Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this fic, except the ones that you don't recognize. Disney and Alliance Atlantis and so forth own them all.

A/N: There are some minor, foul languages in the latter part of this chapter, but I assure you that they're not fatal or anything : )

Realization of Fate

Timing is Everything

Caitie took some time to gather herself. She was begging for an answer, and yet she wished she never got it. It wasn't at all like she expected.

"Could you run that by me again?"

"It was Val," Jamie confirmed.

"When did this happen? How?"

"It's a long story," said Hank. "It was way back when they were still together."

"Why did you tell me? I don't want to know this."

"Wait a second," Hank said. "You were the one who was begging the two of us to tell you."

"So what? Tyler trusted you."

"We did it to make you quit nagging us," Jamie replied. "Besides, it doesn't matter now."

"Yes, it does. Now I won't be able to face Val alone."

"Caitie, my dear, calm wife, you're overreacting. It's not that big of a deal."

"I'll ruin this for everyone. I can't keep this secret from her."

"What?" Hank said. "You promised earlier. Oh man, Tyler is going to kill us."

"Why can't you just not tell her? Hank and I have been keeping this secret for a long time."

"I can't keep this from Val. I'm not very good at keeping secrets. I tell her everything."

"Of all people, I think you would be the one to be able to keep secrets really well," Hank said. "Am I right, Jamie?"

Jamie put his hands in his pockets and looked up and down.

"What are you trying to tell me?" asked Hank.

"Well, Caitie really isn't the one to keep secrets. I should have known, but it just slipped my mind. Gosh, I never learn."

"Okay, I think Tyler is really going to kill us now."

"I suppose that you two would like to accompany me," said Caitie as she grabbed a bag beside the couch. "I need to go back to the house, and everyone is waiting for me, especially Val."

"What's in the bag?" Jamie asked as he grabbed it from her.

"It's just some stuffed animals that Kyle and Chrissy were looking for at the house. Obviously, I forgot to bring it earlier."

"Hank, I think we have to cut this party short."

"Obviously."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It only took a few minutes before they arrived at Tyler's house. Before they reached the door, Jamie grabbed Caitie's hand.

"Remember, you have to be strong," he said and smiled a bit after hearing what he said.

"Get a grip, Jamie," Caitie responded. "I can keep my mouth shut if I have to."

"That's what you said last time," he said in a not-so-murmured tone.

Caitie purposely stepped on his left foot, causing him jump in pain.

"Oh, that was mature," Jamie said.

"Well, you got to do what you got to do."

"Would you two kids cut it out?"

"Yes, Dad," they both said, and the three ended up in laughter.

It only took a matter of time before Val opened the door to see what the commotion was about.

"What's going on here?" Val said.

"Nothing you would want to know," Hank said. "How are the kids? How's the pregnancy coming along?"

"The kids are fine. I'm not experiencing much pain yet. What took you so long anyway?"

"Well, the guys insisted on coming for a visit," replied Caitie. "And Jamie took a wrong turn on our way here."

Jamie gave Caitie and evil glare before entering the house.

"With Caitie nagging me, it's really hard to keep my concentration on the road."

With that remark, Caitie and Jamie started bickering.

"Why don't we leave the married couple alone?" Hank whispered to Val.

"That's a great idea."

The two went into the kitchen and started their own conversation.

"I'm assuming that you heard the news about Tyler's shattered engagement," said Hank.

"I saw it on the news when Caitie and I were watching it earlier. No wonder he took off."

"Don't you think he went a little bit overboard by leaving us high and dry? He didn't even give us a straight answer when asked about where he was heading."

"I see what you're trying to say, and I'm not saying that he did the right thing, but we don't even know what really happened."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"I'm just saying that maybe it wasn't just a simple break."

"You mean that Andrea must have cheated on him or something."

"Hey, you said it and not me."

Val turned on the TV, and ironically, Andrea was right in the middle of the screen.

"Speaking of the devil," Hank said, causing Val to smile.

"Be nice."

"What's going on here?" Jamie said as he entered the room with Caitie.

"Be quiet," said Val. "Andrea is on TV."

Once again, a pause occurred as the four turned their attention to the news.

"Can we ask you a few questions, Ms. Burbank? / Go ahead."

"What's with the sudden break off with Tyler Connell? / I don't know what you're talking about."

"We got a response from him earlier today that you're engagement is history. / Really?"

"Is this true? / I'm sorry to say this, but it is true."

"What happened? / We're both really busy nowadays. We figured out that we don't have much in common. Irreconcilable differences is what I would call it."

"So, what now? / I really don't have time for any of this right now. I have a photo shoot to attend to."

……………

"Val, you're awfully quiet."

"Did you guys see that?"

"See what?" asked Hank.

"Look at her hand," Val said as she pointed towards the screen.

"What are you talking about?"

"Just look."

The three followed her finger and figured out what Val was trying to show them.

……………

"Any regrets? / I'm rich, thin, young, and famous. What more could a girl ask for?"

Disgusted by her display, Caitie went ahead and turned off the TV.

"Can you believe that bitch?" Caitie said a little too loudly. "She had the nerve to parade around the ring that Tyler gave her. It was on a different finger, but it's still the same ring."

"Quiet down," said Jamie. "There are kids upstairs."

"I can't believe her," said Hank. "I bet she was the one who broke of the engagement. She probably slept around with some guy or two. What a slut!"

"So much for the civil Dr. Beecham," said Jamie. "But I have to agree with you on that one."

"Tell me again," Caitie said. "What did Tyler see in her?"

"Don't ask me," said Val. "I just came back here a few weeks ago, but I see what you're saying."

"I guess we'll never know," said Hank. "Tyler liked her enough to propose, but she probably drugged him or something. You know, one of those love potion stuff in those soap operas."

"This is a lot of information to digest in one night," Jamie said. "I won't be surprised if we do get another one."

"Well, your wish might just be granted," Val said. "I have news for you."

"What is it?" Caitie asked.

"I found a place where Alyssa and I could stay. Basically, I'm moving out of here."

"I thought you were staying in this house," said Hank.

"I told Tyler already that I'm not going to stay here forever. I need a life of my own."

"Have you told him yet?" asked Caitie.

"He's not even here, and I can't find the right time to tell him.

"Well, Val, you're timing couldn't be more perfect," said someone the four knew all too well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 12 is coming soon! I'm sick right now and should be sleeping instead of writing. I'll be back ~ Scarlet182