The Fact of Life

[Panda Bear]

Chapter 1

Blair couldn’t believe it, two men had proposed to her baby sister. Natalie Green may have had absolutely no biological tie to Blair, but during the nine years that they lived together it was her that Nat had always turned to. Blair and Jo were close, as were Natalie and Tootie; yet it was Blair and Natalie that had that extra special connection. They’d gotten closer in later years; Jo moved away with her family, and Tootie had transformed into Dorothy. It wasn’t an obvious connection, but it was a deep one. Blair just needed to make sure that Natalie was taken care of no matter what. Blair knew full well that one-day, Nat have to do things without her. She hoped that whichever of the two proposers Nat chose, took over her job of protecting Nat. She also needed to get the other girls to come, eventually Natalie would discover everything. It would take Mrs. Garrett, Jo, and Tootie to get her through. Robert or Harper could try, but only the girls could see Natalie through this particularly crushing blow. She needed them to come, and she couldn’t let them know what was going on. If they found out, then their attitudes towards her would alert Natalie to the fact that not everything was right. She needed them strong. They’d have to be kept in the dark, for the sake of everybody they had to be strong when the moment came that Blair’s strength finally failed.

******************************************************************************************

Tad Warner’s world was falling apart right before his very eyes. How could this be happening? It had to be a nightmare. He felt as though someone was taking the heart out of his chest. Blair was his life, without her there was absolutely no reason to continue living. He had to forget that for now. Blair didn’t want for the girls or Mrs. Garrett to know what was going on, so for the next two weeks he was going to have to pretend that everything was just peachy keen. These two weeks would truly test his strength. It was time to go home, he’d done his job. Blair had asked him to call everyone and coordinate their arrivals. Natalie of course was coming. Mrs. Garrett, Jo, and Dorothy were supposedly a surprise for her. Tad, however, knew the truth; Blair wanted them their when the time came. It was important that Nat be taken care of, and Blair wouldn’t be in peace when the time finally came if she was not. He just hoped that this trip only involved preperation for that event. Jo was at some retreat for her job as a guidance counselor, and not only could she not come but Jo and Rick could only get in touch in case of an emergency. The receptionists at the camp had orders to prioritize calls. Rick and Jamie were coming, they’d promised not to miss this miniature reunion. He just hoped that Jo checked in soon, so that she could figure out how to attend.

******************************************************************************************

Dorothy was amazed, Natalie had two proposals. She was overjoyed for her best friend but it was hard. She was struggling to raise Tisha alone, and Natalie had two men. She still felt bitterness towards Jeff, or should she say Jefferson. She thought that being pregnant would be great, it wasn’t. When Grandmother Williams had found out, she had said that Tootie was out to ruin Jeff’s career. Tootie and Jeff had gone baby shopping and when they got home their was a message on the answering machine from Grandmother Williams: “ Jefferson I expect you to come see me as soon as you get home, we must speak seriously about your future.” Jeff had of course gone running like a loyal puppy dog. He never came home. The next day she got the call, he wanted a divorce. He told her that she’d gotten on pregnant on purpose to hold him down, and that the baby probably wasn’t even his. He then added that to show what a great guy he was he’d still pay child support as long as she never brought the baby anywhere near him. She’d told him that all she wanted from him was for him to resign his parental rights, she’d raise her baby by herself. Grandmother Williams had everything taken care of: six months into her pregnancy the divorce was finalized, when Tisha was nine-months-old Grandmother Williams married Jeff off to a young socialite. The day that they finalized the divorce Tootie had died and Dorothy had been born. He’d called recently and told Tisha that she had a little brother, a one and a half year old named Jefferson Williams, Jr., she was about to also have a little sister his wife was due any day now. Grandmother Williams had gotten everything that she wanted Jeff and Emily waited five years to start a family, until Jeff’s career was established. He now had a successful law practice that he used to make all of his wife and children’s dreams come true, while she and Tisha had to make every meal last at least for two. It wasn’t like they were on welfare or anything they just had to economize. She didn’t regret her decision, it had left her with her dignity intact. She simply wished that Jeff would stop his occasional calls. He didn’t have any rights to Tisha, and he just made her suffer. He told Tisha about his kids, and made her realize what she didn’t have. Oh well, it was time to go to the airport. She couldn’t wait for the next two weeks to start, in Peekskill there was no Jeff, no Grandmother Williams, no Emily, and no children to rub in Tisha’s face. The only thing waiting for them there would be people filled with love for them.

