Hello readers, I hope you've been doing well. Yesterday marked 5 years of Victorious. Time has flown and I'm looking forward to all the future projects from the cast. At this moment, Elizabeth's Killing Daddy is on in the background while typing.
Challenge King: Jade has significantly grown as a person from her canon-self since the very first story in this series and she's come to a place in her life where she knows she has genuinely caring friends/family and can equally genuinely expression such concern for them without some cover as deep down she does care about.
Freddie and Jon are caught on opposite sides with their father and got little Isaac & Ishmael thing going on. Is that intentional on my part? :D
dustyNo.1 fan: Interesting name. I believe I found out about Cody Christian's appearance on A&A after the fact of casting, but Mary's casting was intentional. Writing a little piece with him visiting them might be a funny little project to do, but I'm still swamped right now.
midnight craving: I'm glad you liked this chapter. Tori has always been the star/number one of the group (except for this series of stories), and things do get bent around and towards her as the focus and in the end designated in being 'right'. She's not at times. I'm not saying which one of them is right in the situation.
I think Jade and Dusty get along so well because he's never been afraid of her. He's never been scared of the big bad Jade everyone has been in the show. Them ever having potential for something else was actually addressed back in the last few chapters of 'We Love Each Other' with Dusty referring to himself as the Gawain to Jade and Freddie's story, not Lancelot.
Freddie and Jon's differences aren't even between them, but between their father and the circumstances.
I hope you like this new chapter.
markman12: What is going on in Dusty's head is a little side mystery to this story as the focus is Freddie's story with his discovered family members and the other plots actually are tied to further that story.
Fanfic-Reader-88: They are Freddie's younger siblings and he's the rejected older one by his father. The exact circumstances will slowly dribble out.
It will still be a little while before a true explanation of what is going on between Dusty and Sam.
Dusty has really made anything out to be horrible with what happened between him and Heather. He's just saying that it is entirely his fault and you should tread carefully in trying to blame her or tarnish her name in any way.
Twilight Warrior 627: Dusty at this point is not concerned with Tori's bruised feelings or ego when compared to little Grace being roasted to well done meat on the barbeque before he got there. Is it insensitive to Tori? Of course it is because survivor's guilt is a legitimate feeling/condition.
Sam will be a mystery for a little while, but not this cold heartless girl that she was when iCarly ended or the S&C version of Sam who was worst if possible.
I will eventually get back to the story of some of Dusty's exploits. You obviously can read another one right now with a Jade doppelganger.
Jon is loyal to his father. He shouldn't just accept the word of a practical stranger over his father's word. That is what would be odd.
Xemtlenc: Dusty and Sam's relationship? Oh what could it be since the limited interaction they had so far in this series has been antagonistic. We'll see in a bit.
Rating: T Language
Chapter 14
Kerckhoff Coffee House
Kerckhoff Hall
308 Westwood Plaza
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Freddie and Amanda entered the coffeehouse while Jon went ahead to class and perhaps join them afterwards before he had his music class. He was pretty vague about meeting up later and neither of the other two Bensons pushed for a definitive answer. The dark redhead had rode with Freddie as he had to swing back home to pick up his laptop and other school materials since Tori had a point that he could salvage the rest of the day with classes and that Jade and Trina would be plenty to keep an eye out on her.
They placed their respective orders and fortunately because they had beaten the lunch rush, were able to pick up their drinks in what seemed like mere moments later. Freddie led her to his usual table and the half-siblings had a seat.
While they rode together back to the West home and to the university, they had avoided the main topic of discussion, but now that the opportunity called for it, Freddie brought up it as he saw no reason to put off the elephant in the room, "So… you believe that I'm your brother?"
Amanda gave him a hesitating look, but answered, "Yes. I do think you're my brother. Do you have your doubts?"
"Well, hoping not to offend you as your brother certainly is with the news… your father is my father with his reaction to the news that I am Marissa Benson's son—his ex-wife—and since there is no doubt that you're his daughter… we're siblings." He continued with bringing up Jon's frosty demeanor back at Tori's house, "Why isn't Jon accepting it?"
The Manhattan teenager momentarily found refuge behind her drink then reluctantly answered, "We talked about it after we left the hospital and Dad refuses to acknowledge you as his son. Jon is accepting dad's word. He's going to take our dad's word over yours or your mom."
Freddie narrowed his look towards her and cautiously questioned, "I can understand the loyalty, but you don't seem to have a problem acknowledging me as your brother?"
"We knew about Dad's first marriage and how it ended—it was a lesson for us to remember to be care with who we might date, but you look too much like dad, share his smile, some mannerisms and after hanging out this weekend, I just know we're related. We have too much in common. I can accept what is in front of my face."
"How does that make you feel? I mean finding out about me."
Amanda took a sip from her drink then nodded her head to the side. "I'm happy and sad."
Freddie raised a curious eyebrow, clearly not expecting such an answer. "Interesting to have that reaction to the news."
"I happy that we found each other. Dad's always taught us that family is important, more important than a lot of things people think are important: money, fame, power. I'm sad that you didn't have dad in your life, that he misjudged what happened and that Jon and I weren't there with you."
Freddie cracked an ironic smile. "If he hadn't, you wouldn't be here. I may have had a younger sister, but she wouldn't be you."
Amanda tilted her head partially to the side and took sip of her drink in acknowledgement. "There is that way of looking at it."
Freddie sympathetically looked at the girl that could be a twin for Cat, but he had to be cautious. "What do you want?"
She nearly pouted in confusion as she sat her drink down on the table. "I don't understand."
