Sorry it took so long to post this! I was unavoidably distracted by an annoying little thing called life. I'll try to keep up more in the future, but I make no promises. I love ya'll and all of your support! Thank you!! ENJOY!!
- Chapter 35 -
Lunch went much better than Jude had expected, especially since she had expected having to defend her and Tommy's unplanned pregnancy to her father. Thankfully, everyone was much more accepting and supportive than she could've ever dreamt possible. Naturally, conversation began with light discussion and jokes about the pregnancy itself... Starting with jokes about overly hormonal Jude and the chance of her gaining a good sixty pounds or so instead of the recommended mere pound a week, especially if she took after her mother any. And considering Jude's bad eating habits, mostly consisting of junk food, it seem all the more possible. Jude didn't seem to find the prospect her becoming a "fat cow" or as big as a "Goodyear Blimp", as she put it, too appealing, or too funny for that matter, so the conversation soon changed to hopeful thoughts about the baby itself.
"So, what are you hoping for, a boy or a girl?"Jamie excitedly questioned the couple. Tommy looked over to Jude who had just stuffed her face with food, so he decided to answer for them both, after having a small laugh at her expense, of course. "Well, Jude's positive that it's a girl, while I on the other hand think it's a boy. But honestly, as long it's healthy and happy, it really doesn't matter to us." Tommy smiled lovingly at Jude as he finished his words to which she just nodded in agreement. "I know exactly whatcha' mean." Stuart started. "With these two, we didn't care what it was as long as it was human with the standard ten fingers and ten toes and everything else it's supposed to have. Although they both came with everything they were supposed to, I think the human part was still in question when I first saw them, you know, all covered in blood and everything. But once they were finally cleaned up, there was no doubt about it and I was hooked. Granted, having a boy would have been nice, but I wouldn't trade these two for anything... No matter how insane they drive me!" He chuckled as he took one of Jude and Sadie's hands into his. "These are my girls, and I will love them forever."
At her father's words Jude started to tear up. Tommy laughingly sighed. "And here we go again..." Jude just rolled her eyes at him. "Oh shut up!" She tried to hold back her laughter, but failed miserably. Tommy pulled her to him. "Aww come on. You know I love you... It's just that if you keep crying, you're doing to die of dehydration." He joked. "Hey, I wouldn't push my luck if I were you. You should just be thankful that this is the worst "symptom" you've had to deal with so far." She replied very matter of factly. "Okay, so you have a point. Just do me a favor and take in more liquids, so you don't cry yourself dry." He answered with a smile. Once again she rolled her eyes as she mumbled her response. "Whatever..."
"Wait, so the raging hormones is the worst of it? I was sure you'd have terrible morning sickness or something?! I heard all kinds of horror stories from Mom." Sadie questioned in amazement. "Nope, no horrible puking on my part... Which is a fact I'm sure Tommy is more than ecstatic over, he never was any good with that kind of thing." Jude teased. "Can I help it if the sight of someone vomiting makes me do the same?! It's not like I want to." "Okay, okay... I'm sorry..." Jude started but Tommy cut in before she could finish. "Thank you..." He quickly blurted before sticking his tongue out at her and laughing at himself and his childishness, just realizing how much she was really rubbing off on him. "Anyways..." She began again, once again rolling her eyes, but trying to hide the smile quickly forming on her lips as she also realized the same thing about how much of an impact she really had on him.
"As I was saying, thankfully no morning sickness. Although we probably would have found out about this little girl..." Tommy gave her a look, so she corrected her statement quickly. "...or guy..." He smiled in satisfaction while she just shook her head and continued on. "...a lot sooner if there had been some other indication besides my eventual fainting spell. I mean, if I hadn't passed out at G-Major, we might not have figured it out until my belly started to get huge." The whole table shared a laugh at that, but Kwest looked a little confused. "But wait, wasn't there some other indication? Like the lack of a... ummm... monthly visitor?" Kwest asked nervously and cleared his throat soon after the words came out of this mouth, trying to hide his embarrassment. "I think what my wuss of a fiancee was trying to ask was, if you're around three months pregnant, shouldn't you have realized long before now that you hadn't had your period for a while? I mean, it's not rocket science." Sadie asked joking.
