Okay, a bit of a long chapter, but it's wedding time! A lot happens in this, and I think you'll like the turn out of it.
Songs are:
Chemicals React - Aly & AJ
The Right Man - Christina Aguilera
White Lines - Alexz Johnson
Tommy, Jude, and Nikki were cleaning the living room.
"This place needs to be spotless," Jude said. "I can't have it messy for the rehearsal dinner."
The wedding is in two days, and things couldn't be crazier...
"I think I liked her better when she was a disorganized mess," Nikki said while dusting.
"Me too," Tommy said cleaning the windows. "You know Jude, we could have hired people to clean."
"But if I yelled at them to do something specific, then they might quit," Jude said.
"We don't get that option," Nikki said.
...neither can Mom.
"Why isn't the caterer here yet?" Jude panicked.
"Because it's two, and they're coming at five with the food," Nikki said slowly.
"Honey, relax," Tommy said.
"Right," Jude said and took a deep breath. "Relax."
"We're here," Sadie said coming in with Kwest.
"Oh God, people are getting here already!" Jude said.
"I asked them to come," Nikki said. "We could use some help getting ready." She then muttered under her breath. "Or gaining some sanity."
"Jude, let's go to the kitchen, and get you some water," Sadie said.
"Okay," Jude said
"T, I think your bride-to-be needs to be medicated," Kwest said and glanced at the kitchen. "Heavily medicated."
"Are we done?" Nikki asked. "If we aren't you're going to have a a lot of PMS coming your way."
Tommy looked at Nikki. "We're done."
"Thank you," she said and ran upstairs.
This is going to be one of the happiest days of my parents' lives. I can understand why Mom is so stressed, she wants it to be perfect.
"Sadie!" Jude said. "What if no one shows up tonight! What if no one comes to the wedding?"
But apparently, perfection means insanity.
"Jude, people are coming tonight, people are coming to the wedding," Sadie said filling a glass of water. "What happened to my baby sister that went with the flow?" She handed the glass to Jude.
Jude took a sip of water. "She's still here. It's just the flow took her to rapids. Big, scary, rocky, rapids."
"Is this about Mom and Dad not coming?" Sadie asked.
"It's their choice," she said. "They can come if they want. They chose not to. But the thing is, I'm still getting married whether or not they're there."
"Good," Sadie said.
"So," Jude said. "What can you tell me about my bachelorette party?"
"Depends," Sadie said. "Nikki coming?"
"She's the maid of honor," Jude said. "But I'm having you plan it because she's the most disorganized teenager on the planet."
"Then we're keeping in PG-13," Sadie said. "And you and Tommy both agreed to stay sober tomorrow night, so what can we do?"
"Stripper," Nikki coughed on the stairwell.
"Room, now," Jude said. Nikki trudged up the stairs. Jude looked at Sadie. "No stripper."
Nikki walked in to her room and shut the door behind her.
As long as this wedding goes on, I'm okay with their craziness.
A small noise came from her laptop, and Nikki glanced over at it, seeing Aaron's IM pop up.
I'm just not okay with my own.
"So, best man, what's tomorrow night's plans?" Tommy asked.
"Well, no one who's going to be in the wedding is allowed to drink," Kwest said dryly.
"Look, Jude and I agreed to stay sober. She knows I'm cranky when I'm hungover, and well, you've seen what happens to her when she drinks."
"True," Kwest laughed. "We wouldn't want her getting arrested the night before her wedding."
"Or lost on the way to the bathroom," Sadie said as she and Jude came in.
"Or trying to order Chinese food," Tommy laughed.
"That night never happened," Jude pointed at Tommy.
"And this is why we're staying sober," Tommy said. The doorbell rang. Sadie answered.
"Hey Diane," Sadie said.
"Hey guys," Diane said. "Ready for the big day?"
"Almost," Jude said.
"Nikki's in her room," Tommy said.
"Thanks," Diane said and walked upstairs. She walked into Nikki's room.
"Aaron IMed me help!" Nikki said.
Diane rolled her eyes. "At least he's mature enough to actually talk to you."
"Not really," Nikki said. "He just pressed the space bar and sent it."
