Hi folks! How about those sneak peeks - right? Jeez I was shouting at my computer when they ended the dinner scene one where they did. Here is the final part of Episode 3. I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks to Mea23 and TheTBone as always and if there are any scenes you want to see in Episode 4 then now is the time to let me know, before I start posting! Cheers!

After the game Callie returned up to her room. She had really hoped that it wouldn't come to this. Brandon was her closest friend in the house and, more than that, she couldn't shake the guilt that this wouldn't have happened if she and Jude hadn't moved in. Brandon insisted it wasn't and she knew that Stef wouldn't see it like that, but no-one could deny that it was the shuffle that had prompted the thoughts. What was it with this guilt recently? Was it just because Timothy had been talking about it that made her notice it more? She felt compelled to read over her journal entry again. She went to her desk to retrieve it, but as she removed it something was different. She paused and counted up and her heart dropped down into her stomach, making her want to be sick. She counted up again and pulled it out. It had been moved. She was sure of it. Someone had read it. Her deepest, darkest secret. Information that could get Jude moved again - that was the whole problem in the first place! Tears prickled her eyes - why would this always happen? As soon as she let her guard down something would always attack. She opened it up and all she could see was his name. The memories, the scars. The fear. It all came back, but now someone had invaded it. Who though? Who? Kasey was a snooper but she wouldn't do that. Brandon would never, it couldn't be Jude. He'd know anyway. There was only one person in the house who didn't trust her and it was the person who had access to the room. Just then she walked in.

"How could you?" Callie breathed out. It took a moment for Mariana to even process she was talking to her.

She looked up and she repeated, slightly more hysterical.

"How could you do that?!" she stormed towards her, the book flailing. Her hands shook, along with the rest of her.

"Do what? Are you high?" Mariana responded, thoroughly confused.

"You read my journal! I knew it, I knew you'd never trust me. Always so suspicious! So self-centred! Do you have any idea what that is like?" Callie went on to a violent spiel as Mariana tried to keep up before her own voice raised.

"Why would I give a crap about your stupid journal?" she yelled in defense, no longer even trying to hear what Callie was saying. They fired back and forth until Lena eventually interceded and put a stop to it.

Having done her best to defuse the situation, Lena returned to her bedroom where Kasey lay with Stef to share some further moral support.

"What was it about?" Kasey asked as she joined them. Lena shook her head.

"Callie thinks Mariana read her journal."

Kasey closed her eyes. She knew how hard it had been for Callie to put anything down. Whatever she had put there had taken extreme extraction.

"She write something bad?" Stef asked turning to her. Kasey shrugged.

"I wouldn't know - they're not meant to be read."

"Starting to think Mariana would have been better off in the basement." Lena added with a groan.

"It'll be good for her to be out of her comfort zone a bit." Stef waded in. "It'll make her see she can't always have her way."

"Mom she grew up in foster care - she hasn't always had her way." Kasey replied.

"Yes, I was there, thank you Kasey." Stef scolded gently through a squint.

"But that was a long time ago now and a lot has changed since. She's got very comfortable - at least this is giving her an idea of the other side. Your attitude changed a lot when you had to accommodate her, remember? You grew up a lot - even if at times it became too much for you. You never took that out on her."

Kasey shrugged. "I had to grow up, seeing as you practically neglected me." She replied, mocking sadness. She was enjoying the distraction for both her and her Mom. Stef shook her her slightly and pulled her head down under her arm overcompensating with smothering kisses until Kasey slithered out.

"Why do you always mess up my hair?" she screeched once she was free and tried to tidy herself up.

"Why? You going somewhere?" Lena laughed without thought as Stef looked down with the sudden reminder.

"Not anytime soon." Kasey added softly, hoping she may get a little reassurance. She winked at her and ruffled her slightly neatened hair as Kasey rolled her eyes. She slid off the bed and made her way out.

Stef heaved a long hard sigh as Lena jumped onto the bed next to her, rolling her chin onto her partner's thigh.

