Title: Reload

Author: Crimson Coin

Rating: T. This is a tough one. T for teen possibly bordering on R for violence.

Copyright: This fan fiction is by no means intended to infringe on any copyright. I do not own the characters nor the series lost. My ideas are my own.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairing: The romantic pairing is Juliet/Sawyer – as per canon.

Summary: After a life of crime, Sawyer must prove himself worthy of an afterlife with Juliet. A continuation from the series finale.


Juliet stared out the passenger window of the car. James drove the hour or so to her mother's house. "Do you want me to introduce you as Jim or James?"

He considered this carefully. "James is fine."

She smiled at that and reached for his hand, squeezing it. "There's going to be a good amount of people there. It's almost like a family reunion that mom does every year."

"How many people we talkin' about?"

She shrugged casually. "Fifty?"

"Fifty!"

She smirked. "If you don't want to go, I understand, we have time to turn back and …"

"I ain't turnin' back. I'm just … I hope I don't embarrass ya."

"How could you do that? I'm not embarrassed by you. In fact, you have all my receptionists at the hospital drooling and whispering about you now. I'm suddenly the center of office gossip."

He laughed. "I guess that's what happens when I go blazin' into yer hospital."

"Mmm"

"Will your mom and Rachel like me?"

"Rachel will love you. Mom … mom will be fine but, I just want to warn you. She has it set in her head that she can fix me up with people. She's inviting one of her friend's sons and wants me to talk to him. Even though I told her I'm seeing someone else."

"I see. And who is this friend's son?"

"I don't know. His name is Danny and he's a lawyer. Obviously that means he and I are meant to be." She scoffed. "So by my mother's logic."

"Ah," he nodded slowly. "By that logic, I don't think she'll ever like me."

"I don't need degrees or that kind of prestige. You're smart, James. We have intellectual conversations, at least when you're not goofing around." She smiled. "And you love to talk about books."

"Did I dress alright?"

She eyed him. He wore faded jeans and a button down cotton shirt, the top two buttons undone to reveal the white undershirt beneath. He rolled the sleeves up to his elbows and buttoned them and wore a pair of sneakers. "You look just fine. How about me?"

He grinned. "I checked out your ass as ya got into the car. I love those pants."

She laughed. "They're just Capri pants."

"Yeah … I'd hit that. And yer wearin' blue. I like a blue shirt on ya. Makes yer eyes stand out."

"I didn't know you could be so sentimental."

"Yeah, don't hold yer breath." He smirked playfully. "Is this the exit?"

She glanced out the window again. "Yes. Then at the end make a right. You'll be fine, James. Julian is all excited to meet you too. Apparently Rachel told him you were a cop and he wants to hear all about the siren."

He chuckled. "Of all the things he wants to hear about, it's the siren? Alright then. I guess I can tell him about the siren."

"He didn't call it a siren. He'd just mimic the sound. So if he comes up to you, screeching and whooping, that's what he's doing."

"Duly noted."

"Thank you for coming with me. It means a lot."

"To you? It means a lot to me. Thanks for havin' me. We don't got this kinda thing with my family. Well if we do, I don't go to it."

"Why not?"

He shrugged. "When I joined the marines, I didn't really keep in touch with people and when I got out, they didn't find me and I have no idea where a lot of them are. Like my cousins and stuff. I know where my uncle lives, he's up in Alabama. But the others, no idea."

"I'm sure if you reached out to them, they'd reach back."

"I don't know about that. It ain't like I come from a part of the family history they want to remember."

James drove up a winding hill and pulled behind a line of cars, keeping to the side of the dirt road to park. He glanced at her and smiled.

She leaned over to kiss him slowly then pulled back. "I really look ok?"

"Babe, ya always look fantastic." He stepped out of the car then reached into his backseat to take the cooler. He draped it over his shoulder and then walked to the other side. Juliet dug in the backseat for her purse then a tray of cookies. He held the door for her, waiting until she finished then closed it and followed her up the hill to her mother's house.

James stayed behind a few steps as Juliet hugged a woman that was most likely her sister. The two didn't quite look the same except when they smiled. Yes, this was Rachel. Juliet squeezed Rachel's hand. "Rachel, this is James."

