Twists of Fate Chapter 3
Title: Twists of Fate (3/?)
Chapter 3
Pairing: Jo/Blair
Rating: T
Disclaimer: This is Facts of Life Fan Fiction. I don’t own Jo, Blair, or their counterparts from the TV shows…I only wish. I am going to be adding a few of my own characters however.
Summary: The ups and downs of Zayne’s (Jo) life in Cambridge.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to review, favorite, and/or put this story on your alerts. I hope you continue to follow along. Enjoy your reading.
Previously… To take her mind off of everything and everyone she had lost and would probably never see again, Jo threw herself into her new endeavors. After speaking with the Doc, he began helping her study for exams to get into medical school. Teddy even helped by setting up software on a laptop to help her study.
After speaking with representatives from several different government agencies and some string pulling by some government officials, as well as, by some not so politically correct powerful families, Jo was guaranteed a spot at one of the top medical schools in the world. Contingent on her passing the tests required for acceptance. The dark haired woman was heading to University of Cambridge in England.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Chapter 3
The next six months were a whirl wind of studying, rehab, moving, gaining a new identity, and finally testing and being accepted to school. Over the months a deep connection had formed between Jo and the Casto’s, because of this they requested and were granted a special dispensation. Since neither man had any other family besides each other and had no connection at all to Jo’s former life before the incident, they were able to travel to England with Jo. The psychiatrist working with the young woman suggested that it would be healthy for Jo to have that sense of family with her; especially with the high stress environment she was walking into and the fact she had lost a very close knit family unit.
Dr. Martin Casto accepted a top surgical position at one of the area hospitals and Teddy became a computer analyst through the local Interpol office. The Casto’s decided to buy a house about a mile and a half from the center of Cambridge. It was a nice home with four bedrooms, two with in-suites, a large back yard, a single garage, and a looped parking area for several cars, something rare that close into town.
Jo was getting used to her new name, Zaynedria J. Masters. She had picked it out herself, wanting something totally different and unique. The medical student also thought going by the nickname Zayne would be cool. That is what Martin and Teddy now called her. She liked it and it seemed to fit.
Her hair was now short and slightly spiky on top with blond and red highlights. It gave her a very different look from her norm, along with her much slimmer build. She rode a bicycle to school most days and others took the bus, it all depended on the weather.
The first couple of years went by pretty quickly. Zayne had done well enough on entrance exams and interviews and had such good recommendations that she was accepted into an accelerated course. She was in line to complete medical school in four years or less and her foundation course in one year instead of two, before she began her specialty training. Specialty training would take five to six years, no short cuts there. Zayne wanted to be a trauma surgeon. She felt that the challenge and excitement of such a career would be right for her.
Zayne studied hard and usually spent any free time she had pursuing her other new passion, computers. Teddy taught her all that he knew and together they had created a couple of games that they sold to some prominent manufacturers and made a tidy profit from, as well as royalties. After her first big check from the game, she finally bought herself a new motorcycle and sometimes rode that into school. Martin and Teddy even got into motor biking with her. They would take rides together through the countryside when they could. It was the only time the two men could get Zayne away from home or school.
Zayne used her mad comp skills to covertly keep an eye on those she left behind. Beverly Ann was doing well and had taken her photography hobby and published a couple coffee table books. Andy was on his way to graduating from Eastland now that they were co-ed. Tootie was back in New York working on Broadway, not center stage yet, but she was getting there. Natalie was working her way up the ranks as a journalist. Blair had continued on as headmistress of Eastland, but had also continued on in law school. The young heiress hired someone to assist her in running the school. Mrs. G was still happily married and traipsing across the globe helping the less fortunate with her husband. Her mother, Rose, was now married and her new step children had made her a grandmother. From what was posted on the family’s My Space page they were all very close and happy. Her Father, Charlie, lived in Arizona with his new family and he had recently taken over the family hardware business from his father-in-law.
The final nail in the coffin came for Zayne during her third year of medical school. The program she wrote, to alert her when anything mentioning her friends and family posted on the internet, chimed. It was about a wedding announcement. Blair Warner was getting married in grand fashion to Tad Warner. That last flicker of hope for someday was snuffed out.
Zayne let go of that last thread that she would someday be Jo again, and fully decided that no matter what she was and always would be Zaynedria J Masters. Even if she could someday go back to being Jo, she preferred who she was now. Any further decisions could wait until the time came for her to return to New York. The young woman didn’t even want to contemplate it at the moment, it may never happen anyway. The last she spoke with her handler they were no closer to tracking down Pavel and Leonid. Zayne closed the program letting it run and record, but not alert her anymore. Closing her eyes she sighed as she let her past go. If she felt the need she could always periodically check back. The new woman was finally ready to truly move on, even in her heart.