Jamie, who had up to this point been discussing the "current state of the music industry" with Stuart, caught the tail end of Sadie's question and spit his soda across the table, narrowly missing the rest of the table's occupants. "Men!" Sadie spat with a giggle. "Now come on, answer the question. How could you not notice?" Jude, who looked a little flustered, cleared her throat roughly before answering. "Well, Sadie, if you must know... I was a little preoccupied." She gave Sadie a death glare, hinting for her to back off. But her request was futile, as Sadie only pushed it further. "Preoccupied? Come on, Jude, you can do better than that." "What? It's the truth... With the show in Las Vegas, Darius pushing for my third album, playing referee between Tommy and Spied all the time, and then add on top of that being a newlywed, moving into Tommy's place AND house hunting, when would I have time to notice? I mean, I never even had time to unpack my stuff at Tommy's, so I never even saw my calendar for the reminder. Besides, aren't you the one who's always saying I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached?!" Jude asked seriously, hoping that Sadie would give up on this. "She's not the only one!" Jamie muttered under his breath, but still loud enough for everyone to hear. Jude just gaped at him in shock. "I thought you were supposed to be on my side?!" She griped.
"Come on, Jude. You and I both know the real reason is that when you and Tommy were at "home", you rarely left the bedroom long enough for you to notice. Hell, that alone should've aroused your suspicions, instead of just your libido." Everyone at the table just stared at Sadie with their mouths' wide open, gaping in shock at her very candid accusation. "What?! It's the truth... I know you were all thinking the same thing, I'm just the only one brave enough to say it." Sadie stated very matter of factly. "Sadie... That is..." Jude began, desperately searching for the right words. "...so not the point. We didn't find out till last week, let's just leave it at that. Okay?!" Sadie huffed in annoyance before sighing in defeat. "Fine..." Jude, and to be honest Tommy and everyone else at the table, was thankful that she was finally willing to let it go so easily, not a common trait of a Harrison.
"Girls, I just want to say this now to avoid any further... umm... awkward conversations. I love you both, and while I do realize that you are both grown ups and that you are either now or soon will be married and starting your own families. All of which will include some very grown-up matters, such as sex... I really don't need to hear about it. Let's just let it all end with the "birds and the bees talk" you each had when you were eleven and leave it at that? Because as a father, I REALLY don't need to hear about your sex lives, no matter how open, liberal and free-spirited your mother and I raised you. Just like should I ever get another girlfriend, I will not share any information regarding the same with either of you. Deal?!" Stuart quickly proposed. So quickly in fact, that Tommy now knew where Jude got the speed-rambling that she did when she was really nervous from.
The whole table sat in silent shock for a moment before Jude broke it with her laughter. "Okay, you have a deal. As if walking in on you and Yvette wasn't bad enough, but having to ever hear about too? I don't think I could handle that. Gheeze, it took forever to get rid of that creepy mental image." At hearing this, everyone else broke out in laughter too. Sadie eventually got her own version of an agreement and apology out between giggles.
"Okay, now that that's settled, can we change the subject please?!" Stuart joking asked once everyone had finally calmed down. "Well, since I'm partially to blame for the last awkward and extremely uncomfortable conversation topic, I guess I'll start off a new one to make up for it." Kwest began before taking a sip of his drink and then continuing. "Well you two, even though you're still fighting over the sex.. Oh, sorry Stuart." Kwest winked, and everyone busted out in laughter again as he went on. "...I mean gender, of the baby. Have you thought about any names yet? I would personally recommend Kevin or Kwest Jr. but they're being saved for our first one." He asked thoughtfully as he pulled Sadie to his side. "That's what you think..." She softly mumbled, not loud enough for him to hear, but oddly enough Jude, who was sitting across the table from her, did. "What was that, baby?" He asked. "What? I didn't say anything?" Sadie sweetly replied. Jude couldn't help but giggle at the two while leaning her head on Tommy's shoulder.
"Kwest, don't you think it's a little soon to be thinking of names? I mean they only found out last week. Shouldn't you at least wait until you find out the se.. umm.. I mean, if the baby's a boy or girl first?" Jamie asked. "Ha-ha... Real funny guys." Stuart chimed in. Jude decided to ignore her father's remark, but did flash him a smile to let him know that she thought it was funny too, before she answered her best friend's question. "Well actually... We've pretty much already decided on the names." She shyly spoke. "What? Already?" Jamie asked. Jude just nodded in the affirmative in response. "Wait, so I don't get a say in this?" Sadie whined with a pout. Jude smiled as that was so typically Sadie. "No Sadie, while we do appreciate your opinion, sadly you don't. Ultimately, it's our decision." Sadie tried to cut in. "But...?!" "No, Sades. No buts. When you and Kwest have a baby you'll get to name it whatever you two agree upon, but this one is ours. Okay?" "O-kaaay..." Sadie continued to pout.
