Title: Some things never change

Authors: Koralina and LorMats

Summary: After the incident, the explosion really reset their lives, but they end up on the Island, again. Could they get the chance to be happy the second time around?

Chapter main Author: Lormats

Beta Reader and Editor: Eyeon

A/N: Thank you for yor reviews. We are almost at the end of our story, but we are still apreciated your comments. Annie, thank you for reviews, we are glad that you are reading and commenting, even if we still know you as an anonymous reviewer.

What happened happened

Miami – May 2005

-Luke closed the big deal with the agency I told you about the other day. It's a big step for him. And he asked me on a date yesterday. Can you believe him? A date! We have been married for 4 years, and he's trying to take me out on a date, today-

-Hmmm –

Rachel looked at Juliet. They where on Juliet's Balcony having a cup of coffee and Juliet's organizer was open on the table. Rachel saw her grabbing a card that was loose between the pages and since she found that small piece of paper, her sister's mind was anywhere else but there.

-So then a pink elephant come flying by and said hello to me, and I freaked out, but not because a pink elephant was flying, but because he talked- Rachel looked at Juliet, she was looking at her with a puzzled look.

-And then this elephant told me he always wanted to be like Dumbo, but he couldn't because he was pink, and all the other elephants mocked him-

Julian started giggling and Juliet looked at her nephew smiling at him. Rachel waved at her.

-Juliet! Are you listening to me?-

-Yes Luke closed a deal, he wants to take you out on a date, and you were going to ask me to baby sit, clearly. Then you started rambling about a flying pink elephant, and I got lost there.-

She smiled evilly to Rachel and she shook her head. Julian was getting upset and wanted to go and sit on Juliet's lap.

- Come here sweetie, and you know, Rach, I love babysitting him, he could even stay overnight - Juliet winked and Rachel took the chance to grab the card Juliet had left on the table while grabbing Julian.

- James Ford. NY Police Station # 15. 555-5815-7477. Ha! You've been talking with him and you didn't tell me? -

-No Rachel I haven't talked to him-

- So you don't know anything about this man since your little New York love trip -

-It wasn't a love trip and no - she shook her head

-Why Jules? Why haven't you called him? -

-Because, Rachel if I tell you all the craziness that went on on that island and the craziness in my dreams, you would think I'm becoming delusional -

-Try me-

Juliet stood quiet and shook her head again.

-Ok, just know that I'm here if you need to talk, and if the dreams haven't stopped, even after the whole "I need to get closure to this thing", etc. etc., you should call him-

Rachel took Julian from Juliet's lap and went towards the door

-Call me sis if you need anything, and if not I'll see you tonight when I bring Julian. Are you sure it isn't a problem?"

-Yeah I'm sure Rach, see you in a bit-

Juliet was there, alone, looking at the sea. She walked inside and after wondering around her apartment, she grabbed the phone and dialed a number.

-The number you're calling is not available-

She sighed and passed a hand trough her messy bun. She looked in the mirror and decided to go for a run on the beach.

She was stretching near the shore, and sat down for a couple of minutes looking at it. Whatcha' celebrating? – I'm not celebrating - flash of white light.

The thing she didn't tell Rachel was that she thought she was delusional. The dreams didn't stop, and on top of that, now she was having these weird memories? Can you call them memories? The thoughts of something that you're sure never happened? But that was the thing, sometimes they felt so real, she couldn't doubt them.

And now there was this recurring dream where she was falling and James begged her not to let go. She had talked to Hurley who told her Libby had strange dreams about Michael killing her. The thing was, he had these nightmares, too, from another perspective. Then he mentioned something about Desmond, and she just couldn't deal with it anymore. She promised Hurley she would go to their wedding in July and excused herself, with the arrival of a patient. She wondered since then if James dreamt about her, and yeah sure, she tried not to think about that anymore. But she failed every, single, time.

She shook her head in denial. Now she was sure she was crazy because she was watching James walking towards her, in a pair of scruffy jeans and a dark red shirt.

-Long time no see-

-James?-

- That's my name, at least the last time I checked -

Great, delusional James was a wiseass just like the real one.

-What are you doing here?-

- Here as the beach? Or here as Miami? -

- Here.-

-I got promoted -

He sat down next to her brushing his shoulder against hers and she knew she wasn't delusional, he was really there.

-And they transferred me to Miami-

-Oh- was all she could manage to say

-And what about you?-

-I went out for a run-

They stood silently for a few minutes watching the sea.

-You never called-

-I called you today-

James smirked and she tried to smile but couldn't, her eyes were sad. James kept staring at her, this Juliet, with the quiet, sad eyes, wondering about something and keeping it locked deep inside her. Was this the Juliet of his dreams? He wanted to say something. Hey Blondie do you dream about me, I mean do you have dreams about the Island, about things that never happened?He shook his head.

