NB: Correction: Mary Anne's mother's name is Alma, not Abigail. I don't know where I got that idea! Thanx to the reader who pointed that out!
NB: In addition, this may be slightly less realistic then imagined, but I don't want to see them hanging on to grudges for 5 chapters! This is the BSC!
P.S- Sorry it's taken so long to get these chapters up- I ran out of internet quota, and writing these chapters was kind of hard! ENJOY! (Sorry to keep you in suspense!)
There was a stunned silence as each woman tried to take in the fact that Mary Anne was in a wheelchair. Jessi was the first to recover, and she walked over and bent down to give her a warm hug.
"It's so good to see you again after talking on the telephone for so long. How's it going Logan? And these must be your two gorgeous children." She moved towards the shy children standing behind Logan.
"Yes- Abby and Josh." She looked tenderly at them, then back around the room. Claudia followed Jessi's lead, trying to sound bright yet not concealing the fact that she was almost crying, as was Stacey. Mallory seemed too nervous to move from the corner, and Dawn seemed to be in shock. Kristy, however, buried her feelings and strode up to her.
"Mary Anne, its so good to see you again," and gave her a hug. Mary Anne laughed at her
"Still the same gruff Kristy, hey?" Eventually, however, everyone was still standing around awkwardly.
"Come on guys, why don't you sit down? I'd do the same, but I'm already sitting," Mary Anne joked, and there was a ghost of a wisp of laughter from everyone. Logan discreetly disappeared out of the room, followed by all five children. "I guess you're all wondering why I asked you to come here."
" Well, yeah," Mal said, the first words she'd spoken since she'd arrived. Mary Anne took a deep breath and looked around the room.
"I wanted us to all catch up, and try and remember all the good times we had over the years. I don't know about you, but I've had this hole inside me that even Logan, Abby and Josh haven't been able to fill. I only just realized it when I got sick, but once I realized it was there, and what caused it, I knew there was only one thing to do- call an emergency meeting. For once in my life, I'm the leader," she joked and, this time, there was more laughter in the room.
"I can see you are all curious about the fact that I'm in a wheelchair, so I'll tell you what happened. I hadn't been feeling well for a long time- especially after having Joshie. The doctors did some tests, and they found a tumor on my spinal chord, as well as a very low blood count." She sounded so matter of fact about her situation, while the others were struggling to keep back the tears.
"Was it cancer?" Stacey asked softly.
"Yes it was. I underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and the tumor seemed to disappear. The only problem was that I couldn't feel my legs. I've been going to physiotherapy for nine months now, and I'm beginning to get pins and needles in my legs again, which is a good sign. So, all I'm hoping for is to walk and play with Logan and the children again."
"You're so brave Mary Anne," Jessi said in a wavery voice, then dissolved into tears. Mary Anne smiled at her
"I'm not brave, I'm just doing what I can to stay around with my family."
"How did your father take it?" Kristy asked, swallowing a lump in her throat.
"He was pretty upset to begin with, you know, with my mother dying of cancer. But he and Sharon have been absolutely fantastic- they've taken so many trips to Louisville to help Logan with the children, and going to treatments with me- I don't think I could ever repay them."
"Mom never told me this," Dawn murmured under her breath. Rather than feeling angry about the special treatment she felt her stepsister had been getting, she was now feeling ashamed about the way she had acted- and the way she treated her mother.
"She did try, but I think you were either expecting Chloe or Adam around the same time. By the way, your wedding pictures were beautiful, and you look wonderful with Jake at all those premieres."
"Like that's going to help save my marriage," Dawn said bitterly, and everyone turned to her.
"Aren't we still talking about Mary Anne?" Mallory said shortly. Mary Anne shook her head
"No, we're all here to talk about our problems. I know everyone has had some major shocks in their lives, and I want us to try and talk away through them. We were best friends once, and I hope that we can be friends again once more. I'm sorry, Dawn, about your marriage." Dawn shrugged, but they could see the pain in her eyes.
