Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious or any of it's characters. Someone else does, and the less said about that, the better. However, this is just for fun, so enjoy.
:}
David Vega smiled, looking over the decorations for the Thanksgiving dinner that was soon to come. He always lived well, thanks to his wife's secret occupation, and his own salary as a police detective. Since taking early retirement, a good thing to do given his near death at the hands of that thug, he moved out of Los Angeles and bought a home in a near by community where he could retire comfortably. His pension, added to Hollies income, meant they now lived in a decent sized mansion with more than enough room to host the occasional event. Thanksgiving, with their children, and all their children's friends, was one of those events he looked forward too.
Tori made her way down the stairs, having arrived first, last night, and wanting to settle her brood in before the others arrived. "So, we ready?'
"That depends, when is Jade gonna get back?" The now grandfather asked.
"Lets see, she took the kids out to corrupt their minds, so soon?" Her hopeful voice didn't add much comfort to his thoughts, even if he knew they weren't going to have traumatized kids. They just lived close enough to a couple of the lesser known sights, and Jade loved some of the views.
Tori seemed comfortable in her life, now that her short pop princess career was over, and she'd settled into her role as a producer, running her and Jade's production company. The woman enjoyed helping get movies made, to the point where she often forgot she could act in them. She'd also realized someone had to edit her writer-director wife's more out there impulses, making sure the girl only made the right movies for their family. It also gave them plenty of time to be parents, something Tori loved, and Jade now found made her fame a touch inconvenient. Tori had the benefit of being almost forgotten, something she reveled in, as she wasn't forgotten, just not stalked the way other celebrities were. Jade, however, was often less than free to walk the kids to school.
"Lets hope." David agreed, having loved spending time with the ironically called twins. They weren't, really, as Tori carried one, and Jade the other. But the two gave birth within hours of each other, and so the term held.
A knock on the door brought both of them to wonder who had arrived this early. "Betting it's Cat." Tori told her father. "She's here to critique our cooking…."
"Now now, I doubt she's likely to do that, even though we both know how irrational she can be." The father said, smiling. "After all, she seduced and married Trina just to be sister's with Jade…"
"I doubt she did it for that reason…" Tori tried, but knew she was losing this argument. The truth was, Cat had gone after Trina, but only after she'd lost Robbie due to inadvertent relationship games, and basically handing him off to a different woman. Still, the petite girls overreaction had brought Trina into an oddly stable relationship, full of friendly rivalries with Tori and Jade, as well as helping each of them out. Cat was a masterfully creative girl, and with Trina managing her, they started a clothing company that did fashion, at first for barbie type dolls, Trina's idea due to the lack of competition, but soon branched out as adults wanted to be able to look like the mini icon. That made them the second most successful of the Hollywood Arts gang, after Tori and Jade, by using basically the same model. The crazy one creates, and the Vega one manages.
"I'm just happy to have the grandchildren." David said, smiling at his youngest. He opened the door to reveal Trina carrying the small mountain of things one brings when transporting children. "I thought she'd outgrown those things…"
"Tell that to Cat." Trina replied. "Tori, my favorite sister, who I so owe for what you did to me…"
"What'd I do?" Tori asked, dripping with innocence. "It's not my fault we messed up the pregnancies, so Jade and I were pregnant at the same time. I swear, the comedy of errors, with us both in early labor together. I just, how it is no one knew were were sharing a birthing pod? We deliberately got one that allowed us to share, so we could be near one another as we gave birth. Of course, Jade went and tried to make it a race. Serves her right that she lost..."
"I know." Cat said from behind her bride. "And if I could have willed myself into labor, maybe my little angel would be the exact same age as your half demons…" She was carrying the now three year old. Cat had realized her plan to have kids in rapid succession ran into the problem that her body would not handle it, and Trina was reluctant after hearing the words that escaped her sisters mouth during that birth. No amount of relatively easy childbirth, brought on by the intelligent use of an epidural, could convince her that Cat hadn't just gone crazier, and wasn't in pain. "Trina, take your daughter."
