A/N: This chapter isn't based on any personal dialogue from me, but I can tell you that this was the strategy I used with 2 other friends to bring a couple back together. We didn't meddle, but we got the truth across to both of them and they made up on their own :). That is all.

No POV

What happened the night of Tori's welcome back party between Cat and Robbie was supposed to be private. Little did they know Andre was behind the door the whole time, failing at his effort to stop Robbie from getting to Cat, but decided not to interrupt because this might have been Robbie's only chance to explain himself. Of course things did not go in Robbie or Cat's favor, as Andre heard, and decided it was time to step in.

Andre called Jade, Beck, Trina and Tori over to his apartment the next morning. "Hey y'all. I called you here today because we care about two certain individuals who are supposed to be together. But clearly they're not."

"Cat and Robbie?" Beck asked.

"Yes, Cat and Robbie, babe. Are you kidding me?" Jade smacked Beck's arm.

"Ow, sorry babe it's just too early to think straight."

"Hehe you two really are a married couple. Awww!" Tori squealed.

"ANYWAYS…" Andre continued, "Even though Cat and Robbie don't want us to meddle, we have to at least try to get them to understand where they're both coming from. I mean that's not bad is it?"

"Yeah, but Cat and Robbie did not end things well." Tori said.

"Yeah when Jade and I picked her up she was crying. Poor thing." Beck added.

"That's all true, but what they didn't know is I was behind the door because I tried to stop Robbie, but he was too fast. By the time I caught up I overheard them talking and I didn't want Rob to miss his chance to talk to Cat. But it didn't end well."

"What happened?" Trina questioned.

"Misinterpretation on Cat's end, and uncertainty on Robbie's end."

"Ouch." Beck and Trina answered.

"But they love each other, we can all see that. So we gotta split up and talk to the both of them. See what we can get at them and what they can tell us."

"And we need to do it before it's too late." Jade added.

"What do you mean?" asked Tori.

"The other night I saw some lease papers in Cat's things. She's thinking of selling the bakery and moving back to New York." Jade revealed.

"Oh chizz. We gotta go. Like NOW. Beck, you and me will talk to Robbie. Ladies, you take Cat. We'll reconvene later tonight."

"GOT IT." They all said and left Andre's apartment.

-At the Bakery-

"Hey Cat, can we talk?" Jade asked.

"Hi ladies. Sure. Stella can you watch the register for a while? We're just going to chat on the rooftop."

"Sure thing, Cat." Stella smiled. The ladies made their way to the rooftop and sat Cat down.

"So what's up ladies?"

"First things first, are you ok?" That was Tori, so motherly to everyone, concerned with their emotions.

"I really don't want to talk about it."

"Come on, Cat. You can't hide from us. We'll find out sooner or later." Jade demanded.

Cat gave in, "I ended things with Robbie. If he doesn't want to tell me to my face everything he's ever wanted to and instead hides behind some pen name, then I don't want to be with him."

"But what if that's the only way he can tell you his feelings?" Trina said.

"True love isn't supposed to be fearful of anything. He's scared that his identity will be revealed. Uh hello? He wrote about ME! I'm the one who should be paranoid."

"He's trying to show you his real feelings though," Jade defended.

"Actions speak louder than words, Jadey. You know that."

"But Cat, can't you see everything he's been trying to do? How many times has he tried to talk to you? Countless times. This guy's relentless. That's dedication right there. Mhm!" Trina said.

"Or creepy stalker status." Cat argued.

"There's no winning with you, is there?" her best friend sighed.

"Nope" Cat said matter-of-factly.

The three girls looked at each other in defeat. This conversation would go nowhere. Trina and Tori stood up and started to leave, "All right but if there is anything you need, we'll be here" Tori said. "Jade, you coming?"

"Be there in a bit."

When Tori and Trina left, Jade turned to Cat. She had a strong face on and her arms were crossed. But she knew Cat had more to say.

"Cat, you rained buckets last night. Kept us up 'til 4 in the morning. You don't expect me to think that this tough girl act is working do you?"
Cat's face softened, "Jade…"

"Will you ignore your stupid pride for one minute and just let it all out, please?!"

"What do you want me to say?! That I love him? That I can't stop and I don't think I'll ever get over him? Fine! That's all true. But if his idea of a grand gesture is telling me he love's me through a fictional character, how would I know he loves me back for real?"

"Look, when I found out he said it was that he wanted to keep his identity private for you and him. He doesn't care about the money. He only cares about you. He created August Love so that you wouldn't know it's about you right away so that if he ever got the chance, he'd tell you his feelings before you figured out it was him. Of course he wanted you to feel the connection and eventually he would have told you, but he never meant for you to think of it as a laugh or think of you as just a job. He really means it."

"Really?" Cat was at this point tearing up.

"Yeah, Cat. He loves you. But I'm on your side though; if he can't man up and show you the real him, then you shouldn't have to deal with that."

