-1 Together Forever At Last

As in the previous chapters I do not own Degrassi or any of its characters. Degrassi and its characters belong to the original producers, writers etc….. of the show. This is purely fan fiction for other fans of the show.

Chapter Four

And In To The Future

It all seemed to be happening the year of Joey and Caitlin's tenth wedding anniversary. Tilly was eight years old now and Angie was Twenty-three, a fact that really did make Joey feel old.

'We are both knocking fifty', Caitlin reminded him. She could hardly believe it herself, the past ten years since she had married Joey had just seemed to fly by.

'I can't believe my eldest daughter is getting married next week'.

'I know. I am pleased for her and Angie and that they managed to work it with the long distance thing. He is a nice boy.'

'I know, if I had to pick a husband for my daughter it would be him. They have the new apartment sorted in Cambridge now. Angie is one busy young lady, doing her Phd and working at the stem cell research centre. She is turning out just like her step mum, work, work, work.'

'I guess she does sound a bit like me when I was her age.'

Angie and Andrew were getting married at home in Toronto and they were due to arrive early this evening.

Tilly was going to be a bridesmaid and Angie hadn't wanted anyone but Caitlin as her Matron of Honour.

'Don't you think I'm a bit old for that Angie?', Caitlin had asked.

'No and there are only two bridesmaids I want, Tilly and you.'

'In that case I'm honoured.'

Caitlin had always wanted to be a bridesmaid as a child and young teenager, but had never gotten the chance, not even at her brothers wedding. Now as an adult, she was about to have a second go. And if there ever was a third time at least she wouldn't have to worry about the old fashioned superstition of never being a bride.

Angie and Andrew's wedding was due to take place exactly one week before Joey and Caitlin's tenth wedding anniversary. Craig was a confirmed guess and he would be staying in the old apartment below the penthouse, as he and Angie often did when they visited.

'It's all systems go, so much planning. I am so glad we had a small private ceremony', Joey put down the phone, after another yet unsuccessful phone call to the caterers.

'If we had planned the works, we would have probably fallen out over it', Caitlin smiled, thinking of their previous two unsuccessful engagements.

'What are you laughing at?'

'Nothing Joey, just thinking. Anyway, its time to pick Tilly up from school. You coming?'

'Of course, with my crazy work schedule and the wedding , it is going to be the only day this week I get the chance.'

Joey was well known for his work with teenagers with illnesses such as bi-polar that could sometimes make them violent. His appointments were always fully booked and he had a patient waiting list at the private practice he worked at in downtown Toronto. Some of Joey's colleagues had published books and often asked him if and when he was going to write one.

'Never', he always told them 'My emphasis is on doing. Besides writing has never really been my forte, that talent lies with my wife.'

Caitlin now had over twenty bestselling books to her name and she was still going strong. She was not just Canada's, but the worlds most renowned non-fiction author. She also still took two guest lectures a week at Degrassi and ran the summer journalism programme for the students.

Outside the school, Tilly was over excited.

'We got a new teacher today, she is really nice, much better than Mrs Butterton, I hated her.'

'What happened to Mrs Butterton?', Joey asked.

'She left unexpectedly. She had to move to London to look after her elderly sister. She didn't want to commute all that way every day.'

'So who is your new teacher?'

'Ms Brodie. Not Miss or Mrs but Ms. That's the first thing she made clear. She says she knows you.'

'Most people know of us Tilly, what with all the pictures on the back of my book jackets', Caitlin explained.

'No, you don't' get it. She called the register and paused at my name. She then asked me if my parents were Caitlin Ryan and Joey Jeremiah. And when I said yes, she said she went to high school with you.'

'Brodie, Melanie Brodie?'

'Yes, she said you would know her better as Melanie.'

'I can't believe it. I haven't seen her since high school. Melanie and I were quite good friends in junior high.'

'She said she is looking forward to meeting you again at the next parents evening.'

'I'm sure as hell looking forward to meeting her again after all these years.'

Just when Caitlin and Joey thought they were done with finding all their old school friends from their now very distant school days, Caitlin realised she had completely forgotten about Melanie Brodie and Kathleen, the girl Melanie had hung round with most of the time.

When they arrived home though, there was no more time for reminiscing as Andrew and Angie had arrived and Joey started to cook the dinner. Angie and Andrew didn't say much before they all sat down at the table. Caitlin just thought the pair of them must have the last minute jitters.

