Happy holidays everyone! I thought I'd post as a little present. ENJOY and don't forget to review!

Chapter 14

"What do you think?" Jude asked Tommy about the benefit as they walked back to his office.

"I think it'd be great for you Jude. Just watch Chaz the guy's always got an angle."

"Well you're going to be doing it too right?" He scoffed. "Oh come on Tommy it's one song for charity. Show me the dancing." She teased. She loved the idea of performing with him.

"I haven't performed in 5 years I'm not about to start now." They entered his office and he shut the door behind them.

"What are you scared?" He scoffed again.

"No." He mumbled unconvincingly. Jude's eyes softened. He looked so cute and unsure of himself.

"Tommy that is so adorable." She wound her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose to his.

"Look producing is a fulltime gig. I don't really have anything I can use. I would rather yodel than perform Boyz Attack."

"So use one of my songs. They're as much yours as they are mine." He grinned suddenly and it had her looking at him warily.

"You think I should do Addicted?"

"Yeah...Nice try Quincy, but I don't think Addicted is meant for public consumption, unless you plan on telling the world you like how your 16 year old artist gives you head." They both knew Jude would not take it well if Tommy said it was about anyone else and the press would be sure to ask.

"Ohh....Harrison so tempting." His hands went to the bare skin showing at her waist. After all this time she still didn't seem to be completely aware of how appealing she was to him, at least he didn't think she was anyway.

"You and me on the same bill. You know you want to." She said the last part cajolingly, knowing the way she said it would get to him. She grinned as she tilted her head up to meet his lips in an unhurried kiss.

Jude, Kat and Jamie sat in Jude's living room watching the news as they finally had a chance to hang out. Tommy was busy producing another band, so Jude had called her friends over. She hadn't had much of a chance to spend any time with them and found she had missed them.

"Uh Jude..." Jamie interrupted Jude's tirade about Eden's tabloid story. "Jude. Satan and a half talk channel 8." They watched as Eden mentioned the duet Jude had supposedly asked her to perform with her on Music Helps. Jude immediately reached for her cell phone.

"Who's she calling?" Jamie asked Kat as they watched Jude in the dining room.

"Probably Tommy." Kat said unthinkingly.

"What can her producer do?" Kat shrugged.

"He's her musical support." Jamie knew that all too well, ever since that first show at the Vinyl Palace.

"Yeah I get that." He said a touch too bitterly for even Kat to ignore. She stared up at him, but he was lost in his own thoughts and did not notice.

"A duet?!" Jude wailed as she paced around Tommy's office.

"Look the dueling pop star bit. It's the oldest PR trick in the book. I'm calling Chaz." He would not let anyone use Jude. "I told you that guy's always got an angle. I'm pulling us both." He reached for the phone, but she put the receiver back before he could make the call.

"So she can tell the whole world I punked out. No way." He waited for her to continue, with arms folded over his chest. "I've been thinking about this. I got a plan." She explained what she was thinking and looked at him expectantly. "Well? What do you think?" He nodded his head reluctantly.

"It could work....but watch out. Eden's not exactly a girl scout."

"More like a talentless skank." Jude muttered under her breath.

"Jude Harrison....And here I thought you were a nice girl." She smirked at him.

"I used to be."

They had a meeting with Chaz and Eden the next day. Jude sat on the conference room table and pitched her idea to Eden as Tommy sat behind her paying more attention to her jean molded butt than was strictly necessary as he sipped at his mug of coffee. He knew his girl had Eden in a stranglehold. Jude was a rising star and Eden's 10 minutes were almost up. Even opening for the Shay tour had not boosted her record sales as much as she had hoped. The public did not care much about she and Shay as a couple either. Jude had just told Eden she wanted a public apology at the concert and Tommy watched on in amusement as Eden balked at the idea as he knew she would.

"Forget it. I'll just go on solo. " She turned to Chaz who sat behind her on the console. " Right Chazzy?"

