Jade didn't think she'd go from basically running away from home, to sitting on the floor, coloring with Cat and Tori, but here she was. She was exclusively using a black crayon, which meant that Cat kept yelling at her for "ruining it", but she felt good for the first time in a while.

Tori noticed this change. She noticed that Jade's eyebrows weren't furrowed, she was smiling more, and just seemed... happier. It was a nice change.

"Jade, no! Ducklings aren't black, they're yellow! And fluffy!" Cat yelled, poking her best friend's side.

"I draw what I feel," Jade answered, a smirk just barely gracing her lips. "Also I hate yellow. And ducks."

Cat gasped dramatically and grabbed onto Tori's arm. "How dare you! Did you hear that, Tori?!"

Tori giggled and squeezed Cat's forearm. "Come on, Cat, we both already knew Jade hate's virtually everything fun."

Jade twirled the black crayon in her fingers and grinned. "We just have different opinions on what 'fun' is." But her smile then slowly faded. She loved Cat, but she certainly didn't love everything she did. "And this isn't fun. Can we please stop coloring now?"

Cat stuck out her lower lip and pouted.

Jade squinted at her. "Your pout will not work on me. Not today."

"Alright, alright, enough," Tori interjected, holding her hands up. "Let's move on. What do you want to do, Jade?"

A familiar twinkle returned to Jade's eyes. "Cat, remember those scissors you got me for Secret Santa?"

Tori started shaking her head vigorously. "No, no, no, we are not watching that horrid movie!"

xxx

"I can't believe you talked me into this...," Tori groaned, her eyes practically glued to the screen. Not because she was interested in what she was seeing, but she just couldn't look away from the mess that was 'The Scissoring'.

Cat, however, possibly hasn't looked at the screen even once. No, she had spent most of her time with her head tucked in the crook of Jade's neck.

Jade didn't mind, as long as Cat didn't strangle her. Although she was getting quite close.

"Why couldn't we just watch 'the Little Mermaid'?!" Cat complained as she attempted to cuddle closer and while also trying to cover her ears. The movie itself was kind of cheesy, but it still definitely wasn't her style.

"Because, Tori let me chose what we did next, and I didn't wanna watch a movie about some stupid redhead who falls in love with a pretty boy who has as much personality as white bread," the young goth retorted, wanting to rile her up. It was fun.

Cat reached to touch her red hair and squeaked. "You don't even like Ursula?! She kinda reminds me of you..."

"What did you say?!"

Cat only giggled in response.

Tori turned to look at the pair. "Cat, why are you laughing?"

The redhead laughed again. "Jade's throat vibrated."

Jade gave an exasperated sigh. "Cat, you have five seconds to remove your face from my neck or I will hurt you."

"Aw, come on-"

"Five-"

"Jade-"

"Four-"

Tori raised an eyebrow at Jade. Would she really hurt Cat?

"Three-"

"Ooo, I love three!"

"Two-"

"Jade, I don't think-"

"One-"

Cay suddenly threw her arms around Jade's neck and clutched to her hard. "No, please, protect me from the scary movie, I'll be good!"

"Cat!" Jade practically screamed, immediately trying to get the smaller girl to unhand her.

Tori leaped off the couch to avoid the chaos. "You guys! Cat, let her go!"

That's when a very out-of-character event occurred.

Jade started to hyperventilate. Her sharp and uneven breaths were felt near Cat's ear before she was roughly shoved onto the floor.

"Owie," Cat complained while absently rubbing her head and giving Jade a pained look.

But Jade never even noticed.

And it was like Cat was completely unaware of what was happening.

Tears were streamed down Jade's face and she kept trying to catch her breath, a pillow now being held tightly in her hands.

Tori didn't know what to do or who to help. Cat was still on the ground, who was staring at Jade, who was helplessly trying not to blackout. She huffed and rushed to Jade's side, kneeling on the couch beside her. Tori knew Cat would be fine. "Hey, hey, calm down, you're okay," the half Latina tried to soothe, holding onto Jade's shoulders.

Bad idea.

Jade shoved her away too, but luckily for Tori, she didn't fall off the couch. "St-Stop! I need- I need some air-" The goth shoved past Tori, who was still on the couch, dazed and confused, and rushed out the door.

"Jade!" Both Tori and Cat called out as they got to their feet. Jade had left the door open so they followed her out to make sure she hadn't just run away. They, surprisingly, found her only a few yards from the front door. She was on her knees, but her breaths seemed to be less strained.

"Jade?" Cat questioned softly, fiddling with the ring on her finger. "Is this my fault...?"

Tori quickly stepped up and wrapped an arm around Cat's shoulder. She knew how sensitive her younger friend was, and didn't want her feeling guilty.

"No...," Jade replied a few beats later after taking a few deep breaths. "Not your fault..."

Tori gently kissed the side of Cat's head and rubbed her arm. "See? It's alright."

Jade clenched and unclenched her hand several times, then breathed out a shaky sigh and called for Cat.

Cat looked up at Tori, almost looking for approval.

Tori smiled softly and dropped her arm from around her. "Go ahead. Go protect your best friend."

Cat giggled a little. "'kay 'kay." She walked carefully over to her friend and kneeled. "Jadey?"

Jade finally lifted her head.

Cat now got a good view of the woman's face.

Jade's eyes were red and her hair was sticking to her face. Her lip was quivering although it was obvious she was trying extra hard to make it stop. She hated looking weak, and Cat was aware of this.

"Are you okay?" the redhead inquired, bowing her head so she could try and look Jade in the eyes.

"I..." Jade gave her a soft smile. "Can I be honest with you?"

Cat nodded slowly.

"I could really use a Cat hug right about now."

Cat's eyes widened. "But... I don't want to-"

"You won't," Jade promised, holding her arms out. "Please?"

Okay, now it was serious. Jade hardly ever said please.

Cat looked over at Tori, who gestured encouraging toward Jade. The younger girl swallowed, then turned her wrapped her arms around her best friend's waist.

Jade all but sank into Cat's embrace. She rested her chin on her shoulder and finally felt like she could breathe easy.

Cat expertly ran her fingers through her hair and kissed her temple. "It's okay..."

Tori began wondering how often this happened. Cat didn't even seem all that scared when Jade was having her 'episode', and even now she was acting like she had done this before. Her expression saddened. Was the Jade she saw last night a more common occurrence than she thought?

Cat rested her hand on the back of Jade's neck and closed her eyes for a moment. She knew if anyone other than Tori was there, Jade would not be letting her do this. No one else knew that Cat had this 'power; that she could calm Jade like no one else could. Jade wouldn't want that getting out.

After a short while, Jade looked up at Tori and gestured for her to come closer.

Tori hesitated at first, not wanting to ruin the moment, but Jade's eyebrows raised in insistence. When she reached them and sat on the ground, Jade pulled Cat closer with one arm and slipped her hand into Tori's with the other.

The youngest Vega was almost shocked. Jade West initiating affection with her? It was practically unheard of.

"I'm... I'm sorry I'm not sure what happened," Jade apologized, looking Tori in the eyes but also not loosening her grip on Cat in the slightest.

Cat nuzzled into Jade's hair and giggled at nothing in particular.

Tori glanced at Cat, then back at the person of interest. "I think you do know what happened," she stated as a matter of factly.

Tori being so forward with her made Jade let go of Cat in surprise.

"But..." Tori smiled fondly at Jade. "That doesn't matter right now. I'm just glad you're okay."