A/N: This is the last chapter so please review and let me know what you think of the story as a whole.

Chapter 16: The Conclusion

When Tommy walked back into the room Jude was sitting on the sofa with Cassie on her lap. She was singing a song and clapping; Cassie was mimicking the clapping as best she could and laughing.

He paused in the doorway to watch them. He'd never seen Jude so happy and content. There was nothing of the sad rock star in her.

As he watched Cassie gazed at Jude with a look of pure childlike admiration. She reached out and touched Jude's face with one finger and giggled then took a strand of Jude's hair in one chubby hand and tugged on it gently.

"I got the toys" He said as he put a soft toy and a toy car down on the floor next to the sofa.

Jude looked up at him with eyes every so slightly misted by tears, "I'm keeping her Tom" was all she said.

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It was a week later. I was sitting on a chair in Studio B, nervously spinning a little to the left then a little to the right as I waited. Today was my first day recording with Tommy. After some serious groveling and menial labor he'd fully earnt his job back. I'd been unsure about working with him after the recent events in our relationship. I'd been unsure about a lot of things…

Sadie was looking after Cassie for the day. She was planning to show Cassie all her videos and Boyz Attack merchandise. As she said – and this is a quote – "The girl needs to know who her future step father was"

I was utterly speechless. I stood in the hallway with my jaw halfway to the ground as Sadie scooped up Cassie and walked down the stairs, "Let's leave Mommy in her denial for awhile" I heard her say.

Mommy. That is such a strange word. It's going to take a lifetime of getting used to.

Cassie is adapting well. She's so young she doesn't really understand everything that's gone on, she hasn't called me Mom yet but she's used to me now. Yesterday she fell over and skinned her knee and ran straight to me with her tears. It was an amazing moment…

My philosophy is one day at a time. Anything else and I'll become overwhelmed and go hide under my bed again. The future is never clear in any situation and I'm still adjusting.

I love Cassie with every fiber of my being. I have since the day she was born. I never stopped. Now I'm starting to love her for the person she is and the person she's becoming. I didn't know her and I loved her. Now I know her and I love her all the more.

"There you are big eyes" Tommy said as he walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Hey" I said nervously.

"I saw Guy in the foyer. Are you hiding out in here?"

I shrugged, "I talked to him a few days ago. I apologized for being such a mess since we met and for hurting him. Things are still kind of tense but I'm hoping we can eventually become friends. We have a single to promote after all"

"About that" He said as he pulled up a chair and sat across from me. "I've been listening to your new stuff"

"Oh God" I spun my chair so I was facing away with him, "I was kind of hoping you wouldn't."

"What kind of producer would I be if I didn't?"

"A blissfully ignorant one?" I said with a small smile.

"Jude" He reached out and spun my chair around so I was facing him again, "I like it. It kind of scares me… No, actually it scares me a lot… Just like when I heard about what happened to you while I was away. The drinking especially" He paused, "I worry about you… all the time"

"I'm not a baby, Tom" I smiled, "I'm a Mommy"

He laughed.

"Seriously though; I can look after myself. I shouldn't have fallen apart the way I did when you left but I'm stronger now. It's not about me anymore – my life. It's about Cassie."

He shook his head, "It's about you too Jude. You deserve so much" He reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear then let his fingers linger as he slowly ran them down the side of my face.

"I don't want to be a puppet on a string" I blurted out.

He frowned "Huh?"

I looked down at my hands, "You're the puppet master"

He cupped my chin and brought my face back up to face him, "I don't want to control you Jude. I don't want to hurt you. I always end up hurting you. I want to be a part of your life. Not just your producer or your friend. "

I was speechless as he spoke. My hands folded in my lap and my eyes meeting his as he confessed the things I'd always dreamed he'd say.

"I love you, Jude. I love everything about you"

I was out my chair and in his arms before he finished the sentence. I smiled as I brought my lips to his and kissed him with all the passion I'd felt since I was 15. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close to him. I'd never felt so safe, so secure.

"I love you Quincy, so much" I said breathlessly.

"Thomas" he said as ran a line of feather line and gentle kisses down my cheek.

"Huh?"

"You wanted to know what my last name was – it's Thomas"

I pulled back so I could look at his face, "Your parents named you Thomas Thomas?"

He nodded and laughed, "They were cruel parents" He kissed me again then whispered in my ear "Jude Thomas has a nice ring to it don't you think?"

Ok, Jude. Remember your philosophy. Don't get ahead of yourself. Just take it all…

One day at a time

The End

Look out for the sequel Hiding from the World (Click on the authors name to find the link)