"Sorry doll the bill's full. No Jude no dice." Chaz said insincerely. Tommy rolled his eyes and drank some more of his coffee. Eden being Eden would not admit defeat gracefully. She had nothing on the 16 year old before her, who could show so much poise it sometimes blew him away.

"Fine. I'd be happy to you over-dyed sore loser."

"Thank you. You cradle robbing boyfriend stealer." Chaz couldn't miss the wince Tommy gave at Jude's words.

"Done. We'll uh announce it at the press conference. They'll eat it up." Georgia said to diffuse the tension. When the others left the room Tommy stopped Jude from walking out too.

"Did you have to call her a cradle robber?" He asked her a little sarcastically.

"Sorry....It just came out?" Jude said trying hard not to laugh. She knew he was sensitive about the whole age thing.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"You'll find something." Tommy blinked. Did she just wink at him? She took his mug before he could stop her, and sipped his drink.

"Ugh...How much sugar did you put in here?" She wrinkled her nose.

"You know I like things sweet." She raised her eyebrow at him skeptically.

"Really?" There was no way he was going to tell her the truth. That she had distracted him while he was making his coffee, by flirting with one of the interns. There was only so much ammunition he could give her. Jude shrugged and thrust the cup back into his hands before walking out with an extra sway in her hips.

Tommy stopped at the curb in the Viper and Jude turned to smile at him. She squeezed the hand that had taken hers, not wanting to leave his presence, but she had homework and he could be distracting. And her mother would get suspicious if she was never home on time.

"Call me later?" She asked and he gave her that adorable shy little boy smile she loved so much, before nodding his head.

"You should go." Jude sighed and got out, slinging her book bag over her shoulder. She gave him one more look, before shutting the car door. He waited until she got to her front door before he took off.

As Jude started to put her key into the lock, the door opened to reveal Sadie.

"Hey..." Jude said as her sister moved aside to let her in. Sadie followed Jude into the living room and Jude turned back to stare at her in puzzlement.

"I thought Tommy was hot n heavy with some girl. How come he has time to drive you home every day?" Sadie asked her as she threw her bag onto the couch. Jude shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Is he still seeing her?"

"I don't know Sadie. I think so. He doesn't exactly talk about his love life to me." Jude was so tired of Sadie going after Tommy and not being able to tell her the truth.

"Does he seem into her?"

"Sadie leave him alone. He has a girlfriend! There are a million guys who would love to date you. Why do you have to go after my...producer?!" Jude finally snapped at her wide-eyed sister.

"You like him." Sadie finally whispered in realization, in response to Jude's over the top reaction.

"I...Yeah...I like him okay? He's...an amazing producer." Jude looked away from her sister, praying her eyes didn't hint at the truth. It wouldn't exactly come as a surprise to Sadie that Jude had a crush on the entirely too hot Tommy Quincy. They worked so closely, it was almost a given Jude would fall for him, at least that's what Jude hoped Sadie would believe.

"Jude...You're too young for him." The sudden sympathy in her sister's voice almost undid her.

"I know...I'm just a kid." Jude said softly as guilt overwhelmed her. She hated lying so much. "I'm gonna go to my room. Call me for dinner?" Sadie nodded and let her sister leave without comment.

The press conference for Music Helps did not go as planned for neither Jude nor Tommy. Instead of the tolerance Jude expected Eden managed to insult her more and Tommy had to grab her by the waist to hold her back from doing damage to Eden's plastic face. He told her to show her up by outsinging her at the benefit and smile and say 'anything for the kids.'. In the next instant though it was Jude who had her hand on his back to center him as Chaz pulled his next stunt. Instead of Tommy being introduced as a solo act, the backdrop had been pulled down to reveal the rest of his former band and the long awaited reunion of Boyz Attack was announced. Tommy held a tight smile as the press took the media shots and Jude placed her hand on his shoulder, repeating his own words back to him. Her touch was the only thing keeping him grounded unbeknownst to his former band mates who were busy smiling for the cameras.

