thanks so much for the reviews, follows, and favorites! :) thanks daryllover, NicoleR85 & meangirl8 for reviewing! and thanks for following/favoriting me! hope you like this! here's a short chapter not centering around the main triangle but a new pairing i'm attempting, enjoy!

Not Your Usual Love Story

"What are you doing?" Vicki protested.

She had gone out alone after the night's events that almost lead to Jade's miscarriage, wanting to clear her head and regroup. While nothing she ever pulled in high school quite compared to this, she did have a new appreciation for Jade looking out for her all the time; being the responsible sister that took care of things was exhausting. She just wanted a minute off as she was sitting at a table by herself in the bar, listening to the jazz band playing. Naturally as she just started to unwind, she saw her sister coming over to join her.

"I need out of that house," Jade groaned. "I have four grown men just sitting and watching me like I'm going to break at any second."

"So, you don't think Damon's standing outside the bar right now?" Vicki smirked at her, catching a glance of him through the window. As if Jade would ever be alone again before she had that baby.

"Or that Mason's in the pizza shop across the street," Jade informed her, knowing both of them followed her out. She wasn't oblivious.

"How is all that going?" Vicki asked, sipping her drink.

"Messy," Jade answered honestly, taking a sip of the water that she had gotten for herself. "I don't want to leave Mason out of it, she's his too, but then Damon's all-"

"Damon," Vicki interjected. "You get why he's being like this, right?"

"No," Jade said sarcastically. "I thought having another guy's baby was normal." Vicki made a face back.

"Well, if you want my opinion," they heard someone saying and noticed Marcel coming over. "They should give you more space, I think you've shown to be pretty strong on your own." Vicki and Jade exchanged a glance.

"You are...?" Jade questioned.

"Marcel Gerard," he introduced himself to her. "Friend of your dad's."

"Oh, right," Jade nodded, knowing her got her unlinked that night. "Thanks, for what you did, I really appreciate it."

"No problem," Marcel assured her. "Klaus and I go way back, he's actually the one that turned me. It's great to finally meet you."

"You too," she smiled at him, but she noticed his eyes shift a certain way towards Vicki. "I'm guessing you haven't met my sister yet," Jade said now.

"Hi," Vicki smiled. "Vicki Donovan."

"Miss Donovan," Marcel nodded at her; Jade smirked.

"Ya know, I should probably go," she said, being none too subtle. "I got a boyfriend and a baby daddy waiting outside so..." She shrugged. "Don't wanna keep them waiting. Night Vicki," she said.

"Bye Jade," Vicki said to her, knowing what she was up to.

"Have fun guys," Jade said before heading out of the bar.

"She always that subtle?" Marcel questioned. They could see her leaving outside with Damon, hand in hand.

"Subtly isn't my sister's specialty," Vicki gave a fake smile to her sister and waved, then noticed Mason outside too.

"Takes after her dad," Marcel commented and Vicki smiled. "How are you doing, with all this?"

"What do you mean?" Vicki questioned.

"I mean, your sister is right," Marcel said. "She's got four baby sitters watching her every move, taking care of every need. Who's taking care of you?"

"Ah ha," Vicki laughed now, finishing her drink.

"What?" Marcel asked, though he was smiling.

"You think I can't pick up on a line when it's being used on me?" Vicki smirked at him. "What's next, were you going to offer to take care of me? In more ways than one?"

"Give me a little credit," Marcel grinned at her. "It wouldn't have come off so..." He searched for the word. "Sleazy."

"Mmmm, a true gentleman," Vicki smiled sweetly at him. "But, I don't think so," she said, pushing herself away from the table and getting up.

"Not to pry," Marcel said, getting up as well but not cutting her off.

"My go home with a guy after getting an ounce of attention phase is over," Vicki smirked. "Better luck next time."

"Is that a challenge?" Marcel called after her and she rolled her eyes playfully as she left the bar.

"She hates roses," Damon was saying the next morning. He ventured into the kitchen the morning after the pool mishap, hoping to have coffee alone but he spotted Mason sitting in there already. Sitting on the kitchen table was a vase of yellow roses.

"...you're talking to me?" Mason commented as things were pretty icy between the two of them the night before, which Mason thought was ridiculous because it was his daughter's life on the line; Damon rolled his eyes.

"Jade hates roses," Damon repeated.

"I know," Mason informed him. "They're not from me." As he was saying this, Klaus and Elijah were joining them.

"Is this some kind of nice dad gesture?" Damon was asking Klaus. "Because you should find out what Jade actually likes first." He was feeling extra on edge that morning given the closeness the others had the night before after the near miss with the baby, while he just felt like an awkward outsider.

"Orange lilies," Klaus said now and smirked at Damon's confusion. "They're not from me."

"Ew," they heard Jade commenting as she came in now with her sister. Wearing her pajama pants and a fitted shirt, she was starting to look more pregnant as the weeks progressed.

"Oh come on," Vicki nudged her sister who rolled her eyes. "They're pretty."

"They're not from any of us," Mason commented.

"I think we were all wrong to assume that these were for Jade," Elijah said with a slight smile as he handed Vicki the card. She smiled herself as she read it, her name on the small envelope with a simple note inside; challenge accepted.

"Looks like Vic's got a secret admirer," Damon commented, putting an arm around Jade's shoulders as she came closer.

"I don't think it's much of a secret," Jade teased. "I'm surprised Marcel didn't slip last night, he was drooling so much."

"Marcel?" Klaus questioned.

"He was hitting on me at the bar, I turned him down," Vicki waved it off. "Did you tell him these were my favorite?" she questioned her sister.

"I came back here last night, ate half a frozen pizza, then went to bed," Jade listed off to her. "My security detail can vouch for me."

"Yep," Damon told her and Mason just nodded in agreement.

"Then who," Vicki started then trailed off. She pulled her phone from her pocket and immediately dialed home.

"Hello?" Kelly answered sleepily, working late the night before.

"Hey, mom?" Vicki said.

"I assume you got your flowers since you're calling me this early," Kelly commented with a smile. Having their answer and other things to do the others slowly started to break out of the kitchen. "Did you like them?"

"He called you?" Vicki half laughed.

"He really seems to have a thing for you sweetheart," Kelly told her, sitting up and propping on some pillows. "Said he noticed you a few times around town with the others, then got to meet you last night." She smirked. "I hear you shot him down."

"I'm taking a new approach to guys," Vicki said lightly.

"Is he cute?" Kelly commented.

"Mom," Vicki laughed.

"Well?" Kelly insisted.

"Very," Vicki gave in. "With a very dangerous smile."

"It wouldn't kill you to let yourself have some fun," Kelly told her.

"I like what I'm doing right now," Vicki insisted. "I like being here for Jade and looking out for her."

"Your sister's not the only one that gets to be adored 24/7," Kelly reminded her. "Let someone know how special you are."

"Maybe," Vicki said, twirling the card in her fingers. "We'll see."

thanks for reading! :) i know it was short but i wanted to bring up this idea with vicki, what did you think?! please let me know!