Disclaimer: The Show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

The Last Resort

Chapter 9 – Full circle.

Authors Note: Were going move forward a bit as we wrap up the story. I will speed things up a bit as well.

Tori's POV

15 months have come and gone since that day I left Jade in the psych ward. She stayed there for just over two weeks. The counseling sessions and various types of treatment did help her at least get a grip on things.

Still she wasn't out of the woods. I did talk to her on the phone and in emails. I would ask how she was doing and say what ever I could to raise her spirits and build her confidence back up. My agent's, as I like to call them, kept close tabs on Jade for me and gave her tons of support. I was referring to my mom, Cat, Beck, Andre and Robbie. My mom has Jade over to dinner at least one a month. Its funny, Jade has a better relationship with my mother than her own.

I even heard that Jade's relationship with her mom has improved somewhat. I here she's a still gank, but Jade tells me she's making more of an effort to connect and be supportive. Perhaps I did knock some sense into her. Jade tells me that were making progress, on a somewhat of glacial pace, but its still progress. Her father has been distant, but supportive.

Thankfully, Krista's parents didn't blame Jade for the accident. She confided in me soon after she went into the ward is that was a prime worry of hers. But they, like everyone else who knew Krista, mourned her loss and tried to move on. Having some money, they did create a music scholarship in her name.

As I said I did speak to Jade, but not terribly often. Generally every couple of weeks, though I suspect that she knows I keep very close tabs on her well being. My mom was right that I needed to give her some space. If I had suddenly been calling every day and acting like it was old times, she wouldn't have been able to heal properly. I hear she's doing well, though she has her bad days.

Within a few months she got back into her acting career, with a small television appearance. Since then she's slowly worked her way back and doing well, now having a reoccurring role on a nighttime television drama.

Our relationship is strange. We are friends now, but there's a slight awkwardness. I avoid talking too much about our past. I concentrate on the present and helping her. She misses Kirsta. Though she's doing better, she struggles at times. She generally contacts me on her bad days. Some days she's more open with me than others. It just depends on her mood. Some days she acts like I'm her very best friend and confidant I the world. Some day's she very distant and cold. I'm not offended though. I just need to remind myself that the woman she loved and was planning on spending her life with, is dead.

There is another reason I haven't made it back and don't have too much time available. After years of being on the chorus line or small parts I finally nailed a big role. About 6 months ago I auditioned for a Broadway revival of the Musical, Chicago. I was originally going to audition for one of the smaller roles but on a lark, went for one of the two principal leads, Velma Kelly. That was the role that Catherine Zeta-Jones played in the movie.

Much to my surprise, I got the role and I beat out several other actresses that had much longer resumes than me. We officially opened 4 months ago and have been packing them in ever since. The production got great notices across the board for me and everyone else involved. I even hear some talk about me being nominated for a Tony award. I'm not going to hold my breath on that one, I'll believe it when I see it. I'm being noticed and I'm getting offers for roles. During a break in production of my musical next month, I'll play the role of a model suspected of a ghastly sex crime on an episode of Law & Order SVU. The funny thing is that the role was a woman who was abrasive and possibly a sociopath. I simply did my best imitation of Jade from our high school days and promptly got the part. I was able to quit both of my jobs and found a nicer place to live. I even have an agent now.

I haven't dated at all. I've had one or two brief flings as you would call it. But the girls in each case knew that I wasn't looking for any relationship. There's only one woman I want to date or be in a relationship with. Sadly that woman is on the other side of the country, nursing a broken heart. I don't know if she loves me anymore anyway. She did forgive me. I did feel some lingering guilt, but over time it's mostly faded.

Other than an occasional email, I haven't even spoken to Jade in 2 months. She's been doing a film in Hawaii for the last couple of months. She only got back to L.A. a few weeks ago. I hear its some big sci-fi thing.

I'm waiting at the airport today. My mom is flying in today which is Thursday and flying out Sunday night. It will be a girl's weekend in New York City. I only have one show to do on Friday night and I've got a front row seat for my mom. I've got some other fun stuff planned.

Seeing on the board I could see that my mom's flight had just arrived but looking all through the crowed of people coming from the gate I didn't see my mom. After a few minutes I began to get worried that my mom missed the flight.

Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned swiftly around to see Jade, smirk and all, standing behind me. I think my heart leapt, I was so happy.

"Surprise" She said.

