DynamiX: The Second Generation of Glee

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee...and after hearing some spoilers for Season 4, I don't really want to.

A/N: I'll apologize for my lateness at the end of the chapter. But for now, enjoy the long overdue update!

Chapter 12 – Who Am I?

It was about one week into the new semester as Jack Abrams cascaded down the hall in search of his newest "friend." Smiling, he found the boy at his locker.

"Morning, Pretty Boy."

Without even closing the locker door that blocked his view, Cole Hudson knew who was behind it. "Good morning, Jack."

"Listen," the Abrams boy continued, "I'm gonna need you to get a pass out of homeroom with me today. I—"

"Really Jack?" Cole whispered in shock. "My mouth needs a break every now and then...although, I guess if you wanted to give instead of receive, I wouldn't have an issue with it."

Jack smirked. "That's not actually what I wanted, but I like where your mind is, Hudson. It's a bit of a turn-on." The tall boy blushed as Jack laughed at him.

"So, what do you need?" asked Cole.

"Your boy Chang is still trying to get that combo going, right?"

"Combo?"

"Another name for a musical ensemble," Jack clarified.

"Oh yeah, for the glee club!" Cole remembered. "Yeah, I think he's supposed to officially announce it in rehearsals today."

"Perfect," Jack thought aloud. "Because I'll need your help with something…and maybe after that, I could…offer you some of my services, you know? Since you 'don't have an issue with it.'"

"…I kinda hate you, you know that?"

Everything seemed to pretty normal at the lunch table that afternoon…except for Julia Hummel-Anderson, who had spent the first few minutes of the period staring at Beth Corcoran from across the room.

"Julia, is everything okay?" asked Cameron. "You've been pretty quiet this whole time."

"I was just thinking about Beth," she said distractedly. "We haven't really discussed it in a while, but I've been wondering how the New Directions have been dealing with her introduction into our lives."

"Okay, I think Cole's filled me in on all of your gossip," began Jack. "Beth's your glee club teacher that's also the secret Puckerman love child, right?"

"Right," nodded Cole.

"Hey, I just thought of something," considered Steph aloud. "Remember back on the first day, when Markie came over for lunch?"

"And he hit on his sister?" laughed Anna Maria. "How could we forget that!?"

"Well, Markie said that he was here with Mom and Aunt Quinn. Handling 'unfinished business'…"

"I can't believe we didn't pick up on that!" Julia announced, piggybacking on Steph's theory. "That must have been about Beth!"

"So what are we supposed to do about it?" asked Anna Maria.

"Nothing," Julia replied, her tone having changed from elation to sincerity. "Seriously, this isn't our business. I think that we should butt out…for real this time. Let's allow our parents handle this however they see fit."

As the others nodded in agreement, Trey spoke. "I wonder if she even knows that she's adopted."

"I'm not sure," Steph replied. "But Julia's right. We really shouldn't interfere anymore."

"Yeah, I know," Trey continued, "but that's gotta be weird if she doesn't know…I mean, how can a person have no idea who their parents are?"

Anna Maria shrugged. "It happens, I guess."

"But still," the Asian went on, "not having any idea who your mother and father are? Spending your entire life in mystery without having a clue about your biological origins?"

Cameron, who had been holding Julia's hand, felt her tense up nervously.

"T-Trey, knock it off," Cameron said softly.

"I mean, people have moms and dads. Egg and sperm. I can't imagine how it would feel to not know both parts. I'd hate to be in that position!"

"Seriously Trey, shut up," repeated Cole, now noticing discomfort in Anna Maria's face as well.

"If that were me, I…I just don't know how I could handle that. Not knowing where I came from? Hello identity crisis!"

"Will somebody get this guy a muzzle or something?" Jack asked sarcastically.

"Trey. Shut. Up," Steph told him through gritted teeth.

"Just look at us!" Trey elaborated. He hadn't even heard or seen his friends in his rant. If anything, he was just thinking aloud without even noticing them. "I mean, Cole and Steph have Finn and Rachel. Jack has Artie and his mom. Cameron has Sam and Mercedes. I have Mike and Tina. Jules has Ku—and…A.M. has..."