James smiled and shook her hand. "Hey, there."

Rachel grinned. "It's about time I get to meet you. Juliet's been keeping you all to herself."

He chuckled. "Yeah, she was just waitin' to introduce me to everyone at once." He followed the sisters inside and there were far too many people to remember. Grandma was easy enough, there was only one fossil. Juliet's mother was the one shooting skeptical daggers in his general direction. Julian was the little squirt running around with blond hair like his aunt. There were about eleven boys between sixteen and twenty five, cousins or something like that, fifteen girls between twelve and twenty seven, an array of aunts and uncles and he couldn't remember any of their names. Just wonderful.

Juliet was swarmed by her family; likely she didn't see them too often. He took a can of beer from the cooler and sat down on a lounge chair on the lawn. He sighed in comfort. The sun was warm, the breeze refreshing. Grandma sat next to him. He smiled at her. "Hey, Gram."

The woman was short, no taller than five foot four inches, slender. She looked ancient but her eyes were spritely, lively. Her hands were slightly gnarled from arthritis but that didn't seem to stop her or slow her down. She was cutting vegetables in the kitchen when he walked in. She appraised him as they sat in the sun. So this was where Juliet got that look.

"Ya know, Juliet does that too."

"Does what?"

He smirked. "Sizes me up."

She chuckled. "You can learn a lot about a person by just observing."

"I know."

"You must forgive the shock of much of the family. The last time Juliet brought someone home for a party it was because she was engaged."

"Well, I'm flattered she invited me. Thanks for havin' me. It's nice to just relax."

"Juliet says you're a detective."

"That's right."

"And you were a marine."

He chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

"My Howard was a marine. He died in World War II. He was in Africa at the time."

James watched her, his expression solemn. "He's a hero."

She smiled sadly. "He was. The hardest part was that our youngest children never knew him."

He nodded slowly.

"You know, a lot of service men become policemen or firemen when they leave the service."

"Yes, ma'am. It was the only thing I could think I could do after I left. It suits me. The hours are long and can be gruelin' but well, Juliet understands."

"Mmm. Her hours can be long and grueling too."

"Yeah, I expected that." He watched across the yard as Juliet stood with a few cousins, arms crossed over her chest. Her expression was serious, likely the conversation important. Or maybe boring. He smirked.

Grandma watched him then Juliet then chuckled.

"What's so funny, Granny?"

"Oh nothing. Just watching you sitting there pining for my granddaughter."

"I ain't pinin'."

She laughed. "Your secret is safe with me. We don't want anyone misinterpreting your gruff exterior for someone who cares."

He grinned into his beer can. "Now you're talkin', Gran."

"Now be a good boy and go get this old lady a beer."

He looked shocked then laughed and put his beer on the ground before retrieving a beer for her. He opened it then sat down and handed her the beer. "Good, cuz I needed a drinkin' partner."

"My mother always had one beer a day. And she lived to be one hundred. I'm getting there and no sense changing now. Don't tell my daughter though. She hates when I have a beer. She thinks it's going to stop my heart, but I'm still here and I'm going to be ninety next year."

He grinned at that. "Old as the hills, ma'am. Alright, if your daughter comes out, you just hand me that beer and I'll claim I'm double fistin'."

She laughed and raised her beer to him in toast. He touched the can to hers then both drank. They spoke for almost half an hour and when Juliet's mother came out, he nonchalantly took the can from Grandma's hand and held it. Juliet approached them, a teasing smirk on her face. "Getting my grandmother drunk?"

Grandma shook her head. "Oh get out of here, a beer isn't going to hurt these old bones. You got a great man here." She patted James' arm.

James grinned victoriously. "I know how to win a family over. Win the matriarch, win the family."

A couple of hours passed, burgers and chips for lunch. James gained a small following with the cousins of the party. The boys asking all about the marines and war and being a cop. James was a bit evasive but gave a little detail to answer their questions. The girls gawked and giggled at him. He supposed being one of the few unrelated people at the party, they needed something to keep them occupied.

