Trina's Return

Disclaimer: Do not own Victorious or CSI

A/N:

Chapter 34 (To Be Needed)

"So I'm just making sure…are you sure about all of this?" Trina was sitting with Tori in her sister's living room with David at the recliner. Megan, Joshua and Katrina were sitting in the living room on the rug as DB sat in front of them, reading them a story. Charlie was beside Trina, his arm around her shoulders. He was letting the sisters chat, knowing it was best not to get in the middle of them. "I can look around for a small apartment around Vegas if you'd like me to, but only if you're truly willing to put an effort on working on this…relationship…"

"Mhm." Tori nodded, her gaze full of determination and sincerity. "I am if you are. You don't know how bad things have been for me the last twenty years, I've missed you so much, Trina." Trina inhaled slowly and smiled as Tori swept away an oncoming tear. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you never came back in my life. I mean…just seeing you, seeing your children…it made me stronger, made me realize what I needed. Trina, you, your children…that's the reason I went to the lawyer, the reason I filed for divorce from Andre." For some reason, those words meant a lot to her, to know that she was the reason for Tori's 'strength'. That Tori needed her in her life. She was needed again, after all these years, she was needed, and Tori was letting her know. Tori shook her head and closed her eyes, "I can't be without you again, Trina. I just can't, I'm not strong enough…"

"You are strong, you just have to find that strength."

"Trina." Her sister shot a skeptical look her direction and folded her arms, "I almost fell into that bad crowd again. Because I mixed with my old friends again, I almost died! The whole thing was a setup for Jade to kill me, and you know it." Tori put her hand to her chest. Her hair flew over her face as she turned fully towards her, despair and concern swept across her as her voice rose just a bit. "You saved me, you came back in my life and you saved me. So maybe you didn't try to, so maybe you weren't planning on seeing me ever again, but you did. There has to be a reason for that. Fate, destiny, work of God, whatever you want to call it…I made a mistake twenty years ago, I was stupid and naïve, I didn't see what was going on, and I paid the price for it. I don't want to pay it anymore. I've been a prisoner for twenty years, don't you see? Cheesy as it is…you're holding the key to my freedom…"

A smirk played at Trina's lips and her eyes slid down as a chuckle fell from her breath, "You're right. That is cheesy. You're right though, we're sisters, and we will always be sisters no matter what. I left to start my own life, to get away from all that pain…never thought I'd be back here…the most I was expecting was seeing Robbie…"

"Yeah." Mournful tears formed in Tori's eyes, she still hadn't taken it very easily that Robbie was gone. She was happy that he stood up for Trina when the others didn't, and she thought maybe he'd achieve freedom. Trina could see that in her eyes when she informed her, the news of his death crushed her. Not that there was much left to crush her. "I just…I can't believe how stupid I was, Trina. I know you won't forgive me right away, I know I screwed up. Then even Andre himself told me to stay away from the others, along with Dad telling me, and I didn't listen…I fell right back in their trap. I was so stupid!"

Trina studied the sadness in her sister's eyes and the guilt that laced her tone. Her own heart broke to see the despair over the realization of what her friends had done. She fought over telling Tori all that, to be honest, but in the end it was necessary. Taking a deep breath, she decided to put away the torments she suffered from them. It was over, there was no longer any reason to harbor her resentments for those people now. "They weren't all bad, Tori. Don't be angry at them, there is no use in it…I know it's silly coming from me, but to be honest…even I have to admit that despite all their faults, they had some good qualities even in the end." Tori scoffed and turned away, brushing her hand in the air.

"Like what? What can possibly be good about people who deceived me, hurt my sister and lied about it?"

That was something she'd struggled with herself for a long time, and it was rather distressing to see the shape they wound up in all these years later. What with Andre's alcoholism, Cat's drug addiction, Beck's Gambling, Robbie's adultery, and even Jade's having gone insane. What could possibly be said of them that was good?

She saw it now, when she looked into the eyes of every one of them. With the exception of Jade who lost her heart and soul, the friends each still had a heart. "Cat ran Robbie off to protect him, she didn't want him to be influenced by Jade. She wanted her son to see her half-brothers. Robbie, in his last moments, was trying to make things right by cutting off the affair he had. Beck's going to get help for his gambling, and knows he needs to be there for his children now. Then there's Andre, I see he's accepted that it's over, he said to me he wishes you and Katrina the best. I feel sorry for Jade really, she lost herself with what happened to her mom."

"Yeah…" They looked to the children. The kids were laughing at something DB was saying. Trina smiled at the sight. She listened as Tori's voice quieted, "Do you think there's any hope for us Trina? Any hope at all?"

"Maybe…I mean, I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard." She glanced to her sister, a sad smile spread across her face as the sunlight reflected through the windows on Tori's tear stained face. "But I'm willing to work on it. Twenty years is a long time to hold a grudge, and now's as good a time as any to try and fix what's broken."

DB once told her long ago, anything that's broken can be fixed with the right kind of tools. Sure there would still be cracks, stains, marks that show where pieces had been chipped off, but it only gave an item character. Sometimes, using a really strong bonding substance could give the formerly broken item a stronger foundation, making it harder to shatter.

"How are we going to do this, Trina? I'm scared…I really am…I'm scared of losing you again."

