Thanks for the reviews guys! Love getting the feedback! I will try hard to get some Callie/Kasey in before things turn ugly. May be worth saying that actually - if anyone has any fluffy requests get them in soon as there are only a few chapter possibilities for them (and of course it does mean it's getting longer! :P). I am currently writing some main scenes for Lena and Callie so hopefully that will satisfy the kind folks who have requested those! Right - back to it! Enjoy!
I've not said it for a while but I still don't own the Fosters - just in case there was any confusion.
"OK, you better start giving me some answers young man." Stef said sizing up to him. Brandon's mouth continued to flap looking between Michelle and his Mom.
"I...we...it's just that...I mean we were going to go upstairs."
"Oh OK, so it's OK that you snuck your girlfriend in in the middle of the night because you weren't going to actually have sex in the kitchen?" Stef called him out edging closer and closer to him as he tried to fall back into the cabinet. He carefully positioned his arm trying to cover up the bottle but it only drew attention to it.
She guffawed spying the bottle.
"Wow, wine! it's nice to know that you plan your disobedience so romantically."
"Watch the glass." Michelle said coolly just before Stef stepped onto it.
"Ho, and a broken glass. OK, this is...it's too late to have to deal with you right now."
"Mom, I'm sorry." Brandon said finally finding his words. "But I mean, we are adults..."
The comment, although true, ignited Stef's anger once again. Michelle rolled her eyes as Stef flared up in another attack.
"Yes you are an adult Brandon, and for that reason I would have expected you to have some respect regarding this house and our rules in it! Sneaking around in the dark? In the kitchen no less and so give me strength you better not have even contemplated having sex in the room where your younger siblings eat!"
"I...no...you're right. I'm sorry." His head dipped as Michelle become frustrated that the rebel she had been building had deflated like a little boy.
"With all due respect Stef, Brandon is Kasey's twin - and Evan is here permanently now. Isn't that a slight double standard?" She asked plainly, trying not to come off too brash.
In her already riled state it took all of Stef's strength to not try to reprimand her for questioning her decision but she wasn't yet comfortable enough with Michelle to feel she could.
She took a deep breath. "Michelle, I appreciate you may not have had the full briefing on the situation," she began through gritted teeth, "but we have made it extremely clear that that is an exceptional case...and Brandon is well aware that it in no way has altered our stance."
Michelle looked over at Brandon as if trying to egg him on to protest.
"You do understand that Brandon? Being an adult and all." Stef said goadingly.
"Well, yes. That was pretty clear. But at the same time..." he paused as Stef tried to maintain composure to let him finish.
"Let's face it...if it was Evan and Kasey here you would hardly be kicking him out..." Stef stared him down. Had she been setting double standards because of her close relationship with Evan? She had some guilt because of her dislike for Michelle, even though she had tried to convince herself against her gut. Brandon was an adult after all. But no! He was still at school, still under her roof and this was completely out of character. She did not want him to think that he could get away with such blatant disrespect.
"The difference is Brandon, that this is not Kasey and Evan. It's you and Michelle - and frankly I'm not feeling too happy about you challenging the choices we have made just because you've got caught out. We gave you ample time and patience to process your feelings and understand. Do you have a problem with Evan staying here?" She interrogated, finding her confidence away from the doubts in her mind.
"Well, no...obviously I don't."
"Then quit trying to deflect from the actual issue here." She shamed him, riling Michelle slightly further that he had backed down so easily. She had a turbulent relationship with her Dad. Brandon's bending was not something she could relate to at all. She was about to fire out an insult before feeling a buzz in her pocket. It was her phone and suddenly she remembered the whole purpose of her being there. She paused and realised that this was a crucial moment that could risk her being accepted easily into this family. She took a deep breath and mapped out her damage control.
"I'm really sorry Stef. You're right, there's no excuse for our behaviour. It was disrespectful to you and your family and...well we just let our passions get the better of us." Stef nodded gently. Michelle's guise seemed to be working.
"Well that's almost understandable. What isn't though is the pre-meditation and don't expect there won't be consequences. I don't care if you're 18 or not. Don't be looking to me for any favours!"
Brandon nodded. "I'm sorry Mom." He said sheepishly.
Stef nodded again. "Now, clean up that glass - carefully! Michelle, go home. Now. Do you have your car?" Michelle nodded as Stef stepped aside for her to pass her.
"That stays with me." She said blankly as Michelle picked up the bottle. She sucked back another eye-roll and handed it to her roughly. Even though she was showing some self control it was still too lacking for Stef.
"Michelle, I want you to feel welcome in this house...but respect is a two way street." She warned.