Diane sighed. "Come on." She grabbed Nikki's wrist and pulled her out of the room.
"Where are we going?"
"To the one place where you can sort this out," Diane said directing her downstairs then pulling her to the in house studio. She closed the door behind them. "Ta-da!"
"Sing it out?" Nikki asked.
"Hey, it's what you do best," she took her seat behind the drum kit. "Now what do you wanna say to him?"
"I don't know, that's my problem," Nikki said.
"What about how you feel?" Diane smirked. "Better yet, how you felt during the kiss."
"Think it'll work?" she asked. Diane shrugged. "Okay," Nikki said and picked up her electric.
"For a beat..."
"All I could hear was my heart beating," Nikki said.
"Like this?" Diane started playing. Nikki started playing. She then came in with the vocals.
You make me feel out of my element
Like I'm walking on broken glass
Like my world's spinnin' in slow motion
And you're moving to fast
They both stopped playing and looked at each other and smiled.
They spent the next hour finishing the song and laying the music to disc. Nikki finally ejected the disk.
"You sure you don't want to lay down the vocals?" Diane asked.
"Jim and Aaron will just learn the music, if they hear the lyrics Jim will get nosy, and Aaron will know it's about him."
"Gee, wasn't that the point?" Diane said.
"I'll perform it at the reception, that way the wedding's out of the way and I won't be too stressed to deal," Nikki said.
"Fine," Diane said. "We should get ready."
"Fine," Nikki said as they went back to her room.
Two hours later the party was started. Tommy was talking to a few BoyzAttack members while Jude spoke to Georgia.
"You're all grown up," Georgia said and gave her a hug. "I wish you were still fifteen."
"Trust me I don't," Jude said. "I'm letting Nikki have her turn as a teenage pop star."
Georgia laughed and walked away to mingle with other people.
"You're marrying a boybander. Why can't I be you?" someone said from behind Jude.
"Hey, the rest of BoyzAttack is here and I heard Tommy and Chaz are the only straight ones," Jude said turning around. "Good to see you Mason."
"You too, Harrison," he hugged her. "Please tell me you didn't pick out ugly bridesmaid dresses?"
"Don't worry, Sadie, Mia, and Nikki are safe," she laughed.
"I can't believe you're getting married," Mason sighed. "It won't be long til Nikki walks down that aisle."
"Not until she's forty," Tommy said coming up to them.
"Our daughter won't agree to that," Jude said.
He shrugged.
"So, uh Tommy? Any of your fellow bandmates single?" Mason asked.
"Bruno's single and lookin'," he said. "And is a huge country fan."
"Thank you," Mason said and walked away.
Jude chuckled.
"Well, I have to say," Darius said walking up to them. "It's about damn time."
"Darius," Jude said and hugged him. They pulled away and Darius looked at Tommy.
"I never thought I'd see the day that you'd settle down," Darius said. "Even when you were with Portia, I knew it wouldn't last."
"I think we all knew," Portia said walking up to them. She gave Jude a hug. "Congratulations sweetie."
"Thanks," Jude said.
"Tom Quincy," Portia said. "You have found yourself one amazing girl..."
Tommy glance over at Nikki who was talking to EJ and Georgia. "I think I found two."
Portia gave him a small tap on the head. "So don't do anything stupid to screw it up this time."
"I wouldn't dream of it," he said looking directly at Jude.
"Awww," Mia said walking over to them. "Get a room."
"S'cuse me!" Speed said loudly so he got everyone's attention. "I'd like to make a toast."
"Oh no," Jude winced.
"On Saturday, Dude is getting married to Lord Squinty Frown," he began.
"Is he drunk?" Mia asked.
"I wish," Jude said embarrassed.
"And as a witness to the Jommy-romance throughout the years, I have to admit, they were made for each other. They never stopped loving each other, even when they were apart, and has Jude ever written a decent love song without it being about him?" Everyone gave a small laugh. "And to show form their relationship, are number one albums, great memories, and one of the most amazing kids I've ever met. So here's to Tommy and Jude, may you have all you ever want, even though you have it: each other." Everyone raised their glasses. Jude walked over to Speed.
