Tommy sat in a very boring investor's meeting in New York. He tuned out the conversation. Instead, his mind drifted off about a certain blonde wife of his. Tommy knew what he was really upset about. Even though Tommy was married to Jude and had adopted Noelle as his daughter, in a way Speed had one. He had been there first. And then there was the whole fact that Jude had told Mason, but in the seven years they had been together, she had never told him. Her husband.
He thought about Noelle. She was so bright and so full of life. There was so much of Jude in her that it made Tommy weak in the knees every time she wanted something. Her blue eyes. Her smile. Tommy had been worried at first that he would look at Noelle differently now that he knew the truth. But he didn't. She was still his Noelle. His daughter.
All at once it hit Tommy why Jude had kept the truth away. He recalled their conversation in the kitchen when she had begged him to call Noelle his daughter.
She was protecting him. Jude knew that if Tommy had known about Speed, that he would have always held that against Noelle, instead of just getting to know her.
Jude was protecting her daughter, a natural instinct instilled in all mothers. She didn't want to tell him about Speed, for fear that Noelle would get attached to Tommy, just like her mother, just for Tommy to grow jealous and leave.
Tommy stood up, several of the investors looking at him. Tommy glanced at all the old men, apologizing for interrupting the meeting.
"I'm sorry, but I need to get back to Toronto." Tommy cried, gathering his briefcase and running out the door. The investors stared after him a moment before continuing on with the meeting.
Tommy knew Darius would be pissed, but Tommy's family was way more important. He hailed a cab to take him back to his hotel, all the while calling his travel agent to get him on the next flight to Toronto.
He was going home.
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Jude and Noelle were enjoying a rare girls' night, lying in the living room watching some chick flick movie. Bags of junk food scattered the coffee table and couch.
"Mom, can you pass me the Oreo's?" Noelle asked. Jude didn't move.
"I don't think I can move." Noelle laughed.
"Probably because you finished the last three bags of chips, not to mention all of the Chips Ahoy. Pig." Jude glared at her daughter.
"Hey, I'm eating for two. You should have seen the stuff I ate when I was pregnant with you." Noelle groaned.
"I think I'd be better off not knowing. Ever." Jude laughed. She stretched her arms and legs.
"I think I'm gonna go take a shower." Noelle wrinkled her nose.
"Good cause you really smell!" Jude threw a pillow at her face and headed upstairs. Noelle leaned back into the couch and sighed. She surveyed the room around her.
"And as usual, I'm left picking up the mess!" She joked, grabbing a few of the bags.
"You need a hand?" Noelle dropped the bag of chips and turned around.
"Dad?" She ran over and gave him a hug. Tommy wrapped his arms around Noelle, holding her close. Noelle stepped back, still surprised to see him.
"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming home until Friday?" Tommy shrugged.
"What can I say, New York got a little boring." Noelle nodded, excited to have her dad back. She suddenly remembered her mother upstairs.
"Mom!" She yelled up the stairs. Tommy took his coat off and hung on the back of a kitchen chair.
"What?" She heard back. Noelle didn't take her eyes off her dad, afraid he might disappear.
"You might want to come downstairs." A few minutes later Jude walked into the living room.
"What is with all the yelling and-" Jude stopped at the bottom of the staircase. Tommy gave her a slight wave. Jude smiled and ran over to him.
"What are you doing here?" She cried, wrapping her arms around him. Tommy held her close, breathing in her scent. God he had missed this.
"I missed you." He replied. Noelle took this as her sign to leave and did so, quickly. Jude pulled back.
"I'm so glad that you're home." Tommy shrugged.
"I thought things over, and I decided that I just couldn't live another moment without you." Jude smiled, taking him by the hand and leading him to the couch.
"I have something to tell you. I found yesterday, but I wanted to tell you in person." Tommy nodded, waiting for her to continue.
"I'm pregnant." Tommy widened his eyes in surprise. He blinked a few times, trying to get it to register in his head.
"What? For real?" Jude nodded, a smile spreading across her face. Tommy pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her.
"This is great!" He cried. Jude pulled away. Tommy leaned in with his lips, beckoning her to open hers, which she did willingly. She had missed this the past few weeks.
"I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too." He replied, moving one of his hands onto her stomach.
"Wow, I'm actually gonna be a dad!" Jude laughed.
"At least this time I won't have to go through it alone." Tommy shook his head, his hand still not leaving her stomach.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore."
A.N. So Tommy and Jude are happy again! Oh... but what about Speed? This story isn't over yet! Okay so I just put up all the chapters that I have written, so this should tie everyone over until I return. Don't forget to review! I love reading your comments! They make me happy and even inspire to write more!