A/N: My goodness! Forty chapters and counting! Who knew I'd ever get to this place?

Still brainstorming on my other projects, including the sequel to this. I'm struggling with a title. I really don't want to call it VictoriNEXT 2, so it's been labelled as "Untitled VictoriNEXT Sequel" for the time being.

Anyone with an idea for a good title, please send it to me via private message.

If one of you nails it, then I will gladly give you a shout-out!

But the thing is slowly taking shape. I don't want to start it until I have it very clear in my mind! This story, thanks to Teentitan12, has forced me to really up my game for planning and characterization. I feel like I'm a better writer than ever before because of my experience here. Even the fluffier stories I have in mind I want to constantly tweak until I'm satisfied. I used to hammer out that first draft, give it a quick read and send it out.

I don't anymore. I feel like you all deserve better. Sometimes I completely re-write a chapter from scratch.

I do all of this extra effort because you deserve it! This is my FAVORITE thing and to see you enjoy it is indescribable!


"Is that everything?" Tori asked.

Mia contritely nodded.

In another time Tori would've scolded her mercilessly but seeing her sweet treasure all broken made her heart ache.

Instead, she hugged Mia while sobbing which prompted the teen to do the same.

"I'm sorry you didn't come to us sooner," said Jade. "It must have been a lot to have on your mind."

She looked up at her best friend's mom, who was also her own mom's girlfriend. Right at this moment, the woman had an expression of compassion on her face. Jade West was a lot of things but to Mia personally; she was a friend; someone she could trust.

The teen girl was speechless when looking at Jade. It was like looking into a strange mirror giving a glimpse of the older, more confident Alice she would know in the future.

"So, what happens now?" asked Alice. "We need to find those three and arrest them!"

Jade put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Easy, Lone Ranger."

"Cops will be here any minute," explained Tori. "Mia will give a statement."

She turned and two uniformed officers came inside.

"Speaking of the devil," muttered Jade.

"Good evening, I'm Sgt. Heinz and this is Sgt. Howard. We were made aware of Mia's injuries when she was admitted."

The older cop, identifying himself as Heinz, walked over to Mia. Tori by reflex made a protective barrier between the two.

"It's okay, mom..." said Mia. "Really."

Tori looked down at her and her face softened.

"Being that she is a minor..." he waited for a nod from Tori for confirmation. "We require your presence anyway."

"Come on, Alice."

Jade gestured for her to follow.

"Let's go get something to eat. I bet you're starving."

Alice nodded and went with her mother.

Over the course of the next twenty minutes, Mia went over every detail of her relationship to Ethan, Renee and Mike all leading up to her violent encounter with them. Tori had heard about 90% of the story from Mia's tearful confession but came to learn of a few minor things in the heat of the moment, she mistakenly omitted. For example, the seemingly idle threat of Renee having to begin robbing people again if business slowed down. Tori couldn't have been more devastated to be right. She had a mother's intuition about the lot Mia was hanging with, a feeling she did not sense from her school friends, and it was worse than she imagined.

It wasn't just the sneaking out and going to a bad part of LA to hang out. The kids themselves, at least by Mia's descriptions they were kids, turned out to be pretty dangerous. Tori buried the fleeting thought of what might have occurred if Chase hadn't seen her and intervened. She knew if she dwelled on that "what if?" the tears would flow and never stop.

No parent should have to bury their child. It would have been the one thing more horrible than losing Sam. Tori was sure the fire to continue on in this life would've been snuffed out for good. She would be in the darkest of places. Sufficient to say, it would have been unwise to ever leave her alone.

The Latina sat in silence, holding Mia's hand for emotional support, mentally thanking whatever god was listening. She was more grateful that she had her daughter back than anything in this world.

"Howard!" the older officer said to his partner. "Could you please hand me the tablet?"

The other man complied and gave the device to his senior and he showed the screen to Mia.

"We made some arrests tonight and my partner here ran through these people given your physical descriptions."

With a swipe, the three separate mugshots of Ethan, Mike and Renee appeared.

Mia's body stiffened like she had seen a ghost and Tori tightened her hand while hugging her with the other.

"Th-th-that's them!"

"Are you positive?" pressed Heinz.

She raised her arm and pointed.

"Mike...Renee...and Ethan," Mia confirmed. "I'll never forget those faces. Mike looks different there."

Indeed, his mugshot was from a previous arrest, evidenced by a goatee apparently, he used to have prior to Mia meeting him.

