DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but Julianna and Jillian. Mark VII and NBC Universal own everything else.
Julianna sat outside in the memory garden at Rampart. She closed her eyes and leaned back, unable to believe what the last 72 hours had brought. She was wiping the tears from her face when Johnny came and sat down with her.
"You OK," he asked.
Julianna shook her head. "I'm a horrible mother," she said.
"What? No you're not," he said, taking her hand.
"I probably brought this home to her. I should have seen the signs. I should have been more careful," she said.
"Jules, this is not your fault. You have to understand that," Johnny said.
"I got my daughter sick. I kept my pregnancy a secret and ran from you when I found out. I basically lied to you. The two people I love more than myself and this is how I've treated the both of you. She gets sick and you can't trust me, can't love me. No, Johnny, I'm a horrible mother," Julianna said.
"This is not your fault, OK. You're wonderful with our daughter. You've done everything for her. You can tell how much you love her," Johnny said, trying to reassure her.
Julianna wiped her face. "You're being way too nice to me after everything I've done," she said. She turned away. Johnny cupped her chin and turned her face toward him so she was looking at him.
"I wanted to talk to you about us. You know we can't go back to the way things were and we can't go on like things are," he said.
Julianna nodded. "I know. I'm going to buy that house down the street from you. That way, Jillian would be close to you. I will keep the name Gage so things are easy on Jill. Do you mind," she asked, rambling, unable to admit that her marriage was over. She knew it was going to happen, but she didn't want to admit it.
Before Johnny had a chance to say anything to Julianna, Joe Early poked his head out of the door.
"EEG is back. Everything looks normal. You can take her home," Early said.
Forgetting the conversation she had with Johnny, the two embraced and rushed to get their daughter. The tears flowed from both of Jill's parents as they saw their daughter awake and rolling around in her crib. The last few days had been rough on them emotionally, but Jillian had come through her health scare with only the scars from the IV lines to remember the ordeal.
Julianna and Johnny checked Jillian out of the hospital and headed home with her.
The Gage's arrived home, exhausted from what happened. Jillian fell asleep on the way home and Julianna put her upstairs in the crib.
She knew she should get some sleep, but finding a different place to stay was taking a higher priority.
She went back downstairs to find Johnny standing in the living room.
"I'll try to be out by the end of the week. Will that work for you," she asked him.
"Jules, we need to talk," he said.
"OK," she said. Dread filled her stomach. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about putting a finality on things. Despite her hope that they would make up and get back together, Julianna realized it was all a pipe dream.
Johnny guided her to the den and they sat down on the sofa.
"Jules, I don't want you to leave," he said.
"You don't? Well, you said we couldn't go back to the way things were and we can't continue like there are. What else is there other than for me to leave," she asked.
He took her hands and looked at her. "Seeing Jill as sick as she was, got me to thinking about losing her... or losing you. I realized you were my family. Not just Jillian, but YOU and Jillian," he said.
"What are you saying," she asked him, unable to fathom what he was saying.
"I want us to start over. I want us to be a family together. I love you, Juli," he said.
He gathered his wife, his love into his arms and leaned back on the couch. Just enjoying the way she fit in his arms, the warmth of her body.
They sat in the den for an hour, just holding each other. Relishing the fact that they were together and Jillian was alive.
Johnny's stomach grumbled and Julianna laughed. She got off the couch and went into the kitchen, Johnny following behind.
"I can fix one of these casseroles that Joanne put in the fridge for us," Julianna said.
"Sounds good to me," he said.
Julianna put the casserole in the oven and Johnny went to check on Jillian. He was so relieved she was OK and he and Julianna would be OK.
They knew Jillian would probably sleep through the night, the whole ordeal had been taxing on her body.
They ate their dinner in relative silence, comfortable with each other.
Johnny said he'd do the dishes and Julianna went upstairs to shower. She'd neglected herself while tending to her child while she was hospitalized and Julianna thought a shower and her comfy bed was calling her name.
Johnny came upstairs, hearing the shower running, he went into Julianna's room and went to the jewelery box.
Julianna stepped out of the shower. She entered the bedroom and was surprised to find Johnny standing in front of her dresser.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey. I've got something for you," he said, his crooked grin plastered on his face.
Julianna walked to him. "What," she asked.
Johnny held out her engagement and wedding rings.
"You need to put these back on," he said, taking her hand and slipping the rings back on her finger.
She looked at him. She had to ask the one question that was on her mind and would prove if he'd forgiven her.
"Are you going to stay in the guest room tonight," she asked, hope in her voice.
Johnny came up to his wife and kissed her soundly. In a husky voice he asked her, "What do you think?"
Julianna looked at her husband. "I've missed you so much," she said.
"I've missed you, too," he said.
He picked her up and carried her to the bed. They got reacquainted with each other and fell asleep in the early hours of the morning.
EPILOGUE
Julianna sat on the porch swing watching Johnny and Jillian play in the pool.
She was amazed at everything that had happened in the last few months.
After Jillian's release from the hospital, Johnny and Julianna decided to put their marriage back together. Julianna promised to be honest with Johnny and let him know when she got scared. Johnny promised to be there for her, no matter what she needed or said.
