The next morning Jude was already hard at work by the time Tommy came in.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Tommy asked.
"Good."
Tommy nodded, noticing her lack of conversation. "So, uh, what are you working on?"
"Just a song I started a few days ago."
"Can I see it?"
"Yeah," she said, handing the notebook to him.
Tommy quickly skimmed the lyrics. "This isn't bad Jude, it's actually really good. Keep working on it. Maybe we can record it by the end of the week."
Jude simply nodded as he walked out of the room.
After work, Jude drove straight to RIley's. He had called after lunch and told her he was going to make them dinner and after Peyton fell asleep they could watch a movie.
She had avoided Tommy all day like the plauge. She wasn't as mad at him but she still didn't trust herself around him and she was beginning to wonder if she ever would.
By the time Jude walked into Riley's apartment, it was already 4:30.
"Hmm, what smells so good?"
"Hey. It's spaghettie."
"Yum. Where's Peyton?"
"She's laying in the playpen."
Jude walked over and picked the baby up and walked back over to Riley.
"Have you thought anymore about surfing?"
"Uh, yeah I have actually."
"And?"
"I've decided that I can fit in one or two competitions a month."
"That's great Riley. I'm really glad you decided to compete."
"Me too. But, about Peyton, I don't want you to feel obligated to take care of her just because you're my girlfriend. My parents could watch her too."
"I don't feel that way. I really think it would be good for me," Jude said, patting Peyton's back.
"I know a lot of people, and none of them think getting up at one-thirty in the morning is good for them."
Jude laughed and placed Peyton in her swing. "Maybe I'm just different."
"I know you are," he said. "You are really good with her, and I can tell that she's getting attached to you already."
"See, we'll be fine by ourselves."
"I know."
The next few days went by quickly with Jude at work, Riley training in the evenings while Jude watched Peyton, and Tommy and Jude acting like nothing had ever happened between the two of them.
Mason was sitting in the kitchen when Jude walked in on a Wednesday, holding Peyton and a diaper bag.
"Jude?"
"Yeah?"
"What's with the baby?"
"Riley left today for Hawaii, so Peyton is staying with us until Monday."
"Jude-"
"What?" Jude asked, laying Peyton down on the carpet in the living room.
"Don't you think you might be getting too attached."
"What do you mean?"
"Jude, that little girl has a Mom, and even though she's not here right now, what happens when she comes back into the picture and not only wants her daughter back, but her ex-boyfriend too."
"That won't happen."
"What happens if you and Riley would break up?"
"I know know. I'll figure it out if it ever happens."
Mason shook his head. "Have you ever though that maybe Tommy really has changed?"
"Oh, not you too! Everyone thinks that I should just beg Tommy to take me back. I've pretty much forgiven him Mason, don't push it."
"He thinks you broke up with Riley."
"Why would he think that?"
"Because you haven't told him otherwise."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I don't care as long as you're happy." Mason said defeatedly before he walked into his bedroom.
Around two in the morning Jude woke up to Peyton's crying. She groaned, picked her up, and held her close. Kwest and Jersey had moved out a few days earlier so she didn't have to worry about Peyton waking up anyone else besides her and Mason. She got up and walked around with the baby, pattying her back, trying to get her to stop crying, but everything she tried, failed.
Peyton finally fell asleep around 6:30, just in time for Jude to take a shower. She dragged through her morning routine and was finally driving to the studio by 8:15, with Petyon in tow.
She walked straight into the recording booth and saw Tommy.
"Morning," she mumbled.
"Hey, good morning." Tommy turned around and saw Jude carrying a car-seat. "Uh, Jude is there something you want to tell me?"
"This is Peyton, Riley's daughter."
"I um, I thought you two had broken up."
"We talked everything out, and he told me what had happened with his ex, and we decided we could work it out."
"Oh," Tommy said, looking at the clock, knowing this was going to be a long day.
AN: Sorry if this seems totally far-fetched. I have this problem, when I drag stories out forever and a day, I end up losing the whole concept and just writing w/e. So lemme know what I can do to make it better and what-not! Thanks!