Waters of Time

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:

-EL FIN-

Trina opened her eyes and her body jerked up with a strong breath of air. She could feel her lungs burning from pain and her body was numb. Her eyes darted around and her fingers curled around a blanket. "What?"

"Oh god, Trina!" Tori hugged her, taking her by surprise. She looked down to see the girl weeping on her chest and holding her tight. "I was so afraid we were going to lose you."

"You were?"

Tori looked up and wiped her eyes. "Well, I mean…" Her cheeks turned red and she looked off to the side. "Just because I don't spend a lot of time with you doesn't mean I don't care about you. When you went under that water, and the guys dove in after you, I-I felt like dying right there."

"Well I'm fine." Trina smiled at her and looked around for the others, but they weren't around. "Where is everyone? I thought they were here."

Tori's nose crinkled and she shook her head. "Yesterday. Everyone's at home right now. I couldn't leave." Tori looked down and moved her hands into her lap. "You're the only cousin I have left, you know. If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do. Dad's already been focusing on his paperwork, and mom's been sitting around the house looking like she doesn't know what to do with herself."

"How the hell are they all worried about me?"

Tori laughed for a minute, then frowned in an instant. "What? You seriously think no one cares about you? I know they act like it, but…Dad would never have taken you in when Aunt Sherry died if he didn't care."

"I always figured it was out of obligation."

"Of course not. He argued with Uncle Dennis over taking custody of you, Trina! That's how much he cared." The words were like lighting to her, striking her into silence. She pushed herself up, using her elbows for leverage, and stared back at Tori in amazement.

Her father had become lost in recent years. Sure he called her once in a while, but it was only for about five minutes. The man was more concerned with his second wife than he was his actual daughter.

"Beck, Andre and Robbie pulled you out of that ocean, Trina." Tori furrowed her brow and hooked her thumbs together. "The lifeguard wasn't able to see you, I don't know why. He finally noticed when Beck and Andre popped up out of that damn water." Tori wiped her eyelids and drew out a heavy breath. "All the people on that beach, not a single person was going to jump into the water, but those three did. Why would they do that for you when no one else would?"

"I don't know."

"You probably think my friends would let you drown out there, but they do care. Even if they say they don't like you, and they don't want to spend time with you, you're my cousin and they know that."

The silence in the room was broken by a knock at the door. When Trina looked over, two familiar women entered. Her jaw dropped and her heart began to speed up as Tori looked up to Trixie and Amber.

"Jade was concerned," Trixie said, "You've been here all night." The girl looked to Trina and gave her a smile. "Hey you're awake, it's good to see."

Amber nodded and poked her thumb over her shoulder. "I brought Robbie along, Tori. Why don't you take a break and hang with him a bit." Tori hugged Trina and took a deep breath.

"See you in a few, Trina. I'll let the nurses know you're up." Trina waved as the girl left. Amber walked to the foot of the bed and Trixie sat in the chair Tori had been in.

"Damn you had everyone worried," Trixie said, "Glad you made it. I don't think I've ever seen someone go into a coma from nearly drowning, but then anything's possible."

"I guess." Trina was nervous in their presence, but she was amazed to see them. The memory of what she'd gone through felt like a dream now, but she couldn't help to wonder. "Trixie, right? Jade's sister."

"Yeah."

"You like milk duds and mountain bikes?"

Trixie raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Of course I do, how did you know? Amber and I are always out riding."

"It was a lucky guess." Her lips curled into a bright smile and her eyes lit up with excitement. She couldn't pass up an opportunity to befriend these two. "You guys checking out that new movie with Bruce Willis that's coming out this weekend?" The women grinned back at her.

"Can't resist that man," Amber laughed, "You interested in seeing it too? You're more than welcome to come along, if you like."

"I…think that would be great." She couldn't wait to get home and tell Krissy all about this experience, even though it would be too unbelievable for even her. It was too real to be a dream, and certainly she couldn't get out of her head the words her other version had to say.

From this point on, however, she was going to stop dwelling on the past. Her mother and her brother were great people, and she would always love and miss them, but she'd always think fondly of them and cherish the memories she had of them in life.

Old memories were great to look onto, but that only meant new memories would be just as great of a thing to have. The past was meant to learn from, to use as memory and growth, whether good or bad. To dwell on what could not be changed hindered the ability to move forward. This, she would take to her heart.

"Hey Amber?" She took a deep breath as the girl looked back at her. "What do you and Trixie do in your spare time?"

"Well, Trixie spends her time with her sister and I sometimes go out with my boyfriend." Trina raised an eyebrow and Amber smirked. "Hey, speaking of my boyfriend…you should meet his friend, Jason. Robbie says you're into martial arts, so is Jason, maybe you'll get along."

Another opportunity to get to know someone new. Once more, this was too great of an opportunity to miss. "Yeah. I think I'd like that. Maybe bring him along for the movie?"

"Oh I will. I think Scott would like to see the movie, and he's always dragging Jason along. So once you're up on your feet, we'll all get together." Amber looked to Trixie and shrugged. "Sound good, Trixie?"

Trixie smiled back and nodded. "Sounds great to me. Scott and Jason are always fun to hang out with." The girl looked to Trina and made eye contact with her. In that moment, Trina felt some sort of camaraderie, as though she'd already know this girl. "It'll be nice."

"I'll look forward to it." She looked to the doorway and saw Tori watching her with a smile. Her heart lifted joyously and her body relaxed as she thought to herself, this life she wouldn't trade for anything. She didn't have to change the past to be happy, she only needed to create that happiness for herself, and this was a start.

"Hey, maybe we'll all go swimming sometime." Trixie smirked teasingly and Trina shivered at the thought while Amber rolled her eyes and dropped her head. "I'm only kidding."

"Good." Trina laughed nervously and closed her eyes. "I think it's going to be a long time before I go swimming again. You guys would not believe what I went through out there."

It is over