A/N: Oh my goodness! Guys, I'm so sorry about the long delay between updates. I really really am. Those of you who 'see' me on the DLS all know about my issues, but for those of you who aren't members of the DLS, here's the downlow of why I couldn't update sooner.

My life has exploded and I'm currently still trying to get everything in order. It's been so crazy-busy that I honestly don't know how I managed to fit everything in my schedule. Yesterday, I dropped with exhaustion. I tried to post this weekend, but that didn't happen because it all started over the weekend, Friday, when my allergies started to go in effect (I have seasonal allergies with weather changes, and right now, it's 70 one day and the next it's 40…wrecks havoc on the sinus's.) And I kinda forgot to check the box before I took the allergy/decongestant to keep myself going and it's a Claritin knockoff…and well, there's something in those that pretty much gives me a drug addiction. I start having withdrawal symptoms, full with sweating, shaking, racing pulse…it's bad. So, yeah, that didn't help, plus I was crazy busy all weekend and I was loosing out on sleep…it just wasn't a good weekend for me. But yeah, exhaustion over took me and I nearly passed out a couple different times.

Unfortunately, that meant longer delays in posting on ff.n and I really apologize for that. I feel better today (slept 10+ hours last night) but I'm still not myself. I'm hoping to update again tomorrow night to get you guys caught up. Again, I'm sorry and I'm going to try and post like a demon to get everything back on my update schedule.

I hope you guys like this chapter, and I promise another update soon. As long as I don't relapse, I'll be ok.

Chapter 8

Jude and Kat split up after lunch. Jude wanted to go and visit everyone at G Major and Kat had to get back to work. Jude promised Kat she'd make her way to her and Jamie's apartment in a few hours and they both went their separate ways. Jude elected to walk to the studio, her eyes surveying the changes Toronto underwent in three years. She marveled at the differences in businesses, sidewalks, parks, everything. It was all different and she almost didn't recognize her home.

She wandered the streets without too much media attention or fans attacking her. She eventually made it back to G Major Records and she paused outside the building. Her eyes surveyed the parking lot but she shook herself and took a deep breathe and opened the doors for the first time in three years.

When she entered the main doors, she stopped just inside, her eyes taking in the slight differences. Gone where the bands during 'her days'. There was still a picture of her on the wall as the original Instant Star winner, along with the other two winners who came after her. Other artists hung on the walls, ones Jude recognized and ones that must have been up and coming.

"Jude?" An excited voice called out. Jude snapped herself out of her reverie and turned her head. Georgia was standing by the boardroom doorway, staring at the young woman. Jude smiled a greeting.

"Georgia." She said, her voice calm but the grin on her face wide and childlike. Georgia let out a squeal of happiness and ran over to Jude and hugged her. Jude was like a daughter to Georgia and it was painful when the young artist had left them three years before. She missed seeing Jude and hearing her music.

"How have you been?" Georgia asked her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and steering her through the busy studio and towards her office.

"I've been better." Jude said, her voice not quite as steady. Georgia nodded slightly.

"yeah, I heard you went AWOL, but I never thought you'd come back here." Georgia said, her voice conveying her hones thoughts.

"Three days ago, I wouldn't have thought coming back here." Jude said and Georgia opened her office door and led Jude inside. She closed the door behind her and motioned for Jude to take a seat. While on her first tour, Darius Mills had taken over G Records from Georgia. A move that seriously damaged their personal relationship. Darius continued to run the studio and even brought it a better reputation, but along with the other studios he owned and operated throughout Canada and the US, Darius didn't have much time to concentrate on little G Records and hired Georgia back to run the place. G Major was currently owned by Darius, but all decisions were made by Georgia, with some consulting of the big D.

"You didn't answer my question." Georgia stated, assessing Jude's reaction. Jude sighed.

"I don't know how much"

"Tommy told me the whole story after you left." Jude looked annoyed at this.

"Did everyone know but me!" She demanded. Georgia's eyes softened.

"I know how it must seem"

"I don't think anyone can get how I feel." Jude said, shaking her head.

"Tom only told me because I'm his friend Jude and I was worried about his sudden depression. I knew he had feelings for you and I could tell you felt the same way, but all the sudden you left and he was walking around like he lost his soul…I knew something was up. He wouldn't have told me otherwise." Georgia explained. Jude's eyes got sad at the mention of Tommy.

"Is he here?" Jude asked, her tone hesitant but her eyes were conveying everything Georgia needed to know in answering the question.

"No, he's actually at a soundcheck right now." Georgia answered, her eyes sympathetic.

"Oh," Jude said, looking disappointed.

"Well, Kwest is around and I know he'd be happy to see you, along with EJ and SME." Georgia said, hoping the mention of her old friends would help cheer the younger woman up. God she's grown up so much she thought. Gone was the teenager and in her place, a young woman who had gone through so much more than anyone her age should have had to.

"Would you mind if I went and found everyone?"

"Nope. You're always welcome here Jude." Georgia said, smiling warmly. Jude smiled back.

"Thanks Georgia."
"No Jude, thank you." Georgia insisted. "Don't be a stranger." She added. Jude nodded and got up out of her seat and went to leave the room. "Jude?" Jude turned her head to look back at Georgia, her hand on the doorknob. "Don't give up on him." She added. Jude nodded.

"I wasn't planning on it." She said, her voice conveying her honesty. Earlier that day, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. After thinking on her way to G Records and her talk with Georgia and seeing the studio, memories of Tommy flooded her mind and she remembered how happy he made her. She knew they could have it again. Maybe not right away, but a love like they had couldn't be destroyed that easily. With a new determination, Jude stepped out of Georgia's office and went on a search for Kwest and her former band mates.