The Wonders of Fate

The court proceedings had put strain on everyone it seemed. Pete and Ivy seemed to have been snapping at each other at random moment, the spats over nothing. Then again, random actions like moving in with a boyfriend so soon after a relationship had started had always been known to put stress on relationships. April and Gabe had really started a great relationship it seemed, though even they seemed to have taken up some melancholy air. Though the strongest hit were clearly centered on Catrianna, Ryan, Rebecca, and Patrick.

"Ryan, eat something, please," Cat began, an attempt to coax her fiance to try to choke down food. He had started to look a lot thinner and tired than usual. Then again, so had just about everyone involved. Ryan looked up, giving Cat a weary glance. "Not hungry, besides you wouldn't want to force food down my throat right know. You know what would happen if you did try anything of that nature," he responded with a shrug, drumming his fingers on the table nervously as he read over the past briefing that had occured in the course of the case. This day, hopefully, would mean the end of the madness. The closing arguments were scheduled for this particular day, and with good graces, it would all be over with. This would be a godsend in itself, as the wedding date was also coming up. And lately, so much had been focused on the case, that not much had been focused on setting up for the wedding. With a frustrated sigh, Cat got up from her chair, moodily stalking away, going upstairs to get changed. "Cat, aren't you going to try to eat anything?" Ryan protested, only to get back a firm 'no' on Cat's end. With another weary sign, Ryan reached for his phone, Ah yes, their lawyer, and his future father-in-law had been calling, mostly to brush up on was the day's schedule was going to look like.

Meanwhile,

"Look, all you seem to do is snap and mope about this damned case. Has it occured to you that there are live people around you that actually want to hear more about your life than some stupid case?" Ivy had been half-dressed into her business suit, and had been flat-ironing her hair as she had again started on with another spat with Pete. "Look Ivy, I've said this hundreds and thousands of times... Have you any idea how much is at stake, if we lose this thing? With the money that Amber is asking for, we could very well go bankrupt. When I say bankrupt, I mean you could kiss this cushy lifestyle goodbye." Ivy furiously brandished the flat-iron. "Great Peter, now you're hinting that I'm here for your money. What kind of a whore do you take me for? For your information I-" she had to stop as she could feel her voice cracking at this point. Though Pete would have nothing to hear about this crap being brought up again. "Ivy, no I don't think you're in it for the money. Damnit, why do you always have to jump to conclusions. As if my family isn't going through enough. I mean Becca-" "OH STOP PUSHING IT ALL ON BECCA! YOU ARE BECOMING OBSESSED WITH THIS DAMN CASE. JUST BECAUSE RYAN FUCKED WITH THE WRONG GIRL DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ALL HAVE TO SUFFER. God damnit Pete!"

Peter Wentz looked up from buttoning his shirt, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Look Ivy, I love you, alright? We can have a lot of time together. Just let me get through this, and then I promise the world can rest on your fingertips again, like it's been all along." Uh oh, this fight had taken a turn for the worst. Ivy's jaw had dropped open, as tears sprang to her eyes. "Is that what you think Pete? That it's all about me? Well let me tell you something Peter Wentz. You're WRONG!" she screamed back, unplugging the flat-iron, fleeing to the bathroom, where she slammed the door behind her, to finish fixing up behind the locked door of the bathroom." Pete looked away, knowing that again, the fighting had taken an unfortunate twist. He sighed, going to the door, knocking on it. "Ivy, please, open up," he pleaded. "No," Ivy shot back behind the closed door. This fight had been just one of many that had ensued since the beginnings of it all.

Meanwhile...

"Spence, she's completely lost it. She's been locked away in that room for who knows how long. The only signs of life that I get are the occasional plunks on the piano. What am I supposed to do?" Patrick had no idea how to get Rebecca back to her normal cheery self. Her only outdoor appearances had been when she was forced to testify in court. When not required in court, she pretty much had put herself under 'house arrest,' mostly shuffling around in her slippers and bathrobe, her hair hanging down in greasey clumps, while eyes looked completely red and bloodshot, as if she had been crying for hours on end. Spencer let out a long sigh from the other end. Since his little breakdown, he had tried to distance himself away from this relationship between Becca and Patrick, though he knew that it was certainly for the better. "Fine, I'll drive over. Whatever you do, just don't try to force her out of the room. She's not the type to force things out of, else she starts to do the completely opposite thing just to spite you. It's just the way her mind works around these things." "Great, it's just what I want to hear." "Well, you asked, " "Look, just come over, see what you can do." Spencer sighed, grabbing his car keys. "Alright kids, I'm out, behave," he called out, particularly to Ry and Cat, who looked almost about to start bickering over someting stupid as well.

