Even as the morning sun was making its way through the hotel room's curtains, Tori remained fast asleep, nestled in Jade's arms from behind her. The smile on her face denoted pleasant dreams as Jade's usually neutral face was also expressing the same peace as her girlfriend, even with said face so close to Tori's hair.

…at least that's how it looked as Nora and Tara were standing over the bed, staring at them with the respective expressions of shock and awe.

"I let you three have a girls night in my hotel room…ONE time," Nora took a deep breath to contain her outrage, "And this is what I come back to; my daughter and her girlfriend…in MY bed…spooning like…like…"

"Like a couple in a romantic comedy?" Tara attempted to finish her sentence while sipping from one of the fresh cups of coffee Nora brought for them.

"Just tell me, dear Tara," Nora closed her eyes to shake away the mental images, "Tell me they didn't…do…anything unmentionable last night; especially not with you here, too."

"Well, I think I fell asleep first," Tara nonchalantly shrugged, "And I had my music on, so I wouldn't have been able to hear anything…but Tori is still wearing your pajamas, if that's any indication!"

"Well, here's hoping I don't have to burn those after this…" Nora sighed and reached into her purse, taking out a small whistle. "Cover your ears, dear." Once she saw Tara had set her coffee down and done as she said, she bent over the young couple and blew loudly into the whistle.

Two equally loud shrieks quickly followed as Tori rolled forward, grabbing her pillow to shield her ears, and Jade rolled off the bed and onto the floor. They both immediately jerked their heads in Nora's direction with terrified and wazzed off faces, respectively.

"Oh my god!" Tori sat up, still covering her ears, "Is that where you got that prank from, Jade?!"

"Mom, what the chiz?!" Jade slowly got up, rubbing the back of her head, "We weren't doing anything!"

"Oh, I almost believe that!" Nora stowed away the whistle and crossed her arms, "Anyone else would expect the room to be tossed around like a wild party took place, but you all managed to keep the place surprisingly tidy."

"So why the whistle wake-up call?!"

"Why were you and Tori intertwined in my bed like horny rabbits?!"

"Nora!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! We would have done it on Tara's bed, but she wasn't really into the idea of a threesome!"

"Jade!"

"Don't use that tone with me, young lady! I am your mother!"

"Really?! Because you seem more like my father, since you left me last night to hook up with your side piece!"

"That's enough, both of you!" Both Tori and Tara stepped between the Wests before their yelling could escalate further.

"Jade!" Tori grabbed Jade by the arm, which would have been a fatal mistake for anyone else, and opened the bathroom door, "Take a shower and cool off!"

"Nora!" Tara yanked open the sliding door and pulled Nora by the wrist toward it, "Get some air while the rest of us get changed!"

The West mother complied with an exasperated groan while the West daughter jerked her arm out of Tori's grip and entered the bathroom with a slam of its door.

Tori fell back into the bed with a tired exhale and Tara quickly fell in next to her.

"What the heck happened between them?" Tori frowned as they both stared at the ceiling, "I thought they were doing so much better lately."

"No idea," Tara shook her head, "Nora seemed okay when she left the office yesterday to pick Jade up from your place. You think something might have happened while they were together?"

"I'm not sure I wanna know," Tori reluctantly sat up again, starting to unbutton her pajama shirt, "Come on…we have to be at work by 9:00, and it's already 8:00."

Tara instinctively looked away as Tori was undressing, blushing as she threw on a casual outfit from her wardrobe, "Right…right…I'll just go check on Nora real quick!"

Nora leaned one hand against the railing of the balcony as she took a sip from her coffee cup in the other. She hoped the cream-filled burn against her throat would somehow cool her down, but to no avail.

Tara stood next to her, looking hesitant to speak at first until she downed some more of the liquid courage herself. "Hey…are you alright now?"

"God…I'm so sorry you had to see that, dear," Nora sighed and covered her forehead in shame, "I was just caught off guard when I saw them like that…and honestly, Jade didn't help matters by being…her."

"No, I guess not," Tara nervously shuffled her foot against the stony floor, "But, to be fair, you woke them up with a loud whistle…"

"Yes, I know…that was very immature of me," Nora shook her head regretfully, "I promise you, we're not always like this."

