This is just a little slice of life story about James and Juliet during their three years on the island. I'm curious (along with the rest of you) as to how their relationship developed! Won't be but a few chapters...just wanted to get the ball rolling. R&R! Any ideas for story direction are always welcome!

Playground Games

Chapter 1

It was just after dusk and Juliet found herself dragging her feet as she headed home. She, James and the rest of her team had been with the Dharma Initiative for just over two months. Juliet knew the sub was coming in tomorrow and if she wanted to, could be on it when it made the trip back. The past few months had been interesting for Juliet, she had learned a new job—a job which she found she rather enjoyed, and she had also learned a lot about a man—a man who only continued to intrigue her. Juliet had a million reasons to get on that sub and only one reason to stay—yet she was having a tough time figuring out just exactly why she would continue to put her life on hold for a man; for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why she couldn't make herself leave.

Sure she had read the file on James Ford, she knew all about his lifestyle, his many scandals and indiscretions, but over the past weeks, she had learned that underneath that rough exterior was something…more. If there was one thing Juliet learned while living with The Others it was patience, and she knew that in order for James to open up to her, she'd need a lot of it. Juliet never pried, she knew that when he was ready he'd talk to her; Juliet always considered herself a great listener. But the one thing about great listeners is, more often than not, they don't really get to do much talking of their own.

Juliet knew that James knew she was still considering getting on that sub—frankly, she had considered it every time it had returned so far. She always felt him 'around' more during those times. For those few days while the sub remained docked, he always seemed to be there, watching her, keeping an eye on her; she assumed it was because he didn't want her to go, but he never said a word to her. Juliet figured he just didn't know how to ask her why she didn't want to stay. Considering she had never felt the need to volunteer the information, it just became one of those things they were aware of, but didn't talk about.

As Juliet walked towards home she passed the playground. During the day, hoards of kids would be sliding down the slide and swinging on the swings, but now, everyone was home eating dinner and enjoying each other's company. Seeing the empty playground brought Juliet back to the last image she had in her head of her sister Rachel and her nephew Julian. The blackmailing glimpse Ben had given her of the two most important people in her life had been of them playing on a playground. "They looked so happy." Juliet thought as she sat down on one of the empty swings and brought that image to the forefront of her mind. A silent tear slid down her face as she slowly swung back and forth while longing for those she missed most.

James found her there, sitting on that lonely swing. He'd arrived home thinking that she'd be there; he secretly hoped that she had started making dinner because he was starving. A quick walk through the house told him she wasn't there, and for reasons unknown, he had gotten a tingling feeling in his stomach. "Where could she be?" James wondered. Miles had told him that everyone in the motor pool had packed up for the night, but he thought he'd go over and check just to be sure.

As he started the walk towards the motor pool, James heard the familiar squeak of the swings on the playground. Glancing over he saw her shadow slowly swinging back and forth. She looked lost in her own world and for a second, James considered leaving her there; but he quickly changed his mind, telling himself that he'd just continue to worry until she came home. "Worry?" he thought to himself. "God what IS this woman doin' to me."

James walked over—made some noise so that he wouldn't scare her. "Is this swing taken?" He asked as he pointed to the empty seat next to her.

"Have a seat James." Juliet said as she turned her head towards her one reason for staying.