Estrangement

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:

Chapter 21 (Niece's Surprise Visit)

"So I'm working my butt off dealing with the smelly towels on the floor, and what happens?" Tori jabbed her chicken with the fork, straining herself at an experience she had recently working on the job. Jade was sitting beside her, looking famished and pushing each bite of chicken in her mouth at a rapid pace. "This guy comes walking in with this god awful, moldy looking sweat covered towel that is dripping with this disgusting brownish looking stuff…He smacks it on the walls, smacks it on the floor, nods at me and proceeds to push the towel towards me with his foot while the dirty towel bin is sitting right next to him!"

Jade paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. She stared down at it, then flicked her eyes towards her. "Gross."

"Ugh I know!" Tori shivered as she recalled picking up the filthy towel. She'd picked up dog poop that felt nicer to touch than the towel! "Don't even get me started on how warm it felt. It was disgusting, like putty…" She took another bite. "Of course Nancy said if I keep at it, I could be able to start working the smoothie truck. I only hope Trina's catching wind of all this…"

"She must be, I mean she did say Nancy would be reporting to her, and clearly the two are friends, so I wouldn't be surprised that she's seeing it." Not only seeing, but testing. Tori knew this. She wasn't going to break, Trina might think she'd break, but she could do this. Hell, whatever Trina did, she could do.

"I always wanted to be my sister, Jade. Or like her." Jade chewed her bite and raised an eyebrow at her. "Before Hollywood Arts, I would do anything to emulate her, to act like her. She was my role model, my hero. I loved her, and I still love my sister. I know I can do whatever she can do. I just have to work at it. Even though it may be hell, I'm going to do whatever it takes. I'm going to impress her, even if it takes eternity. I don't deserve to be a part of her life, but damn it, I want to be!"

"Well, I can definitely say you have the drive, now you just have to keep up the effort and you'll be fine." Tori's heart was beating with the rate of her determined mind. She was close to breaking points at time, and other times she was close to losing hope, but she didn't want to give up before Trina realized she could do what it takes. "Show her work ethic, show her responsibility, then she'll reward you with seeing how you're like with her family. Show her commitment and dedication, and you should be fine. I'm sure she'll give you a chance once she sees that."

"And I am doing the best I can, but hearing all these tales of Trina's life? I feel like I'm stepping into some sort of territory I shouldn't be in…I mean there's all this good that's happened for her, there's the bad that happens for her…" She's had the typical family life, there wasn't much more to say about it. Once again, she was envious, but she knew that this time she could at least try and be a part of her life. "Trina…Trina holds the key, Jade. You know that? She does…I-I'm realizing again just that I can't be without my sister. I can't. I can't be without my nieces and my nephew. I love that family, and I don't even know them. Hell, I don't even know Trina anymore."

She started to sob at the sudden realization that so much time had gone by that now Trina, Sinjin, they were different people. In some ways they were the same, but life and experience had changed them. They grew up while she remained stationary. Her hands brushed up to her head as her fingers became tangled into her hair. Jade reached over and pat her shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Tori."

"No, no it's not! It's never going to be okay. It's not going to be okay until Trina accepts me again! I want-I need-to be accepted! By my sister…I need her to love me again, Jade…" Sure Trina may love her just fine, but she still wanted to feel it. She wanted to feel back into the family again, and it hurt that she was so close yet still so disconnected. "I know it's going to take time, and effort, but I can't stand it! I hate that I'm struggling so hard, and I haven't even heard from my sister about how I'm doing-if I even stand a single iota of a chance!"

"Relax Tori, you're freaking out." Jade pointed to the glass of water beside Tori's plate, smiling gently. "Take a drink and just try to breathe." It was hard not to break down, which was exactly what she was doing. She was scared to death that she wouldn't have the chance, that the resentment Trina had was too far gone. Trying to clear her mind, she took a sip of water and began gulping it down. "Okay there, you see? Now you know if there was no chance, Trina wouldn't have given you the chance to prove yourself. All right?" Tori set the glass down and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, sniffling as she did so.

"Yeah, I know, it's just hard to remember sometimes. I hurt my big sister. I feel like I've let her down and that's why she left. I ran her off in my stupidity."