"So I heard…Tori said you two were getting better lately. What happened?"

"Well, I'm sure yesterday was a big part of it."

"Yeah, you left work early to pick her up and spend the day together. We thought you two had a good time, though."

"We did…at first…" Nora gave another deep sigh, taking a long sip of coffee before she continued to explain yesterday's events.

Yesterday…

Once she arrived outside the apartment, Nora sent a quick text to Jade to let her know. In no time at all, she came out, locked the front door, and ducked into the low, black coupe Nora had gotten used to driving now.

"Well…this feels weird," Jade muttered as she set her bag down at her feet.

"What? That we're alone together for the first time since we came to Miami?" Nora asked.

"No," Jade shook her head, "I'm just used to how much higher Tori's SUV is. You really like driving this?"

"I…it's a company car!" Nora let out a laugh, feeling the tension subside, "I didn't really have a say in it, but I could ask for something else if you want!"

"No, no, it's fine," Jade awkwardly waved her arms to dismiss the topic, "Let's just go get lunch already." With a reassured smile on her face, Nora put the car back in gear and started driving toward the restaurant district.

They quickly settled on a corner café, sitting together at an outside table with a sliced sub sandwich by Jade and a bowl of fresh fruit in front of Nora. If Tori had been there, she surely would have tried to capture the rare, civil moment between two West family members in a photo.

Jade sat quietly for a few minutes, her head resting in her hand as she looked out toward the coast. It wasn't until she heard a camera shutter that she turned back just in time to see her mother retracting her phone from a wide selfie shot.

"Delete that," she snapped automatically, not even asking to see the picture first.

"No," Nora smiled past her daughter's annoyed tone, "I think it actually looks nice." She turned her phone around, presenting the shot from a high angle of Nora with the most genuine smile Jade had ever seen in a photo of her. Even Jade's aside gaze at Nora's side showed a hint of a smile as well, despite being unaware of the picture being taken.

Suppressing a low growl, Jade shrugged and went back to looking away, "Fine, keep it. The light was just at the right angle, anyway."

Nora giggled to herself, tapping the screen a few times before stowing her phone back in her purse. "So, you have the day off from the theater, again?"

"Yeah," Jade answered, eyes still fixed to the coastal view, "Sikowitz said he's gonna be out on a 'retreat' for a few days, so that means no classes and no papers to file for now."

"Hm…are you still getting paid on these days off?" Nora quietly sipped her cup of coffee, looking intently at Jade for her answer.

"Huh? Uh…probably not, but he's paid me for the last few weeks since I started there."

"And has that been enough to cover your end of the rent? August is coming up soon, after all."

"Um, objection? Badgering?" Jade suddenly turned to face Nora, her expression souring. "Mom, I'm fine! Tori and I will have rent covered, don't worry so much!"

"Telling me 'not to worry so much' is like telling me not to be your mother," Nora's face soured as well, "Tell me what you were doing at home before I came to pick you up."

Jade sat back, crossing her arms in a way that non-verbally said, "Bite me."

"Go on, please!" Nora insisted, fully aware of the standoffish answer she was already getting, "Were you finishing up another game on your PlayStation, or modifying your clothes again with your scissors? Certainly not looking for a better-paying job or maybe considering college again?"

"We talked about that!" Jade leaned forward in her seat, almost slamming her hands on the table, "I'm not wasting money on tuition and other chiz while I get force-fed my path in life by overpaid bureaucrats!"

"I'm not suggesting that at all!" Nora scoffed, "There are a lot of great and affordable community colleges here! They won't cost nearly as much, and you can at least get started on a higher education! Jobs will look at that!"

"Did you forget that I went to Hollywood Arts? That school was practically a mini-Julliard in LA!"

"But you didn't get a performing arts degree when you graduated there; just a high school diploma and some commendations that won't stick to your resume when you're older!"

"Okay, geez!" Jade threw her hands up in frustration, "I'll…look up some classes online or something, if it'll make you happy."

"What would make me happy," Nora frowned, "…is seeing you actually do that and not just say you'll do it to make me stop pressing the issue."

