Author's note: First and foremost I must thank the reviewers! You guys rock!

Chapter 26

Forest Elfin I'm glad that Jenny's parents seem to be a little bit like typical parents. It's hard to write them. Your thoughts give me hope that I am on the write track.

ArchAngel pixxistixx4me I know you need Julian and trust me, he is a heavy hitter in this chapter.

Shadow Well here I was all proud of my updating and then boom, a week goes by without anything. Oi vey! I will try to do better!

Chapter 27

Kristen Michelle Well I don't know if this chapter is going to help you decide that Jenny should be with either one for sure…Ok, I have a deal for you. You can have Julian if I can have an unattached Orlando Bloom (I'm not about to disrespect his woman)…is that fair? I'm glad that you are willing to keep an open mind about Hermione and Draco. Most people like Ginny with Harry, personally I like them together but I am not opposed to reading other ships either. A good fic is a good fic!

Forest Elfin Please don't make yourself dizzy spinning around too much! I don't want you to cause bodily harm to yourself! Yes I did notice and thanks so much for the congratulations! That is so sweet that *you* noticed! Yes, Jenny's mom asking about the other guy was *totally* based on what my own mom would do!

Shadow Still no Julian until this chapter, and I'm sorry. I promise it has him in it throughout!

Amber Evans Potter Of COURSE I didn't think you seriously wanted me hurt!!! You are just being silly! I'm sorry if my teasing you about it gave you a complex. It's really wonderful to know that you like my story so much. Sorry that my rate of chapter-posting has dwindled slightly…I'm going to do my best to get them up here!

ArchAngel pixxistixx4me Sorry about Jenny's mom…it's hard to write her. Yes, narcoleptic Jenny has some appeal…we'll see.

Chapter 28

Cat    You liked it so much you posted twice and I appreciate it! Hopefully it will keep your attention for a long while to come!

ArchAngel pixxistixx4me Yes, you have to feel a little bad for Jenny. I promise Julian in this chapter…cross my heart, hope to break all of my fingers and be unable to type!

JLF Boy do I hear you! And hey, I'm just thankful you remembered about the fic and were interested enough to come back and check it out! You're great!

Disclaimer: The only thing I claim is that Julian will be making a scheduled appearance herein. Other than that nah, I don't claim anything.

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It took her until well after midnight to fall asleep. When she opened her eyes she wasn't sure that she was really sleeping. Looking around her she took in the lilac colored walls and pale green curtains that usually adorned her room. She was in the exact position she had been in only moments before—curled up on her left side facing the door.

What gave it away as being a dream was the item she found herself clutching. Glancing toward her arms she found a stuffed animal held within her embrace. It was her beloved rabbit, Leo. To the casual observer it was obvious that this bunny had seen better days--matted gray fur hung where once there was fluffy white fabric and one glassy pink eye was held on by only the barest of silver threads. If this animal could only talk, oh the stories he would tell!  He had been forgotten along with many other childhood things and had clearly looked better once upon a time but to Jenny nothing had ever looked more welcoming.

How could she have forgotten about Leo? She used to take him everywhere! How long had it been since she had held him within her arms, taking comfort in his unblinking stare which reassured her that someone would always watch over her? Jenny propped herself up against the ivory headboard and smoothed the fur against her cheek, becoming a little misty-eyed as the sensation brought back some long-cherished memories. Turning her head she buried her nose in his fur and inhaled deeply.

It was just as she had remembered! It was the smell of old books and yes, a little bit of the ocean's tang still remained from the time Leo had been taken into the Pacific for a swim. The faintest trace of peppermint seemed to suddenly waft into her nose and with it came the realization that Jenny knew without a doubt the last time she had held Leo in her arms.

It was the day after her grandfather disappeared.

She could relive the day with startling clarity. It was a little odd considering how young she had been. No one had listened to the young child's incessant demands that the adults listen to her, and she couldn't understand why. They were all asking where her grandpa had gone and Jenny knew the answer…why wouldn't they believe her?

