Chapter 1- There's Us

Not everything is supposed to come true,

The deafening silence was getting to Tommy. Jude and he have been in the car for seven minuets without either one making any attempt at conversation. Jude was 'busy' starring out the passenger window watching the street lamps go bye. Tommy, well, he split his time between paying attention to his driving and shooting side-glances at Jude. Lately, when the two of them were together, there was this strained silence like something was supposed to be said but wasn't and he had no clue what was supposed to be said. Even when he asked her questions her responses were short and getting shorter each day. A sighing Tommy broke the silence with; "The wedding was nice, wasn't it?" No verbal response came from Jude just her shaking her head yes.

Tommy shook his head and reached to turn on the radio for some company. Then he heard some familiar cords and the words "I've been sitting in the dirt (for 24 hours)." Turing his head toward Jude he tried to engage her in conversation again with "Remember when you wrote this?" Tommy was surprised when she not only responded but also turned to look at him while she replied. "I remember when WE wrote this. You took me to a pier."

"I had to make sure that you didn't run away again."

"That's when I fell for you," Jude added softly. Jude then returned to looking out the passenger-side window but was pulled back into the conversation by Tommy's next comment. "Remember the tabloid spread about us?"

"Ugh, do I ever. My mom was so worried about you!"

"That was your first tabloid spread. How many have you racked up by now?"

"To many but at least I was never the tabloid darling like you!" Teased Jude as the two of them locked eyes. Then Jude added with a laugh, "I was so young back then! I feel so ancient!"

"If you're ancient what does that make me?"

"Prehistoric?" Again more laughter. This is what Tommy missed, the bantering. As their laughter died down Tommy got an idea and at the next stoplight instead of going straight he took a left.

"Tommy, this isn't the way home."

"We're taking a slight detour girl."

As they pulled up to the pier in Tommy's Range Rover Jude was still smiling. Tommy exited the Rover and went to open Jude's door and helped her out. The music was still playing on the radio, this time an old classic love song, Tommy took her in his arms and they danced. "More dancing Tommy? While we were dancing at the wedding you said that completed your quota for the year."

"I think I said for the next three years."

"Why the change of heart?"

"I like holding you in my arms." Tommy pulled her closer and gave her what Jude like to call 'her look.' A few songs later a commercial came on and Tommy thought that it was as best time as any to ask her an important question. "Jude I have been meaning to ask you an important question for a while but the timing never seemed to be good so I guess now is good as any time." As Tommy completed his sentence Jude tensed and looked at Tommy and thought 'he is going to ask me. After four years, finally.' Tommy felt Jude tense and said, "Maybe this is not a good time-"

"No!" screamed Jude. "I mean this is a great time. You were saying?" encouraged Jude not only in her tone of voice but with her eyes. Tommy just gave her a weird look but continued on, "Your feelings are very important to me and I was wondering if you were okay with-"

"YES!"

"But you haven't heard my question yet?"

"My answer is yes."

"Are you sure girl?"

"Very sure" Tommy was still giving her this strange look.

"You are okay with G-Major forcibly taking over Jamie's and Pegan's label?"

"Yes-wait-what did you say?"

"For the past couple of months the board had been on my case about Jamie's and Pegan's label. Sadie found a way to take away their label but I wanted to make sure you were okay with it first."

"That was your question! Your IMPORTANT question" screamed Jude with arms flailing.

"The board needs my recommendation by Tuesday so I-"

"How . . . I thought . . . stupid . . .me" Jude was unable to put together a coherent sentence because Jude was so mad at Tommy, but more so at herself.

"You're obviously not okay with it so I will tell the board it will be an unwise move." Tommy said trying to pacify Jude. He reached to grab one of her flailing hands and succeeded in doing so. Then Jude looked up at him with this disappointed look on her face and started to say "I thought that you were" but she never completed her sentence. Jude shook her head and pulled away from Tommy. Tommy stepped forward to grab her hand and asked "Jude, what did you think I was going to ask you?" Jude just looked at him and said "I'm not feeling well, I want to go home."

"Jude-"

"Now Tommy" insisted Jude as she walked over to the car and slammed the door hard. 'Okay she was mad' thought Tommy 'but she didn't have to take it out on his car.'

The ride back to their Penthouse and the subsequent elevator ride was not just silent but deathly silent. As Tommy opened their door Jude stormed past him to get ready for bed. Tommy followed Jude to the bedroom and stood in the middle of the room looking out at the view they had of the city.

Sighing he turned around to see an agitated Jude, in the bathroom, taking off her earrings and then start to unzip her dress. However, it looked like the zipper was not budging. Jude felt her hands pushed away by Tommy's as he managed to unzip her dress. Their eyes meet in the large mirror that hung above the bathroom sinks. "Thanks" whispered Jude.

"Your welcome. You looked beautiful tonight." As Tommy was talking he pushed her hair away from her right shoulder and proceeded to kiss her neck. Jude sighed, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back against Tommy's chest and gave herself over to the wonderful sensations that Tommy's kisses always gave her. Then his hand pushed down the straps of her dress, off her shoulders, down her arms, over her hands that were void of any engagement ring. Her eyes snapped open and she stepped away from a very unhappy Tommy and Tommy Jr. Jude told Tommy "I am not in the mood tonight Quincy" and she continued on with her nightly routine for bed.

Sighing again Tommy turned away and went to have a cold shower. He took longer than he normally did getting ready for bed hoping that would give Jude's anger time to fade. Even if she was still 'not in the mood' he could at least cuddle up to that tight little body of hers. That's right people, Tom Quincy was a cuddlier. Believe me, no one was more surprised than Tommy to find that out. He wasn't one with Portia, not even with Angie, and definitely NOT one with Sadie but Jude always brought out another side to him that never ceased to amaze or scare him.

Stepping out of the shower he wrapped a towel around his waste and entered their room to find Jude still awake and lying on her back staring at the ceiling. Dropping the towel on the floor he got into bed and leaned over to kiss Jude but met air. Jude had turned her back on him and told him "I am still not in the mood Quincy." Sighing for what seemed to be the 100th time that night he went to cuddle up next to her only to be told "I don't feel like cuddling either. Please just sleep on your side of the bed."

Tommy was even more confused now. No matter how bad they had fought before he was never sent to his side of the bed, but here he was sighing for the 101 time that evening as he settled in on his cold side of the bed and fell into a troubled sleep.

There's Us