Authors notes: I am so sorry that it took me this long to post this part of
REUNION. My life has been very crazy lately and I just haven't had time. I
will try to do better in the future.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Baby-sitter's Club. Ann M. Martin does. I just own the plot and any characters that you don't recognize.
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive.
As the door closed behind Kristy, the only sound in the house was the water running in the kitchen sink. And Stacey sobbing quietly on the couch. She curled herself into a ball and buried her face in her hands. Sam came in a few seconds after his sister left and ushered Stacey out the door, mumbling apologies as they left. Alan, Nick, Jimmy and Derek choose to remain in the kitchen, not wanting to get mixed up in the living room drama. The six remaining women in the living stared at each other in stunned shock.
"What just happened here?" Dawn asked softly, looking to her sister for an explanation.
"I don't know," Mary-Anne said helplessly. "At least about Stacey. I have no idea where that outburst came from. It's so unlike her to be so cruel. But I think Kristy is having some sort of a breakdown. She's been repressing all her emotions for the last five years, not dealing with anything. Couple that with her being eight months pregnant and back in a place that she isn't associating with good memories and it all fits. I don't think she was prepared to come back here at all. And I'm beginning to think she shouldn't have."
Mimi began to wail again before anyone could respond to Mary-Anne. Claudia sighed, excused herself and went to feed her daughter. Mimi was still unable to grasp the concept of "sleep more than two hours at a time before wanting to eat again."
"Has anyone heard from Shannon lately?" Abby asked, trying to find a nice neutral topic.
"Miss Rhodes Scholar?" Mallory asked jokingly, and with just a touch of bitterness. Mallory had dropped out in her sophomore year, unable to handle the pressure of school. Even with her writing career blossoming, Mal regretted having not finished her degree. But somehow she was unable to go back now and complete what she had started. "I got an email from her last month. Still in London and loving it. She mentioned that she had gone to Ireland with some friends a few weeks earlier and had a really good time. She found the village her father's parents had been born in and met some distant relatives. She's thinking of moving to Dublin when she finishes with school."
"I remember Dublin," Jessi said wistfully. "I passed through with the ballet tour before 7th grade. It was nice but I really loved the countryside. Ireland really is the Emerald Isle. I can't believe that was 12 years ago. Seems like yesterday. Then again, it also seems like yesterday that I could dance," she said a little ruefully, looking down at her right ankle. The scar tissue around a torn ligament had ensured that she'd never be able to dance professionally again without permanently disabling herself. "I still can't believe that I was good enough for that tour. I was 11 years old for crying out loud."
"What are you talking about Jessi? You were a fantastic dancer. We saw your performances. Remember Sleeping Beauty?" Dawn said.
"And Copelia. That was wonderful the way you arranged for Matt Braddock's class to see the show and for Mrs. Braddock to interpret for them," Mary- Anne added. "We had so much fun that night."
"I remember. Doesn't seem like it was 12 years ago." Jessi fell silent, reliving her days on the stage and her starring roles. "It's sounds strange now, but in a way I'm not sorry I hurt my ankle. I don't have any regrets about my dancing and what I did with it. I was good enough to be part of a world tour at age 11, I was recruited by Juliard at 15, and by the time I was 18 I had a chance to dance as a principal with a major company in San Francisco. It all came so fast and a dancer's career only stays good for as long as she can advance. I'd have been burnt out by the time was 25. I think I'm more fulfilled as a teacher. I was a good dancer but I'm a great teacher. And I can do so much more as a teacher."
"I'm happy for your Jessi. Not many people can say they feel truly satisfied with their lives." Claudia returned, carrying Mimi. She handed the baby over to Mallory and sat down. Mal was immediately entranced by the little girl. Mimi just had that effect on people.
"I know what you mean about teaching. I feel it too, even if I'm just an air-head art teacher." The joke was a long standing one between Claud and Jessi.
"Dawn. Tell us about your law practice. Is it what you thought it would be?" Claudia asked.
"Not by a long shot. I'm six months out of law school and working for a huge firm. I spend my days writing briefs and running errands for other lawyers. Still, it's good experience. One of the junior partners told me that the senior partners all ready have their eye on me. I must be doing something right. And the pay's not bad either."
"When's the wedding?" Mary-Anne wanted to know. "Will I have to wear some horrible bridesmaid dress anytime soon?"
"Absolutely not. Jimmy and I want something small and informal. Maybe on the beach like Dad and Carol did. We're thinking maybe about a year and a half from now. Josh and Mimi will be big enough to be the ring bearer and flower girl. And you won't be wearing a bridesmaid dress, you'll be the maid of honor. I did it for you, you can do it for me." Dawn grinned as her sister's eyes welled up. Mary-Anne didn't cry as much as she had when she was younger but there were still a few things that brought on the tears.
"I though you'd have Gracie for a maid of honor."
