At this point, is it really worth saying it anymore? I keep thinking that I'm done and then boom! Another idea pops up, I was surprised to hear that there's a "Public Domain Day" and seeing as both Jade and Tori are in the entertainment industry, it's something I think they would know or at least Jade might as it has been seen in the series that Tori lacks knowledge in certain areas of show business; which frustrates Jade to no end like in "Tori Gets Stuck" which also served as inspiration for this chapter.

Anyway, enough with me babbling, do please read and enjoy what I written bellow.

"Oww my jaw." Tori moaned as she woke up from her slumber. "Why is it that ever New Year's day I wake up with a bloody mouth? Oh right… I married a vampire who loves to bite my lips into oblivion."

The Latina got up from the bed she shared with her wife, stretching as she continued to massage her jaw.

"At least Jade didn't bite my cheeks." Tori grumbled "She knows I hate that… Why do I do this to myself every New Years? I know how feisty she can get when the clock strikes at midnight.. I'm a masochist, that's the only conclusion I can think of… Why else would I summit myself to this very hot… loving torture every time the new year comes?"

As Tori continued rambling, she failed to notice that she was alone in the bedroom; normally around this time Jade would have woken up and would have threatened the Latina with her scissors to be quiet and then go back to sleep, especially after so much celebrating into the early hours of the night.

… This time however no such thing happened and once Tori realized her spouse was not in bed, she knew something was wrong… Very wrong."

"She has never woken up before 2 o'clock on New Year's day." Tori thought suspiciously. "She wouldn't even join me for breakfast on our first time together… Where did you go Jade?"

The answer soon came as she heard some singing from the bathroom.

"Now men will always tell you how they do it all

While women do the work you never see

But so as it would happen

You're in great need of a captain..."

Tori knew those lyrics anywhere, she knew them by heart after all.

"Oh this takes me back." Tori said as she entered the bathroom, seeing her spouse in all her naked glory doing a little dance as she continued singing in the shower.

Jade was of course unaware of her audience, which of course suited the younger brunette just fine as she hummed along and enjoyed seeing her normally scary wife acting so silly, it was a once in a lifetime sight, like finding a unicorn and bigfoot at the same time.

"Oh! A captain and that captain is me

And so as it would happen

We're in great need of a captain

Well a captain yes a captain is she…"

Tori snickered evilly as a light bulb symbolically turned on above her head.

The Latina tip toed closer and closer to her singing spouse and just as she was inches away from the shower, the brunette sang at full volume "I'm a pretty little salmon!"

This caught Jade of guard who ended up jumping in surprise and falling to the floor, she thankfully didn't get anything broken, except for her wounded pride that is.

"VEGA!"

"Are you hurt Jade?"

"Not as much as you're going to be once I get out of here!"

"Aw, is that the way to thank your loving wife?" Tori cooed. "Come on baby, I know you like pain, think of it like the perfect way to start the year, your made my jaw hurt from all the kissing we did last night, now it's my turn to return the favor and give you the kid of pain I know you'll enjoy."

Jade narrowed her eyes at her spouse.

"The only thing's that in pain right now Vega is my pride, wait till I get my hands on you, I'll see to it that your jaw isn't the only thing that's hurting!"

"I'm betting on that." Tori replied coyly "But in the meantime, how about we save some water."

The Latina then took off her pajama top; this of course made Jade's frown upside down."

"Get your ass in here Vega!" The Thespian ordered "And just to make it clear, I'm still going to get you for this!"

"Sure you will, baby."

After the married couple had their workout in the shower, they got into their comfiest clothes and began having breakfast or more accurately a late lunch, since neither women wanted to cook anything they just decided to have some leftovers.

"So, Jade, I have a question." Tori said as she took a bite out of her sandwich. "And I hope you would answer it honestly."

"You can ask Vega, but that doesn't mean I'll answer it." Jade replied, giving her spouse the evil eye. "You just won your spot in my revenge list!"

"I'm not worried." The Latina said confidently. "I know how to get out of that list, I done it before you know."

"I know." The Thespian hissed. "Ok, Fine! Whatever! Go ahead and ask your damn question!"

"Why were you singing 'The Captain is she' in the shower?" Tori questioned. "I mean, no offense baby but after all, Steamboat Suzy was a play that left us with a bitter taste in our mouths."

"Be that as it may, if you must know Vega, the reason for the little concern in the bathroom is that I was celebrating."

"Celebrating?"

"What is there an echo here?" Jade sneered "YES! Celebrating! Don't you know what to day is Tor?"

"Uh… January 1st?" Tori replied unsurely "The first day of the year?"

"Aside from that!"

