Here is the next chapter. The flashback goes along with the flashback in the last chapter. It is just Tommy's side. Hope everyone is enjoying the story. I love to read reviews, so when you are done let me know what you think.

disclaimer: i own nothing.

Chapter 10

Tommy woke up and saw her staring off into space. "What are you thinking about?"

"You're my best friend you know that?" She said in a small voice.

"And you're mine." He said before kissing her.

The kiss intensified quickly. Tommy fisted his hand in her hair holding her to him. He caressed her bottom lip begging for entrance. She accepted with a moan into his mouth. She could feel his rough hands up her shirt on her bare skin. She started unbuttoning his shirt quickly. She needed to feel his skin. Tommy pulled away long enough to get rid of his shirt and pull hers over her head, and attached his lips to the base of her throat. Everything about her was addictive to him; he just couldn't get enough of her. He felt her unbutton his jeans, and that made him realize where they were. This was not where he wanted to be when this happened, on the couch in her father's house.

"Jude, we can't do this here." He said when he finally found his voice.

"Why not? Yes we can. I want to and I'm ready Tommy."

"Girl, we are on the couch in your dad's house. This can't be where you want your first time, our first time."

"It doesn't matter where we are as long as its you." She really didn't want him to reject her.

"I'm going up to take a shower." He said pulling away to get up. He kissed her forehead and went up to the shower.

Tommy just let the water run over his face. He needed to get a grip. He'd just refused sex. Not just sex, but sex with the love of his life. He had gone insane. He let his mind drift to earlier in their relationship when she was coming home from her first tour.

Summer had been hell for him. At first he just missed Jude like crazy. He couldn't remember why he didn't go with her. He didn't even have Kwest around because he went off with Sadie to Europe. He tried to throw himself into work, and that was when the unthinkable happened. Darius bought out G Major. Georgia had been barely making it financially.

Every time he would call Jude she was either half asleep or busy. It was the same for him, so he never really got to talk to her all summer. Not even to tell her about the take over. Not only was it Darius they'd have to see everyday, but his ex-wife. He knew that would go over real well with Jude.

He was so excited the morning she was coming home. He couldn't wait to hug and kiss her, and just hold on to her. With all this change he wanted what he knew would never change, her.

He got there early, and was approached by Portia. "Tom, we haven't got to talk a lot."

"Portia, it's best we don't."

"Hey come on. We both work for Darius now. We'll be seeing each other everyday. You know we were good together before…"

He cut her off before she could her name. "Don't ever say her name."

"You're still touchy I see."

"I don't have time for this. I'm going to meet Jude's bus."

"Oh her little boyfriend is out there already waiting on her." She said off handedly.

Tommy was taken back by this because last he checked he was the boyfriend. "Boyfriend?"

"Yeah, that tall kid that was at D's party with you two. He's been here for a while."

Tommy just shook his head and walked away. Sure enough Jamie was outside waiting on her. He was a little annoyed because he thought Jude was going to talk to him before she left.

"Quincy, what are you doing here?" Jamie asked.

It took all Tommy had not to make a smart remark. "Just thought I'd meet Jude." He said with a shrug. "There's a lot I need to talk to her about."

"She's been gone all summer. Let her see her family first."

Tommy's head was screaming. "I had planned on taking her home."

"You don't have to worry. Jude's mom sent me to pick her up."

That explains it, Tommy thought. This was Victoria's doing. He thought his head was going to explode. He was furious. Six long weeks he'd gone with out Jude. With out holding her, kissing her. She haunted his dreams, and on the day she was to come home, her mother sends pencil neck to pick her up. That was his job.

The bus pulled up, and all his anger drifted away. She stepped off the bus and she was even more beautiful than he remembered. When she hugged him, he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. She felt amazing in his arms even if it was short lived.

It annoyed him that Jamie was rushing her off so quickly. It was like Jamie thought he was her boyfriend. He'd hoped to have time to talk to her. He needed to explain what she was coming home to. It would just have to wait.

He was five minutes from G Major on his way home when Darius called. "T, get your ass here now. I need you to work with the Instant Star contestants."

Darius was really the last person he ever wanted to deal with. This was making his life a living hell. He knew this was going to cause problem with his relationship with Jude. Georgia always looked the other way. There was no way Darius would do that. If he figured out about their relationship, they were doomed. Also Portia would probably cause problems. He did not need this at all.

When he arrived back to G Major, Kwest was waiting for him. "Man, when did you get back?

"Yesterday. Had to get an earlier flight. Darius demanded me back to the studio."

"Yeah, this is not good man. Where's Sadie?"

"She should be home today. I told her thee was no reason to cut her trip a day short. Where's Jude. Wasn't she getting back today too?"

"Yeah, Andrews swept her away directly of the bus. Victoria sent him to pick her up."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, worst part is I haven't had a chance to tell her about the take over. I don't know if she even knows."

