A/N: To those who voted at the end of "The Computer Wore Short Shorts"…I'm really sorry. I realize that this has nothing to do with either of the options I put forward. But I was watching the latest episode this week, and was a little taken aback by the casual throwaway gag about (implied) infidelity, and, well, this idea sort of popped into my head and refused to leave me alone. I hope you'll find it at least somewhat interesting. (Also, please note that due to my hectic work schedule, updates may be a little…sporadic.)

Disclaimer: As ever, don't own.

By all rights, Tori Vega should have been content that Friday evening. Her crazed nemesis "Ponnie" was safely behind bars; Trina was slowly recovering from her (frankly rather disgusting) head cold; and Jade, still furious with Cat over the Great Eyebrow Fiasco, was presently leaving Tori more or less alone, as even she didn't have enough energy to maintain two grudges at once. And yet, as Tori stared at her swiftly cooling plate of pasta primavera, she could not help thinking of the odd remarks that her mother and her father's partner Gary had made the day before:

"I'll text Gary. I text him all the time. He's so handsome, isn't he?"

"Say hello to your mother for me. She's a fine woman…"

It was purely innocuous, wasn't it? It had to be. For as long as Tori had been alive, her parents had been devoted to one another, practically joined at the hip. Her mother would never cheat on her father, any more than he would be unfaithful to her.

So Tori kept telling herself; but despite her best efforts, the message was not sinking in.

"Aren't you hungry, dear?" Holly Vega asked, watching her daughter with concern. They were alone at the dinner table; David Vega would not return for another two days, and Trina had taken a medicinal cocktail so potent that she wouldn't wake up even if the house were hit by an artillery shell.

At first, Tori didn't answer, but merely pushed the noodles around her plate with her fork, like a small child playing with her food. She couldn't bring herself to look her mother in the eye. How can I possibly explain to her what's bothering me without setting her off?

"Would you like a little parmesan cheese? That might give it some zest…Tori?"

"I…I'm sorry, Mom. This whole Ponnie thing has just thrown me off a little, I guess."

"Well, that's understandable. Gary told me once how prevalent the problem of stalking is. It's frightening how irrational some people can be."

"Really? When exactly did Gary tell you that?"

Tori had not been able to fully disguise the sharpness in her voice, and her mother was slightly taken aback. "Why…um…it was a few months ago, when your father and I had him over for dinner. While you were in Yerba, as I recall."

"Gotcha." Ashamed, Tori looked down and resumed rolling up her noodles into a spool. Why did I ask that? Am I so suspicious that I just assumed it was 'pillow talk'? Jesus, what's wrong with me?

Holly Vega took a sip of red wine. "So, do you have any big plans for this evening?"

"Hm? Oh, no. Just washin' my hair and then some TV."

"Too bad. I had hoped you and Andre might have something planned. He's such a nice boy." To Tori's amazement, Holly winked at her.

"Mom! Are you trying to play matchmaker?"

"Me? A matchmaker? Perish the thought."

Tori chuckled at her mother; but even as she did so, a tiny voice whispered in the back of her mind:

Why is she so keen on getting you out of the house?

Shut up, she silently answered. It's just Mom being Mom. There's no conspiracy here.

Are you really so sure?

Of course I'm sure!

…Aren't I?

A plan hatched in Tori's mind.

"You know what? I just remembered – I'm supposed to meet Jade and Cat at Jade's house to rehearse a scene."

Holly Vega raised an eyebrow. "On a Friday night?"

"It's…um…it's the only time that we all had free. We have to do the scene Monday morning for Sikowitz."

"Oh. What time will you be back?"

"Probably not until midnight at the earliest."

Was Tori imagining things, or did the ghost of a smile pass across her mother's face?

"Do you need a ride?"

"That's okay – I'll take the bus down, and Jade can give me a ride back."

"If you're sure. Hope everything goes well."

Holly rose and carried the plates to the kitchen sink, humming softly to herself. Staring at her back, Tori thought, Have I really sunk so low that I'm deceiving my own mother? This is pathetic.

But I have to know for sure. One way or another, I have to know.

"Take care, Mom," she called as she opened the front door, backpack in hand. "I'll see you later."

"Good night, baby."

And, unseen by anyone, Tori Vega quietly circled around to the side of her house and concealed herself in the bushes, watching the driveway.

/

It was a long and none too pleasant wait. Bugs crawled over Tori's bare legs as she knelt in the scratchy grass; the night was hot and humid, and sweat ran down the back of her neck. But within an hour, her patience was rewarded. Headlights signaled the approach of a gray sedan that slowly rolled into the drive. The engine was turned off, and a moment later a tall figure eased itself out of the driver's seat.

At first, distance and darkness prevented Tori from making out any facial features. But at last the figure came to the front door, and the porch light fell full on his face; and as she saw the telltale graying temples, she gasped.

Gary.

He knocked softly: three times in quick succession, twice slowly, then three times quickly once again.

Are you kidding me? she thought. He actually has a secret knock?

The door opened. From the angle at which she crouched, Tori could not see her mother greet Gary; but the ear-to-ear grin on his face was unmistakable. He disappeared within, and a moment later the porch light was switched off.

Tori waited a few moments, then clambered to her feet and slipped to the back door. Her hand shook as she fitted the key into the lock, but she still managed to turn the key quietly, and to slide the door open softly.

The dining room was entirely dark. Picking her way through the murky obstacles, not daring to turn on a light, she groped toward the stairs, taking care to confine her footsteps to the edges of the steps so as not to make them creak. Ironic, she thought, that she had learned that technique from her police officer father.

When she was halfway up, she heard their voices. Most of the words they exchanged were too low to be distinct – they were taking no chances of waking Trina, she guessed – but every now and then a childish giggle cut through the sea of murmurs.

Tori could bear it no longer. Throwing caution to the winds, she sprinted up the last few steps and threw wide her parents' bedroom door.

Even in the darkness, she could make out the contours of her mother's and Gary's bodies beneath the sheets – and their faces, staring at her, mouths open with utter shock.

And at that moment she knew that nothing would ever be the same again.