When they got back to the studio it was a different story though. Tommy was understandably angry at Chaz who had come after him. He tried to convince Tommy that everyone in the band needed the publicity, not all of them had been doing as well as Tommy had. They argued until Jude intervened.

"Okay, okay. Can I just have him for one second?" Jude said to Chaz before pulling Tommy to one side.

"Can you stop freaking out for 5 seconds and think! This is not about reliving your dorky past. It's about changing it." Tommy shot a disgruntled look past her at Chaz who stood below them at the bottom of the stairs. His gaze drifted back towards her as he tried to process her words.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're a producer, so produce. Show them a Boyz Attack you can be proud of. If I can suck it up to Eden you can suck it up to Chaz." Her hand grazed his as he looked into her eyes. He turned to Chaz below them.

"One song. Our last...one."

"That's all I'm asking." Chaz said.

.

Jude had just put a tea bag into her mug when she heard her name being called. She turned to see Chaz Blackburn walking towards her.

"Hey Jude." She bit back a sarcastic retort at the hated phrase. She didn't know this man well enough to snap at him. Chaz put his hands in his jacket pockets and gave her a bashful smile, she wasn't sure she bought. "Thanks for convincing Tommy to do this." They stood in the common area of G-Major and Jude wondered what he was still doing here.

"No problem. But it wasn't for you." He nodded acceptingly.

"So you and Tommy are really close." Jude tensed slightly, but realized he couldn't possibly know the truth. He might have suspicions, but Tommy had only sang a song after all. That didn't necessarily mean anything.

"He's a great producer." Chaz brightened at those words as if hearing the answer he wanted.

"So are you busy tonight?" What did he just say?! Chaz knew she was only 16.

"Are you asking me out?"

"Why is that so surprising? You're a beautiful, talented girl."

"I can't..." Jude realized she had been so insulated in this world of G-Major she hadn't been in contact with a lot of guys who would have wanted to date her and she wasn't sure how to say no.

"I understand." Chaz smirked. "Tommy wouldn't approve huh?" Jude simply stared at him with a penetrating gaze.

"I don't think my parents would actually. I'm only 16."

"I forgot that. You seem older somehow." He observed as he looked her over. She shrugged, not knowing whether that was a compliment or not.

"I'll see you later Jude." He gave her a smile as he started to walk away.

Jude walked into Studio B and sat down beside Tommy who working on one of her tracks. When he finished what he was doing he finally glanced over at her, knowing she had something to say.

"Chaz asked me out." Jude said still a little surprised. Tommy shook his head, not nearly as angry as she thought he'd be.

"He's just doing it to get to me. He suspects something's going on between us. You know that."

"What no one is allowed to want me but you?" Jude asked indignantly. Tommy shrugged and looked at her. Yeah he could see Chaz going for Jude, her long hair, big eyes, luscious mouth and that misleading air of innocence. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as his mind wandered to her other assets, his eyes drawn to her chest. He shook himself, knowing he couldn't focused on that at work.

"He used to like them young and drunk. I guess he hasn't changed much." Jude smirked at him, until he realized what he had said and to whom he had said it.

"I'm Chaz!" He put his heads in his hands and groaned while Jude tried to hold back a snort of laughter. He looked up at her with a grimace on his face. "I'm having a crisis and you're laughing at me. Nice Harrison."

"You're an idiot Quincy." She drew closer, her knees bumping against his. "Since when have you wanted me because I was young?" He had simply wanted her period, since they had first met and wanted her more with every moment they had spent together. Their fingers linked underneath the soundboard as their eyes held a silent communication.

Jude stood on the stool in front of the mirror they had dragged from Victoria's room into the living room, as Kat did a few last minute touchups to the dress she had created for Jude to wear for the event.

"Try not to move. I don't want to stick you." Kat was intent on the dress as she adjusted a fringe here, a ruffle there.

