A/N: I'm so happy that I can log-on now. You have no idea. And I thought I only got one review for the last chapter but it was more like 16 thanks to some wonderful reviewers (Erin McKinley, TommyQLovr, melodie568, strawberrigashes, anberzen, Tommy4eva, ISobsessedXO, starfan88, Duddley111, musical-cynders, KayKay2007, jadedxL0VE, Funkyicecube, eFFiNxDoRk, STAR2008, Little Eirtae.) So here's the next Chapter...it's pretty lengthy to make up for lack of updates here lately.
"I love this dress," Jude smiled, admiring her reflection in the mirror of her hotel/dressing room suite.
"You're welcome," Kat called from across the room. She was getting her hair straightened by Monique No-last-name.
"Thank you Kat," she smiled.
"Ah don't thank me now, thank me when Joan Rivers ask you who made your dress on the red carpet uh?"
Jude rolled her eyes, as she daintily sat on a chair. "I will."
Portia waddled into the room, her fingernails and toenails still wet, talking on her cell phone. "Darius! Now you aren't going to be yelling at me like that. I've got everything under control over here. You just worry about you…okay? Okay." She snapped, thrusting her cell into the pocket of her robe.
"Oh. My. God. Why aren't you guys ready yet. We have to be downstairs and in that limo in 2 hours. Kat why isn't your hair finished?'
"I don't know ask Monique…." Kat shrugged.
"Um—you've seen this woman's hair before right?" Monique asked, earning herself a glare from Kat. "No, kidding. I'll be finished in another 20-30 minutes,"
"What's your excuse," Portia asked, stealing the hair dryer off the vanity to dry her nails more quickly.
"Who me?" Jude asked, innocently.
"Yes you."
"What? I'm good to go."
Portia looked at her like she was stupid and then pointed to the purple bunny slippers on her feet.
"Um—those heels you picked out are going kill me feet, and I'm not putting them on until I see the red carpet." She replied, crossing her arms in defiance.
Portia rolled her eyes. It was one of those times when she just had to pick her battles. "Whatever. Go across the hall and see how your sister is doing would you please?"
"I'm going."
The moment Portia heard her exit the main door of the suite; she turned the blow dryer off. "I'm guessing you haven't told her…"
"No." Kat shook her head, burning her ear on the hot comb. "Monique!"
"Ha. You did that yourself." Monique said.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
"Why didn't you?" Kat fired back.
"We agreed--"
"Don't even go there. You know you just ran out the room leaving me there."
Monique watched them both arguing between each other with great interest.
"And another thing, she knows you best. You should tell her." Portia fussed.
"Whatever," Kat snapped, rolling her eyes.
"What didn't you tell her?" Monique asked, after hearing their bickering for the past few minutes.
"About Tom…" Portia said, briefly explaining Tommy's new condition.
"Well nice job, now even the hairdresser knows before Jude does," Kat said, shaking her head again. "Dammit."
"You don't like your ear too much do you uh?" Monique chuckled. "So…you two aren't going to tell her?"
Portia suddenly developed great fascination in the hand lotion bottle and Kat finally noticed the imaginary lint on the arm of her robe.
Monique glanced between the two and tisked. "Why not? It's good news."
"We don't want to give her false hope…" Kat ssaid, after a few seconds,
"Well you know I don't want to get up in your business--" Monique started.
"Too late," Portia snickered, applying lotion to her arms.
Monique paused and glared at Portia for a few seconds before she continued. "Anyway…I don't think I'd tell her either."
"Really?" Portia and Kat said in unison, suddenly interested in what she had to say.
Jude walked across the hall and knocked on the door of Liam and Sadie's suite.
"Come on in…" Sadie called. "Ah, Jude you look so beautiful." She gasped.
"You too," Jude smiled. "Sadie, do not take any pictures. Sadie!"
"Sorry Jude. But mom sacrificed herself and stayed home with the Layla so the least I can do is capture the moments for her. Strike a pose."
Jude laughed at her sister in voyeur mode. "Ah. May I just say that I love the slippers…they just go fabulous with the dress."
"Why thank you. The dress is by Katerina Benton. And the shoes? Oh they're just off the rack at Wal-Mart."
"Lovely darling, may I just say that you are just working that outfit," Sadie grinned.
"Thank you," Jude smirked, coping an apple from the fruit basket on the coffee table. She turned on the television, making herself comfortable.
"Darius! We're ready! We'll be in the limo at 6:30 sharp as planned," Liam sighed, pacing through the living room to the kitchen for a bottle of water. "Your driver is scheduled to pick you up as soon as your plane lands. I'm aware that your plane lands at 7:45. I've got everything under control."
"Oy…that man," He grumbled, hanging up.
"You have to love him," Jude called from the living room.
"I suppose," Liam sighed again.