"Let me just deposit this chiz first." Trina told her, watching as little Angelica was struggling to be set down to run about. She loved her grandparents home, even if they'd childproofed it enough that she couldn't do the kind of damage she felt she should. Tawney and Davina were more quiet children, still capable of ruing a house if left to their own ends, but had inherited more of their personalities from Tori then Jade. For now. "Okay, come to mama…" The mound of baby stuff now occupied a corner, near the similar one for Tori's children. "And she's off… Betting she's looking for her cousins."
"And where are they?" Cat asked, pushing closer to Tori and hugging her quickly before any blue eyed people might notice. "My daughter wants to play…"
"Jade took them out someplace." David told her. "Thinking it was to get Holly out of the way. You know how she gets around major holidays. Gonna have us a full house tonight, and Holly was worried she didn't have enough of everything. Jade probably saved us some retirement funds by keeping her from rushing off and buying the store."
"Where was THAT mother back when we were growing up?' Tori demanded.
"That's just it." Trina told her. "The word isn't mother any more, it's grandmother. The annoyance she felt at us, she won't take it out on our daughters."
"Yea,, I guess…" Tori said, glancing at the front door.
"I just felt I should have had a son." Trina griped. "That would have been different."
"Only, that process, it only produces girls." Cat reminded her. "Our daughter. Ours, genetically and emotionally. Now, when is that sister of mine getting back so I can rub her face in my success…."
"She's technically more success…" Tori was cut off.
"I'm having a rough enough night as is." Trina whispered at her. "Cat is nervous, and no longer a virgin, and I'm the one who has to calm her down. So…"
"Whatever." Cat waved her off. "Lets just hope they don't stop and shop. Jade is my sister, and sometimes rival, and that's it. I wouldn't wish being stuck in a store with your mother in grandma mode on my sister from another mister. No way she'd stay richer than I am…"
"You know, she's not that much richer." Trina pointed out. "Thanks to my missus's brilliant designs, and my brilliant management, we're doing really well…"
"Please tell me this ends here." David said, even as he pulled out his cell phone and called Holly. 'Time to bring the brood back…'
Cat got busy supervising the food while Trina caught up with her sister. The child raced about for a few minutes, then asked where her cousins were. Finlay, after a brief tantrum, she settled down in front of the television, allowing herself to be soother by a program as she waited. "That was easier then I thought it'd be." Trina told her sister. "How'd we get the difficult child?"
"Who said you did?' David asked. "Tori was a difficult child, while you were more laid back. Things change…"
"Wait, should I be insulted, or relived?" Trina asked, even as Cat walked past and gave a half grab of her ass. "CAT!"
"What? That's technically mine, and sometimes, I like to squeeze…"
"I'm sometimes like that with Jade's…" Tori edited herself.
"Yea, her bosoms." Trina smirked. "Thinking we're gonna need some good food, the kind that puts us to sleep, cause I know how you and Cat's rivalry can get sometimes."
Robbie arrived shortly before Jade got back, his family in tow. He'd relented and bought a minivan to transport his one child, because while Caroline was an only child, they'd accepted that she couldn't just ride on the back of a motorcycle. Or she could, but where would they keep the stuff.
Robbie looked odd, almost tough, in his leather vest over his denim jacket and jeans. His vest had the stylized symbol of the Obliterators motorcycle gang, as well as the name, and other symbols showing his member ship in that organization. Only an odd symbol, a one percent symbol, was missing, showing he belonged to the legal side of the club, unlike his bride. Sam was there, but had insisted on riding her Harley, so was coming in separately. Still, both wore the colors of their club. "Carly, look, it's Angelica…" He urged the toddler.
