A/N: I hate it when I impulsively decide to change my plot line. Now I'm scrambling to add in the Stuart thing and keep on track with my outline. Next time I try to throw something new in, I'm not gonna do it and make my life that much easier. I still don't know how I feel about this chapter, but it works for what I want to happen and how I want this to progress. I hope you guys like it and hopefully it won't be too long for my next update! I swear Jommyness will be in this fic, it's just...not for a couple more chapters. But on a pos note, at least they're sort of united now?

Chapter 22

I watched awkwardly as Jude pulled away from her father.

"What are you doing here?!" Surprise and shock in her voice as she asked.

"Yvette and I saw the story on the news about Tom. I wanted to see if my son-in-law was alive and see my baby girl and her beautiful daughter."

The man's gaze met mine and I waved a hello, not quiet sure what was acceptable. "Hello Mr. Harrison."

"Stuart, Tom." Stuart Harrison corrected, walking past his daughter to stare critically at me. I had to try hard to keep myself from squirming under his hard stare.

"Dad, it wasn't his fault." Jude interjected, coming over to stand next to us.

"Oh, I'm sure Tom Quincy has a good reason leaving his wife and daughter for three years and I can't wait to hear what it is." Stuart said, giving me a pointed look before smiling at his daughter.

"Mr" I stopped and corrected myself at Stuart's sharp look. "I-"

"Why don't we go inside and discuss this?" Jude offered, grabbing my arm and leading me past her father and towards the house.

"I'm so sorry!" She whispered as we headed towards the front door.

"I can handle it." I whispered back, adding silently I hope.

Jude put her key in the door and quickly opened it. She went inside, and I followed her, Stuart close on my heels. I could feel his glare burning through me and it made me feel really uncomfortable. I learned from Jude and Kwest that bad blood existed between the older man and myself but I didn't know specifics. Only he had forced me to break up with Jude because he didn't want his sixteen year old daughter dating her 23-year-old producer with a bad reputation for breaking hearts. Something told me more than that tension existed, but I had no idea what it was, and the other man obviously did not care much for me.

This was going to get interesting.

We settled in the living room, Jude and I next to each other on the couch and Stuart sat across from us in an overstuffed armchair, watching us like a cat eyed a mouse. We gave Stuart the cliffnotes version of the story and he listened critically while we told it.

"So, you're saying you have total memory loss."

"Yes sir."

"I'm still not clear on how you two ended up"

"Tommy saved Briana from getting hit by a car. I thought I was seeing something that wasn't there and we met for lunch as a thank you and it eventually fell into place."

Stuart didn't look too convinced that this was the truth, but he let the matter drop. Probably more for his daughter than for me or him.

"So, what do you do now?"

"The hospital is helping us to declare Tommy as being alive. Tomorrow we have a press conference and from there, we'll see what happens." Jude answered with a sigh. "I'm sorry I didn't call you before all this." She told her father, looking sincere. "we were busy trying to figure things out."

"It's ok Jude." Stuart said, "I understand." He told her and Jude seemed to relax. "So, what did the hospital tell you?"

"That the memory loss is due to scarring on my brain, possibly from an inexperienced surgeon. They do not believe I'll ever remember on my own." I answered.

"Hm," Was all Stuart said in response.

"OH, Dad! Did you want anything?" Jude asked, "I forgot to ask before!"

"A glass of water would be nice." Stuart said and gave me a pointed look. I resisted the urge to "help" Jude, knowing exactly what that look was for. Jude got up and went to the kitchen. Once she was out of the room, Stuart leaned forward.

"Stuart, I know that"

"Tom, if I find out your story is a load of bullshit and you left my daughter with your two-year-old child for three years, I will have no problem killing you." That was subtle.

"I have no intentions to hurt your daughter."

Stuart laughed and I wanted to slam my fist in his face.

"I've heard that one from you before."

"Look, Stuart, I'm at an unfair disadvantage; the only things I know about anyone or anything is what they tell me."

"How convenient." He stated, looking me straight in the eyes. I felt my jaw clench and I was trying very hard to keep my fist out of his face. I think my hand even started shaking from the effort.

"Here Dad," Jude said, and I snapped out of my trance. I didn't hear her come back in the room. Jude handed her dad the water and he took it with a thank you. Jude sat back down and Stuart took a drink as she looked between me and Stuart and back again before her eyes finally landed on me. "Everything ok?" She asked.

I glanced at Stuart and I knew he was waiting for me to tattle.

"Nope. No problems." I said, smiling at Jude tensely. "Everything's fine," I added as I glanced at Stuart out of the corner of my eyes. Jude didn't look convinced but she let the subject drop. For now, at least.

"So, uh…Dad, where are you staying?" Jude asked, trying to break the tension in the room. Stuart looked hurt. You've got to be fucking kidding me. I thought.

"You don't want me to stay here?" Stuart asked her and I barely restrained rolling my eyes. Good work with the guilt card Stu.

"No, it's just"

"So there, it's settled." Stuart said, smiling. "I'll stay here."

Happy joy.

Jude sent me an apologetic look and I just shrugged.

"Dad, let me talk to Tom for a minute, ok?" Stuart nodded and Jude grabbed my arm and pulled me into the kitchen. For a small woman, she had one hell of a grip. Jude paced a moment in the kitchen, sending nervous glances down the hall before turning to face me.

"I'm so sorry!" She said in a stage whisper.

"You didn't know." I whispered back.

Jude threw her arms up in exasperation and turned around, facing the wall and I wondered what I did wrong.

