A/N: I hadn't forgotten this story. I just needed some inspiration and thanks to Eyeon she supplied it for me. Happy reading. And yes it is still a bit mushy in parts and probably a bit silly too but I had lots of fun writing it.
Chapter 10.
Juliet fell into James' arms exhausted. It was four in the morning. Finally she had managed to get the baby to fall asleep.
"Oh god, what have we done," she sighed.
James kissed her on the forehead. "You're great, the best ever," he murmured making her heart melt.
"I'm so tired," she moaned.
He stroked her hair, tenderly, before massaging her shoulders and back.
'Feeling better?" His breath warm against her neck.
She was so relaxed she could barely talk. Oh but he was good at this. What would she do without him, appreciated him more than ever now. Him, her and baby Mary, surviving the worst of it, getting by, a little family and she was happy despite the tiredness, despite the exhaustion. It was something else being a parent, scary but good too. Something she couldn't really describe.
Those first few weeks flew by in a blur. Juliet had been so blissfully happy that she just transcended this beauty. James would often find himself watching her, transfixed by the joy on her face, the tender way she held the baby. There were days when he couldn't get enough of watching her, at times wondering if this is how it was for his mother? Knowing deep down that his mother had loved him like Juliet loved baby Mary. He had been special once, fussed over, cooed to, held and nurtured. He knew this because he felt these things every time he looked down at Mary asleep in her bassinette. Marvelling at how amazing she was, this tiny little person; part him, part Juliet. He had also found a new appreciation for women. What they were capable off, incredibly selfless. Appreciated too, those moments spent snuggling up to Juliet, a new understanding between them, shared experiences of special moments with baby Mary, capturing all the milestone moments in photographs. Her first smile, just the other day, as if this was some miraculous achievement.
They were closer than ever. He didn't think that possible.
Some days he was exhausted, would find himself falling asleep at work when watching the monitors. Miles would make some glib remark, you see that fire Jim, place is burning down to the ground and your just sleeping. He'd wake up startled, Miles would laugh. James would tell him to piss off. But other days Miles wasn't so bad, kept it mild, more along the lines of you look beat man. He felt every bit of it too. Not that he was complaining, sort of, he just wanted some damn sleep. It'd been six weeks and they were still getting up every couple of hours. Mary seemed to sleep better during the day than at night, even better when one of them was holding her. Till the moment he or Juliet went to put her down in her bassinette and then she'd start crying again.
He could feel his eyes drooping now as he stared down at the recent security report. Miles was sitting next to him, throwing nuts in his mouth, looking bored.
"So you and Juliet – you two getting it back on yet?
James glared at him.
Miles popped another nut in his mouth. "Obviously not."
James removed his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. Sex. What was that again? Maybe if he could summon up the energy somehow. It had been weeks, hadn't it? Only managing to do it but a couple of times. He couldn't even remember the last time. That was bad right? He would have to remedy that, starting with tonight. Screw the damn security report.
"I'm going home," he said abruptly, pushing back on the chair, placing his glasses in his pocket.
Miles frowned. "How come you get to go home early?" he complained.
"Because I'm the boss," James replied over his shoulder.
Miles couldn't come up with a quick reply to that or maybe he did but James didn't care to hear it. He wasted no time in getting out the door, stopping by Mildred's garden on the way home and picking a yellow daisy, hoping Mildred didn't see him. She liked nothing better than doling out lectures to anyone who happened to so much as put a fingernail on her garden. The old battleaxe. Juliet always told him off when he called her that.
"She puts a lot of pride into that garden," she'd defend.
"Nah she just loves nagging and scolding because she ain't got nothing better to do with her time."
The old biddy wasn't around and he picked two flowers, getting stung on his finger by a bee in the process.
"Son of a bitch," he cursed, scrapping the sting out of his finger with his nail.