Freddie sat up then leaned forward to rest his forearms on the table. "For all of my life, the only ones that wanted anything to do with me in the end wanted something in return. Things changed for the most part when I arrived in L.A., but it's gotten especially bad now that Jade is a superstar and they think they can get something out of her through me and really to some extent, Tori. I have to be careful and at best, anyone that I didn't know from Hollywood Arts as my friend, really isn't my friend, but an acquaintance or now a classmate."
Amanda looked disappointed, but felt deep sympathy for her brother in having to live his life that way. "I understand… at least a little bit. Dad's well-off and I'm, not to brag, probably the most popular girl in school, so people want something from me nearly all the time. Do you think I'm that way?"
Freddie shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know. I don't know you and that's my point."
"Well I want to get to know you. That's what I want. I want my brother in my life."
His uncertainty showed on his face.
The dyed redhead matched his confused expression and asked, "What?"
"Other than my mother, no one in my biological family really wanted anything to do with me…" He held his thought about mentioning it starting with their father. "…until, as I already told you, Jade got famous and think they can get something out of me."
Amanda glanced to the table feeling dejected. She muttered in mild embarrassment, sounding as if she was at fault and refusing to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. We're victims of circumstances and how we react to things in our lives. My father left and started another family and I have to be suspicious of people's motivations, either to take advantage of me or use me to get to Jade to take advantage of her or tear her down. It's not something that I like about myself, but it is a reality of my life."
"Then are we stuck?"
"No, just that you have to know where I'm coming from: I'm cautious and as you just mentioned, our father taught you to be cautious using the story of his and my mother's failed marriage."
"I understand. You don't have to tell my anything personal about yourself…"
He refrained from saying something sarcastically about of course she was right that he didn't have to reveal anything, but that would be rude and she hadn't done anything to show that she was in it for something with him.
"…but let me tell you about myself. I'll be the one that goes first… the one that's taking the risk. As you figured out at Tori's 'party', I'm into all those geeky things too, but I have to keep it secret. You can understand it's not the most popular hobby and after what happened when I started high school… when I started high school, I had big glasses and braces and the ugliest pigtail braids. I was called 'Mandy the Mutant' and it wasn't a pleasant year. So after I got my braces off, I had to reinvent myself."
"So you became one of the most popular girls of the school?"
"Yeah, I'm even captain of the cheerleading squad. I'm one of the most popular girls there. I don't ever want to go back to being 'Mandy the Mutant', so no one has to know I like stuff like that."
Freddie said he would be cautious, but he couldn't help from empathize and explained, "High school is rough and cruel and I understand that. I was an easy target for anything that could go wrong. Things turned around when I went to Hollywood Arts like you did when you… reinvented yourself. I was a celebrity from the webshow and I was dating one of the most well-known—and feared—students going there and… with how things ended at Seattle, no one really gave me any problems."
"Then it must have been so much fun going to a performing arts school."
"It was. There were rough times, so no matter where you go, high school is high school, but overall I would say that it was a positive experience. Though, I kind of wish I would have been there for all four years of high school."
"High school may be high school, but there are clearly some better than others."
"That would be quite true… I assume now that since you're one of the prettiest girls at school, that your dad is pretty protective of you. You're very pretty and you said that he has money, so…"
Amanda regretfully smiled. "He lets the guys know not to mess with me."
"Good, I'm not ready to be an uncle," he chuckled then took a sip from his drink.
The dark redhead softly scowled and muttered, "I think I've been insulted."
"You shouldn't. I know how some guys think and what they want. While going to school here, I've seen guys willing to so far as to blur the line between consent and non-consent to get what they want. They had to kick one of the fraternities out because it was so systemic with pulling chizz like that."
Her eyes widened to near saucers. "That's pretty scary."
"I thought it was disgusting to me, but it was put to a stop and it has everyone being watchful… too watchful some would say with people worrying about false accusations. It's another reason I'm glad I have Jade… she can protect me," he finished with a grin.
The younger Benson put on a concerned expression and asked, "Do I have to warn Jon?"
Freddie shook his head and reassured her, "I already gave him the heads up."
"Would you keep an eye out for him though? We may have been taught to be careful, but I don't want to see him on the news because of some girl that wants to take advantage of him."
Freddie felt he was being drawn into an unasked family obligation, but it was still the decent thing to do besides that Tori and perhaps Jade had gown a little soft spot for him. "I'll try to keep an eye out for him and I'm sure Jade and Tori will be steering him clear of such people."
"Thank you," she answered with a genuine smile and appreciative tone.
She kept her smile as she took another sip from her drink then started again, "Let me tell you about my friends…"
Amanda spent the next half hour talking about some of her adventures with her friends that sounded right out of a tween sitcom or they had gone to Hollywood Arts. He politely smiled and attentively listened to her stories, he picked up that she seemed to be a genuinely nice girl, but there were little hints in her stories that gave him faint concern about her.
After finishing her last story and their drinks, Amanda hopefully suggested, "You could come to New York during your one of your breaks and visit. I could show you around New York. Show you Jon and my life."
Freddie half smirked as if he needed to politely humor the girl then answered, "Our father won't even acknowledge me as his son, so I highly doubt that he'd be willing to see me during a visit. I don't think your mother would appreciate having to face the fact that he left my mother over such a ridiculous assumption. I would be quite the eyesore."
"I can't speak for my dad, but we can have friends over and I'd want you over. He'll just have to deal with it and my mom… she's a very good person and wouldn't resent you."
"I really don't care how he deals with it. I don't care about whether or not he acknowledges me as his son. I accepted a long time ago that my father didn't love me. I was just pointing out how he might nix your plan."
"That's not fair to say about him."
