Estrangement

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:

Chapter 17 (A Son's Concern)

Saturday morning rolled around and Tori rushed to get dressed and actually look halfway decent. She took the cold shower and bared her teeth throughout the entire rinse, but at least it was waking her up as it should. Of course she didn't have to worry about looking good, she just didn't want to appear trashy.

When the knock came at the door, she was at the stove and trying desperately to make pancakes. She straightened her blouse and hurried to the door where Zack was standing with son at his side. "Well Tori, I will be back for him about…" Zack checked his watch and clicked his tongue. "Five hours from now." He lifted his eyebrows as Alex ran inside and hopped onto the couch. "You look…nice for a Saturday morning."

"I do? Oh! Well…Thanks." She chuckled softly as she toyed with her hair. Her heart skipped a beat and she leaned against the doorway, studying his broad shoulders and firm chest. When she realized she was staring, she quickly backed away, clearing her throat nervously. "We'll be right here." He didn't seem to notice her stares, but she was terrified that he had. "No worries."

"Okay. I uh…" He sniffed once and pointed to the kitchen. "Think something's burning."

"What! No!" She ran for the kitchen and grabbed the pan off the stove, glaring down at the now burnt pancake mix. She groaned as Zack stepped over to the kitchen counter, chuckling softly. "I can't believe it, it's stuck to the pan…"

"You know, I usually put some cooking oil or butter down in the pan between every other pancake." She froze, her eyes widening. How could she have forgotten something so simple? It was almost as embarrassing as her staring at the man! "Hey it's all right, not all pancakes come out perfect."

"Is it embarrassing for me to admit I have trouble cooking?" She set the pan down on the now cooling stove, then ran her hand through her hair, groaning in annoyance. "I am dreading supper. Honestly, I'm going to wind up burning my sister's old apartment down trying to cook poultry! I swear it!"

Zack chuckled and leaned upright. "Maybe you shouldn't cook something so big until you're ready to cook it. I'm sure you'd do fine. Just remember to follow cooking instructions and you're good. Look up recipes online and follow what they say."

"Yeah you're probably a better chef than I am, that's for sure. I mean you've got a son to cook for."

"Would you believe it's mostly just turkey sandwiches? Though I do make a mean patty melt." She started to smile, her cheeks slowly reddening. Zack's watch buzzed out and he looked back to the door. "I better get moving." Zack looked to Alex, who waved over the couch. "Alex be good, don't cause to much trouble, and I'll be back in a few hours." He put his hand on the doorframe and looked back to Tori. "You have my number in case you need anything."

"Right."

"Okay, see you guys in a few hours."

Tori shut the door and slowly looked to the stove. Perhaps it was best to forget the pancakes and just go with the classic and much loved box of cereal. At least that was one breakfast she wouldn't screw up.

Alex hopped off the couch and made his way to the kitchen with her, watching as she poured a bowl. "Would you like some cereal?" He shook his head and leaned over the counter.

"No thanks, I had some before Dad and I left. What happened to the pancakes?"

"I forgot to put oil on the pan, and the mix burnt and stuck to the pan, so I'm going to have to clean that out." She grabbed the milk from the fridge and started to pour it into the bowl. "Just getting all flustered nowadays. It's frustrating. But my sister insists on letting me learn the hard way it seems."

"You're having issues with your family too?"

"You could put it that way." She returned the milk and moved to the table. Alex sat down in front of her and watched her eat, giving her a charming smile. "You seem nice. Dad's always working at the hotel, sometimes the best way to get him to chill out is for me to act the way I do. Running around and all that. He says he and his brother used to do it all the time. Back when they got along." Tori frowned and slowly nodded her head. Her heart did go out to Zack and Alex for that.

"I'm sorry to hear they're separated. I'm sort of going through a similar situation with my sister."

"Oh? But you're not in jail." She raised an eyebrow and slowly moved her spoon to her lips. Maybe not physically in jail, but she sure felt like it. Trina was doing a damn good job in making sure she felt it. However, Zack's brother was in jail? "Zack says Uncle Cody shouldn't come around, that he changed when they finished high school."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Alex shrugged his shoulders and folded his arms on the table. "Does your dad ever visit his brother?"

"No, he never takes me to see him either. Says I shouldn't be influenced, or something like that, but never tells me anything about him. Doesn't tell me much about mom either."

