Chapter 12
He had barely gotten any sleep the whole night, tossing and turning constantly. He couldn't seem to get used to the empty bed, and he was constantly surrounded by the knowledge that things weren't right. While putting Sam to bet the night before, she had asked where Jude was, and it was then that he began to really worry.
Of course, he had known that Jude was upset when she left. As she had walked out the door, he could sense the tension radiating off of her and tried to consider what had set her off. Thinking back, he realized that she had started acting funny after her phone call with Sadie—not really responding to him, being distant, and just "off." He was about to call Sadie up to figure out what she had done when Sam asked him to sing to her.
Knowing that he could never say no to her, he simply asked what she wanted to hear. When she said "I Just Wanted Your Love." Thinking he couldn't have hear her right, he asked her, "What song?" and was rewarded with the same answer. She couldn't possibly have heard that song; hell, he hadn't even heard it! The only reason he even knew about it was because he had snooped in Jude's notebook. She, not surprisingly, caught him, and he begged her to tell him about it. She had agreed so long as he gave her a foot massage. From there, she had confessed that the song was about him. She had written it after getting back from a weekend visit to see him. They had gone to some club and in his drunken state one night he had started getting handsy with some floozy. She had been doing such a good job of "getting over him," but seeing him with some other woman brought all of the feelings back, and jealousy took over. She had gone back to her hotel and hopped on a flight back to Toronto, writing the song on the plane.
A small, "Daddy..." had entered his mind and interrupted his memory. He apologized and ended up singing something else to her before putting her to bed. As he was walking out of her room, he asked her, "Sam, why did you ask me to sing that song?" She told him that Jude told her to. Thinking his daughter might have more insight as to why Jude left, he asked, "What else did Jude tell you, Baby?"
She confessed that Jude told her she might be gone for a little bit, but that she loved Sam very much. "Jude said that you wouldn't miss her too much because she was only your best friend."
At her words, he had hardly been able to breathe. Jude must have overheard him when he was talking to Sam at the Thai food place. He turned to leave Sam's room, but before shutting the door, her voice stopped him. "Daddy, Jude is my best friend too. But I love her too, just like I love you. Goodnight Daddy."
He had wished her a good night and went straight to his own room. His own empty and lonely room. It had only been about nine by the time he had gotten ready for bed, but he was completely exhausted. His thoughts were with his girl, wondering how she was. If Jude really did hear his words to Sam, he knew that she would be hurt. She had to know on some level that what he said wasn't true, but he couldn't imagine how frustrated she would be. Most frustrating for him was the fact that he didn't even mean his words. This whole situation was proof that honesty is always the best policy.
Knowing how stubborn his girl could be, he decided it would be best to let her calm down a bit before confronting her about things. She was too important to him, and he wouldn't let her walk away that easily. With that, he had rolled over and tried to fall asleep. Unfortunately, he was still awake hours later, thinking of Jude and thinking of how he missed her. At half past six he finally got up, realizing further attempts at sleep were futile.
Grabbing a fresh cup of coffee and going into their at-home studio/office, Tommy was instantly assaulted with Jude. Her scent, her aura, her essence was all around him, invading every one of his senses. Quickly, a brick of despair developed in the pit of his stomach, he needed his Jude. Taking a deep breath, he pushed aside that thought and continued into the studio. Sitting at the sound board he slipped on the headphones and listened to the version of Better Together he had been working on. For a little while, he was lost in the music, but an hour or so later, he couldn't take it any more. Grabbing his phone, he called Jude on the off chance that she would answer.
He was completely shocked when her phone was picked up, but less surprised when he realized it was Kwest on the other end of the line. "Hey, man. How are you holding up?"
Tommy wondered how much his friend knew. But, before he could say anything, Kwest spoke again. "Before you try to play things off as just fine, I know they aren't okay. I saw Jude last night and she is currently tossing and turning on our couch. Why were you such an idiot?"
He couldn't help but laugh at his friend's question. It was so like Kwest to come right out and ask the honest question. It was one of the things he admired most about his friend, but also one of the most annoying things. "Honestly, Kwest, I don't know. Sam asked me if Jude would be her mom and I panicked. I didn't know what to say and I didn't know how much to tell her. I thought that if I told her that I loved Jude I would have to start talking about relationships and marriage and families and sex and I went crazy. I did the easy thing and just told her that Jude is my best friend and that she wanted to get to know Sam."
"Oh, T." A sigh from the other end of the line could be heard. "I know that you're new at this whole parenting thing, but really? Why couldn't you just tell the girl that Jude is special and you love her?"
"Sure, I could have said that, but what about the "mommy" question?" Tommy truly didn't know how to address that part of Sam's quandaries.
"Well, did Sam want Jude to be her mom?"
"I don't know." How was he supposed to know?
"That probably would have been a good place to start, dude. You should have asked."
"Oh," was Tommy's only response. How was it that Kwest made things seem so easy? This drama could have easily been avoided if he just asked Sam what she wanted. But, Jude hadn't been perfect either—she ran away. If she ran away now, what would she do if things really got hard or they had a real fight? His mind began to race at the prospect of what could go wrong.
After a long silence, Kwest's voice came through, "Tom? You still there?"
"Yeah, man. Sorry."
"No worries. What else is on your mind. You are being far too quiet over there."
Again, he was reminded of how well Kwest knew him. "Honestly, I'm a little angry at her. I mean, she ran away. She didn't come and talk to me about it and she just left. I don't know how to react to that." And it was true, he was confused. Tommy wasn't sure whether he was really allowed to be angry, or even what Jude's response should have been.
"Its okay to be a little angry, Tom. And, as much as you were an idiot, I agree with you: she shouldn't have run away or left without talking about it. But, you know how emotional she can be. And let's be honest, this is something that has been years in the making. She knew that she had feelings for you for a long time. Even though you just got it through your thick head that you loved her, I think she always knew. So, while you were off having fun adventures with other women, she was thinking about you and feeling like the best friend who got left behind. No, she didn't handle things well, but neither did you." He paused briefly, and then asked, "So what are you going to do about it?"
"The only thing I can do: talk to her." Taking the last gulp from his coffee mug, Tommy stood before continuing. "I can be over there in about thirty minutes. Make sure she doesn't leave?"
"For sure, T. But honestly, its only like 8:30. How often does Jude wake up before eleven when she doesn't have to?"
Tommy couldn't help but smile at his friend's question. It was true, Jude loved her sleep. Given the chance, she would sleep in every morning. But, work and a kid in the house would not allow that. And, Tommy knew that, when she was stressed out about things, Jude didn't sleep well and would wake up much earlier than normal. "I know, I know. I'll be there soon."
"No problem, man. I assume Sam will be with you too, so just send her upstairs when you get here."
"Thanks, Kwest. You're awesome, man."