Finally realizing that he should have stopped talking about a year and a half ago, Trey slammed his head on the table. "Shoot. Me. Now."

"I gotta go," Anna Maria announced, standing up.

"Anna Maria, wait, I'm sorry!" Trey tried to appease.

But she was already gone. And now Julia was standing as well.

"Julia—"

"It's okay, Cameron," Julia interrupted her boyfriend softly. "I'll see you in class."

And Julia left as well. As soon as she was gone, everyone else turned to glare at Trey, whose head was on the table once again in horror.

"Trey, should we even bother telling you how much of an idiot you are?" asked Cole.

His response was said into the table. "Nope. Gunshot straight to the head will be just fine."

That afternoon, it was the first DynamiX rehearsal of the semester. Trey walked in, Steph at his side, about five minutes before rehearsal was to begin. Among others, they saw an uncharacteristically silent Julia sitting beside a characteristically apathetic Anna Maria.

"I can't believe I said that crap," Trey whispered. "I wasn't trying to get them upset. I honestly forgot that you guys were there; I was just talking to myself."

"I know," replied Steph. "Just apologize to them. The sooner, the better."

Taking a deep breath, Trey nodded and walked toward his friends. "Guys—"

"Drop it, Chang," the Latina interrupted. "We're good."

"I am so unbelievably sorry—"

It was Julia's turn to interrupt. "Trey, everything's fine."

"I was just talking out of my head, and I said a lot of crap—"

Steph tapped his shoulder from behind. "You're forgiven. Now shut up."

The boy turned back to Anna Maria and Julia. "Are you sure?"

They both nodded, Anna Maria speaking on their behalf. "Yeah, now get out of here. You're starting to bug me."

As Trey and Steph took their seats, no one noticing Trey's attempt to grab Steph's hand (or Steph's subtle refusal), Cameron entered and walked over to his girlfriend.

"Hi," he greeted, kissing Julia.

"Hey Cam," she replied softly.

"I saw you guys talk to Trey. Everything okay?"

"Yes, we're fine."

"Because when you got to history class after lunch, you only said a couple of words to me."

"You learn in class, Cameron," she stated as if it were obvious. "That's what school is for."

"…Julia, you know that you can talk to me about this, right?"

"Good afternoon, everyone!"

Cameron looked up from his girlfriend, a little annoyed to have Beth Corcoran interrupt his conversation.

"Before we begin," Beth continued as the group silenced themselves, "I'd like to call Trey Chang up to make an announcement."

One of the glee club members, Tiffany Beale, spoke up. "Didn't he quit? I thought he couldn't sing or dance."

Trey glared at the girl before responding. "You're right, I can't sing, and I can't dance. But I do like music, and I enjoy the guitar a lot. So I talked to Ms. Corcoran, and she's given me permission to start a backup band for the glee club!"

"Like live music while we're singing?" Stacy Nguyen, another member, asked.

"That's great!" announced Tiffany.

"So," Beth concluded. "While Trey won't be singing with you guys anymore, he'll still be an integral part of the team."

Trey spoke again. "And if you know anybody who'd be interested in joining the band, just let me know."

All of the sudden, the sounds of a brief saxophone lick were heard from the hallway. As the class mumbled in confusion, Cole appeared in the doorway holding a boom box. Apparently, no one had noticed that he wasn't even in the room.

"Cole, where have you been?" his sister asked.

"You'll find out, soon enough," he answered. "Ladies and gentlemen, auditioning for Vocal DynamiX on the saxophone, vocally accompanied by yours truly, Mr. Jackson Abrams."

As Trey and Beth took seats, the tall boy pressed a button on the radio, and a very simple instrumental track began to play. Then, the live music sounds began to be heard once more and grew louder as Jack entered the room, playing his soprano saxophone. They seemed impressed with the R&B style of his playing, and when he stopped, Cole picked up with the lyrics of the song.

COLE:

Silence takes over,

Sayin' all we need to say.

