Sitting at the end of the table, Tori can't help but roll her eyes at the sickening display of affection happening just across from her. Holly Vega and her new beau Gary are disregarding the uncomfortable glances thrown their way by their wedding guest and continue their "mild" kissing session. Tori looks towards the other end of the table and notices Trina's equally annoyed expression and for hundredth time that night wishes she hadn't come. Truthfully, she had been reluctant to even show up, if only out of respect for her father, but eventually succumbed to her sister's pleads and Beck's "she's still your mother" speech.
As much as she tries to be a good sport about the awkward situation, she couldn't forget that both her mom and Gary betrayed her father and now her family is broken. She wants to be a good daughter and be happy for her mother's happiness, but she couldn't. Tori could not accept the cheating and lying that took place, all because of the man sitting in front of her. Silently, she continues eyeing Gary. What exactly did her mother see in him? Although he's easy on the eyes, he isn't particularly charming or funny. There is nothing he could offer her that she didn't already have, so what is it?
"Oh for the love of all that is holy, can you too take a breather for two minutes?" Trina suddenly exclaims.
Tori quickly turns to look at her sister, startled that she actually said what everyone else was thinking. Actually, that isn't very surprising since it is Trina after all. Trina stands up from her seat and heads outside to the backyard. Tori takes one look at her mother who is visibly embarrassed, and decides that rather than stay and help her mother save face, she's going after her sister to check on her.
"I'll be right back" Tori says, turning to Beck who has been sitting next to her, also enduring the awkward dinner. He nods his head and watches her walk away from the table.
Once outside, Tori finds Trina sitting on one of the rocking wicker chairs, her legs propped up and held close to her chest. Slowly, she walks around the chair and sits on one opposite it. For a moment the two sisters make eye contact and then Trina looks up towards the sky.
"I used to sit out here with dad all the time" she says without looking at Tori.
"You did?" Tori asks. She looks from her sister to the sky and then back at Trina.
"Yeah. When we were in high school we would just sit and talk for so long" Trina continues. Tori quickly notices her sister's eyes watering. When was the last time Trina cried? Tori thinks for a moment and can't seem to remember ever seeing her sister shed a tear. Unless you count the times she didn't make it to a shoe sale or was "acting," which Tori didn't.
"What did you talk about?" Tori asks. Though she wants to ask her sister why she's close to crying, she knows that Trina will likely get defensive about it and shut down.
"Everything. School, boys, you...mom. Did you know that he suspected the cheating?"
"Wha-what?" Tori asks, bewildered by Trina's question. "What do you mean he suspected it?"
Trina nods her head and finally turns her attention back towards her sister. For a second, the older Vega sister smiles and rocks the chair gently. "He told me he found a message on her phone...from Gary. He didn't trust him, not one bit."
Tori tries to process this new information and a wave of emotions flow through her body. "When was this?" she asks, trying to figure out how long the deception has taken place. Surely, her mother wouldn't have been capable of having an affair for years, would she?
"My senior year. I came home and they were arguing. It seemed like nothing at first but then I heard yelling and things breaking-"
"Where was I?" Tori interrupts. How is she just learning about this?
"Out" Trina simply says with a shrug.
The next few minutes are filled with silence. Trina unfurls her legs and rocks the chair again. She throws her head back a bit and looks back up at the sky, watching the starts twinkle and the leaves on the trees sway with the gentle breeze. Tori looks behind her sister and through the glass doors. In the house she sees her mother throwing her head back in laughter, her hand caressing the back of Gary's head. Across from them, she sees Beck offering a polite smile while turning the fork on his plate.
"Are you happy Trina?" she asks, breaking the silence.
Confused by her sister's question, Trina says "why do you ask?"
Tori slowly draws her attention away from the people inside and looks down at the bottom of the chair Trina is sitting on. She watches as the legs move back and forth, a creaking sound coming from it when Trina rocks backwards. "I've never asked you before" she replies.
Trina opens her mouth to answer, but quickly closes it again. For a short moment she thinks of the question and finally responds "I am."
Tori looks up at her sister and a small smile grows on her face. "You are?" she asks again. Trina lets out a small laugh and sits back further on the chair.
"I am. I'm finally in a good place. I'm getting married soon, to the most amazing man and I'm truly, positively happy Tori."
"I'm glad. I know I haven't always been there for you but you're my sister Trina and I just want you to have everything you want, because you deserve it."
"Oh come on Tor, don't get all sappy on me now, it'll ruin our dynamic" Trina says, hopping excitedly out of the chair and flipping her hair back. Tori can't help but laugh and follows suit. She stands just a few feet from her sister and before she can say anything else, she feels her sister's arms around her, squeezing her tightly. Tori brings her arms up and returns the embrace. This is the first time in a really long time she has been this close to her sister and though it's a minor step for them, Tori can already sense a change in their relationship.
Trina slowly drops her arms and takes a step backwards. "We should get back in there. I'm going to get out of here, I have seen enough old people PDA for one night" she says, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, thanks for saying something in there. I couldn't take it anymore" Tori exclaims, remembering why she came out here in the first place.
"Trust me, it was necessary. Most uncomfortable evening ever. James couldn't stop cringing when she did that stupid whining voice."
