As she was sitting on one of the now empty pallets, she decided to listen to her body. She had a headache, her arms felt heavy, she was sweaty and she was sure she had pulled a handful of muscles. And yet, as Tori looked on the new roof, she didn't mind any of it one bit. Simon and Andre climbed down the ladder once the last tile was placed. She glanced at Courtney and Sinjin, smiling widely when she saw the relief on their faces. And yet her smile dropped almost immediately.

She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to see her family. She didn't want to talk to them, listen to their excuses or suggestions. She knew what she was going to hear. She had gone through that conversation a hundred times in her head by now. Everyone would have an excuse, a blame and issue with someone else, and yet no one would offer a solution. That's what she was for after all. Except that now, she didn't want to reconcile with them. They made their choices. They made their mistakes. Now, they can go and fix them on their own. After all, none of them were there for her either.

"What's wrong?" Tori heard. She looked up as Cat crouched in front of her.

"The last few days have been too long." Tori said, crossing her arms over her knees and resting her head on them.

"But weren't they worth it? Robbie and I, you and Jade; and now we did something for Sinjin and Courtney." Cat said. "A lot of good things happened."

Tori smiled and shook her head.

"I forgot to look at things that way. How can you always see the positive things?" Tori asked.

"It's easy. You choose what you want to see. What you want to pay attention to. I don't want to think about the bad things unless there is something useful in it. If there is nothing to gain from it, then why even bother? It's a waste of time. All it does is ruin anything you are doing at that moment. I could ask myself now why I didn't give Robbie a chance years ago, but what do I get from that? All it would do is distract me from us now." Cat explained.

"I wish it was that easy for me. But every time I try to forget the bad and think about the good, something just has to knock the bad back into my attention." Tori said.

"What do you mean?" Cat asked.

Tori took out her phone, opened the last message she got from her father and turned her phone towards Cat. She saw Cat silently mouth the words as she read the message.

"Oh." was the only thing the redhead could utter.

"So I got a pregnant sister, an adultery mother and a responsibility dodging father waiting at home, all suddenly wanting to talk this out." Tori said.

"Trina is pregnant?" Cat gasped.

"Yeah. I found out the night Jade and I had that fight." Tori said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. When I told Jade you were already passed out drunk."

"Don't worry about it. I understand." Cat said.

"Tori, Cat." Robbie said as he walked towards them. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting something important here, but Andre had a great idea. How about we throw a BBQ here and celebrate the good job we did today." Robbie said. "Simon has everything at his house. He and Beck are going to pick it up while Andre and I will buy the food. What do you say?"

"I like the idea. But I can't stay for too long." Tori said.

"Why?" Robbie asked.

"My mom, dad and Trina are at home waiting for me." Tori said. "They want to talk." Robbie nodded.

"If there is anything I can do…" Robbie began.

"I know. Thanks. But this is something I have to do myself." Tori said.

"No you don't." everyone turned around after Jade spoke up. "I'm going with you. We're in this together, in case you've forgotten."

"Jade…"

"There is no point arguing with me. You should know that." Jade said. Robbie and Cat nodded in agreement.

"Alright." Tori sighed. "I won't."

"Good girl." Jade said as she offered Tori her hand. Tori took it and Jade helped her up.

Twenty minutes later, the flames spurred out of the grill and Robbie turned the first round of steaks around as Andre's car radio provided the music. Cat, Jade and Tori carried the chairs out of the kitchen outside and sat down while Andre, Simon, Sinjin and Beck kept asking Robbie for culinary advice.

Just as Tori wanted to sit down, she felt a pat on her arm. She turned around to see Courtney standing behind her, looking down at her feet and slightly trembling.

"C-Can I talk to you, please?" Courtney stuttered, not looking up.
"Of course." Tori said. She followed Courtney inside the house into a room Tori guessed was Courtney's. When her eyes landed on the bed, she knew why the small, fragile blonde had pulled her aside.

"You accidentally put this in the suitcase." Courtney said as she pointed at the box.

"I put it there on purpose." Tori said.

"But… there's three thousand dollars in there." Courtney weakly said.

"I know. It's what I've saved up in the last few years. I don't need it." Tori explained.

"You can't just give me a case full of your things and your savings." Courtney said.
"I won't miss the clothes and I won't miss the money. I was saving it up for a new laptop for college, but the one I have now is more than good enough. And you need it more than I do." Tori explained. Courtney's head dropped again as she kept shaking her head. She covered her face with her hands as she began to cry. Tori stepped towards the smaller girl and pulled her into a hug.

"You don't have to pay me back. You don't need to return the favor. Nothing. Just keep the promise you gave me, and we're even." Tori whispered. Courtney's arms wrapped around the half Latina. "I asked Andre to look out for a weekend job for you. He'll find one soon, I promise."

