A/N: Apologies for the RIDICULOUS upload time! unfortunately my Laptop died-R.I.P :'( so i had to get a new one, this chapter has been waiting around for ages to be uploaded! another on the way soon, hope you all enjoy, and thankyou for the kind reviews! :)


Chapter 28

William just remained sat in the waiting room. Completely overwhelmed by what he had come so close to loosing. The images of the basement, what had happened to his beloved fiancé would scar the deepest reaches if his mind for eternity. He stood, after what seemed like hours, and followed the nurse as she lead him to Julia's hospital room. The room was large and airy, and smelled like alcohol. Julia was awake but only just. The smallest of smiles crept onto her face when she caught the sight of William. This was so reminiscent of nearly a year ago, where the roles were reversed. The bruises on her face, neck, the strangulation ligatures, cuts, grazes and fist marks they all temporarily stained her skin from what the sickening creature Shaw had done.

The anger welled inside William as she was helped to sit up by the nurse more and more bruises, cuts and the gentle cries of pain that fell from her lips was almost overwhelming William. The tears were so close. So close. He gently moved a chair so he could sit by her bedside. Her eyes were bright but hazy, no doubt from the large amounts of morphine they were dosing her with. He was stumbling for what to say. He had failed her. He had saved her. But at what cost? The knowing that he had almost lost her, that her life had hung so finely to the line-was crushing. She had endured all that to then throw herself to save his life. For the bullet that she had taken in her side would have surely killed him there and then. He owed her more than just his life.

He lifted a hand to her cheek and gently brushed her hair behind her ear and she lent into his palm and closed her eyes. His other hand was resting on top of hers on her abdomen. For minutes they said nothing. Just sat in the company of each other knowing that they had finally found each other again.

'Julia..' was all he could quite force out. His voice was choked with emotion. She just shook her head and smiled. He leant forward and kissed her gently on the lips trying to avoid the cuts upon them. She winced slightly and put her hand to her ribs which he imagined we're the ones that were broken. He frowned with sympathy his mouth found the words but his voice wasn't there. He quickly blinked away the tears and quietly the words 'I'll never forgive myself..' fell from his lips. Tears filled her eyes. 'William..' She said gently. 'this was not your fault...this wasn't you. You came for me. You found me..' she finished with a gentle frown. The tears had slipped slightly from her eyes and were halfway down her cheeks and William gently brushed them away with the pads of his thumbs.

There was a soft knock at the door and the nurse popped her head around the corner of the door to inform William what the visiting hours were over and with that he bid Julia goodbye and promised her that he would be back the next day to see her.

The routine of going to see Julia everyday before and after work became somewhat of a routine for William over the few weeks proceeding the incident with Shaw. It was a freezing day in the middle of December when William received a phone call from the hospital for another very different reason. He arrived amidst the snow as he stepped down from his carriage and a very panicked and haggard looking George Crabtree was at the main entrance practically jumping on the spot to meet him. 'Sir! , it's happening!, Ruby, she's in labour..!' was all he could rush out before he could drag William into the hospital. William left George to go back into the delivery room with Ruby as he went a little further down the hall to Julia's room. He helped her from her bed, to a wheelchair she had been using for the past couple of days to get herself back on the mend.

He wheeled her towards the waiting room that was adjacent to the delivery room. He sat with her and held her hand as the tension was settling around them. To say that ruby had had a difficult pregnancy was an understatement to say the least. With everything that happened with Shaw and her sister the stress had put a strain on the baby and herself. William was wishing a silent prayer that all would be well. Their heads snapped towards the delivery room as a loud scream echoed around them. Julia squeezed Williams hand tighter still and looked to him with a worried gaze.

'She'll be alright, My Love' and gave her hand a gentle squeeze back. The though of not being in there helping her sister deliver her baby was killing Julia. But she had not recovered enough yet to even leave the hospital, let alone preform medical work. The minutes ticked by and they heard nothing, until it was almost coming to an hour that they had been sat there. They heard another cry of pain, followed by the tiny cries of a baby. Ruby had done it, and as they found out a little later on, she had given birth to a healthy baby boy named Harry. The proud parents were joined by William and Julia not long after the birth and they all sat in the joyful warmth of the newborn.