Tori laughs, "Beck and I just kept turning our heads every time they got too close."
"Yeah, let's just all call it a night" Trina says and slowly starts walking towards the doors. Tori follows her sister, happy for the bonding moment they have just had. While her sister can have her crazy and wild moments, Tori wouldn't trade her for anyone. After all, Trina is indirectly responsible for all the great things that have happened in Tori's life. If it hadn't been for her sister, she wouldn't have made it into Hollywood Arts and met her best friends, or Beck. She wouldn't have realized her love of music or how passionate she is about acting.
Once they are back inside, both girls help their mother clear the table. The three women clean up quietly, none of them bringing up the earlier incident. Tori glances over to where Beck is standing, talking to James. She smiles and is happy to see him getting along with her future brother-in-law. Seeing him around her family just seems so natural. As she's putting the plates in the dishwasher, she hears Gary coming down the stairs and walking over to her mother. He playfully spins her and dips her, in a dance-like motion. Taking this as her cue to go, she quickly finishes loading the dishwasher and bids farewell to her family.
As she is following Beck towards the front door, Tori hears her mother calling out to her. She walks back to where her mother is standing alone, thankful that Gary is busy talking to Trina and James near the kitchen.
"What's going on mom?" Tori asks. She takes a quick glance at Beck who is waiting over by the door and holds up one finger, letting him know she will only be a minute. He nods his head and she turns back to her mom.
"Look, I just want to apologize for tonight. I know it isn't easy for you girls to watch me and Gary together. I know you probably won't believe me but I do still love your father, but we grew apart. He'll always be special to me, but I'm in love with Gary now. I wish you could just try to get to know him, maybe give him a chance."
Tori sighs and runs a hand through her long hair. She hates that her parents divorced and even though she's older and fully capable of understanding that feelings do change, she can't help but feel that she's betraying her father by accepting her mom's relationship with Gary. However, it is also unfair for her to hurt her mother's feelings by not making the effort to support her new relationship.
"Look mom, I don't have a problem trying to get along with Gary, but you two can't just keep making out in front of Trina and me. It makes us uncomfortable and it's embarrassing when you do it in front of Beck and James."
Holly nods her head in understanding. "Okay, I promise to tone it down. Thank you so much sweetheart, you have no idea how much this means to me" she continues and tightly goes in to hug her daughter. Tori brings one arm up and wraps it around her mother's petite figure. Quickly, the two women say their good byes and Tori walks back over to Beck.
"Ready?" he asks her and once she nods her head yes, he takes her hand in his and opens the door. The young couple walks outside to where Beck's truck is parked. He walks over to the passenger side and opens the door.
"And they say chivalry is dead" she exclaims playfully.
"I might have to stop, otherwise you'll get high expectations" he retorts with a wink. She rolls her eyes, a smile still on her face and slides into her seat. He closes the door and walks around the other side.
Once inside the car, Beck turns to Tori and smiles at her. "Interesting night, huh?"
She scoffs and shakes her head. "I'm sorry you had to sit through that. I'm sorry I had to sit through that."
He lifts his arm and reaches over to her. Slowly, he strokes her hair and gently pulls her head closer to him. "You don't need to apologize to me. I love spending time with your family. They're a little crazy, but whose isn't?"
Tori laughs and voluntarily gets closer to his. "You're amazing" she says. She brings her hand up to his face and closes the small gap between them, until their lips are nearly touching. Slowly, his eyes close as he awaits the contact of her lips.
"I love you" Tori whispers and his eyes snap open as soon as the words leave her mouth.
"Really Tor?" he says after a few seconds, his voice trembling in disbelief.
Tori smiles and nods her head. "I do, I love you so much."
Beck leans over and crashes his lips onto hers. Finally, after over a year, he's finally hearing those words. The same words he had taken for granted before. Now, however, they mean everything to him. As the kiss deepens and begins getting too intense, Tori pulls away. "Wow" she says, her eyes fluttering open and the corners of her mouth curving upwards.
Beck laughs at her reaction and reaches over to the seat belt. He brings it across his chest and buckles it. "So," he starts, "do you want me to take you to your apartment or do you want to stay over at my place?"
Tori looks down at her watch and sees that it's just after nine o'clock. After having to suffer an uncomfortable night, she could have sworn it was later than that.
"Tor?" he asks, unsure if she's heard him.
"I want to go home" she replies.
Beck nods and starts the engine. "Okay, let's take you home" he says. As soon as his hand rests on the stick shift, she reaches over and puts her hand on top of it.
"No, you don't understand. I want to go home, to our house. I want to move back in" she continues. She looks up at him and her heart melts at the genuine happiness in his eyes.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this" he says. Beck leans over towards her once more and places a quick peck on her lips.
"Let's go home baby" she says once they break apart. Beck nods his head and reaches over to grab her hand, caressing it as he pulls out of the parking spot and starts driving away.
The End.
Author's Note: Last chapter! What did you think? Hopefully you liked it. I want to thank those of you who took the time to read/review the story one last time. I had fun writing it. I will not be posting any more Victorious stories for a few weeks but I'll still be reading. If any of you want a BETA reader I'll be more than happy to read your stories. With that said, thanks again and see you guys next time around!