Chapter 37

Trigger

Tommy and Jude sat in his new black Ferrari 599 coasting down an open stretch of road. After working most of the day, they had snuck out to get some fresh air and were finally heading back to the city as the sun began to set. The deejay played a song that was familiar to both of them.

"You don't hear this one on the radio much." Jude said happily as she reached to turn it up. Tommy's hand grabbed her wrist to stop her. She looked at him in confusion as he let her go and pushed the button to turn it off. "I thought you liked this song..." He had a grim expression on his face and she frowned at him.

"You left the CD in the Alfa..." Jude's eyes grew wide.

"You were listening to it..." She stated and he nodded, his eyes fixed on the road, as uneasiness assailed him. She put her hand on top of his and although hers was much smaller, it felt comforting to him.

"It's okay baby. I just don't like to hear it is all. So what are you in the mood for, for dinner?" He changed the subject and she let him, knowing there wasn't anything she could possibly say to make him feel better about a song.

"Hmm...Thai?" She said, in the mood for spicy food.

"Thai always makes me sweat."

"So do I...And you don't avoid me..." He grinned at her, letting her distract him from his memories.

Reaction

He was driving down the sunlit road in the Alfa, holding Jude's hand as her laughter was carried into the wind. She was singing along to the radio and he looked over and smiled at her. He removed his hand from hers to shift. When he reached for her hand again, it was not there. He looked over to the passenger seat and it was empty except for the pendant he had given her. When he looked up at the road again, it had somehow become nighttime and his foot hit the brake as a sharp curve came into view.

Tommy woke up sweating and all the feelings he had had that night she had left him, although muted, came up to engulf him. It must have been hearing that song today that caused everything to wash to the surface. He looked over at her sleeping form silhouetted by moonlight and reached out to make sure she wasn't just a dream. Her skin was cool, in the climate controlled room. Even in her sleep she instinctively curled towards him. He had a driving need to secure his place in her life, to make sure she would never leave him again. He did not want to ever feel that emptiness of losing her, ever again.

Hard Work and Dedication

"They're here!" E.J. yelled at the doorway of the studio where Tommy sat at the soundboard watching Jude in the booth. He jumped in surprise at her loud voice and looked back to see her waving a large magazine around. Jude looked up and stopped singing too, seeing the other woman practically bouncing as she left them. Jude took off her headphones as Tommy stopped recording. She opened the door, and Tommy was already out of the studio, as she hurried to catch up to him. She grabbed him around the waist, before he could get into the conference room, so he reached behind him and pulled her forward and off her feet.

"You know that's not fair Quincy. Just because you're stronger than me..." His lips found hers, just long enough to shut her up, and he walked them both into the conference room where a few interns, Georgia and E.J. were thumbing through the advanced issue of Rolling Stone. Jude picked up a copy nervously, she had been afraid she would look like a skank in the photographs, but was pleasantly surprised. Although the photographer had been kind of annoying, he did good work.

The picture on the front page was of Tommy sitting back on a leather couch, silver rings visible on the hand placed on his knee. His other hand was wrapped around Jude's waist as she leaned against him sideways, her feet crossed at the ankles, propped up on the arm of the couch, her full skirt fanning out to reveal just the tiniest hint of creamy thigh and the stiletto boots. She had her head turned, to stare up at Tommy, so part of her delicate profile and full lips were visible. His light blue eyes looked down right back at her. The photographer had caught the electricity between them, he had hoped for. It was almost like an art cover instead of one for a rock n' roll magazine. Georgia finished reading the article and looked up at the couple. Although other new artists had also made the magazine, these two had gotten by far the most space for their write up.

"Awesome photo shoot guys and the writer really liked you both too. Take the rest of the day off. Go celebrate." She did not have to tell the grinning couple twice as they snagged a copy and left the room.

The Plan

They sat at an intimate table in front of the window of an Italian restaurant that had been closed especially for them. The staff stood off to the sides whispering and watching the famous couple. The magazine was open to the article between them on the table. Georgia had been right, the writer that had interviewed the both of them, had plugged their music and expected even better things from them in the future. The magazine could not have come out at a more opportune time. Tommy's album was almost ready to be released and judging from advanced sales would debut in the top 5.

"I would never have been able to do any of this without you." Tommy said as he looked into her eyes. He took her hand and she smiled at him, euphoric for both of them. Her smile turned to a look of puzzlement as he pushed his seat back and got down on one knee. He pulled a small black velvet box, with a famous jeweler's name discreetly embossed on the inside lining, out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a large blue Asscher cut diamond in a platinum setting. "Marry me." He said, his eyes never leaving her widened ones.

The staff watched in amazement and a few had to turn their heads to hide shocked laughs as Jude's hand connected with the back of his head. Tommy held his own hand to the back of his head and got up, sliding back into his chair.

"What the hell Harrison?! That wasn't exactly the reaction I was expecting." He rubbed his hair lightly before dropping his hand. She glared at him.

"Are you completely insane Quincy?! I'm only 19!" She hissed through clenched teeth.

