A/N: wow! You guys never cease to amaze me! Thanks so much for all the wonderful support for this ficlet. :D I'm glad that you all enjoyed part 1 so much. I have been on a severe high (a good non-drug-induced high) since the Evanescence Concert last night. It freaking rocked! I'm still on the concert high. m/ Anyway, thanks again for the support. Glad you all liked it. I hope this part isn't a disappointment. One more to go after this one!

Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics to the song "Surrender" (in italics). The song was written by Amy Lee for the band, Evanescence back in their earlier days.

Surrender
Part 2

Is this real enough for you

I stared at Tommy, his eyes on mine. I couldn't look away. As much as I wanted to go to him, to hug him, to kiss him, to tell him I didn't need better than him…that he was it for me…I was frozen. Frozen in place. I was shocked and my brain wouldn't function.

You were so confused

His eyes reflected his pain and I realized that I caused it. That it was because of me that he was feeling his pain. The reason I was feeling mine. Because, this time, I was the one leaving. I was the one running away from us.

Now that you've decided to stay

I felt a tear fall down my face as the full force of his beautiful song hit me. My God. He loved me.

We'll remain together

And now it was over.

You can't abandon me

He turned away from me and broke contact, but I still couldn't move, frozen at the soundboard. He didn't make any other acknowledge of my presence as he got off the stool and began putting his guitar away and straightening the recording booth.

You belong to me

I watched him busy himself, my eyes never leaving him and my mind thinking about his song. I couldn't get the words out of my mind. "you deserve much better than me". No, I didn't. All I wanted…all I needed, was him.

Breathe in and take my life in you

I snapped myself out of my reverie and walked over to the door that separated the sound booth from the mixing booth. I paused as my trembling fingers touched the door handle.

No longer myself only you

What was I going to say? What was I going to do? I didn't know. I didn't care. I didn't want him to shut me out. To pretend like it was nothing when it meant everything.

There's no escaping me,

I took a deep breath and opened the door and closed it softly behind me. He didn't acknowledge I was in the room. Like I was as unimportant as one of the microphones.

"Tommy?" I managed to say, my voice coming out strained from the emotions I was feeling.

My love

He stopped busying himself and looked over at me. His eyes not meeting my gaze.

Surrender

He looked away and proceeded to ignore me. I sighed and stepped closer to him. Either to make him unable to ignore me or to be closer to him…I don't know which was my true motivation. I felt compelled to be beside him. Like some invisible force was pulling me to him.

Darling, there's no sense in running

I stopped just behind him and bit my lower lip as I lay a tentative hand on his shoulder. He tensed at the action and turned around to face me.

You know I will find you

His eyes locked on mine again and no words were spoken. None needed to be. His eyes reflected his regret, his sorrow, and his love. Mine were soft and communicated my concern and love.

Everything is perfect now

I could have stayed forever in his gaze. Loose myself in his emotional depths. Drown in his soulful oceans and never think twice.

We can live forever

"I thought you left." Tommy said, breaking the silence and snapping me into the present.

"I did…sort of." I answered and sighed. "I forgot my lyric book."

He nodded and looked away from my gaze. Don't shut down Tommy, I mentally pleaded. Talk to me. Be with me.

You can't abandon me

I reached out and took his hand in mine. He glanced down and watched as I caressed his calloused hands and intertwined our fingers. The feeling was like home. A perfect fit.

You belong to me

"Tommy," I said, softly. He looked up into my eyes, and for once I couldn't read his expression.

Breathe in and take my life in you

"Jude…"

No longer myself only you

"No," I said, pleaded. "Listen to me." He sighed.

There's no escaping me, my love

"Come with me." I said, looking him directly into his eyes and stepping a bit closer. We were only inches apart but it felt like a mile.

Surrender

He bowed his head and blew out a breath.

"Tommy, please." I pleaded. I needed this. I needed him. I wanted us to find a way to make us work. To be together.

"I don't know Jude." He told me, honestly.

"Why not?"

"Jude, I'm not the guy for you." He told me. It was my turn to sigh.

"And who are you to decide that?" I asked. He disentangled my hand and stepped a bit away from me. I suddenly felt chilled without his close presence and I wrapped my arms around myself.

"I want you to be happy." He told me, looking away from my eyes.

"You make me happy." I told him, stressing the "you". I stepped towards him and he stepped back.

"No, I don't. I only cause you pain."

"Right, and this makes me happy?" I asked, feeling tears sting my eyes. Damn it Tommy!

"Jude…" He said softly and I shook my head and looked away from him, tears spilling down my cheeks unchecked. I sniffed and I felt his hand under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. His eyes were soft and comforting.

He reached up and wiped the tears off my cheeks but more kept spilling from my eyes.

Hands up slowly

He pulled me into him and held me close. I gripped the fabric of his shirt and couldn't hold back the sob. He stroked my hair and murmured sweet nothings into my ear and it just made me cry harder.

Give into...

I wanted him to love me. I wanted to be the girl he wanted. I wanted to be the one he confided to. The one who held his heart and knew him in ways no other person ever could. I wanted us to be Tommy and Jude. I didn't want us to be like this. I didn't want things to end like this.

His grip tightened around me, as if he sensed my thoughts. Like he could read my mind and know what I was thinking. His hands glided down my head and back, stroking my hair in slow, rhythmic strokes. The feeling only made me want him more. Only made me wish for what we are not.

I felt my sobs quieting and I closed my eyes and just took in the feeling of him. His scent – his masculinity that can only be described as Tommy. The smell that calmed me and made me feel like nothing could ever harm me. The presence that make everything seem ok no matter how bad my life got. I don't know how I could go on without him. I sniffed and pulled back, looking back up into his eyes.

Breathe in and take my life in you

"You ok?" He asked, looking concerned at me. I shook my head in the negative.

"No, I'm not." I said honestly. He looked panged at the honestly.

No longer myself only you

"I'm sorry, Jude." He told me, looking purely sincere.

"Yeah…me too." I said, sniffling again.

There's no escaping me, my love

He reached out and caressed my cheek.

Surrender

I looked up at him and I could see his inner conflict in his eyes.

Surrender

He bent down and kissed my damp cheek and I closed my eyes as his soft lips touched my skin.

Surrender

He pulled back and I left my eyes close a moment before I opened them and looked into his eyes. Conflict gone. I felt disappointment clench my heart.

Surrender

"Good bye, Jude." He said, a small smile on his face. I felt hot tears sting my eyes again.

"Yeah…good bye." I said, my voice letting my disappointment show.

"Jude…"

"It's fine." I lied, walking past him.

You will surrender to me

I opened the door to the outer studio.

"Jude?"

I stopped but didn't turn.

There's no escaping from me

"I love you." He told me, his voice sad. I sighed.

"I love you, too." I told him and walked through the door, letting it close behind me, knowing full well he wasn't telling me as a proclamation, but as a finality.

I know you want her to be

I left the studio, tears falling silently down my face, regret filling my heart. I fell for him and fell for him hard. And he broke my heart. And I still wanted him.

You must surrender to me