They went back to the Institute and to Emma's surprise she'd really enjoyed Cristina's company. Cristina talked a lot, but Emma was fine with it. She wasn't really in the mood for talking herself.
They were greeted by Oscar or, well, not greeted exactly, but he was there. When they opened the door he looked their way and strode away to be exact.
"You think the others have eaten yet?" Cristina asked Emma.
"We just got back from a café, Cristina."
"Yeah, those cakes were the appetizers."
Emma rolled her eyes. "I think they'd wait for us before they'd eat."
"Great, then kitchen's next", Cristina called out dramatically and grabbed Emma's arm before she marched away.
In the kitchen they met Dru who was making lunch.
Dru's eyes widened as she saw Emma. "Emma, you're awake."
"I am", she said and grinned.
"Are you feeling better?"
"I didn't feel that much while being unconscious, but, yeah, I guess."
"That's good, then I can make lunch for you and Jules too. He hasn't eaten since you were attacked."
Cristina jumped up on the counter and looked down in the saucepans. "Hey, good lookin'. Watcha got cookin'?"
Emma jumped up next to Cristina.
Dru giggled while cutting tomatoes. "Spaghetti Bolognese."
Emma took a slice of tomato. She hesitated before she asked, "Have you seen Jules, Dru?"
"No, until you came here I thought he was in your room."
"He didn't even tell you she was awake?" Cristina asked.
"Nope." She looked up at them. "The lunch won't be ready for another twenty minutes you know."
"Oh, want some help?" Cristina asked.
When the household gathered for lunch Jules was the only one who wasn't there.
"Where's Julian?" Arthur asked.
Emma sighed. "Probably on the roof, but I haven't looked."
"Please do, the boy hasn't eaten for days. We'll wait for you to get back before we eat."
She climbed the stairs up to the roof. She saw him as soon as she opened the door. He sat on the edge smoking a clove cigarette. Oscar lay next to him purring while Jules was stroking him.
Emma marched forward to him and snatched the cigarette from his hand.
Jules gasped at the sudden surprise and looked up at her. "Emma?"
She held up the cigarette. "Lunch is ready and these are bad for you."
He smiled slightly. "I need them."
She sat down next to him and tried not to think about the height. "You don't need them."
"You know, normally people use to give smokers reasons for why they should stop."
"I don't need to. Everybody knows they are bad", Emma said simply.
Jules chuckled and looked at the ocean. Emma tried to think as little about the ocean as the height. They were quiet and usually they'd been able to be quiet and comfortable, but now the topic of a kiss hang between them.
She reached for his wrist and started a sentence. J-U-L-E-.
But he snatched it away from her. "Don't."
"But-", she started.
"I can't Emma. I'm sorry for what I did before, but I just can't."
"Don't be sorry, Jules", she whispered even though nobody else was there.
"Yes, I should be. We're parabatai, Ems. We are fellow warriors and best friends. We don't have any other feelings for each other and I'm sorry, I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable." He got up and went to the door. "The others are waiting for us."
"Jules-", she said, but he was already gone.
When she got to the dining room Jules had already taken a seat, but not his usual one. They used to next to each, but now he had taken Octavian's seat, as far away as possible. She sat down in silence.
Right before they'd start eating, Jules spoke.
"I'm going to London tomorrow."
A short chapter, again. But it was so long ago since I updated, not since last year! ;)
Oh, and I remember I wrote in another author's note that I'd probably buy the last Christmas present the night before. I bought it the day before, impressive, heh? And I had like three presents to actually buy. It's like a tradition that I have to buyit the day before.
Hope you liked the chapter!