William congratulated George whilst the two sisters caught up after not being able to talk for so long. 'I'm going to propose to her Sir...' George said nervously. He put his hand in his pocket and showed William the ring, it was simple and looked fairly expensive which William thought must have been why it took him so long to propose. William was on double a constables wage but took him a few months to have enough money for Julia's engagement ring. Again the detective congratulated George and encouraged him that it would be for the best now that he had a family to have a stable and loving relationship with Ruby.

William and Julia reluctantly left the young couple some privacy with their new arrival. William slowly wheeled Julia back to her room a little way down the hall and helped her back into bed. One more week and the doctor said she should be well enough to return home. It was the convincing her not to work until she has fully recovered that William knew she would be stubborn about. It was almost 8pm by the time William was ready to return home. The nurse had kindly bid him goodnight as she closed the hospital doors for the night. He made his way home in a happy and relaxed mood, something of a rarity for the last few weeks. By the time William returned home he was feeling happily tired and climbed into bed, mentally counting off another day until his beloved Julia would be able to join him again.

William was up early the next day, to come down to Mrs. Kitchen putting up decorations for the Christmas festivities. 'Good morning' William said with a smile. 'Good Morning to you too Detective!' she replied cheerily. 'and how is Miss Ogden and the little one?' she asked. 'they are doing well, Constable Crabtree stayed with her last night.' she smiled and nodded, but her expression faltered a little. 'oh I do hope there isn't too much of an uproar for the poor child.' William knew of course she meant the amount of attention that will be given by the press about Ruby and George's illicit child out of wedlock. Although he was sure quickly following nuptials would ease the onslaught slightly. William being a devout catholic of course didn't agree with conjugation outside of marriage, however his views had changed in the past year or so. With all that had happened with Julia and then Ruby and George, who was he to judge...? They were all finally happy and able to move on with their lives and make the best of what they had. And that was all William wanted right now.

He bid Mrs. Kitchen goodbye and made his way over to the hospital. He was subconsciously keeping his fingers crossed that the doctors would release Julia today. He chose to take a carriage over his bike purely because of the snow. He arrived at the hospital a little after 9 o'clock.

He said good morning to the general nurse on duty who he had come to be acquainted with since Julia had been residing at the hospital. Julia was sat on the edge of her bed, fully dressed but having a helping hand from the nurse to pin her hair up, he realised it was probably difficult for her to raise her arms still because of the broken ribs and gunshot wound she was still recovering from. She smiled when William entered and wished him a good morning. He replied with the same. The nurse smiled an bit them both goodbye as she left the room. 'William do you think you could please help me with this..?' she held out her hand and dropped a small chain necklace in his hand. 'I can't quite reach to put it on yet.' she said with a smile. 'Of course I can' he replied gently. He helped her stand slowly and stood behind her. He brushed the hair away from the back of her neck and clasped the necklace from the front to the back. He brushed a feather light kiss on her neck and she blushed and her breath faltered slightly. It was the most contact they had had in months. But it still held all the aching passion as if they had never been apart for years. She turned around slowly and clasped at his hands by his side.

She quickly glanced behind him to check the door. And then her lips quite suddenly found his. He unclasped his hands from hers and brought them up to cup her face as they both sank into the passion of the kiss. It was fevered and quick. But it was blissful. William couldn't wait to have her in his arms again. She broke the kiss with a beaming smile on her face and her eyes twinkling.

'I take it you have been discharged then Doctor..?' he said playfully. She smiled. 'indeed they have..bit I would like to pop in on Ruby before we leave.' William nodded. 'Of course. We have all the time in the world.' He said with a smile.

