This took my wayyyyy longer than I thought and I apologize for that. Real life can be tough sometimes and I get my fair share of that at the moment which sometimes simply robs me of any kind of creativity. I took a vacation lately and now that I am back I'm feeling a bit better.
Finding inspiration for this chapter was hard because I haven't seen MM in a long time. I can't bring myself to re-watch season 4 and I've seen the first three seasons at least a hundred times.
Someone pointed out that there are typos and mistakes in the chapters. I apologize for both. Usually, in other fandoms, I always work with beta readers, but sadly I don't have one this time. So I finish the chapter and then post it. Directly after writing I can't find the typos, so I usually only find them if I re-read my own chapters days later- which is something I basically never do. I try my hardest to avoid typos and mistakes, I promise. Please keep in mind however that I am not an English native.
Chapter 29
„William, my shoes and socks are still wet from this afternoon," Julia complained when she entered the living room where he was sitting, reading the newspaper.
"You should hang them up so they can dry," he answered without looking up from the paper.
"And I was thinking you would be more apologetic or helpful," she said in an offended tone, but playful enough so one knew she wasn't serious. After all he had been the one who had pushed her halfway in the river during their stroll.
"Mmh?" he made and kept reading. Julia put her hands on her hips and shook her head. He really wasn't listening to her. She closed the door behind her and then made her way over to the sofa. She simply pushed the newspaper out of the way and placed herself sideways in his lap- that made him look up and pay attention.
"William, we are not even married yet and you ignore me because of the newspaper?" she asked, half laughing and half worried.
"I'm sorry. I was just reading this article about our last case," he replied and put the newspaper down on the cushion beside them.
"And how bad was it?" she asked, because usually the reports about the police were only newsworthy if they were negative.
"Not bad at all. However the article stated and I quote "Detective William Murdoch was investigating with the help of his fiancée Dr. Julia Ogden"," he told her.
"So, it's out," Julia stated and covered his hand with one of hers.
"Yes, it's out," he nodded and laced his fingers through hers. "Have you already thought about the wedding?"
"About the ceremony or my dress?" Julia wanted clarification.
"Both," he just said and seemed distracted by her hair. His eyes were fixated on her curls, which were pulled into a ponytail. He seemed to contemplate it for a second and then he started pulling the needles out of her hair so the blonde strands came down.
"No, not really. We agreed to have a small ceremony, we have the date already and I will go dress shopping with Ruby this weekend. You think I missed something?" she asked and tried to avoid his fingers which were tickling the skin of her neck as he combed through her hair.
"Dunno," he muttered, barely listening to her by then. He brushed her hair back behind her ear once he had it all down and then moved closer to her and placed soft kisses on her neck.
"Do you already have your suit for the wedding?" she wanted to know and tilted her head to the side to give him better access.
"Yes, your father made me buy one last weekend," he mumbled against her skin.
"Oh, right, I forgot," Julia said and smiled because of the feelings he was evoking in her. "William!" she squealed when he suddenly scraped her skin with his teeth. "Have you read the Dracula novel?" she laughed.
"No, I haven't," he said and kissed her neck one more time before he pulled back and laughingly pulled her fully in his arms. "With the invitations sent out there is not much more for us to do. It looks like we get everything ready just in time," he went on then.
"Yes. Too soon for you?" Julia asked, because she couldn't place the contemplative look he suddenly had on his face. Now it was her turn to comb with her fingers through his hair while she was still sitting on his lap.
"No, Julia, no," William shook his head. "It just came to me again that no one of my family will be there. My sister is dead, so is my mother and my father is out somewhere west," he admitted.
"We could try and find him," Julia offered.
"I don't even know if I would want him there," William shrugged.
"I hope it will still be a happy day for you, William," she replied with compassion. It made her sad hearing him talk like that about the day that was supposed to be the happiest of their lives.
"Oh, Julia, of course it will be. Don't ever doubt that," he assured her and was rewarded with a heated kiss. He responded in kind and they had already forgotten place and time when someone cleared her throat and caused them to pull back somewhat guiltily.
"Dawson?" Julia addressed the spoil-sport, but had yet to turn around and get off William's lap.
"No wonder the city is talking," the voice of Mr. Ogden echoed through the room- and it made Julia jump off William's lap.
"Mr. Ogden, sir," William said embarrassed and stroked through his hair before straightening his shirt and getting off the couch.
"Father, we weren't expecting you," Julia was equally mortified.
"I gathered that," he nodded and still looked disapprovingly at the two of them. "And let me express that I am happy once you two are married and can't cause any more scandal."
"Father, we are hardly causing any scandal in our own living-room," Julia disagreed unnerved.
"Our living-room, that's what's causing scandal," he pointed out and referred to their living situation. It wasn't really official yet but somehow William had managed to move in without really ever moving in. He had brought a shirt here and a book there and had accumulated more and more things that way at Julia's place. And there really wasn't a point in bringing it back to Mrs. Kitchen since he would move in anyway.
William and Julia remained silent, because really there simply wasn't much they could say to defend themselves. He was right after all.
"The next time you want to make your engagement known however I would like to know, so I can put it in the newspaper and not find it mentioned in an article about a gruesome murder," Mr. Ogden pointed out the reason of his visit.
"Mr. Ogden this article, or the part about our personal connection, came to a surprise to us as well. We had no idea," William apologized.
"So far only our families and friends know about the engagement and the upcoming wedding. We never wanted it published," Julia clarified.
"Then someone couldn't keep his mouth shut, it seems," her father knew. William and Julia looked at each other and exchanged a knowing look. There really only was one person who would nlab out their secret.
"George," they said in unison.
"Mr. Murdoch, there is another visitor. He says he's family," Dawson announced then and before he could reply a familiar figure limped into the salon.
"Lordy, William my boy. That house ain't shabby," he drawled.
"Henry," William said shocked and grabbed Julia's hand without realizing it. This was a nightmare come true. There stood his drunkard father beside the respected Mr. Ogden, his future father in law.
"I read that ya getting' married, so I thought I'd come by. Was just in the area for business. My only boy…" Henry grinned proudly and showed his crooked, dirty teeth. "And to such a beautiful lady." Instinctively William stepped closer to Julia while Mr. Ogden stepped a bit away from Henry.
"I will kill this reporter," William hissed at Julia.
"I will help you hide the body," she whispered back. This was going to be a huge mess.
TBC