******************************************************************************************

Edna couldn’t shake her apprehension. There was something going on with Blair. Edna wasn’t sure what, but her maternal instinct was screaming: something isn’t right. Tad was too urgent to make Blair happy in this instance. Edna had always loved the fact that Tad bent over backwards to make Blair’s dreams come true, it made her feel good to see Blair with a man that adored her and treated her like a queen. This time, however it was different. Tad sounded like he was dying inside. She sure was glad that she’d be back in Peekskill soon; Blair had always had a hard time lying to her. Once in Peekskill, she knew that it wouldn’t take her long to get Blair to tell her everything.

******************************************************************************************

Rick was ecstatic that Tad had called. He was going crazy taking care of a little girl and Jo had only been gone two days. He didn’t think that he would survive the month long retreat, but then they were asked to go to Peekskill which meant four women to help him out. He and Jamie would be there in record time.

******************************************************************************************

Natalie was confused. She had never really gotten any attention from men, and now she had two proposing to her at the same time. She was incredibly grateful that she had Blair. She knew that Blair would help her sort all of this out. She couldn’t wait to see the inn and stay up all night talking and of course eating with her big sister, little did she know that this get together would change her world forever. How can anybody predict that their world is about to come down around them?




[This message has been edited by Panda Bear (edited 09-13-2001).]

[Krisalicious]

I really really really like this!!!!!!! Its awesome!!!! Great job!

[sue z q]

Originally posted by Sitcomsgrl89:
I really really really like this!!!!!!! Its awesome!!!! Great job!

Me, too! Are ya doing this like how the reunion's gonna be? I mean the one they're shooting now? That's cool! Post more soon, k? K.



------------------
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

Check out my site! http://www.geocities.com/huckle93455

And from your resident off-topic queens and royalty:

*^*^*~~~God Bless~~~*^*^*

[Acting Girl 19]

post more ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrsGarrettRocksMySocks]

OH MY GOSH!! This is good!! POst more ASAP!!

------------------
*Blair:I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!
*************************
my e-mail is charlotte_rae_fan@yahoo.com e-mail me!!
*************************
I think that CHARLOTTE RAE is the BEST ACTRESS that EVER lived!!She is incredible!!SOMEDAY...I *WILL* meet HER!!
*************************
Estelle:You're lucky I'm a lady, or I'd knock your teeth out!
*************************
IM me using piggy2111 or The GGirls R Koo
*************************
Tootie:WE ARE IN TROUBLLEEEEE!!!!
*************************
Estelle:There's more to life than football, Jimmy!
Jimmy: Yea, but there's nothing more important!
************************************
you have to admit, you CAN'T ARGUE WITH MRS.GARRETT!!

[Panda Bear]

I thought that I'd have Chapter 2 up tonight, but I have a lot of Chemistry homework to do. I'll have it up tomorrow. The other thing that I know is that " Journey of Faith" is really coming along. I've figured out the kinks, I just am going to wait to finish this one first. I tried doing to at once, Enlightening Reunion and Mama's Boy but one was always being neglected. One last thing I've got my next one started. It's going to be called " Labor of Love." Blair is in a car accident. The doctors have to operate, and then tell her that she and Cliff may not be able to get pregnant due to damage to her uterus from the surgery. Jo steps in as a surrogate. Of course after the baby's born, everyone gets a pleasant surprise.

~ Panda Bear

[Panda Bear]

Chapter 2

Edna arrived at the inn the night before any of them was supposed to be there. She had to get there first, it was important that she talk to Blair by herself. She loved the girls, but she knew that their presence would keep Blair from opening up. She went to ring the doorbell. It was time for the moment of truth; it was now or never.

******************************************************************************************

Blair was cuddled up in her favorite chair reading a book in front of the fire, when the doorbell rang. She wondered who it could be. The inn didn’t have any guests for the next two weeks, to accommodate the reunion, and Tad was away for the night on business. He hadn’t wanted to go, but she knew that he needed time to himself and had made him leave telling him that the business in Manhattan was important. She was sure the clincher was, Tad that business has to be taken care of this week, it’s more important that you be here when the girls find out the truth than that you be here tonight. She felt bad. She had done it for him, but also for herself she needed time to deal with what was happening to her. She went to the door to tell whoever it was that there was no vacancy. Instead of a wayward guest she found herself looking straight into a pair of eyes that were filled with concern. The eyes that had always been able to make her buckle during the nine years that she spent with their owner as her protector and confidant. Those eyes could only belong to one person, Mrs. Garrett.

Blair: Mrs. Garrett. I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. Come on in.

Edna: Thank-you.

Blair: What brings you here tonight? Where’s Bruce?