Wondering what the hell he was doing, he knocked on the door of the Wentz home. Pete answered the door, buttoning his sleeves, as he nodded at Spence. "Becca's up there, and Patrick's trying to coax her out. I think she's in one of those moods. Though, Ivy -" "Look, I don't want to hear about relationship drama, okay? Just let me come here to do what I got to do. I've got Cat and Ry about to strike nervous breakdowns back at our place, and don't need to see anymore." Pete narrowed his eyes, just about to hit the brink of blowing up at someone. "Look, if you're going to start with that attitude, you can just -" "Great man, you can kick me out of your house without helping your sister come out of the room, what good will that do you then if I turn around and go home now?" Pete opened his mouth, then closed it, begrudgingly nodding in agreement. "Fine, just go," he muttered, stepping aside to let Spence attempt to 'work his magic."

Finding that Patrick had started trying to pick the lock to get to Becca, Spence shook his head. "What did I say on the phone?" he asked suddenly, agitation evident in his voice. Patrick threw an annoyed glare, though stood aside so that Spencer could reason with Becca. "Beckanne?" he asked, knocking softly on the door. "Pease Spence, not now," a weak voice spoke, one that sounded like she had been again crying." Spencer exchanged an uncertain look with Patrick, and held out his hand for the tool he had been using to pick on the lock. "Here,let me try," he finally stated. Successfully picking the lock, Spencer now stared at Rebecca Wentz face-to-face. "What the hell do you want," she asked in that dull and expressionless tone that she had recently taken. Putting a finger to his lips, he closed the door behind him. "I want to see to it that you haven't tried killing yourself or anything. Because it seems to me, that you think all of this is your fault."

Becca stared him down, long and coldly before tearing away her gaze, enough to burst into tears. She let herself fall on the bed, where she could muffle her sobs. "I could have kept my temper at bay, I could-" Spencer was immediately sitting next to Becca. "And Cat could have let you get hit by the car instead. Or Ry could have kept dating Amber, rather than think again about breaking up with her to date Cat. Look, no matter how much we re-think the situation, things happen for a reason. We just have to accept things the way they are, regardless of what harms may come along the way." Eventually, Becca looked up, looking so lost and desolate, and oh-so perplexed. "But Spence, you saw the stories, and you saw the paperwork," she began, only to be silenced by Spencer. "And I also saw how quick Cat was to ship her father from England to help us out here. Don't you see, whether we like it or not, we really have to work on this. The thing is, if we don't do it as a team, we'll surely fail. Now Becca, do you really want to fail at this? I know you, if you failed at anything, you would surely blow a gasket." Becca looked down at her hands, shaking her head. "No, I just us to get over this... In one piece," she stated quietly.

Spencer nodded. "Okay, then if that's what you want, you have to hang in there. I mean, from the looks of it, Pete and Ivy are about to skin each other alive, Patrick.... Well Patrick is really starting to get hit hard about what you're going through. Ry and Cat both look like they're starving themselves, and I think Cat's health is on the fritz lately." he added the last bit in an undertone. To this, Becca looked up suspiciously, her typical 'mother-hen' nature starting to kick in. "What?" she began, exchanging a frightened look with Spencer. He shook his head. "Don't say anything. I heard her talking to Ry last night behind closed doors. She's pregnant, and it doesn't look good. They're not sure if her body's taking it well, especially with the stress of this case. She's not going to say anything to anyone but Ry until it's over, the case I mean. And trust me, she's an emotional wreck as it is. I think she need her best friend Becca, and seriously we need you for her too. I mean, guys aren't really good at that sort of thing..."

His voice trailed off, as he met Becca's gaze, though the chiming clock made him jump some. "Oh God, if I don't get back there soon, I won't be able to get ready in time." Becca stood up just as he did, following him to the door. "Um well, if I can get ready in time, I think I might show up, just not making any promises, okay?" As she said this, she bit her lower lip uncertainly. Spence nodded, patting her on the arm. "Just as long as I know you won't try anything. The world would be a sad place if you did," he added, kissing her on the forhead before he turned to go. Just as he left, Patrick stuck his head in the door. "Um, is it safe...? he asked before anything. Becca nodded, though she had reached for her towel. "For now, but you ought to scoot so that I can catch a quick shower, to go to this thing." The expression of relief on Patrick's face had to be blatently obvious, as Becca burst into giggles. "Now shoo, finish getting ready so that I can," she added again with a faint smile before disappearing inside the bathroom.