There's endless possibilities

In the moves we can make.

Your kiss is giving every indication

If this heart of mine is right.

By the time this night is over,

The stars are gonna shine on two lovers in love.

And when the morning comes,

Its gonna find us together

In a love that's just begun.

By the time this night is over,

Two hearts are gonna fly to the Heavens above.

And we'll get closer and closer and closer

By the time this night is over.

A night like this may never come again,

And you won't want this night to end.

Oh baby, we can have it all,

By the time this night is over!

Throughout Cole's singing, Jack had been improvising in the background and "sneaking" flirty glances at him, but when Cole paused his vocals, it was the saxophonist's time to shine…and shine he did.

"Is anybody else getting turned on?"

"Anna Maria!" whispered Julia strongly. Yet, she didn't deny that Jack was good.

"Meanwhile," Cameron noticed, "has anyone noticed that Cole is singing old school R&B? And doing it well, I might add?"

Steph smirked. "White people can have game too, yo."

"…Not when they say stuff like that."

Eventually, Jack led Cole into a key change, and together they reprised the chorus once more to receive a loud ovation at the end of their performance. Beth, who had been sitting on the side of the room, made her way to the boys when they finished.

"That was remarkable! You've got such a remarkable melodic blend; possibly one of the best examples of musical chemistry I've seen. I'm sure that the rest of the group would agree with me in welcoming you to our group, Jack," Beth told the saxophonist, and the DynamiX applauded in agreement.

"Thanks," Jack smiled before he and Cole took their seats.

"Well that was a great way to start off rehearsals," said the instructor. "Now let's get on to practice. Last semester, we decided our set list a little too late for my liking. What I'd like to discuss with you all is some ideas for songs for Regionals."

Jack raised his hand. "I saw you guys at Sectionals, and you were one of the few groups with a central theme. I think that worked in your favor."

"Let's say we have another theme," said Beth hypothetically, taking Jack's suggestion. "Any ideas?"

Julia stood up. "I have the perfect idea. As we all know, the most powerful forms of music come from the Broadway stage. If the Vocal DynamiX were to have any sort of theme, Broadway is the obvious choice!"

The group began to murmur, not really seeming to care one way or another. Trey, however, stood up and walked to Julia.

"I have a suggestion, too," he started. "Sure Broadway's great, but not a lot of people relate to it. I think that if we want to impress the judges and the crowd, we need to do some music that everyone knows and can understand."

"I'll gladly upstage you guys with some more Kenny G solos," prompted Jack.

Trey smiled. "Thanks Jack, but I was thinking a little more classic. Say…the Beatles?"

Suddenly, the Vocal DynamiX grew much louder, incredibly excited at the prospect of singing Beatles classics. Beth resumed control of the group.

"It looks like we have a winner, everyone. We're doing the Beatles for Regionals!"

The group cheered once more. Even Julia, whose idea had been passed over, managed a small smile. Cameron, however, was the only one to notice that it was completely fake.

"Lord Tubbington, get the hell away from my egg roll."

Anna Maria, who was sitting with her mothers, the newly married Mrs. and Mrs. Lopez-Pierce, snatched her egg roll away from the large cat that was prowling on top of the table. The family was having an early dinner of take-out Chinese food in the Senator's office before Santana's late night meeting.

"Britt, does he really have to be on the table?" Santana questioned slowly, not wanting to offend her wife.

"But San, he's really hungry! You know how he gets this time of the month!"

Anna Maria turned to Santana. "The male cat has periods?"

"Lord Tubbington is a unique freak of nature," her mother whispered back. "Just drop half of your egg roll on the ground for him or something."

"No way! That demon cat always takes my stuff; I swear he's out to get me."

Brittany smiled mockingly. "Come on, A.M. Lord Tubbington loves you."

"Lord Tubbington eats my favorite makeup so I have to keep going back to the store," Anna Maria deadpanned. "He's a little demon is what he is."

Santana, bored with this, snatched her daughter's egg roll, tore off a piece, and dropped it on the floor. As the large cat jumped off of the table to eat, the Senator's daughter was not happy.