(How long ago was that picture?)

Howard nodded as he collected the tablet from Heinz.

"What were they picked up for?" asked Tori.

Howard cleared his throat before replying.

"Armed robbery, grand theft auto, resisting arrest. The other charges came from a gun under the seat of the parked car they tried to steal. A squad car noticed them, it became a standoff, and we were forced to take them down."

Mia looked up at her mom, eyes bulging.

"The female was shot in the leg while the larger one, uh you identified as Mike, was fatally wounded. He lunged at the officers with the gun in hand. The third one, Ethan, I take it, was definitely involved as he was in the driver's seat. When all is said and done, the other boy and the girl were hauled off."

"It turned out," Heinz took over. "The big guy was 20. The other two were teenagers. No priors for Ethan...buuuuut he is eighteen and legally an adult, so this won't just be a slap on the wrist. Renee, much like Mike, already had a sheet going back a way. She'll be going away for quite some time. The assault on you is the tip of the iceberg."

Mia's eyes watered.

"God..."

(You think you know someone but clearly, I didn't know shit!)

"Does she have to appear in court?" Tori asked, concerned.

Heinz looked at his partner.

Howard started, "Given that these two will be going to trial for the robbery as well as some other crimes..."

"Seeing as the assault isn't the focus of the prosecution," Heinz continued. "Maybe we can get away with just your statement."

"But if the DA says otherwise," Howard added. "You may have to appear because by law Renee must face her accuser."

Mia tugged at her mom's arm, terror across her face.

"Seeing as how you are technically a minor," Heinz assured. "The DA might show some leniency, but here is the number for the office."

He handed a business card to Tori.

"Call him and find out what part, if any, Mia here needs to contribute to the proceedings."

Tori nodded solemnly.

"Okay, is there anything else officers?"

"No," Heinz replied. "We're done here. Thank you for your cooperation and Miss Larson?"

Mia made eye contact with the older policeman.

"This sounded like a really bad crowd. You really are very lucky to make it out. Unfortunately, we don't always get the good outcome."

The girl wiped her eyes.

"Yeah."

"You ladies try to have a good night," Howard added as the pair left.

The mother and daughter both sighed heavily. Even when there was no wrongdoing on your part, talking with the police takes something out of you.

"I'm sorry about all this, mom."

"Me, too."

Tori kissed the back of Mia's hand.

"We will do better next time..." she looked down to Mia. "Okay?"

She wanted to drive home the point that all of the "I'm sorry's" won't cure anything if Mia isn't willing to do better next time. But Tori was conscious of the fragile state her daughter was in and she still felt responsibility for her kid. So, Tori used less accusatory language and shared the affirmation with Mia.

"It will be better," Mia promised.

"I know," Tori smiled.


Jade sat across from Alice at the cafeteria below the floor Mia was staying.

"Babe, you barely touched your muffin."

Alice was distracted, lost in her thoughts, not eating the generously sized muffin before her.

Something had to be bothering her because that was a banana nut muffin. She enjoyed chocolate or blueberry or pistachio fine, but banana nut was Alice's favorite.

"Hey, earth to Alice! Come in, please?"

The teen blinked and looked up at her mom.

"Oh, sorry. I was thinking about...stuff."

Jade sipped her iced coffee, which wasn't what she really wanted but caffeine is caffeine.

It was so late that the cafe was technically closed but you could still sit at the tables. So, the mother and daughter had to rely on vending machines.

"Alice, I know you're worried about Mia but..."

"She shouldn't be here," the girl admitted.

"What are you talking about?" Jade asked.

"Remember when Mia said how she went back for the money box and saw me?"

Jade nodded.

Alice started to tear up.

"I tried to stop her, but I couldn't! If I had...tried harder...she would've been safe!"

Jade rose up quickly and hugged her girl tightly while she cried.

"No, no, no, never! Never think that baby!"

She wiped her daughter's eyes.

"Listen, Mia was in a really bad place and her mind was set. She wasn't going to listen to any reasoning."

She kissed Alice on the forehead.

"Please, don't go down a similar road. You and Mia care so much...you two knuckleheads deserve each other," Jade smirked.

Alice giggled and sniffed.

"But you can't blame yourself for everything! If more people cared like you two, the world would be so much better!"

"You think so?" Alice asked.

Jade smiled with watery eyes at her first and only child.

"You sure as hell make my world a dream."