During Zayne’s fourth year of school she bumped into a very pretty petite strawberry blonde woman as she was getting on the bus near her home. The woman was wearing pink scrub pants with a scrub top with pictures of cuddly kittens all over it, and had a purple backpack over one shoulder.
Zayne wore her usual jeans, polo shirt, and sneakers with her blue backpack on her shoulder. “Sorry about that. I got bumped off balance. Didn’t mean to do the same to you.” The pretty young woman wasn’t much over five feet tall, however when she smiled up at her, Zayne felt something shift inside and her heart rate seemed to increase.
“That’s alright, it happens all the time. At least you were nice enough to catch me before I fell and you apologized.” The woman led the way onto the bus finding a seat and sliding over to invite Zayne to sit down.
Zayne happily did so, before indicating the woman’s attire. “Are you in medical school or training at the University?”
“No, I am a nurse in the pediatric unit at the University Hospital. I have seen you around the neighborhood before, usually on a bike, but a few times on the bus. You go to the university don’t you?”
“Yes, I am going to medical school. I want to ultimately become a trauma surgeon.” Putting her pack between her feet Zayne settled back into the seat.
The smaller woman did the same. “I wish you well with that.” She offered her hand. “I’m Faith, by the way, Faith Langdon.”
“Zaynedria Masters, but you can call me Zayne.” They shook and Zayne felt a sensation she had wondered if she would ever feel again. She smiled; the short haired woman had a feeling that Faith was someone special.
The two women talked together until Faith got off at the stop nearest the hospital. Zayne went on to her classes. Most of her training was at the hospital, but she also had some classroom style work. Her foundation course would be starting soon and she would then be working almost exclusively at the hospital.
The sharing of seats on the bus and biking into town together became more frequent between Faith and Zayne. They even managed to go on a few dates. Zayne was glad Faith was so understanding of her lack of time.
Zayne was introduced to Faith’s mom, Fiona, and her twin brother, Farren. Faith looked like her mother whom was rather attractive. Farren was a large man, but he still had the same green eyes and strawberry blond hair as his mother and sister.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Fiona looked the striking young woman over. She seemed to be a good sort and a future doctor to boot. Her baby girl could do worse. What she liked was the way Zayne looked at her Faith. There was true affection there and possibly more. Time would tell. The mother saw the same in her daughter when she looked upon Zayne.
“So are names beginning with F common in your family?” Zayne asked as they ate dinner.
That got a chuckle out of her hosts. “No it is something my husband Frank and I decided to do. Our families wanted us to name our children after grandparents who had truly horrid monikers. We decided to go with the F theme to get them off our backs. It worked out well and I now have two wonderful children with lovely names, Faith Elizabette and Farren James.”
“What a lovely story. I agree you do have wonderful children with strong names.” Zayne winked at Faith.
“When my husband was still alive he spoiled them something fierce and I’m afraid I have done the same in the five years since he passed.”
“It doesn’t seem to have harmed them any.” The medical student looked over at Farren with his muscular build and close cropped hair. “What do you do for a living Farren?”
“I am in the SAS. I am just home on leave.”
She nodded. “I had a feeling. Well I wish you a safe journey when you return and would like to say thanks for all you and your buddies do to keep us all as safe as you can. Not everyone can do what you guys do, and it’s appreciated.”
Farren was quite humbled by the sincerity of the thanks. “You’re welcome and I always do my best to stay as safe as I can.”
“So are you all alone in the UK, or do you have family here?” Fiona asked.
“I live with my adoptive fathers, Dr. Martin Casto and his husband Teddy Casto. Let’s just say my parents were not as understanding of my being gay as Faith told me you two were. Martin and Teddy took me in and became the supportive parents I thought mine were.” She took a sip of her wine. “Doc helped me get bitten by the bug to become a surgeon, and Teddy is a techno geek. I have found out I like that just as much. It’s a trade off though. I got them into motorcycle riding.” Zayne grinned.
“It’s good you had understanding family you could turn to. I will never understand the ignorance of some people.” Fiona stood and began clearing the table. “Let me and Faith clean up here, and bring dessert into the sitting room. Farren show Zayne the way and keep her company.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Farren led the way to a well appointed sitting room that made Zayne feel like she had stepped into the late Victorian period, but still managed to appear comfortable. “Just so you know, you hurt my sister, and I will come after you.”
