Brandon was rushed in. The doctors even confirmed what Ivy had presumed it was. He was intoxicated by a crucial drug. It took Stef and Lena a while to get to the hospital due to traffic. Stef probably broke several speeding laws during the time. They ran in to find Ivy and the kids sat in the waiting room. With Jesus lent on Ivy's shoulder and Mariana on the other, holding her hand. Nate was next to Callie and Jude. Nate had his hand on Jude's head, and kept saying "It's going to be okay, buddy"
Ivy was stood by Mariana and Jesus when she saw them and wasted no time, she ran straight over to them and hugged Stef first, as tight as possible she cried out "I'm so sorry"
She felt Lena rub her back, Ivy then turned to her and accepted her embrace as she heard her whisper "It's not your fault, honey"
"It is I should have guessed that he wasn't really in his room I should have checked but he was so mad at me I just…"
Stef put her hand on the back of Ivy's head "You couldn't have known" she took a breath "How is he?"
Ivy folded her arms and swallowed thickly "He's with the doctor now. They haven't said anything"
Just as she said those words. The doctor came out. Stef quickly walked over to him "How is he? How's my son"
"Mrs?"
"Mrs Adams-Foster"
The doctor laid on a warm smile "Right, Mrs Adams-Foster your son has been spiked with a rather large dose of GHB"
Lena grabbed Stef's hand tight "Is it life risking?"
The Doctor shrugged and then nodded "It can be, can cause heart problems, seizures or even a coma-but but, it hasn't gone that far. Your son's body has rejected any chance of that, he will be numb for a little while in the legs and will have a few days of vomiting and dizziness. But he's lucky, very lucky...Brandon is going to have to be kept in over a couple of days just to be safe, we want your son to be one hundred percent okay before we discharge him"
Both women nodded in understanding and in agreement. Stef gulped heavily and asked "Can we see him? Has he woken up?"
"He has, you can see him"
"Can we bring our other children as well?"
"Yes but we do only advise four people in the waiting room at a time"
"Let the twins go in first" Callie spoke up from behind. Stef and Lena turned and saw that Ivy, Jude and Callie were all in agreement. Stef and Lena nodded, Mariana and Jesus and began to follow Stef and Lena. Jesus all of a sudden halted. He spun around to Ivy, with tears in his eyes. When she saw the state he was in. Ivy stood up to him and held his hand
"What's wrong?"
"I feel terrible"
"Why?"
Jesus sighed and shrugged "Because I yelled at him, I fought with him and yes he deserved to be put in line for what he said but we never made up...and he almost died-he could have died with him thinking that I hated him!"
"Hey hey hey" Ivy cupped Jesus' face and wiped his tears, she softly shook her head and said with a gasp. A gasp because she never knew that he was feeling like this the whole time. Although he hadn't said a word "Your brother is going to be okay...and God forbid that he ever gets in a dangerous position like this again but if he did, and it went the wrong way completely, your brother would never ever think that you'd hate him, he knows you love him"
Jesus needed to hear that. He needed to hear it a lot. Ivy smiled and rubbed his shoulders "Now go see him"
Ivy let out a breath and turned to Nate's embrace. He wrapped his arms around her body and held her tight. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head "He's gonna be fine"
"No thanks to me" Ivy muttered as she pulled away and walked over to the chair, Callie shook her head "Hey, you took instant action when you saw Brandon. There's no way I would have reacted the way you did"
Ivy rubbed her forehead and patted Callie's leg "Thanks, Cal but if I had just checked on him-"
Nate then butted in "I'm the one that told you to leave him up there to sulk, so if it's anyone's fault it's mine"
Ivy shook her head to him "No it's not"
"Then if I don't get to blame myself then you don't get to either"
Ivy wanted to argue back to him but she didn't manage to find any words good enough, she just sighed and rested her head on Callie's shoulder as Nate took a seat beside Jude.
A little later on, Stef, Lena, Mariana and Jesus all came out from seeing Brandon. As they did. Ivy looked down to her phone as she got a text.
