This is my first official fan fiction so take it easy on me please :) I'd love some helpful reviews to help me get started!
disclaimer: I wish desperately that I owned this fantastic show. But alas. I do not.
—M.P.O.V.—
I watched my mom pull out of the driveway again this morning. Everyday was the same, an inkling of fear in my mind, creating a scenario where my mom didn't come home okay. My mom is Juliet O'Hara, detective for the SBPD. I don't know who my dad is...she never told me. But there is this guy who works with the station who Mom avoids at all costs. His name is Shawn Spencer, a psychic detective. Weird dude.
—Juliet P.O.V.—
I watched my small house disappear in the rear view mirror. I bit my lip, Maggie had asked me again today about her father. I just can't look into those big hazel eyes without melting. Her eyes were the only thing about her father that she inherited…along with his knack for memory. Shawn doesn't know about her true identity, I told him that she wasn't his. It hurt to look into his eyes and lie. It was for the good of my daughter and myself. Shawn was always getting into danger and I couldn't attach myself, only to nearly lose him to some psycho. Like Yin...I know Maggie worries about me, each time I leave for work…but she knows I'll always come home to her in one piece.
Maggie Madeleine O'Hara was born nearly fifteen years ago, after the case I nearly died during. I remember it well...
—N.P.O.V.—
"O'Hara...hurry up!" Shouted Carlton Lassiter, pulling his partner after him.
Gun shots echoed over head. Juliet nearly nine months pregnant still showed no signs of being so. They got into the car and drove quickly after a departing black sedan.
Out of nowhere, another car blindsided them, causing the grey Honda to flip over. Juliet screamed and held onto the seat for dear life. Carlton shouted and closed his eyes tightly.
Next thing Juliet knew, she was sobbing in the emergency maternity surgery room at the Santa Barbra Hospital. An oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose, while a curtain blocked her stomach from view. Multiple doctors hovered over her mid-section, working intensely. Juliet felt a horrible pain crash down on her and she screamed. A nurse was there to sooth her.
"Don't worry, miss O'Hara, you and your baby will make it through just fine. You just got a small bump to the head, and you went into labor. " said the nurse gently. "Have you got a husband who should be here?"
Juliet shook her head painfully, closing her eyes as the pain intensified.
A thin wail echoed through the room, causing Juliet's eyes to snap open. She tried to instinctively reach for the creator of the noise to sooth it.
"Oh what a perfect and healthy little girl!" Cried the nurse, pushing her back down gently.
"Let me see my daughter!" Cried Juliet.
"Soon, miss. Soon. Just not right now!"
—
Juliet sat up in her hospital bed, still recovering from the emergency c-section. She cradled her newborn daughter in her arms, crying tears of joy and relief. 'My Maggie Madeleine Spen...O'Hara. ' she thought. 'Too bad Shawn won't be able to be the father I want her to have...but I can raise her just fine…'
A knock on the door drew her out of her trance. Chief Karen Vick and Carlton entered the room.
Juliet groaned, they hadn't known about the pregnancy. And had both assumed that she was in surgery for a serious injury from the crash.
"Is that a baby, O'Hara?" Said Karen in surprise. "Is it someone you knows' child? Why would you be holding a child so soon after surgery?"
Carlton raised an eyebrow. "Yes, O'Hara...does this have anything to do with they way you've been acting these past months?"
Juliet traced her daughters features with a gentle touch. She smiled softly, making a soothing sound to her child. "No, Chief. She's my daughter. " she said quietly. "So, Carlton...Chief...meet Maggie Madeleine O'Hara...Maggie...this is your uncle Carlton, and Aunty Karen. " she continued. Carlton and Karen had been practically her only family for years. She had lost contact with her real family.
"Uhh—O'H...Juliet, when were you planning on telling us that you were pregnant?" Said Carlton. His expression angry but his tone soft.
Karen was smiling. "She is adorable, Juliet. Congratulations!" She said quietly, so as not to startle the baby. "But, Lassiter is right. You should've told us! You out yourself in danger today!"
"Honestly...when I first found out… I was going to have an abortion...but I couldn't go through with something so cruel. I figured I'd show. So it would've been easier to reveal. But then things like the Yin case happened...and I just, I don't really know...but now I have a daughter..." Said Juliet, tears forming in her eyes. "A beautiful little daughter. Maggie will grow up safe and happy. "
"Jules, who is her father?" demanded Carlton.
"What?" said Jules, caught completely off guard.
"Who. Is. Maggie's. Father?" said Carlton.