"I know. You can repay me later."
"You know I will. See you soon." Tommy hung up the phone and stuck it in his pocket on the way to Sam's room. He wouldn't make her get dressed, but he had to at least get her up and in something a bit warmer since it was December. Kissing his little girl's forehead, he called her name softly. "Sam, honey? Wake up, Sweetie."
Another few tries and Sam's eyes opened in slits. "Daddy, no. More sleep." She rolled over and Tommy couldn't help but chuckle. She could easily be Jude's daughter based on sleeping patterns alone.
Finally, Tommy was able to rouse his daughter enough to put a jacket on her and slip a pair of sheepskin boots on her feet. Carrying her down to the car, they were off. Shortly they arrived at Kwest and Sadie's place. After gathering Sam, he walked straight in the front door, thankful that it was open. He told Sam to go upstairs to hang out with her Uncle Kwest, and headed for the living room. Seeing the love of his life laying on the couch, obviously uncomfortable, his heart clenched a bit. He had missed her so much, and just seeing her calmed him slightly. Bypassing the living room for a moment, he went to the kitchen and got a couple cups of coffee, knowing that Jude would require it if he wanted her to be coherent.
Coffee in hand, he sat down on the couch in the crook formed by her knees and chest as she was lying on her side. After putting the hot mugs on the table, he began the challenging task of waking up Jude. Many attempts later, eyes were opened and the beautiful girl in front of him began to sit up. Five minutes and a cup and a half of coffee later, Jude was awake enough to hold a conversation, so Tommy started in.
Now that they were sitting side by side on the couch, he took her hands in his own. "I love you." His eyes bore into hers with honesty and sincerity, making sure that she understood how serious he was. "You are the love of my life and my soul mate. I am completely lost without you. I need you by my side forever." Taking one hand from hers, he placed it on the side of her cheek. "Do you believe me?" At her nod, he shook his head. "No, Jude. I need to hear you say it. Do you believe me?"
"Yeah, I do. You know I love you too, right?"
He could see the truth reflecting in her eyes, and it was one of the most comforting things he had ever laid eyes on. "Yeah, Baby, I do." He couldn't help himself and leaned close to her, gently placing her lips against hers. A moment later he pulled away, knowing that they still had to talk about a few things. Before he could get a word in, Jude spoke up.
"I'm sorry!" she exclaimed. "I know that I get too emotional sometimes and I know that I'm stubborn and I know that I jump to conclusions. I know that you love me and I love you so much too. Other than music, you and Sam are my world! I'm sorry I ran away, I just..." She shrugged her shoulders and looked to the ground. "I started to freak out and I felt kind of suffocated. I needed to get away." Looking back up at Tommy, her eyes caught his. "I'm sorry."
Tommy hated that she was beating herself up over this, especially when it was his mistake that started it all. "I know, babe. I know." He captured her lips in a kiss, quickly being overwhelmed by a need to be closer and deeper inside her. Their tongues battled each other, his hands tangled in her locks, and her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck. Lungs burning with need for air, he once again pulled away from Jude. After a few moments he had his breath back and said, "I know why you felt like you had to go, and I get why you were upset." At her nod, he continued. "Baby, I love you, but we have a family now. When something goes wrong, we have to talk about, not run away from it." Tommy put a hand to her cheek, caressing it softly, loving the feel of her smooth skin beneath his callused fingers. "I just got you, I'm not letting you run away any time soon."
"Don't ever let me run away again. We're in this together...forever."
A heat entered his eyes and his gut as he affirmed, "Forever," and wrapped his arms around her. Their lips attached and the war between tongues raged on. Before long, he had her stretched out on the couch beneath him, one hand still locked behind her head, the other roaming over her body, sliding over a breast, resting on her hip. Just as he was about to explore lower areas of her incredibly arousing form, a small, "Jude!" stopped all actions.
The pitter-patter of feet got louder as Sam made her way down the stairs. Tommy scrambled off of Jude, trying to right his clothes, and in the process, laughed at his girl who was trying to do the same. Just in time, her blouse was buttoned and Sam launched herself into the older girl's arms. Tommy could see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes, excited to have Sam back in her arms.
The little girl continued to hold onto to Jude as if her life depended on it, but her small voice came out, "Jude, I missed you so much last night. Where were you?"
Tommy's own eyes began to get watery at the reunion of the two most important women in his life. He smiled when Jude responded to his daughter, "Oh, Baby. I'm so sorry. I had something to do. But I promise, I will never, ever leave you like that again, okay?" After receiving a nod from Sam, she looked up at Tommy who nodded as well. Putting his arms around both girls, he smiled, feeling a sense of completion for the first time since last night.
A few minutes later, the tears had been wiped away and Sam was seated securely in between him and Jude, telling them about what she wanted to do for their last day before going back to "real life." Tommy's arm was around his daughter and his fingers were caressing Jude's shoulder. He enjoyed just being with them…together…as a family. This was how it should always be.
Eventually, Sam quieted down and Tommy took the opportunity to get a few things straight. "Sam, do you remember when we talked yesterday when we were waiting for our food?" She nodded, eyes looking a little droopy from being tired. "Remember how I told you that Jude was Daddy's best friend and that she was staying with us so that she could get to know you better?" Again, the little girl nodded, this time picking up Jude's hand and holding it in her own. "Well, you need to know that its more than that. I love Jude very much, just like I love you very much. She lives with us because we love each other, not just because she wants to get to hang out with you."
Jude spoke up before he could get another word in, "Sam, I love you and your dad so much that I don't want to ever be far away from you. I'm truly, deeply sorry for leaving yesterday. I cannot tell you enough how much I love you." She put her hands to the little girl's face and kissed her forehead; then bending down so their foreheads were touching, Jude continued to whisper words of love and encouragement to Sam.
Tommy thought that the vision in front of him was pretty perfect. Once he was sure that Jude was finished reassuring Sam that she was loved and taken care of, Tommy spoke. "Girls, what do you say we go home and watch movies and play all day long?"
Though a bit of tiredness was still evident in Sam's eyes, they lit up and got wide with excitement. "Really, Daddy?" At his nod, she jumped off the couch and tried to pull him with her. When he didn't move, the girl turned to Jude. "Help me get him up, Jude!" They laughed at her insistence, and finally agreed, standing and walking toward the door. From the top of the stairs, Kwest waved goodbye, and then they were off.
It didn't take long for them to get back home, and the first thing Jude did was head to her and Tommy's room to change. Seeing where she was headed, he sat Sam in front of the TV and told her to watch some cartoons, he was going to help Jude. She nodded her agreement sleepily, her eyes already starting to droop, and Tommy was off. Quickly, he ran up the stairs and smirked at the pieces of clothing that littered the floor on the way to their bathroom. He heard the shower running and smiled, this was even more perfect than he had hoped. Ridding himself of his clothes, Tommy quietly opened the door to the shower, and climbed in.