Edna: Bruce is flying in tomorrow. Blair I thought that it was important that I talk to you alone.

Blair: Why?

Edna: Both you and I know that something isn’t right. You called us here for Natalie, but there’s something
else.

Blair knew instantly that she’d have to share her secret. The girls she could stall, they had no clue; but Mrs. Garrett was different. Mrs. Garrett wouldn’t stand for anything but the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Blair: Edna sit down. This is a conversation that has to take place from woman to woman, not mother to
daughter.

******************************************************************************************

Edna’s heart sank when she heard Edna come from Blair’s mouth. If Blair wanted a woman to woman talk then whatever was wrong was serious.

******************************************************************************************

Blair could see the fear in Mrs. Garrett’s eyes. There was no turning back, for the remainder of this conversation it had to remain Edna and Blair; afterwards the Mrs. Garrett and Blair relationship could continue. The only thing that she could do now for this woman that she considered her mother was to just continue and not hold out the suspense any longer than she already had.

Blair: Edna, do you remember when I was at Eastland and my mother had that breast-cancer scare?

Edna: Yes. Are you telling me that you have breast cancer?

Blair: No. As you probably know it was a tumor it was simply benign. Well, that counts to higher my
chances of cancer. This has made me get regular check-ups. At my last check-up, my mammogram
was perfect; however, my pap smear wasn’t, it showed irregular cells. Edna, I have cervical cancer.

At this point Edna fell into Blair’s arms sobbing. Blair was trying to be strong, but she finally succumbed to the tears.

Blair: Mrs. Garrett. I’m not getting the chemo. It doesn’t improve my chances, and if it fails it’s just going
to make me too sick to enjoy whatever time I have left. I want to dance with Tad at Nat’s wedding,
not be too sick to even attend.

Edna: So you’re just going to let yourself die.

Blair: No. I’m going in for blood work next week. If everything is okay, I’ll have a hysterectomy, in two
weeks; after you and the girls go home.

Edna: I won’t leave you, sweetie.

Blair took Mrs. Garrett’s chin in her hand.

Blair: Listen to me, Mrs. Garrett. You were right when you said that I had called you here for Natalie. She
and I have become very close in the last few years. I’m very sick, I can get a lot sicker very quickly.
If things don’t workout and I get sick, I’m going to need you Mrs. Garrett. I need you and the girls
to get her through this if push comes to shove. I need you to be at her wedding. I need you to take
care of my baby sister. I also need you to keep this between us, Tootie and Natalie can’t find out
unless the worst case scenario comes to pass.

Edna: I will.

Blair: Promise me, please Mrs. Garrett, promise me.

Edna: I promise.

Blair just held Mrs. Garrett in her arms as she sobbed, just as she had held Blair when Blair was in pain. The next morning when he came home, Tad found his wife holding Mrs. Garrett as they both slept in each other’s arms.

[marmalade]

Oh, this is good! Please post more soon!

[MrsGarrettRocksMySocks]

ditto!! This is amazing!!

------------------
*Blair:I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!
*************************
my e-mail is charlotte_rae_fan@yahoo.com e-mail me!!
*************************
I think that CHARLOTTE RAE is the BEST ACTRESS that EVER lived!!She is incredible!!SOMEDAY...I *WILL* meet HER!!
*************************
Estelle:You're lucky I'm a lady, or I'd knock your teeth out!
*************************
IM me using piggy2111 or The GGirls R Koo
*************************
Tootie:WE ARE IN TROUBLLEEEEE!!!!
*************************
Estelle:There's more to life than football, Jimmy!
Jimmy: Yea, but there's nothing more important!
************************************
you have to admit, you CAN'T ARGUE WITH MRS.GARRETT!!

[MrsGarrettRocksMySocks]

I just read this again!Your fan fics are sooooooo amazing!keep it up!

------------------
*Blair:I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!
*************************
my e-mail is charlotte_rae_fan@yahoo.com e-mail me!!
*************************
I think that CHARLOTTE RAE is the BEST ACTRESS that EVER lived!!She is incredible!!SOMEDAY...I *WILL* meet HER!!
*************************
Estelle:You're lucky I'm a lady, or I'd knock your teeth out!
*************************
IM me using piggy2111 or The GGirls R Koo
*************************
Tootie:WE ARE IN TROUBLLEEEEE!!!!
*************************
Estelle:There's more to life than football, Jimmy!
Jimmy: Yea, but there's nothing more important!
************************************
you have to admit, you CAN'T ARGUE WITH MRS.GARRETT!!

