I feel I should preface this by saying that when I wrote this, I was pretty emotional because I was watching a lot of sad movies, and I was writing a sad chapter of my other story, After The Storm, and…well, I digress.

This deals with a lot of heavy stuff, but it will also have light, funny moments. I promise. I'll only continue it if people want me to, so just let me know if I should bury this somewhere dark and never let it see the light of day again. Just let me know.

Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious, so Dan Schneider, if you ever see this, don't sue. Please.

Okay, here we go…

She ran as fast as she could, her Keds hitting the pavement. Her red hair flew out behind her as she ran. She was clutching something tightly in her hand. "Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble..." she panted over and over as she ran. She was going to the only one she could trust-with anything. With all of her deepest secrets, and especially with this.

She would understand.

She finally got to the door and pounded on it as hard as she could. "JADE! JADE!" she yelled, tears blurring her vision. She heard running feet, and Jade quickly opened the door. "Cat," she said with an air of surprise. Cat fell into Jade's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "What is it, 'Rina?" Jade asked. "What's wrong? Is it your dad?" Cat sobbed harder. "Jadey, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I didn't listen-"

"What do you mean?" Jade asked, grabbing Cat by the shoulders. She looked her friend in the eye. "'Rina, what's wrong? What is it?" she asked. Cat held up what was in her hand. Four pregnancy tests.

"I'm pregnant," she sobbed.

Jade sighed and pulled her friend into a hug, remembering the day two months ago they'd had that conversation.

"Jadey, my dad hasn't touched me in two days!" Cat announced proudly as she walked into Jade's house. Jade smiled softly and led her friend into her house. "Cat, you need to tell someone that he's doing these things to you. Whatever he says, it's not love, what he's doing to you," Jade said. Cat hugged herself worriedly. "No, I can't. He would be angry," she said.

Jade sighed. Cat's father had been sexually abusing her for years. Jade hadn't found out until a month ago. She hadn't been able to understand why someone would want to hurt sweet, innocent Cat.

She shook it off and led her friend into the kitchen. "Yay! Jadey, are we making cupcakes now? I want mine to be purple! No...pink! Pink is my favorite color! One time, my brother and I went to a carnival, and he wanted candy, but he made the cotton candy man angry, so the man threw the machine at him and now we're not allowed at that carnival anymore," Cat rambled.

Jade grinned. "Yeah, Cat, cupcakes. And you can make yours whatever color you want. I bought all of them," she said, gesturing to a counter full of colorful baking supplies, including lots of sprinkles.

Cat squealed and hugged her best friend tightly. "Oh, Jadey! It's perfect!" she squealed, jumping up and down. Jade rolled her eyes, but she smiled as well. "Don't tell ANYONE that I made cupcakes with you," she warned. Cat giggled and mimed zipping her mouth closed. "You're an idiot sometimes, you know that?" Jade said with another eyeroll. "But you loovve it!" Cat teased. Jade growled playfully and grabbed a bowl. They began making cupcakes and having a great time, chatting cheerfully and dancing to their favorite songs.

When they took out the vinegar, Jade pushed it towards Cat. "You have to do this. I can't," she said. Cat looked confused. "Why not?" she asked. "The smell will make me throw up," Jade explained. She backed away from it a bit. "Why will it do that?" Cat asked. Jade sighed. "I just have a sensitive nose," she lied. Cat looked even more confused. "No you don't," she said. "Remember you won that radio contest they had to see who had the strongest nose?" Jade groaned.

For being innocent, Cat could see right through her. She sighed and put a hand to her head. She could do this.

"I missed a period," she mumbled. "So? Just write it in! I bet no one will notice it wasn't there," Cat chirped. Jade rolled her eyes. "I'm pregnant, Cat," she snapped, turning to face her friend. The redhead gasped in shock.

"Like...BABY pregnant?" she asked. Jade nodded. She felt tears come to her eyes. "Ooohhh," Cat said in understanding. Jade sighed, wondering what was going through Cat's head at the moment.

She got her answer when Cat jumped up and down, squealed, and gave her a huge hug. "Oh, Jadey! CONGRATULATIONS!" she screamed. Jade didn't understand what was wrong with her friend sometimes. Cat pulled away with a beam. "Oh, we have to pick names! And plan a shower! And tell Beck he's gonna be a daddy and-"

"Woah, Cat!" Jade said, interrupting Cat. She stopped bouncing. "Whatie?" she asked. "This isn't a good thing," Jade said. Cat looked confused. "Why not? You're gonna have a baby, right?" Cat said with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, but it's not a good thing," Jade said. "I'm young, and Beck and I aren't supposed to be having a baby so young when we're not married."

