Disclaimer: No mine. Did you honestly think I did?
Author's Note: I'm tired and I feel like shit so you're not getting much of an author's note this time. But you are getting Chapter 8 so it's all good.
Dedication: Thanking my betas. You know who you are.
Chapter Eight
"Val, do you want something to eat?" Asked her dad. It was lunchtime, the day after the wedding.
"No thanks. I've already eaten a sandwich." She said, holding up her plate to show him that she actually had eaten.
"You really should eat more than just a sandwich in your condition."
"Dad, I'm pregnant. Not on my death bed." Protested Val.
"Let me make you something else to eat." Insisted her dad. He'd already started looking in their refrigerator for food.
"No thanks Dad. You don't have to. I've got to go soon. I promised Alex that I'd help him get the station organized into something that he could understand." Brooke may have been the most organized person that Val knew, but she'd be damned if she'd ever understand any of Brooke's organizational system. She and Alex were going to organize the file cabinets so a mere mortal could actually find something. Val had also promised to help him with the inventory.
"You need to eat more." Insisted her dad.
"Dad, I'm not hungry. And no offense, but your cooking is worse than mine." Said Val grimacing at the memory of the last time her dad cooked.
"I'm not that bad of a cook!" He protested.
"Between anything you cook and Mom's turkey loaf I'd rather have the turkey loaf." Pointed out Val.
"Hey, there is nothing wrong with my turkey loaf!" Exclaimed Mrs. Lanier coming into the kitchen and overhearing the end of their conversation.
"Sure, and that's why you always made it for us when you were working late and wouldn't be home for dinner." Answered Val rolling her eyes.
"Don't you have to leave for the station soon?"
"Not for a few more minutes." Just then the doorbell rang. Val was closest to the door so she got up to answer it. "Tyler." She said coldly.
"Look, I know I'm not your favorite person right now-" Tyler started to say.
"You're right, you're not my favorite person." Interrupted Val.
"-but you and I need to talk."
"Why? I'm fine with the way things are right now." Snapped Val.
"Well, I'm not. Can I come in?"
* * *
"I'm sorry." Said Jamie breaking the silence. They had left the house as soon as Jamie's dad had made it clear that Jamie was no longer wanted there. Jamie and Caitie had hugged Kelsey goodbye and left without a word to Mr. Waite.
"For what? You didn't do anything." Said Caitie. They were sitting in Caitie's car waiting for the stoplight to change
"I still feel like I owe you an apology." Replied Jamie
"Kiss me and we'll call it even." Said Caitie, Jamie leaned over and quickly brushed her lips with his. Like most quick kisses between the two of them it turned into a longer, more passionate one.
They were interrupted by the insistent honking of a horn behind them. "What's wrong with them?" Whispered Caitie.
"Um, Cait. The light turned green." Pointed out Jamie after looking around for a few seconds.
"Oh." Replied Caitie sheepishly.
* * *
"Can I come in?" Tyler asked again.
"No." Replied Val coldly.
"I came to apologize." Said Tyler. He was showing no signs of giving up.
"You didn't seem to have a problem leaving me alone for the past three years. Why make this week any different?" Snapped Val, who was pleased to notice that he looked a little hurt at her remark.
"Because I remembered how much you mean to me." Said Tyler.
"You have a strange way of showing it then." Said Val stepping outside and closing the door behind her.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Snapped Val. "For kissing me, or for leaving for three years without trying to call any of us?"
"For both." Answered Tyler.
"Why?" Asked Val simply. It didn't need to be said that she was talking about him leaving.
"I don't know the answer to that. I don't know why I left and I don't know why I kissed you. But if I had to guess why I kissed you, I'd say it was because it seemed like we were seventeen again, when we were together. I can't give you a better explanation."
"Alright." Said Val softening her tone. "I've got to go to the station." She started to walk down the sidewalk, Tyler following her.
"Are we still friends?" Asked Tyler.
"As much as we can be." Answered Val deciding to forgive him.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Asked Tyler defensively.
"You left for three years without a word and expect everything to be the same. No matter how much you hope for that to happen, it can't. If I meant so much to you, you could have found a way to call me."
"The phone works both ways, you know. My parents knew where I was, you could have called them and gotten my number." Pointed out Tyler.
"I got the idea that you wanted to be left alone."
"How?"
"You told me that you'd call me and then you never did. We're here." Said Val opening the door to the station. Tyler let the subject drop.
* * *
"We're back." Called Brooke letting herself and Hank into the house.
"Welcome back." Said Val hugging both of them. "How was the honeymoon?"
"Fabulous." Answered Brooke.
"What'd you bring me, what'd you bring me?" Asked Jamie eagerly. He looked like a five year old on Christmas morning.
