AN: Hey guys I'm finally home and I've got to tell you it's nice. If this means more posts or less I'm not quite sure yet because this is my first time at this particular summer job! But I'll let you all know! Thanks for all the reviews guys they keep me going ;) Anyways I know some of you are going to kill me but…

Tori, Jade. Jade, Tori. My head flipped from the door to Jade multiple times. I had to choose.

"Beck, please?" Jade cried; tears streaming down her face. Jade and I had been through so much. We'd been together for six years and she had never let me down. She was my first love, my first everything. We'd been through everything together. Jade the beautiful, loyal, protective, talented, amazing woman whom I loved. I closed my eyes and sighed. I had my answer. I walked towards Jade and wrapped her small frame in my arms.

I kissed her forehead gently. "I'm sorry, Jade," I whispered and then I let go of her and ran out the door towards Tori.

"BECK!" Jade screeched from behind me. But I didn't turn around like I might once have done. Her tears and yelling may have worked on me once upon a time, but they didn't have one fifth of the effect on me as not knowing whether Tori was okay or not. It didn't have one hundredth of the effect as the fear of Tori leaving my life with Maddie once again.

"Tori!" I yelled, searching for her in the dark, running as fast as I could. How far could she go in such a short amount of time? I hadn't prayed in years, but I prayed as hard as I could to just let me find Tori. I closed my eyes and then I heard sobbing to my right. I ran as fast as I could towards the sound. Towards Tori. "Tori?" I called again, begging, praying it was her. My eyes, finally getting used to the dark, saw a slim figure only four feet away. Tori had her arms wrapped around herself, as if trying to keep herself together. Her sobs caused her entire body to convulse. I got to her in two steps and wrapped her in my arms. "Tori, Tori, Tori," I murmured into her hair as I rocked her in my arms.

"I was going to leave. Until I realized you're my ride," she half cried half laughed into my shoulder.

"Shh, shh, baby, I'm here now. I'm here. I'm not leaving." I soothed, relishing the feeling of having her in my arms again, where she belonged.

She pushed me away. I couldn't keep the hurt, confused look of my face. "Why are you out here?" She asked in a whisper.

I blinked. "You ran away."

"I know, but Jade's in the house," she explained. I blinked again, lost. "Jade, angry Goth girl who hates everything? 'Bout yea high, streaks in her hair, you've been with her six years? Ringing a bell?"

I smiled. "I know who Jade is Tori. But for once in my life I'm following my heart. I love you, Tori.

"Beck," Tori sobbed, "Stop it. Please, please," she begged.

"I can't Tori," I said, forcing her into my arms again. "See how perfectly you fit? We were meant to be." Tori shook her head but said nothing. "Well, why not Tori? Why not?" I shouted.

Tori, once again, forced herself out of my arms. Her arms were wrapped around herself as she rocked. "Because you don't love me."

"Yes I—"

Tori shook her head. "Stop it! It kills me! It kills me inside every time you say those words. You shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it, Beck."

"But I do mean it!" Tori shook her head once again. "Stop saying no!"

"Beck. Imagine for a second you didn't know Maddie was yours. Would you still be out here with me?" I paused for a second in shock, but Tori took it as confirmation. "See? You just feel sorry for me. I don't need nor want your pity. You can see Maddie even if you're with Jade, okay? But don't pretend to love me when you don't."

"How could you think—"

"Beck! How many times did you leave me just to go straight to her? How many times did I beg you? I begged you to stay with me? But all you'd say is 'sorry, Tori. I have to go. I love Jade.' You love her. You always go back to her. You always choose her! Why should now be any different? Because I have your daughter? That's not love Beck, that's obligation. And I will not be an obligation. I don't want my daughter or I to be someone's 'responsibility' to 'take care of.' My daughter deserves better. And I know, now, that I deserve better."

