um, yeah. Sorry, I don't know why…"

Lena placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, "Wakes are creepy to begin with," she responded with a sad smile, "And when it's someone you know…"

Callie played with the hem of her dress, "Thanks…for bringing me and Jude. For coming with us. I don't know if I, if we could have done it alone."

"Of course, honey," Lena answered, tucking a piece of hair behind Callie's ear, "Of course."

Jude stayed close to Stef as they navigated their way through the crowded room towards the casket. He had never seen a dead body before, but Callie had assured him that it would look like their father was just sleeping. They were almost to the casket when somebody called his name.

"Jude?"

He turned around to see an old woman, looking at him in a state of awe. She had dark eyes, almost black, and her gray-white hair was wound into a tight bun. Her make-up was impeccable as was her outfit. She had a regal air about her. Stef stepped protectively in front of Jude.

"Hello, my name is Stefanie Foster. I'm Jude's foster mother, and you are…?"

"Adelaide Jacob," she answered, coming closer, "That's my son who passed away."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

Adelaide nodded and came even closer, stopping in front of Jude, "Jude? Is that you all grown up?"

He nodded, "I'm sorry for your loss." He mimicked Stef's words. Adelaide let out a tearful gasp and pulled him into her arms, stroking his hair.

"Look at you!" she said with a smile, "You look just like him!"

"Callie's here, too!" Jude told her with a smile, happy that his grandmother was so pleased to see him. Adelaide's mood drastically shifted as a scowl came over her face.

"Callie?" the old woman said the name like it was poison, "She's―"

"Hi…?"

Adelaide looked behind her and saw Lena and Callie who had just entered the room. Both women had a confused look on their face; they had caught the tail-end of the conversation. Adelaide made her way towards the Lena and Callie at a surprisingly fast pace considering her age, her finger out and pointing accusingly.

"You!" Adelaide sputtered, eyes narrowed at Callie, "This is all your fault!"

Stef made her way across the room just as quickly and put herself in front of her partner and foster daughter, "I suggest you back up, lady." Stef said in a quiet but firm tone, ready to battle.

"She needs to leave!" Adelaide continued, eyes wild, "Now!"

"Callie has every right to be here," Stef answered, taking a step closer to the older woman, "She is his daughter―"

"No!" Adelaide exclaimed, "She's not!"

And the truth comes out!

Okay so mini-rant: My stupid school made us go to school on January 2nd (aka the day after New Year's aka the day after Haitian Independence Day WHICH I CELEBRATE) so I had school yesterday, Thursday. Tell me how we have no school today because it's a freaking snow day (I live on Long Island). WHAT A WASTE. I went to school for a day just to have the next three days off. They should have just given us the Thursday!

So. Annoying.

-Liv