Jude hid out in their suite for the next half hour trying not to doze off or get to get comfortable so she wouldn't mess up her curls. She restlessly flipped through the channels, not finding anything. "What else is new," she grumbled, getting off the sofa and heading back towards her room. She walked in to see Kat and Portia and Francesca and Kwest all fully dressed.
"Wow, you all clean up nicely…" She smiled.
"Well you know, I try…" Portia said, posing.
"What are you talking about? We always look this good," Francesca joked, from her spot in Kwest's lap.
Kat raised an eyebrow. "Well I do anyway."
They all looked at her curiously. "I was kidding."
"Right…" Portia chuckled.
Jude rolled her eyes and sat on the arm of the sofa near Kwest. "How can you stand all the estrogen floating around in this room right now?" she whispered.
"Well you know, I try to just nod and agree with everyone," he commented.
"And in case of an argument?"
"If I just agree with Francesca I'm usually good," he smirked, following Francesca around the room as she tried to help Portia look for her cell phone. "Nice shoes by the way."
"Thank you."
After a few minutes Sadie strolled into the suite with her camera demanding group pictures.
Liam strode in next interrupting the group's joking/happy atmosphere. He cleared his throat, causing them all to glance up and acknowledge his presence. "Its 6:10 ladies…and gentleman," he said, noticing Kwest. "Let's get started downstairs shall we?"
Kwest stood up and slipped on his jacket completing his Armani suit. "Hey I'm going ahead to the lobby Francesca." He called, walking into the hall with Liam.
"Okay," she sighed, watching him walk away, until she was painfully aware of Jude staring at her.
"What?" she exclaimed, blushing profusely. "He's looking good in that suit."
Jude through her hands up, "I didn't say anything."
"Why does he want to be with me though," she thought aloud.
"Because you're you…" Jude explained.
She rolled her eyes at that explanation. "But he could be with anyone of those little skinny models."
"Apparently that's not his type…" Portia called out, holding her cell phone up in triumphant as she found it.
"Who's not whose type," Sadie asked, pausing her conversation with Kat for a while.
"Skinny models aren't Kwest's type." Portia said, filling them in.
"Not anymore anyway…every since he found he little curvaceous Italian woman," Sadie teased.
A smile crept across her face. "Curvaceous uh? I wish I was all skinny like you…"
"Honey please, no one's happy with their body really. We were just talking about that last night…Jude's flat assed, Kat's flat chested, and I need to leave the doughnuts over at Krispy Kreme alone."
"I'm happy with myself," Sadie piped up. "Too bad some of my self-confidence will disappear when I stop breast-feeding though." She sighed, mournfully, looking down at her chest.
They all laughed good-naturedly, but Jude's laugh was only half-heartedly really. She was ready to go through the insecure moments of being in a relationship like Francesca. She was ready to start planning her marriage like Kat, and she was ready to start her little family like Sadie.
"Aren't you worried that you'll might—you know leak?" Francesca asked.
Sadie knocked on the wooden coffee table beside her and said, "Well, if mom feeds the Layla when she's supposed to I probably won't have any problems, but I have a change of clothes this time. See I've learned from past mistakes. " She laughed, referring to two months prior at Jamie and Kat's engagement party.
"That's good to know," Portia piped up, handing Jude her shoes. "But we need to get on out of her for Liam kills us."
"Agreed," Francesca laughed, grabbing her purse.
"I know right, he'll pop a blood vessel on us," Kat snickered, collecting her things as well and following Portia and Francesca out the door of the suite.
"You coming Jude?" Sadie asked, standing in the doorway. She glanced over at her sister. She was sitting on the sofa with her shoes in her hand, staring off into space.
"You coming?" Kat called to Sadie, holding the elevator for them.
"No, we'll be down in like a minute Jude can't find her cell."
"Okay," Kat shrugged.
Sadie shut the door, and walked wearily over to Jude and stooped in front of her. "What's the matter sweetie?" she asked.
Jude looked up at her tearfully. "Nothing. I'm good."
"Oh. Please. Do I look like a complete dumb ass?" Sadie smiled.
"Well sometimes," Jude sniffled.
Sadie rolled her eyes and wiped her little sister's tears. "Well don't let the blonde hair fool you okay?" she said hugging her. "I know you miss him." she whispered. "I didn't know about you and Tommy…Liam told me yesterday."
Jude's tears began to fall more freely at the sound of his name. "It's okay you didn't know. I meant to tell you."
"It's okay," Sadie said, stroking her hair. "I probably would have been a little pissed if you would have told me anyway. But it's okay now. I can actually fathom me not being someone's perfect girl now. You and Tommy had--"
"Have," Jude corrected, with a grin.
"Have that extra something…the extra something that Liam and me have. I get it, I get it now."
