Thanks for all your review last chapter- you have no idea how much I grin when ever you guy are nice to me (slightly egotistical I know but...) Any way, here is the next instalment to the story, I hope you enjoy!

Seth went straight back to his empty apartment after work the following day. Usually he would go round to Jade's apartment to see his best friend and Cat, but today he suspected they would want to be alone, as they comforted Beck who was still suffering the loss of his son. He hadn't come home at all last night, and only arrived at the theatre for rehearsals this morning. According to Jades phone call at lunch, he had been drinking heavily the previous night and was in no fit state to do any thing but sleep. As such, Seth was forced to drive Over there and give Beck a ride home.

Cole wasn't back at the apartment yet, but that wasn't a great surprise. Ever since he had got his new job, he had been spending a great deal if the time in the office, and when he wasn't there he would be meeting up with his new client, which Seth wasn't allowed to know anything about.

Seth pressed play on the answering machine before collapsing down on to the sofa, it had been a long day and all he really wanted to do was sleep.

The first message was from his mother. She was just asking about how both her sons were, and once more trying to persuade one of them to come back to England. Ever since his parents had split up, Seth knew that Cole had had to take care of their mother, so now that he had left as well, their mum wasn't managing as well as a fully grown woman should be able to do. Seth deleted that message quickly, still feeling guilty about how he had ran off to America just as his parents had first been experiencing difficulties.

The next message was far more interesting. The speaker was a woman, she spoke in a light and breathless voice almost as if she were nervous. Seth could have sworn he recognised the voice, although the caller was phoning for his brother.

"Hi Cole," Came the voice, "It's Tori." Seth froze. Tori? Tori Vega? No. No, this couldn't be Cole's new client...could it? "I just wanted to thank you again for everything that you did to help me get my son back." She gushed, Seth could hear the emotion in her voice, although it sounded less like relief, and more like she was flirting. Like if she had been speaking face to face then she would be gently stroking Cole's arm at the same time. "You have been so amazing through all of this and I want you by my side for the rest of the proceedings. I know it's unusual as your still training, but the way I see it, you're better than half of my other lawyers and I know you'll help me win." She paused for a moment after this, her breathing became quicker and Seth could tell she was suddenly feeling nervous. "Perhaps we should go out for drinks to discuss it more?" She offered. Was she asking him out on a date?! "Any way you have my number. Call me when you get a chance."

Seth just sat their staring at the wall, unable to believe what his brother had done. Even after all Seth had done for him since had arrived in New York, Cole still felt like the best cause of action would be siding against his best friends. He didn't even hear his other messages. They were mostly work related, a part from the one from Jade's co-director thanking him for the fun night last night. Seth sat there until he heard the rattle of keys in the lock and guessed that his brother had returned from work.

Quickly he got up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen, grabbing two beers from the fridge, and walking out to greet his tried looking brother.

"Long day?" Asked Seth casually. Cole nodded, and gratefully took the cold beer offered to him as he, in much the same way Seth had done. Meanwhile, Seth had innocently walked back over to the answering machine, and pressed play once more. Instantly Tori's breathless voice could be heard through the machines speakers once more.

"Hi Cole, it's Tori..." It began. Cole's eyes grew wide as he dived across the sofa to his stop before the message could continue, before looking guiltily up at his little brother, who had a murderous look on his face.

"Ahh..." He said, not moving an inch. "Well this is awkward."

"You're defending my friends wide in the divorce case." Began Seth, keeping his voice as steady as he possibly could given his anger at his brother. "You've taken away his son, and are staying with her until she can win and all you can say is 'well this is awkward.'" He growled. Cole ran his fingers through his hair, this was not exactly the way he had envisaged his brother finding that he was now the lawyer for a famous singer. He had rather hoped for more champaign, and reverential gratitude from him for taking away Robbie from Beck, like Beck had taken Cat from Seth. But at the same time, Cole could see why his brother might be a bit annoyed.

"Yes..." He agreed, "for a barrister, that was a poor use of words." Seth clenched his fingers, frustrated by his brother's blatant avoidance of the issue. "But look, all I did was give an idea, bring her into the firm. It was other lawyers that did most of the actual taking away of children." Cole quickly stood up from his uncomfortable sprawl across the coach, giving himself the height advantage over his little brother.

"Not any more." Seth informed him coolly, "she wants you to work closer on the project." he said, gesturing at the answering machine to inform Cole of where he got the information. "But I swear to you Cole, if I find out you have anything more to do with causing my friends misery, you will be finding a new place to stay." Seth's voice shook slightly at the anger he was feeling, but Cole's face was an emotionless sheet.

"I'm not quitting, if that's what you want me to do- I ended a 7 year relationship to move here, I can't stop now." He stated, equally as coolly. "And I'm not going to not try to win either. That's just not me- as I'm sure you will remember." He said, reminding Seth of the painful times he had tried to argue with his brother. "If you want to make this the second divorce which you abandon me because of then fine." He said, reminding Seth of his flight from England when his parents split up, "But that won't help your friends." He promised. Seth shook his head, knowing he couldn't actually kick Cole out of his apartment.

