Hazy Shade Of Winter- An Instant Star "Holiday" Fic

Chapter 4: Christmas Past, Part 3

Author's Note: I'm really starting to like this style of writing... kind of like an extended songfic, told as a series of minis... As always, special thanks to those who reviewed: Princess Sammie, Rachel, Tanya, Starfan88, x3Bellax3, samitiny and judetomfan101 and M, R &V! It's nice to know- I'm not the only one who can't get enough "jommy" yumminess...

Chapter 4: Christmas Past, Part 3

"Look around..."

"Leaves are brown..."

"And the sky..."

"Is a hazy shade of winter..."

"Hello, Tommy..." James Quincy warily greeted his son.

"Hello..." Tommy replied, just as uneasily.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came... to support you." James told him.

"Now, there's a first!" Tommy thought, bitterly.

The older man shook his head. Tom's icy silence didn't fool him. In fact, it was exactly what he expected.

"He still hates me... I know that. But there's something I have to do..."

"I know, I haven't done very much of that." he told Tommy. "But that's in the past..."

"Is it?" his son sniped back.

"I'd... like it to be." James said wistfully.

"How did you ever get backstage, anyway?"

"I told the stage manager that I was your father. For some strange reason, he believed me."

"I bet..." Tommy thought, studying the older man. He was a mirror image; the strong resemblance between the two was undeniable. Tommy had sent him an occasional email, but hadn't seen him for a year, not since their last confrontation. He noted that James Quincy seemed much thinner and paler since that last time.

"Can't imagine why." he told his father.

"Appearances... deceive." James told him cryptically, silently acknowledging the truth.

"We look alike... But you are already a far better person than I can ever hope to be..."

"Yes..." Tommy said, not sure what to say next. He was rescued by a female voice, calling his name.

"Tommy!" Jude cried out, flushed, radiant and excited. Quickly, she made her way to his side.

"You were simply wonderful!" James Quincy raved, before Tommy could even introduce her.

"Thanks!" Jude replied, recognizing him instantly, as her boyfriend's arm wrapped around her, in a gesture of love and pride, as well as a request for her support. Silently understanding, Jude leaned against him.

"This is Jude Harrison..." Tommy began. "Jude, this is..."

"I can't call him my father... I just... can't."

"Mr. Quincy." Jude finished for him.

"Thank you!"

"Miss Harrison..." James replied warmly, shaking her hand. "It's my pleasure to finally meet you."

"So, this is the woman my son loves so much... The one who makes him so happy... I can see why... "

"It's nice to meet you, too." Jude answered. "We didn't know you were coming here tonight."

"I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it." James replied. "But I'm glad I could. It was a spectacular concert."

"That's because of Tommy." Jude told him. "He worked so hard. Spent hours putting it together."

"Jude's biased." Tommy said, still uncomfortable with his father being so close to his music; the part of him James Quincy had always criticized the most. But not tonight.

"Yes. I can see that it must have taken a lot of time and effort." James stammered. "All these different sounds, singing styles...

Tommy finally laughed.

"You still have no idea what really goes in the music business." he commented.

"Not a clue... " James admitted. "But I do know a talented singer when I hear one. And Miss Harrison here clearly is that."

"Call me Jude, please."

"Miss Harrison sounds too much like my mother..."

"If you'll call me James."

Ambiguous emotions consumed Tommy as he watched his father interacting with the woman he loved. He was rescued when EJ summoned Jude over.

"Jude! We need all the performers over here for pictures!"

"Coming!" she replied cheerfully.

"I have to go." Jude said to James. "But it's nice to have met you."

"Yes. And hopefully I'll see you again soon!" he told her. Jude nodded politely and walked away.

"You're a very lucky man." James told Tommy.

"For once... there's actually something we agree on!"

"You're not going to make anything easy for me, are you?"

"Well, you're not exactly making it easy for me right now!" Tommy snapped.

"You show up here! Take me by surprise! And I have no idea what you want! But I know there's something..."

"Yes. There is..." James thought nervously.

"This isn't fair!" Tommy insisted. "And I have work to do!"

"He's right..."

"You're right!" James conceded.

"I would like to see you. For Christmas. There's something I'd like you to have. It's important."

Tommy just stared at him cooly, not sure how to reply. Then his father played his trump card.

"Your mother would have wanted this."

Tommy easily recognized his father's manipulations. They disgusted him, but he couldn't help being curious.

"You call me when you're ready." James told him.

"Yeah... I have to go..." Tommy said.

Breathing deeply, he quickly moved downstairs, to the large reception area, where the concert's after-party was being held. It was already in full-swing when he arrived. Multi-tiered crystal chandeliers sparkled brightly above them, raining their soft light on the stars and other important people that filled the room. Dozens of waiters and waitresses circulated with flutes of champagne and silver trays of hors d'oeuvres.

Immediately, Tommy snagged a glass, wishing it contained something stronger. He was desperate for something to steady his nerves, which jangled louder than the holiday bells Speed kept ringing. Scanning the crowd, he finally found Jude standing in the center of small group.

Just the sight of her made him feel better. Jude was never left alone at parties. People always always sought her out, desiring her company. But no one would ever need or want her more than he did. Especially not tonight.

He walked closer and caught her eye. As soon as he did, she excused herself from her other companions and came to him, taking his hand.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Holding up."

"That was a surprise..."

"That's putting it mildly." Tommy replied, putting down his empty glass and seizing another.

Even before he spoke, Jude easily recognized his agitation, but knew they couldn't talk here. It was far too public, with reporters everywhere.

It would have to wait until they got home.

"We'll talk about it later..." she promised him.

"Yes..."