A/N The song I use in this chapter is 'To Be With You' By Mr Big I don't own the lyrics or rights to this song 

"No." She said without hesitation.

"You're no fun." He kidded a little, but told her anyway. "We're going to my family's house up north a little." He said evenly.

Jude interest sky rocketed when she heard this. "Are they going to be there?" She questioned, realizing she nothing about his family.

"Who?" He asked, confused.

"Your family."

"No, nobody in my family has really stayed in the house since..." He began but stopped when he realized what he was going to say. He looked over at Jude who's eyes were filled with curiosity. "Ah, for a while now." He said trying to cover it up. "I just go there every so often to keep it updated, add a few things, and make sure it stays in good condition. Sometimes we rent it out." He added, knowing someone stayed there 3 months ago. He had checked on the house before he had come back to Toronto.

"Do you have any brothers? Sisters?" Jude questioned. She realized she had no idea about his family, except that his father was a lawyer, and that she just learned. How could she have never asked since she knew him?

"No, only child." He said as he switched lanes.

"How about your parents? Where do they live? Do you see them often?" She questioned rapidly.

"My fathers lives in Toronto also, but I don't get around to seeing him that much and my mother is-" He only paused for a split second. "dead." He finished evenly

Jude looked at him, a little shocked. She didn't know that. Jude's eyes shone with sympathy. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." She murmured, echoing her thoughts

Tommy shook his shoulders. "It was a long time ago." He said simply. It was costing him to be this nonchalant about it, but he wasn't about to lay his whole life story on Jude.

Sensing they could use a subject change, Jude left her questions unanswered and spoke, "Tell me about the house."

"What do you want to know?" He smiled softly, grateful for the different topic.

"Is it big?" She questioned.

"Huge."

"TV? I can't live without it." It was the truth, she admitted to herself.

"I think there's 8." He replied.

"How about instruments?" Just because she was taking a break from everybody, didn't mean she could neglect her music.

"A whole room full of them." He said with a flourish.

Jude stopped for a second at that. "But I thought you never really stayed there, why would you have instruments? Did you play them when you were younger?"

"Yeah I played when I was younger and there was some there then, but I bought new ones for the house. One of the families that comes more than once has kids who play about any instrument they can get their hands on. So I know they like them." He absently replied. He turned his head to Jude and saw her intently staring at him. "What?"

Jude shook her head. "Nothing." Sometimes he was just too cute for words. "How many bedrooms?" She couldn't help but wonder.

Tommy looked at her. "How many do you want there to be?" He asked coyly. Jude's mouth flew open and she stared at him. "Kidding, kidding. Five, okay?" He said with a bit of regret.

"Hm, too bad." She murmured. When Tommy groaned she giggled. "See, even I can make joke." The car floated into silence, but Jude didn't mind. She was feeling content. And she didn't know why. Maybe it was knowing she'd be away from Toronto for a few days, but if she was honest, it's because she was with Tommy. She felt safe with him, as if everything that was going on around here wasn't really happening. She was at ease, and maybe even a little happy. She shook her head, not really knowing where this was all coming from. She reached for the radio, hoping music would distract her, and played with stations until she heard an old song come on. She gasped as she turned it louder. "I haven't heard this in forever. I love this song!" She exclaimed as she started to sing along to it.

"Hold on little girl, show me what he's done to you, stand up little girl, a broken heart can't be that bad." She tilted her head while she vocalized. "When it's through, it through fate will twist the both of you." She faced Tommy and saw him give her a funny look, she stopped singing and asked him, "What? Tell me you don't love this song." She gushed. When Tommy shrugged slightly she tsked a little and she joined into the chorus. "Deep inside I hope you feel it too, waited on a line of greens and blues." She sang towards Tommy, smiling. She didn't care if she was making a fool of herself. It was Tommy.

He glanced at her and couldn't help smiling back. She was infectious. She was irresistible. She was amazing. She was about to open her mouth to sing the next verse, when Tommy beat it her to it.

He turned towards her, surprising her as he took over the part. "Build up your confidence so you can be on top for once." He scrunched up his face for effect as he held up a single finger for emphasis of the lyrics. "Wake up who cares about little boys that talk too much" He belted out as Jude's eyebrows quirked at his sudden outburst. She broke out in a grin and listened as he serenaded her

"I've seen it all go down, your game of love was all rained out, So come on baby, come on over, lemme be the one to hold you." Tommy crooned as he continued to drive. They sang the chorus as Jude tapped her hands against the dashboard to the beat. Tommy drummed along with his fingers on the steering wheel.

Jude faced Tommy as she leaned up from her seat and closed her eyes as she started the bridge. "Why be alone when we can be together baby." Tommy glanced over to her and sang the next part, "You can make my life worth while and I can make you start to smile." He drawled out the last word as the music just played, without words. They both bobbed their heads to the sound, as Jude strummed an air guitar. Tommy laughed at her as he alternated glances between her and the road. She grinned back at him as he began the next part.

"When it's through, it's through, faith will twist the both of you. So come on baby, come on over let me be the one to show you." Tommy repeated the words Jude sang before. Jude pretended to swoon at his words, as he playfully stuck out a hand to swat her in the shoulder.

"I'm the one who wants to be with you." Jude sang along with Tommy as she pointed to him jokingly, getting into the song. "Deep inside I hope you feel it too. Waited on a line of greens and blues, just to be the next to be with you." They sang the chorus, not holding back. They repeated it again as the song wrapped up. "Just to be the next to be with you." They said the final words slowly as the lyrics ended and the music stopped.

Jude lowered the music, leaned back in her seat and dissolved in a fit of giggles. "That was great" She commented. "Tommy Quincy singing a terribly good 80's love ballad. Never thought I lived to see the day." She kidded as she stared at him.

"Terribly bad, you mean." Tommy winked as switched into the right lane.

"Oh come on, you loved it!" She insisted and continued. " Whatever, you know that song is the greatest thing ever. Every time I hear it I can't help but sing it." She pronounced passionately.

He stared at her, before he remembered he should keep his eyes on the highway. He loved the way she got when it came to music. Even if it was some cheesy ballad. "All right, I'll agree. I'm a sucker for it too." He bared all teeth as he flicked his right blinker.

"I knew it!" She exclaimed "I mean how else would have you known all the words to it? You didn't miss a line." She teased him as she watched him pull off the highway. "We're here already?" She asked, confused.

"Not exactly, we have about another half hour, but I need to get some stuff for the house." He simply stated as they drove on the local roads. Jude nodded as they traveled down the streets.

BR Twenty Minutes Later

Tommy climb out of the driver's seat after they had pulled up to a small shopping center that was literally stuck in the middle of nowhere. It was complete with a drugstore, a food market, a clothing store, and a few other small shops. He watched Jude hop out of the car and stretch lazily. He saw her T-shirt move up slightly revealing her toned stomach, as she pulled her arms over her head to work out any kinks. He watched as she shook her head, causing red strands to fly everywhere, catching the sun that shone above them. Sometimes he wondered if she did things like that to intentionally torture him. He gawked at her while she looked at him and spoke, oblivious to whatever was running through him.

"Tommy? Can I use your cell phone? I really need to get in touch with Sadie, and let her know where we are." Jude explained quickly, biting her lip. She didn't want Sadie to worry when she couldn't get in touch with her at the house. She left the number that her mother had given her in case of emergencies at home, so she hoped Sadie could also pass the message to her mother.

"Hm, what?" He asked as Jude's voice broke him out of his trance. He didn't hear a word Jude had said, he had been too busy staring at her.

She looked at him funny. Didn't he catch anything she just said? "Can. I .use. your. cell. phone.?" She said each word slowly. "You broke mine, remember?" She felt a tingle run through her body as she recalled what happened right after that.

Tommy groaned a little. As if he could forget that, ever. "Yeah, yeah I remember." He grumbled as he fished out his phone. He held out his phone for her as she snatched it. She quickly dialed Sadie's cell number and patiently waited for her to come on the line.

"Sadie? Hey it's Jude." She began as she started to walk the length of the tiny parking lot. She told her sister about the press, their getaway, and their plans to stay away for a few days. Sadie enthusiastically agreed that it was a good idea, and that she'd pass it along to their mother and smooth out any protests she had. Jude was grateful for that. She didn't know if her mother would be thrilled that she was going away for a few days with only Tommy. She was glad Sadie be the one to tell her. Jude relayed Tommy's cell number and told her to call her there in case she needed her. She said good-bye and hung up. She was about to give it back to Tommy when his phone rang in her hand. She looked at the caller ID.

"Georgia" She said as handed it to him. She watched him as he spoke to Georgia, not having an idea on what they were talking about. Five minutes later, he clicked the phone off and sighed softly.

"What did Georgia say?" She inquired, as Tommy walked towards her.

"She said the press is worse than we anticipated." He began reluctantly. "It's an all out media frenzy." He explained as they walked towards the quiet shopping center. "They're completely divided. Half are excited about you and Chris breaking up, thinking it'll lead to a romance between me and you." He told her quickly, keeping his voice even. "The other half is spending it's time trashing you and I, but you mostly." He said honestly. Georgia had read him a few of the things they were printing about Jude, and he was disgusted that they got away with such lies. He turned to her, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Jude, you gotta believe I never wanted it to happen like this" It killed him to think that he was mostly responsible for the bad press that was coming Jude's way. If he hadn't pursued her so persistently, maybe it would have turned out better.

