Hello dear readers. Sorry for the lateness of this update and frankly how long it took me to complete this story. Real life and the Muse is a funny thing in the writing process. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy the conclusion to this story. Feedback is always much appreciated.

Guest: Sorry it took so long. Thanks for the support.

pbow: He is a good actor, he makes a lot of people believed he loved her. I thought he did too until his admittance in 'Opposite Date'. Until then, I just thought he was bad at being in a relationship with her, but he still loved her. I wish in canon that she would have heard him admit that to all those people in the pet hospital.

Not to spoil the chapter too much, but yes there were a lot of possibilities of how this chapter could have ended with each suggestion have a big hurdle to overcome. You are correct though that at this point in the timeline, T-Bo had not moved into the guest room yet.

Jeremy Shan: Thanks.

Twilight Warrior 627: Dan simply dropped the ball and wasn't interested in actually pursuing the storyline. He broke them up then didn't do anything with them. More than a year ago I actually wrote an essay on my Tumblr explaining that other than one scene in 'Tori Goes Platinum' that whether Bade was together or not didn't significantly alter the season.

Thepreggoteen: We'll see her ending.

Challenge King: He acted all innocent in the original breakup in canon and I simply had him admit to his friends what he admitted to complete strangers in the animal hospital. In a way, this Beck actually has a little more decency than Canon!Beck in telling Jade and his friends the complete truth.

Freddie is trying to find the person he was before the Seddie arc (you know, not the completely OC one created for a storyline that has finally been admitted to being purely as a ratings gimmick where the show's storyline didn't support) and he got the opportunity to act like that Freddie again.

Fanfic-Reader-88: On the surface, Beck can make valid points, until you realize that he's actually the root cause of those problems. He liked getting a rise out of her (watch Robbazzi) and knows exactly his appeal to girls and isn't confused by it (Driving Tori Crazy, Slap Fight).

Canon!Beck made the distinction in the animal hospital. He put a big giant 'BUT' between making it clear he loved her as a friend, but couldn't continue saying it when she was his girlfriend.

Are you so sure how it will end even if you know my leanings on pairings? :D

hanahanimon: Thank you. I hope I don't disappoint you with the ending.

Rating T

Chapter 8

Freddie patiently waited on the stool seat at the kitchen island. He was sipping from a glass of tap water and letting Jade freshen up and emotionally gather herself. He was grateful for the moment to himself in trying to process how everything in about a day could spin so out of control. A bit of guilt started eating at him since if he hadn't suggested such a stunt, the couple—correction, Jade wouldn't be—going through such turmoil at the moment of finding out that the foundation of her relationship with Beck was a lie. He couldn't care less about how Beck was feeling if anything he hoped the long haired actor's jaw was killing him.

One part of him raised the question: However, was that really the truth? He didn't invent or cause any of their problems; his arrival and nutty scheme just exposed the problems and unfortunately Beck's true feelings, so why should he feel guilty?

Another voice in his head countered with a quick answer: because Jade was hurting.

Hurting did not cover what he saw of Jade; broken would be a more descriptive and encompassing word of Jade's emotional state at the moment. He tried remembering a girl so emotionally broken before with Carly being the closest when she found out Steven had cheated on her with Tori. She had bounced back pretty quickly, eerily quickly and had moved on to wanting to get with the next guy Adam that led to the mess at Webicon. He knew to his core that no such a thing would happen with Jade even if a part of him would like that to happen—emotionally bouncing back, not just some hookup with the first guy that came along.

That thought led to another as guilt wasn't the only feeling that started eating at his heart, but real pain in seeing Jade in pain. He was somewhat surprised at how quickly and deeply he came to care about the dark, some might describe as gothic, girl. He hope it wasn't primarily due to him being physically attracted to her, which he could freely admit to himself since he'd have to be blind to her beauty and hotness—and not feel anything in his extremities when he had caressed her several times.

Whatever the reason, it hurt that there wasn't anything he could think of to do to relieve her pain. There wasn't some zany scheme he could come up with (even if he had Carly and Sam with him) that could fix this mess or more important fix Jade's heart. She'd have to work it out and plow through the pain as he did when he realized that Carly would never love him.