He heard Julian approach by the loud whirring of a mimicked police siren. "Hey, shrimp."

The boy laughed at him and crawled up into his lap. The boy was likely around two maybe two and a half. James picked him up and sat him in his lap. The kid didn't say anything at first but stared at him.

"What?"

"You look like a girl."

He laughed. "I do?" Others nearby had laughed too. Juliet was a little too far away to hear. She sat at table under a tent speaking with Danny, the lawyer her mother insisted she meet. James quirked a brow at the boy. "A girl huh? Why do ya say that?"

Julian reached up to tug his long hair.

"Ah," he nodded in understanding. "But I have a beard" he rubbed his jaw and chin. "And sideburns." He pointed to the sideburns on the side of his head. "Girls don't have that."

"Yeah. But your hair's long."

He chuckled. "Yeah, but you want to know a secret?"

The boy's eyes brightened and he nodded.

James whispered. "Girls like my hair like this. Go ask Aunt Juliet."

"Ok!" He slipped out of James' lap then ran over to Juliet. "Aunt Juliet?"

She turned to the boy and smiled at him. "Hello, Julian. How are you?"

"I good." Then pointed to James. "He said you like girls."

She laughed. "What?"

"Uh huh. He did. He looks like a girl and he said you like his hair."

"Oh," then picked Julian up. "Well, his hair is a little long, but that doesn't mean he's a girl. And I do like his hair like that. You know why?"

Julian shakes his head.

"Because he looks like a pirate."

Julian's eyes brightened. "A Piwate!"

She smirked. "Yes, a Pirate." She annunciated the R in the word.

He squirmed out of Juliet's arms to race over to James and let a big. "Awwrrggggg" Then laughed and raced off. James looked absolutely confused.

Juliet laughed then looked back to Danny. He was nice enough, personable, friendly. There was really nothing to dislike. He didn't seem pompous or full of himself or egotistical, which was a nice change. But other than seeming friendly, she felt nothing. She knew what it was like to look at someone and have the heart race. Danny didn't do that. It surprised her James didn't try to interrupt her, show any signs of jealousy that Danny was spending so much time talking to her. James seemed content, sitting with her grandmother and a few of her uncles. Her cousins all seemed taken with him, the boys impressed by his prowess, the girls likely impressed with the same but for different reasons.

He was suave, teasing most of the time. Her mother didn't like him. She saw that from the start. Uh oh, Danny was watching her expectantly. Was it her turn to speak? "I'm sorry, Danny, what was that?"

"Do you want something to drink?" He stood.

"No, I'm fine, thank you," She answered and as he stepped away, she walked towards James.

James glanced up at her. "I think your nephew thinks I'm a tiger. He keeps roarin' at me."

"Not a tiger. A pirate."

"A pirate?"

She grinned. "It explained the hair and the scruff."

"Maybe but I ain't got scurvy or lice. And I still got all my own teeth. Well most of 'em."

Grandma laughed. "You have more of your own then I do."

"That's expected." James responded with a grin.

Grandma slapped his arm. "Fresh boy." Then laughed.

One of the teenage boys raced over. "Hey, James." He carried a football. "We need a quarterback. You in?"

He nodded. "Alright." He stood slowly and stretched. "I could use some runnin' around."

The boy grinned. "Yeah. Skins vs shirts. You're skin."

"Good. I didn't wanna sweat up my shirt anyway." He unbuttoned his shirt, much to the delight of Juliet's younger cousins. He whispered to Juliet. "Jeez, you'd think they never saw a man before."

"You are stripping at my mother's party," she teased and took his button down shirt, folding it then his t-shirt, folding that too.

"You're amazin', babe." He jogged to the front yard. "Don't worry," he called back. "The pants are staying on."

She rolled her eyes and placed his shirts on the picnic bench then sat beside her grandmother. She watched the teenage cousins standing under a tree, talking, pretending they weren't watching James. She shook her head. "What's gotten into them?"

Grandma snorted. "They're just being silly brainless girls. Most people here are related to them. He's good looking, and not. Let them have a little fun."

