Disclaimer:

I don't own Victorious or any characters. Don't own the song/lyrics either.

A/N: This is my first victorious story, my first sonfic and my second fanfic over all. I hope its ok and I'd love it if you'd give these stories a chance even though I know they've probably been done a hundred times over. The ideas basically came to me while listening to my MP3. This was the first song I heard and it reminded me of Cat so I decided to morph a story out of it. The rest just followed as I heard more relatable songs. I cut out a few parts to the song by the way. This may get deep at times but I hope I don't like… emotionally scar any of you. :3

I suggest listening to the song before/while you read. The song is (if you haven't already figured it out) Family Portrait by Pink.

That said, on with the story!

Mama please stop cryin'
I can't stand the sound
Your pain is painful and it's
Tearing me down

The petite redhead woke in bed with a jolt. Her Hello-Kitty alarm clock read 3:17am. Listening further she heard the reason she woke so early. They were fighting again. Dad screaming. Momma crying, begging. Furrowing her brows as a frown tugged at her lips, Cat hopped out of bed and sulked toward the door. Despite what most would think, she's no coward. Half the time she's the one to get in the middle of her parents and break up the screaming. After all, she has a brother to look out for. He may be older than her but he's a lot worse off. Those who say she has issues, oh if only they knew her brother. They wouldn't believe their eyes. Slowly opening the door just a crack, Cat listened to her mom and dad trying to figure out what they were arguing about now. At the sound of a shattering glass object Cat threw open the rest of the creaking door and started storming down the hall. Bounding down the stairs she rubbed her eyes with her fists trying to get used to the increase of light.

I hear glasses breakin'
As I sit up in my bed
I told Dad you didn't mean
Those nasty things you said
You fight about money
'Bout me and my brother
And this I come home to
This is my shelter

Turning the corner to their spacious kitchen, Cat took in the scene playing out in front of her. Glass was shattered around the cliché tile floor between her parents. Sighing, she realized how hard it had become to breathe. Her chest was already heaving from her hauling ass down the two flights of stairs but now, seeing her father's hand bleeding, she was beginning to panic. This certainly wasn't like their usual fights. Suddenly the thought that this could be their last fight crept to her mind and her heart started racing.

It ain't easy, growin' up in world war 3
Never knowin' what love could be
You'll see, I don't want love to destroy me
Like it has done my family

It all happened in a blur; her father telling them he was leaving, her mother screaming and begging for him not to go only to then tell him to fuck off and leave already. Cat had no idea if they had even seen her, if they even knew she was watching, hearing, learning. That's right, learning. She was learning for their mistakes so some day, if love found her, she would know how to keep it. She would treasure it and care for it; she would refuse to let it ruin her.

Can we work it out
Can we be a family
I promise I'll be better
Mommy I'll do anything
Can we work it out
Can we be a family
I promise I'll be better
Daddy please don't leave

The next few minutes were spent watching her mother chase her father up the stairs, saying anything and everything to try and keep him in their lives. Cat followed behind as well, still unsure if they were even aware of her presence. Standing in the doorway she watched her father pack what ever of his belongings he could get his hands on. Stuffing them into a giant suitcase and two duffel bags, he slid the two bags on one shoulder and picked up the suitcase with the other hand. Turning on her mother again he started hollering about another woman, one who apparently loved him and would let him have his dream, one who had no kids and could cooperate with his needs. Cat's heart sunk. He didn't want her, he didn't want her brother; he wanted his dream life, which her momma couldn't give him. Her mother broke down and huddled to the floor mumbling about how she didn't love him any more, asking how he could betray her and his children.

Daddy please stop yelling (stop)
I can't stand the sound (can't stand the sound)
Make mama stop cryin'
'Cause I need you around (yeah yeah yeah)
My mama she loves you (I know it)
No matter what she says is true
I know that she hurts you
But remember I love you too!

Her father simply huffed and stormed passed Cat out the door, knocking her back a few steps. Rubbing her sore shoulder Cat looked down to see her shirt stained with tears. Reaching a small delicate hand up to her eye she found she had been crying. The entire ruckus had kept her from even knowing of the escaping tears. Everything seemed so real all of a sudden. She could taste the salty wet tears on her lips; she could feel the bruise forming on her upper arm, and most of all she could hear the front door slam down stairs. Running down the stairs taking them two at a time, it was a miracle she didn't fall flat on her face. Passing through the kitchen on her way after her dad, the small girl caught sight of something she wished to this day she'd never seen. In the heat of the moment she had never checked to see what was broken. Now, she wished she never found out. Lying shattered was a picture and frame of her family in their prime. Cat whimpered and shook her head, covering her eyes as she ran out of the kitchen, wincing on contact of glass on her bare feet, toward the front of the house.

In our family portrait (In our family portrait)
We look pretty happy (We look pretty happy)
Let's play pretend, let's act like it
Comes naturally
I don't wanna have to split the holidays (no no)
I don't want two addresses (no no)
I don't want a stepbrother anyway
And I don't want my mom to have to change her last name!

Cat sprinted across the foyer and ripped open the very door her father had just exited out of. Making it just in time to see her father peel out of the driveway and speed off down the road, Cat felt her knees go weak. There was absolutely nothing she could do now. She let her mother down, she let her brother down. Her dad was gone, she had failed.

Don't leave... don't leave... Daddy don't leave...
Don't leave... Daddy don't leave...
Daddy don't leave... Daddy don't leave... Daddy don't leave...
Don't leave... don't leave...
Turn around please

With a shaky breath Cat turned on her heels and sprinted across the house, skipping two stairs as she hit them, and bounded down the hall. Skidding to a stop, grasping the doorframe to slow herself down, she took in the sight of her mother. Broken, hurt, betrayed. Walking up to her and dropping beside her, she pulled her momma into her lap and hushed her reassuringly. Cat whispered calming words and told her mom about how she would be better, how they would be just fine. Eventually her mother fell into a deep sleep and Cat helped her to her bed, laying her down with a kiss on her forehead and an 'I love you'.

Mama'll be nicer
I'll be so much better
I'll tell my brother
I won't spill the milk at dinner
I'll be so much better
I'll do everything right
I'll be your little girl forever
I'll go to sleep at night

Leaving the room and closing the door, Cat made her way down to the other end of the hallway. She quietly opened the door to her brother's room and sighed with relief. Thankfully his sleep meds had kept him knocked out through it all. Now she would just have to explain this all to him when he woke in the morning. She would clean everything up and make it seem like nothing ever happened. The glass would be gone, the picture would be back where it was before, breakfast would be made and on the table. A smile would grace her lips for her brother's sake, and her mother's, not her own. School would be grueling but at least she had her friends. Her child-like air-head persona would re-arise and she'd put back on her care-free, non-stop smiling, giggling mask. No one would ever know that it was just an act; they would never know that on the inside she was more grown up than them. Everything would be normal and seemingly fine. After all, that is what Caterina Valentine does best. She hides, she fights, she covers up, and no one suspects a thing; just as she likes it.

A/N: Alright, I didn't scar you permanently did I? Not to toot my own horn but I think it's pretty good as my first songfic and Victorious fanfic. Also, I know it's majorly OOC for Cat but I really do believe there is a reason for her behavior. I think she's hiding something huge that goes on in her family and that's the reason for her and her brother's 'problems'. I'd love reviews with honest opinions but please no flames.

Next is probably going to be of Jade but I ned your help picking the song. I have three Pink songs I want to do with her so which should I do first? Please don't leave me, Fun House, or Who Knew?

Thanks for reading!

Peace, love, and all that stuff,

Kharress