Thanks so much as always guys - all of the sadness about it ending really is so very touching. I am thrilled you stuck this through with me and enjoyed it so much! Let's not be sad though. 2 fluffy chapters to see it out. thesameguest requested Lena/Stef and Stef/Callie so here is the result!
Hope you enjoy and let me know what you thought - as we're nearing the end I'd love to hear from you as much as you are willing to spare!
"Just completed a headcount. We've not lost any this morning." Lena informed a cocooned Stef, hopping on the bed.
"That's a shame. I was hoping we'd at least have one of them taken off our hands." she replied sleepily.
"I did tell Kasey to only use the computer downstairs though so we can keep an eye on her. I have a feeling there won't be much paper being written if she's hidden away up in her bedroom."
"Well spotted." Stef replied finally rolling over. "I'm absolutely wrecked."
"Yes - I thought I'd let you sleep. It's nearly 11 though and your mother has already rung twice..."
"11?" she asked shocked and springing up onto her elbows. "Ugh. She's gonna be going on about that one. I'm way too tired to cope with her today. You'd think I'd get some peace with her being on the other side of the country."
"No such luck I'm afraid. Parents will always be parents. We'll always want to keep an eye on our kids." Lena reasoned kissing Stef and cuddling up next to her.
"Hm." she scoffed. "After yesterday I wouldn't mind society taking them." she responded as Lena slapped her stomach gently.
"They're good kids." Lena added. "They just have inherited some dodgy trouble making genes." she goaded with a cough as Stef looked at her offended.
"Mike's - obviously..." she teased before adding "Mostly" under her breath. Stef gave her a small kick.
"Well they're all ours - through the good and the bad."
"Sshh!" they heard out the door. "If you keep talking like that they'll hear us." both Stef and Lena looked at each other before Stef pulled the comforter back over her head with a groan. "No more...make it stop." she whinged as Lena exposed her face again to the light of the world.
"It can't be that bad...Evan wouldn't push his luck too much after yesterday." she reassured her. "Come on, lazy" she ordered, leaping over her wife and attempting to drag her up by her arm. Stef overpowered her however and pulled her back down onto the bed with her with a laugh and a yelp from Lena.
"Or you could come down here and we let them sort themselves out? Failing that I'll just take Evan for another drive when it all blows up. To Mexico. Any protests?"
She kissed Lena's mouth as she tried to respond.
"I don't hear any." she commented kissing her once again as Lena tried to respond once more. Eventually she slapped her chest and pushed herself off covering Stef's mouth.
"Come on - up. Now. Or I'll subject you to a 6-inch rule." Lena climbed off the bed and a moaning Stef reluctantly heaved after her.
"I'm just really unsure about this Evan... I don't know if it's a good idea..." Jude asked following him down the stairs.
"Someone will hear you if you talk like that." he whispered. "It's a perfect idea."
"I just don't know if I'll be able to..."
"Hey - what did I say about that confidence thing."
"But I'm terrible at secrets too..."
"Shh!" he scolded as they headed towards the door.
"And where are you two sneaking off to?" Stef asked as sternly as she could muster through the drowsiness, arms folded, as her and Lena finally emerged.
Evan and Jude snapped round, inches from the door.
"We're going out...it's a beautiful day." Evan smiled guiltily. "I mean...we're not grounded, right?"
Lena raised an eyebrow.
"What are you up to?"
"Nothing." Jude whimpered. They stared at them some more while Evan had time to try and throw them off.
"I just feel really bad about what happened so I was going to take Jude to a strip club to make up for it." he said as seriously as he could before his smile twitched through.
Stef rolled her eyes.
"OK you caught us - we're going for ice cream." Jude lied, trying his best the think fast and taking a cue from Evan's diversion.
"Before lunch?" Lena cross examined. They at least were falling for it.
"Look guys I feel really guilty about what happened and I just wanna make it up to him with some guy time. Please?" Evan pleaded with his most charming smile. Lena and Stef looked to each other and exchanged a telepathic conversation.
"No ice cream and no trouble." Stef said walking over to them. "Evan - you corrupt another kid of ours I'm gonna do things to you that will stop you having ones of your own." Stef threatened as Evan recoiled slightly.
"Be back for lunch in 2 hours." Lena added sternly as the two of them thanked them and made their way quickly through the door.
"And it better not be with any police!" Stef shouted after.
They had got away with it for now.