[Panda Bear]

Chapter 3

In the morning, the first thought that crossed Edna’s mind was Davey. Tad had woken both she and Blair, but she had yet to see Blair’s son. David Edward Warner had been born when Blair was only twenty-two years old. Blair and her boyfriend Casey had broken up, when they realized that they wanted different things. Casey wanted for them to live together and didn’t want any children; Blair wanted to get married and have kids. Two weeks after the break up, Blair found out that she was pregnant. Casey only stuck around for the first trimester, then he ran. Edna had come back to the states, when she found out about the baby. She knew that Beverly Ann wasn’t prepared to help Blair through this, she still felt that she was an outsider and that it was Edna that had the girls love and trust. Luckily, when Davey was a year old Blair had met Tad, and when Davey was two they had married. Blair and Tad had tried for years to have a baby together, but hadn’t been successful. They focused on Davey, Tad was his father although they had the tendency to not get along. Blair was the love of his life, if he knew it had to be killing him inside. Just then Blair came down the stairs.

Edna: Blair.

Blair: Yes, Mrs. Garrett.

Edna: Does Davey know?

Blair: Yes and no. He knows about the cancer, he was there when I found out and he knows about the hysterectomy. He doesn’t know that if it doesn’t work, I’m going to die. I guess I’ve been in denial. I’ve focused on how badly Nat’s going to take it because I can’t handle what this is going to do to Davey.

Edna: Blair, you have to tell him. You know that Tad and he aren’t really close. He can’t find it out from anybody else.

Blair: I know. I wanted to wait until after the surgery, but I see now that I can’t continue to make him think that there’s no chance of me dying when there is. I have to make sure that whatever happens, he’s ready for it. I’ll tell him this afternoon, when he gets home from his cub scout trip.

******************************************************************************************

Blair and Edna spent the rest of the morning reminiscing. At four o’clock the door opened.

Davey: MOM! Where are you?

Blair: In here sweetie, with Grandma.

Davey ran up the stairs and hugged his mother and grandmother.

Davey: Mommy, I brought you something.

Blair: Oh, let me see.

Davey pulled out a silver bracelet from his pocket. It had an inscription and when Blair read it she cried.

David Edward Warner
February 14, 1990
Mommy’s Little Boy
Forever

Blair: Davey, I love. It’s absolutely beautiful, and you’re right. You are going to be my little boy forever.

Davey: The offered us shop class or jewelry making, my friend’s thought that I was a wimp, but I told them that I wanted to bring you back something special.

Blair: Baby, you have no idea just how special this is to me. We need to talk, sweetheart.

******************************************************************************************

Davey was so happy. He loved cub scout trips, but he preferred being home with his mom. Then he’d gotten a surprise, his grandma was there. His heart, however, was quickly sinking. The tone of his mother’s voice told him that whatever she was going to tell him, wasn’t good.

******************************************************************************************

Blair hated what she was doing to her son. There was a moment when she almost backed out, but then she realized that she couldn’t. Mrs. Garrett was right, she had to tell him before someone else accidentally let it slip. She took him into her arms and started to do the hardest thing that she had ever had to, tell her son that she might die.

Blair: Davey, do you remember when I got my test results from the doctor?

Davey: Yes.

******************************************************************************************

Davey was really scared now. He had done some reading on cervical cancer, and he knew that it could be fatal If this conversation that his mom was taking so seriously had to do with that, then this really wasn’t going to be good.

******************************************************************************************

Blair saw the fear rise up in his eyes, but she continued. She knew that if she stopped, she wouldn’t continue.

Blair: Davey, there’s a chance that the operation that I told you about won’t work. It probably will; but if it doesn’t, then baby there’s a chance that I won’t make it.

Davey snuggled up into his mother’s arms and cried with his head buried into her chest.

Davey: Mommy, please don’t leave me.

Blair: Hey, I don’t plan on going anywhere so make your plans with me in them, okay.

Davey: Okay, mommy.

Edna’s heart broke as she walked out of the room and closed the door, leaving mother and son to face this difficult moment together.

[MrsGarrettRocksMySocks]

This rocks!!i absolutely love it!

------------------
*Blair:I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!
*************************
my e-mail is charlotte_rae_fan@yahoo.com e-mail me!!
*************************
I think that CHARLOTTE RAE is the BEST ACTRESS that EVER lived!!She is incredible!!SOMEDAY...I *WILL* meet HER!!
*************************
Estelle:You're lucky I'm a lady, or I'd knock your teeth out!
*************************
IM me using piggy2111 or The GGirls R Koo
*************************
Tootie:WE ARE IN TROUBLLEEEEE!!!!
*************************
Estelle:There's more to life than football, Jimmy!
Jimmy: Yea, but there's nothing more important!
************************************
you have to admit, you CAN'T ARGUE WITH MRS.GARRETT!!