"You doing OK?" was all she asked, looking up at her diverted gaze. Stef forced a reluctant smile and rubbed her hand along Lena's back. "I guess part of me always knew this was a possibility. I've feared it for so long maybe it's good for it to just be happening."

Without saying another word, Lena pulled Stef's other hand to her lips and kissed her softly. They locked gaze for a moment before she gave Stef's arm a tug and pulled her down, their bodies side by side. A million words passed between their eyes, but none that either one needed to hear out loud to understand.

As Kasey passed her old room she saw Mariana balled up on her bed against the headrest.

She poked her head round.

"Were you two putting in your entry for loudest fight of the week?" Kasey asked.

Mariana looked at her.

"Can you move back in?" she huffed.

Kasey let it slide before finding a space at the bottom of Mariana's bed.

"Remember why we ended up sharing a room?" she said.

"Lack of space." Mariana replied.

"Yeah, but Brandon and Jesus shared first remember?"

Mariana tried to think back.

"I thought Jesus and me did first?" she tried to recall.

"No - Jesus and Brandon did, but every night Jesus would go into your room and sleep on your floor because you hated sleeping alone."

Mariana was silent, but it slowly came back.

"Moms had to stop him though because of those stupid regulations they couldn't officially put you together or something and they didn't want him camping out like he had been."

Mariana nodded. "So Moms told him we should try and stay apart..."

"And that first night, you were so scared."

"You heard me crying and snuck me down to watch TV..." Mariana firmly caught the thread.

"And then the next morning Moms found us curled up together on the sofa with the empty cookie jar." Kasey recalled, a smile growing on her face.

"And you got in so much trouble." Mariana laughed.

"Ha. Not the first or the last time." She threw her a side glance. "But then they suggested that maybe you could come in my room...I'd shown you that you were safe with me..."

Mariana nodded.

"And it took a while, but you settled." Kasey reminisced.

"Why the trip down memory lane?" Mariana asked, sceptically. Kasey thought about her own reflective thoughts and how it had changed her perspective.

"I dunno - been a theme of the week I guess...but it made me think how you and Callie have a lot in common. It's just stuff in common that you've found is easier to forget about. She's not settled here yet Mari. She doesn't know us yet or that she can trust us."

"But why would she think I'd want to read -" she began to flare up before Kasey cut her off.

"Why were you scared of sleeping alone?"

She let her think it over a few moments.

"Callie may be older but she's just as vulnerable as anyone who's had a tough time. You of all people should know what that's like." she continued gently. "You're in the other role now - you need to be the one to make her feel safe here."

Mariana sighed. "But she won't listen to me..."

"Then maybe you need to let her a little into your world, like I let you a little into mine. I mean, until I regretted it because you started to annoy the hell out of me..."

Mariana nudged her older sister affectionately with her foot.

"You doing OK?" she asked, remembering that this hadn't been an easy night for Kasey either. "With the whole Brandon thing."

Kasey sighed. "He annoys the hell out of me even more, I guess." she shrugged. "I won't miss being forever outshone by Mr Goody Two-Shoes. But I guess I can't pretend I won't miss him a little...and his stupid cardigans laying around the house."

Mariana smiled and leaped over onto Kasey pulling her down into a rolling hug.

The two of them laughed as they almost fell off the bed, only narrowly avoiding crushing Kasey's leg.

"Hey watch it - I don't need this thing on any longer!" she exclaimed with relief.

"Sorry!" Mariana giggled as they shared another smile. Neither were having a great week, but at least in this family there was always someone there to pull you back up.

Jude had been watching the door anxiously ever since he'd sat the test. He had been waiting and waiting - it was like his entire future rested in that 65. Eventually he was washed with both fear and relief when Lena finally appeared. He was up as soon as his teacher granted the permission for him to join her, practically running over.

"Well?" he asked.

"You're staying." Lena smiled as he leaped forward, his arms around her as the week's worth of stress drained away.

