Chapter 10:
Twenty minutes later she meandered down the stairs, having showered and changed into slim style black jeans and a white and black fitted blouse, one of the few professional looking outfits she had taken with her to Mason's. Seeing as they hadn't picked up her stuff from her house yet, she was living out of the suitcase she'd taken to Tennessee with her. She thought she looked pretty slim in the outfit and she was going to take advantage of every day where she could maintain her figure. She knew that soon enough she wouldn't fit into any of her clothes. The thought was actually not even depressing to her. It was just a part of pregnancy and she was looking forward to all of it.
As she walked down the stairs, she took a deep breath. She was a little calmer now and ready to face Tommy again. Sometimes she just found it so difficult being around him. They were getting along, but she could feel him working his way through the defences she was putting up, especially the longer amount of time they spent together.
There was one difference this time, however, than any other time she had wanted to be with Tommy. This time she knew what it was like to be happy with him for a while and have it all come crashing down on her. She had thought about it while she was getting ready to leave for the studio. She had a plan to fight off Tommy: any time she felt herself melting for Tommy again, she just had to remind herself of the pain she felt in Thailand. She prayed this would be enough to fortify herself against him.
She found him sitting at the kitchen table eating some cereal. He looked up and smiled at her as she entered. "Want some?" he asked, pointing to the cereal box to her.
Fruit Loops, her favourite. She simply couldn't refuse. She moved to the cupboard and grabbed a bowl, placing it on the table across from Tommy, pouring her cereal and milk into the bowl. "Want some peanut butter with it?" he asked, jokingly. She smiled, eating her cereal.
They ate in silence at first, before Tommy said, "Have you thought about what you want to say to the press yet?"
She looked up from her bowl. "Well," she started. "I was thinking as simple as possible. Just the bare minimum facts. I'm pregnant. You're the father. We're going to be co-parenting. Not that this information will stave off the questions, but I don't want to share any more information. I feel like it's already none of their business."
"Sounds good to me." Tommy said, a little smile curving his lips. He was happy and relieved that she wanted everyone to know it was his baby.
"I figured we'd write have a joint press conference and announce it."
Tommy looked up at her, surprised. "Are you sure you don't want to just send out a press release? Then you wouldn't have to face them head on?"
"Nope, I don't want it to look like I'm ashamed or something. Because I'm not," she said, rubbing her stomach. "This baby is a miracle, and I'm going to show the press that I'm proud to be pregnant, regardless of what they think."
Tommy saw her strength, her pride and her unconditional love for the baby shining from her eyes. And he added these things to the ever-growing list of reasons why he loved her. And we he had to get her back.
They both finished their breakfast in comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts. "Ready to go?" Tommy asked, grabbing both of their bowls and putting them in the dishwasher.
Jude nodded, and they made their way outside to the Viper.
They were driving for a bit before Jude asked, "You going to give this up?"
Tommy, turned keeping one eye on the road and one on her, looking puzzled. "The car? Why would I do that?"
Jude laughed. "Well, Vipers aren't exactly equipped for car seats. Come to think of it, pretty much none of your vehicles are," Jude teased.
"What do you want me to get, a minivan?" Tommy asked, laughing. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jude's expression change to a more serious one.
"Well, since the baby will be with me most of the time, I guess it doesn't matter. I mean, the car seat will go fine in the Mustang," Jude said, really more thinking out loud.
"What are you talking about?" Tommy asked, becoming more confused.
"Well, once the baby's born and I move into my own place, the baby will mostly be with me. So, I guess it really doesn't matter whether you have a proper car or not."
The colour drained out of Tommy's face. "What do you mean, move out?" Tommy asked angrily. "Why would you move out?"
"Tommy, I don't want to give the wrong impression to anyone, including our child or ourselves. Parents that aren't together don't live together. It's as simple as that."
"Simple? Jude, nothing about this situation is simple. Except for the fact that we SHOULD live together once the baby is born," he said, turning the Viper into the parking lot of Jamie and Paegan's studio. He parked the car and took the keys out of the ignition but did not move to get out of the car. He turned to look at her, and he could see her cheeks flushed and the anger rising in her eyes. He remembered what the doctor said about stress and decided this conversation could be saved until later. Actually, he hoped that later it wouldn't be necessary at all. "Jude," he said, taking her hand gently in his, "why don't we just take one day at a time and enjoy this? We'll figure out all the stuff later." His voice was like a soft caress and Jude couldn't fight with him now if she wanted to.