"Are you going to tell Tori that it will never work out between the two of you?" He asked, thinking about how Tori was so obviously smitten, whilst Cole was still pining over his ex.

"Nah, I think I'll leave her to her imagination a little longer." Said Cole, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Think of it a my little gift to you." Seth couldn't help as a small flicker of a smile appeared on his face at his brothers words. Cole gave him a small nod and then disappeared into his room.

Seth was left alone, deep in his thoughts. Should he tell Jade what his brother had done? What would she do if she blamed him for it? Seth didn't think he could handle loosing his best friend over this, but he also knew he couldn't lie. He decided if the topic of Tori's lawyers came up then he would tell her. But if they were never mentioned, then it might just slip Seth's mind.

Jade could barely concentrate on the play today. The actors all knew what they were doing by this point and Lyndsey, her co-director was able to step in to give what little direction was needed. She had sent Beck home and so his understudy was playing the role of Sebastian instead. He was good enough, but he was no Beck Oliver.

In the end she couldn't concentrate either, she had sent her assistant to pick up Cat from school, but as she didn't want to have to burden the already troubled Beck with looking after her, her assistant had to bring her back to the theatre and entertain her rather than actually assist Jade by brining her her very important mug of coffee when ever she needed it. As such Jade was noticeably agitated, which resulted in the cutting short of rehearsals as she yelled at her leading actress until she cried.

Jade and Cat returned back to the apartment straight away after that. Jade felt that Cat had had enough junk food whilst Robbie had been staying, so wanted to cook her a proper meal instead of going out, and she was also very eager to check on Beck.

When they got back to the building however, they found their way blocked by a crowd of reporters, photographers and camera men all trying to get into the building. As soon as they spotted Jade approaching however, she immediately stole their attention, and she found herself being besieged by questions, all being yelled at her from different sources. Instinctively she picked up Cat, holding her close to her so as she would be safe as she wormed her way through the crowd, but the reporters were making it very difficult for her to make any sort of progress.

"Miss West, is it true that Beck left Tori to be with you?" Came one voice.

"Is it true that you are already cheating on Beck with a police officer?" Came another.

"How long do you expect this relationship to last before he returns to his family?"

"Who is the father of your daughter Miss West?"

"Is it true that you have always hated Mrs Vega and that this is just your revenge?"

Jade refused to answer and of the questions, as she desperately tried to hide Cats face. She didn't want any rumours flying around about who her real father was, and as for some of the other questions. How could they think that she and Seth were an item? How could they even know about Seth? Of course she'd always hated Tori, but Beck left her because of her affair not to have his own! Jade just wanted to scream at them all, but her daughter was there, and she was scared enough with out having to witness Jade loose her temper.

Suddenly the crowd dispersed, as their attention was drawn to some where else. Jade span around to find a Beck, who was looking much healthier than he had that morning. He was holding a sheet of paper in one hand, and had the other hand held up signalling for silence. The reporters all stopped speaking, but the cameras continued to role, and his face was continually lit up by camera flashes.

"I have a short statement I wish to read after which any questions may be directed to my agent or publicist." He announced matter-of-factly. As Jade watched the way Beck addressed the reporters she could tell how practised he was in the art. He was not overwhelmed by the cameras, and didn't seem about to punch any of the journalists. He signalled for Jade to move up besides him which she reluctantly did. Really she just wanted to get Cat indoors and away from all the attention, but she knew they needed to appear a united front so as the papers wouldn't already start questioning their loyalty to each other.

"As you will all be aware, my wife, Tori, and I are now separated pending a divorce. There are several reasons for this division, including faults in both party's which we have agreed we will be keeping private. I have now moved in with Jade West, and her daughter Cat, and the rumours are correct in assuming that we are now in a relationship. My son, Robbie, will be living with Tori until an official custody arrangement can be agreed upon, and this decision was mutually made and had nothing to do with my new partner or any other circumstances. Any questions about Tori's current love life, thoughts or future plans should, please be directed at her representatives and it would be greatly appreciated by both her and myself if we could have some privacy during this difficult period. Thank you very much."

As soon as Beck finished speaking the crowd once more erupted into a fury of clicking cameras and screaming reporters. But Beck simply ignored them all. He calmly shepherded Cat and Jade into the building, as the building security passed them to dear with the gathering mob outside. None of them spoke until they were safely inside the elevator and were speedily on the way to their floor.

"Well done." Congratulated Jade, giving him a peck on the lips in gratitude for him saving them, "that was probably the most in control I have seen you since you came to New York." She commented. Beck gave her a satisfied smile, as Cat wriggled down from Jade's embrace.

"You saved us daddy." She squealed, as she wrapped her arms so tightly round his legs, that he had to lean against the lift wall to stop himself falling over. He looked up at Jade, wide eyed as her words sunk in. The smile on his face was the most sincere and joyful since he had been playing pirates in the park with Robbie. He gently stroked Cat's long red hair as she continued to grip him tightly. Jade just watched the pair of them, a silly grin on her face. She hadn't wanted to tell Beck that Cat knew, because she hadn't thought he would be able to handle her so soon after Tori had stolen his son. But as he watched the pair of them now, she knew she had been wrong. Cat was the thing Beck needed most if he was going to pull through the difficult times ahead.

