A/N: Tuesday's episode has left me a little conflicted. My shipper self is not handling this well at all. A part of me is currently having a mental breakdown. My shipper self might need to see a therapist. Any suggestions? However, I think it's a good thing he transferred her out. I have a really weird feeling he will eventually find a bunny boiling in a pot. Let's all hope I am wrong! Anyway, I am glad so many people like this story! Please keep reviewing, you all know I love reviews so much.

Three Autumns

Chapter Three: The Third Autumn

Juliet ripped the wedding invite off the fridge and stomped off to her room like a two year old. The main reason she had returned was now engaged to another woman and the wedding was in three days. She could have screamed! Why had no one informed her that he was engaged? That psychic could have said something or her father or Bridget.

With a huff she threw the invite down on her bed and began to pace. Did he really love this "Rachel" person? Of course he did or else he wouldn't have proposed! Well she could have proposed to him. Britney Spears did propose to Kevin Federline. A disturbing thought entered Juliet's mind, which she tried to shake, but couldn't.

That means he said yes to her.

As she sank into her old desk chair, she began to realize it was really over. He would have a new wife three days from now, and they would have babies, and they would live happily ever after. The psychic said he had been miserable, like she was. Well it was clear that lady was wrong and she suddenly felt like she had come home for nothing.

She got up and walked over to her bed. The invite stared up at her telling her she couldn't do anything to change this. Well there was something she could do. She had to talk to Carpenter. He had to know she was back in town, unless her father and Bridget thought it wasn't a good idea to tell him. She figured he didn't live in the same apartment he once had., so she couldn't go talk to him, well not until she found him anyway.

She recognized the name of the father on the invite. The guy was one of his dad's clients. So, daddy must have set Carpenter up with this rich bitch. She shook her head, fuming. She couldn't believe her father would do this to her. Why had he set Carpenter up with this woman?

Because you weren't here.

She cringed at the thought. Of course the reason why everything had change would always fall into her lap. She could admit to herself and everyone else that she made a terrible mistake. She just hoped that he would take her back in the end.

It took Bridget a few minutes to calm her son down. She stood by his crib and sang softly until her son drifted off to sleep. Douglas could be a difficult baby sometimes, but she wouldn't give him up for anything in the world. She sighed in relief as she slowly made her way out of the baby's room. It felt like things were going to be better from now on. She and Andrew were happy, she was pregnant again, and Juliet was home. Things were looking up. She made her way into the kitchen to get a glass of water before she went to bed. She was sure her husband was out like a light. The thought made her laugh as she passed the fridge. She stopped dead n her tracks as she noticed Carpenter's wedding invite was missing from the door. Juliet must have found it.

"Oh no." Bridget said softly as she made her way to Juliet's bedroom. Her heart nearly broke when she heard sobs coming from the other side of the bedroom door. Bridget had a feeling Juliet's main reason for coming home was so she could fix things with Carpenter. Seeing Andrew, Douglas, and herself was just a nice bonus for her.

Bridget knocked softly before she opened the door. Her sympathetic eyes fell on Juliet's tear stained cheeks. She made her way over to the bed and sat down next to Juliet. Juliet sniffled and wiped angrily at the tears in her eyes. Bridget didn't blame her, no one liked to be seen this compromising state.

"Carpenter was the main reason you came back." It was a statement, not a question. Bridget already knew the answer, but Juliet responded to her like it had been a question.

"Yeah I did," She nodded her head. "I missed him so much Bridget. I should have never left him in the first place."

Bridget agreed with her, but didn't say anything for a few minutes. She turned to Juliet and took her hand."I have an idea," Juliet turned to face her. "You should write everything down on a piece of paper and I will give it to him," Juliet didn't seem like she liked the idea all that much, so Bridget went on. "I did that and I was going to send it to your dad, but he found me the day I was going to mail it. Plus, it makes you feel better having gotten everything off your chest."

