Hey so reading the reviews, quite a few people find that the chapters are too short. So I was wondering if you'd rather that I write short chapters but update quicker or put chapters together and make them way longer, but know that it'll take longer to update? (Note that with the latter option it'll mean rewriting the ones so far probably as a separate story and deleting this one). So yeah, please PM/review saying your opinions :)

Oh and so I upload only part of this before... But then I changed my mind and edited it, so it's WAY longer...

And as always, review / favourite / follow if you like or want to...

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. I know, shocker.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The Fosters dinner was the opposite. They all ate in silence, nobody attempting any sort of conversation, fully aware of the possible outcomes of Robert's actions. Callie could leave them forever.

And I'll never get a chance to apologise to her... Once the thought had entered Jude's head, he found himself unable to ignore it. Pushing his pasta around his plate absent mindedly, he felt his eyes swell up with tears. Aside from the morning's drama with the mirror, he hadn't spoken to his sister since Sophia's ill-fated voicemail. And now he hated himself for that. Surprising everyone - including himself - Jude pushed his food away angrily and stood up.

Lena frowned, her kind face full of concern. "Jude?" She questioned, "you've barely touched your dinner..."

"I'm not hungry." He saw no point in lying, no point in pretending otherwise, "I miss Callie."

Lena shot him a sympathetic smile, "We all do, honey." She too stood up and wrapped her arms around him, engulfing the boy in a hug. "We all do."

He shook her off of him and moved away, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the Adams-Foster clan.

Stef shot Lena a look, warning her to be cautious; he was becoming defensive and almost hostile - just like his sister tended to do when she was scared or anxious.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Lena she needed to worry about

"Hey if you're getting ready for bed, I can come up and help you with any homework...?" Mariana smiled at him, oblivious to his less-than-friendly mood.

Jude glared at her. "No." He spat, his voice full of unfamiliar venom, "Why would I? Just because Callie isn't here doesn't mean you can act like her - like your my sister. You're not and you never will be. If I hadn't been adopted none of this would have ever happened. I hate this place and I hate all of you - I just want Callie!"

Stef frowned and stood up. "Hey!" She exclaimed. "Just because you're upset does not give you the right to talk to Mariana - or any of us for that matter - like that! Mariana was just trying to help - as sisters do - because, like it or not, she is your sister. You're part of the family, just as much as she is and just as much as Callie is. Nothing can changes that."

Jude stood still for a moment, working hard to calm his breathing and controlled his temper. He didn't act like this, not ever. He was always the good child, the one who went the extra mile to please his family and help others. He didn't hurt others. He looked down, shamefaced.

"Sorry." He muttered, "I overreacted."

"Hmmm." Stef made a noncommittal sound, nether agreeing nor disagreeing with what he said. "Well I think an early night would benefit us all."

Jude nodded, not daring to disagree. He began to walk to the door, before stopping and turning back to his adoptive family. "I didn't mean any of it - the hating it here and not liking any of you. You guys are my family, I know that, honestly. It's just... Why did she have to go today? Any other day would have been fine - well at the very least better..." He sighed. "And Mariana," here he turned to face his sister, "I definitely didn't mean what I said to you. Of course you can help with my homework - you are my sister after all, and that's what siblings do, help each other."

Mariana smiled at him. "Okay, Judicorn, I'll be up in a minute."

He left the room.

Brandon looked down at his food, which was as untouched as everyone else' sat the table, his youngest brother's words echoing in his mind. Siblings stick together. Siblings stick together... All he ever wanted was to be a good son and brother to his family. And now he knew exactly what to do...

...

Callie didn't really want to talk to anyone for the rest of the evening. After her outburst at dinner when she informed Robert of her mom's death anniversary, she'd retired to her room, planning on avoiding them until at the very least the next morning, once she'd had a chance to calm down and assess her options. Of course, that was asking too much. No sooner had she lain across her bed, that a knock sounded at the door. She made a sound of acknowledgement, not caring if it sounded impolite, nor if it wasn't how she was meant to sound.

The door opened timidly, and there stood her half-sister, looking considerably uncomfortable.

"Callie?" She asked, nervously entering the room, "Are you okay?"

Callie rolled her eyes at that, unable to stop herself from doing so, and sat up. "Sure," she replied, sarcasm lacing her words, "I'm just dandy!"

The younger girl sighed and bit her lip, before moving forward and sitting on the edge of the bed, next to her sister. "I'm sorry, really I am. I didn't think, not really. It was selfish of me to rip up those papers and I'm so so sorry. I mean, if there was one thing I could change..." She sighed again. "I messed up. It was selfish of me, I know that now, I just... I just wanted what you already had - a proper family with parents who actually love each other and a sibling - someone to talk to, to confide in. Someone closer than a friend and who actually cares. Like you do, when you're with Jude. I wanted you to be my sister like you are with Jude, and I thought that is I got rid of those papers..."

"That I'd live with you and Robert and you'd have your ideal family? Or that I'd just forget about my brother and live happily ever after with you?!" Callie almost laughed at the girl's naïve nature. Almost. But she couldn't, because she felt sympathetic for her. Though she knew that she'd never do what Sophia had done, she knew that she couldn't blame the girl - it was pretty obvious that the Quinn mansion was a lonely place to live, and that despite being completely spoilt, Sophia had never really gotten the attention or care that she desired.

"Oh. Sophia!" Now it was the older sister's turn to sigh. "That was never going to happen, you must have known that! I care about, I really do, but our relationship will never be like mine and Jude's - he and I have been through so much together - but we could have still been sisters, and still been friends."

"Could have?" Sophia questioned, her bottom lip trembling slightly, "Does that mean I've ruined it, forever?"

Callie bit her lip, considering the question. She didn't want to upset the girl, but she also didn't want to lie to her. Finally, she shrugged. "I don't know." She answered honestly, "I just... don't know!"

Sophia's eyes filled with tears, and the corners of her mouth trembled as she held back a sob.

"Oh." She said, and - without another word - turned and fled from the room.