Lena bit her lip guiltily trying to enjoy the moment. It had been so close - she told herself - her input didn't really change anything and it would never be detectable. She'd do it again in a heartbeat...but it did still niggle. She had never cheated anything in her life. She looked down at Jude's head as he squeezed her tighter. This boy though had been cheated his entire life - maybe this was just compensation. That idea was what she resolved to live with. She took a deep breath and decided not to think about it again. She fought off her guilt with a smile and stroked his hair. She pushed him off and knelt down to look up at him.

"I am so proud of you." she smiled. He beamed back before turning back to his classroom.

She watched him go. It was done and it was how it should be.

"I passed!" he practically sang to Connor who was also washed with relief.

"That's awesome!" he exclaimed with a hi-five.

"Settle down, boys." their teacher ordered as they exchanged an ecstatic look of glee. It wouldn't matter now anyway - they had no time limit on their celebration.

The family were preparing for what would be the last night together in the house. They had agreed to all watch a film but it would be a little while before it was ready. Kasey lingered around Brandon's door. They had barely spoken. She didn't even know where to begin.

"You packed up?" she finally asked as he noticed her for the first time.

"I think so." his voice cracked before he coughed the weakness in it away.

"I'm not doing this to try and hurt anyone, Kase. This isn't me being selfish or bailing." he said as if trying to clear his own conscience.

She looked confused. She never thought that he had been.

She sighed. "I know." she assured him.

"You're trying to be there for Dad. I guess...I dunno. In some ways you're being the brave one. I just don't know how you have the strength to do it...to take that on...but I did mean it - do support your decision." she finished quietly even though the words tasted vinegary. In some ways she was grateful - Brandon making this decision meant she never had to. She gave him another nod before leaving again.

He took a deep breath. Did he have the strength to? He felt like the responsibility would crush him. He couldn't help but think back to what his Mom had said in their fight - was he too young to be making this decision? He suddenly felt smothered even though this was meant to be about independence. He needed air.

Kasey sat in the kitchen doodling on the corner of her journal page. She was one of the few people who had actually kept doing it every night. She had mocked it, but Timothy had been right. She was almost becoming addicted to the relief it gave her. Brandon came in through the door behind her. His face was red and he had clearly tried to come in from the back to avoid being seen.

"You OK?" she turned to him as he tried to hide it. She grabbed his arm.

"Where have you been?" she asked concerned. It almost set him off again.

"I couldn't do it." he replied, fighting back a relapse.

Kasey's heart skipped a beat. Part of her was thrilled but part of her thought of her Dad alone again after his hopes being raised.

"Brandon - it was never something you had to do." she replied trying to reassure him.

"I was so sure - I needed to give him something... anything... he..." his voice cut off again.

Kasey looked at him for a moment.

"How did he...?"

"Well." neither had to finish their sentences to know what the other was thinking.

"He was really good about it." his voice dropped quiet again as Kasey took a moment to think. Yet another reminder she really hadn't been cutting her Dad enough slack recently. She looked at Brandon and thought about how much they had been through over the last few years. There was a light relief knowing that this seemed to be at a resolution but it didn't change what she had discovered in the process. She knew she had to make things right with her Dad. Even if uprooting their home was something that neither she or Brandon had the strength to do it didn't mean she couldn't try and give her Dad more of her time and less of her impatience. She felt herself choking up and decided to try and shake it off by doing what she did best. Winding up her brother.

"Stop being such a wimp." she laughed, punching his arm as Brandon could see he nearly set her off too. He laughed through a held back tear, slapping her arm back.

"He's right though - he will be fine." she assured both him and herself while squeezing Brandon's shoulder. He could feel her weakness in the strength of her grip but decided not to expose that he was seeing past her façade.

He nodded slowly before wiping his face again.

"If you tell anyone about..." his voice drifted off before she finished it.

"I got you." Kasey replied through a loving smile as they exchanged a mutual look of understanding.

