I have been reading a lot of comments about how readers feel as if they are experiencing the words I write for the characters, themselves. I really do appreciate the kind words, they are truly encouraging. When I write I put myself in their places. When I write for Jude, I write as if I am her and how I would feel, same goes for everyone else. The detail in the story comes from my ways of wanting everything to connect, every one thing to tie a theme together. Weather, nature, houses, people, etc. I love using everything to describe the scene, it makes it more real. At least to me.

Sorry that I took so long to post in this story. I post where I feel inspired… I guess that's the perfectionist in me. I wanted this chapter and the next two to be almost more special than any other. Not as heartbreaking but one that will leave you all with a passion and love for the characters. Tommy and Jude are going through a tough time, as we all do, there's never any reason not to find positives in a negative situation. With my dad being so ill, I spend most of my days laughing and enjoying what time I do have. Not everything about watching a love one die has to be full of heartache. I wanted to show that emotion with this story.

I only planned on writing just a few chapters for this story, so now here is chapter Seven…. I believe there will only be nine more before I finish…. To all of you who are looking for a miracle cure for Tommy, I wouldn't look too far. My story is about the journey between, Hello to Goodbye.

Chapter Seven

Seven Months Later…

Jude's kitchen had been turned upside down. Over the weeks Jude had been planning a night out with Tommy. One that he could enjoy while not having to leave the house. The seven months that had passed since his cancer returned had taken a huge toll on his body. Had taken a huge toll on Jude. She worked for a few hours a day, Darius had been kind enough to allow Jude to bring Aidan with her. One weight had been lifted off her shoulders, she was able to sing while the baby sat in a play pin outside the glass window. Kwest had taken over her producing while Tommy lay ill at home, numerous times Jude would look through the glass and see Kwest bouncing Aidan on his lap while messing around with the sound board. A sight that always brought a smile as well as tears to her face. Everyone had been so nice after hearing about Tommy's illness. G Major had personally allowed Tommy to take a paid leave of absence, Liam had a heart after all. Sadie kept her job as a receptionist, many times she would watch Aidan while she sat at her desk. Other employee's like Sadie and Kwest took a keen interest in seeing that Jude had a happy work environment.

After a few months passed Jude and Tommy found a schedule that worked for them, while Jude was at the studio Tommy managed to get things done at home. Jude brought home compact disk's of other artists Darius and Jamie were interested in. Tommy being the studio's best producer, having his thoughts on how an artist sounded was an insight they still craved. Darius had been apprehensive at first keeping Tommy involved in studio work, he feared Tommy would wear himself out, a mishap none of them wanted to see. It took one angry phone call from Jude for Darius to give in, Jude had defended her husbands producing skills, warning him no one was better at giving advice, if he didn't allow her husband to at least review a couple hopeful's a week Jude was walking away from her contract.

Once Jude came home with the baby it was all about taking care of the two men in her life. Tommy needed a lot of care, his body had deteriorated greatly over the months, to the point where he needed a cane to get around. The tumors on his spinal column had grown in size, some spreading and multiplying. Twice Tommy had to be hospitalized for days at a time… the last time the doctors feared his body would not be able to recover, Jude had been told they would be surprised if Tommy lived to see another week. Tommy had proved all the doctors wrong, four months later he was doing better. Still sick and weak, but better. That was all Jude cared about.

Jude rallied Victoria, Sadie and Kat to help her plan out an evening for her husband. It had been ages since she had spent time alone with just her husband, away from his cancer, away from the misery her life had become. Kat and Sadie had jumped at the chance, they even took over… Jude had no idea what she was in store for.

Sitting on top of the counter Jude watched in amusement as Victoria tried to explain what sautéing meant. Cooking was something Jude never had the patience for, many times over the years, mostly after she married Tommy, she tried to cook, always ending in disaster. Tommy was better than her by a long shot, even when some of the dishes he created scared her.

"So this is almost like frying?" Jude questioned.

Victoria turned to face her youngest daughter with a look of frustration and amusement, "A little. Even though you don't fry vegetables, unless you bread them in batter first."

"Oh," Jude hopped off the counter peeking over Victoria's shoulder, "I once watched this show on the Food Network. This guy fried corn on the cob."

"What?" Victoria asked in horror.

"He fried up all these foods," Jude's finger perched on her chin as she thought, "I think he was trying to make it look like corndogs."