"Presents are in the car." Said Hank. "I'll go get 'em." He gave Brooke a kiss and ran out to the car.
"Have the two of you eaten lunch yet?" Asked Caitie.
"Not really, you know how much the food sucks on airplanes."
"Good, because I made my famous chili, there's some left on the stove if you're hungry."
"Caitie made chili?" Asked Hank coming in with three bags. Two of which were Brooke's. It was a well known fact that Hank loved Caitie's chili.
"Yep, and you can't have any until you hand over our presents." Brooke took one of her bags and dug through it and tossed a T-shirt to Val, Jamie, and Caitie.
"Do you have enough boxes?" Asked Val after everyone had finished eating. They were going to pack up all of Brooke's things and she and Hank would stay there for the night and the next morning they would drive to New York because Brooke had to be there for freshman orientation in four days. Jamie, Val, and Caitie were also going home the next morning. Val had volunteered herself, Jamie and Caitie to help Brooke and Hank pack up Brooke's room.
"Mom and Dad said that they had a lot in the garage. And Hank said that he'd go and get more if we needed more."
"Why don't the two of you go and get the boxes." Suggested Val to Jamie and Hank.
"Sure, make us do all the grunt work." Mumbled Jamie as he and Hank headed for the garage.
"So . . . How do you like being married?" Asked Caitie as soon as the guys left.
"I've only been married for a week!" Protested Brooke.
"So." Countered Caitie.
"You want my honest opinion?" Asked Brooke. Caitie and Val both nodded. "I love it. It's the best decision I've ever made. Hank's perfect."
"And so are you." Said Hank sneaking up behind her and picking her up. He'd obviously heard the end of their conversation. Brooke hadn't been expecting him to pick her up so she screamed.
"Hank Beecham! Put me down right now!" He didn't put her down, instead, he kissed her.
"I know you're newlyweds and all, but can you stop kissing for a few minutes?" Asked Jamie.
"Nope." Mumbled Brooke. Hank didn't even bother to answer. Jamie picked the boxes up from where he set them down and carried them upstairs.
"Nice of you to join us." Said Val five minutes later when Brooke and Hank finally came upstairs. Both Brooke and Hank ignored her.
"What's first?" Asked Jamie looking around the room.
"Why don't Hank and Jamie start on the bookshelf while Caitie and I pack up clothes and Val can take down my pictures and stuff that's on the wall." Suggested Brooke.
"Works for me." Said Caitie starting on the closet. Jamie and Hank started taking the books off the shelves while Val started taking down photos that Brooke had stuck to her mirror. Most were of her and her friends or her and Hank. But there was one that stood out to Val. It was at Val and Kain's anniversary party. Brooke had surprised Val and Kain while they were dancing and had taken a candid picture of them. Until now she hadn't even remembered her taking the picture.
* * *
"Brooke, where are you guys taking us?" Demanded Val. Brooke and Hank had blindfolded Val and Kain and practically shoved them into the backseat of Val's car as soon as she and Kain had gotten home from the restaurant that Kain had taken Val to for their anniversary.
"If we were going to tell you, do you think that you'd be blindfolded?" Asked Hank.
"This is kidnapping." Said Kain only half joking.
"You'll forgive us." Said Hank.
"What makes you think that?" Demanded Val.
"Because I'm your sister and you have to love me." Smirked Brooke.
"I don't have to do anything." Answered Val.
"How much longer?" Brooke asked Hank about ten minutes later.
"Not much more." Replied Hank.
"Are you just driving around so we won't be able to tell where we're going?" Asked Kain.
"Yep."
"This is a nice way to spend our anniversary." Said Val. "We're getting kidnapped."
"We're here." Announced Hank. He and Brooke lead Val and Kain inside.
"Can we take the blindfolds off now?" Demanded Val.
"Alright." Agreed Brooke as she and Hank untied them. By now the blindfolds were useless anyway because the room they were in was pitch black.
"Surprise!" Shouted everyone. "Happy anniversary!"
"Did the two of you plan this?" Asked Val asked in awe.
"This was all Mom and Dad's doing. We just helped get you here." Said Brooke.
"We don't deserve this." Said Kain.
"Of course you do. Any couple who can stay married for a year without killing each other deserves a party." Said Mrs. Lanier. Val looked around and noticed that a lot of the people there had also been at their wedding.
"Did you invite everyone that was at our wedding?" Demanded Kain
"Basically." Answered Kendra.
* * *
"I love you." Kain whispered in Val's ear about an hour later. They were dancing to one of Val's favorite songs.
"I love you too." She answered and leaned in for a kiss.
"Come on. Lets go outside for awhile." Suggested Kain as he led Val outside.
"It's pretty." Commented Val looking up at the sky.
"Yeah, you are." Val smiled and kissed Kain again. He handed her a black velvet jewelry box.