"Jade!" I said as I threw my arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. I was happy but terribly confused a the same time. In any case, it was soo good to see Jade in the flesh again.

After I broke the hug I gave her a rather puzzled look. "Jade. What? I was picking my mom."

Jade chuckled. "I'm afraid your mom played a trick on you. She said she was coming when it was me the entire time. When I came off the plane I wore a wig so I could sneak past and surprise you."

My jaw dropped open. "Wha…."

"To be honest Vega, I didn't even know about it until 3 days ago. You're mom has been a great help to me in the last year and I talk to her a lot. She suggested that I see you but I knew you were busy and to be honest a bit afraid. I was just being silly, I guess. I was having dinner with her and she handed me a ticket and said. Tori thinks I'm coming and has cleared her schedule with the exception of one show which I am supposed to watch from the front row. She said. Jade I know you want to see Tori, take my ticket and surprise her. This is my gift to you."

I was totally blown away and speechless.

Jade just took my arm and started to walk with me. "It's true, I've been wanting to see you. Get a chance to talk more. Take me to baggage claim while you're powers of speech return."

I didn't know what this exactly meant. I know she feels like she owes me a lot and we are friends, so I'm trying not to read too much into this visit.

Soon enough, we've picked up her bags and are in a taxi heading to my apartment.

"Big Broadway star now Vega, huh." Jade said with a proud smile.

"For now. We'll see how long this particular ride last's. Fame and fortune can be very fickle at times."

The smile on Jade's face slowly vanished. "I take your meaning." Jade then seemed to think for a moment, with a rather sober look on her face. "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. John Lennon said that."

I suddenly felt very stupid. "I'm sorry Jade. That was a stupid thing for me to say."

Jade half smiled and took my hand. "No, it was the truth. It's just that sometimes; the truth is really fucking painful. But we need to face it, regardless."

After a few minutes of silence Jade appeared to cheer back up. "So what do you have planned for me? Besides front row theatre tickets."

"Well after we get to my place, my mom or you were going t sleep in my bed while I sleep on the couch. Well it's just after 1 now, but we have reservations and a nice spa and then dinner at a nice resturant. Tommorrow I show you around, what ever you like to see."

Jade's eyebrow raised. "Can I see the building's on the front of Led Zeppelins, Physical Graffiti album?"

"ahhh….sure. Then you'll see me on stage from the front row. Saturday was going to be a shopping day and see Time's square. We can change it if you like"

Jade shook he her head. "Nahh… Sounds fun. So is this spa with snooty ladies eating tiny sandwiches and ass kissing attendants? Cause I want my ass kissed."

I just laughed. "Don't worry Jade, I'll see to it you ass gets kissed."

Give me a chance Jade, and I'll do it myself. I do hope she's coming here to start something. Just being here is making my heart beat faster.

I turned to look at her hair. "You still have your hair long, what is it about 2/3's of the way down your back. I like it. You just look so good. You're smiling again. I like that."

"Thank you." Jade said with a slight blush.

Well we stopped by my apartment. It's a one bedroom apartment. It's small but in a very nice building. I could afford something bigger but I'm being a bit frugal. Jade seemed to like the place. She noticed the picture I have on the wall of us together. It was taken on vacation in Cozumel at a bar. I could see Jade's smile broaden as she looked at it.

We then headed over to the spa, where I treated Jade to what ever she wanted. She got the massage and a laundry list of other things. I think she just liked people waiting on her, hand and foot. I just had the massage and facial. I paid the attendants a bit extra to see that Jade got the star treatment. I could see that Jade was enjoying herself immensely. So much so, she was hardly mean to the attendants at all.

After that I took her to one of the most exclusive sushi restaurants in New York. Being the star of a major broadway show, I was quickly able to get reservations. A year ago when I was unknown, I couldn't get reservations there if I took hostages.

Dinner was great and Jade and I had a great time. She would occasionally look sullen when the subject of Krista came up but she a 1000% better. I could tell she wasn't quite the same Jade as before. She seemed to choose her words more carefully and was a bit more hesitant to make fun or insult others. I knew the guilt was there, in the back of her mind and probably always would be but she seemed to be getting a handle on it.

There was a sparkle in her eyes that I hadn't seen in a very long time. As the night went on it seemed less like two friends having dinner and more like a couple having dinner.

I had in mind heading to a nightclub after dinner but when we came out of the restaurant Jade turned to me and said.

"Hey do they have those horse drawn carriages that take people round the park or something."