"Oh—well...uhm...you see...the thing is…" stammered Jules.
"Out with it, O'Hara!" He snapped. That earned him a glare from Karen.
"Shawn!" cried Jules. "It's Shawn! It was before…before we broke up!"
Carlton's jaw dropped, and he stood there looking like someone had slapped him across the face and ten punched him in the gut.
Karen was silent for a second. All that was heard was the young blonds quiet sobs. "Juliet—does he know?" She asked gently.
"N...nnnno...no. I couldn't tell him especially after he broke my heart. I just—it's just—" Jules broke down sobbing into her pillow. She didn't notice that Karen had taken Maggie.
"I told you that fraternizing with Spencer would lead to trouble. Now look where it's got you, O'Hara! How in hell are you going to pull off being a detective and being a single mom!? You have to think about these things! Maggie will spend much of her time wondering and worrying about wether or not her Mom is going to come home safe and sound!" Shouted Carlton.
Jules winced. "Carlton! It was unexpected! An accident that I wouldn't trade the world for! This WILL work! I'll make it work! I promise. " she said.
Karen stood up, cradling Maggie. "O'Hara. You will be staying with me until I decided you can handle this. That way I'll be there if anything happens. " she said with authority.
"Yes, Chief." Murmured Jules.
—
"Detective O'Hara! Welcome back! It's been a lonely three days without you!" Said McNab cheerfully. He was walking towards the station, coffee in hand. The entire station believed she'd been in the hospital because of the car crash.
Jules smiled at him, opening the rear drivers side car door to her green Volkswagen. Chief Vick got out on the passenger side. Jules masked a wince, as her stomach twisted. She was still healing from the c-section and she knew it would take awhile.
"Hurry up and get inside McNab! We've got work to do!" snapped Karen.
"Yes, Chief!" Cried McNab racing inside the station.
Jules shut the door, holding Maggie close to her chest. "Now what, Chief?" She asked worriedly.
"Now we go in. Brace yourself Jules. You're in for one hell of a ride. " she said, leading the way inside. "Hopefully they won't ask to many questions. "
Jules nodded and followed, nervously biting her lip. For reassurance, she held Maggie a little closer.
Karen opened the door for Jules, who walked inside. She headed for her desk, but immediately changed her mind and went to Karen's office when she saw Shawn waiting there for her. Shawn's eyes lit up when he saw her, and stood to follow. Jules kept Maggie out of his sight and hurried into the office.
She sat at the table, bouncing Maggie on her lap. It made the baby giggle and smile. Her beautiful hazel eyes glowing. Already she had a soft layer of curly and wispy blond hair. "Do you like that, Maggie, honey?" she asked, earning a delighted giggle from her daughter.
Karen watched from her desk with a small smile. "She looks just like you, Juliet. Beyond her having his eyes. "
Jules looked up and smiled. It melted when Shawn came in with Gus and Carlton.
"Jules! You're okay!" Said Shawn, he gaped when he saw Maggie. "Who is that? Chief—is that your daughter? Did you have another child?" He asked, firing off questions.
"No, Mr. Spencer. But O'Hara here can tell you. " said Karen.
"Tell me what? Is that her niece?" Said Shawn, clearly not paying attention for once.
Jules looked down at Maggie. "Shawn. This is my daughter—Maggie. " she said awkwardly. It felt like eons before Shawn and Gus reacted. And she thought the whole station had overheard.
"What!? Whose her father? Is that why you have a bandage around your midsection? How long ago did you become pregnant!? Most importantly who is the father?!" Said Shawn.
"Yes that's why the bandage is there. And obviously nine months ago...and her father isn't you if that's what you're asking. " said Jules. Maggie startled at her mothers sudden outburst, began to get closer to crying. Her face crumpled.
Jules saw this and quickly soothed her daughter. "Shh. It's okay Maggie. Momma has got you. Don't cry darling. " she said softly, rocking Maggie back and forth.
Shawn watched, hurt in his sharp eyes. "Well, Gus and I have a client. So we will see you around. " he said, quickly leaving the station.
Jules broke down crying. "I'm a horrible person!" She said.
"No you're not, O'Hara. You are one if Santa Barbra's finest! " said Karen and Carlton.
Jules looked at them. "What am I going to do?" She asked aloud.
—six years later—
Jules sat at her desk, trying to block out Shawn's nonstop babbling. He had accepted that she had supposedly moved on, but was too hurt to actually look at Maggie closely. If he did, he'd find that she had his eyes, and somewhat his player smile.