Juliet smiled and just nodded, watching the half of the game she could see from the backyard. Rachel sat beside her and smirked teasingly at her sister. "What … a babe."

Juliet laughed and shook her head. "Not you too. You know, he is more than a hunk of meat."

"Oh I'm sure," Rachel responded. "That doesn't mean we don't like to browse. I saw you talking to Danny."

Juliet sighed. "Yeah, Mom invited him for me. She doesn't like James."

Rachel patted Juliet's arm. "Give her time."

Grandma shook her head. "Doctor, lawyer, banker … the career don't make the man." She pointed towards James. "That is one fine man. And I'm not talking about looks either."

Juliet nodded. "Thanks, Gram. I'm going to head inside to help mom finish up with supper. She's been glaring at me the last hour, I suppose she wants some help." She stood and walked into the kitchen. "Need any help, Mom?"

"Put the salads on the table."

Juliet obeyed her mother and said nothing more, noting the curt tone. They worked for nearly fifteen minutes in silence before Juliet finally sighed. "What is it? Just say it already."

Mary slammed the knife down and turned. "What are you thinking, Juliet?"

Juliet put her hands on her hips. "About what, Mom?"

"Don't give me that tone. You know what I mean. Bringing him here. What are you thinking? He's not good for you. He's not … he could be an ex-con!"

"Mom he was a marine and now he's a cop. If he was an ex-con, he couldn't be a cop."

"And did you hear what he said to your grandmother. The man has no respect, he has no idea how to act."

"He made Grandma laugh. I haven't heard her laugh in years. Grandma likes him."

"Grandma is senile. I'm thinking of you. He's uneducated and disrespectful and…" she looked out the window at him. "He looks like he came off the street. Have you heard him speak? I wonder if he even finished high school or if he ran away to the marines. If he even was in the marines. Have you checked up on that? How much do you even know about him? You're infatuated!"

Juliet took a deep breath, suppressing the desire to snap back. It would solve nothing. "Education doesn't make the man. I learned that with Edmund. James is smart. He loves to read. I've talked to him about my research. He doesn't understand all of it but he understands enough to know generally what I'm talking about. I don't want someone on my own level. I don't want another doctor. But that doesn't mean he's beneath me."

"That's not the point. I saw you talking to Danny and you weren't paying him any good attention. He's nice and clean cut and well made and he can take care of you and he's just what you need."

"What, Mom? I don't need to be taken care of. I can live completely independent of anything if I wanted to. I don't need a man to take care of me. James doesn't try to take care of me. He's just … there."

"Wonderful. So he's a leech. I can think of twenty reasons why he isn't good for you, Juliet."

"How can you say that, you don't even know him."

Mary shook her head. "I don't have to know him. You can see it."

"See what?"

"Firstly, he's unkempt. He obviously doesn't care what he looks like, untrimmed and scruffy and his clothes are faded. All he does is flirt and crack jokes. You ask him something serious and he just jokes it and brushes it off. Sounds evasive to me and that's skeptical. What's he hiding? He's a drinker, he's already had four beers."

"What are you keeping track?"

"More than anyone else and I know his type. They just use women, he's using you. Its lust or infatuation and you're here giving into him and then when he up and leaves, what will happen then. You need stability, not a fling. You're already thirty three years old. You're not in college anymore. Grow up. He's going to just hurt you."

Juliet stood shocked, a little upset. A southern drawl from the other end of the kitchen broke her revere. "I ain't gonna hurt her."

Mary turned, shocked and immediately grew defensive. "Impolite, he doesn't even make himself known but just eavesdrops on conversations that don't involve him."

His voice was cold, devoid of emotion and deadly serious. He dripped with sweat, slick. "Actually, I think this involves me directly." He stepped into the room, staring down at Mary. His eyes intimidating; Juliet imagined this was the expression he often wore in the service. It scared her.

Mary faced him, eyes intense. She didn't back away. "How many women have you done this too, James? Hmm, romanced them then left them? Broken hearted. A regular Don Juan, I'm sure."