Fuck but he was allergic to bee stings. Could feel his finger begin to swell up already. Dammit. He quickly went home, dropped the flowers on the bench and opening the freezer reached for an ice pack. Cursing and inwardly swearing. God but it better not be as bad as the last time. Still hadn't forgotten it even though it was years ago. He was as sick as a dog for days and broke out in hives all over his body. His foot had swollen to twice its normal size and throbbed for at least two days straight but the hives had been worse, itching like crazy, driving him insane and they hung around forever. Weeks, if his memory was correct.
"Fuck, fuck."
"James!" Juliet reprimanded and he spun around, startled.
She was frowning, her hair tied back in a messy, sloppy ponytail. She must have just woken up. She still had that sleepy look which he loved. Her eyes fell to the icepack he'd wrapped around his hand.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I got stung by a bee."
"Oh is that all."
Is that all!
"Did you get the sting out?" she continued.
"Yeah."
"I should take a look."
Taking hold of his arm and smelling off talcum powder she led him over to the light by the kitchen window to get a better look.
Juliet took the icepack off his hand.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening before meeting with his.
His whole hand was beginning to swell now.
"I'm allergic to bee stings," he muttered.
Turning away she hurried over to the top cupboard. "You need some antihistamines."
"It won't make a difference," he said, watching her rummage through the cupboard.
She was standing on tip toes the short skirt she wore riding up her thighs. Sexy legs, so much for sex, damn. His hand was already throbbing. It was only a matter of time before the headache started.
"What do you mean?" she asked, turning around, a bottle of pills in her hand. "How bad a reaction do you have?"
"I was laid up in bed for a couple of days," he replied.
Disbelief crossed her face.
"What – that wasn't in my file," he commented, dryly.
She rolled her eyes. He still managed to bring up that damn file after all these years.
"You never told me." She opened the bottle and deposited two pills in her hand.
"I ain't never been stung by a bee on the island before."
She put the two pills in his good hand.
"Take them anyway it's better than nothing."
Reaching for a glass on the sink her eyes fell on the flowers. How sweet. Obviously that was how he got stung. She filled the glass with water.
"They from Mildred's garden?" she asked, a slow smile crossing her face.
"Yeah, I think she's training up an army of bees to protect her damn garden," he muttered.
Turning to face him she handed him the glass of water, her smile widening.
"Poor baby," she soothed, brushing a strand of hair back from his face. "You want to hope she didn't see you."
"Nah, otherwise she would have been out that door ..."
A sudden loud knock on the door startled the both of them. Their eyes met.
"Uh oh," James murmured.
Juliet moved over to the window and peered out. "It's Mildred," she hissed.
"Don't open the door," he hissed back.
Mildred knocked again, even louder this time.
"She'll wake the baby and so god help me James if that baby wakes up I'm going to lose it, it took me an hour to get her to go to sleep!"
"Pretend I'm not home."
"I know you're in there Jim," came Mildred's shrill voice.
James muttered under his breath. "Stupid old cow."
He was pissed off and his hand hurt like hell, he could feel a headache starting up. "I'll answer it," he mumbled, stomping over to the door and pulling it open.
Mildred stood there, hands on hips, eyes narrowed.
"I saw you pick flowers out of my garden," she accused.
"So ya did," he returned.
She appeared surprised for a moment, by his brashness.
"Well no one is to pick flowers from my garden."
"What are ya gonna do, arrest me?"
Mildred's mouth opened and then closed, then opened again like a goldfish. Juliet hid a smile. She could tell this was going to turn out ugly if she didn't intervene. James was not the most patient person, especially when in pain.
"Sorry about the flowers Mildred," she spoke as she approached the door, "James was just trying to cheer me up. It's been a rough couple of days."
Mildred's face softened slightly.
"I remember how hard it is those first few months," Mildred spoke, "you're looking a bit peaky too, maybe I should make you a nice casserole, give you a night off from cooking."
"That would be lovely of you Mildred."
