Okay, as you can see, I'm pulling a Gossip Girl and naming my chapters after movies. That reminds me, what are some of your favorite movies and why? I love the Notebook. Classic. Hah. Also, what do you want for the holidays, for whatever holiday you celebrate? I was thinking something along the lines of a new digital photography camera, or the new ipod. Does anyone have it? Is it worth it? Anyways, back to my story. I hope everyone is enjoying it. I'm so glad I'm back into the writing mode. Okay, now this chapter gets intense, but still has yet to go there. Wow, you know the saying, you are your worst critic. Totally. Hah. I didn't really like writing this because Tommy and Jude didn't really banter as much as they normally do. This chapter takes on a more serious tone. I think a lot of you will think you know whats happening and who's causing it, but trust me, you don't. The Dark Night refers to the power outage, not the movie. I also wanted to thank everyone who's been reviewing. I love to read each and everyone of them.

Well, I hope everyone enjoys this and if I don't have another chapter up before Christmas, I hope everyone has a great holiday! :)

"Jude, come on!" Tommy yelled. "How hard is it to follow directions from a woman who is doing it on screen, practically FOR you?"

"I'm doing the best freaking job I can, Tommy, so shut up!" Jude yelled back, emphasising the last two words the most.

The thunder crashed.

The two were trying to cook a three course meal and roast a turkey at the same time, which, for both rookies proved to be the most frustrating job in the world.

"See, Rachel says you have to 'baste it'," Tommy said.

The thunder crashed again as lightning filled the sky.

"What the hell does that even mean, Tommy?" Jude cried exasperatedly. "Rachel says this, Rachel says that. I don't care what Rachel has to say. Why don't you and Rachel move off to Cookin' Island and cook all the stupid things you want there!"

Slam.

"You've got to be kidding me," Jude sighed.

The whole room had just been doused with darkness as the latest boom of thunder took out the power. Jude's eyes were no where near adjusted, so she grabbed onto the first thing she saw, which happened to be Tommy. He moved from under her fingers and grabbed her arm, as well.

Suddenly, Jude started to softly giggle. Tommy looked at her like she was crazy, but soon, to Jude's surprise, he began to silently laugh too. Afterwards the pair could not contain their laughter. They laughed so hard Jude thought her sides were splitting and that Tommy was going to need to carry her out of here. Can you laugh forever? Sure feels like it to them.

"It's dark," Tommy said.

"Captain Obvious, what have you done with Tommy!?" Jude said with false worry.

Tommy sighed, "I'll get candles."

"Shouldn't you wait until you have a little more focus?" she questioned.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, "I have cat-like senses, like--"

Bam!

"Oww!" Tommy cried.

"Hey, Catman," Jude called. "There's a chair there."

"So I've realized," he called back.

Tommy later returned with a box of candles and a few matches in his hand. For now, the only light illuminating them was the occasional flashes from the lightning. Jude turned her attention to the windows where the heavy downpour of rain was taking its toll. She could smell the rain in the house, and she loved it. She had always loved the rain. As a little kid, she and her friends would play in the rain. When she got older, she loved to listen to the rain while she read, or slept. She loved it when it was dark outside and she could huddle up under her covers even if it was three o'clock outside.

Rain was the best.

For now, with Tommy, it made her feel at home. More comfortable. That even though she was in a different place, at a different time in her life, the rain would still fall. And finally, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

After saying goodnight and heading off to their beds, they awoke the next morning to find that it was still storming. Jude was ecstatic, while Tommy wasn't exactly what you would call happy.

"Why does is have to rain today?" he asked to no one in particular. "Today of all days?"

"Someones Oscar the grouch today," Jude said as she walked into the kitchen. Tommy had set out two cups of coffee for the two of them to have to start their day and Jude took hers gratefully. "Why so blue?"

"I had something planned for today," Tommy whined. "But I guess it can wait."

"Good!" Jude chimed, "Because I actually made plans for us already. And the weather doesn't matter this time."

"What is it?" he asked.

"Just get dressed, and meet me back in the kitchen in half an hour," she said. "I get to drive today."

Tommy complied and went to his room hesitantly, wondering what exactly could be in store for them.

