Fate

[JoPolniaczekFan]

First let me say I am in no way finished with A Lesson Learned but I came across this written in an old notebook and it is finished and thought it was cute. I'm posting it cause A Lesson Learned is becoming much longer than I anticipated and I'm anxious to share this story with you all. I got the idea from the episode titled sisters where Blair and Jo thought their parents were falling in love.

Introduction

Jo wakes up and turns to see her husband David is already up. She smiles to herself and can't believe how happy he makes her even after ten years together. Jo was never one to believe in fate or destiny. She was always logical so everything had to have a logical explanation. But the only way Jo could explain this is fate. Fate brought her to Eastland in the first place where she met the greatest friends of her life. That is how she ended up in Paris the first time on a trip with Mrs. Garrett, Blair, Natalie, and Tootie. Fate is how her pop fell in love with Blairs mom Monica and decided to get married in Paris. Fate is how she met David again five years after thinking she'd never see him again.

She still remembers the first day in Paris when they were brought by bus to a school in a town outside of Paris where their days were carefully scheduled to the point the four girls were gonna lose their minds. They were all disappointed cause they couldn't actually see Paris or any of its sights so they came up with a plan to run away when they went to Paris with the school as part of a tour group. They all went their own ways to see what they had come to see. Jo just knew she had to go to Le Mans for the race.

As Jo was walking down a road a guy on a bike passed her by even though she was trying to get a ride. His bike broke down a little way up the road. When she caught up to him she was mad and had asked how he could have not stopped for her. Jo ended up helping him fix his bike in exchange for a ride to Le Mans. They got to know each other pretty well over the course of their trip. Love at first sight was also a concept Jo thought wasn't logical but she knew she was in love the minute she met him. She even contemplated not going back to meet up with the others to go home and staying there with him but she knew she couldn't. In the end after a painful and tearful good-bye Jo had boarded the plane heart broken and went home with her friends. After some time she thought she forgot him. Jo dated a few guys and eventually stopped thinking about him.

Five years later she goes to Paris for her father's wedding to Monica and runs into him having dinner in a restaurant and all the old feelings came rushing back to her. She told him she wanted to see him again when he asked but wasn't sure if it was a good idea cause she didn't want to feel that pain again. Blair told her to follow her heart not her head. Jo's heart told her to see him and so she spent a lot of time with him when she wasn't preparing for the wedding. He even went with her to the wedding. It was a simple wedding and she had worn a simple pink dress. Even though she wouldn't normally be caught dead in pink it could have been worse. This time when she said good-bye to David they promised to keep in touch and did. About a year later he moved to the states and a year after that they were married.

[Nighthawk76]

This promises to be a very interesting fanfic. And I am so happy to see Jo married to someone other than Rick.

[JoPolniaczekFan]

Originally Posted by Shine

This promises to be a very interesting fanfic. And I am so happy to see Jo married to someone other than Rick.

i personally couldn't stand rick or even grasp the concept that Jo would fall for someone so immature with so many screws loose

[ZeldaGilroy]

I think it's a prerequisite: to be a member of this board you must hate Rick! just kidding.

Cute story!

[JoPolniaczekFan]

Part 1

Jo are you awake yet David calls from the bathroom. Yes Jo answers as she gets out of bed. David comes in the room and kisses her good morning then she goes to shower and get dressed. She goes in to wake up the girls and then starts breakfast. She calls the girls again. C'mon girls you don't want to be late for your first day of school and neither do I Jo says. they groan and say Ok mom and get out of bed. Jo goes back to the kitchen to finish making breakfast. Jo thinks to herself I though i was only gonna live here til I finished college but I'm still living here after all these years. Mommy is it ready yet says Chrissie. Yes honey says Jo. Did you brush your teeth? Yes says the eight year old girl. Ok sit down honey. Where's ur sister? Shes in our room getting dressed. Ok says Jo. Lisa Jo calls Hurry up or you'll be late. Lisa comes running into the kitchen and sits down. David comes in and they all eat breakfast. Jo cleans up.

On the way to school Lisa asks Mommy why can't we go to your school? Jo says Honey I told you the school I work at is for girls over thirteen. You can go when your older. Lisa asks Chrissie How many years to thirteen from five? Chrissie says Eight. Oh says Lisa. They get to the Eastland Elementary school and Jo takes them in. Ok girls have a good day and I'll be back after school to pick you up. Ok Mommy they say. She says bye to them and sets out to her job as headmaster and guidance counselor at the Eastland School for girls. The school she went to as a teenager. She thinks its great how Blair made the school such a success when it almost went under all those years ago. She even managed to get backers to open the elementary school. So now Blair runs that one and said I was the only one she would let run this school. Jo parks her car and goes into work.

