Out of Time

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:


Chapter 25 (One Last Thing)

Jade waited nervously with Beck as they sat in a booth at the local Outback Steakhouse restaurant. They had one of their first dates there, both of them had fond memories of their families going to Outback; and now, they were about to tell their fathers the biggest news of their lives.

Both fathers had finished their respective jobs and were meeting up with their children at the restaurant; and every second that passed was another second Jade's nerves grew worse.

She knew they would be fine, but that didn't change how frightening it was when there was no way of gauging how either man might react. Jade leaned up and whispered to Beck. "Exactly how do we want to say it?" Him shrugging didn't help calm the raging swirl of nerves, but she could see in his face he was just as nervous.

"I mean yeah we could come outright and tell them you're pregnant or we could kind of lead them in conversation and slip it in." He tilted his head and wrinkled his nose. "Either way, they're probably going to be startled." He looked at her and blinked. "Do you think it would be a comfort for them to know we have a plan?"

"Maybe?" He wrapped his hand around hers between their legs and she gently placed her head onto his shoulder. "God, after everything, you think this would be easier." Beck started to shudder.

"I would take Cat cursing at me in a voicemail or staring into Holly's murderous eyes any day over this."

"Really?" She raised her head and started to laugh. "Not going to lie, it was easier being afraid Cat and Robbie were going to kill me than being afraid to tell my dad I'm pregnant." She placed a hand on her stomach and smiled. "But my baby's already saved my life as it is."

"Yeah, that and the pregnancy test that was in your purse. Thank god Trina was receptive and not a slave to her mother." Jade shut her eyes and breathed in slowly. Two of the most violent leaders of the group forced their children to take part; and it backfired. Trina and Andre both had a heart as well as a conscience, and because of that Trina's parents and Andre's grandmother couldn't control them.

"I would never have expected that Robbie and Cat would've been the two most tied to that group." Cat wanted to be one of the primary leaders, apparently, and she clearly was crazy enough. Her one phone call hadn't been used for anything other than calling Beck upon realizing he was involved in the investigation and cursing him out, threatening to kill him.

Robbie went away quietly it seemed, once the news came out that his father was a major player of the gang, there was no getting out for him. Especially after what they did to Jade. It helped that Andre's and Trina's testimonies were going to help even more to put them away.

As for Gary, Sam and Melanie, it seemed like they had a long road in front of them as well. Gary was taking some time off from work to spend with his daughters, though he didn't say how long that would be. It wouldn't surprise Jade at all if he simply retired. After all, he'd just helped solve the case he'd been working on for his entire career. He deserved some rest.

Beck scratched his head. "I talked to Andre recently." Jade raised her eyebrows at him and he dropped his hand. "Let him know I wasn't angry anymore about what he did to my dad-or what he almost did."

"How'd he react?"

"Grateful. He said he didn't know how or if he was even going to go through with it because it's harder when you actually know someone…apparently I wasn't as irrelevant to him as we were to Cat and Robbie. So being told he had to kill my father was hard enough. He said when he called my name, he wasn't expecting that I would actually answer or be home, he did that because he was still unsure if he wanted to go through with it."

"So when we walked out of the room that night-"

"That was it, he couldn't go through with it. He never wanted to, and we gave him another reason not to. I can't imagine how David and Holly or even his grandma, will react when they testify in court."

"Who cares, they're never seeing daylight again."

"Literally, in David's case." Jade's jaw dropped and Beck shook his head. "Turns out when Spencer sprayed him with that paint canister, not only did he have a skin irritation from it but he got an infection. He's blind. For good. Seems he blindly followed his wife to the end, even when he may not have agreed with her in regards to either Sasha or Tori; but now he's truly blind. His greatest fallacy is now his final scar."

"I know Trina's going to be into witness protection, but I still wish she could be a part of Tori's life somehow. I mean, she had a hand in saving Tori's life, reuniting Sasha with her family too. She saved my life, so she's clearly not all that bad. She's the only type of familial connection that Tori has, even if she wasn't truly family. Tori grew up knowing her as her sister…"

"I'm sure there could be a way for that communication to happen, to be allowed; and if it is, I'm sure a way will be found. Tori needs answers, she needs healing, and Trina may well be able to give that. Still, there's a danger in Trina being in contact with Tori because if anyone like Holly were to find out and find a way to get back at Trina…I guess it would have to be handled by the caseworker."

"Secret correspondences and whatnot?"

"Probably. Someone that can ensure nothing pertinent is given out that would enable anyone to find Trina."

"So…what's next for us, then?" Jade leaned forward, her gaze dipping to the table. "I'll try to be a presence in Tori's life, that's for sure. She needs to have an emotional support somewhere."

"Same."

"This has been a crazy ride Beck." She leaned her head to his shoulder. "I'm glad I went on it with you." He chuckled softly.

"There's no one I'd rather go it with; and no one else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with than you." Jade breathed in softly and closed her eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll do everything I can to support you and our baby, you know that." She turned her head slightly, rubbing the top of her head against his neck and kissing his shoulder. "Once I finish with the police academy and get on with the force. I know your dad said he'd pay for your way through college, but I'll put forward too."

"You don't have to."

"No, I do." Jade let out a soft sigh and felt him put his head against hers. "I love you, and I know you're going to be dealing with a lot over the next few months and even years. College is hard enough, college on a mom's gonna be harder."

"We'll get married, split the costs. I'll have my internship at Dad's office, get a degree in counseling or social work, be a counselor for a while and join the police as a victim's advocate. That's what I want."

"Whatever you want, I want for you."

"I love you." She reached up with her head and gently kissed his jaw. "Now, let's just hope our dads will be supportive."

She heard someone clearing their throats and froze on the spot. "Oh." She turned her head and saw Henry and Keith standing nearby. Keith's jaw was open wide and his eyes lit with excitement. Henry's face was wet and his mouth upturned to a grin. Beck cried out in surprise when he saw the two men. "How long have you guys been there?"

Immediately the two men hugged their children, saying nothing. Jade was taken aback, but happy because her dad already gave an answer. "You will always have our support," Henry whispered, "I love you sweetheart and I am immensely proud of you."

Keith pulled away from his son and belted out at the top of his lungs. "I'm going to be a grandpa!" As all eyes settled on them, both Jade and her father sighed with embarrassment. Beck pinched the bridge of his nose and started to groan.

"At the very least," Beck muttered, "I am grateful again Andre had a conscience." He looked up to his dad and started to smile. "But please sit down." Keith smiled back and the two dads sat on the other side of the table.

Jade put her hands on the table and gazed at her dad with teary eyes, breathing in sharp as Beck cupped his hand over hers. "Well Jade…" She met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "Here's to the start of the rest of our lives."


That's it, this story has reached it's end. There has been a continuation in the works, a sequel per se, so be on the lookout for that. "Fractured World"