"Mami!"

"Thank you, Santana," smiled Brittany. "A.M., you should be nicer to your brother."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, the girl grew silent, and she then remembered what she had wanted to discuss with her parents all day.

"Moms, I need to talk to you about something."

Santana looked up from her plate. "Sure, hon, what's up?"

"Alright…I was just…a little curious about my dad. You know? My birth dad."

The Senator looked hesitant. "Honey…you know that we don't know him personally. We just went to a sperm bank."

"I know," her daughter replied. "But you know his name, right? I was thinking we get his information, and I can try to see him."

"Why do you want to see the sperm guy all of the sudden?" questioned Brittany.

"Um…some things kind of came up at lunch today, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it."

"Well, A.M.," Santana told her, "I can get the file for you. It's the same one that Britt and I picked out when we were looking for donors. All I can remember it having is his name and medical history, but it could have an address."

Anna Maria smiled. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."

"Are you sure that you're ready?" asked Brittany. "To go and see him?"

Their daughter paused before speaking. "Yeah…it's time to know exactly where I came from."

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Cameron and a silent Julia were seated on the sofa in her living room watching television.

"Juli—"

"Cameron, I'm fine," she said briskly, eyes not moving off of the television screen.

"Then why did you say it all nasty like that?"

"Because this is the fifth time you've asked me that today."

"Because you're not fine!"

"Cameron, I do—"

"You remember everything you said on our first date?" he reminded her. "About being honest with feelings? Well, it works both ways. Julia, I am here for you. You've just got to communicate with me!"

The blonde remained silent for a solid minute before coming up with a response. "I'm mad about this afternoon's practice."

"Because Trey overruled your Broadway idea in glee today?"

"Not just that," she replied. "After Cole and Jack's song…Beth commented on their musical chemistry."

"They did have great chemistry," Cameron countered. "Why is that a bad thing for you?"

"I like being in control," Julia told him, still not really looking at him. "It's silly, but I like when I have a say in what goes on."

"So you're saying that you like being the leader?"

"Yes, but…not necessarily…I just like having that control…knowing what's going on in my life. I don't like being in the dark. I don't like not knowing…"
She trailed off, and based off of everything that had conspired that day, Cameron realized the truth about the girl.

"This isn't about DynamiX at all," he said. "You're right. You do like to have control in your life. But you're not talking about the club. You're talking about your birth parents."

"Cam, what are you talking about? I'm not mad at Trey about what he said at lunch." she asked distractedly, seeming to imply that he had pulled that suggestion out of the blue.

"I didn't say that you were," her boyfriend started. "But you can't say that you weren't affected by it."

"Yes, I can say that exactly." She stood up and began to walk up the stairs, and he was right behind her.

"If what Trey said had no effect on you, then why are you walking away from me?"

"Because you're annoying."

"And why did you leave lunch early today?"

"Because…I just felt like it, okay!?"

Now at the top of the stairs, Cameron grabbed Julia's hands softly. "Remember, this is a two-way street. Let me help you, please."

Julia sighed, her stubborn resolve slowly breaking down. "Cam, I don't want to burden you with my insignificant problems."

"One, your problems are not insignificant. Two, you are not a burden. Jules…it…makes me really sad to see you sad…God, that was cheesy."

His girlfriend laughed a little. "I love it when you're cheesy."

Cameron grew serious again. "And I love it when you're honest."

Julia nodded. "You're right. I prefer when you are honest with me with your feelings, so it's only fair that I do the same."

"Don't think of it as an obligation," said Cameron as they walked back down the stairs. "Think of me as…your personal sounding board that you can say anything to with complete trust and without fear of judgment…that was less cheesy, right?"

"I'll listen to either version of you," she answered smiling.

The two were now back on the couch, so Cameron decided to get the ball rolling.

"So, you've been thinking about your birth parents," began Cameron. "My parents told me that your birth mother was inseminated by both of your fathers. Are you trying to figure out which of them is your real dad?"

Julia shook her head. "This isn't about them. Honestly, I don't want to know which of them is my real dad; I consider both of them to be my real fathers."