'So guys, I had yet another row with the caterers on your behalf this afternoon', Joey told them.

'Dad, please don't mention the wedding', pleaded Angie.

'I get it. You have been planning it for so long you must be sick of hearing about it', Caitlin felt for them, they were so young too.

'Actually it isn't that at all Caitlin', Andrew who hadn't said a word so far, finally spoke.

'Andrew, just leave it', Angie pleaded with tears in her eyes.

'No Angie, why should I? Why should we carry on the pretence any longer?', Andrew was angry.

'Cool it guys', Joey looked at the both of them 'Come on, what is going on?'

'The wedding is off', Angie told them, looking down at her half eaten plate of pasta.

'What? Why?', Caitlin wasn't shocked, from the way they had been since they arrived, but she was still surprised.

'Because', Andrew stood up 'Because your daughter is a slut.'

Andrew left then, leaving Angie at the table in tears.

'Don't you love Andrew anymore?', Tilly asked her big sister.

'Of course I do Tilly. I still love Andrew. But Andrew doesn't love me anymore', tears were streaming down Angie's face now.

'Okay Angie, let me take Tilly to bed and then we can all talk', Caitlin left Joey to comfort Angie in the meantime.

'But it's only half past eight Mummy', Tilly moaned.

'And that is exactly the time you go to bed every night on a school night. And besides , Daddy and I need to talk to Angie okay. You can stay up late at the weekend I promise.'

Back in the kitchen Joey had put the tirmasu he had made especially for Angie back in the fridge and he made three strong cups of coffee for them all to drink in the lounge. Angie was sat staring out at the sea on the sofa when he handed her , her coffee. They were still sat in silence when Caitlin rejoined them in the lounge.

'I don't know, Tilly is always hard to get to bed, you always hated getting out of it in the mornings.'

'I still do', Angie told them and sipped her coffee.

'Are you going to tell us what happened?', Joey asked.

'You heard Andrew, I ruined everything.'

'Care to elaborate?', Caitlin asked.

'It's not the sort of thing you really want to have to talk about with your parents.'

'Try us', Joey sipped his coffee and looked at his daughter.

'Okay, I was in the lab one night, working late as usual and I got to thinking about the wedding and everything. I was working late with Tom, who is about ten years older than me and we got talking. I had always been attracted to him, but tried not to let it show. He asked me out and I told him I was engaged. Anyway, despite what I told him, at the end of the night we ended up kissing in the lab. Then I invited him back to my apartment. You can guess the rest.'

'You had a one night stand behind Andrews back?', Caitlin asked.

'At the time I told myself it was only going to be a one night stand, just so I knew what it was like with someone other than Andrew. But Tom wanted to keep on seeing me and I couldn't resist. After all, Andrew still wasn't due to join me for a few months. He was still miles away finishing up his contract in Vancouver. I hate having to admit this to my parents, but I know I didn't love Tom. I wasn't in love with Tom. I still loved Andrew, but I just enjoyed having sex with Tom.'

'How long did this go on for?', Caitlin asked, as the same time trying to keep herself from having flashbacks of a painful summer now so long ago and she could tell Joey was thinking the same.

'Right up until two weeks ago. The original plan was for Andrew to join me the week before we flew out here for the wedding. But he turned up a week early to surprise me. Of course he has had a key to the apartment since I got it. He walked right in on me and Tom having sex in the lounge. He walked right out again and we haven't really spoken much since.'

'How come you still arrived together?', Caitlin wondered thinking Angie would have wanted to be as far away from Angie as possible.

'We pre-booked seats on the plane ages ago. We met on the plane, boarded separately and the only time he spoke to me during the whole flight was to call me a slut over and over. The worst part is, I still love him, so much, I still want to marry him and now I've lost him forever.'

'Angie, maybe not. Maybe you guys can still work things out', Caitlin was thinking.

'I don't see how, he hates me.'

'Andrew is very , very hurt right now Angie and who could blame him? I know how he feels, trust me. However, I don't think he hates you. If he hated you he wouldn't have come here tonight, he wouldn't even have bothered to turn up on the same flight as you. He would be screaming about cancelling all the wedding plans.' Caitlin felt for both Angie and Andrew right now.

'Joey, I never ever thought I would say this, but it appears after all these years Tessa Campinelli may have her uses after all.'