"But babies are so cute! I want a baby someday," Cat said with a little pout. Jade wiped her eyes and put her hands on Cat's shoulder. "Cat," she said seriously. "You can NOT get pregnant until you're married, okay? I know you've been dating Danny, but don't go all the way, for God's sake." Cat nodded slowly. "But can I pick the baby's name?" she asked with a smile.

"I don't know that I'm going to keep it," Jade said, going back to stirring the cupcake batter. "You mean, give it up?" Cat asked with wide eyes. Jade shrugged. "I was actually thinking about abortion," she said, furiously stirring the batter. Cat gasped. "Jadey, why?" she asked.

Jade stirred the batter harder. "I can't carry a baby, Cat! Everyone will stare at me, people will judge me, don't get me started on my parents...abortion is the best option," she growled.

She could feel Cat's large brown eyes staring her down. She looked down, into the bowl of chocolate goo. She began crazily stirring again, beating out her frustrations. "It's the best option," she repeated, as if to give it more conviction.

Suddenly she felt Cat gently pull the bowl and spoon out of her hands. "But you don't want to do that, do you?" Cat asked softly, turning the spoon in gentler spirals. Jade sighed. "Y-yes," she said. Cat smiled. "Jadey," she said as she began to scoop the batter into the cupcake pan. "You know you can't lie to me. You never could. You want your baby, don't you?"

Jade's mouth opened, but no reply came out. A tear slid down her face. She wiped it away angrily. "I can take care of myself," she growled. Cat set down the bowl and took one of Jade's hands in her own. "Jadey, you've always been there for me. I can be there for you," the little redhead said. "You can be honest with me. Don't hold back. I promise, I can take it. And I want to help," she said earnestly. Jade looked up, and her eyes met Cat's.

Then all of the fight went out of her. She hugged Cat tightly and started sobbing. Cat rubbed her back. "It'll be okay, Jadey," she said soothingly. "I'll help! I'm good with kids. And Beck's gonna be a good daddy. And you can count on me." Jade smiled and wiped her tears away.

"Thanks, Cat," she said. "I'm glad you're my friend."

Cat giggled. "Let's put the cupcakes in the oven!" she squealed. Jade laughed and helped Cat slide the chocolate mix into the oven. As Jade got out the decorating supplies, she felt Cat's hand on her own.

"And don't worry, Jadey. I won't get pregnant."

That had been two months ago. Jade was three months along, she still hadn't told anyone but Cat, and now here Cat was telling her that she was pregnant.

It was like something out of a bad Sarah Dessen book.

Not that Jade had ever read Sarah Dessen.

Jade led Cat gently over to her couch and sat her down. "Sshh, Cat, it will be okay," she said, stroking her vibrant red hair. Cat sobbed into Jade's stomach for several more minutes before composing herself. Jade sighed. "Are you okay?" she asked. Cat shook her head rapidly. "It'll be okay," Jade said soothingly. "Danny's a good guy. He'll stick by you." Cat let out another sob. "That's not the problem," she said, her eyes filling with tears again.

"I don't know who the father is."

Jade was confused. "What do you mean, Cat? Who else could it..." Cat looked down ashamedly. Jade gasped.

"Oh my God, Cat. Your father?"

Cat burst into tears again and fell into Jade's arms. Jade could only say one thing.

"Crap."

Cat kept crying uncontrollably. Jade rubbed her back. "Cat, you need to tell me exactly what your dad does to you. I promise, we can end this nightmare," she said. Cat shook her head and sat up. "I can't tell you, or he'll hurt me," she whimpered. Jade sighed. "Oh, Cat," she said softly. "Please, tell me."

Cat sighed. "What will I tell Danny?" she asked with tears in her eyes. "He doesn't...know. What if he thinks I cheated on him?"

She began to cry again. Jade held her. "Cat, you know, you don't have to go through this," she said. "You can have an abortion, and the whole thing will go away."

Cat gasped. "No!" she squeaked. "This could be Danny's baby, too! I can't take his baby away from him," she said. Jade rubbed Cat's back. "Please, 'Rina, just tell me about your dad. I promise it'll all get better," she begged. Cat looked at her best friend, her big brown eyes shining with tears. "You promise?"

Jade nodded. "I promise," she said. Cat took a shaky breath. "Okay," she said. "He-"

Suddenly her phone rang. Cat squeaked in fear and picked up. "Hello?" she asked fearfully. Jade could hear her father scream at Cat through the phone. Cat flinched. "No, daddy. I'm at Jade's."

More screaming. Jade took Cat's hand. "No, daddy. Jade is my friend," Cat said with tears in her eyes. "Yes, daddy. I-I'm coming home. I'm sorry to keep you waiting...I-I...love you too, daddy." She hung up and Jade clutched her hand tighter. "Cat-" she started.

