Author's Note: Okay. This seriously would have been posted last night had my internet not been turned off. I may have forgotten to pay the bill. So for any reviews I forgot to reply to, I apologize! For the reviews I did reply to, I'm sorry about any errors! I was replying using my cell phone. And NOW I apologize for any errors in the story. I kind of broke my space bar. It's stuck under the V on my laptop.. hahaha. My bad.. so I'm sorry for any random extra spaces, I'm not quite sure how to fix this! (Any other mistakes are because I'm blind and stupid. Hah.)

This chapter goes to all my annoymous reviewers! Lizzie, I believe you asked in a review for one of my missing pieces if you could translate the story into portuguese and post it? If that was you, then of course you can! I had no way to reply since the reviews are annonymous, so here's your answer! Of course you can, feel free! Let me know how your Brazilian friends like it! Tell them 'Oi' for me! I believe that's Hi in Portuguese! I'm not sure though, so forgive me if I'm wrong!

Heartland:

Chapter 21: Reunited

She won't make a sound, alone in this fight with herself

And the fears whispering: If she stands, she'll fall down.

She wants to be found, but the only way out,

is through everything she's running from.

She wants to give up and lie down.

-Stand in the Rain(Superchick)

Juliet frowned as Sun taped the bandage over her forehead where Locke head knocked her over the head. She still had the remnants of a headache roaming in the area where he had hit her.

Sun glanced up at Juliet and smiled a little. "Sorry if it hurts.."

"No, no," Juliet assured her. "It's not your fault."

Sun nodded slightly. "You love Sawyer?" she asked in curiosity. She noticed the look that crossed over Juliet's features and knew the answer almost immediately.

Juliet nodded. She didn't know why, but she felt the need to share with Sun. "It's strange.." she admitted. "I'd given up on love," she explained. "Well.. more like I'd stopped believing in it I suppose.."

Sun's eyes softened at Juliet's explaination. "How did it start?" she dared to ask. They had time to kill until Richard decided it was time for them to go.

Juliet thought about it. "It was.. gradual," she stated. "Little things at first, that I didn't even realized really mattered until then.."

Sun smiled. This Juliet was so much different then the one she remembered from over four years ago. The old Juliet wasn't nearly as open with people.

"I suppose.." Juliet began. "It was the way he would listen, and never judge.." she explained. "He had my back.. and he kept me safe, he protected me.."

Sun couldn't believe it. From the way Juliet spoke of Sawyer, it seems the two of them made changes together through the years. It was so strange, because the last time she'd really had a conversation with Sawyer she had slapped him. To know that he'd gone from being so manipulative to being, in Juliet's eyes, such a good man, was.. extraordinary.

"I think.. if I had the chance to rewrite things, to do it all over again," Juliet started, pausing just barely to think. "I would do everything just the same.."

Sun stared at Juliet in disbelief. "You would bring yourself to this island, even knowing what would happen?" she questioned.

Juliet smiled. "I would.."

"Why?" Sun asked in surprise.

Juliet glanced up, staring at the stars in the night sky now. She secretly wondered, if Sawyer would be looking as well. Ben's daughter Alex once told her that sometimes she lived for nights like these when she was away from Carl, because she could look into the sky at the stars, and know that Carl was out there looking as well. And it was as though they were still together. "Because, Sun.." she told her. "If I never came to this island.. I would have never met James."

Sun smiled regardless of the circumstances.

Juliet sighed, closing her eyes, yet still facing up towards the sky. "If I never met him.. sure.. I would be alright.. and I know this is a bit cheeseball," she admitted. "But.. if in the end, I went through all of this and get to be with him.." she explained. "Then I would go through all of it, a million times, for that chance.. even if it was just for one more day."

"Love makes you do things that you would never imagine yourself doing, doesn't it?" Sun asked her, unable to help the way her smile had grown.

Juliet opened her eyes and glanced back at Sun, and smiled at her in return. "It certainly does.."

"You've changed so much," Sun noted, and chuckled at Juliet's look of slight embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," Juliet apologized. "I babbled.."

Sun laughed now. "No, not at all," she told her. "It's nice to know that this island can't take away everything we've gained."

"It can Sun.. and it does.." Juliet's smile was sad now. "I shouldn't leave.." she stated with a tinge of guilt suddenly. "If I leave.."

Sun let her smile fade away now.

"If I leave.. Ben will try and kill Sawyer.." Juliet admitted, covering her face with her hands in defeat.

"I don't understand.." Sun stated in confusion. "Why would Ben care?"

Juliet shook her head. "He thinks that I'm his.." she admitted to Sun. "And as long as Ben's alive.. Sawyer could never be safe with me.."