'What', said Joey, nearly choking on his coffee. He hadn't heard that name for years and it was the last one he ever expected to hear come from Caitlin's mouth.

'Tell her Joey. Tell her about that summer you cheated on me with Tessa. Let her realise it doesn't have to be the end. But it has to be sorted now, before they end up with too many years of wasted if's and maybe's, before finally getting together, just like we did.'

They then spent the next hour and a half digging up memories of what had turned in to a very painful end to the summer for Joey and Caitlin when they were in their late teens. As they told the story, Caitlin and Joey held each other close, knowing how painful it was for each of them, but how it was more important for Angie than ever to hear this right now.

'I don't want to have to wait years and years to be together with Andrew again, not like you too did.'

'Then you have to go and talk to Andrew, tell him that you still love him, how sorry you are and that you want to work things out.'

'Maybe in the morning', Angie said.

'No, now. He probably only went as far as the downstairs apartment, if not , you can take my car', Joey told her.

'Thanks Dad, you're the best'.

Angie picked up her Dad's car keys just in case and left to find Andrew.

'That was a turn up for the books', Catilin settled back down cuddling Joey on the sofa.

'I just hope they work it out. And not just because of the money we have spent on the wedding either.'

'Me too Joey. It's a shame. I wonder what this Tom was like.'

'We could always google him. If we got to the Cambridge university research centre website. All the research scientists on there have profiles. Angie has one.'

'Okay, lets do it.'

After booting up Joey's laptop, it didn't take them long to find the only man that could fit the bill.

'Here we are , Tom Watson, thirty three, umm, not bad, if I was a single woman , ten years younger', Caitlin joked.

'He's married', Joey pointed out.

'What?'

'Look here, marital status, married to Debbie Watson, a school teacher for ten years. Two children, Carrie, age four and Ben aged seven.'

'Oh my god, what the heck did Angie get herself in to ?'

'One real fine mess by the look of things. Lets just hope it really is over for good.'

They were still not sure if there was going to be a wedding, but Joey was taking the week off work still anyway and Caitlin was taking a week off from her work too. They hadn't seen Angie since she had left to talk to Andrew the previous evening.

'All the arrangements are made now. We may as well just leave them as they are until we know one way or another', Caitlin suggested.

'I was hoping she would have called by now.'

'Come on Joey, this has been a long day of doing nothing waiting for Angie to call. Angie and Andrew are grown-ups. Come on, lets go and get Tilly from school.'

Picking Tilly up from school was a welcome relief, especially when Tilly dragged her teacher out to meet them.

'Ms Brodie, this is my Mummy and Daddy.'

'Melanie. I can't believe it, after all these years. How are you?'

'I'm fine. I only moved back to the city a few months ago. I was on the schools teaching pool and they phoned me and said they need someone here for the year to take the place of Mrs Butterton. I couldn't turn down a job just round the corner from my old school could I?'

'Not when it's the school most of the kids here will move on to , including Tilly. So how long you been teaching?'

'Exactly twenty years. I started teaching the same year my son Eric was born. It was also the same year I got divorced, after a very short , disastrous marriage. I was living in Montreal and stayed there, but after Eric went away to university I thought a lot about moving back home, so here I am. I did it all too young.'

'If your finished for the day, why don't you come out for coffee with us. I would invite you to our place, but our daughter and her fiance are having some problems and the wedding is next week', Joey explained.

'That's fine. I know a good coffee shop. Can you believe a couple more years and it will be thirty years since we left Degrassi?'

'Mad isn't it, come on Tilly, we're all going for some coffee, well juice in your case.'

They went to Melanie's favourite coffee shop in downtown Toronto, on Yonge Street near all the souvenir shops.

'Melanie, whatever happened to Kathleen?'

'I haven't seen her since university, but I know she graduated with a degree in biomedical science. We both went to U of T, but we didn't speak to each other much. We had our own group of friends from our own courses, including my future husband. Want to see a picture of my son?'

'Sure'.

Melanie proudly took a picture out of her purse.

'Handsome', Caitlin commented.

'He takes after his father', Melanie admitted.

They spent over an hour chatting with Melanie and then she gave them a lift home as they had walked to the school to collect Tilly. When they got home Angie was there, but there was no sign of Andrew.