"The day I'm going to be murdered by my wife if I give her the wrong answer?"

"No, that's not going to happen." Jade retorted "Not to day at least… No my dear Vega, today is the event known as Public domain day!"

Tori's only response was to blink several times in confusion.

"Public what now?"

Jade on her part slapped her own forehead in frustration.

"Seriously Tori?!" The Thespian snapped annoyed. "We been in showbiz for how long and you never heard of the term public domain or that there's a day celebrating this double edge of a holiday?!"

"Instead of chewing me out, how about if you explain it instead Jade?" Tori requested.

"One of these days I'm going to stop being your wikipedia, Vega." The pale woman said darkly. "But fine, long story short, On January 1st, International Public Domain Day celebrates the lives of the authors who died many years ago and their available works in the public domain. Also, on this day, people observe the expiration of copyrights and celebrate new works that enter the public domain."

"Why am I not surprised that you would add something about death to this." Tori said dryly. "But that doesn't explain why were you singing in the shower."

"I told you Vega, I was celebrating!" Jade snapped. "And if you paid more attention you would read under the lines! I was singing because today Steamboat Suzy enters the public domain!"

"It does?"

"Yes it does!" Jade snapped. "Meaning that I can use the damn play and not have to pay anyone anything!"

"How does this work exactly?" Tori asked curiously. "I mean there's like a limit to this, right?"

"Didn't you pay any attention to Sikowitz in school Tor?!" Jade asked, her irritation growing "But yeah, you're right that there's a limit to how copyright stuff works, I mean let me give you an example, let's say I write a book and I die the next day…"

"I rather not think of that scenario JADE!" The Latina bellowed "I like my wife alive and demented thank you very much!"

"And I like my wife to stop interrupting me!" The Thespian hissed. "But fine, I love you too Vega… Anyway as I was saying, if I publish the book and then I die, I could leave you the rights to my writing and for the next fifty years to seventy years depending on whatever part of the world you're in, people would have to pay you for the rights to use my book."

"Like I said, I much rather have you than ownership of any intellectual property that your pretty demented mind creates or the money that comes with it." Tori said stubbornly. "Money comes and goes but I would never have another you."

"Damn it Vega, you're making it very hard for me to be mad at you right now!" Jade groaned. "Just get through that thick ass of yours that this is a hypothetical scenario, plus if I die, I want to make sure you're going to be ok."

"I can make my own money Jade." Tori huffed "But I fine… I do get the gist of what you're saying."

"Good, then you understand that copyrighted work has an expiration date, even your songs, Hell, I think the asshole that wrote the birthday song never worked a day in his life since he kept getting royalties from it."

"That's pretty interesting, baby." Tori said distractedly as she looked at her phone. "Aw look! The author of Peter Pan gave the rights to his book to a Children's Hospital in London!"

"That's the power of the copyright law Vega." Jade mused. "Some people use it for good, others for evil, I think I heard that the Dingo channel once refused to let some school use their characters and threatened to sue but then a rival studio allowed that school to use their characters for free."

"Wow, this is kind of a slippery slope."

"Don't act so surprised." Jade replied. "Nothing is ever as black and white as we would like them to be, you and I know this better than anyone."

"True…" Tori nodded. "So, what are you going to do now that Steamboat Suzy is in the public domain?"

"What I should have done years ago if the law wouldn't have been on my ass about it." Jade said bluntly. "I'm going to finally act on the damn play!"

"Say, what now?" The Latina asked confused. "Mind repeating that baby? Because I'm almost sure I heard you go crazy, don't you remember what happened last time?!"

"Believe me Vega, I remember." Jade hissed with narrowed eyes. "I got cheated out of the Suzy role, first by you and then by Sikowitz, but it's not going to happen this time! Because I'm going to direct, produce and act on it and you're going to help me!"

"Uh… so not happening Jade!" Tori snapped. "Last time I took any part on that play, I ended up on the hospital and losing a huge amount of blood!"

"It's not going to happen this time Tor!" The Thespian said quickly "… Maybe… "

"Very reassuringly there, Jade." The Latina replied sarcastically. "But you know what? I like my blood right where it is, inside of me, so I'll kindly decline."

"Come on, I could really use your help!" Jade said. "Think about it this way Vega, it could be our first play project as wife and wife."

"Tempting…" Tori replied as if considering the prospect. "But what's in it for me?"

"You get to sleep with the director."

"I'm already sleeping with the director." The brunette shot back coyly. "And as magnificent as you are in the sack, you have to try better than that… So what else you got?"

"Are you playing hard to get, Vega?" Jade asked unimpressed. "Because if you are, that's a first, you weren't this devious even when we first started going out."