“It is not my aim to hurt your sister. We are taking this slow for both our sakes. However, if I do hurt her, I will understand your attempt to harm me.” She wouldn’t tell him just yet that she had been taking classes in various martial arts and weapons for the past several years and was very proficient at defending herself.
Farren raised his eyebrow at that, but had no chance to question her further. His mother and sister were coming through the doors with desert and tea.
This was the first of many times Zayne spent in the Langdon household. When Zayne’s time was short, Faith would often have her over to eat or simply watch over her while she slept or studied. Faith would also come to Zayne’s to do the same. Fiona got on famously with Martin and Teddy. Farren even got on with them when he was home on leave. The Casto’s and the Langdon’s were there when Zayne graduated medical school with honors, and they threw a party for her when she finished her foundation course. Zayne had been among the top three in her class and was chosen to train under the most elite trauma surgeon in Europe, who just happened to have come back to the Cambridge University Hospital to be closer to his and his wife’s family.
Zayne had a short six weeks of down time before she began specialty training. Everyone was enjoying themselves at the party. Stepping into her bedroom, Zayne got a ring box out of her sock drawer. The ring was a beautiful two carat marquis cut diamond with emeralds on each side that reminded her of Faith’s eyes. It had been nearly six years since her world had gotten turned upside down. She was now 28 years old, and this time she was completely in love with someone who would love her back. She had already told Martin and Teddy she was going to ask Faith to marry her, but only after sharing with her a little bit about her true past. She had even asked for and received Fiona and Farren’s blessing. Now the only thing needed was Faith’s acceptance. Zayne wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans, shoved the ring box in her pocket before heading back downstairs.
Snatching a bottle of champagne and two flutes she had hidden earlier, the nervous woman snagged Faith’s hand leading her out a side door, and down a path behind the hedges that ended in a private gazebo at the back of the large yard that opened up onto a park. Setting the champagne and flutes down on a table, she pulled Faith into her for a passionate kiss. “I have been wanting to do that all night long.” Zayne said breathlessly when she pulled back.
“I fully understand and agree love.” Faith wrapped her arms around the taller woman leaning her head along her collar bone, sighing in contentment.
“It’s hard to believe it has been almost two years since we bumped into one another on the bus. I knew you were someone special the minute I shook your hand. I want you to be a part of my life always Faith, but first I need to be as honest as I can be with you about my past. Will you be patient and listen to me all the way through before you ask any questions?”
Faith stared into the eyes of the woman she loved; seeing love and uncertainty there. She nodded her agreement. They sat facing in chairs opposite one another. Their hands still held together.
“Well to begin with Zaynedria J Masters is not the name I was born with. It was a name I chose…” The story of her life came out as much as it could without using names of people or places. All the way up to the moment she woke up from her coma to be told she had been declared dead and put in witness protection, how she came to know Martin and Teddy, and how they all came to Cambridge.
Faith sat stunned. Zayne had always been vague when talking about her past before Cambridge, now she understood why. Faith had always known Zayne was amazing, but now she felt that even more. “You are an incredibly brave and courageous woman Zayne, and I love you no matter what your name might be. You are still the love of my life and the closest friend I have ever had.” She wiped the tears that were running down the brunettes face before kissing her fervently.
Zayne felt happier than she had in a very long time. She pulled back from the kiss smiling. “In that case.” The excited woman leaned over flicking a switch under the railing causing hundreds of white Christmas lights to come to life in the dark gazebo and the garden surrounding it, leaving behind the illusion of stepping into their own little slice of heaven. The dark haired beauty got down on one knee before her love, while opening the ring box. “Faith, I think I began falling for you the moment I met you and that love grows stronger everyday. I want to spend the rest of my days loving you. Faith Elizabette Langdon would you do me the great honor of marrying me and becoming my wife?” She never broke eye contact with the pretty woman sitting before her with tears now flowing from her eyes.
“Oh, Zaynedria! Yes! A hundred times yes!” She threw herself into Zayne’s arms kissing her with all the love she had in her.
When they finally parted Zayne slid the ring on Faith’s shaking finger, kissing ring and finger. “You have made me the happiest of women today Faith. I love you so much.” After much more kissing and passionate groping, the couple finally got around to popping the cork on the champagne.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
The party was winding down by the time they stepped back into the house. Fiona was the first to spot the ring. “Oh my baby is getting married!” She threw her arms around the couple as she cried and laughed at the same time. The couple was soon being hugged and congratulated by the remaining guests.
