Reunion

The tip of a cigarette glowed red against the darkness. A figure stepped out of the shadows, and was outlined by moonlight. Oblivious to the rain, Spike wore only his customary blue suit. In one hand he held his cigarette, and in the other, a single red rose. He paused, then raised his hand and knocked on Julia's door.

Julia had watched him walk up from her window and was there to open the door the minute he knocked. "Spike," she said opening the door. It was like a dream she had had over and over again for years.

Wordlessly, Spike offered the rose. "Can I come inside?"

Julia accepted the rose and stepped aside waiting for Spike to walk inside. "Its been a long time Spike," she said closing the door and turning around to look him over. "You look older."

Spike gently took Julia's hand in his. "Funny," he said softly, their faces only inches apart. "You look exactly the same. "And she did, except for one crucial difference: the sparkle was gone. The inner energy that he'd loved so much about her seemed quenched, extinguished by some invisible burden.

Julia squeezed the hand that held her own. "I've changed a lot since then Spike," she said looking into his different colored eyes. "I met Faye."

Spike blinked. "..." He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He swallowed, then finally said, "Yeah. She mentioned that."

"She is an interesting woman," she said leading her into the living room. "There were times when I wished I had been able to leave with you and be the woman at your side."

"But not enough to come, huh," Spike said as he followed. "We each made our own decision. I'm not with Faye, if that's what you're asking."

"Spike, I had no choice!" Julia exclaimed walking over to the window and leaning on the ledge. She listened to the splatter of the rain against the glass trying to straighten out her thoughts. "If I had left with you he would have done everything he could to chase us both down and kill us. At least this way you gained some time."

"Yeah," Spike replied. "But not enough time. We could have gotten away, you and me. But you wouldn't take the chance."

"Vicious knew Spike," Julia said turning around to face him. "The day before I left he put a gun to my head and said he would kill me or I would kill you. He gave me no choice. I was selfish. I wanted to live."

"That really doesn't surprise me," Spike said, moving over to the window and looking out at the rainy street below. He was a silhouette. The only thing to break his dark outlines was the soft glow of his cigarette. Finally, he turned. "So what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know," Julia said. She walked up to him and took the cigarette from his mouth taking a long slow draw on it herself. "Vicious and I...we've been dating for a little while now. He contacted me, sweet-talked me, and then brought me back into this personal vendetta between the two of you. I thought I could just live out my life peacefully by never seeing either of you again. But I was wrong; I wasn't really living during those long lonely days. I missed you Spike."

"You missed me so much that you latched back onto him, huh?" Spike said, trying to keep control of his emotions. "Way to get over a guy."

"I thought you were dead Spike," Julia said becoming defensive. She put out the cigarette in a glass of water on the table. "I'm still confused by all of this. I don't know what to think anymore."

"Then don't think at all," Spike said, meeting her eyes. He moved forward and ran his fingers through her gorgeous silky hair. It was like touching clouds, or spun sugar. This close, the smell of her was almost intoxicating, deep and musky, bringing back a plethora of memories. "Just get out of this place."

"I can't stop thinking," Julia said. She knew she was playing with fire but for some reason she couldn't pull away from him. "My thoughts are spinning out of control."

Spike's hand finally stopped roving through the golden mass of her hair and came to a rest on the back of her neck, his other hand loosely encircling her waist. "No one can control their thoughts," he said softly. God, she was beautiful; maybe even more so than before, if that was possible. "But you can run. I don't want you to get hurt again. I couldn't stand knowing I was the reason that you got hurt."

It felt so right to her to be in Spike's arms again. Giving in to indulgence she leaned her head against his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his back. "I can't run anymore Spike. I tried it once and it didn't work. I have to finish this, just like you and Vicious do."

Spike held Julia close, feeling her general warmth and the distant pulse of her heartbeat. "So then what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stay in this flat," Julia said pulling back only far enough that she could look into his eyes. She felt weakened by the overwhelming feelings Spike inspired in her from this close contact. She hadn't seen him in three years, had thought he was dead, and now he was in her flat holding her tightly. "And I'll be here for both you and Vicious until you kill each other."

Spike smiled sadly. "At least you're not fooling yourself about what-might-have-been. If we both survive ... who will you choose?"