"Then it's your mom."

"Right," she said softly. "I mean…this woman carried me for nine months. And because one of my fathers inseminated her, I know that she purposely got pregnant with me. I've never even realized it until today, but I just have so many questions."

At that moment, the door opened and Kurt and Blaine Hummel-Anderson entered from the front door.

"Oh!" announced Kurt. "Were we interrupting a special moment? Please say yes."

"Kurt…"

"It's okay," Cameron said as he arose. "I was just leaving."

Julia looked confused. "You were?"

"I've got to get home," he replied, and then added so that only she could hear, "and you need to talk to your dads."

The blonde nodded and gave Cameron a quick kiss. "Thanks for being so great," she whispered. "And I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"No problem," smiled Cameron. "Call me later?"

The girl nodded again, and Cameron kissed her once more before leaving. As soon as he was gone, Julia returned to her awaiting fathers.

"Everything okay, honey?" Kurt asked, noticing her nervous expression.

"Yes, Papa…but I need to discuss something with you and Daddy."

The three sat down on the sofa together, and Blaine spoke on behalf of his husband. "Julia, whatever you need, we're here."

The girl took a deep breath. "I'd like to preface this question with the understanding that I love you both dearly. So very much."

Blaine gave a dark look. "Did Cameron knock you up?"

"Dadd—"

"I swear to God, I'll kill him!"

"Blaine, sit down!"

"I'm not pregnant, Daddy!"

Blaine, now much more relieved, took a seat. "So, what do you need, sweetheart?" he asked peacefully.

"…I'd like you to tell me about my birth mother."

The next day, Anna Maria found herself in the glee room during homeroom. She was absentmindedly playing a few notes on the piano, when a song came to her.

ANNA MARIA:

I want to be rich, and I want lots of money.

I don't care about clever; I don't care about funny.

I want loads of clothes, and I want loads of diamonds.

I heard people die while they are trying to find them.

And I'll take my clothes off, and it will be shameless,

'Cause everyone knows that's how you get famous.

I'll look at the sun, and I'll look in the mirror.

I'm on the right track; yeah I'm on to a winner.

(Her back turned to the entrance, Anna Maria fails to notice Julia standing right behind her.)

I don't know what's right and what's real anymore.

And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore.

And when do you think it will all become clear?

'Cause I'm being taken over by the Fear.

As the Latina continued to play the motive on the piano, Julia decided to enter the room. Taking a seat on the bench beside her friend, Julia took the next verse.

JULIA:

Life's about film stars and less about mothers.

It's all about fast cars and cussing each other.

But it doesn't matter 'cause I'm packing plastic,

And that's what makes my life so fantastic.

And I am a weapon of massive consumption.

And it's not my fault; it's how I'm programmed to function.

I'll look at the sun, and I'll look in the mirror.

I'm on the right track; yeah I'm on to a winner.

I don't know what's right and what's real anymore.

And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore.

And when do you think it will all become clear?

'Cause I'm being taken over by the Fear.

ANNA MARIA:

Forget about guns and forget ammunition.

'Cause I'm killing them all on my own little mission.

JULIA:

Now I'm not a saint, but I'm not a sinner.

Now everything is cool as long as I'm getting thinner.

BOTH (in harmony):

I don't know what's right and what's real anymore.

And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore.

And when do you think it will all become clear?

'Cause I'm being taken over by the Fear.

With the song over, Anna Maria turned to the blonde girl. "What are you doing here?"

"You weren't in homeroom, so I volunteered to look for you."

"And you knew I'd be here?"

"Well, when I'm in distress, I often turn to music."

"How did you know that I was distressed?"

"I spent all of last night thinking about the parent that I don't even know. I only assumed that after yesterday, you'd be doing the same."

"Yeah…" she replied in thought. "Did you get any information from your dads?"

"Yes. Apparently, my fathers met this woman when they decided to try having me." Julia pulled out an envelope from her jacket pocket. "Inside this envelope is her name and address. I haven't worked up the nerve to open it…what about you?"

