Epilogue:
Julian looked at the newly built lake house as he contemplated the life that he and Alexis had built together in the last year. This was not the life Julian had imagined for himself when he decided to leave the witness protection program. But then again he never imagined being loved by the most amazing woman in the world. Having nothing worth while in his life had made him a ruthless mobster, learning that he had three children and having Alexis love him had made him a formidable family man. He didn't deserve any of it; Alexis ,his kids, his grandchild but he couldn't walk away from them.
After finally making it back to Port Charles they had decided to stay with Sam, who hadn't wanted to be away from her family anymore than Alexis had. For two weeks they had all lived in her small apartment practically on top of each other until Julian had found the perfect place to rent while the lake house was being rebuilt. Julian had insisted on installing the most high tech security system to protect them from any potential danger from the Cassadines or any of his former associates that had not received the message that his family was not to be touched. He would not ever again be caught unaware when it came to protecting his family.
His thoughts tuned inward as he remembered how worried and scared he had been after they had made back to Port Charles.
Julian woke up sweating profusely, his harsh breathing echoing through the bedroom as he tried to calm down after the nightmare he had. These nightmares were happening on a daily basis ever since they had moved into the cottage. In his nightmares he never made it to Alexis on time; he would walk in just in time to watch as Valentine slit her throat and watch as her life was extinguished forever. The anxiety his nightmare induced only dissipating when he looked down and saw that Alexis was safely tucked into his side. He pulled the comforter around them to ward off the chill of the night and wrapped his arms around her while placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
Unable to go back to sleep he ran through scenarios in his head about what he could do to protect his family until finally coming back to the solution that Alexis had shut down weeks ago when he had first brought it up. Alexis wouldn't like it but he would not back down when it came to her safety and he would do everything in his power to convince her that it needed to be done.
As the sun started streaming through windows and the rays of the sun woke her from her slumber, Julian was prepared to make his argument. "Sweet heart" he said his voice rough from not sleeping.
"Hum" she answered softly, comfortable where she was and not planning to move if she could help it.
"I want to hire guards to protect you and our family" He said it as quickly as possible trying to catch her off guard as she was still not fully awake..
"What" she asked incredulously, unsure she had heard right.
Julian sighed so much for catching her unprepared. "I think that..."
"No" she exclaimed, rolling out of bed while at the same time pulling the sheet off of him so that she could wrap it around herself.
Julian sighed as he watched her become defensive. He knew she would balk at the idea of having guards around her all the time. But he was more concern for her safety at the moment than her need for privacy.
" I am not going to have guards following me around. What about my clients? Do you really think they will want to meet with me while I am surrounded by guards?"
"Sweet heart"
"Don't you sweet heart me Julian Jerome." she snapped.
"Alexis" he tried to sooth her.
"No, Julian I will not allow Valentine or any Cassadine to dictate my life. I will not live my life afraid." she hissed.
He saw her start shutting down at the thought of the Cassadines taking one more thing from her. His heart broke as he saw the storm of emotions passing through her eyes. But her safety was not something he was willing to compromise on.
"It is not about being afraid. You are the bravest women I have ever met. It is about keeping you safe. It's about me never having to feel what I felt when I thought I had lost you." Tears welled up in his eyes and he had to stop speaking as the lump in his throat made it impossible for him to continue.
"Ju.." Alexis closed the distance between them, softening as she saw the pain he had felt that night. Julian pulled her into his arms holding her tightly against him.
"Do you have any idea what it felt like when I thought I'd lost you?" He asked needing to make her understand just how important she was to him and their family.
"You sweetheart are what makes me whole. You make this family whole. We revolve around you. You don't realize this, but without you we would seize to exist as a family. We would become fragments of the family we once were."
He tightened his hold on her as thoughts of a life without her caused his breath to hitch "I see how our son looks at you and I know how much he loves and needs you. Alex loves me but his little world revolves around you. Just like mine." He pulled away gently so that he could cup her face in his hands and place a gentle kiss on her. Her warm ,soft mouth pliant and yielding under his lips. He felt himself shiver as her small hands fell to his lower back pulling him closer to her. "We can't live without you. Please don't make us" He kissed her once more before pulling away needing her answer before they could continue. .
