Just a short filler chapter... Hope it's good enough. Please comment to let me know how you're liking the story?

Jade and I walked around the local store, my arm looped through hers as she pushed the trolley slowly down the aisle.

"Want to get lunch after this?" I asked as I pulled a bag of chips off the shelf and dropped it into the trolley.

"What're you in the mood for?"

"Chinese? There's this delicious place just around the corner."

"Sounds good, can you think of anything else we need?"

"Coffee," I offered hopefully.

"Decaf or none," Jade shot back, smirking at my pout.

"Bully," I said, sadness coating my voice.

"Fine. One. No more though."

"Really?" I asked, my eyebrows shooting up.

Jade nodded.

"Best girlfriend ever!" I cheered lightly and tugged on her arm to bring her into a kiss.

After lunch, Jade and I made our way back to the house- the rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the road was practically mud.

"Remind me to wash your car when we get back home, it's going to be so dirty when the holiday is over."

"That depends," Jade said, stroking my thigh.

"On?"

"Are you going to be in a bikini?" She asked, smirking.

"Maybe, depends on the temperature. Or how many scars are on view."

"I was joking. I'll take it to a car wash, Vega, don't worry."

"Why spend money when your girlfriend will do it for free?"

"We'll discuss it later, we should get inside before the ice cream melts and the rain gets worse again."

We ran inside with the grocery bags in hand, and I took the ice cream straight to the freezer while Jade took the snacks and heating pad upstairs.

"Everything okay, Tori?"

I looked up at my father and smiled.

"Yeah, just had to get some ice cream for Jade. Can you make sure no one else eats it?"

"I'll do what I can, but no promises."

I made my way upstairs and found Jade laying on the bed, so I crawled across the bed, laying my head on her shoulder.

"You okay?"

"As okay as I can be with razor blades in my uterus. You?"

"Yeah, I made sure that hopefully no one else eats your ice cream."

I rested my hand on her stomach before my fingers moved on their own, tracing light patterns across her exposed skin where Jade's shirt had ridden up slightly.

Jade twitched a little bit said nothing, so I continued, pressing a kiss to her collarbone and listened to her hum softly.

"What song is that?" I asked after a while, unable to place the song as I doubt I'd ever heard of it.

"A Grave Mistake, by Ice Nine Kills. I think you'd like their acoustic songs, or their covers… I doubt you'd like their actual music too much."

"Play me something?" I asked, lifting off her so she could reach her phone.

She went through their music on her phone, finding a playlist she'd called 'Hack Slash Kill' and hit shuffle on it.

I laid my head back on her shoulder, listening to the screaming vocals and the way Jade whispered the words along with every song.

"Oh, this is a Taylor Swift song," I said as I heard the opening chords of a song start.

Jade only nodded and I snuggled tighter against her.

"I like it," I said softer.

"The cover?" Jade asked.

I nodded, continuing to trace patterns on her stomach.

The rest of our small vacation rushed by, my family loved Jade, even extended my invite to a wedding to a plus one so that she could come.

"I don't do weddings," Jade murmured as we relaxed on her bed after she'd driven all day, lying in her bed felt like heaven.

"You don't have to come," I said, kissing her neck.

"But I was invited. Personally. By the bride, her partner, and almost everyone else in your family."

"I probably won't even go, it's a long trip to make, and it's close to finals."

A knock at the door made Jade pull free from our cuddle session and go to answer it.

Alice stood on the other side, a tray in her hands.

"Good, you're both here… I brought coffee."

"Come on in," Jade said, stepping out of the way.

"I can't stay, I just need to let you know I'm going away for a week for work. Riley is at his dad's, and will be till Thursday. Can you get him from school on Friday?"

"Of course," Jade said, taking a sip of her coffee. "When will you be back?"

"Saturday morning, so we can go see Riley's school thing."

Alice seemed to take a deep breath and frowned a little, looking around Jade's room.

"Problem?" Jade asked.

"No, it just smells like pot in here."

"It's mine, I'm sorry," I spoke up before Jade could say anything.

Alice only nodded, clearing her throat.

"Please not in the house."

"Sorry, Alice. I won't do it here again."

"The pool shed is where I do it. Keep it down there, please."

I nodded, standing up.

"Can I actually talk to you for a moment?" I asked, and felt Jade staring at me.

"Of course," Alice said, gesturing to the stairs leading away from Jade's room.

"Back in a sec, Jade," I said before filing out of the room with Alice.

"I kind of want to surprise Jade for her birthday, if that's okay with you? I'd like to take her to see a concert for a band she likes."

"I see, when and where?"

"There's a venue not far from here, on the day before her birthday."

"You can take her, just keep an eye on her for me? Jade's happiness has been rising since you two got together, just please don't hurt her."

"I'd never dream of it, she's my happiness too, Alice."

"So, if you don't mind me asking- have you ever tried medicinal pot?" Alice asked, and I looked at her as I crossed my arms.

"I have, but I find it weak compared to what I smoke. A friend of mine has a strong strain that helps all my back pain go away. Why are you asking?"

"I was just curious as to what you smoke."

"Would you like to try some of mine? I can roll you up a few, I've got plenty."

"Maybe some other time, I need to get going."

I nodded, giving her a quick hug before making my way back down to Jade.

"Everything okay?" Jade asked.

"Perfect, I was just asking her a question about your birthday."

"Why?"

"So our plans don't overlap."

"Plans?"

"Can't I do something nice for my girlfriend on her birthday? Or the day before it at least."

"I don't know, can you?" Jade asked playfully, pulling me to lay beside her.

I playfully slapped her stomach before she laughed, pulling me tighter against her body.

"Abuse," Jade said with a playful cry and started tickling me.

Yelping, I laughed and tried to avoid her hands, squirming against her touch.

"So my mum didn't rip you a new one for smoking in the house?" Jade asked as she stopped her assault, pulling me into a loving cuddle. I rested my head on her shoulder, smiling, my hand rested on her stomach, drawing light patterns.

"No, I think we might even have a sesh together when she gets back."

"Really?"

"Possibly."

"So, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" Jade asked, resting her hand on my stomach.

I set my hand on top of hers and turned my head to look at her.

"A date?"

"Sure, Tori… would you like to go on a date with me tonight?"

"I'd love to, Jade. Where would you like to go? Keep in mind that I'm feeling lazy and don't want to change."

"Pub down the road has a good feed, no need to change."

"Sold, lets go."