"Oh you're a funny gal, Jade." Tori replied back unamused. "And I'll have you know, I'm the mistress of seduction, how else would I have gotten you to fall for me?"

"Because I have a weakness for dorky women, that's the only explanation here, Tor." Jade answered. "It's better to think that than the alternative that I lost my mind, but let me tell you if being sane meant not loving you, I rather be certifiably insane."

"Aww, Jade, that's so sweet!" Tori gushed. "… I think."

"Getting back to the topic at hand, Vega, what do you say?" The Thespian asked hopefully. "I'll even make you my understudy just to be safe and I promise nothing bad will happen to you."

"Wait, you want me to be your understudy?" The Latina asked suspiciously. "This wouldn't be your way of getting back at me for beating you for the same role back in high school?"

"You wound be Vega." The former Goth said in a faux hurt tone. "Do you really think I would be so petty and vengeful to do that to the love of my life?"

"Yeah…" Tori nodded. "One hundred perfect."

"Ok this time, THAT really hurt." Jade said bluntly.

"Can you blame?" Tori asked with a raised eyebrow, I mean there was the time you almost ruined the prome oh and let's not forget the time you pushed me out of a building, the time we had to say yes to everything and oh let's not forget…"

"Ok! Ok! I get it Vega!" Jade snapped in annoyance. "My revenge track record isn't something I like to be reminded about, not exactly proud of the amount of times I took my anger out on you, I know I was gank, but this is different, I mean, I'm asking you for help Tori, no strings attached, plus it's our way of making things right."

"How so, baby?" The tanned woman asked with a raised eyebrow. "Do tell."

"Well, for starters, I promise not to look up your medical records for nefarious purposes." Jade said honestly. "Also, your blood remains where it belongs… Inside of you; I don't like the idea of you experiencing blood loss a second time and last but not least, just think if I get sick or get missing or get hit with a bus, you get to take my place in the play."

"I'm still going to say no."

"WHY?!" Jade bellowed angrily.

"Because you said and I quote that if I ever took one of your parts, you would chop me into itty bitty pieces and shove my remains down the garbage disposal." Tori replied bluntly. "You were also very graphic on the way you would have chopped my body parts."

"Oh for the love of…" Jade groaned in annoyance "Vega,,, I said that over ten years ago when we were in high school and I'm pretty sure our marriage vows nullified that threat!"

"Are you sure?"

"YES!"

Tori still looked suspiciously at her spouse but nevertheless decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Ok, fine, I'll do it…" She agreed. "Under one condition."

"Which is?"

"That if by some bad luck you get sick or whatever and can't play Suzy and I have to, then you have to sign a contract promising NOT to get mad or seek revenge." Tori said firmly. "Because if you do, I'm going on the lamb after I file for divorce."

"Now that's being a bit overdramatic." Jade said with an eye roll "I'm your wife, not a head hunter."

"Be that as it may, I still not taking any chances." Tori commented. "So, do we have a deal?"

"Fine, sure, whatever!" Jade agreed. "Guess we should get our lawyer to make up that contract."

"Yeah." Tori nodded. "That's probably a good idea, also now I'm wondering but do contracts have any copyright or expiration date?"

Jade raised her hand and lifted her finger for dramatic effect but then lowered her index finger as if she didn't know the answer to that… Which was most certainly the case.

"I have no idea." Jade reluctantly admitted. "Guess I know what the first question to our lawyer will be."

Several Months Later, Opening Night:

"Is everyone ready?" Tori asked.

"Just about Tori." Andre said. "The stage is set, everyone is in their place but the only thing missing is the lead! Where's Jade?"

"Oh, she probably is still getting ready." The Latina guessed. "I better go check on here, we're about to raise the curtains in ten minutes!"

Tori walked over to her wife's dressing room and knocked on it.

"Jade?" She asked "Baby, we're about to go live, are you ready?"

When the Latina didn't get any response she got worried and opened the door, expecting to see the other woman ready to go but what she saw instead floored her to the core.

"JADE!"

The Thespian in questioned looked awful, if anything she looked paler than normal with bags under her eyes and had a dry mouth as if no matter how much water she drank, she still felt thirsty.

"Holy chiz!" Tori exclaimed worried "Baby! What happened to you? You look like poop!"

"God, Vega." Jade said hoarsely "If you're going to say anything about how I look at least use your big girl word! I look like shit and I feel like shit!"

She then began coughing uncontrollably.

"But… How did this happen?" Tori asked confused "You looked fine this morning!"

"Hell if I know." Jade coughed. "Damn it… Why did this had to happen tonight of all nights?!"