'He's staying at his parents. He wouldn't even talk to me', Angie said sadly 'I guess the wedding really is off.'

'Angie, did you know Tom was married?', Caitlin asked.

'Of course I did', Angie admitted.

'So how come you omitted to tell us that?', Joey asked her.

'Because you were always proud of me. And now I've made a huge mistake and I didn't want you to think even less of me than you already do.'

'Angie', Joey looked at his daughter and then his wife 'Everyone makes mistakes, its part of life. Of course we don't think any less of you. Wouldn't I be a hypocrite if I did?'

'Thanks dad, I wish, I wish…………..', tears were once more streaming down Angie's face. 'I wish all I still cared about was science, like when I was younger. I wish work was all I cared about.'

'Angie, no you don't', Caitlin told her 'Making your life all work is no fun. Sure, it can take away the pain for a while, I'm not going to deny that, but the minute you stop to think , you are miserable. Trust me Angie, I've been down that road more than once in my life.'

'Are you going to try and talk to Andrew again tonight?', Joey asked her. 'He will have to talk to you eventually.'

'I know Dad. I still love him so much. I still want to marry him and be with him forever.'

'Then the relationship must be worth fighting for', Caitlin looked over at Joey and smiled.

After Angie left, Caitlin and Joey decided they would definitely leave all the wedding plans as they were for now.

'If it doesn't take place, we have already spent the money anyway Only if she decides later on to get married, she will have to pay for it herself. We aren't forking out thousands of dollars again. Lets just hope it doesn't come to that after all', Joey put the laptop down with all the wedding accounts on.

'Maybe I should talk to Andrew', Caitlin wondered.

'No Caitlin. They need to sort it out for themselves.'

'I know, I was just thinking out loud.'

'Don't think, just kiss', Joey grazed her lips with his.

'Tilly may hate bed time, but I love it', Caitlin kissed him back.

'Caitlin Ryan, you are one dirty old woman', Joey teased.

'Dirty middle aged woman if you don't mind', she laughed and then kissed him again and then raced him to their bedroom.

When Angie did arrive home, she wasn't alone, but it was gone midnight and everyone had already gone to bed.

'They will have to wait until the morning', Angie told him and then led him not to the downstairs apartment but to her old bedroom that was still made up for her is she chose to stay in there when she visited.

Angie heard Joey and Caitlin get up and take Tilly to school and both of them moaning about wasting a week off from work if the wedding didn't take place. At least she had some good news for them there. And the even better news was it was today that Craig was arriving. He was going to be an usher at the wedding

When Joey and Caitlin got home, Angie and Andrew were in the lounge and Caitlin noticed they were holding hands.

'Your week off hasn't been wasted. Andrew and I talked all day and all night. The wedding is back on.'

'Congratulations. Does that mean we can go and pick the dresses up from the boutique this afternoon as planned then?'

'Of course, I can go with you and Tilly after I pick her up from school', Caitlin told Angie.

'And Andrew and I can go and pick Craig up from the airport and then go pick our tuxes up.'

'Great, all systems go again', Angie smiled for the first time since she had arrived home.

The next few days were a whirlwind of final arrangements and then the day arrived. Andrew left the downstairs apartment early with his best man Neil and Craig and the other usher, another old school friend of Andrew's.

'So when you getting married Craig?', Andrew asked.

'Never, if can help it', he told them 'Why would I ever want to get married? I'm a rock star. I've got women falling at my feet and to think I once thought of getting married before I was even out of high school. Now I may be over thirty, but can't imagine anything worse. No offence, I mean, I just know its not right for me. I have wrote a song especially for you and Angie though. You guys are good together. I always thought you would end up getting married.'

Back in Joey and Caitlin's penthouse, it was madness now the photographer had arrived. Everyone was all dressed and ready to go. Tilly was so excited , it was almost impossible to calm her down. Caitlin had let the beautician use minimal make-up on Tilly and Tilly was so excited at being allowed to wear it for the first time in her life, even if it was only a bit of eyeshadow, lipstick and blusher. It brought tears to Caitlin's eyes, her little girl was growing up so fast.

The photographer took a family photograph before Caitlin and Tilly left in the bridesmaids car.

'We will have some more done later on with Craig', Joey told Angie as they waved Caitlin and Tilly off from the balcony. 'Well Kid, not much longer now. Want a brandy? A cigarette? Something to calm your nerves.'