"Thank you," she said.
"No problem," he said. "And if you ever have any problems with him..."
"I can come to you?" she finished.
"Well I was gonna say that I'd be screaming 'I told you so' but I guess that can work too," he said. Jude punched him. "Apparently marriage isn't going to mellow you out."
"Trust me, I'll always punch you," she said.
"You remind me so much of your mother," EJ said.
"Thanks," Nikki said.
"And that dress is adorable," she said.
Nikki twirled her silver baby doll dress with puff sleeves.
"Uh, I have to go talk to Mason," EJ said and started chasing him down.
"Crap," Nikki whispered to Diane. "Aaron just walked in."
"So? Talk to him," Diane said.
"I can't, just give him the CD and tell him to learn it by the wedding."
"What do I say if he asks about you?"
"I... I... have wedding plans? I don't know!" she said walking away quickly.
"Was that flash of metallic Nikki?" Aaron asked as he and Jim walked up.
"Yeah... she uh... had a wedding thing," Diane stuttered. "But she wanted me to give you this. And that you need to learn it by the reception."
"Seriously?" Jim groaned.
"Chill, it's one song, simple and repetitive beats," Diane said. Jim took his copy of the CD and walked away.
"Hey, D, is she mad at me?" Aaron asked. "She's been avoiding me lately."
"Well," Diane began. Aaron looked at her with concern. Diane sighed. "She's not mad at you. Trust me. Just learn the song, show up for the reception. Okay?"
"Okay," he said.
"Just give her time," Diane said with hope filled eyes. She walked away. Then it dawned on Aaron.
"She knows," he sighed.
"Girls night out!" Mia said as they walked into the restaurant.
"And Mom's last night as a single woman," Nikki said.
"Trust me, your mother hasn't been considered fully single since she was fifteen," Sadie said. "Hey, wasn't that when you met Tommy?"
Jude gave her a playful shove.
"I'm happy for you," Sadie said. "Now let's PARTY!"
"Here, here," Jude said. "Now let's get on with my non-alcoholic, stripper-free, bachelorette party."
"When you say it like that, it sounds so depressing," Mia said as they were seated at their table.
"Yeah well knowing you and Sadie, something interesting's bound to happen," Jude said.
Tommy, Kwest, and Chaz were shooting pool.
"So no drinking?" Chaz said.
"Nope," Tommy said and made his shot. He got one ball in.
"You're supposed to have no fun after you get hitched," Chaz said. "Not before."
Two women in their late twenties walked over to them.
"Hello," Kwest smiled. Tommy rolled his eyes and kept shooting.
"Hey," the brunette said. "Aren't you Chaz and Lil' Tommy Q?"
Tommy winced.
"Yes," Chaz smiled. "We are."
"Wow," the blonde said. "You don't look a day older than your BoyzAttack days." She moved closer to him.
"Well that would mean I look like a teenager, and you coming very close to me right now would be very wrong," he said nervously.
"Aw, you're shy," she said.
"No, I'm engaged."
"This is his bachelor party," Chaz said.
"Wow, last time as a single man," the girl moved closer.
"Look," Tommy backed away. "I'm getting married tomorrow. And I love my fiancee. So could you please back off so me and my friends can finish our game?"
The two girls rolled their eyes and walked away.
"Man, you just turned away groupies," Chaz said.
"I know," Tommy smiled. "And I just kicked your butt in pool."
Chaz looked down at the table. "Damn."
All the girls were getting ready in the church's back room.
"Oh god," Jude said putting on her wedding gown. "I'm getting married!"
"I know," Sadie said. She put Jude's veil on.
"Sades, don't cry," Jude said.
"You're all grown up and getting married," Sadie said. "Soon you'll be honeymooning, being a newlywed, having kids..."
"Uh, about fifteen years late on that last one," Nikki said. Sadie glared at her.
"I just don't want you to forget about me," Sadie said.
"Well considering your her boss, Tommy's boss, and oh yeah, my boss, and we see each other everyday, I don't think you have to worry," Nikki said.
Jude laughed. "Is he here yet?"
