I'm sorry if anyone was unhappy with the Trina-heavy chapter, but it's part of the story – I think it shows a lot of growth on Tori's part. And Trina as center won't last long.

Here is the next portion – I hope you enjoy. I think it contains a moment some of you have been waiting for since I wrote A History of Shadows.

I'm on vacation for the next week – so there probably won't be an update for at least that long.

Chapter 11 – A Great Relief

"Death will be a great relief."

~ Katharine Hepburn

Trina got the job. She was working as an assistant to one of the top ten choreographers in Hollywood. Jade and Beck had both told her - in multiple ways - how not to screw up. Beck offered helpful hints and told her maybe not to talk a lot at first – Jade threatened her within an inch of her life. And a week after starting, she seemed to be holding her own. Jade had been checking up on her - and so far, her boss was pleased - and seemed unaffected by Trina's difficult personality.

That next week, Jade was in her office - writing - when a knock sounded on her office door. "Come in!" Cat entered - in the middle of the day. Jade's eyes widened. She took quick stock of her best friend – no signs of crying or distress. She looked bored, more than anything. "Everything okay?"

"One of the stunt doubles had an accident. He's okay - but Maria sent everyone home," Cat said, mentioning the director. "Beck was still working - so I took a taxi."

"You could have called," Jade told her, removing her glasses and putting them aside. She saved her document and closed her laptop. "Do you want to do something? Coral is with Annie - and Violet has practice after school - we have a few hours."

"Can we go play baby golf?" Cat asked, with a sly smile. Jade shook her head but she was smiling too.

"As long as you tell no one," she responded. "Give me a few minutes to change." Twenty minutes later, they went out and played a round of baby golf - one of Cat's favorite activities - and then went to a little vegan cafe that was delicious - but held no kid-friendly foods - so they rarely went there anymore.

Jade munched on veggie wrap while Cat ate one of their desserts. Dessert for lunch was not usually something Jade would condone – but she hadn't spent a lot of time with Cat lately – and she decided it wouldn't hurt anything. Cat talked about work – gave Jade the important scheduling information and told her that they were on track with filming. "We only have a few more weeks on the movie - and then Nina asked me if I want to audition for the Song of the Lioness movies- she wants me to play Alanna as an adult."

"Those are good books," Jade responded. "Do you want to do it?"

"I don't know," Cat answered. "Maybe. But they're shooting in New Zealand."

Jade tried not to panic. New Zealand? That was insane. "For how long?"

"It's scheduled for two months - but I'm not in most of the first movie. And Nina's not known for making her movies on time." Jade nodded - that was true. The other truth was that if the director was asking Cat to audition, it was as good as a done deal - she would have the part as soon as she showed up to read for it. Cat's moods had been steady since her breakdown before Coral's birth - but Jade found solace in the fact that she saw her best friend daily - and she could make sure things remained steady. It was harder to keep track of Cat's moods at a distance; she was a talented actress. Jade supposed she could hire someone to keep an eye on Cat in New Zealand - but she had just regained her independence from that type of situation a mere handful of months before. It was the only choice. It was too risky to allow her to go on her own and expect things to run smoothly for two months.

"If you want to go - we can make it happen. But we would have to find someone to stay with you. New Zealand is too far away to be on your own for so long."

"I figured," Cat answered, spearing a faux-chocolate curl with her fork. "Why doesn't my brain work like other people's brains?" Jade's eyes flew up and she stared at the woman who had been her best friend since the first grade. Never had Cat acknowledged that she understood that there was a difference between the way she functioned and the way others did. Jade's lips were pursed - hard - and she was trying to gauge the redhead's sincerity. It was there - Cat actually wanted an answer to her question.

"Cat, it's not the simple. Other people's brains don't all work the same way. Everyone has things that make them different. And things that make you different - they also make you an amazing person. Life would be pretty boring if everyone was the same."

"I guess it would be boring," Cat commented, her voice high and sad. She didn't know what answer she had been looking for - but that was not it.

"It would be," Jade confirmed. Jade watched her friend's expression. "Cat, is everything else okay?"

The redhead nodded and decided to change the subject. "Are you excited about the baby?"

"Of course I am," Jade responded, smiling. "But I can't say I'm enjoying the pregnancy. It's kicking my ass."

