When Worlds Collide
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: The chapter title song is by Sister Sledge
Chapter 35 (We Are Family)
Tori sat in Monica's hospital room, bouncing Chelsea on her lap. Monica watched with an arched eyebrow and turned her head to her two friends, sitting against the wall with their heads bowed and eyes closed. "So they showed up and we had a good talk." Tori laughed and Monica raised her arms up. "Someone's telling the doctor to keep me in the hospital, so I'm stuck here. My friends keep coming here when they're exhausted and falling asleep." She dropped her arms and looked back at Tori with a sigh. "So that's the update."
"Well at least it's not all bad." If Monica were safer at the hospital, then so be it. Tori looked down at Chelsea, frowning for a moment. "Poor Chelsea, her mother getting attacked like that…" Monica frowned as she raised her gaze upwards. "Not sure why or how it happened, but Tricia is letting me take care of her for a while."
"Lucky." The door swung open, startling the two girls. When Dice marched in with Gwen and Ruby, Tori let out a sigh.
"See!" Dice stopped in front of Tori and Chelsea, turned around to face the two girls and stretched an arm out. "Chelsea is just fine. I told you." Chelsea turned her head and grinned when she saw Dice. Gwen and Ruby moved past him, both girls hugging the small child.
Dice adjusted his hat and moved over to Monica, looking her over with a squint in his eyes. "Are you okay?" Monica smiled at him, nodding her head gently. He furrowed his brow and pressed his lips together. "You've been in this hospital a long time."
"I know." Monica's eyes popped and her body seemed to sink as she sighed. "I'm not sure why, but my dad and the doctors have been ordered to keep me in the hospital."
"That is weird, but there's no shortage of strange going on. My mother says some guys are staking out our house. They're no threat, she's actually talked to them. They say it's for our safety, they're keeping watch."
Tori pursed her lips and looked down at Chelsea, running her hand through the girl's hair and resting it on the back of her head. The child pressed her cheek against her chest and shut her eyes.
"We had some cops come by," Gwen said with disdain in her voice. "They searched the house and everything."
"What were they looking for?" Ruby asked. Gwen shrugged and Dice rolled his eyes.
"They were probably looking for that guy." He rolled his hand in the air, clearing his throat. "You know, the reason we're all connected. Our mutual sperm donor?" Gwen covered Ruby's ears and shot Dice a glare, causing him to roll his eyes again. "Come on, you two? It's not like she doesn't already know the damn word."
Gwen's face went red and she raised her voice. "I think you've spent too much time hanging around your mother is what I think!" Dice let out a sigh and his expression went flat. Monica and Tori laughed as the two continued to bicker. Meanwhile, Ruby slipped away from her sister and hurried over to Tori's side.
"I guess it makes sense," Ruby stated while shrugging. Tori looked to her with amusement. "If any of us would have the whole sibling rivalry thing going on, it would be those two." Tori shifted her gaze over to Monica, who coughed when she heard the girl.
"Well you know…" Tori smirked as Monica made eye contact with her. "I don't think Dice has to worry about Gwen trying to take any future lovers away from him." Monica rolled her eyes and Tori's smirk deepened. "Just saying."
"For the record." Monica raised a finger up. Ruby started to grin, her eyes growing wide with energy and amusement. "That was before you were even aware we were related."
"Oh yes, but if I recall correctly…you were very much aware and continued to try while also trying to hurt my best friends in the process."
"I said I was sorry." At this point, Dice and Gwen had grown silent and were listening in as well. Tori swayed gently to the right, humming and nodding. "Besides, I was jealous. I thought you had it better than I did; and not to mention, my attraction to Ian made sense. You can't deny that." There was no argument there, she certainly could see how Ian as a potential mate seemed lucrative to her.
"I suppose so. He does kind of have that knight in shining armor vibe, doesn't he? You remember Jason Tyler?" Her eyelids slid halfway as Monica started to squint and nod. "Trina's engaged to him."
"Mother!" Monica's hand flew to her forehead and she started to groan. "Where's my hunk? Where's my prince charming, knight in you know?"
"He'll come when he comes, Moni." She laughed and Monica started to sigh. At this point, Gwen and Ruby appeared to have lost interest while Dice was staring blankly at them as though feigning interest while his glazed eyes revealed his mind to be elsewhere. "You know, I think we're boring our siblings to tears."
"Not much to do about that. I'm glued to this room."
Dice shook his head. "Monica, where's your dad at?" Monica looked over at Dice, then to the chair where her father was usually found. "I thought you said he never left this room."