"What the hell, Mom?! I thought we were past this when you came here! I said I'd be working hard to earn my keep here, didn't I?"

"And where is that hard work, Jade? I see Tori working hard at Neutronium every day on her album, and I made sure Mason is paying her hourly, even before her album is complete. Even Tara is working her butt off there, because she has nothing but her clothes and an old music player to her name! What are you doing, Jade?"

"I'll tell you what I'm doing: I'm going home, even if I have to walk all the way back!" Jade, true to her words, already got up, leaving her untouched meal with Nora at the table.

Nora swore under her breath and got up after her, "Damn it, Jade! Fine! If you want to go back, just…let me take you back to the hotel. You can stay in my suite for the night, and I'll tell Tori and Tara to meet you there; have a 'girl's night in' if you want."

Jade turned to her mother with a doubtful, almost pitiful, expression. "What is this? Are you trying to bribe me or something?"

"No! I…I just didn't mean for this to go downhill so fast," Nora sighed, taking her hotel room key from her wallet and handing it to Jade, "Here. I'll drop you off, and you can order whatever you want. My treat—or, rather Mason's. He retains that room for his employees anyway, so the company pays for everything."

Jade took the card promptly and stowed it in her pocket. "Swanky, and what about you?"

"I'll…just stay with Piper," Nora shrugged as she left a tip on the table, plus a little more for their unintentional noise disruption. "She and I haven't really had time together, either…"

"Okay, ew. I don't wanna hear anymore," Jade made a disgusted face and turned away again, "Let's just go already."

Nora rolled her eyes, grabbing her purse, and following Jade back to the car.

Present Day

"Wow," Tara frowned, feeling much less chipper as she took one last sip of her coffee. "I'm…sorry that happened."

"If anyone's sorry, it's me," Nora sat down in one of the balcony's lounge chairs, burying her face in her hands, "I just had to be a mom to her for one simple lunch, and then this happens."

"I mean…you seemed happier when you came in this morning, though," Tara looked over at Nora pensively, "Did you have a better time with her or something?"

Nora's face suddenly turned red at that and she shook it away quickly, "That…I'm not inclined to share right now. Come on, let's just get to work." She immediately got up and turned back to the room with Tara close behind, and still curious.

Inside, Tori and Jade were already changed into their daily outfits and wrapping up a small argument over the car keys.

"What's going on here?" Tara stepped in quickly before Nora could chime in.

"I want to go home, but Tori won't give me the damn keys to the SUV!" Jade growled, her hand still out and open to take them from her.

"You're still wazzed off, and that won't mix well with morning traffic!" Tori argued, holding on tightly to the keys. "I don't want to risk seeing you on the news tonight in an accident, or worse!"

"Well, we all still need to get to Neutronium for work in...half an hour, so…" Tara bit her lip as she exchanged glances between Tori and Jade.

"Congratulations, Jade," Nora sighed and started toward the room's door. "You're spending your day off with us! Let's go, Tara!" Without waiting, she was already out the door and in the hotel hallway. Tara passed a worried glance to Tori before following Nora outside.

Tori continued to hold her keys tightly, but extended her other hand to Jade, gently opening it to take her hand. "Are you gonna be alright, babe?"

"Oh, sure!" Jade scoffed, but took Tori's hand nonetheless, "I'm going to the company that dressed me up like an alien to humiliate me in front of thousands on TV! What could possibly go wrong?"

Tori shook her head and dragged Jade with her to the hallway, worried for her girlfriend, her girlfriend's mother, and the day ahead for all of them.

With all the time Tori spent in the same, spacious conservatory in Neutronium Records-despite there being a few more rooms just like it-it was practically her own office. She and Tara casually strolled inside and plopped down together on the piano bench, enthusiasm beaming on their faces. Nora and Jade, meanwhile, reluctantly grabbed two chairs from the stacks on the wall and sat across from the two singers while maintaining a relatively safe distance from each other.

"So, what's on the menu today?" Tara turned to Tori, swinging her legs under the bench, "We finished recording the last song on your album already, right?"