Moments later, Jonathan Sinclair had been pacing in front of the courthouse, particularly waiting for Rebecca to appear, as the rest had shown up just fifteen moments earlier. He noticed her speeding in her car, climbing out like a flash of lightning. "Good, you made it in time, we're expected to start in fifteen minutes or so," he added. Rebecca smiled shyly, glancing at the clock apprehensively. "Sir, is it alright if I make a quick trip to the ladies' room?" she asked. Cat's father nodded. "Yes, but do make it brief, this judge seems to be quite picky as it is," he commented with a bit of a grimace that closely resembled the one his daughter wore when a bit nervous. Now, it was obvious where she inherited that trait. "Thank you!" she gasped, surely expecting her bladder to explode at this point.

Though, just as she was just finishing in her stall, she heard rushed footsteps enter the bathroom, right to a neighboring stall, someone that sounded quite ill by the sounds of it. Wow, talk about nerves, though this was a place where people would be expected to be nervous. Though it was in hearing the voice of the girl that had entered the stall where Becca quickly recognized it. "I can't do this anymore," the defeated voice whispered between bouts of sickness. It was that distinct British air that gave the person away. "Cat?" Becca asked, from the sink as she was washing her hands. "Fuck," the exasperated whisper gave it away completely. Cat opened the stall door, looking quite ill and shaken. Becca frowned, looking her friend over. She had to have lost at least ten pounds from the looks of it. "Cat, you look like hell," she gasped. Catrianna grinned weakley. "Thanks for the compliment," she put in weakly as she shakily manuvered herself to the sink to rinse her mouth out. Becca closely followed. "Cat, what's wrong?" she whispered, already knowing what was up with Cat, as that had been Spencers doing.

Cat looked at Rebecca's reflection behind her. Wiping her tear-filled eyes, she confirmed what Spencer had said earlier. "I'm pregnant." Becca gasped, it being quite different and sounding a lot mre true coming from Cat. "But Cat, that's good news, isn't it?" Cat nodded, but then shook her head as a single tear trickled from her eye. "I can tell, it's not going to end well, just of how things are going, it's not going to make it." Right here, she finally broke down into her friend's arms. Becca immediately became that strong friend she had always been to Cat, since the beginnings of their friendship. "Shhh, Cat- don't cry... You know that things will work their way in the end, all you have to do is have some faith. Catrianna nodded numbly, knowing that what her friend said had to be true. "It's just a bad time, such a bad time Becca. I don't know how-" Becca silenced her. "Shh, Cat it'll all be alright, really in the end, it'll work out. In the meantime, we ought to get to the courtroom. From what I hear from your father, this judge is a bit anal." Cat let out a shakey laugh. "That's an underestimate.. Though I suppose you're right..."

In the courtroom, they had gone in just as the judge had asked them all to please be seated. Clearing his throat, he now spoke. "First to state closing arguments, the Prosecution." Just as he had mentioned this, a smart looking woman with a fierce demeanor to her briskly walked to the front of the the room. "Thank you Your Honor," she began as she drew in a dramatic breath to start her closing.

"Look at this girl here, one Amber Martley. She has endured great suffering, both physical and emotional on various levels. As you have seen on exhibits A and B, she had to endure several painful reconstructive surgeries to repair physical damage sustained on the night of the incident in question. Furthermore, from expert testimony, you have witnessed that she had also endured a psychological breakdown that had rendered her hospitalized for quite some time for rehabilitation...."

"Well, clearly it didn't help," Brendon whispered into Ryan's ear, causing him to elbow him in the ribs. "Shh, want us to get busted or something," he hissed back, though from the corners of his mouth, you could see that he was fighting hard to laugh. Cat had also clenched her jaw shut in a firm line, so to keep a somber demeanor, though the boys had been making it difficult. Only Becca took the physical action of thwapping the boys from behind the head. "Shh," she hissed, attentively listening to all.

"With this in mind," the attorney concluded, "I have presented this case, in the hopes that justice can be served for this pour suffering soul."

"Poor and suffering soul my ass," Jon muttered, getting a severe look from Becca, though from the looks of it, she agreed. Through the brief applause, Ryan glanced at Pete and Ivy, who seemed to have made up from the spat that they had earlier in the day, thank God. Though, he didn't have much time to reflect much, for Cat's father had taken the stage so to speak.