"MOMMY!" Came a shout from the station doors. A blur if blond hair rocketed into Jules' lap. Karen followed the little girl, and went into her office, smiling. "Thanks for picking her up!" Called Jules.
Jules quickly recovered from the surprise and hugged her daughter. "Hi, Maggie. How was school today, sweetie?"
"It was fun mommy! I got bumped up to first grade cuz I can already learn better than my classmates!" Said Maggie, pecking Jules on the cheek.
"Did you now? That's great sweetie. Now go find Uncle Carlton. I'm sure he will want to hear about this too!" Said Jules. She smiled as Maggie took off to find her 'uncle'.
"She looks exactly like you, Jules. " said Shawn, offhandedly.
Jules glanced at him awkwardly. "Yes. She does. "
"You got lucky. She is brilliant and obedient. " said Shawn, he was looking into her eyes. "What happened to us, Jules. "
"I don't know Shawn...I don't know. Maybe it was because you broke my heart when you lied to me about being a psychic for… seven years. All you have is an amazing memory. I'm sorry that it couldn't have been different, but I have a daughter to raise now. I had to grow up fast, Shawn. Maybe you should too. " sighed Jules, getting up to follow her daughter. She left Shawn sitting there confused.
—present day—
Jules drove home after a long day at the station. She smiled when she saw Maggie waiting on the porch with two cups of blessed coffee.
"Mom! You're finally home!" Cried Maggie, setting down the cups to launch herself into Jules' arms.
"I missed you too, Maggs. " said Jules, kissing the top of her head. "And I've been thinking. It's time you knew about your father. " she said. Unbeknownst to her, Shawn was hiding in the shadow, at the side of the house listening.
"Are you serious?" Squeaked Maggie in shock.
"Yes, I'm very serious. Now listen closely. I know you will because you'll remember it with that memory of yours. " said Jules seriously.
"What's that supposed to mean?" cried Maggie.
Jules sighed. "It has to do with your father. Who do we know that has that same attribute. And who has the same player smile that won me over...and hazel eyes…sparkling…with brilliance and playfulness..."
Maggie concentrated on those facts for a long while. Realization dawned on her. "You can't be serious. It can't be—" she began to say.
Jules blew out a huff of air and bit her lip. "I'm sorry Maggie...but it's true. I didn't tell him because I was under stress...and under orders. Along with the fact that I couldn't trust him after he broke my heart...I unknowingly leaving...pregnant...with you. His daughter. " she said finally.
Maggie stared at her mother in disbelief. "But—you obviously still love him. Why aren't you together?" she asked.
"I couldn't deal with the fear of him not coming back to me...to us...especially when psychos like Yin and Yang were using his loved ones to get to him. You and I would've been in grave danger. I know. You go through that fear every time I leave for work. But—with your father it was different. I loved him with my entire being..." whispered Jules.
"Oh Mom. " sighed Maggie, burying her face into Jules' shirt. Feeling safe in the warmth of the soft blue fabric, the long blond hair seemingly like a shield, and the gentle hands holding her protectively.
Jules realized what she was wearing. It was the same outfit she wore when she confessed to Shawn for the first time that she had been sending him mixed signals...that she loved him...that she wanted to go on a proper date with him. A real date. Ironically her hair was styled the same, and it was the same makeup as well. 'History likes to repeat itself. ' she thought.
Shawn chose this moment to walk onto the porch and out of the shadows. "Is it really true, Juliet?" He asked.
"Shawn! Were you spying on me!? How much of that did you hear?" Gasped Jules. Maggie turned in her moms embrace. Surprise written on both their faces. Identical.
"All of it. " admitted Shawn sheepishly. "So all those years ago. You lied to my face. Kept me from getting to be a father to my own daughter!?" He said angrily.
Jules stood, her eyes suddenly aflame. "Maggie is MY daughter, Shawn! And the sooner you figure that out the better. You lied to me...it's obvious that when we broke up...I just couldn't trust you! I lied to you for nearly fifteen years to protect my baby girl!" She shouted.
"Did you ever stop to think about me possibly caring as well!? I love you still, Jules. All you ever do is push me away! Don't I at least deserve to know my own flesh and blood?" replied Shawn, raising his voice to match hers.
Maggie watched in shock. She never saw her mother get this angry.
"Then why did you lie!? I heard you. Loving me was never part of your plan! If that wasn't. Was knocking up some pretty detective part of it?! Maggie and I are fine without you! " Jules cried. Tears threatened to spill.