DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Mark VII and NBC Universal. I do own the character of Julianna.
A/N: This is a short chapter and I apologize, but there wasn't any other way to cut it without messing up the flow. Hope you enjoy! Kaiti
Johnny eyed the suit hanging on the closet door. "Do I have to do this," he asked, puppy dog eyes on his wife.
"Yes and don't give me that look. If you don't show up in that suit, Mike is going to kill me," Julianna said, taking her dress out of the garment bag.
Johnny jumped in the shower and, ten minutes later, was in the bedroom looking at his wife.
Julianna stood in front of the mirror, putting her earrings in her ears. She was wearing a short sleeve yellow ankle length dress with a scallop trim. She had pinned her hair in a half up, half down style. She had simple yellow sandals and the white and yellow hat she was supposed to wear was on the bed.
"Need some help," Johnny asked, kissing her cheek.
"Zip me up and then can you fasten this necklace, please," she asked.
Johnny complied and Julianna thanked him.
She turned around and watched Johnny step into his suit pants.
"I know you don't want to do this, but it is for Mike," she said, helping him button his shirt.
"And it's important to you, but why couldn't Mike do the dress uniform thing like we did," Johnny asked while tying his tie.
"Because Barb may understand that Mike's a fireman, she doesn't want it to be in the forefront at her wedding. However, I happen to think there is nothing better than a man in uniform," Julianna said, adjusting Johnny's tie.
She picked up her hat and pinned it to her head. "Ready," Johnny asked as he slipped into his suit jacket.
Julianna picked up her straw handbag from the dresser and took her husband's hand as they went downstairs.
"I can't believe it. Mike's married. Gonna be weird when we go to work Tuesday and there's a sub in his place for the next two weeks," Johnny said, as he dried the last dish and put it in the cabinet. Julianna put the food in the fridge and turned to her husband.
"I'm sure. But he'll be back in two weeks. It's just going to be weird having to change our dinner night. It was a lovely ceremony and the backyard was the perfect venue for the reception. I think everyone had a great time. Mike and Barb seemed pleased," Julianna said, heading for the stairs.
"It was. Want some coffee," Johnny asked.
"Yeah. I'm going to change and I'll be down," she said.
"I'll be up as soon as I put the coffee on," he said.
Julianna went to the bedroom and took her dress off and hung it on the hanger. She was pulling her pajamas out of her drawer when Johnny came upstairs.
"I can't wait to get out of this crazy suit," Johnny said, stripping off his tie and tossing his dress shirt on the bed.
Julianna hung her dress in the closet after pulling on her night shirt. She picked up Johnny's discarded clothes and hung them in the closet before heading downstairs to get the coffee.
Johnny came down the stairs and found Julianna staring out of the big picture window in the den.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"What's wrong, babe," he asked.
Julianna sighed and leaned back on her husband. "Just thinking about how things have changed. I mean, Mike's a married man, something that I'm proud of, but it's just weird. Then Bob leaving. He was such a good friend to me when I first moved back to town and I can't believe he won't be working at the station or living down the block from the station. Just seems like a lot happening at one time," Julianna said.
Johnny turned her around to face him. "Jules, we haven't changed," he said.
"I know. We're taking Beth and Bob out to dinner tomorrow. I forgot to mention that to you," she said.
"That's fine. I was wondering if you were going to meet them before they left for San Francisco. Did they find a place," Johnny asked, leading Julianna back to the kitchen.
"Yeah. I called my former landlord. There was an available apartment in my old building. He's letting them have it because I recommended them," Julianna said.
"That's great," Johnny said.
"You thought about that overtime," Julianna asked him, fixing her coffee.
She sat down at the table and took a sip as Johnny sat down across from her.
"Yeah. I'll do what I can, if that's OK with you," he asked.
"Sure. My schedule for the next month is on the fridge, so you can coordinate with that," she said.
"I'll get a schedule next shift. Roy's already working the first shift, so I have some time to figure it out. I think Bryce is working the next one," Johnny said.
Julianna finished her coffee and put her mug in the sink. "That will make the shift happy," Julianna said, smiling.
Johnny put his cup in the sink and followed her upstairs.
"Yeah," Johnny said.
The couple got into bed and Julianna curled up next to her husband. He reached and turned off the bedside lamp and wrapped his arms around Julianna.
"What," she asked her husband.
"What? What are you talking about," he asked.
"There's something else on your mind. I know you," Julianna said.
"I was just wondering if we could talk about starting a family," Johnny asked.
"We can talk about it. I think that's about all I'm ready to do in that regard," Julianna said.
"Whenever you're ready to talk about it, I'll be ready," Johnny said.
Julianna didn't say anything. She kissed Johnny's cheek. She didn't think she could trust herself to say anything. She knew he would bring the subject up eventually and she knew she'd have to voice her fears. However, she wasn't ready to admit those fears to her husband.
She closed her eyes, but she didn't know if she would get any sleep. Johnny kissed the top of her head and told her he loved her and went to bed.
A few weeks later, Julianna had a meeting.
"You don't have to mention any of this to my husband, do you," Julianna asked.
"No. It's doctor patient confidentiality. But I urge you to talk to him. He is your husband," the doctor asked.
"I know and I will, but when I'm ready. Thanks for helping me, Mark. I appreciate it," Julianna said.
She picked up her lab coat and put it back on as she walked out of the office and into the hallway. She headed for the elevator and headed back to the ER.
As she exited the elevator, Dixie came toward her.
"Everything good upstairs," she asked Julianna.
"Yeah. Everything is fine," Julianna said.
She walked passed Dixie and went into her office. She sat down in her chair and leaned back and closed her eyes. She thought about the events of the last three months and cried.