A flustered "Oh!" came out of Jude's mouth as his hands snaked around her waist under the scorching water. She turned to face him, but when he was faced with her a full view of her front, his mouth dried and his eyes widened. He would never cease to be amazed by how incredibly sexy she was. It literally took one look at her and he was hard, one glimpse of her naked and he was close to gone, her standing naked and wet and it was hard not to lose it instantly. He sprang to attention, causing her eyes to go wide at the involuntary action. Without waiting for her to say anything, he grabbed her hips and pulled her flush against him.
His tongue invaded her mouth immediately, thrusting inside and taking over. One hand stayed on her hip, the other made a trail up her back and grasped onto her neck, holding her close. The water continued to pour over them, heightening all of Tommy's senses. Minutes later the pulled apart, the need for air taking over.
Leaning back slightly, Jude asked, "What about Sam?"
The way her brow crinkled in worry brought a smirk to his face, "Don't worry about that. She's watching Sunday morning cartoons and will be occupied for at least another half hour." He pulled her face closer with the hand still on the back of her neck and whispered, "Now, where were we?" His lips trailed light kisses down her neck, causing her to shiver in what he knew was desire and want. The hand that was on her hip moved quickly to her perfect ass, squeezing and pulling her closer. Without warning, she jumped up, wrapping her long legs around his waist.
Thankfully, he was able to support her, putting her back against the stone tile that enclosed the shower. She gasped from the coldness of the natural stone, but quickly reclaimed his mouth and thrust her tongue inside. She moved her hips to rub his throbbing erection against her center, not letting him enter her fully. This quickly became too much for him and he growled, "Jude, let me in!"
"Fine!" was breathlessly yelled back at him by the soaking woman in front of him.
He could barely respond, his need for her so great. In a swift motion he entered her, groaning in pure pleasure as he felt her surround him fully. Bracing himself, Tommy pulled all the way out and thrust back in. His movements continued, becoming more erratic by the second. Leaning his forehead against the stone, he began to suck on Jude's neck, needing to taste her and mark her as his own. He could feel her begin to convulse around his throbbing member, and he sped up slightly to bring her over the edge. They came at the same time grunting the other's name.
Tommy pulled Jude away from the shower wall, letting her feet fall to the ground. He soon realized that the water was beginning to turn cold, so he fiddled with the knobs to bring the heat back up. "Let's finish up and spend a day with our girl."
The smile Jude rewarded him with was brilliant—honest, sincere, and full of joy. "That sounds perfect...our girl."
Tommy smiled in return, giving his girl a sweet kiss before grabbing the shampoo. "Want some help?" At her nod, he put some of the liquid in his hand and proceeded to wash her hair. Fifteen minutes later, both were thoroughly cleaned. Quickly drying off and putting on some sweats, they joined Sam in the living room just as an episode of her favorite cartoon was finishing. They spent the rest of the day lounging around their place, watching movies, playing music, ordering take out, and truly enjoying being together. Tommy truly felt at peace with how things were in his life.
…
For the past few weeks, things had seemed to be pretty normal. For Jude, life consisted of chauffeuring Sam to and from school and continuing work on her album. Tommy was busy running things at the label, but in his free time he could always be found in the studio with Jude. Her album was coming along well, scheduled for release in March.
Sam was currently chasing after Spied in the lobby of G Major since her Christmas break had started a few days prior. She had grown surprisingly close to him, Wally, and Kyle after spending so much time with them after school. Today, Jude was finishing up a few things before heading for home with the little girl. It would be their third "girls' night" and they had plans to watch Aladdin, eat ice cream, and decorate the tree. Tommy was in Los Angeles until the 24th—the day after tomorrow—meeting with investors and potential artists for the label. Though she got to talk with him at least five times a day, it wasn't the same, and Jude missed him terribly. She was having an amazing time with Sam, but it just wasn't the same without Tommy there too.
The first day he was gone, the girls had just hung around their place, hitting the park and going on a walk. Yesterday, she and Sam had gone shopping for the last minute Christmas presents. They went to some of Jude's favorite stores, buying a pair of Brian Atwood heels for Sadie, an awesome set of turntables for Kwest, an old Beatles record for Stuart, and a set of platinum cuff links for Darius. No presents had been purchased for her best friends and current back-up band, SME. For years she joined Spied, Wally, and Kyle in a Christmas movie marathon to suffice as their present to each other. Tommy was easiest to shop for—she had ordered the 2011 Ducati 848 Evo weeks before, and Kwest would be bringing the bike by in a bit when he and Sadie came to help "Christmas-ify" the house.
Walking in the door to their home nearly thirty minutes later, Jude told Sam to get her pajamas on so that they could start relaxing. Shortly thereafter, both girls were in flannels and t-shirts, ready to decorate the tree and get to their ice cream. A knock on the door alerted Jude to the arrival of her sister and brother-in-law. Ushering them in quickly, they got to work, putting lights and ornaments on the tree and garland on the stair banister. Little knick-knacks were placed around the house and candles were lit giving the house a homey feel.
Looking around, Jude smiled, knowing that this was how things should be: surrounded by family, good conversation, and love. Truly, the only thing missing was Tommy, and maybe a ring on her finger. As much as she knew that he loved her and that they were a family, she wanted to get married. Maybe it was too soon considering they had only officially been a couple for about two months, but she knew that Tommy was it for her.
The small voice of a five-year-old girl interrupted her thoughts, "Jude, can we go to bed now? I want to watch Aladdin and Jasmine!"
Looking down, she smiled at Sam's questioning eyes, smiling and nodding her agreement. She looked up in apology to Sadie, "Sorry, Sis. But it is 7:30 already, and Sam will need to get to bed soon. I promised her we could watch Aladdin together."
Smiling, Sadie simply said, "No worries, Sis. We should get going anyways. I'll see you later?"
"Definitely. Thanks for helping out tonight. Love you guys." With that, she gave hugs to Sadie and Kwest, and closed the door behind them. Turning to Sam, she asked, "So, Sam. What do you say we get that ice cream and head upstairs?"
"Okay!" was the only response Jude received before the little girl ran up the stairs.
Jude couldn't help but laugh as she grabbed the ice cream out of the fridge along with a couple of spoons. Walking up the stairs, she thought about what Tommy might be up to. She had called him just before her sister and Kwest got there and his phone had gone straight to voicemail, meaning it was off. She was a bit concerned by that, but shrugged it off as she saw Sam sitting in her and Tommy's bed, grinning like a crazy child and unable to sit still. "Sam, if we're going to have ice cream in bed we have to be very careful, okay? We can't let Daddy know."
