Disclaimer: JER/NBC own characters

"Tell me what you saw, Eve," Julian pressed gently. "You can tell me anything, my love."

Eve's eyes widened as she stared at him. "It can't be true. I don't want to talk about it anymore, Julian." She did not want Julian to think her mad--then he would be frightened of her, or worse, have her taken away.

"Eve, what is it that can't be true? Darling, unburden yourself." Julian held her in his arms, his eyes searching hers. "What is it, my love?"

She looked down, her mind awhirl with the images she still could not believe. Julian as a giant was simply incredible.

"I'm all right, Julian--it was nothing worth speaking of."

"Why won't you tell me what you dreamed of, Eve? What frightens you so?" Julian pleaded. "There is nothing you cannot say to me--that is what marriage is, sharing everything and anything with one another."

Incredulous, Eve removed his arms from around her and stood up. "How can you tell me that when I am not altogether certain you have been forthright with me? What we have is no marriage, Julian."

A lump rose in Julian's throat at her words. She was right, he had lied to her, to protect her. Even though he was certain that her dream was of him in his former state, Eve did not want to even consider the possibility. And how could he blame her?

"Eve, I love you more than my own life," he began. "All I want is to love and cherish you and Helene."

"If you loved me as much as you say you do, you would not keep things from me." With that, Eve walked away from him, lying down beside Helene's basket. Julian stared after her. He was losing Eve, and he was at a loss as to how to reach her. Why couldn't she remember their love?

Julian held Eve's hand as she slept. Unshed tears filled his eyes. He wanted so much for Eve to remember being his wife. He thought returning to the cave would spark her memory, but Eve only suffered apparently frightening dreams.

"My poor darling," he lamented, "when will I stop causing you pain?" He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. "You've been through so much because of me, and I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive myself."

Flashback

Julian looked at Eve, asleep in the cage. Her attempt to flee filled him with a mixture of anger and fear. Anger, that she would dare to try to escape him, and fear, that she would be attacked by the wild animals that prowled the mountain, and he would be alone once more.

"I will never be parted from you, Eve," he vowed with steadfast determination. "If I have to keep you in this cage forever, so be it. I have been alone far too long." Julian reached his index finger between the bars, caressing her cheek. "You are mine, and will remain mine."

Eve's eyes opened and focused on his.

"I am not a possession of yours, no matter what you say or what you may do to me."

"Your opinion is amusing at best, but hardly grounded in reality, my dear. Look around you. The bars that surround you, preventing you from absconding into the forests--that is your reality. You will be with me until the end of your days."

"A life as an animal in a zoo, kept for your amusement, is no life at all! Why do you insist on keeping me here, when it is obvious I want nothing to do with you?"

"Because I will not be alone again! For seven years I have been in solitude, and I feared I would go mad without seeing another person like myself!" Julian told her harshly.

"I am not like you! Isn't the difference between us apparent, even to your eyes? I am not a behemoth who takes innocents hostage!"

"I saved you from your own foolishness."

"How is wanting my freedom foolish? How is wanting to be in my own home, and with the friends I have in Harmony, foolhardy? You have been alone too long; you refuse to recognize basic human rights and needs!"

Anger shook Julian's body as a hurtful ache stabbed his heart. "As the behemoth that you so cruelly named me, I apparently no longer possess the ability to 'recognize' your right to be free. Being with me is your future, Eve, and the sooner you accept this, the less painful it will be."

"I hate you! I will never accept being your prisoner!"

"Your hatred of me is irrelevant," he lied. "You will be with me forever." He turned away from her stricken gaze.

End Flashback

Julian closed his eyes at the memory. The sheer hatred Eve once felt toward him remained painful, and Eve's inability to recall their love compounded his misery. How could he go on without his Eve?

Eve stirred, and her face contorted as if frightened. Julian looked at her, anguished at the terror in her expression. "Oh Eve," he moaned. "What fresh hell are you seeing in your dreams?"

Eve's nightmare

"Please let me go! I don't want to stay here alone!" Eve screamed at her captor. Her body trembled violently in his grip.

"Alone? How can you say you are alone when I am here with you, for you?"

"No! You are nothing but a merciless savage beast, and I will not stay here!"

"You waste your energies on wishing your life would be any different. Why fight against that which you cannot change?" His index finger touched her cheek. "Every time you try to escape me, you fail. You would do well to remember your place in this world--and that place is with me."

Eve shook her head. "You do not control me, and I will escape from you. I promise you that!"

The giant pulled her close to his face, his eyes narrowing. His voice was low, but menacing.

"Do not make promises you know cannot be kept."

Eve sobbed, fear consuming her. Her life was over.

End nightmare

Julian's heart ached fiercely at the sight of Eve crying in her sleep.

"If only I could make you remember what we mean to one another. The love I have for you burns as brightly as it ever did, and I must make you remember yours for me." Leaning close to Eve, he whispered softly in her ear.

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least: Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee,--and then my state (Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings'.

A smile suddenly appeared on Eve's face, and Julian felt encouraged. Did she hear him, in her realm of dreams? Would she find her way back to him? He prayed that it was so. He pondered what brought the smile to his wife's lovely countenance.

Eve's dream

"Julian, I never knew I could be so happy," Eve shared as they walked about the Crane estate. Immense joy filled her heart. "Living here has made me realize how truly blessed we are."

"Every morning when I wake up, I remember anew how fortunate I am to have you in my life, Eve. Life could not possibly be any more fulfilling than it is now."

A smile tickled the corners of her lips. "I don't think that's an accurate statement, Lord Crane."

"Whatever do you mean, Eve?"

She reached for his hand.

"We're going to be parents, Julian. I'm going to have a baby."

Strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"My darling wife, you have made me happier than I ever dared to dream."

"Dreams do come true, my beloved husband."

End Dream

Eve's eyes opened to see Julian bent over her, concern in his eyes. "Eve, darling, are you all right? You were dreaming--at first, it seemed to be a nightmare. Yet then, you smiled--an enchanting smile that nearly took my breath away."

She smiled again. Her hand tightened around his. "I remember you, Julian. I remember us."