"Y-You told him?" Courtney sobbed, looking up at the taller girl.

"No. I only told him that you need work. I didn't tell him anything else. I didn't tell anyone." Tori reassured her.

"I can't thank you enough." Courtney said.

"I'm just glad I can help. You deserve it." Tori said.

They were interrupted when they heard some yelling going on outside.

"Oh no." Courtney gasped.

Tori let go of her and ran outside, where she saw Simon and Andre holding back someone while Sinjin was sitting on the ground, holding his cheek.

"Who allowed you brats to come here and have a party?" Tori heard the man say. He looked miserable. His hair was almost completely gone, his teeth were yellow and Tori could smell the alcohol all across the yard.

"Dad…" She heard Courtney gasp.

"We are celebrating the fact that we fixed the roof on your house. You're welcome, by the way." Simon said as he pushed the man back. Mr. Van Cleef stumbled backwards, barely able to keep his balance.

"I didn't ask you to fix the damn roof. I would have done so myself. I built this house on my own before you were even pissing in your diaper boy." Mr. Van Cleef spat.

"You can barely stand on your own two feet you alcoholic moron." Simon snarled back.

"What did you say? How about I teach you some manners kid?" Mr. Van Cleef threatened. Simon took a step forward and stopped right in front of him, looking the drunk man right in the eyes.

"What can you teach me about manners you ungrateful, drunk waste of air? While you were downing your whiskey we were working here all day for free so you could have a roof over your head again. No, scratch that. Fuck you. We weren't doing it for you. We did it for your two kids and your wife who is in the hospital. We skipped school for this, the young man over there with the long black hair managed to get new tiles for free and every single one of us "brats" here worked non stop for free. And instead of thanking us and just joining us in this little celebration you walk in here all high and mighty as if you've earned it somehow and punch your son for no reason? Is that what you think manners are? Or hey, why don't you try and punch me? See how that goes for you." Simon said, not looking away once.

Mr. Van Cleef took a step back without saying anything. He turned around and walked away, back from where he had come from. Simon left out a long breath as he watched him leave. When he turned around, he realized that everyone was staring at him.

"Sorry. I… Drunks like this just piss me off. I… I think I should go." Simon said.

"Why?" Jade asked. "You said what all of us were thinking."

"She's right." Robbie agreed while Andre helped Sinjin up.

"He will be back later." Sinjin barely said.

"Well, you won't be here to welcome him." Robbie said. "You and Courtney can stay at my place. There's more than enough room. My parents won't mind."

"A-Are you sure?" Sinjin asked; his voice still small and fragile.

"Of course. Grab a suitcase, pack some stuff and you guys can stay as long as you want." Robbie said.

"Thank you." Sinjin said. "I-I'm gonna go and get some things." He said as he walked into the house.

"Thank you, Robbie. But I have a place I can stay at." Courtney said.

"Well, in case something happens, my offer will stand." Robbie said.

"Thanks." Courtney said.

"Well, this BBQ is ruined. Even though I have to admit, I would have loved to see him try and punch you." Andre said as he looked at Simon.

"I hoped he would." Simon said. "Sorry again for my outburst."

"Stop apologizing. Parents like him don't deserve any respect." Beck said. "Excuses, threats, all this bullshit about how they did so well in the past… It's always the same story with people like that. Only the excuses change."

"I think it's time I go and hear some excuses too." Tori said.

"Whenever you're ready." Jade said as she took Tori's hand.

"What do you mean?" Andre asked.

"Mom, dad and Trina are waiting for me at home. They want to talk." Tori explained.

"Wow. Man, fuck this Monday." Andre said, shaking his head. "You want me to come with you?"

"I'm going with her. Don't worry." Jade said.

"Good. You're better at arguing than me anyway." Andre said.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Tori said.

"Good luck. Don't be too harsh with them." Cat said as she hugged her.

"I won't." Tori said before she turned to Courtney and hugged the small blonde. "Call me if you need anything." She whispered to the small blonde who only nodded in her embrace.

Half an hour later, Jade parked in the Vega's driveway. Tori hadn't said a word the whole ride, and Jade didn't force a conversation. Tori was grateful for that.

They got out of the car and walked towards the door. Tori opened the door and saw the conversation Trina, Holly and David were having immediately come to a halt. She looked at her family. Trina was nervously playing with her hair; Holly was staring at the floor while David looked at her with a worried stare.

"Well? I'm here. Let's talk." Tori said as she and Jade sat down on the couch next to Trina.

"What is she doing here?" Trina asked, looking at Jade.

"What you haven't been doing in the last few months." Jade said.

"Jade and I are together." Tori said. "Just so you know."

The three older Vega's stared at Tori as if she had grown another head.

