How about that episode?! Oh my word. I'm not sure I've recovered. So thrilled to have Callie coming home! The sneak peeks have already got me wishing the week away.
Anyway, thought it was a good opporunity to post. I won't lie, I'm nervous about this episode as so much was covered in the show that it's been hard to find stuff to add in so a lot of it is fluff/filler and character developmenty, but what I will say is it's worth hanging about as it may or may not get a little twisty towards the end! Gonna be a four-parter.
Thanks to Mea23 and TheTBone as always and by the way I'm writing episode 7 so any scene/pairing requests, send them my way. Keen for inspiration.
Hope you enjoy!
"Touch it and you'll lose a hand." Stef threatened without taking her eyes off the page of her newspaper. "Why don't you get your own?"
Kasey huffed pulling her arm back from attempting to steal her Mom's coffee.
"The mugs are all the way over there. You know you used to let me steal food and drinks from you all the time." she reached over and grabbed a bagel to munch on.
"You mean when you were young and still cute?" Lena chipped in.
"Yes. It stopped round about the time we moved in here and you stopped trying to compensate. Clearly it's your fault, Mama. Mom stopped caring about me when it got serious with her girlfriend."
"I had to focus my energy on making up for her having to put up with you." Stef commented emotionlessly, still without breaking eye contact with the page.
"Took a lot." Lena smiled as Kasey sent her back a smirk.
Stef finally folded down the newspaper and reconnected with the room.
"Going to see your grandpa today. You wanna come?" Stef asked as Kasey's attention was distracted to a small poster.
She leaned over and picked it up. "I'm good..." she replied barely listening while reading the leaflet. She raised her eyebrow in confusion as she skimmed. "Oh my God Mom, you've found religion?" she asked, a smile growing across her face before it dropped to seriousness and she looked Stef straight in the eye.
"Does this mean we don't get condoms anymore?" Lena shook her head as Stef snapped at Kasey's hand with the folded newspaper. The mischievous girl pulled it back with a cheeky smile.
"Very funny. Do you want me to find a retreat to send you on? I hear they do silent ones."
"They do week long ones at the catholic school. I can ask them a favour." Lena offered, playing along as they quipped to and fro.
"She may learn some obedience "
"Mmhmm." Lena agreed immediately again as Kasey rolled her eyes.
"So what are you doing today? Other than trying to bug me over breakfast?" Stef smiled politely as Kasey shrugged.
"Well I was gonna go to Cooper's later with Kelly and we were gonna hang out. Do some studying then watch some movies. I'll stay over if you'll let me?"
Stef flicked an eyebrow over to Lena.
"So you don't wanna stay for dinner with the Riveras?" Lena asked.
Kasey's eyes opened wide.
"Yeah - I wanna have an awkward dinner with the uber catholic super couple, their teenage daughter I bought the pill for and my two gay moms."
"A simple no would suffice." Stef replied.
"The Riveras are good people. You've played at their house before." Lena reminded her.
"I get along well with them - I just don't wanna be there for the rules and boundaries talk. You don't need both Mom and me making inappropriate jokes whenever an awkward silence comes up."
"Yeah, that will not be happening. Your Mom will be on best behaviour." Lena added as Stef and Kasey exchanged a knowing look of solitude for the attack on their character.
Lena looked down to the breakfast bar as her phone began to vibrate.
"That's weird, private number.. Hello?" she got up to take it out of the room.
"Do you think she has a secret lover?" Kasey whispered as Stef widened her eyes to play along.
"I don't know...have you signed her up to any websites?" she teased, taking a sip of her coffee as Kasey's mouth dropped open in guilt.
"Low blow, mother. Dad's still not talking to me."
"Well that's what you get for meddling. I've warned you a hundred times." she scolded with a chastising look.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's Brandon' problem today anyway." Kasey buried her chin in her crossed arms on the table.
"You will have to make this right you know. I think it hit him pretty hard. He's been very distant the last couple days." Stef poked Kasey on the arm as she threw her hands back up defensively.
"He's the one who's mad with me!"
"Which you thoroughly deserve." Stef wasn't going to endorse her self-pity. She may not have been that mad at her herself for the website stunt but it didn't mean she was sympathetic. "You may have had good intentions but your method was stupid even for you."
"Yes, yes. I know." Kasey murmured in reply.
