A/N: Ok, so I originally planned for this chapter to be a bit longer, but it's late-ish and I'm tired from getting only 3-4 hours of sleep last night. I like how this turned out and I hope you guys too. The next chapter starts the juice, if you will. To come? Why Tommy lost his memory? Will he get it back? How does he adjust to his new life? How does Briana take to her father being home again? How does Jude handle it? Gah, so many questions, so many possibilities! I hope you guys stay with me for this. I'm so psyched for the next two, just too tired to write. Who knows, maybe I'll write like crazy tomorrow. OH! And, for those of you who don't know, I started a new-ish fic called Low. I posted part one before the new year and just added part two. It's a season 3-esk fic in Tom's pov. It's, hopefully, a bit different from what you've been seeing around and I hope you guys check it out, if you haven't already. Um…I think that's it…maybe. I don't know. Anyway, enjoy the chapter (did I say that yet?) and stop reading my ramblings and skip to the chapter. Seriously, that's what you came here for! Why read this…well, I'm glad if you do because you'll find out about Low, but seriously…gah, why do I even bother? OK, I'm done. Enjoy the fic (yeah I know, I already said that) and don't forget to review (like you don't already?) cuz it makes me happy and, seriously, makes me post more sooner. Onward and Upwards and all that jazz!

Chapter 16

As I raised my hand to knock on the door, I froze. God this is so…stalker-ish. I found Jude's address listed in a phonebook I found in a phone booth. I didn't call her, I didn't ask if it was ok if I came by. I just…did. I raised my hand and ran it through my hair. What the hell was I thinking? Jude has a kid. I can't just barge in and…

I groaned in frustration. This whole thing was fucked up. I know that, technically, this is my house too, but what if she didn't want me here? What if…I closed my eyes. I need to stop thinking what if.

I took a deep breath and knocked. I waited, bouncing on the balls of my feet, for someone to open the door. I never felt so nervous in…well, not that I could remember anyway. I sighed and turned away. She must be asleep already or something. I thought and stepped off the porch. The door opened and I turned around.

A tall blonde stood in the doorway. Her body was that of a model and, despite the later hour, she looked like she just applied make up and curled her hair. Not one hair was out of place and her eyes the most startling green I've ever seen. Her collared dress shirt was perfectly pressed and the color set off her complexion and showed off her curves in a sophisticated way. She stared at me, her eyes wide.

"I'm sorry, I've got the wrong place-"

"No!" She shouted, stepping just outside the door and motioning for me to come in. "It's just…" She stammered, obviously not expecting to see me. I regarded her a long moment before the woman stepped into the house and called for Jude. "Come inside, Tommy." She told me, her voice disbelieving.

I glanced towards the street and sighed. What the hell did I have to loose? I thought as I followed the older woman into the house. She kept staring at me, almost like she couldn't believe I was standing there. It was really starting to creep me out and I shifted under her scrutiny.

"I…I can't believe that…" She stammered as she closed the door behind me and continued to stare a moment. She shook her head and held up a finger, the universal sign for one second. She left the entryway and I was left glancing around. The home seemed warm and friendly and I felt relatively at ease once the blonde had left me alone. I could see how Jude would like it here.

I could hear Sadie calling up the stairs for Jude and I considered turning around and leaving the house.

"Sadie, what's wrong?" I heard Jude's voice say and I felt my anxiety rise.

I shouldn't have come here, I thought suddenly, and was frozen when Jude rounded the corner and locked gazes with me. Just one look froze me in place and stole my breath away. God she's beautiful, I thought. Despite the red eyes, disheveled hair and clothes, she looked radiant. She wasn't the stark beauty that…Sadie, is, but a classic beauty with soft features and a different kind of spot light.

"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come." I stammered out suddenly and turned around and reached for the door.

"No!" she practically yelled and I started at the sound and turned around to look at her, surprised at the force she used. Jude winced, as if not happy with her reaction and stepped closer to me. "I mean, this is your house too." she said, her voice small and weak. "You're always welcome here."

"I need to call Kwest…" Came Sadie's dazed voice and I saw her leaving the foyer and heading further into the house from the corner of my eyes, but I was more focused on Jude to worry more about her. Her eyes were almost pleading with me to stay and I sighed.

"I um...I didn't have any other place to go." I admitted and shoved my hands into the pockets of my jacket to try and hide my nervousness and resist the urge to wring my hands. I looked down at my shoes, not able to meet her eyes. I felt her come closer to me.

"I've never been your last resort before." She said, her voice breaking slightly.

"I'm sorry, it's just,"

"You're confused." she finished and I looked up at her, surprised that she finished my thought before I found the word I was looking for. She gave me a soft smile and I couldn't help but smile back. Jude slipped her hand in hers arm and led me out of the foyer.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked as we walked into the livingroom and sat down on the tan, plush couch. I glanced around a bit, seeing pictures cover the coffee table in a tasteful arrangement. Across from us, a large bay window overlooked the front yard and the room was lit by the soft glow of a couple lamps. The walls were painted a calming cream. I sighed and looked back at Jude, our gazes locking.

"It's probably best to get this out of the way."

She nodded in agreement and Sadie entered the room again. We both looked up as she came into the room. She looked at me and shook her head, almost incredulously.

"I just…I can't believe it." She said, and I glanced at Jude and then back at Sadie again.

"Tommy, this is Sadie. My older sister." She explained and I nodded. I could see the resemblance now. Sadie gave me a sympathetic smile.

"You really don't remember?"

"I don't." I confirmed and she shook her head incrediously.

"That's just…"

"Sadie?"

"Yeah?" She said, looking over at her sister.

"We know." Jude said, and Sadie shook her head again.

"I'm sorry, it's just…I'm sorry Jude." Sadie said, sending Jude a look of pure apology and leaving me feeling more confused than I was before. "I um, I called Kwest to tell him about Tommy," Sadie started and I glanced over at Jude questioningly.

"Kwest was…is your best friend." She explained, cutting Sadie off.

"Oh."

"Anyway, he wanted to come by and see Tom." She said, eyes asking Jude if this was ok. Jude glanced over at me and I shrugged.

"Might as well tell the tale once, right?"

Jude smiled at me and Sadie looked relieved.

"We'll wait for Kwest to get here then," Sadie said, smiling and I sighed and glanced out the bay window, suddenly feeling trapped.

What if I don't measure up? I wondered. What if I can't be the Tommy Jude and these people remember?