His jaw clenched a moment. "So maybe I ain't the perfect guy. Maybe I made mistakes and did some stupid shit. Maybe I should cut my hair, is that what really bothers you? Get the scissors then, take it off. It's just hair."

"You didn't answer my question. What is it twenty? Thirty?"

"I ain't answerin' yer question, cuz no matter what I say, ye ain't gonna believe me. Yer mind's set on me. The stupid hick from Alabama. He ain't good enough for my daughter. You know what? Yer right. I ain't good enough for her."

Mary crossed her arms. "We're finally in agreement."

He looked away from Mary and right at Juliet. "I ain't good enough for ya. I don't got any prestige, no family. I just got me. That's what I offer."

Mary interrupted. "So you have nothing to bring to the relationship then? Then what do you want? Money? You want to milk her for it? Maybe to advance your own career? She doesn't need dead weight."

"No, she don't." He stared at Mary. "Good thing I ain't dead weight then, huh." He looked at Juliet again. "I want you. Just you, Blondie." He sighed and raked his hand through his hair. "I need a walk." Then turned and left the kitchen, slamming the screen door behind him.

Juliet closed her eyes then turned on her mother. "What is wrong with you? I know you're not happy about this, but Christ mom, are you trying to ruin this for me? I haven't been this happy in years. And everything he just said to me … I mean isn't that what you go through life looking for?"

Mary resumed cutting the chicken pieces on the counter. "Of course, but you can get that from a lot of people. You don't need it from a man like that."

"Mary."

Juliet jumped at the stern voice from the other side of the kitchen. Her grandmother stood there, eyes narrowed on her daughter. Juliet didn't wait to see what happened and raced out the same door James left.

It took her a few minutes to find which way he went. Of course, her teenage cousins knew. They giggled and pointed down the road. She hoped he didn't leave. She nearly ran down the winding road towards the car and sighed in relief as he was leaning against the passenger side. His one arm crossed over his chest as he stared into the woods. A cigarette hung limply from his one hand, the smoke swirling slowly up and away..

She'd never seen him smoke before, never even tasted it on him. She approached him slowly. "James."

He glanced to her and managed a weak smile. "Hey." Then looked sheepishly at his cigarette. "Yer gonna give me the lung cancer speech, ain't ya."

"No," She smiled and slid her hand along his arm. "I'm going to give you the 'I was coming down here to kiss you but not now because I won't kiss ashtrays' speech."

He laughed and shook his head then inhaled again.

"I didn't know you smoked."

"I quit … about two months ago." He smirked at her knowing smile. "Didn't think a doctor would be impressed by a smoker." He looked at the cigarette in his hand. "Stale as hell. I kept a pack in my glove compartment. Security blanket."

She slid her hand along his arm and plucked the cigarette out. He simply watched her, complacent. She dropped the cigarette and snuffed it with the toe of her sandal. "You're going to say it takes the edge off. Use me, remember?"

He reached into the car to pull out some gum, offered her a piece. She decline and he took one himself, chewing. Finally, he asked. "Do you agree with her? With your Mom?"

She leaned against him, hugging him, pillowing her cheek on his chest and her eyes closed as he hugged her in return. "I fear this is all too surreal. That I will fall for you and you will tire of me and leave. Not that you would purposefully use me. I just fear being hurt."

He nodded slowly.

"My grandmother loves you. I'm so sorry, I didn't expect this to happen. I knew Mom wasn't happy but … I just don't understand what brought this on."

He shrugged casually. "She's worried about you. I don't fit the norm of what she expected in a man fer you. She's shocked at how easy goin' ya are with me and it intimidates her cuz she's right. She's knows my type. The way I act, I act like a playboy, a wiseass. She wants me to be all prissy or something with a rod up my ass, I guess. Maybe that's what she wants ya with. Some bug eyed lawyer that don't look like he could grow a beard if he wanted to."

She grinned. "Danny is not bug eyed. Are you jealous?"

"Yeah."

She didn't expect the admission and looked up at him, surprised. "Really?"

"Well yeah." He seemed surprised. "Why wouldn't I be jealous? The guy's good lookin' and successful and meets every requirement yer mom wants in a man for ya."