Carly was dressed in her while angel costume, reflecting the kids show she was currently infatuated with. The child was sweet, to the point where her mother had accused the hospital of mixing up the babies. However, this was very much Samantha Puckett's child, and Rob was just the one to take care of her. "So, Rob, you still doing the books for that club?" David asked.
"It's a living." Rob shrugged. "Lots of our chapters move about, a lot, and it's nice to have a few home bases they can use. I make sure the moneys there for them, the clubhouses are available, and we have the basics available, like a place to stay, and what they need to take care of their bikes."
"Enough of that." Sam announced she was now in the house, trying to hide her stylized one percent patch from her retired police officer host. "I'm tired of dealing with whiners and wussies. Where's Jade?"
"For the record, it's not that the bikers who she now has to deal with as chapter president are weak, just, well, compare just about anyone to her and Jade…" Rob tried to cover. He only had a moment before he rushed off to find his daughter and make sure she wasn't bugging the Vega descendants.
"Okay, who else are we expecting?" David asked Tori, while Trina rounded up Angelica before the rambunctious child corrupted the sweet Carly. It was time for parental supervision, something unlikely to come from the much more capable Cat as she and Sam had catching up to do.
Oddly, Sam and Cat got along better now then back when they lived together, and Sam saw the innocent girl as some rube she could take advantage of. They got along well for multiple reasons, including Cat arranging for Sam and Robbie to get together, feeding the blonds love of nerds, and giving her an escape from her would be paramour. It helped them deal with a lot of issues. "So, Beck gonna be here?"
"I know Andre will, just as soon as he picks up his ex and their child." Robbie offered from his place across the room. "Rene is a good boy, but his baby mama can be cray cray."
"At least he'll have all that RPX money to help take care of him." Tori offered, not sure why her best friend went back to that harpy, had a kid, BEFORE remembering they couldn't stand each other. But Hope was the mother of his first child, while his current bride, Meredith, was pregnant with his expected second. "So, what are the odds Hope digs into him before letting Rene come to this party, where he has so many people who love him…?"
"Five year old among the three-year-olds." David cautioned. "Boy's a totally different species."
"Almost, but close enough to get along." Cat said. "Just, he'll need some guys around… Trina, are you sure you won't carry? They say they can do boys now, and I tell you, use the epidural at the right time, and there's almost not pain…"
"Aunti JADE!" Screeched Angelica as the toddler rushed to greet the returning goth goddess. Jade led the twins in, flanked by Holly, the adults smiling at something already said.
"And they're here." Jade noted, kneeling down to pick up the excitable girl. "Why don't you give granny a hug?" She hefted the energetic girl up and, with a quick squeeze, handed her over to Holly. "Okay, that's another one you owe me…"
"God, how much candy do I have to bribe this angel here with to be her favorite?" The grandmother asked, but the woman was smiling, ear to ear. "Beck's here, and still single. How is it he's the last one to find someone?"
"Six out of six Northridge paternity tests prove he's yet to be the father?" Sam guessed, and her husband tried, really hard, not to laugh.
"He's just picky." Jade defended him. "So, we have our kids, and we're just waiting on Dre, huh? Yep, things are looking up. How long until dinner?"
"Everything's cooking, or staying warm." David said. "Just waiting on the head critic to give her approval…"
Cat groaned. "I HAVE to do EVERYTHING…!"
Sam laughed, but headed over to make sure they'd have enough. The petite glutton was still way into food, and was the principal reason they had a ham each year, in addition to the monster turkey they'd prepared.
By the time Andre showed up, half an hour later, they'd all broken down to conversation, with the kids playing. Rene wasn't to thrilled with baby sitting, but rushed over to spend time among the girls as his parents settled in. "So, you brought Hope?" Tori asked.
"We kinda had to." Meredith said. "What with her father not wanting to spend too much time around her, so he went to New York on business, and chose to forget it would encompass Thanksgiving. She had no where else to go."