Mia woke up and saw that sunlight had lit up the room, upstaging the florescent lighting above her head.

She leaned over to her left, where her mom was asleep in a chair.

Then the teen noticed the table on her right, but she could barely see the table.

It was covered with flowers and cards and stuffed animals and those little silver balloons that seemingly last forever. They were all well wishes and just general shows of love.

The tan girl smiled at the outpouring of affection from those around her.

A part of her couldn't believe it.

"Oh, you're awake!" came Tori with a yawn.

Mia turned to her mom and sighed.

"Morning, mom. Did you get enough sleep?"

Tori massaged her neck.

"Nothing like a chair to make you miss a couch, but I managed."

She then noticed the table.

"Oh, wow. The pile grew since I passed out."

"Where did all of this come from anyway?" Mia asked.

Tori walked over to the table.

"Lauren, Jenna, the whole gang just raided the gift shop. Your uncle stopped over, but you were already asleep."

She held up a light grey elephant to show Mia. It held a red sign that said, Never Forget I Wuv U!

"He gave you this."

Mia chuckled.

"Let's see..." Tori continued, looking over the cards. "Chase...Billy...oh, who's Ryan?"

The teen's eyes widened.

"You're blushing," Tori smirked.

"No, I'm not!" Mia protested with a head shake.

She slyly put the card down.

"Fine, you can read that one later...alone!"

Mia groaned as she covered herself with the white blanket out of embarrassment.

"Your teacher, Mr. Shapiro and his wife got you these lilies."

Tori sniffed them and checked the vase that it had enough water.

"Most of them hung out but the hospital wouldn't let them, so they had to head home."

Mia poked out from under the covers.

"I...I want to thank all of them."

Tori smiled and sat beside her daughter.

"There's one way," she said. "Invite them to a party."

"What party?" asked Mia.

"Yours, silly!"

Mia laid back and thought about it. She picked up her phone which was right by her body, tethered to a charger courtesy of her mom.

"Doctors think you could get out of here tomorrow at the latest," Tori explained. "That'll give us a few days to plan."

Sure enough, Friday March 14 is Mia's birthday.

"We can have everybody over on Saturday."

Mia understood the hustle with school and work for everyone; they should be able to enjoy themselves the day of the party.

"Does that sound okay?" Tori asked, anxiously.

"I'd like to see everyone," Mia said.

Tori grinned widely.

"Great!" she exclaimed with a clapping of the hands. "Let's focus on resting today, okay honey? We can plan later."

Mia nodded.

"What time is it again?" she asked herself, ignoring the clock on her phone the first time she looked at it. "Wow, eleven?"

Tori stretched.

"Guess we were both a bit tired from yesterday."

"Mom?"

"Yes, babe?"

Mia got a sad expression on her face.

"I'm sorry again about making all of you worry. I thought I was doing the right thing but...it was wrong."

Tori squeezed her daughter's hand.

"I'm glad you came to your senses," she smiled.

"I had help," Mia admitted.

A knock on the door altered them to Chase and Lauren standing in the doorway.

"OH, HEY!" exclaimed Tori. "Don't you two look fancy!"

Chase tugged at the collar of his grey button shirt with a sensible tie. Lauren sported a white floral dress with a short jacket to match.

"We just came from church," Lauren explained. "This boy really wanted to come along."

"She mentioned it before and I..." he looked at Mia in the eye. "Realized I had a lot to be thankful for."

Lauren went straight over to Mia and hugged her. They were both happy to see each other.

"We prayed for you, Mia. We all did."

Mia started to think that encounter with her father wasn't just in her mind.

"I also wanted to stop here because I forgot to give you this."

The Latina couldn't believe her eyes when Chase produced the golden locket still on its chain.

"Where did you...?"

He walked over to Mia and handed the jewelry to her.

"They removed it in the ambulance while they were working on you. I took it and kept it safe because I knew how much it meant to you."

Mia popped open the locket and there was her dad's picture still inside, much to her relief.

She looked at Lauren, Tori, Chase and down at her own father in the small picture.

Before she didn't think she was worth a damn.

But it was hard to argue with so many people looking out for her.


A/N: I had some fun writing these hospital scenes, especially after having written Wish You Were Here where Jade had a miserable experience. Here, Mia at least had visitors and Tori was a far better example of a mother.

Doing my best to making the updates a little more frequent (less than a week between chapters) for as long as I can!