[Panda Bear]

Chapter 4

Edna went to her room and cried herself to sleep. An hour later the doorbell rang, she went to check on Blair and Davey. Davey was fast asleep in Blair’s arms, so she asked that Edna open the door and tell whoever it was that both of them were asleep. This way, Blair could have a little more uninterrupted time with her son.

******************************************************************************************

Natalie was already starting to get antsy. She had rung the doorbell ten full minutes ago. Where were Blair, Tad, and Davey? She got out her cell phone to call them, when the door was opened by Mrs. Garrett. Nat didn’t like this at all. She was glad to see Mrs. Garrett, but her eyes were all puffy. Why had she opened the door and why had she been crying?

******************************************************************************************

Edna knew that Blair wasn’t ready to tell Natalie any of the truth, so she hid her feelings as best she could. She felt that Natalie should be told immediately, but she had promised Blair that Nat would only find out if the worst case scenario played out. Edna had always kept her promises to her girls, and she wasn’t about to stop now. She hugged Natalie and brought her inside.

Natalie: Mrs. Garrett, what’s wrong?

Edna: Nothing, sweetie.

Natalie: Then why are your eyes all puffy.

Edna: Blair, Davey, and I were watching Bambi.

Natalie: Davey’s back from his cub scout trip?

Blair: Yes, and you should see what he brought me.

******************************************************************************************

Blair heard the doorbell, and slid Davey over. She was sure that it was Natalie and she couldn’t leave Mrs. Garrett alone to handle the situation. It wasn’t fair. She went down the stairs and sure enough there was Natalie. She called out to her and went to say hi. Natalie hugged Blair.

Natalie: Hey, sis.

Blair: I knew that you’d be the first to get here.

Natalie: But I’m not, Mrs. Garrett was.

Blair: Yeah, but you got here before Tootie, I’m sorry Dorothy. It’s still hard for me to accept that you
guys are grown women.

Natalie: Hey, no problem. I still can’t accept that she’s a grown woman. Where’s Tad?

Blair: He’s at work. He got home from Manhattan last night, now he’s at the site making sure that
everything with the Eastland renovations go according to the plans that he and the board at Warner
Industries agreed on.

******************************************************************************************
Davey woke up with a start, his mom wasn’t there. Then he heard his Aunt Natalie and knew exactly where his mom was. He went into the bathroom and washed his face. He didn’t want her to see that he had cried. He knew the truth, but there was absolutely no need for her to know it too. He went down stairs and straight into her arms.

Davey: Hey, Aunt Nat. I thought you’d never get here.

Natalie: Hey, little man.

Davey: Am I going to approve of the guys that proposed to you, or am I going to have to run them off?

Natalie laughed.

Natalie: I’m sure that you’ll like them. Your new uncle is a very nice man, whichever one I choose.

Edna: Well that’s what we’re here for, to help you make that decision.

Blair: Yeah, Nat. Start talking.

Natalie: Okay. There’s Harper, he’s a doctor; and Robert he’s a contractor.

Blair: No, no, no. That’s all very nice, but I want to know if they’re good looking. Come on, let’s get to the
important stuff.

Edna: You took the words right out of my mouth.

Natalie: They’re both incredibly good looking.

******************************************************************************************

Blair was glad at her choice of topics, by keeping the atmosphere playful she could avoid any conversations that may lead to Natalie finding everything out. Four hours of discussion over whether salt, pepper, and distinguished looking was more attractive than the young, built look; Rick arrived with Jamie. Blair couldn’t be happier than when Davey and Jamie hit it off. They would be great friends, and if things got bad he would have someone to talk to. Now, all that was left was for him to get along just as well Tisha. If these two were anything like there mothers, they would be his safety net if she didn’t pull through.

[Panda Bear]

I'm thinking of posting " Labor of Love" on Saturday. If I do, I'll do a chapter every Saturday. If I do it any other way one of the fanfictions will be neglected. " Journey of Faith" I'm not posting until I have at least five chapters on the pad, because that one is going to take a lot of my time. If I do it any other way it will only be updated like monthly.

~ Panda Bear

[MrsGarrettRocksMySocks]

AWESOME, but I love this one(I'm sure I'll love your others too, cause I liked the others that you written so far) so please don't forget about it!(some people forget about their fan faics and never finish! Then I'm left in the dark!I don't like to be any more confused than I already am!)