So after a long year and a half, 37 wonderful reviews, many long nights, and even some hair-pulling to get things done, we are finally at the last chapter. Thank you Destiel101, rrw071093, Jeremy Shane, and AcrossTheRiverNotDown for your reviews on the last chapter and thank you to everyone who ever favorited, subscribed, reviewed, or just plain read this story. I never expected people to really even read anything I wrote, and am still surprised! It really means a lot to me!
Disclaimer: I own neither Victorious, nor 13 the musical, or anything that has to do with them.
"And now Ms. Kendra Quaker will say set words about our dear friend."
"What can I say, he will be greatly missed by us all. Archie changed everyone's life he met. I know he changed mine for sure. Archie made me think differently about everything, from the status quo, to what really matters in a person. We may not have been married, and we broke up years ago, but I will love Archibald Walker with all my heart until the day I myself die." Everyone watched with teary eyes as his wooden casket was lowered into the ground. Beck pulled his wife into a hug.
"Why was I so mean to him all those years? Why? He never did anything wrong!" she fought back tears.
"Jade, you've changed so much since then. I know Archie knew you didn't mean it and he forgave you for all you did," Beck reassured.
"Mommy, are you crying?" Jade's daughter asked tugging on her dress.
"Mommy's just sad because she misses her friend. Don't worry, baby girl."
"Jade," Cat walked over to Jade. She collapsed into Jade's arms, sobbing hysterically. Robbie walked hastily after her, but Jade stopped him. She kissed her head comfortingly, like she had done so many times, as Archie's body as fully lowered into the ground.
Archie Walker died at the age of thirty-two from complications related to muscular dystrophy. He lived a life full of joy and excitement, even after he was confined to a wheelchair. After high school, Patrice and
Evan invited him to live with them. He gladly accepted and the three friends spent every day together for fourteen years. One night Archie felt sick, and was admitted to the hospital. His body was essentially poisoning itself, and he died less than forty-eight hours later. Everyone was completely heartbroken and dropped want ever they had in their busy schedules to come pay respect to their special friend.
"Emma, Robby, come over here," Jade and Cat called their children.
"Are you two behaving yourselves?" Jade asked sternly.
"Yes Mommy," Emma answered.
"But we're bored Aunt Jade," the little boy insisted.
"Jade, this really isn't the most exciting thing for two six year old," Cat admitted.
"Well how about your mommy and I tell you a story?" Jade replied. The two children nodded their heads eagerly.
"Okay. Once upon a time, there were two girls named Charlotte and Lucy," Cat began. "They were very good friends and lives in a small town with many other kids."
"One day, a boy named Evan moved into town. He was from a city called New York," Jade took over. "He had a friend named Archie who had to use crutches because he was sick and his legs didn't work as well. Evan, Archie, and their friend Patrice taught the rest of the kids that you don't need to be popular to be happy."
"The three friends became friends with the cool popular kids and showed everyone that being 'uncool' is okay," she told to the children.
"Everyone was happy until something bad happened one summer. Charlotte and Lucy had to move to California and became Cat and Jade. No one knew their secret until one day they had to do a school project," Jade explained. "They had to tell their friends what happened, and they ended up going back to Indiana on a school field trip."
"Cat and Jade were very nervous, but when they saw their friends again, everyone was happy. They went back every single summer to visit their old friends. The end!" Cat exclaimed.
"Kids, never ever being afraid to be yourself. You don't have to be afraid to put your dream in action. You're never gonna fade. You'll be the main attraction you two," Jade told them.
"Definitely! Cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it. Never be mean to anyone, especially just because they're different," Cat added.
"Hey," Beck greeted. "Robbie and I just wanted to see how you guys were doing."
"Mommy and Aunt Cat told us a story Daddy!" Emma exclaimed excitedly.
"Really?" Beck and Robbie asked.
"Yep. They told us to never be mean to people cause they're different and to be yourself," Robby explained.
"Mommy and Aunt Jade are right. Did I ever tell you kids about Archie?"
"Uncle Robbie, is that the man who died?" Emma asked inquisitively.
"Correct! I met Archie on a field trip in high school. By then, he had to use a wheel chair because he had trouble walking, but he never let that slow him down. He and I used to talk about Star Wars and all kinda of nerdy things. He showed me that it's okay to not be all cool and popular. What really matters is surrounding yourself with people who love you. He lived his life to the very fullest ever moment of his life," Robbie told the children honestly.