"No," Mia said. "Give him time. He's probably just fixing his hair."
"Do you know how long that takes?" Nikki groaned.
"Calm down, we have an hour," Sadie said. "He'll be here Jude."
Forty five minutes passed, and Tommy still wasn't there.
"What if he's not coming?" Jude panicked pacing in her dress.
"Jude, you're gonna break a heel," Sadie said.
"That doesn't matter! My groom's not here!" she threw her arms in the air. "Why didn't he come with Kwest and SME?"
"I don't know," Sadie said. "But we have Mia and Nikki looking out."
"He's not coming," Jude said. There was a knock on the door.
"I know I'm not the first man you want to see, but hey I'll settle for second best," the familiar face said.
"Jamie!" Jude walked over and hugged him.
"Wow, you're getting married," he said looking at her dress.
"I know," she smiled.
"Well from what I hear, you need someone to walk you down the aisle," he said.
"Jamie," Jude sighed. "Would you?"
"It'd be my honor," he said.
"Where is he?" Mia said. She and Nikki were outside in front of the church.
"He'll be here," Nikki said.
"My brother is known for showing up late, but this is ridiculous!" Just then a car pulled up and Tommy hopped out of the back in a tux. "Thomas Anthony you have a lot of explaining to do!"
"Did you get it?" Nikki asked excitedly. He nodded.
"Tell me, little brother, why you're showing up for your wedding ten minutes before it starts?" Mia asked and crossed her arms.
"I'm not late am I?" he asked. Mia had no reply. "See, I'm in the clear. Nikki, tell your Mom I'm here."
She ran inside. Tommy handed a ring to Mia and she looked at the inscription.
"Okay," she said. "You're in the clear."
Nikki walked into the back room. "He's here."
"Oh thank god," Jude sighed.
"Hey Jamie," Nikki said. He waved. The music started.
"Well, it's time," Sadie said.
Jude smiled. "Finally," she sighed.
Mia walked down the aisle, followed by Sadie, then Nikki. Then everyone looked towards the back to see Jude.
"Ready?" Jamie asked.
"More than ever," she sighed. They started to process slowly. Tommy and Jude made eye contact and he gave her the look he always had for her, which caused Jude to smile. They finally made it to the end.
"Who gives this woman to be married?" the minister said.
"We do," Nikki, Sadie and Jamie all said. Jude walked up to Tommy.
"Ready to do this, Harrison?" he asked.
"You bet, Quincy," she smiled.
"Ladies and gentleman, we are gathered here today..." the minister began.
"Now before we start with the vows," the minister said. "Jude has a gift for the groom."
Tommy shot Jude a confused look which she smiled at. She walked over and sat at the baby grand piano. She started playing softly as the four piece orchestra behind her started playing. She began to sing.
So many years have gone by
Always strong, tried not to cry
Never felt like I needed any man
To comfort me in life
But I'm all made up today
A veil upon my face
But no father stands beside me
To give his bride away
Well I'm standing in the chapel
Wearing my white dress
I have waited for this moment
With tears of happiness
Here I leave behind my past
By taking the chance
My emotions overload
'Cause there is no hand to hold
There's no shoulder here to lean on
I'm walking all on my own
Here I go
Now I'm standing at four corners
To have and to hold
Now my love, you stand beside me
To walk life's winding road
And I owe it all to you
For taking the chance
You've shown me there's a right man
'Cause I never knew a right man
Tommy sat down on the piano bench next to Jude.
Well I'm standing in the chapel
Ready to confess
That I've waited for this moment
With tears of happiness
Now I leave behind my past
By taking a chance
Well I'm standing at four corners
To have and to hold
Now my love, you stand beside me
To walk life's winding road
And I owe it all to you
For taking the chance
Ohh
The music softened and Jude looked at Nikki.
And one day my little girl
Will reach out her hand
She turned back to Tommy, and their faces were now inches apart.
She'll know I found the right man
They pressed their foreheads together. Tommy took Jude's hand and they walked back towards the minister.
"Tommy and Jude have decided to write their own vows," he said. "Tommy."
