Julian's POV

I watched the sunlight stream through the windows, cutting through the shadows that had dared to cross in front of the large bay windows with cold interest. It was funny how strong the shadows were in the protection of the night but how weak they became as the sun rose. I shifted uneasily from my position in the shadows; it still felt strange to be able to walk in the sunlight, to not feel weakened by its golden light or have the desire to count down the hours until the sun set.

I needed to figure out my next move. I needed to get Jenny to realise that I was here without alerting the others of my presence. I was getting stronger every day, gaining more and more control of Tommy's body, but none of my powers had returned; the most exciting things I could do were mere party tricks. I was essentially human. The first true smile I'd had since I'd died crossed my features; things would be different this time round. I could actually be with Jenny, I could actually be right for her.

"How can you be so sure?" A cryptic voice whispered in my ear, doubt colouring his words and planting a seed of uncertainty in my heart.

I decided to play dumb. "Sure of what?"

"That she'll actually want to see you? That she'll be happy that you're back?"

At that I frowned and didn't answer. The first seeds of doubt blossoming into something bigger and deeper. The truth was I wasn't sure at all. Whenever we were together in the past something bad had happened. It was as if she was the sun and I was the moon. We could never be together. I could chase her in my precious hours of daylight, but she would always escape past the horizon. She always evaded me, dissipated like mist when I needed her the most. She forced me to be, like the moon, a lone eye watching from the distance, not always seen but always there. Observing from the side lines and protecting her from harm's way.

"I thought so," Tommy's ghostly laugh echoed around my head, "you're just as lost as the rest of us, you haven't got a clue how she's gonna react."

I growled, if Tommy was in front of me at that moment I would have killed him. How was it that he could strip away all of my self-control with just a few words? How could the boy who was so oblivious when it came to Jenny be so close to the truth now? I clenched my fists and resisted the urge to hit something as self-doubt seeped into my mind. What if, after all this time, she didn't want me? What if all she could see now were my flaws and she sent me away to live a life of solace? What if everything went wrong?

Jenny's POV

I glanced behind me to check if anyone was following me as I descended the basement stairs, closing the door behind me with a soft click. The stale and musty smell of old books and an unused room filled the basement, it was clear that no one had been down here since they'd found me when I was five. Morning sunlight filtered weakly through the small windows on the far side of the room, a stark contrast to the gloom that dominated the rest of the basement. I turned slowly, taking the whole room in, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of disturbance, any sign that someone was down here with me. But the room was silent, the only things that were out of place were the pieces of equipment we'd used at the end of the last game to travel to the Shadow land.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus on moving one foot in front of the other and not on the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. If only I could see him just one more time so I could tell him how much I missed him, how much I loved him. I imagined his face, the way the coldness and indifference would seep out of his cobalt eyes with just one glance at me. I felt a trail of warmth seep down my cheeks followed by another and another. I was crying. I laughed at myself for being so weak but it sounded more like a choked sob.

I looked up, trying to see past the tears clouding my vision and saw a door. The closet door had runes all over it, almost concealing the original wood beneath. My throat constricted as painful memories swirled in my mind. My grandfather being pulled into the closet by the Shadow Men in an act to save me; Julian's first glimpse of me; tricking and locking Julian in the closet. They invaded my mind, uninvited, streaming from behind the door I had locked them behind.

The tears flowed faster and I had the urge to open the closet. Unbidden, hope rose from somewhere deep within me and I knew that, for some reason, my subconscious had dragged me down here in the hope that I'd find Julian here. I fished the golden band out of my pocket and slipped it onto my finger, drawing strength from its presence. I reached forward, my fingers brushing the cool brass handle. I took a deep breath and twisted the handle, letting the door swing toward me.

The closet was empty.

The sight of it, dust coating every surface, crushed me. I let out a small hiccup as the small ounces of hope that had sprung up uninvited, were destroyed beyond recognition. I couldn't breathe, it was as if someone had taken away all the oxygen, or my lungs had collapsed. I closed my eyes, trying to keep myself together, but a single tear managed to escape.

All I'd wanted was a bit of magic, but obviously that wasn't allowed anymore. The universe was trying to make me suffer, I'd made my choice and now I had to live with it.

A/N: Hey people! I updated before the end of may! is that good? thanks for all the author/ story alerts you guys are awesome! Review this time tho plz!

thx 2 RockMusicLoverX for reviewing!

Nightgirl25 - sorry for taking so long 2 update all the time! if you're still reading this and r giving me the silent treatment PLEASE give me a REVIEW!

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