Freddie threw on a frown and countered, "My entire life has been unfair, so you don't get to tell me what is and is not fair to say about the man. I highly doubt you would think such a thing if the roles were reversed: he abandoning your mother to start another family."
Amanda looked to the table and regretfully countered, "No I wouldn't, but I don't want to fight you over this. I don't want to be the bad one."
Freddie spoke up to quickly disregard that notion, "There aren't bad guys in this… except our father."
The younger Benson didn't want to fight that battle as dad being a saint was just as tiresome. She glanced at one of the flatscreen televisions that were hanging and noticed the time. She pointed in the direction of the television and asked, "Don't you have class soon?"
Freddie glanced at the television she pointed and saw the time in a corner. "Yeah." He looked back to her and asked, "You want to sit in one of my classes? See what my life is like besides hanging around all the beautiful stars?"
Amanda laughed with a pretty smile. "I just hope that I don't fall asleep."
"If you do, don't snore."
The half-siblings shared another laugh then got up to throw away their cups and exit the coffeehouse.
As they exited, Amanda commented, "I wish I could stay longer, but I can't miss anymore school, so I'll be flying back home tomorrow. Can we keep in touch?" She looked so hopeful and fearful of his answer.
Experience told him that he should have made some kind of polite excuse to turn her down, but he didn't really want to be that cold and closed off and she really hadn't done anything to him, so he took a leap and answered, "Yes, we can keep in touch."
She leaned over and pulled him into a hug, stopping them both in their tracks. "Thank you."
Freddie easily returned the hug, wondering what he had gotten himself into and whether or not he would regret it.
Schoenberg Music Building
UCLA Campus
Los Angeles, CA
Dusty followed Jade's lead as they walked to her classroom through the semi-busy hallways of the music building. He appeared to be like any other young person attending the university, so he really didn't stand out much. He did get a few looks at his shoulder from some of the passing students, but the number of flirtatious smiles directed at him from passing females outnumbered them. He politely smiled as they moved on to Jade's classroom. Once they reached the room, they immediately stopped at seeing Jonathan sitting at the room's piano, softly playing a somber song. They listened to him for about half a minute as he wrapped up the song.
The Southern teenager slightly tilted his head to the side and commented, "He's pretty good."
"Yeah, he has talent. If he gets a break in being noticed, I think he could go pretty far. Talents and looks… I wouldn't mind him being backup in a performance."
"It's all about presentation…" Dusty grinned and passed a quick glance to her. "It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that he could be your future brother-in-law?"
The musician raised her pierced eyebrow and half smirked, apparently not making that connection that if the teenager was Freddie's brother, they would be in-laws in the future. She left the question hanging and turned her attention back to Jon and softly clapped, getting the freshman's attention.
Jonathan turned and looked partially startled at the intrusion being so caught up into his music.
Jade walked towards her presumptuous future brother-in-law. "I can appreciate a downbeat piece, but I didn't expect one from you."
The handsome eighteen years old offered as explanation, "I guess I have a lot on my mind."
Jade politely nodded, sympathizing with him being in the same position with what had happened over the last day and the news about him and his sister. She smacked her lips and casually answered, "It's been a tough two days."
The younger Benson reluctantly admitted, "Yes it has." He glanced over to Jade's unexpected companion and greeted him, "Hello."
Dusty took the same time to look at the younger teenager, taking a few moments to assess and size him up. He flatly questioned, "So you're Jonathan Benson?"
Jonathan had a fairly privileged life, but he easily saw when he was being sized up and put up a guarded expression.
Jade interrupted and motioned towards Dusty to make the proper introductions, "Yes, this is Jonathan Benson. Jon, this is a dear friend of mine, Dusty Hale."
The younger teenager got up from his seat and walked to offer his hand to Dusty, remembering the name from Freddie in his story about what fraternities to avoid. "I go by Jon. Nice to meet you."
Dusty returned the handshake and answered, "Dusty, and I believe owe you a debt of gratitude."
Jonathan's interest peeked at the practical stranger's words as he dropped his hand. "Over what?"
Jade raised her eyebrow a little in wondering such a thing, but remained silent to hear Dusty's explanation.
"Over you reminding Beck how he can't behave towards Heather. I appreciate and will remember that."
Jon half smirked and nonchalantly answered, "Yes, Beck just needed to be reminded that despite how upset he may have been, he can't turn that frustration on to someone that didn't deserve it, but I don't understand why you would owe me anything."
Dusty cleared his throat, clearly feeling a moment of embarrassment. He tightened his smile and answered, "I'm Heather's ex."
Jonathan raised his brow in mild surprise that was similar to one Freddie could throw up when he was surprised. "Oh?"
"Yes."
Jon let that information bounce around his head like a Ping-Pong ball then answered, "You obviously still care about her if you're saying that to me."
Dusty just smiled, drawing a curious gaze from the younger teenager.
Jade forced a smile and interrupted, "Yes he does."
The Southern teenager gazed at Jade with a half frown and gave her a half-hearted scathing look.
She innocently question in a clearly mocking manner to anyone that personally knew the singer, "What?"
Jon remarked, dividing his gaze between the pair, "Must be a little awkward being Jade's friend and your ex looking alike."
Dusty looked back to the inspiring musician and answered, "It's not as hard to tell the difference as one might think. Sure, they're both beautiful, kind, sweet, compassionate… oh wait, yeah, it can be hard to tell them apart," Dusty finished with a smirk and gaze at Jade, clearly to get back under her skin.
Jonathan took it as a joke and commented, "You're real funny."
Dusty grinned. "No, that's me being a smartass. You cut through all that mean girl, 'gothic' crap and you get to the core of who she is."
Jade slightly nudged him in the ribs and commented with a tight smile, "Dusty, I have a reputation to maintain."