"It's nothing- Jake only really married me to capitalize on our fame. I don't think he ever really loved me- even the children seem to be possessions in his profile as a family man. At first, he was so romantic and caring, and he seemed excited when the kids were born...although, thinking about it, he was never there when they were born...He's just interested in making money."
"Aren't all men," Mallory laughed sourly. "All they want is to sleep with you, and then disappear. Or, if you don't want to do it, they just force themselves on you." Everyone turned, stunned at the venom and anger that had spewed forth from Mallory.
"Are you an expert on that excuse Mal? Seducing men to sleep with you, and backing out at the last minute?" Jessi asked angrily. "You couldn't resist sleeping with Quint, could you?" Mallory looked up at her, her face ghost white and her eyes full of tears.
"Is that what Quint told you? That I seduced him? That's not true!"
"I don't know what to believe about you anymore, Mal. I closed the book on you a long time ago." Mallory began to cry
"Please don't close the door on me, Jessi. I need help more than ever- I was raped by Brian on prom night..." There was a stunned silence as everyone digested the news.
"Why did you keep hanging out with them...why didn't you tell someone?" Kristy asked, and Mallory looked up miserably.
"I couldn't- I was too ashamed, and I'd turned my back on so many people, especially my best friend," she looked at Jessi and, although she tried to look angry, deep down her heart was beginning to soften.
"Then what happened?" Mary Anne spoke up gently- she had a few ideas of Mal's problems, but she had no idea how bad they had been.
"I went to Boston, and drowned my sorrows in alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. I managed to complete an English degree, but I haven't had a permanent job in over three years. Too unreliable, they all kept saying, which was true. And then...six months ago...this guy came up to me and said he knew Jessi- it was Quint." She took a deep breath and tried to stop the tears flowing. "I was polite, and tried to move on, but he pinned me up...against...the ...wall...then, when I was leaving..." she couldn't finish, she was crying too hard. Mary Anne wheeled her chair over to her, and put her arms around her. Mal shuddered at her touch, then fell into her embrace. The other members just looked at each other, stunned, and Claudia and Stacey wiped tears from their eyes. After a little while, Mallory calmed down enough to look up at Jessi.
"You've got to believe me, Jessi- I haven't been able to have a normal relationship since Brian...I can't stand anyone touching me.... and men have used me when I've had too much to drink. I hate men. I'm so sorry for everything Jessi, there were so many times I wanted to call you, especially when you were in Boston dancing, but I was too scared..." They all looked at Jessi, who seemed to be on the verge of tears. She then stood up and went over to Mal, who also stood up.
"You and I, Mal, are soul mates as far as friendship goes. Have you had any idea how much I've missed you over the years? How much I wanted to hate you but couldn't? Mal, you've always been my best friend...and I know, deep down, that Quint could be possible to do anything. I believe you...can we still be friends?" Mallory looked at her, crying, and then they fell into each other's arms crying. On impulse, Claudia (who was also crying) began clapping her hands, and the others joined in- Mal and Jessi looked slightly embarrassed when they stopped hugging. But they sat down next to each other on the floor, holding hands.
"How is Quint?" Mary Anne asked delicately, and Jessi shrugged in reply.
"I don't know- I left him 2 weeks ago, and stayed at Keesha's until I came to Stoneybrook. I don't think our relationship was the same after I turned down his marriage proposal."
"Marriage proposal!" the others echoed, and Jessi smiled
"Yes, he proposed to me a couple of times over the years, but I've always had the feeling that it was only a half hearted attempt to pin me down. Last time, last year, I still wasn't ready to give up ballet...until now..." she added wistfully.
"Would you marry him again, if he proposed?" Stacey asked.
"I don't think so- after what he did to Mal, and what I've heard about town, I don't think so. I lost a lot of respect for him when I found out he had quit dancing just because of the boys in school. He had a lot of promise as a dancer, and he gave it all up. I think I'm ready to find a man who will stand up for what he believes in. I still want to teach dancing, but I'm also thinking about college." Mary Anne smiled at her, then glanced around the room, her eyes fixing on Kristy.
"Your husband and daughter are so adorable."
"Cam's not my husband- we've been living together for a while. He's a doctor, and I'm a physiotherapist, so I don't think marriage would work out."