"I-Is this some kind of joke?" Holly asked, disgust apparent in her voice.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes." Tori said. "Everything you want to say in front of me you can say in front of her."

"T-Tori, I know the last few months weren't easy for you. I know you are just trying to cope, but…" Holly began, and Tori immediately felt anger rise in her chest.

"No, this is not me trying to cope. I'm in love with Jade. We are together now. We are a couple. End of story." Tori said. She felt Jade's hand on hers. She knew that screaming would not resolve anything right now.

"Tori… It's just a shock because… we didn't know you were a…" David began.

"Into girls? A lesbian? Honestly? I don't care what label you are looking for. And I don't have to explain myself to any of you here after what you've done." Tori said.

"B-But you used to have boyfriends." Holly said.

"And you used to be a faithful wife and a good mother. Dad used to be a caring and responsible parent who didn't run away from his problems and Trina used to be a not pregnant teenager who actually went to school. But me being with a girl is now the big issue?" Tori asked, anger spewing out of her voice.

"We've all made mistakes, Tori. We know that. But that's why we are here. We want to fix our mistakes." David explained.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Tori asked. Silence filled the room immediately. "Okay, let's do it this way. Holly, why the sudden change of heart?" Tori asked.

"I missed all of you. I made a mistake and I want to make it right." Holly said.

"Oh really? Where's Gary?" Tori asked. Holly's face immediately stiffened at the name. Tori heard a chuckle next to her.

"Can I guess? He left you for someone else?" Jade asked. Tori could see that her mother got angrier and angrier. Jade had guessed right, she was sure of that.

"Wow. You're still a liar." Tori said. "And you would take her back?" Tori asked as she looked at David.

"I want to do what's right for our family." David said.

"We haven't been a family for a while." Trina said.

"But we can be one again." David said, letting out a sigh. "Your mother will move back in with us, I will drive Trina to a doctor I know who will fix her problem and you will come back to your senses. Things will be like they used to be before all this happened."

"I won't have an abortion." Trina said.

"Trina, we've talked about this." Holly said.

"No. You and dad talked. I couldn't get a word in. I want to keep the baby." Trina said.

"Trina, you're still a kid. Do you know what it means to have a baby? Do you what it means to be a parent?" Holly asked.

"I wouldn't talk about parenting if I was you." Tori said.

"Tori, I don't want to hear any more provocations from you." Holly said.

"Then find yourself another man and leave again." Tori said. Just as she had said that, she felt a hot sensation on her cheek before it turned into a dull ache. She turned her head back and stared at her mother. David didn't even move while Trina looked shocked.

"You fuck up but you can't take responsibility for your fuck ups. You leave us one morning without a warning for another man but now after he dumped you, you expect us to welcome you back with open arms? You think that after what you've done your opinion means anything to me? Or Trina?" Tori asked, standing up and looking at her mother. "Go ahead and slap me again. It doesn't even hurt. Not after all the pain I felt in the last few months. I don't want you in my life. I don't need you in my life. And dad, I don't need to come to my senses. I've never seen or thought clearer than now. I see now what both of you always have been. Lousy parents and selfish assholes. Take her back. You do deserve each other." Tori said.

She looked down at Trina. She wanted to lash out at her. To call her a slut; an irresponsible brat; a dumb, spoiled moron who ruined her life with her idiocy. But none of these things would escape her throat.

"Get up. You're staying with me. We'll figure something out." Tori said to her sister.

"W-Where are we staying?" Trina asked.

"Cat's place until we can figure something out. It's better than staying here." Tori said. "We can pick up your stuff later."

"What do you think you're doing?" David asked, finally standing up.

"I'm done." Tori said. She grabbed her purse and took out her wallet before throwing down her dad's credit card and her car keys. "I'll rather sleep under a bridge than stay here."

"And how are you going to make a living? What about college? Did you think about any of that? How are you going to do this by yourself?" David asked.

"I'll work day and night if I have to. I can't sleep anyway thanks to you guys. I might as well make the best of it." Tori said.

"And you've made a mistake, Vega. She won't have to do this by herself." Jade said, leaving David dumbfounded.

Tori took Trina's hand and helped her up. The girls walked out, ignoring Holly's and David's words. They got into Jade's car and reversed out of the driveway.

"Thank you for being there with me." Tori said as she looked at Jade.

"Don't thank me. After all the "I owe you one" I gave you; it's time I finally began returning the favors." Jade said.

"Are you two really a couple?" Trina asked.

"We are. I wouldn't be alive if it hadn't been for her." Tori said. "If you had any idea what she went through with me in the last few months you would understand."

"You're lucky. You have your friends." Trina said.

"No. She's not lucky." Jade said. "Friendships have nothing to do with luck. She earned all she gets from us."

"Oh." Was all Trina said. "Then I got what I deserved."