A/N, Baby: So this is only like 800 words, kinda short. I'm getting too far ahead in writing this story, to the point where I keep coming up with better ideas on where to make this go and I've written so much I haven't actually used just yet. I just got home maybe 45 minutes ago for the first time today and I'm exhausted. I'll hopefully be able to post tomorrow. R&R of course, you know I love it.

He had his arm wrapped around Yvette when I turned around but immediately let go of her to pull me into a hug. I didn't reciprocate. "Honey! Happy birthday. Gosh, look at you. You're so beautiful and grown up."

I pulled back as quickly as I could, fake smile still intact but slowly rubbing off. Yvette's smile, however, was much more genuine. "Jude, happy birthday. Your father and I bought you a gift..."she hands me a square box wrapped in light blue paper with white ribbon. I take it from her and give her a stiff thank you.

Out of the corner of my eye I see that Tommy's stopped dead in his tracks about 10 feet away. I silently prayed he would come interrupt us.

There was an awkwared silence in which I had a chance to plot my escape. "Well, it was nice of you guys to come." Even I could sense the hostility in my voice. "Maybe I'll see you again tonight. But for now I'd just like to get a breath of fresh air..."

"Understandable, sweetie. It is kind of stuffy in here, what with there being so many people... You really are the popular one, aren't you?"

"No Dad, that'd be Sadie." I said, before turning on my heel and heading once again towards the back exit.

Behind me I can sense Tommy's started the chase again. I'm about 10 paces

away from the door when I hear my dad exclaim Tommy's name. Good. That'll buy me some time.

I dissapeared behind the stage and quietly pushed open the door, stepping onto the fire exit. The same fire exit we stood on on that fateful night. Which I'd rather not think about tonight.

I leaned over the railing and looked out into the alley below. So he's back. What am I gonna do now that he's back? What can I do? I was angry at myself for having so many questions. I was also angry because a tiny part of me, that tiny part I'd kept locked up so well until that morning, didn't regret that Tommy was back. In fact, that part of me was almost happy.

And I hated myself for that one part of me.

To my right, I heard the door creak open. I didn't have to bother to look to know it was him. "Can we not do this? Not now."

I turned to look at him, and he continued. "It's your birthday. I wished you a happy birthday in there 'cause that's what I really want you to have. Can we please just get through tonight without arguing?"

"That's a lot to ask for, Tommy. From me, anyway."

He stood next to me, arms over the railing. We spent a few minutes looking out into the same alley. Maybe even thinking the same things.

"If you're my producer now, that's all you're gonna be. If you wanted

something else out of me, you're not getting it."

"Okay." He shrugged it off, as if he expected me to say that.

"And don't think I'm lying."

"Okay." I couldn't tell if he really didn't care or if he was just pretending. "So we're not even gonna be friends?"

"How can we be," I said softly. After all we'd been through, he still wanted to be friends.

"We can try, Jude. It's important to me. And I'll bet anything our friendship is important to you, too."

"I hope you're betting that Viper of yours, 'cause you'd lose." I couldn't help but crack a joke.

He smiled and I got the urge to smile too. I bit my bottom lip and tried to hide it. "Maybe. I'd like to actually be friends with my producer. Me and Jay..."

"Didn't work so well. I know."

We spend a few more minutes in an almost companionable silence together. I

spend the whole time wondering what he's thinking, wondering what he wants from me. 'Cause it couldn't just possibly be producing, could it? No, he wanted something else. He wanted what he couldn't have before.

"I saw you talking to your dad and Yvette. You know, body language speaks a thousand words."

"Great! Then I said more than I thought I did. I was worried I was a little too quiet."

"Jude, I'm serious." He looked me in the eyes. This, in addition to how close he was standing to me, made me nervous. Butterflies in the stomach, foggy mind, the whole works. "It's been a long time..."

"I don't want to talk about this. Not with you. Or anyone, for that matter." I walked back to the door. "How I deal with my dad and Yvette, that's my own problem."

"Right. Whatever you say. But I gotta tell you... the tension? You could have cut it with a butter knife." He walked right past me and held the door open, gesturing for me to go in first.

Seriously, who does this guy think he is?