Hiiii :) so this is really just the first half of one chapter.. I was going to have the whole thing in one chapter but it got too long so i've split it up. Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own victorious
It was a Saturday morning and Beck was fast asleep after a late night in soundcheck for the movie. He let out a soft snore and rolled over feeling the heat of the sun shining on his chest through the partially open curtains in his bedroom. Slowly he began to open his eyes. He blinked and yawned, when suddenly he realised something was missing. Jade wasn't next to him. Furrowing his eyebrows he sat up dazed and checked the time on his pearphone. It was only 10am and Jade loved her lie ins so it was weird that she wasn't still asleep.
"Jade?" Beck called but he got no response.
Starting to get slightly worried why his 36 week pregnant girlfriend wasn't answering he threw on a shirt and left the bedroom. He went downstairs but there was no sign of her in the living room or kitchen. Cat's bedroom door was ajar so he popped his head in there too, but neither the little red head nor his girlfriend were anywhere to be seen. Perplexed Beck walked back into the living room. He just couldn't understand why they'd leave without saying anything.. unless there was something wrong.
Clutching at straws, Beck ran upstairs to check Elsa's bedroom but as he'd suspected, no one was in the currently unoccupied nursery. Suddenly an awful thought dawned upon him. What if the reason they'd left was because there was something wrong with Elsa? What if Jade had gone into labour and they hadn't told him?
Grabbing his phone from the bedroom Beck jogged back down the stairs. He was just about to call Jade to ask her where she was and was she okay when he noticed both Jades and Cats pearphones lying together on the coffee table. He ran a hand through his hair exasperated. Surely they wouldn't go out and leave both their phones.
'Cat?' Beck shouted loudly, 'Jade this isn't funny anymore.' He stopped still suddenly hearing Cat's unmistakable giggle and then a low 'Shhh shut up!' coming from his girlfriend. Listening carefully to where the voices were coming from, he noticed the slide door was slightly open. Pushing open the door onto the balcony he suddenly realised what he'd forgotten.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Cat and Jade both cheered when he stepped onto the balcony. Beck covered his face with the palm of his hand, breathing a sigh of relief as Cat jumped over and gave him a big hug.
"Did you think we'd been abducted by aliens?" Cat laughed as she released him from her tight embrace.
"Yeah something like that" Beck smirked as Cat jumped up and down still in her bright pink pajamas. Jade on the other hand was already dressed and had curled her light brown hair. She stepped over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. The tanned guy shook his head as Jade leant in and kissed him.
"Jesus Jade" Beck sighed in relief, holding her tight against his body.
"What?" Jade just laughed.
"Don't do that to me again until you've had Elsa. Or in fact just ever again" Beck exclaimed.
"Yeah no promises babe" Jade smirked, interlacing her fingers with his and pulling him over to the outdoor chairs and table. The girls had gone all out decorating the table. Cat had bought a bouquet of blue and green flowers which for some unfathomable reason Jade didn't find disgusting and together they'd cooked Beck's favourite breakfast of waffles with chocolate and strawberries for breakfast.
"Can we eat them now Jadey? Pleeeease I'm starving!" Cat pleaded as the three of them took their seats at the table.
"Ask Beck, it's his birthday" Jade shrugged. Cat turned to the fluffy haired boy with big doe eyes.
"Of course Cat" Beck agreed before she had a chance to start begging. Cat squealed gleefully and filled her plate up with the tasty breakfast. Jade smiled coyly down at the table and Beck shot her a curious look across the table. He couldn't put his finger on it but Jade was acting different this morning. After filling up his own plate he offered the waffles to Jade who unsurprisingly declined.
"You sure?" Beck confirmed before taking the last one.
"Yeah I'm really not hungry" Jade insisted, slicing up a banana for her own breakfast. "Besides we made them for you Birthday Boy"
Beck retreated knowing she didn't have much of an appetite these days now Elsa was taking up so much room. The three friends chatted and enjoyed their breakfast, lazing in the warm morning sun. It was completely relaxing just to sit back and listen to the muffled Saturday morning bustle around them. Beck found Jades thigh under the table and placed his hand on it softly. There was no reason, he just loved the feeling of her skin against his. This had been the perfect start to his birthday and despite the moderately paralysing escalation of panic he'd experienced when he first woke up, he wouldn't change a thing about this birthday surprise.
"They're the best birthday waffles I've ever tasted" Beck complimented.
