A/N - It's been awhile since I updated this and I apologize. My other fic "Bulletproof" has become my protégé! But I had a dream about how to write this chapter.

In sadder news, the computer I save all my notes and story ideas on crashed. Everything is gone. So, after this chapter, this is going on hiatus--along with every fic besides "Bulletproof." I might write some of my one-shots, but once "Bulletproof" is done, I'll have time figure out what to do with all my current fics and new ideas.

Thanks for everyone's continued support!

Love,
JQ

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Chapter 3 - This Mess of Me

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"Hey, let's go get lunch," Jude suggested, eyeing her sister expectantly.

Sadie was quiet for a moment and then shrugged. "Okay."

"Okay!" Jude smiled wide. "Let me just go get a couple things from G Major." Her sister nodded and made herself comfortable on a bench, while the younger Harrison girl walked through the front doors of her studio.

"Jude!" Kwest's voice startled her and she looked around for him. "This came for you." She spotted him by the front desk, holding up a large envelope.

"What is it?" she asked, jogging over. Kwest shrugged, handing it to her. She glanced at the front, shrugging. Ripping it open, she pulled out the contents. Inside was a piece of paper and a handful of photographs. Her eyes scanned the pictures and she gasped. She glanced at the note.

$50,000 or these go to the press.
xxx,
A friend.

"What is it?" Kwest's gentle voice asked.

"It's…it's…nothing." Jude gathered the contents and shoved them back in the envelope.

Jude, what is it?" He reached out and she sighed, handing him her delivery. Kwest rifled through them, his eyes widening with each page. "Jude, these--"

"They're from my release party--after Tom left and I went to go visit Mason. That guy who took me up to the room…" Jude paused, choking back tears.

Kwest pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her shaking body. "I remember. Hey, shhh…It'll be okay."

"How am I supposed to get $50,000?" she sobbed into his chest.

He rubbed her back reassuringly. "We'll think of something."

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Tom pulled out his cell phone and checked the screen. 4 missed calls. 1 new voice mail. He sighed. It had been 10 days since he'd left, but he still felt as guilty as he had when he drove away from Jude. He checked his calls.

Three were from Jude and the last was from Kwest. Jude had given up on leaving messages after call number 267. He dialed his mailbox. Sure enough, Kwest's voice echoed through his phone.

"Man, it's Kwest. I know you gotta deal with this whole Portia thing, but I got news. Remember when I told you about Jude's release party? When she skipped and got drunk with that guy? Well, he sent her some…incriminating pictures today. And he's threatening to send them to the presses if she doesn't come up with some cash. She needs you, man. Liam and I haven't told anyone, but she's gonna find out. Call me."

Tom could feel his stomach sinking. This was not what was supposed to happen. Liam and Kwest were supposed to cover for him while he tried to figure everything out with Portia and his daughter. He knew Jude was hurting. He could never forget the look in her eyes when he said he wasn't coming back.

But what was he supposed to do? Explain to her that in a moment of weakness on his twenty-first birthday, he found himself in a very similar situation that the two of them had been in. He and Portia were locked in an old warehouse after an odd misunderstanding and in that moment of weakness, they had done things he would regret for years to come.

But, now he had Brigitte to worry about. After all, she was his daughter. He had been trying to force the thought from his mind ever since he had confirmed that he indeed did have a daughter. What was he going to do? Was he going to stick around and help Portia with Brigitte? Was he going to be a father and be there for his child--so much unlike his own father?

Or was he going to run back to Jude? And be with the woman he loved? Because he could only have one. Who was he kidding? There was no way for him to work it out. If Jude was around, there was no way he could be a good father. And if he was a good father, there was no room for Jude.

So, he did the only thing he could do. Reaching for his phone, he dialed the familiar number. Kwest answered on the third ring, "Hello?"

"It's me, Kwest," he muttered.

"Oh, hi, Aunt Clara! How are you?" Tom chuckled.

"How is she?"

Kwest was silent for a moment. "Not too good, man. She locked herself in the studio when everyone insisted they hadn't heard from you. She took her guitar and her notebook in there right after she got the envelope. Sadie and I have been waiting outside, but she won't let anyone in."

"Sadie and you, eh?"

"Don't change the subject. Darius is starting to ask questions."

Tom paled. "You haven't told anyone, have you?"

"What am I supposed to say, Tom? Oh, where's Tom? Oh, he ran off to go meet his daughter. You know, the one he has with your baby sister? Oh, you didn't know? My bad."

"Kwest, please. You can't tell anyone. Promise."

Tom could feel his friend tense up, even over the phone. "Look. I told you before, I won't tell anyone. Liam won't either."

Tom paused. "What exactly happened?" he asked.

Kwest sighed. "That kid who got drunk with her. He took pictures of her drunk…and…partially naked. He wants $50,000 or he's gonna send them to the presses."

Tom could feel his chest tightening. "Look, man. I can send the money. I'll wire it today and she can get it to this jerk tomorrow! She'll have nothing to worry about."

"Tom, you know this isn't about the money. She needs you. Even if these pictures are on the cover of every newspaper in the world, she can do this if you're by her side."

"Kwest, you think I don't already know that?" He swallowed hard. "I need her too."

"Then, what's your problem!" he screamed. "Why can't you come back?"

"I have Brigitte to worry about, man!" Tom burst out.

"Tom, listen to me! I have sat around for the past two years while you fooled around and crushed her heart time after time. But, I'm not gonna sit around watch you screw up again. If you don't come back, you're gonna kill her. Guaranteed. If you love her like you say you do, then you have to come back."

"Kwest, I appreciate your honesty. Really, I do. But, you don't see the whole picture. I have a daughter now. I have to fit her into this too."

"Tom, you could just get on a plane and come back to Toronto. Have Portia tell the little girl that you're her uncle coming to visit. Everything goes back to normal."

"It's not that simple." Tom took a deep breath. "Kwest, I understand that Jude needs me, but so does Brigitte. Let me think about this, okay?"

"Tom, here's the truth. If you don't come back, you're not half the man I thought you were." Tom heard a faint click and the phone line was dead.

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A/N - Okay! Hope this was enough to hold you over for a little while. Please, leave me feedback!