Jude shook her head. "I don't blame you, Tommy. I take responsibility for it. I'm a big girl now, okay?" She said, trying to make her tone calm. She knew after 3 years in the music business, she'd get over it. But it still hurt whenever they published something negative about her. "I'm just happy you took me away for a couple of days. I didn't want to be around to read it all." She said gratefully as they came to the outside of the grocery store. She reached out for the door handle.

Tommy hesitated. "Georgia thinks it be better if we kept out of sight for a little longer than two days."

Jude's hand froze on the knob. "How much longer?" She questioned softly. She knew she could deal with two or three days of being alone with Tommy, but that's probably it. Any longer, she knew she'd never be able to keep resist him.

"6 maybe 7." When Jude turned her head towards him, he continued quickly. "But she said she'd let us know first thing when it be okay to come home. I know it sucks, Jude, but it's for the best. I don't want you around in Toronto right now, while everything is so, so fresh in everyone's minds." He reasoned as he remembered the headlines about her and him, and numbly about Chris's note. If he'd have to convince her that it was for the best, he would. There was no way he'd subject her to everything that was going on at home. Even if it drove him crazy to have to be around her 24/7 without being able to constantly touch her. He thought the past month was bad, but a week with just Jude? He absently wondered how long it take for him to crack.

She knew he made sense, but still 7 days with him? Seven very long days with Tommy Quincy? 'What if he walks around without a T-shirt again?' She nervously thought. She numbly wondered how long it take for her to crack.

She nodded finally, agreeing. Her thoughts then went to her small duffle bag. "But Tommy, I only packed for a couple of days, there's no way I have enough to last me for a week." She told him.

Tommy sighed happily. Her biggest problem with the whole thing was that she didn't have enough clothes? He could handle that. "Don't worry. I have none at all. We'll hit the clothes shop first." He said as he pointed to a moderate size store a few stores down.

She exhaled. "Okay, sounds good." They walked towards the store, but Jude stopped again. "What if someone recognizes us? It's not like we're in disguise or anything." She looked between Tommy and herself.

He laughed at that. "Trust me, nobody will see us here, and if they do recognize us they won't care." Tommy explained truthfully. "I don't even think they get gossip magazines here."

Jude looked at her surroundings and believed him. Save for the stores, it seemed pretty quiet here. "Okay." She shrugged as they continued to walk towards the shop.

Almost an hour and half later, Jude practically skipped out of the store with two bags in her hand. Tommy shuffled behind with five. She had tried on just about everything at the store, struck a conversation with the clerk, and went back and forth between clothes about 500 times. He'd simply grabbed what he knew looked good on him and was finished. "You sure know how to shop, girl." He grumbled as he shifted the bags in his hands.

She smiled sheepishly at him. "It's from living with Sadie for years. She taught me everything I know." She said proudly. She looked at him and frowned a little. "You didn't have to buy everything for me, I had money."

Tommy shook his shoulders slightly. "I don't mind." Truth was, he didn't. He kind of liked pampering someone. Especially when that 'someone' was Jude.

"It was still incredibly nice of you." She turned to him as she dropped her bags lightly on the floor. "Not just this, everything. Taking me away from home, bringing me up to your family's house. It means a lot Quincy." She murmured as she put a hand on his cheek.

"For you Jude, I'd do anything." He softly said as he leaned his face into her hand. They locked eyes for a few second and Jude thought he was going to kiss her again. He brought his face closer to hers, but paused as a million thoughts ran through his head. Tommy shook his head and pulled away unexpectedly. "We, ah, should put these in the car before we head to the food store." He said, feeling all of a sudden uncomfortable, as he grabbed the bags Jude had dropped and went back to the car.

Jude watched him go. She stood there silently, perplexed with what just happened.

She felt like they were about to have a "moment", but then he pulled away. That was so un-Tommy of him. But she should be grateful, right? He was giving her space. After all she was going through a tough time after the whole Chris situation, 'The last thing I need to do is start something with the man I've been pining after since I was 15.' She though ruefully as she saw him stroll towards him. He looked cool, calm, and collected- nothing she felt.

He smiled casually at her as he stuck his hands in his pockets, walking to her. He tried to forget that minutes ago he was right near her lips. He'd snuffed the urge then, not wanting to push things between them. He knew it be hard to give her the space she needed to deal with all that was going on. He knew he'd slip every so often, but he'd try his hardest not to.

"Come on." He said lightly as he grabbed her by the wrist and went towards the food store. "We have to pick up a few things." They walked into the market and he grabbed a nearby shopping cart.