Jude nodded.
"Okay, you're going to have to stop crying now because if you don't stop crying then I'm going to start too, and waterproof mascara can only do so much."
Jude had to laugh. She was beginning to wonder where her sister was and who had replaced her with this understanding woman. But it was still the same Sadie, just not so self-absorbed.
"Thanks Sadie," Jude smiled, letting her fix her make up with a Kleenex.
"Not a problem," she sighed. "Okay let's go before Liam calls the SWAT team or something."
The two sisters finally made it to the lobby to see that Jamie had finally showed up.
"Hey Jamie," Jude squealed, hugging him tightly.
"Hey Jude, don't make it bad…" he sang, in her ear.
She groaned. "Please don't go there." She laughed.
"Take a sad song and make it better…" he continued.
She loosened her grip around is neck and looked him up and down from his unruly hair to his pinstripe suit to his converses. She had to laugh. He was basically the same Jamie just a little more sophisticated.
"It's good see you Jamie," she nodded.
She hadn't in fact seen him in about a month and half. Their scheduling had always been a little screwy with him looking for the next Instant Star and her not getting out these days.
"Excuse me people can we please move the vehicle…" Liam pleaded frantically, holding the door for everyone.
"Calm down babe, we are right on time," Sadie said, walking out the door after Portia and Francesca.
"Which means we're late…"
"Or not," Sadie argued, kissing his cheek.
"Or not," he nodded, following out the door after her.
Jude rolled her eyes, laughing at the two's interaction. She was walking out the door as she felt the familiar vibration of her cell phone in her bag. She couldn't help but to wonder who was calling since basically everyone she knew and loved was with her… besides her parents.
"Hello?"
"Jude? Hi, this is Liyah, I don't know if you remember me or not-- from Bryant's center in Toronto--" she explained.
"Oh. Hello Liyah," she interrupted. God please don't let this be bad news.
"This is regarding Thomas Quincy--"
"What is it?" Jude breathed, ignoring Liam beckoning her to get into the stretch.
"Well it's pretty remarkable news actually," Liyah began.
Jude began to feel lightheaded as she heard Liyah's next words. Jude was already crying and she didn't even feel it. "It seems that Mr. Quincy has made an almost complete recovery. He's fully conscious and responding to--"
Jude dropped the phone from her ear and she leaned against the side of the limousine.
Liam immediately ran over to her to steady her.
"Jude? Are you there…" Liyah called.
Jude brought the phone back to her ear, trying to comprehend what she was trying to tell her.
"Yes I'm here," Jude whispered, ignoring everyone's questioning looks. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, Jude," Liyah chuckled softly, "He's wide awake and asking for you."
"I'm on my way," Jude said, hanging up abruptly, and placing her head in her hands.
By this time everyone was back outside of the limo, looking at her worriedly. She stopped crying and dried the loose tears. "I need keys. Like now." She said, holding her hand out.
"What?" they all asked simultaneously. "What do you need keys for?'
"That was a nurse at Bryant's Center calling about Tommy. He's conscious. He's awake." She whispered, talking more to herself than them.
"Shut up," Sadie gasped, covering her mouth, and hugging Jude.
Jude felt numb with joy.
Jude politely pulled herself from the enormous group hug that was smothering her. "I have to go. Now." She replied, wiping her fresh tears.
Jamie tossed her his car keys. "It's parked right there," he said pointing to a Lincoln Navigator.
"Um…she is not driving by herself," Liam rolled his eyes and snatching the keys before she caught them. "She does not need to be driving at the moment."
Jude's eyes flashed with anger. "Liam. If you do not give me those keys…"
Liam stepped a few feet away from her.
"I'll go with you Jude," Francesca offered.
"No, I don't want you to miss the show." She said, still glaring at Liam.
"You could just ride to the airport with the bodyguards," Portia suggested, pointing to the black SUV parked behind the limo.
"Portia, I love you," Jude smiled, kissing her cheek. "I'll see you all later, I'll call you when I get to Toronto." She said in a rush, trying to hug everyone.
"Love you," she called over her shoulder, running the short distance to the other SUV.
She tapped on the window startling the extremely tall, muscular man dressed in black in the driver's seat.
"Yes Miss Harrison," he greeted her as he rolled down the window.
"I need a ride Bob," she smiled, almost saying his full nickname: Bob the builder.
He unlocked the door and shook his partner, Mickey awake. "Where to?"
"Airport." She responded.
"No Grammy's this year Miss Harrison," Mickey asked, yawning.
"No. I've got to go see someone," she smiled, waving to her family as she passed them all. They were still on the sidewalk flabbergasted.
Duh--I Don't own "Hey Jude" by the fabulous classical Beatles... I don't own Krispy Kreme or Wal-Mart either if that's necessary.