After about an hours drive, they finally arrived at their destination. On the outside, it looked like a normal building, however, on the inside, there was so much more to be seen. Jude was sure Tommy would love it here. Especially after indulging in his new found love.

"What is this place?" Tommy asked.

"You just have to wait until we get inside," she explained. "I promise you won't be disappointed."

He followed reluctantly as Jude waltzed into the place. Inside were about thirty kitchen counters all equipped with everything you could ever need to cook. Mixers, knives, spoons, bowls, beaters, everything. Tommy stared in awe as his eyes roamed from side to side of the place, taking in everything.

"Since we're both not really good at cooking," Jude stated, "I thought we could take some cooking classes. That way, when I'm gone, you can use your pantry and your knowledge to make us dinner sometime when I come over."

Tommy turned to her immediately and wrapped his arms around her. He smiled into her hair as he whispered a sweet 'thank you.'

"You going soft on me, Quincy?" Jude questioned. He coughed shortly.

"No, never," he said, "come on, you know me, I'm a sucker for anything nice."

"Well, then I'm glad you like it," she replied. "You can thank me by cooking me dinner sometime, okay?"

"Deal," he agreed.

Their instructor was nice, however he had such a heavy French accent it was hard to understand him at all. When he would turn around, Tommy would constant poke fun at his curly mustache to Jude, who would laugh in return. She had to admit, being silly with Tommy was actually really fun. It was something she needed to let go of the pain the world has caused her these last few years. He made her feel like nothing else mattered in the world but having a good time. She was carefree and calm when they were together and she loved that he brought out that side in her.

When the class was over, Tommy spent his time in the car ride home speaking in a French accent to Jude.

"Jude, you need ta take dis vegitable yend cut eet lyke dis," he laughed.

"Mr. Quincy, eye beelieve eet es you dat needs ta get a life," she countered back.

As they drove home, they continued to take shots at one another in French accents, laughing away.

Tommy and Jude decided to stop at Blockbuster and rent the newest movie that had just came out. It was, 'The Dark Knight.' Jude however, had already seen the movie. Sadly, the midnight premiere more than took a toll on her body, and she fell asleep within the first 15 minutes. (AUTHORS NOTE: I threw this in, because I totally fell asleep when I saw that movie in the midnight premiere, hah! It was amazing in the parts I saw, but I was so tired! I got yelled at a lot by my friends for missing the whole middle, ahah!) Tommy had thrown such a fit when he realized what Jude had done that he made them stop at blockbuster to get it. But it seemed as if history repeats itself, because again, in the first 15 minutes, Jude was almost out.

"Come on, Jude!" Tommy pleaded. "Don't fall asleep yet, it's getting good."

Jude groaned. "You say that every five minutes. I'm tired. Can we wait to watch it?"

"Lets just watch a little bit more," he settled. Jude agreed reluctantly and leaned into Tommy as he watched the screen intently. Jude took her blanket she had wrapped around her and folded some of it over Tommy. The sound of the rain started again like a sound machine lifting her off to sleep. Soon, she gave in to her wishes while not long after, Tommy had fallen asleep too.

When Tommy awoke a few hours later in the night, he sat up to find something heavy on his lap. Sometime in the night, Jude must have repositioned herself to where she was lying on him, sweetly.

Tommy watched as she slept over him. He slowly pulled away the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Her frown line was gone, her face angelic. With sleep covering her features, she looked like a child. She looked so innocent and peaceful. Away from every bad thought in the world she had ever thought. Although, the two were just friends, he couldn't help but wonder what the future had in store. There was no way he was going to wake her. He drew small circles on the smooth surface her neck for what seemed like hours on end until he felt something.

Something abnormal and rigid. He softly moved her hair out of the way to take a closer look at what he saw. When it all came into focus, his stomach nearly dropped to the floor as his throat grew thick with a lump that he couldn't make go down. His heart ached.

Cigarette burns were scattered all along the back of her neck. Some old, some new. Bruises had claimed the entire right side of her and Tommy felt sick to his stomach. He gently pulled down the back of her shirt only to reveal many, many more bruises and burns that he had ever seen before. Rage coursed through Tommy's veins as he slowly began to reveal more and more.

