"Do you still get headaches?" Jade blurts out. Cat raises her eyebrow and lowers her head.
"Yes," Cat says slowly. "Why do you ask?" She sips her coffee mug.
"I don't know." Jade frowns. "I just remember something." Cat shakes her head. "Go on, tell me the rest."
"Okay," Jade says. "I don't want to fight with you."
"Me either." Cat says bluntly. "I'm going to get a muffin. Do you want one?" Jade shakes head. "No, I forgot. Sorry. Of course not." Jade sighs and turns away. She plays with Olivia. "Can you put her down for a nap?" Jade smiles and nods. She runs up the stairs with Olivia.
"Okay, baby," Jade tucks the covers under. "Have a good sleep." Beck watches her from the doorframe.
"What was that about, babe?" He asks, concerned. Jade looks back at him. She looks at the baby.
"Cat doesn't want us to take the baby," Jade whispers. "She's taking us to court." Jade's eyes fill with tears. Beck envelopes her into a bear hug and breathes in Cat's strawberry shampoo. "Please don't let her take my baby."
"She's ours," Beck says gently. "And she's not going anywhere."
"Cat wouldn't actually take her, per say. She'd just be here, you know?" Jade looks up hopefully.
"No, Jade, we can't stay here forever. You know that."
"I do know!" Jade insists. "But look what she's done for us. Look at her, so peaceful."
"We're getting out of here. Before our baby becomes hers." Jade shakes her head.
"No way."
"Well, I'm leaving if you don't." Jade starts to cry.
"Please don't leave me, please don't leave me Beck! I love you so much and I love you to the moon and back!"
"Okay, babe, calm down. Let's get sorted." They sit together and talk it over. Tears spill over Jade's face as she nods, reluctantly agreeing with him. They needed to leave quickly. Jade grabbed Olivia's diaper bag and stuffed clothes and bottles and binkies. She then emptied the biggest handbag she had and stuffed her own clothes inside, her toothbrush, toiletries, emergency cash, and a few other bits and pieces. She sits down and writes a letter.
I don't want to do this. I just wanted a quiet life. I suppose life was okay before Beck came back. I love him. I love Livvy. I can't leave him anymore than I can leave her. I know what you're thinking. "What's that supposed to mean!?"
I'm so sorry. I love you so much. I hope to see you very very soon. Please don't do anything silly. Take care of yourself.
Love you forever and eternally grateful,
Jade xo
She leaves it in the crib, and then walks out, trying hard not to cry. She pulls her hair back in a tight ponytail, thinking that if she left Olivia with Cat she'd never get to do that for her. Lies. She knows that Cat would let her do whatever she wanted – "She's your baby."
"I'm so, so very sorry." Jade means it. She picks up Olivia. "Okay, baby, we're going on an adventure. Ready?"
"Ready mommmi!" Olivia squeals.
"Shh!" Jade yells. She shocks herself. "I'm sorry, sorry…Shh now." Jade starts to doubt herself. She's never really been a quiet person but never has she yelled at Livvy. She forgets about that for now. They need to leave, quickly.
"Bye bye, Auntie Cat," Jade whispers. Livvy repeats.
"Bye bu Ant Cat!" Olivia babbles.
"What was that, Jade?" Cat calls from the kitchen. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Jade replies. "Just dandy…" Jade curses herself for being so stupid. Beck runs down the stairs with the bags. He smiles sweetly and Jade melts.
"Come on, babe. Hold on tight to Olivia. We haven't got her seat."
"I'll drive," Jade offers. "You can hold the baby." Beck agrees. He takes his daughter and holds her tenderly as they load up the bags.
"I love you two so much." Beck says. "I'll forever be sorry."
"We love you, too."
They drive and drive and find a town far enough away that they can stop. "This was the place my dad used to take me," Jade says softly. "I never told anyone."
"You said he was a deadbeat dad."
"I lied." Jade shrugged. She bites her lip, considering. "It was when mom left. He said it was because he felt like we needed a break, but I know he didn't want me coming home from school to an empty house, or sitting at dinner eating take outs asking where mama was."
"He must have loved you."
"I suppose so."
"You call your mom mama?"
"Yes, when she was being nice to me."
"Why do you act as if your parents hate you, then?" Beck asked, less than tactfully.
"Because mama left for good one day, and we couldn't stay here forever, daddy said. No matter how much I begged."
"Oh, Jade." Beck said slowly. His face softened.
"I didn't understand why he wanted to go back so soon. He liked it here, when it was just us," Jade says, ignoring Beck. "Dawn Summers, that's why! She was six years older than me, that's all. Nineteen years old! Daddy sold our house. I didn't want to move away. I didn't want a new baby brother at fifteen. I didn't want to listen to Dawn or take the yappy dog out for walkies!" Jade shouted. "I always thought, you know, what if mom comes back? I told him my fears and he ignored me. Daddy ignored me. I told him everything. In middle school nobody liked me, so I told him. I said, you know, daddy, nobody likes me! And he said, no, that's not true. He said that he liked me and that Dawn liked me and that Steven liked me, but Steven was like, two, and I didn't like him and-"
"Jade, calm down. Your dad isn't here. You're okay!" Tears poured down Jade's face like a waterfall.
"But we just left Cat like mama left me…" Jade rasps, "I'm just as bad as mom!" Beck lowered his eyes, clutching the baby tightly. "I think I'm going to be sick," Jade says, for the second time since they'd been reunited. She's right, and so cries even more. She covers her face with her hands.
For the first time in 15 years, all Jade Oliver (Nee West) wanted, was a hug from mommy and daddy.
A/N:
Hopefully all the dates and stuff are right. And even though Cat is telling the story, I decided to add this part in. Hope you don't mind. (: