Chapter 12: Familial Chaos.
Disclaimer: For the 32nd time... I do not own the Fosters.
AN: Okay, the idea behind this chapter comes in part from one of my favorite regular reviewers: m'j doom. The suggestion was to write one exploring Connor's mom and dad more than I already have. I read that, and it evolved to Jude meeting the rest of Connor's extended family. In this story, Connor's mom's name is Elizabeth Carmichael (Formerly Stevens), and she is vastly different than the vile shrew that was Connor's mother in my other story, "Shared". Also, kudos if you notice the small shout out to Danny from my last story. This chapter takes place the day after the last chapter.
As usual, leave a review, and enjoy.
Connor's POV:
Jude and I spent the morning together at the park, just horsing around and acting like fools. When Jude and I returned to my house after lunch, the last thing we expected to find was my mom and dad... in the same room... having a friendly conversation. It was as if I had stepped into a time warp and was sent back two years to when they were still happily married, and my family hadn't split apart.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" I exclaimed happily and ran forward for a hug, leaving Jude standing awkwardly in the doorway. She eagerly returned my embrace and lifted me off the ground slightly.
My mom, Elizabeth, is taller than me and my dad by at least a foot. She has long auburn hair, dimples when she smiled, and the kindest blue eyes that I have ever seen.
"Well, I was talking to your father." Mom said.
"Civilly?" I asked shocked, "How many time this month is hell gonna freeze over?"
"I don't know," She answered cheekily, "I'll call my dad tomorrow and ask him to take the temperature there."
Oh, and I get some of my sarcasm and sense of humor from her.
"You and dad have been together a lot lately." I point out, "I'm glad. Feels good to have the family complete again. Even if it isn't permanent."
"You never know, baby." Mom said slyly.
I raised my eyebrow questioningly.
"Huh?" I asked.
"I told your dad when I filed for divorce that it he ever got his head out of his ass we might be able to work something out and make amends." Mom said simply, "He's done that, now that he's not as bothered about you and Jude being together. We've been talking a lot lately, and you never know."
She whipped around toward the door where Jude stood.
"You can come in, you know?" She said sweetly, "You don't have to wait for an invitation."
Jude stepped into the room and sat down on the couch.
"Besides, there is something we need to discuss with you both." Dad said, with a worried look on his face.
"Oh god, what is it?"
"I got a phone call yesterday from your grandfather, inviting us to the family barbeque later today. He mentioned that you could bring a friend along." Dad said simply.
The blood drained from my face. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jude react the same way. I had told him all about the rest of my family during when of our cuddling sessions two weeks ago.
"Oh crap. Does he know about me and Jude?" I ask, dreading his answer.
"Not yet, but since he's coming with us, it's likely that he will by the time the day is out." Mom said.
My eye twitched.
My grandfather, Alexander Stevens, was a very strict, old fashioned man in his late sixties, of fundamentalist Christian principles. He went to church twice a week, every week. He prayed ever night before going to sleep. He never works on Sundays. Most importantly, he hates gay people with a passion. If I had a dollar for every time I had heard him ranting about how gays were ruining the country, I would have enough to buy a freaking Bugatti Veyron. If he found out about mine and Jude's relationship, he would go berserk. He was only scared of one thing.
"Who else is gonna be there?" I ask shakily.
"Your grandma Madeline, obviously. Your Uncles Evan and David, and your cousin Albus. Your Aunt Caroline, and cousin Julius." Dad said.
Okay maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I thought. I would actually have some people besides mom and dad in my corner.
My grandma Madeline was the only person on the planet that scared my grandfather. She was a kind woman in her late sixties, and she already knew about Jude and I. She came up to visit me in the hospital after I got shot, and after my dad allowed Jude entrance. Always a sharp woman with incredible intuition, she noticed immediately that something was different from my demeanor. She said I had hearts in my eyes.
She nearly strangled me with a hug when I told her about Jude, and she promised that she wouldn't tell anybody else. She also promised to keep grandpa under control if he ever found out. She's also the only one of my extended family to have actually met Jude in person. She had popped in while he was their once, and spent an hour telling him embarrassing stories about me from my early childhood that set a smirk on his face for the rest of the day.
