A/N: And another chapter down…and now you've officially all been caught up:D I'm actually working on typing up what I have of chapter 20 and then need to make a decision where that chapter is going to end. Ah, the plot is unrolling and I'm looking forward to the next segment…it's the "good stuff". I'm glad you're still with me and again, I'm sorry about the mix up with chapter 17. I'm just glad that's all cleared up and ok…or at least, I hope it is. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and hopefully 20 will be coming soon!

Chapter 19

The Next Morning

Tommy, Chris, and Adele convinced Celeste to go into the hospital, finally admitting her illness was beyond their control. The family was in the room with Celeste, helping to make her feel at home. I was out in the waiting room with Serena. Tom and Chris were surprised when Adele had handed her off to me. For the majority of the night, the three year old slept, curled up in my lap.

I wasn't able to sleep. I stroked Serena's soft black hair and hummed to myself. I wanted to be with Tommy, but I knew he had to be with his family right now and someone had to spare Serena's innocence for another couple of years.

"Auntie Jude?" I heard her little voice say. I glanced down, surprised to see that she had sat up and was looking at me with her wide dark eyes.

"Yes Serena?" I had gave up telling her not to call me Auntie. She didn't listen and I was starting to like the sound of it.

"Is Grandmere sick?" She asked me and I sighed.

"Yes, Grandmere's sick." I answered her, not quite sure how to answer it. Serena looked confused for a moment. She was smart for a three year old and I wondered what her next question was going to be.

"When I'm sick…mommy don't take me to the hos…hositle." She told me, and I sighed. Why me? I don't want to explain this to her. I closed my eyes.

"Grandmere needs a special doctor." I told her.

"So…she's gonna get better?" Serena asked me, her big brown eyes wide. Before I could think up an answer, I saw Tommy walking wearily towards us. Her question forgotten, Serena leaped off my lap and ran over to Tommy. I noticed a fake smile appear on his face as he greeted his niece and carried her back over to me, Serena boasting about "Auntie Jude" the whole time.

My eyes never left Tommy's. He didn't look like he heard a word that Serena was saying. Though his 'mask' was up, I could see in his eyes the pain and sadness there. I felt my heart go out to him and I wanted nothing more than to just wrap my arms around him and take his pain away.

When they were before me, Serena squirmed out of Tommy's arms and plopped herself down in a seat next to me and began to play with her stuffed animal. I glanced up at Tommy and his eyes met mine before he sighed heavily and collapsed in the chair next to me.

"You look exhausted." I observed. It was true. His eyes were half mast and he sat slouched. Tommy never slouched. He glanced over me but said nothing. I reached up and lay a hand on top of his. He took my hand in his and squeezed it. Our fingers automatically intertwined and he looked away from me a moment. "How's Celeste doing?"

"She's resting…she's still trying to be strong." He told me and shook his head. "I just…had to get away." I nodded and squeezed his hand.

"Understandable." I told him, not too sure what else to say. "You should get some sleep."

Tommy shook his head negatively.

"I'll be fine."

"You won't be any good to Celeste if you get yourself sick." I told him and he turned to look at me sharply.

"I can't Jude." He told me, his voice breaking slightly.

I shifted in my seat and I pulled him into an awkward hug. He returned the embrace, leaning his head down to rest on my right shoulder. We sat like that for awhile. Just sitting together and comforting each other in our own way.

"I know I should have told you Jude." He finally said, breaking our silence. I pulled back from him a moment, puzzled. "About the article. I just…" He trailed off, looking like he was searching for the perfect next words.

"I know Tommy; I understand." I told him, looking away from him. "I was just…upset. I didn't expect to find that."

"Jude…"

"I don't want to think about it Tom. Don't worry about it." I told him. I honestly didn't want to think about Damien, the blackmail, or my life back in Toronto. I was liking the vacation from my life…even if the circumstances aren't the best.

"I do worry about it." He confessed and I started to say more but he stopped me with a soft look. "I worry about you." He stressed and I froze. My body and mind shut down. Did he just imply that…?

I jumped as I felt something tug on my sleeve and I saw Tommy smile slightly and I turned to see Serena and her small hands on my shirt.

"I drew you a picture!" She told me, beeming happily. In her other hand, held outstretched to me was a picture that Serena had drew. I looked down at it and my heart instantly melted. I don't know where she got the blank page and crayons, but she drew a "family portrait", including Adele, Celeste, Chris, herself, and me and Tommy…together, before the farm house.

"Thank you Serena." I told her, beaming at the three year old. She looked proudly at me and then made a shooing motion with her hands.

"I draw for Grandmere now." She informed me, picking up the crayons she had accumulated from god knows where and then began to color once again. I watched her a moment and then turned to look at Tommy. His look stopped me dead.

His gaze was oddly contemplative. Gone was the earlier look of exhaustion; his blue eyes perfectly clear as he looked at me.

"What?" I asked. He gave me a small smile and offered nothing. I glared at him and he looked away from me a moment.

"Just thinking."

"About?" I prodded and he looked back at me, directly into my eyes.

"Us." He stated simply. I sighed. Talking to Tommy is sometime harder to do than speaking to the three year old next to me.

"Care to elaborate?" I asked him and he glanced away from me a moment and stared at the floor of the waiting room.

"You ever feel like…just…giving in?" He asked and I frowned. Where was this coming from?

"Sometimes." I replied honestly and he nodded slightly, not looking at me.

"Sometimes…I wonder if the fight's worth it."

"Maybe it isn't." He looked up at me at that, his expression blank, but his eyes…his eyes were a storm of emotions and I thought I was going to drown just looking into them. Just give in Tommy…give in for us. I mentally pleaded.

"Thanks Jude!" I heard someone say and I snapped my head away from Tommy's gaze and saw Adele standing before us, her eyes looking back and forth between me and her brother.

"Oh, it was no problem. Serena's a great kid." I told her and Adele smiled at me.

"Mommy, go away! I color for Grandmere!" She told her mother when Adele attempted to pick her daughter up.

"Serena"

"It's a supprise!" Serena insisted. Adele sighed.

"Sweetie, we need to go get something to eat. How about we go home and you can finish your picture there and bring it back for Grandmere later?" Adele asked and Serena shook her head in the negative.

"Not hung-we!"

"Serena?"

"Yes Auntie Jude?"

"If you go home with Mommy, you can get your crayons and make Grandmere's picture even prettier." I told her and Serena looked at me with excited eyes.

"Weally?"

"Yup." I told her and Serena leaped off her seat and grabbed her Adele's hand.

"Come on Mommy! We go home!" She commanded and Adele smiled at me and mouthed 'Thanks' before leaving. I smiled triumphantly and I turned back to Tommy and saw him frowning.

"What?"

"Spill." He commanded.

"About?"

"You and Adele. What happened?" He asked.

"Don't know what you're talking about." I said, smirking at him. Tommy's eyes narrowed. "Girl stuff. It's over your head." I informed him and he glared at me. There was a beat of silence that passed over us.

"Jude, about before-"

"Who's up for some breakfast?" Tommy and I both turned to see Chris looking at us questioningly. I shrugged, I was hungry and it was 9:00 in the morning.

"I'm game." I responded and Chris beamed at me before looking at Tommy.

"You coming?" Chris asked and Tommy's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, count me in." Chris looked slightly disappointed and the look wasn't lost on Tommy.

This will be a fun morning. I thought to myself as I got up and followed Chris outside to his car, Tommy following me relatively close behind.