"Man, Sadie, instead of pouting, I figured you would have at least asked what names we finally decided on." Jude joked as everyone got up to head into the living room as they all, including Jude, were done eating. "So, what names did you two decide on? Hopefully nothing weird like most celebrities do. I mean really, who names their child "Apple"?!" Stuart semi-ranted. "Jude cut him off before he got to deep into his rant. "Dad! Relax... We're not psycho, remember? Aside from his boybander days and well, for loving me, Tommy hasn't given anyone much reason to question his sanity." She joked, earning a glare from Tommy before his gaze eventually softened, returning her amused smile and pecking her cheek to let her know he wasn't mad at the low-blow about his past. Actually, before he met her he really was ashamed of his "dorky past", no matter how much fame it had given him, he didn't like the man it had made him. But Jude was the one who helped him come to terms with it and realize that without it, he never would have gotten the chance to produce, and in the end, he never would've met her. That sure changed his tune. While he was still embarrassed over the cheesy, corporate-crap, he was once forced to sing, he was now thankful for the opportunity and all that it gave him, namely her, and now his son or daughter currently on the way.
"On second thought, if you had been there it, you would have thought he was a little nuts. If it's a boy, he wanted to name it Elvis." Jude joked. "Elvis?! Are you serious?!" Sadie laughed. "Yeah, and you thought Dad was bad about "The Beatles"!" "Hey!" Both Tommy and Stuart objected at the same time before busting out into laughter again. "Yeah, I finally talked him out of it though. The rest of his ideas weren't that bad though. Right baby?" She softly asked as she looked upward at him as they continued to walk into the living room with his arm wrapped around her. "Right. And if I remember correctly, you seemed to even like some of them." He teased. "Actually..." Jude slowly began. "...after a lot of discussion, the names we finally decided on were chosen by both of us. One of them he came up with, and the other was my idea... Well, it was more of a compromise for his "Elvis" idea, but still I thought of it." She stated rather smugly. "Stop stalling and tell us already, will ya?! What did you two choose?" Sadie excitedly asked. "Okay, calm down Sades... Well, we thought that it will be Haley for a girl, or Jesse for a boy." Jude answered proudly as she leaned against her husband on the couch.
"Let me guess. Jude, you chose Jesse?" Sadie asked knowingly. "Yeah, she did. How did you guess?" A confused Tommy questioned. "Isn't it obvious? Jude said her's was a compromise for your Elvis request. So, instead if Elvis Aaron, you got his brother, Jesse Garon." Jamie answered. "Exactly!" Sadie exclaimed. "Am I right?" Jamie asked . "Yes, my boy James, you are correct." Jude smugly replied. "See, I told you it's common knowledge. He tries to question my music knowledge all the time and he didn't even know that widely known fact." She teased before leaning up to kiss him softly on the lips, but not before he grumbled a gruff reply. "It is not..." Everyone laughed, everyone but Tommy that is. "Anyways... We only have first names picked out though, we're still debating middle names. But we still have time before HE or she gets here." Tommy quickly spoke up, hoping to distract everyone so they would stop laughing.
"You two could always name it Lucy, if it's a girl I mean." Stuart suggested. Jude didn't answer, but instead chose to just smile reassuringly at her father. "OR if you don't like that one, there lots more to chose from. I mean, the Beatles did have a lot of songs with names them." He added. While she and Tommy wanted to spare his feelings, Jude didn't want to get her dad's hopes up for nothing. "Dad, we appreciate your help, really. But I really think that tradition should start and end with me and Sadie. No hard feelings though?" "But I thought you always liked the idea?" He asked a little confused. "Well, yeah, it was fine for us but..." She was about to continue, but Tommy cut her off so she wouldn't be the one to upset him. "But it's like Jude suggested to me earlier. The way she put it was that this kid will be no cover or copy, but instead a... How did you put it? Oh, yeah. It'll be a "Jude and Tommy original." You know, like with her music... Of course, her covers were okay. But her best songs were ones that we collaborated on, that we created together. You know, like a team effort."
"It's okay, I get it. Besides, I guess it was sort of a dorky idea anyway." Stuart shrugged. "No, Dad, it wasn't." She started as she moved towards him. "It worked for Sadie and me, but Tommy and I just wanted to go a different way is all. Besides, you were talking to the man who wanted to name his son Elvis." They both laughed at that. No more words were needed as they held each other in a tight embrace. Their moment was soon interrupted by Jamie though. "Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think it's time we get back to G-Major. Darius may be in a good mood because of the baby news, but not that good of a mood." "Yeah, you're probably right." Kwest agreed.
They all got up to leave, but as Jude was putting on her jacket, a thought suddenly hit her."Oh yeah, by the way, before I forget, we wanted to invite you all over to the house in a few weeks for a big house warming party. What do ya think?" Jude asked very nonchalantly, but braced herself for the squeal she knew was coming. "Wait a minute, house?! You guys bought a house?!" Sadie squealed, just as Jude knew she would. "Yeup, it's not final yet though. The closing is supposed to be in a couple of weeks, and we'll get moved in right after that. We'd love for you all to come by and see the place." Tommy happily stated. "But..." Jude interjected. "...Not until we have it all set up, that is. I don't want you all doubting my skills as a wife. We're almost all packed up at home and I've already started picking out furniture."