My Uncle, Evan Edward Stevens, was a bit of an enigma. He's my dad's younger brother by a whole nine years, and the youngest of his siblings at only thirty two. He is also my dad's complete opposite. He makes a point to stay that way, in every single way. I've always called him "Rebel" as a joke, because he never followed my grandfather's strict ideals. In fact, he went out of his way to trample all over and burn them to ashes with a flamethrower at every single opportunity that he gets. He is combative, and he enjoys goading my grandfather, and sometimes my dad into arguments that he almost never loses.
Unlike my dad and Aunt Caroline, he's never been married, preferring to live a bachelor lifestyle. He always said he didn't need a woman to make him happy. Every time I see him, he is dressed in the same outfit. Black fedora, black suit, black long coat, black boots, and a thick polished silver handled black cane that he didn't even need to use to walk. I remember asking why he always dressed like that, and he said it was in honor of an old friend. I asked him what the cane was for, and he clicked a button on the handle, and it revealed a sharp blade concealed in the shaft. Just in case, he always said.
My other Uncle, David Christopher Jackson, was not really an uncle at all. He's my Uncle Evan's best friend, and a dear friend to the family who I had known since I was little. He and Uncle Evan have been best friends since the first day of high school. The two were rarely ever seen without the other somewhere nearby. They owned a business together, and they made a decent chunk of change from it, so they could afford to do pretty much whatever they pleased within the bounds of the law. Which meant that my cousin, Albus, was spoiled absolutely rotten.
My cousin, Albus Walter Stevens, is a bit of an enigma in himself. He's eleven years old, three years younger than me. He's a good kid, and takes after his dad in looks and personality. His name may mean it, but he is anything by pure, at least when it comes to getting into trouble. He has a really bad habit of pranking people who annoy him. He is a bit of a mystery, because nobody knows how he came into existence, and his arrival was a complete surprise. The rumored story was that my Uncle Evan had a one night stand and Albus was dumped on his doorstep. But somehow, I get the feeling that that is not even close to what really happened. I may be wrong about that, but every time the story is mentioned, Uncle Evan, Aunt Caroline and Uncle David get this mischievous look in their eyes that you can tell means they are holding back guffawing laughter.
My Aunt Caroline is the oldest of my dad's siblings, nearing the end of her forty ninth year. She is further proof that my family is unlucky with relationships. I got shot in the foot and Jude nearly had to go to war with my dad before Jude and I finally got together. Mom and Dad are divorced (although for how much longer is debatable as of late), Uncle Evan is a bachelor, and my Aunt Caroline is a widow. She lost her husband, who was a cop, in a gang shootout only a month after Julius was born. She is an intensely loyal woman, who would go out of her way to help somebody if they were proven worthy of her loyalty. She was also fairly liberal in her beliefs. I was also her favorite nephew.
My cousin Julius is the only other person in my family who's reaction I worry about. He's twenty years old, six years older than me, and he's always been distant with everybody. He holds everything incredibly close to the chest. It's impossible to tell what he's thinking until he say it aloud, which is rare since he almost never speaks if he doesn't have to. He never shows any emotion, and he maintains a blank face at all times. He's almost machine like. I used to call him a Terminator when I was little because he showed so little emotion. He would always roll his eyes.
This was going to be an interesting day.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"I'm guessing that staying here isn't an option?" I asked hopefully.
"Sorry kiddo. If I have to suffer through it, so do you." Mom said cheerfully.
I groaned and dropped my head into my hands.
"Hey, at least your grandma will be there." Jude interjected hopefully, "She knows about us."
Dad's head whipped to focus on Jude.
"She does?" He asked surprised.
"I've met her, and she likes me." Jude explained, "She popped in once while I was over when you were at the golf course. Spent an hour telling me the most interesting stories about Connor's younger days."
As he finished his sentence, a wolfish grin stretched across his face.
I groaned.
"Don't start." I pleaded.
"Aw, you're no fun." Jude pouted.
"How do you think the others will react?" I asked.