Their discussion was cut short as Lena returned to the room.
"Oh don't worry, Diane, I'll make sure she gets the message." She wandered across, glaring at Kasey. Her stomach dropped.
"Diane? Cooper's Mom Diane?" Stef asked confused as Kasey slipped off her stool.
"Yep. Cooper's Mom Diane." Lena's tone was enough for Stef to interpret what her next move should be. She grabbed the back of Kasey's shirt, carefully pulling her back towards her before she could make her break.
"What would Diane want?" Stef asked probingly, staring Kasey down who looked between her and Lena.
"She wanted to check everything was still OK for Cooper to be staying here tonight while they're visiting his Grandma." Lena filled her in.
Both Moms glared hard at their daughter.
"Interesting. You neglected to mention Cooper was going to be staying here while you were staying at his tonight."
"I...just thought it was implied..."
Neither parent was impressed.
"Start talking, Pinnochio." Stef folded her arms across her chest.
"What?" Kasey shrugged. "Cooper's the one who lied, not me. You didn't ask the specifics."
Stef opened her eyes wide and exchanged a look of disbelief with Lena.
"Well looks like we'll need another place at dinner seeing as your partner in crime is going upstate to Grandma's." Lena informed her in response.
"Wait, you told them he lied? Mom! She'll never let him out again. You know what she's like!"
"I'd be more worried about you being let out again." Stef commented.
"I can still go hang with Kelly though, right? We really do have a test to study for..." Kasey asked in horror. "You're not actually gonna make me stay for this?"
Their answer was postponed by the sleepy arrival of Jude.
"The pre-teen. Thank goodness!" Stef sighed with relief.
"Morning." He mumbled, his voice croaky, not yet fully awake.
Kasey took the opportunity to once again try and slip out before a look from Stef indicated they weren't yet finished. She sighed and took the paper Stef had been reading.
"You all set for your tutor meeting this afternoon, Jude? Is Connor's Mom picking you up from the school or do you need me to take you there after?"
"Oh." Jude's voice went even quieter. "I forgot to tell you, Connor had to cancel. His parents had a thing to go to so they can't chaperone any more."
"Oh no, buddy. That's a shame. You gonna re-schedule?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. We just sort of cancelled. I don't want to get in the way."
Lena and Stef exchanged a look. They knew Jude had been looking forward to his first weekend with a friend and his week hadn't exactly been perfect.
Stef got up to refill her coffee mug.
"Is the problem purely a chaperone?" She asked him leaning back on the counter.
"I think so. His Dad was supposed to stay with us but now he can't and his Mom doesn't want us to go out alone."
"Hey Jude, I'll make you some eggs for breakfast. Can you do me a favour and tell Jesus that he has to be ready to go for 2?"
He looked slightly confused before heading out of the room with a nod. Lena watched him leave before turning back to Stef.
"Connor could come round here..." Lena suggested with a shrug.
"With the Riveras coming?" Stef raised an eyebrow.
"He was so excited..." Lena pleaded with her eyes. "We have to think of something."
They both paused for a few moments until they heard Kasey obliviously turn a page of the paper.
"I've got a better idea." Stef added with a smile before leaning on the table in line with Kasey.
Lena caught her drift and joined in her stare with a stern smile.
It took Kasey a couple of moments to register the room was silent but eventually the eerie pause caught her attention and she looked between the gazing eyes.
"Did I miss something?" She asked cautiously, folding down the corner to get a better look.
She stared a few moments before dipping her head to the side. "No...no. Are you serious? Two twelve year olds?"
"You know we got interrupted before, we can go back to talking about how you and Cooper were planning a crazy party while his parents were out of town..." Stef began to explain as Lena worked her way to the cooker.
"We were going to stay up late and eat pizza...we were hardly going to -"
"I don't know about you, Stef, but my imagination's running wild. Booze, drugs..." Lena cracked some eggs into a frying pan as Kasey gawped between them.
"The police bringing you back to us at 2am...who knows how we'd interpret what you could have been getting up to?" They once again returned to their patter to-and-fro.
"May over-react. Do something irrational..." Both Moms stared at her suggestively, Lena stirring the contents of the pan furiously and Stef peering over her coffee mug.
"Oh come on. You're threatening me into doing you a favour? What about my studying?" She dropped the paper down and continued to protest.
