"So," Connor asked. "Where are we going?" He and Jude were playing Xbox in the Fosters' living room.
"Santee Lakes," Jude said. "Frank, Stef's dad, had a timeshare there and he left it to Sharon, his ex-wife. She's invited us there for the weekend."
"Oh. Who else is going?"
"Stef and Lena, and us. Mariana is still recovering and is at her grandparent's, Brandon's at Idyllwild, Jesus is at boarding school and Callie is spending the weekend at Robert's."
"Have you ever been to this place?"
"No, but I checked it out online and it looks pretty nice. We'll be in a bunk bed, but we usually don't need that big of a bed, so we can probably just put our stuff on the top bunk."
Connor grinned at him. "Well, that's because we sleep glued together."
Jude pointed his finger at him. "And you like it that way. You started that whole spooning thing, you know."
Connor smirked at him.
***
"Good to see you, Jude dear," Sharon said. "And what's your name again?" she asked Connor. "Cameron?"
"Connor." He held his hand out.
"Yeah right, com'on, bring it in for me." She opened her arms and he hugged her with a smile.
"Just so you know," Jude said, "Connor's my boyfriend."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Really?" she gave him a pat on the arm. "Look at you, getting a handsome, muscled little stud like Connor. You two 'hooking up' or whatever the euphemism for sex is these days?"
"We're only thirteen grandma, we're probably a bit young for that?"
"I dunno," she said, checking out Connor's backside. "If I were you I'd get some of that ass while I could."
"GRANDMA!!!"
"Hey, take it from an old person—don't waste time. I'll get dinner ready." She walked out.
"Oh my God," Connor laughed. "Is she always like that?"
"Pretty much."
"It's so funny, first Taylor wanted us to get laid, and now your grandma? This is so weird."
"Technically she's Stef's mom."
Connor pointed his finger at him. "Technically, you're adopted into that family and she's your grandma."
Jude smiled.
***
The sun was setting and Sharon was drying the last of the dishes. Lena and Stef were each reading a book on the couch. Outside on the porch, Connor and Jude were sitting next to each other, arms around each other's shoulders and Jude's head tucked next to Connor's. "Stef, how come I never see you and Lena like that anymore. You two having a rough time?"
Stef looked up. "No, everything's fine. We're just not thirteen and head over heels like Connor and Jude."
"You used to be head over heels. Did something change?"
Lena looked up. "It might have had something to do with five kids and all the teenage dramas they've gotten themselves into. Even those two got into that, sneaking out and Connor getting shot."
"Sounds like you're making excuses. Are you sure everything is alright? I mean, look at those two, they've been inseparable since they got here."
"It's been going on a lot longer than that," Lena said with a smile. "I'd think they would have gotten tired of each other by now but now that school's out they spend practically every second together."
***
Connor slipped into the bottom bunk, and Jude followed, nestling into the shape he knew so well. "Swimming tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sounds like fun." He kissed Jude. "Night, babe."
Awhile later Sharon, Lena and Stef came in from the front porch and stopped, watching for a moment as Jude and Connor slept, Jude tucked into Connor's arm.
"He's always smiling in his sleep," Lena said to Sharon.
"Well, wouldn't you? Look at them. Makes me wish these old bones were thirteen again, they're having more fun than any of us."
***
"You swim really good," Connor said to Jude.
"You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"No dude, I think you're actually a natural at it. See, you're good at something!"
"You ever think we'll get tired of this?"
"You mean swimming, or twenty-four seven Jonnor?"
Jude laughed. "The latter."
Connor frowned at him. "You're not getting tired of me, are you bb?"
"No, not at all. It's just when I see most other people in ships, they don't spend every minute of the day together like we do."
"Well like your x-rated Grandma said, don't waste time. And we aren't like all those other little ships."
"Damn right," he pulled Connor towards him, kissed him. "Race you to the other side," he said, kicking off and swimming towards the opposite side of the pool.
"Dude, that's cheating!" Connor swam after him. He had the muscular advantage but Jude's technique was better and Jude got there first.
"Go again," Jude said. This time Connor's greater stamina gave him the advantage.
"Tie-breaker?" Connor asked.
"I think we're both winners," Jude said, and kissed him again.
***
"Jude, your turn for dishes love, if you can unhook yourself from Connor's hip for that long."
Jude nodded to Stef, gave Connor a kiss and got up from where they had been playing tablet games on the bed. He filled the sink with water, added soap and started loading the dishes in to soak.
Stef grabbed a towel. "I'll dry 'em honey."
"Okay," he said. He started washing plates.
"You having fun, love? I thought you'd be outside more."
"We were outside. We swam, went for a hike around the lake, played catch out in the field."
"You're not getting sick of Connor?"
"What, you mean like how people get sick of breathing?" he grinned at her. "It probably won't always be like this, and it's okay if it isn't, but right now...I dunno mom, but it sucks when we're apart."
She stroked his back. "I just don't want you to get hurt, love."
He turned a looked at Connor, who was stretched out on the bunk, playing on the tablet. "I won't get hurt. And if I do, he'll put me back together. I was like humpty-dumpty once you know, broken in pieces? You and Lena fixed up some of them, and he took care of the rest."
***
"This's been really fun," Connor said, walking with Jude around the lake, their hands intertwined.
"Yeah. I'm glad school's out. Oh, Sophia texted me. She'd like to have another date with us."
"Cool. What do you want to do?"
Jude looked him slyly. "Well, we haven't been to a movie for awhile. We could revisit that whole pinky action thing you started. Yeah, that's right. Connor started Jonnor. You know it."
Connor laughed. "Guilty as charged. Sure, a movie sounds great. We'll just have to make sure to, y'know, sit in the back." He stopped, and pulled his hand away from Jude's and stroked his back. "Hey, I've been thinking. I know we aren't ready for what your pervy grandma thinks we should be doing, but next time, you want to make out more?"
Jude thought about that. "I thought we were doing that, but whatever you have in mind sounds interesting."
"Well, as I recall, you were so preoccupied at the beach you almost managed to drown yourself."
"I didn't actually drown," Jude protested. "You just looked so amazing and athletic on the beach. I might have been staring."
"Hahaha, I think I have a stalker." He kissed Jude's forehead. "So maybe next time...shirtless?" He watched Jude's reaction. "Oh, so that's what a wicked grin looks like. Thanks."