They held a birthday party for Jillian's first birthday and, three months after they decided to try again, they announced they were staying together at Jillian's party.
Their friends had all been happy for them and had forgiven Julianna for what she had done, especially since Johnny had forgiven her.
Julianna smiled as she watched her husband and daughter playing. She had been back in LA for a year. Jillian was now eighteen months old and looking more and more like Johnny everyday. She had all their friends wrapped around her fingers. She loved playing with her cousins, Timmy and Gracie.
Julianna changed position, her back hurting from sitting on the wooden swing.
Johnny carried Jillian out of the pool.
"I'm going to dry her off. I think she's ready for a nap," Johnny said.
"Probably. I'll help," she said, getting off the swing.
"Jules," he said, flashing her a cautioned look.
"I'm fine," she said, heading inside behind them.
"Your mommy is stubborn, Jilli-bean," Johnny said as he carried his daughter upstairs.
"I heard that. And you're just as stubborn," she said.
"I think we're in such trouble when she gets older," Johnny said, grinning.
"Older? She's already showing you're stubborn streak," she said, chuckling as she followed behind.
Johnny changed his daughter and put her down for her nap, smiling at her big brown eyes.
He headed back downstairs to Julianna and found her bending over in the kitchen.
"Jules, what are you doing," he asked.
"I think it's time," she said.
"Time? Time for what," Johnny asked, clueless.
"Johnny, I'm having contractions," Julianna said.
"Oh... uh... we've got to get to the hospital," he said.
"We have time. Call Katrina and get her to stay with Jill. Roy and Joanne can bring her over later this evening," Julianna said.
"Right," Johnny said, picking up the phone and calling Katrina.
Julianna slowly made her way to the closet where she'd kept her suitcase packed.
"Katrina's on her way. She'll be here in ten minutes," Johnny said.
"Good. Now call the hospital and let them know I'm on the way there," she said, trying to stay calm, but the contractions were coming harder and faster.
Seven minutes later, Katrina was at the door and Johnny and Julianna rushed out of the house. Johnny eased his wife into the back seat and jumped in the driver's seat. They headed off to the hospital, Julianna concentrating on her breathing.
They pulled up to the entrance and Johnny helped Julianna into a wheelchair. He wheeled her to the admit desk and was directed to maternity.
The nurses quickly took Julianna from Johnny and readied her for the doctor. Johnny stood in the waiting room. He managed to call Roy and let him know what was happening. He promised to stay with Johnny and would send Joanne to get Jillian from Katrina in a few hours.
Roy arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later and brought Mike along.
"What's going on," Mike asked.
"They're checking her and whatnot. I'll go in when they give me the OK," Johnny said.
The nurse poked her head out the door. "Mr. Gage? You're wife is ready for you," she said.
Johnny shot a look at each man and headed in to see Julianna.
"Hey, Jules. How ya doing," he asked.
"Don't be funny," she said.
"Sorry," he said.
"OK, Julianna. Here we go," the doctor said.
Early the next morning, Johnny poked his head out of the room, finding their friends in the waiting room.
"Guys, you can come in," Johnny said.
Joanne put Jillian down and she walked to her daddy. "Da-da, Me up," she said, holding her arms up for him to take her. He picked her up and kissed her cheek.
"Hiya, Jill-bean," he said.
She wrapped her chubby little arms around his neck and Johnny smiled.
Their friends walked into the room and found Julianna holding not one, but TWO blue bundles.
"Twins! Really, Johnny," Mike asked his brother-in-law. "Jules said the same thing," Johnny said.
"Hey, Juju! This is a surprise," he said.
"Congrats, Junior! They are adorable," Roy said.
Joanne stood on the other side of her friend. "Oh, my! You're going to have your hands full," Joanne said.
"I know. Two little Johnny's. We'd better invest in bandages and such now, huh," Julianna said, looking at her husband.
"Can we stop talking about me like I'm not here," Johnny asked, smiling at his wife.
Julianna grinned at her husband. "Fine," she said.
"So, what are the names of the newest Gage's," Chet asked.
"Well, the twin in the blue hat was born first. He's John Roderick Jr.," Julianna said.
"And the identical guy in the yellow hat is Jackson Roy," Johnny said, shooting a look at his best friend.
"Me," the fair paramedic asked his friends.
"Of course, Pally. You're my best friend and Jules and I couldn't think of a better way to honor that," Johnny said.
Julianna handed John Jr. to Mike and Jackson to Roy.
Johnny sat next to his wife on the bed.
"I love you, Juli," he said.
"I love you, too," she said. They shared a kiss before watching their friends with their boys. Jill was picked up by her Uncle Hank. She placed little kisses on her brother's heads and said, "Wuv you, brudders."
The Gage's smiled. They'd dealt with the pain of the past and were looking toward a bright future.
~~Aren't you glad this doesn't have another cliffhanger? Thanks for reading. I'm thinking of writing more. Feel free to pm me ideas. I'm always looking for something to challenge my muse and maybe, beat that plot bunny into submission. Or at least filled with enough drama to keep him comfortably calm. Thanks again! You guys rock!~~Kaiti