She shrugged casually and looked away. "Yeah well, you're handsome and successful and meet every requirement I want in a man."

He grinned at that and watched as she stared at his chest then down to his abdomen. "Just appraising?"

Her brow furrowed as she touched a puckered white scar at the side of his abs. "That's from a bullet."

His smile fell and he nodded. "Yeah. I was in the first surge at Mogadishu. We were securin' the city. It was fairly easy, not many casualties. But I was one of the few."

Her fingers traced the scar then moved about two inches further in towards his navel. "Two more inches and …" she trailed off.

"Yep. I'da been dead. As it happened, this shot grazed my kidney. They managed to stop the internal bleedin'. I was real lucky."

Her palm splayed on the scar and she glanced up at him. "I understand if you don't want to stay."

He shrugged. "And let her win? Then she just got somethin' else to add to my list a grievances. Not happenin'. I don't wanna fight with yer mom. And I ain't good with words."

She touched his cheek, stroked the jaw. "You said exactly what I needed to hear. James, tell me now. Honestly. Are you a love them and leave them type?"

"When I was in the service, yeah. It wasn't fair to keep them hangin' when I was gone for months, not knowin' if I was gonna live another day. Since then? Not really. I only had two girlfriends since then. Pretty things. Airheads. But pretty things."

"So I'm a new adventure?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "I'm likin' it."

She chuckled and looked back up the hill. "Did you really have four beers?"

"No, two. Your grandma and I were drinkin' and she said if your mom saw her, she'd be up shit's creek. So I pretended to drink hers when your ma was around."

She looked incredulously at him.

He laughed. "Ask her yerself. We had some bondin' time. Apparently yer granddad was a marine. That means she likes me."

Shocked, she just stared at him a long moment then reached up to cup his cheeks and drag him down for a kiss.

He resisted slightly. "Thought ya didn't kiss ashtrays."

"Shut up," she ordered and grinned at him before capturing his lips. They stood at the car, kissing like teenagers for minutes. He leaned back against the car for leverage and pulled her up against him. When the kiss deepened, he growled, eyes closed.

"Hey James, stop suckin' face. Second half is up!"

James pulled back to glance up the hill at one of his teammates. He grinned. "Hey, shut it. If you were me and Juliet wasn't related to ya, you'd be doin' just what I'm doin'."

The boy laughed. "Maybe. And if I was old."

"Hey!" Juliet frowned at him. "I'm not old. In ten years you'll be old as me, Brian, so watch it."

"Maybe, and you'll be even older." Brian laughed.

James smirked. "Gimme two more minutes with yer cousin, I'll be right there."

When Brian raced back up the hill, James glanced down at Juliet. She pulled him down for another slow kiss then backed away. "I told you I didn't want gum."

He laughed and pushed off the car. She took his hand, pulling him back up the hill.

Rachel stood on the porch watching them. "Where'd you two go?"

James just smiled. "I couldn't keep my hands off her. We were in the backseat of my car." He winked at Juliet and raced back to the game field to continue the game.

Juliet laughed at Rachel's shocked expression. "We did not. Get that look off your face."

Rachel smirked. "Too bad. You should have. That would really throw mom off the deep end."

"Oh yeah. That's the last thing I want to do. She hasn't thrown him out yet and I don't want her to. Why is she doing this, I don't understand."

"She's just being Mom. And after Edmund, I think she's worried you'll take another man like that. Here's the deal though, Edmund didn't look the part of cheatin' bastard. In a way, James does." She held up her hands defensively. "Now before you say anything, just hear me out."

Juliet sat on the porch and nodded.

"You haven't exactly had the best taste in men. Edmund was a cheater and Tom hit you."

Juliet scowled at Rachel.

"Hey, I didn't tell anybody, but I knew it. I know you loved him and all but it doesn't change the fact that the guy couldn't control his temper."

"It was only once."

Rachel shrugged. "Maybe. But you didn't leave him after that."

"He never did it again."

"That's because he was dead within two months."

