Disclaimer: Invader Johnny doesn't known Victorious, and is starting to talk like Zim in third person going mad over it.
"Funny" thing, I originally intended this to be a one-shot but then an idea came to me and I thought it could either add more angst to the story or let things end in a bittersweet note.
Not that different of a choice I guess but still, that will be up to you guys to decide, so without further ado, here's the aftermath of the funeral.
The drive home was dead quiet.
Jade kept her eyes on the road, occasionally looking at her grieving wife from the corner of her eye.
While Tori had stopped weeping, the woman appeared as if she had aged five years in the last few hours, she just wanted this day to be over.
But deep down she knows that was just hopeless thinking, after all death could not be overcome in a day, Jade knew that all to well, so now that Tori opened the gate, she was going to be down in the dumps in the coming days.
And her kids went too far behind; they were silently staring at the windows in the back seats, while Foxy was sleeping in her son's legs.
Gibby had requested once again if they could spend the night in their house, mostly for Trina's sake, something his wife did not object to this time.
Jade and Tori agreed without a hitch, the former Goth could see them following them from the review mirror.
The atmosphere around the families could be described a gloomy, for once it's the type of mood she despised, Jade wanted this dark cloud to dissapear but once again, was just wishful thinking.
It had taken the half-Latina a while for her to come to terms with her father's passing and while Jade was pleased her spouse had begun grieving, it certainly didn't mean she had to like it, so she was having mixed feelings about the whole matter, but the truth of the matter was that Tori had to heal properly.
Said woman rested her head in the window as they drove, her tired eyes showed no emotion other than sadness.
Soon both families made it to the West household.
The trio in the backseat tiredly got out of the car.
Their parents did not.
"Tori?" The pale woman said "We're here baby"
The tanned woman shuts her eyes "I know"
"Come on, let's go inside and get some sleep" Jade said gently "It's been a long day."
"You go ahead...I just want a moment to myself"
Worriedly, Jade looked at her wife "It could rain soon"
"I don't care" Tori said forcefully "I'll be fine"
Reluctantly, the former Goth got out of the car, but not before she squeezes her wife's hand.
Gibby did something similar with his own wife before he and his sons got out of their car, to Jade's surprise she noticed that Trina didn't go into the house, if anything the brunette went towards her car and got in the front seat next to her sister.
"She said she wants a moment with Tori" Gibby answered the unasked question.
"Was she silent the whole ride?"
He nodded "I don't think she has ever been without saying a single word before"
"Now what?" She asked "We wanted them to let it all out but now they're worse than before"
"I wouldn't say worse persay Jade" Gibby replied seriously "They just lost their dad; we lost him too, the thing here is that while we knew how to mourn the man, I don't think our wives know exactly how; I mean for years they probably thought that they would be prepared in case one day the terrible news of their father's untimely dead ever came and honestly? In his line of work it's something that can't be ignored no matter how much one wants too, but thinking it and living it are two different things"
The woman blinked, amazed at the words of wisdom coming from her usually clueless brother in law.
"What?"
"Sometimes you do manage to surprise me" Jade muttered "You know that Gibson?"
He shrugged "Death is a terrible thing; There's no way to go around it"
"Very true" She nodded "Let's go inside, I don't want to get wet in case it does rain"
"Right behind you"
An hour or so later the rain began to pour down, sadly the sisters had not yet entered the house, they didn't even seem to be doing anything other than stare straight ahead at the garage door.
Jade looked worriedly at the car from her bedroom window, a cup of coffee in her hands.
"Are they still there?"
The Thespian turned around, seeing Gibby in his pajamas with a cup of whoop cola in his hands, Jade always mocked him for not drinking coffee like any normal person but now hardly seemed like it mattered.
"Do you ever knock?" She asked irritatedly.
