Author's Note: Hey guys! I've got a couple of hours before I head back to the hospital so I am going to use it by making up for my little one chapter posts lately (laugh). And, by the way, my sister had a very beautiful baby boy that she named Preston. I am so excited. Also, I went to see that movie Superman Returns on the way home yesterday. I suggest that one and all go see it. It was amazing. Thank you guys so much for hanging in there with me. I enjoy you guys so much and you really are the reason I do this. It's the fun of knowing that you are reading and are entertained. Smiles and hugs to you all, my friends. Please R&R. Angel422.

Tommy…

The world rushed by like the blurred corners of a Picasso painting as Tommy sped through the darkening skies toward his Montana estate. He hated himself right now--loathed the fact that he had let her get to him when he knew that she was trying her damndest to rile him in the first place. Damn her! Damn himself! Those pictures would haunt him for a friggin' lifetime. But despite the fact that they had fired his blood—they had been all wrong too because it was Jude being weak. And Jude wasn't weak. She wasn't the kind that bemoaned a situation long. Look at her now. She had gotten herself drunk and mourned for one night and then bounced back to bite him in the ass. She shifted from behind him and he ground his teeth together. If she squeezed her thighs any tighter, he was going to have to pull off to the side of the friggin' road.

"Dammit, Jude, just be still!" He screamed out into the roaring wind as she leaned in close to him and yelled back.

"What?" She cried out as he shook his head. He was in hell. And that thought spurred him on as he pulled back into his driveway—noting the lights that still burned inside. Didn't his family ever go home for God's Sake? There was this thing called sleep. He wished they'd try it. He turned off the bike before letting Jude climb off first from behind him. It made him breathe a little easier. Jude shrugged.

"I'd tell you thank you for the drive, but something tells me that would be inappropriate." Jude commented sarcastically as Tommy threw her a scathing look. So they were back to being angry were they—back to avoiding their feelings by hiding behind this disguise of disagreement. It worked for them somehow.

"I'd serenade you too, but we're missing the whole full moon and climbing the tower scenario. Hmmm..loved Romeo and Juliet though. They managed to kill themselves in the end." Tommy remarked sardonically as Jude scoffed. She kicked at the turf of his lawn—leaving a slight indentation in his well-manicured grass.

"I'd love to hear you sing again, Tommy. Come on. Belt it out!" She replied whimsically as Tommy shook his head. God, that woman! An opening door behind them suddenly flooded the lawn with light.

"You two made it back!" Catalina immediately cried out as she rushed cheerfully into the yard. Tom winced. She had more than likely been peering out the window the whole time. He was surprised she hadn't called the police.

"In one piece too. Imagine that." Tommy declared as Jude bit her lip from beside him to keep from chuckling at the comment. Point one for him. His sister Maddie edged into the space behind Catalina as she licked on a very messy red Popsicle. If she had been on his furniture with that thing….She grinned—showing off her red teeth and tongue as she giggled.

"We're having a big outdoor Bar-B-Q tomorrow evening!" Maddie exclaimed excitedly as Tommy groaned. They never seemed to think he may not want his house used for family sporting events.

"Mom even invited Isabella and Heather." Maddie continued as Tommy froze. Oh dear God! Izzie and Heather? His mother wouldn't have. Tommy glanced up hurriedly into Catalina's face as she shrugged sheepishly.

"Isabella? Heather?" Jude asked uncertainly from beside him, and Tommy flinched. An angry Jude and two of his ex-girlfriends equaled a major catastrophic event. Maddie grinned even wider.

"Some of Tom's old girlfriends and friends of the family." Maddie retorted on a small, satisfied slurp as she bit off the last of the Popsicle. Tom could practically feel Jude tense up next to him. He closed his eyes and slowly counted to three before grabbing Catalina by the arm and dragging her out into the yard.

"This is not the Dating Game. It is not the Price is Right, and I am not a poker chip to be bargained off, Mere. What is this? Some misguided need of yours for sporadic entertainment." Tommy hissed as Catalina grinned sheepishly.

"I'm guessing you might not like it when I tell you I invited most of the neighborhood then, I take it." She mumbled as Tommy swore. He suddenly felt like Prince Charming at the ball with all the local single women invited to try and win his hand. God! He clenched his teeth together to keep from reaching out and strangling his own mother. He really missed his producer's chair back at G Major Studios right now. Catalina touched him lightly on the arm.

"It'll give you a chance to…" She began as Tommy shook his head.

"Give me a chance to what, Mere? Relax? Put my feet up on a stool somewhere and not do anything? Oh, yeah I feel the peace right now. Let's meditate mother. I think I might even have yoga mats in my storage room courtesy of Izzie no less." Tom said sarcastically as Catalina frowned.

"Now don't get your underwear all twisted, son. It'll be the event of the season. Just wait and see." Catalina replied before patting his back reassuringly. Yeah, the event of the season all right. Welcome to hell—excuse the heat, hope you brought a fan and a couple of gallons of water with you. A rustling sound made Tom look up as Mason joined Jude where she stood now at the open front door. He could have even sworn he heard her say, "Get your combat boots on, my boy, we're off to fight a war," as Mason just glanced down into Jude's face before looking out into the yard.

"I suppose I'd be remiss if I wished for the yellow brick road and the wizard instead?' Mason asked wryly as Jude shoved him into the house. Jude had changed. She wasn't the same anymore, and that terrified Tom because he had no idea what she was capable of. Why did that thought make him need to take a cold shower as well?

"Are you sweating, Tom? It looks like you might be sweating." Maddie asked sweetly as Tommy turned toward her slowly. She backed away a step as she caught a glimpse of his expression.

"Maddie." He growled as she flinched a little at his tone.

"Yeah?" She asked slowly.

"Run." Tommy stated as Maddie squealed.