Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Murdoch Mysteries. If I did, Julia and William would have been together from episode 1!

Chapter Two: Rules of Engagement

William arrived at Julia's home at precisely 5:30. He asked the driver to wait while he went to collect her. As he made his way up the gravel path to the front door, William habitually checked himself over. He would hate to have Julia see him in disarray, especially on such a special night. William checked his coat pocket one final time before he knocked on the door. Shortly thereafter the door opened.

"Well hello detective!" Sybil, Julia's house keeper, greeted him and stepped back to allow him entry. "So nice to see you again, sir."

"Good evening Sybil," he smiled, his voice slightly betraying his nervousness. "Will you please let Miss Ogden know I am here?"

"Right away, sir," she smiled and left him in the parlour to fetch Julia.

William walked around the room browsing her bookshelves which lined a whole wall. He removed a medical journal that looked interesting and then replaced it, realizing it was the first one he gave to Julia.

He went to stand at the empty fireplace and made a mental check of everything he had prepared for the evening. In the carriage awaiting them he had left a picnic basket containing exquisite red wine, fresh strawberries, and rich chocolate. He knew Julia was quite fond of all three. William had also brought along a comfortable blanket to sit on and candles to use both as light after the sun set and as ambiance to set a romantic mood.

Julia quietly entered the parlour and saw the contemplation on William's beautiful face. 'My goodness….' She thought while admiring his fine features and overall handsomeness. William had yet to notice her and was brought out of his reverie only when Julia spoke his name. "William." She half whispered dreamily.

"Oh Julia…" yet again he was at loss for words, stunned by her elegant attire this evening. Julia wore a glorious smooth chocolate dress embroidered in soft cream. She was clearly stunning to say the least as William could not speak. The colors suited her perfectly, complimenting both her golden hair and her sapphire eyes.

William's soul was flooded with the pure love that flowed from Julia's glowing smile. She loved it when he said her name like that, love and adoration thick in every syllable. 'Thank heavens he waited for me so long. I do not know how I could live without him.'

"So…." She began, "Shall we be off then?"

"Um, yes. The carriage is ready and waiting out front, but first there is something I must do immediately." William cleared the space between them in a few strides and proceeded to gather her lips into a fiery kiss. He was able to evoke a series of small giggles followed by a sweet moan of contentment. When they broke the kiss, Julia smiled and rested her head on William's shoulder and sighed happily.

"I love you," he said and kissed her forehead.

"And I you," she breathed into his neck.

"So, are we ready?"

Julia stepped back and reached for her hat "Absolutely!"

They left the house and walked to the carriage arm-in-arm. William opened the door and helped Julia in. He followed right behind her and shut the door back when he was seated.

"Now will you tell me where we are going?"

William leaned over and kissed her nose "No I will not! It is a surprise my love, therefore it must remain a secret." He chuckled when Julia started to pout. Rarely did he deny anything she asked of him; however, this was one such occasion. She huffed when she realized she would get nowhere. "I promise darling that you will love it." He smiled, squeezing her hand gently.

Julia smile at him mischievously. "Alright dear. But do not be shocked if and when I decide to surprise you!"

"Julia…" he hesitated. He did not know if he wanted to know what she was implying. She just smiled impishly and leaned in to kiss him soft and loving.

They sat in comfortable silence for the rest of the ride, Julia resting her head on William's shoulder while he held her hand in his. When the carriage began to slow and come to a halt, Julia sat up and straightened herself while William gathered the blanket and basket. He stepped out and assisted Julia from the carriage cab.

As William gave the driver further directions to return later, Julia looked around at her surroundings. There was a river not twenty feet from where she was standing, babbling softly over smooth stones. On the banks were half a dozen large willow trees creating a peaceful circle with the evening sun shining through the drooping limbs. A very lovely fragrance was emanating from nearby gardenia bushes. 'He remembered that they are my favorite' she though happily.

William came up behind her. "Do you like it?" he asked looking for approval.

"Love it actually." She smiled. Julia had an idea of what William had planned for tonight but she was sure she would still be surprised. "It is absolutely beautiful here."