"We are not making corndogs!" Sadie complained as she walked into the kitchen catching the last part of Jude's conversation

"Wow, what a way to state the obvious Sades."

Sadie sighed in offence before replying, "Shut-up."

"Make me," Jude teased before turning her attention back to the vegetables sizzling from the frying pan, "That guy fried a pickle in cornbread batter, it looked really good."

"Gross," Sadie made gagging noises from behind Jude, "That's just disgusting to even think about."

"What! I was pregnant at the time, everything looked good."

Victoria let her daughters argue over what was suitable food to fry for twenty minutes before she shooed them both out of the kitchen. If they were not going to help then they needed to busy themselves elsewhere. Jude had complained, crying she was helping out, even if that counted for sitting on the counter top watching.

"I'll call you when I need real help," Victoria called from the kitchen.

"How come I don't remember her being this into cooking when we lived with her?"

Jude's eyebrows rose in thought as she eyed Sadie curiously, "She ever talk about empty nest syndrome with you?"

Sadie looked up at Jude from her place on the couch before breaking out in laughter. Jude grinned before she laughed as well. Laughter had been absent in their family for months, replaced only with heavy clouds of darkness. Jude had not laughed in a long time, she almost forgot what it felt like to let loose and put aside her problems for a short time. With the smile still on her face Jude plopped down next to Sadie on the couch.

"Thanks Sadie," Reaching over to grab one of Sadie's hands Jude wiped away the remainder of her laughter, "For everything."

"None needed Sis," Sadie smiled before tugging on Jude's arm, causing her to fall into her, "Come with me."

Jude glanced up at Sadie in confusion before letting herself be pulled up off the couch, "Where we going?"

"You'll see."

Part Two

"Okay so is there a reason why I'm sitting on the toilet seat?"

With her hands perched on her hips Sadie walked through the bathroom door eyeing Jude with amusement, "Would you stop asking me that?"

"When you tell me why I've been sitting in the bathroom for the last ten minutes."

"You are so impatient," Sadie shook her head at Jude, "How does Tommy put up with you?"

"With me? Oh you did not just go there."

"I'm beginning to wonder how I ever lived with you for all those years," With her back turned to Jude Sadie hid a grin as she pictured the look on her sisters face.

"Oh shut up! It's more like how I ever lived with you. All the girly routines I had to wait through!" Crossing her right leg over her left Jude propped her arms on her knees becoming more impatient as to why she was sitting there, "Then I married a man who has the same if not just as many damn routines you do. Ugh!"

"Looking great isn't easy," Sadie said over her shoulder, "Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Kat."

"Yeah where is she?" Jude stood from her seat, "She has my kid with her," Walking towards Sadie she tried to look over her shoulder but Sadie blocked her view, "Come on!"

"Go sit down young lady!" Quickly Sadie swirled around, grabbing hold of Jude's shoulders before lightly pushing her back to the toilet, "Don't ruin the surprise."

Rolling her eyes Jude sighed loudly, "Yes mom."

Sadie made her way back to the door, her patience was running short just like Jude's. She had sent Kat on a simple errand… Over two hours ago. Her apartment was not too far away from where Jude and Tommy lived, Kat could not have gotten lost trying to find the place. Glancing over her shoulder again she winced when she caught Jude's fire filled eyes. Crap! She thought as she willed Kat to hurry the hell up.

Movement filled Sadie with relief when Kat appeared from down the hall, "Took you long enough!" She hissed as Kat glared at her.

"You try getting everything together while carrying an eight month old!"

"Probably would have done a better job than you!" Sadie reiterated as she met Kat half way, "Right munchkin?" Holding her arms out Sadie took Aidan before noticing the bags Kat was holding, "I only asked you to pick up a dress."

Motioning for Sadie to walk back to where Jude was Kat replied, "I found some things that would make it better," Slipping past the tall blonde Kat hurried towards Jude's bedroom, "I'll meet you in there, I want to give some things to Tommy first."

Aidan tugged on a handful of Sadie's hair as she carried him down the hall. He had grown so much since everything with Tommy had started. Clothed in a pair of denim shorts and a red Elmo print shirt Aidan looked adorable. Sadie smiled down at him as his little feet excitedly kicked against her hip.

"Excited to see your mama, huh?" Aidan's chubby cheeks puffed up as he made gurgling noises in response. She smiled again as his little fingers pulled another strand of her hair. Drool bubbling on his lips as his noises grew more intense.