"You were my sister before she was. She can live with bridesmaid." In fact, Gracie had been assuming all along that Mary-Anne would Dawn's maid of honor. The 12-year-old was delighted enough at the thought of bridesmaid.
"I want to hear about Miss Medical school. Still set on respiratory therapy Abby?" Dawn changed the subject before Mary-Anne could really start bawling.
Abby just groaned. "I don't want to talk about school. I'm in the middle of my ER rotation (AN: yes I'm an ER fan and I couldn't resist) and it's driving me nuts. I can't wait for pediatrics. I know what I'm getting into with kids. The BSC trained me well." She let out another groan and sank further into the couch. She'd been at the hospital until noon that day and had barely made her train. She hadn't been able to sleep on the way down. Instead she'd buried herself in her textbooks and tried to cram more pharmacology into her head. The resident who was supervising her had a habit of quizzing his students on different medications just to see if they'd been keeping up with their reading. Abby didn't want to be caught unaware. "What about you Mallory? Living the high life in Chicago?"
"I'm doing okay. My publisher wants me to write four more books in the series. I told them from the start that I only wanted to do eight, one for each character, but *Adventures* is so popular that they want more. They're even talking about a series for younger girls, based on Cara's younger sister. My fingers are sore just thinking about all the typing I'm going to be doing."
"Mallory you're living your dream. You're a published and popular writer. I can't believe you've done so well for yourself." Jessi smiled at her best friend and leaned over to take Mimi from her.
Mallory sighed happily and grinned. "I can't believe it- OWWW!" Mimi was happily clutching a handful of Mal's auburn curls and had no intention of letting go. Jessi started giggling as she pried the baby's hands open and freed Mallory.
The group stayed for another twenty minutes, talking and reminiscing and catching up on each other's lives. As the clock began to strike 11, the gathering began to break up. Mimi was falling asleep in her mother's arms and the women were all beginning to yawn. Mary-Anne, Dawn, and Jessi went to collect their significant others from the kitchen while Mallory and Abby sorted out coats and purses. Calling good night to each other they all headed home. Mary-Anne was the last to leave, taking her time to hug Claudia good night while Dawn sat in the car with Nick and Jimmy.
"Try to talk to Stacey tomorrow would you Claud? I'm worried about her."
"I'll try. Do you think Kristy went back to Seattle tonight?"
"I doubt she could get a flight this time of night. I'll go over there tomorrow early and try to convince her to stay. I hope she made it home all right."
Disclaimer: I do not own the Baby-sitter's Club. Ann M. Martin does. I just own the plot and any characters that you don't recognize.
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive.
As the door closed behind Kristy, the only sound in the house was the water running in the kitchen sink. And Stacey sobbing quietly on the couch. She curled herself into a ball and buried her face in her hands. Sam came in a few seconds after his sister left and ushered Stacey out the door, mumbling apologies as they left. Alan, Nick, Jimmy and Derek choose to remain in the kitchen, not wanting to get mixed up in the living room drama. The six remaining women in the living stared at each other in stunned shock.
"What just happened here?" Dawn asked softly, looking to her sister for an explanation.
"I don't know," Mary-Anne said helplessly. "At least about Stacey. I have no idea where that outburst came from. It's so unlike her to be so cruel. But I think Kristy is having some sort of a breakdown. She's been repressing all her emotions for the last five years, not dealing with anything. Couple that with her being eight months pregnant and back in a place that she isn't associating with good memories and it all fits. I don't think she was prepared to come back here at all. And I'm beginning to think she shouldn't have."
Mimi began to wail again before anyone could respond to Mary-Anne. Claudia sighed, excused herself and went to feed her daughter. Mimi was still unable to grasp the concept of "sleep more than two hours at a time before wanting to eat again."
"Has anyone heard from Shannon lately?" Abby asked, trying to find a nice neutral topic.
"Miss Rhodes Scholar?" Mallory asked jokingly, and with just a touch of bitterness. Mallory had dropped out in her sophomore year, unable to handle the pressure of school. Even with her writing career blossoming, Mal regretted having not finished her degree. But somehow she was unable to go back now and complete what she had started. "I got an email from her last month. Still in London and loving it. She mentioned that she had gone to Ireland with some friends a few weeks earlier and had a really good time. She found the village her father's parents had been born in and met some distant relatives. She's thinking of moving to Dublin when she finishes with school."
"I remember Dublin," Jessi said wistfully. "I passed through with the ballet tour before 7th grade. It was nice but I really loved the countryside. Ireland really is the Emerald Isle. I can't believe that was 12 years ago. Seems like yesterday. Then again, it also seems like yesterday that I could dance," she said a little ruefully, looking down at her right ankle. The scar tissue around a torn ligament had ensured that she'd never be able to dance professionally again without permanently disabling herself. "I still can't believe that I was good enough for that tour. I was 11 years old for crying out loud."
