Jenny couldn't believe it. Maybe she had fallen asleep in the living room. She pinched herself and nothing happened, so she knew she wasn't dreaming. How could it even be possible? Jenny knew his name would obviously be back on the staff but who did it? That was a question that definitely had to be answered.
"I'm just going outside for a bit, I've got a massive headache and need to get some air," shouted Jenny, a poor excuse, but she had to think of a reason why she was going out of the house.
"Okay!" came the reply from Summer, followed by the various responses of the others.
She closed the front door behind her and started walking towards Julian. Jenny could not stop looking at him. His eyes that were of an indescribable blue, a blue that only his eyes could possess. He was smiling at her, and it was joyful, but had a hint of mischief to it. No matter how much Jenny had tried to deny it in the past, she had always liked the playfulness in his smile. But he wasn't just smiling now, he was moving towards her at the same pace as she was towards him. They met in the middle of the road; there were no cars nor the slightest sound or hint of traffic for a few miles.
Jenny kept her eyes fixed on his until they came close to each other, almost touching. She had mixed emotions; confusion, joy, sadness, excitement, surprise. It had felt like a millennia since she had seen him die in her arms, but she was surprised that he hadn't made some kind of grand entrance.
"You told me once," said Julian in his lyrical voice, "that if I had come up to you and asked, then things between us might have been different and more simple. That maybe you would have been able to warm up to me like that. So, I thought I might give it a try instead of playing a game.
"You were right about my true character, and I felt that just because I was a Shadow Man then that was how I had to act - evil, cruel, forceful. But you taught me to be who I am.
"Jenny, I love you and now I'm asking."
Was this some kind of confession? Jenny didn't know what to think. All she knew was that this was the Julian she had loved and she wanted him to stay. Without much thought Jenny kissed him softly, and felt his slight hint of surprise, but it didn't last long. In a flash he was kissing her back, but with emotion like in the cave. Neither of them pulled back as the kisses got hotter. They pulled each other closer and Jenny embraced it. After a few moments they both stopped and stared at each other; Jenny had never got used to Julian or his perfect being. She was glad he was back.
"Jenny? You okay? You've been ages…!" shouted Dee as she jogged out from the front door.
Dee froze and turned a whiter shade as if she'd seen a ghost. Jenny blushed slightly and mimed for Dee to come over.
"I'm just going to check on Jenny!" she called to the others, hearing faint words of agreement in reply.
Dee sprinted over to Jenny and almost started shouting at her to ask her the obvious. How was he back? Why was he back? How long? etc. However, Jenny gave her a pleading look to not tell anyone. Julian stood behind Jenny.
"Look Dee, I'm a little shocked too okay…" started Jenny quietly.
"Shocked?! That's the understatement of the century!" snapped Dee. She turned to Julian. "And would you like to explain how in hell you are breathing?"
"If I knew I would have told Jenny…and you, but sorry to disappoint but I don't know who carved my name back on. I am just as surprised as you that I'm alive."
Jenny had told Dee about her feelings for him, but not the others and this issue probably had to be addressed.
"Jenny, how are we going to tell everyone? I mean we can't just walk into the house and say 'Oh by the way Julian's back, Jenny has feelings for him and they are now a couple.' Though it would be funny to see the surprise on their faces," said Dee a little loudly.
Jenny thought for a moment. She would have to sneak him into the house or something just until everyone had left. But what if someone went up there…or he came down? That was just spelling trouble. But she couldn't just leave him out here, so that was her only reasonable option. She would just have to tell everyone later, and tell him to stay upstairs or something.
"We could keep him upstairs, just until everyone is gone so that I can think of a way to explain things to them," explained Jenny as she turned to Julian, "but you can't come down until I say. Got it?"
Julian nodded, while adding with a grin, "I see you kept the ring."