"I don't feel right kicking him out. He's my dad, but"

"Jude," I grabbed her arms instinctly and she seemed to relax a notch. "Then don't." I managed to say with sincerity. Jude sighed and turned around and I let my arms fall back to my sides.

"What were you guys talking about?" She asked suddenly.

"It doesn't matter."

"Tommy!" She groaned.

"It really doesn't." I told her with a sigh. It really did not matter what Stuart Harrison thought or said. I knew the truth, she knew the truth, that's all that matters. I really didn't want Stuart Harrison staying with us, but I'd deal with it before disappointing Jude. I just didn't know how long I could last without losing my cool and killing the man.

"Jude!" Her father yelled from the other room.

"Yeah!" She yelled back and I winced at the sudden high volume. Jude shot me an apologetic look as Stuart came into the room. He looked between us for a moment and then turned his gaze on his daughter.

"It was a long trip, is it alright if I go rest in the guest bedroom?" Stuart asked and Jude's head snapped to look at me, panic and fear in her eyes. Stuart looked confused at Jude's sudden panic. Jude looked away from me and back at her dad.

"It's just…well…"

"Kwest and Sadie stayed the other night," I took over. Jude shot me a 'what are you doing' look but I kept with it. "It's kind of a mess," I said honestly, lying through my teeth. Stuart seemed happy with the answer though. "Why don't you go get your things out of the car, and we'll straighten up?" I offered. Stuart nodded and left the kitchen. Jude gaped at me.

"What?!" I asked and she continued to gape and stare. "What did you want to do?"

"I…I just thought…" She stammered before shaking her head and snapping out of her funk. "I'll go get new sheets." She said rushing off. I watched her go and headed up the stairs.

I knew Jude was surprised I didn't just tell Stuart the truth and keep to our 'lets take things a day at a time' deal, but I really didn't want to make the man more suspicious of me than he already was and it wasn't like I had a bunch of stuff in the room either. The guest room's closet is kind of a spare closet, cluttered with junk Jude probably didn't bother bringing up to the attic or getting rid of. The clothes I had were from stuff Jude pulled down from the attic of stuff she hadn't either went through or couldn't get bring herself to get rid of and resided in the closet in the master bedroom until one of us found the energy to run to the store.

I entered the room and pulled the blankets and sheets off as Jude came in with a new set. We had finished making the bed when Stuart came up with his suitcase.

"That was fast." Stuart said, looking around the room. Jude and I both shrugged.

"We'll leave you to rest, Dad." Jude said, leaving the room with me close behind her. Jude shut the door and we went downstairs.

"What happened to taking it slow?"

"Your dad doesn't seem like the understanding type."

"Tommy-"

"Jude, it's fine. We're married, right?"

"I just, I don't want to push you into anything." She said, looking down.

I reached out and put a hand under her chin, forcing her eyes up to meet mine. "If I didn't want to be here, Jude, I wouldn't be."

Jude smiled at me in response and I smiled back, my heart skipping a beat. Jude's smiles made me feel good. I loved the way her eyes and face lit up with her happiness, almost like a child's does.

The phone's sudden ring startled us out of our temporary trance and Jude went to answer it, looking at me over her shoulder as she moved. I sighed and watched her as she picked up the handset and answered it with a bored "hello".

Jude listened intently for a moment and looked at me before saying "one minute" and handing me the phone. I took it from her, confused.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Quincy, it's Dr. Franchi at Toronto General."

"Is something wrong?" I asked, panic suddenly over coming me.

"No, I assure you everything is good news. I got a response about your case for the Amytal treatments. Your case has been approved. All I need is for you and Mrs. Quincy to come down, sign some forms, and we can schedule the first session."

I glanced at Jude and then down at the floor before me. I knew she was concerned about the side effects and we hadn't had a chance to discuss options yet. I sighed.

"Does this need to be done now, or?"

"Not quite. I do need a response in a couple of weeks. Standard procedure."

"It's just, we haven't had time to discuss everything. I'd like a couple days to think it over more."

"That's fine, Mr. Quincy. I'd rather you spend time talking it over with your…Jude, before making a decision."

"Thank you," I said and hung up the phone. I sighed and looked up at Jude.

"They okayed you for the treatments?"

"Yeah." I told her, feeling a smile come to my face. I wanted to do this. I wanted to remember my life. Our life together.

"You want to do it." Jude stated, her voice sounding flat. I looked up at her and saw the worry in her eyes.

"You don't want me to." I stated, feeling my happiness fade. I knew we hadn't discussed this fully and Jude was leery, but I thought she'd be happy for me.

"It's not that, it's just…" She took a deep breath and sighed. "I know it's selfish, but I don't want to risk losing you again."

"Don't you want me to remember?" I asked her and she shook her head.

"Not if it means I lose you completely."

"It's not going to happen."

"You don't know that!" She argued back, throwing her arms up. "You never know what'll happen and"

"Jude," I said, my voice low, pleading. She stopped and looked at me. "I need to do this. I need to try and remember."

"I know." She said, meeting my eyes. "I know this means a lot to you."

"But?"

"But I'm still not sure it's worth the risk." She stated, her eyes pleading with me to understand her. I sighed. "I'll think about it, ok?"

"Yeah."

Jude gave me a sad look and looked like she wanted to say something more, but she didn't. She took a step toward me, shook her head and left the room. I frowned and felt a pang of sadness. She doesn't know how to handle me, I realized.

I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. There had to be an easier way to work this out, I just didn't know what or how.