"First off, that song was amazing," he said. "Jude, when I first met you, you drove me crazy. And I'm pretty sure you felt the same about me. But soon we became best friends, you understood me more than Kwest did and I got you mroe than Jamie. Before long, I was in love with you. And although I had said that I was in love before I met you, nothing compared to this feeling. And I know we've had our rough times, like that fifteen year break-up, but like you said, we'll always come back to each other. I love you, Jude Harrison, I'm in love with you." Jude had tears streaming down her cheeks at this point. "And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And this ring shows that you, Jude Harrison, and I, Tom Quincy are in love and always will be, and no one can change that or break us apart."
"Wow," Jude said as he slid the ring on her finger. "Okay I guess it's my turn?" He nodded. "Well, uh, you're making your vow really hard to top Quincy. But I'll give it a shot." She took a breath. "I always had a tough time believing in love. You remember I was always getting my heart broken, my parents got divorced, and I thought it didn't exist, that it was just something people thought was real but they'd soon discover it wasn't. So I tried my best not to fall in love, but you broke down those walls around me. You showed me that I could fall in love and not get my heart broken. And even after you left, I still loved you and I knew it. But you came back, like you always do, and you proved that love doesn't die and that it's real, it's what we are. You're the most amazing guy, Tom Quincy. You've made me who I am, you made me believe in love, you gave me our daughter. And now you're here marrying me. And I have this ring and it shows that you're the only guy who'd never hurt me, the only guy that will be with me no matter what," she looked right into his eyes. "The only guy I could ever love. I love you Tommy. And this ring is proof of what you've tried to show me all along. Love exists, love is... us." She slipped the ring on his finger. "So with this ring I marry you, and will from now on be known as Jude Harrison-Quincy. The wife of Lil' Tommy Q. And I'm so proud of it."
Everyone laughed at Jude's last statement.
"Couldn't leave it out, could you?" he asked.
"Nope," she smiled.
"You are now husband and wife, you may kiss the bride," the minister said. Tommy and Jude smiled and kissed. A few moments later they pulled away and looked at everyone. "May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison-Quincy!" Everyone stood up and applauded as Tommy and Jude made their way down the aisle.
Later at the reception, Kwest was half way through the best man speech.
"And if you had told me about seventeen years ago, that Tommy would end up having a wife and a kid, I'd laugh histerically in your face. But if you had told me that he would end up with Jude, I would have bet money on it in a heart beat. We always knew they'd end up together, so I think I speak to everyone when I say, FINALLY. Congratulations Tom, you found yourself one amazing girl." Everyone clapped.
"Okay," Nikki said standing up. "Maid of Honor's turn. I only met my dad about six months ago. And in those six months we completed an album, found out we were related, and he got engaged to my mom.And I have to admit, when I thought about Mom getting married to one of her boyfriends, I hated the idea. I thought everything would change and I'd lose my best friend and we just wouldn't be the same. But Dad, you came along, and changed my point of view. For the first time in my life, you made me want to have a dad and for the first time I wanted a guy in my mom's life. I didn't lose my mom, I gained my dad. And I know change can be good, so what if it's not just us girls anymore, we can be the three musketeers instead. So, Mom, here's to you and Dad," Nikki raised her glass of water. "May you be very happy, and smart enough not to let each other go this time around." Everyone laughed. "And I think it's time for the couple's first dance." She got up from the head table and walked on stage where the band was in place. Tommy and Jude made their way to the dance floor. The music started out and Nikki began to sing. Tommy took Jude's right hand and put his other hand on her waist as they began to dance.
I tried to tell you
I've got to get away
I tried to say
I need my space
I got to get some
Distance in between
My heart and my head
"We're married," Jude said excitedly.
"I know," Tommy said. "I've never felt this happy."
"I have," Jude said. "When Nikki was born."
"Sadie told me you were drugged," Tommy said. "And they didn't wear off til the next day."
I'm on the razor's edge
"Shut up," Jude said
I've been here before
I know the way
White lines
And headlights in my eyes
White lines
I'm ready to drive all night
White lines
How many 'till I'm in your arms
White lines
Will bring me home
"You haven't noticed it yet, have you?" he asked.
"Noticed what?"