"Well, guess there's only one thing left to do." The Latina said with mild uncertainty. "We're going to have to postpone the show!"

"What?!" Jade raged. "We're not about to do that! After all the time and effort we put into Steamboat Suzy, we're not about to cancel the damn show!"

"I said postpone, not cancel, baby." Tori corrected. "And I think everyone will understand that you got hit with… a bug?"

"The show must go on!" The Thespian said stubbornly. "I'm not about to let a damn flu stop me."

"You're not getting one foot out of this dressing room, Jade!" Tori ordered harshly. "You're sick, you can barely talk let alone walk, I'm not about to let you torture yourself like this just because you want to portray Suzy in the play."

"… But..."

"Jade August West!" Tori said ominously "Lay down and rest!"

The Thespian knew better than to argue with her wife, especially after she just used her full name, so she reluctantly sat in her chair.

"I'll tell everyone the show has been postpone until you get better and then I'm taking you home." The Latina said in a commanding done. "And I'm not letting you out of bed until you feel better, West."

"Ugh… Vega, I'm.."

"Don't you dare say that you're fine, Jade!" Tori snapped. "Look at you! You look like a Zombie and not like the type Cat made me look like once!"

"That's not what I was about to say, Vega." Jade coughed. "What I was thinking is that instead of postponing the damn play is that you can go out there and take my place, you are my understudy after all."

"But Jade… Baby… This was meant to be your moment." Tori said unsurely. "You rehearsed for this very night for months… I just can't take this away from you."

"You're right… This was meant to be like a do over for me." She coughed. "I finally got the chance to play Suzy but go figure the universe would have a way to fuck with me, but I'm not about to let you cancel the show, you know all my lines so, Vega… Go out there, break a leg and make me proud!"

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't be saying this if I wasn't Tori." Jade replied weakly. "So get ready… The show must go on."

Tori took a deep sigh before looking over at the outfit that Jade was supposed to wear.

"Don't you dare get out of here while the play is going on." Tori said gently. "I'll get Cat or Robbie to give you some medicine, so please stay here and focus on getting better and once we're done, its straight home for us."

"I promise I won't get any sicker." Jade said. "Just go out there, everyone's waiting."

Tori gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before getting ready; the Latina however didn't notice the sly smile coming from her spouse.

"You can't Captain a boat." Andre said dramatically "You're just a woman!"

"I may be a woman," Tori replied evenly "But that doesn't mean I'm not the best dang Steamboat Captain this here River's ever seen!"

The Latina then began singing, which of course captivated the audience, especially a certain raven haired woman who watched the show from the shadows.

After the play was finally over the cast and crew did their bows before the curtains went down, Tori was smiling happily, she felt ecstatic, as everyone congratulated her and each other for a job well done, the Latina however couldn't wait to tell her spouse how the show had gone without a hitch… Unlike that first time many years ago.

"Congratulations Tori."

"Jade!" The Latina exclaimed surprised. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in your dressing room… Resting?"

The tanned woman was confused because the last time she saw her spouse she looked just about ready to drop from exhaustion.

"What the?... Jade… What gives?" Tori asked. "You looked like chiz not too long ago and now you look like you had a day at the spa!"

"Ah, there's a very reasonable explanation for that, Vega." Jade said with a smirk. "I was never sick… Cat just got better with her make up."

"But… Why?!" Tori asked. "Why would you do that?!"

"Vega… Long story short, this is my way of making things up for you." Jade admitted "We both know I did some pretty crappy things to you in high school and even though you told me countless time that you forgave me… I never actually forgave myself for the Steamboat Suzy fiasco, you earned the role fair and square and I was just being petty and vengeful, so doing the play was my way of not only apologizing to you but also to say… I fucking love my wife."

Overwhelmed with so many emotions, Tori spontaneously lifts Jade up, this of course surprised the Thespian but nevertheless enjoys being in the loving arms of her wife, eventually the Latina lowers her, and they share a kiss.

"I should have known you were up to something since day one." Tori said lovingly. "All this time being the understudy was you getting me ready for the role."

"I wasn't about to let you go unprepared, Vega. " Jade replied with a smirk.

Then they shared another kiss.

As most of you must already know today is January 1st, better known as Public Domain Day, and today it's the day that "Steamboat Willie", which is like the most well-known Mickey Mouse cartoon enters the public domain and since "Steamboat Suzy" seems to be a parody of the above mentioned toon, So as a result I just thought it would seem appropriate to use for the overall plot of the holiday/chapter.

Anyway, what do you guys think of this idea? Good? Bad? In Between? As always constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

Invader Johnny Signing Off.