A/N: Well this chapter certainly took a while to write. Yes, yes I know, the time between the days I update is slowly increasing… Don't worry though, I definitely won't give up this story. But I really am busy, can you believe it? It's my freakin holiday but I feel like I had more time to write during school days… sigh and life goes on

Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious, if I did I would be rich and live in a fancy villa with a Yorkshire and drive a red Porsche convertible, instead of stuck in my room with crappy wifi. Ahhh the good life…

Enjoy and as always: REVIEW!

Chapter 10: His Angel

Beck held her as she cried, each sob shaking her entire frame. He soothed her a shushed her, told her that he was there. Told her that she was strong, told her that he'd love her forever and ever, no matter what she'd done.

"You wouldn't believe those people Beck! Their stares, seemed to follow me everywhere. I couldn't stand it! I really couldn't stand it," she whispered, her breath ragged, her fingers clutching on to his shirt for dear life.

"It's ok Jade, just sleep, I'm here."

"I remember one day, I just couldn't take it. It was like if I died the next day, no one would care. Most of them would be glad actually." His anger rose, how could anyone treat her like that? Treat anyone like that?

"Who is 'them' Jade?"

"I don't know, students, teachers, parents. Everyone. The town was so small, people knew. I'd walk to the grocery store and I could feel their eyes on me." She shuddered, and he pulled her closer instinctively.

"Shhhh, don't worry, no one will know. I'll make sure of it," he said, with a steel determination.

Slowly, slowly, he rocked her to sleep, and he watched her lying there on his chest. She seemed so at peace when she slept, like an angel. His angel. He wondered what he'd done to deserve her. Yes, she was…intolerable, at times, but damn, she was the best thing that ever happened to him. Her spirit was just so contagious. No matter what happened, she held her head up high and threw her shoulders back. She voiced her opinions, all of them, and although some thought she was too harsh or cruel, he didn't see it that way. To him, she was just being frank, honest. If she wanted to say something, she said it, she was just that brave. And don't even get him started on her voice. Jade was just who she was, but flaws and all, she was perfect to Beck.

Her confidence exuded out of her constantly, she didn't take shit from anyone. Or so he'd thought. He remembered the day he'd first found out about her, about her father.

She hadn't come to school in a week, and she wouldn't answer her phone. Naturally, he was worried, panicked almost. He knew she wasn't deliberately avoiding him because both Andre and Cat had tried calling as well.

When she did come back to school, there was something very off. She was avoiding him, deliberately going out of her way to avoid a conversation, refusing to make eye contact.

"I was sick," she answered when I asked her why she hadn't come to school.

"My phone ran out of battery."

"I forgot to call."

The excuses came easily. He knew she was lying, he could tell immediately that something was wrong. She looked exhausted, her skin was clammy and blotchy, her eyes were red and slightly sore: a telltale sign that she had been crying. A lot. He didn't say anything though, until he saw them. Dark, angry welts on her back, lines and patches of red and purple bruises.

"I bumped into a table," she'd justify.

"I clipped it in the door," she'd explain.

"I tripped down the stairs," she'd excuse.

But he didn't take any of it.

And when he finally made her look at him, she'd broken down, crying. He'd held her of course, cradling her to his chest as he soothed her.

"Who Jade? Who did this to you?" he asked. His voice sounded even, but Jade could sense his anger beneath the surface. His hands was tensed, aching with the need to murder the person who'd been hurting his Jade. There was a long contemplative silence, as Jade worked up the courage to answer. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, muffled against his shirt. The answer was so shocking that at first he thought he'd heard her wrong.

"My father, it was my father."

He'd frozen, not knowing what to do, unable to form a single coherent sentence in his mind. He'd been expecting another student, a neighbor, someone she thought was her friend, certainly not… family. But why? Why would any father do such a thing?

"He's an alcoholic," she told him, "Smokes pot too, amongst other things," she

Then suddenly the rage returned. How could Jade have had this kind of upbringing? He struggled to think how her childhood might have been. He'd wanted to confront Mr. West, to demand an explanation and an apology. But she'd talked him out of it. She told him it hardly ever happened, that she could take care of herself. He didn't quite believe it, but Jade went crazy. She absolutely wouldn't allow him to meet her father. She was right too. There were no more incidents like this for more than a year, and by that time with all the Tori drama, this issue was pushed to the back of their minds. At least until last week.

Beck sighed as he continued to observe his angel. He couldn't believe what he was going to do. After everything she was going through, he wondered how she would take it. Whether she would even make it. His arms tightened convulsively around her at the thought of hurting her. But he had to do it, what were the other options? Betraying her trust? Especially after what Jade had told him today. He couldn't. He couldn't betray her secrets. He'd find a way, he had to.

Jade's POV:

Thank God for public holidays. I'm not really sure what today is though… Labor Day? Martin Luther Kings Day? The 4th of July? I don't really care, I can't even think straight right now. All I know is that Beck's holding me tight, and that's all that matters for now.