"Not a problem dearie, I have a new low fat recipe that'll help you get back that nice slim waistline you used to have."
Juliet forced a smile to her lips. Used to have!
"So kind of you to think of that." Juliet had to force the words past her lips.
James suppressed a laugh by coughing. She poked an elbow into his side. He grimaced.
Mildred hadn't noticed because her eyes were now on James' hand.
"What happened to your hand?" she asked.
"I got stung by a bee," he muttered.
A look of triumphant crossed Mildred's face. "Well that'll teach you not to steal," she chided.
James looked ready to throttle her.
"I'll see you both later tonight with that casserole," Mildred continued and turned away, much to Juliet's relief.
She slammed the door shut, still fuming about the weight comment.
"Used to!" she exclaimed, "Used to have! Who does she think she is?"
"She's just a bitch don't worry about it," James said, stumbling in the direction of the couch.
Juliet looked at herself in the full length mirror near the hat stand. Was it that bad? That noticeable? She hadn't even thought about it, she'd been so caught up with the baby, so blissfully happy when she wasn't sleep deprived that losing the baby weight had been the last thing on her mind. She noticed now, now that Mildred had pointed it out. She eyed her waistline critically, she had been way to complacent, Mildred was right.
She stormed over to James, who was now lying back on the couch, rubbing his forehead.
"Do I look frumpy?" she demanded.
He just frowned. "What?"
"Look at me James, I still look like a frump."
He just looked at her as if she were crazy. "It's been just six weeks Juliet."
"So you are saying I am then."
Women. He wasn't having this conversation. Not when he couldn't even think straight, his headache having intensified. No matter what he said now it was bound to be wrong.
"Ya look fine."
She didn't look convinced. No surprises there.
"You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"And ya being ridiculous," he pointed out.
Wrong thing to say but he was pissed himself now, his head throbbing as much as his hand.
She folded her arms across her chest, giving him the death stare.
"Aw hell I didn't take ya for being so vain," he continued.
She didn't look impressed with that either.
"I'm not vain," she protested.
"Then what are ya worried about?"
He had her there, could see her trying to come up with some snappy comeback but she was too slow off the mark these days. He put it down to her tiredness. She sat back on the coffee table, looking kind of rejected and sad.
"She's just a crazy old hag," he murmured in an attempt to make her feel better, "she can take her damn low-fat casserole and shove it up her ass or better still I'll just give it to Miles, he'll eat anything, he won't even know it's low-fat or that Mildred cooked it."
A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.
"She'll probably poison it with her old witch medicine she got stashed away in her royal garden shed," he continued, "I ain't eating it, I wouldn't put it past her to poison me for taking a couple of flowers from her precious piddling garden."
Juliet let out a giggle. He smiled back.
"Come here." He reached out a hand. She took hold of it and he pulled her down on the couch, till she was laying half on top of him. He gazed into her eyes, running a thumb over her lips.
"You're beautiful."
She leant her head against his chest, hearing the steady rhythm of his heart beat. He was so sweet, even whilst suffering with his poor hand he had tried cheering her up. Lifting her head she gazed at his face. His eyes were shut but she could see the frown denting his forehead. He looked pale. She felt suddenly concerned. Just how bad a reaction did he have from bee stings?
She touched his forehead. His eyes opened.
"You alright?"
"I just have a headache, it's nothing."
It didn't look nothing to her. She felt worried now.
"It'll be alright." He reassured.
"I think I should take you to the infirmary just in case."
"In case of what?"
"In case you have an anaphylactic reaction."
He shook his head. "It'll be alright, I don't have that."
She brushed the hair out of his eyes with her fingers, her touch cool and soothing.
"The allergy can sometimes get worse each time you're stung."
Taking his swollen hand in hers she brought it up to her face to look at it more closely.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes."
"Any dizziness?"
"Only when I'm standing up."
She bit down on her lip.
"No tight feeling in the throat or chest?"
"No."
