Disclaimer
All rights go to Charline Harris and Allan Ball. I only own my original plotlines and characters.
❝ For which F are you drinking to?
fuck, forget, or fun? ❞
- Unknown
"SAM IS A SHAPESHIFTER!" Sookie exclaims over the phone.
Juliette, who had been sleeping when her sister had called, pills her phone away to blearily read the time on her phone, her eyes squinting from the screens brightened but when she did she let out a loud groan in annoyance. "It's 3 in the morning," She replies tiredly, placing the phone back to her ear.
"Did you not hear me? Sams a shapeshifter!" Sookie repeats with far too much energy in the middle of the night.
"I'll send him a gift basket, now goodnight some of us actually like to sleep," Juliette states sarcastically, not even waiting for a reply, she hangs up, tossing her phone somewhere on the bed and promptly goes back to sleep.
The next day when Juliette arrived at Merlotte's to help set up for Arlene's wedding, she couldn't help but approach Sam with a small smirk.
"Here," She said handing him the item in her hand.
Sam grabs it with a confused look on his face, before really looking at it, Juliette's smirk grew when she saw realization dawn on Sam, "Really?" He deadpans slightly holding up the dog biscuit.
"Didn't have time to buy a gift basket," She shrugs, looking at Sam's annoyed face in amusement, "but welcome to the side of the freaks, we have treats."
Sam rolls his eyes, "Why did I hire you again?" he questions rhetorically.
"Because I'm a joy to be around," Juliette answers cheekily, earning another huff from Sam.
"Just...just go help set up the bar," He states looking completely done with their conversation, he honestly didn't know what was worse Sookie being mad at him for not telling her his secret or for Juliette's teasing now that she found out his secret. "and no drinking the product!"
"You got it, boss!" She salutes before strutting off, both she and Sam knowing she wasn't about to listen to him.
Despite sneaking a bottle for herself, Juliette did actually do what Sam asked. Sookie ended up joining her and together they started unloading the drinks.
"Sookie, could you reach me up another box of lanterns?" Sam asks, from atop the ladder.
"I'm kind of busy right now setting up your bar," Sookie snaps, obviously still in a snarky mood with Sam because she then looks to Terry, who placed another box of bottles, and gives him a sugary sweet smile, "Thank you, Terry. You are so sweet and reliable. I always know what to expect from you. No nasty surprises."
Juliette smirks, finding the whole thing amusing. She wasn't angry because she understood why Sam kept what he was a secret, but that didn't mean she didn't find the whole situation hilarious, not to mention Sookie angry was always made Juliette's day as her sister looked like a kitten more than anything.
"Hey, it's isn't nasty unless you did the nasty," Juliette teases quietly, refraining from cackling when she sees Sookie's horrified face.
"There is something deeply disturbing inside of you," Was Sookie's reply as she worked even faster to get away from her twisted sister.
Terry not having heard Juliette's comment looks at Sookie in mild confusion,"That's just because you don't know me very well," He says bashfully.
Juliette's lips turned up into a slight find smile, there was always something about Terry that she liked, a certain innocence despite having seen so much horror. Andy on the other hand could go to hell, especially with the way he is determined to paint her twin as the Bon Temp's murderer.
The sound of the car door opening had the three of them looking over to see Arlene slightly rushing over, her dress slung over her arm, and her face shining with happiness.
"Oh, Sam," Arlene smiles, looking around, "These lanterns are just precious," She smiles, "but they ought to alternate colours. Like boy-girl seating."
Juliette snickered at the look on Sam's face. He should've expected it, especially when it came to Arlene.
"But...but they're already in place," He says.
"Oh, it won't taKe a minute to change," She waves off with a smile. Sam sighs but nonetheless nods. "Don't you think they should hang in little scallops, like a gingerbread house? It'll be more romantic that way, not like some hick barn dance," She adds.
Juliette could see Sam refraining from rolling his eyes, "Well, What do you want it to look like?" He questions.
With a smile on her lips, Juliette grabs the empty boxes and leaves. She loved Arlene's weddings, they were always amusing.
Juliette let out a laugh as she was twirled around. Arlene's wedding had gone off perfectly judging from the grin on the bride's face and the party was at full blast. Unlike Sookie who chose to sulk due to Bill's absence, Juliette was having a blast.
She lost count of the number of dance partners she had but it wasn't like she was counting in the first place. Instead of twirling back into her partner's arms as she expected, she found herself in a new pair of arms and when she looked up she gasped at who she saw.
"Miss me, sweetheart," He smirks.
A giant smile bloomed across Juliette's face and she launched herself into his arms, "Claudius!"
He let out a chuckle, slightly staggering back from the force of her body, his arms folding around her into a tight hug.
"I'll take that as a yes," He says smirking down at her once they pulled away.
Juliette lightly smacks his arm, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming!" She tried to give him a serious look but she failed miserably, not being able to contain her smile.
Claudius smiles down at her, affectionately stroking her cheek, "I missed you," He replies before his face sobers you slightly, "And I was worried, after that last call I had to make sure you were okay."