"Language," Cat admonished. Jade smiled and took another bite of her food. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Don't know," Jade answered. "We're not finding out. I have a feeling - but we'll just wait and see."

"I think Beck needs a boy," Cat told her. "No offence. But you've already made two girls. And you're a girl. And I'm a girl. That's a lot of girls." Jade laughed at Cat's expression.

Her eyes twinkled as she spoke. "I think Beck will be just fine - whatever it turns out to be. He's pretty happy with the girls he already has."

"That's true! He does seem happy," Cat agreed excitedly. "Are you happy too?"

"I am," Jade answered, picking up her last piece of celery. "Not, finish your food so we can go. If you want to pick out a new dress before we head home, we have to go soon." Cat complied, finishing her dessert in the new few minutes. Jade paid the bill and they walked down the street to one of Cat's favorite boutique dress shops. Jade sat in a comfortable chair, her feet up, and watched Cat try on a dozen dresses before buying three.

Once home, Cat disappeared to her bedroom to put away her new dresses or - Jade knew this was probably more likely - try them on again and twirl around her room until she was dizzy. Annie was in the living room with Coral, playing with dozens of stuffed animals. "Hey, Mrs. Oliver."

"Hey, Annie. Everything okay?" Jade walked over, lowered herself to the ground, and gave Coral a kiss. The child smiled at the sight of her mother, let out a sound that was starting to sound like 'mama,' and gave her a great-big toddler-sized hug.

"Everything is great. She just woke up from her nap. Mr. Oliver called to say that he would pick up Violet from school after her music lesson - and Ms. Vega asked me to tell you that she would make dinner."

Jade nodded, kissing Coral again and handing her one of her toys. The child squealed in happiness at the stuffed unicorn and showed it to Annie, who smiled brightly and clapped in acknowledgement. Coral hugged the unicorn and sat back down in front of her other stuffed animals, moving them around in some way that made perfect sense to her.

"Can you stay until Beck gets home? I need a nap myself, I think." Annie nodded.

"Of course. I don't have class until six tonight."

Jade ran a hand through Coral's hair and then stood up, leaning heavily on the armchair as leverage. She slept through to dinner, waking only when Beck kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear, telling her it was time to eat. They walked together to Tori's house - Cat had already taken Coral and Violet. Trina was once again making appearances at dinner and she seemed to be rather proud of herself - which was normal - and it sounded like she was doing a great job - which was not as normal.

"Mom, can I invite Faith and Maria and Mattie to come over and play on Saturday? They can meet Lily too." Violet's request was news to Lily, whose eyes grew wide as she stared at her plate.

"Sorry, Vi, we have plans for Saturday," Tori told her. "Maybe another weekend."

Violet looked disappointed, but she turned back to her mother. "Can they still come over?" Jade looked at Beck - who shrugged.

"Sure," Jade answered. "they can come around 11 - but no sleepovers."

"Sleepovers are fun!" Cat objected. Jade glared at her and she turned to Violet. "They're not that fun."

Jade was reading with Violet that night - they were almost at the end of a chapter of the fourth book in the Series of Unfortunate Events - when the doorbell rang. Jade looked up from her prone position on Violet's bed and watched as Beck walked past the door to answer it. It was an odd time of day for visitors - after eight. She lay her head back down and listened to Violet - waiting for her turn to read. Her turn never came. Beck appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, his expression grave. Luckily, Violet had reached the end of the chapter.

"That's enough for tonight," Jade told her, kissing her forehead. "It's time for bed."

"Mama! We read until 8:30 - it's not 8:30."

"I know, beautiful girl. But for tonight, we're ending early. " Jade removed the book from Violet's hands, marked their place, and set it aside. Hugging her daughter, the practiced songstress sang a quick rendition of Braham's Lullaby. Violet knew she was being skimped on - she didn't even get the second verse. But she sensed her mother's distress, so she didn't put up a fuss. Both of her parents kissed her goodnight and Beck helped Jade off of the bed and then tucked the covers securely around Violet. They were gone quickly - leaving their eldest daughter wide awake and wondering what had interrupted her perfectly lovely bedtime routine.

"What's wrong?" Jade asked, following Beck down the stairs to the kitchen. They reached the bottom and she saw that Cat was sitting at the table, entertaining a confused-looking police detective. The same police detective who had been made the lead investigator on the cases against her mother and John - beginning the night that Lily had been found.