"Ladies and Gents, we have heard the kind and concerning words of the prosecution, though we must stick to the evidence at large when deliberating in a case like this. For instance, on Exhibits A, B, and C, you notice that one Catrianna Sinclair had been injured by the Plaintiff. This being said, one Defendent, Rebecca Wentz, had clearly not been in the rightful state of mind when she had visually witnessed her friend being struck by a vehicle driven by a drunken Amber Martley on the night in question. Furthermore, it is stated that as a result of the falsifying press-coverage, one Rebecca Wentz is clearly marked a victim on this case, which adds question to the statements made against her by the plaintiff. What more, why should these issues mysteriously arise once word has escaped that a past flame, if you will, has taken a step towards another relationship?"

"This, I'd really like to hear," Pete muttered, only to be jabbed by Becca, who seemed intent on listening. "Hey, wouldn't you?" he shot back, only to have a severe look shot at him yet again.

"What we have here is not a case of aggravated assault, or much the intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case we have here, as proven by the evidence, is merely the concoction of a disgruntled ex girlfriend. In giving rightful justice, it ought to be given to those that righfully deserve that. Those, ladies and gentlemen, happen to be, in fact, the Defendants, not the plaintiff. It is with further ado that I impore you to consider this statement as you pass on your judgment for justice. Thank you."

As he finished, there was much murmuring amongst the jury. Soon, they filed out, and it had been time for deliberation, which seemed to have taken an agonizing amount of time. This being said, it was much a relief when the twelve jury members had filed back in. The judge then looked up at the jury foreman. "Has the jury reached a verdict?" The jury foreman stood. "Yes we have, your honor. We the jury, find the defendent, innocent of all charges..." With this, there had been much cheers in the section of our friends.

Though, as Becca had been rising to her feet, she let out a bit of an anguished cry of surprise, her eyes widened as she found herself feeling faint, more from this sight of blood. Pete and Patrick had steadied her, as Cat looked down. A deep crimson spot had formed along the fabric of the skirt, trickling down her leg. Ryan could do nothing, but to catch his fiance as she fell in his arms, passed out cold from the shock of it all.

The next weeks, it had been like a funeral of sorts. Catrianna, as she had suspected, had lost the child that day. There was little that could be done to console her. Roughly three weeks later, Rebecca took it upon herself to help dig Catrianna out of her rut.

"She's up there," Ryan whispered, looking rightfully exhausted. Though, that was expected. He had taken it upon himself to seeing to it that the wedding planning still continued. For some reason, Cat didn't want to reschedule. Mind you, she never wished to leave the house either. But, doing what he can, he battled on. Becca nodded, going up to the bedroom, where she found Cat sitting on a chair facing the window, a hand resting desolately on her middle, a void that would forever linger with her in her lowest of moments.

"Cat?" Becca spoke, to which Cat turned to Becca. "I wished it not to happen then, not with all that going on. Can't you see, it was me who killed our child all along." The deadened voice spoke, blue eyes filling with tears again. Becca sniffed, feeling tears forming herself, though did well to keep her composure. "No Cat, you did no such thing... Things happen, maybe it hadn't been the right time." A sob escaped Cat's lips as she clung to her friend, desperate for answers. "Then why.. did it happen at all?" Rebecca shook her head. "I'm sorry Cat, that, I cannot answer. What I can say is that life should move on. In a month's time, you are scheduled to marry someone who loves you more than the world. I know you love him just the same...."

Cat shook her head, looking away from Becca. "It was our child Becca, how could he ever love me when I failed to do the simplest of tasks, like carrying a child? It doesn't make sense." Becca shook her head, a bit perplexed at how strange that sounded, and had to speak up. "Do you have any idea how much sense what you just said had? Because it seems to me you were lacking in the sense department right there, I am sorry." Cat turned to face her, her gaze severe at this point. "Becca-" Becca rose to her feet. "You are looking for excuses Catrianna, and that is not you speaking. The Catrianna I know loves Ryan more than anything, and would never stand for something to keep her from marrying him, ever. Where is this Catrianna I know?" Cat opened her mouth to respond, though found no way to respond. Rather, she burst into tears, only to be cradled by Rebecca. "I... How can I live on after this?" she whispered, after she cried for what seemed for hours on end. Becca smiled, by tilting her friend's chin up. "By taking these things one day at a time Cat, a day at a time, with friends by your side." With this, she cradled her friend, offering one of the most precious things life has to give, the undying support of a true friend.

a/n: *sniffle* I promise they will actually have kids, but not until after they're finally hitched... deal? R & R please :) thank you for your support.