"Yeah, actually, I'm not sure what we're doing today," Tori took out her phone and pulled up her email app, "Mason just said to come to the conservatory as soon as we got in today, but he didn't say why…"

"That's because I wanted to tell you in person!" The voice of Mason Thornesmith suddenly sprang up from behind them as he stood at the doorway, causing Tori and Tara to jump up in surprise before turning to him. "Sorry about that, but I'm glad to see you all here today, especially you, Ms. West!"

Nora looked at him with slight confusion, "Me? Mason, what are you talking about? I work here, so of course I'd be…"

"Oh, no, no!" Mason waved his hands dismissively and shook his head, "I'm sorry, Nora, I meant the other Ms. West we have with us! Jade!" As he raised his hands in Jade's direction, everyone's eyes followed to see Jade's own face staring up in surprise.

"Um…why are you happy to see me? I don't work for you."

"Well, how would you like to?" Mason grabbed a chair and sat down with the group, still looking intently at Jade, who was even more confused by his question, "Right! Right, I should probably explain first. Tori!"

He shifted his chair toward Tori at the piano bench, "I was just talking with our producers about your covers, and they are thrilled, to say the absolute least!" That comment alone made Tori's face light up with joy, but she contained herself enough to let Mason continue, "We're still working on mixing them and getting them ready for the digital release, but then we came up with another great idea for promoting your first album; a live performance of your covers—your own little concert showcase!"

Nora's brows raised in surprise, but smiled at the idea. Jade continued to stare quietly, still wondering why Mason had focused on her before. Tara covered her gasp behind her hands as she turned to see Tori's reaction, which was just as stunned.

"My…own…concert? That's awesome! I love it! Where will it be?!" Tori's mouth ran almost nonstop with questions, her excitement clear and present.

"Now, that, we have been deliberating for some time…" Mason crossed his legs in his chair, "It's been difficult coordinate with our usual venues for performances, but then…we had a visit from someone who proposed 'the ideal location', according to him."

"According to who?" Tori blinked, eagerly awaiting the answer.

"The Weston Theater!" Another voice broke from the doorway, and everyone turned to see Sikowitz with his arms raised high to announce both the venue and his entrance. As he grabbed a chair and sat down next to Mason, everyone couldn't help but stare at the stark contrast between the two men; Mason being a sharp-dressed professional, and Sikowitz being a loosely-dressed hippie/homeless clown.

Mason cleared his throat and nodded toward Sikowitz, "Yes, it's as he just said. You'll be performing at the Weston Theater! It was all his idea, since we never even considered that old place, but he insisted it would be the ideal location for us."

Jade was about to question how a near-derelict theater in the middle of a cellular dead zone was any kind of "ideal location" for a concert, but she shrugged the thought away as Sikowitz picked up the explanation.

"I basically said that the theater wouldn't be nearly as expensive to promote Tori's showcase, it'll certainly draw more interest—which means more students for my classes, and I already have the perfect person to direct the production!" Sikowitz's eyes then fell on Jade, whose own eyes widened upon meeting his.

"M-Me?!" she swallowed hard and pointed at herself.

"Her? Jade? Directing?!" Nora cut in without thinking, trying not to let her tone sound too shocked—but unsuccessfully, as evidenced by Jade's brief scowl in toward her.

"Of course!" Sikowitz clasped his hands together, "Jade's proven herself many a time directing a few performances at Hollywood Arts—even Tori can attest to that!"

Tori tried not to jump in her seat again at the mention of her name, but she nodded nonetheless, "Yes! Of course, Jade's a perfect choice! I love her—IT! I love it—the…idea of her directing!"

Jade couldn't help but smile and shake her head at how adorably awkward Tori had made herself. "Well, you're saying that now…but I still haven't agreed to anything. If this is being produced by the label, I expect to be paid for my services."

"Of course," Mason took out his notepad and scribbled something down. "Since we wouldn't be spending as much securing the theater for the showcase, ouur budget is much more flexible. Let me know if this will suffice." He folded the small note and handed it to Jade.

She held the note close and out of her mother's view as she unfolded it. The sound she made as she read the note was picked up by everyone in the room (and possibly a few dogs in the distance). Nora quickly snatched the note from her, read the amount silently, and made an equally shrill sound.