I turn my gaze up at him, but he doesn't seem to notice. His eyes stare out the windows, obviously deep in thought. It's only when I really turn to face him that he feels me moving against his body. He looks down at me and smiles.

"Hey baby," he says, smiling, but something is off. Even though he's smiling, his eyes remain cold and hard.

"Hey," I answer tentatively.

"You hungry?" he asks me, that fake smile still plastered on his face.

"A bit," I'm waiting for him to say it, to tell him what's bothering him.

"Let's go then shall we?" he asks, and a sudden fear shoots up at me. Why is he being so distant?

I follow him cautiously, not knowing what to expect. We get in his car and he drives off. For once he doesn't say anything. No teasing remarks, no playful comments. Just silence.

"We need to talk," he says softly. I draw in a sharp breath. Ah, those 4 dreaded words. And then I knew, something bad is going to happen. This was a turning point, and change wasn't something I could deal with right now.

I feel my body tensing and my breathing quicken, because I have a very bad feeling about this, about everything. I know why I haven't confronted it yet, why I haven't questioned him, asked him what's wrong. It's because I want to pretend nothing's wrong. He's just tired. I don't want to break this bubble of normalcy, because right now, I can still say everything is alright, everything will be alright. The moment I accept that something is wrong, the moment I acknowledge it… I'll break.

Beck's POV:

I could feel the tension in the car. I could see her starting the to break, and I knew it was because she knew.

I pull into a small café, one we've shared many mornings together, drinking coffee, chatting, bickering, laughing. The waitress recognizes us immediately and sits us in a small, private booth in the corner, our usual sitting arrangement, but this time, there's an unpleasant silence in the air that hasn't been there since the time I was trying to coax her secret out of her, the last time any of us had been keeping something from each other.

"2 espressos please," I tell the waitress. She doesn't even bother noting it down before scurrying away. I remember Jade telling me once she liked this café because the waitress never tried to 'get to know her' and didn't try to hit on anyone, well me in particular. It put a small smile on my face, remembering how cute she was when she got jealous. It never failed to amaze him how she could care so deeply for him, and be so possessive.

"Jade," I start, knowing that this will be hard. She turns away, staring intently at the table, trying to calm her ragged breathing. I put one hand on her cheek, "Jade, I"-

"Don't say it," she whispers. Her voice is soft, yet so firm. I can see her eyes growing hard in denial.

"Jade, I'm sorry, I-"

"I said don't say it!" she very nearly shouts. She takes a few deep breaths. "As long as you don't say it, it'll be okay." She murmured so softly as if she was just saying it to herself. "It'll all be okay, it'll be okay," she chanted to herself.

"Jade!" I exclaimed, trying to snap her out of it, she just shook her head. The coffee came, but it was left untouched.

"Jade, I love you," I say, and she finally looks up. "I'll always love you, more than you can possibly imagine," I add. She stays silent, waiting. I draw a deep breath, averting my eyes, hating myself for the words I know I have to speak next, "But I don't deserve you," I shudder, "I think we should take a break."

There's a long silence, and I don't dare look into her eyes. "Bullshit."

My head perks up at that unexpected response. Any trace of sorrow or desperation was long gone. Her voice rang loud and clear, and filled with rage.

"Did you hear me?" she asks, leaning in closer forcing me to look at her. Her eyes are half crazed, "Bullshit!" she exclaims loudly, banging the table. "You don't deserve me? You don't deserve me?" she asks incredulously. "God Beck, do I look like I was born just yesterday? If you hate me, just say so!" she screams. We turn a couple of heads our way, but none of us really care.

"No," I say firmly, "I would never hate you, I could never hate you, even if I tried," It killed me that she even thought that.

"Did I say too much then? Yesterday? Was it more than you could handle?" she asks again, her voice sounds constricted and I know she's just that close from breaking down.

"God no, nothing you said would ever change the way I feel for you?" I say.

"Then WHY?" she screams again, and I glare at the waitress coming our way, effectively stopping her from interrupting us. The first tears have escaped from her eyes, slowly trailing down her cheek, and it takes all my willpower to not just sweep my thumb over them, wiping them away.

"I'm sorry," I say simply.

"No! You can't do this!" she exclaims again, the tears now really starting to flow. "You can't.. leave without even giving me a damn reason!"

"I can't stand it!" I say finally.

"What Beck? WHAT CAN'T YOU STAND?" she yells, nearly knocking over her espresso, the now cold liquid, shaking violently in it's cup, like Jade was in her seat.

I call the waitress and ask for the bill, I shouldn't have done it in this café, it should have been more private.

"I can't stand watching you get hurt all the time and not being able to do anything about it," I say finally when we're back in the car.

"And this is helping then?"

I have no answer to that and as the silence rolls on, she final sees it.

"You're really leaving me?" she whispered, her voice so pained it broke my heart.

"I'm sorry Jade."

A/N: Don't hate me, I assure you this break up is only temporary. Well OBVIOUSLY right? And though you might be hating on Beck, don't. You'll see why next chapter, or maybe the one after:D

What are your thoughts? What do you think will happen next?

ReViEw PlEaSe:) thanks. I love u all.