"Your Aunt Caroline will be fine with it." Dad immediately said, "She is too loyal to turn on anybody, so if your grandfather starts something she will probably try to stay out of it. Your Uncle Evan? I have no idea. I've never claimed to understand what goes on in that man's head. He could go either way, although I suspect he'll side with you just to spite our father. Your cousin Albus is too kind of a boy to hate anybody, so don't worry about him. Julius? Again, I have no idea."
"So just grandpa to worry about then?" I ask hopefully.
"I hope so. But you never really know until the moment arrives." Mom said.
"I would recommend trying to catch them all by themselves and tell them yourself before your grandfather puts the pieces together and makes a scene."
I nodded in agreement.
"When are we leaving?" I asked.
"We were waiting for you two to get here." Dad said, "I've already cleared it with Stef and Lena. So let's get going, and get this over with."
I led Jude out to my dad's SUV, the whole time feeling as though we were heading to our doom.
My grandpa lives in a town an hour and a half north of San Diego. Jude and I settled into the back seat of the SUV, and Jude leaned his head on my shoulder and fell asleep. I soon followed him into the bliss of unconsciousness...
We were awoken by my mom shaking us awake.
"We're here."
My Aunt Caroline and cousin Julius were standing there waiting. I dragged Jude up to them.
"Hey Auntie." I said, "Sup Jules?"
Julius just nodded at us. Aunt Caroline smiled at us.
"Where's grandpa and grandma?"
"Inside cooking." She answered, "Who's your friend?"
"This is my friend Jude."
"Nice to meet you." Jude said, stepping forward and extending his hand for her to shake.
After shaking his hand, she stared at him for a second, looking him up and down, then looking between him and me.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Friend, huh? Looks like a bit more than that, if you ask me." She said.
I swallow.
'Here goes nothing.'
"And so what if it is?" I ask testily.
"No need to get so defensive, kiddo. He's cute. Good for you." She said simply.
I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding, before turning to Julius.
He merely offered me a smile, and a wink.
"Who else knows?" Julius asked, finally speaking.
"Dad, Mom, Grandma, the whole school, and Jude's whole family." I answered.
"Adam knows? And he's allowing it? Has hell frozen over?" Caroline asked.
"Is everybody gonna say that?" Jude asked.
We stood in the front yard to await the arrival of my Uncle Evan and his brood, as was custom for these things. We only had to wait for ten minutes when I heard the roar of a V8 engine. We turned to see a black 1970 Dodge Charger flying down the road, skidding to a stop right behind Dad's SUV.
My Uncle Evan had arrived.
Whereas my dad was relatively skinny, my Uncle Evan was built like a linebacker. He was six foot four, had shoulder length dirty blonde hair, and a five o'clock shadow. He was dressed in his usual black ensemble, and his eyes held a calculating quality to them. Until they landed on me and Jude, and they switched from calculating to warm.
"Hey nephew! You got taller! Last time I saw you, you were about a foot and a half shorter." He said as he sauntered up to us, wrapping me in a quick hug before turning to dad and mom, "Liz, always a pleasure to see you. Adam."
"Evan. Haven't changed a bit have you?" Dad teased.
Evan looked surprised for a second before a shark like grin broke across his face.
"Never." He said with a grin as David and Albus both approached us as well.
"Hi Connor!" Albus said as he approached, a wide grin on his face showing of a few missing teeth.
"Hey little dude. Been too long." I said to him.
Albus looked at Jude and quirked an eyebrow.
"Who's he?"
"This is Jude."
"Nice to meet you kid." Evan said, shaking Jude's hand. David did the same.
"Like the Beatles song?" Albus asked.
Jude and I snort simultaneously.
"Um, yeah, like the Beatles song." Jude said.
"I like you." Albus said simply to Jude, before giving me a wink.
"You, my cousin, are too smart for your own good." I whisper to him.
"Flattery will get you anywhere." He joked, and pulled out his iPhone and started playing Five Nights at Freddy's.
He didn't get very far, because seconds later the front door opened and we all turned to see my grandfather step out onto the porch.
I gulp.
"Here goes everything."
We were directed inside to the dinner table where there was an assortment of grilled meats placed on platters. My grandma was already sat to the right of the head chair. My grandpa sat down at the head table, and my dad sat to his left. Mom sat next to dad, I sat next to her, and Jude sat next to me. On the end sat Albus, since he was the youngest. Caroline sat next to grandma, Julius sat next to Caroline, and Evan took up the last seat.