"So how are you and Jamie?" Jude asked trying to breakthrough her friend's uncharacteristic pensive mood. Kat looked up finally and caught Jude's eye.

"We broke up."

"What?! But why?! I thought you two were doing good."

"He's in love with someone else. I thought I could change his mind, but I was wrong." Kat said matter of factly, flooring Jude.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Come on Jude you've been so self absorbed in your own world. When was the last time we talked?" Kat reached for her bag of supplies and started stuffing her loose things into it. Jude stepped off the stool and went over to her friend.

"Kat...." Jude touched her friend's arm. "I'm sorry I've been wrapped up with my stuff...But I'm here now. Want to talk?" Kat looked up at her with pain filled eyes.

"Who do you think Jamie's in love with Jude?" Kat picked her bag up and walked out, leaving Jude standing there still processing her news.

.

Sadie came downstairs then, in an indecently small blue Boyz Attack tee, humming Put Me Back Together Again.

"I can't believe Boyz Attack reunited. I never thought it would happen!" She said excitedly as she bounced around exuberantly singing the song badly off-key now. She stopped when she saw the expression on Jude's face. "What's wrong sis?"

"Sadie do you think Jamie likes me?"

"Like, he's in love with you and wants you to have his babies, like?" Jude looked at her like a deer caught in headlights. Sadie sighed and glanced at her sister more closely. She had to admit her sister was good looking, but her sister didn't seem to be aware of the effect she had on boys. "Jude, Jamie's been in love with you like forever. I think you're the only one who never saw it." Jude bit her bottom lip nervously. Tommy had warned her, but she had laughed it off, now she had to face the truth and she didn't know how to fix things.

Chaz found Tommy the next day and urged him to the open room Georgia had lent them to practice. When Tommy tried to hand Chaz a copy of the remix of Put Me Back Together Again he had made, Chaz had been so excited about practicing he'd blown it off. That would be a portent of the storm that would soon come. Jude had followed them into the room simply watching as Chaz turned the music on and the Boyz minus Tommy started doing the dance moves straight from the 90's video. She tried hard not to laugh as she leaned against the wall and held her stomach. She could tell from his tense shoulders and cutting words that her boyfriend was not happy at what Chaz was trying to do. After harsh words between the both of them, with Tommy basically telling them not to embarrass themselves like this and Chaz saying what a loser Tommy was for abandoning the band in the first place, things just got worse. Tommy told them the reunion was a bad idea and Chaz said they would do it without him.

Jude followed Tommy out, but did not speak, having never seen him quite this angry before. They went into his office and when she shut the door behind her, he grabbed her by the waist and his lips were pressing down upon hers. She did not protest the intrusion of his tongue or his fingers that had wandered to her breasts, caressing her through her shirt. Her acceptance of his anger undid him and his lips softened on hers. He simply held her then, resting his head against her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" She asked softly and he nodded as he inhaled the soft scent of her hair.

The concert came upon them quickly and as Tommy had half suspected would happen Eden did not give Jude the much anticipated apology during the introduction to the event, instead she had insulted her calling her a loser. They exchanged more words, until Jude had had enough.

"Good luck hitting my high notes." Jude said sarcastically before storming off. There were other things on her mind, such as the realization that Kat was hurting, no matter how short a time her and Jamie had been dating. Jude being Jude had an impatient need to fix things between them right away and left the studio.

.

Strangely enough it was Sadie who finally got Tommy to change his mind about performing with the band again. She had been one of his biggest fans and appealed to that side of him, telling him there were a lot of people who would be disappointed in his lack of appearance on the show.

Tommy had not seen Jude run off originally and it was Georgia who had pressed him to find her as Eden performed alone onstage, butchering Jude's song. Tommy winced as she missed a particularly difficult note. He thanked his lucky stars yet again that Eden had not been the one to win Instant Star. He called Jude's cell phone worriedly, leaving a text message, not having seen Georgia so upset, ever.