"I'm gonna go make some phone calls." Lena commented. "Got all the post-SATs organisation to check up on after our distraction yesterday." she said kissing Stef's head and squeezing her arms slightly, returning upstairs. She got halfway up before noting a vibration and realised she still had Stef's phone from taking the earlier call from Sharon.
"It's your Mom again..." she smiled as Stef rolled her eyes.
"Ugh - I can't deal with her today! If you love me you'd tell her I'm..."
Lena answered the phone cutting her request off before it was made.
"Hi Sharon - yes she's right here." Lena smiled forcing the phone into her hand "Don't be such a child." she scolded with a smile.
"I want a divorce." Stef grumbled quietly to her with a scowl.
"Hi Mom..." she groaned. "Yes I know it's late to be getting up but you wouldn't believe the...daylight hours? Mom what are you..." she grumbled before a sigh as she realised her Mom had been reading again. "No. What article was that?" she asked thoroughly disinterested before moving the phone away from her ear as her Mom continued her spiel about her latest whimsical obsession with a scientific discovery she'd heard about.
Stef wandered through to the kitchen to see Kasey deeply absorbed in her computer. She had her ear resting on her hand and stared at the screen chewing on her pen nervously.
Stef crept around sneaking up behind her, curious that she hadn't yet reacted even though Sharon's shrill voice could be heard chattering through the phone.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" She asked suddenly and curiously causing Kasey to jump and drop the earphone bud she had concealed through her sleeve.
She swung round stuttering trying to reel it back in as Stef stared her down.
"My...ha...uhm...paper." She smiled tapping at the keys to quickly tab the screen away.
"Just give me a second Mom, Kasey thinks I'm an idiot." She spoke into the phone before resting it on her shoulder. She pulled out the earphone cable from the laptop without breaking eye-contact.
The sound of a courtroom flooded the room as Kasey quickly tried to shut it off. Stef glared at her, hand on her hip, waiting for an explanation.
"It's SVU - I'm just doing research for my paper. On...police action and stuff and how it would have been more appropriate for us to have gone to the people who know best..." She attempted to cover with a guilty smile. Stef raised an eyebrow staring at her sternly before putting the phone back to her ear.
"Sorry about that Mom, Kasey's grounded and she doesn't think it's for long enough so is making her best case to extend it..." She filled in. "Why's she grounded? Of course! I've not told you yet." Stef responded staring menacingly at Kasey who's face began to drop.
"Oh you're going to love this - but where's the fun in me telling you? I'm sure you'd like to give her your opinion...I'll pass you on."
"No, no, no...please..." Kasey gasped almost silently, pleading.
"I'll be right here making sure she doesn't skimp on any details." Stef smiled mischievously at Kasey before forcing the phone into her hand. She gulped out a "Hi Grandma...uhm...yeah. We got into a little bit of trouble..."
Stef crossed her arms and leaned back against the table delighting in seeing Kasey squirm as she recalled the details - especially with the double bonus of no longer having to cope with Sharon's weekly check in.
"See - basically Brandon's girlfriend ended up as not being much of a girlfriend...and she was involved in this drug money thing that she was storing at our house. No, I'm not making it up... It was a major police thing and everything. Turned out all that stuff that happened with Evan was her doing as well. She'd set him up and stuff..."
Stef stared at her expectantly waiting for her to elaborate.
"Why am I in trouble?" she whimpered slightly "...well. We sorta tried to find out some information by ourselves and Mom didn't really want us to."
"Ha-hem." Stef cleared her throat.
"Well...like we found the money she was hiding and well...sorta went to their place to return it to them..." She looked up at Stef who still stared her down wanting more.
"As in...we took their drug money to a gang without telling Moms or the police. Armed? Not really."
Stef cleared her throat deliberately again.
"Well - they maybe did have one gun..."
She flinched the phone away from her ear as the "You did what?!" tirade began. Stef knew she'd have a good few minutes before Kasey had another chance to add more. She took it aa time to make her coffee now she had successfully facilitated more anguish for her daughter.
Callie emerged and bumbled over.
"Well - look at that! It's our only non-grounded 18 year old." Stef chimed chripily, smiling at her from over her familiar blue cup.
"You're in a good mood considering the day you had yesterday." She replied helping herself to some coffee of her own as Stef looked back over to her other daughter.