"You're cute you know that," Nuzzling her nose into his neck Sadie chuckled when she felt Aidan's mouth kiss the top of her head, "I'll forgive you for that later mister, only if you promise to drool on your mom as well."

"I heard that," Jude called from the bathroom as Sadie stepped in the doorway.

"What? I didn't say anything."

"Yeah right--"

"Yeah right what?" Kat interrupted as she followed Sadie and Aidan into the small room.

"Sadie's telling my son to drool on me," Winking over at Kat Jude continued, "Only thing is he already learned that trick a while ago. Where does she think he learned to pull her hair?"

Chuckling Kat placed a couple bags on the floor next to the sink, "Wasn't from me. I showed him how to use his hair brush."

"So you're the one!" Jumping up from her seat Jude glared at her best friend, "He uses that thing as a hammer! On my head at that."

"Ooops."

Sadie chuckled before setting Aidan down on the floor, leaving him to sit and make spit bubbles. The bags Kat had brought in were teasing her to open them up. She loved dressing up, especially when it came to helping her sister out. She had to admit after Jude won Instant Star she did pick up a better taste in fashion…but when the opportunity came to play dress up knocked she answered quickly.

"So what was the big surprise?" Jude asked as she set a few of Aidan's bath toys in front of him. He instantly picked up the rubbery toy fish that he loved to use to splash Jude with every night.

"Well my friend you wanted our help for this night so here you go."

"Yeah," Sadie began as she peered into one bag that was full of makeup, "Tommy wont be able to keep his hands to himself once we're done with you."

Jude's eyebrows shot up in curiosity as Kat nodded in agreeance with Sadie.

Kat helped Sadie curl Jude's hair, spiraling stands before pulling her locks loosely into a knot, finishing the look with a clip that shimmered under light. Once Jude's hair had been finished Kat took off to help Tommy change into the dark blue suit she had picked up for him. Sadie had asked her to pick up a dress for Jude, both forgetting that Tommy needed to look nice as well. Sadie stayed behind to put make up on her sister. Jude complained twice before giving in, leaving Sadie to scare her when she pulled out a pair of tweezers from her bag.

An hour later Sadie was satisfied with her work, she grinned down at Aidan who was happily sitting in between Jude's feet… his amusement the hour had been pulling at his moms toes. His satisfaction coming whenever Jude yelped and squirmed saying he was tickling her. Kat joined them again, taking over so Sadie could help Victoria with the rest of their plans for Tommy and Jude.

"What's next Kat?"

"You help me pack a bag for the little guy," Kat answered as she bent down to scoop up Aidan.

"Are you sure it's necessary to take him for the night?" Eyeing the drool on her feet Jude asked before wadding a handful of tissue, "I mean a couple hours if that is all me and Tommy need," Wiping off the wet slobber Aidan left for her Jude looked up at her friend, hoping she would agree to leave the baby.

Kat responded by shaking her head before bouncing Aidan in her arms, "You and Tommy haven't had a night to yourselves in a long time."

"I know. But I've never been away from him for that long before."

"Just one night Jude, you know where I live, plus Sadie said she would come over with me, kind of like a training experience for when we have kids."

"Can't you use someone else's baby?" Pouting Jude tossed out the tissues before standing up, "It's hard enough to leave him for just an hour."

Kat looked over at Jude with a small smile, she knew Jude was having second thoughts about Kat babysitting Aidan for the night. She had heard many times mothers having separation anxiety when it came to being away from their children. Jude stood in front of her almost begging with her eyes for Kat to give in, Kat almost cracked before she remembered how important this night was for her best friend and her husband. Tommy was dying and Jude was running low on fuel. Jude worked non stop making sure her family stayed whole as they dealt with Tommy's illness. Her friend needed a night off, so did Tommy. Tommy needed a night to be with his wife, away from the stress of what his cancer was doing to him physically and emotionally.

Resting her free hand on her hip Kat said, "Sweetheart, one night, you need this. You know you do, so stop fighting."

"Okay," Sighing Jude smiled lovingly at her son, "How about we pack your hair brush just for your aunt Kat?" She asked Aidan. Chuckling when Kat glared over at her.

"Dirty pool Jude."

"You need to enjoy the full experience of motherhood Kat," Jude winked before sauntering out of the room with a new bounce in her step. This night was looking bright already.