-I called you today; the voicemail told me your number wasn't available anymore-

-And why did you call me today-

-I needed to talked about the Island, with someone that may have known more than us-

-By us you mean the rest of the castaways, right?-

-Yes, I talked with Hurley; and he's worried, Libby had dreams about her death-

-Maybe they're just delusional nightmares-

-Maybe they are, but Hurley had related dreams about her, too-

-Well, maybe they're not-

She looked at him. Two months had passed, and there they were talking as if nothing had ever happened, as if they were old friends just catching up. And she couldn't really believe the way she behaved with him. But there was this strange feeling about their relationship that she couldn't shake off.

-Why?-

-I dreamt about you, and I have no idea what these dreams are or what they meant-

-Why, strange dreams weren't a chapter in the "Others" manual?-

-Haha, very funny-

The sun was setting and Juliet got up. James sat there watching her.

-What did you dream James?-

-It doesn't matter-

-Please-

-I dreamt you were falling down a hole and I couldn't save you, I tried, but I couldn't, you let go-

-Please don't let go, please.

- I love you James

- Don't let go Juliet!

Juliet looked away at the sea and James got up. He invaded her personal space.

-Look Blondie I wish I knew, but I don't know. I have been thinking maybe Benjamin was right, and we weren't meant to leave freakin' Craphole Island-

She looked at him with sad eyes and a worried look. All he could think of was the need he had to hug her.

-Did you dream something too?"

-I…- she stammered –Yes- her stare become cold all of a sudden.

- I should go James-

-Please don't walk away again- she looked at him inquiringly.

-I don't know how to tell you I'm sorry I let you down, I betrayed your trust, but I'm not that man anymore and c'mon I got transferred to your city, and the first thing I do after moving is take a walk down the beach, and I run into you, what are the odds? And it doesn't matter but it happened-

Whatever happened, happened.

-You sound like John with all his talks about destiny and fate-

-Maybe Locke was right, he was a lil' crazy but he was a wise man in the end-

He smiled but she was still serious. Juliet was aware that the few people on the beach were staring at them. She started walking towards the street, James followed her.

-Where are you going?-

-Home, I can't deal with this-

-Don't run away Juliet-

-I'm not running away-

-Yes you are-

Her pace got faster and he had to run a little to catch up with her. He grabbed her by the elbow making her turn around

-Don't- he looked directly at her eyes, never letting go of the hand that was holding tight to her arm.

-I don't care who I looked at, I'm with you-

-And you stay with me forever if I let you, and that's why I'll always love you. What we had, it just for a while, and just because we loved each other doesn't meant we're meant to be together. Maybe we're never supposed to be together so if Jack can make that none of you come here, then we should-

-Why are you doing this Juliet?-

-Because if I never met you, I'd never have to loose you-

-Juliet? - she grabbed his hand

-Is that for me?-

-You were amazing today-

-I love you, James-

-I love you too-

He was staring at her in disbelief. Her hand went from his hand to his arm and his hands were holding her, on each side of her waist.

Flashes of white light, "All right 2 weeks", their first kiss, their first fight. They're sitting next to each other in the front of their house. Dancing at a dharma party. He was visiting her, to have lunch in the motor pool. She was visiting him, while he had a late shift in the Security Station.

They're smiling looking at each other in disbelief, clinging to the other.

-Don't you leave me! I love you!-

-Juliet it's me- a single tear escaped her eye and he hugged her.

-I'm not crazy-

He looked at her -You what?-

-I'm not crazy, all those dreams, about you and me, they were real memories, James you're here, I'm here, Rachel is here, oh - she looked down, he put his hand under her chin to so she looked at him

-Blondie-

-Kiss me James-

He kissed her without hesitation, a slow kiss that grew deeper, and deeper. When they come out for air, she was smiling and he couldn't believe his eyes.

Their hands were everywhere and they couldn't stop smiling or looking at each other, almost without blinking, as if they closed their eyes for a second, or let go of each other, the other would disappear. She kissed him this time and whisper in his ear -Let's go home-

-Lead the way Blondie-

They walked hand in hand throwing glances at each other from time to time until they got to Juliet's apartment. As soon as she closed the door behind them he kissed her again, deeply this time, and pressed her body to the door, coming for air only when it was necessary. Clothes were being discarded on their way over the bedroom and they collapsed into bed together.

Juliet was resting her head on top of his chest and he was caressing her back and her hair, while she traced little circles on his upper arm. She stopped for a second, and brought a hand to her mouth as she started giggling.

He looked at her with curiosity.

-Oh my god, you were an Other -

-Yeah, and you were, you were… wiseass- she rolled her eyes, and kissed him lightly on the lips.

-Blondie? What are we going to do now?-

-What do you mean?-

-I mean are you going to talk with Rachel, check to see whether the rest have… mmm their memories back?-

-I haven't thought of that yet-

The bell rang.

-Oh damn! Rachel's here-

She got up getting dressed quickly and trying to put her hair in a bun. James did the same and stayed there.

-What now?-

-Go to the kitchen and I don't know, make coffee-

Juliet went down to open the door and James made himself busy.

As Rachel entered Juliet's apartment with baby Julian and Luke, a loud bam was heard followed by a 'son of a bitch'coming from the kitchen.Rachel looked suspiciously at Juliet.

-Rach we have to talk-