"Nothing," he smirked.
I held you in
My arms last night
I dreamed we were
Riding on a star
I kissed you and
The sun began to shine
In dreams I can do anything
"Tommy, tell me!" she said. "I'm your wife, you have to tell me."
It seems like I'm on my own
It feels like I'm losing it all
He smiled.
White lines
And headlights in my eyes
White lines
I'm ready to drive all night
White lines
How many 'till I'm in your arms
White lines
Will bring me
"Check out your ring," he said.
Seems like I've been here before
I know the way
Jude slipped off the ring and looked at the outside of it. "What about it?"
"The inscription," he smiled.
Seems like I've been on my own
So long
So long
She moved the ring closer to her face. "To the one woman who will always brng me home..." Jude read she looked up at Tommy in surprise. "The right man."
He smiled.
"How'd you know?" she smiled.
He shrugged. "I have my ways."
"I love you," she said.
"Love you too girl," he kissed her softly as they danced to the last chorus.
White lines
And headlights in my eyes
White lines
I'm ready to drive all night
White lines
How many 'till I'm in your arms
White lines
Will bring me home
Nikki and the band were finishing up 'Some Hearts'.
Some hearts just get lucky sometimes
Everyone clapped. "Thank you," Nikki said. "This next song has absoulutely nothing to do with my parents, but we're going to play it anyway." They started to play as Nikki came in with the singing.
You make me feel out of my element
Like I'm walkin' on broken glass
Like my worlds spinnin' in slow motion
And you're movin' too fast
There was a small pause as the music sped up.
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we jumped, yeah
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
The chemicals react
The chemicals react
You make me feel out of my element
Like I'm drifting out to the sea
Like the tides pullin' me in deeper
Makin' it harder to breathe
We cannot deny, how we feel inside
We cannot deny
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we jumped, yeah
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
The chemicals react
The chemicals react
Kaleidoscope of colors turning
Hopes on fire, sun is burning
Shining down on both of us
Don't let us lose it don't let us lose it...
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we jumped, yeah
Nikki shot her glance over to Aaron as she sang the next part.
We lived
We loved
We hurt
We jumped
We're right
We're wrong
We're weak
We're strong
We lived to love
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
Watch the chemicals react
And just like that
The chemicals react
They finished the song and Aaron looked at Nikki.
The wedding's done.
"And now let's have some pre-recorded music," Nikki said and Far Away came on. She got off stage and went to the dance floor.
And so is the craziness.
"Wanna dance?" Jim asked Diane.
"Step on me feet this time, I kick your ass," she said as she made her way to an empty spot on the dance floor.
"Yes ma'am," he said nervously.
Nikki looked over at her parents dancing and couldn't help but smile.
The day turned out just how I expected it: perfect.
"May I have this dance?" someone asked from behind. Nikki turned to see Aaron. She nodded. They started dancing and were silent for a few moments.
"I'm sorry," they said at the same time.
"You first," he said.
"I've been avoiding you and I shouldn't have, sorry," she said.
Now that one craziness has ended...
"It's okay, I've been doing the same thing to you," he said. "So that song..."
"Yeah," Nikki blushed a bit. "It's kinda about a guy I like."
... I think I can handle a new one.
"Oh," Aaron said. "Sucks to be him."
"Why?" Nikki said.
"Because he's got some pretty tough competition," he said. "You know I'm not one to give up without a fight."
Nikki smiled. "So what does this mean?" He smiled leaned in and kissed her.
Can you say boyfriend, anyone?
Tommy tried to pull away from Jude to walk over to Nikki and Aaron.
"Let them be," Jude laughed.
Tommy went back to dancing but kept looking at them. "He better keep his hands where I can see them."
Jude rolled her eyes.
Nikki and Aaron pulled away.
"So, does this mean I'm dating a really hot guitarist?" Nikki asked.
"As long as I get to date a gorgeous popstar," he said.
"I think we can work something out," Nikki nodded. She gave him a peck on the lips. "Let the craziness begin."
So everyone's happy, yay! I don't think I'll have any major drama happen soon, but little snipets here and there. But next chapter we meet a new character.