Chapter 15

2 Days Later

Jude and Tommy sat in the studio, working on the beats to Jude's song My Sweet Time that she wrote with the help of Speed on her tour. They were almost finished, but they were both unsure of the beginning melody as it currently stood.

"So, Sadie comes home tomorrow…" Jude said, trying to gage Tommy's reaction. The producer sighed and turned to look at Jude.

"I know," He said, and Jude noticed the beginnings of a dilemma building in Tommy's eyes.

"What's wrong? I thought you'd be happy Sadie was coming home." Jude stated, watching Tommy with renewed interest.

"It's not that..it's just…I can't make it to the airport tomorrow." Tommy said and paused. "I don't know if I'll be able to see her at all." He added, his voice sounding slightly frustrated.

"You know she'll castrate you if you don't show up right?" Jude offered and she saw Tommy shake his head and smile slightly at Jude.

"It's either face Sadie's wrath or Darius's…I know how to deal with Darius, but one of us needs to be there and it should be you." Tommy said, glancing at Jude. Jude looked confused at his logic.

"I can take care of Darius; go enjoy the day with your family and if Darius doesn't rip me to pieces, I'll try to stop by once I can sneak out of here to let Sadie rip me to pieces." Tommy said, and Jude saw the logic in his words.

"Sounds good…but ya know…Sadie likes lilies." Tommy smiled at Jude's response.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Jude grinned and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, ya know, I can't sit back and let my sister rip you apart…I still need my producer." Tommy laughed.

"Good to know I'm still needed." He said, smiling at her. Jude beamed at him and the pair stared at each other for a long moment before they both forced themselves to break eye contact and they switched back to the task at hand.

The Next Day

2:00 PM

Sadie stepped off the airplane with a big smile on her face. Despite being abandoned in Italy by her boyfriend, her trip was great. She really needed it and she had a blast. She looked out at the terminal and saw her family and some friends standing around to greet her. Sadie ran out to greet them, having checked all her luggage, and was enveloped into a group hug. She grinned at her welcome committee and surveyed the faces. Mom, Dad (without Yvette), Jude and Jamie (couldn't care less, but she did notice Jamie's arm wrapped around her sisters shoulders and her sister leaning into him), Melissa (Sadie's best friend) and Karen (Another friend). She glanced around some more and frowned.

"Where's Tommy?" She asked, and glanced at her sister. She hated that she needed to ask her sister about her boyfriend's affairs but she understood they worked together and considered each other friends. If anyone here knew where Tommy was, it would be Jude.

"He couldn't make it." Jude said, looking at Sadie with sympathy on her face. Sadie felt her heart sink in disappointment.

"Oh, ok." Sadie said, and Melissa and Karen placed comforting hands on her shoulders.

"He's still at G Major…he said he'd try and get away early and stop by." Jude offered, gauging her sister's reaction but she was managing to remain cool on the outside. Inside, Sadie was fuming. He left her in Europe and he had the audacity not to welcome her home! She was determined to give Little Tommy Q a piece of her mind when she saw him next.

Later that night: 9:00 PM

"I'll get it!" Jude yelled, getting up from the couch and crossing to the door. She opened and saw Tommy standing on the porch. "Hey," She said, surveying her producer. "I see you're still in one piece…"

"For now." Tommy said, and Jude moved to let him inside. "How mad is she?"

"I've never seen her so pissed…" Jude said, and studied him. "What do you have?" She asked, seeing he kept one arm behind his back.

"I took your advice on one thing…" He muttered and Sadie appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Oh, it's you." She said, glaring at him. Tommy sighed.

"Sadie, I'm sorry," He said, and Jude watched the exchange for a moment, impressed on how Tommy actually sounded sincere. Sadie's blue eyes burned holes in him as she stepped down the stairs. She stopped on the last stair, arms crossed and jaw clenched. Jude recognized that stance. Sadie was ready to rumble and damn the person who got in her way.

"It wasn't good enough to leave me in Europe was it?" She asked, sounding hurt, "and you couldn't even see me home?" She asked, and looking more hurt than angry. Sadie glanced at Jude. "You mind?" She asked her sister, glaring at the one who always seemed to stand between her and her happiness with Tommy. Jude left the pair and Sadie continued to look at Tommy expectantly. "I know your work is important to you, but I never thought that I would always be second."

"It's not like that Sadie…do you really think I wanted to be at the studio all night?" He asked her and added "I would much rather be with you than locked in the studio with Kwest all day."

"It doesn't seem like it." She muttered.

"I know it's not much for penance, but" Tommy paused a moment and withdrew the hand behind his back, offering her a huge bouquet of lilies. Sadie stared at the beautiful flowers in shock.

"Tommy, they're so beautiful." Sadie said, taking the flowers and staring at them, there had to be about 50 of them and she was amazed.

"There's 46 of them," Tommy told her and Sadie glanced at him, confused. "One for each of the days that I left you in Europe," He explained and Sadie frowned.

"That was only 45." She stated, trying to figure out the extra one. Tommy smiled.