"He wasn't, but then he had some stuff to take care of. Like filing for a divorce, talking to Detective Malone about the case against Mom, and also I talked him into something else…" Monica played at a coy smile and waited as the others leaned in, waiting for her next few words. "Little Nicky's been removed by the CPS, so Daddy's gone to talk to the agent handling his case. Miss Shay, I think was her name."
Tori's eyes lit up with recognition and a gasp from her lips caught the attention of the others. "Shay? As in Carly Shay?" Monica furrowed her brow and started to nod. "I know her! Or I knew her. I dated this guy that cheated on me with her, and vice versa, so yeah long story short, I met her."
"Oh. Dad did say she seemed to have a vested interest in letting him take Nick in to foster, despite what we're dealing with right now…But I don't know if she knows about that connection."
"I wouldn't know either. My mom's dealing with something similar right now, though."
"Oh?"
"She's trying to foster William." The others gasped gleefully, with Ruby clapping her hands. "Maybe we could all get together and clean out his new room? Make it into a nursery…Dad's old study." The kids started to murmur to one another, each considering it. "Be nice to have all of us together, working towards that."
"True, but I can't do much." Monica's lips fell flat and she narrowed her eyes. "Obviously."
"I mean like after you get out of the hospital." They were all a part of a band, the whole group of them, and Tori loved it. Of course, they weren't quite complete. "Wait until you guys meet Trina." Monica paled slightly while the others started to smile.
"God, and I thought opening up to you was difficult."
"Oh come on Moni, she's not that hard to get to know."
"You do realize I've met her multiple times, right?"
"Of course, but she's not going to let the past get in the way of family…I think." Monica raised an eyebrow and Tori mentally backpedaled. "Okay, once she sees you're changing, or working on it, I'm sure she'll come around to you."
"Courtney and Ian still haven't, and they're not Trina."
"They're coming around, Monica. It just takes a little time, that's all. Both of them accept you, so I don't see a problem at all."
"They accept me because they like you and you are insistent on forming a connection; so why would they complain?" She had a point, but Tori had faith in them; and maybe a little more faith than she did in Trina coming around to accepting Monica.
There came a shuffling sound that grabbed Tori's attention. She looked up and Monica turned around to see Nancy and Kyrie waking up and walking from their chairs. "Where are you two going?" Monica asked with a peak in her tone. "Aren't you going to say hi to everyone?"
"We didn't want to interrupt," Nancy replied with a smile, "It seems like you're having a good talk." Kyrie nodded. "We wouldn't mind an introduction, though." Monica smiled brightly and raised her hand up a bit.
"These are my half siblings. A few of them." Monica started with Dice and made her way to Chelsea. "You've got Dice, Gwen, Ruby, Chelsea and of course you know Tori." Nancy waved and Kyrie bowed slightly. "I'm only just discovering them. There are two others, Nick and William, but they're not here right now. Also, Trina, who we were just chatting about."
"Awesome!"
The kids said their hellos and talked for a bit before Nancy and Kyrie left to get some food. They seemed happy to meet some of Monica's family. They wanted to give her some space though, to let her enjoy the company of her siblings.
It wasn't long before Holly came by, as Tori texted her to let her know where she was. When she entered the room, everyone was shocked to see her pushing a small carriage with a small baby seated in it. Tori stood up, gasping aloud when she saw the child.
"Momma! You've got William with you?" Tori moved Chelsea to Monica's side and rushed over to unbuckle William from the stroller. Holly was grinning from ear to ear as the rest of the kids began to surround the young child. Monica pushed herself further upright to gaze over them.
The child was slightly pudgy, had short brown hair and deep brown eyes. His cheeks were littered with freckles and his mouth was open in a wide grin. His arms swept through the air as Tori raised him up, laughing gaily.
"I've been approved to foster the little guy," Holly replied, "He's a wonderful little boy. Lucky." Monica flashed a grin and curled an arm around Chelsea. The young child was sliding up alongside her, pressing her body against hers for warmth while still snoozing. "So, this is the litter?"
"I'd rather not be called a litter," Dice remarked. "We're no litter."
"Aw." Gwen cackled and Dice shot her a glare. "Afraid of being called the runt?" He put his hands to his hips and cleared his throat.
"For the record, Ruby is shorter than I am! So is Nick, so is Chelsea." Dice stuck out his tongue and Gwen smirked, crossing her arms.
"They'll grow, you'll stay a runt."
