Chapter Twenty-Six.

"I wonder if the twins have finished upstairs yet, they surely can't take that long to get ready," Jade complained as she drew inkless pictures on Beck's arms. "I wanted to show them Cat's new house today but we can't take them in her attic."

"Why can't they see the attic? Cat was telling me about how she'd ordered bunks, toys and everything so the twins could stop over if we ever needed them to. I'm sure they'd love it up there."

Jade nodded. "They would but all of their Christmas presents are hidden in the wardrobe because Evie's not allowed up there alone in case she sees them and tells the twins."

"Maybe I should go see where they are…"

"Or you could make me some coffee?"

Beck gave her a knowing look. "You're not supposed to drink coffee while you're pregnant."

"Actually, I'm allowed two cups a day," she replied smugly. "No sugar, I'm already sweet enough."

"Ha, who told you that because it certainly wasn't me, babe." Beck raised an eyebrow as he walked over to the coffee machine.

Jade glared at him; she picked up the morning's paper. "You're not very funny, Beck. I think I'll have to put the filming for next week back, there's snow on the forecast."

"Good idea," Beck agreed, pushing a few buttons. "The damn thing is broke."

"That's it, Oliver. We're taking the twins coffee machine shopping after we've been to Cat's."

He smiled at her. "If that's what you…"

"Shh." Jade held up a hand. "Did you hear that?"

She walked over to the door, she could smell smoke.

"I've told those two about playing with matches!" She sighed, pushing the door open.

The orange flames appeared in her vision.

"Oh my God, Beck!"

…

"Cat, can you at least let me come with you to the doctor?" Robbie pleaded.

Cat closed her eyes and held her hands up. "I guess."

"Why, mommy, are you sick too?" the small girl asked.

"No, honey, I'm going for some results."

Evie looked at her mom. "What kind of results?"

"Ones to check if Mommy has a brain," Cat joked, tickling the girl's sides but then her face turned dark as she looked up at Robbie. "I'm not sure she does."

"Aunt Cat! Help!" the voices were disorientated and coming from downstairs.

She looked at Robbie.

Seth and Blaise.

Cat sprinted down the steps. "What's happened?"

Robbie had Evie in his arms next to Cat before she even knew what was happening.

"The tree…" Blaise panted. "Fire…"

"Mom… Dad… kitchen," Seth added, struggling for breath.

"Get Seth the inhaler from the top drawer in the kitchen, it's the green one," Cat commanded Blaise, silently thanking Jade for leaving one just in case. "Have you called 911?"

Seth shook his head.

"Robbie, call them now. Tell them where we are and what happened, Blaise said the tree has gone up in flames so I'm guessing electrical."

He picked up the phone, Blaise returned with her skin pale white with fear.

Cat headed for the door. "And Robbie, keep the kids inside, okay?"

He passed the phone to Blaise who started to explain what had happened to the operator.

"What are you doing?" Robbie asked her.

"I have to save them," she replied matter-of-factly. "They're my family."

"Cat, please don't go, let the fire officers get here and do their jobs," he begged, taking her hand.

She swiftly kissed Evie's cheek. "Stay with them, if you love me like you say you do, you'll stay with them and won't follow me in, okay?"

Cat opened the door, slamming it shut behind her. She barely touched the floor as she ran towards the front door. Kicking it open, she was met by the heat and smoke. The fire had spread from the tree, a division between the kitchen and Cat. She covered her mouth with her pyjama sleeve as she examined the best route.

"Jade! Beck!"

"Cat! Get out of here!" Jade shouted back, it was followed by a lot of coughing.

Cat laughed as best as she could. "Not a chance. Is there any way you could smash the windows to get out, Beck?"

"Some idiot had shatter resistant glass installed."

"This isn't exactly a time to start an argument!" Cat yelled at them both, she couldn't see them but she knew the way Jade would be looking at Beck right now. "I'm coming through."

There was some shuffling. She could just make out it was Beck's voice. "No, go back outside."

Cat screamed as something exploded close by, sending a shower of glass into the air.

"Cat? Cat!?"

She ignored his first request, batting at the fire. "How close is it to the door?"

"We're backed into the corner!"

"Bloody brilliant," Cat sighed under her breath. She managed to run through the small gap she'd extinguished. She managed to get in between the fire, the flames attempting to reach out and touch her skin. A few close brushes, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She was in the corner; she could either fight her way back or continue towards Beck and Jade.

"I'm almost there!" she called to them.

"For the last time, Cat, go back!" Jade shouted, coughing again.

Cat gagged on the smoke, continuing to ignore them. She looked to calculate her next step.

She didn't know where she would go next. The fire drew closer. There was a smallest gap that she knew if she tried, she could get through.

"Guys, I think I've found a…"

There was a large explosion of something that Cat had her back to.

She hit the floor in a matter of seconds.

The world was black around her.

…

"So what are we calling the next one?" André kissed Tori's head.

"We're not having any other kids," she stated. "I am not giving birth again. But if you decide that labour is for you, we can have as many as you like."

He smiled at her, amused. "Well, you could change your mind eventually."

"Never, not after that."

"I guess it saves me teaching more than one kid to play every instrument I can think of." André took her hands, playing with her wedding ring.

Tori watched him with great intent. "We're lucky, you know."

"Why?"

"We argue and it would be so easy to just walk away but we don't. That either makes us crazy or strong."

"Personally, I think we're a bit of both," he replied to her, kissing the temple of her head. "Madly in love which makes us weaker alone but stronger together."

"Calm down, André. Leave the thinking to the experts," she teased him.

…

"Cat? Cat?" Jade shouted hopelessly. "Answer me for goodness sake!"

"I have to get to her, she must be in trouble," Beck decided after weighing up the options.

Jade wanted to grip onto him, stop the love of her life from leaving her in the small space they had left.

Beck stepped forward, trying to push past some strewn furniture out of his way.

Jade didn't see it coming just like Beck didn't.

The beam above them, collapsed on top of Beck, crushing him.

…

"Where's Mommy?" Evie pulled Robbie's sleeve as they watched the fire crew get ready to enter the building.

He could hardly believe that it had only been ten minutes since they'd been interrupted.

"She's helping Aunt Jade and Uncle Beck," he answered, his eyes never leaving the very door Cat had entered.

Seth and Blaise were frozen to the spot, they'd tried to go after Cat but Robbie had somehow managed to convince them to stay in the lounge.

Seth looked up at Robbie. "It's my fault."

"What?"

"I turned the Christmas lights on."

Robbie shook his head. "That isn't your fault, it happens all the time. It'll be a small fire and your mom will be more upset over the fact her tree is burnt and she'll have to leave her beloved coffee machine to buy a new one."

No one laughed like they normally would have done.

"Will they be okay?" Blaise asked. Her eyes like Robbie's, glued to the house.

"I'm sure they will be." He watched the firemen run towards the door with hoses.

That was when the living room windows of the burning house smashed; Robbie covered the children from instinct.

"Please be okay," he murmured as he hugged the children closer to him.

And this is where you all hate me because your next update is most likely Friday or Saturday.

This isn't the best chapter I've ever done. I'm tired; I've had a performance this afternoon. Shattered. As well as the all-day rehearsal yesterday. Sigh.

So Beck's just been crushed and Cat has just been knocked out. Cheerful stuff, I'm telling you.

NOT LOOKING GOOD WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY FIRE.

And yes, I am going to be awfully mean, I've been considering 'things'.

I'll let your imaginations run wild with that.

I pretty much have next chapter planned out.

So yeah, go fourth and share your opinion! :3

Love Always,

Chasing Midnight.

(Wow. I was twisted. Still am.)