Note: There was supposed to be another fic that came before this to introduce Jeremy; but my inspiration died after I finished this :p. So when I have that one done, I'll put it up; but for now, please enjoy and don't kill me? O:) I know that this first chapter is kind of a shock, but everything will get better by the end of the story, I promise! :)

ps. I do not own pysch, not making any money off of this (though that would be lovely), the general disclaimer. This is all just for fun :)

Juliet Gets Engaged

by: jewel of athos

For fyd818...:) I love you, dear!! *hugs* Thank you for...well, for everything! :) I hope you like...;)

Chapter 1 - Shawn Gets the Shock of His Life

Shawn walked into the SBPD, his eyes immediately searching for Juliet. He hadn't been around much since Valentines Day; that awful, crushing day when Juliet and Jeremy Ross had gone on their first date since high school. Even when he'd taken cases, he hadn't seen much of her except at a distance.

He realized that six months was a long time to go without saying more than five words to his friend; but he hadn't been willing to risk seeing her with him, and so he'd stayed away. But the plain and simple fact was that he loved her, and he couldn't stand being away from her. So putting his fear aside, he'd decided to suck it up and come and talk to her today. He was sure that he'd go crazy if he didn't.

But as he walked through the halls towards Juliet's desk, he picked up on a very strange atmosphere about the whole place. It was like all of SBPD was waiting on the edge of its seat for something really big to happen. It made him uncomfortable.

He was almost halfway there when Lassie stepped into his path.

"Oh, good, you're just in time," he said, grinning. Shawn shuddered, backing up a step. Happy Lassie really creeped him out.

"Just in time for what?"

"For the big moment." Shawn looked at him blankly, and the detective laughed at him.

"What, your psychic "powers" didn't tell you to come here today and see it?"

"Lassie, I have no idea what you're talking about. Just tell me what's going on." A disturbingly devious smile spread over Lassiter's lips.

"No, I'm gonna let you figure that one out. Good luck with the visions!" Before Shawn had a chance to say another word to him, he had walked away, shaking his head and laughing to himself.

Shawn felt his body give an involuntary shudder. Something was definitely wrong here.

A moment later, things got even worse when he found Jeremy, not Juliet, sitting at her desk. He paused with a frown, debating whether he should inquire or just leave. His eyes zeroed in absently on a bulge in the man's pocket, a bunch of red roses lying across the desk, and the little beads of sweat scattered across his forehead; but before he had time to figure out what that meant, Jeremy had noticed him.

"Hi, Shawn," he said, smiling and putting on a mask of happy calmness that Shawn didn't believe for a second. "You looking for Juliet?"

"Yes, I am looking for Juliet, this is Juliet's desk; the place that, I've always assumed, would be the place to find Juliet." Jeremy looked up at him, rubbing his hands together in what seemed a nervous gesture.

"That's why I came, too; only she's coming in a little late today...Shawn, what do you think about her?" Shawn startles back a step in surprise, thrown off by the question.

"Do you mean what thoughts do I think about her regularly? I'm sorry, Jerry, that information is classified. If I told you, I'd have to kill you." He paused. "Though they did revoke my license to kill...But that's not the point!" Jeremy laughed.

"That's not what I meant. But you've known her better the past few years than I have, and I regret not being around for her then. I just want to make sure now that I know the real Jules." Shawn felt an irrational flash of anger to hear his nickname for Juliet coming out of Jerry's lips, but he forced it down.

"In that case, I think that Juliet is...sweet, and strong, and honest, and smart...and beautiful." He trailed off with a sigh, his eyes unfocusing as he pictured her smiling face. The vision was broken by Jeremy clapping him on the shoulder in a way that was far too friendly for Shawn's taste.

"Thanks, Shawn. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that."

"I'm sure I don't..." he muttered as Jeremy walked away to talk to someone else. He eyed the bulging pocked again suspiciously, but the lump wasn't the shape of anything dangerous. Which would be so convenient right about now, he thought bitterly. But regretfully it was a small, innocent, and vaguely square shape. Kind of like a jewelry box.

"She's coming!" Chief Vick called out suddenly from a window at the other end of the room. "Get ready, everybody!"

"Ready?" Shawn repeated as everyone else scrambled around the office and seemed to be trying to look normal. "Ready for what?" No one bothered to answer him, but someone pulled him out of the middle of the floor where he had been standing like an idiot, and off to the side. He was still trying to figure out what was going on when Juliet walked in.