"Oh har-har, very funny."
"I am. Thank you for noticing." Dice rolled his eyes and leaned over William, rubbing the child's curly head.
"At least you'll be nice to me, right little buddy?" William raised a rattle in his hand, laughing joyfully. "Aw, you're offering-" He then swat Dice on top of the head with the rattle, causing the boy to bolt back. "Hey!" The others instantly laughed, and eventually, he joined in to laugh.
Tori felt an overwhelming sense of joy in watching them, and shared a similar look with Monica. She walked over to Monica and leaned against the footboard, propping her elbow over the edge. "So this is what it feels like to be a part of a pack, huh Moni?" Monica's eyes glistened with moisture.
"You tell me, I think this is the first time I've been genuinely accepted somewhere…" Tori reached over and pat Monica on the leg. "Mom used to tell me, you know, that nothing I ever did would amount to anything. That I was her biggest regret, that she-" Monica started to choke up and shook her head. "No, enough about her."
"It's okay Moni, we're all in this world together. There's a reason for it."
"Yeah." Monica smirked and tilted her head. "Our mutual father couldn't keep it in his pants." Tori chuckled and looked towards her mother.
"Well at the very least, if you want a motherly figure that's worth her salt…" Hearing her mention, Holly looked up, raising her eyebrows.
"Actually." Holly raised a hand and curled it over her mouth. "There is something I think worth mentioning." Just then, the door opened and Jack strode in with young Nicholas riding on his shoulder. Monica gasped and raised her arms up.
"Nicky!"
"Here you go now little man." Jack hoisted the child from his shoulders and set him on the edge of the bed. Chelsea lifted her head and smiled as Nick crawled over to her and Monica. "Well that wasn't as painless as I thought it'd be. Miss Shay didn't seem to mind all the factors that I'm going through right now."
"Really?"
"Yeah it was strange." He scratched the back of his head and hummed. His eyes moved towards Holly and he smiled at her as their eyes connected. "Same with Detective Malone." He cleared his throat and looked away. "I'm not sure what it is, but I wouldn't think people would be so eager to help me. Detective Malone didn't even hesitate when I walked in, it was like he already expected me-and then Miss Shay…it's strange."
"So what's the news?" Tori asked, curious if this meant Nick was going to be adopted. "Are you adopting Nick?"
"Fostering," Jack corrected. He crossed his arms and raised his shoulders. "According to Miss Shay, when she removed him from his mother, she and her boyfriend let him go willingly. It was as if he was a great burden to them." Monica frowned and looked down at Nick for a minute before giving him a firm hug.
"I'll never let my little brother feel like that," she whispered, "Never." Jack smiled at her and took a deep breath as he turned to Holly.
"So this is the whole crew?" Holly smiled back at him and gently shook her head. "Right, your eldest daughter."
Tori folded her arms and leaned back against the bed's footboard. "Wouldn't be surprised if she's the reason we're all here right now. Together. Jade and Ian both tell me there's something about her, something mysterious. I have to admit, I'm intrigued." She looked down, biting gently on her lip. "I just wish I could see her again, I wish all of you could see her."
"I'm sure we will," Ruby replied, "I mean she's one of us isn't she?"
Without missing a beat, the door opened once again and Tori began to feel the small room was growing far too crowded. She raised her gaze up and the others turned around. A paralyzing sense felt through her body and her breathing grew shallow as she saw the most recent person to walk into the room.
The moment Trina's sharp eyes pierced hers, tears erupted and fell down her cheeks. Trina didn't look different, but there was a much different vibe that Tori felt coming from her. "T-Trina?"
"Oh," Monica said with an exhale, "Now we're all here. The full litter." She raised a hand as Trina's eyes darted over to her. "Let it be known, I am currently bedridden."
"I'm not going to hurt you," Trina replied. Her words nearly broke Tori, causing her knees to start to buckle at the sound of her sister's voice. Holly's hands were over her mouth and her eyes were shut tight. "Our dad has targeted one of us." She extended her hand towards Chelsea. "Well, her mother anyway. Seeing all of you together, I needed to check on you."
"She's not so scary," Dice muttered. Trina raised an eyebrow and smirked as the boy's attention returned to William.
"I'm sorry." Trina looked at Tori with a smile. She inhaled slowly and walked towards her, her movement was smooth and slow, her eyes never leaving Tori's. Tori held her breath, sliding her hand over her chest. "It's good to see you again, little sis."