"Julian" she said huskily even as she licked her lips. Her eyes dilated and dark with desire. He never took his eyes off of her, giving her time to decide what to do. He loved her and part of loving Alexis was to understand and accept how strong she was and if she didn't want protection she wouldn't have it. The thought of losing her made him unconsciously tighten his hold on her. He watched as her beautiful mind turned his request over and over from every angle before she give him her decision.
"Okay" she said sighing.
Unable to hide his relief he pulled her to him spinning her around. "Thank you so much sweet heart. I love you so much." he kissed her fully on the lips causing her to laugh. He watch as a teasing glint filled her eyes. .
"Juuuliiiannn," she rolled out. "I gave you what you wanted don't you think I deserve something in return" she said seductively even as she hugged him closer to her.
Julian smiled with relief that she had agreed to the extra security and had not kicked him out of their bedroom.. "I don't know Miss Davis what is it that you want?" he whispered into her ear. He let his hands rest on her hips as he started placing small kissing on her temple making his way softly down her jaw. He could feel her small hands clutch at him in anticipation of what was to come.
"What are you willing to give me?" she breath out before he lowered his head to her neck and started kissing her, nipping at her gently enough not to mark her but nonetheless causing her to hiss at the different sensations she felt. .
"You" he lifted his head from her neck bringing his hands up to frame her face, making sure she knew he meant every word "I would give everything" and with that he bent down lifting her into his arms and carrying her to their bed, where he proceeded to make love to her.
When their bodies were finally sated from their lovemaking. He moving away from her he reached into the drawer by the bed and pulled out one more surprise for her. She was still wrapped around him her legs entwined with his, refusing to let her go. He grabbed her small hand and brought it up his lips kissing it softly.
"Sweetheart" he waited until she looked up at him. "marry me"
Alexis couldn't help the surprise that showed on her face. She expected the same fears of commitment that had plague her all her life to send her looking for a brown paper bag.. She waited for her anxiety and fear to start drowning her at the thought of marrying the man beside her, but none of the feelings she expected to feel came up instead a simple "yes" came out so unexpectedly that for a second she didn't realize she had said it until she saw the luminous smile that graced Julian's face.
"I am going to love calling you Mrs. Jerome." he teased, yelping a second later when she pinched him causing them to both fall into a fit of laughter. He kissed her fully deepening the kiss as he felt her shift under him.. It always amazed him that after being together for so long, that he could still never get enough of her. He wrapped her up in his arms as he once again made love to the women who had captured his heart from the moment she trusted him enough to follow him out of a seedy bar and into his Camaro.
Now a year later he stood looking out over the lake, his sons standing with him as he waited for the woman that made everything in his life better. Molly, Kristina and Sam looking lovely in their gray empire dresses with a pink satin ribbon accenting their waist.
He smiled as he remembered how hard their daughters had worked just to convince their mother to allow this small back yard wedding. Alexis was not into traditional but her daughters had wanted a fairytale wedding for their mother and so they had compromised. Or, he smiled, Alexis had compromised. Unable to give her daughters the run around any longer she had given up and gave her daughters full control of the wedding plans. She had only made one simple request; she only wanted their family in attendance. And so he stood with only their five kids, their grandchild and the Justice of the Peace waiting for his bride to walk down to him.
He felt a tug on his arm as his son broke loose from Julian's grip. He looked up and watched as his little boy ran down the aisle until he reached his mom. Julian felt his heart stop as he saw the most amazing sight in front of him. His little boy had reached his mother and had wrapped his little arms around Alexis who had crouched down to place a soft kiss to his cheek. His son in his tuxedo grabbed his mother's face in his tiny hands and kissed her back softly. Alexis pulled him into her arms and together his two loves walked down to him where the women of his dreams would make a promise to love him forever and he would promise the same to her and all their family.
As she made it to where he stood he took the finally steps towards her and hugged her to him, their son trapped between them. "Dada" he heard his son complain at being held too tightly by his parents, causing everyone to laugh. Alexis and Julian separated and Julian took Alex from Alexis, holding their son in his arms as the Justice of the Peace began the service.