"Thanks, Jade." Cat hugged her best friend.

"So what are you going to do now?"

Cat wiped a few tears before answering. "I don't know. I honestly messed this up and dragged it too far. I didn't believe him. And if you love someone you're supposed to trust them. Robbie needs August for his protection. And I need to respect that. Robbie's August Love, best selling author and artist, and I'm just Cat Valentine, a baker from Los Angeles and a struggling actress with barely a dime to her name. He's going places and I'm not. Life can't always be like the fairytales."

"I'm sorry Kitty-Cat." Jade comforted her.

"Me too."

"And don't go back to New York because of a boy. You're better than that."

Cat smiled and gave her best friend a sincere hug. "I'm not going anywhere, Jadey."

-At Robbie's Loft-

"Yo Rob! You home?!" Andre yelled across the front door to the empty loft.

"Hey Andre! I'm in the patio!" Robbie yelled from across the room. Andre and Beck made their way to the patio. Robbie's canvas was set up there and surely when they reached the patio, he was setting up his paints.

"Hey Robbie, cool work station."

"Thanks, I just set up the canvas, I'm kind of stuck on what to paint though. So what's up?"

"About last night, how you holdin' up bro?" Andre asked his best friend.

"I got out of bed this morning. That's a start."

"That bad?" Beck questioned.

"You have no idea Beck."

"Rob I gotta tell you something. I kind of heard your conversation with Cat last night. I was trying to stop you from getting to her and when I was about to bust the door open I heard you two talking but I didn't interrupt 'cause that might have been your only chance."

"It's cool, 'Dre. So you heard. I messed up. Big time."

"No you didn't Rob. This ain't over."

"Yeah, Andre's right. You might still have a chance." Beck said then looked at Andre and whispered "How exactly?"

"Shhh just go along," Andre whispered back.

"Cat told me to give it a rest. And I'm finally going to respect her wishes."

"Are you freaking kidding me right now?! The one time I tell you to do something about it, and you decide to listen to Cat?"

"That's the thing, Andre. She claimed that I didn't listen. But I did. I heard every word she said and that's what made me love her even more. She told me stuff. Stuff I wouldn't use against her, not in a million years. I mean yeah I'm writing about us right now in my new novel, but I would never add her personal secrets. I just wish she knew that. So I'm listening to her and showing that I will respect her wishes and leave her alone. I can't ask her to be a part of my secret."

"Did you ever think that you're secret doesn't need to be a secret anymore?" Beck stated.

"What are you talking about? I need that secret for privacy."

"For privacy or protection?" Beck posed.

"It's the same thing."

"No it's not. Look, I may not have known Cat for as long as both of you, but I was a part of her life for the past 3 and a half years because of Jade. Cat is the romantic type and I know that you had good intentions writing and painting all those things for her or about her or whatever, but sometimes words are just words until you show her what you mean."

Andre saw where Beck was going with this. "Yeah man, it's like that saying Actions speak louder than words. Robbie and August can both exist, but Robbie should be the one telling Cat he loves her."

"Stop hiding behind that guy. Cat wants you."

"But the loss of privacy…" Robbie started.

"Think about it man, who's more important, Cat or August?" Beck said.
Robbie paused for a rather long time.

"Dude I'm gonna kick your ass if you don't say the right answer" Andre joked.

Robbie chuckled. "You guys know my answer. But what do I do?"

"Robbie I'm only saying this as your best friend and I care about you… You're not good with words on the spot. No wonder why you work sleepless nights perfecting your stories. So do just that. Consider thoroughly what you want to say to her, but also show her. And when the time is right, you'll know."

"Thanks Andre…. Oh my God. I got it."

"Got what?" Beck asked confused.

"My next painting. Get out."

"What? We can't stay and shoot some pool?" Beck whined.

"We gotta bounce, Beck. Robbie's artsy mood is not pretty. Trust me."

"Oh fine. Later, Rob."

-Back at Andre's Apartment-

Beck, Andre, and Jade were the only ones who met because Tori was at the studio recording a song and Trina was at the bakery helping Cat.

"What do we got on Cat's end?" Andre asked Jade.

"I told her the truth about Robbie's reasons for being August Love. She still loves him but she won't go back to him. Has something to do with identity issues."

"Yeah, well that's how it went down on our end. Beck actually did a good job knocking some sense into Robbie."

"Oh my God, you guys hurt him and didn't invite me?!" Jade complained.

"No babe, what Andre means is that I talked to him about it and what I said really sunk in. He has to figure out his priorities first. And we hope Cat's at the top."

Jade was bummed that there was no violence but was hopeful for what Beck said to Robbie.

"So what is Robbie going to do?" she asked.

"No idea. He had to paint so we left. Wish we knew though." Andre said.

Bzzzzt.

Jade, can we talk? I need your help. -Robbie

"I think I'm about to find out," Jade said showing the guys Robbie's text.