Authors Note: I am 101isfan but I can't seem to remember my old e-mail/password. So no, I am not stealing someone else's work just mine & I don't own Instant Star or anything associated with Instant Star. And, because I am a lot older than when I first started writing, it's obviously going to be different. This is going to be set at the end of season 2 and beginning of season 3, and I do not own any stores owned by other people.
Stiffening a yawn, she tried to not stumble through the last stanza. 'Damn it, I'm this close to finishing, keep it together Jude!' the blonde singer thought to herself. Shaking his head, obviously seeing that he was not receiving her best Tommy cut the track.
"What? Why did you do that?" Jude yawned annoyed. Tommy just smirked and said "girl, it's late you're tired, I'm tired. We aren't going to get this tonight." Jude sighed, looking at her watch noticing it was already 11:27 pm. How could 9 hours pass that quickly? Knowing he's right but not wanting to admit it and just shrugged. "C'mon" Tommy said while shutting everything down, "We'll go through Johnny's drive through before I take you home." Jude's eyes lit up at the thought of her pizza place; before she helped Tommy shut everything down. Not taking the two friends long to clean up, the two were quickly found in Tommy's hummer. "Why'd you do that?" Tommy asked watching Jude turn off the air condition to a low heat and rolls the windows down. "It's a nice night out, just enough to warm up but it's still cool enough to need the warmth." she smiled pulling her own jacket tighter on, before turning to watch the passing buildings.
Twenty minutes later found Tommy pulling through Johnny's ordering two slices of pepperoni for Jude and two slices of supreme for himself. Pulling into a parking place so the two could eat, Tommy smiled softly noticing Jude was sleeping next to him. After realizing that shaking and calling Jude's name wasn't working, Tommy opened her box and waved the pizza under her nose. Stirring, Jude stretched and blinked the sleep out of her eyes, thanking Tommy before she took her slices. The duo ate silently each lost in their own thoughts. "Ready to go girl?" Tommy asked the silent blonde who smiled and nodded.
After depositing their trash in a nearby trash can, Jude stopped before getting back in. "What is it?" Tommy asked when noticing Jude's eyes squint. "Shhh" Jude responded, trying to listen before taking off. "Jude!" Tommy yelled, before getting out and following her. Jude obviously not paying attention was focused only on what she heard. Running and catching up to Jude, Tommy squinted his eyes as if to listen harder to soft whimpers. Jude determined, was already going to where she heard the whimpers, while Tommy was trying to pull her back, not sure what they were going to find. Jude, not to be deterred, followed the sound behind the dumpsters that were located behind the strip of stores that Johnny's sat in front of. Tommy heard Jude's sharp intake of breath as he rounded the corner before taking his own. Jude looked at Tommy to see if he had any idea of what to do, before shaking his head 'no.' Jude smiled softly, not wanting to scare the one in front of her, kneeling down she turned back to Tommy before picking up the filthy infant in front of her who had tears in his eyes. Noting how cold the baby's skin was, Jude instantly took off her jacket and wrapped the baby in it. Not noticing, Tommy lurch forward feeling a kick to the back of his shin. Turning around, Tommy had to look down seeing a little boy to be about two or three "Stay away from my brother!" Jude turned to see the other boy still holding the one in her hands and kneeled in front of the older one. "Is this your brother?" She asked the oldest one calmly. Not receiving a response she told him it's ok, she wanted to help them. "Yes, that's Noah" the dirty child said quietly seeing the trust in the two adults in front of him "and I'm Braden." Tommy smiled to Jude as he noticed her rubbing Noah's back softly trying to calm his whimpers, before asking Braden how old they were. "Noah is 0 but he'll be one in a month that starts with a J and I'm thwee!" The little boy exclaimed obviously proud he remembered. Tommy did a quick calculation in his head of the baby being either 8 or 9 months. Smiling, Tommy encouraged Braden to talk to them, "Where's your mommy or daddy?" Instantly kicking himself as he saw tears swell up in Braden's eyes. "I-I don't know, my daddy left when Noah was born but mommy said he had to work for us and mommy left us here." Braden smiled exclaiming she had left him to take care of Noah, since he was the oldest. "She said she'd be back for us soon, but we been here a long time and we hungry." Tommy and Jude both took a deep breath trying to stay calm, looking at each other they both knew they had to help the two boys. Tommy smiled while Jude asked Braden if he liked pizza. "Pepperoni!" Braden exclaimed excitedly while Jude smiled and told him that was her favorite too! Tommy took Noah from Jude while she guided Braden to the hummer.
