AN: I'm baaaack! Didja miss me? Just kidding (lol!) OK, so I took a few days off after writing Utter Chaos to get a little bit of a break, but then I missed posting stuff up here, and I had to write something. For those of you who don't know, I wrote my first ever one-shot, called Like A Rose, and I think you'll like reading it as much as I loved writing it! So if you haven't read it yet, go check it out! And after I finished writing Like A Rose, I decided to start the sequel to Utter Chaos, and I just have to say that Tommy and Jude's life will…well, you'll find out when you read it. I hope you like the first chapter! Oh, and I decided to change the title. I think it fits better than my original choice.
Special ANs:
Thanks to aubibi, Chloe, xtaintedxlovex16, Rachel, Ally, Shannon, bunnypook, the other Chloe (chloe2k6), bigsis0829, Tanya, and alwayswright. And thanks to everyone who's read any chapter of Utter Chaos or is reading this now! You all rock! cranks up Instant Star music and starts dancing around SME style
Chapter 1 – Welcome Back!
We pulled up to the house I'd grown up in, the one I had fond memories of, and not so fond memories of. It was exactly the same as it'd always been, the long, winding driveway, the fountain in the front, the gardens to the sides. By normal people's standards, it was a palatial residence, almost as big as Queen Elizabeth's Buckingham Palace. But to me, it was home, a safe haven. At least when I was there.
I pulled up to the gate, and rolled the window down.
"Hello, my name is Jacques. Who may I say is calling on the mistress of the house?"
"Jacques, it's me, Tommy," I said, remembering old Jacques. He'd been with my family since before I was born, and helped take care of me when my parents were traveling.
"Master Tommy? Is it really you? Come in, come in!" Jacques urged. The gates swung open, and I pulled up to the front entrance. The maids and servants were already standing outside, waiting to take our things in.
"Master Tommy! It's so good to see you again! After all these years!" Jacques was beside himself with happiness. "You haven't changed a bit. Who, may I ask, is your lovely companion?" He motioned to Jude.
"Jacques, meet Jude, my girlfriend. Jude, this is Jacques." I made the introductions, as Jude smiled politely at him.
"Bonjour, Jacques," Jude said, trying to sound sophisticated.
"Ah! Bel et intelligent! Elle charme absolument!" Jacques said, beaming at Jude. (Translation: Ah! Beautiful and smart! She's absolutely charming!)
"Vous êtes trop gentil, mais merci!" Jude replied, smirking at me. Wait, I didn't know she knew how to speak French. (Translation: You're too kind, but thank you!)
"Pas du tout, c'est agréable pour vous rencontrer," Jacques responded. (Translation: Not at all, it's a pleasure to meet you).
"Right this way," Jacques signaled, reverting back to English. He knew how to make people feel comfortable right away, even if they were in a new environment.
"Your parents are in the studio, and your siblings are in the lounge. Would you like anything to eat or drink?" Jacques offered.
"I'd like some Pop-Tarts, please," Jude said. It was the first time I'd ever heard her ask politely. Usually she'd yell, "Gimme!" and tackle me if she saw I had some in my hands.
"Oh yes, Monique does love frosted strawberry. What flavor would you like?" Jacques asked.
"Frosted strawberry? That's my favorite!" Jude said before she could stop herself. "And milk please."
Jacques laughed, and said, "Frosted strawberry it is, with milk on the side. And for you, Master Tommy?"
"Jacques, I'll have some Evian, please. Do you remember what I told you about calling me Master Tommy?" I said, teasing him. He loved to call me that, even though we were in the 21st century. He insisted that I was above his station, and so I was to get the proper respect.
"Yes, and do you, Master Tommy, remember what my reason was?" Jacques said, his eyes twinkling.
"How could I forget?" I smiled. Back in the day, when I used to come home to visit, I'd slip him some extra money to help support his family. They needed it more than I ever would, and because of that, Jacques was eternally grateful to me. Even now, when I wasn't making as much as I used to, he still favored me over the rest of my family, because I'd made friends with his children. And never once did he ever ask me to keep helping him. He was a proud man, unwilling to let most people help him. But he saw my intentions, and accepted my generosity.
"Make yourselves at home. I'll be back in a jiffy," Jacques said, winking at Jude. After he'd left, Jude smiled and said, "Jacques reminds me of my grandparents sometimes. He's so friendly and open, you could just talk to him about anything."
"I know, I did," I said. "He helped me through a lot of stuff that I know I couldn't have gotten through on my own." I paused, knowing we'd have to face the inevitable sometime.