"I know, but the other one is for today; I'm sorry I couldn't make it earlier, but I'm here now." He said, watching her carefully. Sadie stared at the lilies and felt her heart melt slightly. She wasn't mad any longer, but she wasn't going to let him off so easily…the flowers had to cost him a near fortune. Sadie stepped off the stairs and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm going to put these in water," She said, grinning and walking away from him, carefully with the flowers. Tommy let out a breathe he didn't know he was holding and stepped further into the Harrison house.

"I'm impressed." A voice said. Tommy turned his head to see Jude standing in the hallway between the living room and the kitchen. "You managed to tame the beast." Tommy couldn't help but laugh.

"It's a gift." Tommy said smugly and smirked at Jude. Jude shrugged and entered the living room.

"So, how'd Darius take it when he found out I wasn't coming in?"

"Wasn't happy. Be prepared to have the whip crack tomorrow. He already reamed my ass."

"What else is new?" Jude asked and before Tommy could retort, Sadie returned and frowned at her sister and her boyfriend. "Anyway, I have a few more songs I wrote on tour anyway that we can work on tomorrow…so I guess we won't have to scrounge something up." Jude offered. Tommy nodded slightly and Jude went up the stairs and left the two alone.

Sadie crossed to Tommy and grabbed his hand and led him over to the couch and they sat down and talked about the rest of Sadie's trip. "So, what have you been up to?" Sadie asked him, looking interested.

"Work…Sadie, I'm not going to lie to you. G Major is under new management and I've been working a lot of long hours." He said and added "But, I managed to get this Saturday night off…" He said and Sadie looked interested.

"What's Saturday night?" She asked, straightening up and Tommy smiled at her.

"Oh, only the opening of LaMenstra…"

"Whoa, hold the phone mister! LaMenstra! The new and incredibly fancy restaurant that's opening and has only been in the works for over a year?"

"Yeah, that's the one." Tommy said, smiling at Sadie's excitement. "I just happen to have…" Tommy reached in his pocket and pulled out two tickets. "Tickets to the opening." Sadie gaped at Tommy.

"No. Way." She said, staring at Tommy in awe.

"If you don't want to go, I'll just give the tickets to"

"Hell no!" Sadie snatched the tickets from Tommy and studied them. "OMG, these are really"

"Yes, they are."

"And you want me"

"If you want…"

"Saturday night!"

"That's the opening…" Before Tommy could finish his thought, Sadie launched herself at him and pulled him into a long kiss. When they pulled apart, Tommy smiled at her. "I take that as a yes?" Sadie grinned at him and squealed in delight and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. Tommy deepened the kiss this time and the couple leaned back on the couch, Tommy above Sadie and kissed passionately. A throat cleared and Tommy pulled back from Sadie and they looked to see who was there.

"Hello, Mrs. Harrison." Tommy said, trying hard not to laugh at the situation, and sitting up off of Sadie. Sadie looked disappointed but sat up as well.

"Mo-om!" Sadie whined and glared at her mother. Victoria stared at the two for a long moment and went up the stairs. Tommy and Sadie glanced at one another and laughed.

"Wow, I just felt like I was 14 again…" Tommy said, shaking his head. Sadie grinned at him.

"I dunno…I think I like this Tommy better," She said, pulling at his jacket lapels and pulling him to her so she could kiss him. They didn't get as passionate as before, both were slightly worried about Victoria catching them again. When they pulled apart, they both started. "Jesus! Jude!" Sadie yelled at her sister. Jude smirked at the two.

"Mom said I had to stay down here." She said, smiling at the couple and sitting down across from Tommy and Sadie, who were now looking rather uncomfortable. Tommy glanced at his watch and looked back to Sadie.

"I've got to get going anyway." He said, looking apologetically at her.

"No, stay…once mom goes to bed, Jude won't have to stay…right?" Sadie said, stressing the last part and shoot her sister a look. Jude just shrugged.

"It's fine Sadie. I've got to be at the studio early tomorrow anyway." Jude piped into the conversation.

"We don't have to get working until the afternoon," She pointed out. Tommy glared at her.

"You're not my only artist." He said, and turned back to Sadie. He kissed her quickly and pulled away. "I'm sorry, but it's been a long day." He said and whispered so Jude wouldn't hear "I'm all yours Saturday." Sadie grinned at him and sighed.

"I guess I can do that." She said, and got up and walked Tommy to the door. Once Tommy left, Jude glanced at Sadie in interest.

"So, what's going on with you two…"

"None of your business. You don't see me asking about you and Jamie, do you?" Sadie snapped and stepped up the stairs, humming something that sounded strangely like Boyz Attack. Jude shook her head and frowned. She knew Sadie and Tommy were happily dating, but it still bothered her for some reason seeing the couple making out on the couch earlier. She clenched her jaw and fumed. Why do I care? I have Jamie, Sadie has Tommy, and we're all happy. She reasoned, and found herself still replaying the kiss she witnessed earlier and her mind flashed back to her Sixteenth party…to the alley where Tommy had kissed her with more passion than he was kissing her sister with.