Michelle nodded, biting her tongue and proceeded to leave.
Stef looked at an embarrassed looking Brandon.
"I am really not happy with you, young man." She said before heading out to leave. "Now clean this up and go to bed. We'll talk with you in the morning once I've spoken to Lena."
She walked off as Brandon threw his head back, hands on his face. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh in disbelief.
Michelle made her way down the path and out to her car. She opened it roughly, still seething from the way her night had turned out. She was mad with Brandon for being such a pushover but she knew that was the case...it was the reason she had chosen him for this. She was mad with Stef for being so involved but in some ways her closeness with him was also part of the equation. The only source of her anger that had not been accounted for was their exposer. He had no right to be in that house. He was not in this original setting and his bumbling demeanor was grating on her. She also knew his closeness with the family and influence on Stef and the kids - an uncalculated variable. He was a prime candidate to get in the way, the only member almost impossible to manipulate using Brandon. Moreover he was untouchable - if he sided with Kasey over her dislike for Michelle then their influence may blow the whole thing. He was sickeningly loyal to one of her mortal enemies. He had rejected her for her. She had to break down the hold he had.
"I assumed you wouldn't be able to sleep either." Stef observed as she saw a lying awake Brandon. He acknowledged her entry with a look.
"We need to talk." Stef walked in and went over to sit on his bed.
He pulled himself up from under the covers and sat up looking downtrodden.
"Well at least you're alone." She quipped. "Or should I check under the bed?" she said sternly as he sat up.
"I thought you were going to talk to Lena first." He mumbled, ignoring her comment.
"I wanted to talk to you before tomorrow." she began.
Branson avoided direct eye contact.
"No doubt blabbermouth will fill Kasey in pretty soon and she'll be insufferably smug. You only have yourself to blame of course, but I don't want her to wind you up before we have a chance to talk."
He nodded silently.
"I've also not told Lena yet. I will, obviously. We have to decide how we're going to punish you..."
"You're gonna punish me?" he asked, much to Stef's surprise.
"Are you kidding me? Brandon what you did was not OK. To be honest I'm disappointed and more than a little shocked."
"Hm. Of course you are..." he responded audaciously.
"Excuse me?"
"That I could ever do anything like that."
"Woah, woah, can I remind you which one of us is in trouble here?" she said, her anger breaking through slightly.
Brandon opened his mouth to respond but backed down seeing his Mom's face.
"I'm sorry...I just...I didn't want Michelle to think I was some goody two shoes! I'm 18 Mom. It's embarrassing you still treat me like a kid."
"You're still at school Brandon...we'll be more flexible - we are more flexible - but rules will exist here whether you're in Kindergarten or college."
"Michelle doesn't have a curfew or gets grounded still..."
"So what you're saying is you would like us to keep out of your life like Porter does with Michelle?" Stef was unable to hide that she was slightly offended.
"No...I just...it's frustrating! Nobody here likes Michelle...and before you say anything I know that Mom. I'm not stupid."
Stef took a big guilt hit to the gut.
"I'm just trying to make sure she doesn't get bored of being with someone like me in a place where she doesn't feel welcome!"
Concern flooded Stef's face.
"What do you mean someone like you?" she couldn't believe anything about Brandon could be found lacking.
He stuttered slightly, unsure himself what he meant but also was not ready to have this conversation. He didn't need his Mom to process his feelings for him. He was too old for that. Michelle didn't want a Mommy's boy.
"Mom...I'm sorry we got caught and I'm sorry we were in the kitchen...but I'm not going to apologise for wanting to be with my girlfriend." Stef could see he was unbending but she was unprepared and too drained for the fight. She would rather Lena be there to make sure she didn't end up saying something she'd regret.
"Well it's good to know where you stand, B. I'll remember your lack of willingness to take responsibility when we're assessing how to deal with our allegedly adult son." .
He was about to follow up but just flopped back down on his bed as she left. He wasn't going to be pushed around.
One thing - in the next chapter I've kind of summarised the talk Stef and Lena have with Brandon. If there is great desire I will write up some of the dialogue but I didn't want it to be too repetitive or long as it's not crucial to the plot. Any preferences? Do people want to read their conversation? If so I will add it in!
Chapter 18 Preview: Stef gets frustrated dealing with Kasey and Evan and Jesus has a heart to heart with Brandon.
"Now the next one of you say a single word about it I'm gonna put in a time out!" Stef completed her rant as the two youths looked up wide eyed.
"Mom...I'm 18..." Kasey pointed out, looking back and forth between Evan and her Mom.
"...and I'm not even your kid..." Evan added as Kasey smirked.