"Ricardo Martinez," she replied simply. "That's his name. No fancy envelopes for me."

"Any other information on him?"

"Not really. He's just a sperm donor that my moms picked out from hundreds. They didn't even know him…but my mom was able to get his address from an old file."

"Do you think you're going to…?"

"See him?" Anna Maria finished. "Hell yeah. It's time to meet this guy. I can feel it. I'm ready to meet him, and nothing's gonna stop me."

"I wish I was as confident as you," Julia sighed.

"Hey, if you're not ready, you're not ready!" said the Latina, her tune changing. "Don't let me be your deciding factor!"

"I guess all of this talk about lost parents has made me feel like I should find mine," Julia told her, looking at the keys of the piano.

"You have her name, or at least, you have it available," Anna Maria said slowly, noticing her friend's apprehension. "Maybe that's enough for right now."

Julia smiled thankfully as she stood up. "I have to get back to homeroom. Are you coming?"

"Sure."

"Julia, Anna, where have you been?" asked the homeroom teacher, Mrs. Hamilton.

As Anna Maria grumbled over her name being said incorrectly once more, Julia answered for them. "Remember, Mrs. Hamilton? You gave me permission to find Anna Maria…and she has a pass from Ms. Corcoran to practice in the choir room."

The Latina tossed her crumpled up pass on the desk and went to sit beside Cole. Julia followed, opting for a seat between Steph and Cameron.

"I swear, if that bitch calls me Anna one more time…"

"Relax, A.M.," said Steph. "You haven't had a detention at all this semester. Try to keep up the streak."

The girl rolled her eyes as Cole spoke to her. "So where were you two, anyway?"

"In the glee room," Julia replied.

Anna Maria added jokingly, "Just discussing the parents that we don't have." Trey shrunk into his seat in humiliation as the Latina continued to smirk.

"Very nice, Miss Lopez-Pierce," noted Jack. "You made him completely embarrassed in only a few seconds."

"Thanks Abrams. I take pride in my work."

"I can do better though."

"Oh yeah? Prove it!"

Nodding his acceptance of her challenge, Jack turned to Cole. "The last time I masturbated, I thought of you."

"JACK!"

While it wasn't an actual admission of their sexual liaisons, it was enough embarrassment to cause Cole to drop his head on the desk as the others laughed.

"Well played, Jacko," conceded Anna Maria. "I'm going to enjoy having you as a challenger."

Shaking her hand, Jack answered. "Thanks, She-Devil. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the little boy's room."

As Jack left, Cole, head still on the desk, couldn't help but be shocked that Jack was only going to the bathroom.

Cameron pulled Cole's head up by his hair the second Jack was gone and asked, "So, are you guys dating or what?"

"What!?"

"Come on, Cole!" added Trey. After the tall boy's spectacle, his own shame was now gone. "He flirts with you more than he has regular conversations with the rest of us combined!"

"And let's not forget that song you did yesterday," Anna Maria reminded him. "You two might as well have been having sex up there."

Cole sighed and mentally prepared the cover story that he and Jack had established. "Jack and I are just friends. He's a flirt…like, a really big flirt. But we both agreed that we're just friends and nothing more."

Trey, Anna Maria, and Cameron all rolled their eyes, and Steph chuckled a response. "Fair enough, little brother."

"Twenty-seven minutes really isn't a big deal."

"Then why do you get pissed every time I bring it up?"

Jack re-entered the room and looked to Trey as he took his seat. "Saw Corcoran on the way back. She said that since we're doing the Beatles, you should go ahead and start looking for more people to join the combo."

Trey looked confused. "Combo?"

Jack sighed, pushing up his glasses. "It means musical ensemble…well, specifically, a musical ensemble with horns. And you clearly need my help in getting this off the ground. I am officially on your recruiting committee."

The Asian looked shocked. "Did you just offer services without me even asking?"

"He does that a lot," Cole announced without even thinking. Luckily, no one caught on to that…except for the widely smirking Jackson Abrams.

"Fine Jack," Trey told him. "You can help me get members for the combo. In the meantime, any song suggestions?"