She looked into his eyes, her voice full of determination, "I just don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm not going to jump into your arms this time around. I want to be friends, that's it."
Tommy thought her stubbornness was admirable, but he'd already seen her walls slowly coming down. He knew it would only be a matter of time for them. He wondered silently why she couldn't see it as well.
Tommy smiled, squeezing. "Let's go do this. Then I'll take you to your place to get your stuff. Then we can have a relaxing night at home, okay? I think we could both do with that.'
Jude nodded, and opened her car door to get out. She started for the building before Tommy was even out of the car. He caught up with her quickly, placing a hand gently on the small of her back. She quickened her pace to evade his touch. Tommy smirked, dropping his hand. She was stubborn, but so was he. And he didn't think she knew how determined he could be.
Tommy opened the front door, holding it open for her. She smiled weakly at him and walked through. As soon as they walked in, they noticed Spiederman, Kyle and Wally lounging on the couches just off the lobby, Sadie and Kwest were talking at the reception desk and Jude could see both Paegan and Jamie in one of the upper offices.
Jude exhaled a deep breath. Tommy put his arm around her, squeezing her shoulder lightly. "Let's do this," he whispered, leaning close to her ear. "Wait here, I'll get everyone," he said.
"Spiederman! Wally! Kyle!" Tommy yelled, immediately getting their attention, "Can we talk to you for a minute?" He asked, pointing to where Jude stood. Sadie looked over at Jude with a questioning look, and Jude nodded in response. And as if in some foreign language, the sisters understood each other and Sadie knew what Jude was about to do. "Kwest, honey, I think Jude has an announcement to make," Sadie said, leading Kwest over to where Jude was standing.
Tommy popped his head in the office where Jamie and Paegan were and asked them to come down as well.
When everyone was gathered, and Tommy had rejoined Jude at the front of the group, Tommy started to talk, noticing Jude's sudden nervousness. "Jude and I have an important announcement," he paused for a moment, looking at her. She smiled in response and he continued. "We're going to be parents." Jude looked around to see everyone's shocked faces, well, everyone except for Jamie and Sadie who already knew.
Paegan approached her first. "A little one?" he asked, smiling. "A future little rock star. Congratulations," he said, hugging her. Then he shook Tommy's hand wordlessly.
Spiederman approached, gathering her in a warm hug. "I guess this ends my hopes that one day we would get back together, huh?" he asked, smiling. "What should the kid call me, "Uncle Spied? "Uncle Speedy?"
"Hmm… how about Uncle Vincent?" Tommy broke in.
Spiederman glared at him, then looked back at Jude. "Congratulations Mama. See, now the phrase Hot Mama really does apply."
Tommy just rolled his eyes at Spiederman's remarks. Spiederman turned to Tommy while Kyle and Wally began to speak to Jude.
"Congrats Daddy," he said, jokingly. Tommy couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Vincent." Spiederman cringed at this second use of his real name.
Kwest walked up to Tommy, while Jude was busy joking around with SME. "A dad, huh? Wow. Congrats Tom," Kwest said, extending his hand.
Tommy took his hand, "Thanks. It's kinda scary, the thought of me being responsible for another life. But with Jude, I know the kid will be fine," Tommy said, looking over at her.
"As long as he or she doesn't spend that much time with those uncles," Kwest said, laughing, watching SME bending and talking to Jude's stomach.
Jamie approached Tommy as Kwest and Sadie walked over to talk to Jude. "Congratulations," Jamie said, a twinge of sadness in his eyes.
"Thanks," Tommy said, reaching out his hand for Jamie to shake, which Jamie accepted. "Thanks for what you said to me when Jude ran away. And thanks for being Jude's friend."
Jamie smiled and nodded, and then moved on to give his congratulations to Jude.
Tommy saw Paegan walking back upstairs and caught him before he could. "I was wondering if you could do me and Jude a favour. We want to have a press conference to announce the news. Could we hold it here?"
"Sure, mate. I'll call the local news people for you. When do you want to have it."
"Would this afternoon be too quick?"
"I'll see what I can do." Paegan smiled.
"Thanks," Tommy replied, watching Paegan go to his office to make the call. Tommy turned back to join Jude. She had just finished talking to Jamie, who was also returning to his office. Jude was lost in her thoughts.
"Jude?" Tommy asked, "Are you okay?"