"What happened last time you got stung?" she continued.
"I had hives, right pain in the ass, I better not get that again."
A slight smile hovered at the corners of her mouth.
"It's no joke Juliet," he muttered, looking put out, "ya think I'll get it again."
"More than likely."
He didn't look happy. Hives was the least of her concern. She was worried by the headache and dizziness but knew she had no chance of getting him to that hospital. There was something else she could do to help him. Sitting up she pushed her hair out of her face.
"Where are you going?" He sounded bereft.
She smiled down at him. "I'm just going over to the infirmary to get something for you, just keep an ear out for Mary."
"What if she wakes up, I can't pick her up?"
"Just put the dummy in her mouth, I won't be long."
Juliet returned within ten minutes. James had fallen asleep on the couch. His hand looked worst. She bit down on her lip, felt for his pulse on the inside of his wrist. She could still feel the pulse beating there, that was a good sign at least. She gently shook him.
"James."
He groaned. "Just don't ask me to move," he mumbled.
"I'm just going to give you an injection," she said.
That got his attention, his eyes flew open.
"What?"
She hid a smile.
"It's just a little needle," she continued, holding it up.
His eyes widened. "That ain't little Blondie."
He hated needles.
"You need a shot of steroids, it'll help."
He frowned.
"What I'm not manly enough for ya?"
She grinned. "Roll over."
His frown deepened. "Why?"
"Because I need to give this in your butt."
Sighing James rolled over.
"Well ain't this just dandy and here I was thinking maybe we could have some sex tonight and all I end up with for my efforts is a bee sting and a jab in the butt," he muttered, sounding disgruntled.
"Wait until the hives come out," she added.
"You're not helping any here Blondie."
Sure enough when James woke up the next morning the hives had started to come out.
"Son of a bitch," he muttered, sitting up in bed and scowling down at his arms, now covered in hives.
He felt like shit all of that day, the headache lingered, his hand ached and itched at the same time. By the end of the day he was covered in those hives from head to foot.
"I've never seen hives so bad," Juliet remarked as she dabbed ointment on his back, "but at least they'll probably be gone by tomorrow."
"Don't bet on it," he'd muttered, knowing otherwise.
The next morning the hives were still just as bad but his headache was gone. He went back to work.
"Man you should be at home, look at you," Miles had remarked, "you look hideous," he continued with a smirk.
James didn't even bother to comment but by the end of the day he was so sick of hearing about it, so sick of everyone asking what had happened. To make matters worse the hives didn't look to be easing up over the next few days and every time he passed Mildred, she had that smug smile on her face that he longed to wipe off.
"I hate that woman," he'd muttered to Juliet come day five.
He was in a foul mood. Five days of continual itching. Least the swelling in his hand had started to go down.
"Poor baby," Juliet murmured, leaning towards him to kiss him on the lips. He felt somewhat consoled. Her eyes flittered over him before resting on his face.
"It doesn't look as bad."
It did. She was just being kind. Trying to make him feel better. He shook his head and opening the fridge he reached inside for a beer.
"By the way Mary's christening has been moved forward," Juliet spoke, leaning over the stove, and stirring a pot. "It's going to be on Saturday now."
"Saturday!" he remarked. "But that's only two days away."
"What's wrong with that?"
James flipped the top off the beer.
"I don't want to look like this on her christening day."
Juliet grabbed a spoon from the drawer.
"I look like some kind of freak."
She just shook her head and dipped the spoon into the saucepan.
"Says who?"
"Miles."
Juliet rolled her eyes and tasted the soup. It needed more salt.
"There will be photos and I'll have these hives on my face."
"It'll bring back memories," she smiled, teasingly.
He didn't look impressed. She raised an eyebrow.
"Gee James, I didn't know you could be so vain," she continued.
It felt good to throw that back in his face.
"Ha, ha," he returned, having remembered, a begrudging smile crossing his face.
"You're loving this ain't ya?"
