I couldn't help it. Cade is too pure and I've been watching a lot of Victorious recently. I hope you enjoy this!

-Chargedlion

xxx

"Can you stay?" the redhead asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The taller woman's eyebrow arched.

Ever since Robbie and Jade had found out Cat was sleeping in their school, they had been taking turns keeping her company in the evening until they figured out what else to do. Tonight was Jade's night, and they had just finished playing what felt like their 100th game of Go Fish.

"What do you mean 'stay'?" Jade asked, shuffling the cards in front of her mindlessly.

Cat swallowed and stared at the floor. "You know... It's lonely here after you guys leave, so I was wondering... Can you stay with me tonight?"

Jade set the cards down and looked at her. "You mean, you want me to stay the night, with you, in this tiny room, where rats sometimes fall from the ceiling?"

"Yes," Cat drew out, smiling a pleading smile. "Please, Jadey?"

There it was. Jadey: a nickname where if literally anybody else but Cat called her that, they would be in big trouble. But this was Cat, the innocent kid Jade had a deep desire to protect. But she'd never say that out loud. "That doesn't sound-"

"Please?" Cat repeated, now giving her a desperate look. "I... Sometimes I hear noises and it's scary..."

Jade kept looking at her, deciding what to do. Why did Cat's parents have to leave her; to force her to find shelter in a small room next to a catwalk? She wished she could just bring her best friend home with her, but Jade knew her father wouldn't approve. He never liked Cat. "Do you think it's the rats?"

"Jade!" her petite friend complained, covering her ears with her hands. "Don't say that."

The Goth smiled softly. "Sorry. Cat, I'll ask you again, are you sure there's nowhere else for you to go? You clearly aren't happy here."

"No!" Cat was beginning to get borderline hysterical. "I hate my aunt and uncle-"

Jade winced. Cat never said she hated anything, especially not with such conviction.

"-and I can't live with my Nona, she's in Italy, and..." Cat's face crumpled and tears started coming down her cheeks. "a-and I don't think anyone else wants me..."

Seeing Cat cry was enough to break Jade's hard exterior. She had been messing with Cat up until this point, but she realized now that her friend really was distraught over this. "Hey." The raven-haired girl leaned forward and placed her hand on top of Cat's. "We're going to figure this out. You know you can't stay here forever, but if you really want me to..."

Cat looked up at her hopefully.

Jade laughed a little. "I'll stay with you. But just for-"

"Yaaay!" Cat happily launched herself at Jade, landing on her lap and almost knocking them both over. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Um... you're welcome? Now you've got three seconds to get off of me before I literally throw you."

The redhead squeaked and climbed off of Jade's lap. "Sorry..."

Jade smiled at her best friend. "It's cool just... I still can't believe your parents just left you, I mean, who does that? You're so sweet and amazing, so why would anyone not-" She trailed off when she saw the look on Cat's face. For a moment she looked so much younger than usual. So lost, like she needed to be protected. "Do you... Do you need a hug?"

Cat's head snapped up in attention. "What? You would give me one?" A beautiful laugh filled her ears.

"Yeah, if you want one. I'm not completely heartless, you know."

Cat couldn't help but grin. "Yes!"

Jade stood and gestured for Cat to come over. "Don't expect this to be a regular thing, Valentine." Her friend wasted no time, clinging to her tightly.

"I don't...," Cat admitted quietly, switching back to the scared kid Jade had seen before. Cat's mood swings were always a little difficult to deal with.

"Hey," Jade started gently, leaning by her ear so she could whisper: "It's going to be okay. We will figure this out."

Cat shuddered and drew closer. "You promise?"

Jade swallowed hard 'Don't you dare cry, West.' "Yes. I promise."

The petite girl buried her face into her best friend's neck and sighed. "Thanks, Jadey..."

Without even thinking about it, Jade naturally started to run her fingers through Cat's hair. She knew she was letting her guard down, but she just couldn't help it.

Cat had had a rough go at life. Her parents made it no secret that they cared more about her brother than their daughter. It wasn't fair. Parents weren't supposed to have favorites, right?

"Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"You won't leave me, right?"

Jade pulled her head back to look at her. Hazel eyes met soft brown ones and a deep desire to keep Cat safe filled the Goth's heart. She leaned in and gently pressed her lips to her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

A content hum escaped the redhead's throat. She loved seeing this side of Jade. "Good... I love you."

"I, uh..." Jade cleared her throat and smiled. "Fine. I love you too. Now come on, let's stop all this sappy stuff and go to bed. We gotta get up early and get out of her so nobody realizes we're up here. Detention with Mr. Dickers is not something I want to deal with again."

"We could get detention for this?!" Cat squealed, now borderline hyperventilating. Oops.

"Not if we're really sneaky," the dark-haired girl reassured. "Besides-" She shrugged and smirked. "-you have me."

Cat giggled and nodded. "Okay. Let's go to bed. Ooo, sleepover!"

A fond smile graced Jade's lips. "So, where are you going to sleep?"

"What?" The confusion in her voice was evident.

"Well, I am the guest, so obviously I get the bed." She crossed her arms as her eyes started twinkling with mischief. "Which means you have to sleep elsewhere. So where to, in the rats' nest?"

"No!" Cat slapped Jade's arm, but it felt more like a gentle poke. "Please don't make me!"

Jade grabbed her by the shoulders and held her out in front of her. Serves her right for trying to mess with her when she was emotionally unstable. "Hey, it's okay, I won't, I was just... We'll share the bed, it's fine."

"Oh." Her shoulders relaxed and she went right back to grinning. "Okay! But, Jade... You don't have any pajamas..."

"That's okay." The Goth pulled her leather jacket off and tossed it in the corner. "I'll live." She hopped onto the bed Cat had put together and pulled the chain for the light. "Now come on, off to bed."

Cat giggled and joined her. "You sound like my mom."

Their eyes met in the dark.

"Is that a bad thing?" Jade asked softly.

"No..." Cat pressed her forehead into Jade's shoulder. "I miss her, Jadey..."

Jade pulled her close and shut her eyes. "It's okay. I'm here."