After sharing a look with the other girls Summer turned back to Jenny.
"Um, yeah you did."
"I did? Huh."
A pregnant pause fell over the group as everyone, including Jenny, waited to hear a satisfactory response.
"That's uh…" what was it? Not funny. No, funny was definitely not the word to use, even if her friends might expect her to employ it.
"That's sort of a funny thing for you to say, Jenny," Audrey finished her sentence although her tone suggested that she considered the slip anything but amusing.
"Yeah, except it's not really funny, is it?" Dee announced as she got up and paced around the room, keeping Jenny within her sights as she deliberately made her path cross in front of her. "Why would you make a slip like that? After all, it's not like Julian is here, is he?"
The look of guilt crossed Jenny's face so briefly she hoped no one noticed but of course Dee's next question indicated that she at least had seen it. Dee abruptly stopped pacing and moved until she was in front of Jenny, looking down at her.
"Jenny? Julian isn't here, right?"
Out of the corner of her eye Jenny noticed Summer glance around the room as if expecting Julian to suddenly materialize, a move that filled Jenny with inappropriate humor which she quickly quelled before answering Dee.
"No, he isn't here," she agreed, hoping they would accept her at her word and move on.
"But?" Dee asked her gaze intent on Jenny's face.
"But what?" Jenny stalled while trying to decide how much to say.
"Jenny?" This time it was Audrey who demanded answers.
"What?" she continued to delay her response. Audrey sighed.
"Dee, sit down and quit making all of us nervous," Audrey commanded and waited until Dee had complied before pressing the issue. "Now then, what aren't you telling us?"
Jenny shook her head, having come to the conclusion that all sorts of bad would come from this revelation.
"This isn't something I want to talk about," Jenny declared.
"Jenny!" The shocked outburst came from Summer who blushed when her friends' gazes fell on her. "Well I mean really. You slip like that and expect us to just let it go?"
"She's right, Jenny. You're hiding something and I for one want to know what it is," Audrey announced.
Jenny cast her glance between her friends and sighed when she saw the same determination reflected back at her. Damn her subconscious! Why had she slipped like that? Deep down she had wanted to confide in her friends but now that the moment was upon her she was filled with dread more than anything else. They weren't likely to drop the inquisition any time soon, though, and it was probably best to announce it and start the real fight so they could hopefully get to the forgiveness portion of the night quicker. She straightened her shoulders and kept her expression neutral and her gaze strong as she dropped the bomb.
"But…he isn't dead. Not exactly, anyway."
For a moment there was nothing to permeate the silence. But Jenny had an uneasy feeling that it was the calm before the storm.
"What do you mean, 'not exactly' dead?" Dee asked in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
"I mean that I dream about him," Jenny replied in an equally somber tone without meeting anyone's gaze.
"Oh, well if *that's* all…" Summer trailed off and fell back against the couch, obviously thrilled to discover that Julian wasn't likely to appear anytime in the future.
Audrey and Dee remained silent for a moment, sharing a look that Jenny missed. Dee nodded slightly at Audrey who turned to face Jenny.
"But that's not all, is it, Jenny?"
She shook her head back and forth slowly, as if that would make the rest of her revelation easier to bear. She was surprised to feel her hand being squeezed and looked up in surprise. Audrey just gave her a small smile before becoming serious.
"Whatever it is we can handle it, Jenny."
Jenny nodded before speaking.
"I don't just dream *of* Julian, I dream *with* Julian. He's there in the flesh, so to speak."
"But I don't get it…" Summer interrupted.
"Well when you were…asleep, Summer, I used to dream of Julian during The Games. He would give me clues and when I woke up I would go off of what he had told me the night before."
"Ok, but then why is this such a big deal?" she questioned. Dee rolled her eyes but otherwise remained silent. Jenny reined in her impulse to sigh and continued to explain.
"Because I didn't just dream, I interacted with him for real in the dream world, for lack of a better term." Summer opened her mouth but Jenny held up her hand to forestall any questions, hoping a concrete example would clear it up. "If he gave me something there I would wake up with it on my pillow."
A beat of silence filled the room.
"What did he give you?" Summer asked, looking between Dee and Audrey who appeared to be interested in the answer as well. So much for stopping the questions.
"Well, uh, he gave me a rose," Jenny responded and condemned herself for the blush that accompanied her answer.
"Oh I see," Summer replied. It's about time.
Dee shook her head and continued to question Jenny.
"So can he appear outside of your dreams?"
