Protection

It was just another weekend for Jude and Callie, one that the siblings usually spent snuggled under the blankets and watching reruns of their favorite movies and eating popcorn. The brunette and her brother chuckled at a funny line on-screen and snuggled close to one another. There was a sudden knock on the door and the brunette shrugged in confusion, kissing her brother on the forehead before getting up to answer the door.

"Want me to pause it?" The boy asked.

"Nah, you're fine, just keep watching." She reassured, ruffling his hair and finally opening the door.

"Hi, love." Stef greeted, stepping around the girl and tugging Lena along with her.

"Uh… what are you guys doing here?" The brunette asked nervously, getting Jude's attention. He paused the television and turned back to face the group, very confused. The Moms smiled at the two children and took a seat down on the couch, pulling out candy bars and handing them to each child.'

Callie took hers nervously, fingers hovering over the wrapper before she just shoved it in her pocket and turned to the two Moms, "What are you doing here?"

"What? We just wanted to drop by and see how you kids were doing."

"Oh, so we're doing drop-bies now? I wasn't aware."

"Callie…"

"Just say what you're gonna say already. What do you want?"

Stef cleared her throat, "Well, Mike is having a barbecue tonight and we're going. I was just wondering if you two would like to come along?"

"Tot—" Jude began.

"No way!" Callie shouted, "I'm not letting Jude anywhere near him."

"Look, Cal, I know you have some issues with him, but I promise he is doing much better. He is safe to be around, Jude is going to be fine."

"Yeah, well, I'm not taking any chances. That man is staying away from us."

"I understand, I understand." Lena reassured, wrapping an arm around the girl she considered her daughter, "Just know that you can stop by our house anytime."

"I know." She responded simply, "Now can you please leave?"

Stef and Lena exchanged looks while they both pretended that they weren't hurt by that blunt comment. The younger girl seemed to realize how rude she had sounded and quickly muttered an apology. The Moms just smiled in return and assured the girl that everything was fine.

On one Monday afternoon, while Jude was at school, Callie drove herself over to the Adams-Foster house. Although she loved Stef and Lena, this visit wasn't just for them this time. She rang the doorbell and nearly fell when Mariana jumped on her.

"Jesus, Mari!" Callie exclaimed, regaining her footing.

"Sorry!" The Latina quickly apologized, squealing in glee before wrapping her arms around her sister once again, "I just missed you so much."

"Yeah, I missed you to." The older girl said, shrieking in surprise when she was forced inside and yanked up into the bedroom, quickly pulled up onto the single bed.

"So… what did you want to tell me exactly?"

"I just need your advice on something."

"Seriously? You made me come all the way over here just to give you advice? Why didn't you just tell me this over the phone?"

"Because… well… this one is kind of big. Also, don't pretend you don't love coming over here!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Can you just get on with whatever this is?"

"Yes, about that…" The younger girl sighed, "Some kids have been calling me a slut lately. Writing it on my lockers, some of my friends have lef—" The Latina stopped speaking when she saw the enraged look on her sister's face. Instantly, she knew that calling the girl over was a big mistake.

"—Y'know what? It doesn't matter, I can deal with it my own. No big."

But it was too late, Callie already had texted Jude that she would be late home tomorrow night and to make sure that he took the spare set of apartment keys with him, just to be safe.

"I'm going to drop off my brother tomorrow and you are going to tell Lena and Stef-"

"You mean your Moms?"

"—You are going to tell Lena and Stef that I'm taking you to school tomorrow. I'll take care of the rest."

"Callie, what are you going to do?"

"Just be quiet and trust me, please. I'll see you tomorrow, first thing." The brunette kissed her younger sister on the forehead and held her in a tight embrace, the love that she was giving off already making Mariana feel better.

Stef and Lena happened to be walking by when they saw the two girls hugging one another tightly. The Moms smiled at the sight but frowned when they saw that their youngest daughter was crying.

"It's going to be alright." Callie assured, "I'm here." She squeezed the girl's hand and got up, "Let's go."

"Go? Where are we going?"

"What? Am I not allowed to take my sister out for lunch?"

Mariana beamed with glee and practically jumped on Callie, forcing the older girl to carry her piggy-back style out of the bedroom until she reached the staircase.

They spent the rest of the afternoon together and headed their separate ways.

Jude confronted Callie about her text message when she picked him up later that day, asking what was so important that she couldn't pick him up from school. She simply told him that it would only be a onetime thing, and that there was plenty of food in the fridge if he needed a snack and that she would make sure to be home before dinner. Don't answer any calls or any doors, don't invite anyone over yadda yadda yadda.

He was a bit hurt but nodded. Although he was much too old for this, he still let his sister tuck him into bed every night. The brunette kissed her brother's forehead and went off to bed herself. The thought of her sister dealing with those hateful things coaxed her to sleep. She was resting on a bed of fury until morning came.

Jude kissed his sister goodbye the next day and boarded the bus. She stayed and waved goodbye until the bus turned the corner, and that's when she jumped into action. The brunette got into her car and parked in front of the Adams-Foster household as fast as possible. She rushed up to the door and rang the doorbell multiple times until finally, it was opened.

"Oh, hey sweetie!" Stef greeted, "You here for Mariana? You know what, I still think it is very sweet of you to do that. So, tell me, how are you doi—"

"Hey, Callie!" The Latina yelped, squeezing past her Mother and wrapping her older sister in a hug. They slid into the brunette's car with ease and drove off to Anchor Beach Charter School.

Mariana waved goodbye to the girl and was shocked when she saw that the eldest girl had gotten out and was joining her on her walk.

"What are you doing?"

"I told you I was going to deal with it, didn't I?"

"... And what exactly does that mean?"

"It means I'm with you for the rest of the day. If anyone tries to get to you, they'll have to go through me first." Callie wrapped an arm around her sister and kissed her on the forehead. The Latina didn't seem to mind the company since she was short on friends lately and linked elbows with the girl.

No sooner than that did a group of girls from the dance team approach the sisters, "Hey there, Mariana!" The tallest one said, crossing her arms and popping her right hip, "Tell me, how was last night? I heard you went out and got some… who was it again? Oh, I can never keep track these days. Neither can you, I suppose. With all that jumping around I bet you have to keep tennis shoes in your purse."

"Leave her alone." Callie blurted out, wrapping her arms around the girl protectively.

"Who's this, now? You got yourself a protector, Mariana? Did you tell your friend about all the bad stuff you've done?"

"Quite the contrary, she's told me about all the bad stuff that you've done." The brunette fired back, getting their attention.

"Well, of course she would say that." The lead dancer said, "But I'm the one telling the truth here, so why you would believe her?" She rested a hand against her chest and stuck her nose up in the air in a snobbish way.

"How am I supposed to believe anything you say?" Callie countered, squeezing her best friend tighter. The Latina lifted her arms and hugged the girl right back, surprised when she was pulled forward closer to the group of girls.

"You leave her alone." The brunette ordered, "Or—"

"—Or what? You'll hit me? Doubtful. I can already tell you don't have it in you."

Pushing her sister to the side, Callie pounced on the girl and punched her in the stomach, sending her to the ground.

Rubbing her bruised knuckles, the older girl turned around with a smile on her face as if nothing had ever happened, "You ready to go back to class?"

Slowly, Mariana nodded, "Yeah."

"Then let's go."

A/N: Hey there! Look who's finally back with another chapter. Hopefully y'all haven't forgotten about this story and will still give it a good read. I apologize for the wait, but I have been facing a year's worth of writer's block on this story.

Thank you,

~Sellybelly411