A/N I do not own Victorious and do not receive any money for the writings on this site.

Chapter 7

Cats In The Cradle

Jade

With everything going on with Cat, I still have to worry about my father and what the hell he wanted. I really don't want to call him back, but I know I have to. It could be something important. He has never called me before in my whole life. It was always my mother or his assistant. I pull out my phone and looked at it. "Hey Dad, can I use your office to make this call?" I asked.

"Sure honey, go ahead." He pointed in the direction of his office like I didn't know where it was. I gave him a small smile and grabbed Tori and walked into the office.

"I don't want to do this not right now. My stupid father is the last thing on my mind." I sat down on the couch Dad had in his office.

"Well, we can't do anything for Cat and the only thing we'll be doing is driving ourselves crazy until we can see her, so why not busy yourself with finding out what he wanted," Tori said. I stand corrected. The last thing I wanted was to hear Tori being all logical and shit. I dialed the number and waited for him to answer, which strangely didn't take long.

"Hello, Mark West speaking." No shit, really? I paused just a moment before answering to strip the sneer out of my voice before I responded.

"Hello dad, it's Jade. I got a missed call from you and I finally had time to call you back. What can I do for you?" I tried to be as adult as I could, when I really wanted to tell him to go fuck himself.

"Oh, yes Jade. I called you to let you know that your Grandfather West has passed away and the reading of the will is to take place this Wednesday afternoon at three-thirty sharp. The reading will be held at the offices of Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle. Do you know where that is at?" my father asked me, and I had to hold in my laughter, because that was the law firm where Mom worked. So yes, I did know.

"Yes, I know where it's located. So three-thirty on Wednesday, we'll be there," I tell him and wait for the disapproval of me wanting to bring Tori with me.

"Good, I'm sure your mother would like to see you and your new wife. By the way, how is that going? Marriage is hard enough, and to put your senior year on top of it, I just hope that you can juggle everything. Not to mention everything you have to deal with after that horrifying car accident you two were a part of." He was talking to me like he actually gave a shit. If Cat were here, she'd take a feather out of her pocket and hit me with it. I told her years ago that my dad giving a shit about me would shock me enough to knock me over with a feather. She's carried one ever since, just to see if it would work.

"Well, we are doing just fine. Thanks for asking. I would have to say we both made a good recovery from the accident. However Cat, the other girl that was in the car with Tori, is not doing so well right now. She hit a rough patch but we are all helping her through it." I tell him and I am so surprised how this conversation is going. However, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop, because with him, it always does.

"Oh, Cat. She is the redhead right? Well, I hope everything works out for her. Your mother used to talk very highly about that little one, and I know she liked her a lot." This was weird. He was talking like they are back together, but I thought they got a divorce. That was why she sold the house, after all.

"Are you and mom back together?" I asked, not really ready for his answer.

"No, we did get a divorce if you didn't hear. It's funny, we talk more now than we did the whole time we were married. I also have lunch with her once a week, but that's for work, and we have other colleagues with us."

"It helps to keep you two from arguing, right?" I said with a small chuckle. I looked over to Tori. She was at the end of the couch, reading a book while I was on the phone.

"I have done a lot of changing, baby girl." He hasn't called me that in years. I was taken aback by it. "I have also seen your sister and met my grandson. Jade, the day I found out about this family you have with the Vegas almost killed me. I have wasted so much time being a son-of-bitch that I lost my baby to another family. I know you love Tori, and that is wonderful that you two are married, but the thought of another man walking my baby girl down the aisle at your wedding broke my heart. And I am the only one to blame for that. I was thinking the other day when I was sitting next to my father when he was dying. I remember when you were little and I would come home from work, you would sit at my feet on the floor and tell me how you were going to be just like me when you grow up." I was so taken off guard by his words that I gasped and I felt my eyes water up. Tori heard the gasp of course and became concerned when she saw that I was on the verge of tears. She snapped the book closed and scooted down the couch to sit right next to me, concern and the stirrings of anger in her eyes. I blinked a few times and shook my head, waving her back with my free hand. She sat back, but she didn't pick up her book. I knew she was listening as hard as she could to see if she could hear what he was saying.

"Well, I didn't become like you dad, but I am really busy. So we are going to have to cut this short. I have homework to do and other things that are just taking my time.

"Well, I do have a wedding gift for you and your bride. Speaking of your bride is she there? I would like to meet her, even if it is just over the phone."

"Yes, she's sitting right next to me. But dad, you met her once. You came to the school for my play. She was the one who was helping me. However, dad I'm sorry, but I have to go. I just really don't have the time right now. Maybe we can find some extra time on Wednesday to sit and talk," I told him.

"Oh yes. I do remember. Apple doesn't fall far, you have good taste."

"Dad!" I gasped, shocked. I look over at Tori and shrug. "Yeah, you're right. She's a hottie," I said only to get a slap and a smile from Tori for calling her hot.

"Well sweetheart, I should let you go. But I will see you on Wednesday," he said, and I could almost hear a smile in his voice. It was surreal.

"We'll be there. See you later." We ended the call and I let the tears fall freely. I couldn't believe the nice conversation I just had with my father.

"So honey, what did he want?" Tori asked, rubbing my back.

"Oh. My Grandfather West died and we have the reading of the will on Wednesday at three-thirty at Mom's firm," I told her, twisting a little so her fingernails scratched my back.

"Oh Jade, I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather," Tori said, pulling me into her side. I'll never say no to being held by her, but she could have made me happier if she had just kept scratching.

"Honestly, babe, I never really knew him and I thought he was already dead. Must have been my mom's father's funeral I went to. Um…well, now I know, I guess." Tori gave me a look that I just couldn't read.

"How could you not know which grandfather's funeral you went to?" I just shrugged.

"I was ten and all I knew was the guy's name was Jack. And I got in trouble for laughing about the Jack in the box." Tori lowered her head and giggled.

"Of course you did. I love you, Jade Vega." She kissed me on the cheek and we got up to leave the office. "Sounded like you had a good conversation with him."

"I did. And I think maybe if he can stay like this, we can work things out. But sadly, he will only be my father. David will always be my Dad," I said as we walked back out into the living room. Everyone was sitting at the table having something to eat. I walked over to Dad and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" Dad asked with a smile.

"For being my Dad." I smiled and took my seat at the family table.