Disclaimer: JER/NBC own characters

LuvinEvian and Courtaney, don't know what I would do without you ladies...my eternal gratitude as always:) :) :)--EF

Several weeks passed since Julian took Eve to Harmony, and still melancholy permeated her soul. She kept her vow not to attempt to escape him, but she rarely smiled or laughed.

Try as he might, Julian could not seem to cheer her. He continued to bring her flowers, and tried to talk with her, but she did not want to make polite conversation. Often, he would catch her staring off into space, tears glistening in her eyes. He would try to cheer her up, by starting a pleasant conversation, but Eve would simply turn away.

"Eve, is there anything I can do?"

She lifted her chin. Her eyes shone with tears. "You know what you can do, but it is the one thing you know you will not."

Julian sighed. "Besides that?"

Eve lowered her head. "No," she mumbled. "Nothing at all."

He shook his head mournfully. "Eve, I would do anything for you, but I cannot be without you. I need you too much." Julian tried to touch her hand, but Eve moved away quickly, avoiding his attempt at comforting her. He felt he was losing her. And there was nothing he could do...He needed her so as not to be alone, but lately, he'd never felt so alone, and sad. "I'm sorry, Eve."

Eve turned to look at him, her eyes red."In your own way, I believe you are sorry."

"I am...Eve, you know how much this hurts me."

She wiped her eyes with her hand. " And I understand your reasoning, I do, but it doesn't diminish my sadness at being away from my friends."

"You are a ray of sunshine in my dark world, Eve...do you not realize how much I care for you?"

"I believe I do know. If only..." She sniffled. "If only we could both be happy and have what we want."

Julian nodded. "Yes, but that is impossible."

"So, I will be sad." Eve turned away, only to have Julian reach over and turn her back to face him. "Julian, please don't," she said tiredly.

"Don't what? Care? Want to see you happy? It's too late for that, Eve. I already do. I'm sorry for your tears. I know, I say that a lot, but it's true."

"Yet, you keep me here."

"I need you with me."

"Don't you see, Julian? We are at an impasse." Eve still would not look at him.

"It doesn't have to be that way, Eve."

"How else can it be?"

Eve shook her head. "You keeping me for your own pleasure against my will--how could it be any different?"

"You didn't always seem so upset about being here. You kissed my hand, remember?"

Silence hung between them. Finally, Eve said. "That meant nothing."

"Maybe not to you, but it meant the world to me." As you do, he mused.

Julian held out his hand to Eve. "It's dark out, it's time I go hunting for tomorrow's dinner." As Eve walked onto his hand, he asked, Is there anything in particular you have a taste for?"

Eve stuck out her chin. "Just freedom," she said.

Julian rolled his eyes. His tiny beauty was trying his patience today. He settled her in the cage. "I'll be back later."

"No doubt you will," Eve murmured. She held onto the bars, her gaze haunting Julian as he left the cave.

Once Julian departed, Eve slumped into the cage. Why was she being so mean to him? Yes, she was upset with being away from her friends, but he was good to her, and he was lonely. No one should be alone, but... What was it about him. Why did she care, and why did she kiss him that once. That one time her lips caressed his finger. The moment stayed with her. Julian, this complicated giant made her happy and sad, mad and glad, and he made her feel. He made her feel like a woman. She shook away the silly notion. A woman? This man was a giant. She had no future with him. No future at all...except as his prisoner.

Her eyes became heavy. Sleep. Perhaps things will look better in the morning...

A short time later, Julian entered, carrying a pair of deer. He put them down, then walked over to the cage to see Eve. His little captive slept, and Julian's heart melted at the sight of her lovely face

"The poor dear," he whispered. He noticed her cheeks were stained with dried tears. Filled with an overwhelming desire to touch her, Julian reached in the cage and gently caressed the smooth skin of her face. "I never meant to cause you any pain, my love."

No more be grieved at that which thou hast done:
Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud;
Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,
And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.
All men make faults, and even I in this,
Authorizing thy trespass with compare,
Myself corrupting, salving thy amiss,
Excusing thy sins more than thy sins are;
For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense-
Thy adverse party is thy advocate-
And 'gainst myself a lawful plea commence:
Such civil war is in my love and hate That I an accessary needs must be To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.

Julian's finger lingered on her cheek a moment longer. "Goodnight, my sweet." Once Julian walked away, Eve opened her eyes. What was it about this giant Julian? How did this big man find his way into her heart?

