Author's Note: Chapter 7 is here! I'm sorry it's taken so long, but I'm just now finally starting to feel like myself again and like I can write. This move was rough, but I'm getting things figured out! This chapter turned out to be a little difficult, but I hope you enjoy!

Big thank yous to everyone who has reviewed this story so far and those who are still here for this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lost.

Please read and review!

Code Silver

Chapter 7

James could have skipped back to the office, but he restrained himself. However, he could not keep the smile off his face. He reached the office and plopped into a chair next to Miles who was working on a report.

"All good?" Miles asked absently.

"Yeah." James replied. He stared at the cameras without really watching them. His mind was elsewhere. He was thinking about what to wear on his date with Juliet when he felt Miles' eyes on him. He turned to his old partner. "Can I help you?" He knew his smile had given him away.

"What happened?" Miles asked, eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about?" James played dumb.

"That face." Miles pointed at him. "And that smile. What did you do?"

James straightened up in his chair. "I got myself a date for tomorrow night." He said proudly.

"No way!" Miles exclaimed. "With who?"

James smirked. "Juliet. The baby doctor."

Miles laughed. "No really. Who is it?"

"It's Juliet."

"You're serious?"

James nodded.

Miles was stunned for a moment. "How'd you manage that?"

"I asked her. She said yes."

"But everyone's asked her. I've asked her. She always says no."

"Not to me." James grinned. "We're meeting at that Italian place around the corner tomorrow at 7."

Miles punched him in the shoulder. "Lucky bastard."

Juliet sat in her car outside the restaurant. It wasn't long after making plans with James that she remembered she hadn't been on a date since her last one with Edmund and she wasn't even sure when that was. She immediately panicked and although Rachel's words of encouragement had helped earlier they most definitely not helping now.

Rachel had been thrilled at hearing Juliet's news, possibly even more so than when she was told she didn't have cancer.

"This is the best day ever!" She'd squealed when Juliet told her.

Juliet told her everything she knew about James which she realized wasn't very much.

"Don't worry. That's what first dates are for – getting to know each other." Rachel assured her.

The next afternoon Rachel insisted on helping Juliet pick out a dress. She held up something short and tight.

"No." Juliet said firmly. Rachel shrugged.

Before Juliet headed out to the car Rachel asked "Should I expect you home before breakfast?" She was only partially joking.

"Rachel!" Juliet's eyes went wide and her cheeks filled with pink.

Rachel laughed. "Well" She stated. "It's been a while."

"And it's going to be a while longer."

James was waiting outside the restaurant, leaning up against the wall in his baby blue buttoned shirt and dark pants. He was watching the cars go by when he saw movement on the sidewalk out of the corner of his eye. Juliet was walking towards him. She looked about as nervous as he felt, but he couldn't take his eyes off her. She wore a strappy black dress that came to rest just above her knees. It wasn't tight, but it gently hugged her curves. The fabric seemed to sparkle as she moved.

He smiled as she got closer and felt relieved when she smiled back. "You look great." He said when she got close enough.

Her cheeks took on a pinkish color. "Thank you." She said in such a shy voice that made James wonder when she'd last been given a compliment.

He held the door open and followed her into the restaurant. They were seated quickly and made small talk until their orders were taken.

James looked around as Juliet took a sip of her drink. "This is a nice place." He said.

Juliet smiled. "My sister brought me here when it first opened. It's been my favorite ever since."

"How is your sister? You said you thought her cancer came back?"

Juliet explained her sister's situation, the two bouts of cancer before and the good news she received the day before. Her nervousness started to fade. James seemed to be listening intently and actually interested in what she had to say. Edmund had always preferred to talk about himself.

"They said she just has a virus that's been going around. Once she gets over that she's thinking about going back to work since Julian will start preschool soon."

