Title: So Complicated
Author: Katie
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this story
Show/Movie/Book: Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley series crossover
Couples/Category: Kristy Thomas and Bruce Patman, Mary Anne Spier and Logan Bruno, Stacey McGill and Sam Thomas, Claudia Kishi and Ken Matthews, Dawn Schafer and Winston Egbert, Enid Rollins and Alan Gray, Abby Stevenson and Charlie Thomas, Anna Stevenson and Shannon Kilbourne, Jessica Wakefield and Oliver Luca (from the BSC movie), Lila Fowler and Cary Retlin, Elizabeth Wakefield and Todd Wilkins, Marguerite "Cokie" Mason and Bart Taylor, Janine Kishi and Steven Wakefield; other couples mixed throughout. Extremely alternate universe (AU).
Rating: M
Summary: AU. The lives of Stoneybrook's favorite club and the Wakefield twins & their friends will collide when Kristin "Kristy" Thomas and Bruce Patman's past romance resurfaces. Kristy & Bruce will find their way back to each other though the road to it will be rocky and unsteady at best.
Author's Note: When I first started writing this story, I was just planning to have it be Baby-Sitters Club by itself but then I thought: "Why not combine it with my other favorite childhood book series, Sweet Valley?" And this was born right off the bat. I hope you all enjoy and remember to R&R!
Chapter One
"Has anyone heard from Kristy?" a heavily pregnant Mary Anne Spier Bruno asks as Logan holds the back of the chair he scooted away from the table. His wife eases down into the offered chair and smiles at him holding their daughter Lucy. "It isn't like her to call a meeting and not bother to show up."
"I'm sure that one of her T-ball practices ran late," Kristy's oldest brother Charlie pipes up as he brings in a tray of glasses, all of them filled with fresh lemonade.
"I just came from there. She didn't show up for the practice," Bart Taylor – who, although being Kristy's soon to be ex-husband, wasn't a part of the club – walks in saying. On one hip he carries B.J.; his & Kristy's four year old son.
"Where on Earth could she be?" Abigail "Abby" Stevens asks; her slender athletic hands wrapping around a tall, coolly frosted glass of lemonade.
Mary Anne and the others gathered in the living room of Watson & Elizabeth Brewer's mansion-style home – they had moved to Tuscon, Arizona with Nannie Thomas, David Michael and Emily Michelle when Nannie fell ill.
Charlie lived in the mansion by himself so he'd rented it out to college students and, since he'd been feeling generous at the time, allowed Abby to live there. "If she didn't show up at the ball field, do you think she had a doctor's appointment?"
"If she did, I would've known about it in advance," Bart responds, his eyebrows furrowed in a deep crease; a frown on his lips.
"Whoa there, hot shot, I don't mean to rain on your parade but…" Abby starts to say.
The front door bursts open, revealing a frazzled-looking Stacey with Sam & Corina – Kristy shuffling along reluctantly behind. "We found her at the airport," Stacey McGill Thomas explains to the group gathered & waiting.
"Why was she at the airport?" Everyone asks in unison before Charlie emits a loud, shrill whistle; the sound making – who'd been the one standing closest to Charlie – jump in fright.
Charlie offers her a sheepish, apologetic smile before looking at the crowd gathered. "Anyone that isn't family, we'll have Stacey or Mary Anne call & fill you in later."
Abby shuffles out behind anyone that wasn't a part of the Thomas family though her gaze flickers back over her shoulder to meet Charlie's. The door is shut to hid Abby's forlorn look of longing, a gesture that is caught by none other than Dawn.
Meanwhile Bruce emerges in the doorway of the private jet that belongs to him – and were once his father Hank's – finding his ex-girlfriend Jessica Wakefield waiting for him. Although it seems that she is scheduling another photoshoot, Bruce can see that she's also being a mom; carefully French braiding their daughter Samantha's hair. Samantha's twin sister Stephanie sits patiently on the other side of her mother, instantly bouncing to her feet when she spots Bruce. Her small hand begins tapping the shoulder closest to her until Jessica looks up from her task, smiling in a soft & genuine manner; mouthing "be with you in a second".
Bruce nods his affirmation before picking Stephanie up when she came rushing over as soon as he'd eased down onto the asphalt. Before the twins were born, Bruce hadn't planned on settling down or having kids – let alone with Jessica. They were both loose cannons and, together, were an instant combustion. Yet parenthood changed them and and made them a better team than when they were in high school. "I missed you, Daddy," Stephanie's soft, tiny voice pipes up; cutting into Bruce's deep, heavy thoughts.
"I missed you too, Stevie," Bruce replies with a smile, pressing a kiss to the top of Stephanie's head.
"Daddy did your trip go okay?" the six year old Stephanie then asks curiously.
Bruce smiles again. He didn't know what Jessica had told their twin daughters but he'd only mentioned to her about going to see some friends across the US. Just not where.
It wasn't any of her business nor was it Samantha & Stephanie's business where Bruce goes or who he goes to see. "Yeah, sweetie, my trip went great," Bruce finally responds, letting his thoughts go as Jessica finishes both of her tasks to walk over. The former couple greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and a soft smile. "Get everything taken care of?"
"Yeah. You'd never think the beginning of the school year would be the busiest time," Jessica replies, switching twins with him in order to sit down & braid Stephanie's hair.
"Such is the life of you, Jessica Wakefield. A daughter, sister, mother, model, photographer & artist," Bruce says with a smile.
"What were you thinking, Kris? And who was that guy with you at the airport?" Stacey asks in a soft tone as she sits across from her sister in law & longtime friend.
"I was saying good-bye, Stacey, and his name is Bruce Patman. He's originally from Sweet Valley, California," Kristy speaks up in the same soft tone that Stacey is using, her fingers pulling at the fringe strings on a couch throw pillow.
"Why would you keep that from us, Kristin?" Charlie asks, his hand stopping her fervent movements of destroying the furniture further.
"Because I was hoping it would remain a secret!" Kristy cries out in frustration, glaring angrily at those gathered. Both of her older brothers exchange a look of concern at her angry outburst but before Charlie has the chance to say anything about it, Mary Anne lets out a soft whimper from behind Charlie & Sam.
"It's time," Mary Anne says when all three Thomas siblings turn around to see what was wrong with Kristy's longest friend. Another sister they should've all had but didn't get though Karen & Emily Michelle filled that gap.
Charlie rushes to retrieve Logan before the entire group head to the hospital with Mary Anne's husband leading the way.
The conversation about Kristy's behavior would have to wait for a bit.