I apologize for the wait my lovelies, the past two weeks were hectic for me. So now that I've got more free time, I'll try to update more frequently.

Alright, here we go: As you know our girl Victoria had ran for the hills dragging her mama along with her after deeming her step daddy cray cray; but after their huge fight Victoria left her mama behind to go live with Jay. Now she's in college, partying and drinking her life away. Sad right? But as if that wasn't enough the creeper from next door started causing trouble for her but after she went all Bruce Lee on his ass he wound up missing!

Which brings us here...

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"Dad, is it scary where you go?"

Like an outsider looking in, I was reliving a time where my father was still home-still alive. I watched, smiling as he pulled my eight years old self onto his lap. "Yes baby girl, it's scary. Really scary." His voice was soft and gentle as he stroked my hair.

"Do you have nightmares?" curiosity burned my mind at the tender age, I asked about any and everything to the point where my mother would grow annoyed.

"Yeah, I do, sometimes...what's wrong baby girl, are you having bad dreams at night?"

I meekly nodded, I was afraid to go to mum in fear she'd grow annoyed and kick me out of her and dad's room to instead I hid under the covers with my trusty flash light while I was wrapped up in one of dad's shirts.

"Did you tell your mum?"

I shook my head then rested it on his chest; snuggling up to him I basked in his warmth and fatherliness. It was the second day he was home, he had pulled me out of school early so we'd be able to go to the park and have ice cream. I jumped at the chance, not because of the ice cream, that was a bonus but to be able to spend time with him like a normal father and daughter would almost made my little heart beat right out of my chest.

"Why not baby girl?"

"Mum thinks I'm annoying" I mumbled.

"No she doesn't"

"Yes she does" I argued, my face set in a scowl just thinking about the way she reacts.

"Why would you think that?" dad questioned, his brown eyes staring down at me in confusion.

"Because of the way she looks at me when I ask questions."

"Probably because you ask too many but don't think that baby girl, your mother loves you she doesn't think you're annoying."

"But if I don't ask questions I won't know the answer to things, she's my parent isn't she supposed to teach me stuff?" I crossed my arms over my chest narrowing my eyes at dad. There was no way that he'd win an argument with me, I knew because mum never did and the fact that she didn't made me feel triumphant.

Dad chuckled, "yes baby, but there are some things that me or your mum won't be able to teach you. There will come a time when you'll have to figure out what path is best for you on your own...but not for a long time. We'll talk to mum when we get home yeah? And I'll even check under your bed for the monsters you're so scared of at night. Sounds good?"

Grinning I nodded vigorously, "yeah!"

"Alright. Let's send our little friend on his journey across the vast waters" dad handed me the paper sailboat we made. Putting it into the water, dad and I shoved it off seeing the paper boat begin its journey down the river.

The ringing pulled me from my sleep, sitting up I looked around before I recalled the familiar walls of my room. The pounding in my chest before I went over to the desk my laptop was on before answering the skype call was profound; with trembling hands I reached out and clicked the answer button.

Jay's worried faced came up causing the pounding of my heart to slow, stupid Victoria, what the hell were you expecting?

"Ladybug, I almost thought I called at the wrong time" he sighed in relief before he smiled again. I dropped in the seat in front of the screen; relief was also washing over me as I stared at my uncle in his uniform, one which my father also wore. "Victoria? Are you alright?"

I smiled blinking rapidly "yeah, I'm just really glad to see you" it was the truth, I'd wanted him to come back the minute he got into the taxi for the airport but I couldn't help but wish Jay was someone else.

"Same here Tori, I miss being there with you. How's school going?"

"School's the same no matter the grade I'm in" I told him.

Chuckling he nodded "did you settle in okay? Have you made any friends?"

"I've settled, and no not really, girls tend to stray from me and give me the stink eye while the guys...well they're guys."

"Guys are vultures don't fall for their tricks ladybug" Jay's face contorted into a scowl making me laugh, his protectiveness hadn't changed since that time I was first asked out by a boy in 7th grade. He and dad were the worst chaperones a girl could have on their first date, constantly reminding the boy who had asked me out that they had a close relationship with guns.

"I'll keep away from them for your piece of mind Uncle Jay" I grinned.

"That's my girl."

"How's everything on your end?" I asked.

"Same old over here baby girl..."pain had exploded in my chest listening to Jay speak, I had a serious case of heartache and there was so little I could do to hide my tears and not alarm Jay. I didn't want him to hang up on me, because I didn't know if I'd be seeing him again after that. The hurt numbed when I gazed at him but seeing him through a screen wasn't enough.

The end came all too quickly for me, when the screen went black after Jay said bye to me I had screamed my head off. I didn't want him to say bye, I wanted him to drop that damn job and come back because I needed him but those words would forever be in my mind, never to leave my mouth.

The air was biting, my breath formed puffs of white smoke as I exhaled; I had been wandering for some time now. Without a destination I aimlessly moved, passing other souls whom were excited with the holiday fever.

A screech pulled my attention across the road, a couple and their child. The father had three the little girl over his shoulder like she was a sack of flour, the mother laughed along with the other two. Clearly they were happy; an annoying thought of Mark and my mother with their child had been created in my mind.

Could I even call that woman a mother anymore?

They were probably decorating the Christmas tree while she laughed her ass off at whatever stupid jokes he made. Anger built inside me and I turned my head from the happy family and continued walking.

Every store or house I passed with glittering lights only made bitterness surface, everyone was so fucking happy to the point where they had no worries and they probably didn't. The pain in my chest was slowly tearing away at my soul and soon I was afraid nothing would be left of little Tori. I hated to say it, but I envied my mother. She had moved on so quickly, she had found someone to bring her joy, even though she was brainwashed and the happiness she felt was most likely false, she was happy nonetheless.

And there I was, still in pain and brewing in anger and bitterness all alone in an abandoned building smoking pot. I chuckled to myself, life is funny isn't it? Exhaling I watched as the cloud of smoke floated up to the ceiling.