Wah! How much did I love Stef being able to hammer drop in yesterday's episode? And Mariana came out with a line or two I could only dream of for Kasey! Wowza! OK guys - I'm afraid this will be the last chapter for a little while due to various commitments but I will try and leave it no longer than a week. I don't want to post until it's right and I have so many things on right now tht I am working on, it has slipped a little down the pile - I'd rather leave you with completed episodes than a chapter halfway through one. Can I just say it's really hard posting this chapter - which is pretty much full on home truths for bratty Mariana. She has been so perfect in the last 2 episodes that she's almost working out my favourite of the teens right now (Judicorns excluded) which is something I never would have predicted! I feel I should add as well that I wrote this dialogue before I saw The Honeymoon so the parallel to the Jesus/Mariana Lexi time fight was completely coincidental!

OK - without further ado:

"Mariana..." a familiar voice asked sheepishly. She had left the main hall back through into her dressing room. The montage and memories had been perfect - it was a reminder of all of the eclipsing happiness she had experienced over the years since she had found her family. The voice however was a reminder of the larger weight on her mind. She wished she could escape back into the montage where everything had been fine.

"Why can't it be like that again?" Lexi asked, once again demonstrating their almost telepathic intimacy.

"You're the one who's changed it." Mariana snarled. She wasn't sure she meant it to sound that aggressive - she was just so confused and so hurt.

"I saw the way you looked at me - don't pretend you didn't wish the same..." she protested.

"But it isn't, is it? You've chosen Jesus over me! So what? Now when you come over? Would it be me you're there to see or him?"

"Mariana!"

"No, I mean it - is that why you've kept disappearing? All of this time planning my party and you were what? Screwing him out the back?"

"It's been like a week!" The girls continued to interrupt each other, barely letting the other finish. It continued until Jesus stormed in.

"This is pathetic!" He shot at his sister, rendering her speechless.

"You're unbelievable. We go out there and play happy families and now you're back on at her? How can you treat her like this? Treat us like this?" He strode forward getting right up to her face as she pushed him back.

"Treat you like this? I'm the one who's been in the dark! I'm the one who's the victim here!" Unable to face seeing them fight, Lexi ran out of the room. Jesus tried to call after her but turned back angrily instead

"Why can't you just get a grip Mariana?! It's always about you! Always! Look at what you did to Moms! You think it's bad Lexi didn't stand up for you when I was bitching about you being selfish, but that's because it's true - every word of it. Forget about me, forget about Lexi! This whole party, everything has been for you and have you even thanked Moms? You give them a slap in the face and then parade yourself around like your some damn saint. I'm sick of it!" He swung around and slammed the door against the wall.

Mariana stood gawping, fighting back the tears. She couldn't believe he had just come out with all of that - but what was worse was that she knew that it was true. She took the tiara down off her head and looked at it. A tear dropping onto it like one of the diamonds. She turned to run after Jesus - she wasn't' sure if it was to fight her corner or because he was always her first port of call, but either way he was nowhere to be seen. She collapsed down onto the sofa outside in the lobby and put the tiara back on her head, wiping a tear. She knew what she had to do and, right on cue, her Moms appeared.

Jesus strode towards the front door, his heart was thumping with anger and adrenaline. He approached the doorway and stood, the vision of Lexi looking out over the sea suddenly calming him down. She had clearly been stopped in her exit and paused, latching onto the banisters as if they gave her strength. He could tell she had been crying and his heart beat hard in his chest. Why couldn't it be easy? It should have been. In that moment all of the tension, everything drifted away and all he could see was the girl he wanted more than anything else. Mariana had taken away his birthday from him - she wouldn't take away this moment. He crept up behind her and pulled her away from the banister. She wiped away a tear and looked into his eyes as he carefully supported her chin.

"Lexi, I'm not letting you leave here without dancing with me..." He whispered gently.

She looked straight into his heart and could see that it was pointless trying to fight it. It was too late not to do this. It meant no more sneaking around, no more debating - it just was...and that's what they wanted. Mariana would come around or not - but even if she didn't right now, she had so much more and she wasn't going to throw it away. She put her arms around his neck and finally gave in to his wish. She wasn't sure what would happen next, but she felt safe.

The final song stopped on the playlist and the hall had completely cleared.

"I think that's our get off the stage cue." Stef informed her dancing partners. Mariana had made her peace with them in her broken state and they did what they did best to make it better.

"I better go get my stuff together." Mariana informed them as Lena rubbed her arm and she departed.

"Well I think we could call the party a success. Congratulations!" Stef smiled at Lena as they picked up their shoes.

"It was a joint effort." She replied hooking Stef's arm in her own.