"I did" He replied "You didn't answered so I decided to take my chances"
"Fine, I'll let it slide... This time"
"I see your ready for bed"
"So are you"
"Sadly I just couldn't sleep"
"Me neither, I'm waiting for Tori" Jade muttered distractedly "I just can't sleep seeing her like this, knowing she'll be down in the dumps for the next few days"
"We did want them to let it all out" Gibby commented sadly "But now, I'm not so sure we did the right choice"
"It may not look like it now Gibson" Jade replied "But we did, they had to heal properly, otherwise both our wives would be in denial for who knows how long and things would be a thousand times worse when they exploded emotionally, you know as well as I do that had to be avoided at all cost, it's going to be a long road for them Gibs, but you also kmow that they'll have us on every step of the way"
"You're right" He agreed with a nod " I take it that they're still outside?"
"Unfortunately"
"You don't think they'll stay all night in your car... Do you?"
The woman shrugged "Wish I could say no, but evidence suggests otherwise Gibby, both our wives are hurting pretty badly and there's nothing we can do but be there for them when they need us, for better or for worse"
The man joined Jade and looked down at the window, he could see his wife's grieving face on the car's windshield "Do you feel as if we failed Mr Vega?"
His sister in law looked away from the window to give him a quizzical stare "What do you mean?"
"Don't you remember?"
"Remember what?"
"You don't remember do you?"
"Gibby" Jade said in a warning tone "You better tell me before I lose my patience and decide to beat you to death with your own spine"
The man gulped "When we first went to the hospital, about the time you proposed to Tori"
The pale's woman eyes widened in realization "Oh.. I see what you mean"
College Years:
Both Vega sisters entered the hospital as quickly as they could, approaching the main reception, distress evidently in their eyes.
The nurse behind the computer state at them uninterested, truthfully she appeared to care very little for anything other than her paycheck.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell us where David Vega's room is?" Trina asked frantically, her sister not too far behind on that department since she too looked as if she was about to lose it.
"Only family allowed"
"We're his daughters!" Tori screeched.
"Let me check" The nurse said indifferently as she went back to her computer.
As the woman typed away to look for the I formation, both Jade abd Gibby made the way over to their girlfriends; being on a double date when the news struck them all.
"Sorry, no David Vegan has checked in"
"Not Vegan" Jade said irritatedly "Vega! V-E-G-A"
"I'll check again"
The sisters were anxious to know in what room their father was, while Jade was resisting the urge to stab the woman with her trusted pair of scissors, and agibby, well he was oblivious to everything around him other than Trina's distress.
"Room 132"
"About damn time" The Goth hissed.
Before anyone took another step, the nurse stopped them on their tracks by asking "And who are you two?"
"I'm her girlfriend/boyfriend" Jade and Gibby replied at the same time.
"Sorry, family only"
"Listen to me nurse Ratched" The pale woman said darkly "I am not about to stay here while my girlfriend is in another room crying her eyes out with her father in who knows what condition, so if you don't let us pass I swear I will sue this hospital for neglicece and considering my father Alex West is a lawyer I can make sure all the blame is on you, so how well do you think you are going to do afterwards if the hospital gets bad press?"
The fear in the nurse's eyes was unmistakable " You...you can take the elevator" she sputtered.
"That's what I thought" Jade sneered.
She took Tori's hand in hers "Come on Baby"
In nornal circumstances The Half Latina would had admonished Jade for scaring the nurse but right now she didn't care, she only wanted to see her father.
The foursome made their way towards room 132 in silence.
Once they were all in front of the door, the sisters were scared to know what was on the other side.
Jade gave Tori a kiss on the cheeck "Go in baby"
"Your not coming in?"
"I think you and your sister need some time with your dad"
"What about you Gibby?" The older brunnette asked her boyfriend "Are you gonna wait here?"
He nodded "I'm with Jade, you need to see your father without us, we will be right here though"
"We will" The Goth said "Now go in"
Tori and Trina shared an unsure look but agreed, they were going to enter the room but not before getting one last kiss from their respective lover.
"Daddy?"
Whatever they see at the other side of the door won't be pretty, there will be a final chapter so don't worry I'm not cruel enough to leave this to your imagination.
Also since today is my birthday I am in a grim mood over turning a year older so I guess it kinda fits to post this.
Well, review I guess.
Invader Johnny Signing Off.