Juliet sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"Mom is just worried. I mean you have to admit, when you look at James he looks a little dangerous. And he's a cop and we all know that most cops tend to have power trips. Plus he was a marine. I don't know, I think she's just afraid you'll be hurt again."

Juliet sat quietly just watching the boys play. "I know that but she really hurt James. He's got a hard exterior but there are kinks in his armor and mom happened to hit most of them in the course of five minutes. Rach, I think I'm falling for him."

"Yeah, I figured."

Juliet looked quickly to her sister, frowning. "What do you mean, you figured?"

"Oh please, what do you think I mean. You're practically Gaga for the guy. Not that I blame you. He really seems great. Gram likes him. So do Uncle Phil and John. If you remember, Gram never liked Edmund or Tom."

"Yeah, she doesn't like anyone."

"She likes James."

Juliet closed her eyes, tilting her head back and leaning back on her hands to soak up the sun. "You were the one who told me to date. This would all be easier if I just didn't."

"And can you sit there, and look at that man over there and actually say you regret going on the date?"

"No. I don't even have to look at him to answer that. I don't regret it. Doesn't mean it wouldn't be easier."

"True. But when did you ever do anything the easy way?" Rachel smiled and stood, walking to the cooler to pull out two bottled waters. She sat again beside her sister and handed her one.

Juliet opened the bottle of water to drink some of it then sighed. "Never. I suppose never."

Rachel smirked. "So … falling in love huh?"

"I never said in love. Just … falling for him. Like he's great and I really like him."

"Uh huh."

Juliet shook her head and watched the game. "Do you think he's feeling something for me?"

"Well, let's think. After everything mom said to him, he's still here."

"Yeah but he's proud."

"No man's pride is that big. He's here for you. He could have left. It's his car down there. But he didn't."

Juliet chuckled and looked to James. He stood in the backfield, obviously playing defense. The game had grown a bit rough, now tackle football. She winced as James brought one of the teenage boys down. Within about fifteen minutes, they were all filthy, grass stained and sweaty.

Rachel smirked. "Dinner will be ready soon. They'll all have to hose down."

Juliet laughed and stood, walking towards the field, standing on the side. Her water bottle now half empty, she closed it. When James glanced at her, she tossed him the bottle. He seemed shocked at the gesture and caught it then grinned. He opened it then snuck behind the youngest cousin and poured it on the kid's head. He laughed as did all the other boys.

The teen glared. "I'll get you for that, James."

"Oh stuff it, kid. It felt good. Yer so hot, your shoulders are red."

"Yeah well so are yours."

He glanced at his shoulders and winced. "Ah shit. I hope I didn't burn, that's gonna suck."

Dinner was called and the boys turn to the house. Juliet held up her hands. "The hose is over there. Hose down before you stink up the patio."

"Aw come on!" the general groan of disapproval.

James jogged to her. He was winded, his cheeks and body showing signs of burn from the sun. He grinned. "Me too, Blondie?"

"Especially you. Look at you." She winced sympathetically. "You're going to be in pain tonight."

"Hey James!"

James turned only to be blasted by the water from the hose. Juliet shrieked in surprise as it hit her too and she quickly backed away out of the splash. He stood there and outstretched his arms then turned and mocked washing then scratched his head with his fingers and flipped his hair.

The boys laughed then continued soaking each other. Drenched, James turns to Juliet, a smirk on his face. "There, all clean."

"Feel better?"

"Yeah a bit." He took her hand and pulled her close, hugging her, soaking her. "There we go."

She squirmed, laughing and trying to get out of his arms. "You need some water, you're probably dying of thirst." His pants were drenched, in turn, soaking hers. "I'll be getting in your car all wet!"

He growled in her ear, deep and teasing. "Good."

She shook her head at his suggestive tone, but smiled and swatted his arms. He hissed and she frowned. "Told you. Sun burn."

He nodded then looked to the back yard. "Face the music I guess, huh?" He glanced at her. "You got my back?"

"Absolutely."

He smiled and took her hand, leading her back to the tables for dinner.

The evening passed without incident. Her mother did not speak another word to them about anything. There was no indication that anything had happened. Many of the cousins were staying nearby in hotels to return the next day for breakfast before heading home. Juliet smiled at Rachel. "We probably won't be back tomorrow. Why don't you and Julian come over for dinner? I know you're staying tonight, right?"