It was when her mom had announced that they were going to go back home that Jenny knew she had to do something. They couldn't just leave her grandpa! What if he came back and no one was there?

Upon seeing Jenny's tears her mom had promised that they would return very soon—which of course they never did. But Jenny was still afraid that her grandpa would return and would be all alone until her family made their way to him. This upset her until she came upon the idea of leaving Leo for her grandpa.

She didn't really want to leave Leo but her mom and dad kept saying that grandpa would be back soon so it really wouldn't be that long, right? And it would be a nice thing to do for her grandpa. So she tiptoed up the stairs to the top floor of the house while her parents were packing the car. Turning to her right she slowly made her way down the long hallway to her grandpa's room. Pushing the door open she jumped when the hinges squeaked. Shuffling her feet she quietly worked her way over to grandpa's closet.

Remembering what had happened the last time she opened a closet scared her, though, and so she abandoned the plan of leaving Leo there. Instead she decided to leave him on the bed so his smiling face would be there to greet grandpa the minute he walked through the door.

She carefully arranged Leo so that he was seated at the very edge of the bed facing the door. It would be impossible to miss him! Her happy smile at this quickly turned into tears as she realized it was time to say goodbye to her beloved Leo. Oh she hoped her grandpa would come back soon! She stopped crying only when her dad's voice reached her.

"Jenny? Where are you?"

Sniffling loudly Jenny indicated that she was up in her grandpa's room. Her father took one look at her runny nose and beet-red face and dropped to his knees to engulf her in a warm hug.

"What are you doing up here, sweetheart?"

Pointing to Leo Jenny told her father of her intentions. His face blanched and his eyes widened. Jenny didn't understand the look he was giving her.

"What's the matter, daddy?"

Shaking his head he cleared his throat before replying.

"Nothing, honey. It's just that you don't have to do this."

"Yes I do. If we go no one is going to be here when grandpa gets back and he'll be all alone. So Leo can stay here for a while until we can come back. That way someone will be here all the time."

"But it might be a while before we can make it back, Jenny."

"But mommy said grandpa won't be gone long, right?"

And though he searched for the words he couldn't find them. So instead he let Jenny leave her most treasured possession behind for a man he never thought he would see again.

So why did her brain cause her to think of Leo now? It had been so very long. She smiled and sniffed a little, wiping her nose on her sleeve. She had forgotten how much comfort could be found in a beloved childhood companion like Leo.

Speaking of comfort, there was someone else who could give her exactly what she needed right now. She didn't hesitate as she called out to him.

"Julian?" her voice sounded a little hoarse and full of unshed tears.

He appeared and whatever he may have wanted to say died when his glance fell on Leo.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Tom and I broke up today."

Boy, she was getting the hang of this. What was this, the third time today she had to deliver the news?

There was no gleam of triumph in his eyes, no self-satisfied smirk across his lips. Jenny wished there was so she could be upset with Julian and have some anger instead of this weighty sadness that seemed to suddenly pervade her every pore.

He seemed genuinely distressed by the news. She briefly considered getting angry and lashing out with a caustic remark about his reaction seeing as it was no secret that there was no love lost between Julian and Tom. By all rights he should be happy about the announcement. But she had to give him more credit than that.

And so it was partly her inability to pick a fight that led to her tears. But mostly it was looking at Julian and realizing full force what she had given up and what she was now free to claim but could never have.

Julian stretched out on the bed beside her and gently turned her toward him. She complied without hesitation and lay down on his chest, sobbing with an intensity that was painful to behold.

Julian was upset by the declaration because Jenny was upset by it. He didn't want to see her in any pain. Her suffering was something he lived to alleviate. In the past he had shielded her from so much—animal bites and attacks by strangers, for instance. But now that he wasn't by her side like he used to be he couldn't help but feel frustrated by his inability to protect her.