"Yes - I know Grandma...trust me we've heard..." Kasey defended herself, possibly the first time she got a word in before once again being cut off and rubbing her temple furiously, her eyes wide as the lecture continued.
Stef smirked slightly as Callie shook her head.
"That's just sadistic." She accused as Stef laughed.
"What? She wants to try and pull one over on me sneaking TV on her laptop I'm gonna give her a force to be reckoned with. She's gonna get it all again from her Dad anyway, she'll just build up her immunity a bit. What are you up to today? Seeing as you can actually leave the house."
Callie shurgged and threw Stef a guilty look.
"There's something I need to tell you..." she said as her voice dropped a little.
Stef's face flashed with concern. Not more surely...
"It's about my boyfriend Luke...I didn't make him up." Stef squinted.
"Okaaay..." She asked nervously.
"And well...I can't be sure but...I think he was one of Carl's henchmen yesterday..."
Stef's whole body dropped as she stared, confused, at Callie's serious face. She was about to respond before a smile flickered across it and Callie could no longer keep up the charade.
Stef squinted at her before giving her a spray with the sink hose and confiscating her coffee.
"Lena!" Stef shouted. "I want new children. Even the ones we got from the store are broken!" She moaned. as Callie scurried behind trying to retrieve her coffee.
"I'm sorry - I'm sorry..." she laughed as Stef swung it round and held it above her head. "Are you jealous about not being grounded? Is that it? Well, trying to give me a heart attack - off limits. Got it?"
"Yes, yes. Got it. I'm sorry - it was just too tempting."
"Well I'm pretty tempted to pour this over your head - what do you suggest I do about that?"
"Fight it?" She suggested stepping back slightly.
"Right. Next time, take your own advice." She scolded playfully handing it back down to her before pulling it away again.
"You know I'm on a role with the punishments this weekend - I'm sure I can find a way to torture you too..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry - I'm just trying to give you some light relief..." she defended herself again but still unable to stop the small smirk at the reaction. Stef finally stopped teasing her with the mug and handed it back to her.
"You're on my watch list..." she added as Callie took a sip.
She turned to see Kasey back at the computer, albeit doing her report, but with the discarded phone ranting to itself balancing next to the keyboard.
Stef wandered over retrieving it and folding the laptop down.
"Hold on a sec there Mom, I think Kasey was distracted - can you repeat that last part?"
She smiled and forced the phone back into Kasey's hand who rolled her head back with a sigh.
"No I am listening...I just..." she didn't need to finish making up her excuse as Sharon's tone got sassier before settling back into the marathon tongue lashing.
Stef wandered over to the table, Callie still behind.
"You know she did learn from yesterday." she informed her as Stef picked up the paper. She let out a disbelieving giggle.
"Well good. Let's hope she remembers it for more than five minutes."
"It really did sober her up. She was in bits when you first got back." Callie assured her gently sipping at her own mug.
Stef looked across to her with her tongue folded over her bottom lip.
"Yes - I guessed she would have been. She was quite subdued before we had our chat. I can't pretend I am so mad I don't feel bad for her - especially as this was Brandon's fault - I just hope that it's enough to get through to her."
"She was studying last night too, you know. She did math for like two hours after she came up. Seems she had quite an epiphany." Callie commented suggestively.
Stef flapped her newspaper down onto the table looking at her as Kasey's mumblings of surrender continued to punctuate the constant chatter from the cell.
"I'm glad you two talked about it...I mean...just saying." She added badly hiding a smug expression as Stef squinted at her.,
"Are you hinting at an "I told you so", Callie Foster?" She asked accusingly as Callie failed to suppress a defensive laugh.
"I'm just saying I'm glad you sorted it out...finally." she clarified through a smile as she flicked her fingertips around her mug.
Stef shook her head and tapped the newspaper onto Callie's who ducked down in response.
"OK - you got me. I should have paid more attention to what you were saying before and I commend your exemplary observation skills. I will get you a medal from the mayor - but can we tone back the smugness a little? I'm about one comment away from driving you all to college prematurely and changing the locks."
"I'm sorry - I'm just glad it's all sorted and open now. That's all." She smiled as Stef reluctantly gave her one back, reducing her irritability. She stared at Callie deeply, her expression morphing to more of an affectionate one as she toned back her exaggerated frustration.
"Well. Thank you for all you have done. You have really held this family together this week and I'm extremely grateful." she added earnestly putting her mug down and placing her hand around Callie's cheek.