An unexpected wave of emotion welled up in her and Jenny shook her head, unable to verbalize her answer.
"Where is he?" Audrey whispered.
Jenny cleared her throat and coughed once for good measure before answering.
"He's trapped in the place between dreams and reality."
"Why is he trapped?" Summer asked softly as well.
"It's the ring," Jenny replied.
She glanced down at her hand at the circlet of gold that constantly adorned her finger and was filled with a sense of déjà vu.
"What about it?" Dee questioned.
"Julian thinks his being trapped must have something to do with the binding ceremony."
Their eyes opened wide.
"Come again?" Audrey inquired. Jenny shifted in her seat and got comfortable before speaking.
"The way I heard it here's what happened. When the Elders slashed the Runestave he escaped the Shadow Realm before they finished carving his name out. I put the ring back on before they got done and he became bound to me again but thanks to his Elders he fulfills his part of the binding in the only place where he can."
Silence reigned as her friends absorbed the knowledge and its implications.
"How long have you known about this?" Dee asked.
Jenny knew what she was really asking: How long have you been keeping this from us? Jenny shook her head and decided to stretch the truth a little in the name of friendship.
"I've been dreaming about him for a while but I didn't know any of it was real until recently."
"How did you find out it was real?" Audrey asked in a slightly accusatory tone. What did they think? That she had been attacked in her dreams and woke up mutilated?
"Um, well, it felt more real than a dream should be I guess and so I…"
"What felt more real?" Summer interrupted to ask.
Oh no! No way was she going there! Jenny hung her head and covered her face with her hands, desperate to hide the crimson stain of her cheeks.
"Jenny!" Although it was Audrey's indignant tone that reached Jenny's ears she was sure she would see an identical look of disbelief imprinted across her friends' features, should she ever choose to raise her head and meet their gazes.
"You were kissing him?" Summer asked in a near squeal.
"Is that all you were doing?" Dee questioned in a dry tone which caused Jenny's head to shoot up and all gazes to be fixed on her face. She merely smiled a Cheshire grin and lifted a shoulder in dismissal. "Can't blame a girl for being curious."
Audrey waved her hand in a dismissive gesture before looking at Jenny again.
"That's all well and good but we still have a problem."
Jenny looked at Summer and Dee who both looked as clueless as she felt.
"What problem?" Jenny asked.
"Tom."
"Tom?" Jenny repeated blankly as if it were a foreign word. "What about Tom?"
"He doesn't know about this yet, does he?" Audrey asked.
"No, no one does but you three. And I'd like to keep it that way."
"I'm sure you would, cherie, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea," Audrey stated.
"And why not?" Jenny demanded in a forceful tone. What good could come from telling Tom?
"Because," Audrey began in an exasperated tone, "I assume that you want Julian to get out of your dreams and into your…well…world. Am I right?"
Although she blushed again Jenny kept her head held high and nodded once.
"That probably means that he's off right now trying to make that happen, correct?" Audrey continued.
Jenny nodded again.
"So…" Audrey trailed off, obviously hoping that her friends had caught on and sighing quite audibly when they continued to simply wait for her to keep talking. "So that means if he succeeds he can't just show up here out of the blue and expect any kind of warm welcome from Tom. Well I mean he'd never get a nice reception from Tom, that's a given, but at least if Tom knows it could happen then he'd be better prepared and less likely to try and beat Julian up upon first sight."
Dee snorted.
"Like Tom could beat Julian up."
"I never thought about it," Jenny murmured. Well not about Julian being able to beat Tom up, but rather about everyone's reactions, particularly Tom's, if (no…when, her brain amended) Julian succeeded in coming back to her.
"That's understandable. I mean your thoughts have probably been consumed with what you'd get to do to Julian if he ever did make it into your….world," Dee announced with a grin which left Jenny and Summer mortified and Audrey smirking.
Jenny recovered and sent Dee a grin of her own.
"Oh I have plans, Dee. I have plans."
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Disclaimer: Aside from a severe case of tardiness I'm afraid I can only claim ownership of the plot, not the characters used within.
Author's Note: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. One "I'm sorry" for every day that has lapsed between posts.
Looking for another FG fic? Try AnitaBlake1414's. It's called "The Forbidden Dance." And if you're like me and are a BtVS fan then head over to Amanda Lord's fics. Her angsty piece "They Sleep" is worth the read.
Thank you's are in order from the earliest date received.
pixxi—So you may work some Jacuzzi images into the Fourth of July? I can't wait! I hope finals are going well? Or went well, as the case may be?