'I'll pass on the cigarette.'

'Good, its not like there is any in the house anyway since none of us smoke. How about the brandy though? I'm having one.'

'Yes please Dad.'

Joey went over to the drinks cabinet to pour the brandy's.

'Cheers', they clinked glasses 'To my beautiful, intelligent daughter. I'm so proud of you. I am so pleased you and Andrew are putting the past behind you. Just like Caitlin and I did eventually, though I am so glad you two didn't have to wait as long. I wouldn't want you to be miserable for years and years like I was. Congratulations Angie.'

Joey hugged his daughter and then it was time to head off to the church where Andrew and everyone else was waiting.

There were lots of tears through the service, Caitlin was wondering if Angie had outdone her on the tear front from her own wedding day. Caitlin concluded she had, Angie cried all the way through the ceremony.

At the reception afterwards, once they had seen Angie and Andrew off on their honeymoon, Joey had a surprise for Caitlin.

'Now we've got the eldest daughter sorted and married, I decided we should take a break ourselves. So next week Tilly is staying with your Mum and we are going back to Chicago for a second honeymoon.'

'Joey, what a nice surprise. I think we need the break after all the drama of this week before we both get back to work.'

'I couldn't agree more, come on lets dance.'

Once again they found themselves dancing to a very old ballad, one they had danced to themselves back in high school, but the tune was as popular today as it ever was.

When the time came for everyone else to leave the reception it was time to say goodbye to Craig at the same time. He was heading for a big gig in LA straight from the reception. Though he only just about made it out of reception in one piece, he had a lot of groupies Angie's age and a lot of her friends had begged him for his autograph at the reception. Not that he minded, it was all part of being a rock star.

Tilly was exhausted when they arrived home, having stayed awake through the whole evening and had to be dragged off the dance floor by her parents when it was time to leave. She had been dancing with some of Angie's friends, who all adored Tilly. When her parents put her to bed, she was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow.

'That has to be the first time in a long time we haven't had to practically beg her to go to bed', Caitlin climbed in to bed, exhausted herself.

And then Caitlin and Joey were headed off back to Chicago to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. They visited all their favourite places in the city as usual and spent their last evening sipping cocktails once more in the Signature Lounge. It was Caitlin's favourite view in the whole world. She sipped the last of her Mojito and took Joey's hand.

'Come on, lets make the most of our last night alone in the hotel'.

'Oh , I intend to. Time alone with my sexy wife. Who could want more?', Joey kissed Caitlin and then they headed back to their hotel.

A couple of months after their tenth wedding anniversary Joey and Caitlin decided it was time to get everyone together and have one of their now legendary parties. It had been a while since they had one and as usual the guest list was even longer. Recently more old faces from their schooldays had added profiles to the Degrassi alumni site , Michelle, BLT and Kathleen. Though as BLT claimed in his profile nobody called him by his old high school nickname anymore, these days he was Bryant to all his friends and family and Coach Bryant to the high school kids he coached.

Caitlin hadn't known Bryant that well in school, except when she had watched him in basketball games.

'So Bryant, where are your family tonight?', Caitlin asked him.

'The usual. My teenage daughters are out with their boyfriends that I hate and my wife Selina is working as usual.'

'That's a shame, it would have been nice to see everyone again with all their families.'

'It would, but it's a long way to come from PEI just for one night.'

'How come you ended up living there anyway?'

'After my not so spectacular basketball career ended, it was the first place I was offered a coaches job. I've been there for fifteen years now. My daughters were born there, Selina loves it, she was never really a big city girl.'

Joey rejoined them then and slung his arm over Caitlin's shoulders.

'Bryant, after all this time, wow. You still shooting baskets?'

'Only on the weekends. In the week I teach others how to shoot baskets. Hey is that Kathleen over there with Melanie?'

Caitlin glanced over to where the two women were chatting by the window.

'It sure is, come on, lets go and say hello.'

Kathleen and Melanie had been reminiscing with Spike and Snake and Melanie and Snake were talking about the differences in between teaching elementary and junior high and high school kids.

Kathleen was talking about the latest work she had been doing at the lab she worked in in Calgary.

'It's a real shame my daughter Angie is on honeymoon. She would love to meet a fellow scientist.' Joey told her, pointing to a picture of Angie on the wall, from when she graduated with her first class biochemistry degree from Cambridge.