They headed towards their table seeing a couple silhouetted against the ever so slightly fading sunlight outside.

"Is that...?" Stef squinted to look closer.

"When did that happen?" Lena added, also investigating further by picking up their pace. They headed over towards Kasey's table where she sat with Jude throwing peanuts into a glass at an adjacent table.

"Ho! Another one. Nice!" She laughed as Jude landed another one in. "Clearly the champagne flute challenge is too easy."

"OK - my turn!" He exclaimed. "You gotta get it in the pint glass, but the left over beer inside has to splash over the edge." He ordered.

"Make it hard!" She laughed easily achieving it. She saw Stef and Lena's approach and also their distracted gaze looking out the door.

"Right Bullseye, I got a dangerous one...you up for it?" He nodded eagerly.

"Hit Mom." She whispered. "Get it down the front of her dress and you win."

"No way!" He shot back, though clearly excited at the boldness of it. He sized up the distance as both Moms continued to discuss the spectacle outside.

"I'll do it too if you want...?" Kasey sighed and the smile that lit up Jude's face was enough confirmation.

"OK...one..." they each grabbed a peanut. "two..." they looked at each other. "three!" they chanted in unison and Stef turned as one bounced off her arm and the other falling short about a yard. She threw them a chastising look and continued their journey over. Both put their hands down inconspicuously and faked their innocence looking everywhere but at her.

"Mom! Didn't see you there." Kasey smiled.

Stef picked up a handful of nuts of her own and pelted them both.

"OK - let's not encourage the childishness..." Lena scolded her as Kasey smirked and got one more to the face once Lena had turned to look again at the young couple outside.

"You laugh as if I don't know you were responsible for that Fuzzy Lines song coming on midway through the party." Stef whispered as Kasey looked down at the table with a guilty look.

"And as if you haven't just put yourself in our sights for interrogation about when on earth your brother hooked up with Lexi...?" Lena added, both now looking at her sternly.

"What would I know about that?" She asked innocently.

"I dunno...the sudden basement episode that now makes a lot more sense."

"I'm surprised you didn't notice." Jude weighed in harmlessly as both mothers turned to him. "It was pretty obvious."

They looked at each other through a stutter and back at Jude.

"OK - no more hanging around with Kasey unless it's under my supervision...I don't like this sass." Stef ordered with a furrowed brow as Jude looked down through a smirk of his own at the light rebuke. He loved feeling like one of the kids.

Brandon arrived back from taking his father home and walked over to join them.

"We better get moving - after you've picked up these peanuts. You guys know where Callie is?" Lena asked looking round the room. "Brandon?"

Brandon gulped down in fear. Were they onto him? Did they know what happened? Did he even know what happened?

"Why are you looking at me?" He replied brashly to a surprised reaction. He realised how suspicious it must have sounded. He wasn't even sure why he got defensive. Kasey studied him and saw him rub his palms like he always did when he was hiding something. She also looked at Jude whose head suddenly dropped, subdued.

"I mean, I was driving Dad home. I wouldn't know." Brandon tried to cover.

"Well, can one of you find her please, and one of you pull Jesus and Lexi apart. We need to sort the dregs out with the management. Jude, Kasey - the peanuts." Stef left after the final instruction and Lena close behind.

"I'll get them." Jude offered, getting off his chair.

"Then I'll go find Callie..." Kasey hopped up.

"Are you sure...I think I should go..." Brandon suggested anxiously, stepping forward.

She gave him a condemning smile. "I'm no psychic but I have a feeling you've done enough today." his forehead dropped and he sighed in submission.

"I think she may have gone out onto the beach...her shoes were on the steps."

Kasey nodded and made her way out. She suddenly remembered a vague comment Callie had made about Wyatt having invited her to a party. The crutch would slow her, but hopefully it wouldn't be that far down.

Jude knelt down and began to pick up some of the stray nuts from their game.

"Want a hand?" Brandon offered but Jude looked up at him nervously.

"I think I got it..." he assured him, but Brandon ignored it and helped him anyway, one eye on his departing sister. Could she see right through him, the things that he couldn't even admit to himself?

Jude watched him watching. He hoped he was wrong about what he predicted but for now he would have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

It wasn't long before Kasey saw the smoke coming from the makeshift campfire and heard the sound of laughter and a ukelele.

"I think you've got a visitor..." Wyatt whispered to Callie who looked to see her arrival but then quickly looked back towards the group. It wasn't the worst Foster it could be but she would rather it weren't any of them.

By this time she had been through a small beer but had kept it at that.

"So now you're as many as the Von Trapps are you all having to wear this as a uniform?" Wyatt quipped smiling at Callie. It was just loud enough for Kasey to hear.