"Yeah. Julian loves it here and he's so excited to sleep over Grandma's."

"So tomorrow, what time?"

"Julian is in bed at 7 usually, so let's say 5. I know it's early for you but that way you two can go out to a movie or something after we leave."

Juliet smiled and nodded. "Alright 5. We'll see you then."

Rachel grinned. "Is he spending the night?"

Juliet just rolled her eyes. "Goonight, Rachel."

James pulled his shirt back on and then the button down shirt, though he left it unbuttoned. If his sunburn hurt him, he showed no sign. Damn marine. That was until Brian jokingly slapped James' back, hard and James straightened, his shoulders pinched together. He didn't wince but his eyes dampened slightly. He glanced over his shoulder at a laughing Brian. "I'll get ya, boy. Just you wait."

On the drive home, Juliet watched him, concerned. "Your back is really bad."

"What are ya a dermatologist now?"

She smirked. "No, but I know sunburn when I see it. You should have put sunscreen on"

"I thought you had my back, Blondie." He grinned, playfully. He had yet to sit back in his seat. It looked uncomfortable, but he drove just fine.

"I do," she laughed then shook her head, sitting back to stare out the window. "Suit yourself."

They spoke casually on the drive back to her apartment. He parked in one of the visitor parking spots and turned to her, arm over her chair.

"Why don't you come upstairs and I'll put some aloe on your back?"

He grinned as she got out of the car and easily followed her up the stairs to her apartment. She did not look at him and he wondered if she couldn't. Was she nervous? Was she finally giving him a green light? Because sun burn or no sun burn, he wasn't going to lose this opportunity.

Upstairs in the apartment, she tossed her keys on the counter then locked the door behind him. "I have aloe in the bathroom."

He nodded and took off his sneakers. They were still damp from the hose down and he left them by the door. He wiped his hands on his pants; they were damp too.

"Take your shirt off."

He grinned. "Are you gonna rip it off me?"

"No."

He sat on the couch and shrugged out of the button down shirt then pulled off the under t-shirt. His skin on his face, shoulders, back and chest was red with the burn. He didn't complain or mind it, though she watched as the skin twitched a little.

"Does it itch?"

He shrugged. "A little. It's not bad."

"Liar." She smirked and sat beside him on the couch, motioning with a finger for him to turn around.

He sighed in relief at the aloe on his back, the cool helping to sooth the cooked skin. His eyes closed as she massaged the aloe along his back, over his shoulder then arms. He turned towards her, facing her. She applied the aloe to his chest and face too, carefully avoiding his eyes.

The muscles rippled under her hands and she kept her eyes on the task at hand, concentrating. "There, all done." She met his eyes.

He captured her lips and she succumbed to him. Her hands gentle on his neck, she cupped the back of his head, careful not to touch his burn. He deepened the kiss, hovering over her and she resisted his guiding hand a few moments before finally laying back on the couch, shifting a little. He settled against her, pressing her into the cushions of the couch. She hummed, sliding her leg along his then bent at the knee to keep him closer. His lips trailed down her throat and she hooked her ankle around the back of his knee. She gasped, eyes fluttering; her back arched.

Her hand tightened on the back of his head the other sliding down to his shoulders. He nipped. She shivered and the hand on his shoulder clenched. The muscles twitched; he growled at the mix of pleasure and pain. Minutes passed and she panted at the pleasure. He paused, kissing her ear slowly.

She swallowed hard, her voice a trembling whisper, husked with desire. "Don't stop."

He didn't.

Author's Note: There, a nice long one and she finally gave in to him. I hope you liked it, please read and review. I'm ticked off at , the traffic counter isn't working so apparently no one has read my last chapter even though I have reviews for it. Go figure. I'll post this one, hopefully it'll start counting again. That counter was the best thing they implemented for author's to see if people are reading their story! I'll post the next chapter when the ticker starts working again. =P You know unless I get reviews to know you want more. Yes, that's blackmail. =D