"You have no idea of how proud I am of the beautiful person you've grown into."
Callie shuffled her face down bashfully with a blush. She awkwardly looked between opposite corners of the table.
"Well...I couldn't have got there without you and Lena." She replied finally getting the confidence to look back up at Stef who pinched her chin with a smile before turning back to look at Kasey.
"Brandon? You wanna talk to him? No problem!" She beamed, excitedly hopping off the stool and bounding out the door, dodging a flying newspaper as she passed within a few feet of Stef and Callie. She turned back as she was leaving
"Sorry Mom - she requested it." She shot back at Stef with a shrug before running off up the stairs.
Callie laughed at Stef's eye rolling.
"Oh come on - you want to torture Brandon too don't you?" She added in Kasey's defense.
"Well that's true." Stef replied taking another sip.
"It's grandma - she wants to speak to you..." Kasey said bobbing into Brandon's room with a grin. He threw his head back against the wall with a sigh before rolling his neck and bracing himself.
"Does she know?" He whispered as Kasey gave him an affirmative look.
He exhaled deeply and took the phone.
"Hi Grandma - " he winced through a closed eye before mimicking Kasey's earlier action and pulling the deafening scolding away from his ear. "Don't you 'Hi Grandma' me, mister!"
Kasey chuckled, her arms folding, looking at him as he threw her a condemning look with half a smile. They at least had a sense of solidarity which they hadn't had for a long time.
"Yes - I know. Don't worry Moms have already put me through the wringer..." He said while Kasey towered over him before she turned to leave. He quickly clicked his fingers and nudged his head backwards to indicate she come over.
"Uh-uh. Yes I know." He continued to humour Sharon, distracted, as he produced a handwritten sheet of paper and handed it to Kasey.
He covered the mouthpiece and mouthed "I'm sorry." to her with genuine regret as she took the paper and squeezed his leg.
She sat down on the bed just below his feet and began to read in her head.
Dear Kasey,
I know you probably won't see this as very genuine seeing as you know as well as I do that Moms are making me write this. Actually...I probably shouldn't have written that as now no doubt Mom will read it and make me write it again without saying that. (Sorry Mom).
"That's a but risky isn't it? You'll put ideas in her head." Kasey whispered with a smile as Brandon flickered a smile before stuttering another apology to Sharon.
Maybe I can get it to you before it's moderated anyway and then it'll be too late. OK - now I'm rambling. I'm sorry - I just don't know where to begin. I said a lot to you yesterday and that really was from the heart so it's kind of hard to put those same feelings to paper again. I guess it's harder when you don't have the person's face to work off. I mean, it's easier to be sorry when you've just beaten the crap out of my arm in a closet with a drug dealer outside.
"We could go find another one if you want but we could never cone home again." she quipped as he smiled again peeking over to where she was at.
Off track again...hey at least if I'd have been given a word count I'd be well on my way. Great. Now Mom's gonna give me a word count for the re-do. Can you just tell her you read it and don't want her to see it because it's too personal?
"God you ramble...I'll help you out with Mom just to save my time reading another essay." she teased poking her tongue out as he kicked her gently before noticing Sharon was seeking a response.
"I don't know what I was thinking Grandma, I'm sorry. Again."
Not that you owe me anything. I've torn your life apart recently and the worst thing you did was try and look out for me. You know I can be self-absorbed and obtuse sometimes - and I know that I can let my feelings and hormones shout down the rest of my body - as well as those around me. I don't know how you put up with it - but then after seeing you beat the crap out of Carl I guess it must be that strength you have tucked away. Seriously though - that was some crazy shit. Great. Now Lena's gonna make me write it again too for swearing...ugh.
"Haha! My thoughts exactly..." she commented sticking her tongue out again.
Anyway - I just wanted you to know that after what we went through yesterday it hit me harder than ever before how much you mean to me. We've been together from day zero - through every bit of crap the world has thrown our way and luckily, in our case, the good which has by far been the vast majority. We started as two and we've grown out to more, each as special a part of our family as your or I ever were, but you've been the constant in my life and yesterday I regretfully had a glimpse of the possibility that you won't always be. I shouldn't take that for granted - and I especially shouldn't risk it due to my own stupidity. I was careless and selfish and I hope that you can forgive me, even though I don't deserve it. You not only risked your own safety but you took a bullet for me too with getting into trouble - and more so dicing with your future in sacrificing all the work you've put in with the SATs. You didn't need to do that and I sure as hell didn't deserve it.