"I thought you might think so." He offered Julia his arm and when she took it he led her to the circle of willows. William laid out the blanket and set the basket down. He then asked Julia to take a seat and joined her on the ground.

"So, William, what have you planned for us?" Watching him pull out candles and matches she assumed were for when it got darker. He set them aside and went back to the basket.

"Well I thought we could enjoy this." He pulled out the bottle and handed it over to her for inspection.

"Bordeaux! Oh William excellent choice." She said handing it back. "You seem to know me perfectly."

"I hope so!" he said pulling the cork and pouring Julia and him a glass. "I know well that you know me just as well!"

"Well here's to knowing each other, inside and out." She toasted and they took a sip, tasting the exquisite wine. "Mmmm, perfect. You are absolutely wonderful, I hope you know that."

"I'm only wonderful when I'm with you, my love. You make me wonderful and amazing and everything else I am." He smiled kissing Julia's cheek and taking another sip of wine. "Oh yes, I have something else besides wine."

"Really now, William? Do tell, or show that is," William pulled out the strawberries and chocolate. "Oh William you shouldn't have!"

"I know you love them and they compliment the wine well." he handed her the tiny crate of strawberries.

"Mmm," she said as she inhaled the scent of the little berries. She pulled one out and took a delicate bite. "William, it's perfect! Positively magnificent, you must have one. Here!" she said taking one and holding it to his lips. William held her wrist gently and slowly bit into the offered fruit. Julia had meant for this intimate act to test and tease William, but his response left her speechless and dumbfounded.

William smiled as Julia stared at him, mouth agape. He pulled out a piece of the chocolate and popped it into his mouth. "Want some?" he offered her the box. "It's quite delicious if I do say so. Rich. But smooth as well, like the wine." He took another sip.

Julia recovered "Sure, I'd love some," she took a piece and ate it. "Amazing! Did you get these from the sweet shop on Queen Street?"

"Certainly. Only the finest for you, my love."

"Oh I'm not sure I am worth all of this," Julia blushed, looking away and sipping her wine.

"Oh but you are." William reached into the basket. "I have one more thing for you Julia."

She looked up into his eyes, then down at his hand. He held a small silver ring box. It was the same bell shaped box she found in his desk before her wedding with Darcy. Her eyes welled up with tears and she looked back up at him. She knew what was coming next and just could not stop the rush of emotions bombarding her. "William I…."

He opened the box and took her left hand in his. "Julia. I love you more than words can say. You are the light of my life and everything I could ever ask for. When I see you and feel your love, I find that my life has purpose. I want to spend every day for the rest of eternity with you. I know we have had so many issues and obstacles surrounding us since the beginning, but I know we are meant to be together. So Julia, will you spend forever with me? Will please be the light in my life and the very image of my happiness?" he slipped the ring onto her finger, a perfect fit. "Will you marry me?"

The tears built up in Julia's eyes now spilled forth and ran down her cheeks in streams. "Yes, William! Yes!" She wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer to him and tightened his hold on her. "I love you William, more than I can say! Forever sounds perfect to me!" she sob-laughed and pulled back and smiled, weaving her fingers into his hair. "Kiss me William."

He leaned forward and gathered her lips in his, placing a hand at the small of her back and one at the base of her head, cradling her to him. He kissed her with fierce but sweet passion and enthusiasm, pushing him further and deepening the kiss. William slowly pushed her backward, cupping her head in his arms. His kisses trailed down Julia's jaw and neck to the sensitive spot right under her ear.

Julia moaned out his name and he pulled back with a devilish smile upon his face. "What is it?" she asked him, confused as to why he stopped.

"That's enough for now," he kissed her lips the pulled her up into a sitting position again. "The last time, if you recall, we almost went too far."

"The last time, if YOU recall, we were drinking absinthe and not wine, two very different drinks. I think I could keep my head this time."

He kissed her forehead, "You could. But darling, I doubt very seriously that I could. With the reality of you being almost mine, I'm not sure I will be able to stop myself.