The one last stab at his heart in the whole situation was that he wouldn't be here to help her through it, but be back up in Seattle by the late tomorrow evening. He wondered if video chats and phone calls would be enough then quickly wondered if she would want to keep in touch since she could start to think it was his fault for the mess she found herself involved. Maybe she would just want to wash her hands of everything? It wouldn't be the first time that he was irrationally blamed for something.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the soft footsteps at the base of the stairs and walking further into the kitchen. He smiled at her when she walked into the kitchen. She was still wearing his Penny-T that he had no intention of asking for in return and her face was completely scrubbed of ruined makeup. She hadn't bothered to reapply her makeup and actually had taken out her nose stud and eyebrow piercing.

She cracked as smile. "What?"

He shrugged a shoulder and continued to wear his smile as he realized she had caught him staring. "I was just admiring the beauty."

She bowed her head and let a thankful smile form on her face. She looked back up at him and displayed a bashful smile as all her defenses around him hadn't been raised back up after her breakdown. "I know I'm hot, but you think I look beautiful?"

He looked to her with a charming smile. "That's a self evident truth."

She slightly bowed her head again and looked to the kitchen floor. "I appreciate the flattery. Even I could use it right now."

"It's not flattery. No one else is around and I don't have to act as an interested guy to try to make a boyfriend jealous."

She snorted out a laugh and looked away. "I could use that honesty too after what just happened."

She walked over to have a seat on the other side of the island just as he got up from his seat and headed to the coffee pot after it finished filling up. He pulled the glass pot out and brought a cup to her. "It hasn't been too long since lunch, so I figured that you weren't hungry, but would appreciate some coffee. Sorry, I don't know how you like it."

She smiled to him and took the mug. "It's okay, thank you." She walked over to the one of the cabinets and opened it to pull out a small container filled with packets of sugar. She pulled out two sugar packets and quickly poured them into her coffee while calling over her shoulder, "For future reference, I like my coffee dark with two sugars."

"I will remember that the next time I get the chance to fix you some coffee."

She formed a genuine smile on her face as she retook her seat and took a sip from her coffee.

The pair sat in a surprisingly comfortable silence, one sipping on a coffee and the other on some water. It wasn't exactly how they started off their time together, but it was close enough and was not lost on either of them.

After several more minutes of just silent companionship, he asked in a hesitant filled voice, "If I may ask, what do you plan to do?"

She sat the mug down back on the island and took a deep breath. She looked off towards one side of the kitchen, slipping deeper into thought.

He quickly attempted to reassure her, "You don't have to tell me."

She looked back to him and her lips formed a smile. In a surprisingly pleasant voice and free of the pain he had heard earlier, "Our problems were a lot deeper than I thought… I need a break from Beck. I need to figure out what I want… Do I want to be with Beck and give him a chance?" She looked to him with a sorrowful expression. "I know you were willing to accept being with Carly even if it was unequal with how much you loved each other, but I don't think I can handle that right now—not after being with him for more than three years and being… fooled."

He placed a reassuring hand on top of her hand and whispered, "You don't have to justify your decision to me."

"I guess not, but… I guess I needed to say it out loud… to a friend."

He supportively squeezed her hand and gave a friendly smile.

She looked to the dark liquid and whispered, "Thanks for trying to help."

His smile faded as he answered, "I'm sorry it failed… it really did blow up in our faces."

She bowed her head to look at the island and answered just above a whisper, "It is better I know the truth than live a lie… even if it was a pleasant lie."

He raised a curious eyebrow which she quickly picked up on, "We have had our good times or I wouldn't have stayed with him this long—it wasn't all miserable."

He nodded and added, "I don't like him making you miserable at all."

"You're very sweet Freddie."

He chuckled with a bowed head, "I try." His voice dipped into a more somber tone and repeated, "I… use to try."

She quietly, but confidently answered, "You still are."

He looked up to her bashful smile, feeling a soft warmth in his chest, his faith in himself—of who he wanted to be—having been partially restored.