"Shouldn't he be in a car seat?" Jude asked Tommy worriedly. Tommy nodded "Probably, but Johnny's is right there and we'll probably have to go to the store, they both can't stay out here tonight. Here get in and hold Noah and I'll strap Braden in tight." He waited until Jude got in the back seat next to Braden before giving her the baby to hold. Going through Johnny's a second time, Tommy got Braden a slice of pizza to eat as well as a wet napkin so he could eat with clean hands. "Good thinking Quincy" Jude smiled. "Quincy?" Braden asked. Realizing they didn't tell Braden their names Jude quickly told him "that's Tommy and I'm Jude." Confused Braden asked "Why did you call him Quincy?" "Because his last name is Quincy" Jude smiled at him before encouraging him to finish his pizza. Looking down at the sleeping baby, Jude felt the car stop, assuming they were at one of their houses she told Tommy "wait where are they going to sleep and we've got to get them clothes." Tommy chuckled as he told her to look up, before taking Noah from her and helping Braden out of the car.
Jude got out holding Braden's hand, as they walked into Walmart towards their bathrooms to try and clean both boys up a little. Getting eye level with Braden Tommy asked who he wanted to go with and Braden clutched Jude's hand tighter claiming her. "You try to clean him up and I'll do the same with Noah." Tommy instructed. After a few minutes passed both adults came out with a child, there was still notable grime on the boys but less noticeable. Grabbing the nearest cart Jude sat Braden in the chair part of the buggy while Tommy continued to hold the now sleeping infant. Taking them to the boys clothes section, Jude looked at the tag on the shirt Braden was currently wearing before doing the same with his shorts. Noting that both were a 2T but both on the small side, Jude went up a size grabbing different items and showing to Braden who either liked them or didn't. Knowing he wasn't in diapers from their bathroom trip earlier, Jude grabbed a package of batman underware that Braden was excited over. Before she headed towards the shoe section. Trying on shoes was a challenge since the toddler was not wearing shoes, it was very much a guessing game. After a few moments of searching they finally found the right size and grabbed a pair of light up Velcro shoes and a package of the right size socks before Tommy found them. "I just talked to D" he told Jude walking up to her with an awake Noah. "Look Tommy!" Braden exclaimed holding his batman underware to show the man. Tommy smiled excitedly with the young child "Batman? How cool!" Hearing Jude laugh, Tommy turned to her questioning her source of amusement. "Who knew lil tommy q would be so good with kids." Jude laughed seeing Tommy scowl at his old nickname before asking about Darius, they're boss. "He told me to take the boys home with me" Seeing Jude scowl at that, but knowing she was still under 18, she'd have no legal ground to help the kids the way Tommy could, he continued "for the night and to bring them to the studio tomorrow morning, where he'll have a officer, so we don't get charged with kidnapping." Steering them to the infant section, Tommy went in search of diapers, wipes, food, necessities for having an infant while Jude took Braden to help find Noah clothes. After a few minutes and arm full of clothes and blankets, Braden and Jude found Tommy and Noah. Seeing the cart full Jude smirked "been busy?" Tommy not to be deterred just shrugged "two car seats, bath soaps for both, toys" "Toys!" Braden exclaimed before frowning "I don't get toys" seeing Jude have tears in her eyes, Tommy smiled at Braden to distract him saying "You do now" and letting him pick out a toy to play with in the store. Then Tommy turned to Jude "I had to guess at diapers, but they seem to fit him and got Noah food, he has a couple of teeth so I got teething rings too." gesturing at the fresh diaper Noah was wearing. Passing by a pack of pacifiers, Braden stopped and frowned "my brofer use those but he lost his, I guess that's why he's sad." Jude was quick to grab a pack, anything to help sooth the tired baby.
After a quick swipe of his card and $673.89 less Tommy found his self trying to do Noah's car seat before he finally just strapped the seat belt around it and put Braden in his booster. Getting up front with Jude he smiled at her yawning again. Grabbing her hand and squeezing it, he let go and drove the tired group towards his house wincing at the clock seeing it flash 1:37 am and knowing both boys still needed a bath and Noah needed to eat something. He yawned as he pulled up to his apartment complex. Waking Jude up, he grabbed a snoozing Braden out while Jude grabbed Noah. Walking in Tommy enlisted the help of the doorman to help carry in some of the bags with him and Jude. Unlocking the door Tommy winced as he heard "Tommy?" forgetting about the person occupying his apartment with him and seeing Jude freeze.
So, what did you think? Should I continue or scrap it. Please review.