That night he couldn't sleep. He barley could even blink. He started at Jude with all his might, trying to protect her from whatever it was that was hurting her. He felt disgust at any man who ever looked at her. He felt shame for not seeing this and helping her earlier. Obviously this had been going on for a long time, but he had been too ignorant to notice. The only men present in Jude's life were himself and her dad. Stuart. It was him. He was livid.

With the beams of sun throughout the still clouded sky, Jude awoke to a tense Tommy.

"Wow, I must have slept like a rock to not notice where I was," Jude laughed as she lifted her hair off of Tommy's lap and ran her fingers through her hair.

Tommy didn't reply. His jaw was rigidly set.

"Did Rachel Ray get canceled or something?" she joked.

Tommy once again didn't reply. Jude's expression turned grave, confused, and worried.

"Not funny. I get it," she said. "What's wrong?"

"You tell me," he said.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "You're freaking me out."

For the first time that morning, Tommy looked in her eyes. She could see the flaming fire behind them and the hatred that consumed him right now. She became terrified. What had she done? What did she do to make him so mad? She didn't want to make anyone mad.

"What did I do?" she asked helplessly, tears beginning to brim her eyes.

Tommy's face softened. Of course, she's the one hurt and she thinks she's done something wrong to deserve this anger that he felt inside. He slowly took hold of her arm and lifted the sleeve.

One by one bruises were revealed. Jude gasped and swallowed. Somehow, she thought that she could fool him, but he apparently found out.

Tommy cradled her face and pressed her forehead into his own, he wrapped his arms around her, trying to shield her from any pain she had before these past couple days with him.

"Tell me what he does to you, Jude," he pleaded as his voice cracked. His heart lurched again as he saw the pain in her eyes re-visioned. "Just tell me so I can make him stop."

"Who, Tommy?" she questioned as the first tear took it's path down her cheek, "who?"

He clenched his fists. "Your father."

"Tommy," she began. She squeezed her eyes shut, allowing more tears to fall and tried to swallow again, her mouth dry. Then in a quiet voice, seeming to convince herself, she tried to reason, "he doesn't do anything to me."

That's when he became enraged. She was lying. She was lying to him. How can someone with physical evidence think they can lie about this. He stood up and kicked over the coffee table, scaring Jude. If it would have been one of those cartoons, his eyes would have been replaced with fire and steam would be coming out of his ears.

"Its right there on your fucking arm, Jude!" Tommy screamed. "You can't deny this!"

"He doesn't hurt me, he loves me," she said to more to herself than to him.

"Jude, I know it's him! You don't need to protect him!" he yelled.

"But it's not Tommy! It's not him!" she countered back, yelling at him for the first time.

"He's a sick man, Jude," he replied, disgusted. "Making you believe he's done nothing wrong. That's exactly what he wants you to think!"

Jude was about to intervene and defend him once again when there was a knock on the door. Both Tommy and Jude stood still, although it was harder for Tommy who was still shaking in rage. The looked at each other once again and then turned to get the door. Jude stood next to him, however, slightly behind, in case anything bad were to happen.

Tommy turned the handle of the door and opened it. Jude's eyes nearly bulged out of her head

Victoria Harrison appeared in the door way with a grim expression on her face.

"I've heard a rumor that my daughter is staying with you," she said, "and apparantely it's true. Come on, Jude, we're going home."

Victoria then took a long drag from the cigarette in her left hand.

Teasers for the next chapter!

"After everything I've done for you, you're going to ruin it with someone who will trash you and use you?" she accused, "You want to throw that away?"

"The most you've ever done for me is put me through hell," Jude said quietly. "I lost myself, my heart, and I almost lost my life. He has been saving me, not you. So I think it's time that I return the favor to you for the first 17 years of my life."

"I was trying to protect you," he stated sadly. "But I messed this up, and I'm so, so sorry."

Questions!

1. Was the person causing Jude's pain, both physical and emotional, who you thought it was?

2. Does anyone know people personally who have been victims of violence? (It's a very tough subject and you don't have to answer this if you do not feel the need.)

3. Now, its too early to decide, but should Jude stay with Tommy, or get her own apartment for the time being, later on?

4. Who's excited for the holidays!?

xoxox

Emma :)