He returned the smile while she hid hers behind a sip of her mug. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the taste and the calming influence it had on her despite the caffeine. She opened her eyes and blew out a soft breath. "I'm going to miss you."

He affectionately smiled, feeling uplifted and comforted by her reassurance. He cleared his throat then softly answered, "I'm going to miss you too, but we have phones and the internet and… in the middle of October we have a three day weekend with a teacher's workday and I could come to visit and Veteran's Day in early November… if you want to hang out."

Another smile crept up her face and she whispered in a bashful tone, "I'd like for you to come back and… hang out."

He took a sip of water and she dipped her head down to see if she could catch his eyes. He laughed as he sat his glass down on the counter, "What?"

She sweetly answered, "You really are and if…"

"If?"

"If circumstances had been different for us… I would have liked to explore something deeper between us, but… I still need to figure out things with Beck and I'm guessing a part of you liked Tori or you wouldn't have come down here besides what's going on with the drama of Carly and Sam."

He put on an even expression and if Jade guessed right, a somewhat embarrassed expression that she had guessed correctly.

She felt a slight twinge of jealousy that he had been interested in Tori even if she had no right to do such a thing. What she felt most of all was regret in possibly messing up his chances with her long time rival. She sat up straight in her seat and stated in a calm, firm voice, "I'm sorry if sabotaged your chances with Tori with my problem and for our… intimacy."

He slightly nodded along and answered, "It's not your fault if I have. I made the choice to hang out with you and try to help you and… return the affection. The important part was to help you."

She snorted out and glanced downward. "Just like Tori… you might just fit with her."

He bowed his head as well and continued, "You're right… you're right that this trip didn't turn out how I had hoped, but I'm glad I got to spend it with you and… if circumstances had been different…" He got up from his seat and walked around the island to stand on her left. She turned and sat her mug down on the countertop before looking to him with a curious expression, as her seat was high enough for them to meet at eye level.

He rested his hands on her hips and slight dipped his head to his right to softly capture her lips. She took in a sharp breath through her nose, but almost instantly melted into the tender kiss and returned it with her hands slipping behind the back of his neck.

He pulled away and met her eyes with a tender smile to her. "…I would have liked to explore this too… if it makes you feel better, in one imaginative universe we got to explore the possibility and it worked out for them."

She raised her pierced, but missing brow ring eyebrow.

"It's just some nerdy scientific theory."

Her face lit up with a genuine, happy expression while she softly patted his shoulders.

The doorbell rang and tore them away from their happy moment. Freddie looked over his shoulder while Jade looked around his arm. He quickly suggested, "It could be Beck or the others."

She slightly shook her head and broke eye contact. "I don't want to see anyone. I'm just… I think I'm too emotionally drained at the moment for another confrontation."

"I'll just give them back Beck's keys and then I can shoo them off and tell them you don't want to see anyone."

"Beck's keys?"

"I sto—borrowed Beck's car to follow you."

She slightly squinted at him. "He just gave you his keys?"

He softly bit his bottom lip and looked somewhat embarrassed. "Well, ah… he was too busy trying to get off the floor."

She knotted her brow and cautiously asked, "Why was he on the floor?"

"Because I put him there after you ran out of the house."

Jade's brow shot up in utter shock.

The doorbell rang again to interrupt and give him a chance to pull away from her embrace and avoid any further questions. He called out halfway towards the door, "I'll take care of whoever is at the door."

He took a quick peak through the peephole and let out a sigh. He opened it to reveal Tori and Beck. He held a stare at the longer haired teenager who had a light discoloration forming on his left cheek.

Tori hesitantly spoke, "Hey."

The Seattleite maintained his gaze on Beck as he answered in a flat tone to the brunette, "Hey."

Beck slowly asked keeping his anger in check, "Can I have my keys back?"

Freddie reached into his jean pocket and tossed the keys to Beck. The tech-producer spat out in mild disgust, "You can have them, but I hope that isn't the real reason you're here—but she doesn't want to see anyone anyway."