"You're kidding right?! You have to let me help... If nothing else, I could just give you a few pointers in case you get stuck on a particular room. Oh please, just let me decorate a guest room, at least. I didn't get to help plan your wedding, you owe me..." Sadie tried to continue, but Jude's fingers being pressed to her lips stopped her rambling. "Okay, Sades, relax... I didn't realize it meant so much to you. You can help me out. Besides, the place is so huge, I'll probably need all the help I can get, come to think of it. I mean, five bedrooms, a playroom for the baby, a living room, a separate den, a formal dinning room and an eat-in kitchen, I may have jumped in a little over my head." She giggled as she continued. "But promise me, nothing too flashy. This place is going to reflect us, not the Ritz, okay?" Jude offered. "Deal! So, when do I get to see it?" Sadie squealed again, this time pulling Jude into another tight hug. "Easy girl... I'll bring you by this weekend. Now let me go." Jude laughed, mostly at the elated look on her sister's face, but also because all of this foolishness over a silly house.
Everyone proceeded to say their goodbyes to Stuart and congratulated Jude and Tommy once more on the baby and the house, as the rest of them were all heading back to G-Major and back to work, more than likely not expecting a chance to talk later that day. Truth be told, Kwest had a new artist waiting for him, Jamie had a stack of contracts to look over before passing them along for Darius' approval, and Sadie and Portia were supposed to pick out dresses for an upcoming awards show. Obviously, their absence would be noticed. As for Jude and Tommy, they were going to head back to the studio to work on Jude's song a little more. No matter how good an artist is, no one can nail it on the first take, not even the famous Jude Harrison-Quincy.
Just after they got situated in the Viper, Tommy reared it to life and they were off. "So, you finally admitted that it's a boy, I see." He chuckled as they headed back towards G-major. "What are you talking about? I did no such thing." She replied as she looked over at him. His trademark smirk let her know that he had something up his sleeve. "Oh yes you did. You said, and I quote, "you were talking to the man who wanted to name his son Elvis", not the man who wanted to name his child Elvis, should it be a boy. So ha! You finally admitted it." He chuckled at his own sel-proclaimed cleverness while she rolled her eyes again. "You're going to be impossible to live with until we find, aren't you?" She mused. "Maybe... Maybe not. I just want you to acknowledge the possibility." "Okay, on one condition." "Shoot." He answered quickly. "Okay, well I'll admit that there's a chance that it's a boy, IF you acknowledge the possibility that it isn't." She proposed. "Alright, you have a deal." He accepted. "Well, okay then." She smiled and settled back into her seat.
"Hey, babe?" Tommy asked after a few minutes of silence. "Yeah?" She answered as she turned her head to look back at him again. "You know how you were thinking about making it up to Darius and everyone?" "Yeah?" She asked, confused as to where this was going. "Well, since we never really got to talk about it after we came back home from the States, what would you think about me taking Darius up on his offer and singing again?" He tentatively asked. "You serious?" She questioned as in the past he never showed much interest in returning to the stage, just helping out behind the scenes. "Well, yeah. I mean not a full return like Darius wanted, and definitely no touring, not now at least. But maybe put out a few songs, get my name back out there. If nothing else, we could just do a few more duets. You know how much I love performing with you." He softly continued, not trying to get his hopes up just in case she said no.
"Well, ultimately it's up to you. No matter what you decide, I'll support you one thousand percent." She spoke truthfully. "Well, I know that. I mean, I know that no matter what you'd have my back, and I appreciate that. But that's not what I asked. What do you think about it?" He asked again. "Well... If it's what you really want... Then I'd say go for it. It could be fun, you know... Sharing a stage and a studio, and I don't just mean the mixing board." She answered him with a smile. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'm really glad you think so too, I was hoping you would. You know, I won't do it if you don't want me to." He honestly told her. "Baby, believe me, I know. But I just want you to be happy. And what kind of wife would I be if I stopped you from living your dream. Even if lately you've been happier backstage that out front in the spotlight, I know you still have all of those "what-ifs" about a solo-career. But you don't have to worry, I'm happy just as long as you are." Jude reassured before leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.
"Thanks. Really. You really are something special, you know that?" He asked as he pulled her hand to his lips, softly kissing her palm. "Yeah, I know... I rock." She giggled as he just smiled back at her. "Now let's hurry up and get back to the studio so we can finish up my song and then head on home. I think I've had enough excitement, and drama, for one day." She spoked through a yawn. He stifled a laugh, and answered her sweetly. "Whatever you want, Girl. Whatever you want." They both smiled and continued on their way back to work.