A/N – Thanks for all the love. I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy!

---

Chapter Twelve...Your Only One

---

"Jude?" Tom's voice was soft.

Jude swallowed hard and her voice came out hoarse. "I...I..."

He reached out and held her hand tenderly. "You don't have to answer right now...not if you're not ready..."

"No, Tommy, I...wow..." She looked up and smiled. "Of course I'll marry you, Tom Quincy." Fresh tears dripped from her eyes and she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you..."

"I love you, Jude..." Tom pulled back from her and slipped the delicate ring on her finger.

"I love you, too," she muttered, kissing him gently on the cheek.

---

It had been a week since Sadie had heard from Mitchem. No calls. And no script. She was beginning to think that everything had been a dream--getting the part...dinner...dessert. She grinned, memories of the end of their date coming back to her.

Sadie sighed and grabbed the phone, dialing quickly. A chipper voice answered after three rings. "This is Mitchem Anderson's office, Layla speaking. How may I direct your call?"

"Mr. Anderson, please," Sadie responded, trying to sound as professional as possible.

"May I ask who's calling?" Layla sounded bored with her job.

"Sadie Harrison."

"Please hold." She heard a faint click and then soft music drifted through the phone. Moments later, she heard Mitchem's deep voice and she smiled.

"Mr. Anderson. How can I help you, Miss Harrison?"

"Hey, Mitchem. How have you been?"

"Busy...Why? Did you miss me?"

Sadie laughed. "Not as much as you missed me."

"I'm sure. So, Sadie Harrison...Dinner? Tonight? My place?"

She raised her eyebrows. A week not talking and then back to his place for dinner? "Your place, eh?"

"Yeah...you, me, my couch, some Italian..." His charm was seeping through the phone and Sadie couldn't help but feel it.

"Ah, Italian. I love Italian almost as much as I love French..."

He chuckled. "Good. I'll pick you up at seven."

"See you then." She hung up the phone and settled back on her couch.

God, that Mitchem had a way with her...

---

Tom's eyelids fluttered open and he pushed the blankets off his bed. Glancing at his clock, he groaned. 10:30. He should probably get to G Major soon.

Rolling over, he grinned. Jude's small body was lying next to him, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. I could get used to this...

Leaning over, he kissed her cheek gently. She moaned, blinking slowly. A smile formed on her lips and she cocked her head to the side. "Good morning, future Mrs. Quincy," he mumbled, running a hand through her hair.

She coughed lightly, covering her mouth absentmindedly. "Good morning..."

Tom gave her a serious look. "You think you can go to G Major with me today?" Jude was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Good...We'll leave in a little bit, okay?" He stood up and walked over to the door.

"Hey, Tommy?" He turned around and faced her. Her fragile voice was cracking. "Thanks again...for last night..."

"You feeling alright?" he asked, concern rising in his voice.

"Yeah...I've just had a sore throat for a week or so. Just a little coughing and some sore muscles..." She paused, clearing her throat. "I went to the doctor's last week."

Tom looked at her closely, a little worried. "You did? When?"

Jude reached up and covered her mouth, harsh coughing filling his bedroom. "When you were at G Major. He gave me some antibiotics. Said it's probably just a virus."

He frowned at her. "Doesn't sounds like a virus. We'll get you to the doctor's today, okay?" She nodded. "Rest your voice for now..."

"Thanks," she whispered, smirking at him.

---

Tom sat next to Kwest at the sound booth, sighing. "Hey, man. How is she?"

Tom shrugged. "Okay, I think. She might have a bug, though. She's got this cough...I'm taking her to the doctor's later."

"What a gentleman," he joked, shoving his best friend brotherly.

Tom looked over at Kwest, a serious look on his face. "She said 'yes,' Kwest. Last night...She said 'yes.'"

He raised his eyebrows at Tom. "You asked her?"

"Yeah..."

Kwest slapped his best friend on the back. "Congratulations, man...It's about time!"

Tom grinned. "You're telling me..."

---

Tom and Jude were sitting in the waiting room at her doctor's, an uncomfortable silence having settled between them. Tom reached over and rested his hand on her knee, squeezing it reassuringly.

"You'll be fine," he whispered.

A door opened and a small, thin nurse popped her head out. "Jude Harrison?" A few heads turned to look at her, but she slipped in the door, trying to avoid any attention. "Right this way." After checking her height and weight, the nurse led her and Tom to a small exam room, closing the door behind them.

"I'm June. Just take a seat on the table, please," the nurse directed her and Jude obeyed. June checked all of her vitals quickly, then asked, "Can you tell me what's been going on?"

Jude paused, choking back another cough. When she finally spoke, her voice came out rough and throaty. "Well, I came in here last week. The doctor said I probably had a virus, so he gave me some antibiotics. But it's just gotten worse."

"Ah...Anything else?" Jude shook her head, swallowing hard. "Okay. Dr. Brown will be in to see you in a few minutes."

"Thanks," she choked out.

"Rest your voice," Tom said quietly. He felt completely helpless. Jude was hurting and he couldn't do anything about it. It had to be the worst feeling in the world. They stayed quiet after June left, neither of them knowing what to say to the other.

Minutes later, a knock on the door broke the silence. A older doctor stuck his head in the door, smiling. "Hey, there, Jude! I hear we're not feeling so great." She shook her head. "Those antibiotics not helping?"

"No," she whispered.

"Okay. Well...Let's swab your throat and we'll send it in for testing, okay? Find out what's wrong." Jude nodded and Dr. Brown grabbed a tool from a bucket behind him. Jude opened her mouth wide and he swabbed the back of her throat. She coughed gently and Dr. Brown chuckled. "Just rest your voice for now. We'll get back to you in a few days."

Tom stood and held out his hand. "Thanks, Dr. Brown."

The doctor shook his hand and smiled at him. "Take good care of her!"

"Will do." Dr. Brown nodded and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Jude sighed, rough coughs shaking her small frame. Tom wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "You'll be fine, girl. I promise."

---

A/N – Did we like it? Heh. 180 reviews for the next update!-JQ-