Their food arrived and there was a break in conversation as they took their first few bites. James had a hard time focusing on his food; his eyes constantly drifted back to Juliet. He found he wanted to know everything about her: her likes, dislikes, her past and present, and what she hoped for her future. He'd never been this interested in a person so quickly, but he tried not to dwell on that fact.

"Julian." He said. "Is that the kid you had at the beach?" Juliet smiled at the mention of her nephew and James couldn't help but smile back.

"Yes." She replied. "Rachel wasn't feeling well that day so I took him out by myself." She paused for more food. "Did you know that ball that landed in front of you had bounced off my face first?"

James let out a hearty laugh. "You're kidding."

"I wish. He really needs to work on his aim sometimes." She chuckled. "Do you have any nieces or nephews?" She asked.

"Uh, no. It's just me."

"Only child?"

He nodded and turned the conversation back to Julian. Telling someone about his parents always resulted in one of two reactions: pity or horrified. James was planning to keep that tidbit of family history a secret for as long as possible.

The conversation carried on throughout dinner. Juliet was both incredibly surprised and excited to learn James was a reader. They talked only of books for a good half hour and although she disagreed with his choice for favorite Stephen King novel, she was thoroughly impressed by how well read he was. The only things Edmund ever read were things he had written himself.

James told her about his time as a detective in LA and was surprised when she seemed genuinely interested. As far as he was concerned her job was much more impressive, but she acted like it was nothing. He was telling her about the last case he worked with Miles and how he moved cross country to reunite with the best friend he'd ever had when his cell phone rang.

The sharp, shrill tone seemed much too loud in the quiet restaurant. "I'm sorry." James said as he fumbled for the offending piece of technology. When he finally got it out CASSIDY shown in big letters across the screen. He instantly hit the reject button and put the phone down. "Sorry." He said again.

Juliet smiled. She found his fumbling and apologies endearing. "It's ok."

The waitress cleared the plates as James finished his story. They continued talking and the next time they looked up the restaurant was nearly empty.

"It must get getting late." Juliet said.

James checked the clock on his phone. "It's almost ten o'clock." He smiled.

Juliet's eyes went wide. "It can't be!" He turned the phone to face her, proving the time. "Rachel probably thinks I died on the way home." She joked.

"Nah. I bet she just thinks you've been havin' a good time."

"I have." She smiled sheepishly.

James grinned. "Me too."

After a moment of silent smiling Juliet began to gather her purse. James stood first. "I'll walk you to your car."

They headed out of the restaurant together and walked side by side down the sidewalk, shoulders nearly touching.

"This is it." Juliet said as they came to a modest silver four door car.

They stood next to the vehicle, Juliet's back to it and James facing her. "I had a really good time tonight." He said.

"I did, too." Her gaze traveled from his eyes to his lips. He was so close and the cologne he wore was intoxicating. He smiled and she could have melted at the sight of his dimples.

James had done his best all night to look only at Juliet's face, but when her eyes went to his lips he looked down. The dress was, in fact, somewhat sparkly, and the street lights played off of it. He watched the rise and fall of her chest and was standing close enough to feel the heat from her body. When he looked up again she met him with a smile.

He closed the distance between them slowly, giving her time to push him away. He was thrilled when she wrapped her arms around his neck. One of his hands went around her waist while the other got lost in her hair. Their lips met in what was first a chaste kiss. It wasn't long before she pulled him closer and he pushed her up against the car. Lips and tongues explored. Juliet marveled at the softness of James' hair and how it seemed to match the softness of his lips. James reveled in the feeling of having her close against him.

A honking horn from a passing car caused them to spring apart. Their bodies separated enough for each to draw in a breath as they found themselves no longer pressed against the car door. Juliet blushed as she tried to control her breathing. James smiled. "Can we do this again sometime?" He asked.

"I'd like that." She replied.

He opened the driver's door for her. "I'll call you." He promised. "And maybe see you at work tomorrow?"

She smiled. "I'll be there."

He shut the door and watched her drive off feeling better than he had in a very long time.