Enjoy those of you who are still reading 3
P.s . Sorry if I'm a bit rusty! xx
Disclaimer: I don't own victorious
Maria Harris' funeral took place precisely one week before the summer ended, in the church she attended before her health had started to deteriorate. It was naturally a really difficult day for Andre. The really sad thing was, the musical guy barely had any family left now. His parents had died when he was only a baby and his Grandpa had died when he was 13. Other than a couple of distant second cousins, he was pretty much alone. This meant that he was responsible for arranging everything to do with his Grandmas funeral. Tori tried to help him as much as she could. Booking the flowers, casket, and service. But none of them really knew what to say to him. He was obviously devastated.
On the morning of the funeral Frank arrived at the apartment to pick up Elsa. Naturally the whole gang were attending the funeral in support of Andre so it was agreed that the toddler would spend the day with her Grandpa. Louise was already at the church, as she refused to let a nineteen year old deal with this by himself. Tori and Beck had pretty much moved into his house to look after their friend who was blaming himself and grieving deeply. It was scary seeing Andre like this. He spent the days going over funeral arrangements and the nights leaning on Tori and sobbing. Beck would always reassure his oldest friend that it wasn't his fault. She died in her sleep. There was no way Andre could have known she was going to go when she did, but Andre wouldn't listen.
Jade helped get Elsa strapped into her car seat before waving the toddler and Frank goodbye. She really hoped they'd managed to protect her daughter from the worst of the grieving but she got the feeling that Elsa knew something was going on. Everything felt so off-balance. Only a few days ago her and Beck had been talking about bringing a new person into their family and just like that, the last remaining member of Andre's family had gone.
"Should I fetch Andre one of my Blondies?" Cat broke Jades train of thought by showing her the tray of the white chocolate treats she'd just baked and coated in rainbow sprinkles.
"Um.. I'm not sure. Tori said he's not really eating much." Jade replied truthfully. Not that she thought bringing blondies to a funeral was a good idea in the first place
"Kk" Cat replied, turning back to the kitchen to store the treats in a plastic box.
Jade walked over to the living area where Robbie was sitting watching tv and she joined him on the couch. If she wasn't mistaken, the curly haired guy had tidied the place up as all Elsa's toys were in the basket where they should be, instead of scattered all over the floor like they usually where. Jade smirked. Apparently Rob was still sucking up to her after the reporter incident a few months ago. Jade chose not to mention it, but also decided to perhaps stop going so hard the boy. He was their friend at the end of the day. Wow— she thought to herself, just when she thought she couldn't get any softer.
Half an hour later the three friends drove to the funeral together. The weather was beautiful and it felt strange to be wearing such dark clothes. By the time they arrived the parking lot was almost completely full. A few small groups of people were still entering the church but the majority were already inside. As soon as they stepped out of the car Jade spotted Tori who was stood at the entrance with a solemn looking Andre at her side helping welcome guests into the church. They walked over to them.
"Hi there" Robbie was first to speak to their grieving friend, "How are you holding up?"
"Um.. yeah" Andre just about managed to exhale, his voice cracking with difficulty. Robbie returned his strained smile and the two guys patted each other on the back. Cat stepped forward looking scared more than anything. Not knowing how to act in this kind of situation she just flung her arms around the dreaded guys body, enclosing him in a deep hug. Andre hugged her back because god he needed it. Her presence was support enough. Once their hug ended, Robbie and Cat entered the church to find seats.
"I'm sorry Andre" Jade said quietly, making genuine kind eye contact with their friend. He'd been such a good friend to her over the years and he was such a lovely person. He didn't deserve this. Andre sniffed, looking down at the ground to hide his watering eyes. Tori placed a supportive arm around her boyfriends shoulders as Jade stood there unsure if she had said the wrong thing.
"Excuse me for interrupting but I think were just about ready to begin." The priest approached the three of them with a kind smile. Andre nodded weakly at Jade before leaving the church to go help with carrying the coffin. The two girls shared a pensive look before entering the church to sit with the rest of their friends. Louise, Beck, Robbie and Cat were sitting on the fourth row from the front, behind distant family and Maria's close friends. Beck put his arm around his girlfriend as she sat down in the seat he'd reserved for her and kissed her on the cheek. Jade slipped her fingers in between his and leant slightly against him for comfort. There were no words to say.
Once Andre had said his goodbyes to the last of the attendees he accepted the invite to spend the evening at Jade, Beck and Cats. He didn't feel like going back to his empty house. He found himself alone with Tori in the living room for the first time that day whilst Cat and Robbie cooked dinner together. Beck was out picking up Elsa and Jade was taking a nap upstairs after the long day.
"Thats it then." Andre sighed. "She's gone."
"You did great today" Tori told him honestly, lying her head against his chest. "You've been so strong."
"I don't feel very strong." Andre replied.
"Trust me. You're grandma would be so, so proud of you." Tori assured him. "She would be giving you the biggest hug ever right now."
Andre smiled sadly.
"She was crazy but she cared you know? I can't believe I'm never getting another of her insane phone calls.. "Andre whats that bright thing in the ceiling!?" I complained so much about her craziness but deep down. I'm gonna miss that." Andre struggled to make sense but somehow it all made sense to Tori.
"It's going to get better. You'll be starting college with me in 2 weeks. And something to distract you from everything will help." She rubbed his arm supportively.
"I hope so." Andre nodded, "I couldn't have gotten through this week without you Tor."
"I know you could." Tori disagreed, squeezing his fingers tightly. "I love you so much Andre."
"I love you too baby." Andre replied, bending down to kiss her lips softly. They kissed for several minutes and it was comforting for them both. When they finally broke apart everything felt significantly less hopeless.