Fiona, Martin, Teddy, and Fallen pulled the happy couple into Martin’s study. “So do you know how soon you want to marry? Your union will now be legal just like straight couples. I am so excited for you.” Fiona bounced in her seat.
“We haven’t discussed it yet, but I am ready anytime Faith is.” Zayne squeezed her loves hand.
“Then I say as soon as possible! That way we can have a little time for a honeymoon before you begin your grueling advanced training, Doc.” Faith leaned into her fiancé for a quick kiss.
“Then I guess we better get busy, because I only have six weeks before Dr. Henry Leeds expects me to be at the hospital all ready to devote at least the next five years to his intense training.”
They were married two weeks later, with Faith taking the last name Zayne had chosen. So Zayne and Faith Masters spent three weeks touring Italy and Greece, something the strawberry blonde had always wanted to do. When they returned they found out Fiona, Martin, and Teddy had decided to sell their homes. They would all pitch in together and buy a much larger home that the entire family could be happy in with plenty of room for future children.
The couple laughed when they heard this. They had wondered about their housing when they returned and had discussed having children sooner rather than later. Faith was leery of waiting because the women in her family usually went into menopause early in life. Her mother had been only thirty-two, and Faith was already twenty eight. She wanted to carry the child herself, which was fine with Zayne. She wanted kids, but wasn’t too keen on the carrying of them for nine months. She really couldn’t very easily with the stressful and strenuous training she was starting in a week’s time.
The parents had been busy while the honeymooners were away and already started the process of purchasing a Queen Anne home that was a former Rectory. The home was nearly six thousand feet of finished space with a whole third floor that had been used as storage that could be finished, and a basement as well. It was a luxurious home with seven bedrooms, three plus baths, and five large attic rooms with lots of room to expand. The home once belonged to Oliver Cromwell’s sister. It was just outside of town sitting on three acres which backed onto the Cottenham Lode with open fields beyond. It was a lovely place with plenty of room to grow.
Zayne had shown Faith exactly how much she had in the bank while they were on their honeymoon. The smaller woman had been staggered and asked how she had made so much money while attending medical school. Her dark haired wife had explained about the computer games she had designed along with some other programs that were pretty popular, and it turned out she had a fine hand in investing.
Zayne and Faith said they would pay their part as well. The parents argued until Zayne confessed that she and now Faith were worth over five hundred million dollars.
Fiona was flabbergasted. “Did you know about this?” She turned to Faith.
“No mom, not until our honeymoon when she floored me with it.”
The dark haired woman explained once again how she had earned her money and the parents said she should share her investing advice with them in the future. Zayne laughed and promised she would.
Six months had passed. The families had sold their homes and now lived happily together in The Rectory. Faith and Zayne went ahead with their plans to have a child. The decision was made that Faith would carry the baby, but they would use Zayne’s eggs inseminated by Fallen’s sperm. That way the child would truly be a part of both parents. Fallen was all for it. He said in his line of work you never knew what might occur and he was glad that if something happened, a part of him would go on. He also knew Faith and Zayne would be super parents. He even agreed to bank some of his sperm for any future children they may want.
Fiona, who loved taking pictures and videos, had been documenting the couple’s relationship since before their first official date, was there at every treatment and doctors visit as was Teddy. He helped edit and make digital movies and albums of all their lives together as a growing family.
The women got lucky and Faith became pregnant after their second attempt. What made it even better was that she was carrying twins. The whole family was ecstatic over the pregnancy. Zayne was grateful to have their parents around to help Faith as much as possible. Dr. Leeds was a grueling task master and expected anyone he chose to train to be completely dedicated. Of the ten young doctors he chose to train four had already broke under the pressure and had moved on to less stressful training and changed their specialty.
On their one year anniversary Zayne had moved heaven and earth to make it possible to spend a romantic night with her six months pregnant wife. She had a limo show up at the house taking Faith out for a candlelight dinner at a nice restaurant the pregnant woman had been wanting to try, followed by slow dancing. When they returned home Zayne made sweet love to her wife until they both passed out utterly sated. Something the young doctor paid for the next day at the hospital.
Three months later Faith gave birth to two beautiful baby girls. One had hair the same color as Faith’s, but she had Zayne’s blue eyes. While the other favored Zayne, yet had Faith and Fallen’s green eyes.
The babies were a perfect mix of their parents. Abigail Elizabette was the name given to the light haired infant, and Zoe Faith was the name given to the dark haired twin. Zayne had insisted that each child carry one of Faith’s names. Faith eventually agreed, but she said that at least one of the girls would have a name beginning in a “Z” like her wife’s. Carrying on a little bit of the tradition her parents had begun. The twins were some of the most loved children in the world, and Zayne would argue the most well documented.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
During Zayne’s third year of specialty training and shortly after the twins second birthday, the blissful happiness at The Rectory was shattered.