Jude made it back with barely 10 minutes to spare, before the final act of the day, Boyz Attack. She had made up with Kat at her work; a little donut stand at the local mall, and promised to spend that night eating ice cream and watching chick flicks with her.

"Where have you been?!" Tommy said a little too loudly causing her eyes to widen.

"I had to talk to Kat."

"Doesn't matter. New plan." He grabbed her arm and pulled her backstage where the Boyz Attack members were waiting. Tommy had made up with his old band while Jude had been away and she widened her eyes in surprise as he told her she would be going on with them, all of them.

"Seriously?" She asked still flabbergasted. Jude Harrison and Boyz Attack, singing to the new arrangement Tommy had made.

In the end the song went amazingly well, showing more maturity and depth by the old band than had been present 5 years ago. Jude had been able to highlight her amazing singing voice, bringing Eden's own performance to shame. She had gotten such a kick out of singing with Tommy and wished it wouldn't be the only time. As they finished the song Chaz and Tommy had bonded a little. They stood up from their stools and Tommy put his arm around Jude as they got ready to take their bows.

"Admit it. You loved it didn't you?" She whispered to him. He gave her a cute grin as he whispered back.

"Anything for the kids."

After the show Tommy and the Boyz Attack members agreed to meet up for drinks. Chaz had asked Kwest to come along, having known Kwest from the old days when he had been a roadie for them. Jude had told Tommy she would be busy that night anyway with Kat, trying to patch their strained relationship.

"Your girl's got quite the voice." Chaz commented as he took a drink of his microbrew. They sat side by side at the bar, watching the girls flirting with the other band members.

"She's not my girl." Tommy denied automatically.

"Come on Tommy I've known you a longtime. The only other woman you ever looked at that way was Angie." Tommy's hand tightened involuntarily on his own glass at the mention of Angie. She was a past he avoided whenever possible, but Chaz had known her back then too, and he couldn't escape that fact. "Don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone. It's none of my business." Chaz said nonchalantly. Tommy knew Chaz meant his words, but he also had a big mouth sometimes. Too many people knew as it was, in Tommy's opinion. How long would it be before the wrong person found out? And what would it do to Jude's career if it ever got out that she was involved with her much older producer at the age of 16? The publicity might be good, but would mothers let their daughters buy her music after something like that? Chaz changed the subject after that and they talked for a little while longer catching up and talking about old times, although the doubts never left Tommy's mind completely.

Kwest sat down next to him, after leaving Sean and J.P. flirting with some Boyz Attack fans.

"What's up man? Did Chaz say something?" Kwest looked over at his friend's troubled face.

"He knows about Jude or at least he thinks he does." Kwest whistled through his teeth.

"Shit. How did that happen?" Tommy was quiet for a long moment and took another sip of beer before replying.

"I wrote her a song and he heard me singing it to her."

"You're writing again?" Kwest asked in amazement. He had been there when Tommy's solo album had been shot down by Darius years ago and Tommy had been pretty traumatized by the whole thing. Kwest hadn't heard about Tommy working on his own music since. "I don't get it. What's the big deal?" Tommy looked a little embarrassed at that point and Kwest could only stare at the uncharacteristic face his friend was making. "Don't tell me it was about sex. Cuz I really don't need to hear that about Jude."

"It could have been interpreted as sexual." Kwest just shook his head, not for the first time wondering what Tommy was doing with her, not matter how well they connected, musically anyway. Kwest would not let himself think about the other aspects of their relationship, because Jude was definitely not one of Tommy's nameless girls and after all these months of working with her, he had grown to really like her. Kwest could only watch as Tommy signaled, for yet another beer.

Although plenty of women had come up to Tommy, he had blown them all off, preferring to simply drink and hang out with his old band. Kwest could tell Chaz knowing about Jude bothered him as he drank more than usual and later had to be driven home. By the time they all left late that night, Bruno and Chaz each with a woman on their arm, most everyone was plastered.