Jude walked down the stairs, freshly showered and changed. She ran a hand through her damp hair before she pulled it back loosely into a ponytail. She wondered where Tommy was again, and got an answer when she stepped onto the black linoleum floor in the kitchen. She stopped as she saw him sitting on the stool going through what looked like mail.
"Hey." She softly murmured as she shrugged her shoulders before she shoved her hands in her Jean pockets.
Tommy didn't look up. "Hey." He easily answered back. He tilted his head towards the stove, still studying the mail, as he spoke again. "I just made tea, it's still warm." He absently said as he opened an envelope and slipped the paper out.
Jude nodded her head, even though he couldn't see it. "Uh, okay. Thanks" She said slowly as she twisted her hands. She slowly made her way towards the cupboard, passing Tommy on the way. He gave a small smile, but didn't kept his eyes focused on the mail. She was getting that feeling again. She had thought after what happened in the middle of the night she'd feel secure about everything, she had thought all her doubts had been washed away. Yet, here she stood unsure again of what exactly her and Tommy had. She looked over her shoulder at him, watching him sip his tea. He seemed so relaxed, so nonchalant about everything. She sighed heavily, berating herself. She needed to stop being such a 'kid' about this. She needed to handle it in a mature fashion. Jude stood on her tip toes to reach for a mug, but Tommy's hands suddenly sprouted out and beat her to it.
She turn around to him as he held out the cup for her. She didn't even hear him come towards her. "Thanks." She took it from his outstretched hand as she brought the mug down in front of her and looked at it, not wanting to meet his face.
Tommy folded his arms over his chest and studied her. He could sense the turmoil within her. He could tell what she was feeling just by an unconscious action. He inwardly smiled, realizing that he still needed to dispel any doubts Jude may have. He'd be more than happy to.
Jude stood there as she ran a finger along the edge of the cup. She couldn't help but look up for a second. She watched Tommy watch her intently. "What?" She asked, wondering why he was staring at her like that. She saw him smile as he shook his head.
"Nothing." He said, but then looked as if he was considering something. "Well, except this." He unfolded his arms as he snaked them around Jude's waist and pulled her towards him. He freed one of his hands as he tilted her chin up so that her mouth was closer to his. He slowly brought his lips down the rest of the way, kissing her softly, but thoroughly. It was filled with answers and promises, everything she needed. Jude hooked her arms under Tommy's as she sighed into his mouth.
After a few seconds, Tommy his face away from hers, but kept his hands securely on Jude. "Still have any doubts?" He asked as he twisted her damp ponytail with his fingers.
Jude gave him an astounded look, drawing back a little. "What? What do you-"
Tommy chuckled slightly, letting go of her hair so he could prevent her from leaving his arms. "Oh please, girl. I can read you like a book. I knew what you were feeling, what you were thinking, the minute you walked into the room."
Jude smiled coyly, feeling comfortable being with him like this. "Oh yeah?"
"Oh yeah." He playfully echoed Jude, enticing a laugh from her.
"Okay then smart guy. What am I thinking right now?" She thrusted her chin up in challenge.
Tommy pretended to consider that. He tapped his index finger against the side of his chin in jest. "Hm, you're thinking about how much you want me to kiss you right now." He revealed as he lowered his face closer to hers.
Jude gave a mock gasp of shock. "You're good." She teased him as she met his lips slowly. Tommy nodded his head while taking the kiss further. Jude circled his neck, with the mug still in her hands.
"Mm, I love being able to do that whenever I want." He commented when they finally pulled apart slightly. " I definitely plan on kissing you every chance I get." He leaned his forehead against hers. Tommy felt a wave of content wash over him. He loved being with her like this. Not for the first time since they've been at the house, he wished they could stay here forever.
Jude's thoughts were mirror images of Tommy's. She was about to reply, but she was suddenly hit with a realization. "Uh," Jude began hesitantly. "You can't really." Tommy cocked his head to the side in question. She paused before she started again. "I don't think we should give the press anything else to write about, Tommy. Especially after Chris last night." She explained to him as she walked out of his grasp and went towards the teapot. She continued to talk as she poured the tea. "I mean maybe it would be best to keep everything low key for a little while. Wait a couple of weeks for it to stop being so fresh in everyone's minds." She rationalized as she went to grab a tea bag from one of the tightly sealed container on the counter in the corner. She forced back a chuckle as she opened one. She had never known a man who stored his tea like Tommy.
Tommy exhaled loudly as he watched her. "Jude, I think people have an idea of what's going on between me and you." He didn't feel like hiding his feelings for her anymore, he'd been doing it longer than he cared for.
"That's just it." She dunked the tea bag in the water. "They have an idea, but they don't know for sure" She finally turned around to him as she took a sip of her tea. "We've waited this long, what's another few weeks?" She pointed out, but he made no effort to comment. She surveyed him and sighed when she saw him frown. "Tommy, I just don't want them to make something out of nothing, you know? I don't want them to say things that aren't true."
"What could they possible say that they already haven't, Jude?" Tommy's voice grew slightly higher at each word. He couldn't care less about what the press printed about him and Jude.
Jude enveloped the mug with both of her hands as she took another gulp. "This time it's true though. That changes things." She pointed out logically. "Besides they'll go crazy with speculations. You know exactly what they'll print." She placed her cup down on the counter as she put her hand high in front of her and ran it from left to right, imagining a headline. "Jude Harrison and Lil Tommy Q: Secret love affair for years" Jude predicted. "Or some bull that's not true."