Her smile widened. She wove her arms around his neck.
"I love you," she murmured, pressing her lips against his, least there were no hives there.
He deepened the kiss, pulling her closer towards himself, running his hands up her back, through her hair. "The worst thing is I still haven't been able to have sex."
Couldn't stand having anyone touch him but to hell with it. He was that desperate now he'd put up with the discomfort.
"Hmm well maybe we should" she breathed, her voice hoarse, "have sex now."
The world turning upside down as his hands moved from her shoulders to her waist, molding her body to his so tightly she could feel the beating of his heart. Starting with the hollow at the base of her neck and moving upwards James planted teasing little kisses over every inch of exposed skin, sending her crazy. Oh god but it had been ages. His mouth met with hers again, his tongue teasing, coaxing making her moan.
"There's always the couch, let's go there," she panted.
"Yeah, yeah, good idea," he replied, his voice husky.
They wasted no time, dispensing of clothes quickly.
"Least you don't have any hives on you're ..."
He silenced her with a kiss, ploughing his hands through her hair before lifting her up as she wrapped her legs around him. They fell back on the couch.
"We better make this quick," Juliet breathed, trying not to touch his skin too much, running her hands through his hair instead, "before Mary wakes up ..."
The words had no sooner left her mouth when a loud wail greeted their ears. Their eyes met and held in one long, silent, tortuous moment.
"Ya just had to say it didn't ya," James muttered, his head falling back on the sofa cushion.
"It won't hurt for her to cry for a bit," Juliet continued, "now where were we, hmm, I think I was just about to do this." She reached down her hand to touch him, her hand slipping inside his boxer shorts when another loud cry greeted their ears. Her head fell forward onto James' chest.
"No," she groaned. "Not now."
But the crying grew louder and they were both too tense now. Juliet dragged herself of James, searching for her clothes.
"We'll do it later," James said, looking as bitterly disappointed as she felt, "I'll go get Mary."
She watched him pull his jeans on, reach for his t-shirt and walk down to Mary's room. She sighed. They needed to go out just the two of them. And get someone to babysit Mary so they could get some time out. It had been seven weeks.
James picked up Mary out of her bassinette, the crying instantly stopping. Typical.
"You did this deliberately didn't ya?" he said.
She pulled her fist out of her mouth and gave him a beaming smile.
Seeing her smile like that always turned him into a big pile of mush. How can anything be that adorable? He then got a whiff of her nappy and screwed up his nose.
"Hey Juliet, she's done a stinker, ya gonna change her?"
No answer. He went to the door.
"Juliet," he called out.
"Finders keepers James," she called back.
"Damn," he hissed.
He gently placed Mary on the change mat.
"Ain't no putting anything over ya mom," he said to Mary, who was now looking at him very seriously, reminding him of Juliet.
"Not you too," he sighed with a shake of his head.
She shoved a fist in her mouth, a little frown on her face.
He didn't remember ever seeing Horace change a nappy. Had mentioned this to Juliet a few weeks back. Men don't change nappies in the 70's.
She just gave him a patient look, smiled serenely. Hmm I thinking of bringing in the feminist movement here.
He shook his head. Yeah you do that Blondie.
He took the pins out of Mary's nappy pricking his finger. He was just about to say fuck but pulled himself up in time. Somehow he figured Juliet wouldn't be impressed if Mary's first word was fuck. He sucked on his thumb. Juliet hated the cloth nappies as much as him, was always pricking her fingers too.
I hate the 70's she had muttered the other day you know if we were living present day I would just go down to the store and buy disposable nappies. Horace didn't believe in disposable nappies unfortunately.
Something in her disgruntled tone that day had caught his attention, making him wonder if she was happy here.
You wanna leave?
Where would we go? What would we do? No I'm happy. He didn't quite believe her forced smile, knew something was bothering her but he didn't press it any further.