"You won't. Not this time around. You know, Megan's teacher is a guidance counselor on the side. Now that school is out for the summer, maybe you and I could give the woman a call and see if she'd like to schedule an appointment for us." Tori's face lit up with hope and the others glanced over. DB and David seemed proud of this development. "In fact, if you'd like, I can call her right now. Since we'll be leaving to Vegas in a week." It had already been a week since everything happened, and of course, Trina was willing to wait another week to help look up apartments online for Tori. There were other reasons she was still there too, she hadn't gotten into it yet, however.

DB already put in his application for retirement, as well as CSI Finlay, Nick Stokes, and Sara Sidle. Trina was already getting her promotion and would officially be the head of the crime lab the next she stepped into that building. Of course, she'd have to stay behind the desk for a while, and there was a good reason for that. Her boss was being lenient in this case.

"You think you can? Please?"

"Would it make you feel better if I did?"

"Yes…I want to make an effort and I want to know you think it's a possibility."

"I do. Besides, my children should be able to see their aunt, and I'd love to spend time with my niece." She pulled out her cell phone and started searching through the contacts. "To be honest, I have missed you and Dad…this is a big step for me, you know…a year ago I probably would have said no to you. Hell, before all of this mess, I probably would have said no."

"Huh…" Tori scoffed slightly and bowed her head, "Guess I have my 'friends' to thank for that, then…"

"Yeah. Tori, do yourself a favor and trust me on this…don't hold a grudge over them. They're a part of the past now…leave it at that…"

"I'll try."

"Okay." She dialed the number of Megan's teacher and started to smile when she heard the woman's voice over the phone, inquiring about her calling. "Hey, I wanted to know if you're willing to do a counseling session for me and, well, my sister…" The woman was stunned that she mentioned her sister, but stated that she was proud of Trina making that step and would be more than happy to make an appointment for them. Trina exhaled and quickly nodded her head, "Great. So we'll be moving her into an apartment next week or the week after. So any time after that would be great. There's a lot to discuss…"

In the corner of her eye, she could see the joy spreading over Tori's face. It was a euphoric sight, and it definitely cemented for Trina that she was doing the right thing. As she discussed the appointment, David flicked on the news for a brief moment. She frowned at the headlines. Beck Oliver was going into early retirement as far as his acting career goes. He was leaving the acting business to take care of his children, and with all the allegations and even threats due to his wife, he was going to be leaving. Rumors were he'd be moving to Canada with his children, or even Europe, he wasn't saying where.

Her heart still went out to him and to his kids, but at the same time, he was proud of him. Of all the friends, perhaps he was the most innocent. Robbie, Cat, and Beck perhaps had the least involvement in all the shit that went down. Whether twenty years ago, or in today's time.

Trina felt someone hugging her and glanced over to her sister. Tori had her arms around tight around her and was resting her head on her shoulder. She felt her heart skip a beat and smiled at the sight. After the phone call, she put the phone away and gently rubbed her sister's back. "Trina, I'm so happy for your promotion and everything. I want you to know that. I'm glad you had a great life up to this point. I don't want to be a burden though."

"You won't be. Besides…you need me and I need you. My children need their aunt, and well…" She moved a hand to her stomach and let out a small sigh. All the nausea she'd been feeling, the strange appetite she had that scared Marshall, she hardly even needed to take a test to know where it led. "My third is going to need their aunt too."

"What?" Tori lifted her head up and the kids looked over with wide eyes. Charlie and the kids really already knew, but the children were still surprised. She was pregnant, and she was doing her best to reassure her children that it didn't mean she would love them any less. "You mean you're having another baby?" David's grin stretched from ear to ear while Tori continued to process the news.

"Yeah, that's what that means. You and Dad will be in this one's life. You'll be in all of our lives, a part of this family. Know how much trust I'm putting on you, trusting you to be a part of us…I love you Tori, you're my baby sister, I have always loved you and always will."

"I promise I won't take that for granted, Trina!" Tori hugged her again, squeezing gently as more tears rushed from her eyes, "I love you so much. I love your family and I am so glad you're giving me another chance…"

"I think you've earned it. Besides, like you said…" She smirked playfully and tilted her head, "I'm the key holder, right?" Tori blushed as the others laughed, all teasing Tori still with her choice of words.

"Yeah, yeah…whatever…"

"Don't worry Tori. You and I, we'll be okay…we will. I'm sure of it, just give it time. Everything heals, but in the end we'll always be sisters. So yes, I think we'll be okay." Tori snuggled closer, not at all embarrassed to be a grown woman cuddling close with her also grown sister. She earned this moment, and she knew it.

Besides, to Trina, this moment felt extremely good. The warmth that was inside of her, the connection from beginning anew, she didn't think it would be this way. Sure it would be a long road, but she felt for the first time that it would be worth it. Maybe this sisterhood could be repairable, and if so, maybe they could all be happy again. Fate? Destiny? Perhaps the one good thing about the serial case was showing Trina, that she was the one who needed Tori, to clear that emptiness once and for all in both of their lives. Tori said of her return that she 'saved' her, but could it have been that her return had made the opposite possible? Did they, in a way, rescue each other? She wasn't going to waste her time pondering it, but would just be grateful to have her sister in her life after all these years, needing her and recovering from whatever wounds there were.

They could get through this. Together, and as a family.

That's it, the final chapter of this tale. It's been a great run, and I appreciate everyone who has been along for the ride ^_^. Now, this is the end, unless any of you would like me to write a final epilogue type chapter analyzing how everyone's coped over time. Other than that, this is the end. Let me know what you thought of it, I'm glad to have written something to be enjoyed.