"Of course, you would never want to be a genuine person in Hollywood. What would the public think?"
The musician rolled her eyes and causing Jon to let a laugh escape his lips, glad for the relief of tension. However, several seconds later noticed Dusty's shoulder then pointed to it while asking, "What happened your shoulder?"
Dusty shrugged the once injured shoulder. "I got into a fight. I won, he died."
Jon cracked a smile, thinking it was a joke for a moment, but after a few seconds passed and Dusty's casual expression remained, the smile slipped off. "You're serious?"
"Quite. When someone is trying to take your head off with a battle ax, one should take it quite seriously."
"Damn…" Jon uttered with wide eyes. "That must be some story."
"It is, but not one you would believe."
A pause feel between the three and Jade took the opportunity to Jade carefully ask, "Are you going to meet up with Freddie?"
Jon didn't look overly enthused about answering the question, "I don't know."
The dark haired musician studied the younger teenager, trying to gauge his feelings.
The younger teenager sighed under the scrutiny and explained, "Jade, my sister may believe that we're half-siblings, but my father doesn't believe Freddie is his son, but…" He hesitated for a second, considering how blunt he should be in his statement, but decided to be truthful, "…that Freddie, if he's my dad's ex-wife's child, is simply the bastard child with whoever she cheated with against my dad. I have no reason to doubt my dad. I really don't mean to offend you by saying that, but that's just how it is."
Jade looked quite bristled from the statement despite trying not to get offended with his words of calling the man she loved a bastard.
Dusty stepped in and remarked, "It's understandable. I would trust my father's word over a practical stranger's word; a DNA test would put that to rest pretty quickly."
Jonathan rolled his eyes and snorted out, "I doubt that would happen. My dad put all that in the past and is not going to rehash it. He's already back in New York."
The more muscular teenager stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets and remarked with a shrug of a shoulder, "If your father was married to his mother at the time of his birth, the law presumes he is the father. He would have had to take some kind of paternity test to prove he wasn't to get out of child support, unless of course your father simply refused to pay and slipped through the system."
The younger Benson offered, "Or it was settled in the divorce that he wouldn't have to pay anything."
Dusty patiently smiled to the second Benson child and pointed out, "She can't turn it down on Freddie's behalf. It's legally his money. A man can't get out of that… even if he's a rape victim, so he had to be sending her money, has some kind of proof that he isn't the father or he's a deadbeat."
The other two gave him curious looks.
The former Carolinian shrugged his shoulders and wore an innocent expression. "What? Men and women don't have equal reproductive rights. Women have far more than we do."
Jon ignored his point and made one of his own, "My father being out of state nine months before Freddie was born is proof enough."
Dusty raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Are you sure it was nine months?"
A tension filled the space between them for several seconds before Jon politely smiled and replied, "As fascinating as this discussion has been, I'm going to get going. I'm going to see if I can catch up with my sister if she's not still with Freddie. She's heading home tomorrow."
Jade politely smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll see you later and tell her to have a safe trip home."
"I will, thanks. It was good to meet you Dusty."
"The same."
Jon politely smiled then headed out the door as the first students for the next class showed up. He called back over his shoulder, "Later."
Jade and Dusty turned to follow him out with their eyes. He casually remarked, "Well, he at least shares DNA with Freddie."
The dark haired singer snapped her head to him and nearly demanded, "You sure?"
"Yeah, I can see him on a subatomic level and they share a lot of the same sequences."
Jade felt relief that the debate was practically settled without having to worry about DNA testing. "So he is Freddie's brother?"
"I don't know. You and Heather… have a lot of matching DNA to look on the outside practically identical—more so than they in being half-brothers, but that doesn't mean you're sisters." He shrugged a shoulder. "Well perhaps genetically speaking as if a set of identical twins had children with another set of identical twins, they are genetically siblings even if they have different parents."
She shook her head and muttered, "It has to be some cosmic joke with all these doubles of us running around."
"It probably is, but for the matter at hand, if I could get a look at his father then I could know for sure."
"He headed back to New York City—well, that was the plan until Tori's accident, but he just said he's already gone."
"I could find him, but does Freddie want to know?"
"He believes that their father is his and he's with his 'sister' right now, so…"
He held his palms up and shrugged his shoulders while offering, "I guess I'll wing over to New York and make sure when I have a chance."
Other students started filtering into class, signaling that class was about to start.
Jade gave a genuine half-smile and thanked, "Thanks for the ride."
"Not a problem. I'll be back after class to pick you up."
"You don't have to do that. I can just wait for Freddie."
Dusty grinned and remarked, "I'm your annoying friend. It's not a problem. Let him spend time with his sister."
Jade rolled her eyes and accepted that she couldn't dissuade him from his offer. "Thanks. I'll be done in about an hour and fifteen."
He waved and backtracked a few steps before turning and heading out of the classroom.
Paramore Studios
Hollywood, CA
"Give me that smile! Oh I love it! That's it! Make the camera feel alive!" the long stringy dark haired photographer shouted while snapping photo after photo in quite the flamboyant manner of over exaggerated movements of his arms and flinging his hair about.
In front of the black silk shirt wearing photographer, Heather was standing in front of a white screen while she wore a bright smiling as she posed in a partial profile with her head slightly leaning back in a grey turtleneck, a black leather jacket and a two-layered pleated black skirt with a fan letting her black hair lightly blow in the fake breeze.
After leaving Jade, Dusty 'winged-over' to the studios and found a spot unnoticed more than a dozen feet away from the photoshoot. He had his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets and just watched his former girlfriend in her element, making the fashion designers pieces look good and making a mess of money for them. She could make the camera (and a devoted fanbase) fall in love with her with a smile and innocent glint in her eyes. She had admitted in private to him that it was glorified dress up, but she enjoyed it, though it was commonly known she still hoped to break into acting.
