Inspired by the 2x01 Jarbie deleted scene. (Available on YT)


Deep down, she envied them.

They'd been holding hands as they entered; looking up at the cheerful sound of the bell, she'd watched as Barbie held the door for Julia, giving her a small, playful bow before following her in, some murmured comment from the redhead causing the two of them to grin at each other like a pair of giddy middle-schoolers.

Once inside, it was clear that they had little interest in interacting with any of the diner's other occupants, the two of them barely sparing the room more than a fleeting glance, their eyes pausing for only the briefest of moments as they spotted her by the counter. Sending a quick grin and a wave in her direction, they turned and headed directly for the back stairs, disappearing up to the near-empty second level.

Hearing the murmurs of the other diners follow in their wake, Angie easily understood their desire for a little space— and, after what they'd been through over the past few days, they'd more than earned the right to a few uninterrupted moments together.

Especially considering how close they'd come to never getting another moment together ever again.

She knew, probably better than anyone else under the dome, what these two were to each other; after all, she'd been there, had seen what few others had.

She'd been there with Barbie as he'd risked everything to get Julia out of the clinic, had seen him sacrifice himself without a moment's hesitation just to keep her safe.

She'd been there as Julia had promptly done the same, running directly towards danger, her focus solely on getting Barbie out of there alive, no matter the price.

She'd been there, barely an hour later, when Barbie had sacrificed himself yet again, giving them the time they needed to escape with the egg.

But most of all, she'd been there when Big Jim's ultimatum had crackled over the radio, had seen the sheer desolation that had shadowed Julia's eyes, as if her entire world was about to collapse in on itself and she knew she was powerless to stop it.

It was clear that losing him would have destroyed her, torn her apart— like a vital part of her had been ripped away and there could be no surviving without it.

She might be able to recognise it, but no matter how hard she tried, Angie couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like to truly feel that kind of love.

Maybe one day she would ask Julia about it, but not today; when she'd followed the pair up the stairs to serve them their coffee, they'd been warm in their greeting, genuine in their gratitude for all that she'd done— but their eyes had hardly been able to stray from one another, the silent communication passing between them making her feel like an intruder into their private world.

Of everyone trapped here in Chester's Mill, they were among the very few she actually liked, but today she hadn't been able to get away from them fast enough. Leaving them to their coffee and their lovey-dovey gazes, she'd retreated downstairs, brushing aside the vaguely unsettled feeling that hovered in her chest as she'd returned to her work.

Glancing up at them now, she saw them link hands across the table, absorbed in each other like they were the only two people in the entire dome. As she watched, their faces broke out in matching grins, their happiness radiating from them like a tangible thing as Barbie lifted Julia's hand to his lips.

Tearing her gaze away, Angie grasped the edge of the booth beside her to steady herself, a sudden heaviness in her gut that she'd never felt before.

No, she couldn't imagine experiencing that kind of love. And suddenly, she couldn't shake the feeling that she never would.

Blinking, she turned her back on the happily reunited couple, forcing a bright smile as she directed her focus at the nearest table, steadfastly ignoring the icy feeling of dread that ran down her spine.

"Coffee?"


RIP Angie— you deserved better.