The longer haired teenager stared back and the pair quickly fell into a staring contest. It was only interrupted when Jade walked up beside the Seattleite. Her mouth parted in surprise then uttered, "You really hit him?"

The actor smiled sarcastically with quite the bit of discomfort. "Yes, Freddie really hit me."

Jade's eyes widened in incredulity then she looked to Freddie.

He answered in a flat tone. "I was upset that he upset you… Steven doesn't realize how lucky he got off for upsetting Carly."

Tori interrupted with her curiosity, "Why didn't you do that to Steven?"

"Carly thought he'd pound me silly because I was all nerdy… I let it slide for her, but she was obviously quite wrong." He looked to Beck with a cold stare.

Beck subconsciously rubbed his jaw. "So you would have sucker punched him too?"

"I don't see why I should give heartbreaking jerks like you a fighting chance. It implies that you deserve that level of respect with a straight up fight."

The taller teenager deeply frowned at him and looked like he was going to snap back, but Jade placed a hand on Freddie's upper arm and softly asked, "Freddie… Could you give me a chance to talk to Beck alone?"

He quickly glanced back and forth between the rocky couple with his concern clear as day for the three to see. "But you said you didn't want to talk to anyone?"

She hastily reassured him, "It's okay. We can have a civil conversation."

The Seattleite looked to the pale girl that had quickly become dear to his heart.

She looked back with a near pleading look and he tried one last time, "You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to. I won't let him guilt trip you or try to force you to."

She gently rubbed his upper arm up and down and whispered, "It really is okay. It won't be a long conversation. I really am too emotionally tired for one of them."

Beck bit his tongue at hearing her already putting a condition on their conversation before it even started, but he figured that he would have to accept it if he wanted to talk to her. Freddie enforcing such a condition he figured was expected.

Freddie finally relented and looked to Tori and offered, "Why don't we have a nice swing on the nice swing outside?"

She nodded and answered in a reasonable conversational tone, "I'd like that." She turned to round the end of the swing and while the Seattleite leaned over and whispered into Jade's ear, "I won't be far… and please keep the door open."

He kept a sharp eye on Beck and his words were even sharper as he walked passed him and around the end of the swing, "Behave."

The brunette pair had a seat on the white cushioned swing with Freddie making sure the front door was cracked. He gently pushed off the deck and started swinging with the lovely brunette by his side while watching Beck entering the home.

Tori looked to Freddie after Beck disappeared beyond the door and cautiously asked, "So what were you and Jade doing? The flirting between you two. I thought she was just trying to lead you on, but…"

Freddie focused on the random passing car and absentmindedly replied, "I know what it's like to lose the person you love and I didn't want to see that happen to her and if I could do something to prevent it from happening… even playing an underhanded bad guy for a little while to get a certain guy to be a little appreciative in having his girl…" He finished in a sour tone, "…but it looks like it didn't work out—blew right up in our faces." He looked to meet her eyes.

She took a breath and the pieces fell in place in her mind. She smirked and shook her head while looking away from him. She softly teased, "You're a very good actor."

He snorted at laugh. "Thank you. I'm glad someone can see that."

"Did Trina really see you and Jade really kissed? Was everything that happened between you an act?"

He snorted out a laugh, "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell."

"So you're not really interested in Jade?"

"Jade is… Jade is my friend, but being interested in her in that way… after spending the last day with her, could you blame me if I had the tiniest bit of interest?"

Tori frowned and felt a weight of disappointment on her heart.

"But… that's not what she needs from me right now… Jade needs a friend and needs to get straightened out after what happened, not just some guy looking to take advantage of the situation."

He leaned his head back and let out a soft chuckle, "If anything, I thought—I hoped that I would perhaps get closer to another girl over this weekend, but… I had to put possibly sabotaging my chances with her over trying to help someone. The story of my life." He looked over to Tori and gave the actress a knowing smile.

Tori pointed to her chest and asked with a beaming smile, "We are talking about me right and not Trina?"

Freddie let out hearty laugh, feeling some additional relief over the last few hours.

The strained couple—perhaps former couple—walked just past the foyer and into the living room, looking to one another in a guarded expression. Beck questioned almost in a resigned and rhetorical manner, "So can I assume you're breaking up with me?"