'B was kind enough to leave his phone unlocked so I could get your number. He had a pretty rough night, but I enjoyed mine.'
Ivy let out a panicked breath and shook her head, she threw the phone to the floor "Bastard!"
Stef quickly rushed ahead "Hey, what's going on?"
Ivy shot up and just came out with it "This was no accident, okay? Jason did it. He was at the club that Brandon was and gave him the drug"
"How do you know?"
Ivy picked up her now slightly cracked one in the corner and showed her the text message she just got from him "That's his number. Believe me it's bothered me a hundred times"
Stef looked to Lena, who was now stood behind her, she was rather struck on what to say. Ivy bit her lip and cried "Please say something"
Stef looked back to the phone and shrugged "I don't know what to say, Ivy...I don't"
"I know what you want to say" Ivy sighed, causing Stef and Lena to look back at her. Ivy's eyes began to prickle as her tears came through "I know you deep down feel that I should never have come back...that if I stayed away then none of this would have happened, that your son would have remained untouched"
Stef looked at her in a way she never has before. In pure, heartbreaking shock. How could she even think that? How could she think that Stef wouldn't want Ivy back in her life. That's all she's wished for-for the past five years. Lena looked to Stef, they all did. Waiting for her to say something. To clearly deny what Ivy was saying and of course it was not true. But Stef could hardly get her words out. And her silence spoke to Ivy, spoke to Ivy in a misinterpreted way. She was just so stunned.
Ivy rubbed her forehead and nodded "I get it. Look" she looked at them both, with tears running down her cheeks "I love you both and I love this family so much. Too much to put any of you in danger...any more danger than I've clearly put you in. So I'm gonna go"
Stef clutched her hand to Ivy's and whispered in a cry "Ivy don't you dare go anywhere"
Ivy put her hand on Stef's cheek and then embraced her tightly again "I love you. I'm doing this because you gave me the best sixteen years of my life, this is me repaying you. I'm not good enough for you anymore"
"Ivy-"
"Go be with Brandon, be here with your kids"
"Baby you are my-"
Ivy shook her head, looking to them all with tears down her cheeks and seeing them all being the same. Pressing her palms together and holding them to her mouth, whispering to them all "I'm sorry guys"
She turned and walked out. Jesus went to bolt after her, but Nate put his hand to his chest "Let me go to talk her down, she's right about one thing you call need to stay here" he looked to Stef and tried his best to reassure her "I'll talk her down"
Stef felt like she was losing her breath, she looked to Lena and cried "What the hell just happened?"
"Honestly, honey...I have no idea"
Stef ran her fingers through her hair "She can't do this Lena, she's too vulnerable, she's too fragile"
Mariana then couldn't help but cry "She's not really going to leave is she? We need her" she looked to Jesus "Right? She's going to stay here?"
Jesus just looked to her and had no idea what to say. He just fell down in his chair and dropped his head into his hands.
Nate chased after Ivy who was clearly trying to get away from the hospital as quick as he could "Ivy! Ivy!" he reached for her arm "Stop! Stop"
He took hold of her and turned her around, she was sobbing, a wreck. He cupped her cheeks and sighed "Babe, deep breaths"
"Deep breaths? Did you just hear what was said in there?"
"You wouldn't have offended them"
"I meant it! I meant every word I can't stay with them I just can't"
"Do you really think this will help your family?!"
Ivy scoffed and shook her head at him "I think I've made their lives hell since I got here! You saw the way he was, I caused that!"
"You didn't cause it-"
Ivy just shook her head and pulled out of his hold as she walked over to the car "I gotta get out of here" she got in and turned on the engine, Nate ran in front and tried to prevent her from going anywhere "You're too much of a wreck to drive, Ivy!"
"Get out of my way"
"No"
"For the love of god Nate I have to get out of here! All of this is on me! Do you understand that?"