"But you've had a child together, you've lived together for ages, and you seem so happy together," Claudia pointed out. "He's a great guy, and he adores you and Tam- so what's wrong with getting married? I know you believe in some of that feminist propaganda, but what about your traditional values? I know you have them, Kristin." Kristy smiled at the name, and looked awed at what Claudia just said.
"I know, but he went through his parent's divorce when he was young, and I think it's put him off marriage for life."
"But it's also your parents' divorce that has put you off for life too, hasn't it?" Stacey said quietly. "Don't you think that you should realize that Cam is not like your biological father- he's more like Watson."
"And you added Brewer to your last name when Watson died," Dawn added with a sheepish grin. "I still keep up with the gossip."
"I don't know...maybe I'm worried that something would happen, and that marriage could spoil everything...."
"Dad and Sharon are very happy together, as was Watson and your mother, as are Logan and I. All marriages aren't going to end up in the gutter, like Dawn's or your mother's first marriage. I think you should give it a go- marriage may be a lot of hard work, but it's also very rewarding, especially when you have children with the man you love."
"Here, here," Stacey added. Kristy turned to her.
"Stacey, I'm sorry that I was such a jerk about you and Sam getting married- you are a perfect match. But, like Dr Spier just deducted a few minutes ago, I have a fear of commitment- and I was scared for both you and Sam. Never in a million years would I begrudge you the happiness you guys obviously have."
"Thanks Kristy, that'll mean a lot to Sam- as it does to me. But we're not always as happy as we seem..." she looked down at her lap and her eyes filled with tears. Claudia, who was sitting next to her, gently patted her hand.
"What's wrong Stacey?" Everyone was watching her carefully- she was genuinely distressed about something in her life- quite unlike the bubbly blonde that was still seen on billboards all over America, or their fashion conscious treasurer.
"Well, I lost my job two weeks ago, and I've been looking for another one ever since. That doesn't matter- I wasn't happy there, but it may be the loss of the dream that Sam and I have had since we got married...You know, Dawn, Kristy and Mary Anne, I'm so jealous of you."
"Why?" Mary Anne looked startled, as did the other two.
"Because you have had children so easy.... and I want a baby of my own so much...." She burst into heavy tears, and leaned her head on Claudia's shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with either of us, although my diabetes can be a problem, but we just haven't had a baby. We were planning to do IVF, but it's so expensive..." she dissolved back into tears again, as everyone gathered around her.
"There's nothing that we can say that will ease the pain of it, but we will all be there for you and Sam, whatever happens," Mary Anne said gently.
"Yeah- besides you've just got your first niece," Kristy joked and everyone laughed. "You can have her whenever you want." Stacey laughed, and wiped her eyes.
"I know it seems so silly, when we've got at least three chances, but I'm just worried that none of those chances are going to work. Then what are we going to do?"
"We'll look at that if the time comes." After a little while, everyone calmed down, and Mary Anne looked at Claudia
"We've almost all caught up with each other- except for Claud...."
"Well, I don't really want to say this, but Alan and I are going to have a baby.." she shot an anxious look at Stacey who smiled brightly, and threw her arms around her.
"You can name her after me! The Stacey, not the Anastasia," she amended as everyone laughed. Claudia sighed
"I just wish my parents were going to be as happy- they couldn't come to my last gallery opening because Janine was going for her exam.... Honestly, I sometimes think that they wish that they had only had Janine for all the credit they give me. They told me, when I was 21, that they were proud of me when I sold my first paintings, and attended my first launch- but all they seem to talk about is Janine, Janine, Janine! What's so great about Janine? She may be married, and talking about running for office- but she's in a boring city, with a boring job, and her husband is just as boring and snobby. I've felt this my entire life...and they didn't even really approve of me marrying Alan!" All the anger and anxiety that she had kept bottled up for nearly 30 years spilled forth, and even she was surprised at how much she yelled and screamed.
"But, I've learnt to deal with it, and they have to accept me for who I am. I haven't told them about the baby- I was going to tell them at the gallery exhibition......"