~Cassi—Thanks for checking back in, and I'm sorry about the delay!
-pixxi—What would I do if you never reviewed and threatened my life? I am really sorry about the long delay…as I mentioned in a previous AN I have been consumed by this Law and Order: Criminal Intent fic and just haven't been feeling this one for so long. I hope my muse lets go of the death grip he has on the LO:CI one or at least gets me to finish it so I can get back here more often. Thanks for enjoying my story enough to ask your friends to read it too. I appreciate that and am very touched by the gesture.
Amber Evans Potter, Jenny and Julian—Boy I hope you're all not hovering somewhere nearby with any pointy sticks or weapons of any kind. How can I apologize for the delay? I am so sorry and hope that you all stayed out of trouble while I was away?
ArchAngel pixxistixx4me—I'm sorry you ran out of chapter. I will try to do better, I really and truly will.
Clare—I'm with you in wishing Julian was real *sigh*. I'm sorry I haven't updated in almost forever. I will endeavor to be more faithful with the updates.
Shadow—No, you can't be the only person who dreams of that. I hope exams went well?
Sunshine—aww, thanks! I appreciated your review! Thank you!
ArchAngel pixxistixx4me—I can't tell you if you spoiled the whole plot for yourself. You'll just have to keep reading and find out.
Kyia-Kenobi—Ha ha! A piece of fruit in each chapter? That *would* be a challenge!
Pixxi—WAKE UP! You *can't* be dead! Stay away from the light! *reads review again* oh, you're just in shock? Well I'm sure seeing that I FINALLY updated may have sent you back into shock so sorry about that.
Amber—Thank you for your kind words…they mean a lot, as always!
Stephanie—Hi there! I know I'm cruel and I promise you that this time it's not intentional. I have just been totally sucked into this Law & Order: Criminal Intent fic I have been writing and my muse seems determined to keep me filled with thoughts for that fic as opposed to any development on this one. Thanks for e-mailing *and* reviewing here…it means a lot and does work to inspire me, I promise!
Amanda Lord--*MY* fic is the first you've read? I'm so honored!! And your review couldn't have been any nicer! Thank you so much…your compliments were so thoughtful and I am humbled. I will of course make more mention of his eyes…how could I refuse after such a great review?
ArchAngel pixxistixx4me—I love snickerdoodles. For their sake and your I present this update.
ChiBi HenTAi AnGeL—I hope the ppl in black suits (any relation to the MiBs, btw?) weren't too mean to you? Thank you for your kind words.
Neoangel ~It's okay that you don't go for the Zach/Summer thing. Many ppl don't.
Hentai Priestess ~ You like the steamy J/J moments? I promise more to come!
Sorry about choosing Dee to hold the slumber party. Yes, blame Julian.
AnitaBlake1414—Thank you so much! I don't actually have a fanclub, unless they're all clandestine and I just am unaware.
ArchAngel pixxistixx4me--
(Reason Number the First: You havent updated for a realy long time)….I know and I'm sorry.
(Reason Number the Second: I'm getting impatient.)…..I know and I'm sorry
(Reason Number the Third: I'm sure other people are getting impatient.) …..I know and I'm sorry
(Reason Number the Fourth: I'm done with my history final *but still have four to go* so now I can slack off some.)….knowing that I was keeping you from studying was too much guilt for me to handle and actually induced writer's block….ok, I did feel guilty but I had writer's block before I read your review.
(Reason Number the Fifth: I recently read *all* the Julian-yummy bits of this fic, and there arent nearly enough of them!) …..I know and I'm sorry
(Reason Number the Sixth: Because I said so.)….not sure what to say to that one.
(Reason Number the Seventh: I'll staple-gun you to a giant poster of Tinky Winky if you dont.)….you crack me up sometimes.
Kyia-Kenobi—Sorry I left you waiting impatiently.
Skyfire—Sorry I left you hanging!!!!!
Rilo—Yes, I am going to finish. I already have the ending written, it's just the parts between there and here that are coming a bit slower than I'd like.
Cat—Thank you Cat! I hope the move went well and that you are now settled and enjoying your new abode?
Amber Evans Potter—I hope you aren't too mad at me? Thanks for reviewing!
melissarxy1—Sorry that I continued no where near "soon"….at all.
ArchAngel pixxistixx4me—So I hope your b-day party was great!
Clare—sorry about the delay, I apologize!!!!!!
Shadow—Nope. My update again was no where near asap. I humbly beg forgiveness.