"If you ignore Sinjin's party." Beck pointed out. "I was thinking of heading over there, cause he always invites people he does business with, and I'm far less likely to be the odd man out. Only, this is the old Hollywood Arts gang, the people who were there for me during the lean years…"
"You meant to say you'd be nobody if that ex of yours didn't put you in shit." Hope amended.
"She had to get Tori's permission, but I doubt it was that hard to get." Meri added. "Trust me, I know a few things about getting your man to agree to stuff."
"Please, Jade's so the man in that relationship." Hope argued, but it seemed to be in good fun, the two woman getting along far better then they had any right to be. In the end, they understood who and what Andre was, and shared an odd bond in that they'd both opted to have one of his children.
Jade was talking to Beck. "Are you sure about that?" The pale girl asked. "I really could use you're input on this new idea. Tori's been very demanding, not rejecting ideas that are too adult, but wanting me to stay on brand. Horror and action and anything that shows off my creativity. I so wanna break type, and my options are a children's movie, and a drama."
"I'll admit, that comedy you made last summer, it was better than expected." Beck nodded along. "I just, if I keep making your movies, then casting directors start to think I'm your kept boy. I need to spread the love..."
"Say it that way again, and I may have to have Trina serenade you." Tori warned. "Now, sure, I agreed to the comedy. Jade has an incredible sense of humor, when she uses it constructively. Only, talking business here, that's breaking the rules. You can talk business after the holiday. Today is about the family, our children, and letting my dad enjoy them while they're young."
"Cat was bringing up that new adjustment to the procedure we used." Jade said. "Called me a coward for now being willing to give your father a proper son. I names one of our daughters after him. What more does she want."
"Someone to be pregnant with Trina." Tori said, but it was obvious the Vega girl was considering it, at least for Jade.
The whole family, friends, everyone, seemed to be having a good time, even as other guests, people David or Holly knew who chose to be there that year, arrived. Family from a distance, or close by, also showed up, mingling with the different people Tori and Trina knew. It was better now, when the grandchildren were the principle topic of discussion. Overall, a fun and relaxing get together where the old Hollywood Arts gang, those who made it, and those who didn't, got the chance to get together and just enjoy life for a short while. Andre talked about his current roll at RPX, where he was a music producer and writer. He was working with some real talent, but often found himself dealing with an odd mix of nervous new people and established talent who were far too egotistical for their own good. "I get it, changing your sound, even a little bit, it's risk. But if you stay the same, you might fade. Better to take the risk, in measured steps, and see where it takes you. Besides, I have to remind people I'm there cause of my talent, and not because I'm the bosses grandchild's baby daddy."
"So is Hope seeing someone?" Beck asked.
"She's been seen with a few artists, cause they're less likely to be users than many of the big named producers." He shrugged. "Not sure why. It seems she gets alone with Meredith more than most people, which worries me, cause her and me, we really only tolerate each other. Of course, Meri laments that Hope isn't into girls, cause while my wife isn't, she's so sure Hope would do better with a woman." He glanced around, his voice fading to a whisper. "Not that we have that many examples of lesbian couples making it."
"You had to whisper that?" Beck chuckled. "Dude, I think they know. Hell, Jade's changed, just a touch, cause she's trusting Tori to make major decisions about her creativity. However, if Cat can convince her, I think they could use some male energy in here. Just, they'd have like a fifty fifty odds of a son, and given how things have been going, probably wind up with another daughter. Unless they both got pregnant, and then… Yea, I was so glad I was elsewhere most of the time Jade was preggers, cause that girl, not the type to handle chiz like that without making her opinion heard."