Tori threw her arms around Trina, squeezing her hard. "Trina!" She wept, soaking Trina's shirt and dark leather jacket. "I've missed you so much." Her fingers curled on the flaps of Trina's jacket as she buried her face into her sibling's shoulder. Her swift heartbeat joined the calm beating of Trina's heart, completing a rhythm that had been missing a beat for so long. "I'm glad you're back." She raised her head folding her hand over her mouth. "You-You are back, right?"
"Yes and no." Trina looked around the room with a sigh. Tori furrowed her brow and glanced over as her mother approached. "Hey Mom." Trina hugged Holly close, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. "God I've missed both of you."
"I can't tell you how much I've missed you," Holly replied with a shaky tone. "I've missed my baby so much."
"I'm sorry that I left you the way I did. Both of you." Trina stretched her arms around their shoulders, looking from Holly to Tori and back. "I had little choice in the matter. I needed to see you two, but I have to acknowledge the risk I'm taking right now by just being here."
"What do you mean? What risk?"
"David." Trina shook her head and pulled away, walking past the pair. Tori felt her heart falling to pieces and she sensed Trina would be disappearing yet again. "I'm hunting him, he's hunting me. I was getting close, and he couldn't find me for so long until someone tipped him off." Trina looked slowly at Monica and cleared her throat. Monica shriveled up a bit, turtling between the two children on either side of her. "Don't worry, I don't hold it against you."
Trina crossed her arms and shut her eyes. "But you don't realize the danger you've put yourself in. The danger you've put your father in. Even your mother. So long as that man walks this earth, none of his children or women he's been with will ever be safe." Monica's eyebrows rose as Trina approached her. "The dream you had, thinking he'd be the one to rescue you and provide for you a shelter will never happen. He cares only for himself. You want a father figure that's going to save you, you've got one." Trina pointed at Jack, and Monica acknowledged her with a nod.
"I know that now. He used me, didn't he?"
"Yes. Played off the pain and suffering that your mother put you through. If that attack had been successful, he would have dropped you like a bad habit. Do you realize that?"
"I-I do."
"Okay." Trina took a deep breath and moved her hands to her waist. "Now, that being said." She smiled at the children in the room and released a long, slow exhale. "I promise, I will not let anything bad happen to any of you. Including you, Monica." Monica smiled through her tears.
Trina closed her fists at her waist and they swung as she walked across the room. "Because of what happened to Tricia, I've developed a theory. He struck Tricia because she blackmailed him to pay child support-taking control away from him. I believe the other women he's been with are in danger, and it is possible he could be staying with one…or has a new girlfriend somewhere."
"Wouldn't be with my mom," Dice replied, "She hates him as far as I know. Plus, she stays home a lot. She's distant, doesn't talk to anyone…"
"Sounds like our mom," Gwen muttered, "We're around her a lot though. He's not come around that we've noticed."
"Do you know what he looks like at all, Gwen?"
"Not really, but Mom doesn't have guests over."
"Are you sure?" Trina knelt before Gwen, looking the girl in the eyes and holding her stare for a long minute. "Gwen. Your mother is the one, out of all the women, that had the closest relationship with him." Gwen's eyes widened and Ruby spoke up, interrupting.
"Mom wants nothing to do with him!" Ruby swept her hands through the air and shook her head. "He claimed to love our momma, but he broke her heart. Sure he gives her child support, but that's not what she wanted. She wanted to be with him, but he refused her-refused to leave his family." Holly dipped her eyes and turned her head away.
"Probably saved her a lot of pain and torment." She bit her lip and Jack looked towards her with a tender gaze.
"Mom talked about him a couple times." Ruby spread her arms out. "She's broken because of him and wants absolutely nothing to do with him." Gwen nodded fervently.
"Momma would slam the door in his face if he ever showed up."
Trina clicked her tongue and set her hand on her knee, sighing as she started to stand. "Then your mother is in grave danger." The two girls froze, the color drained from their faces and they looked at each other with horror. "He's a man that if he can't get what he wants, he flies into a rage. He once loved your mother, once counted on her…if he went to her and she turned him away, I cannot tell you how much I fear what that means."
Trina closed her eyes and exhaled. "I'll send some people to her house, check on her. Make sure she's safe, then I'll make sure she gets moved somewhere he won't find her."
"What?" Tori was lost amid the words, shocked and unable to comprehend Trina's meaning. "How can you do that?"
"I have my ways." Trina looked at Nick and Monica started to talk about his mother having a boyfriend, but Trina cut her off. "I've already looked into his mother. The guy she dates is most definitely not David. However, it is possible, given her connection to him that she may be contacted."
