Okay, truth is I've been kind of scared to post this chapter. I wrote it (ahead of everything else) back when my laptop wasn't working (handwriting. Ouch). Ever since then I've just about been having nightmares of scary Jommy fans murdering me in my sleep.

Please don't.

And please don't hate the characters either. They're my babies.

Also, just a little whining/pleading: Please comment and please leave a comment a little longer then one sentence. I spent about an hour on this chapter and would really appreciate if you could spend a few minutes commenting on it. Thanks:-)

Chapter 29: Rejection

Jude stood in front of her full length mirror, gazing at her reflection. She turned from side to side slowly, eyeing her new curves and prominent baby bump. She looked down to her feet and then followed her form up to her face. Somehow that had changed too. Her eyes weren't so wide and innocent; they were older and knowing. Her face had changed too. She no longer looked panicked and alarmingly thin. Time had filled the gaps both physically and emotionally.

She was stronger and it showed.

She was dressed in an elegant blue dress with thin straps and a high neckline. The skirt fell to just below her knees and spun about her as she moved. The swell of her stomach was visible now and impossible to hide but attractive in its minimal nature.

She leaned toward the mirror as she held a silver earring into her ear. She slowly placed the hook through the small hole then glanced to the door as it slowly opened.

"You decent?" Tommy's voice asked before he pushed the door open entirely.

"Depends on your definition of the word," she joked.

Smiling, he pushed the door open the rest of the way and watched as she slipped on the other earring and smiled at him. He was dressed in a black suit with a blue tie to match her dress. The momentary thought flittered through her mind that he looked so handsome and it concerned her because it wasn't just a physical beauty that she saw but a physical attraction that maybe… she felt for him. She barely let the thought register before pushing it aside with the group of thoughts she couldn't deal with at this moment in time; the complications and heartbreakers.

He subtly looked her over then nodded approvingly, "Decent, gorgeous, breathtaking, absolutely."

She stopped what she'd been doing and gaped at him momentarily, "Going all out huh? Well you know what they say about flattery…"

He raised an eyebrow, "It'll get you everywhere?"

She leaned up and placed a light kiss on his cheek, "It'll get you that."

He nodded and glanced at the door, "That'll do."

"You ready to go?" She asked as she grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. He picked up a small silver purse from the table by the door and handed it to her.

"Of course. I was just waiting for you as usual."

She slapped him on the arm playfully as they walked out of her room then out of the apartment. "What could be more fulfilling in this life then waiting for me?"

He pretended to think as the waited for the elevator, "Let me see. How about… everything."

She stuck her tongue out at him, feeling a momentary dash of childishness and the pang of nostalgia to accompany it. She had put her childish ways behind her for good.

For a moment it seemed as if he were reaching over to ruffle her hair. The hair she had spent half an hour perfectly styling. He seemed to realize at the same time she shot him a deadly look. "Touch it and die."

He raised his hand in surrender, "Gotcha."

---

"Wow," Jude breathed as she strolled through the front doors of G-Major, "Are we at the right place or did we just step into an alternate dimension G-Major."

The room had been meticulously decorate for the night to appear as an elegant thirties themed ball room. Red velvet curtains hid the walls and all desks and sofas had been removed from the interior. Jude had never seen the room look so big. She smiled and waved at Sadie who was at the second floor railing with Kwest; chatting to a balding man Jude believed to be the Mayor.

Jude tucked her arm around Tommy's and leaned close to him, "…and I'm here with the most handsome guy in the room," she smiled and turned to wave to a familiar face. Tommy stared at her, momentarily dazed before Darius approaching figure brought him back to earth.

"Quincy," Darius nodded, he turned to Jude and frowned, "and the pregnant girl," his greeting was dripping with disdain to match the frown on his features. In that moment his face reminded Jude of an old TV set, flickering with the occasional burst of static and even occasionally getting stuck between two channels so that the view would change from one image to another; Darius was frowning, he was smiling, and he was frowning again.

Jude wasn't in the mood to be brought down and she was incapable of buying Darius' ogre impression anyway. "Now don't be like that Uncle Darius, you're just as excited to meet your new niece as the rest of us."

"Niece huh?" Darius smiled.

Jude nodded, glancing over at Tommy to include him in her happy declaration. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to his side in a hug. "Yup, it's a girl." Jude declared.

"Thought of any names yet?" Darius asked. Before she could answer he continued, "You know Laticia is a great name for a girl."

Tommy rolled his eyes and smiled, "And also your mothers…"

"Hey, my mother was an amazing woman. She raised my sisters and me completely on her own and now look where we are." Darius glared at Tommy and Jude could tell that this was a little less ogre impression and a little more ogre reality. He just wasn't willing to cut Tommy a break.

"It's a beautiful name," Jude leaned forward a little in an attempt to break Darius glare from Tommy. "I haven't really thought about names yet. I hope when we get closer to the fact the perfect one will come to me."