William and Julia arrived on The ward and George was there also sat on the bed with Ruby and baby Harry. He had his arm around Ruby and was gently holding the hand of the bundle in Ruby's arms. Ruby looked up and smiled when Julia and William approached. George beamed in Williams direction and he caught a glimpse at the glittering ring on Ruby's finger. He had obviously proposed sometime in the last day or so. He went an immediately shook George's hand. Julia shot him a puzzled look and then clicked when her gaze fell upon the engagement ring. Her jaw dropped and the tears very quickly came to her eyes. 'Oh Ruby!' she exclaimed ecstatically. Taking her hand to look at the ring. 'How are you feeling, Jules?' Ruby asked tentatively. Julia smiled. 'I'm fine now that everyone is safe.' she replied with a glance in Williams direction. Julia sat on the edge of the bed and just watched as little Harry gently gurgled in Ruby's arms.

Ruby motioned to Julia. 'Here, I want Harry to see his Aunt Julia...' she said with a smile. Julia looked a little taken aback and glanced towards William. Julia gently let Ruby lay the tiny bundle in her arms. He was tiny. His bright blue eyes were like glimmering beacons and the small tufts of dark hair were all over the place, so reminiscent of his fathers. Julia glanced to William who was smiling in her direction. She looked like the perfect mother. It was the bittersweetest moment. William came and stood beside Julia and leant down to place a kiss on her temple. And rested his hand on her shoulder. Julia knew she would never be a mother but with Harry they could play out the role if only for a while. And for her and William, that was just fine.

Julia sat with Harry for a little longer and then her and William both bid Ruby and George goodbye to leave them with some time with their new family. William carried Julia's bag to the carriage he had asked to meet them outside. They walked slowly arm in arm from the hospital as it was still painful for Julia to move quickly. He helped her into the carriage where his hand slipped a little and ended up on her behind as they got into the carriage. He apologised but didn't miss the flutter of a grin or the colour in her cheeks as she sat down. The snow started to fall again as they arrived at Mrs. Kitchens boarding house. Julia had agreed to stay here just long enough for her to get better. Mrs. Kitchen of course was more than happy. She had doted on Julia almost as soon as she had come back for William.

They came through the door and they could already tell that she had been cooking what could only be described as Mrs. Kitchens famous hotpot. She came in from the kitchen as William was helping Julia remove her coat. 'it's lovely to see your well again Miss Ogden' she said with a smile. 'Dinner will be ready in about an hour William.' and with that she returned to the kitchen humming a tune to herself. Julia turned to William with a smile and he took her hand and lead her into the privacy of his downstairs study. Julia sat herself on the leather couch that was against the far wall and William joined her. 'How do you feel..?' he asked tentatively. 'I'm fine William, she assured with a smile. It faltered a little and she put her hand to her abdomen. Clearly in more pain than she was letting on. William frowned. 'You don't have to put on a brave face for me Julia.' he said gently. She gave a nervous little laugh knowing she had been rumbled.

He took her hand and she looked up to him again. 'But...you have to promise me...' she knew what was coming. 'you have to promise me Julia, to never put yourself in harms way for me again. My life with the police force made me come to accept that my life would be in constant danger. But to know that you intervened with that make me not only have to worry about myself, but more so you.' he said looking into her eyes keeping his voice meaningful and steady. 'I can't promise you that William...You would put yourself in harms way for me, would you not..?' she said defensively. 'It's my job and my duty as your fiancé to do so Julia...' He said with so much sincerity in his eyes. He had to make her understand. She shook her head. 'I pray that neither one of us will have to perform that duty ever again...' she said gently moving her hand from her abdomen to cover William's hand resting on her lap. With that she stood up and turned to motion to William to stand also. She pulled his very slowly and gently towards her in an all encompassing hug. William was feather-light gentle but held her with the warmth and loving that they had both so greatly missed for the past months. Julia rested her head on his shoulder and William tucked his head into her neck breathing in her scent that he had yearned for so long. He had missed her. More than he could ever explain.