"How so?"
"She was a thief he'd grown fond of. Pitied her. I will have to check on her, because he could go to her."
"What about my mom?" Monica sat upright and Trina hummed. "Could he have contacted her?"
"It is possible." Trina stroked her chin and slanted her eyes. "Given you've been in contact with him. I could see him trying to use your mother as well."
"Trina?" Trina looked to Holly. The woman's hands were in front of her torso, her right above her left and curled slightly. She was biting her lip and shaking like a leaf. "Can we talk?" Tori nodded, there was so much she wanted to say.
Trina blinked and straightened her posture. "Right, we should. There's not a lot of time to, and I promise we will talk in depth soon."
"Are you leaving us again?"
"My job will take me away, but no, I'll be a part of your lives always." Tori gasped, overjoyed by Trina's words. "Right now, I have to. I don't want my presence to put you at risk…as far as David knows, I've left the two of you behind. If he suspected that I came back to you, then he'd come after you. The last thing I want is to find you how we found Tricia."
"I understand. It's just…there's something I wanted you to know." Holly took Trina's hands and looked into her eyes. "I love you so much, I never want to push you away." Trina smiled back and lifted a hand, running her fingers through Holly's hair.
"I'm here mom. For you, for Tori, for everyone in this room right now…I won't let anything bad happen to anyone."
"I wish you'd stay, but I understand why you're going away. Again." Holly's voice broke, but there was a happiness to her voice that stood out. "I can't wait to have you back home." She cracked a smile and ran her fingers through Trina's long hair. "I-I hear you're engaged now?"
"I am. I'd love for you to meet my fiancé."
"I will meet him before the wedding, won't I?"
Trina chuckled. "Of course. Wedding won't be for a while anyway, we're waiting until I'm through with college."
"Is he good to you? Does he make you happy?"
"He does."
"Then, when you're back for good, we can all be one big happy family." Trina laughed once as the tears ran down her face. She nodded and hugged her mother tight. Tori's heart rose and burst through her chest. "I want you to know also, I've got a new job and it's going well so far. I'm a professor!"
Trina's eyes lit up with pride. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Also, something else I wanted to say. I'm glad you and Tori are both here, and all your siblings too." The girls chuckled and Tori looked over the watchful eyes of her brothers and sisters. She was amazed her mom accepted all of them, it spoke of a great deal of grace on her part. Jack appeared to be the same way. "I've met someone."
"Oh?" Tori's gaze snapped back and her eyebrows lifted up while Trina took a step back. "It's worth noting that I don't catch everything, I guess."
"Yes." Holly blushed and curled her hair over her ear. "We met at Detective Malone's office."
"It's not Gary?" Tori asked abruptly. "Really?" Holly frowned and shook her head.
"No, we decided to remain friends long ago honey. Um, I think it's a good time to bring up the gentleman that I've met. We haven't really done much other than talk because he's going through a divorce right now, but he makes me laugh. Makes me smile. I think, I hope I do the same."
"You do," Jack uttered as though expecting not to be heard. Tori froze and Monica started to turn her head. Trina sucked in a large breath of air and shut her eyes as Holly turned to look at him. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"
Dice stepped between Gwen and Ruby, extended his arms around their backs and placed a hand on their shoulders. "Anybody want popcorn? Shall we go check on snacks from the vending machines? I know how to knock some food out of there without spending money."
"And I know how to do it without getting noticed," Gwen said while trying to one up him.
"I say we watch how this plays out," Ruby said while clapping her hands together. "I'm invested!"
"I believe the word is 'interested'," Dice replied, correcting her.
"No, I believe I meant invested in this now."
Tori and Trina remained frozen, staring slack-jawed at their mother. Monica blinked multiple times at her father. "Daddy?" Monica spoke finally. "You just met Detective Malone, right? When momma put me in the hospital?"
Jack cleared his throat. "Well, yes and no."
"So how long has this been going on?"
"A while. I was down at the police office a few months ago asking for information regarding domestic violence, but back then I was too afraid to say anything…Holly was at that office, talking to a detective, that was Detective Malone. So we met at his office before I actually met with him."
"Oh."
The room fell silent and the three children standing nearby sat down against the wall, with Dice seated between the two sisters. He removed a couple snickers bars from his jacket and extended them to the girls, who took them graciously.
So the whole sibling crew in this chapter, with some witty moments from Dice and the brits. Some other big moments too. What are your thoughts on it all?