"Yea, I can see how you could feel like that." Andre nodded. "I noticed they didn't stack the place with eligible girls…"
"Jade and I have an agreement." Beck laughed as he explained. "I just have to worry abut what Tori might be planning, and being a mother and producer has kept her plenty busy…"
"Beck." Sam said, interrupting the conversation. "Dre, talk to my husband. He's feeling lonely, just talking to Tori's uncle about something. We came in colors, and the family is full of fucking cops. Nothing against them, he's legal… Funny, that sounded wrong. Born here, but biker culture, so many take pride in not being part of the supposedly ninety nine percent that are law abiding citizens. Like my husband. Still, talk to him, maybe about raising children. Carly did something cute the other day, and he'd love to exchange the thousand or so pictures he has of that one event with you and however many you have of your son in school."
"Right, the picture exchange…." Andre said, pulling out his phone.
"That was…" Beck looked for the words.
"Fair warning, both Vega girls have put a hit out on your bachelor status." Sam told Beck. "I'm here to give fair warning, cause I may just have someone to offer who needs help. She's kinda simple, in an odd, strong way. Only, she needs someone to believe in her. Girls was someone I knew, back in Seattle, and while hot, she had emotional issues that let her be taken advantage of. Gibby dated her for a while, being dumb about what a catch he had, before he moved on, and she drifted. Wound up dating a couple of bikers, and was affiliated with the Olbitorators when I ran into her again. Thinking that dove is plenty wounded, and just needs herself a good man. Plus, Tasha cleans up real good, so I wanna keep her away from my man…."
"A hit, huh…?" Beck was honestly amused. "I should warn you, having dated Jade, I suspect I do need someone with more of an opinionated nature. Someone who is a touch dangerous…"
"Okay, help her come out of her shell, and she'll be plenty opinionated." Sam insisted. "Girls self esteem problems will heal, with the right guy. I just don't want it to be with my guy. Sides, she's one of mine, so if you hurt her, well, that's plenty dangerous…"
"Orrrrrr…." Cat said, letting them know she'd approached under cover of the party. "I could set him up with someone I know, someone more his speed, and that Tasha girl could maybe decide she's into girls, and date Hope? I heard Hope needs herself a wife, and I doubt just hanging around you will make this girl more assertive."
"What exactly are you saying?" Sam challenged.
"Just that I know you, love you in an ex roommate and not lover kind of way, and I know you, better than you think." Cat replied. "You're like my Jadey, and not good at helping people be more assertive. In fact, you two are kinda dominant, and thus, not good at that. However, Hope needs someone to help her raise Andre's children…"
"Child." Beck corrected.
"You honestly think they'll stop at one?" Cat glared. "I see her and Meri, negotiating the next couple. No, Hope needs her a woman to care of her as she builds her family, and I need me a Beck to date this model I know, way crazy, who just might be your type."
"Warned you about the hit, right?" Sam commented, and the boy just chuckled.
David was enjoying the company, watching as his wife and daughters, as well as his grandchildren, were enjoying friends and family. 'And what a family. I suspected, from early on, that Tori wouldn't be bringing me a new son into the family. Her taste in men had me worried that Katrina was more likely to find someone. If I'm honest, I was expecting that due to an an unexpected pregnancy, and finding out if the guy was worth pursuing after. Not that I didn't fear that for Tori, but her kind of guy, far less likely to stick around, while Trina's would probably be some minor player in the industry who she snagged as her last shot at fame. Funny how wrong I was. No, Cat's been wonderful for Trina. I honestly had no idea how well my oldest would do with someone who could give her a path, use her strengths, and just plow through. Catarina, god, those names, so similar, it's almost like nature wanted a matching set. However, Cat's drive, her rivalries, those set her and my Trina on their path to success. Only, gonna leave it to Holly's cunning to get me a grandson, since I doubt I have the sway to convince Trina to carry, and Cat, she's ready, again, but feels that my girl owes her.'