She blew out a tired breath. "Yes. I'm breaking up with you. I need to take a step back from us."

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and glanced down at their feet. He fought to suppress his anger in his voice while he asked, "Is it because of Freddie? Is it for Freddie?"

She sadly shook her head and answered in a dry voice, "No, it's about us. We're just going to keep going in circles until you realize what you do is wrong."

He snorted out incredulously and motioned to himself with a hand, "So this is all on me? You have nothing to fix about yourself on our relationship."

She shrugged her shoulders and looked away from him, unable to meet his eyes while she answered, "I don't know what else to do. It just hurts. What I may do to you may annoy you, but what you do to me hurts. It just hurts to watch you let girls carry on and belittle my feelings in saying I'm just 'freaking out' when I complain about it." She looked up to refocus on his eyes, willing herself not to cry as she finished, "I love you. I really love you, but I shouldn't hurt like this to be with you especially since you don't love me the same way."

"I do love you—"

"But not how you love me and I realized—from Freddie—that it could still be alright, but not unless you change. If you still needed more time to… fall in love with me then I would give it, but…" She shook her head. "…no, I can't keep doing this: my heart twisted and ignored."

"So until I 'change', we're over?"

"Yes. I crawled back to you once…" She frowned, but gave him a determined look. "I'm not doing that again. You want this relationship to work then learn to start carrying your weight and respect me as your girlfriend: don't let other girls carry on flirting with you—tell them you have a girlfriend and put a stop to it; don't take other people's side over me—even if I'm wrong, at least publicly back me until we can actually talk out your feelings and mine about the situation and don't disregard my feelings as if I'm just 'freaking out'. Respect them as valid even if you don't agree with them."

Beck threw a hand to his right and behind and sharply retorted, determined to remind her of one if his valid points he did say before she ran off and he was slugged in the face, "You hung out with Freddie yesterday afternoon, spent the night over at Tori's to be with him, then took off this afternoon to spend alone with him then you lecture me about girls coming on to me? You can't say that was right."

She surprised him by answering in a softer voice than a yell, "It was to get you to show some jealousy for me, for you to see what it's like being me. It was an act, but the caring behind it wasn't. He really cares about me and I care about him… he's screwed up his shot for Tori to try to help me. When's the last time you risked something to help me? All I can remember are the times where you conveniently disappeared when I needed you to support me."

He wore a steady expression as her words did prick him, especially the remark that Freddie had not only played a very convincing act with Jade that actually did have some real feelings behind them, but the tech-producer from Seattle was actually interested in Tori.

She blew out a breath and let her shoulder's slump. She raised her hands. "I said I wasn't going to do this right now. I can't do this right now. I'm too tired to argue with you. Please just think on what I said and just go." She shook her head and muttered, "We can talk next week. I'm not going to avoid you at lunch or in class."

He wanted to argue—he was willing the fight it out, something that he actually didn't like their discussions turning into arguments or more accurately into screaming matches—but he heard footsteps behind him at the open front door then looked over his shoulder to see Tori's concerned face and Freddie's dark expression.

The males locked eyes and a quiet challenged was offered by Freddie for Beck to argue with Jade's request. He debated for a moment of accepting it, but his jaw was starting to hurt him…

The handsome inspiring actor stuffed his hands in his pockets. He turned his gaze towards the floor and shook his head. He mumbled out, "I'll see you on Monday."

She acknowledged and agreed with a nod of her head.

He turned and walked past the tech-savvy teenager then stopped a few steps later realizing that Tori wasn't walking with him. "Are you coming?"

Tori look somewhat dumbfounded then turned and looked to Jade with a lost expression, clearly unsure of whether she should stay to support Jade or head home and give her the privacy to process what happened.

Beck slightly frowned at Tori's hesitation, originally counting on her support with how Jade had always treated her.

Tori's expression wasn't lost on Jade, but so easily could have if she had let her resentment towards the brunette for so long cloud her judgment. Fortunately, she had spent the last day and a half with someone very similar and giving her a fresh perspective. She cracked an understanding smile and answered, "It's okay Tori."