"Okay." Patting the spot next to her, she said, "Hurry up!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Jude sat down next to the girl and they crawled under the top blanket, getting nice and comfortable for the movie. Not a minute later, the ice cream was open and the movie was on, both girls thoroughly enjoying themselves.
About halfway through the movie, the ice cream was finished and they were getting ready to cuddle under the covers when Sam sat straight up. "Jude, can I ask you a question?"
Jude had a flashback to the first day when she met Sam and the girl was so tentative. Wanting to lighten the mood, she tickled the girl's sides and told her, "I think you just did! But you can ask another one, silly girl."
The precious sound of Sam's laughter came in bursts, the tickling having its desired effects. "I call Daddy, Daddy, right?"
Wondering where things were going, Jude simply said, "Yes."
"Well..." There was a pause as Sam seemed to think about what she wanted to ask. Jude put a hand on her knee, trying to offer support and encouragement to continue. The little girl did so and looked at the bed, obviously still a bit nervous. "You are kind of like a mom, right?" Not giving Jude a chance to answer, she continued, "Can I call you Mommy?" Her eyes were clenched shut, obviously nervous and scared for Jude's response.
She was overwhelmed with love for the little girl who had quickly become one of the most important people in her life. Jude smiled, and put both hands on either side of Sam's face, trying to get her to look up. When the wide eyes of the little girl began to squint open, Jude began to speak. "Sam, I love you like my own daughter. It would make me so happy and I would be so honored if you would call me Mommy. I love you Sweetheart." She enveloped the girl in a tight embrace, holding her close, trying to convey her love.
After a few minutes, the girls separated, and Sam looked up to Jude, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Sam. I am sure. I would love it if you called me Mommy." In the past couple of days, Jude had not experienced a time when she wanted Tommy to be there so badly. She wanted to share this moment with him, have him holding both of them close, truly embracing the little family they were building. At her reassurance to Sam, they snuggled together and cuddled underneath the sheets. Falling asleep quickly, Sam was wrapped securely in Jude's arms, a slight smile on her face.
…
At close to midnight, shirt un-tucked and collar undone, Tommy let himself in the door. He was tired and his head was pounding. His day had been filled with stuffy investor meetings, and he wanted to grab a vodka on the rocks and get to sleep. But more than that, he wanted to see Jude and Sam. It had been three days, but it felt like a lifetime. Since he had experienced what it was like to be with them, bring without them was pure torture. As he was riding around Southern California, all he could think about was what it would be like if his girls were with him. They could have gone to the beach, the Grammy Museum, and gotten cupcakes from Sprinkles—he knew that Jude would have loved them. But no, instead he had been separated from them and spent every spare moment missing them.
As he opened the door to his and Jude's bedroom, his heart warmed at the sight he was faced with. Sam was curled into a ball next to Jude, and she was clutching his pillow. The muted sounds of Aladdin were playing in the background, and the menu screen lit the room in a soft glow. There was nothing that looked more perfect and appealing than the vision of those two in the bed. Forgetting all thoughts of a relaxing drink, Tommy rid himself of his shirt and shoes, followed quickly by his pants and socks. Left only in a pair of boxers, he crawled under the covers next to Jude, carefully removing the pillow from Jude's arms and drawing her closer. Within moments, he fell asleep with her in his arms and a hand on their little girl. This was perfection.
…
A few days later Tommy was woken to the feel of a pair of lips gently kissing his chest. Eyes still closed, he smiled, loving the feel of her caress. After a moment, he stopped her actions, putting a finger to her lips and then pulling her closer so that they were face to face. Putting a hand on the back of her neck, he brought her in for a kiss. The way her lips moved against his was perfect, and he was taken over by a need for more of her. He quickly pulled her onto him and, much to his delight, he realized that she was bottomless, her naked ass straddling him, her center rubbing against his growing erection.
Jude began to pull off her top, and from his place below her, Tommy's eyes grew wide in anticipation of the "show." If possible, his hardness became even more stiff, and he needed to feel her and touch her. He sat up a bit and began to kiss her stomach, letting his tongue dart out to taste her. The sound of her pleasure began to get louder, the moans becoming more frequent. The noises she made completely turned him on, and he swiftly turned them so that she was beneath him. Instantly her legs spread to make room for him and then wrapped around his waist, ensuring that he was as close as possible. Their mouths continued in a slow and sensual dual, exploring each and every crevice of the other's mouth. The want and longing he felt for her became too much, and he entered her in a deep thrust. Tommy let out a groan of his own at the feeling of her wrapped around him so tightly. The feeling of skin on skin was so intimately perfect, and he wanted nothing more than to bring her intense and perfect pleasure. Movement became more erratic, thrusts harder and deeper, her hips meeting his with every drive into her. Simultaneously, they reached climax, reveling in the complete bliss.
Finally recovering a few minutes later, Tommy looked down at Jude and couldn't help but smile. This incredible sexy woman was in his bed, naked and sweaty from a round of amazing Christmas-morning sex. The thought of their morning activities turned the smile into a smirk, quickly observed by Jude. "Perve!" she said as she smacked his chest and reached to the foot of the bed to retrieve the shirt she had on earlier.
He grinned, unable to resist her charms and leaned over the side of the bed to pick up a pair of flannel pajama bottoms that were resting there from the night before. "You know you love me," he countered.
Jude's glare turned to a smile as she leaned closer. "You're right, I do love you." She gave him a small peck, "Merry Christmas, Baby."
"Merry Christmas. I love you too." He put an arm around her and they leaned back against the headboard, pulling the covers up around them, relaxing in each others presence. Tommy couldn't help but think how perfect this moment was, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of little feet coming down the hallway. Before he could blink, a dark haired, blue eyed bundle of energy launched herself on their bed, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"Good morning, Sweetheart! Merry Christmas!" He realized that this would be the best Christmas ever: he had the two most important women in his life with him.
"Merry Christmas, Daddy, merry Christmas, Jude!" Sam was bouncing up and down on the bed, her excitement bubbling over.
As Sam began to come closer and started to climb into bed with him and Jude, his love looked over at him in a slight panic. "Babe, why don't you and Sam head downstairs and get some breakfast started while I get ready." At the word "ready" her eyes got big as if she was trying to tell him something. His confusion must have been obvious, and she began looking between him and the sheets that covered her.
Finally it clicked, and Tommy realized that Jude was bare-bottomed underneath the covers. "Sure, Sweetie. Let's go make pancakes, Sam."
"Okay!" She jumped off the bed, nearly falling in the process and raced Tommy out of the room. They were joined by Jude ten minutes later, and quickly sat down to breakfast. Tommy couldn't help but tease his girls for how quickly they downed their food, especially loving how much Jude ate. She not only finished off the extra pancakes that were made, but also the few bites left on Tommy and Sam's plate. With breakfast finished and dishes being washed, the small family got ready to go and headed over to Kwest and Sadie's house.