"What's this?"
"Open it and find out."
"You shouldn't have gotten me anything." Protested Val.
"I know. I wanted to get you this." Val opened the box and saw a silver locket in the shape of a heart on a delicate chain. When she opened the locked she saw the words "True Love" engraved. "Do you like it?"
"I love it." Said Val fastening the chain around her neck. The wind picked up slightly and Val involuntarily shivered.
"You wanna go back inside?"
"Yeah. It's getting a little cold." Kain put his arm around Val's shoulder. "Look. A shooting star, make a wish."
"I don't have to, I've already got everything I want."
"I love you more than anything, you know that?" Replied Kain as they turned to walk inside.
"I'll love you now, always, and forever." Promised Val.
Back inside the DJ put on another slow song, this time it was Remy Zero's "Perfect Memory."
"Come on, lets dance. I know you love this song." Said Hank gently pulling Brooke towards the dance floor. Brooke and Hank found an open space on the dance floor and she let her head rest on his shoulder. She felt safe in his arms and wanted to stay there forever. Before she knew it, the song was almost over. Val started to walk over to the two of them, but stopped. Something told her that Hank didn't want them to be interrupted, she had a feeling that he was finally going to propose.
"Will you marry me?" Hank whispered in her ear, still holding her.
"What?" Asked Brooke softly in disbelief. She wasn't sure if she heard him right.
"I asked you to marry me." Replied Hank. Brooke couldn't say anything. There were tears running down her cheeks, but she was smiling. She just nodded her head yes and wrapped her arms around Hank.
"Yes, I'll marry you." Said Brooke when she could speak again. Hank slowly bent down on one knee and took the ring out of his pocket and put onto Brooke's finger.
"I love you." Said Hank as he kissed Brooke just as another slow song started to play. "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden. Unbeknownst to them, Val had specifically asked the DJ to play that particular song knowing that it was Brooke's favorite.
" I'll love you now, always, and forever." Said Brooke unknowingly echoing Val's words.
* * *
"Val, are you okay?" Asked Brooke. Val didn't move or show any sign that she'd actually heard anything Brooke had said. "Val?" Asked Brooke softly, she rested her hand on Val's shoulder, causing her to jump.
"Are you okay?" Asked Caitie. "You were spacing out."
"Sorry. Sometimes I'll just be doing something and I'll see or hear something that reminds me of Kain." Said Val.
"You don't have to apologize for anything. He was your husband and you loved him." Said Caitie.
"It's getting late, maybe we should finish this in the morning. There isn't that much left to do." Suggested Jamie, yawning.
"Yeah, I am a little tired." Said Val.
"You shouldn't use too much energy, it's not healthy." Jamie advised Val.
"I'm fine Jamie, quit worrying about me." Said Val forcefully.
"Point taken." Surrendered Jamie. He and Caitie walked to the basement to get ready to go to bed. Val started to go down the hall to the living room.
"Where are you going? This is your room too." Said Brooke.
"I'm sleeping on the couch tonight." Explained Val.
"Val, sleep in your own room. I'll sleep on the couch." Offered Hank.
"No, I remember what it was like to be a newlywed, somehow I don't think that the two of you are going to want to be apart. I'm sleeping on the couch, no arguing."
"Are you sure?"
"The couch isn't that bad, it's actually pretty comfortable, now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go and take a shower.
* * *
"Is that the last box?" Asked Hank closing the trunk of his beat up truck. The damage from the accident had been repaired, but the truck wasn't in any better condition than it had been before the accident.
"Yes." Said Brooke sadly.
"What's wrong?" Asked Val picking up on Brooke's tone of voice.
"It's just sad to be leaving here, that's all."
"I know what you mean." Empathized Val. "But you can always call and e-mail and come visit."
"We've got to get going soon." Said Hank, he didn't want to break up the sisters, but he didn't want to be stuck in traffic all day either.
"Hey, I want you to call me more often." Said Brooke giving Val a hug goodbye. "The phone works both ways you know. You have to call me sometimes too." Said Val.
"Come and give your Auntie Caitie a hug." Ordered Caitie.
"Haven't we outgrown that yet?" Demanded Brooke but gave her a hug anyway, the hugged Jamie and her parents goodbye.
"Ready to go?" Asked Hank putting an arm around her shoulder.
"I guess." She told her husband.
"You're really gonna miss it here, huh?" Asked Hank.
"Yeah, I am. I mean I'm thrilled that I'm starting college and a life with you, I'm just gonna miss Kingsport."
"We'll come back for Christmas, I promise. But before we leave there's one more place we have to go."
"I want you to call me as soon as you get to New York." Ordered Brooke's Mom.
"Like, as soon as we cross the state line, or as soon as we get home?"