"I'm sure it will." He noticed a man waving to him from the other side of the room. "Well I'm off to get you a distribution deal for New Zealand," he said as he gave her a quick hug then crossed the room.

"So much for non-profit charity event," Tommy remarked as he watched him depart.

"He takes his opportunities wherever he can get them," Jude laughed.

---

Tommy had been roped into Jude's new distribution deal and he shot her a pained expression behind the back of Darius and his new business partner as she sat by the refreshment table. She smiled sympathetically and shrugged her shoulders. He frowned, sticking his bottom lip out slightly like a sulking child before turning his attention back to the conversation. Jude laughed.

"So how's things baby sister?" Sadie appeared at Jude's side and sat down. She reached over to run her hand over Jude's stomach briefly, "And how's baby?"

"Both fine," Jude smiled, "Tommy's suffering terribly though," she motioned to him across the room.

Sadie waved a hand in his direction dismissively, "He's a guy, and chances are he deserves it."

Jude shook her head, "Most guys; sure, but not Tommy."

Sadie gave her a critical once over. She reached over and put a loose strand of hair back in place then smiled approvingly. "The dress looks fantastic by the way," she remarked as she sat back.

"Thanks. How's Kwest?"

Sadie glanced over at Kwest who was chatting with Jude's backing band on the other side of the room. "Absolutely perfect," she remarked.

Jude's eyes widened, "The words perfect and absolutely and related to a guy. I never thought I'd heard the words from Sadie Louise Harrison. Careful girl, you're turning into a girl."

Sadie giggled adorably and took a sip of her punch. "You and Tommy should dance," she remarked.

Jude shook her head, "That's an embarrassment I just don't need."

Tommy glanced over at Jude again and Sadie caught it. "Look at that, he's just dying to dance with you."

"He's just dying to get out of that conversation."

Sadie patted her on the head as she stood to her feet, "Whatever you say baby sister, whatever you say."

---

Jude paced in front of the refreshment table. Smiling she shook her head as one of the waiters offered her a glass of sparkling grape juice. She glanced over at Tommy furtively. He was still stuck in the impromptu business meeting.

As she walked the shiny fabric of her dress made crinkling noises and swirled around her ankles delightfully. She twisted to the side a little, feeling a rush through her veins as one of her favorite songs filled the room. She glanced over at Tommy again, deliberating.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Sadie motioning to Tommy insistently, "Go," she mouthed, making a shooing motion with her hands, "You wimp. Go!"

Kwest noticed her motions and chuckled to himself as he took her hand and led her out to the dance floor. Jude was instantly forgotten as Sadie gazed adoringly at her handsome partner and spun around happily to the fast song playing.

Jude paced and chewed on her lip nervously as another few minutes passed. Finally she strode across the room to Tommy, Darius and their new friend. She smiled charmingly at the man.

"Hi, Jude Harrison," she extended her hand and he shook it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Darius and I were just discussing you possibly touring New Zealand sometime in the near future."

She nodded, "Oh, I'd love to. I hear it's beautiful." She put a hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Do you think I could borrow him for a few minutes?"

Darius was frowning but the man didn't seem to mind at all. He nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely."

"I thought you didn't dance." Tommy remarked as she led him to the dance floor.

"I know. I'll just embarrass myself," she shrugged, "Whatever right?" The song came to an end and a slow one filled its place. The lights dimmed slightly as couples began to slowly sway to the music. "Oh crap," she remarked, putting a hand to her head. At least with a fast song people weren't likely to notice her abysmal rhythmical failure.

Tommy just smiled as he reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Just follow my lead," he said softly.

---

The dance floor was dimly lit, providing an intimate setting for the couples that slowly swayed to the soft jazz music filling the room. Fairy lights dotted the ceiling above them and reflected in Jude's hair, catching golden strands and causing them to sparkle in the darkness. Tommy found his breath catching in his throat as he held her close to him, the dance – their second of the night - the perfect excuse.

Jude looked gorgeous; her dress, the lights, everything working together perfectly to bring out her natural beauty. Tommy certainly couldn't find fault in anything about her appearance tonight, but then he generally had that problem all the time. Even those days when her morning sickness was at its worse and she'd spend hours attached to the toilet bowl.

"You're a million miles away," Jude remarked softly as she gazed up at him, a soft inquisitive smile on her face.

"Just thinking," he shrugged as if further details were tiresome and unnecessary.

Sensing his lack of enthusiasm to divulge further information and correctly guessing it wasn't something he was willing to share, Jude remained silent. Resting the side of her face against his chest she watched across the dance floor as Kwest and Sadie, who had left the dance floor at the close of their first song, once again entered it. They awkwardly stepped into each other's arms; the closest embrace they'd shared. Over Kwest's shoulder Sadie smiled at Jude.

A few moments later, still bothered by the silence, Jude gazed up at Tommy once again. "Tell me something," she demanded in a voice that was both sweet and pleading and impossible to deny.

