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. I also don't own any place or location that you might recognize.

Author's Note: I'm sorry it took long for this chapter, as usual :(

Realization of Fate

Jealousy is Not the Right Word

After a couple of days at work, Tyler took a break and stayed at home. For the most part, he sat in his office and planned the big day on Friday. He only had two days left to make everything perfect. He set up a reservation for six o'clock at some ritzy French restaurant, La Maison et le Jardin. He already informed David, who wasn't too thrilled about having to wear a coat and a tie. Now all he had to do was tell Brooke. He quickly picked up his phone and called her from work.

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Since earlier that morning, Brooke had been nothing but relaxed. They already received a minimum of ten calls, which was unordinary for a Wednesday. In addition to her problems, she had been asked to stay in the station on Friday night. Since she couldn't make it on Friday, she has to find someone to take her place. The only problem is finding the right someone. At the moment, all she could think about is how her problems are all Tyler's fault for his silly idea of a double blind date.

"Hello, this is Brooke Lanier. How may I help you?"

"It's Tyler. I have some information regarding the date on Friday."

"This is all your fault!"

"What did I do?"

"If you hadn't set me up on this date, I wouldn't be in this mess."

"What's wrong now?"

"Everything's wrong. Now I have to find a replacement for Friday. My boss is going to kill me for skipping out of my job."

"Brooke, this isn't high school anymore. Get over it!"

"Easy for you to say," she fired back. "You own your own damn company."

"Look, if you can't come, then we'll just call the whole thing off."

"Not so fast. I'm going to find a replacement, and you will go through with this, even if it means that I have to go through with it as well."

"If that's the case, then I made reservations at that French restaurant down Hartford Road in Belmont Springs."

"La Maison et le Jardin?"

"I think that's the name."

"But that restaurant is way too expensive."

"I'll pay for everything."

"You can't do that. It's too much."

"Hey, I don't get to do this much often. Besides, this is a big event."

"What are you up to?"

"Nothing."

"I thought you didn't want to go on this date in the first place."

"I had a change of heart. So, I'll see you two there?"

"We'll be there. Now, I have to get off the phone. I need to talk to someone."

"Until Friday then."

"Whatever."

Brooke put down the phone and immediately stood up to catch up to somebody.

"Collins! I need you in my office."

"Me?" asked David. "That's the first."

"Just get in here!"

David turned and headed towards Brooke's room.

"What's up?" he asked as he sat down. "What did I do now?"

"Are you free Friday night?"

"That depends, Lanier," he smiled. "What do you have in mind?"

"If you're thinking that I'm asking you out, then you're wrong."

"I never thought of that," he said innocently. "What about Friday?"

"I need someone to fill in for me."

"I wish I could, but I can't," he said, faking disappointment. "I have a date."

"You have a date?"

"Don't look too shocked."

"What was I thinking asking you anyway?" Brooke said. "Of course you'll be out with another woman, again. Well, you're free to go."

"Why couldn't you stay Friday night?" he asked before going on to tease her. "It's not like you're doing anything."

"Hey, I have a social life."

"You sure don't act like it," he said. "I don't mean this as an insult or anything, but you should get out more."

"And what? Do what you do and ask out the next thing that moves?"

"That's not what I'm talking about, and I don't do that!"

"Right, and for your information, I have a date this Friday night."

"Well, good luck to him," he said as he stepped out of the door.

"You only wish it was you."

"Over my dead body."

"Oh, I wish it was," Brooke said before slamming the door.

David looked around to see a few EMTs looking at him for an answer as to what had just happen.

"PMS," he said before leaving.

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Val was working on getting her belongings together for the move. In just a few moments, she will be living in her own house and not depend on her parents, Seth, and even Tyler. Unfortunately, everything was out of order, and she figured that there was no way that she could finish packing and move that same day. When Val took a break, she went downstairs to look for Tyler, but she found herself listening in outside his office. She wasn't the kind of person that would jump to conclusions, but from what she was able to hear, it appeared that Tyler and Brooke are going on a date.

"A date?" she asked herself.

Suddenly, she felt angry, jealous, and confused all at the same time.

"Val, is that you?"

"Um, yeah, I was just coming down to get a drink," she lied between her teeth.

"Do you need me for anything?" he asked as he appeared from the door. "You're not handling any heavy objects up there, are you?"

"No, I'm not."

"Well, okay, I'll be up there in a minute if you need any help."

"Um, can I ask you something? Actually, there's two."

"Go ahead. You can come in my office."

"Are you going out with Brooke on Friday?"