"So, do you want to go to the studio, or to the lounge?" I asked. Jude gulped, then said, "The studio. Do you think…"
"You'll be fine. My mere can be a little tough, but she's fair. But my dad…" We laughed as I recalled how angry Jude's dad was when I was kissing his daughter in front of him.
"OK," Jude said, suddenly turning serious. Her face was pale, and she looked as if she were about to face a firing squad.
"I'll be with you the whole time, I promise," I said, vowing never to leave her side.
"OK, then I think I'll live," Jude let out a sigh of relief. We walked over to the studio, and knocked on the door.
Seconds passed, then the door opened.
"Tommy? Is it really you? It's so good to see you!" My mother flung herself into my arms, and was so happy that she didn't even notice Jude standing there.
"Tom," my dad said, still the same old grump he could be when he wanted to. But then his face broke into a smile, and he grabbed me in a bear hug. "Good to see you, boy. 'Bout time you came home."
Then his parents finally realized Jude was standing next to me, and my mom was the first to get over the shock.
"Hello, dear. Who might you be?" My mom asked curiously.
"Mom, Dad, this is Jude. My girlfriend. She works at the studio I work at." I explained. I was tense as I waited for them to say something.
"Music, huh?" My dad grunted. "Sing something for me."
"What would you like to hear?" Jude asked nervously.
"Anything. I just want to hear a couple of notes." My dad said.
"OK," Jude said. Her voice started softly, then grew more courageous as it soared over the notes. My parents stood in silence, listening as Jude's voice echoed off the vaulted ceiling.
After Jude finished, my mom clapped loudly. "You have a gift, my dear. Stay with it, as long as you can."
"Mr. Quincy, er, Martin?" Jude asked politely. "What do you think?"
"Pretty good, I guess," my dad mumbled. Then he surprised me by asking her to sing it again. Jude obliged, and after her repeat performance, he said, "Tom's mom used to sing just like that. Jude's got a voice of an angel, she has."
"Th-Thank you," Jude stuttered. She looked at me, her eyes wide.
Before I could ask why my dad was so interested in music, since he never seemed to care before, my brother Christophe, who went by Chris, and my sister Monique came barging through the door.
"Tommy, I thought I heard you!" My little sister Monique threw herself into my arms, hugging me tight. We were always really close, Monique and I, and she missed me terribly when I was away on tour.
"Hey, Monique, it's nice to see you too," I grunted under her embrace. "Can I breathe now before you crack any more of my ribs?"
"Sorry, I just missed you so much," Monique said, wiping away tears of happiness.
"Me too, little brother," Chris said, holding his hand out. I took it, and he pulled me into a hug, then pulled away quickly, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Hey, who's she?" Monique said, before she could stop herself.
"Call her…Monique #2," I said, laughing as Jude whacked me in the stomach.
"Huh?" Monique looked confused.
"She's just like you. Loves music, loves me, loves Strawberry Pop-Tarts…" I smiled as Monique started talking.
"No way! Really? They're my favorite too!" Monique and Jude said at the same time, then laughed. Monique pulled Jude in for a hug, and said, "Welcome to the Martin family."
"Thanks," Jude said, relieved to have made a friend.
"Wait, you're Jude, right?" Chris peered at Jude curiously.
"Yeah, so?" Jude said, wondering what his point was. I also wanted to find out.
"As in, Jude Harrison?" Chris said, putting two and two together.
"Yeah," Jude said, as Chris smiled.
"No way! Your music rocks! I love it!" Chris said.
"Thanks," Jude said, surprised that someone in my family (other than me, of course) liked her music.
"Hey, did Tommy tell you that we have a studio downstairs?" Chris said.
"No, why?" Jude wondered.
"Come on, you have to check it out," Chris said, his eyes mysterious.
"Yeah, you should see some of the stuff he has down there," Monique said, then grinned at me sheepishly. "Oops, sorry Tommy."
"Chris, don't even think about showing her my…" I was about to say what I was going to do to them if they did, but Chris had already started to leave, pulling Jude with him.
"If you show her my stuff, you're gonna pay," I threatened. No one was going to see my old Boyz Attack performances. Not even Jude.
Jude looked back, and said innocently, "What's so bad about them, Tommy? I want to see them."
"Yeah, Tom, they're not that bad," My dad added. My mom and Monique agreed.
Great, now Chris has gone and turned Jude and my family against me. Not exactly the way I wanted my first day back to go.
AN: So, what'd you all think? I hope you liked it. If you did, please review. If you didn't, please review anyway. Thanks for reading!