I was a bit stunned. Those were very romantic, my heart began to race. "Actually you can get one across the street."

"Good, Come on Vega. Let's go." She said quickly.

As we crossed the street, we spotted a carriage pull up and a older couple came out.

Crossing the street, I noticed that Jade began to look a bit nervous. It seemed like she was anticipating something. Now my heart was practically beating out of my chest.

A few minutes later we were on our way in the carriage, in an evening looking more romantic by the second. I was half paralyzed. My mind was racing, what was she going to say?

Suddenly she took a deep breath and inched closed to me. "I came to New York, not to just see the city or visit you. I came to have a talk with you. One that I couldn't have over the phone or by email. I had to be with you, I had to see your eyes when I said it. I wasn't even sure when I wanted to say it, but I can't wait any longer."

"Go ahead." I said as I realized my hands began to tremble.

"I've was practicing this speech the entire plane ride here and I'm sure it will still sound horrible, so here goes. I loved Krista and I miss her. It's just a fact. But that being said, I miss you too Tori. After our breakup, I hated you and was bitter for a long time. Krista helped me move forward. But then everything changed in an instant and my whole world had been shattered. I was in such a dark place and you saved me. Just your voice made me want to break my catatonia. During those first few days, just you being there helped me. Not only that, you held me while I cried and saw to it that I got help. You saved my life."

A tear appeared In Jade's eye which she wiped away.

"It was when you told my mom that you would give your own life up for my happiness, did I realize that I how I truly felt about you. I had buried all those feelings down in side me. Hearing that jolted them all lose. That last day when you left me at the psych ward, I wanted to tell you how I felt, but I simply couldn't. My heart was still broken and it just wasn't the time. I needed to mourn. But after that, you supported me and I know kept close tabs on me."

Oh my god, Jade's going to tell me she still love's me. Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god…..I love her so much. I think I'm going to faint.

"Tori, my heart is still a very fragile thing. But I need to move on. She'd want me to be happy. There is only one person in the world that I would trust with my heart, who could make me happy again, make me want to live again and that's you. I love you Tori Vega, I always have. Please be with me again, even if it's only dating. I can take it as slow.."

That's all she got out before I tearfully threw my arms around her. I could no longer restrain myself. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I love you so much Jade. I just want you to be happy. I would do anything in the world to make you happy."

I pulled back and put my hands on her jaw's pulling her face close to mine. "I love you jade, I'm still so sorry for hurting you and driving away. I'll make up for everything I did wrong a thousand times over. If you want to date we'll just date, if you want me to be your girlfriend just say the word and you'll have the happiest girlfriend on earth. You're so beautiful, special and wonderful and my heart ached for you seeing in so much pain. I just wanted to take it all away. I know I can't replace Krista, but I'll love you forever. Oh my god, I'm rambling." I then realized I was rambling at an extremely fast pace.

Jade smiled. "You can't replace her, but she couldn't replace you either. You're both different and special. I need to love again and you are the only person I want to love."

By now I was a mass of happy tears. "I'm so happy Jade, I'm crying."

Jade wiped away one of her tears. "So am I."

I had a thought. "But you live in L.A.?" I would quit the show and move to be with her.

"You suggested a new place to live. New memories or something. I've been thinking of coming out here. I told your mom a few weeks ago that I still loved you and wanted to be with you again. She told me you've stayed single in hopes of me coming to you. I'm sorry I was afraid of coming sooner. Just telling you all of this was hard. I know you loved me, but I need a bit of a push. Your mom did that."

We just looked into each others eyes for a moment when jade put her arms around me and slowly pressed her lips against mine. Even that slow tender kiss sent a shockwave through my whole body. I immediately let out a moan and opened my mouth. Taking the initiative, Jade deepened the kiss and thrust her tongue into my mouth. There was a quick dance between our tongues, but I let Jade dominate mine.

As we kissed and cuddled in the carriage I began to think of the weekend we would have together. I also thought of how fortunate I was to have a second chance. But I couldn't help think of Krista and I hoped that wherever she was, she finds peace.

Out of tragedy had sprung a new relationship. A new hope for the future. I'm not sure how fast things would actually go or what our status was, but Jade and I were together again and that's all that mattered to me. I would guard, cherish and protect her heart the rest of my days.

I hope that didn't seem too rushed but I want to wrap this up. There will be one more chapter. I'm hoping to have the next chapter of "The Bet" out sometime next week.