Nate just stared at her for a moment and saw the desperation in her eyes, he slammed his hand on the bonnet of the car and groaned before pushing himself off. He stood beside her door and said "Move over to the passenger. I'll let you leave but you gotta let me drive, you're in too much of a state"
He knew her too well, he knew that she was stubborn and if she wanted to go then she will have. And he was right, she was a mess and she did have more sense then to drive recklessly, she could either crash or just get arrested and none would be good.
Back inside the hospital, whilst Stef and Lena were trying to keep them all calm, they told Callie, Jude and even Mat to go and see Brandon, which they did do. Jesus and Mariana were still panicking about what Ivy meant by what she said.
Mariana looked to her brother "She said she was going to go...you don't think she-"
"Don't be stupid, Mariana!" Jesus snapped to her.
Mariana then rose back a point to him "Up to 33% of people have suicidal thoughts after sexual assaults and 13% actually go through it"
Jesus's brows pinched at her "Why do you know that?"
Mariana sighed and sat up in her seat "I looked things up after Ivy told us because I was worried"
Stef looked to Lena as she over heard what Mariana was saying, Lena stared at her and just shook her head at her "No, honey, she wouldn't"
"We don't know what's going through her head" Stef muttered. She didn't know what to do and didn't know what to say. She felt numb by everything that had happened. As Jesus just put his arm over Mariana and pulled her close, telling her not to think that way.
Stef took a step back and told Lena she needed some air. Once she got outside, she then got her phone out and decide to try her best and ring Ivy. The phone rang, and rang and rang. Voice mail. Of course. It was voicemail.
"Hi baby" Stef said in a dry whisper, her emotions already building up. She rubbed her lips together and swallowed thickly to then carry on with what she needed to say "Listen, I need you to know that I would never, never wish that you never came back. I never thought that even for a second you just...you caught me off guard by what you said because...because I never wanted you to ever think that I didn't want to come back because you are the only thing that I am thankful for from my sister, you're my little girl, and I love you so much, if it came across that I blamed you for Brandon then I am so sorry. I don't blame in you any way"
She took a deep breath through her nose and sighed "Just please don't do anything stupid I am begging you. Don't leave us. Don't leave me. We need you more than you think"
Stef took the phone away from her ear as she hung up and let out a deep breath. Then feeling Lena's hand press against her body "Stef"
Stef let her composure slip and let out a cry as she turned to her wife and fell into her embrace. Lena sighed as she cradled Stef's hair, then stroking her blonde locks "Oh baby, it's going to be okay"
"You don't think she would do anything stupid, you heard what Mariana said" Stef pulled away, Lena quickly shook her head "No, no she wouldn't. Even if she was thinking it then she's with Nate he wouldn't let anything happen to her"
Stef only hoped that Lena was right and that Nate was still with her, right now she had to be here with her son. She was worried about him but she only wished she could be in two places at once.
Nate was confused as to why Ivy had returned to the house. She parked outside and went straight to her room when he quickly followed. He walked in the see her pack her bags. "Ivy you aren't running"
"I need space and it's pretty clear that Aunt Stef wants space from me too"
"Ivy she's...she's your mom okay? She loves you, she doesn't want you to go"
Ivy shook her head. Her emotions were clouding the right thing to do. This was not the right thing but she couldn't see that. Ivy zipped up her bag. She took the majority of her clothes and stuff. Ivy looked to Nate, she was still crying.
"Can I stay with you?"
Nate slid his hands in his back jean pockets. Now he felt even more guilty knowing that he was going to be part of Ivy getting away from the house. But rather she go with him than go on her own. Nate weakly nodded "Yeah, okay"
Ivy nodded and then asked for him to give her a minute. He left her to it. Ivy sat down on the bed, her head falling into her lap and holding it in her hands. She ran her fingers through her hair and then sighed as she lifted her head back up. She looked to the side and saw the photo frame of her family at Stef and Lena's wedding.