"Can I ask you something?" Andre approached cautiously.
"Anything" Tori looked straight into her boyfriends eyes.
"I know you were planning on moving into the student dorm next semester," Andre began.
"To get away from Trina" Tori confirmed with a nod.
"It's just.. I don't really have any plans now" the dreaded guy explained "I was always just gonna stay with my Grandma because she couldn't have lived all alone." Tori nodded understanding.
"How would you feel about.. maybe you and I could find a place?"
"You mean move in together?" Tori asked in surprise, "Wow"
"You don't have to say anything now.. I know its fast but.. just think about it okay. I have sole ownership of my house now but I don't want to stay there. Theres just too many memories. We could have our own apartment like this and decorate how we want."
"I couldn't think of anything I want more." Tori smiled kissing Andre hard on the lips. "Yes times one million."
Andre hugged Tori feeling significantly better already. The issue of where he was going to live had seriously been stressing him out over the last two days. Knowing he and Tori would start their own apartment search gave him hope. Maybe he wasn't destined to be completely alone now he was officially family-less. Tori and Andre settled on watching a film on the television to pass the time until they heard the turn of a key in the door. A few moments later Elsa crawled quickly into the room with a determined and curious look on her face and upon seeing the couple smiled and crawled even faster towards them.
"Hi there you" Tori smiled brightly at the toddler who had reached their feet, and lifted her onto the couch in between her and Andre.
"Annay" Elsa shouted loudly, her rather cute way of saying Andre's name. The dreaded guy couldn't help but grin lifting Elsa onto his knee and pulled a silly face to make her giggle.
"Ooooooh" Elsa ran her fingers along her Godfathers hair and smiled hugging his body. Tori leant down and kissed Elsa on the top of her head. She was too cute when she was like this
"Sorry!" Beck rushed into the room panicked. "She just.. I put her down and she was suddenly here.. I can take her away if you want"
"No no" Andre replied "She's cheering me up right Elsie?"
Elsa copied Andre's nodding of the head movement making all three of them laugh. Tori helped Elsa take off her coat and shoes which Beck hadn't had the chance to do before she'd rushed in here and Andre continued entertaining her, pulling out the mini keyboard he'd bought her for christmas and playing with her. And for the moment he felt almost normal again.
"How many more boxes do you have?" Jade called over her shoulder. Tori, Andre, Jade had already spend two hours carrying various boxes full of Tori and Andre's belongings into their brand new apartment. It was a short drive away from Beck, Jade and Cat's and a slightly smaller home. The apartment consisted of one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen/dining area, and small living room.
"Umm.. about seven?" Tori counted what was left at the bottom of the stairwell.
"Ughhhhh!" Jade complained loudly. "How is that even possible?!"
"Alright Miss Grumpy Pants, we're almost done!" Tori smirked at the young mother who had already spent most of the morning fake complaining. She knew that Jade truly was happy for the two of them to be moving in together. In fact she had been the first to offer to lend a hand helping them move in. Cat couldn't be there because she was on her orientation week at college and Beck and Robbie were both in work meaning it was just the three of them. They went downstairs to carry the remaining boxes up to the sixth floor apartment. It took them around another hour to put everything left into the correct cupboards and drawers but the apartment already looked stunning. The walls were all painted the same clean shade of white and the original wooden floorboards and large green plants made the place look stylish.
Almost the second they were done Tori realised she'd left her glasses in her old room and would need to go retrieve them. Andre laughed, kissing her at the front door as she left in her car. Jade had collapsed on the couch and Andre fetched them each a glass of lemonade from the kitchen before joining her in the living room. It wasn't hard to notice how much happier Jade had seemed in a long time.
"Are you glad you're not going back to school this semester" Andre started the conversation lightly
"So fucking happy." Jade answered truthfully, ignoring Andre's eyebrow raise at her curse word. "I've already been contacted by a recording agency who want to buy some songs."
"Thats amazing Jade!" Andre took a sip of his drink. "I can't believe Elsa is almost 16 months old now."
"It's insane" Jade agreed. Her daughter could toddle around these days as long as her or Beck were holding her hands. Louise and Frank had bought her a toddle truck which she loved pushing around and putting all her things into. She was yet to take her first step unsupported but they knew it wouldn't be long.
"How have you been doing Andre?" She knew he was still grieving the loss of his Grandma, despite how cheerful he was today. Jade glanced at the framed photograph of Maria that took pride of place on the bookshelf
"I'm okay." Andre nodded. "It's gonna take some getting used to, the not having a family part I mean, but I'm getting there."
"If you need someone to talk to who gets it… you know I'm not far." Jade said softly.
"Thank you." Andre smiled understandingly. He knew what Jade meant. "Have you heard from your Mom again?"
"No." Jade shook her head. "Thank god."
"Would you never forgive them after what happened?" Andre took the chance to ask her. Jade looked upset and Andre started to doubt whether he should have started this conversation. "I know what they did, kicking you out, it was awful on so many levels. But I know, if I could have some time back with my family.. I'd take it. Getting closure can do so much good."
"I don't... I had to... Hm." Jade contemplated her friends words of advice carefully. She knew what he meant and she knew it came from a place of wisdom. She knew what it was like to be family-less but the possibility to confront them for abandoning her and somehow make it all work again had always been there. Always. Did she honestly think she'd never speak to them again..?
"You never know when it will be too late." Andre pointed out.
Jade thought about it. Was she prepared to wait until it was possibly too late? She was at a place in her life she was making it in the world, possibly making a career for herself as a songwriter, and trying for another baby. Jade realised there and then that the answer was no. She needed to confront her parents.
Review for another update :* It's already written but I'm not sure anyone is still reading victorious fanfics anymore /3 let me know xx