"That's in the past now, and you're working hard to fix that, all right? You're doing fine…"

"Trina has me picking up filth from filthy guys, this is punishment-if anything at all." A sudden knock came at the door, startling both girls. Tori snapped her head in the direction of the door, she hadn't been expecting any visitors and it didn't sound like Trina's firm knock. "Strange, I'm not expecting anyone…" She pushed herself from the table and walked over, slowly opening the door.

When she peered out, she was startled to see Megan waving and smiling from ear to ear. Her jaw dropped as Megan made her way inside. "Hi Aunt Victoria!" She cleared her throat and looked out into the hallway, trying to see if Trina was nearby.

"Um-Megan? What are you doing here? Your mother said-"

"Mom said you couldn't come see us." Megan plopped onto the couch and pushed her hands behind her head, smirking slyly. "She didn't say anything about me seeing you." Tori closed the door and looked over, chuckling nervously as her niece sat upright. "I smell barbecue chicken!" Ignoring the statement, Tori was immediately concerned with the girl's arrival. For one thing, Megan was two years younger than the driving age, and it was a thirty minute drive from Staten Island.

"How did you get here, Megan?"

"Oh, I was with Aunt Courtney." Tori tensed and immediately looked to the door, feeling a pang of hope in her chest. Was Courtney around? Did she know where Megan was right now? "Aunt Courtney had to run to the kennels for an emergency, so I thought I'd see you. I hope you don't mind, I just wanted to get to know what you were like…"

"Your mom's not going to be happy you're here."

"I know. I'll probably get yelled at by Aunt Courtney too, I did leave her a note…" Megan moved over to the counter and helped herself to a plate of chicken. Tori started to smile as she watched the girl. She loved the spunk and life that was in her. When Megan turned around, Tori saw an unsettling sight. There was a light scar popping up from Megan's collar. Her stomach flipped as she thought back to Beck.

"Megan? How did you get that scar?" Megan froze on the spot and Jade bowed her head. The girl then shrugged her shoulders and continued to plate the chicken.

"I hope you don't mind if I have some chicken, Aunt Victoria."

"No, it's fine, and call me Aunt Tori if you like…"

"Okay!" Megan smiled brightly and moved to the table. Tori returned to her seat and watched as the girl began eating, pausing only to speak. "There was a break in when I was young, this guy had a knife or something and he hit me with it…It's nothing to worry about now, I mean like…it's done, it was a long time ago…Momma doesn't even worry about it anymore, although she is more protective than anything."

"D-Do you mind if I…Can I see the scar?" She didn't want to make her niece uncomfortable, and really didn't want to see what Beck had done, but she was curious. Megan smacked her lips and jumped off the chair. She turned around and lifted her shirt, revealing a thin, but somewhat long scar going from the bottom of the back of her neck midway down her back. Jade gasped softly and Tori's hand cupped over her mouth. "Oh my god!"

"It took a few stitches, but I toughed it out. I'm going to be just like Mom one day, you know." Megan lowered her shirt and shrugged her shoulders. "It doesn't bother me. I think it makes me look tough!" Tori chuckled as the girl laughed and returned to her seat.

"You are impressive, I'm glad to see that you were able to cope with it…"

"I was protecting my little siblings. Danny wasn't very old at the time, and Rachel's still as afraid of her own shadow now as she was then…So I have to be strong. Kind of like Mom said she was when she was younger, always staying strong as she could be." Tori felt a surge of pride as she recalled her vivid younger days with her older sister. Trina indeed was the fearless protector, or so she made herself out to seem as such.

"Your mother was an amazing sister. I will never forget all the memories we had as children." Megan hummed and crossed her arms, sighing heavily.

"So why did you stay away for so long? Mom says you were estranged, but she's giving you a chance or something. I just wonder why you let it get so bad before you showed up."

"I-I don't really know. I guess I was just…a bad person…" She looked to the side and Megan shook her head, taking a bite of chicken.

"No. You're not a bad person. I'm like Mom, I have a good judge of character, I can tell if someone has bad vibes. You're not bad, you're just…broken, I guess. Maybe confused, like you were on the wrong track or something."