"We'll have a couple hours at the school while Jude is with his tutor and Jesus is at practice." Lena smiled.
Kasey sat back in resignation.
"What like a Saturday detention? Can I at least go to Kelly's after and miss the dinner?"
"If you get Jude and Connor both home in one piece. We'll call the matter closed and you can go out after."
Kasey deliberated for a few moments before heaving sigh.
"Fine. But I'm doing it for Jude, not you." she grumbled as Stef sloppily kissed the side of her head and Kasey went back to the paper.
Jude returned as Lena finished the eggs and tipped them onto a plate.
"Kasey's got a suggestion, buddy. Looks like your plans can be back on!"
He looked at Kasey curiously as Stef put both arms on the table leaning over Kasey's body to exert her presence.
"I'll take you to the...what is it you were doing?"
"The movies... Really?" He looked between the three women, in shock.
"You don't have to. We can go another day..."
"Oka- " Kasey was about to return to her reading as Stef cleared her throat behind he daughter's ear and she quickly changed her mind.
"I mean, it's OK. I'd love to take you." She gulped down. "What was it you were going to see exactly?"
"Bumble The Great."
"Bumble The Great?" Kasey screwed up her face. "Are you guys not a little old for - ow!" Stef's pinch came a little too late for Jude not to notice. He drooped his head down in embarrassment.
"A little...but I think Connor's parents are pretty strict with film ratings so it's the only one we can see." He shrugged, his cheeks prickling pink.
"Bumble The Great it is then I guess." Kasey resigned. "Sure we can make it fun." She added, her dimples bright even though her eyes may not have been.
Stef pulled away and Jude's face beamed as he tucked into his eggs.
"I'll go call Connor's Mom." Lena smiled glancing a hand on Kasey's arm as she passed.
"You guys will have lots of fun. Sensible fun though. I don't want any calls from the theatre so make sure you chaperone properly." The remaining Mom warned.
"I will."
"I was talking to Jude." Stef teased. "You make sure she doesn't get into trouble, buddy. I'm trusting you to keep an eye on her."
Kasey shook her head as Jude chuckled, piling eggs into his mouth.
"Ha ha...ha." Kasey laughed sarcastically. "I could say the same to Lena about you with the Riveras." She teased back as Stef leaned over to squeeze Jude's hand, ignoring the dig.
"Well, guess I better get ready." Kasey took the opportunity to steal Stef's mug and hop away before her Mom had time to swing the paper at her.
"About time. Some of us have to get ready for practice, you know." Jesus folded his arms as Mariana finally left the bathroom.
"Why? You're just gonna be running around stinking yourself up anyway. Oh I forgot. Your girlfriend is there too." she snarked.
"Take the repeat off, Mariana. Nobody is stopping you from being friends with Lexi apart from yourself."
"I don't need either of you. I have my own friends." she folded her arms furiously.
"The ones you had to decorate your face to impress? How's that going? You going to any more plays you're pretending to know the name of or are you too busy shopping for berets and reading glasses?"
"At least I'm not decorating my face with a unibrow - you could at least put some effort into your appearance, Cyclops"
"That doesn't even make -"
"God will you two quit sniping at each other." Kasey moaned passing them in the hallway. "You're pissed, we get it. Get a new hobby."
"Haven't you been paying attention? She's tried and failed."
"Bite me."
"Guys! Seriously. If you're not careful Moms will be locking you in a room till you've fixed it. And we'll happily hide the key."
Kasey made her way to knock on Callie's door and was granted entry.
"I'm sorry. She's right, that was harsh." Jesus apologised with a flash of guilt. He wasn't usually bitchy but Mariana's recent attitude was bringing out the worst in him.
"Save your apologies." she replied. "As I said - I don't need you or Lexi."
She strode past him, leaving him to slump into the bathroom shaking his head.
Mariana didn't mean to have the constant defense, but she couldn't help it. She was feeling lost and alone after losing two of the people she was closest to in the world and wanted nothing more than to talk through her frustrations with one of them, but not when they were the subject of what she needed to talk about. The family were all rigidly staying neutral as the spat continued, leaving her processing her own thoughts. That was dangerous pastime. As she returned to her bedroom, Callie and Kasey were sat on Callie's bed. The two of them had continued to grow closer, especially in light of the events of earlier in the week.
"He really wanna see Bumble?" she asked as Callie brushed through her hair.