"They're the best birthday waffles I've ever tasted too" Cat agreed with her mouth full.
"Alright don't rub it in! Me and Elsa are happy with our delicious banana" Jades voice dripped with sarcasm, but it was easy to detect the slight glimmer of disappointment behind her voice. Once Cat was done she skipped back inside to take a shower and get ready for the day however Beck and Jade stayed on the balcony in a comfortable silence.
"Hey you" Beck said kiddishly, Jade turned around to face him and slowly raised an eyebrow. Beck had cut the tiniest, bite sized piece of waffle and placed it on his fork, holding it up to her lips. Jade laughed before opening her mouth and allowing Beck to feed her the miniature bite of food.
"Good?" Beck asked once she'd swallowed.
"Perfect" Jade replied, snuggling up closer to her boyfriend. Beck smiled and kissed her hair as she nuzzled into his neck. They sat there cuddled up together for the rest of the morning, Beck stroking gentle circles on Jades stomach as they talked sweetly to their baby daughter knowing on some level, she knew they were there.
Later that day, Tori thanked her Dad for driving her to her friends apartment and climbed out of the car. This was only the third time she'd ever been over to the modern apartment and it still felt exciting climbing the stairs up to the third floor. She rang the doorbell and within seconds she could hear footsteps bounding towards her.
'Hiiiii! Welcome to the most super-duper, crazy, amazing birthday party/ house warming/ baby shower eveeeeer!' Cat squealed upon answering the door. Tori smiled surprised as Cat leapt forwards and wrapped her arms around her in a tight squeeze.
"You do realise I'm here two hours early to help you guys get ready right?" Tori pointed out.
"I know I'm just practicing duuuh" Cat exclaimed, skipping back into the apartment.
Taking that as her invitation to enter, Tori closed the front door behind her. The apartment still stunned her every time she saw it. It was such a beautiful combination of modern and traditional, young and old, quirky and sleek that it was envied by anybody who stepped inside it. It was cosy and they'd also so sweetly personalised it that it felt familiar to anyone who was remotely close to Cat, Beck or Jade. They had kept it simple with sentimental bits and pieces mainly attached to the walls including a beautiful piece of artwork that Cat had got an A for in school, a framed photograph of Beck's family and even a sweet little sign near the door that said 'shh baby sleeping'. Looking around the modern living room it was obvious the whole place had been designed with Elsa in mind. Everything from the smooth edges of the coffee table to the cupboard locks were baby-proof.
"Hey where's Beck and Jade?" Tori followed Cat into her bright pink bedroom.
"Beck's out getting the food for tonight and Jades upstairs in the shower" Cat smiled jumping down on the bed that was half covered in stuffed toys and pillows.
"You guys seem to have really settled in here" Tori smiled, joining her on the bed.
"Yeah it's nice you know, and we haven't even had any big fights yet" Cat exclaimed surprised "Well Beck and Jade had one.."
"Of course" Tori rolled her eyes. She had already heard both sides to the infamous "nesting" argument. Jade had gotten in to the habit of cleaning all day - constantly. Rearranging all their clothes into colour order, reorganising the kitchen cupboards and tidying things the second they were put out of place. Beck wouldn't have minded if he couldn't see the strain it was putting on her back and he snapped telling her to just sit down for once. Surprisingly Jade had obliged fairly cooperatively and sat down. It was when her boyfriend had the audacity to suggest she was 'nesting' that she flipped, leading to the couple having a huge row about primal instincts.
"Just don't talk about "nesting" around Jade" Cat warned her. Tori nodded, taking on board the warning as she'd already heard Jade ranting about it on more than one occasion. After chatting together for a few more minutes the two girls decided to start getting ready for the party.
The party was actually Andre's idea. He had suggested throwing the housewarming party ages ago back when they first moved in. But not having any furniture or much organised, it didn't seem like a very good idea. Later on he'd suggested they did something to celebrate Beck's birthday but that coincided with the date Louise had insisted on throwing Jade a baby shower. In the end they decided they'd just combine all three events. Somehow they ended up inviting over sixty people to the party so it was going to be a very tight squeeze. Many members of Beck's family were coming, a large number of friends from Hollywood arts, some of Beck's costars from the movie, Cats friends from dance and a couple of the neighbours who they'd begun to get to know.
"Uggggggghhhhh!" Cat and Tori looked up just in time to see Jade storming into the Cat's girly bedroom angrily.