Alexis looked around the lake house, it had been a long day and now everyone had gone home or in Molly, Kristina and Alex's case they had gone to spend the weekend with their big sister. Alexis was pretty sure that Julian would be picking up their brood by the next afternoon. He was a big softy and unable to be away from his kids for very long. It was what she the loved the most about him. His love for his family superseded everything.
She heard the door shut behind her and she turned in time to notice where his gaze had landed. She smirked 'the man was definitely a butt man'.
"So how does it feel to be a married man?" she sashayed over to him needing to touch him. His tie was hanging loosely around his neck and he had undone the top three buttons of his white dress shirt. Alexis had never seen anything sexier and the thought that he was all hers was a heady feeling.
"Ah sweetheart it not about being married" he said as she reached for his lapels pulling him to her.
"Its not?" she asked perplexed by his answered as he had been adamant that they make it legal and get married as soon as possible.
He shook his head 'no' as he wrapped his arms around her settling them low on her back pulling her close to him so that their bodies were flush against each other. "Its all about the woman I married" he said as he slowly lowered his head to capture her waiting lips. "mmmmh" he moaned as the intensity the women in his arms caused within him. "yum" he sighed as he pulled away. "Do you have any idea how much I love you" he asked in a low husky voice. "You are who I have been waiting for my whole life and I promise that I will love you until my dying breath." he said as he lips hovered over hers a moment before he bent down and kissed her again.
Alexis was sure that if Julian wasn't holding her at the moment she would have melted into the carpet. She felt as he started walking her backwards towards their bedroom his lips never leaving her. She was in a haze swept up in her desire for this man.
When she first learned that he was Sam's dad she had fought her attraction for him. She had told herself that she could do without him. She was a strong women and had never needed anyone, but her children, but she knew it to be a lie. This man, her husband, made her whole and happy and allowed her to show her feelings and not hold back afraid that he would judge her.
Julian smiled against her lips as they finally made it to the bedroom. After Alex had found them practically naked on the couch one morning she had refused to make love to him anywhere but behind doors. It was an 'Alexis Rule' that Julian found adorable. It was also a rule Julian looked forward to breaking each and every day with her. He heard her moan as he started kissing her down her neck. Needing to feel her soft skin against him he slowly started pulling down the straps that held her dress up.
She felt his hands hook under her the straps of her dress and pulled it down leaving her in nothing but her white slip. She started pulling at his jacket but he suddenly pulled away. She objected at the loss of contact and reached for him again but he refused and held her hands in his as he gently pulled away. "Julian" she whimpered. Wondering why he had stopped she opened her eyes, the way he was looking at her caused her to blush furiously.
"Julian" she said softly causing him to look up at her, his love for her showing in his eyes.
"Thank you" was all he said before he pulled her to him and kissed her again. Alexis pulled his jacket off and started undoing his shirt. Needing to feel her hands on his skin he helped her by ripping the shirt apart buttons flying everywhere.
"Damn it" she swore causing Julian to smile against her lips when he heard her swear as she struggled with his belt. Deciding he couldn't wait a second longer he moved her hands away and pulled the belt off followed by his pants off. He then start undressing her the need to feel her soft, warm skin to much to bare. Finally rid of their clothing, skin touching skin, they both sighed in complete and utter bliss.
At some point, between the kissing and love making, exhaustion overtook them and they nodded off. Julian woke up when he felt Alexis snuggling against his chest. The house was quiet and the only sound he could hear were the crickets chirping outside, the only light in the room was from the moon reflecting off the lake. Julian looked down at his wife and kissed her softly trying not to wake her but unable to keep his hands off of her.
His looked down at the brown eyed beauty in his arms, this wonderful, amazing woman that was his and his alone, and made a promise to her sleeping form to always make her his priority and to do everything in his power to make her and their family happy, whole and safe. Their love story had began almost 30 years ago in the back of a Camaro and by some twist of faith they had been lucky enough to be reunited and he would do everything in his power to show her everyday that nothing else…no one else…mattered, but them.
The End.
***Finally done. Tell me what you thought of the story as a whole. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed.****