a/n: Yep, it's three... a little sexy epilogue planned for you... stay tuned.~S.K.

Finally Fallen

Trina approached Jade asking after her upset sister. "What's with her?"

Jade shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure, I'm just.. Gonna take down the cameras and things, I'll go get started on some edits for the official video."

Trina frowns and heads over to her sister's dressing room. She finds her sister in tears. Trina held onto her, sensing the pain and confusion in Tori's tears. "What's the matter?" Trina asked gently, offering a supportive presence.

"I miss him so much. Everything was so much easier when he was here," Tori confessed, her voice breaking with emotion. Then, as the floodgates opened, she shared the story of Beck and the challenges of navigating a world without Andre. The weight of recent events, including the betrayal she felt with Jade and the uncertainty surrounding her love life, added to the burden she carried.

As Tori spoke, Trina listened attentively, absorbing the layers of Tori's emotions. "You were just what?" Trina prodded gently, encouraging her sister to share the burdensome thoughts on her mind.

"Never mind, it's stupid," Tori dismissed, perhaps reluctant to voice the complexity of her feelings.

Trina, however, persisted. "Tori, it's not stupid. Whatever you're feeling, it matters. You don't have to carry it alone." She continued to offer comfort and support, hoping to help Tori navigate through the tumultuous emotions that had surfaced on this significant night.

Jade walked away from the lively scene at the holiday gathering, her steps heavy with the weight of disappointment and confusion. As she navigated through the crowd, she spotted Kaycie and Lola dancing and laughing. A small smile tugged at Jade's lips at the heartwarming sight. She made a mental decision to take Kaycie home for Christmas Eve and Day, hoping to bring some joy to the little girl.

Amidst her contemplation, someone covered Jade's eyes. The unexpected gesture startled her, and she instinctively reached up to remove the hands obscuring her vision. A familiar voice spoke, "Guess who?"

"Justin!" Jade's heart leaped with joy as she turned to face her brother. The siblings shared a tight embrace, the warmth of family momentarily easing Jade's troubled thoughts. "You made it!"

"I was invited. Made it just in time to catch the tail end of that performance," Justin remarked, nodding toward the stage. His attention then shifted to Kaycie, who remained oblivious to his presence, engrossed in her dance with Lola.

"Kaycie is going to be so happy to see you," Jade said, attempting to steer Justin toward his daughter. However, he halted her, sensing something amiss. A knowing look passed between them, and Jade sighed, conceding to her brother's silent inquiry.

"I have a crush on Tori, okay? But she just iced me out," Jade admitted with a mixture of frustration and vulnerability.

Justin arched an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming on his face. "Ah... As far as I know, she's straight. Did you come on too strong?"

"I didn't come on to her at all," Jade insisted, her frown deepening. "She just said something about me abandoning her for some more relevant artist or some shit like that."

Justin's smirk faded as he dropped a bombshell. "Oh yeah, congratulations. Your rep sent out a statement that said you were working for Columbia Records."

Jade's eyes widened in disbelief as she checked her phone, confirming the unexpected turn of events. Before she could process the information fully, Kaycie finally spotted them, calling out to her father. Justin hugged his daughter, and as he turned back to Jade, he offered a piece of brotherly advice, "Go get her, Jade."

Feeling a mix of frustration and determination, Jade walked away, dialing her phone with a newfound urgency.

The revelations left Tori in a state of shock and confusion. Trina's words about Jade's commitment contradicted the narrative painted by the public statement. Tori's mind raced with questions, and she felt a surge of frustration. Trina, however, had a different perspective.

"First of all, that's not true," Trina asserted after reading the information from Max. "I heard her talking to her agent yesterday. She said she was not about to leave you mid-job."

Tori's brows furrowed in disbelief. "What?"

"In fact, I am pretty sure she fired them," Trina added matter-of-factly.

"What's all this, then?" Tori asked, trying to make sense of the conflicting information.

"I don't know. Ever thought of talking to Jade about it? What's the big deal anyway? A girl's got to eat," Trina quipped.

Tori struggled to express the whirlwind of emotions within her. "It's just that..."

"Does she mean something to you?" Trina interrupted. "Because I know for a fact you mean something to her."

"What?" Tori's confusion deepened.

"Oh, she has a major crush on you," Trina revealed. "She didn't outright say it, but she implied it when I asked."

"Really?" Tori's eyes widened in surprise.

"Interested?" Trina prodded.

Tori hesitated for a moment, then admitted, "I might be..."

"Well, she said she might be taking Kaycie home for Christmas so that they could at least be with her dad for a few hours on Christmas. So she is leaving soon," Trina informed her.

Tori, fueled by newfound determination, got up and headed toward the door. Before she could process the situation fully, there was a knock. Tori listened intently, recognizing Jade's voice in a heated conversation.

"I have to fix this right now. I don't care if you told them yes before you talked to me; the announcement should not have been made. I will be contacting my lawyers," Jade's voice asserted.

The door opened, revealing a tense Jade. Their eyes met, and Jade trailed off, saying, "Goodbye..."

Unable to say anything, Tori and Jade stared at each other for a few silent minutes. Trina took the opportunity to excuse herself, leaving the two alone. The intensity between them grew, and without words, they shared a passionate kiss, a mixture of apologies and unspoken sentiments.

Tori, amidst kisses and apologies, declared her Love Lights Journey a success. She asked Jade to be her date, prompting a cautious inquiry from Jade about the weight of such a public revelation.

"This is not coming out. You are the one I fell for. A person. If everyone can't handle that, then I don't need to be relevant. So take our picture and post it," Tori declared.

Jade, teasingly, asked if they should get dressed first. Tori glanced at her dressing gown and then at Jade's stunning blue dress. Inspired, she found a blue and green Christmas-themed blazer, a black skirt with slits on each side, and a royal blue halter top. After touching up her makeup, Tori kissed Jade's cheek, leaving a lipstick imprint.

"Now we're ready," Tori declared as they headed out to the big Christmas tree in the hall. They took their picture and captioned it, "Love Lights Journey successful. When you allow yourself to be open to love, it shows up in the most unexpected places. I love you, Jade West. Thank you for going on this Journey with me."