"Hi Jade" Tori smiled, pretending not to notice the furious glare that her pregnant friend was wearing.
"I bought this dress two weeks ago!" Jade shouted, gesturing to herself. She was wearing a black and charcoal dress that looked extremely expensive and did a rather amazing job at hiding as much of the baby bump as possible.
"And it's lovely, so pretty" Cat smiled nervously. Jade huffed and slammed her fist down on the chest of drawers in front of her.
"What's got into you?" Tori furrowed her eyebrows.
"It won't zip up! I tried it on just two weeks ago and it went up! It was fine! What the hell!" Jade fumed.
"Alright calm down, lets just one of us try" Tori suggested. Jade glared as Tori went behind her and attempted to pull the zip up on her dress. Wiggling it and pulling it, it was extremely tight despite it being a maternity dress.
"If it won't go up then I'm not going" Jade folded her arms defiantly.
"Jade you can't not go to a party in your own house" Tori sighed.
"I don't care." she grumbled in response.
"Right come over here." Tori directed her over to Cats desk and gestured the little red head over along the way. "Jade lean on the desk, Cat you pull the zip and I'll pull the sides together."
"Don't tell me what to do!" Jade cried
"Do you want the dress on or not?" Tori widened her eyes.
"Fine!" Jade scowled leaning forwards onto the desk. Tori pulled the sides of the dress together and Cat began to yank at the zip. It moved a couple of inches but began to stick again half way up.
"Breathe in" Tori ordered.
"Breathe in? Are you kidding me?" Jade spluttered, in an exasperated laugh.
"Try again Cat" Tori rolled her eyes. Cat tugged at the zip for all she had but it wasn't going up. All of them were moaning loudly and shouting over each other in the attempt to get the zip up that none of them noticed Beck walk through the door.
"Whats going on?" Beck asked suspiciously, upon witnessing the scene.
"Tell him to piss off!" Jade snapped.
"Jade.. it's his birthday!" Tori reminded her before turning to smile painfully at Beck "We're just having a minor dress issue."
"It won't go on!" Jade shouted infuriated.
"Yeahh.. thats basically the situation" Tori concurred.
"Ok I'll just go pick you up another one, what size do you need baby?" Beck offered, hardly batting an eyelid. It was silent for a moment as Jade thought through his offer.
"It's fine.. I'll just wear something else" Jade grumbled straightening up properly from her position on Cat's desk. Beck shook his head, stepping closer to her and placing a finger under her chin to tilt her face up so their eyes could meet.
"Jade. I'll go get you the dress. I know how much you wanted to wear it and I was with you when you bought it so it won't take me long to just get you the next size up." Beck insisted, watching her face carefully.
"But-" Jade protested, but Beck interrupted, already anticipating what she was about to say.
"I'll be there and back in an hour" Beck reassured her. Jade sighed giving in and leant forwards to whisper the size into his ear. Beck nodded pulling his car keys out of his pocket.
"My parents said they're on their way to help set up. Relax okay? You aren't hosting this remember." Beck said sternly.
"I basically am" Jade disagreed.
"No. You're not a host. You're the honorary guest.. which means, relaxing and letting everyone else worry about everything" Beck kissed her cheek sweetly. "I'll be back soon."
Shortly after Beck left, Jade went back upstairs to change out of the too tight dress, seemingly not in a very good mood. Cat and Tori focused on their hair and makeup. Tori was wearing a teal dress that had cut outs at the waist and Cat was wearing a black bodycon skirt with a purple bandeau. Almost as soon as they were done getting ready the doorbell rang. Cat leapt off the bed and out of the room in a flash to open the front door where Tori could hear her greeting Beck's parents in the same way she had her. Tori followed Cat out into the hallway and saw Beck's parents entering carrying several crates of food and party preparation.
"Hi Mrs Oliver" Tori smiled taking a few of the plates from the top of the pile.
"Oh hi Tori!" Louise smiled widely upon seeing her "Frank you remember Tori from a few weeks ago right?"
"Nice to see you again Tori" The man who looked a lot like Beck nodded in her direction "I would shake your hand or something but err as you can see I'm kind of hands full"
"Frank, stop being so helpless and put the stuff in the kitchen honestly!" Louise fussed "Is my son around?"