"Almost 20." He muttered. "I was married at 18." As the words left his mouth he realized that was not the smartest thing to bring up in this situation. Her glare grew even bigger if that was possible.

"Oh that worked out real well. Your wife only tried to kill you!"

"Does this mean you're saying no?" He got a determined gleam in his eyes, that had her sitting back warily.

"You want a different answer, ask a different girl." She knew that line from Working Girl would come in handy one day.

"You're going to marry me." He said with finality as he sat back too and smirked at her.

"What are you going to do? Kidnap me? Hold my 'Stang hostage?"

"No. I'll tell the press we're going to get married, and when you deny it you'll break my poor heart. North America will hate you." She looked at him, with narrowed eyes.

"You're seriously blackmailing me into marrying you?!"

"Yep." He said smugly.

"Why?" She asked seriously now, searching his cerulean eyes for answers. They were together. Why did a piece of paper matter to him now when it had meant less than nothing the first time?

"Because I want to be that guy for you. The one that sees forever in your eyes. I am that guy because of you." She was stunned silent for a moment as she absorbed his words. Forever. That was all he had, had to say. She held her left hand out and he slid the ring on, to applause from the restaurant staff. She looked at the diamond in amazement and finally slid her gaze back to his face.

"Can we at least wait until I turn 20, so I'm not that teenage celebrity cliché that elopes with her boyfriend?"

"We're not eloping."

"What?" She asked confused and then understanding dawned. "No..." Her eyes grew wide. "Oh no." She shook her head vehemently.

"Didn't you want the white wedding as a kid Harrison?" He was clearly amused by her strong reaction.

"Hell no! That was always Sadie's thing. I never, never thought about getting married!"

He looked at her in surprise. He had never met a girl that hadn't wanted marriage and the wedding before. "Tommy...Can't we just go to Vegas and..." She said in the low voice she knew got to him.

"No." He said firmly. "I'm not hiding my marriage to you." She understood then. He loved her and this time his marriage mattered, so he would tell the entire world. They got up at the same time and she was in his arms in a heartbeat as their lips met.

News!

Sadie was the first one Jude told as they sat in the kitchen of Jude's old home. She wanted her sister to know first so that she could be there for support when she and Tommy told her father. Instead of excitement, Sadie loved weddings, Sadie looked at Jude with concern. Just because Jude was a rock star did not mean she had to live the crazy rock star life. Marriage was supposed to be forever after all.

"Jude are you really ready to marry him? You haven't been back together that long and most of that was on tour. He just got divorced and you're only 19." Jude started mumbling about Tommy's evil scheme and Sadie could only catch every other word.

"He's blackmailing you?! Tommy Q. the most lusted after man in North America is forcing you to marry him?"

"Hey that's my fiancé you're talking about! No using words like lust." Jude found the word fiancé simply slipping out as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She put her head in her hands and groaned. He was evil. He was her addiction, her weakness and her strength all rolled in to one. And he wanted to marry her, to let the world know that she belonged to him.

"I guess that's it then." Sadie shook her head and shot her sister a smile.

Old 'Friends'

She showed up again. The bitch actually had the nerve to show up again. Jude watched Cassandra Hayward speak to her fiancé as if she wasn't even in the room. She and Tommy had been working on one of her new songs when they had been interrupted by the overly done brunette, perfect makeup and fake tits hanging out of another low cut dress. Did she own anything else?! Tommy looked nervously between Cassandra and Jude, but Jude chose to ignore him. This woman was plain rude and disrespectful, without even knowing Jude. She must have been one of those women who saw all females as competition. Well Jude would win that fight.

"Excuse me do you mind? We're working." Jude said to Cassandra as the other woman blatantly flirted with Tommy.

"Aww Tommy always has time for an old friend." She gave Tommy a sexy little smile, showing almost too white teeth.

"Actually we're on a deadline." Jude said, in a slightly annoyed voice.

"You better be careful there. I'm sorry Julie was it?"

"Jude." Tommy was quiet knowing better than to speak when Jude had that fire in her eyes.

"Oh sorry Jude. As I was saying. Tommy doesn't like his girlfriends too possessive."

"Since when does one screw make you the expert?" Cassandra was stunned into silence as Tommy coughed to hide the laugh he wanted to let out. That was his girl. He had been worried she would have problems with Cassandra again, but apparently not. Jude turned her gaze on him, making his pulse race and he wasn't sure if it was from fear or from lust. "Is that true babe? Do you think I'm too possessive?" He thought about the best way to answer that loaded question and gave her, her look as he spoke.

"As my fiancée I think you could try a little harder actually."

"Good answer." They grinned at each other as Cassandra spoke again.

"Fiancée?"

"Katrina right? We'd love to have you at the wedding." Jude said, dripping sincerity. Cassandra looked flustered for once as she glanced between Tommy and Jude.

"Um I think I have some more forms to sign. See you later."

"Bye..." Jude called to the retreating woman's back.

"Come 'ere." Tommy said. Jude got up, walked over and sat in his lap as he held her. "I love you." She nuzzled his neck and smiled against his skin.

"I love you too."