"Bow your heads for grace." Grandpa demanded.
Everybody but Evan did so.
"Thank you lord, for this blessing we are about to receive. Amen."
"Amen."
We all dug in.
Five minutes later, he turns to Jude and I.
"Connor." He said sternly. "Aren't you going to introduce your friend."
"This is Jude. My best friend."
"What happened to that one kid? Jackson, was it?"
"He's in Spain. It's the first time he's left the country in his wheel chair." I said.
"Wheel chair?" Grandpa asked.
"He got hit by an SUV while on a date with his girlfriend, Daria." I explain sadly, "He'll never walk again."
"Sorry to hear that." Grandpa said.
I noticed as he let the conversation drop that he hadn't sounded sorry at all.
Five minutes later, he started ranting. Today's rant was about to continued spread of the legalization of same sex marriage. Everybody looked uncomfortable. He was only five minutes into the rant when Uncle Evan had enough.
"Okay, I've heard enough of this diatribe. If you'll excuse me." Uncle Evan said irritably, and he rose from his seat and stomped from the room. David and Albus followed quickly behind him, an exasperated look on their face.
"That boy, I swear. Needs to get his priorities straightened out." Grandpa said gruffly, "If he'd stop hanging around with so many undesirable people..."
"I think that's his choice, not yours." I said coldly, cutting him off, "I'll be back. Bathroom."
I rose from my chair and made an extremely speedy escape, catching an apologetic look that my grandma was sending me. I give her a subtle nod before leaving the dining room. I was barely aware of Jude behind me, but I was well aware of the glare that my grandpa was leveling at my retreating back.
I turned to Jude once we were in the backyard, out of my grandfathers hearing range, and linked our hands, pulling him in for a quick kiss.
"Sorry about that, I just couldn't take it anymore." I said quickly, "I can't stand it, he's insulting me, he's insulting you, he's insulting Austin, Ritchie, Wynston, and a whole community of people who have never done him any harm."
"It's good to know that somebody else has sense in this damned family."
Jude and I whip around to see Evan and David standing against the tree.
"Also good to know we're not the only couple in hiding." David said with a wink.
I gaped at them in shock.
Of course they're a couple. Now that I think about it, it's so obvious that it's ridiculous.
"How could you guy's tell we we're together?" I croaked.
"Every time dad wasn't looking, you two would be sneaking looks at each other. The way you act around each other is way too comfortable to just be platonic. Plus, you were playing footsie under the table. Not exactly subtle of you two." Evan said.
In the back of mind I vaguely remembered Jesus saying almost the exact same thing.
"You guys are together?" Jude asked dumbfounded.
"Yep. Married too." Evan said mischievously, pulling a ring from his pocket.
"Have been since it was legalized here." David interjected.
"What I'm itching to know, is how my dear brother reacted to this?" Evan asked curiously, "I always thought that Adam lent more towards dad's way of thinking on the subject."
"He did." I said simply, "He tried to keep me and Jude from seeing each other when I first told him I was gay. He caved when he realized that it wasn't going away, with a little help from Jude's mom Lena. That was right after I got shot. He's actually pretty cool with it now."
"Has hell frozen over?" Evan deadpans.
Jude snorts, and I crack a smile.
"That's exactly what I've said. Three times." I said brightly, "That's also what Aunt Caroline said when we told her earlier."
"Ah, so you told her before your favorite Uncle?" He said with a fake pout.
"Your my only Uncle." I deadpan, "Biologically, that is. Besides, she was the first one here."
"That is true." Evan conceded, "She is the only one who knows about us, as well."
"Dads?"
We turned to see Albus standing in the door. He slowly walked towards us.
"You okay?" He asked them.
"Yeah, kiddo we're fine." David said, "You?"
"Sick of having to call you Uncle, daddy." Albus said irritably.
He turned to us.
"Is anybody else about to kill Grandpa?"
"Thinking about it." I admit jokingly.
"By the way boys," Evan interjected, "I'm happy for you two. Don't let anybody ruin that. Now let's go back inside before they come looking."