"What are you talking about Jessi? You were a fantastic dancer. We saw your performances. Remember Sleeping Beauty?" Dawn said.
"And Copelia. That was wonderful the way you arranged for Matt Braddock's class to see the show and for Mrs. Braddock to interpret for them," Mary- Anne added. "We had so much fun that night."
"I remember. Doesn't seem like it was 12 years ago." Jessi fell silent, reliving her days on the stage and her starring roles. "It's sounds strange now, but in a way I'm not sorry I hurt my ankle. I don't have any regrets about my dancing and what I did with it. I was good enough to be part of a world tour at age 11, I was recruited by Juliard at 15, and by the time I was 18 I had a chance to dance as a principal with a major company in San Francisco. It all came so fast and a dancer's career only stays good for as long as she can advance. I'd have been burnt out by the time was 25. I think I'm more fulfilled as a teacher. I was a good dancer but I'm a great teacher. And I can do so much more as a teacher."
"I'm happy for your Jessi. Not many people can say they feel truly satisfied with their lives." Claudia returned, carrying Mimi. She handed the baby over to Mallory and sat down. Mal was immediately entranced by the little girl. Mimi just had that effect on people.
"I know what you mean about teaching. I feel it too, even if I'm just an air-head art teacher." The joke was a long standing one between Claud and Jessi.
"Dawn. Tell us about your law practice. Is it what you thought it would be?" Claudia asked.
"Not by a long shot. I'm six months out of law school and working for a huge firm. I spend my days writing briefs and running errands for other lawyers. Still, it's good experience. One of the junior partners told me that the senior partners all ready have their eye on me. I must be doing something right. And the pay's not bad either."
"When's the wedding?" Mary-Anne wanted to know. "Will I have to wear some horrible bridesmaid dress anytime soon?"
"Absolutely not. Jimmy and I want something small and informal. Maybe on the beach like Dad and Carol did. We're thinking maybe about a year and a half from now. Josh and Mimi will be big enough to be the ring bearer and flower girl. And you won't be wearing a bridesmaid dress, you'll be the maid of honor. I did it for you, you can do it for me." Dawn grinned as her sister's eyes welled up. Mary-Anne didn't cry as much as she had when she was younger but there were still a few things that brought on the tears.
"I though you'd have Gracie for a maid of honor."
"You were my sister before she was. She can live with bridesmaid." In fact, Gracie had been assuming all along that Mary-Anne would Dawn's maid of honor. The 12-year-old was delighted enough at the thought of bridesmaid.
"I want to hear about Miss Medical school. Still set on respiratory therapy Abby?" Dawn changed the subject before Mary-Anne could really start bawling.
Abby just groaned. "I don't want to talk about school. I'm in the middle of my ER rotation (AN: yes I'm an ER fan and I couldn't resist) and it's driving me nuts. I can't wait for pediatrics. I know what I'm getting into with kids. The BSC trained me well." She let out another groan and sank further into the couch. She'd been at the hospital until noon that day and had barely made her train. She hadn't been able to sleep on the way down. Instead she'd buried herself in her textbooks and tried to cram more pharmacology into her head. The resident who was supervising her had a habit of quizzing his students on different medications just to see if they'd been keeping up with their reading. Abby didn't want to be caught unaware. "What about you Mallory? Living the high life in Chicago?"
"I'm doing okay. My publisher wants me to write four more books in the series. I told them from the start that I only wanted to do eight, one for each character, but *Adventures* is so popular that they want more. They're even talking about a series for younger girls, based on Cara's younger sister. My fingers are sore just thinking about all the typing I'm going to be doing."
"Mallory you're living your dream. You're a published and popular writer. I can't believe you've done so well for yourself." Jessi smiled at her best friend and leaned over to take Mimi from her.
Mallory sighed happily and grinned. "I can't believe it- OWWW!" Mimi was happily clutching a handful of Mal's auburn curls and had no intention of letting go. Jessi started giggling as she pried the baby's hands open and freed Mallory.
The group stayed for another twenty minutes, talking and reminiscing and catching up on each other's lives. As the clock began to strike 11, the gathering began to break up. Mimi was falling asleep in her mother's arms and the women were all beginning to yawn. Mary-Anne, Dawn, and Jessi went to collect their significant others from the kitchen while Mallory and Abby sorted out coats and purses. Calling good night to each other they all headed home. Mary-Anne was the last to leave, taking her time to hug Claudia good night while Dawn sat in the car with Nick and Jimmy.
"Try to talk to Stacey tomorrow would you Claud? I'm worried about her."
"I'll try. Do you think Kristy went back to Seattle tonight?"
"I doubt she could get a flight this time of night. I'll go over there tomorrow early and try to convince her to stay. I hope she made it home all right."
