Disclaimer: Don't own.

A/N: I'm aware that this is a very short chapter. Two reasons; One, there are 2 chapters after this. And Two, they won't be posted until at least sometime toward the end of next week. I know a few chapters ago, I told you guys to pay attention to detail. You'll find out why in this chapter.

Enjoy.

Chapter 28

"Tori…"

"No, Jade. You're being fucking stubborn. I get it, you're upset, but that's not going to help anything. I understand that I'm not going to be able to erase what's happened and I damn sure will never be able to make you forget it. And unless you listen to me and let me help, I won't be able to do anything." She sighs. "Please, Jade. Please don't let this define you."

I take a deep breath, staring at my feet. What's done is done. Raising my head, my eyes meet Tori's and I nod once, letting her know that I need her more than anything right now. This isn't going to be easy, getting over Andre's death, but if Tori's by my side, I might be able to ignore what people think. I just wish she didn't have to go through so much to be with me.

Tori cuddles into my side as we lie on my bed, watching some ridiculous wannabe-scary movie on TV, my fingers tracing light circles on her arm. I miss things like this, just enjoying our peace and quiet, but I know it won't last very long. She's done the best she can at distracting me from my thoughts, which helps a lot during the day, but I still have nightmares that I haven't yet told her about. I don't want her to worry. She does enough of it as it is.

She moves her head, kissing my neck, and I smile, cupping her cheek and kissing her. And soon enough, the movie is forgotten and one very beautiful Tori Vega is straddling my hips, taking my attention. We don't get very far, my hands having just slipped beneath her shirt when there's someone knocking on my closed bedroom door, and I sigh against Tori's lips. She pulls away and runs a hand through her hair before crossing the room and opening the door for Cat.

The redhead stares at me for a moment, realizing and not caring that she had just interrupted something. "I was told to come and get you both for dinner." Her eyes flicker between Tori and me once before she turns and heads down the hallway to the stairs. Tori glances back at me and I sigh, rolling out of bed and untangling my hair with my fingers.

Tori stops me before I walk through the doorway, one hand on my cheek as she kisses me, and she smiles, leaving me to follow as she goes for the stairs. The four Valentines sit at the table, waiting for us, and I notice that Cat's brother is the only one who seems happy to see both of us. But even with everything that's been going on he's never been against either one of us, no matter what we've done.

Dinner is uneventful; the typical conversation of work and the day's events filling the silence, and I nearly choke on my potatoes when Mrs. Valentine asks how school was. Tori saves me, smile in place, as she lies and says that it went fine before changing the subject to gardening. I mentally laugh at her chosen topic and she smirks, rolling her eyes. Cat's mother goes on and on about flowers and how she wants a small garden in the back of the house, but neither of us is really paying attention. Tori's leg hooks around mine at the ankle and we exchange the same smile.

Maybe things will be okay after this.

Tori and I offer to wash the dishes once everyone's finished eating, and Cat rolls her eyes, grabbing her brother's wrist and dragging him upstairs. The elder Valentines retire to the living room, and I pull Tori close to me by the sink. Kissing her, I smile. "Thanks, Tori…"

She kisses my cheek. "Do the dishes." I wash and rinse while she dries and puts the dishes away, and I glance at her every so often. She seems to be thinking about something, and suddenly my heart stops in my chest. When Tori thinks, something always ends up wrong, and the only thing I can think of is… "Will you calm down? You look like someone just broke…" She cuts off when I look at her and she shakes her head. "I'm not breaking up with you. I didn't go through that entire speech today just to change my mind." To emphasize, she grabs my face with both hands and kisses me hard. "I'll tell you about it later when we're alone."

I nod and she lets go of me, drying the rest of the dishes and putting them wherever they belong in the cabinets. It's strange how she knows this kitchen better than I do, but whatever, it isn't important. What is important is getting Tori alone in my room so that she can explain whatever has her in a weird mood. But as we climb the stairs, we can hear Cat and her brother's voices coming from her room. "Will you cut her some slack?" At least Cat's brother is on my side. "She's been to jail. And on top of everything, she's been dealing with shit for years that's just now gone away."

"That's not an excuse! She could have just walked away, but she didn't. Yeah, I get that Andre was threatening their relationship, but she didn't have to kill him over it."

"She didn't kill him over it, Cat. She defended herself and saved Tori's father's life in the process."

"Ugh! Can everyone just shut up about that? I get it. Everyone gets it. It doesn't need to be repeated over and over like it's never been said before." Cat is really upset over this. "Andre didn't even kill Jade's father." My heart stops in my chest and Tori squeezes my hand, reminding me that she's still standing there. If Andre didn't kill my father…who did?

Apparently the Valentine son was thinking the exact same thing. "Cat…do you know who killed him?" I lean against the wall, hoping that Cat will answer the question. She doesn't. "Do you know who it was?" There's nothing but silence until Cat's bedroom door opens and her brother comes out into the hallway. His eyes meet mine and he knows that we overheard them. "Jade…"

"Who?" I ask. He shakes his head. "Who killed him? Who fucking killed him?" I'm fighting back tears and the urge to grab him and slam him against the wall until he tells me, but he doesn't. He's just as confused as I am, and I don't know what's worse; the fact that Cat knows and we don't, or the fact that my father's killer is probably still walking around free.

I'm barely aware of Tori's arms around me as she holds me, the tears breaking through the dam, and all I can see is red.