"Err no he went to buy a dress" Tori answered truthfully. Louise raised an eyebrow and Tori shook her head. "Don't ask, but I don't think you'll be seeing much of Jade until he gets back"
"Ah okay well thats fine, we don't want her around anyway.. I'm under strict instruction to not let her help" Louise explained.
"Well you look like you have everything under control, mind if I go see if she's alright?" Tori asked.
"Yeah of course Sweetie. We'll just get the food in the oven and start with some of these decorations" Louise agreed as Tori placed the plates on the dining table and headed up the stairs to find Jade. It was eerily quiet in the upper part of the apartment and Tori felt the need to tiptoe across the hall leading to Beck and Jades bedroom.
She was just about to knock on the door when her eyes wandered to the bedroom next to it. Placed in the middle of the door was a little wooden sign that had Elsa written in a swirly font and had the outline of a heart underneath it. Tori smiled, her heart warming. It still didn't feel real that Elsa was due in just three weeks. That in three weeks there would be a newborn baby living here and all their lives would be so different. Tori knocked on Jades door and waited for her to let her in.
"Who is it?" A groggy sounding Jade called from the other side.
"It's just me" Tori replied.
"Come in." Jade answered. Tori entered the bedroom which looked much like she remembered it. Dark, sleek, elegant - very Jade. However there were clear sides to the bedroom. Beck's side was slightly messier than Jade's and had lots of books. In the corner stood his guitars and a couple of old signed records hung above them. Jades side was less decorated and immaculately tidy. Although she had hung some of her infamous butterfly artwork above the chest of drawers. Jade was laying in the bed and only shuffled to sit up when Tori sat down next to her.
"Sorry, were you asleep?" Tori apologised.
"No" Jade replied, sitting up properly and rubbing her eyes 'Just resting'
"Okay well thats good, you should probably be taking it easy before all the guests arrive"
"Ugh not you too" Jade complained.
"What?" Tori questioned.
"Relax Jade.. Take a rest.. Go have a lie down" Jade mocked in a voice that was somewhere between her Beck impression and her generic mocking voice.
"Hey, we only say that because we care about you" Tori said truthfully.
"Well I'm pregnant not sick so stop it" Jade groaned lying back down. Tori didn't argue with her thinking maybe everyone was acting a little over cautious around her recently. It was difficult to not intervene when you could clearly see her struggling to reach something or do something that a person who wasn't nine months pregnant would find much easier. And Jade liked to be in control so getting her to put down the reigns and relax when she needed to wasn't easy.
"Hey, do you realise this is the last party you'll ever have before you and Beck are parents" Tori pointed out.
"I know.. This is it. This is the end of our crazy years" Jade mused.
"Haha well I doubt that.. but it's definitely going to be different" Tori said, laying down on Beck's side. "But life's always going to be a little crazy"
"I guess" Jade agreed, contemplating something of a slightly different topic. "Tor can I ask you something?"
"Yeah what?" Tori turned to face Jade who had an uncomfortable, introspective look on her face.
"You know how we're sort of close now?" Jade seemed to be struggling to find her words "I just was wondering if you would.." Jade begun to trail off.
"If I would what?" Tori asked intrigued.
"If you would... fetch me my phone from downstairs"
"What?" Tori frowned, very confused.
"Yeah I left it downstairs before and I need it for something" Jade mumbled, looking kind of annoyed with herself. Tori raised an eyebrow, not believing for a second that that was the real thing she wanted to ask but left to fetch the phone regardless.
When she returned downstairs Tori took a good look around the living room which was now decorated with a mixture of black, purple, and pink balloons and streamers. It was impressive. Beck had warned them all in advance that his mother never did things by halves, so with her as event organiser it was no surprise that everything would be extravagant.
"I have arrived with the gown" Beck announced, entering the apartment for the second time that afternoon. He smiled holding up the shopping bag containing the dress, loving playing the role of knight in shining armor. Tori handed Jades phone that she'd found on the arm of the sofa to Beck who jogged up the stairs in the direction of their bedroom.
Tori wondered what Jade was going to ask her but decided she'd ask later and to help with the party organising now. She found Cat with Louise in the kitchen helping several red velvet cupcakes and cookies. Robbie had also arrived and he was unsuccessfully assisting Frank in carrying chairs from the car up to the apartment. The music was playing softly in the background and the place looked amazing, all they needed now was the guests. Tori had a feeling tonight was sure to be a night to remember.
Review if you like! I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you think is going to happen in the second half :) hehe.
Have a happy rest of the week! xox