So, this is very sad for me to post because I've been writing this story since about April and it's finally finished. And what's even sadder is that I don't know what to do next. I don't think I want to do a sequel because that would just be writing about weddings and babies and I've already done that. I guess I'll have to come up with something new for Nic and Spied and Jude and Tommy, but I'm still never promising a Jommy. Anyways, I hope everyone is pleased with the ending and reviews it. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed thus far; you are truly the best a girl could ask for.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
"I can't believe you're going to do this," Nic murmured to Jude as the two girls sat in an abandoned studio D on a late Friday afternoon in November. She placed a hand on her swollen belly, which was five-months-pregnant and sighed. "You're gonna knock him right out of his socks."
"Personally, I still can't believe you're pregnant," Jude laughed. "I mean, five months ago was Hilton Head and you always swore up and down that you guys were careful and used protection. Apparently, you're a liar."
Nic rolled her eyes. "Okay, so maybe one time we didn't. Who cares? I never thought I'd be one for motherhood but I'm totally digging this whole being pregnant thing. I mean, I get to hang out here with you all every day, Spied won't let me do anything at home, and he waits on me hand and foot. I'm gonna start popping out kids left and right."
"Ha!" Jude scoffed. "Yeah, right. According to my mother, after 14 hours of labor, you'll want to kill him for impregnating you."
Nic smiled. "I think this little guy will be enough for us. Maybe someday, in like ten years, we'll have another one, but we've talked about it and one kid is good. So, forgetting my pregnancy for a minute, have you decided how you're doing this?"
"Yeah," Jude confirmed. "I'm doing that showcase tonight at The Basement and I'm gonna do it when I finish. But, I'm gonna do it backstage in front of the people who mean something to us, not everyone out in the audience. Tommy and I are more private than you and Spied."
"What are you saying?" Nic demanded. "We ask for the ridiculous attention we get? I don't think so. We're just fun for the paparazzi to follow."
"Anyways, is it weird that I won't be wearing an engagement ring?" Jude wondered, strumming her acoustic guitar.
The girls were discussing the details of Jude's proposal to Tommy that night after her set. She'd been planning it for almost a month and he had no idea about any of it. What she didn't know was that Tommy was also planning a proposal, with a ring, so it was just going to come down to who asked first.
"Hey, Tommy wants everyone in the conference room," Spiederman reported, sticking his head into the room. "Said he wants to discuss the show tonight."
Nic sighed as she pulled herself up. She wasn't too big, and it only showed in her belly, but her stamina wasn't as high as she was used to and it killed her.
"Need help?" Jude asked, holding out a hand.
"Thanks," Nic accepted. "My husband apparently cares more about his music."
"That's not true!" Spiederman cried. "You always say I help you too much so I thought you'd want to do it yourself."
"Sweets, I'm kidding," Nic smirked, taking his hand so he could lead her to the conference room. "Let's go listen to the Boss Man and then get ready for tonight."
Jude shrugged. "I don't have to listen to the Boss Man; I'm sleeping with him so I have amnesty."
"Eww," Nic gagged. "I don't care to hear about you and my brother, thanks."
Once seated in the room with the rest of G-Major's high and mighty, Nic pulled out her Sidekick and began texting her longtime true friend, Arianna Lyle, who lived in the Montreal penthouse Nic had vacated months before. She didn't care about annual reports or sales or whatever Tommy was going to be talking about; she just had nothing better to do than hang around the studio all day.
"All right, Jude's got a showcase tonight at The Basement and I expect everyone to be there, doing their jobs," he began. "She's gonna preview some of the songs from her new album and we're looking for fan reaction. Jamie, you're on that. Kwest, you'll be working the boards because Sadie and I will be with the promotional team from New York about marketing the new stuff in the States. Nic, even though you aren't paying attention right now, if you're gonna be backstage tonight, you're gonna have to do some work."
She didn't look up but stopped texting. "Will this 'work' result in monetary gain?"
"No, you're not an employee," he reminded her.
"Then there's your answer," she shot back quickly, resuming her activity. "If I'm not being paid, I'm not doing anything."
"Then have fun watching from the audience," he told her sternly. "You just take up room in the back."
Nic's head shot up. "Is that a fat joke? I am pregnant with your nephew."
"I didn't mean it that way," he said quickly. "The Basement has a small holding area and if you're not working, there's no point for you to be back there."
"Tommy," she whined. "Please? Pregnant women don't work. In fact, I never work, pregnant or not."
Tommy sighed. "Fine, but just don't get in everyone's way. Dictating is not a job."
"Whatever," she murmured, zoning out once again.
"Nic," Jude whispered from her left. "Will you help me get ready tonight? Sadie has to be there at like, 6:15 to get ready, so she's going there straight from here."
"Yeah," Nic agreed. "You have to be there at 7:00, so I'll come over after this."