Jade cooked them all a large meal to celebrate, although Cat wasn't to happy about that as eating the tasty food meant that she had to eat three different types of vegetables, although she didn't mind much because her daddy, who had just saved them from the evil mob was eating them as well.

Once dinner was over they played a game of Disney trivial pursuit. Cat insisted on being on Becks team, which Jade thought was a little unfair. Not because she was upset that Cat was choosing Beck over her- because that made her very happy, but because Cat was so good at the game that she could easily win it without Becks help, and in fact Beck had to do nothing the whole game other than high five and hug his daughter as they humiliatingly defeated Jade.

It took a very long time to get Cat settled that night. She kept on demanding Beck to read her another story so as he would do all the silly voices he had learnt in his training to be an actor. Beck was to weak to say no to his demanding little daughter and so after the seventh book, Jade was forced to put her foot down, taking the eighth book out of Becks hand, and pulling him out of the room after she gave her a good night kiss and switched of the light. She could hear Cat grumbling in her room for almost an hour after that before she final fell asleep and sighed. If Beck was going to become more of a father to Cat then she was determined that he played the bad guy once in a while. She already had Seth who followed her every command, she didn't need another authority figure doing her bidding as well. Jade considered reprimanding him tonight, but at she saw him leaning back, contentedly on the sofa she knew she didn't have the heart. Soon he would have to embrace the other side of parenting- as he mush have already done with Robbie, but for now she just wanted him to be happy.

"...and it would be greatly appreciated by both her and myself if we could have some privacy during this difficult period. Thank you very much."

Tori groaned as she switched of the telly. He had been so civil and pias about the whole thing. Defending Jade whilst not saying a single bad thing about her. Even though she should be happy that Beck wasn't spreading vindictive rumours about her, she wanted him to care a bit. He seemed so cold about the whole divorce, like it didn't even matter to him. Like their five year long relationship was worth nothing.

As much as she wished she could be equally as able to take the high road in this battle, there was a part of her which always looked for a way to get on top. She wanted to make Jade suffer, to tear apart their relationship so as no judge in their right mind would grant them custody of her boy. She began to flick through one of Becks old laptops. He had left it here after he had moved out- probably forgotten about it. As she flicked through the videos of his old auditions, a file caught her eye. 'For Jade.' It read.

She clicked on the file and instantly a video popped up. She could tell it was from a while a go as he was wearing a t-shirt which she had thrown away not long after they had moved in together, although his face had changed so little in the last five years that it could just as easily have been made last week. The video showed him sat at the piano. His eyes were watering slightly, and his voice cracked with emotion as he began to play a song. He never said Jade's name, he just said how much he missed her, and how he wished everything could go back before.

Tori smiled wickedly as she clicked on the 'upload' button which had appeared on the video. Editing slightly the name, and adding a message at the beginning of it, Tori quickly had a video she was satisfied with. She carefully published it using a false account and then sat back, proud with her self of what this find could achieve.

"Mummy, mummy!" Came the excitable voice of her son as he rocketed in from the kitchen where he had been secretly consuming ice cream as he watched TV, "Did you see Daddy on the TV!" He asked, "He said my name!" He told her happily, before she even had a chance to answer. He seemed to have missed the main message behind the statement, either that or he simply didn't care that his parents were breaking up.

"Yes he did sweety, isn't that exciting." Replied Tori, her voice layered with false enthusiasm as Robbie stopped for breath. Robbie smiled happily up at his mother who gently ruffled his hair. She bent down to wipe of the ice cream still present on his lips as he carried on speaking.

"Have you phoned Daddy to see when Cat is coming over yet?" He asked for the tenth time that day. Tori groaned at the recursion of that perpetual question.

"Not yet honey, I've been very busy but I will do it soon." Robbie didn't stop smiling at her words.

"That's okay mummy, Jade said you were forgetful sometimes." He reassured her, "Don't worry I'll just keep reminding you until you have time." He promised her. Tori tried to fake another smile but some how she just couldn't pull it off. Jade had clearly been giving Robbie instructions of how to behave whilst he was staying with her. Jade knew how to push every single on of Tori's buttons, but fortunately, thanks to that video, Tori was about to start pushing some buttons of her own.

Ohh... so Tori's up to more scheming and it turns out that Cole really isn't a charming as I had originally planned him to be. Meanwhile Becks happy and it looks like Jade's play is coming together so Bade is looking pretty good. It's just a shame that the next chapter will be filled with rumours, confessions and discontent...

Sorry for the gap between updates, there probably won't be another for at least a week I'm afraid. Although I am tempted to update just before results come out next Thursday so I'll have your wonderful reviews to cheer me up- we'll see.

Any way thanks so much for reading, I hoped you enjoyed it and please review! :)