"Claudia, I'm sure they love you, and they'll love the baby- I think you need to tell them how you feel. It's not healthy to keep all that anger and frustration locked up inside- believe me, I know," Dawn said quietly.
"I agree with Dawn- I understand your resentment, but think of it this way- is Janine, in the long run, going to be happy as a senator, with no children or fun? I don't think so," Stacey added. Claudia sighed and looked around
"I'm glad we're all back in each other's lives- I don't know why we ever lost touch."
"Yes, you do..." Mallory said quietly, as they remembered the incident, which broke the camels back as far as the club was concerned.........
It was close to graduation, and the senior members of the club were excitedly preparing for their senior prom and graduation.
"In two weeks, it will be summer, and there will be no more summer," Stacey sighed as they reclined casually in Claud's room. The meeting wasn't due to begin for another 10 minutes, but everyone had arrived early. Everyone that is, except Mallory, who was going off the rails.
"I wish I could be coming to the prom," Jessi said wistfully.
"Just ask one of the boys- I'm sure Alan Grey would love to take you," the rest of them, Jessi included, giggled over the thought of Alan Grey in a tuxedo. Jessi wrinkled her nose
"NO Thank you- I do have some standards." Kristy glanced at her watch
"I wonder where Mal could be...she said she was going to be early, so we could have some free time to catch up...."Jessi shrugged her shoulders
"Don't ask me where she is- she disappeared straight after school."
"That girl is so out of control, I don't know where she's at."
"Does anybody these days?" Just then, they heard someone crashing up the stairs, and Mal appeared at the door. She was unkempt, reeked of smoke and they all knew she had been drinking.
"Nice of you to join us," Kristy said sarcastically.
"Oh shut up Kristy. Wow, I've wanted to say that for such a long time- you are a bossy girl who couldn't keep her man 'entertained' and you wonder why he's with another girl now. You think you know everything, but you don't"
"Mal, are you alright..." Mary Anne asked hesitantly. Mallory swung around, her eyes flashing with anger
"Oh yes, Ms Caring about everybody Spier. Well, you are just a sap who doesn't know that everyone is laughing behind your back about your sensitivity." Mary Anne's eyes filled with tears.
"Now wait a sec..." Dawn began as Cyclone Mallory swung towards her.
"Oh, little miss alternative lifestyle. Hey Dawn, why don't you go all the way and say you're coming out of the closet? Isn't that what you want to do? Or become an anorexic- you certainly eat enough food to fit that..."
"And Stacey and Claudia both think their the answer to all boys, but believe me girls, they don't go for snobby New Yorkers with crap health, or girls who dress so strangely it looks like they've gone back into time. You guys are just weird." Finally, she turned to Jessi
"And you...I hate you and your life so much- your parents treat you like an adult, and your sister and brother are perfect little angels. I hate you." She spat out the last few words, then stumbled out of the room, leaving a group of very upset girls.
Later that night, they heard that Mallory had tried to overdose on pills, and had been admitted to the psychiatric ward of Stoneybrook Hospital. When she had 'attacked' them, she had been sneakily drinking at school, and she had done some drugs before coming over- hence the manic behaviour.
"And we didn't want to see each other because of all the ugly things she said..." Stacey said softly as they thought back to then. Mallory was crying again, and Jessi took her firmly in her arms.
"Mallory, we know that you didn't mean it- you were drunk, and high on drugs...I forgive you for everything you said.
"And we do too- you were actually telling the truth about me, I can be bossy," Kristy said honestly.
"And we dressed oddly- just looking at photo albums back then..." Claudia shuddered, and Stacey laughed.
"I was much too sensitive- it's my worst fault."
"No, it's your best- and everyone else is just as good. I'm sorry about what I insinuated to you Dawn."
"No worries- we all know now that that's not true- and I think I was pretty close to anorexia at one stage."
"GROUP HUG!" And they all crouched around Mary Anne and her chair, hugging each other as hard as they could. She was right- there had been a part of them missing for years, and now.... they were complete again.
"And this session of the Babysitter's Club is officially ended," Kristy concluded, then looked sheepish. "Sorry, once a president, always a president."