"Okay I'll do it," Juliet stood up and walked over to her desk. "But what if he tears it up before reading it or something like that?" Juliet asked, the pain returning as she thought about him doing that.

"You just have to have faith he won't." Bridget answered her in all honesty. She had a feeling Carpenter would never do a thing like that. Bridget had a feeling he would leave Rachel at the altar if he got the note before the wedding.

In Carpenter's eyes, no one held a candle to Juliet.

Bridget gave her step-daughter a hug and made her way to bed. She shut the door and Juliet pulled out a pen and paper. It took her about twenty minutes to figure out what she wanted to exactly. She wasn't really sure she wanted to mention she had gone to a psychic. She eventually realized she should. Carpenter did enjoy a good story.

The sun was beginning to rise as Juliet slipped the three page note into a white envelope. She would give it to Bridget when they were alone. She just hoped Bridget would be able to give it to him before his wedding, so he would have a chance to read it.

When Juliet rose from her desk and made her way out to the kitchen. She was shocked, but really happy Bridget was already awake.

"Good Morning," Bridget said when she saw Juliet. "You want some pancakes?"

"Sure," Juliet beamed. "And I finished the note."

"Good I will take it to him today, this afternoon." Bridget responded as a bright smile lit up her face. She grabbed the pancake batter and began cooking her family their breakfast.

Carpenter sat at his desk, grading papers. Normally, he would have gone home and graded the papers, but after last night he just wanted to be alone. Rachel just dropped the bomb on him last night that she wanted him to quit his job and go work for her father. He refused and she had gotten upset, which of course lead to a screaming match, well on her part anyway.

A knock on his classroom door disrupted the memory of Rachel screaming at him. He looked up and saw Bridget Martin standing in the doorway. It was nice to see her, but it didn't mean he wasn't shocked she was there."What brings you here Bridget?"

"I have something for you," Bridget told him as she handed him a white envelope. "It's from Juliet." He knew it was from Juliet before she had said it was. He recognized Juliet's handwriting the moment he had the envelope in his hands.

"I know," He nodded his head solemnly. "I was her teacher for a period of time."

"Of course I remember that," Bridget smiled softly. "I don't know what the letter says, but she needed to get some stuff off her chest, well I have to go. Goodbye Carpenter."

"Goodbye Bridget." He said as he watched her leave his classroom. The moment she was gone. He opened the envelope and pulled out Juliet's three page letter. It started off with her saying that doing this had been Bridget's idea. That didn't surprise Carpenter at all. He continued to read on.

After he finished the letter, he set it down on his desk. Pretty much what she was trying to say with this letter was that she still loved him and that she made a huge mistake. The letter also stated that if he did want to be with her again, she would be waiting for him on at their old spot in the park on his wedding day. However, if he decided to stay with Rachel, she would understand. She had treated him horribly and he deserved to be with someone who really loved him.

He folded the letter back up and put it inside his briefcase. He locked up his classroom and made his way home. He had a lot to think about. However, he was in for a pretty big shock when he returned home. Upon entering the house he shared with Rachel, he made his way upstairs. He just wanted to shower and watch TV for the rest of the night. He opened the bedroom door and found Rachel in bed with another guy. He just turned around and walked back down the stairs.

Rachel followed him down and once she was at the bottom he turned to face her. He was fuming, but he wasn't shocked. "I'm sorry about this," Rachel spoke softly. "I didn't mean for this to ever happen."

"How long?' Carpenter asked her. His tone was cold and it made Rachel flinch. "Three months." she answered as she hung her head in shame.

"Well I think it's best we call off the wedding." He right to the point. The sooner she was out of his life, the better. Juliet had been right he deserved someone who loved him and Rachel clearly didn't love him at all.

"Yeah you're right." She said before he brushed past her to pack a bag. He finished as fast as he could and left the house. He would have to talk to Rachel about getting the rest of his stuff later. He drove to the nearest hotel and decided to stay there for the night.

For the next couple of days, he didn't answer his phone at all. He just wanted to be left alone. He stayed in his room, watched TV, and re-read Juliet's letter over and over again. It was clear after last night's events that his heart belonged to Juliet.