Juliet pulled the pillow over her head and groaned but the cries got louder. Not now. Surely it had only been two hours. She nudged James.
"You're turn," she muttered in the pillow.
He said something incomprehensible under his breath before resuming his snoring. What was the point? Dragging herself out of bed and bleary eyed she stumbled to the nursery and picked up Mary out of the bassinette. She was rewarded with the most adorable smile, cries instantly vanishing.
"Do you know what the time is?"
Mary just made that snuffling noise before sucking on her fingers.
"It's four in the morning and it's going to be your christening today, which means mommy wanted you to sleep till 6.00am so that she doesn't look a wreck."
But Mary was having none of it and sighing Juliet took her back to bed with her and started breast feeding. James still didn't stir, even with the soft glow of the light from the bedside light. How could he sleep through this? Great, so whilst he was going to look all dandy and refreshed she was going to look like a tired old hag. One look at Mary's very adorable face brought a smile to her mouth. Well she was stuffed but it was worth it, most days, except the nights, those she wouldn't mind having back. And a sex life too.
Later that morning she heard Mary cry. James got up this time. She pulled the pillow over her head and kept her eyes firmly shut. Too tired to get out of that bed, it was warm, she was comfortable, it was Mary's christening. Shit. Opening one bleary eye she peered at the clock, it was only seven she could lay here for another hour. James had closed the door to let her get some sleep. He could be so thoughtful sometimes. Next time she opened her eyes the clock read 8.30am. She sat up startled and shoved the covers aside. Why had James let her sleep this late? Grabbing her dressing gown she pulled it on and made her way to the living room. She could hear voices, children voices, and something else that was so familiar but she couldn't quite place it? That was odd. She pushed the door to the living room open and the sight that greeted her eyes made her smile. James had Mary secured safely on his lap, on the sofa in front of the television, a couple of cute young children were singing, big bird was dancing around in circles. She walked into the room, her mouth opening in disbelief.
"Is that Sesame Street?" she asked.
James turned and looked at her.
"Yeah," James replied, "I got Horace to get a tape of it, didn't want her to miss out."
"She's seven weeks old James."
"She loves it see."
Juliet walked over to them. The only thing Mary seemed interested in was gazing into James' face.
"She's too little yet," she continued, sitting down next to him. "She wouldn't even be able to see the television."
"Yeah but she can still heard the kids singing."
"You sure it's not just you that wants to watch it," she grinned, leaning into him, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. "You are after all a big sooky baby, like the other day when I gave you that needle."
He gave her an incredulous look. "It hurt!"
"If only the others at work knew what a big wuss you were behind closed doors," she smirked.
"Ha, ha, you having fun now."
"Forgotten what that was," she murmured, gazing into his eyes, "I'll have to try to refresh my memory."
She nibbled on his ear making him laugh. "Quit it, ya gonna corrupt the kid."
"She won't remember," Juliet smiled.
His eyes fell to her lips before kissing them, a soft lingering kiss.
"Hmm but I think the hives are starting to go away," she murmured, gazing into his face.
She would never tire looking at him, seeing the warmth in his beautiful eyes, even with hives. But why was he wearing glasses?
"What's with these?" she continued, removing his glasses. "Since when did you need glasses to see the TV set?"
"It's been blurry lately," he shrugged.
"You should get your eyes re-tested."
"It's just cause I'm tired."
His eyes fell back on her mouth before he captured her lips with his. Her hands wove around his neck.
"Maybe we could ask Amy to babysit one night," she murmured in his hair.
"Hmm that's about the best thing you've said all week."
She reluctantly pulled back, seeing the passion smouldering in his eyes.
"The sooner the better Blondie because I'm getting desperate here."
Mary started crying. He looked down at her. She had shoved a fist in her mouth and was sucking on it, a slow smile crossed James' face. When he looked at Mary like that she wanted to throw herself in his arms and hug him.
"I think she's hungry," he said, "Ya better take her."
