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.
Realization of Fate
It's For the Best
They all turned simultaneously to see Tyler standing right in front of them. In an instant, all seemed to have forgotten what had been said a few seconds earlier.
"Tyler!" cried Hank as he stood up from the stool he was sitting on and motioned him to come in. "You should really stop making this a habit. It's not healthy."
"What's not healthy?"
"You keep keeping us in the dark. First, you just drive off without giving us any indication or clue about where you're going. Second, you don't call after you've been gone for a week. I mean, the least you could have done is call Val and ask about your daughter."
Tyler slightly turned his head to meet Val's gaze. By the look in his eyes, Val could tell that he was trying to apologize to her. The moment only lasted a second before Tyler's face turned into an annoyed and irritated expression.
"Hank, you're not my parent. Please stop telling me what to do."
"All right, fine, I won't, but you can't just show up out of nowhere and expect everything to be fine."
"I'm sorry about what happened, and I'm sorry about the way that I acted. I know it was selfish and irrational of me, but given the circumstances, it was the only way that I could think of on dealing with that happened."
"You still have some explaining to do," Jamie said. "We were really worried."
"It was nothing," Tyler said as he continued to focus his eyes on the floor. "It's over now. It's history."
"History?" said Caitie. "Your engagement was only broken a week ago."
Tyler raised his head when he heard what Caitie just said.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"Tyler, we know what happened with you and Andrea," said Val. "We're really sorry."
"How do you know what happened?" he asked with anger. "I didn't even tell you."
"It was on the news earlier tonight," Hank said. "Thanks for telling us."
"Oh, the news told you the whole story. Tell me, did they make up some twisted story about how we broke up? Did they all point their fingers at me? Was it assumed that it was all my fault as opposed to Andrea?"
"Hey, chill out," Jamie said. "All Hank is saying is that you should have told us first."
"And all I'm saying is that it's my business, and it's really not something that I needed or wanted to discuss with anybody."
"Okay, we understand," said Val. "The news didn't even do such a thing. We just saw the portion of you small interview and some of Andrea's."
"And what did she say? Did she say that it was my fault?"
"No, she didn't, but from what I saw, she seemed to have taken this whole ordeal lightly," said Caitie. "She looked like she was in could nine compared to you."
Tyler put his hands on his hips and gave a small, inauthentic chuckle.
"Why am I not surprised?" he said quietly. "Well, that's done now. It's over. Once again, I've outdone myself as the most pathetic loser on the face of the Earth."
"I've got to hand it to you, Tyler," Hank exclaimed. "You took the words right out of my mouth."
"Thank you, Hank, for your kind remarks. Seriously, why couldn't I be more like her? She just went on with her life. She probably didn't even shed a tear."
"You should be glad you're not like her," said Caitie. "I'll beat the living hell out of you."
"You really hate her that much?" asked Tyler. "I thought you liked her."
"Loathe would be a more appropriate term," Caitie said. "Honestly, I never liked her in the first place. I still don't see what you saw in her. No offense or anything."
"None taken," Tyler said before changing the topic. "So, why is everybody in my house?"
"We were just having a party while you were away," Jamie said. "This place is so much fun without the boring one in the group."
"I'm glad my wallowing in sorrow entertained all of you. Where are the kids?"
"They're in the playroom," said Val. "Why don't you go in and surprise them? I'm sure they all missed you."
Tyler just nodded before leaving them to see the kids.
"So, what do you think really happened?" asked Jamie.
"Right now, I don't know, and I don't care," Caitie replied. "As long as she's gone, I'm happy as a clam."
"Amen to that," said Hank. "What do you think, Val?"
"No comment."
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Tyler peeked in the room to see Alyssa and Malcolm playing by themselves. Kyle and Chrissy were both asleep on opposite sides of the room. Tyler went down on his knees and crept into the room.
"Guess who's back?" he said quietly.
Alyssa recognized his voice and turned towards him almost immediately before running into his arms.
"Daddy!" Alyssa cried as she hugged him around his neck.
"Hey sweetheart!" Tyler said while giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Did you miss me?"
Alyssa nodded and could not seem to stop smiling.
"What were you two playing?"
"We play catch with the ball."
Tyler smiled and motioned Malcolm to come over.
"How are you, big fella?
"I'm fine."
"What happened to Kyle and Chrissy?"
"They're sleeping."