Jude smiled, turning to him. "I'm fine. Just glad that's done."
"I asked Paegan if he'd have the press conference here, this afternoon. He said he'd make the call."
"Good, the sooner that it's done the better." Jude said, looking a little pale and tired.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Tommy asked, concerned. He put his arm around her and led her to the nearest couch to sit down.
"I'm fine, I'm just tired. That's normal, don't worry," Jude said, squeezing Tommy's hand reassuringly. He looked at her, smiling wistfully.
Paegan coughed, "Sorry to interrupt," he said, approaching them. "The press conference is set for 2:00."
"Thanks Paegan." Jude said. He walked away to leave them alone again, and Jude settled herself back into the couch. Tommy watched as her eyes fluttered close. He had heard something about pregnant women being exceptionally tired. He watched her fighting the tiredness, but within a minute, and without meaning to, Jude was sound asleep. After waiting for her to fall into a deep sleep, Tommy picked her up, one arm around her back, the other one underneath her knees, and carried her into one of the empty offices. He laid her on the couch, kissing her forehead softly before he sat himself down in a nearby chair.
As he watched her sleep, his thoughts went to the press conference they were going to have this afternoon. He knew Jude wanted to be brave by facing them, but he was afraid of the things the vulture reporters might have to say.
Three hours later, Jude was still sleeping and Tommy was writing furiously on a notepad he'd stolen from the empty office they were in. Sadie knocked quietly on the door, before entering.
"The press is here and ready when you are," she said, speaking to Tommy but glancing at her sleeping sister.
"Thanks, Sadie. We'll be out in a few minutes," Tommy said and Sadie left, closing the door behind her.
Tommy walked over and crouched down beside Jude's sleeping form. He reached forward and caressed her face lightly. "Jude," he whispered, and she began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered open.
"It's time for the press conference," Tommy said quietly, reaching forward to brush a lock of hair off of Jude's face.
She sat up, trying to wake herself up as quickly as possible. She wiped the sleep out of her eyes and a minute later, she stood up.
"Do I look okay?" she asked, as she smoothed out her clothes and hair.
"Beautiful," he said simply. Their eyes locked, the desire in Tommy's making Jude blush.
"Let's go," she said, opening the door and walking towards the table they had set up for the press conference.
Jude and Tommy sat down beside each other, and Tommy began speaking, making the announcement. The reporters looked shocked and then began waving their hands furiously, wanting to ask further questions. Tommy pointed at one reporter's raised hand.
"So are the two of you involved in a sexual relationship?"
"No," Jude answered, before Tommy could say anything. "We were in a committed relationship for a short period of time but it didn't work. Now we are just happy to be friends and co-parents."
The questions they asked swirled in her mind, making Jude's head spin.
"What went wrong between the two of you?"
"Was there cheating involved?"
"Are you involved with other people now?"
"Are you going to file for joint custody?"
They wanted details about everything and as the questions continued, Jude began to realize that this press conference was a mistake. She was getting more and more emotional and upset with the things the reporters were asking and intimating. Tommy glanced over to see her face, white as a ghost's, and her eyes, full of unshed tears.
One reporter had already begun her question. "Jude is barely of legal age. How did this relationship develop so quickly?" The assumption was clear, that Jude and Tommy had been involved secretly before she was legal, and in which case, Tommy could be in a lot of trouble.
Jude's anger rose. "We were only involved very shortly, after I turned eighteen years old," she said furiously.
"Thank you for coming. That's the end of the press conference," Tommy said, as he stood and grabbed Jude's hand, pulling her into the unused office she had just napped in.
As soon as they were in and the door was closed behind them, Jude began pacing. "How could they ask those things? And I could I have been stupid enough to think that they wouldn't?" Jude said, more hypothetically than actually asking Tommy. Her eyes were full of tears that she was trying to hold back. "It was awful. They just kept prying and prying…"
"Jude," Tommy said softly, interrupting her rambling. Her head shot up and she looked at Tommy, who stood only a foot away with his arms open for her.
She walked into them, with no hesitation, and as she nestled her head into his shoulder, she released all the tears she'd been holding in.
"It's okay," he soothed as he rubbed her back gently, holding her in a tight embrace. "Don't worry about them. They don't matter. Only we matter, all three of us." He placed a kiss on the top of her head. Jude stood, enveloped in his arms, thinking that she'd never felt safer or more loved than she did at this moment. And that was both a comforting and a scary thought.