Callie looked at her social worker, her face holding an alarmed expression, "Bill?"
He simply shook his head as he shifted his weight from one foot to the next, "I'm so sorry Callie, but it was in your father's will…"
"No!"
Stef came downstairs as she heard Callie's shout. She took in the people standing in her foyer and quickly pieced together what was taking place.
"What's going on Bill?" Stef asked calmly, putting her hands on Callie's shoulders.
"I'm here for Jude," Adelaide answered for the man, "He is coming to live with me in Avondale."
Callie turned to Stef desperately, "She can't do that, can she? Jude is in your care."
"Callie, when you and Jude were put into the foster system it was because there was no one else to take you in," Bill explained quietly, "We have a will from your father that says in the event of his death, Jude will be put into the custody of his grandmother."
"And me?"
Bill glanced uncomfortably at Adelaide, "Uh, you weren't mentioned."
"Where was this will ten years ago?" Stef asked with suspicion, crossing her arms over her chest defensively, "Why are we just hearing about it now?"
Adelaide tried to keep a calm facade as she answered, "Well, I was not capable of taking care of Jude at the time. My husband had just passed away and I did not have a job, but now I am financially sound and ready to take on the responsibility."
Lena walked into the foyer. She had heard the commotion from the kitchen and had instructed the rest of the kids to stay in the kitchen although she knew they were most likely listening in, "What's going on on, Bill?" she questioned.
"Adelaide wants to take Jude," Stef answered coldly, glare fixated on the old woman.
Callie shook her head, "Please," she begged desperately as she took a step closer to the old woman, "Don't do this to him. Don't do this to me."
"This is what Christopher wanted," Adelaide answered indifferently, nose in the air, "I just need Jude and we can be on our way."
"We're just about to have dinner," Lena interjected, wringing her hands, "And Jude needs time to get his things together―"
"No need," Adelaide cut her off with a cool smile, "I will be purchasing brand new things for him. Jude! Come here please."
The boy slowly made his way to the front of the house, the nervousness clearly displayed across his face. Adelaide smiled at him and bent down a bit, "Go grab your jacket, Jude. We're leaving."
Jude eyes flicked to his sister before they landed back on his grandmother, "Are you taking us somewhere?"
Adelaide's smile came out a bit strained as she tried to keep her voice in check, "No, darling. I'm taking you to come live with me in Arizona."
Jude stepped back, "What about Callie?"
"She'll stay here."
"But..but…" Jude turned to look at his sister who was fighting to keep her emotions in check, "Callie?"
"I'm so sorry, Baby," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry."
He dove into her arms and gripped her tightly around the waist, hands fisting the fabric of his sister's sweatshirt. Callie returned the embrace with equal strength and she rested her chin on Jude's hair. This can't be happening.
"We need to leave," Adelaide interrupted impatiently, all but tapping her foot.
"I don't want to leave!" Jude insisted into Callie's shirt, hot tears falling fast from his eyes, "I want to stay with you!"
"I know," Callie soothed, kissing the crown of her brother's head as she held him close to her. She looked up at Adelaide in a final attempt to change the old woman's mind, "Please, don't do this." She implored in a broken voice.
Adelaide, however, was relentless, "Jude, let's go."
"No!" Jude shouted in an uncharacteristically aggressive voice, "I want to stay here!" A hint of a scowl appeared on Adelaide's face and she turned to Bill. With no other choice, the social worker set about prying the siblings apart.
"NO!" Jude howled, fighting Bill with everything he had as he reached for his sister, "Let me go! CALLIE!"
Callie lunged for her brother but was held back by Stef, "Stop!" she yelled frantically, "You can't take him from me! Please don't do this! Please!"
Adelaide simply turned towards the door, "Good-bye."
"CALLIE!" Jude shouted from Bill's arms. His face was red and covered in tears, "DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME!" Lena had to help her partner hold Callie back from running after her brother.
"LET ME GO!" Callie screamed, reaching out for her brother as she fought viciously to get away from her foster-mothers, "JUDE!"
Bill managed to get Jude out of the house and into his car. He strapped the boy in and had to put the child-safety lock on just to make sure he didn't try to escape. Jude relentlessly banged on the window, screams muffled by the car windows. Bill got the engine started and Callie watched in horror as he drove the car away with her baby brother inside.
Stef could feel the teen shaking in her grip and she didn't know what to say or do, "Callie…"
"You promised!" Callie shouted whirling around to face Stef and Lena, "You fucking promised that everything would be okay and now Jude is gone!"
Tears welled up in Lena's eyes, "Callie we―"
"FUCK YOU!"
The teen stomped up the stairs and soon after the women could hear the slamming of a door. Lena turned to Stef as the tears lost their battle and made their way down her cheeks. "Stef," she choked out and soon found herself wrapped up in her significant other's arms. She pressed her face into the blonde's neck as her body shuddered from her cries, "What are we going to do?" Stef remained silent as she stroked Lena's hair.
"Mom?" The woman separated to see Brandon, Jesus and Mariana staring at them with looks of dismay on their faces.
"Where's Jude?" Mariana asked timidly, clutching her twin's arm.
Stef looked at Lena who was attempting to get herself together before turning to face the teenagers, "Jude's grandmother is taking him with her to Arizona. She has a will from his father saying that she has custody of him."
"But you guys were going to adopt him," Brandon sputtered in disbelief, "She can't just take him from us."
"Unfortunately she can," Lena answered in a shaky voice, fingers still wiping away errant tears, "She has the law on her side."
"Screw the law!" Jesus blurted out angrily, "He's our brother! He's your son!"
"I know," Stef answered, stepping forward to place a hand on Jesus' shoulder, "I know that, Sweets. Believe me when I say we are going to fight this." She flicked her gaze up the stairs knowing full well she would have to go talk to Callie.
"Let's go eat dinner, guys." Lena said feebly although she knew nobody was in the mood to eat. She squeezed Stef's shoulder before guiding the kids to the kitchen.
Stef knocked lightly before entering Mariana and Callie's room. She peered inside and saw Callie lying across her bed. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the tremors running through the teen's body and could hear the sobs muffled by a pillow.
"Oh, Callie…" Stef whispered. She sat on the edge of the bed and attempted to place a hand on Callie's back, but the girl flinched as if she had been burned. Stef felt defeated. All of the progress we made: lost.
"I'm sorry she took him away from you," Stef sighed apologetically, pressing her hands into the mattress, "Please know that Lena and I are going to do everything we can to bring Jude back with us, back with you." She paused for a moment and studied the brunette for any signs that she had heard her, "Callie?"
"Get out." The words held no malice or anger. If anything, they were hollow. With one last glance at Callie, Stef stood up and walked towards the hall. She paused and lingered in the doorframe.
"I love you, Callie."
The teen remained silent and if it were possible at that moment, Stef's heart broke even more.
I have work in 20 minutes so I gotta scoot. Thanks for all the lovely reviews/PMs! Please keep reviewing!
-Liv
P.S.-HOLY SHIT MICROSOFT DELETED THIS AND I DAMN NEAR DIED BUT I FOUND IT! PRAISE ALL THAT IS RIGHT AND JUST!