She looked across at him affectionately as he tried again to get a word in edgeways on the phone. She squeezed his ankle and he winked back at her.
I guess what I'm saying is, we may annoy the crap out of each other but I know you've got my back and I will always strive to have yours as well - even though I do punch like a girl.
I love you, sis.
Your idiot brother,
Brandon.
She let out a laugh before looking back at his half smiling face.
"I love you too -" she mouthed. "Even though you're a pain in the ass." she added slapping his leg gently as he softly kicked at her. She avoided it, getting up and folding the paper in her pocket.
"What? Sorry Grandma, I am listening - I just was giving something to Kasey. No you don't have to..." he rolled his head back rubbing his forehead as she ignored his assurances she didn't need to repeat herself.
Kasey left the room to find Stef coming up the stairs.
"Before you say it, I'm going back to it now. And Brandon gave me the apology so you can tick it off the list." she added unfolding it again and flashing it to her.
"Very good - can I read it?"
Kasey threw her a look.
"Sorry Mom, it's personal." she smiled snatching it away from Stef's reaching hand and putting it back in her pocket before heading back down the stairs.
"Hey wait - I saw my name..." she shouted after her as Kasey disappeared and she let it slide with an eye-roll. If Kasey was happy she was.
She poked her head into Brandon's room and gave him a contented grin as he pulled a face.
"I dunno why Mom didn't tell you." he replied staring unimpressed at Stef as her smirk dropped.
"Hey she just turned up. You want me to put her back on?
Stef threw him a scowling look.
"OK - and no I promise I won't. I'm sorry again. Love you too." he handed her the phone as she mumbled an incoherent threat at him and flicked his ear.
"Tell her the battery's about to die and hang up." He whispered to try and make amends.
"Hey Mom - there you go. Wait a minute...I told you this morning. I've not spoken to you since..." she paused and bit her lip with frustration as her short-term resolution backfired and had really just made Sharon focus her energy.
She looked across at Brandon's still suggestive look and Stef sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Look Mom you've been on for a while and I didn't charge my phone last night. It's bleeping and it's about to cut out. No you wouldn't be able to hear it at your end. I think it's about to go - I'll call you later when it's..." she hung up.
"If that come back to bite me, I'm holding you responsible. She threatened as Brandon shrugged.
"She give you an earful?" she asked arms folded.
"Is that even a question?" he replied as she shook her head with a smug smile before her face taking on a more serious look.
"How are you feeling today? About everything. Tongue lashing effects aside.
Brandon shrugged.
"OK I guess. Do you think she's still In the holding cells?" he asked.
Stef took a deep breath. "I spoke to Roberts last night. Carl's not getting any kind of bail but I think Porter paid Michelle's on the understanding she won't run. Don't get any ideas though..." she added carefully as Brandon shook his head.
"I have no intention of seeing her again other than if I'm made to in court." he stipulated clearly as Stef nodded.
"Get on with your journal. We wanna see you taking this seriously." she ordered brushing her hand on his shoulder before leaving.
He put his head back against the wall, his heart a little lighter now he knew that at least Porter had stepped up. It was a small step but at least there was a glimmer of hope. He could live with that.
Stef returned to her bedroom and flopped down to her bed next to Lena.
"Well everything seemed under control." she informed her putting her phone on the nightstand next to her and putting aside a scribbled on notepad.
"You talk to your Mom?"
Stef looked up at her slightly guiltily.
"You know...I was but then she wanted to talk to the kids and then the battery died..." Stef lied with a cough clearing her throat.
"That's funny - I took it off the charger this morning..." Lena commented, accusingly. She knew her wife far too well.
"Weird...huh?" Stef smiled sheepishly as her phone began to ring again. She threw a split second look at Lena before they both raced to grab it - Lena beating her to it.
"Hi Sharon...yes she's here. There was a small issue with the phone but it appears to be fixed. I'll pass you on." She said handing it over to a scowling Stef.
"Hi Mom, sorry about...no I didn't hang up on..." she slipped down flat on the bed with a groan and her hand over her forehead. She laid the phone down next to her ear as the faint echoes of "Don't think I don't know when you're lying, Stefanie - I can't believe you hung up on me!" buzzed through the air.
Epilogue preview: What were Evan and Jude up to?
That's all you're getting this time I'm afraid - any ideas?