A/N - Okay, here's chapter eleven. There's some French in this chapter. I think it's translated right, but feel free to correct me! The translations are at the bottom…

Enjoy!
-JQ-

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Chapter Eleven...If I Take a Chance

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Don sighed, the false happiness from the alcohol quickly fading. "Sadie..."

"Do you want to come in? Have some coffee?" she asked suddenly.

"I...sure..." She led him in, shutting the door behind them. "Thank you, Sadie."

"Don, I'm still mad about you cheating on my mom, don't get me wrong. But there's nothing we can do now. We all make mistakes, right?" Sadie smiled warmly at him. "Now, what would you like in your coffee?"

"Black, please," he answered gratefully.

"Coming right up." Don settled himself on the couch, glancing around. It seemed like years ago since they had left the hospital. It all seemed like a really bad dream. But as Sadie walked over to him, steaming mug in hand, he realized that everything was a really bad reality.

"Sadie, can I explain, please? About your mom and me?" he pleaded. She handed him his coffee and he set it down on the table.

"I..." She sighed and sat next to him. Don obviously needed to get this off his chest. "Go ahead."

He nodded appreciatively. "Sadie, your mom and me...we were happy. We always had fun. But it seemed like she never wanted to settle down. And I did. So, when I found someone else who did, I was immediately attracted to her. And it was a mistake, I know that now. Because a few weeks later, your mom proposed to me...On the same night I was planning on breaking it off with her and telling her abut the other woman."

"Don..." Sadie was extremely uncomfortable listening to this.

"Please...let me finish." She stayed silent. "And that's why I told her 'no.' Because she deserved to be with someone better than me. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I loved your mom. More than anything." Tears stung Don's eyes and he wiped them hastily with the back of his hand.

"Don, I...I'm sorry..." Sadie mumbled. "I...we never knew. We always thought you and Mom were just...fooling around...I..."

"Sadie, it's okay," he insisted. "She loved you girls more than you'll ever realize. Know that." A comfortable silence between them, as they both got control of their emotions.

All of a sudden, the house phone rang, startling both of them. "Oh, God. I have to get that." Don nodded and she picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Sadie Harrison?" a low, rumbling voice asked.

"This is her."

"Hi, this is Mitchem. Mitchem Anderson?" She scowled, remembering her earlier fight with Jude.

"Mitchem...Hi. This is a bad time," she muttered, readjusting herself on the couch.

"I won't keep you long. I was just wondering. Are you busy tomorrow night? Say, around seven?" His charm was seeping through the phone.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Dinner. La Pierre's?"

Sadie glanced over at Don, who was looking at the ceiling. Feeling the uneasiness between the two of them, she faced the opposite direction. "Isn't that a little unprofessional?"

His deep laugh echoed through the phone. "What's unprofessional about asking a beautiful woman out to dinner?"

She smiled, the flattery turning her cheeks red. "Fine."

"I'll pick you up at seven, Sadie Harrison."

"See you then." She returned the phone to its cradle and faced Don. "Sorry about that."

"No, it's fine." Don stood. "I have to be going anyway."

Sadie frowned. "No, don't leave. Not because of this..."

"No, Sadie. Thank you. For listening to me," he said, heading for the door.

"It...it was my pleasure. Have a good night, Don."

"Good night, Sadie." She shut the door behind him gently, sighing. Any more surprises?

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Sadie fluffed her hair for the hundredth time. Mitchem was picking her up in minutes, and she wanted to look her best. She glimpsed in the mirror, giving her makeup and hair one last look.

She had opted for a flowing black halter dress that fell halfway down her thighs and a pair of black knee-high leather boots.

A loud knock echoed at her front door and she jumped. Hurrying over, she took a deep breath and opened the door. "Mitchem..."

Her director was standing in her doorway, dressed in an expensive black suit, holding a dozen white roses. His eyes widened at the sight of her. "Wow. You look amazing, he murmured, holding out the bouquet. "For you."

"Why, thank you. Let me just go put them in water." Ushering him inside, she set the flowers on her dining room table, taking a mental note to take care of them later. She walked calmly back into the living room, grinning at Mitchem. "Ready."