Jo gets to her office to find two girls waiting to see her and thinks can't they even behave in the first few minutes of school. She tells them to come into her office and asks them what they need. One girl has long thick brown hair and looks like shes one of those rich debutante types. The other has dark hair tied up in a ponytail and reminds Jo of herself at that age. Hi I'm Tiffany Olsen-Peyton says the debutante. I'm Nikki Brennen the daughter of your friend Jesse and apparently my dad Eddie was your ex-boyfriend says the other girl. Oh you're the two new transfer students says Jo. Its nice to see you again Nikki. I know its been years. Yes says Nikki and we wanna know if we can change rooms. Jo says Why is there something wrong with the ones your in? Both girls answer simultaneously Yeah she's in it. Oh I see says Jo. Well we can't change rooms just cause you don't like your roommate so you'll have to just deal with it. My mother won't stand for this says Tiffany. Do you know who I am? I will call both your moms once you go to classes and see what they have to say. Both girls storm out muttering to each other how unfair this is and how mean Ms. Polniaczek is. Jo smiles and says out loud to herself I guess they found something they agree on. They remind me of me and Blair Jo thinks.

Jo starts remembering all the fights her and Blair had over the years and especially when they first met. She knows now what Mrs. Garrett knew from the beginning. Her and Blair were not so different. Jo also realizes she lashed out at people so they wouldn't get close. She was always afraid of getting hurt and people leaving her from her parents divorce and cause her father went to jail. At first she was also a little jealous of Blair cause her family had money and her mom had to struggle to make ends meet but she learned Blair's parents weren't any better. Her father was never around for her just sent her lots of money. Jo realizes she has a class to teach and leaves her office.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by JoPolniaczekFan

i personally couldn't stand rick or even grasp the concept that Jo would fall for someone so immature with so many screws loose

I know.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by FactsFan

I think it's a prerequisite: to be a member of this board you must hate Rick! just kidding.

Cute story!

I think that it is a prerequisite. You would have to ask Meghan though, she's the boss lady on this board.

[Nighthawk76]

A very nice story. I like how Jo named one of her daughters Lisa.

[JoPolniaczekFan]

Part 2

Jo goes into the school to pick up the girls and finds Blair with them. Hi Blair she says. Hi Jo says Blair. Jo says Were the girls good today? Yes says Blair. Mommy I drew you a picture says Lisa holding out a paper all scribbled on. Oh thank you Lisa its beautiful says Jo. Can we go to Auntie Blair's house til you finish work at the center? Chrissie asks. As long as its ok with your Auntie Blair, its fine with me Jo says. Oh its fine says Blair. I love having them over. Ok Jo says then I'll pick you up there after the center. Ok bye Mommy the two girls say. Bye girls Jo says. Blair I'll be back in three hours says Jo. Ok says Blair.

Jo gets to the help center to find total chaos. None of the people really know what they're doing and that's why Jo continues to work there part time even though she has so many other things to do. She finds this one girl sitting in a corner on the floor facing the wall and thinks She really needs my help. Jo walks over to the girl and says Hi my name is Jo. The girl looks up sad and scared and turns away. Jo says. I won't hurt you. I want to help you. You came here for help right? The girls nods her head yes. Ok says Jo. Talk to me about what's bothering you. The girl says You promise you won't tell anyone? Jo says I promise I won't tell anyone unless you're in danger. The girl says My name is Amy. Nice to meet you Amy says Jo. I ran away from home Amy says. Jo says Why? Cause my parents don't believe me Amy says. What don't they believe? asks Jo. My boyfriend well ex-boyfriend now raped me and I'm pregnant but they think I'm lying to cover the fact that I had sex with him Amy says. Amy sometimes parents don't believe things like that not cause they think you're lying but because they are in denial. They don't wanna believe someone could hurt they're child that way says Jo. I think you need to go home and give them time. I guess I have to go home. I don't have anywhere to stay Amy says. Jo says Here's my number you can call me if you need to talk or come by here. I'm here most days around this time. Ok thanks Amy says and she leaves. Jo hopes Amy will be ok and things work out for her. She talks to a few other people then heads to pick up the girls at Blair's house.