The fellow Hollywood Arts student put on a relieved expression then flicked her brow up in thanks before turning and starting out the door.

She barely made it a step before Jade called out, "Tori, could you wait outside for a second?"

The brunette softly nodded her head, drawing a confused expression from Beck and Freddie. She finished walking out the door and pulling it closed behind her, leaving Freddie and Jade to speak privately.

Jade looked to Freddie and offered, "You can go with her. Take the rest of the afternoon and evening to hang out with her. You still have a shot."

His shoulders slumped then ever so softly answered, "As tempting as that sounds… my friend needs me more."

She looked to him in mild wonder, still finding it hard to believe she found a friend she could really count on which just let her mind wander to making a comparison between him and Tori. She smiled her thanks then glanced away and idly remarked, "I wonder if she'll let me spend the night again."

Freddie knotted his brow, clearly confused by the apparent random remark.

She teasingly smiled to him and clarified, "I think that would be the only way I'll get you out of here and back to Vega's house for the night."

The tech-producer blinked as it took him a moment for her point to click in his head then he chuckled, "You might be right. I wouldn't want you to feel like you were alone tonight."

She softly teased, "Then I need to ask her then?"

He laughed and glanced away. "I'll tell Tori that I'll be back this evening… and ask for you. I'm sure she'll say yes."

Jade wrapped her arms over her stomach and commented with a hopeful tone, "Then I'll head up to my room… you want to try a hand at my video games?"

"Blow the rest of the afternoon by playing video games?"

She lifted a corner of her mouth to signal she was serious with her proposal.

He brightened with a smile and charmingly laughed, "Where have you've been all my life?"

She broke into a genuine smile just as he turned to head for the door.

LAX Airport
1 World Way
Los Angeles, CA

The previous evening and today had flew by for the Seattle teenage in the company of the very lovely Los Angeles girls just having a good time and letting the heavier issues that were exposed fall to the wayside to deal with the following week. However, as with all good things, this weekend came to an end and now he wore a bittersweet smile on his face as he stood just outside the boarding gate with his carryon bag on his shoulder.

Jade, Tori, Cat and Trina were there to see him off, but the lack of the guys seeing him off was apparent. He didn't blame them though as he wasn't too eager to see Beck and he could respect to a certain extent André and Robbie standing by their buddy. He'd have greater respect for them if one of them had stood up to Beck for his behavior earlier so things wouldn't have deteriorated to this point for Jade and Beck.

The redhead eagerly gave the tech-producer a hug then a peck on his cheek. She giggled while looking in his eyes, "Don't be a stranger."

"I have no intention of being one. See ya Cat, stay sweet."

She giggled again then pulled away and stepped aside.

Trina was the next one to want to bid farewell to him and quickly embraced him with a tight squeeze. So tight in fact that for a brief second he wondered if she was going to hurt him (as if she really had the strength to compared to what he could take from Sam), but she was the first one to wince and let go as she put too much pressure on her sore ribs.

He rested his hands on her shoulders and laughed, "Take it easy Trina. You can't set back your recovery and deprive us of your talent."

She bit her bottom lip from the flatter then smoothly answered, "I will, I will, you're right and next time you're in town you'll get to see one of my complete performances."

Tori groaned and rolled her eyes at her sister's very forward attempts at flirting.

Freddie politely answered with a wandering eye towards Tori, "I look forward to it."

Trina stepped aside and reluctantly let her sister have a moment with the handsome teenager, more out of the need to sit down as she did irritate her ribs than out of real consideration.

He smiled to the younger sister and began, "Tori, thanks for the invite. You don't know how much I appreciate it."

She put on her sweet smile. "You're welcome. You're welcome to come down and stay with us any time you need to."

Trina was quick to agree with a quick step next to her sister while resting her chin on her sister's shoulder, "Absolutely. You can stay with us anytime… my room is always available."

Tori turned to her sister and shouted in outrage, "Trina?!"

The older sister innocently responded with wide-eyes, "What?"

