Disclaimer: JER/NBC own characters

Once again, my eternal gratitude to Luvin-Evian and Courtaney, for being amazing, wonderful help :) :) :)--EF

Julian stared at Eve's little bed. His love home in Harmony, and he alone once more. Tears streamed down his cheeks, as he remembered Eve's stricken face when he bade her farewell.

"My love," he whispered. "I did not mean to hurt you...I only want you to have all of the happiness and fulfilment you deserve." It was like a slow, cruel dagger plunged in his chest when he thought of the rest of his life without his beloved Eve.

"NO!" he screamed, crushing the tiny bed in his hand like dry dirt. Opening his palm, he saw that he crushed it into powder. Just as he crushed his love for Eve...

He noticed her dress still laying on his bed. Numb, he walked over and lovingly caressed the material, his eyes still wet. "Eve," he said mournfully. Julian held the dress to his cheek, when he caught Eve's wonderful scent. He then held it to his nose, and inhaled, grateful to have this memento of his lost love.

"I pray you don't hate me forever, my love. I did what I did out of love." He fell to his bed in tears, clutching the tiny garment to his chest.

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Grace made her way down the hill, her heart heavy. She missed Eve dreadfully, and she still blamed herself for not sending Samuel with her that last night. If only she had followed her mind, Eve would not have died a horrible, violent death. Ever since then, Grace walked up the hill every Sunday after church, to lay flowers at the spot where Samuel found Eve's reticule, shredded and bloody.

"What I wouldn't give to see you again, Eve," she sighed as she reached the bottom of the hill. She noticed a woman sitting there, but she was facing away from Grace. Her shoulders were shaking, and Grace thought she could hear the poor woman crying.

"Are you all right?" Grace called, feeling a twinge of pity for her. "Maybe I should go comfort the poor dear." Grace approached and placed her hand on a quaking shoulder. The body turned with a jerk. "Eve?"

Eve leapt to her feet as her friend fainted on the spot."Grace?" she cried, overjoyed to see her friend. "Grace, honey, wake up. I'm all right, I'm back." Eve gently slapped her cheeks, and Grace opened her eyes, disbelief in them.

"I thought you were dead," Grace breathed. "Are you real, really?"

"Yes, Grace, I'm real. I didn't die."

"You-- How did you know we thought you were dead?"

Eve hung her head. "I doubt you'll believe it."

"Tell me."

"I...I was found by a man."

"A man? What are you talking about? Did he hurt you?" Grace was incredulous.

"No, he didn't hurt me. He was--he was very good to me. He was wonderful." Eve sniffled. "I fell in love with him."

Grace held her hand to Eve's forehead. "Eve, are you all right? No fever?"

"I'm fine, Grace. Well, not really. I'm heartbroken. I don't know what went wrong"
"Eve, I'm so sorry for you, but I can't help being happy you are still alive." Grace cocked her head. "We found your reticule, how did it get here?"

"He...he put it there. He wanted me to stay with him, and didn't want anyone looking for me."

"What? This man makes us think you're dead, and you say you love him?"

Eve nodded. "Yes. And I do love him. I love him with all my heart."

"Eve, I've never seen you like this about anyone. Not Seth, no one since you've come to town."

"No other man is like him. He's special. He's wonderful." She hung her head. "Sadly, I don't think he believes it."

"Eve..I think you should come to my home, so you can rest. You've been through a lot, apparently." Grace's eyes suddenly widened. "Maybe it was a good thing you weren't here. The mountain monster left his mark all around the village, and right by your cottage."

"The mountain monster?" Eve questioned.

"Yes. Remember, I told you all about him. He's a scary, mean, big mountain dweller that kills and maims the townpeople."

"What do you mean, no?"

"I don't believe there's any mean mountain man around here."

"Eve, we saw his giant footsteps, and they were at your house. Had we not found your torn and bloody reticule beforehand and believed you were dead, he no doubt would have killed you."

"Grace...be reasonable. Has anyone ever turned up dead because of this creature?"

"Well...those are the tales."

Eve shook her head. "You're a sensible woman, Grace. Think about it. No one has been actually killed by this monster that you know of, have they?"

"Not that I know of. But Eve--"

"Maybe it's just a way of explaining things we don't understand." Eve was adamant. "I'm sure these tales are around because people keep repeating them so often, they start to believe them."

Grace looked at Eve, seeing a new sadness in her eyes. "You've changed, Eve. It is because of this man, isn't it?"

Tears welled in Eve's eyes.