I felt as if I'd been slapped. "That hurt Tori," I muttered, rubbing at my aching heart. "You know I love you. And Maddie…well…I loved Maddie the moment I saw her. Even before I knew she was my daughter. So don't you ever tell me I think of her as a responsibility. She's my daughter and I love her more than my own life."

Tori's face softened. "I know that, Beck. Don't worry; I won't keep her away from you. You don't have to pretend to love me. We don't have to be together—"

"I know we don't have to be. I want to be, Tori." I took a step towards her, but she backed away. I sighed. "Tori, I love you! More than I ever thought possible. Every time I see you my heart quickens, my breathing labors, and I think, 'my god, how could anyone so perfect, so beautiful, actually exist?'" I explain, brushing her hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. "I can be having the worse day, and then I'll see you smile and my whole day just brightens. Or I can be having the best day and see you ignore me and my day is shit. When I touch you," I gently brushed a tear from her cheek with the pad of my thumb, "it's like electricity is coursing through my veins. And when I kiss you." I brushed my lips against hers gently. "I feel butterflies and see stars. When you're gone I feel like half of me is missing. And when you're here it's like the world is right again. I love you, Victoria Marie Vega, with all my heart." What can I do to prove to you that I love you?"

Tori's eyes locked onto mine. "Do you love Jade?" she asked.

I gulped. I couldn't lie to her when she looked at me like that. "Yes. But—"

"That's all I needed to know," Tori said and then she turned around to walk away. I grabbed her shoulder.

"Stop trying to run away from this, Tori. I will always love Jade." Tori began to cry again. And I felt physically ill for having to put her through this. "Tori, Jade was my first love. Was. But I love you. And I will prove it to you everyday of the rest of my life if I have to."

"Beck." Tori bit her lip. "I just, I just can't."

I closed my eyes, willing the tears in them to not fall. "Tori—"

"Even if you're not a part of my life Beck, I still want you to be a part of Maddie's."

"Nothing could keep me away from her," I vowed.

"I know. I was thinking we could tell her this weekend. Beck, I really want us to be friends…for Maddie's sake. I think it would be best for us to get along…but if you ever bring Jade near my daughter I will find some way to keep you away from her."

I sighed. "Jade and I are over, Tori. I could never be with her after what she did to you, us, Maddie."

"Don't let Maddie and I ruin your relationship. I'm not saying what she did was right, nor am I saying I forgive her, but what she did, she did out of love for you. And that is something I understand all too well," Tori said, her eyes boring into mine.

"Tori. Jade's and my relationship has nothing to do with you or Maddie—"

"Exactly."

"That's not what I meant. Even if Maddie wasn't mine, even if Jade hadn't forced you away, I still would have chosen you." Tori scoffed. "Okay. Maybe not right away, but Tori, I know you and I were meant to be. I was drawn to you the moment you spilled coffee on me." I chuckled. "And then, when you walked back into my life I knew that we were meant to be."

Tori closed her eyes. "I love you, Beck. I always have. Even when I hated you, I loved you. But I have to think about my daughter—"

"Our daughter," I reminded her.

"Our daughter. And I think what's best for her is that we begin as friends."

"Tori—"

"Friends, Beck. I can't give you anything more than that. So, take it or leave it."

"I'll take it." Tori extended her hand. "Friends hug, right?" I asked slyly as I knocked her hand out of the way and grabbed her for a hug.

"Yeah," she breathed.

"And friends take each other home when they have no other way of getting there, right?"

Tori looked up at me and smiled. "Right."

"And friends let friends stay at their place when they have no other place to stay, right?" I asked hopefully.

"I don't know, Beck…"

"Please, Tori. I have no other place to go, and I'd love to spend time with Maddie." And you, I added in my head. When she still seemed resistant I added, "I've already missed so much." Tori nodded her head cautiously. "Great, thanks, friend." I smiled and kissed her.

"Beck!" she warned.

"What?" I asked jollily. "Friends kiss sometimes, right?"