"If you both survive then it won't be over will it Spike?" she asked. "Neither of you will stop until someone is dead."

Spike slowly shook his head. "No. I guess it won't." Moving back close to her until he could feel her breath on his cheeks, he asked, "Who do you want to win?"

"Spike!" she said pulling at his lapels. "You are being unfair. I can't...I can't choose who should live and who should die."

"I didn't expect an answer," he told her truthfully. "But I had to ask. It's just good to know that you're here." He smiled - the sad, slight smile that had entranced her so often before. "Julia. Kiss me."

"Spike, I..." Julia made the mistake of looking up at him and was suddenly entranced by his eyes. Before she knew what she was doing her lips were touching Spike's.

Spike kissed her deeply, melting at her touch. His body responded automatically as he run his hands up her body, just like old times. Abruptly, he broke away. "Julia, I-"

It was like the years melted away and they were together again, like none of their hardships had ever occurred. But then the he spoke and the spell was broken, and like waking from a dream Julia came back to reality. Julia stepped away from him completely smiling up at him softly. "We can't do this Spike," she said chuckling a little more out of despair than mirth.

He stepped forward, desire overruling all reason. "Yes, we can," he whispered. "It's not too late. You could still come with me. We could still run."

For a moment the future he spoke of seemed possible. Her heart willed her to trust in him and run off into the sunset like they had planned three years ago. "You'll run again?" Julia asked looking up at him her logic restored.

Spike nodded. "Just the two of us. We'll leave Mars and this life behind, and just live together. Can you do that?" He studied her with serious brown eyes.

Julia closed her eyes; she couldn't think when he looked at her like that. "And what about her, Spike?" she asked finally opening her eyes again. "Will you just leave her to Vicious?"

Spike froze. "The others can take care of her," he said uncertainly when he finally relaxed. "You're the only one that matters, now."

"Am I really Spike?" Julia asked wishing it were true. "Would you completely forget about Vicious, about the past, and your life on the Bebop?"

Spike paused again, longer this time. Finally, he hung his head. "No. I can't. Maybe ... maybe after this is all over, we could go."

Julia nodded sadly. She leaned against his chest again placing one hand over his heart so she could feel its rhythmic beating. "I'll look forward to that day."

Spike flinched as her touch tugged against the wound in his side. "So will I," he said, burying his face in her hair. "So will I."

"Tell me what its like living as a bounty hunter," Julia said curiously. She didn't want this moment to end. Spike smiled. "A lot like working for Red Dragon," he said. "Except that you're your own boss, and the jobs are fewer and farther between. Plus, you've actually gotta respect cops. I never did get used to that part. Meet a lot of interesting people, though." He gently took her chin in his hands. "Although I never met anyone as interesting as you."

"I'm not that interesting Spike," Julia said unable to look away from his piercing eyes. "I'm just a woman."

Spike slipped his hands back around her waist. "A beautiful, capable, intelligent, sensitive, tender, friendly, and utterly desirable woman," he agreed.

"Spike, stop," Julia protested but still she didn't pull away from him. "You are going to make me fall in love with you again. And then what am I going to do if you die?"

Spike gently kissed the top of her neck. "I don't plan on dying," he whispered. "We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen."

" 'We' Spike?" she questioned enjoying the feel of his lips upon her neck.

"Both of us," he murmured into her neck, face lost amongst the flowing, shimmering hair. He moved his head down to kiss the base of her throat. "You and me. Together." He said the final word with more overtones and sensuality than he had ever before.

With every word he spoke Julia could feel herself falling deeper and deeper under his spell. Now she understood what Faye meant when she said he was easy to love. "No promises Spike," she said trying to keep her wits about her. "Promises are always broken."

"Then don't make a promise," Spike told her. He knew that what he was doing was insane, but he could feel his love for Julia rushing back like an unstoppable flood. "Just say you'll be with me. That's all I need."

"I can't Spike," Julia said trying to pull away from him. "If I say that, it will be like a promise, and I probably won't be able to keep it."

"Just for now," he urged. "Later ... will be later. You know I was never any good at planning for the future."

"Then let us leave it like this," Julia said. "No future, no past, just the moment."

"Just now," Spike agreed, leaning forward to give her another kiss. "Just us."