As Jo is getting in her car she gets a call from Blair Hello Jo says. Jo meet Natalie and me at the Eastland dorm cause the two new girls just got in trouble. Jo sighs and says Ok. Jo drives to the dorm thinking this year is off to a bad start. As she's driving She thinks its funny how attached they became to this school and how Tootie is the only one that actually moved away. She lives in Hollywood now and is a big movie actress. She's happy married to Jeff still and they have two kids a girl and a boy. Tootie's daughter actually goes to Eastland. Natalie never married after her and Snake broke up. I still can't believe he would dump her like that when she got pregnant with his babies. I always thought he was no good and couldn't believe Nat lost her virginity to him. Only one time and she was pregnant. She had twin girls. they're in their last year at Eastland now. This is so strange that I'm thinking about all these things from years ago all of a sudden today. Jo continues her drive deep in thought and finally arrives at the dorm.

[JoPolniaczekFan]

Part 3

Jo gets to the dorm and finds Blair and Nat waiting for her in the living room. She asks them What happened? Nat says You gotta see it and ask them yourselves to believe it. The three women head for the girls' dorm room. When they get there Jo can't believe what she sees. The room looks like a tornado hit and Tiffany is sitting with a curling iron hanging from her hair. Jo says Ok girls what happened? Nikki says she threw out my clothes. Tiffany says I thought they were rags besides you crazy glued my curling iron now my hair is ruined. You shouldn't have thrown away my clothes says Nikki. Ok that's enough girls says Jo. Clean this mess up While we think of a punishment. They walk out the door but before they get far they hear Tiffany say I told you this wouldn't work. Nikki says just wait they didn't tell us what's gonna happen yet. The three women go back to the living room. Blair says I can't believe it. They thought if they pretended to do something horrible we'd separate them. Yeah says Nat. I got an idea says Jo and tells them her plan. They agree its a good one to teach the girls a lesson.

They go back up to the girls' room and find its still a mess. Jo says Ms. Warner decided that you should both be expelled for your behavior. This is a school for young ladies not hooligans so pack your stuff and be ready to go home by morning. Tiffany says You can't expel me. Do you know who my father is? Blair says I don't care if your father is the president of the united states. This is my school and my rules. Nikki says I'll be glad to get out of this place. Jo says Did you girls really think you could pull a stunt like this and get away with it? You're not really going home but pack your stuff. You're going to have a room over the cafeteria with Ms. Green to watch over you the rest of the year. You will help out in the cafeteria at dinnertime everyday and you will learn to get along. Blair says I will call your parents and tell them all about it. You know Tiffany your mom is a good friend of mine since Eastland. I know says Tiffany and I don't care she won't let you do this. Well I'll just call Nancy and Roger and see what they have to say says Blair. Jo says If you wanna act like babies that's how we'll treat you. Apparantly you need personal supervision so you don't kill each other so get packing. The three women leave the girls room. Well I guess we should go says Blair. Ok bye guys Nat says and they leave.

Jo gets home to find David had cooked dinner. Jo goes over to David and kisses him. He says Long day? She says That's an understatement. She was glad David picked up the girls and made dinner since she was exhausted. My days are not usually this bad but I never get so tired so easily Jo thinks. They all sit and have dinner and after Jo tells him about her day. David says Why don't you go take a bath and relax and I'll put the girls to bed? Jo says that sounds good, kisses him and heads for the bathroom. She takes a long hot bath gets into her pajamas and gets into bed. She's already sleeping when David gets into bed and doesn't even wake up at the movement of the bed as he gets in.

[ZeldaGilroy]

This is really good.

[JoPolniaczekFan]

Part 4

Jo is on her way back from the doctor thinking Now it all makes sense. The way I keep getting tired so much and just feeling weird lately. How I been very reminiscent about the past and crying over sad movies. I'm pregnant. David will be so happy. I know he always wanted a son, maybe it'll be a boy this time. Either way we'll be happy. I just hope Blair doesn't go overboard again Jo thinks. Blair and her husband John tried everything possible to have a baby and nothing worked. Blair goes overboard with my kids I guess cause she can't do it for kids of her own. Blair had considered adopting kids but John would never agree to it. He always says They won't really be his so what's the point. I feel bad cause I know Blair really wants kids. This is supposed to be a happy time for me and all I can think of is how Blair is gonna feel. Jo realizes she's home and parks the car and goes in the house.

David asks So what did the doctor say? Jo says I'm pregnant! That's great! says David and he hugs Jo and kisses her. I'm so happy. Me too says Jo. This will be hard to explain to the girls says Jo. Yeah but they'll be happy says David. I know Jo says. The phone rings and Jo answers it. Oh Tootie hi Jo says. Hi Jo I wanted to let you know I'll be coming to Peekskill for Thanksgiving. I'll be there about a week. Oh that's great Tootie. Does Nat know yet? says Jo. Yeah I just called her and now I'm gonna call Blair. Ok well see you in a few weeks Tootie. Ok bye Jo. David says You didn't tell her. I'll tell her when she's here. Actually i'll have Thanksgiving dinner here and tell them all together. It'll be great Jo says. Ok says David that does sound like a good idea. I feel kinda bad keeping it a secret from them but this will be a nice way to tell them says Jo. Let me go get the girls from Blair says Jo. Ok says David Maybe we can all go out to dinner tonight as sort of an informal celebration. Sure says Jo. I'll be back soon. She kisses him and leaves.

