AN: First of all I'd like to note that the song used in this chapter is I'll Stand By You; The Pretenders. Aren't you guys excited?! It didn't take me forever to update this time! My wonderful hubby actually made sure I had some time to really sit down and write and get this chapter finished! Amazing isn't he?! Well I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Heaven Sent

By An American Mom
Chapter Nine: Decisions

A week later…

It's been seven days since they'd learned of Jude's disease, six days since they'd done the biopsy to provide the doctors with more information and their best options for her treatment. Seven days since Tommy had finally told her all of the reasons he had left, what Darius' little errand had fully entailed and what was still left to deal with. All in all it was a lot for her to soak in and so close to her seventeenth birthday. From the look of things her seventeenth birthday would be spent right here in her hospital room, though thanks to Darius her sister Sadie was here with her along with Tommy, SME, and Kwest. Even Amanda Johnson, the school nurse, had stopped in every afternoon to see her.

Right now she is lying silently beside Tommy, her bright blue eyes looking up at him through him through her long fiery red lashes as he sleeps with his arms wrapped around her. It's barely six in the morning right now and heaven only knows why she's awake. She shifts her weight slightly in his arms to allow her an easier view of his peaceful face, the action causing his arms to tighten around her slightly.

Their peaceful morning is quickly interrupted though by the arrival of the morning nurse to do her vitals, forcing Tommy out of her bed for a few minutes and then of course the oncologist going over their treatment plan again that would start the following week, and finally Darius walks into the room. His booming voice forcing their attention in his direction, "Good morning, how is my favorite rock star this morning?"

"Sick of being in this dingy hospital room," Jude answers him with her voice nearly pouting.

He laughs as he grabs a chair and sits down on the opposite side of the bed from Tom. "I can imagine. Why don't I see if we can't get you a better room for the remainder of your imprisonment hm?"

"You don't have to do that D; I mean this room isn't that terrible. I just don't like hospitals, or needles!" She adds the last with a noticeable shudder as she recalls the needle used for the biopsy.

"Of course I do! I take care of my artists, but especially my favorite ones." He reaches up patting her knee with a wide grin etched into his features, something few ever saw on him and even fewer could cause. "But before we get into new arrangements have you and Tom come to a decision?"

It's Tommy who answers him this time, "We've been talking about everything a lot over the last week. We're going to keep it casual until we know more. You know, keep it simple for everyone's sake."

"I understand completely. Well we will be back shortly then." Darius stands then, leaning down to kiss Jude's forehead before walking out of the room.

"So I guess today's the day?" Jude says timidly, still unsure of how to handle the situation, but desperate to be strong for Tommy. She may need him and his strength when it comes to her disease, but when it comes to his personal life it's the other way around completely.

"Are you really sure you're okay with this girl?" His voice is barely above a whisper as he asks his breath warm against her skin as the back of his fingers brush softly along her cheek.

"I'm sure Quincy. Anything life throws at us we're getting through together, right?"

"You're the best, you know that?" He smiles softly down at her as he curls his hand under her chin tilting her head up slightly before allowing his lips to capture hers in a gentle kiss.

The sound of a deep throat clearing coming from the foot of her bed ends the gentle kiss almost as soon as it begins as once again they look up to find Darius standing at the foot of her bed. "You might want to consider saving that sort of thing for later."

Tommy keeps his questioning response direct and simple, "Where?"

"Out in the hall, don't worry I'll keep your girl company." He grins once again as he takes a seat in the chair on the opposite side of the bed.

"I'll be right back Jude." He kisses her forehead gently before walking out of the room leaving his girl alone with their boss.

"You know, I have to admit, you are far more grown up and mature at your age than T was. I think the only time I didn't have to worry about him getting himself into too much trouble or bailing him out with the cops was when he came here to visit you during tours. You're the only stable thing I have ever witnessed in that boy's life." His gruff voice ends up making his words sound a little harsher than they should.

"I know all about the trouble he got into back then D. Maybe more than you do."

"I have no doubt of that Harrison. But are you really sure you're not biting off more than you can chew right now? Cancer is a big enough battle, not to mention the fact you're still an artist. I know even something like cancer can't take that away from you."

"We'll jump the bridge of how to get me back in the studio after they get me the heck out of this dismal place. But Tommy and I can handle anything as long as we have each other. You should know that by now. How else do you think he's ever come out on top of all the things he's been through? How do you think I manage it? We're a team in everything D, that's how it's always been and that's how it will always be."