Freddie covered his mouth with a quick hand to hide a laugh.

Tori shook her head and looked back to her friend from Seattle. She rested a hand on his upper arm and politely commented, "You have a safe trip and we'll see you soon."

Tori pulled him into a short hug, one that he happily returned. She tried to suppress a grin from enjoying his warm, strong embrace.

He whispered into her ear, tickling it and the side of her cheek with his breath, "Thanks Tori." He decided to push his luck and give her a quick peck on the same cheek that his breath tickled before pulled away from the embrace.

She beamed a smile, a complaint the furthest thing from her mind.

Trina looked somewhat peeved, but didn't get to complain as Jade took a step in front of him and the unlikely pair shared a soft, but knowing smile before taking a step or two from the other girls.

Tori respected their need to have a private moment and threw her sister a glare to show that she should give the same consideration. Cat looked on as if nothing was out of the ordinary for the pair to speak privately.

Jade glanced over her shoulder to see Tori and her guarded expression. The blue eye girl looked back at the muscular brown eye teenager.

Freddie was quick to offer, "I'll give you a call as soon as I land."

She regretfully nodded.

He gently rested his hand under her left elbow and whispered, "All joking aside with everyone, I'll be back soon for a visit."

She confidently smirked, whether it was real or forced, Freddie wasn't sure. "Then maybe I can help you with Tori—or not since she doesn't look like she needs any encouragement to give you a chance."

He smirked in return and answered, "I appreciate any help you could give me, but she wouldn't be the only reason to come down for a visit."

She couldn't deny the sincerity she saw in his soft brown eyes. "I know, thank you."

He bowed his head slightly and asked in a hushed tone, "Are you going to be okay?"

She let a comforting smile form on her face and glanced over her shoulder to see Tori and Cat. She looked back and answered with surprising confidence, "Yeah, I will be. I have my friends to stand by me."

"If he starts giving you any trouble, let me know… I'll be right down. It's only a two hour flight down."

"You can't do that. You just can't drop everything in Seattle and come down here."

He reluctantly shrugged his shoulder. "You're right."

Her eyes flew open, utterly shocked that he'd capitulate that quickly, but he quickly continued in semi-charming manner, "I guess you'll just have to come up to Seattle for a visit and crash at my place. You can get away from it all. It helps, I know from experience."

"You think your mother would approve?" she pointed out with a soft laugh after learning more about his mother over the day.

"Probably not, but she wouldn't have to know with her hours as a nurse and we have a spare bedroom you could stay—hide in."

"Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it one day. You could show me around the city… take me to be best coffee places."

"Absolutely and I could treat you to one of our smoothies from the Groovy Smoothie."

The overhead speakers calling out for his flight to start boarding interrupted the pair and she quickly whispered with an open expression, dropping all the mean girl shields she put up, "Thank you… just thank you."

He pulled her into a hug, her quickly surrendering to it and resting the side of her head on his shoulder. He whispered, "You're welcome and thank you… thank you for giving me the chance to be me again."

She patted him on the back then gave him a cheek kiss before pulling away.

They shared one last innocent, but meaningful smile then he started on his way to the boarding gate, only pausing to wave back at all the girls. He was only a few steps away when he heard Jade's voice call out, "Freddie?"

The brown eyed teenager turned and called out to Jade, "Yeah?"

"I'll see you at seven this Friday—make sure you get in front of the camera. I'll be looking for you."

He boyishly grinned to her then turned to head for the boarding gate, leaving feeling far better and seeing a real bright future than when he arrived.

Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this way overdue completed story even if it didn't outright end in a Jedi romance. I didn't feel the story could support one at the end as she was coming off of her breakup and Freddie was going to be in Seattle. It would have been a rebound relationship and I wouldn't want that to happen to them, so it ended with a really strong friendship. You never know what the future holds (or my writing schedule).

Originally last year when I started, it was only to be a two chapter story of Jedi comparing break ups with second chapter taking place after 'Worst Couple'. I hope this was a better story than the planned one and that you all enjoyed it. I hope you continue to read my other works. Thanks again to all those that read and reviewed, much appreciated.