"It would be if my sister got her way every day rather than just on her quinces." Kasey responded. "Shit, crutches are hard on sand." she complained to herself.

"You didn't have to come out and get me..." Callie responded apologetically.

"It was me, Moms or Brandon." Kasey replied, equally as apologetic. It was clear that neither was thrilled to be in the situation but Callie flashed a look of resigned appreciation.

"How long you got the boot for?" Wyatt asked, trying his best to be welcoming. He had no issue with Kasey, they'd just never really spoken.

"Next week, thank God. I'm sorry to have to snatch you away but Moms are asking questions."

"It's OK." Callie sighed. "Thanks for the beer..." she smiled at Wyatt but he could see in her eyes it was also gratitude for something she wouldn't or couldn't say out loud.

"You had a beer?" Kasey asked as Callie looked at her surprised that there would be any judgment.

"Hey Wyatt - do you mind if I have a gulp or two?" Kasey held out her one crutchless hand. He looked down to his bottle and offered it to her curiously.

She took a few mouthfuls and handed it back as Callie looked on confused.

"Any questions get asked better both of us than just you..." She shrugged. "Mom already caught me having some at the party - she won't bat an eyelid if it was my bad influence."

Callie looked down bashfully. She was never sure how she'd taken so long to warm to Kasey.

"See you Monday." Wyatt called out as they started back along the beach.

"I'm sorry if my brother was an idiot." Kasey began the conversation bluntly. Callie looked at her in horror. What had Brandon said? Worse - what if someone else had? Had it been obvious? What was there to be obvious? She almost hoped someone had interpreted their exchange to tell her what it was that was happening.

"What do you mean?" she decided on the safe option.

Kasey looked across at Callie before brushing away a strand of her hair that was being suspended in the wind.

"I mean that I know my brother and he has a heart of gold. I also know that Talya has for some reason been acting like a total bitch and that it certainly looked like they'd ended it. Now knowing Brandon wouldn't want you to blame yourself and knowing that he can be a complete robot with verbal diarrhoea when it comes to talking to girls, I know that could be a little intense. Hence - idiot."

Callie inhaled deeply. She wanted to let it all out but she wanted to keep it all in.

"It was just a bit awkward." was what she settled on. Non-descriptive and non-committal.

Kasey nodded through a laugh.

"He wants to see the good in everyone - he sees the good in every girl he meets and he's forever being taken advantage of by these girlfriends of his." Kasey ranted. Callie watched her nervously from the side as they walked. She was waiting for the inevitable ultimatum - the "so if you hurt my brother I'll make your life a living hell". Only, it never came. Kasey was talking about this as if she hadn't even contemplated Callie as a love interest for him. That was one good thing. Or was it? She didn't have time to obsess as she tried to keep up with Kasey's fast paced thoughts.

"Now at least I have one more level headed person to try and keep him in check." She joked. Callie looked across at her, still nervous, but at least with a glimpse that maybe there was another angle to this. That Brandon was just good natured and it could be nothing more than misinterpretation. As if further answering her silent thoughts Kasey continued.

"Just don't worry too much about him. He's usually got the best intentions - just really bad at communicating them." Callie gave her a nod. It was the most comforting thing she'd heard that day. She was still nervous but maybe Kasey was right, maybe she was over-reacting and Brandon was just trying to be supportive - and more so, maybe her own feelings were just unfamiliar ones as a knee-jerk response to someone who actually cared.

"Do you know if it's over between him and Talya then?" Kasey asked.

Callie sighed. "Looks like it."

Kasey couldn't help but smile. "Well I won't be sorry to see her go - she could give Sanchez a fair fight for these Ice Queen these days. Know what the final nail was?" she asked further .

Callie hesitated as to what answer to give. Part of her wanted to divulge it all. Kasey had made her feel a lot safer than she thought she would, but at the same time she didn't even trust her completely yet.

"Talya was the one who read through my journal - it was a bit too much for Brandon." she decided as a compromise.

"Jeez!" Kasey exclaimed. "Bunny boiler much? Well rid, I'd say." The girls continued their walk back the way they came. Kasey picked up Callie's shoes as they approached.

"If you want to ditch the fancy stuff you'll have to find a better disposal place. Don't worry, you can go back to trainers as soon as this charade is over - until the next one that is. Who knows though? Maybe we'll find a way to get away with more comfortable shoes at the next one. Or in my case, being able to wear shoes at all!" She teased chucking them back. Callie looked down at them. She was OK to carry on the charade for a little while - and maybe it wouldn't be impossible for it to one day be somewhere in between.