Saturday finally came and Carpenter got up and dressed. Today, was the big day. He made his way out of the hotel room and to his car. She didn't say what time she wanted to meet him, but he would be waiting for her when she got there.

Meanwhile, at the church Rachel knew Carpenter wasn't coming so she came up with a plan. She planned to tell everyone she had caught him cheating on her. He wasn't there to defend himself, perfect chance for her to play victim.

She made her way up to the altar as everyone took their seats. "I am sorry everyone but this wedding isn't happening today," She forced tears out of her blue eyes. "Because I caught my beloved in bed with Bridget Martin on Thursday night."

Bridget shot up and started making her way towards the altar before Andrew grabbed her. If he hadn't grabbed her, Bridget would have killed Rachel.

"Sweetheart," Rachel's father said as he stood up. "Bridget was over at our house on Thursday night." Well that was a huge flaw in her plan. Her father stared her down. She couldn't lie to him, but she didn't want to look bad.

"Fine," Rachel ground out. "I cheated on him!" Everyone stared at her in shock. Now everyone knew why the groom hadn't shown up to his own wedding. Poor guy. It had to suck walking in on that and then she tried to lie and say he cheated. That was definitely a low blow on her part.

"I wonder where Carpenter is?" Andrew asked Bridget amongst all the gossip currently going on in the church. Bridget smiled and looked at her husband. "I bet he's at the park," Bridget stood up just as a disgraced Rachel was walking by. "Carpenter was too good for you anyway" Bridget said coldly before she bitch slapped Rachel. "And that was for saying I cheated on my husband!" Rachel stomped out of the church. Bridget sank back into the pew and kissed her husband.

"I love you." she said softly.

"I love you too," Andrew replied, a moment later his mind went back to Carpenter. "Why would Carpenter be at the park.

"You'll see." Bridget said as a devilish grin fell across her face. Things were finally going to be the way they were suppose to be.

Juliet made her way down the path towards the spot where she was suppose to meet Carpenter in the park. Well, that's if he decided to show up. There was a fifty percent chance he would.

She sighed at the thought of him already being married to rich bitch. There was a part of her that wished she had tracked down where he had lived. She took a huge risk writing that letter. She got closer to their spot and she saw a man sitting on the bench. His chin was resting on his hands and he looked like he was in deep thought. She knew who it was right away. Her heart began to beat faster in her chest as she got closer to him. Before she got to him though he stood up and was face to face with her. He had a stern look on his face at first, but it softened and he began to smile.

God, she had missed him and that beautiful smile of his so much.

She broke down in tears and walked into his arms. He hugged her tightly and placed a kiss the the top of her head. He was so happy to have her back in his arms and even if Rachel hadn't cheated on him, he would have picked Juliet. Being with her felt so right.

"I am so sorry," She cried into his shirt. "About everything."

"We both made mistakes that night," He whispered gently. "You dumped me and I let you walk away," She pulled away from his embrace and looked up at him with smiling eyes."A mistake I will never make again." And that was a promise he was planning to keep.

"I promise I won't ever walk away from you ever again." She said before she stood up on her toes and kissed him gently.

"I have something for you," He pulled a velvet box out of his coat pocket and got down on one knee. He opened the box and inside was the most beautiful diamond ring Juliet had ever seen. She felt the tears begin to roll down her cheeks again. "Will you marry me, Juliet?"

She nodded her head since she was unable to speak due to the fact she was crying. He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her again.

"So how long has that been in your underwear drawer?" She asked as a shocked expression fell across his face.

"How did you know it was in my underwear drawer?" he answered her question with one of his own.

"The psychic I visited before I came home told me," She laughed as he pulled her down onto the bench

with him.

"Well tell me about this psychic lady." He said as he pulled her closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and began to tell her story about the psychic and how that little, old lady made her realize this is where she was suppose to be.

And she knew there was no place she would rather be, but with him.