The day was too long for him. He thought Jude's first day home they would be in the studio together, but he and Kwest were stuck with contestants all day. He couldn't deal with his ex-wife and his ex-brother-in-law looking over his shoulder all the time. He needed fresh air and sugar. All he could think about was how this was going to affect him and Jude. They were going to have to be more careful. When they were around the studio or at industry events, they were gonna have to be strictly professional. He would not let Darius ruin her.

When she rounded to corner, he put on his professional producer hat. He felt like an idiot telling her to play ball. When he really wanted her to show them who she really was. Getting ready for this party was horrible. He hated that he had to do this.

"T, where's your girl?" Darius' voice boomed.

"What do you mean?" Did Darius already know? Damn he felt like a scared teenager.

"Quincy, your artist is late!"

"She'll be here, D." Tommy was able to relax a bit. This was insane.

He finally saw her, and wow his heart almost stopped. She was gorgeous. "Oh my god." He said walking over to her and Sadie. "Wow and wow." He and Kwest were lucky guys. "Jude, your ten minutes late, okay? Fourth up, watch your tempo, got it?" He switched to produce mode.

"Yeah." She looked lost and nervous, and all he wanted to do was sweep her away and protect her, but he couldn't.

"You look great. Go be great. We'll talk it all over after, okay?"

She finally smiled. "Okay."

"I can't wait. I gotta go check some levels, later." This party better go by fast.

He's always hated everything about parties Darius would throw, and this one was no different. When Jude took the stage, he felt relieved because it would be over soon. Then all hell let loose, Jude switched songs mid performance, and Darius demanded him to get her out of there.

When he got home he felt horrible. He couldn't believe the things he said to Jude. But she was acting unreasonable. He sat on his couch with a six-pack. Every time his phone would ring he would look at Jude's picture and hit ignore. This was defiantly not the way he pictured her first day home.

The next day, wasn't any better. Darius had him playing assistant boy. That meant running copies all day. Yeah that's what a producer was supposed to do. He knew Darius had threatened to drop Jude to get her to do what he wanted. He wasn't sure what all that entailed until he spotted Jude getting fitted for the group number.

He was frustrated with that copier and didn't know what to do. "Portia, this machine, it wants something called toner." He was a musician not a copy machine person.

"Tommy, wait." Jude came after him. He wasn't ready to face her yet. "Tommy, look don't be mad, okay?"

"No because I consider photo coping all day a promotion."

"No, I was nervous about doing a cover at the party. And I'm used to doing my own stuff, and Jamie told me it was a good i…"

"You listened to Jamie?"

"Yeah, maybe."

This just made him mad all over again. "Yeah cause teenage best friends always know what's best for music careers." What was she thinking?

"He knows me, Tom. The real me."

He just looked at her dumbfounded. She was supposed to realize he knew the real her, too.

"So, it's true? My albums flopping?" She asked in a defeated tone.

"Don't ask me. I'm not the one who knows about your career." He just waked away. He couldn't believe she listened to Jamie over him. He was the one looking out for her. He knew what this business was like. He was trying to keep their heads above water. Jamie was a kid with an idealistic view of the business.

He knew what he felt for Jude, and knew he didn't want to loose her. He just needed to cool down. He watched her rehearse with the finalists. She was working hard to make things right, and he could tell. He watched as Jamie tried desperately to pull her away from what she was doing. She made eye contact with him, and he just waited to see what she would do. Honestly, this could make or break them. She stayed where she was. That was his girl.

That night he caught her before she went on stage for the group number. When he saw her in the metallic suit with a blonde wig, he didn't know what to say. She looked silly, but oddly sexy.

"Hey." She said looking up at him. "How's this? Does this make you happy?"

"It's exactly what I didn't want to happen. But I mean you put yourself right where Darius wanted you."

"I get it. It was just hard not knowing where we stood. I finally told Jamie today. He might never talk to me again."

"It's not going to be easy, Jude. It maybe even harder now, but I'm still here."

"Good. Well, now I've gotta go perform with semi-nude aliens." She left for the stage.

"Cause nothing says legitimate singing contest like space prostitutes." He leaned against the wall and watched her as usual.

When it was time for her solo number, he moved to the balcony where everyone from the label was sitting. He was nervous, but he knew she would pull it off. His girl was back. Darius was happy and that made him happy.

The next morning he went to pick her up at her house. He was ready to get back into the studio with her. He knew she was taking the fall out with Jamie hard, and wanted to do what any good boyfriend would do, and keep her mind occupied.

She came in the kitchen with freshly dyed blonde hair, and he was speechless. He loved her red hair, but the blonde was stunning on her. "Wow." Was all he could say especially in front of her mom. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm okay enough."

"Okay enough to go back into the studio?"

"Yeah, that sounds perfect."

"So, babe, you sleep yet?" He asked walking out of the house.

"I'll sleep when I'm dead, Quincy."

"I know these last two days have been off the chart, but you stuck it out. You kinda killed. All summer long I've been dying because I didn't go with you. I missed you. I'm just gonna say it flat out. I love you." But she was already asleep in the passenger seat.

He continued to stand under the water hoping Jude would understand why tonight was not the right place or time. He wanted to make it special for her.

~Let me know what you think.~