"Thanks," Jude said. "Usually, I would just dress myself, but I think that after everything happens tonight, he'll want to go out and celebrate and I can't be wearing jeans and a t-shirt paired with Chucks, you know?"
Nic smiled. "That's true."
"All right, that's it," Tommy announced. "Nic and Jude, thanks so much for listening to the end. I'm so glad I can hold your attention."
"Maybe you should make the meetings more interesting then," Nic suggested, filing out of the room. "Wear a hideous t-shirt or walk on the table."
"I'll keep that in mind," he mumbled, going to his office. "Vin, you come in here, now."
Spiederman glanced at Nic curiously and followed Tommy into what had once been Darius and Georgia's office. "What's up, Squinty?"
"If she doesn't like this ring, I'll kill you," Tommy threatened. "You helped pick it out cause Sadie was busy, so I trusted you."
"Dude, calm down," Spiederman advised. "I've known Dude since kindergarten and even though we weren't this close of friends until we were 16, I know her like the back of my hand, you know? It's perfect, small, and totally her."
Tommy unlocked the small safe in his desk and pulled out a white velvet box that contained the small, round-cut diamond ring. "You really think she'll like it?" he asked softly.
"I promise," Spiederman nodded. "And she'll say yes." Spiederman, like Tommy, had no idea Jude was proposing that night, as well. "It's in the bag, man."
Jude stared in her reflection in the floor-length mirror of her bedroom, impressed by what she saw. Nic had dressed her in a pair of wide-leg black pants, a plain white t-shirt, and white Vans with black stars. Her blonde hair was in it's usual blonde curls, her makeup was light and subtle, and yet, she was still just Jude.
"He's gonna love you," Nic said from her seat on Jude's bed. "I mean, he already does, but you look fab, all thanks to moi."
"Man, you and that ego," Jude scoffed. "And how is it you can look so chic and perfect and be five-months-pregnant?"
Nic glanced down at her own outfit- dark washed jeans, a black button-up shirt, and black Ugg boots- and shrugged. "I'm what many would consider a 'fashionista, so that's why, I guess."
"Whatever," Jude laughed. "Let's go or we'll be late and you'll get in trouble for it."
"Yeah, cause God forbid Tommy blame you for anything you actually do," Nic rolled her eyes. "Come on, you can drive."
The Basement was packed by the time Jude parked her Mustang in the back lot. She nervously tucked her keys into her bag and followed Nic inside, only to find everyone going crazy.
"Jude!" Sadie yelled. "You're late! You have an interview with Spin before you start and that's in 45 minutes." She grabbed Jude's arm and pulled her away.
"I know, I know, it's my fault she'd late," Nic recited to Tommy when she saw him walking at her with a purpose a minute later. "But you have to admit, your girl looks good."
Tommy smirked. "Nic, just go find Portia and stay out of the way."
"Yeah, yeah," she mumbled, walking off in search of his first ex-wife. "Has anyone seen my husband?" she called out as she walked.
"Dressing room four!" Kwest yelled out from somewhere unknown.
She pushed back the door and found Spiederman, Wally, and Kyle having a burping contest. When they'd first gotten married, this disgusted her slightly, but now, she was used to it. "Why do you continue with this little competition? Has anyone ever beat Wally? The guy's got a stomach like a disposal."
"Thank you," the bass played beamed. "And to answer your question, no, they still never beat me. Not really even close. Spied thinks burping the alphabet is worth something, but I can do the entire chorus of '24 Hours,' so I still won, always."
"Wow," she mused. "That is pretty impressive."
"Have you guys chosen a name yet?" Kyle wondered.
Spiederman scooted over on the couch to let his wife sit beside him. "We know the middle name will be 'Jack,' after her grandpa and my dad, but we're undecided on a first name. It has to be cool, but not crazy like most celebrities are doing these days."
"I refuse to name my child after a fruit, plant, or airplane," Nic put in. "Normal, but different."
"Well, I personally like Kyle," the drummer slyly suggested. "I mean, how many of those do you know?"
"One too many," Spiederman joked. "We're not naming our child after any of you guys."
"Bummer," Wally groaned. "Can I at least teach him to play bass?"
"Oh, he'll definitely play everything," Spiederman nodded. "Guitar, drums, piano, violin, cell, whatever."
Nic sighed loudly. "Oh, good, you three rolled into one. That's just what every mother wants."
"You're pumped," Kyle teased. "I mean, you're married to one of us, you're best friends with another, and the last one is a great tag-a-long." While Wally wasn't necessarily their tag-a-long, in the last five months since coming home from Hilton Head, Nic and Kyle had become incredibly close.
"Guys, Jude wants to do a warm-up in her room," Sadie said, sticking her head into their room. "Nic, if you'd be so kind, I could use some help in sweet-talking some French executives and I'm a little rusty in that language."
"Sure," Nic agreed. "I'll help when you ask; when Tommy demands, that's a big no-no."