Tommy gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Don't I know it." When Jude just gave him a look, he spoke again. "Who cares what the press think as long as we know the truth." Tommy said exasperated. He was done with being preoccupied with what the magazines printed. He couldn't let them dictate how he ran his life.
Jude listened to him throw her words back at her unconsciously. She almost let out a laugh. That was the same thing she had told him before he left. Not the same exact situation, but identical words, identical train of thought. The only other thing that was different was which words were coming out of who's mouth. "Funny." She said, feeling the need to point it out. "Here we stand, months later, but we're back to square one. It's the same thing again, same disagreement but with one small exception, I'm the rational one. Who would have thought it?" She mused as she leaned back on the counter. She gingerly rubbed her head with her fingers. She didn't want to argue with him, especially over the press. "I just, I don't want them to taint what we have." She said, almost weakly.
Tommy could tell she was just trying to do what was right. He also knew her words held some truth. It was a total role reversal. Didn't he think the same thing when he decided to go that day? He had left because he didn't want the press to trash him and Jude's relationship. He had wanted her to understand so bad back then, but she didn't 'And now she does.' He realized, feeling a little bitter about it. Yet, he knew where she was coming from, and he could understand it now. He gave a surrendering sigh. "Okay, you're right." He conceded as he made his way to her. " We'll keep it quiet for a little while, but not forever okay?" She nodded her head in agreement. "Good, but I think in the meantime we should use the time we have to together, alone, to the fullest." He insinuated, lightening the mood. He boxed her in and grinned at her.
Jude raised a single eyebrow as she mulled the idea around in her head. "I think that's a good compromise." She got out before Tommy prevented her from saying anything else by crashing his lips on hers.
Four Days Later
Tommy and Jude walked into G Major, side by side, but not touching. They had arrived back about an hour ago and it was now 10 in the morning. They had stopped off at Jude's house where her mother was finally home. Sadie was scheduled to come back later on tonight. Tommy waited in the car while Jude and her mother welcomed each other home. Jude had called her a couple of days ago and Victoria had gotten over her initial concern of her going away. They had traded a few quick stories before Jude explained she needed to get to the recording studio. She was excited about the songs she had written and couldn't wait to get to work on them.
An easy smile graced Jude's lips as she spotted Georgia and EJ standing off to the side. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so relaxed, so happy. Jude had spent every day with Tommy, and every night together of their last days of peace and solitude. They still planned to keep things quiet, but it wasn't like they weren't ashamed of what they had.
Georgia greeted them first. "My, my. Don't we both look rested." She commented as she smiled at them.
They smiled back as Tommy unconsciously shot out his arm to loop around Jude's hip but pushed his hands into his pockets when he realized what he was doing. He had did it so quickly that if anyone had blinked, they might have missed it. He had grown accustomed to being able to touch Jude whenever he wanted. Whether it be a casual arm around her waist, a palm on the small of her back, or a hand on her face, he loved the feel of her. He'd have to break the habit that was so easy to form, and defintely hard to end.
The action wasn't lost on Georgia, who bit back a smirk. She knew. Nothing got passed Georgia Bevans.
EJ, who was oblivious to it, chimed in. "You really do, Jude." She agreed as she surveyed her. "You really needed those extra days to relax. Good thing you didn't come back right away when everything had somewhat settled down a few days ago. Those extra rest days did wonders for your complexion."
Jude looked confused at EJ's words. That wasn't right. She remembered Tommy saying it wasn't a good time for them to come back just yet. Everything was still so messed up with Chris. "What are you talking about-"
"Hey, Jude don't you think we should get started on recording those songs we wrote while we are?" Tommy cut in, not wanting to bring attention to his little lie. He pushed her towards the recording studio and threw a smile back at them, while EJ stared in puzzlement and Georgia in amusement.
Jude let herself be moved as she tried to figure out what EJ meant. "I thought you said Georgia said to hang out for a while? You know that it wasn't time for us to come back yet?" She asked him as she stepped into the recording room and heard Tommy close the door behind them.
"Well, uh, she..." He fumbled over his words as he scratched his chin. Jude shot him a suspicious glare as she crossed her arms over her chest. He let out a guilty chuckle. "You got me." He held his hands up in defeat as he watched Jude's jaw drop.
"You lied?" She said slowly, as if she was putting the pieces together. "You lied about not being able to come back so you could spend more time with?" When he just shook his head yes, she broke out in a grin. "Sneaky Quincy, very sneaky." She tried to berate him, but she couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice
He relaxed when he realized she wasn't mad. He shrugged as he spoke. "Well, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." He sighed as if he had no other choice. He was about to close the distance between them when a knock was heard. "Come in." He yelled as the door flung open.
An intern who had been training at G Major for the last few months popped his head.
"Hey Pedro." Tommy greeted the young Latino by his first name. "What's up?"
"Sorry to interrupt, but you have somebody waiting for you in the conference room, Mr. Quincy." He said with a slight accent.
Tommy nodded his head, and then looked to Jude. "I'll be right back."
"Okay." She answered as he walked out of the room. She turned her attention to her bag as she fished out her music paper and sat down in a chair to work on it.
Tommy followed Pedro as he made his way into the hallway. He turned the knob of the door, wondering who was here to see him. As the door swung open, Tommy's face filled with mild shock as he spotted the person who was waiting for him.
"What are you doing here?"