"He does like kids stuff but he likes anything, I'm sure he'll just be going along with whatever Connor will be wanting. He's barely stopped talking about him since the blue nails incident."
"It's so cute!" Kasey smiled as Callie agreed.
"Jude doesn't get to have friends much, we're usually moved before he can settle. I can't remember the last time he went out to the movies with one." she put the brush down. "Thanks for taking him. Really."
Mariana slumped onto her bed and opened her laptop.
"I can't pretend it would be in my plans if Moms weren't blackmailing me but it'll be nice to spend some time with him. See him having fun."
"Well he'll probably be a little more relaxed with you and it'll be good for him to not be feeling supervised like he would if I was there."
"Hey, I'll be supervising!" Kasey replied with mock offence as Callie raised her eyebrows.
"We all know he's more kid-like around you. Just don't get him arrested, please."
They continued their talk as Mariana flicked through her usual website pitstops.
She was so angry with Jesus. How dare he be giving her a hard time right now? As if he hadn't already done enough damage.
She paused as a bleep flicked up a notification.
Her heart leaped for a moment as she saw who it was.
Ana.
She gulped down and hovered over it for a few moments.
"Hey Mija, I know last time was short. Wondering if you maybe wanted to grab something to eat/drink this time round...let me know. I'm free today."
She read it over and over. She wished she didn't call her "Mija". She wasn't her mom anymore...she wasn't her hija. But she was. That's why it bothered her. She loved and hated it.
"Mariana you got plans?" Kasey repeated even though Mariana hadn't heard the first time. She looked up and paused, taking twice as long to focus.
"Maybe...I don't know yet."
"Tattoo parlour? Just to really give Moms that extra push?"
Callie smirked but her younger sister ignored the comment.
"Do you not have your own room now?" she asked, clearly irritated at having to think about anything else right now.
"Someone's gonna be a treat for the Riveras." Kasey muttered. "See you guys later"
"I'll head out with you. Meeting Wyatt before group."
"Ooooh! Juvie girl and break-in boy, it's a match made in rehab."
"Oh hush up." Callie groaned, pushing Kasey out of the room, playfully and following close behind.
Mariana hovered her hands over the keyboard.
She closed the window. She wouldn't fall for it.
She checked her Twitter.
She opened the window again.
Ana wanted to meet for longer. That was the problem last time.
No.
Ana just used her.
She opened her instagram. She failed to laugh at an edit.
She opened the window and cursed herself. Heart thumping faster.
God! Why? She breathed out loudly. Maybe this was a sign? Why today if not to be an ear for her, just like she'd been hoping for. Ana wasn't neutral like the others. She would understand, she probably had similar traits as Mariana. Maybe she could relate more than Lena and Stef to something like this? Understand how she was feeling because she'd feel the same. Maybe she even did when she was Mariana's age. Their blood and temperament was the same.
"OK...that would be nice."
She deleted.
"OK. When?"
Too harsh.
"OK. I don't have other plans. Did you have anywhere in mind?"
She counted to 3 and hit send. The reply was almost immediate.
"Great! How about Paco's cafe at 2. you know it?"
Mariana was taken aback at the speed of the response. She must be poised over her keyboard. Desperate to see her. Was that because she needed more money? She wouldn't do that. Not again. Was it too late to back out? Another message quickly succeeded the previous.
"Is that OK? I really want to see you again. I miss you."
Her heart fluttered again.
Maybe the last time Ana had just been nervous and panicked. Didn't know what else to say either way, she would never know unless she spoke to her again. She would make it clear there was no more money. If she wanted a relationship she would be happy with that, if she just wanted money that would be the end and Mariana could close the chapter.
"That's fine. See you at 2."
Next Chapter Preview: Kasey tries to help improve Jude and Connor's confidence, Lena gets Stef and Kasey to open up about their fathers and Mariana learns more about Ana.
"Did you have a Quinceañera?"
The question seemed to catch her off guard as she stuffed the remainder of her sandwich in her mouth, stalling for time.
"Yeah, I did. Though not much of a fancy one. We didn't have all that much money. It was still special though. Papi died not long after so it was nice to have that memory."
Mariana's heard sunk down a little. She realised she knew nothing about her grandparents. She wasn't sure she'd ever met them. She felt a twinge of sadness at the drop in Ana's face as she reminisced.