They were her world first and foremost, she wanted to drive back to the hospital and be with them. But the fact that she had to drive to a hospital to see them spoke volume. The facts still stood that this all happened because of Jason, and the fact that it was all because of Jason means it's all because of her. That was the bottom line.
She had to go until things were sorted out. Maybe she had to try and deal with Jason herself, she didn't know how that would happen. She looked over to the desk and then got an idea, she couldn't just leave without saying a word. Ivy stood back up and sat down at the desk, picking out the paper and pen from the drawer and after staring at it for a long while, she then began to write down.
Nate came back in when she finished the last sentence on the page. He walked over to her and looked over her shoulder "What's that?"
"Just...my explanation to them" Ivy muttered as she put the pen down on the desk. She gripped onto his hand that was resting on her shoulder and looked up to him "I'm ready to go"
"You know you could just wait for them to get back"
Ivy sat back and pointed at him "You suggest something like that again, I will take my car, drive to your place and lock your ass out"
Nate chuckled softly and nodded as he ran his hand down her arm "Alright, babe, I get it. We'll go then"
Ivy looked back to the letter once more and then just nodded as she stood up from the chair and then walked over to by the bed and picked up her bag. It was clear to her that Nate didn't like this one bit, but right now she didn't care. She just needed to get away.
With Brandon having to stay overnight for observation, the family headed back home. None of them felt right leaving until Brandon was given the all clear of being out of danger.
When they got back, Mariana burst into the room with the other's behind her. As Callie walked in further, she noticed that Jesus had gravitated towards the desk. She raised a brow "Jesus? What's up?"
He slowly turned to Callie, holding the letter in his hand. They all surrounded him. Jude, Stef and Lena soon joining them as Jesus cleared his throat and began to read it.
Hey guys.
I don't exactly know what to say to you all other than the fact I'm so sorry for the pain I've caused this family over these past few weeks. It's made me regret coming home. Not because I don't love you, in fact that is the reason I do regret coming home because I have put you all in a horrible situation.
I don't want you guys to be too upset. You'll still see me at school, I have no plans in leaving town...not right now anyway. I just need to leave the house to try and figure things out.
Kids I love you all and you know that.
Aunt Stef, Aunt Lena. I'm sorry for everything that has happened, I want to protect them all as much as you do which is why I am doing this. I love you two so much. More than you'll ever know.
I love you all more than you'll ever know.
Please don't hate me.
Ivy.
As Jesus looked up, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Him included. Stef bit her lip as it wobbled and then marched over to the wardrobe, quickly opening it and seeing that it was now practically empty. She pressed her forehead against the back of her hands that were leaning against the frame of the wardrobe. Closing her eyes and just trying to comprehend everything that had happened tonight.
Lena then soon walked over to her and put her hand on her back, giving it a gentle rub. She pressed her lips against the back of her head before whispering "I'm sorry, babe"
Stef lifted her head back up, taking in a deep breath "Yeah. I'm sorry too"
"You don't have to be strong about this one, honey"
"There's nothing to be strong about, she'll be back. She will"
In the whole eleven years of being together, she had never seen Stef do this. Making herself numb, she didn't even give Lena the chance to respond. She just left the room back into the house.
The kids all looked to her as she left and then looked back to Lena. She took in a breath and tried to give them all a reassuring look "Don't worry, babies. It's going to be alright"
Mariana's brows pinched together "Alright? Did you not hear the letter? Did you not see how mom responded to it!"
"I know. Mom is just a little shaken by it all. We all are but she will be back, I promise you that"
"How?" Mariana scowled "She chose to leave us"
"Mariana" Lena said gently, shaking her head and sighing again "It's been a long day, let's just all go to bed okay?
They all said nothing and just nodded. There was nothing they could do right now, sleep sounded like the best thing to do right now. They all went back into the house.
When Stef went upstairs she saw another piece of paper by her bed. On her way out, Ivy had ran upstairs and placed a letter that she had wrote for Stef's specifically and left it on her side. She took a deep breath as she sat down on the bed and reached for the letter. Lena came to the door but when she saw the letter she came to a stop and just watched her.