"Ever see her?"

"Nope. She's wherever." Alex brandished his hand in the air. Tori's heart sank and she shook her head. It was upsetting to hear someone would just leave their own kid and husband in the dust like that. "It's been me and Dad all my life. I think he needs not to be alone though." He pat his hands on the table and lifted his eyebrows. "So! What do you like to do for fun?"

"Me? I um-well I'm new to this area, so I don't know much about New York or Manhattan. I don't have the money to do things I used to like to do, like shopping."

"Shopping is for little girls anyway." Tori laughed as Alex grinned from ear to ear. "Have you ever been to Central Park? It's right down the street from here!" She'd heard many things over the years about the famous park. She knew it was beautiful, but hadn't had the time yet to get down there.

"Central Park? No I haven't. Does your dad let you go down there?'

"Yeah, so long as I'm with someone. If you want, I can call him up and ask. You should totally see it since you just moved here." Tori looked towards the television skeptically, then glanced back to Alex.

"You seem a lot different than you were just a couple days ago. More…your age." Alex laughed once more and shrugged his shoulders.

"I said dad's always working. Literally always working. Certified workaholic, he needs to loosen up. So I act a little less my age to get his attention. Teachers think I'll grow out of it in a few years, and sure I'll grow out of the phase because I'm not in a particular phase. This is totally something dad would have done when he was a kid."

"You don't say." She smirked coyly and bounced her spoon in the air. "Sneaky, but let me say from experience, trying to steal all the attention doesn't end well. My sister's being incredibly hard on me for some stuff I've done."

"Yeah well, you and dad had siblings to take attention away from, I don't. That being said, I should be getting some attention, but I don't get a whole lot. Maybe if he had someone there to…loosen him up…" Tori covered her mouth and stifled a laugh as Alex leaned back and put his hands behind his head.

"You are one crafty, probably the most smooth talking of any twelve year old I've met."

"It's a gift, seriously. I'll call dad and ask him if it's all right for you to take me out to Central Park. I want to show you the bridge and everything!" Alex then leaned forward over the table, meeting her eyes and smirking. "And maybe you can do something for me?" She leaned over her bowl and raised her eyebrows at him. "Ask him out or get him to ask you out?" Her jaw dropped and her voice locked up. "A date may be just what he needs, he's been so busy with work that he hasn't gone on a date and is starting to become a stuffy old man like his mentor was!"

"I don't know…"

"Come on, I've seen the way you look at Dad. He thinks you're pretty too, I've asked him!" Her cheeks reddened and she moved back into her chair. "What can it hurt? One date? Anything to get him away from that hotel for some time, to remind him maybe that there are other things in life besides work? Like a son-life-there's a whole life outside that hotel!"

"You're tellin' me. It's easy to get caught up in the world if you don't take the time to appreciate the finer things. I guess there's good and there's bad, but I'll see what I can do…" She didn't imagine going out with some guy she'd just met hand had been fawning over, but maybe it couldn't be all that bad. Surely she could convince him to pull away for a little bit. "But you need to stop pretending to have a behavioral setback just to get attention now, all right?" Alex sighed and lifted his eyes skyward, smirking subtly.

"Fine, I will, but only if you can get dad to go on a date and get out of the hotel. I mean-you do like him right? You've been falling all over yourself…"

"Well-I'm definitely not a klutz. At least, not the last time I checked. I just met your father, you know…" Why did she feel like she was all of a sudden caught in some sort of parent trap routine?

After their visit to the park, and when it was time for Zack to pick Alex up, the boy kept insisting she remember their deal. She had a lot of other concerns of her own to deal with, like studying for a test at the local high school, and focusing on work of her own. How could she just go out on a date with someone she hardly knew anything about?

Zack entered the apartment and she led him over to the table, leaning against her hand and fidgeting her fingers in her hair. A nervous pit had formed in her stomach and she was trying hard not to shake, but to remain as calm as possible. "So how was work?"

"Exhausting."

"Alex tells me you put a lot of time and energy into work."

"Probably more than I need to, yes, but aside from taking care of him and working, I don't have a whole lot of other things to tend to." She leaned her head up and lowered her hand, frowning at him as he shrugged his shoulders. "I do suppose it wouldn't hurt to go out more often."