'Never saw the point in having children myself, such an inconvenience.' Kathleen clearly hadn't changed much over the years.

'And do you have a partner Kathleen? Or don't you see the point in relationships either?' Bryant asked her.

'Actually I've got two ex-husbands and I'm currently working on divorcing husband number three.'

'That figures', Bryant smiled and then when to catch up with Simon and Alexa, whose twins were just a few years older than Tilly.

Michelle was out on the terrace alone. She still hadn't gotten over the shyness she had experienced as a teenager. Despite the fact these were her friends, friends that she had spent the most awkward years of her life with, she really didn't know what to say to them. They all appeared to be super successful, well most of them anyway, especially Caitlin and Joey. What could she say to any of them that would be of any interest? She had been in the same boring job in the bank ever since graduating university. She was one of the banks longest serving employees. Her personal life was boring. She had an equally boring husband who also worked in the bank and two equally boring children, Paul who was now nine and Caroline who was now seventeen. She loved them all dearly, but sometimes she just wished her life had turned out differently, that she had done things differently.

'Michelle, don't tell me you're a secret smoker too?', that was Bryant or BLT as she had always known him.

'Not at all. I just wanted to get away from the crowd. I'm still not comfortable with crowds, even with people I know.'

'Still the same shy Michelle, even after all these years', Bryant smiled and lit up a cigarette.

'How long have you smoked?'

'I've been a secret smoker since high school, just after we stopped going out.'

'But you've been a grown up for quite some time now. Why not just tell people?'

'I'm a sportsmen and a sports coach. I'm supposed to be part of the anti-brigade. Besides I've been trying to give up.'

'How long you been trying to give up?'

'About twenty years', and then they both laughed together.

They had once been high school sweethearts , until the summer she went away and Bryant met someone else. But all that was in the very distant past now. So when he asked her back inside to dance and remember the good times, she could hardly turn him down.

'I feel so old, I can't believe Emma's over thirty', Spike to said Snake as they danced.

'Yes, but you did start young and besides, at least Jack's still a teenager to make us feel young', Snake kissed his wife.

Joey and Caitlin were in the kitchen taking out some more snacks the caterers had left for them.

'Each party we have seems to be crazier than the last. Don't you think we are getting too old for partying?', Joey joked.

'No way Joey. Remember when we were coming up for forty, well they said forty was the new thirty and now they are saying fifty is the new forty, so bring it on, life does begin at forty after all', Caitlin laughed at her own theory, kissed Joey on the cheek and headed back in to their huge packed lounge and sat down with Maya.

Maya still lived in Toronto, but they didn't have a chance to catch up that often. Maya was a counsellor that worked with children with physical disabilities fit in to mainstream schooling just as she had herself.

There was still one big secret Caitlin didn't know though. All the guests that didn't live locally would be staying in Toronto for at least two more nights, either with relatives or in hotels. Because unbeknown to Caitlin CQJH were doing a These Are Your Days show, especially in her honour. It was the shows updater version of another old programme This Is Your Life and followed a similar format. Caitlin had won so many outstanding achievement awards for her work over the years. But they had decided the time was right to have the show for her as this year was the twentieth anniversary of when Ryan's Planet had first aired. They had already released a new special edition of the DVD box set for the anniversary.

Caitlin thought she was just going to her old station to do an interview on the chat show. She hadn't a clue it was just a ploy to get her there for These Are Your Days. She hadn't a clue that she was going to have an entire show in her honour, with family and friends and everyone that was still living and had ever meant anything to her in her life to date. It was going to go out live in Canada, as the show always did, but would be shown in the states, the UK, Australia and New Zealand a few weeks after.

And she hasn't a clue, Joey thought to himself. He had assisted the producers a lot making sure they could arrange to get everyone in Toronto. Then Caitlin caught him smiling across at her.

'And what are you smiling at Joey Jeremiah?'

'I was just thinking how lucky I was', he came over and kissed her. 'It's good to see you Maya. Another workaholic, that kind of thing must have run in our year at Degrassi.'

'Talking of work, I have a client I am going to recommend to see you', she told him.

Maya and Melanie had worked with Joey a lot helping the producers get organised for the show.

'I remember at Simon and Alexa's wedding I told Caitlin she was going to be famous one day. She was always going to be the famous one amongst us.'