Aunt Stef.
I never thought I'd be writing something like this to you. When I came back here I never thought this would come back. I really thought he wouldn't track me down, I swear and I hope you believe that.
I really thought we were going to be a family again, it's something I had dreamed about for years. You know how much I love those kids, and Callie and Jude are amazing, I now love them too as my siblings. I can't express to you and Lena how sorry I am about this.
I can hardly live with myself, knowing how much I must have let you down. You raised me, fed me and bathed me for so many years and I have never cherished a person so much in my life, because even though I was born from your sister. You were always my mother.
I just need to get away. To figure everything out. Nd I don't deserve to be in this house anymore, not after what I caused with Brandon. I know he'll be okay but...he almost wasn't. And if I got you hurt? I really don't know what I'd do. You told me to always be strong, well this is me trying to be strong.
I know I'm the kid in this but I am so proud of you, I've been here from your coming out to adopting the twins. Even taking on the likes of me out of the kindness of your heart.
I promise we'll talk soon, like I said I just need to get away, until it's safe to do otherwise.
I love you.
Stef frowned and couldn't help but drop the letter from her trembling hands. As soon as Lena heard her beginning to sob was when she ran over to the bed and cradled her in her arms.
Nate opened the apartment door and dropped Ivy's bag to the door as he stepped to the side as Ivy walked in. Milo was stood in the kitchen with a glass of orange juice. Unaware of anything that had happened, he leaned over the counter and grinned "Hey guys. What's going on?"
Ivy looked to Milo but didn't say anything. Feeling too emotionally drained, she just looked to Nate and whispered "I'm just going to bed"
Nate nodded to her "Okay"
He gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead and then she just walked into the bedroom. Nate slipped his hands in his pockets and turned to Milo. Leaving him to tell him everything about the horrific event that was tonight. As he went over to Milo, the door to his best friend's bedroom opened and he was surprised to see who came out.
"Lottie"
Lottie awkwardly came out of Milo's room in one of his sweat shirts. Nate's head snapped to Milo who remained silent. Before assumptions could be made, Lottie stepped forward "Nothing is going on it's just…"
She sighed as she looked to Milo and then clarified "He's just letting me crash"
"Why? What's going on?" Nate asked.
She gripped onto the back of her neck "I broke up with Johnny, things haven't been right for a while and so I moved out...till I can get something figured out"
Nate slowly nodded as he looked to Milo, who raised his brows "What? You think I'd sleep with someone elses girl. I have some moral high ground"
"So do I" Lottie said as she slapped Nate on the back, then looking over to the floor "Isn't that Ivy's bag?"
She looked back to him and saw the glum look on his face. She then grew worried, it spread across her gut like a virus. Her eyes darting from Nate to Milo, who was still none the wiser. Nate sighed "She's had...enough"
Lottie's brows pinched together, not allowing him to say any more as she just ran into the bedroom and found Ivy curled up in a ball on the bed. She walked over to her and got on the bed, sitting behind her and looking down to her, she frowned "Ivy?"
Ivy turned and lay down on her back, still not making eye contact. She just stared at the ceiling. Lottie kept her eyes on her and then asked in a soft voice "What happened?"
With a tear rolling down the back of her face, she took in a breath and shook her head "I screwed it up"
"What?"
"Everything. If I had come forward sooner about Jason then maybe none of this would have happened"
"You don't know that"
Ivy rubbed her lips together, her eyes squinting ever so slightly. She then opened her mouth and said after a moment of silence "You know...I think I do. Deep down. I really think I do"
Lottie didn't know what to say to make her feel better, she just put her arms around her and held her close. And though Ivy appreciated it, she couldn't help but wish it was Stef she was being held by.
well, I am a complete emotional mess from the series finale last night.
though the spin off is still going ahead I am going to miss this family like crazy they have really changed and saved my life and it'll forever be in my heart
if anything it has just given me motivation to carry this on