William was gathering the documents on his desk. He had planned on surprising his wife with dinner at a restaurant tonight. He knew that their latest case had moved her. Him too if he was honest. It had hit a little too close to home. The two lovers separated and one of them killed because they were not seen as a good match by their families and communities … their story brought back some bad memories.

As he was ready to leave, his hat on his head, he saw Mrs Jones enter the station house. He groaned but knew he had to deal with it now so he could still take Julia out.

"Mrs Jones, what a surprise. What are you doing here so late? Is Alwin alright?" William asked.

"He is fine Detective, thank you for asking. I was … I wanted to come and apologize for my reaction the other day with the killer on the telegraph line. I shouldn't have talked to you like that and ..."

"You had every right to be mad at me Mrs Jones. I involved your child in this story when I knew it could be dangerous, I should be the one apologizing." William said. "I … I have to talk to you about something. Would you mind stepping into my office quickly?" he asked.

Mrs Jones preceded him in his office and sat on the chair in front of his desk. He could see it now, the hopeful look on her face. He hated that he would disappoint her but Julia was right, he could not just let her hope something that would never happen.

"When you were here last time, Doctor Ogden heard you say that … that you uh ..."

"What is it Detective? Are you alright?" Mrs Jones asked, putting her hand over William's on his desk.

"She heard you say that you thought maybe something could be happening between the two of us and … God this is embarassing … the fact is I'm married and ..."

"Oh I feel so stupid!" Mrs Jones exclaimed, hiding her face I her hand.

"You are not stupid, don't worry about it." William reassured her.

"Do you mind if … Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course."

"You wife … She doesn't mind you working so closely with Doctor Ogden? Because you seem really close and ..."

"Oh no, you misunderstood. Doctor Ogden is my wife." William said.

"Oh!"

"Yes. Don't worry, she's not mad at you or anything. To be honest, I did not … see … that you were interested in me. She told me to make things clear to you, not because she was jealous, she knows that I am completely devoted to her and that I always will be, but she didn't want you to keep on hoping … only to get hurt in the end."

"That is very considerate of her. I feel so stupid and ..."

"William, are you ready to … Oh, Mrs Jones, good evening." Julia said, entering her husband's office.

"Doctor Ogden, I'm really sorry if I offended you or ..."

"You didn't Mrs Jones, don't worry." Julia said, smiling nicely at the ashamed woman.

"I … I should go." Mrs Jones said. "Alwin will be waiting for me at home and … yes, I should go. Good evening." she said, getting out as fast as she could without being rude.

"I feel bad for her. She must feel so … humiliated." Julia said, sitting in the now free chair in front of the desk.

"I feel bad too, how can I not see things like this?" William asked. "I did at one point. I completely saw your flirting with me in this park when we met." he continued, smiling at his wife.

"You can't be blind to such an attraction William, it's simply not possible." Julia said, winking at him.

"That must be it. And once I found you, I closed off to any other seduction attempt." he laughed, getting up and walking to his wife to kiss her. "Now come on, I'm taking you to dinner."

"Dinner? What is the occasion?" Julia asked.

"No particular occasion." he said, helping her on her feet. "This case just brought back some not so pleasant memories, and I thought we could celebrate overcoming every single obstacle thrown our way these last seven years."

"I love your brain Mr. Murdoch. It always comes up with really great ideas." Julia said, kissing him before they left the office arm in arm.

After their lovely meal, they left the restaurant and decided to walk home. Without realizing it, their steps led them to the park where they had first met. They entered the park and went to the bench where their story had begun. They sat down and Julia cuddled into her husband's side.

"I'm so glad that man decided to steal my bag that day." Julia said, a smile on her face.

"Well, I am glad you were a doctor because I was hit really hard trying to recover that bag for you." William laughed, kissing her hair.

"You were my first real patient." Julia said, remembering. "I was just out of school. My first day, on my lunch break from visiting different practices and looking for one that would accept a female physician, and that handsome constable saves my new professional equipment. This was a sign." she said, squeezing his hand in hers.

"Well, when I got back to the station with that bandage around my head, a new constable called George Crabtree bumped into me and nearly made me fall. That was also a sign." William laughed.

They stayed silent for a while, each thinking of everything the had had to overcome to get to where they were now. It had started with a disastrous attempt at courting on William's part. Who would have guessed that such a stubborn and independent woman could exist? She was so frank in her reactions and her reflexions it was disarming for a very romantic and traditional William. Once he had understood how Julia worked, that they were both curious of pretty much everything, things went much more smoothly. After that came the challenge of the Ogden family. Very important in the Toronto society, Julia's father had a hard time admitting that his first daughter was in love with a low-life as he called William. He tried for several month to have Julia date other, more respectable young men. They had not told him that they were dating at first and that had been a really good idea given the way he reacted when Julia finally told him. Ruby being away at school at that moment, she had no one to go against her father with her. When she had had enough and had enough money of her own, she told her father that she would be leaving the family house. Her father had been angrier than she had ever seen him when she told him that. He even went to see William and told him about Julia's abortion in hope of breaking them up. That had not worked. He was surprised to find out that his daughter had been entirely honest with the young man. The real rupture came when William proposed to Julia. She accepted right away, happier than she ever thought was possible. William wrote a letter to her father, informing him of their decision, asking for his blessing but still making it clear that if they didn't get it, they would get married anyway. They never received any answer. In a last attempt to make things right for the love of his life, William sent Julia's father an invitation to their wedding the day before the ceremony. He hoped that the man would change his mind. She said she did not mind but he could clearly see that Julia would like her father to walk her down the aisle. That did not happen but Julia assured him that she did not mind, that all that mattered to her was that she was going to be joined to him for life. Her father could change his mind if he wanted, she would not change hers. They got married alone but when they got out of the church, Julia's father was waiting for them with his contract.

"I have to say Julia, I didn't think I would be able to survive everything if it hadn't been for you." William said, pulling her deeper into his side.

"I was thinking exactly the same thing." she said, looking up at him. "I don't really believe in fate but I think we were destined to each other. I cannot imagine my life without you William. And I am absolutely sure that I would not be so happy if I had not met you."

William didn't know what to say. He never did when Julia said things like that. So he simply took her face in his hands and kissed her with everything he had.

"I'm so glad my father never thought of poisoning you." Julia whispered against his lips. "Some were not so lucky."

"Please don't talk about your father when I kiss you like that." William said, pulling her in his lap and placing a hand on her thigh.

"Maybe we should go home." Julia suggested when she felt his hands become too adventurous for a public place, even if there was no one around.

"Yes, we should." William mumbled in her neck.