His eyes met hers as he shrugged, "Like what?"

She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes dancing as she whispered, "A secret."

He chuckled, "Sounds dangerous."

She shook her head, smiling coyly, "It doesn't have to be."

Releasing his hand from her waist momentarily, he ran it through his hair, tugging on the ends almost imperceptibly as if urging his mind to reconsider its plans, "But it probably will be," he answered softly.

She was silent as she gazed up at him, patiently waiting for his eyes to stop dancing about the room and once again land upon her. When he didn't comply with her silent wishes, patience ran out and she nudged his chest with her index finger, urging him forward.

"Pushy," he remarked with a chuckle as he pulled her hand away and kept it enclosed in his. He pulled her a little closer to him and lowered his face to the side of her face, level with her ear, subtly he nuzzled her hair. Breathing in briefly he whispered, "I love the smell of you," as he pulled back.

Blushing slightly she tilted her head, "Is that your secret?"

He sighed a little, "No."

Silence fell upon them again as he finally summoned up the nerve to speak. "You said once that I used to be so cold to you and I regret that now but there was a reason." His eyes were fixed on some spot over her shoulder as he spoke. "From the moment I met you… you were like a magnet. I could feel myself drawn to you and that was dangerous." He looked back at her as he shrugged once again. "It's never really gone away."

"My secret," he paused as he lowered his head until his face was level with hers, "Is that I don't trust myself around you – I never have."

It came out as a breathless whisper and silently she gazed at him as the meaning of his confession and the words behind the words came into focus. She felt a soft panic rise inside of her as reality, possibility and consequences sparkled around her, brighter then the fairy lights and blinding in their intensity. She took a step back.

"I-" she closed her mouth, unable to find the right words to express the jumble of emotions running through her; fear, elation, bewilderment, confusion, curiosity, frustration? The warning bells ringing in her head drowned everything else out.

This could get messy.
This could cause problems.
This could be amazing.
She could get hurt.
He could get hurt.
She wasn't ready.
She needed him too much.
The risk was too big.
Failure could decimate all they had built.
It was too much.

She couldn't do it.

With a strangled gasp she tore herself from his arms and ran off the dance floor and out of the crowded room.

---

Not the type to let someone walk away after a big admission, Tommy quickly strode after Jude's fleeing form. The dance floor parted silently as she strode past but he was barely offered a glance - the crowd was too wrapped up in their own thoughts and problems. No one would have guessed the impact of what was playing out.

His mind was numb as he maneuvered through the couples, unsure of what exactly had just played out between him and Jude. Was she simply overwhelmed? Was the timing wrong? Was she not interested? Had he just been rejected? Had he just gone and screwed everything up?

He strode past a refreshment table and his elbow caught and tipped a wine glass that had been perched precariously on the edge. The glass shattered on the hard floor, spilling sparkling fragments of glass and blood red wine everywhere. He ignored the curious glances from the small group of nearby people who had actually witnessed it. For the most part the room was still oblivious to him.

With neither the time nor patience he snapped his fingers to a waiter and motioned to the glass before slipping through the big glass doors and out heading down the dark hallway toward the studios. He'd caught a faint glimmer of Jude's golden hair running into Studio B.

He pushed the door open quickly, not pausing to knock or reconsider his actions. Pausing in the doorframe he saw her leaning against the soundboard, inhaling deeply, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

"What was that?" Before he spoke the only sound had been the distant hum of the party. When he stepped into the studio and the door closed behind him, the sound was cut out completely by the soundproof walls.

She sighed as she pushed away from the soundboard and turned to face him. She wasn't looking at him though; her eyes were on the floor, the wall, the door, the ceiling, anything but him. "I don't know," she whispered.

He ran a hand through his hair and gritted his teeth as he turned away from her momentarily. This wasn't going well at all…

He heard a motion behind him and turned to see her walking toward him. Again she wasn't looking at him and he felt his heart drop as she attempted to slip past him and get to the door. His hand reached out and caught her wrist, gently but firmly holding her back. "Are you really that indifferent to me?" He asked softly.

His question caught her off guard as she raised her eyes to search his face. She thought she knew the answer; a simple and easy: 'yes' but if that were true then why had her heart rate quickened slightly when he touched her, why was her skin burning beneath his fingertips? She glanced away, angry at herself for her unexpected confusion.

"I guess so," He whispered, taking her silence as confirmation. His fingers slowly fell from her arm, grazing the back of her hand as they slipped past.

She felt cold suddenly, at the absence of his touch and as he took a few steps back – the absence of his presence so close to her. He turned away and taking her cue; she departed.

Teasers for Chapter 30

"Tommy?" she knocked again. "Tommy, please talk to me? I need to explain." She leaned her forehead against the cold, white door and exhaled slowly. "I'm sorry," she whispered, probably too softly for him to hear.

---

"What are you doing?" He asked tersely, the first words he'd spoken to her since their disastrous anti conversation in the studio the night before.