A Different Type of Family

Desperate

Lena and Stef eyed Jackson Owens. "He is a great kid. Needs a chance."

"We know him, but he will be on the couch. We have nothing else and AJ is still punished," Lena added. "When our kids are punished, they don't get to have friends in their room," Lena added.

"Just for a few weeks right?" Stef asked. Jackson Owens nodded. Jackson and Lena were best friends growing up and still are.

"Yes and his caseworker Nathan Millet will bring him by in an hour," Jackson added. "Thanks."

At the Adams family home, "So how long?" AJ asked excited. He was over the moon.

"Just a few weeks," Lena added. "Only to foster."

"And he is on the couch," Stef added. AJ looked shocked.

"The couch? He can be in my room," AJ added.

"What is the rule when someone is punished?" Lena asked. AJ stayed silent.

"No friends in our rooms," Callie added. Everyone knew that.

"But moms' he will think we won't want him," AJ complained.

"AJ this is temporary. If you can't get passed that. I will call Jackson Owens back and cancel," Stef added. "This is only for a few weeks. He leaves a week before we go on spring break."

"I understand," he added. He was hurt and understood why his moms' were acting this way.

A few hours later, Bruce Hale stepped into his new foster home and smiled.

"Hi Bruce," Lena added. "This is my wife Stef."

"Hi," he added. "Thanks for having me."

"You are welcome and welcome to our home," Stef added. "Lena and I have some rules and we need to discuss them with you."

He nodded and followed them  his new foster parents to the kitchen. The talk lasted an hour.

"So I get the couch?" he asked. They nodded.

"With AJ punished, we have a rule in the house that whoever is punished can't have friends in their room," Lena added. "We don't want the other kids to be upset and you being here is temporary," Lena added. Bruce nodded.

"I understand," Bruce replied. The other kids came over and began to talk with Bruce.

AJ eyed Bruce, "Sorry about the couch."

"Don't be," Bruce added.

"What happened at BU?" AJ asked.

"They got new kids and some hated me," Bruce added. "They sent me away to protect me."

"That sucks. At least you are here," AJ added. 

In the kitchen, "I feel for him and I read his file. He has a twin sister?" Stef asked.

"Yup. He brought a bat to his foster father's car since he was beating the sister," Lena added. "Before that he never caused trouble."

Lena eyed her wife's look. "No. We have  five kids in college and six more who will start college this year."

"No I don't want to adopt him. But he needs a home and fast. What about Armando?"

"He got his license reinstated, but he has no extra rooms. The twins don't share," Lena added. "And they are in college, and live at home."

Stef nodded. "Maybe Mike?" Stef asked.

"Only has a guest room and he needs to become a foster parent first. I'm not sure a Judge will give Mike a kid. He signed his rights away to the twins and the triplets," Lena added.