"Where have you two been?" Stef asked, arms crossed as they got back to the hall.

Kasey shrugged. "Went for a rager on the beach. Figured it was our last chance to destroy these dresses."

"Sorry Stef, I needed a bit of air - I didn't think the party would be over so soon." Callie offered her excuse. Stef nodded but raised an eyebrow as her senses tingled.

"While I imagine you're kidding about the rager, I am slightly concerned at the smell of beer coming off both of you...care to explain?"

Kasey shrugged. "What? Dad left a bottle and I didn't want to risk somebody tampering with it - when I found Callie I remembered that you always taught me to share. You're both really bad at leaving your drinks unattended you know - as cops I'd expect you to be more aware."

"As the daughter of cops I'd expect you to know we can handcuff you to your bed if you push us too far." Stef replied as Kasey gave her an innocent smile. Callie too finally broke into one, unable to not be impressed at the smoothness of Kasey's operation.

"I said no more." Stef emphasised tapping Kasey on the head with her purse.

Brandon had bee-lined over upon their return, his hands in the pockets of his pants. He interrupted them before Stef could add anything further.

"Hey...you OK?" He tried to ask casually, but clearly aiming it at Callie.

"Not really, my head's a little sore." Kasey answered deliberately while rubbing the spot Stef had swatted her. She had picked up on the clear fact the question hadn't been intended for her so decided to play a little before Callie could stutter out her response.

Both Callie and Brandon threw her a look as Stef swapped her focus between the triangle.

"Let's go find the others shall we..." she hooked Kasey's arm and pulled her away before she could protest.

"OK - what's going on?" She asked, intrigued

"You owe me five dollars." Kasey quipped back as Stef sighed. "They broke up? Poor baby." She turned back to look at her son.

"Seems Talya was the one who read Callie's journal. Think there was a bit of unfounded jealousy and Brandon put his foot down."

Stef looked back towards the two teens as they stood awkwardly, small-talk clearly flowing between them.

"As long as it's unfounded..." Stef warned as if they could hear her.

Kasey looked back too before grabbing back Stef's attention.

"So...that five dollars?" She asked expectantly. Stef stared at her for a moment.

"I see that beer went straight to your head. Sorry kid." She tapped her face with the purse once again before rounding up the others.

"I'm really sorry if I freaked you out..." Brandon offered up, swaying slightly. "I didn't mean to - I just...well, I didn't want you to worry about whatever was worrying you."

Callie looked firmly to the floor. Coming back to it made her throat lump up again.

"It's OK - I'm sorry I over-reacted it's just...it's been a strange day." She responded before looking deep into his eyes. He gave her an understanding smile back.

He wasn't yet sure what it was that was going on inside him. He cared for Callie deeply but he'd had an emotional day and he knew it may have been affecting his judgment. All he knew for sure was that right now he wanted Callie to feel safe and he could do with as much family as possible to be around him after the break up.

"How about we forget about all the mess Talya made and just look at moving forward? Yeah? I could do with not thinking about her when I'm with you guys right now, she'll be on my mind enough when I'm by myself."

Callie took a deep breath. "That sounds pretty good."

Brandon nodded with a smile and they walked off to follow the others.

"Hey - did you see Jesus kissing Lexi? When did that happen?" He asked, initiating a welcome change of subject.

"Apparently Jude picked up on it days ago." Callie informed him back.

"Well this should be a fun one..." he flicked up his eyebrows as Callie smiled back. She still had a list of fears to work through but once again the warmness of the family made them slip away.

Wow it's weird writing this now - I fell like I want to change the course of the show but I guess I ain't allowed! Anyhow - would love to know thoughts, especially on pairings that you enjoyed/want more of/want less of. Any feedback is really, really welcome and it helps me plan things out and write faster.

My story around The Morning After will be a little different. I'll be starting it the day before the episode and it'll be the first (and probably only) time I change something that happened in the show to involve Kasey directly in a scene, but only in a way that doesn't effect any outcomes. I'm also taking on a completely parallel (and light-hearted) Kasey/Mike storyline that I hope you will enjoy.

Next Chapter Preview: Kasey and Cooper devise a questionable plan to try and help Mike and after Jesus and Lexi explore their feelings, Lena and Stef decide that it's time for a reminder about the birds and the bees.

Lexi pushed forward and kissed him again stroking his cheek.

"You're the best." she whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow." he opened the door for her as she went out, stealing one last kiss. He leaned back against the closed door and rubbed his hair, enjoying the feeling of how lucky he was. As Lena emerged from the kitchen with crossed arms, he wasn't sure how lucky he'd remain.

"I think we need to have a little talk." she said flicking her head towards where she had come from.