A/N Last but one chapter now! I'll get Ch 10 up aswell. I'm sorry for not updating! Major writer's block. This might as well be the finale, I'll just get an epilogue up soon. But I want reviews, ya hear?

Chapter 9

"Aw, Dana, enough with the drama queen act already," said Tommy, shaking his daughter's shoulders. He looked above to see four seniors looking on. "What?"

"You're her dad?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah," replied Tommy. "And you are?"

"Her friends," they replied. "We were off to a party."

"Right," Tommy said. "Clear off, kids." He shook his daughter again. "Come on, honey."

"I'm thinking you should be the one to clear off," said Ryan, getting out of the car. "Seeing as she ran away from you."

"She's my kid!" cried Tommy.

"Hey," said a spikey-haired senior from inside the car. "You're that guy! Quincey!"

"That'll be me," said Tommy, lifting Dana's neck.

"Look's like she's unconscious," said Ryan. "You want us to take you to the emergency room?"

Spikey-hair guffawed. "You're gonna take some has-been to the emergency room? Dude, that's so passe."

"What an impressive vocab, Dean," said Ryan, pleasantly. "Move up, guys, we need room for two."

"I don't think so," said the driver.

"Oh, I do," replied Ryan. "Or you're out of the state championships, Carter."

Carter lifted his hands off the wheel defensively. "Fine, dude," he said. "Just get it to Andrews before ten. Lets go guys, there's a party we need to walk to."

Tommy stopped him. "Andrews?" he repeated.

"Yeah," said Carter. "Just some Uncle. Jamie, or James, or something?"

"Call his cell," demanded Tom. "Now!"

Ryan gave him a nod, and Carter quickly got out his cell.

"Uh... Uncle J? Yeah, there's some creepy pop-star guy wanting to talk to you-"

"Give it here," snapped Tommy, handing Dana's limp body to Ryan. "Jamie, its Tom."

"Quincey?" replied Jamie. "NO way."

"Yes way," snapped Tom. "Are you here in Idaho?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Just down the road from Jude's place. Why?"

"I'm with your nephew, or grandson or something. Can you come and take Dana to the emergency room? I need to find Jude."

"I can take her," said Carter and Ryan simultaenously.

"Never mind," said Tom, nodding to them. "Where's Jude."

"Tom, she's my best friend-"

"JAMIE!"

"OK, OK, tough guy. She's gone to New York to find Kat. To get her life back. You really wrecked her, man."

Tommy hung up, furiously. He slipped Ryan and Carter twenty bucks, saying "If you hurt her, you'll have me to answer to."

Ryan and Carter nodded, and drove off. Tommy watched them till they were out of sight, then caught a cab to the airport.

"One, to New York," he said at the desk.

"Sure thing, sir," said the woman. "And can I have an autograph?"

"Uh... whatever," said Tommy, running a hand through his hair. "I just need that plane ticket."

"Here you are," she said, pleasantly. "Now, the autograph?"

Tom hastily signed, then dashed off, eager to catch his plane.

xx

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at New York Airport. Please remain in your seats until the plane has come to complete halt. Thankyou."

Tom impatiently bobbed about in his seat, until it was time to stand. With no bags to collect, or children to worry about, he hurried into the lobby, looking out of the doors for an available cab.

"Tom?"

Tommy spun around distractedly, to see Jude standing before him.

"You followed me to New York?"

Tom sighed, and ran fowards to hug her. "Of course I did," he said, letting go. "I love you, Jude."

Jude bit her lip, blinking. She put two hands to her face and began crying. "Tom!" she sobbed, fat tears rolling down her pink cheeks. "I don't think you do."

"What else could I love then, Jude?" Tommy asked, pulling her closer.

"I don't know," she replied, pulling away. "The dream of me? The songs I wrote for you every night? If you loved me, you wouldn't have left me twelve years ago, just to save your career."

"Do you see my career anywhere now?" asked Tom. "The answer is no. My career is way back, back in Canada. Yet I'm here with you, in America, in New York City. If I only wanted the dream, I would have saved $100."

Jude let out another howl. "I love you, Tom," she said. "I've loved you since I was fifteen. Since I was unwillingly paired with you via Instant Star. You were my best friend, my crush. But deep down, I knew I was never going to be anything more than a rebound girl."

"Rebound?" echoed Tom. "Rebound?"

"That kiss, in Darius's office?" said Jude. "You'd recently broken up with Sadie. That night, on tour, also, after you'd broken up with Sadie. And I don't think I can be second best anymore."

She began walking away, back to her cases underneath the bench. Tom groaned, doubled up, then straightened. He clutched Jude's shoulder, pulling her backwards into a cliche movie-star kiss.

Jude melted into his embrace, pulling his lips even closer, relishing his tongue stroking hers. His hands warmed her icy fingers, and she ran a hand through his short, spiky hair, thinking of past similiar occasions.

Suddenly, she broke free.

"What, Jude?" snapped Tommy. "What else can I do? I love you-"

Jude held up a hand to silence him, smiling. "No," she said. "Its not you. Its... its my memory."

Tom moaned. "Gone again?"

"No," she replied. "Its back. All of it. Every single memory."

Tom scooped her into his arms. "Really?" he said. "Everything?"

"Everything - everyone," she said. "From... my dad, to... Maz Harper, Neon Magazine's Senior Correspondent. It's back Tommy! I guess I just needed that push to bring it all back. I guess... I guess I just needed you."

"Well of course," said Tom, smiling, as he lent in to kiss Jude again. "Marry me, Jude Harrison."

"You can pretty much count on me remembering to say I do," she said, and kissed Tom hard on the mouth.

His cell phone buzzed loudly in his pocket. Jude leaped down, frowning.

"Hello?" Tom asked confusedly.

"Mr Quincey? Its Margie here, from Clearwater Hospital. We have your little girl here, Dana?"

"Is she OK?" Tom asked anxiously.

Margie laughed. "She's going to be just fine, Mr Quincey," she said. "She's awake, chatting, asking for you, sir."

"Tell her I'll be there as soon as I get home from New York," he replied, and he hung up.

Jude's eyes widened. "What was that about?" she asked.

"That was just... Dana," Tom said slowly. "She's in hospital."

"You got my girl in hospital!" shrieked Jude, shoving Tom. "See what happens when I leave her with you?"

"She's fine!" assured Tom, rubbing his arm. "Ow."

"You deserved it," she replied, firmly. "Lets go home, Quincey."