Their day was filled with lots of laughter, and never before had Tommy felt like such a part of a family. Jude and Sadie's dad also joined them for the day—he had thankfully been able to get a flight into Toronto last night. When they first arrived, Stuart had pulled Tommy aside to have a "chat." He was filled with a sense of uncertainty and a bit of dread, not sure of what was going on. Gratefully, their talk had been amicable and even friendly. The older man had thanked him for taking care of Jude. He recognized that Jude was the happiest she had ever been, and he knew that Tommy was a large part of that. Before they joined the rest of the family, Jude's father told Tommy that he was excited to get to know Sam, and that he was excited for more grandkids in the future. Tommy hadn't been sure how to react to that statement, so laughed it off in an effort to keep things lighthearted.
Part-way through the day, everyone sat down to a feast that had been prepared by Sadie, leaving each and every one of them stuffed and content. At Sam's request, the group finished their evening by watching Elf. Jude had laid out on one couch, her feet on Tommy's lap, Sam on his other side cuddled into him. Their positions had been mimicked back at their house as they watched Christmas episodes of some of their favorite TV shows, falling asleep to the holiday episode of Iron Chef America. At some point during the night, they had all made their way upstairs after an adventure in the garage, ending what Tommy was sure was the most perfect Christmas he had yet experienced.
Tommy and Jude had taken the week following Christmas off, wanting to spend more time as a family. They went to the park, hit some after Christmas sales, and even taught Sam how to play mud football with Spied, Wally, and Kyle. Today, they went to Harbourfront Centre to go ice skating. Tommy had nearly fallen over in laughter while Jude was trying to teach Sam how to skate. Eventually she seemed to get the hang of it, and they skated for hours. They took a ferry to Toronto Island Park and walked around despite the cold. After an amazing Italian dinner at a restaurant close to the Centre, they had made it back to their place, immediately going upstairs to Tommy and Jude's room. They put on Beauty and the Beast, and crawled under the covers, falling asleep in what seemed like minutes.
An hour later, Tommy awoke with a start, groggily rubbing his eyes, and becoming more aware of his surroundings as he sat up. Realizing that something from the movie must have startled him, he looked over to check on Jude and Sam, smiling at the way they were laying. Sam was sprawled out taking up half of the bed, one leg over Jude's waist, while his girl was curled into a ball at his side. Deciding that his daughter would be much better off in her own bed, Tommy pushed himself off of the bed, going around to the side where she lay and picking her up. Cradling her in his arms, he brought her to her room and lay her in the bed. Giving her a small peck on the forehead, he told her, "I love you, Baby. Sleep tight." He didn't care that she may not be able to hear him in her sleep, it was part of his nightly ritual. After living without her for five years and more recently not seeing her for a few days, Tommy didn't want to let one day pass without telling Sam that he loved her.
Walking across the hallway he thought back over their busy day. It had been long, but filled with adventure and laughter. They had made sure to bring the camera with them, wanting to capture all of the memories they were sure to have. And man did they have some good memories of the day. Tommy had truly enjoyed just being with his girls. They had filled thermoses with hot cocoa to help them stay warm, and bundled up in sweaters, jackets, scarves, mittens, and hats. In one of the pictures you could barely recognize who was being photographed aside from the perfect blue that was Jude's beautiful eyes. When they went to the park, Jude had taught Sam how to make snow angels. He had stood by and taken picture after picture, completely enamored by the beautiful ladies he had been blessed with. He decided to frame one of those photos—Jude and Sam were looking at each other mid-snow-angel with eyes sparkling and smiles bright—and give it to Jude.
Speaking of her, Tommy smiled at the sight of his lovely woman, buried beneath the covers, cuddling his pillow. It warmed his heart to think that she would naturally gravitate towards something that carried his scent when he wasn't there. There was a hint of a smile gracing her face, and he wondered what she might be dreaming of, hoping it had to do with him or their little family. In that moment, standing in the doorway to their room, he was overwhelmed with happiness. Wherever she was, he would be too. He was blessed to know her, let alone call her his own. The term "girlfriend" just didn't do justice to their relationship, and he couldn't wait for the day when he could change that.
Ever the musician, Tommy wasn't surprised when a melody began making its way through his head. Standing upright, he went into the office/studio and grabbed his guitar. Sitting down, he began to strum, coaxing out the notes that were on his mind. A while later, satisfied with how the tune was coming along, he pulled out a notebook and began to write. At first it was simply a list cataloging the many things that made Jude so…Jude. Slowly it was transformed into a masterpiece, detailing the joy that came from just being together. Regardless of the many relationships and girls he had over the years, what he had with Jude was different. She was special, and he would spend all of his days making sure she was happy and taken care of. Having Sam in the mix of things only made things better. He realized that, no matter where he was, his girls were imprinted upon his heart. Words continued to flow, and hours later he had a rough version down. He could imagine Jude's voice singing some of the lines and couldn't wait to play it for her.
Though the song was done, he sat in the office for a bit longer, eyes closed and reveling in the memories from the last few months. He thought back to when he first found out about Sam and how Jude was so perfect—taking care of him and so supportive. A smile appeared on his face at the thought of their first family sleepover in the living room. He remembered how idiotic he had been to push her away, and the fear and panic he felt when he thought she was leaving him, even if she was only looking for her own place. The pictures she had been looking at online stayed with him, and Tommy could literally see them cuddled in bed in their own little house, a fire in the fire place.
That image was so real, the picture so perfect, that he was a bit surprised to open his eyes and find that he was in his office. Even more surprising was the feeling of sadness at not being in his and Jude's fictional home. Realizing how much he wanted that, determination set in. Pulling up the internet on his computer, he searched for the house that Jude had been looking at and longing after. Seeing that it was still on the market, he wrote down the number of the agent and decided to visit the place the following day. Satisfied with all that he had accomplished that evening, he got up and headed back to his room. Thankfully it was only midnight, and he didn't have to be up before nine. Crawling into bed next to his beautiful Jude, he smiled in contentment, excited at the possibility of buying a house together.
The next day he claimed errands as the reason for an extended absence and quickly went to the property he had found the night before. As the real estate agent took him around, his thoughts were confirmed that this place was perfect. After seeing the extent of the house and property, he was convinced, and made an on-the-spot offer. Having bought a few places in his life, he knew how to negotiate, and was satisfied with the price. He was guaranteed that the home would be vacant by the end of the week, perfect timing for his New Year's Eve plans with Jude. Driving back home, Tommy could barely contain his excitement. This home and this move was the next step in his family's life. Next would come a proposal, marriage, and more kids down the line. He could almost see into the future, a few more kids running around, friends and family gathered, and lots of love.
