A happy family

Tommy stood there, not knowing what to say or do. He felt about to faint...obviously, it has been a big shock for him. Danielle called Jude "mom". That means that Danielle and Gabrielle are Jude's... that they're the baby he left ten years ago. He stood at the door frame, trying to be unnoticed.

"Two months until the big day" a reporter said with a big smile, trying to get even closer to Jude and Speed "tell me, why you waited that long to marry the mother of your lovely children?" she gave the girls a warm look.

"Well, I always wanted to marry her...but Jude wasn't that easy to convince"

Speed looked at Jude smiling. Jude smiled back and cleared her throat.

"Actually, we wanted to make sure that we were ready for a long term relation ship" she started, looking directly at Speed's eyes "Vincent in the best man in the world as a father, and I'm sure he'll be the best husband too"

There was a loud "awww" coming from everybody.

"Gabrielle and Danielle, cute names by the way, what do you have to say about this?" another reported asked the girls.

Gabrielle smiled, as always, and Danielle rolled her eyes. Both girls looked at Speed and then at Jude

"Well...I think it's great. It's just a paper, but that means a lot for Jude. Besides we'll be able to demand dad if he doesn't come back from tour. Conjugal desertion is how they call it, isn't it?"

Everybody laughed at that and Speed tickled Gabrielle.

"And what about you, Gabrielle?" the same reported asked now to Danielle, who was holding Jude's hand.

"I'm not Gabrielle, I'm Danielle...and I think it's great too. Mom deserves to be happy and so much the better if it's with dad"

All the reporters started to make questions at the same time, creating a big din. Jude looked at the confused faces the girl had and decided to put an end to the situation

"We're glad you came here to talk about our marriage, but now I have a lot of things to do and Vincent has to get some sleep in his own bed after all these weeks. So, if you don't mind..." Jude pointed at the door politely, with a big smile on her face.

The photographers took a few pictures and then left. They didn't even complain. Jude turned around to face Speed and her daughters. Now they were alone, of course she didn't notice Tommy's presence.

"So, finally alone..." Jude said, still smiling "Gotta hate reporters sometimes"

Speed got closer and kissed her softly on the lips.

"Get a room" Danielle said, smiling at her parents. They pulled away and rolled their eyes. Speed took Jude's hand and kissed it. Then he walked towards Danielle.

"And how are my girls doing?" he said, taking Danielle in his arms, so now both girls were face to face. Speed looked at them and put them down on the floor again "I missed you this much" he admitted, opening his arms wide. Then he looked at them and smiled "Gosh, you look more and more alike every time I see you"

"Dad, we're twins. Of course we are alike" Danielle said, but not with her typical sarcastic tone. She was smiling warmly at Speed. That surprised Tommy even more, if it was possible.

"I know...but, you're identical!" Speed replied, still shocked. Then he smiled and kissed them both on the forehead "just as beautiful as your mom"

"Oh Speed, you're going to make me blush" Jude said and smiled at him. Speed walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her. Jude smiled at him.

"What if we go for dinner to celebrate?" Speed proposed as he ran his finger through Jude's hair.

"But Speed, it's 6 pm!" Gabrielle yelled.

"And you're getting ice-cream, even if you have been told not to eat sugar"

Gabrielle looked at the ice-cream cone he was holding and tried to hide it, but it was too late.

"I haven't been told! ...Gabrielle has!"

"But I thought you were Gabrielle" Speed thought for a moment and looked at her suspiciously. "Wait a second. Come here"

Gabriella walked towards him trying to hold her laughter. Speed kissed her cheek and Gabrielle giggled

"You're Gabrielle...big liar!" Speed lifted her up in the air and tickled her. Gabrielle laughed hysterically.