"Yep, we have a date Friday night," Tyler replied. "Why? Did you hear me all the way upstairs?"

"A little bit. I wasn't exactly sure about what I heard, not that I was listening in or anything. So, when did this happen?"

"When what happen?"

"You and Brooke together."

"Me and Brooke? There is no me and Brooke."

"Oh, you two aren't going out?" asked Val with relief.

"No, of course not. Brooke is like a little sister to me. She set me up on a blind date with this friend of hers, and in return, I set her up on a blind date as well with a friend of mine."

"A blind date?"

"I think that's what I said."

"That's really good. I hope you'll have a good time."

Val tried to make a quick exit, but Tyler stopped her with the power of five simple words.

"You're not jealous, are you?"

"What makes you say that? I never said I was jealous."

"Of course you didn't," Tyler said, giving her a smile. "I mean, why would you be jealous, right?"

"You're exactly right. There's absolutely no reason for me to be jealous whatsoever. That's just crazy."

"Don't worry, Val. You will always be number one in my book."

"Me?"

"Yea, you, and of course, Alyssa. We're family."

"Right."

"So, what was the other thing that you wanted to ask me about?"

"Well, I was trying to get everything ready for the move later today, but everything is such a mess, and I was hoping that maybe Alyssa and I can stay for a while."

"Val, you didn't have to ask. You can stay for as long as you like. I'll help you with everything. The move has to be pushed until next week though. I'm kind of busy for the rest of the week."

"I guess that'll be fine."

"Is there anything else?"

"Can I borrow your car?"

"What for?"

"I just had the sudden urge to pay Brooke a little visit. I haven't seen her in a while."

"I'll tell you what. I'll drop you off at the station while I stop by at the law firm."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Why don't we leave in fifteen or twenty minutes. I need to finish up a few things first."

"Thanks Connell," Val said, feeling a slight déjà vu by calling him by his last time.

"My pleasure, Lanier."

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As Brooke continued to work, a knock came from her door.

"Come in," she said. 'It better not be Collins again.'

She looked up and saw Val in front of her.

"Val? What brings you here? Is anything wrong?"

"You set him up on a blind date?" she asked her incredulously.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me," she said before taking a seat. "You know what I'm talking about."

"If this is about Tyler, then yes, I set him up on a blind date. Why? Is there a problem?"

"What were you thinking?"

"What was I thinking? There's nothing to think about. I've done this before."

"You've set him up before? Why?"

"Because he's single, and he desperately needs to get out more."

"I don't believe you!"

"Val, you're really freaking me out. What is wrong with you? It's just Tyler. What do you care?"

"I care a lot."

"What? You're not making any sense here. This is Tyler we're talking about. What if he's seeing someone else? I mean, come on, does it really bother you?"

"Yes, it bothers me," Val replied in frustration. "It bothers me more than I thought it would."

"Oh… You're not saying what I think you're saying, are you?"

"I don't know. This is so confusing. I don't even know why I came here in the first place."

"Do you like him? I mean, in the sense that you did back then."

"Yes… No… I don't know. I don't understand any of this right now."

"When did this happen?"

"It just happened. I don't really know when or how it happened, but it did."

"Val, I don't know what to say. Maybe this feeling isn't really there, you know. You're pregnant and all, and given the fact that you're around him all the time, I can see what this is happening."

"I guess you're right. I don't know. When I found out about this, I just got upset. Maybe I was just afraid of the thought of him abandoning Alyssa and I."

"You know what, all this stress is not good for the baby. You should just relax. Tyler's a good guy. He won't abandon you two."

"You're absolutely right. I'm just being irrational. Thanks Brooke. I really needed this talk."

"Anytime, sis. I'm glad I could help out. For a minute there, I thought you were falling in love with him again. That would have been something else."

"Yes, it would have been something," she sighed quietly. "Luckily, that wasn't the case. So Brooke, are you excited about your blind date?"

"Hey, as long as it's not David, then I'll be fine."

"Who's David?"

"Some guy that I work with. Nobody important. He's kind of cute, I guess, and he seems nice, but he's a class act jerk."

"Sound like the perfect guy," Val joked.

"In another planet," Brooke said. "Maybe."

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I hope you guys liked it! It took me a while, but things don't always work out as planned. I'll do my best to get this fic finished. I really want to write another one. IAHB forever! Thanks for reading. I'll be back! ~ Scarlet182

P.S. - As for WEST SIDE STORY (NOEbY #5), I'll try to have the next part up as soon as possible : )