An uncomfortable feeling clenched in his gut as he watched her walk through the office towards Jeremy, calling out hello's as she went. Even when he'd decided to do this, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed her. He wasn't prepared for the wall of emotion that hit him at the sight of her coming in---or the sight of her kissing Jeremy. He started to turn away...

...And stopped when he saw Jeremy reach into his pocket and take out the object that had been confusing him. His guess had been right on the money; one of those little boxes that necklaces and rings came in.

Rings. Suddenly everything that had happened since he'd entered the building made sense; Lassie's comments about "the big moment", Jeremy's nervousness and his odd questions; the colorful envelopes that he'd noticed but ignored on almost every desk in the office. No.

"...Juliet," he was saying, shifting from foot to foot. "I know that we haven't been together again all that long, and I'm sorry if this seems...sudden. But I've thought very long, and very hard about it, and...Juliet, I love you." He dropped down on one knee and held out the little box, and Shawn felt like Jeremy's entire weight had landed on his chest. "Will you marry me?"

A hushed silence settled over the room as they waited to hear Juliet's reply. Shawn watched her expression shift between shocked and amazed.

Please say no, please say no, please say no... he chanted to himself as Juliet gasped, her mouth working opened and closed soundlessly several times as she searched for words. Her answer came out as barely a whisper.

"Yes," she breathed. "Oh, gosh, yes!" She threw her arms around him, and he kissed her, and cheers erupted throughout the room.

Shawn bolted.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Shawn wasn't able to relax until he'd made it to his dad's house and let himself in. He doubted that his father would be too happy when he found out; but he was out of Apple Jacks, and he knew that his dad had stocked up on them the last time he'd gone shopping. It was the best way that he knew of to drown his sorrows.

Only when he'd set himself up in the kitchen armed with a bowl and spoon to attack the cereal did he allow himself to go over what had just happened. Even then he could barely believe it. Juliet and Jeremy---getting married?

"Whoa!" He needed to stop thinking those words. Every time he did, it re-awakened his urge to throw up. He almost lost his appetite for the Apple Jacks.

After a few bites, he realized that he really didn't want to eat them, either way. Disgusted, he left them to get soggy in his bowl on the table, and walked into the living room to call Gus. He was relieved when his friend picked up the phone after the second ring.

"Hey, Gus! Listen, I need you, buddy."

"Can't it wait, Shawn? I'm kinda busy right now." Shawn turned up the volume on the phone, and heard the excited hum of chatter in the background.

"Gus, where are you right now?"

"I'm down at the police station, at a party for Juliet and Jeremy. You know, that was kind of rotten for you to leave like that, without even congratulating them. She is still your friend, you know."

"Yeah, well I had some...important stuff to do; and I knew if I said anything, I'd get dragged into a conversation, and then I'd never be able to finish..."

"You're just jealous because Jeremy did what you're afraid to do." Gus accused.

"What---that's not true! Gus, come on, you know me. Would I really be jealous of the guy if he makes her happy?"

"Yes," Gus said firmly. "You're in love with her; you want to be the one to make her happy."

"Gus..."

"Look, I gotta go; I'm supporting my friend. I'll talk to you later."

"No, wait, Gus!" Shawn was speaking to dial tone. Frustrated, he hung up and flung his phone across the room. It bounced off a couch cushion and clattered to the floor. He just glared at it, hoping that the glare would get through to Gus and everyone down at SBPD. How could they be happy; didn't they see that Jeremy and Juliet were wrong together?

So maybe he'd been too scared to pursue her. He'd been about to try when Jeremy had come in and ruined everything. He wondered how everyone else could be so quickly blinded to the man's shortcomings. Shawn had taken the liberty of snooping around the guy's apartment after he'd me him, and he'd found evidence of at least two past relationships. He'd come to the obvious conclusion that Jeremy wasn't good enough for Juliet. No one is good enough for her.

"Hey, Shawn, is that you?" Shawn jumped. Dad. He wasn't supposed to be home right now!

"Shawn!" He didn't sound too happy, either. Heavy, familiar footsteps started to pound their way downstairs.

"Now would be a good time to make a quick exit," Shawn muttered to himself. And for the second time that day, he bolted.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Note: To be continued. Please bear with me!!