A/N - Hey, guys! Well, this is it…I really loved writing this, especially because of all of you guys! (hugs) I'll miss you and I hope you like the ending!

Always,
Jude Quincy

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Chapter Thirteen---Getting It, Finally

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"Jude?" Victoria's voice was bordering hysterical.

"Mom, I can explain." Jude got off the bench, pulling her shirt over her head and taking a step toward her mom.

"Tommy," Victoria looked between the two of them. "Can I speak to you...privately?"

"Mom, really that's not necessary." Jude waved her arms around, trying to stop her.

"Now," Victoria insisted, sounding very mother-like and very final. Tom glanced at Jude as he followed her mom out of the tree house to the base of the oak.

Jude looked out the window, trying to see Tom and her mom. What is she saying?

---

Tom leaned against the tree, sighing. "Tommy, I don't even know where to begin! This is extremely unprofessional, not to mention illegal. You could go to jail! And did you even think about Sadie? Weren't you dating her?"

"Mrs. Harrison, I know! You don't think I've been worried about all of that?" Tom flung his arms up in frustration. "I know I hurt Sadie, and I apologized. It would never have worked between us, Mrs. Harrison. You have to know that."

"Tommy, you're young, famous...You could have any girl in the world. Why Jude?"

Tom sighed, a smile crossing his face. "Jude... she's this incredible girl. She really gets me, and she gets why music should be important. And, her voice. God, she's got the most amazing voice. She's so talented. And she's beautiful. She doesn't even begin to see herself the way I see her. She's the most wonderful person I've ever met." Tom slumped back against the tree, groaning.

Victoria was silent for a moment. "You love her, don't you?"

Tom looked up into her eyes. "I'm crazy about her, Mrs. Harrison." He sighed deeply. "I can't breathe when I'm around her and I can't think when I'm not. She's been hurt so much lately and I just want to be able to make her smile again. I want to be able to make your daughter happy. I know I'm not your first choice for Jude, but I really care about her."

He paused, trying to gauge Victoria's reaction. "You're right---you're not exactly who I had in mind for Jude. But you were right about something else, too. She has been hurting and she does need people to care about her and make her smile."

"Mrs. Harrison, are you saying...?"

"I'm saying...I know you care about Jude. And she needs people in her life who love her. But if you hurt her---"

"I won't hurt her, i promise." Tom stood up, smiling.

"I know you won't." Victoria smiled back, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Y'know, Tommy. You've been really good for Jude. The two of you make great music and she's always happy when she's with you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Harrison."

"No, thank you."

---

Spied glanced at Jamie, then Kyle. They had been sitting in silence since Jamie and Kat had returned and Victoria had left.

"Guys, look." Wally pointed across the yard where Tom was walking toward them, Jude's mother right behind him.

"Kat and Jamie, can I talk to you." Tom said quietly as he reached the picnic table.

"Sure," Kat said, grabbing Jamie's hand and leading them both to the Harrison's kitchen, where they each took a seat around the island.

"What's up, Quincy?" Jamie demanded.

"You two are Jude's best friends. You know her better than anyone else," Tom began.

"Get to the point, Tom," Jamie interrupted impatiently.

"Mrs. Harrison just caught me and Jude...um...in a compromising situation, to say the least."

"I told you we shouldn't have just let her go in!" Kat hit Jamie in the upper arm.

"You and Jude!" Jamie yelled in disbelief.

"Not the point, Andrews. She wanted to talk to me alone. She asked me what was going on and I realized that... I am completely in love with Jude...and I don't want to ever be with anyone else."

"Aww," Kat commented, a smile fixed on her mouth.

"Here's where it gets super Twilight Zone. She told me that she's okay with me and Jude! Because she needs people to care about her, and she knows that I care about Jude!"

"Isn't it illegal?" Jamie said, disdain in his voice. He had never trusted Tom, not after he had made Jude cried multiple times.

"Not unless Jude or Mrs. Harrison press charges, it's not."

"Tom, this is great!" Kat gushed. "You two are finally going to get your happy ending!"

"I'd like to think of it more as a 'happy beginning.' "

"How did Jude take the news?" Kat asked.

"Jude!" Tom spun around, running outside at full speed.