"I see. Why don't you call your dad and Aunt and Uncle Jamie? It's getting late."
"Okay."
Malcolm left the room, while Alyssa resumed bouncing the ball against the floor. The rest of the adults came in the room a few seconds later.
"Well, Kyle and Chrissy are both knocked out," Jamie said. "We better get going. It's past their bedtime already."
"You guys are not staying in the house?" asked Tyler.
"Maybe some other time. I have some documents I need to finish by tomorrow afternoon."
"Same here," Caitie said. "I have some clients coming in the morning as well. Are you coming to work tomorrow?"
"I'll probably take tomorrow off. It's been a long week. Don't hesitate to call me if anything comes up."
"Okay. I could always come to Robbie if I need anything. In that way, I don't have to bother you."
"He's still in the firm?"
"Why wouldn't he be?"
"Nothing," Tyler said. "I just heard some stuff. That's all."
"Well, we're ready," Jamie said with both kids on his arms. "Can I get a little help here?"
Val offered and took Chrissy away from him. Caitie and Jamie said their good byes, and Val walked with them to their car.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Hank asked as he got all of Malcolm's stuff ready.
"I'm fine."
"Whatever you say. I'll see you some time this week. Take it easy."
"I'll try."
"Look at the bright side. At least you were rejected after the proposal instead of before."
"Did you really have to bring that up?"
"Jamie and I were just talking about it."
"Just don't bring it up again, okay? After what happened, I really don't want to relive that entire emotional trauma. The situation right now is bad as it is."
"I promise I won't," Hank told him. "I'm going to go now. I have a long day tomorrow."
Val came in the room in that instant.
"You're leaving?" she said.
"I have to go to work early tomorrow. Unlike you, Tyler, I don't get to make and bend the rules."
"Well, what time are you picking me up?" asked Val.
"What for?" Tyler asked.
"She works with me now, remember?"
"What about Alyssa?" Tyler asked once again. "What about the baby? Is it all right?"
"Can you keep an eye on her for me?" asked Val. "She really missed you, and I'm getting tired of being stuck in this house. As for the baby, it's fine. Everything is fine."
"I'll take care of her. I'm sorry for keeping you here."
"Tyler, you can only apologize so much. I understand."
Val stopped the conversation and went over to Alyssa, who was already falling asleep.
"I'll walk Hank out of the door. Why don't you get Aly ready for bed?"
"I will. I'll see you in the morning, Hank."
"Good night, Val. I'll come around 7 am."
"That'll be great."
Val proceeded upstairs while the guys headed for the door.
"It's good to have you back."
"Thanks."
"Next time you plan going west to California or wherever, tell me and we'll make it a road trip."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Feel better."
"I'm trying."
"You deserve someone better. She wasn't worth it anyway. I'm sure you'll find someone else."
"When?"
"Time will tell. I better go. Bye."
"Bye, Hank!"
After Hank drove off, Tyler went back inside and sat on one of the first steps on the stairs. He looked at the opposite wall and saw a picture of Andrea and himself. As much as he tried to convince himself that she wasn't worth it, he still felt like a failure. He figured that most guys would probably be happy with his situation. The chance to be single again is what most men dream to have. He wasn't like all of them. He was one of those people who needed to be with someone. One of those people who wants to have a commitment. In a way, he had a commitment to Val because they have a child together. Beyond that, that's basically what they have. Marriage was the answer to his problems. Being with Andrea was the closest thing to walking down the aisle. As usual, history repeated itself once again. Somehow, he managed to mess things up. At least that's what he thinks.
"A penny for your thoughts?"
"I thought you went to bed already," Tyler said as he moved over to give her some room to sit.
"The playroom is still a mess."
"Don't worry about it. Alyssa will still mess it up again anyway."
Tyler sighed, and Val noticed that his mind was on something else.
"Like father like daughter."
"Tyler, you really need to stop feeling sorry or blaming yourself."
"Do you think it's my fault?"
"You know what? I don't really know. You haven't even said a word about what went on before you left. How can you expect me to answer that?"
"You should go to sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow."
"Tyler, you can talk to me. I know it's hard for you, but it's better than keeping it all inside."
"I'll just stay here a while longer," he said, completely oblivious to what she said.
"I don't know what happened between you and Andrea. I can see that I really hurt you a lot. I'm sorry about what happened. We've been through a lot together, and I really want to help you. Now, I can't do it unless you…"
"She slept with Robbie," Tyler said before Val could finish her speech.
