Once they get back to the apartment, Tori blushes. "I suppose you want to go home now "

Jade smiles. "Are you crazy? Paul isn't even there, he already left for his hometown!"

"So, you don't hate me then?"

"Vega, I have wanted you to do exactly that since sophmore year. I just don't think you should rush into another relationship so soon. Take some time to recover, be independent. I promise you, I'll be right here the entire time, so you won't be completely on your own. I just think you should be single for a while, that's all. And in a few months, if you still want to be my girlfriend, we'll talk."

Tori's eyes are searching and she narrows them. "You positive?"

"Positive."

/

Wednesday passes, Jade gets an agent, Tori gets a record deal. They leave on December 23rd for LA, and get there late, around 11:30 at night.

Mr. Vega is waiting to pick them up, along with Blake, who was surprisingly calm throughout the flight. His eyes twinkle at his grandson as he grabs Tori's bags, taking them to the trunk of his truck.

The ride to Mr. Vega's apartment is short-lived. Once there, Blake squeals at his grandpa and Mr. Vega grins. "Well hi there Blake, I haven't seen you in a while!"

Blake giggles and points to Tori. "MOMMA!"

Mr. Vega's jaw drops and he smacks the back of Tori's head. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME HE COULD TALK?!"

"Dad, you're acting like a two-year-old. We wanted it to be a surprise." Tori rolls her eyes and rubs her head, faux-hurt.

"I wanna hold him." Tori's father finally says, yanking the baby away from Tori and faux-glaring at the two. "We're going for a walk, Blake. Your mothers have to go catch up with their friends."

"Mothers?" Tori asks, cocking her head. "Oh, no, Jade and I aren't-"

"Momma Jay!" Blake smiles, and Tori sets her jaw.

Mr. Vega cocks an eyebrow and walks out the front door. "Cat will be here in fifteen minutes. If you do anything, clean up after yourselves."

Jade glances at Tori awkwardly and Tori smiles to break the tension.

"Well, like your dad said, we do have fifteen minutes to kill…" Jade smirks and examines her nails.

"Jade, weren't you the one who told me I had to be single for a while just last night?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jade grins and takes a step forward. Tori takes a step back. Jade continues this pattern until Tori's up against the wall. Jade cocks her head and grins.

"Wow, Vega, you are really easy to get going. Work on that." She steps back, strutting away and texting her mom. She leans against the bar, which makes up the wall of the kitchen. Mr. Vega really outdid himself on decorating the place.

Tori furrows her brow and follows Jade. "But, you just- you…"

Jade flashes her some teeth, not really a smile, not really a grimace. Tori sets her jaw again.

"I am not easy to get going."

Jade smiles and pushes Tori against the far wall, nearest the couch. Tori's eyes look panicked for a second before darkening slightly, and Jade raises an eyebrow.

Tori makes a visible effort to control her breathing, but it's to no avail, and eventually she just rolls her eyes. "Fine, okay, I have a high libido, what does it matter?"

Jade smirks and falls onto the couch. "I just think it's really funny," she says, "That you acted all goody-two-shoes in high school, and now, you're openly admitting that you have a high sex drive to the girl that I know you considered your mortal enemy."

Tori plops down next to her. "Oh how the times have changed, right?"

Jade wets her lips. "Yeah. How the times have changed."

Cat takes the opportunity to burst in through the door and Jade smiles gently. "Cat, honey, how did you get inside?"

"Tori's dad left the door unlocked come on lets go lets go lets go I have to show you Beck's boyfriend and it's so exciting and-"

She turns to Jade. "Did you know Beck was gay?" she asks slowly, as if it just occurred to her that his ex-girlfriend might not know.

Jade smirks. "Since freshman year. Let's go."

Tori smiles and grabs her phone from the couch, where she sees a message from Beck, one from André, and two from her dad. She clicks on the two from her dad first. Before she can read them, her phone rings.

"Yeah dad?"

"Blake fell off a swing and he won't stop crying and I think he broke his arm so I'm taking him to the hospital but I was wondering if you wanted to ride with us because he's your son and all and-"

"Yeah, I'll have Cat take us there now. See you soon."

Tori hangs up and turns to Jade. "Blake broke his arm on the swing, and Dad wants Cat to take us to the park so we can go to the hospital with him."

Cat licks her upper lip. "Who's Blake?"

"You'll meet him soon enough." Jade answers for Tori and Tori nods at her gratefully.

Cat shrugs walks out of the apartment, and to the grungy parking lot. She hops in her cherry red Camaro and Jade and Tori do the same.

"Hey, Tori, relax, he'll calm down when you get there. He always does."

Tori visibly relaxes a little bit and Jade rubs her shoulders slightly. Cat watches out of the corner of her eye, raising an eyebrow, but doesn't comment.

She parks down the street in the park parking lot, Tori sliding out of her seat before Cat has fully stopped.

Tori sprints to her dad, who's holding the crying baby in his arms, and snatches him from him, rocking him slowly.

"Hey Blakey-boo, does your arm hurt?"

"Momma." He says through his cries and Tori nods. "Yeah baby, your momma's here. Calm down Blake." Tori says, stroking her son's forehead.

"I'm so sorry Tori, I didn't mean for it to happen, and-"

"Dad, it's fine." Tori smiles weakly. "Remember that time you accidentally left Trina in Disneyland for three hours before remembering that you had another kid? That was much worse than this and she forgave you."

Mr. Vega smiles and stands, starting his car. "I'll be in the truck."

Cat furrows her brow at Tori and the baby for about a minute, and then, something clicks.

Tori hands the baby off to Jade, who bounces him up and down slowly.

"Cat, you can't scream."

"But you have a KID!" she shouts the last bit and Tori flinches.

"Yeah, I was impregnated against my will three days after graduation in the alley behind Nozu. Sorry for not telling you, but I was sorta traumatized." Tori spits out, crossing her arms and glancing at her son, who's calmed slightly and is cooing "Momma Jay" at Jade.

Cat points an accusatory finger. "MOMMA Jade?"