Everyone was home that evening to have a family dinner with Fallen before he left to go back overseas. Faith had been volunteering at a local clinic since the girls had been born. She didn’t go back to work after her pregnancy since they didn’t need the money, however she still enjoyed being a nurse and had chosen to do volunteer work three days a week at area clinics.
They heard the gravel popping as a car came down the drive. Everyone assumed it was Faith home from work. The doorbell soon rang. Zayne opened it to find two police officers standing there. She knew from the looks on their faces that something had happened to her Faith.
She turned from the door as they stepped inside. “Teddy could you please take the girls upstairs.”
Teddy had seen enough in his life to know something awful was coming. He nodded and gathered the girls up and took them upstairs to their bedroom.
Once the children were up in their room and everyone was seated, the officers informed them that Faith had been shot and killed at the clinic. The incident happened when a little boy of six dropped a gun, he thought was a toy, out of his backpack. He had found the gun under his big brothers bed. The weapon went off when it hit the hard tile floor. Faith hadn’t even seen it coming. The bullet entered through her back and tore through her heart and lodged in the arm of the doctor she had been speaking with. Her death was practically instantaneous and she hadn’t suffered.
Zayne sat silent, tears streaming down her face, as her world fell apart once again. “I need to see her.” Was all she said. The officers agreed and left information to make that happen. Fiona collapsed in Fallen’s arms as they wept together.
The dark haired woman left the room wiping her eyes as she headed up the stairs to her daughters’ room. They were too young to really understand what was going on, and so young that they would never really remember the wonderful woman who gave birth to them. Zayne vowed she would make sure they knew their mother and how much she loved them. Teddy met her in the hall, she simply shook her head as she entered her children’s room shutting the door behind her. Her daughters’ ran to her. The broken hearted woman scooped her precious children up holding them close, burying her face in there soft sweet smelling hair finding solace in the living part of her wife left behind.
Over the next few weeks and months the household slowly began to come to life once more. Having Faith’s little girls running, playing, and laughing through the house helped a great deal.
A dark cloud fell once again six months later when soldiers appeared on their doorstep to inform them of Fallen’s death. He had died a hero saving several of his squad’s lives and those of many civilians. He was awarded a medal of honor for his heroics.
Fiona was much quieter for several months after that, and began to go to therapy to help her cope. Zayne had thrown herself into her work at the hospital and with her computers. The only socializing she did was with her children and three parents.
She had made many contacts and worked on several high profile patients during her time under the renowned Dr. Leeds. She finished her training earning the top spot. Many, including Dr. Leeds, said she had magic hands and was amazingly calm and cool under pressure.
She was highly sought out by prominent hospitals across Europe and North America, even Australia. However, she chose to stay in Cambridge for a while longer. Her family was there and she didn’t yet feel like shaking them up.
Since Faith’s death, Zayne had built quite a name for herself as a surgeon and also a techno guru. She had done work for the government and the Crown in both fields. She even became a favorite of the Queen herself.
During her efforts to keep her mind occupied from dwelling on her loss, she had developed several programs that had greatly helped the medical world. As well as several that ended up being added to nearly every electronic device coming onto the market. From computers, smartphones, digital tablets, and so on. She even managed to make a killing investing when many others were losing nearly everything they had when the economy took a down turn.
The surgeon was glad to see things slowly coming back up in the financial world. Zayne assisted as much as possible by investing in small promising ventures. With help of her family they started the Faith Masters Foundation that sponsored after school programs for kids. It was a great way to help keep them off the street. The Foundation also helped fund medical clinics for the underprivileged, and supplied scholarships to promising young people who couldn’t afford advanced education.
Zayne had never set out to become one of the richest people in the world and did everything feasible to keep that fact quiet. Although it was getting harder by the day, as was it to keep her face out of the media. She had many close calls and was glad of her computers. They had come in handy when destroying the few photos that tried to leak.
Nearly two years after finishing her surgical training, and a little over twelve years since leaving her old life behind, Zayne answered her door to find Interpol Officer Michelle Ferguson standing on her stoop along with another officer she didn’t recognize.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Well what do you think? Maybe not the way you saw this story going? Gotta keep everyone on their toes and shake things up a little sometime. I hope you enjoyed and stay with me as we follow Zayne on all the twists fate continues to give her. Remember you can look me up at hollyhwrites dot com. I hope to hear from you. Until Next Time…