Cat began searching around frantically for her things. "Jade, I-I have to go, I have to go, go, go, go..." she said, stuffing the pregnancy tests in her purse. She stood quickly and began to run out the door. "Cat, wait!" Jade called after her. "YOU NEED PRE-NATEL VITAMINS!" Cat threw a quick "Kay-Kay!" over her shoulder as the door slammed behind her.

Jade sighed and touched her flat stomach. She prayed that Cat would be okay. Jade knew that she'd rather have Danny be a young teenage father than the much more frightening alternative.

She rubbed her stomach once more, than picked up the phone. "Beck?" she asked in a shaky voice. "Can I see you tonight? I just...need you with me," she said.

••••••

Cat's father growled as she walked timidly in the door. "You've kept me waiting," he said angrily. Cat squeaked in fear. "I'm sorry, daddy," she said softly.

He hopped off of his kitchen stool and stormed up to her. "Why were you late?" he roared, hitting her in the face. Cat cried out and fell to the floor, holding her cheek. "I told you, daddy, I was with my friend Jade-"

"That bitch," her father spat. Tears sprang to Cat's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, daddy," she whimpered. Her father pulled her up, put his hand on her butt, and drew her close to him. She shut her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry I had to do that," he whispered in her ear. "I love you, baby."

Cat turned her head away, her eyes still closed tightly. Her father's grip tightened, and Cat shuddered as she felt his lips ghost over her neck.

"What do you say?" he purred. Cat swallowed nervously and prayed for a way out.

"I...love you too...daddy."

•••••

Jade sat in Beck's lap, their hands and legs intertwined. "I'm worried about Cat," she murmured. Beck pressed his lips to her neck tenderly. "Why?" he asked casually. "She's seemed great ever since she started dating that Danny kid."

"Trust me, she's got major issues," Jade said, biting her lip. Beck looked at her. "Is she okay?" he asked in concern. Jade sighed.

Beck sat up straighter. "Jade, Cat is like a little sister to me. Is someone hurting her? Is it that Danny guy?" he asked. Jade shook her head and took Beck's hand again. "Trust me, there's not really anything we can do about it. Just...keep an eye on her," she murmured.

Beck stared into Jade's eyes, searching for an explanation she couldn't give. He gave up trying to get her to talk and kissed her. "Okay," he said softly. Jade relaxed back into his arms. She wished they could just stay this way, forever, with nothing in the way.

She wished she didn't have to tell him.

•••••

Cat lay in her bed, sobbing like her heart would break. She pulled a blanket over her thin shoulders and lay still, shivering.

Her clothes were strewn across her room in shreds. Cat sniffled and sat up, looking at the blouse that had been ripped open. She whimpered. That had been her favorite t shirt, one her mom had gotten her before she had walked out and taken Frankie with her.

It was one of her only happy memories, and it was ruined.

She shouldn't have made her dad angry.

Cat stood shakily and began to gather her clothes. Suddenly she felt a twinge in her stomach.

She covered her mouth, ran to the restroom, and quickly threw up what little she'd had in her stomach. She gasped and threw up again.

She could already tell the next seven months were going to be hell.

••••

"Is it just me, or does it seem like Jade and Cat have been throwing up a lot lately?" Tori asked the table. Beck nodded. "You're telling me. Jade's been doing Linda Blair impressions in the morning, after school, at night...I'm worried."

"Cat too...and that little thing is never sick," Andre said. "I hope they're okay," Tori said worriedly, furrowing her brow.

As she spoke, the girls in question walked up. Jade had huge sunglasses on to hide her eyes. As they walked up, she playfully hit the huge bow in Cat's hair. Cat squealed as they sat down.

"How are you guys?" Andre asked with a smile. "Sick," Cat said with a tiny groan. Beck kissed Jade's cheek. She sighed in annoyance. "How are you?" he asked. "Fine," she snapped.

Tori leaned away slightly. "So, I have a bad feeling you two are both contagious. I love you, but don't breathe on me."

Jade breathed heavily on her hand, reached over, and ran it through Tori's salad. She picked up a huge fistful, dropped it, and wiped her hand off as if nothing had happened. Cat giggled and Tori gasped in outrage. "Touchy!" she said with a sad sigh, picking at the remains of her salad with her fork.

Jade smiled at Cat's laughter. She'd do anything to brighten Cat's day, if only for a little while.

She knew that Cat deserved to smile.

I'm sorry if you hated it…please, no flames, even if you think I should go crawl under a rock with my dark thoughts.

For my readers jumping over from one of my other stories, I'm coming at you all with another chapter of After The Storm by Wednesday! If you're a new reader, my other stories are happier! You may enjoy one of those. (:

Again, review and tell me what you thought. I know the plot is a bit out there, but that's imagination, I guess.

Mwah!