As he watched the photoshoot progress, he grinned at feeling a set of eyes focus on the back of his head. He slightly tilted his head and warmly greeted the unseen person while keeping his focus on Heather as she changed poses, "Hello Tasha."
The well-known and extremely attractive model put on an innocently poutful expression, revealing that despite her recent fame as a model and willingness to show practically all her skin, she was still a relatively sweet and innocent girl. "What are you doing here? Come to hurt her more?"
Dusty turned to his left to face her as she walked up beside him. She had her hair up and ready to be styled and makeup already done. She wore a silk robe tightly tied around her body, clearly showing off her curves and that she wasn't wearing anything underneath the garment from the waist up. She wasn't one to flaunt her body for attention. It was quite the contrary to what people in the public eye may have believed otherwise was just an act, but she was really was that innocent about showing off her lust after body in risqué photoshoots with approximately the same attitude about her body as Eve in the Garden before the Fall.
"It's nice to see you Tasha. Still the caring and considerate girl I see."
"I don't care what you think of me you big meany. What are you doing here?"
Dusty held back a smirk at the weak attempt at name calling. "I'm back in town and I had a moment, so I just wanted to check on her."
She snapped with an accusation in her tone and eyes, "Why do you care? You're the one that broke her heart."
A pensive expression formed on the teenager's face and he answered in a tight voice, "I know… my intention is not to bring her any more heartbreak. I just wanted to make sure that she was alright… with everything. Do you know of the… 'incident' with Beck yesterday?"
The attractive former Seattleite frowned, showing that she did know about what happened. However, she refused to comment on it and instead answered, "Well she's doing just fine without you." She smugly smiled and pointed out, perhaps to rub some salt in the wound that her friend was find without him, "She even found herself a new guy. He's nice and treats her right. He even brings her flowers and takes her to lunch."
"I met him. He's… respectful. I hope he's treating her right; she doesn't deserve any less, but you should watch him."
"Why? Jealous?"
"Jealousy would indicate that Heather and I were together and he was a threat to it, but since we're not, I can't be. I'm talking on a more practical manner. He's old fashion, which there's nothing wrong with, but… his expectations of her and her ambitions may not reconcile with one another. That could cause some serious conflict."
"How do you know what to expect of him? Have you even met him?"
"Briefly this afternoon."
"And you already know that much about him?"
"He's an honest man; it was easy to pick up some things from him."
"You shouldn't project your shortcomings onto him to wish for them not to work out."
Dusty narrowed his eyes on the model and gently replied, "It's not projection. I never stood in her way. I want her to be happy with her career as long as it doesn't hurt her."
"And you're not standing beside her either."
"No I'm not…" Dusty glanced over to Heather one more time then remarked, "I have to be going. It was nice seeing you Tasha."
He turned to go, but Tasha called out, "Why did you break her heart?"
He stopped to force a tired smile over his shoulder and answered honestly, "Because I love her."
The model squinted her eyes, confused by his answer.
He turned away and walked away from the set, practically unnoticed by anyone else.
Tori and Trina Vega Residence
Hollywood, CA
Tori had finally shooed the others to leave including Beck and Trina to head for their respective sets as to not miss any work on account of her. Beck may have had a problem in such a thing with one of his sets trashed, but he still had a job.
Over the course of the last several hours, Robbie, Rex, André, Ava and Sinjin stopped by to check on her with their well wishes, she ate and buried herself in her laptop looking at the various news feeds about what happened to her. She grew increasingly disgusted as they focused on her and when they did mention Grace and her mother, it was a second thought and she was cleared of any wrong doing.
She would probably feel guilt for it later, but she was getting irritated with her fans having such a reaction. She had gone so far to tweet back that they should remember the ones that she injured and their concerns should be with them.
A knock at her bedroom door pulled her out of her frustrations. She turned to see Jade had returned holding a pet carrying bag in one hand and holding Ian's hand in the other. She hadn't realized how much time had passed so Jade had finished with their afternoon class.
The child greeted her while approaching the bed. "Hey."
Tori broke into a smile and accepted the child crawling onto her lap and presenting his back to her. Her motherly instincts kicked in to wrap her arms around him for a hug. As Jade had included Ian in a number of their get togethers, especially during their times where they tried to have at least a meal together once a month, she and Cat become like aunts to the child. Trina had grown a little soft spot for him even if they weren't as close.
"I heard you were in an accident."
"Yes I was, but I'm fine."
"That's good."
Jade sat the carrying case on the end of the bed and opened the end of it to reach in and pull out her bunny Easter. "I thought I'd swing back by to keep you company and help you out with our class. We might as well be productive since you're here instead of New York."
The once mean girl of Hollywood Arts held out the bunny to the brunette.
Tori smiled at the gesture and took a hold of the bunny. She held up the black and white bunny to her face and the animal licked her nose, bring a smile to the emotionally exhausted teenager. She laughed, "Hi Easter. It's nice to see you too."
She sat the bunny in Ian's lap and the child lovingly held the animal while the pair took turns affectionately petting him.
Jade moved the pet carrier and sat it at the foot of the bed then dropped her old Gears-of-War bag on the end of the bed. She started pulling out her laptop and notebook to go over what happened in class. She took a cross-legged seat opposite of Tori and her stepbrother and opened up her laptop.
Tori looked over at her door at noticing Dusty resting his shoulder against the door frame, offering a guarded expression. She timidly greeted him, "Dusty."