"Just call me."
"I'm eighteen, not eight Mom, I do know how to take care of myself." Brooke reminded her.
"Humor me then, alright?"
"Fine." Grumbled Brooke.
"We really should leave soon." Said Hank as he gently pulled his wife to the car.
"Brooke. Don't spend too much time studying and forget have fun." Advised Jamie as Brooke got into Hank's car and pulled out of the driveway.
"What time do you three have to leave?" Asked Val's Dad. The three of them had to leave that day too. There was only a week before classes started again.
"Not for a few more hours. But we've still got to pack." Answered Caitie.
"Lets forget about packing for a while. I was planning on going back to the station for awhile. Maybe say goodbye to Alex."
"Would you mind if we came with you?" Asked Caitie.
"Yeah, it's not fair if you get to terrorize Alex without the two of us." Added Jamie.
"I wouldn't dream of torturing Alex without the two of you."
* * *
The trio walked into the station to find it empty. "They must be on a call." Speculated Jamie. "Any idea who's replacing Brooke yet?"
"Nope." Said Tyler coming into the common room from one of the back offices. "I don't think he's found anyone to take over for her yet. And we thought we were understaffed."
"I'm sure he'll find someone to take over for her." Said Caitie.
"Speaking of Alex, where is he?" Asked Jamie.
"He and Jennifer are working on something in his office." Answered Tyler.
"Do I even want to know?" Asked Jamie.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Countered Tyler.
"Not really." Answered Jamie.
"What are you guys doing here anyway?" Asked Tyler.
"We're leaving in a few hours and I wanted to come and say goodbye." Replied Val. "When are you leaving?"
"In a few days."
"You have our address, right?" Asked Caitie for about the fifth time.
"Yes." Tyler had found an apartment near campus, but the people living there weren't moving out for another week and a half. So Caitie had invited Tyler and Lindsey to stay with them for a week. Val wasn't sure how she felt about him staying with them, but it wasn't her choice about who stayed with Jamie and Caitie. And she could survive a week.
"I have to be going, Alex." Said Jennifer leaning in to kiss him.
"We don't need to see that." Said Jamie. Both Alex and Jennifer looked up.
"I was just leaving."
"What are you guys doing here?"
"You don't think we'd leave without saying goodbye to you, do you?" Asked Val.
"I thought you three had come to torture me." Replied Alex.
"That too." Added Caitie as an afterthought.
"The only people we're missing now are Hank and Brooke and it would be like it was back in high school." Said Val.
"If you really want it to be just like high school I could always give the four of you paperwork." Said Brooke standing in the doorway. Hank wasn't far behind her.
"I thought you guys left." Said Caitie sounding a little confused.
"You don't think I'd leave Kingsport without saying goodbye to the station, do you?"
"Now it's like high school." Stated Val. Brooke and Hank could only stay long enough to say goodbye to Alex. Val, Jamie, and Caitie left soon after Brooke and Hank did. They still had to finish packing their bags.
* * *
A week later Val let herself into the apartment after work to find Jamie and Caitie sitting on the couch watching a movie.
"What movie is that?" Asked Val.
"The Skulls." Said Caitie, not bothering to take her eyes from the TV.
"Again?" Asked Val rolling her eyes, she knew it was Caitie's favorite. Val didn't have the chance to say anything else because at that very minute Lindsey decided to come running into the living room and give Val a hug.
"Hey." Said Val. She was tired, but she couldn't help smiling at Lindsey. She and Tyler had only been there for two days. Tyler had gotten a job as an orderly in the same hospital that Val and Jamie worked at.
"What's for dinner?" Asked Lindsey suddenly. "I'm hungry."
"It's only four o-clock, silly. Your Dad's gonna bring home Chinese on his was home from work in a few hours." Said Val.
"But I'm hungry now." Demanded Lindsey.
"Come on, I'll help you find something to eat." Said Val taking the little girl into the kitchen. From the kitchen she could hear the doorbell ring and Jamie and Caitie arguing over who had to get it. They flipped a coin and Caitie was forced to get up and answer the door.
"We don't need whatever it is that you're selling." Snapped Caitie, still annoyed that she had to get the door.
"I'm not selling anything." Said the mystery women. She had a slight British accent. "Is this where Tyler Connell is staying?"
"That depends on who you are." Replied Caitie.
"I'm Ashley Conway." She said this as if who she was should be obvious. Caitie just started at her.
"Well, Ashley Conway. You're gonna need to clarify a little bit more."
"I'm Tyler's girlfriend."
Author's Note #2: Aren't I a little bitch? I really have no good story lines for this yet so if you have any ideas please tell me. I'll post when I get 145 reviews. Most likely after that because this story is beginning to be hard to write, but I want to finish it. Go review now please.