Julia enjoyed the feel of his lips against her own. She knew she should make him leave. Perhaps Vicious had spies watching her or Spike. But no matter how many logical arguments she could come up with, she couldn't manage to pull herself away from Spike's strange magnetism.

Spike pulled her close, kissing her lips, her cheeks, her neck, her ears. "Just the two of us," he repeated. This was insane ... but he couldn't stop. He'd missed her for three years, and now that she was literally back within his grasp, he wasn't going to let her go that easily.

Julia nearly lot herself to the feelings and sensations he was arousing in her. "Stop," Julia said pulling away from him. She had to put some distance between their bodies. "I can't do this Spike. I can't not when Vicious is still alive. There's so much left to say and to do...We can't."

Spike sighed, releasing her. "I understand," he said, disappointed. He turned towards the door. "I shouldn't have come."

"No," Julia said following him towards the door. Perhaps she'd been wrong, perhaps she should have just given in to the moment. "I needed to see you again Spike."

He looked over his shoulder at her. The rose he'd given her sat on the table, a spot of red against the otherwise-drab room. Wordlessly, he lit a cigarette, then turned back to the door, placing his hand on the doorknob.

"Take care of yourself Spike," Julia said leaning against the wall to the entranceway. She was watching him walk away again, and the next time she saw him might be in a casket. "I'm not playing favorites, but I don't want to see you dead after just finding out you were alive."

"When you put it that way, I think I'll stay alive just as a personal favor to you," Spike called back. Then he vanished into the night.

"You better," Julia replied to herself watching him slowly fade into the shadows.

Somewhere in the darkness, the tip of a cigarette glowed.

---------------------

Franklin pulled up outside of Alaura's house and got out. He made sure his coat was on and straight and rung her doorbell.

Alaura had been waiting for him, watching out her window. She only ever had one other meeting with him and it was on very sweet terms, until he found out she was of the Red Dragon syndicate and visa versa. Yet, he was back again, offering her a job. She could only wonder what it was. Crossing the room she opened the door. "Good evening Franklin." She said sweetly as she let him in.

Franklin stepped inside. He had to work this perfectly. Presenting her with roses he kissed her on the lips. "Alaura, it's been so long." He whispered, "Too long."

Taking the roses and receiving a kiss, Alaura smiled. "You're the one that left."

"You're right, and I'll make it up to you, but you still owe me." Franklin stepped up close to her, nose to nose. "Let's eat."

"Let's not." She said to him setting down the roses on the table. "I want you Frank. Just you. You don't need food to convince me to do something."

Easier then I thought, he said to himself as he placed his hands on her hips. "Alaura slow down." He couldn't believe those words were leaving his lips, but he knew that, in the case of Renee, there needed to business before pleasure.

Alaura kissed Franklin's neck and sucked on it gently. "Tell me Frank, what do you need from me?"

Frank suppressed a chuckle and stepped back slightly. "You know this woman?" he asked as he removed a photo of Cloria from his pocket. "I need you to kill her. She is the daughter of Nathair .."

"The leader of the Blue Snake." She said, becoming entranced by the girls photo. "So how will this get me brownie points with Vicious."

"Hey, that's yours to figure out." Frank said putting his hands up, "I'm just giving you the means to do so."

Alaura looked back up "So what's the pay?"

"Name it."

"Well I guess I'll have to see how hard the job is, but until then can I have you?"

Frank shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "Not until after dinner." He gave a grin and held out his arm. Alaura took it and he led her out to the car. That night Frank would keep his promise to Renee. And seal the deal as well, but that was just for fun.

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I went and saw Julia last night. I never realized until then just how much I miss her. And although it pains me to admit it, she's right when she wishes we could all just go back to what we had before. Just the three of us.

She's still lovely as ever, but when I met with her it seemed like a part of her was missing. The part that used to love life so much. I can only hope I'm not the cause of that ... but what's the use in fooling myself? I made the biggest mistake of my life. Of course there are going to be consequences.

But I can't fool myself and say I would have been happy if I'd stayed, either. That place was stifling me, like I couldn't breathe. And with Vicious mad at me, I didn't even have a real friend to vent to. Not after what passed between us.

No matter what I choose, it seems to be the wrong choice. In two days, I go to face Vicious. After that, if I'm still alive ... I'll go and see her again, and maybe this time, she'll be ready to love me again.

- From Spike's Journal