"Tori," he answered dryly while focusing most of his attention on gauging her emotional state.
"I'm surprised that you came by."
He lazily answered, "I thought we had some unfinished business."
"You weren't done insulting me?"
Dusty pushed off the door frame and answered with a smirk, "If I wanted to insult you, I wouldn't have been that merciful with what I said."
Jade looked back and forth, worried that this could turn into verbal match. As interesting as it would have been to watch the pair verbally dual, she didn't think it would be all that healthy for Tori mentally at the moment. Ian looked confused as to why they would be arguing in the first place.
Tori licked her lips and cautiously questioned, "So have you come to apologize?"
"I don't know. Do you intend to apologize to me?"
The brunette's mouth slightly parted and eyes opened wider, clearly blindsided by the suggestion. She was interrupted from saying anything with the house phone rang on her nightstand and flashed a red light, signaling that it was from downstairs. Tori sighed and reached over to pick up the receiver. "Hello?"
The familiar voice of Marcus, Tori's dutiful bodyguard answered, "Miss Vega, I'm sorry to bother you, but I thought you should know, there's a young lady with her daughter here that would like to see you. She's the one that was involved in the car accident."
The brunette popstar's eyes opened to near comical saucers and she was stunned to silence, which drew the curiosity of Jade; Dusty could easily hear the conversation over the phone.
Marcus waited several seconds, thinking for a moment he had been disconnected and asked, "Miss Vega?"
"Sorry Marcus, please let her in. Could you escort them up?"
"Of course Miss Vega."
Tori sat the phone down back on the receiver and Jade asked, "What was that about?"
"Rose is here with her daughter."
Jade lifted a corner of her mouth then cautiously asked, "Are you up to seeing them?"
"I think it would be rude if I turned her away."
"That wasn't my question."
Marcus, the over six feet tall muscular gentleman and former MMA fighter, arrived at the bedroom door with Rose behind him.
Dusty stepped aside to allow them inside and the blonde bashfully smiled as she entered the room holding her daughter's hand.
The children immediately and bashfully eyed one another, seeing that they were about the same age.
Marcus nodded his head and stated, "Miss Vega" before turning and heading back downstairs. Rose looked around nervously at the ones she didn't know and cautiously greeted the occupants of the room, "Hi."
Tori muttered in a bashful tone, unsure how to interact with the mother that she nearly killed, "Hi, I thought you'd still be in the hospital."
"I decided to go ahead and check her out. I didn't want them to start treating her like she was some science experiment to figure out what happened and… I couldn't afford for her to stay in the hospital any longer."
Tori raised her hand, "No, you're not going to pay for anything. I'll pay for everything."
"You don't have to do that. We're here to check on you—Grace wanted to see you. I don't want any money from you."
"You don't know how long it's going to take the city to pay for what happened, so I'll go ahead and take care of everything."
Rose looked uncomfortable arguing with the superstar, so she let it drop for the moment.
Jade scooted off the end of the bed and introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Jade."
"Hello. I recognize you. I like your music."
"Thanks. I admit it isn't everyone's taste, so I'm happy to meet people that like it."
Rose looked to the handsome fellow and slightly blushed.
Dusty politely nodded his head and greeted her with a friendly smile. "Ma'am, I'm Dusty."
"Hello."
Grace curiously looked up to the young man. At first, she couldn't believe what she was seeing, but decided after a few moments that she couldn't doubt her eyes. She quietly asked, "Why do you have wings?"
The little blonde may have quietly asked, but everyone in the room heard her question. Tori looked surprised, Jade looked worried and Rose tried to keep from laughing from her child's overactive imagination.
Rose knelt down beside her daughter and gently attempted to correct her child, "Sweetheart, he doesn't have wings."
The child would not be dissuaded and pointed to either side of the teenager, stating in an almost in a whining tone, desperate to be believed, "Yes he does mommy. They're right there."
Everyone saw except for Ian, nothing but the wall behind the dark haired teenager. Ian wanted to say something, but he made a promise never to tell anyone that didn't already know about what he saw about them.
Dusty let a hint of a smile play on his face and answered in a soothing voice, "I have wings because my mother is an Archangel of the Lord. I inherited wings like you inherited your mother's lovely hair."
Rose awkwardly smiled and carefully offered, "Dusty, you don't have to humor her."
He knotted his brow while questioning the attractive blonde, "Why would I humor her? She wanted to know, so I told her."
Rose began to start to question him, becoming concern about his mental health when Grace interrupted, "Your mommy's an angel?"
The son of an angel turned his attention to the blonde child and answered, "Yes, she's quite beautiful with red hair and brown eyes—when she wants to look human, because angels don't naturally look like us. Some have the heads with faces of lions, bulls and eagles and others like fiery serpents… she's more of a fiery serpent in her true form. God has a big imagination in the creation of creatures."
The blonde mother glanced to Tori and Jade for explanation, but each looked hesitant on trying to answer.
Grace nodded, trying to comprehend what such a sight would look like, then eagerly asked, "Can you fly?"
Dusty cocked his head to the side and thought on it for a second, his face showing mild bewilderment as if never thinking of that possibility then answering honestly, "I don't know. I've never tried. I really use them to travel anywhere I want in a blink of an eye."
"Anywhere?"
"Well almost. There's one place in all of God's Creation I can't easily travel that way and I really wouldn't want to."
"Where?"
Dusty grinned and knelt down. He brought his fingers to his lips and whispered, "It's a secret."
The child laughed and brightly smiled.
Rose was growing concern with how far this young man was indulging her daughter's imagination, but before she could voice such concern, Ian slipped off Tori's lap and the bed to approach her daughter while still holding the bunny.