'Says the most sought after child psychologist in Ontario', Maya had pointed out.

'Yes but the difference is, no one has heard of me professionally outside Canada. I don't think I would want to be famous like that. I'll leave that to the likes of Caitlin and Craig.'

Joey was recalling that conversation they had had one Saturday, they were digging out old photographs while Caitlin was at a meeting with her editor.

The day after the party Caitlin and Joey went back to work. Caitlin's latest book was on nuclear energy and nuclear waste, a topic she felt had been neglected by many environmentalists in recent years.

'Can you pick Tilly up from school on your way home today? I have so much to get done', she asked Joey.

'Sure not a problem. Happy writing.'

In fact the arrangement suited Joey fine, he could pop in to the TV station and finalise plans with Tomas for the show.

'So Caitlin thinks she is coming here for her interview at seven tomorrow evening. I've told her to be here for make-up at six. Then when she is all ready, we will spring the surprise on her. And then we go through the family history and you all come and join her one by one. This is going to be the most exciting episode of the show I've done in years.'

Outside the school, Joey reminded Melanie of the details when he picked Tilly up.

'As if I'd miss it for anything.'

In his car Joey reminded Tilly to remember it was all a top secret.

'Remember, this is a big surprise for Mummy okay.'

'Okay, is Ms Brodie going to be there too?'

'Of course she is, you heard her. Even your big sister is coming back from England especially, even though she hasn't been back from her honeymoon long.

Caitlin was trying to decide what to wear as a guest on Tomas's chat show. In the end she decided to go with a classic two piece black suit. It was an old faithful, one she had bought just before she finally married Joey. A car was going to pick them up and Joey and Tilly were going to be special guests in the audience.

When they arrived Caitlin was separated from Joey and Tilly straight away as she was whizzed off to make-up. Tomas came in just a few minutes before she was due for her spot, unaware she was already being filmed by the hidden cameras.

'So am I the last guest on tonight?', Caitlin asked Tomas.

'And the first. Your actually the only guest this evening. Because Caitlin Ryan, These Are Your Days ', Tomas had the famous great big green book in his hand.

'Oh my god, I don't believe it', Caitlin was shocked.

A few minutes later Caitlin was sat down comfortably in the chair that had been set in front of the screen especially for her.

'Born Caitlin Ryan in Toronto in March nineteen seventy-two', Tomas began 'You are an environmentalist, journalist, author, mentor, teacher, not to mention a wife and mother…………….'

After Tomas's basic introduction Joey and Tilly came out and hugged her and sat down on the chairs next to her. Then came her own Mother, followed by Angie and Craig. Surrounded by her family Caitlin was in tears as Tomas carried on and began talking about her school days. Her elementary schoolteacher, Mr Radditch, who was now in his seventies and two of her old university professors also now in their seventies appeared through the screen to join her next.

After introducing all her old school friends, Tomas began talking about her long and successful career to date. So many people came that she had been lucky enough to work with over the years, including Ellie Nash, who was now nearly as famous as Caitlin herself. The final guest to arrive through the screen door was her editor, who she had been working with ever since she began writing her books on environmental issues.

After the show was over there was a party for all the guest at the TV station and it was midnight when they all got home.

'God knows how we are going to get you up for school in the morning', Caitlin said to Tilly as she and Joey tucked her in to bed.

Caitlin and Joey still on a buzz from the show, went through in to the kitchen for some coffee.

'You must have been in on that for ages', Caitlin commented.

'You got me, guilty as charged. Tomas first contacted me about three months ago, as soon as he heard about the twentieth anniversary box set of Ryan's Planet being released. Melanie and Maya helped a lot too.'

'Well thank you so much.'

'I didn't really do much.'

'I wasn't talking about the show. I meant thank you for being you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. Well and Tilly of course. I could live without the fame, but I couldn't live without you. That's something tonight really brought home to me once more.'

Caitlin was still overwhelmed with emotion from the show.

'And you won't ever have to', Joey took her back in his arms. 'You see I couldn't ever imagine life without you now Caitlin Ryan. I love you so much.'

'And I love you Joey Jeremiah. I always have and always will.'

Then they drew apart, finished their coffee's, and went to bed ready to face another day of work the next day.

THE END.

Well that's all folks. I thought that was the right place to end it. I hope all the Jaitlin fans enjoyed it.