"I promise there would be no complaints on my part."

"With everything else gone wrong between us, I want to do this right. I hope you do not hate me for it."

She placed a hand on his cheek. "I could never hate you my love. Even when I met you, there was something about you that made me think about you, gave me feelings that I could not shake. I knew I had no chance with you; you were so in love with Liza. I much rather wanted you to be happy than do something to disrupt that love for a chance with you. I knew you would hate me if I did. And when Liza died, I wanted desperately to help you. You were in so much pain and it hurt me to see you like that. After that I never expected you to show interest in me, and I was happy to just be your friend. I was so surprised when you began seeking more from me. Even through our hardest times and our worst fights, I never once hated you. I never could." When she had finished, she again had tears running down her face. She beamed through them at William.

He cupped her face in his, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. "You never had to worry about upsetting me. Even when I met you, though I was with Liza, like you I felt something. Somehow I always knew we would be more than friends, that we would end up together." He kissed her and pulled her closer and held her close. They sat there for a while embracing each other.

Julia sat up finally and picked a strawberry and bit it. "So when are we to announce our engagement? I think it might be good if we told Father first. He knows about you and that you intend to marry me. And since I've been married before, he does not expect you to ask permission, but I would like his blessing. That and it's about time you met him properly."

"Yes I do believe I have yet to make his acquaintance. When do you suppose we should go?" he asked finishing his wine and pouring himself and Julia another glass.

"Tomorrow perhaps? He should be off tomorrow. I could call first thing in the morning and ask him over for dinner. Is that alright with you?"

"Certainly." He fed his fiancée a piece of chocolate. She kissed his fingers as she took the chocolate seductively. "You minx." He said as she smiled back at him. "And of course we must announce it to everyone at the station house, Mrs. Kitchen, and Dr. Grace. Is there anyone else?"

She thought for a moment "Father and Ruby will take care of the immediate family. Would you like to invite Tesla or Conan-Doyle?"

"I can, yes." He sat silent for a moment with a look of contemplation on his face. "I suppose I shall have to invite my father. I just hope he behaves."

"He will darling. Don't forget you will have your brother there to keep an eye on him."

"Yes, he is quite the gentleman, and very polite. If I didn't think she would ruin him, I would introduce him to Ruby. She needs someone like him."

"Yes, very true. So who do you want as your maids?"

"Well," Julia thought for a moment. "I would like to have Emily as my maid of honor and Ruby as just a maid."

"That won't cause conflict will it?"

She shrugged "Shouldn't, but it is my choice. Oh and I certainly cannot forget my dear friend Ash!"

"That's right! Lord and Lady Cumberland will most definitely have to be in it. I do think I want George as my best man and Jasper as a groomsman. I have known George longer."

"Sounds great William!" She beamed happily in thought of their wedding. "We can work out all the details after the announcement."

"Certainly my love."

They ate and chatted about minor details for a while before the carriage arrived. After they packed everything up and headed to the carriage Julia turned around and looked at the littler circle of willows. "Can we come back again?"

"Absolutely my dear" he kissed her forehead and led her to the door and helped her in. the ride back was entertaining with both of them joking and laughing and eating. When they reached Julia's home, William helped her out of the carriage and escorted her to the door.

William surprised her by pulling her into a passionate kiss. He broke the kiss and took her hands in his, "Until tomorrow darling." He kissed her hands "I love you, goodnight."

He turned and walked to the carriage and waited for Julia to make it inside before he entered and the driver took him home. "What a wonderful day."

A/N For anyone interested, Lord and Lady (Ash) Cumberland are characters of my own creation. My dear sister who is also one of my betas absolutely loves Benedict Cumberbatch. Since she is being such good help and tells me that I don't suck at writing and that I'm not wasting my time doing this (Suck up! Just kidding) I've decided to write her into the story. She is Lady Ashtin and is married to Lord Benedict Cumberland. When you read them in future chapters just picture a tall, icy-blue eyed, long blonde haired woman on the arm of Benedict Cumberbatch. I do not claim to own him, although I'd like to. But I can claim her haha!