A/N: The last chapter, and thus, the end of another era. I'm glad you guys were enjoying this fic! And you haven't heard the last of me yet. I have 2 other active fics here, a couple one-shots and a few more ideas running rampant in my head. I hope to see what you think of the ending, and I hope you check out my other fics (if you haven't already). Thanks for being such great readers/reviewers! I hope you like the last chapter and I did your expectations justice.

Chapter 18

Tommy was released from the hospital later on the next day. Jude wasn't there to see him home. She couldn't face him right away. Not after his drug induced confession. She spent her day wondering about what he said. "Jude, I love you. I mean it, Jude." He had said before drifting off into a Vicodin induced sleep.

She sighed and glanced over at her clock on her desk across the room. The blue digital numbers proclaimed it was 1:24 am. She groaned and buried her head in her pillow.

Sleep was not going to come to her tonight. Her mind was too active. Did he mean it? She wondered. Does he really love me? Or was he just saying it? She asked herself. "You know why." He had said that before; and he was lucid at the time. It alluded to more than just being friends and maybe being more. Or maybe, maybe he didn't mean it like that.

Jude flopped back onto her back and lay facing the ceiling. She was never going to get to sleep tonight; that much was clear. She glanced at her clock once again and frowned. Screw it. She needed answers.

She tossed back the covers on her bed and threw her pajamas over her head and pulled her loose pants off her waist and threw back on her jeans and sweatshirt from earlier that day. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, not bothering to brush it or make sure the quick hairdo was stylish enough.

She padded down the stairs quietly, hoping not to wake Sadie or her father. She slipped her boots on her bare feet and grabbed her keys and purse before opening the front door slowly and slipping out into the night. She had to get her answers.

She drove across town and parked in a familiar parking place and ran into the apartment building. The place was deserted and the doorman greeted her with a warm smile as she entered the building and rushing up to Tommy's apartment. She knocked loudly on the door and stood back a moment, not feeling the least bit upset that she might be waking him up. She waited a moment, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"come on." She chanted under her breath. She raised her fist to knock again when the door opened and a very tired looking Tommy stared out at her.

"Can I come in?" She asked, her eyes taking in his appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week; which was ironic as he was out cold the last night and probably the majority of the morning. His hair was tousled and he wore a pair of dark red pajama pants and no shirt. She noticed a few bruises on his chest from the accident and she felt a pang in her heart.

Tommy didn't say anything as he moved away from the doorway and let Jude enter the apartment.

"Jude, what's" Jude's mouth captured the rest of the sentence in her mouth as she kissed him fiercely on the lips. Tommy didn't respond at first, but when he did, Jude pulled back and stared into his eyes.

"Did you mean what you said?" She asked, her sapphire eyes pleading with him.

"I said a lot of things. You might want to clarify." He stated, his voice heavy from sleep but his eyes were relatively clear.

"When you said you loved me."

"I wouldn't lie about that Jude." He said, honestly, his blue eyes soft and loving as he gazed at her. His hand reached up and stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand.

"I want to hear you say it." She said, her voice quivering from emotion. He leaned into her and breathed into her ear. She shuddered at the sensation and felt his hands running up and down her back in long, sensual strokes.

"I love you, Jude." He said, kissing her neck and she gasped at the feeling. She reached up and pushed him back slightly. He looked startled and she smiled at him before leaning into him and wrapping her arms around him.

"I love you too Tommy." She said and he smiled lovingly at her before kissing her softly, carefully, and lovingly on the lips. She returned the kiss with equal feeling. As they kissed, with his strong arms wrapped around her, Jude never felt more at ease in her life and she knew this was right; that she could face anything as long as he loved her and they were together.