His eyes shifted to Jade, standing guard as Tori spoke to Beck about something. She made small talk with Sylvia, one of Tori's cousins, but her eyes were on the pair, more vigilant for her moment to step in than jealous of someone getting her lovers attention. 'I can kinda, sorta remember when I realized you and my daughter were a match. It was when you came over that Christmas and she frisked you. My elf on a shelf should never have been subjected to such an adult moment, as Tori started looking for scissors, and I found her future lover. Just, the way your reacted to her touch, it said you were teasing her, but I could tell, you were interested. Only, making her beg for a Christmas gift you were required to give her, that shows how reluctant you were, not ready to be with her. Had to wait, see if my little Victoria was interested. From there… It took long enough, but you added to my family. In more ways than one, you added to my family. Cat chose Trina, and happiness, out of her many rivalries, while Tori chose you simply because she felt she was done with men. Odd, cause in most cases, that just doesn't work. But for her, it did, and she got her happily ever after. Just, sometimes, the tension…'
"What'cha thinking about?" Cat asked her father in law.
"Just remembering when I realized Jade and Tori had a shot." He replied. "Had no idea what would come from it."
"Yea, I should thank your daughters." Cat nodded. "My rivalry with Jade was enhanced by Tori's rivalry with me. Had no idea she had it, but she tried to take my Jadey, and unknowingly gave me a rout to being her sister. One that gave me this wonderful family to add to my own." The petite girl patted his arm. "Don't underestimate the positive power of a healthy rivalry."
"Any chance one of those exists in this family?" The former police officer asked.
"Nope." Cat chirped back. "I'll type up my notes on your Thanksgiving dinner and have them to you by the end of the week. Maybe it'll help us in deciding how we're doing Christmas." She started to walk away, only to turn and look him in the eye. "My parents, my brother, will be there. Thinking I'll host, and we'll just have everyone over at once. Give me and my family that feeling we've lacked for so long. You know, the love we share, but had such a hard time expressing, cause of the crazy. Thinking we always loved each other, but allowed my brothers crazy… Hell, my whole families crazy, to kinda color it. So, spread the word, it has been decided."
'And Tori's response will be how her place is bigger.' David thought, but he had to laugh, even as his wife zeroed in on Cat and Trina, striking now to convince them it was past time to give them yet another grandchild.
That evening, after dinner, which was much appreciated, they were able to settle down and start thinking about Christmas. David smiled at his wife, now feeling an odd contentment at how his life was turning out. "So, all the grand kids here, huh?"
"There will be more." Holly replied, smiling at her children. "I've set the idea in Cat that Tori and Jade have two, and she only has the one…"
"You are an evil, evil woman." He chuckled.
"Where do you think our daughters get it from, huh?" She asked back, a touch more serious. "Seriously, though, if you think they're evil, don't take too close a look at their wives. Any of their wives. Like Andre. Hope…"
"Isn't his wife." David cut her off. "I don't think he and Meredith are even married…."
"Oh, they're married." Holly said. "Hope probably set it up, to have a father for her kids, decent genes, and Meredith won't have to worry about what her husband does. He has a job for life, she has security, plus the ability to try some chiz out, and Hope has her family. Just don't be surprised if that arrangement changes. Not thinking it'll get worse, not for the girls…"
"So they're evil too?" He asked.
"Self motivated, but close enough." The grandmother said. "It was nice talking to who's left of our generation. My mom, she left me kinda early. Glad your dad was able to make it. The whole family. Now, Christmas, and who knows… And we're having it at Tori's, cause Cat uses hers as this massive home office, and I don't need her constantly trying to hide whatever new design she's working on. No, Jade will have to accept being a host, while we get to relax and have Cat criticize someone else's cooking…"
"Yea, life is good." David agreed, enjoying the dying moments of the family thanksgiving. Soon, a procession of cars would leave this place, while another procession would head to the gust rooms, spending the night. All the grand kids would be there for Black Friday, safe while their crazy parents let rivalries affect their early Christmas shopping. 'Glad I learned to get my shopping done at other times...'
:}
Just wanted a quiet, simple story this year, a showing of the Vega family with maybe a surprise or two from the friends and extended relatives. So, thoughts?