"Good evening, Mrs. Oliver. I'm sorry to trouble you at this time of the night," he said, standing to offer his hand to Jade. She took it, numbly. She was brought out of her surprised stupor by Cat's voice. She turned to her oldest friend.

"Cat, can you go upstairs, please?" Despite knowing she was being dismissed - and hating it - Cat left. The detective watched her go. He shook his head in confusion.

"My kids - they love her movies. She's so - different - in real life."

"Cat is definitely what you call an individual," Beck answered lightly. "Detective, can you tell us why you're here?"

"Of course. Again, I'm sorry to trouble you. If you'd take a seat -"

"No," Jade answered sternly. "What is it?"

"I wanted you to hear it from me. Your mother died this evening, in her prison cell." Jade did sit down but Beck remained sentry behind her, his hands on her shoulders.

She shook her head and let out a deep breath. "I guess we have to thank Satan for that," she answered.

"Ma'am, I can't say it's a loss to society - but I wouldn't blame you if you felt otherwise. But I am sorry for any loss you feel."

"You know what she did to me," Jade answered. "What she did to that little girl."

The office nodded. "I have the greatest respect for both of you. That's why I wanted to tell you myself. Her other child-"

"We'll take care of that," Jade told him hollowly. "Thank you."

Beck thanked him as well and let him to the front door. He was surprised to turn around to find Jade behind him. "Jade, what are you doing?" He asked, his hand falling to rest on her lower back. "You need to sit down. This is a lot to take in -"

"She deserves to know," Jade told him.

"It can wait until morning."

"No, it can't." Jade imagined herself - a seven year old - receiving this news. And she knew waiting was not an option. She stepped into a pair of flats that were in the hall closet and walked out the back door to Tori's house. Beck watched her go - he let her go.

Tori looked up in surprise when she heard knocking on the kitchen door. She had been making herself a cup of tea. "I'm sorry," Jade said, passing Tori and heading up the stairs. The other brunette turned off the stove and followed her friend to Lily's room. The child hadn't been sleeping - she'd opened her eyes as soon as she'd heard Jade whisper her name.

Jade sat next to her on the bed and met Lily's eyes - it was easy enough to do with light coming in from the moon and from the nightlight. "She died," Jade said simply. "Camilla is gone. She can't hurt anyone anymore." Lily's eyes widened and then glistened with tears. Tori watched them from the doorway. The tiny girl launched herself into Jade's arms, fitting as best she could despite Jade's stomach. Lily's relief was palpable - Jade's was overwhelming.

Trina appeared in the hallway, having heard Jade and Tori both running up the stairs. She stood next to her sister, observing. "What's going on?" Tori shook her head and pointed to the stairs, indicating that they shouldn't talk there. The two sisters walked to the kitchen and Tori went back to the tea she had been brewing.

Slowly, she shared parts of the story with Trina. She told them what Jade's mother and John had done to the little girl - or, at least what they knew of what those two monsters had done. She said nothing of the abuse or torment Jade had once suffered - that was not her story to tell.

"How could anyone do that?" Trina asked, her expression one of devastation and confusion.

"They're not nice people," Tori answered. Trina went back to her room eventually, but Tori sat in the kitchen until Jade reappeared, her eyes red from crying, her cheeks splotched with tears.

Jade stood across from Tori. "I'm so sorry - I should have asked you first. I don't even know if I should have told her that - now that my brain is functioning again."

Tori shook her head and gave Jade a sympathetic look. "Don't apologize. She needed to know - it doesn't matter if it was tonight or in two weeks. She deserves to know. Is she okay?"

Jade nodded, hooking long, dark hair behind her ear. "She's sleeping. I think she was relieved - after she got over the shock of me just bursting in."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine. Relieved." Jade said. "I do have to admit, I thought it would feel better - to know that she's gone."

"It's a lot to take in. Did you just find out tonight?" Jade nodded. "Sit down - you look exhausted."

"No, I have to go home - Beck's waiting. Thank you. Again, I'm sorry." She disappeared before Tori could argue. She ran home and fell into Beck's arms - he carried her to bed where she cried herself to sleep, unable to reconcile her feelings.