Jo gets back home with the girls and gets them washed up and changed to go out then she takes a shower and gets dressed. They go out to a small restaurant and have dinner. It's nothing fancy but it's nice to get out anyway. During dinner Jo is thinking about who to invite for Thanksgiving besides her three friends and their husband. Should I invite Pop and Monica? I wish I could get in touch with Mrs. Garrett. The last time I saw her was 10 years ago at my wedding. I miss her. If I invite Pop and Monica then I can't invite ma. Somehow, someway someones gonna be upset with me. Sh finally realizes David is talking to her. Honey are you ok? says David Yeah why says Jo. Cause I been trying to get your attention and you seemed lost in space David says. I'm sorry Jo says I was just thinking about thanksgiving. Ok says David. I was trying to ask you if you wanted anything else. No I'm ok says Jo. David gets the check, pays and they leave.

[ZeldaGilroy]

Good job. I suspected in your last post that Jo was pregnant. It's too bad Blair's husband won't agree to adopt a baby. I hope she gets the child she's dreaming of.

[JoPolniaczekFan]

Part 5

Jo gets off the phone and tells David. That was Pop calling back to say he and Monica can come for Thanksgiving. Honey are you sure you want to make such a big dinner for so many people? David asks. Yes says Jo. It'll be nice to have us all together again says Jo. I just wish Ma could come but I understand she has to work. She usually makes good money on holidays. I really wish I could see Mrs. Garrett again. It's too bad she lives in Appleton again with her sister Beverly Ann. It would even be nice to see Beverly Ann again. You can call them and see if they can come and if not we can go visit them during winter break David says. Jo dials Mrs. G's number and Beverly Ann answers. Hi Beverly Ann says Jo. Oh Hi Jo. Beverly Ann I was wondering if you and Mrs. G. might be able to come here for Thanksgiving. Jo says. Beverly Ann says Didn't Andy call you and tell you we were all coming to Peekskill for Thanksgiving because he has something he wants to tell all of you? No says Jo But that's great I'm having dinner at my house. Ok see you soon Jo. Bye. Bye Beverly Ann. This going to be a wonderful Thanksgiving Jo says to David. It sure is he says.

Jo walks into the center and sees Amy. It seems she's there almost everyday. Hi Amy Jo says. Hi Jo Amy says. How's it going today? asks Jo. Not good. Had another fight with my parents Amy says. What happened this time? Jo asks. The same. They keep insisting I should put the baby up for adoption but I'm not sure what to do Amy says. You gotta do what you feel is right Jo says. I know says Amy. And I know I can't raise a baby or support it either. I can't tell you what to do Amy says Jo. You gotta make that decision for yourself. I guess I got a few months to decide says Amy. Yeah you do says Jo. I guess I better get home Amy says. Ok Amy see you soon says Jo. I really don't think I should be trying to help this girl. I'm not sure I'm very objective being that I'm pregnant myself Jo thinks. She has no one else to talk to and she seems to trust me. I can't let her down.

Tiffany and Nikki come into Jo's office. Jo says What now? Ms. Polniaczek if I have to live with this Ivana Trump wanna be one more minute I'm gonna kill her says Nikki. Your so dumb Ivana Trump has blond hair and mine is brown with red high light says Tiffany. Jo hold back a laugh for more then one reason. One is they remind her of her and Blair the other is Tiffany's remark. Well you two either have to become friends or kill each other but I'm not getting involved in everyone of your fights now go back to your classes. The two girls leave arguing with each other. Jo remembers when she first came to Eastland and all the different names her and Blair called each other over the years. She hears the story of how the four of them snuck out of school, stole the van, went to the Chug-A-Lug bar and got arrested being told by students all the time. She remembers the paint fight that got them punished all over again once the original punishment of living and working in the cafeteria was over. So many times she acted like she didn't wanna be there when she was always just afraid she didn't fit in with the other girls and trying to act tough so they wouldn't bother her. Acting tough was easy though she had to do it everyday in the Bronx so she wouldn't get jumped.

[JoPolniaczekFan]

now that i posted that about Blair and some other things I'm not sure if I read that something similar somewhere else or just think it familliar from when i wrote it ages ago. If i did read something like it on here I'm not intending to steal the story or ideas. I did actually write this along time ago.