---

Jude pressed her face against the glass, wondering where Tom and her mom were. They had been gone for awhile, and she wasn't sure if it was safe to go back down to her party.

She groaned, remembering the look on her mom's face when she had walked in on the two of them. Jude thought that she and Tom were finally going to have their secret whirlwind romance. Now, hey never would get their chance.

Her mom was going to press charges, Tom was going to go to jail...She couldn't let it happen. She would go explain the whole situation to her mom. Make her understand.

Jude spun around and saw Tom standing in the door. "Tommy!" she screamed, startled.

"Jude, we need to talk." He walked over to her and led her to the bench, sitting her down next to him.

"Oh, my God! You're going to jail, aren't you!" She was on the verge of tears. "This is all my fault. Oh, my God. I can fix this...Just let me talk to her, and---"

"Jude, calm down and listen to me." He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. "Your mother was very understanding. She asked me why I chose you and I went on for hours about how wonderful and beautiful you are. I told her that I love you."

"Do you?" Jude asked quietly.

"Of course, Jude. I think I've always loved you. I've just been too scared to realize it." Tom smiled down at her. "Anyway, I told her I just wanted to make you happy. You've been hurt so much that I just want to protect you from all that. Then, she just sat there for hours."

Jude scoffed. "Hours?"

"Well, it felt like it. Then, she finally said that you need people who love you in your life and that as long as I promised not to hurt you, she's wasn't going to stand between the two of us."

"What?" Jude asked in disbelief, pulling back from Tom. "Are you serious?"

He nodded. "She also said that I've been really good for you."

"You have," she agreed, looking up at Tom. She wrapped her arms around his midsection, hugging him tightly.

"You know what?" Tom asked, stroking her blonde hair.

"Hmm?" she murmured, glad to finally be in his arms.

"I think I'm ready to make this work. With you I mean..." She giggled. "No, I mean it. I've tried to push it away for the longest time. Everyone else could see how much I love you, but I couldn't. At least, I didn't let myself.

"And everyone kept telling me that if I kept pushing you away, one of these days, you'd be gone. But I figured you'd always be there. Because that's what love is. But, you know what? That's not what love is. It's about being with somebody who makes you happy. And making the best out of every moment you have together. I think I get that now."

Jude leaned up and kissed Tom gently on the lips. "Finally."

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A/N: The End.

I hope you guys liked reading this as much as I loved writing it. (hugs) It's been wonderful and I love you all very much. This is my first fic on here, so I have much to say...

I'd like to give a special shout-out to the following people...

Erin McKinley: Girl, you were my inspiration and I love you for it! You're so talented and you better keep writing! Thanks for sticking with this all the way through. I know you'll miss it almost as much as I will. At least we have new Instant Star, right? Thanks again! (hugs)

nessalyn: You, girl, are an incredible writer and it makes me so happy to know you like my fic as much as I love all of yours (especially "I Vow"). Thanks for reading and I hope you keep writing!

-Xrockstar2bX-: Thanks for asking me to co-write. You're super creative and I love working with you. You rock! Thanks for sticking with me and I'm looking forward to writing with you!

Alexz Rozon: Hey, there! You were the first person to be referred to my fic. So, thanks. I'm glad you liked it. And plus, you loved my name. And now, I love yours! (What are we gonna do on Monday nights, now? TT)

Special thanks also goes out to these faithful reviewers and people who put this story (and me!) on their Favorites!

musical-cynders (first reviewer!), starlight63, DrownedxEmotion, Joskers, mZtOmMyQ5319, thatgirlyoucantrust, Annimouse, Instant Star Finatic, pixiestix16, ticia-rockinmysoxoff, NotbendingNotbreaking, EmmyM, A9L9O8N7E, Shang Hai, Alezxj18, KayKay2007, PunkRockChickH, Destany Mitchell, lostangel2005, RockerChick13, and undiscovered91!

For everyone I didn't mention, I love all you guys too! (hugs and kisses) Thanks to all of you guys and your love and support. It meant a lot. You guys are the reason I write!

ONE FINAL NOTE: Do you want a sequel? Review and tell me!

Everyone, I will never forget you guys!

Always and forever,
Jude Quincy