AN: And here's the next chapter. It's a little bit longer than the others, I hope you don't mind.
"Shawn, I don't like this."
"Abby, it's my job. If I turn down every case that Juliet is involved with, I'm going to be out of a job."
"I know, but it's this one in particular, the going undercover part. You saw her with Raj when she went undercover. She acted like it was real even when she didn't have to be undercover, like she was confusing it for reality. "
"She does get a little too deep, but it's ok. She's pissed at me anyway, for some reason she's acting like it was on purpose."
"Shawn, it was on purpose."
"What?"
"I saw the look in your eye as you were looking at them and the next thing I know I'm being twirled into them-"
"Abby, it was an accident."
"I wish I could be so sure."
"Abby, you have nothing to worry about. It's one case."
She took his hand, "There's no way to talk you out of this?"
"It's my job," he put his other hand around her waist.
She wrapped her hands around his neck, "Alright, if you promise it'll all be alright," she nuzzled into his neck.
"It's just my job," he held her tight.
…
"Richard," Juliet asked, her voice shaking.
"Are you alright? You sound nervous," Richard asked, opening his car door for her.
"Yeah. It's just, I have something to tell you."
"Karen didn't reprimand you when I left did she?"
"No. She gave me a case actually, an undercover one."
"You don't seem so thrilled."
"Well, I just don't know how you'll take it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I have to go undercover with Shawn."
"That juvenile Pseudo-psychic?"
"He's a real psychic, there's no other way he could have solved 50 cases for the department with one-tenth the information we had."
"Ok, let's pretend he is a real psychic, what's so wrong with going undercover with him, you've done it before have you not?"
"Yes, but this time we are supposed to be- we're supposed to- we have to pretend we are a married couple."
"And?"
"That's it. That doesn't bother you?"
"No. Should it?"
"No! It's just that most guys wouldn't stand for it."
"Well, I'm not like most guys. I am intelligent and not led only by my testosterone; therefore I'm not prone to jealousy. Look, I know it's just acting, just for your job."
Juliet thought about how Chief said he fired people for someone cheating on his wife. She knew Chief was wrong. Richard was too cool with this for what Chief said to be true.
"You really are a great guy," she leaned over to kiss him.
…
" Juliet ," she winced again, "Good morning."
"Why are you here, Shawn?"
"Well, according to Chief, we have to make sure we have our cover story down, and are acting like a couple."
"Oh, so Abigail is actually letting you off your leash."
"What is wrong with you?"
"Me? How is this my fault?"
"Wow, you two are really good at this bickering couple thing."
"What do you want McNabb?"
"Wow, Juliet ," this made her temper flair more, "Don't take it out on Buzz. How you doing man?"
"Good, how are you?"
"Well, having fun with the Mrs. you know," Shawn faked a laugh.
McNabb laughed, "Detective, maybe you should cut back on the caffeine."
"That's what I keep telling her."
"Shawn," she warned.
"Quick, give me your hand and pretend you're not sitting on a porcupine."
"What are you talking about?"
"Chief's coming," he grabbed her hand, "So, honey , how has your day at work been so far?"
"You two, in my office."
"Yes, ma'am," they followed her in.
"I can hear you two bickering all the way across the police station," she glared at them as she closed the door.
"We were practicing," Shawn offered.
"No, I don't think so. Just because you two are going undercover doesn't mean you can argue all the time. You will need to work together to solve this case. And there needs to appear to be love underneath the anger, otherwise the cover will be blown. I want you two to get out of here. Go on a date, or do something. I don't want you back until you learn to be civil toward one another again."
"I will if she will."
"Shawn, grow up," Juliet hissed at him.
"Mr. Spencer, wait outside, I'd like to talk to O'Hara alone."
"But-"
"Mr. Spencer, outside."
"Fine," he left.
"O'Hara, I can't help but notice that this hostility started when you started seeing Richard. Would you care to explain?"
"It's not Richard's fault. He is completely fine with us going undercover."
"Then what, may I ask, is the problem."
"Shawn just- he- the party- I- I don't know. I'm sorry."
"Has he harmed you in anyway?"
"Well, the party, but not really."
"You mean, while you were dancing with Richard?"
"Yeah, he just came out of-"
"You know, for being one of the most intelligent detectives I've seen, you sure are good at missing what is right in front of your face."
"I'm sorry?"
"He really is sorry. Let it go, so you can do your work."
"I know he is," Juliet admitted, even though she really wanted to be angry at him. It made things easier.
"Very well, go. Come back when you both have this- whatever this is, figured out."
"Alright."
….
"What's wrong with my motorcycle?"
"We're taking my car."
"But, it's so green and girly."
"Shawn!"
"Juliet!"
Finally having enough, she lashed at him, "Would you stop calling me that!"
"Excuse me?"
"Juliet."
"That is your name."
"Not," Juliet looked down, trying to figure out why it was bothering her, inhaling sharply she avoided his eyes and continued, "Not from you."
This caught Shawn by surprise. He wasn't expecting the conversation to take this turn and she seemed so- sad, almost. Calmly he stated, "I don't understand."
Not understanding it herself, she just looked up shyly at him and asked, "Look, can you just go back to calling my Jules?"
"But you said you don't like people-"
"I don't like other people calling me Jules."