"Well when you live in a city that is known for having just about everything you could ever look for, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get out more. He chuckled once and looked over to Alex, who was now watching some anime show. "Um Alex told me about…Cody." Zack raised an eyebrow and turned to meet her gaze. "Said he's in prison. Is it alright if I ask why?"

"I guess. It's a bit of a tense issue. Considering how close we used to be. We went on some cruise for a while, finished our schooling. He had a girlfriend at the time. At their prom, he got her pregnant. He cheated on her and when he found out she was pregnant, he…forced her to miscarry." Tori put her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. "She couldn't go home because her parents disowned her, thinking it bad enough she got pregnant, but they thought she had an abortion…she moved to New York, changed her name and got a job as a nanny, Cody found out and wanted to get her back, so he started stalking her…all said and done, the kids she was taking care of caught him, and he's still in prison for a few things he did."

"I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something so personal."

"You're fine, think nothing of it." He leaned back and closed his eyes. "I appreciate you looking out for Alex today. I know you must have gone out of your way."

"It wasn't a problem at all, he's a good kid. Cares a lot about you."

"Yeah, I think I'd be lost without him." Zack leaned back in his chair and ran his hand over his neck. He seemed to be struggling with something, or rather, he was nervous. Was there a chance he might like her? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to see what would happen.

"You know. If you're not doing anything tomorrow, I'd love you to show me around town Since you've lived here all your life, you know every sight around." He raised his eyebrows and moved his hand down, smiling slightly.

"I don't know, I've got a lot of work to catch up on. I mean maybe I could put it off, but-" Alex cut him off, surprising them both.

"You manage a hotel, Dad. It's not going to go anywhere if you decide to take an hour or two off." Alex moved over and crossed his arms as Zack started to stammer. "You like her, she likes you, so…why not? I'll be fine, I can keep idle."

"Alex-you…" Alex rolled his eyes and slouched for a second.

"I don't have a childlike mentality dad, I just wanted attention." His jaw dropped as Alex dusted off a piece of lint on his shirt sleeve. "I told Tori I'd stop pretending, but I want you to be happy, Dad. You spend every waking moment working when you have people who can take care of the hotel just fine when you're not there. You tell me all the time about Mr. Moseby and how stuffy he was, and you're turning out to be just like him! Go out, be happy, have some fun for once. I want my dad-I don't want a hotel manager…You used to tell me all these stories about how you and Uncle Cody were back when you were kids, and well…how come I don't see that same energy anymore?"

"Times are hard, son…"

"Well still, I'm just a kid. I don't know everything that happened in your life, Dad, and I honestly don't care. I just want a dad…and if the only way I can get your attention is by ticking you off by screwing things up in the hotel, so be it."

Zack bowed his head and started to chuckle. "You know Alex. I'm always proud of you. I suppose I can try to make some time away from the hotel…" He looked over to Tori and smiled apologetically. "If he put you up to this, I'm sorry."

"Oh don't be," She waved her hand in the air and lifted her shoulders. "I actually would like to go on a date. I haven't been on one in a while, and, it sounds like you haven't either. I'm new here in New York and I need to work on studies and stuff, but I don't have anyone here that I know, so my social life is off to a bad start."

"Well…I could make some free time tomorrow." Alex grinned and bounced on his heels.

"I'll stay at home in the hotel apartment and play my games! I promise I'll stay right there." Zack rubbed the back of his head, laughing nervously while Tori's lips curled into a bright smile.

"So…Tori…when would be a good time to drop by? I mean, we could probably go to the park, maybe grab some dinner. Really there's a lot of New York to see."

"I could manage to be out around one. Weekends really are my only free time these days."

"Okay then…It's um-a date then." She grinned as Alex pumped his fist in the air. Zack's cheeks went red and he quickly began moving his son towards the door. He stopped to look back, flashing one small smile. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay." She waited till he left, then broke out into a small fit of giggles. "God, I have to call Jade! She's going to be so excited!" Her eyes widened, and to her horror she recalled the clothing she had. "What am I going to wear? New York's classy, do I have classy?!" Immediately she bolted for the bedroom. This was going to be a long night.

That kid is definitely his father's son. Well there's a bit of light for Tori, she's got herself a date. What are your thoughts on the chapter?