A/N - Hey everyone… Okay, I updated. It's short, but it's filler. Expect another chapter tomorrow!

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Chapter 4 - You Don't Know Who I Really Am

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Tom closed his cell phone, sighing. Kwest was his best friend and he respected his opinion, but he was totally out of line. Tom knew what his options were. He didn't need them repeated again by his best friend.

Groaning, he walked into the kitchen where Portia was washing Brigitte at the sink. "Just in time, Tommy! We're about to have lunch. Pull up a chair!"

Brigitte eyes shined and she smiled brightly. "Tommy's staying for lunch?"

"Actually, Portia, can I talk to you?" He paused and glanced at Brigitte, adding, "Alone."

"Sure…" Portia turned to face her daughter. "Brigitte, can you go outside and play while me and Tommy talk, please?"

She sighed. "Fine. But I just washed my hands."

"Well, we'll wash them again when you come in."

"Goody…" She hopped out the door, leaving Portia and Tom alone.

"So, what is it?"

Tom ran his hands through his hair. "Portia, I don't know if I can do this."

"I'm not forcing you or anything," she reminded him. "She has a good family here with me and my parents if you don't want to get involved."

"I know. But I want to be a better dad than my father. I want to be there for my kid and I…I want to raise her."

Portia was silent for a second. "You want to?"

Tom took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Yeah… I do."

"Mommy?" The two of them turned to see Brigitte standing in the doorway. "Is…is Tommy my daddy?"

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Jude sighed, throwing the pen and paper down. This was useless. Who was she kidding? She couldn't do this without Tommy. She had tried, but it just wasn't possible.

"Guess I'm just not cut out for the music biz," she muttered, setting her Gibson down on the soundboard and thinking back, her chest tightening.

"Look, about before in the alley... I really don't know what to say."

"Come on, Tommy. I think we both know what you wanna say. It was a mistake, right? Just a pity kiss? You don't feel the same way I do, because I'm just a kid, just say it. Lie to me."

He gave her a sad look. "Either I have to quit working with you, or I can stay but we have to agree that that kiss had never happened."

The warm tears dripping down her face stung her skin. "I know."

"Jude, say it. Jude--"

"Okay."

"Jude, say it."

"Okay, okay. It never happened. Okay?"

She hated her sixteenth birthday, for this exact reason. Because she could have dealt with Shay. She could have dealt with Eden. If she knew Tom had her back. She lost herself in another memory, this one much more pleasant.

"You know…people, they don't always see who you really are, but I need you to try."

"I always thought I saw the real you."

"Believe me. In me. Again."

"I want to, but…" She shrugged.

"Sadie and I…we weren't right…"

"Why?"

He gave her a pointed look. "You know exactly why…"

She paused, watching him carefully. "Yeah…"

She heard a faint knocking on the door and she groaned. "Go away! I told you, I don't want to talk!" But whoever was at the door was either deaf or stupid. The knocking continued.

Standing up, she flung the door open, then sighed. "Liam, what do you want?"

His look was serious and Jude felt the worry rising in her chest. "Can I talk to you?"

Jude crossed her arms over her chest. "I guess."

"Listen, I just talked to Kwest, about…the pictures, and--"

"He told you?" Jude screamed.

"Yeah, just listen."

"No! I can't believe he would just tell you!" she fumed, throwing her arms up in the air.

"Jude." He reached out and grabbed her, holding tight.

"What!"

"I know where Mr. Quincy is."

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A/N - Okay! Did you like it? Feedback updates!