Tori laughed and rubbed the back of her neck, "Yeah. Or something…seems to fit…" She was impressed with Megan, and instantly wanted to continue getting to know her. She reminded her so much of Trina, which really wasn't that surprising. "You know, your mother is a good woman to emulate. When I was young, I wanted to be just like her. I uh-I kind of lost my way and she tried to get me back on track, but I wasn't having any of it. Now…Now I'm just trying so hard to make things right, but I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of Trina hating me."

"Oh! Mom doesn't hate you. She wants you to make it. I heard her talking with Dad about it, she really does want the best for you but she wants you to work for it. Like she's trying to teach us kids, we can't just get everything we want handed to us."

"Sounds like Christmas is boring, perhaps you need the crazy lovable aunt!" Megan laughed at her statement, then cleared her throat as she tried to calm herself.

"We get plenty of presents for Christmas, don't get me wrong. Aunt Courtney's also that kind of crazy but lovable aunt." Tori smiled once more at the girl and took a deep breath. Now she was curious how their lives were, not that she hadn't been before, but more so now than anything.

"So…how are your Christmases? Or at least, how is life? Is Trina around often? Your dad?"

"Mom and Dad are great! Also, we love seeing Grandma, she's got so many great stories for us." Megan set her fork down and cracked her knuckles. "Growing up, Mom was a bit of a workaholic at first, but she's worked on that thanks to Miss Emma and Miss Kate. She taught us to always refer to people older than us with respect, so we always say Miss or Mrs. when referring to Emma, Kate, or Nancy."

"Is Trina strict?"

"She's a mom, of course she's strict, but when she needs to be. She's also a great mom who loves us very much. We go to the park all the time, have family picnics-which by the way, are the greatest things ever!" The girl practically lit up, inspiring Tori. "See, picnics are a bit of a tradition. Every month we'll drive up to Central Park with our dogs, lay down a blanket and we'll have all this food that we've made. We all contribute a little, except Danny, he doesn't know how to cook yet. Although he does know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which Dad sometimes helps him with. So we go there, we play catch or throw the Frisbee around with the dogs. We'll play family board games and card games there, play with the kites…It's always perfect. We usually have family nights once a week where we play board games or trivia games on the console, but those pale in comparison to the picnics."

"It…does sound amazing." Tori was practically drooling just visualizing the picnics. She was jealous Holly would get to be a part of that now, but she wouldn't. She could see herself sitting there beside Trina, laughing as she passed some sandwich, or whatever food was prepared. "What…what do you guys usually make for picnics."

"Usually simple stuff, but sometimes we stretch it out…like one time we made roast chicken and put it all in the Tupperware boxes to carry it." She leaned her head back and sighed.

"Great, I'm glad you guys are happy…"

"You okay, Aunt Tori? You know Mom does want you to be a part of the family again, right?"

"So I've heard…What about Courtney? Does she know I'm in town now?"

"Yes she does."

"Why hasn't she come to see me? I mean, we were friends once…"

"I think she's still mad. Mom's giving you a chance because you're sisters, Aunt Courtney? She says she's still resentful over what happened." Tori smacked her lips and nodded.

"Yeah, I figured…" Just then, another fierce knocking hit the door. She jolted up from the seat and froze as she studied it. "Now who is it…" Megan winced as Jade walked towards the door.

"It might be Aunt Courtney. Remember I said I left her a note? Yeah, I might have mentioned I was sneaking off to see you."

Just as the door opened, Tori instantly recognized the sharp, angry face. Courtney hadn't changed much over the years, she was just older and a little taller. Her hair was short and feathery, feathering out just past her jaw line. She had clipped eyebrows and her piercing hazel eyes were narrow and no longer covered by glasses. "Megan! What are you doing here?" Courtney shifted her gaze towards Trina and straightened herself. "Hello Tori…" Tori felt deflated, as though all the air that was inside of her just burst and was swept away.

"Hey Courtney. It's good to see you again…"

So Tori gets to meet Megan, that girl is intent on seeing her family isn't she? And for those wondering, here's Courtney. Let's see how she handles this. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.