Plus he had to deal with the guilt of knowing that he was at least partially, if not wholly responsible for the break up. He had always felt that there would come a time when Jenny and Tom broke up, regardless of his involvement or lack thereof. However, he still was uncomfortable knowing that he may have hastened the relationship's demise, especially seeing as he and Jenny weren't able to be together either. Well, not technically.

"I'm so sorry, Jenny. I'm so sorry." He kept repeating the words and stroking her arm and her back with a gentle, soothing motion.

Finally she wore herself out and had to contend with hiccups and an extremely dry throat. She cast a glance toward his features and was surprised at the emotion she saw there. He wasn't looking at her and appeared to be lost in thought and upset by whatever he was imagining.

 "Penny for your thoughts?" she croaked out. He tilted his gaze to her face and she flushed as she realized how horrible she must look.

"Sorry," she said, pulling upright and looking away for a moment. She couldn't suppress a giggle as he produced a handkerchief and waved it in front of her face.

"Thanks," she told him as she accepted the gift and wiped her eyes, "So what's got you so lost in thought over there?"

"It's nothing." He assured her but sighed when her look clearly indicated that she wasn't going to accept that.

"It's just that I feel guilty. I know this is my fault.  I wish I could do something to change what you're going through, make everything better. But I can't and I hate feeling so helpless."

"What do you mean?" her voice was low and cracked a bit.

"I know you and Tom wouldn't have broken up if I hadn't entered the picture."

"So are you saying you regret everything that happened between us?"

"No! No! Not at all! I wouldn't trade any moment I've shared with you for anything, unless I thought it would make you happy."

"Well it wouldn't so just stop beating yourself over the head. And as far as you being helpless goes well that's just crazy talk."

He looked at her through narrowed eyes and assessed her features, indicating that if anyone was crazy it was definitely her. She rolled her eyes at his perusal.

"I'm not crazy. You are a help to me. Being here with me now, when I need you, is a comfort. Knowing I can turn to you, cry on your shoulder, talk everything through with you, have you hold me all night if I need you—it's all a source of such reassurance and joy for me. I welcome your presence in my life and I'm not about to go wishing it away."

He pulled her close and kissed her forehead, resting his cheek on the top of her head. Sometimes he felt as though he couldn't possibly love Jenny more and then she would go and do something, say something and he would become overwhelmed. It was the most bittersweet feeling he had ever experienced.

"Does this mean you want to talk through what happened with me?" he asked, but his brain was silently pleading say no say no say no say no say no.

"Is that okay?" Jenny twisted out of his embrace and looked at him, chewing her bottom lip as she tried to gauge his emotional state. "It's just that it would probably be a good thing if I practice giving the details since I'm sure the gang won't be as easily put off as my folks were."

"So no one outside of your family knows?"

Well that was a horse of a different color! If no one else knew then it wasn't as if she was going through it for the millionth time. And if it would help her, like she said, then Julian knew he couldn't deny her.

"No. I decided it would be easier to just sleep on it and tell them all tomorrow."

"Assuming of course that Tommy didn't already spill the beans."

"Oh my gosh! I didn't even think of that! Oh no! Do you think he told anyone?"

That was a pretty thoughtless comment Julian realized. He hastened to reassure her.

"I'd be willing to bet that he didn't say anything."

"How can you be sure?"

Julian shrugged.

"Well it seems more of a girl thing to want to tell people. Guys seem to want to keep that kind of stuff to themselves."

Jenny let his logic tumble around in her mind. She nodded as she came to the conclusion that Julian was probably right. It really didn't seem like Tommy, er make that Tom she mentally corrected, to go off and tell anyone about it. He was probably hoping she would save him from having to say anything.

"You're right," She informed Julian, "Well, how should I begin?"

"Start however you feel comfortable and take your time."

"There's just no easy way to do this." Jenny said and then shook her head. How ironic!

"Déjà vu," she whispered.

"Why's that?" Julian asked.

"That's how Tom started the conversation," she explained, "then I laughed because it all seemed so bizarre. I mean, a few months ago I would have never thought that conversation would ever take place, you know?"

He simply nodded and waited for her to continue.