"What?"
"She cheated on me with my best friend," Tyler repeated. "Well, he's not my best friend anymore."
"Tyler, I'm really sorry. How did this happened?"
"I think the question is how long has this been happening."
"You mean it wasn't a one night stand?" Val paused. "Wait, of course it wasn't. You're a rational and forgiving person. I'm sure a night with him won't force you to break things off with her. Am I right?"
"You know, Val, this really isn't helping."
"I'm sorry. How did you find out? Did your secretary tell you? Oh, you barged in on them, didn't you?"
"This is not working."
"I'm sorry. I should stop talking, but before I do, answer me this. Why do you blame yourself for all of this?"
"I don't know. I guess I must have done something to cause her to do such a thing."
"You don't control her actions. You know that."
"But what other reason could it possibly be?"
"Maybe she didn't really love you."
"She told me that she loved me," Tyler cried. "She said she loved me."
"Saying something is one thing. Showing it is another. Just because someone says something does not mean that he or she means it."
"I thought we were in love. I thought that I loved her, and she loved me."
"Would you listen to yourself? You just said that you thought you were in love… That you thought that you loved her and that she loved you."
"And what is your point?"
"Listen to me. Maybe, subconsciously, you didn't love her as much as you claim."
"I proposed to her, didn't I?"
"Is that really the reason why you did it?"
"What other reason is there?" Tyler said as his emotions started to rise. "I want to be married. I want to have a wife. Andrea was there."
"Marriage is about love, Tyler. You don't just pick the nearest person in your grasp and expect that it will turn out right."
"Who are you to tell me this? Look at you and Seth."
"Tyler, you're way out of line."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have said that. It's just that I can't seem to get things right. I'm sick of being alone. I know that a lot of guys who are happy being in the same situation as I man, but I'm not."
"Well, if it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be. Fate has a plan for everybody. As a mere human, all you can afford to do is wait and not give up hope. And the last thing you need is to force yourself to love somebody. You'll only end up in misery if you do."
Tyler looked at her and started to protest once again before he decided to give up and be honest with himself.
"Maybe you're right."
"I know I'm right."
"Correction," he smiled. "You're right. I guess I knew all along that it wouldn't last. My own desire for, I don't know, eternal happiness blinded my own judgment. It's just that I've been waiting for that someone all my life, you know, and I can't seem to find her."
"And you thought that that someone was Andrea?"
"I made myself think. At the beginning, we did have a share of our good times. I guess I can call it that. I mean, we were together for a year or so. Maybe three. I can't even remember. It all changed somehow, but I refused to see it. Everything is fine. That's what I kept telling myself. I must be some darn, good lawyer to convince myself that nonsense."
"Do you really believe that she loved you?"
"Maybe. I don't know anymore. Money changes people, doesn't it?"
"You didn't change."
"Perhaps, but it changed Andrea. I guess she was after all my money after all. I can just imagine it in the headlines. LAW TYCOON TYLER CONNELL DIED OF PECULIAR MEANS THIRTEEN DAYS AFTER HIS WEDDING TO MODEL ANDREA BURBANK… now the world's richest widow."
"That would be something," Val said with a small laugh. "Why would you say that she was after your money?"
"I think that it's only customary for a woman to return the engagement ring to her ex-fiancé after they broke off their wedding. Considering that she didn't return it, and it was worth a fortune, I think I'm justified to say so."
"It's probably for the best."
"Maybe."
"I better go upstairs."
"Wait, before you leave, um, are you really moving out of the house?"
"Yes, we are."
"Is there anything I can do to change your mind?"
"I already made my decision, and I'm going to stick with it."
"Misery loves company."
"It does, but I need to have this for myself and not for misery."
"For what it's worth, I think it's for the best."
"You do?"
"I don't like the idea of being away from Alyssa, but after these recent fiasco, I think it would be in everyone's best interest, especially me, to have a little room and some space for their own."
"Well, Alyssa can still come and visit, and you can visit us any time you want. Wait, any time after my permission."
"When are you leaving?"
"In a few days."
"This is a lot of change for a week."
"You can never predict what will happen next."
"Well, I predict that no pictures of Andrea will be present in the house as of tomorrow."
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That was a longer chapter than usual. I hope you liked it. Please review! …If you want : ) I'll be back! ~ Scarlet182