AN: Thank you all for your support! I am sorry for the cliffhanger last chapter but it was getting very late and I was still unsure of what Jades mother's illness would be. Thank you for all of your patience and great reviews.

Chapter 11

I am in total awe. My mother who I have not seen in years has just told me that she is dying and it still feels like someone has taken a spear through my heart. What am I supposed to do? My entire life I thought I hated her and here am I am speechless and unable to breathe by the knowledge that she might die soon.

"I am sorry Jade I never wanted you to know anything about me. I didn't want you to feel the pain of having to lose someone so close at such a young age. I thought if I would die without you knowing me I would go unnoticed and you could live your life as you pleased. I left it in my will that you would receive my belongings after you turned 21 so it would not hurt as much. The truth is that I am at the clinical latency stage of HIV. If I continue with proper treatment I could possibly live for another decade or so. Without it I won't live too much longer." My mother explained with her hands on my shoulders trying to hold me still as tears streamed down my face.

"So why come back now? Why come back when I am in trouble?"

"Because you are in trouble and you need help. Jade I want you to stay in this school and I want you to follow your dreams. If that means I must give up my savings to help you I will." She stated, finally smiling once again.

"So what you are going to bail me out of trouble and leave me again?" the tears are coming down faster than the Niagara Falls. I want to believe her but it hurts so much when I think of the past.

"No! Now that you know I am here and in your life I want to be there for you at any cost." My mom stepped closer to me trying to embrace me in a hug.

I back away instantly. "You don't even know me. How can you say you want to be there at any cost?"

"Jadelyn I am your mother and once I grew up I knew the only way to care for you was money. I made sure to have eyes everywhere so I can watch you grow up. I don't care if that makes me sound like a stalker. I love you Jade and I want what is best for you. I was happy to find out you left your father's house."

"As much as I know you want to get everything off your chest, I don't think I can deal with this right now. Can we please just go back into the office and deal with the drama at hand please." I say as I glue my eyes at the ground backing away from her. She nodded her head and walked towards the door holding it open for me. I mumble a thanks and walk in with my head down tears still streaming down my cheeks.

I make a scene as we re-enter the office and hug Tori holding her close and placing my head in the nook of her neck breathing in her scent. If my mom wants to be there for me, she will be there for the both of us. All three of us who I consider my family now, me, Tori and Sam. The two people who have shown me nothing but love in my life and who have tried nothing but to be my family.

"Let us get on with the meeting then, now that we have everyone here we can go over the cases and what Mr. Oliver would like to accomplish by pressing these charges. If the terms he proposes are not met, he has decided to involve the police and take both families to court." Mr. Brenster informed us.

"And what terms would Mr. Oliver like us to abide by?" My mother asked sternly. She almost sounded like my father at this point it scared me. I stayed quiet just watching her movements fearful of how much she reminded me of my father at work.

"He is requesting for both girls to be expelled or to settle this case outside of court with a cash settlement of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the Oliver family in a week's time." The Oliver's lawyer said with a smug smile decorating his face.

"What evidence do you have against my daughter and her.. girlfriend?" Although she hesitated she acknowledged that Tori is my girlfriend. I guess that is a start at least she didn't completely leave me alone.

"They acted in front of the entire school while the concert has been recorded should be evidence enough to have both girls faced with expulsion, a hefty fine and some community service. If that is of course Jadelyn, the mastermind of the attack, does not face any actual time in jail for assault on my client which we will be aiming for."

"Well then, I guess we should settle this outside of court. If you give me your information sir, I will have the check for the settlement sent to your office. I am sure you will be able to give the money to the Oliver family once you get it." My mother spoke in a calm tone. I looked at her like she was insane. I knew the Vega's did not have the money for the settlement and I was lucky enough to have money to take Tori out on a date half the time.

Before I could speak up Mr. Vega mentioned that they did not have the money to pay for Tori's half of the settlement. My mother raised her hand and smiled. "You have been giving Jade a good home for weeks. Taking care of her as if she was her own and giving her the life her own parents were unable to give her. Consider this as a payment of gratitude for your generosity."

"I couldn't ask that of yo.." He was cut off by Mr. Oliver.

"I don't care how we get the money as long as it gets here by next week." Beck's father has said.

"Is that all I ever was to you Beck? A way to make money? Is that why you stayed and got along so well with my father? So you can come into a rich family and live your lazy cheating lifestyle without any worry?" I asked hurt by my own accusations.

He stood and walked toward me. He put his hand on my cheek and I saw Tori about to jump at him before her father held her down by her arm knowing if he had hurt me here his case would be null and void and he wouldn't be able to collect on the lawsuit. The smile in his eyes let me know everything in our past has been a lie and I could no longer hold back the tears. As Tori rushed to my side to hold me my mother rushed to end this meeting and get us away from the atrocious family known as the Oliver's.

When we walked outside to our cars we heard my mother on the phone with someone telling them she is sending the information via email and to send the check for the settlement. I would be lying if I said I was not curious about how my mother had been living since she found out that her life has an actual time limit on it.

I think Mr. Vega noticed my curiosity "Ms. Fosterwould you care to join me us and the rest or my family for dinner tomorrow night?" Mr. Vega asked as he brought his hand out in front of him for a handshake.

My mother shook his hand "As much as I would be honored I am not sure that is a great idea. I do not want to intrude on Jades life. I am aware that one good deed does not make up for a lifetime of abandonment." She replied with a sad smile.

"No. I want you to come. Please?" What am I saying? Am I insane? I barely know this woman and I am asking her to come into my new family, the only family I ever really had. All my doubts disappeared when Tori linked her arm with mine hugging it close to her and kissed me on my cheek as if she was saying she was proud of me without ever opening her mouth.

"In that case I would love to join you. Thank you for your offer Mr. Vega."

"Please call me David." He said as he went to the car to pull out a pen and a piece of paper to write down the Vega address.

"Tomorrow will be different. I will finally be able to know a parent who has actually done something for me other than demand me to act a certain way. As much as I want to meet my mother I am starting to worry if I am ready for this change.