The next morning, Jade called the prison and made arrangements for her mother to be buried. There would be no service - no memorial - no fuss. Her mother was going in the ground with no fanfare. After lunch, once Annie had put Coral down for her afternoon nap, Beck - who had called off of work - drove Jade to her appointment with Emily.

"Hi, Jade," Emily greeted her as the woman entered her office.

"Hi," Jade responded uncomfortably. She had been planning to cancel after the events of the previous evening, but Beck hadn't allowed her.

"What's going on?" Emily asked, concern evident in her voice. "You look very tired."

"I didn't sleep well."

"Why not?"

"A detective came by last night - Camilla is dead."

"I see." Her voice was impossible to read. She pointed to the sofa where Jade usually sat. "Why don't you have a seat?" Taking a bottle of water from the small refrigerator under her desk, she handed it to Jade. The brunette took the bottle and sat sideways on the sofa, placing her back against the arm and pulling up her feet to rest in front of her. She shifted just a bit to place a pillow behind her back. Emily didn't have to say anything. As soon as she sat across from Jade, the brunette began to speak.

"I don't care that she's dead."

"You don't care - or you're not sad?"

"I'm relieved."

"No one can blame you for that." Jade spent the next hour talking with Emily, trying to make sense of all of the emotions that were coursing through her. Emily assured her that feeling panicked by the whole thing was normal. And she was allowed to have regrets – her mother had left her with many of them. By the time she left, she felt a bit better. The rest of the week went by quickly. Jade kept herself more preoccupied than normal – rushing from the studio to her office, accomplishing things she had been meaning to do for months – because she didn't want to give herself too much time to think.

Lily seemed somewhat unaffected by the news. The day after Jade had burst into her bedroom, Tori sat with her on the swing Beck had built on their back deck and cuddled with her – asking her what she thought about the situation.

"I'm happy she's gone," Lily told Tori softly. She gave her new mother a sincere look. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"No," Tori admonished quickly. "No, not at all. She did bad things to you – it's good that she's gone. You are a very good person. A very, very good person. Don't ever think otherwise." The talked a bit longer – but in the end, Lily wanted to go and play with Violet, who had just appeared on her own back deck. She looked unfazed as she ran through the back yard and into the Oliver's yard. She and Violet spent the next two hours making up and playing a game that somehow included a soccer ball, a hula hoop, a jump rope, and several tennis balls. Violet had learned well from Cat that anything could be a game.

That week wasn't the easiest on Tori, any more than it was on Jade. Katie kept pushing the schooling issue until Tori started doing her research and making decisions. After testing, it was clear that Lily's aptitude was sky-high. But her skills were limited. She needed help getting caught up – and that would not happen in a normal classroom.

Eventually, it was decided that Lily would be tutored at home, at least until the spring semester started. After calling St. Ann's, Tori was able to secure a licensed teacher to do the tutoring. Lauren Alexander arrived at the house on the following Saturday morning, laden with several boxes and bags. Tori helped her take them into the dining room and introduced herself. They had spoken over the phone, but they had not met in person.

"Lily is really nervous about this," Tori said softly. "So if she has a panic attack, we may have to cut it short for today."

"We'll do as much as we can. There's no hurry," the woman answered kindly. Tori introduced Lily to Miss Alexander and sat with them for about twenty minutes as the teacher started on the alphabet – something Lily already knew. But soon, they were into letter sounds and combinations. Tori snuck from the room and went to the kitchen, where she was surprised to find Jade waiting for her.

"You scared me."

"You didn't jump. I must be losing my touch," Jade said dryly. Tori made a pot of tea and set it on the table between them.

"How are you?" Tori asked, her voice full of empathy and worry.

"If you say one word about my mother, I'm leaving. That's why I'm here. Beck won't shut up about it."

"He's just worried about you," Tori told her. "But I won't bring it up. Everything else okay? You don't look good." Jade glared daggers at Tori for the comment. "I mean it, Jade. You look sick. I'll take care of dinner for tonight – Beck has the girls - why don't you go lie down for a while? You can stay here – no one will bother you."

Jade consented - she was tired. She slipped under the covers of Tori's bed and was asleep before the other woman could close the door.

Please review – let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!

P.S. The entire quote from Katharine Hepburn is "Death will be a great relief. No more interviews." I thought the first part was perfect for this chapter – but the second part didn't quite fit.