"Awww Robbie! You never told me about this!" Cat wrapped her arms around him.
"Well we weren't together then, now we are," he smiled cheekily. Robbie pulled her in and crashed his lips onto hers.
"Mommy, Daddy, gross!" Beck joked in a baby voice. Beck and Jade jokingly shielded the kids' eyes.
"Like you don't do that," Cat teased.
"Touché Valentine!"
"Hey, my last name is Shapiro, Mrs. Oliver," she stuck her tongue out at her best friend.
"Girls, girls," the boys picked up their kids, "there are children here."
"So how are Evan, Patrice, and Kendra doing?" Cat asked Beck and Robbie.
"As well as expected," Robbie answered. "Patrice stopped crying, so that's good."
"Yeah," Jade drawled out. "She devoted a lot of her life to him. It'll take time, but she'll be okay eventually," she smiled sadly.
"Attention everyone!" A voice rang throughout the hall where the luncheon was being held. "We have a little performance for you all. Patrice Parker, Evan Goldman, and Andre Harris would like to sing a special song for everyone." The mike was handed to Evan, and he further explained.
"Archie used to love this song so so much. We'd sing it all the time, but no one ever got tired of it. Our good friend Andre will be singing for Archie today."
"I hope I can do our friends justice," he interjected.
"This is called 'If That's What It Is'."
"If that's what it is," Andre began, "then that's what it is." Everyone watched in awe as the three adults sang their hearts out for their late friend.
"I say I won't cry. I cry until dawn, and then I put one foot in front of the other," Patrice sang.
"One foot I'm front of the other," Andre joined in.
"And just keep walking on."
"One day I'll be thirty. One day I'll be fine," Evan sang. "One day I'll make fun of this dramatic life of mine," everyone was laughing now, their tears now falling from laughter and happiness as the song progressed.
"You take your best shot," Patrice belted.
"Cause look what you got!" All three of their voices blended perfectly together in harmony.
"Go on and put one foot in front of the other." She watched her fiancé of four months and her good friend sing like there was no tomorrow. Truth is none of them truly knew what tomorrow held. "And just keep walking on," she finished. The three friends took a bow and the hall erupted into an applause.
"Andre, when did this come up?" Tori asked amazed.
"Well, they asked me yesterday, and I couldn't think of any way better to honor Arch, so why not?"
"You guys were amazing!" Cat ran over to her friends, dragging her small son behind.
"Yeah, I like your song," Robby complimented shyly.
"I'm sure Archie would be proud of all of us," Beck smiled, walking over with his family and Robbie. "Hey, let's take a group picture. I know it won't be the same without Archie, but you never know what can happen." Everyone gather around, some with their kids, and all gave the Vulcan Salute. Beck set his camera up and put it on a fifteen second timer. "Smile everyone and say 'crip'."
"Crip," they all smiled. After looking at the picture, Beck and Jade found a mysterious glare in the corner. She went over to Cat and tackled her in a hug.
"Jadey, I know I shouldn't question it, but why are you hugging me?" she questioned.
"Everything turned out okay. It's finally perfect!" Jade smiled.
For anyone who's read my songfics, you might now about my cousin. But for those of you who don't, my cousin Jessica died almost three months ago. She had spina bifida, which means there was a hole in her spine, and had been in a wheel chair all her life. I kinda based Archie off of her a bit. My grandma now had a cyst, and she needs surgery to get it out. We visited her Saturday, and she asked what would happen if it burst. My mom explained that she could get sepsis, which ultimately killed my cousin. You all could probably couldn't care less, but I just thought I'd explain things to you a bit.
So there you have it. The last chapter! I hope you all enjoyed every bit of it, even just a tad bit. I promise not to completely disappear like before. I wasn't really sure who to have be Archie's part, but I thought Andre was the most fitting. I'm also sorry if the song part seems weird, or this just sucks. I tried to be sentimental and happy, but it just seems like a mess of sappiness. I plan on publishing a new story soon, so be on the lookout for that. Also, this new story will need a few OC (original characters) so get your brain caps on! I really hope you all liked my first (and probably only) crossover. Now go listen to some Baby I and buy it on iTunes!
-Sami