Banishing the mushy and lovey-dovey thoughts from his mind—he didn't want to turn into too much of a sap—and pulling into the parking garage, Tommy saw the bike that Jude had gotten him for Christmas and his smile got even wider. She knew him so well and knew that he had wanted a new bike for a while. It didn't hurt that she thought he looked incredibly sexy while riding it. He smirked, thinking of Christmas night—they had put Sam to bed and gone downstairs for some time to themselves. Unable to resist, Tommy had gone to take a look at his bike and, when he didn't return for over twenty minutes, Jude went to go find him. When she saw him sitting on the bike, she nearly jumped him then and there. They had barely made it inside when she confessed that she had always thought bikes were sexy.
Laughing at the memory, he headed inside to find Jude and Sam, making a mental list of what he needed to do over the next couple of days. He planned to surprise Jude with the house on New Year's Eve, and wanted to make sure that everything would be taken care of. Seeing his girls engrossed in a game of Memory, he smiled and took off his shoes, joining them on the floor.
"So, who's winning?"
…
She had been standing in the walk-in closet for nearly a half hour and still couldn't find anything worth wearing. It didn't help that he had given her no clue as to what their evening held. It was New Year's Eve and Tommy had promised a "low key" evening. The only thing he told her was to "dress warm, but comfortable." Jude didn't know whether that meant sweats or nice pants or something in between. Giving up, she pulled out her phone and hit "2" on her speed-dial.
"Yes…"
The way he answered his phone, Jude could tell he was smiling. "If you won't tell me anything about tonight, just tell me what to wear!" she whined into the phone. She moved into their master bathroom and turned on the spout, trying to get the water warm before filling the tub.
After a brief pause, Tommy simply said, "Fine."
When he didn't say anything else, she asked, "Well?" She desperately needed help, and he wasn't giving her anything!
"Babe, you usually wait until the last minute to get ready, and I told you to be ready at seven; its not quite five yet. What's the deal?"
"Ugh, you are irritating sometimes! If you must know, dad is in town for the weekend and suggested taking Sam back to his hotel for the night. He picked him up maybe thirty minutes ago so they would have time to get take-out and movies. Apparently he knows what we're doing even if I don't. Anyways, I thought it might be nice to take a bath and relax since you won't be around until we leave." A groan could be heard from the other end of the phone, and Jude couldn't help the smile that came. "Jealous, Babe?"
"Harrison, you torture me. Now I really wish that I was at home! As to your question…" There was another pause before he continued, "Wear those black jeans you like and something long sleeved; bring a jacket or your down vest too. And it would probably be good to wear boots to keep your feet warm. How does that sound?"
"I'm actually quite impressed," Jude conceded. She was thankful for his ever-present sense of style and moved back into the closet to pull out the items of clothing he suggested. "What are you up to?" She hadn't really seen him all day—he told her he had to get some things done at the office, but when she called down to the studio, no one had answered.
"Just getting things done. Can you try to be ready at seven?"
"I will be, I promise." Jude went back into the bathroom and turned off the water, the tub now filled, and began to undress. "I'm gonna go now, but I'll see you in a bit. Love you." A faint, "Love you too, Baby" came from the other end of the phone as Jude was setting it down on the counter. She climbed into the tub, and let the relaxation begin.
Nearly two hours later, she was putting the finishing touches on her makeup, just waiting for her boyfriend to come and whisk her away. Just then, she heard the front door open and called out, "Tommy, is that you?"
"Hey, Babe! You about ready?"
Fluffing her hair one last time, Jude grabbed her bag and walked into the hallway, meeting Tommy part way down the stairs. "I am...you look sexy, Hon." She leaned down to give his a quick kiss, "You ready to go?"
"Yeah. Let's get out of here." He grabbed her hand and led her the rest of the way down the stairs. "Do you have a jacket?"
She held up the leather coat and they headed out to the garage. Tommy opened her car door, but wouldn't let her get in, placing a blindfold over her eyes before helping her in. "I didn't know you wanted to play like that, Babe," she said with a smirk.
"That's for later, Sweetheart. Right now, we have somewhere to be." With that, he closed her door and got into the driver's side. They chatted about menial things—his day, an interesting recipe she wanted to try out.
Eventually, Jude's curiosity got the best of her, and she asked, "Where the hell are we, babe?"
She could hear the chuckle from the other side of the car before he answered, "Patience, Babe. Patience."
"Forget patience, I want to know what's going on!" she exclaimed. She was over not knowing what was going on! It was New Year's Eve and she wanted to start enjoying herself.
"Well..." he stopped for a moment and Jude could tell the car was turning and slowing down. He then grabbed her hand and said, "There is no longer a need for patience. We're here." When she attempted to take off her blindfold with the hand he didn't hold, he grabbed it, "Almost, Babe. Just hold your horses. Stay put."
Jude did as she was told, able to hear that he was getting out of the car, assumedly to help her out. Her thoughts were confirmed as her door opened and she felt him grab her hand. She felt the need for silence, all of a sudden overwhelmed with the idea that something big was about to happen. Would Tommy propose? The fact that they had been together for so little time didn't phase her, she knew that Tommy was her forever. She wanted to build a family and a life with him and Sam. Trying to not get her hopes up, Jude shook her head and cleared her mind.
Tommy led her up a small set of steps and through a door. She felt him wrap his arms around her middle and walk with her into the room, whispering into her ear, "Almost, Babe." Walking a few more steps to the right, Tommy stopped his movement, automatically stopping hers as well. "We're here. Let's get this blindfold off of you."
With that, he pulled of the fabric over her eyes and she couldn't help but gasp at the sight in front of her. They were in a large, empty room with a fire raging in the fireplace and candles nearly covering the floor. The only spot not taken over by candles was close to the fireplace and filled with blankets, pillows and a comforter. Her eyes were wide, and she looked behind her to find her love. "Babe?" She was flooded with questions and appreciation all at the same time.
"I love you, Jude. I love you so much." He kissed her passionately, but separated quickly. "Do you recognize this place?"
At first, Jude had no idea where she was. She looked around, and was surprised to realize that the staircase looked kind of familiar. Now that she focused more, she recalled the kitchen through the big opening and the beautiful wood and stone floors throughout what she could see of the downstairs. Then, it all hit her like a ton of bricks. "Tommy! Is this..." She took another look around the room, then back at the love of her life. "This looks like the house I was looking at. Why are we here?"
"Well, my love, I was thinking that we could move here. I feel like it would be a waste to have bought this home and not live here. What do you think? You want to move in with me..." he shrugged his shoulders, "again?"
She couldn't help herself and jumped into his arms. "I would love to!" Being completely supported in his arms, she kissed him, knowing that, even if it wasn't a proposal, it was right. Maybe that would come soon enough. For now she would revel in the joy of being with the man she loved on New Year's Eve. All thoughts began to leave her, and instead, she focused solely on the kiss.