"Yes...yes it is."

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Julian lay in a deep sleep, Eve's tiny dress wrapped around his finger. His mouth moved, as he dreamt of his beloved Eve...

bIJulian's dream/b/I

"You've tried to run from me, my dear, but I have the upper hand now," he laughed, grabbing Eve around the waist. Eve flashed him a breathtaking grin, and wiggled out of his grip, her chocolate eyes mischievous.

"You haven't caught me yet," Eve teased, tossing her head of dark curls. Julian rushed forward, and held her against him, his lips moving to her neck.

"On the contrary...you are mine now," he growled, his lips sparking a flame to Eve's senses.

"Julian," she breathed, her resolve to make him pursue her fading faster than the morning dew. His lips moved from her neck to lightly graze her cleavage, which tantalized him from the deep cut of her gown.

"Julian," she whispered. Their gazes locked. His eyes darkened with need.

"I want you so," he said, sliding the slight straps off her shoulder. "I cannot wait another minute."

"Make me yours, Julian." Eve untied the ribbon to her corset. "Take me."

bIEnd dream/b/I

Julian awoke, drenched in sweat. "Eve?" he called, his eyes darting around the room. Then he remembered."Eve," he moaned, feeling her absence more keenly ."Why do I torture myself." Julian fell back to the bed. "This will never be."

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Grace settled Eve on her marriage bed. "You just lie down for a while, Eve," she said kindly. "I think you'll feel better once you have rested." She closed the door, leaving Eve alone with her thoughts.

"Julian," she thought sadly. "Why were you so cruel, so heartless? I'll never understand..."Eve cried herself to sleep, dreams invading her tortured mind.

bIEve's dream/b/I

Eve sat on Julian's palm, the wind blowing through her curls. "Julian, the meadow is beautiful!" she raved. "It's like the Garden of Eden."

He caressed the gleaming strands. "And it has its very own Eve to make even more so." Julian smiled at her childlike delight at the small meadow. "I come here often just to think...it's so peaceful."

"I could stay here forever." Eve closed her eyes, enjoying the warm sun on her face.

"Eve had Adam, my dear. Who will you have?"

She smiled. "I'll have Julian." Eve pressed a kiss to his large palm. Julian shuddered from the feeling that spread throughout him.

"My love, you don't know how happy I am to hear that." Julian breathed. "I want nothing more in this life than to have you with me always." He kissed the top of her head gently. "My little treasure..."

Eve turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Julian, can you let me down?" He complied, gently lowering her to the ground. Eve ran, feeling the wind flow through her hair. Julian watched her, his eyes adoring her every movement. She stopped, and began to dance in a circle, her laughter music to Julian's ears.

Eve paused for a moment as a yellow butterfly flew near her. She held her arm out, and the painted lady landed on her, its tiny feet tickling her.

"My butterfly," Julian thought, smiling. "Eve is my precious butterfly, every bit as delicate as this tiny creature." He walked over toward her as she turned and lifted her arm, encouraging the insect to fly.

Julian knelt and laid his finger on her shoulder. "My beautiful Eve, may I have this dance?"

Eve spun around, a big smile on her face. She nodded, never taking her eyes off her gentle giant.

There, in the meadow, the two danced, Julian on his knees, and Eve clutching the tip of his little finger. He carefully twirled his lady, his eyes lighting up at her moves.

When Eve started to get dizzy, he stopped and leaned his palm against her. Then he bent down and kissed her cheek the best he could...love making its mark even more than the lips that carried it.

Eve arose from the bed. She still was in the realm of dreams, but she opened the door to Grace's bedroom.
Grace did not hear her, being out in her garden, selecting fresh vegetables to make a soup for her friend. Eve walked to the front door, and went outside, not bothering to close the door.

"Julian, where did you go? We haven't finished our dance," Eve called. She walked upon the path leading from Grace's cottage, toward the forest.

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Julian still clutched Eve's dress in one hand. In the other, he held a pitcher of his dandelion wine. "My love," he slurred, the tremendous quantities he consumed affecting his speech. "I so want to see your beautiful face."

"I'm right here, Julian." He looked down to see Eve standing at his feet.

"Eve...you're here. You came back to me," he rasped, kneeling down. He caressed her face with his index finger.

"You'll never be free of me, Julian...never." Eve's lovely face disappeared from his sight. Julian blinked.
"NOOO!" He staggered up, then went to the cage where he kept his beloved captive. Seizing it, he hurled it against the wall of the cave.

"My love...my love," he wept.

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