"Oh good - you're both here. It's movie time!" Stef interrupted them. They both turned to her without responding.

"You two done something bad?" She asked nervously, noting the silent reaction. Brandon shook his head and smiled as Kasey looked between them.

"You know, you two need to talk."

"We do?" Stef asked with a raised eyebrow as Kasey nodded.

"Yes - and I have a phone call to make. Don't wait for me with the movie." She smiled before heading down to the basement.

She flopped down on her bed and grabbed her phone with one hand, bunching a handful of her hair with the other. She stared at the screen a few moments, trying to rehearse what it was that she was going to say, but realised it was just stalling. She finally dialled and whipped it to her ear.

"Kasey? Are you OK?"

"Hey Daddy. I just...I just wanted to see if you were OK." She licked her bottom lip and blinked her eyes closed hoping he would take lead of the conversation.

"I'm doing fine." She heard a small crack in his voice. "You uhh...have a good day?"

Kasey didn't want this to fizzle into a pointless exchange of pleasantries. She took a deep breath and took the plunge.

"Dad, I'm sorry for everything."

"Kasey - you don't have to -"

"I do. I'm sorry that we've fought so much recently and that we're probably going to keep fighting because I'm a teenager and you're my Dad and you drive me insane but I love you and I...well I just want you to know that."

Her heart beat firmly at the silence on the other end. She heard a gulp and the faint sound of sports in the background.

"That means a lot, slugger." He finally responded. She could hear a hint of a slur in his voice but she couldn't blame him for a bit of liquid companionship under the circumstances.

"And I'm sorry too, it's hardly been just on your side."

Kasey sucked at her bottom lip before it broke into a satisfied smile. For the first time in days she felt the weight had been lifted.

"Do you wanna...maybe watch baseball game tomorrow or something? I dunno. Maybe you can make grilled cheese - or I can make some proper food?" She giggled.

"Well I did rent your brother a piano so I guess I can spare you a couple slices of toast." Kasey laughed silently with relief.

"Guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"It's a date. Goodnight, kid - and thanks for calling me up. I love you too."

"Goodnight, Daddy" She whispered before hanging up. It would take more than some grilled snacks to make things right, and she knew it wouldn't be the last time they fought - but it was a start.

Kasey awoke with a stir as she felt Mariana nudge her. She snapped awake.

"Everything OK?" she groaned, it was a memory of times gone by when she would wake her after a bad dream.

This time though she had a beaming grin.

She held up two boxes of cookies.

"Fancy it?" she asked as Kasey squinted through the dark. Callie stood in the doorway and a smile trickled across Kasey's face.

"You two sort things out? She whispered quietly as Mariana looked back at Callie who nodded.

"Well, I never say no to midnight cookies." Kasey replied sitting up as Mariana jumped onto her bed. It creaked and they both shrieked.

"Camp bed!" Kasey exclaimed in warning trying to stabilise it. Callie came over shushing them through her own giggling.

Each had a mountain of things on their mind, but they could put it aside for now to enjoy the moment.

Well that's it for Episode 3! I hope folks are still reading and enjoying! Would love to know your thoughts on this chapter and the whole episode as it's good to know what I can change to improve - or keep doing! Thanks to everyone who has put in input - I really appreciate the feedback. Not sure when I'll start posting Episode 4 as I'm only half way through episode 5 and don't want to get behind but it will be in the next couple days!

Episode 4 Preview: Kasey helps Jesus and Lexi get some alone time and Stef deals with Mariana's answer to her question.

"Hey, listen - " she turned back. "You know Mama said something to me and I just wanted to check in with you - you're not embarrassed to dance with us at your party, are you?" She paused to wait for Mariana's reassurance. It soon became apparent that she may not get it. Stef blinked down and she felt a disheartened smile creep across her face. She could tell Mariana was trying to think of a way to break this to her gently, but she hadn't seen it coming. Her youngest girl's face said more than she needed to.

"I see..." Stef interpreted as Mariana continued to struggle in silence.