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Mitchem set his napkin on his plate and glanced at Sadie from across the table. "I'm glad you could make it."

She set down her fork, pushing her plate away. "Me too. I've never been to La Pierre's before." She looked around, still amazed at how wonderful the French restaurant was. Sadie locked eyes with him again. "Did I ever tell you I went to France a few summers ago?"

"No, you didn't." Mitchem rested his elbows on the table, smiling. "Did I ever tell you my mother was a native born Parisian?"

"Est-elle de Paris?" Sadie asked. He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Vous parlez le français? Je pense que j'a rencontré juste la femme de mes rêves."

Sadie smirked. "Je suis plein de surprises."

"Comment vrai…"

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Mitchem led Sadie to her door, holding her hand in his. She reached for her door, but he turned her around to face him. "Thanks for tonight..." Leaning in, Mitchem kissed her gingerly on the lips.

"Mr. Anderson..." He gave her a look. "Mitchem...you're my director. This is very unprofessional."

"And what's so unprofessional about kissing a smart and gorgeous woman?" he whispered, looking into her eyes. Sadie pressed her lips together, eyeing him guardedly. He leaned in again and kissed her softly.

Sadie pulled back. "Want to come in?"

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Tom stepped into his apartment, yawning. "Jude?" There was no answer. He sighed.

It had been over a week since Jude and Sadie had had their falling out. He had let her fall into a routine that he had been comfortable with at the time, but was starting to doubt.

Every morning, he would leave for G Major to work on his album. She would stay home and mope. When he left, sometimes she would be asleep still. But most of the time, she was awake and crying in the bathroom.

By the time he got home, she was always much better. She had gotten dressed, and sometimes was laughing and watching TV. But she was always happier than when he had left.

So, he had let this go on for a week. But now, he was starting to question this system.

"Jude?" he called out again. He walked into his living room and sighed. His girlfriend was on his couch, sobs pulsating through her whole body. "Jude..."

Tom moved over to her, kneeling next to his couch. "Talk to me." She shook her head and he set a hand gently on her shoulder. "Please?"

"No, Tommy," she insisted, shrugging him off.

Tom was getting frustrated, not knowing how to help her. "This isn't good for you, Jude. You need to talk to me. You can't just cry and keep it all inside!"

Jude looked up at him, salty tears flowing from her wide eyes. "Today was her birthday, Tommy..."

Tom sighed, closing his eyes. God, I completely forgot. And I promised her we'd make it special. Hold on, I can still fix this.

"Come on. Let me take you out to dinner. Let's go out and enjoy her birthday, okay? That's what she would have wanted." The compassion in his voice melted her and she nodded. He smiled at his small victory. "Alright. Go get ready. I'll call and get us a reservation."

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Tom and Jude were seated next to each other at a small table outside of Salvator's. Her head was rested on his shoulder and his arm was wrapped around her protectively.

"Jude?"

"Yes, Tommy?" She was lost in thought while they waited for their drinks.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure..." She lifted her head from his shoulder and he looked at her, an intense look on his face. Her eyebrows furrowed with anxiety. "What is it?"

"Jude...I've known you for, what...almost four years now?"

"Yeah..."

"And...we've been really close. Jude, I love you, I hope you know that."

"Tommy, I love you too. What is this about?" Tom slid out of his chair and walked around the table, kneeling next to her.

"Jude Harrison...Will you marry me?" He pulled out a small black box, opening it slowly. Inside, a beautiful silver band with a small diamond rested against the black velvet.

Jude gasped. "Tommy..."

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A/N - What did you think? 165 reviews for the next update!

Love,
JQ

FRENCH TRANSLATION
Sadie:
"Est-elle de Paris?"
"She's from Paris?"

Mitchem:
"Vous parlez le français? Je pense que j'a rencontré juste la femme de mes rêves."
"You speak French? I think I just met the woman of my dreams."

Sadie:
"Je suis plein de surprises."
"I'm full of surprises."

Mitchem:
"Comment vrai…"
"How true…"