The blonde grinned at the first grader and introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Grace."
"I'm Ian."
She grinned at the bunny and gently petted his back. "What's his name?"
"Easter."
"The bunny's named Easter?"
"My sister got him for Easter, so she named him Easter."
"Does he leave Easter eggs?"
"I don't know." He looked to his sister, hoping for an answer.
Jade warmly smiled, one she reserved for her brother and answered, "Sorry, but he's not the Easter Bunny."
Grace carefully took the bunny in her arms and cradled him. She gently petted him, enjoying the contact with the animal as she had never been around pets.
Ian wished to her, "I can see them too."
"You do?"
"Yeah." Ian held out his arms and started flapping them like the wings of a bird.
Grace laughed at the display and as the teenagers overheard the children's conversation, Rose idly commented, "So he thinks you have wings too?"
Jade and Tori continued to remain quiet on the question, but Dusty shrugged his right shoulder while answering in a lazy tone, "I'm not sure why he can see them and I don't know why she can see them either. Even other children usually don't see them. Heck, most angels can't see them unless I spread them. I think it's because of my human half."
The blonde questioned with a voice filled with sarcasm, "You really think your mother is an angel?"
The handsome teenager smiled, leaned over and whispered into her ear, "It is how I healed your daughter."
Rose took a step back and was ready to say something particularly nasty in using what happened to her daughter to make his point, but she stopped and saw that his eyes had turned blue.
Dusty smiled a knowing smile and continued, "Let her be in what she sees and accept your miracle." His eyes faded back to their natural brown color and the blonde teenager stared in wonder at what she just witnessed. He glanced to Grace and asked, "Little Grace?"
The blonde child looked away from her new friend and curiously looked up at him.
"Could you keep the wing thing and my mommy being an angel a secret?"
Grace easily nodded and started back her conversation with Ian.
Rose looked to the pair of singers, wondering if either of them was going to explain.
Jade and Tori passed looks to each other then the darker haired musician took a deep breath then slowly let it out to reveal her secret, "I had fractured skull, probable brain damage and cracked vertebrae and was probably going to die a few hours later from a car battery falling on my head, but… I'm here and absolutely fine even if he did go overboard with it." She motioned towards the handsome teenager.
Rose recalled hearing the story about what happened to her before she released her first album. It had completely dominated social media and the entertainment news as she had performed on the PMAs just weeks earlier that had been seen all over the world. She thought it was a pretty fanciful tale and that it was more of a publicity stunt than anything else, but… "You really…"
Dusty easily grinned as if it wasn't any big deal. "It's not something I can advertise because I can't help everyone, but I heard my ex's prayer, so… here I am."
Rose studied his eyes, still having a time processing what was just revealed to her, but her daughter was whole and not one memory of what happened to her without explanation. She practically flung herself at Dusty and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. "Thank you, thank you."
He patted her back and answered, "You're welcome. You're welcome."
The blonde pulled back, but still held on to his shoulders. Tears threatened to fall, so overcome with joy.
Grace noticed and looked up to ask concerned, "Are you okay mommy?"
Rose wiped under her eyes and let her thankful smile dominate her expression and answered, nearly choking up, "I'm fine. I'm fine."
Tori licked her lips, hesitant with her next words, but asked anyway, "I don't mean to pry into your personal life, but how are you getting along?"
Rose gathered her composure, glanced down and answered with a twinge of embarrassment, "We're fine. I need to get a new car, but luckily my boss didn't fire me. He may be a jerk, but he couldn't have gotten away with firing me over missing yesterday and today."
"What do you do?"
"I'm a waitress and trying to go to school at the same time at Northridge College."
Jade carefully remarked, unsure of the situation Rose was facing, "That must be tough for you."
Rose looked down to her daughter, seeing that she was happy with giving attention to the rabbit and making a new friend with Ian. "We get by just the two of us."
Tori had made the assumption that Rose was a single mother back at the hospital as no father was mentioned or any other family showed up. An idea popped in the brunette's mind and offered, "You could probably use more flexible hours and I could use another assistant. I'm going to be heading off to New York for a month, but I could use someone to stay here to help me manage things and keep me up-to-date on things happening. I know I'll pay you a lot more than he could."
The blonde raised a hand and tried to wave her off, "You don't have to do that."
Jade offered, "I know pride when I see it, so don't let it get in your way here. Besides, Tori can be a very stubborn person. I've had plenty of experience in having to deal with it."
Tori retorted with a near pout as she crossed her arms under her chest, "I'm not stubborn."
"You put up with me for all these years, so yeah, you're stubborn."
Rose graciously smiled and asked, "Okay, ah… what would it entail? When can I start?"
"I guess tomorrow. Stacy and Trina can bring you up to speed with everything after I leave."
Jade popped up with a raised eyebrow, "You're leaving tomorrow?"
Tori patiently smiled and answered, "I'm fine and I can't have them put off production for me. It's the crew's livelihood."
The former Hollywood Arts mean girl sighed, seeing that she wasn't going to talk Tori out of anything.
Rose spoke up, "I have obligations to my time." She glanced to her daughter, signaling what she meant.
Tori reassured her, "We'll make it work. I promise."
"Okay, I'll be back tomorrow afternoon after my classes and before I go to work.
"If things work out, you won't have to go back to that job."
The waitress laughed, "He wouldn't like that I didn't give him two weeks notice."
The popstar and hopeful actress reassured, "I'll talk to the manager if there are any problems."
"Thank you, but it's time for us to be going." Rose whispered to her daughter, "Say bye to Miss Tori."
Grace looked disappointed that she had to leave so soon, but listened to her mother. She handed the bunny back to Ian and waved, "Bye Miss Tori. I'm glad you're alright." She waved to Ian without prompting, "Bye Ian."