Minutes later, Tommy walked over to the little fort he had created and knelt, laying her down on the make-shift bed. Detaching their lips, he looked at her, and caressed the side of her face with a calloused hand. "I love you."
Her eyes softened and she smiled. Unable to form many words, she answered simply, "I love you too." Their lips reconnected, and they spent the next few hours making out like teenagers—rolling around on their blankets, letting hands wander, sharing kisses and their passion. An hour before the ball dropped, things progressed and they ended up making love in every sense of the words until past midnight. Neither cared that the big event came and went, they were too wrapped up in each other to notice.
The bright sun shone in through the windows the next morning, waking both Jude and Tommy from their peaceful slumber. Smiling at each other, they sat up, putting on some of the clothes scattered around their blankets and pillows. "So, when do we move in?" Jude was so excited—she couldn't wait to get started.
"I was thinking that we could move in next weekend. How does that sound?"
"Perfect! I seriously can't wait!" Amidst her excitement, Jude sobered, "What about Sam?" What would their little girl think about moving? Would she want to move? How would they tell her?
"What if we tell her this morning. We'll get breakfast at the diner and tell her then."
She smiled at his suggestion, "Oooh, prime her with food. Good thinking, Quincy."
He looked to the side sheepishly, "It can't hurt..."
"I'm kidding, Babe. I think its a great plan. Let me call my dad." Reaching for her phone, a thought came to her, "Did my Dad know about this?" At his nod, she hit his shoulder, "I hate you and love you all at the same time." Leaning in, she gave him a quick kiss before standing, still completely naked.
"Are you sure you want to tell Sam right now?"
Jude couldn't help but smirk at him, and after a quick laugh said, "Babe, we can do that later. Now get up."
The two got dressed and took a quick look around the house. From there, they went to Stuart's hotel and grabbed Sam, heading over to their favorite diner, Avenue Open Kitchen. They told her the exciting news and, to their great pleasure, she was thrilled.
"We get to all live together in a big house? With grass? And a pool?" The girl was nearly bouncing out of her seat because of her excitement.
Jude nodded, putting a hand over Sam's in an effort to calm the girl down slightly. "That's what we were thinking. You wanna go take a look today?"
"Yes! Let's go now! Can we go, please?" Her voice got a whole octave higher, and the bouncing only increased.
Jude was worried that, if they didn't take Sam soon, the little girl might burst. "Sam…" She paused in hopes that the girl would listen and stop her constant movement. When that happened, Jude continued, "We can go to the house…" At her words, the movement began to increase again and Sam's eyes got wide. Again, Jude put a hand over the little girl's and looked at her with knowing eyes. She couldn't help but crack a smile when the bundle of excitement closed her eyes and visibly tried to calm herself down. Jude couldn't believe how similar Sam's reactions were to Tommy. Finally, the girl seemed to be a bit more contained, and Jude continued. "But, we have to finish our breakfast first. And I don't mean shoving it in our face, either." The last part was added because she knew that Sam would try to get as much food in her mouth as possible, and Jude just didn't want to make a trip to the emergency room on an exciting day like today.
Reluctantly, Sam put a bite in her mouth—larger than usual, but still manageable. They continued to talk amongst themselves, and Sam told them how they should decorate her room. She wanted it to be the same as her current room, but she decided that it would be fun to have more pictures of them. Hearing her say that made Jude's heart warm, how could she say no to that? She looked up to find Tommy gazing at her with a sappy expression on his face. She could tell that he was embracing the "family moment" that they were having, and she couldn't hide her own happiness. Realizing that plates were empty, she grabbed one of his hands and one of Sam's and asked, "Are we ready? Daddy can pay and we can head out to the car?"
Sam was the first to stand, "Let's go! Hurry and pay, Daddy!" Turning to Jude, she said, "Mommy, you can drive. Let's go!"
Jude smiled at the girl's excitement and looked at Tommy, who was on his way to the register to pay for their early meal. She was about to ask for keys, when he pulled them out of his pocket and handed them over to her. "Get the car started and I'll be out in a minute," he told her before giving her a quick kiss.
"No time for kisses! Come on!" Sam's excitement was getting the better of her.
Jude was sure she didn't mean to be rude, but it her comments did come off that way. She decided that it would be a good thing to speak to the girl in the car. Moments later they were buckled in and ready to go, quickly joined by Tommy. They made it to the house in under ten minutes, and all clamored up the steps and walked into their home together, as a family. Sam raced from room to room, exploring and checking everything out. Nearly an hour later, she came into the kitchen where Tommy and Jude were chatting. She was wrapped in his arms, truly enjoying the feeling of being held by him, chatting about how they could transform the basement into a studio, what she wanted to do in the backyard, and how they couldn't wait to host a few family dinners and holidays.
"Mommy?"
"Yeah, Hon?" She could tell that Sam wanted to ask something, but the crooked brow she was currently sporting gave evidence to her confusion. "What's going on, Sam?"
"Well, this house has a lot of rooms. Our old house only has three—one for music, one for me, and one for you and Daddy."
Jude was unsure where this was going. She detached herself from Tommy and knelt down to be eye-level with Sam, "That's right."
"Um…" The little girl looked at the floor and began moving from one foot to the other. "Will you not sleep with Daddy anymore? There are so many rooms so you don't have to, but I like coming in and having parties in your room and I want to have all of us in the same room…"
She would have continued if Jude hadn't put a finger to her lips. "Sam, Daddy and I are still going to stay in the same room. We can still have parties and sleepovers ever once in a while." She smiled and asked, "What brought this up?"
"Stupid Gregory from school told me that you weren't really my Mommy because mommies and daddies are married. I told him it didn't matter, but he said that we weren't a real family." Looking into Jude's eyes, Sam smiled, "Don't worry Mommy, I hit him and told him he was wrong."
It was hard for Jude not to laugh, but she knew that she would have to correct Sam's behavior. "Sam, even if the boy from school was wrong, it doesn't mean you can hit him."
"But he was being so mean!" the little girl exclaimed.
"I know, Hon. But you still can't hit people. If it happens again, just walk away or tell your teacher." Tommy knelt down next to her and jumped in with the parenting advice, causing Jude to smile.
Ever since they had gotten Sam, he had been so "Dad-like." She thought it was so precious, and it made her even more attracted to him. One of the things she loved most was seeing him in "Dad-mode." The other day they had been watching a movie and Sam was curled up next to him, Jude could almost picture a little newborn sleeping on his chest.
She was startled from her thoughts by a small hand placed on her arm. "Mommy, are we a real family?"
Without a second thought, Jude answered, "Yes, Baby. We are a real family. There is no question about it—we love each other and we are a family."