The Latina smirked. "I don't know. Are there any Beatles songs about people without parents?"

As Trey shrank into his seat for a second time, Cameron and Julia turned to her.

"Knock it off, A.M.," said Cameron. "You said you forgave him!"

"I do," she asserted. "But I need to one-up Abrams."

"Leave him alone, honey," Julia softly told her. "We both know he didn't mean anything by that."

"Oh damn, Julia," Trey suddenly realized. "First I said that crap to you at lunch, and then I shot down your Broadway idea in DynamiX…you must freakin' hate me!"

Julia laughed. "No Trey, I don't hate you at all. Admittedly, I was a little upset that afternoon, but it was really just residual anger from earlier that day."

"So what? You guys have been thinking about your parents?" asked Jack.

The blonde girl nodded in the affirmative, once again pulling out the envelope. "I talked to my fathers last night, and they gave me this envelope with all of my birth mother's information."

"And what about your birth father?" asked Steph.

Jack looked confused. "You don't know which one it is?"

"No," Julia explained. "You see, like my idol, Rachel Barbra Berry Hudson, I was the result of a dual insemination into a female carrier. And also like my Aunt Rachel, I don't know which of my fathers is my birth father."

Trey turned to Steph. "So…your mom doesn't know which one of your grandfathers is her dad?"

Steph nodded. "Technically speaking, yes."

"But…isn't one of your granddads black?" asked Cameron.

"That's right, my possible brother," joked Cole.

"If you were part black, that would explain so much," whispered Jack into Cole's ear. Cole wanted to be offended and annoyed, but he couldn't help but take Jack's statement as a compliment.

"But anyway," Julia laughed, refocusing everyone, "I don't know which of my fathers is my biological father, but I don't want to know that. What I am interested in is information on my birth mother…and now I have it."

"Well, what are you thinking, Julia?" asked Cameron softly.

"I don't know…the information is literally in my hands…but I'm just not sure." She turned to Anna Maria, silently asking for the attention to be taken away from her.

"Well, I know," Anna Maria said aloud, taking Julia's hint. "My birth dad's name is Ricardo Martinez, and I'm gonna find him."

"How?" Steph questioned.

"I've got his name and address. He lives about fifty miles outside of Cincinnati. I was thinking we take a road trip."

"Awesome!" Trey shouted.

"I can't wait!" echoed Cameron.

The Latina frowned. "Let me rephrase: a road trip for those of us that like penises."

"Cool," grinned Cole.

"I'm in," added Jack.

"Damn, I forgot about you two," grumbled Anna Maria. "One more time: GIRLS ONLY."

"That's us, right?" grinned Steph.

"Last time I checked," replied Julia.

Anna Maria turned to the blonde. "And if and when you're ready to search for your mom, I'll be here for you, Hobbit."

"Thanks," Julia smiled.

"Well that's all fine and dandy," interrupted Trey, "but with you three on a kickass road trip, what are the rest of us supposed to do?"

"Well," started Anna Maria, "since you and Cameron are practically cheating on Steph and the Hobbit and Jack and Coley are basically dating, I'd suggest a massive orgy."

"I'm up for that."

"JACK!"

Multiple things to say here:

First: I'm SO sorry for taking so long. With the introduction of A.M.'s and Julia's respective parental searches, I essentially have three of the same story going on (because Beth's story isn't quite over), and making them unique and different proved to be a more difficult challenge than I thought.

Next: I sincerely suggest listening to "The Fear" by Lily Allen, but the acoustic version, not the mainstream one. It's such a great song.

Finally: With sophomore year of college rearing its ugly head, I may begin to update less often than I'd prefer, and for that, I apologize in advance. But I promise that this story is not over! Thanks for sticking with it and supporting with reviews and favorites!

FEATURED SONGS:

"By the Time This Night Is Over" by Kenny G and Peabo Bryson

"The Fear" by Lily Allen

In the Next Chapter: As Anna Maria continues her search for her birth father, Cole and Jack and Steph and Trey make changes in their respective relationships.