A tiny smile tickled the corners of Eve's mouth. She was both delighted and stunned by Julian's sweet gesture. What was it with this man. How could he be so sweet and so unrelenting at the same time? And why was she so affected? Curling up under the furs, Eve closed her eyes, and slipped into a deep sleep.

Eve's dream

Eve lay wrapped in Julian's arms, perfectly content. They had finished an outdoor feast, courtesy of Julian's hunting prowess, and now he held her, whispering words of love to her. She closed her eyes, loving the feel of his strong arms protecting her.

"Julian, I never knew I could be so happy," she sighed, Julian's warm breath tickling her ear.

"Nor I, my love," he whispered huskily. "No other woman compares with you...you're my one and only." Julian reached for Eve's hand, pressing a kiss in her palm. "Forever, my darling."

"Forever." Eve tilted her chin, in wait for Julian's sweet kiss. His lips, tender, soft, and sweet, just like the berries she picked for their dessert. He pulled her closer, deepening their kiss. Her heart pounded as her need for him grew stronger. "Julian," she murmured against his lips. "I love you so."

"As I you." Eve lifted her hands to Julian's chest, and began to slowly undo the lacing that held the fabric of his white linen shirt together. Julian

Eve woke with a start. Her heart pounding. A shaky hand covered her lips. What was that? Eve was shocked to realize that she had dreamed of Julian. He was a normal man...and he made her feel heavenly...even now her lips tingled with feeling.

"Eve, are you all right?" Julian came to the cage. Eve looked up at him, her face as red as a beet.

"I...I'm fine, Julian," she replied sheepishly. He reached into the cage with his hand, using his index finger to raise her face.

"You look flushed, are you certain you are well?" Breathless, her mouth parted slightly. Julian's gaze fell upon her lips, and could not help wanting to kiss them. But how could he without smothering the poor dear. Damn that Lenox woman.

"I'm all right. Did I disturb you?" Eve tried to deflect his attention from her still red face.

"I was about to shave," he explained. "I heard you awaken."

Eve lowered her eyes, embarrassed that he caught her blushing. "Oh...well...I am sorry if my dream distracted you..."

"Dream? Eve did you have a nightmare?" Julian asked, concerned.

"Oh, no, no...it wasn't a nightmare," she assured him, turning even redder. "It was...I don't remember what it was about. It's...it's not important." She lowered her eyes.

The corners of Julian's mouth turned up. "Oh, Eve remembers all right!" he thought happily. "And to get her this embarrassed, she must have been dreaming about something that a lady doesn't like to talk about. And I wonder if that something has to do with me!" But to Eve, he only nodded, feigning sympathy. "I never remember my dreams either," he sighed.

Eve grinned sheepishly. "I think you had best tend to your shaving before I can no longer see an inch of your handsome face."

Stunned, Julian didn't know what to say. "I...I...yes, why don't I do that?" He walked back over to his bowl, his feet hardly touching the ground. Large as he was, he was floating on air. Eve had called him handsome!

Julian suddenly realized that Eve was smiling again. "I can't imagine what you dreamed about, but it's nice to see you smile again," Julian said, reveling in his belief of what she dreamed about. Perhaps her being short with him earlier was out of frustration. He grinned at her. Could his little captive be as taken with him as he her? His heart swelled. She did call him handsome.

Eve's smile grew wider, showing for the first time a dimple in her left cheek. "I'd like to come out, please."

"As you wish, my love," Julian acquiesced. He opened the cage holding out his hand for her. He opened the cage, holding out his hand for her. Lifting his precious treasure, Julian carried her to the table.

A large bowl sat upon it, but Julian placed Eve somewhat away from it. "I don't want you to get splashed," he explained.

Eve looked up at him, curiousity in her eyes. "Julian, how did you acquire all of this? " She gestured about the room.

He closed his eyes, remembering the curse that marked him. "Once," he began painfully, "I was a normal man, Eve. I was not always the fearsome beast you see before you." At Eve's surprised expression, he continued. "I did not take pity on who I thought to be a pitiful beggar woman. In reality she was a powerful witch, who damned me to this monstrous form.

"The things I have, she gave to me. Everything else, I get on my own."

Eve felt her heart go out to the lonely giant.

"I am so sorry, Julian. How sad your life has been."

"Lately, especially when I see you smile, it's not been so sad."

She held her tiny hand out to him. "Then I'll try to smile more often for you."

Wrapping his index finger around her hand, Julian returned her smile.

"Thank you, I would like that."

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