"Ok...I admit it. I'm Gabrielle...but it wasn't my fault, actually it was To..." she started but then looked at Danielle, who gave her a meaningful look and cleared his throat

"It was totally my fault. I wanted to get some ice-cream..." Danielle said, trying to cover her sister's mistake

"Oh, it doesn't matter...I will protect you from your mother's anger!" he said walking towards Danielle and wrapping his arms around her. Danielle burst into laughs. Speed turned his head towards Jude.

"Now go grab your purse because we have reasons to celebrate!"

"Dinner, dinner!" the girls screamed at the same time, jumping up and down. Jude looked at the girls and then at Speed

"Sorry girls, but I've got a lot of work to do" she said sadly as she caressed her girls' cheeks.

Speed nodded and walked towards her

"Ok. I'm going to take the girls out then" Speed said, wrapping his arms around Jude again "you look worried Jude, is there something wrong?"

Jude looked at the girls and then at Speed.

"We need to talk...I've got news. Not very good news" Jude whispered

Speed nodded again and pulled away from Jude

"Ok...so, who wants some French fries?!!" Speed half screamed at the girls excitedly.

"Me!!" the girls screamed back as they fling into his arms.

"Ok...say bye to mom!" Speed ordered to the girls.

They waved to her mom as Speed walked away with them. Tommy had enough time to react and moved away from the door on time. Only Gabrielle saw him and waved at him, smiling. He couldn't wave back to her; actually he didn't know how to react to that. Her daughter was waving at him...and she was in another guy's arms...calling him dad. He stepped into D-major and sat on the couch, in state of shock. Gabrielle and Danielle were his and he didn't know it. How could he be so stupid? They were just like Jude!. Gabrielle had that amazing smile and that transparent look he had just seen before in Jude. And Danielle had her attitude...the same attitude that made him fall for her ten years ago. Suddenly he felt someone staring at him. He looked up and saw Kwest, standing in front of him

"What's wrong man? You look sick" Kwest asked, but Tommy didn't respond. He stood there, looking at the ceiling and sighing.

"Tommy?" Kwest said trying to get his attention. Tommy looked away from the ceiling to him

"I'm a mess, Kwest...like you said this morning" Tommy said after a while, with a very sad expression.

"What happened?" Kwest asked, but he had a bad feeling about what Tommy was going to say.

"I found out about Danielle and Gabrielle"

There was an uncomfortable silence

"And what are you gonna do now?" Kwest asked, this time really intrigued "Did you talk to Jude about this? Did you tell her that you want to know your kids?"

"I don't see the point of talking to her...the girls already think their dad is some blond guy..."

"You mean Speed" Kwest clarified

"Speed...yeah, that bastard. He's going to marry Jude. How did that happen?"

"He had been a great guy, Tommy. He helped Jude through all these years... Gabrielle and Danielle adore him"

"I noticed it...hold up, how do you know all that?" Tommy asked, looking at his friend suspiciously

Kwest blushed

"Well, I know because...I got married to Sadie" he said nervously, but smiling proudly at the same time.

"Sadie?" Tommy said totally puzzled "care to explain?"

"I married Sadie Harrison...Jude's sister. Jude is my sister in law. Gabrielle and Danielle are my nieces"

Tommy stared at him in state of shock

"First, why didn't you tell me? And second, you married Sadie??...man, I admire you...that girl's nuts!"

Kwest laughed at his friend's comment

"I'm gonna admit that you're right...she's just a bit nuts. But what else can I do? I love the woman"

Tommy went silent and then looked at his friend smiling weakly

"I'm happy for you, dude. You look really happy" he said to him "it's a shame that I will never know how it feels like.

"Tommy, you can be happy too. Just talk to Jude. Tell her how you feel...show her the real Tommy"

Tommy stared at his friend and thought for a moment

"You know what? I'm going to face this. I'm not going to run away this time. I deserve to know my daughters and they deserve to know me as their father" he said firmly, standing up

"And what are you gonna do?" Kwest asked, unsure of what Tommy was about to do.

"I'm gonna talk to Jude...she has a lot to explain"