"As long as you're sure kid because this is almost as big as the disease you're facing. Or at least it might end up being that way."

"Tommy and I will cross that bridge when we come to it."

Darius stands abruptly as he hears the door open announcing Tommy's return; he nods to Jude before silently leaving the room. Tommy walks in with one hand wrapped around a much smaller hand of a darker tone that resembles light copper. The little boy is attempting to hide behind his legs as Tommy takes a deep breath preparing to make the necessary introductions. "Jude I'd like you to meet Jayden Quincy Mills. Jayden, this is my Jude."

Jude mouths the word 'Quincy' to him questioningly only to receive a look that told her he'd tell her later. She nods before carefully climbing out of the bed, adjusting her hideous hospital gown and closing the short distance between her and the boys. She kneels down in front of Jayden, despite his attempts to hide behind Tommy's legs. She smiles softly, her bright blue eyes staring into a pair of wide storm grey eyes. "It's very nice to meet you Jayden. I hope we'll become fast friends, do you think that'd be okay?"

Jayden looks from Jude up to Tommy nervously, unsure how to respond. To help smooth the introductions a little bit Tom kneels down behind Jayden and smiles gently, "Do you know that song I sing to you sometimes Jay?" He continues as soon as Jayden nods in recognition. "Jude's the one who wrote it. Would you like to hear how it's really supposed to sound?"

Jayden looks back and forth slowly between Tommy and Jude before nodding and softly saying, "Please." The first word he's spoken since he walked into the room.

"Why don't you go out into the hall and ask your Uncle D if he can get my guitar out of my car?" He hangs Jay his keys before ruffling the boy's dark curls and sending him on his way. Once the door closes behind the boy he stands, grabbing Jude's hands and pulling her to her feet as well. He leads her over to the rocking chair set in the corner near the window. He lays a blanket across her lap to make sure she stays warm enough before pulling a chair up beside her and taking her hand, "He's always a bit quiet at first. He'll warm up to you once hears you sing. That's how I got him to stop hiding from me actually, by borrowing one of your songs."

"You know they're as much yours as they are mine Tommy. Which song was it though?"

"I'll Stand By You, it seemed like a good song to borrow as a lullaby for the kid."

"You're attached aren't you Quincy?"

He shrugs slightly, his sparkling blue eyes glancing out of the window for a moment before looking at the door of her room. "Maybe a little," He smiles as Jayden walks back into the room with the guitar in hand as well as the keys. He ruffles the boy's dark curls once again as he takes the keys and the guitar from him, "Jayden, why don't you go sit with Jude?"

Jude helps the boy onto her lap, wrapping her arms around him as she lets her head lull back against the back of the chair. For the moment Jayden sits stiff in her lap, not allowing himself to lay back against her chest as Tommy begins playing the necessary chords on the guitar and her voice chimes in humming first before her lips part and the words softly spill forth in the melody of a lullaby.

Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side, too

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

As she finishes the first round of the chorus Jayden's eyes have begun to grow heavy and with only a quick glance to both Jude and Tommy he lays himself against her chest, one arm slipping along Jude's side while the other lays across her stomach and resting in his own lap.

Jude smiles softly as she hums for a moment, adjusting the blanket so it covers him as well now before slipping into the next verse of the song.

So, if you're mad, get mad!
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
And hey, what you got to hide
I get angry, too
But I'm a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

By the time the song is finished the softest snore is heard coming from Jayden who is now sound asleep in Jude's lap. Tommy stands setting the guitar aside and moving to take the boy from Jude. A shake of her head stops him though and he asks in a whisper, "You don't want me to take him?"

"Not yet. This, it's kind of nice, you know? I mean, even if he turns out not to be, if Darius is going to raise him we'll see him anyway won't we?"

"I guess…" Tommy says hesitantly as he kneels down in front of them.

"So it's okay to get a little attached to him. He'll need us in his life Tommy. I mean come on; Darius is not always the warmest person. If nothing else, he could be like a baby brother to all of us. We'll just make sure SME doesn't corrupt the kid too much."

"But what if he's…" He lets the sentence linger as he rests his hands on her knees looking up at her from where he kneels.

She reaches out brushing her middle finger tip along his jaw, careful not to jostle Jayden in her lap. "Then we'll decide how to handle that together."

"You're not even seventeen yet… And the cancer…"

"Relax Quincy. I'll be seventeen soon and we'll battle my cancer together, right? That's what you told me. So if we can get through that together I think this would be pretty easy by comparison, don't you?"

"You are truly something else Harrison…"