BetweenMyHomeandMyDream12

Disclaimer: I don't own anything 'In A Heartbeat' related whatsoever. I only own the story, and the characters that I made up.

A/N: I'm sorry for the really long delay. I had a lot of things on my hands lately. Luckily, I had some spare time for today. Anyway, if you are reading this, thank you for still reading it. Well, let's just go right ahead to the story.

Parent Trap

Between my home and my dream

"Tyler?" she asked no one in particular.

She looked ahead to meet mirrored expressions of her face on her friends' faces. She was stuck in thinking that it was all a joke, a very cruel joke, or if it was all real. Slowly, Val turned around to find out that it was no joke.

"Special delivery from Europe!" he smiled at her.

Val shed a tear as she went over and hugged him.

"I can't believe you're here."

"Well, I am," he said as he hugged her back. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," she smiled as she looked back up at him. "When did you return?"

"A few hours ago."

"Why didn't you call? And how did you get in here, anyway?"

Before Tyler could reply, Brooke answered for him.

"Let's just say that Nick was taller than me for a brief moment."

"You mean it was you who called earlier?" Joanna asked Tyler.

"The one and only."

"That was a good surprise, bro," Hank said as he gave him a quick hug. "Very sneaky."

"Well, thank you, Beecham."

"And hat's off to you, too, Brooke," continued Hank.

"Thanks Hank."

After catching up with everyone, Tyler asked them a favor.

"Is it okay if I steal the birthday celebrant for an hour or two?"

"Not at all," Caitie joked. "We'd all be happy to get rid of her."

"I second that," said Jamie.

"Me too," added Hank.

"Me three," chimed in Brooke.

"Thanks a lot," Val said. "I'll remember that when your birthdays come."

"Kidding!" they said simultaneously.

Tyler led Val to his car before they headed towards their destination. Val looked around curiously to find that they were headed for the EMS station.

"What are we doing here?"

"I just need to find something first. You can stay in the car if you want."

"I'll help you find it," she said as she followed him in. "What are you looking for anyway?"

"There's this red thing that Alex told me about."

"What red thing?"

"I don't know. Look near the locker room, and I'll look over the other side."

"Okay."

Val found nothing significant in the locker room. She headed towards the kitchen when Tyler called her name.

"Val! I need you help with this! Something's missing!"

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the back."

Val headed there, only to find a neatly arranged table for two, complete with a red table cloth, two candles… The whole package.

"Oh my God!" she gasped.

"Happy anniversary," he smiled and gave her a kiss.

"You remembered?"

"How could I forget?"

Tyler gently took her hand and led her to the table.

"Who arranged all of this?"

"I did."

"But you said you just came back from your trip."

"And I also said that I returned a few hours ago."

"Well, who cooked all of this food?"

"I did."

"You didn't have to do that you know."

"But I wanted to. Besides, it is our anniversary."

"Well, that's very sweet of you. Can I ask you one question though?"

"What is it?"

"Is this food edible?"

"I don't know. Are you that hungry?"

"I just ate at my party. Are you?"

"I ate when I was cooking this at home."

"So why did you cook all of this?"

"I wanted to do something special."

"You coming back was special enough."

"It's the thought that counts, right?"

"I guess," she smiled. "We could have gone somewhere more appealing than this place though."

"You don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?"

"Why we're here?"

"Is there any specific reason why we're here?

"As a matter of fact, there is one thing that I have in mind."

"Well?"

"This is where it all started."

"Where what started?"

"Us. You and me. Me and you. Out first kiss. The first time we said 'I love you' to each other."

Val just stared at him.

"Why are you staring at me like that? Do you know what I'm talking about at all?"

"Of course I do. I was just thinking."

"Thinking what?"

"This spot that we're sitting. This very spot. This is where we first kissed. I remember. It was in the middle of the court."

Tyler smiled.

"I never really though of that," as he leaned in closer to her.

Val met him halfway as their lips met, reliving their first one.

"We should at least try the food," Val said as she broke the kiss.

Tyler just nodded and returned to his plate.

"Is your dad at your house?"

Somehow, the mood had suddenly darkened.

"No."

"Is he still in Europe?"

"Yes."

"Did he have some business going on?"

"Yes."

"Did anything happen between you two?"

"No."

"Did you have a fight?"

"No."

"Did you know Alex fired you?"

"What?"

"So you are paying attention?"

"I am… I was just looking at the food. It's edible."

"Is anything bothering you?"

"No."

"So there is something bothering you."

"I said no, Val," Tyler almost screamed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."

"What happened on that trip?"

"Nothing."

"I know you're lying, Tyler."

"You're not a mind reader. You can't tell me what I'm acting or feeling."

"But I know you. I'm your girlfriend. I'm one of your best friends."

"That doesn't prove anything."

"Well, you kept answering in one syllable, you can't even look at me in the eye, and you suddenly became irritated when I brought up your dad."

"You want to know what's bothering me? Fine. My dad wants me to live with him in L.A."

"Why is that a bad thing?"

"Because the whole trip was a sham. The whole time I was alone with myself while he's out there with his business buddies. We only spent a few measly hours together. It didn't even count for anything because he was so busy flirting with other French girls at the bar we went to. I wanted to talk. He wanted to sleep. I wanted to go out. He wanted to do business."

"I'm sorry. I guess you turned him down… Did you?"

"From what happened in the past few days… No, make that years… I had every right to turn him down."

"Are you saying you didn't turn him down?" she asked hesitantly.

"No."

"Then what did you tell him?"

"I left him hanging. I was so upset. I just took off."

"So what are you going to tell him when you get back?"

"Well, Kingsport is my home. I have my family here. The squad. School. Football. My friends. You. I'm happy here."

"Then you're staying here then."

"It's not that simple, Val."

"Why not?"

"Because living in L.A. with my dad was something that I always wanted for a very long time."

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I hoped you liked it! I knew it took a while, but you're still reading, right? Please review. I'll be back! ~ Scarlet182