We all went back inside, and reclaimed our places at the table.
Jude and I shared a quick look after we had sat back down, to make sure we were both okay. I turn my head a fraction of an inch to look at Grandpa. He was staring at us, a peculiar look on his face.
"Oh shit." I say, only loud enough for Jude and Mom to hear me.
"What?" Jude whispers back.
"He's just caught us looking at each other. He's figuring it out. Get ready to run if you need to." I tell him.
Suddenly, Grandpa's eyes darkened, and he looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
"He's figured it out." I whispered to Jude.
We only had to wait five more minutes for him to finally say something.
"You know, Connor, that I don't like being lied to." He said in a voice dripping with poison, "And you dare to bring that sick little perversion into my house?"
The room is dead silent.
"Friend, indeed." He snarled.
I feel Jude shrink in on himself next to me at being steeled myself and turned and made eye contact with a glare in full force.
"Watch whose boyfriend you're calling a perversion." I snarl back.
He leapt to his feet, and so did the rest of the table. Grandma grabbed his arm to stop him advancing on us like he was trying to, but he broke free. Evan ran around the table to put himself in front of me and Jude. He pressed a small button on his cane's handle, and pulled.
A three and a half foot long blade slid from the body of the cane. He brandished it in front of him, the tip right above my grandfather's chest.
"If you take one step closer to my nephew," Evan said, his voice cold enough to freeze steel, "I will not hesitate."
"This is against god!" Grandpa snarled.
"So is the pork, shellfish, and polyester shirt that you're wearing. Get over yourself, old man." Evan returned.
"Still you stick up for them?" Grandpa shouted, "The sinful little pervert, and his little boy toy? It's sickening!"
He would have continued... if my Dad hadn't lunged forward and planted a right hook across his face, knocking him to the ground. Dad shook his hand around to clear the pain.
"You okay bro?" Evan asked.
"Never better." Dad answered before turning back to his father, "If you EVER call my son those names again, I will bash your fucking SKULL IN!"
"Their kind are not welcome here."
"Then I'm not welcome here either, and neither are David and Albus." Evan snarled.
"And what s that supposed to mean?"
"What do you think it means you cantankerous old fart?" Evan snarled, "Albus is OUR son. David's not my best friend, you idiot, he's my FUCKING HUSBAND!"
"I want you freaks OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, ALEXANDER STEVENS!" Grandma thundered, making him cower, "THIS HOUSE IS NOT YOURS! IT IS IN MY NAME, SO SIT YOUR ASS DOWN IN THAT CHAIR BEFORE I BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH IT!"
He did as he was told.
"In case you haven't noticed, you are the only one here who has a problem with it." She continued, "So shut up and eat your damned dinner. I swear to all that is holy if you say another word I will make you a miserable man, AM I CLEAR?"
"Yes, dear." He said through gritted teeth.
I tried desperately to calm my breathing but found that I couldn't.
So I start talking.
"You call him nasty. You call him a perversion. If love is a perversion, then so be it, because I love Jude, and nothing you say or do is gonna change that. I wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for Jude. If it wasn't for him you all would have attended my funeral months ago."
Jude looked at me sharply. I had never told him this.
"When I first met Jude, the divorce was happening and I was depressed. Really depressed. Then Jude came into the picture, and I had somebody that could push those thoughts away. Think about that the next time you call somebody like us, somebody gay, a perversion."
We eat the rest of dinner in silence, and left very quickly afterwards, with promises exchanged between the adults to stay in contact and visit. Everybody but Grandpa.
On the ride home, I reflected on the day's events. I was sad, of course, that my grandfather had turned on me. But with Jude's head leaning resting asleep on my shoulder, I found my sadness being chased away by the content feeling that welled in my stomach.
But no matter how hard I pushed away the feelings, it hurt.
It hurt to know that I would never see my Grandfather again.
AN#2: Well that's that. I think this may be the longest chapter yet. Thanks for reading, and Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm debating on whether or not to use Connor's Uncle Evan in any of the future chapters. I think I might, but I'm not sure. What do you think? Maybe give him a bit of a back story, and have Jude and Connor find it out? Leave any ideas or prompts in the reviews and they might get used in one of the future chapters.