"I take it that means you accept?" Mason retrieved the note from Nora, looking to Jade for her answer.

Jade nodded her head many more times than necessary, a genuine smile growing on her face.

"Excellent! We'll get the equipment ready for transport to the theater, and you just let us know whatever else you need!" Mason got up and left for his office.

Once Mason was out of the room, Tori and Tara leapt from the piano bench, squealing and talking over each other about the show, while Nora sat quietly in her chair, collecting her thoughts. Jade looked over to her, considering saying something to her, when Sikowitz tapped her on the shoulder and led her to an empty corner of the room.

"I, uh, hope you don't mind me volunteering you for this," he muttered to her, "But I haven't exactly been giving you the work you thought you'd be doing in the theater, and I know you've been waiting for an opportunity like this."

"Yeah…I have. Thanks…" Jade half-replied as her eyes were fixed on Tara and Tori's animated conversation. Sikowitz followed her gaze and nodded along with her.

"I bet you've been meaning to ask," he crossed his arms, drawing in her attention again, "About Tara over there?"

"Oh, she told me already," Jade shrugged, "You found her on the streets and you let her live in the theater, right?"

"I did, but did you ever wonder why I let her stay there?"

"…Do I want to know the answer?" Jade almost stepped away from him, slightly afraid to hear the reason.

"You do, don't worry," Sikowitz scoffed and leaned back against the wall, watching Tara continue to talk with Tori and Nora. "She came to the theater wanting to join my classes. She showed a lot of promise with her singing alone, but when she did the Bird Scene, you know what I saw? I saw you, and Cat, and Tori. Tara has so much talent, but unlike you three, she never had the means—an outlet—to express that talent. That's why I let her stay, but also because you were there, as well."

"Why me?"

"Because…I may be an amazing acting teacher, but you connected with her in a way I certainly cannot! The way you were watching her during her Bird Scene and your duet together; it's not unlike the way you watched…her during your classes together back in school." He nodded toward Tori as he said so, making Jade blush just a bit at how she was subtly called out.

"Sikowitz!" she said in a low, but sharp whisper, "You don't mean…You know I'm with Tori right now! I mean, you're partly to blame for that, too!"

"'Blame'? Are you sure you don't mean I'm partly to 'thank'?" Sikowitz laughed, "Aw, don't get so worked up, I'm only teasing. But seriously, Tara is in a much better place now thanks to you, Tori, and your mother. So don't sell yourself short when it comes to the difference you can make, and now you've got the biggest chance to show it." With a smile and a nod, he moved away from her and left the room to her and the other ladies.

Nora, noticing Jade still standing by herself, got up to join her. Both their arms were still crossed at each other, but Nora was first to break their awkward silence, "Well, I guess now you have the work you were looking for. I hope you're ask up to the task as you've said you are…many times."

Jade raised an eyebrow to her mother's skepticism, "You think that little of me? You saw how much they're paying me, right? That's enough to completely cover rent for me and Tori and then some. I'm not gonna let…her down. I promised her and her parents that."

"Well...good luck, then," Nora sighed, seeing that the situation between them wasn't easing anytime soon, and returned to Tori and Tara, who were looking through a tablet to decide what songs they were going to perform.

Jade looked on at the three of them, taking to heart Sikowitz's words about how Tara's life, as well as Tori and her mother's, have changed so much thanks to her. The thought brought a small smile to Jade's face, but also a sinking feeling in her gut as she realized how much heavier the responsibility of directing this performance suddenly felt. Taking a long, deep breath, she muttered a short assurance to herself and welcomed the sight of Tori walking up to her.

"Hey, so…Tara and I marked our choices for what we could sing for the showcase," Tori held up her tablet with a list of her songs. A purple star and a gold star were placed next to Tori and Tara's main choices, respectively. "I was thinking you should choose the last, partly because you're the director, and partly because…you know~" She handed the tablet to Jade, who held it carefully in her hands, examining each title.

After her eyes fell on a certain song, she flashed a clever smile and tapped on the title, making a dark green star appear next to it. "This'll be perfect. Now, what's next, babe?"