20 minutes later, Jude prepared herself for the show. She'd decided with Tommy earlier that week that she was going to perform ten songs: two from each of her first four albums and then two from her not-yet-released fifth album. It was hard to believe she was just going on 21 and had already put out four multi-platinum albums and was getting ready to commit the rest of her life to the guy who'd had her heart since she started the long ride.
"Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Jude Harrison and the Spiederman Mind Explosion!" the club's owner, Joe, exclaimed as the girl and her faithful band took to the stage.
Nic watched from the wings with Sadie as her future sister-in-law rocked out, all the while looking fabulous. Her husband, though, in typical fashion, wore beat-up jeans, a New York Dolls t-shirt, and red Chuck Taylor high-tops, with Wally and Kyle in their own variations of that same outfit.
"They make a very cool-looking band," Portia decided. "The punk-chic lead singer with her alt-punk band. I mean, they do fine on their own, but it's just not the same when it's not all four of them."
"They'll be together until the end," Nic agreed. "That's the way it should be."
Jude considered it the best show of her life, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that she had so much adrenaline about proposing.
"Thanks, everyone!" she yelled when they finished. "It's been great and good night!"
She was ushered off the stage and into her dressing room, where Nic was waiting patiently.
"Do you think I can do this?" Jude asked nervously, running a hand through her hair. "This is big for me, for us. I mean, we don't even live together yet."
Nic eyed Jude. "Jude, I knew Spiederman for three weeks when I married him! You've known my brother for over five years, so trust me, you're ready."
Before Jude could say anything, there was a knock at the door and Kwest walked in. "Boss Man seems unhappy with the performance and he wants a quick meeting in dressing room three cause it's empty."
"Great," Jude muttered as she followed him out. "This should put a damper on things," she whispered to Nic.
Once in the room, Tommy made sure everyone was seated before he started his fake rant about the show's production. "It was slow and unprepared and Jude, you shouldn't have been late!"
"Can I say something?" she interrupted, standing up in front of him. "First of all, I thought the show was my best ever, thank you. And second, I need to ask if you'll marry me?"
"What?" he breathed, his heart rate speeding up.
"I fell in love with you when I was just 15-years-old and I couldn't give that up now if I tried," she explained. "When you left three years ago, I was a total wreck for most of that time, despite some kick-ass albums, and I fell apart. Then, when Spied and Nic got us back together, I was happy again and that was all on you. I was hesitant at first, but these last five, almost six, months have been the best of my life and I don't want that to ever stop, so I want to know if you'll marry me?"
Tommy shot Spiederman a panicked look. "Uhh, I wasn't planning on this."
Jude's face fell. "Oh, I see. Well, it was stupid and just a thought."
"No, no, no!" he cried, taking her hands in one of his, while pulling the velvet box from his pocket with the other. "It's just, I was planning to ask you to marry me tonight."
"Shut up!" Sadie squealed. "Oh, this is too perfect!"
"Can it, Sadie," Jude snapped. "Go on," she said to Tommy.
"You kinda said it all," he laughed, "but everything you said is true. When I left to help Nic out, I spent three years looking for something even remotely similar to what I had with you and I never found it. Megan was just a time-filler. I love you, Jude, and I always have." He opened the box, took out the ring, and slid it onto her appropriate finger. "So, I'm saying yes to you if you say yes to me."
"Yes," she nodded as tears began to fall. "Yes, yes, yes."
He smiled, wiped away the tears with his thumbs, and kissed her softly.
"Aww," everyone said in unison.
"Did everyone know about at least one proposal?" Kwest asked. "Cause I knew about Tommy."
"Me, too," Spiederman and Wally agreed.
"I knew at Jude's," Sadie admitted, getting a nod from Kyle.
Nic giggled mischievously. "I knew about both."
"And you kept it to yourself?" Spiederman realized. "Mrs. Spied, I am impressed."
"Thank you, thank you," she joked. "It's something I've been working on."
"I think you've finally mastered the art of secrecy," Jude complimented her while admiring her ring. "Well done."
"Please," Nic scoffed as everyone left the room. "I kept my shitty first marriage from the press for two years, Jude; I'm the Master of Secrets, just so long as I want to keep them."
"Well, come on, Master," Spiederman laughed, turning out the lights. "Let's get you home and to bed."
Tommy groaned. "Five months later and I'm still not used to the sexual innuendo between the two of them."
"What makes you think it's innuendo?" Jude smiled, following him to her Mustang, as he'd rode over with Sadie. "He literally makes her go to bed on doctor's orders before midnight."
"Hallelujah," Tommy praised. "Since when does Spiederman do anything he's told?"
Jude just grinned as she climbed into the passenger seat, allowing her fiancé to drive. "Since the doctor agreed to give him three notes to get out of work whenever he wants them."
"That boy will never grow up," Tommy muttered, pulling out the lot.
"Yeah, but who would want him to?" Jude put in. "Spiederman's just, well, Spiederman."