He handed the baby to her. Juliet took the baby and began unbuttoning her top.
"I'll go get us some breakfast."
She watched him go. "Nothing too fattening James," she called after him.
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled over his shoulder.
Juliet eyed her reflection in the mirror critically. She looked a wreck as she knew she would. Was there any point in trying to look nice? These nights were killing her. She slapped some foundation on and a bit off rouge to give her face colour, pulling the brush through her hair. Whilst it looked so shiny and luscious in the third trimester of her pregnancy it now simply looked drack. Guess all those hormones were gone. Pity the baby weight didn't disappear just as fast. That was taking its merry time! Since Mildred's comment the other week that's all she had been thinking about. She gave all the chocolate to Miles the other day, chucked out the salami that James was so fond off.
He hadn't been happy.
"What'd you do that for?"
"It's bad for you."
"So ya don't have to eat it."
He'd opened the pantry. "What happened to the biscuits?"
"I chucked them out too," she calmly replied.
He shut the pantry door and frowned at her. "Great," he muttered, "so what food is left in the house?"
She raised an eyebrow, hid a smile. "Carrots."
He shook his head contemptuously. "Unbelievable," he muttered, opening the fridge and reaching for a beer. "I really hate that woman," he muttered under his breath, "battleaxe."
He slammed the fridge door shut. Flipped the cap off the can of beer and looked at her.
"I'm thinking of your waist line," she stated.
"What mine or yours," he returned.
"Both, in case you hadn't noticed lately James but that weight you lost a couple of months ago is starting to creep back on."
He glared at her. "No it's not."
She gave a laugh. "Oh yes it is, what's this then?" She leaned forward and patted his tummy.
He moved away chagrined but she trapped him between the fridge and the bench.
"You see this," she exclaimed, pinching the side of his waist, "it's getting soft James."
"You are such a bitch," he muttered but she could see the amusement in his eyes.
"That's why you love me," she smiled up at him.
His face softened. "Beat's me why."
The christening went smoothly. Everyone was there, these occasions always so special in Dharmaville. Horace loved celebrating, any excuse for a shindig. He'd already arranged a BBQ after. Juliet would rather go home. She was tired and kind of sad. Since having Mary she found her thoughts drifting more and more to Rachel. How she wished she could share this moment with her. She couldn't explain the sudden homesickness that would assail her from time to time. James had found her crying on the couch two nights ago. Asked what was wrong.
Sometimes I just want to go home. But the words getting stuck in her throat. What was the point in saying them? They were stuck in the 70's, unless Daniel returned with some way to get them back to the future this was their reality. She had been on this island seven years. There was no getting off it. Sometimes she thought about taking the sub and just living back on the mainland, so what if it was the wrong era. But then she'd look at James and see how happy he was, how well he fitted in here. Him, the con man, nothing more than a scoundrel when he first came here, selfish, closed in. It was hard to believe this man she now knew was that person once. He'd come so far. She loved him so much but this ... this place ... some days she felt trapped. Some days she found herself longing for home, longing for her sister, longing to go back to her beloved research. She couldn't explain these things to James, because she knew he didn't long for the same things.
She glanced over at him chatting now with Horace, laughing, a beer in one hand, so at home.
"You sad Juliet," a voice spoke and she turned to face Jin.
She hadn't even heard him approach.
"I miss home," she admitted.
They exchanged a look, a shared understanding.
He nodded and sighed. "Me too."
Nothing more needed to be said, both knowing it was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Juliet looked away, over towards James. He glanced back at her, giving a brief warm smile. She smiled back.
"You think they'll come back?" Jin asked at length. "Locke and the others?"
"No," she sighed.
A/N: I hope I haven't put any of you girls off from having a baby!
It's been a while since I last updated this, if you are still reading and would like me to write more (still have a couple of chapters in mind) please drop a line in the way of a review.
It would be really appreciated! Suggestions also very much welcomed.