Ian smiled with a blush and replied, "Bye Gracey."
Tori got up from her seat and escorted the mother and child out of the room with the intention of walking with them back to their vehicle.
Dusty grinned and leaned over to whisper to Jade after they left the room, "They look pretty cute together. Maybe you should go ahead and plan their wedding?"
Jade flicked an eyebrow. "A little soon don't you think?"
"It's my understanding that they are about the same age that your mother and the Colonel met."
She sighed, having no counter to the remake and instead asked, "Was that wise to tell her the truth?"
"I wasn't going to say anything, but her daughter saw my wings. I'm not going to let her think she's seeing things and I am not going to let her mother think she needs some psychological help. I already had to deal with one that screwed up his daughter royally… and I almost had to put him in his grave."
Jade's lips slightly parted in surprise. "Oh?"
Dusty shook his head and partially rolled his eyes. "That's a story for another time."
The pale singer let another thing go with him, but she was determined to get the truth for him just for his own good or that was at least what she was telling herself.
As soon as Tori returned, Jade attempted to ask in a casually manner to her former 'frienemy', "Do you mind if we grabbed something downstairs? Ian needs his afternoon snack."
The brunette happily answered, "Of course not. The fridge is yours."
Jade took the bunny from Ian and handed him to Tori then took Ian's hand to head downstairs, leaving Tori and Dusty alone.
Tori brushed her hand over the bunny's back and timidly remarked, "I'm sorry. I was trying to shift some of my guilt onto you. It's mine to carry."
Dusty remained stoic for several seconds before he answered, "The remark about you not being able to drive a car was a cheap shot and out of line I will admit and apologize for, but I'm not apologizing for telling you where you could put your survivor's guilt. Let the others handle you with kid gloves; I don't have the time or patience for it when there was someone else far more in need of sympathy and you think I should share any of your guilt with you. You and I know you are not as fragile as the rest of them might think. I've seen everything of you, remember? You are far stronger than they give you credit for that could make Sam quake if she knew, so to steal a line from Jade: 'you push me back, I push you back harder'."
Tori matched his gaze and thought on his words. She didn't want the sympathy anyone—including her fans regardless of how ungrateful it could make her look—was trying to give her or the need to check on her to make sure she was okay. He actually gave her want she wanted with the lack of sympathy, but also a kick to her rear not to feel sorry for herself in the guilt of what happened.
"Thanks, but…"
"But what?"
"You've always been… the one for tough love and saying things that the some of us don't understand where you're coming from or what we wanted to hear, but… you sound cold… you look hurt and I'm not talking about your shoulder… what happened to you?"
Dusty's gaze narrowed on the brunette singer and set his jaw tight as if she had just physically slapped him. "A realized a very complicated condition of my life and I'm dealing with it the best way I know how. I'm not going to pretend that I'm making all the right choices."
"That includes breaking up with Heather?"
He just stared at her, no answer coming forth.
Tori slid off the bed and walked to him, surprising him by wrapping her arms around him for a hug.
Dusty closed his eyes and reluctantly returned the hug
The lovely singer pulled back and held his upper arms. She reassured him with a smile, "I don't know what you're going through, but I have to believe it's going to be alright."
He cracked a smile. "I think that's supposed to be my line."
The lovely singer joined him smiling.
Jade and Ian soon returned with snacks and drinks in hand. She retook her seat near the foot of the bed while Tori took her spot in the middle. The blue hair extension wearing teenager munched on her snack while she started going over what Tori had missed in class then spent the next hour or so working on their assignment while Ian was occupied by playing with Easter and games on a PearPad with Dusty.
The time approached four-thirty and Jade regretfully pointed out, "We need to go ahead and go. We have to swing back by Cat's place before Ian's mom comes by to pick him up. We kind of snuck out from Cat."
"Okay." Tori hugged Ian and kissed his cheek.
Ian squirmed from the affection, but didn't complain. She was nice and comfortable and at least it wasn't from anyone from his mother's side of the family that wanted to pinch his cheeks.
Tori let the child go. "Thanks for stopping by."
Jade politely answered as she packed up her things, "You're welcome. I guess I'll see you when you get back from New York. Stay safe."
"I will. You keep things sane while I'm gone."
"I'll try my best, but you everyone… including your sister," she assured while she placed Easter back into his carrying case. She glanced to Ian and asked, "You ready?"
"Yep," he answered as he really didn't bring anything with him.
Jade pulled the shoulder strap of her Gears-of-War bag and picked up the pet carrying case. She took Ian's hand and Tori led them down the stairs and to the large oak door.
The homeowner opened the door for them and gratefully spoke, "Thanks again for stopping by."
Jade half-smirked and answered it as if it was nothing, "You're welcome. I'll see you in a few weeks—in person. I'm just a call away as always."
"I'll remember."
Tori looked to Dusty and the Southern teenager courteously nodded then followed the step-siblings out.
The brunette singer shut the door behind them and took a deep breath, actually feeling better after the visit. Everyone was alright or alright as they were going to be at the moment and she would be able to be alright.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Some siblings coming closer, others some distance. On old face from iCarly showing up. Gibby must have been some fool to give her up. Little Grace and Ian meeting for the first time, how adorable? If you've read my recent story 'Of Valentine's Yet to Come', you may be a little spoiled with what happens with them. I wonder how things will be with Tori gone for a little while from L.A. (not necessarily from the story). Hopefully the next chapter will be out soon, thanks.
Quinn Friedman as Ian West
Mia Talerico as Grace
Emily Ratajkowski as Tasha
Bridgit Mendler as Rose