~~~Reunited~~~
Tori and Beck discovered that they lived within three blocks of each other. Cily and Andrew took a huge liking to each other and announced to their parents that they were best friends now.
Beck and Tori decided that in the light of their children's new friendship that they would get to know each other again.
~~~OOO~~~
It was two weeks after the day that they ran into each other at the park. They were back at the park and Cily and Andie were ripping and tearing. Tori and Beck were sitting on one of the benches and watching their kids.
"So, are you going to tell me or not?" asked Tori, looking over at the handsome dark skinned man beside her.
Beck sighed and gave in. "Jade left me. She had taken Cily and left school. No explanation. Nothing. I didn't hear anything for quite some time. I tried to find her. It was like she had disappeared off the face of the earth. And then, one morning, she shows up on my front step with Cily. She hands me Cily's things and says that she's mine now and takes off again. I haven't seen her since."
"Did Cily tell you what happened?" Tori asked.
"Cily was two when all of this took place. She doesn't remember."
"Oh. Sorry."
"So, it's been just me and her. She just started kindergarten a while ago at Plainsview Elementary," Beck sighed, looking over at his dark haired daughter who had Andie in a headlock.
"She and Andie are in the same class. Whoa!" Tori stood up in alarm. Cily had just punched Andie in the eye and made the little boy fall down. But, before Tori or Beck could react any more, Andie was chasing Cily across the grounds again and tackled her.
"She's just like her mother. She's very tough," Beck chuckled, keeping an eye on her.
"I can see that," Tori chuckled. "But she doesn't look like Jade. She looks just like you. She's beautiful."
Beck smiled. "So what about you? What's your sob story?"
Tori sighed. "Andre and I attended Julliard together. His music career shot off and mine didn't. Andie was a year old. Andre wanted to further his career. He had already been asked to join the Philharmonic. He didn't want a wife or a child. So I told him to get out and never come back."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that," Tori stated. Beck's thin eyebrows contracted but then relaxed.
Beck looked back over to their children. He smiled at the little boy that looked so much like Tori.
"He looks so much like you," he said gesturing to Andie.
Tori shook her head. "He looks just like his father. Not me. It's your kid that looks like you."
"How so?" Beck said, watching Cily.
Tori shook her head again but this time in amazement. "You really don't see it? She's gorgeous!"
And it was true. Cily really was beautiful. She had long dark hair that met the middle of her back, black eyes that glowed with excitement and purity, the same thin frame that her father had. She was beautiful.
"She reminds me so much of Jade. She's got Jade's energy, her toughness, everything," said Beck.
"But I bet that she's got your heart," smiled Tori.
Beck shrugged. He adored Cily with all of his heart. But, she had so many of Jade's traits in her. In the back of his head, he wondered if she actually loved him.
Tori saw the look on Beck's face. "What's the matter?"
Beck shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Tori didn't believe him for one second.
~~~OOO~~~
They finally pried their children apart and took them out for pizza. The kids stuffed their faces and were on the brink of sleep when it was time to leave. They each gathered a child in their arms and prepared to go home.
"Hey, listen, my house is only a few blocks away. How about you camp out on the couch and the kids can have a little sleepover. We can send them to school together in the morning?" said Beck. "We can stay up and talk."
Tori's eyes widened but a smile also blossomed across her face. "I'd like that."
They returned to Beck's small house. It was a two bedroom shanty with an itty-bitty kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Tori knew that Beck didn't make much money managing the supermarket. He had to drop out of school when Jade left Cily with him. Her heart broke for him because of how exhausted he truly was. Beck was still the handsome man that she remembered from Hollywood Arts, wavy black hair, big black eyes, and olive skin. But, he had circles under his eyes and was starting to get crows feet. But, she also saw the something else. How truly broken he had become. She sensed that he wondered if Cily loved him. She never really showed it. She was a lot like her mother, always depending on him.
She could also see how much Beck missed his music and acting. That had been his goal but then Jade became pregnant. Tori missed her music so much. But, she wouldn't trade her time with Andie for all the Grammies in the world. That was the biggest thing. She wouldn't trade any of her time with her baby boy. That was one thing she had to thank Andre for. He gave her this amazing miracle.
~~~OOO~~~
Tori and Beck tucked the kids and talked through the night. Beck couldn't help but stare at Tori. She was still one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. The thing was, even though she had lost her career as a musician, she looked happier than she had ever been. He knew that Andie was the reason for that. He envied it. He could see how much Andie adored his mother. Even when she tucked him into bed, he woke up and murmured "Love you, Mommy." His heart broke at those words. He had never heard Cily say that she loved him. He adored her. He told her he loved her all the time. But she had never said it back.
Taking in Tori's appearance, he admired the way her long dark hair hung in waves down her back, not a speck of gray. Her chocolate brown eyes crinkled when she smiled. Her smile. Her smile was his favorite thing. That was something that Andie inherited from his mother. Whenever the little boy smiled, his eyes would crinkle. He loved to look at that smile.
~~~OOO~~~
Kind of a drop off ending. Needed to update! Is there a romance heating up in the future?