"I still don't-"
"Shawn, please?"
"Sure, Jules," he smiled.
She smiled back at him, feeling relieved for the first time in over a week.
"Shawn, I'm sorry I've been so-"
"Hostile?"
"Short-tempered. Let's get some lunch, and really talk about the case, you know- work things out."
"Ok, I know a great place that's not too far from here," he offered, handing her a helmet.
"Shawn, we're still taking my car."
"Fine," he sighed.
….
"Wow! That's impressive," Juliet laughed, "I've never heard anyone burp the National Anthem, and you made it sound so wonderful!"
"My honor," he laughed, taking a fry off of Juliet's plate.
"Alright, we really have to figure this out," she smiled at him. She was glad that she could laugh with Shawn again. But she still had an uneasy, upset feeling that she couldn't get past and had no idea where it was coming from.
"Alright, so we met at college-" Shawn began.
"UCLA. You lived on the floor above me, sophomore year, and you were really loud," Shawn smiled knowingly, Juliet couldn't help but giggle back, "And so one day I decided to go upstairs and yell at you."
"But when you did, you saw my amazing hair and rock hard abs and fell in love with me-"
Juliet rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face gave away her true feelings anyway, "When I came up stairs and yelled at you, you ignored it and began flirting with me even though the girl was still in your room-"
"That's awfully insensitive of me."
"Well that's why we're having trouble now."
He chuckled, "Don't I get any say in this?"
"No-"
"See, that's why we're having trouble now," he stuck his tongue out at her.
She rolled her eyes, laughing at him again, "Anyway, you followed me around after that, trying to seduce me until the end of our junior year-"
"When I seduced you with my good looks and witty-"
"Nice try, but no. We were both at the Alpha Delta Pi party- you followed me there- and we both got super drunk and the next thing we remember is waking up in your dorm room together."
"Scandalous," Shawn smirked.
"Yeah, well, from there you talked me into getting lunch with you, and for some Godforsaken reason, I fell in love with you."
"Aw, isn't that sweet," Shawn rolled his eyes.
"Well, what do you expect, some fairytale romance?"
"No, but not a drunken mistake followed by a pity date."
"I fell in love in the end."
"So much that did, we're obviously having problems, that's why we're going to counseling."
"It's the story, Shawn."
"Fine, but I get to do the proposal."
"Fine, but then the wedding is mine."
"We share the wedding."
"Fine," Juliet agreed.
"Fine. Kids?"
"Shawn, let's not complicate things."
"Fine."
"The proposal?"
"Ok. Well, after we graduate, you get a job in Santa Barbara."
"I'm a kindergarten teacher, you were a philosophy major-"
"Political Science."
"You know nothing of politics, Shawn."
"I know nothing of philosophy."
"True. You were a criminal justice major, but currently working as a?"
"Chef, at a tiny restaurant."
"Can you cook?"
"Well, enough to be a chef."
"What's the restaurant's name?"
"Sam's Diner."
"Who's Sam?"
"My dad's neighbor."
"Really?"
"For our purposes, yes. Anyway, you got a teaching job here, and I was originally from here, so it just made sense for us to stay together. Just for you, I settled for a job as a chef, and we bought an apartment together. After about two years after we moved in, I knew I couldn't live without you. So, I bought you a beautiful ring- which Chief still has to supply us with- with all of the money I had been saving the last couple years. And, on my birthday, I took you to Tre Lune-"
"Oh, I love that place! Nice choice, I might say yes just for taking me there," Juliet mindlessly placed her hand on his wrist and flirted with him.
He smiled, "Well, that was the main reason you said yes. Anyway, we got there and ate and at the end you handed me my gift. But I looked at you, pretending to be confused, and took the ring out of my pocket, which was wrapped like a birthday present and asked, 'Isn't this your present for me,' and you replied, 'No, I don't know what that is.' So I handed it to you and you began unwrapping it, and while you were doing that, I got down on my knee and," Juliet didn't realize that she had began to hold his hand as she listened intently to the story, she was however, aware of this feeling that her heart was melting. But she didn't understand that it was because she was falling deeper in love with Shawn. "And I gave this corny speech, 'Juliet, it doesn't matter what the other present is, hell, I told you not to get me one, the only thing I want right now is to be with you for the rest of my life. It is the ONLY present you could give me that could make me happier than I am. I love you with everything I have, please, will you marry me?'"
Juliet couldn't help but begin crying, "Shawn, do you realize how beautiful and romantic that is?"
Shawn laughed nervously, "Well, Abby has made me watch enough chick flicks, I have the cheesy speeches down pretty well."
Juliet wiped her eyes and sniffled, "It's not cheesy at all."
Embarrassed, Shawn looked down, and Juliet's eyes followed and they realized they were holding hands and immediately let go. "Just getting into character," Shawn awkwardly tried to justify it.
"Yeah," Juliet blushed in response, "So- um- our wedding-"
"Yeah. Um-"
"Well, we had it on the beach, in June…"
…
Shawn and Juliet returned to the SBPD, genuinely laughing, and holding hands.
"Are you two good now," Chief asked.
"Yes, sorry for our inappropriate behavior before-" Juliet apologized.
"It's not what's important, I'm just glad we can finally start rationally discussing this case."
AN: Review please. They make me happier than an open bar ;)