Juliette's eyes soften into a look of tenderness, a look usually only reserved for her twin and occasionally Sookie. Without saying a word, she steps back into his arms, showing her gratitude through her actions.
Juliette couldn't help but melt against him, taking comfort in his familiar scent. He had a fresh woodsy scent with a hint of spice, it was an uncommon combination that Juliette couldn't get enough of.
"Are you sniffing me?" Claudius questions in amusement.
Juliette's arms tighten around him, "Shut up, I missed you," She huffs.
Finally, Juliette let him go of her death grip of a hug and instead pulled him in for a dance. The pair were so lost in each other they didn't even notice the stares ranging from curious to envious.
It was the first time since Adele's death that Juliette felt genuine joy. After what was five songs of dancing, Juliette found herself getting thirsty, so placing a chaste kiss on Claudius' cheek, she made her way to the drink table, where her brother, Hoyt and René were hanging out.
"Hi boys!" She grins at her brother and Hoyt, before softening her smile when she looked to René, "Once again congratulations."
Juliette was practically on cloud nine with Claudius here and the boys picked up on her overly cheerful mood, shooting her a weird look since usually, she was much more sarcastic and snarky.
"Ah thanks, chère, say you have a new man in your life that we don't know about?" René questions shooting Juliette a sly grin.
"Yeah, who the hell is he?" Jason demands crossing his arms, going into overprotective brother as he shoots a glare over at where Claudius was dancing with another girl.
Juliette just smiles at her brother and René, "No one you should be worried about Jay, he's just a friend," She assures, she pats Jason's cheek affectionately and slips away before he could try and interrogate her some more.
Seeing how Claudius was still dancing with the other girl, Juliette makes her way to where Arlene, Sookie, and Amy were sitting.
"Congrats Arls!" Juliette smiles.
Arlene just smiles back, "Aw thanks!" She blushes, before the same sly look that René had appeared on her face, "Say, who's that hunk you've been dancing with all night?"
"Yeah, I've never seen him before," Sookie nods, eyeing Claudius curiously.
"He is really cute," Amy adds.
Juliette once again just smiles, "He's just a friend," She replies amused.
"You have friends?" Sookie questions mentally, Julliette shoots her sister an annoyed glare but not even Sookie could dampen her mood.
"Didn't look like it with the way you two were dancing," Arlene states smiling slyly, unaware of the sister's small exchange.
Juliette shrugs, allowing her own sly smile to cross her lips, "Never said it didn't come with benefits." Juliette left after that, softly laughing to herself when she heard Arlene's protests to come back and give some details.
Claudius smiles when he sees her approaching and excuses himself from the girl. He grabs the offered drink from Juliette's hand and gently clinks it with hers.
"Just like old times," He smiles but it held a note of sadness.
Juliette felt the same way, yet she also found it amazing how close they remained despite not seeing each other often. Sure they talked on the phone but even that was usually only once a week due to their busy schedules. Juliette couldn't describe it but they shared a bond, she felt connected to him and she didn't even have to ask to know he felt the same way.
"How long are you staying?" she questions, unconsciously shifting closer to him.
"I leave tomorrow afternoon," He replies regretfully.
A pang goes through Juliette but at the same time, she was glad. His surprise visit had her over the moon but Bon Temps still wasn't safe and she didn't want him to accidentally get hurt or worse because of her.
So instead she pushes away the sadness and forces a smile to her face, her eyes glinting mischievously, "So how about we instead go back to my place and catch up?"
Claudius smirks, "Lead the way, sweetheart."
The pair spent hours thoroughly catching up and since Sookie was at the party they had the whole house to themselves. Clothes were strewn about leaving a trail to Juliette's room.
Juliette let out a sigh in contentment, Claudius' arm was wrapped around her pulling her close to his side as her head rests on his bare chest, one hand tracing random shapes on his skin.
"I know I keep saying this, but I missed you," Juliette states.
Claudius places a gentle kiss on her forehead, "I missed you too, Jules." His hands gently caress her sides, not romantically just comfortingly, "You should come with me, we can travel the world just like we used to."
Juliette rolls into her stomach, letting herself rest her chest against his as she looked up at him sadly. "I wish I could, but I can't leave my siblings, especially with Sookie dating a vampire, Bill doesn't seem that bad but the people he attracts—"
"Bill?" Claudius questions cutting Juliette off, "Bill who?"
Her eyebrows furrow at his serious tone, but nonetheless, she replies, "Compton, Bill Compton. Why?"
Claudius' eyes flash with something but it was so quick Juliette couldn't understand what it was, "Just...just be careful," he finally warns, "I know he seems like a good guy but you can never be too careful with vampires." It was an expected warning but Juliette could sense he was keeping something from her.
"Yeah of course," She nods, "but why were you so interested in Bill?"
The smile on his face was forced "Nothing, I just thought he was someone else," Claudius lies.
Juliette's lips tug down into a frown but she doesn't push, instead, she rests her head back against his chest, dropping the subject.