I've got to say...I never expected to get this many reviews on a fanfiction that I wrote; you guys are amazing! Your support has kept this story going, in addition to fueling the other ideas spinning through my head. Only a few more chapters left!
Love love love and hugs!


During the next two days, things began to slow down at G-Major. No fights, tearful episodes, or drama of any type occured; for once, everything was just fine.

Before Jude had left on vacation Georgia listened silently to her request for a new producer, a little shocked at her abrupt decision. Jude never seemed like the type to just give up, but because she stated that her music was in danger Georgia really had no say in the matter. She filled out the paperwork and made a few phone calls, and soon enough Jude's new producer was on a plane to Toronto.

.o.o.o.o.o.

Jude sat in Studio C, strumming her guitar and humming a few bars of the melody she was composing. Tommy sat behind the glass window seperating them; his mind had been going a mile a minute since his talk with Stuart, and it had only speeded up with Jude's return to G-Major after her brief vacation.

Things had become cordial between the two, and they'd settled into a safe, minimally awkward routine: they greeted each other in the morning, went over Jude's new song lyrics or melodies, and avoided any subjects that would tip the precarious balance they were maintaining. In addition to their kiss and the explosive lobby fight, their talk after Under the Mic and the impending arrival of Jude's new producer were added to the "do not talk about" list. So far, so good; it had been a little over two weeks since Jude had requested a new producer, and she and Tommy had kept up a genial (if forced) air between the two.

Georgia knocked lightly and then pushed through the door into the studio, holding it open for the man accompanying her.

"Tom, this is Marcus Calderon, Jude's new producer. Marcus, this is Tom Quincy."

Marcus immediately offered his hand to Tom, who eyed him for a minute before taking it firmly in his own and shaking it. "It's great to meet you, Mr. Quincy. I really admire you work," Marcus said with a smile. Tom shot back a thorougly fake smile in return, sitting back down immediately and turning back towards Jude.

"Yeah. Nice to meet you too."

"Jude's working on one of her newest songs right now, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you popped in and introduced yourself," Georgia offered, gesturing to the door seperating the studio and the producer's area. Marcus nodded at her and opened it, closing it behind him with a soft click.

.o.o.o.o.o.

"I'm the smoke from your fire...I'm that guy you can trust..." Jude crooned softly, strumming her guitar to a slow and steady rythm. She looked up as the studio door opened quietly, expecting for Tom or Georgia to step through. Instead, a tall and handsome hispanic man looked back at her, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners with a smile.

"Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Harrison...I'm Marcus Calderon, your new producer," he said, his hands in his jeans pockets. Jude looked at him for a minute, taking in his muscular build and caramel skin. He couldn't have been older than 28, but his age belied the world-weary look in his eyes that Jude immediately connected with.

She snapped out of her daze, standing up and setting down her guitar. "Call me Jude...and don't worry about interrupting, I wasn't really into it anyway. So you're the new guy, huh?" she said, offering a hand. Marcus smiled before offering his, and they shared a firm and friendly handshake.

"Yeah...Just between you and me, I'm waiting for the hazing rituals to start!" he said with a laugh, and Jude chuckled a little as well.

"I will neither confirm or deny that there are plans to 'welcome' you to G-Major in the works..." she said with a wry grin. Marcus laughed again, and Jude smiled even wider.

I could get used to this...

.o.o.o.o.o.

Tommy frowned deeply, watching Jude and Marcus laugh and joke with each other. He missed that intimate friendship that they'd had before he'd shot it to hell; the joking, the laughing, the hugs. His chest tightened painfully as he realized that he wouldn't have that with her anymore.

"I'm not sure I like this guy, Georgia. I mean, how do we know that we can trust him?"

Georgia held in a laugh, not missing the not-so-subtle touch of jealousy in Tommy's voice. "He's fine, Tom. He's from Columbia records in the states; he's one of the best in the business. Jude's in good hands."

Tom refrained from growling at Georgia's word choice, his patented bad-boy scowl deepening with every passing second. He didn't like this new arrangement, not at all.