She seemed to contemplate that for a moment before answering, "Oh, okay. Can I show you my room?"
"Sure, Sam. Let's go take a look." Jude stood next to Tommy and followed Sam through the house, up the stairs, and down the hall. As they walked, Jude tuned out whatever the little girl and Tommy were discussing, instead pondering the small discussion they just had. The little boy from Sam's class brought up something that had been on Jude's mind quite a bit lately. As much as they were a family—and she would defend that to anyone—her and Tommy weren't married. Really, they weren't even engaged, just shaking up together. She wanted to be married and have more kids and go the distance with him, but she also knew that Tommy had never been much for commitment and marriage. Would she forever be the girlfriend? She wished that it wasn't such a big deal, but it was, and she was struggling. She wanted to be a wife and a mom. She wanted to be pregnant and have a kid that she helped make. She wanted the happily ever after.
Jude was pulled from her thoughts when Sam grabbed her hand and started spinning her around the room. She laughed and smiled along with Tommy, but a cloud of question and uncertainty still hung in the air.
Hours later, the group pulled away from their house on their way home to begin packing things up. They had already spoken to Kwest, Sadie, Stuart, and SME, enlisting all of their help for the big move-in the following weekend. The week went by in a flash, Jude was consumed with writing, recording, and producing, not to mention packing the old house so that they would be ready to go. Saturday morning came and they all got up early, ready to move in to their place and begin the next step in their lives together.
Jude had still been thinking about the whole marriage topic, but masked any frustration she felt. The move-in went well, and by seven the whole gang was exhausted. One of the first things to be set up was the big-screen TV, so everyone decided to gather in the family room and relax by watching a movie. Jude ordered enough pizza for everyone—impressive considering that Spied, Wally, and Kyle could each finish off a pizza individually. Around nine, everyone began to leave, and Tommy carried a sleeping Sam up to her room. They would still be putting things together and getting rooms ready for a while, but at least all of the major furniture was put in place. Jude cleaned up the living room a bit, throwing away empty pizza boxes and plastic cups. There were only two or three pieces of pizza left at the end of the night, and she was once again surprised by how much her friends could eat.
A pair of hands snaked around her waist as she stood at the sink. "Mmm, hey Babe."
Tommy placed a kiss on her cheek, "Hey." He turned her so that she was facing him and put his hands on her hips, "Did you have fun today?"
"Today was awesome. We are really lucky to have such amazing friends." She leaned in to him, savoring the quiet closeness of the moment.
"That we are." He kissed the top of her head since she had buried her face in the crook of his neck. "Hey Babe?"
"Yeah?" came Jude's muffled response.
"Let's go upstairs, I have something to show you."
Not waiting for a response, he led her up the stairs in into their bedroom. The only thing currently in the room was the massive bed and a few candles scattered around. Jude smiled, loving the soft lighting that he had become so fond of lately. "What's this for?" she asked. In the back of her mind, she wondered if this was the proposal she had been waiting for. But, instead of focusing on that possibility, she pushed those thoughts from her mind. She had been a bit disappointed before and didn't want that to happen again. She loved him, regardless of if he was officially her fiancé or husband or not.
He pointed to the bed and motioned for her to take a seat, reaching for the guitar that was propped against the side of the bed. "I wrote something and I want to play it for you." He didn't let her get a word in, and began to play a sweet tune.
A few minutes later, he finished and, if she didn't already love him, she would have fallen in love all over again. There were tears in her eyes as she just looked at him, unable to really say anything. All that came out was, "Babe, that was…" She leaned over the guitar and kissed him sweetly—simple and full of love.
"Do you like it?" Tommy asked as they pulled apart from each other.
How could he even ask that? "It was so beautiful…I loved it." The emotion was so intense that her voice was thick and a bit raspy.
"Good." He looked down at the guitar still in his hands and asked, "Do you think we could finish and record it together?"
"What do you mean?" Why would he want this creation to be changed? It sounded so beautiful when sung by his voice, full of emotion and love.
"I want you to sing it with me. And I know that some of the lyrics could be tightened up a bit. I think it could be the perfect duet as the final song on your album—kind of like a hidden track. What do you think?"
Again, her heart was filled with love, "I think it's a beautiful idea." She gave him another kiss before asking, "Play it for me again?" She grabbed the notebook he had been using and the pencil that was stuck in the spiral binding as he began to play.
Tommy played the song as he had originally written it, Jude making notes off to the side all the while. Once he finished, she scooted closer to him on the bed so that she was next to him, not facing him. The both hunched over the notebook and played at least twenty variations of the song, but a only an hour later, they had a finished product. "Can we play it one last time?" Jude asked, wanting to hear the final version.
He nodded and began to play the song that they had dubbed Paperweight.
Been up all night staring at you
Wondering what's on your mind
I've been this way with so many before but this feels like the first time
You want the sunrise to go back to bed
I want to make you laugh
Mess up my bed with me
Kick off the covers
I'm waiting
Every word you say I think I should write down
Don't want to forget come daylight
Happy to lay here
Just happy to be here
I'm happy to know you
Play me a song
Your newest one
Please leave your taste on my tongue
Paperweight on my back
Cover me like a blanket
Mess up my bed with me
Kick off the covers
I'm waiting
Every word you say I think I should write down
Don't want to forget come daylight
And no need to worry
That's wasting time
And no need to wonder what's been on my mind
It's you
It's you
It's you
Every word you say I think I should write down
Don't want to forget come daylight
And I give up
I let you win
You win 'cause I'm not counting
You made it back to sleep again
Wonder what you're dreaming
"Its perfect. I would love to have this on my album." She kissed him, trying to convey all of the love and passion she felt at that moment.
He pulled away from her quickly, but when she looked at him with confusion and a hint of frustration, he told her, "I wanted to be closer…feel more of you…" He set the guitar on the ground and came back to her, locking their lips in an ardent kiss.
She couldn't seem to get enough of him, and her need to feel all of him took over. Within minutes, they were both stripped of all clothing, and burning with want and need. Passion filled the air, heat overcame them, and they made blazing hot love—expressing their feelings and emotions in the way they knew would be most effective.
Bringing each other over the edge, they fell to the bed and eyes were instantly closed—reveling in the love and recovering from their eager intimacy. Jude was quick to drift off—feeling safe and taken care of in the arms of the man she loved so deeply. Regardless of if there was a ring on her finger or not, she was content being with Tommy. Of course, in an ideal world, they would get married in a simple ceremony with friends and family gathered around them. But this, being with him and their daughter in their new home, was so right. He was her future, and she began to truly find contentment in that.
…
The song Sam and Tommy referred to at the beginning was I Just Wanted Your Love by Alexz Johnson.
The song Tommy and Jude create together is Paperweight by Joshua Radin, featuring Schuyler Fisk.