Sun felt the waves of dispair flooding from Juliet. She knew that she would feel the exact same way if she were placed in Juliet's position.

Juliet opened her eyes and looked around, seeing no one nearby. "If Ben.. if he knew about our daughter.."

Sun understood now. Juliet didn't just fear for Sawyer, she feared for their daughter's safety as well.

"I can't do it, Sun.." she told the other woman.

"Yes you can."

Juliet and Sun both stared up at Richard.

"It's time to go," Richard told them. "I know you want to protect him," he told her. "But I'm protecting you, and no matter what, Juliet.." he stated, squatting down in front of her. "No matter where you are, and who you're with, Ben will always see James as an obstacle that needs to be taken care of."

Juliet couldn't help the tears that came to her eyes. Because in a sense she also knew that Richard was right. Ben knew she was in love with Sawyer, and it wouldn't matter where she was, with Ben or with Sawyer, Ben would still try to kill him.

"You'll never be safe here," Richard warned her. "And James is no safer without you then he would be with you," he explained, albeit not very gently. "So your choice is simple here.."

Juliet admitted that at times she hated Richard's honesty. But she also found it refreshing.

"You can stay here, with Ben," Richard told her. "Or I can take you back to the man you love enough to risk yourself for."

"He's right," Sun told Juliet. "We have to go, and you know Sawyer will not let anything happen to you.."

Juliet smiled sadly as Richard grabbed her hand and helped her up. "That's what I'm afraid of," she admitted.

()()FLASHBACK()()

Sawyer decided he liked it a lot better when Jin didn't really understand what you were talking about. But after ten and a half months, Jin understood a lot better then he had before. And he spoke English better as well. For whatever reason, he felt he owed it to Jin to tell him the truth. So as they stood in his living room, he wasn't entirely sure how to start the conversation.

"You said.. you wanted to talk, yes?" Jin asked, thoughtful of his words.

"Yeah," Sawyer answered with a sigh. It was now or never. "Jin, you remember when Sun was attacked in her garden on the beach?"

Jin frowned, but he nodded his head. "Yes I remember."

Sawyer groaned, he couldn't believe he was going to tell Jin. But when he'd told Juliet a few days ago, she'd seemed disappointed in him. Her only response had been to tell him he needed to tell Jin, and then leave without another word to him. He didn't get it, she wasn't exactly an angel in her past either. "It wasn't the Others that attacked Sun.."

Jin stared with slight confusion.

"I told Charlie to do it, make it look like the Others," he admitted.

Jin was in a stunned silence at the confession. He balled his fists up, but he didn't move. "Why?" he finally asked.

"Because I was an ass," Sawyer muttered out. "And I wanted the gun stash in my hands.."

Jin frowned, and unable to hold it back any longer, he wrenched his fist back and hit Sawyer square in the jaw before turning and walking out of the house, not looking back.

Juliet stared in shock as Sawyer's door slammed open in front of her, nearly hitting her, and Jin stepped out. "Jin?" she questioned. Though she got the feeling she knew exactly what went on.

Jin stopped and glanced at Juliet.

Juliet's eyes softened slightly at the angry look on Jin's face. She glanced in through the open door and watched as Sawyer stood with his hand rubbing his jaw. She turned back to Jin, and smiled a little. "Guess he deserved that."

Jin looked surprised by what she said to him. "You knew?" he asked. "What he did to Sun?"

"He told me the other day.." she admitted with a sigh. "I told him he needed to tell you.."

Jin frowned. He had never been on good terms with Juliet while they lived on the beach, he had taken in Sun's disaccord for the blonde and made it his own as well. Though he admitted she always told the truth to protect people, regardless of whether or not it would be painful. "Thank you."

Juliet smiled softly in return. "Want me to go and kick him while he's down?" she asked jokingly.

Jin smiled a little now, some of the anger receding at her joke. Though he didn't answer the joke. "You are.." Jin started.

Juliet tilted her head to the side slightly. "I'm what?"

"Good.." Jin told her. "You are.. a good person."

Juliet couldn't help but feel the surprise enter her with his statement.

"Me and Sun," he told her. "We were.. wrong about you."

Juliet watched in slight awe as Jin walked away from her. She admitted that was one of the first times anyone told her she was a good person since she came to this island. And she had never expected Jin to be the one to say it to her, if anyone ever did. She sighed, and turned looking back at Sawyer, then walked inside his house. "Come on, Rocky.." she said softly, taking his hand and leading him to sit down at the kitchen table.

Sawyer blinked out of confusion as she sat him down at the table. "What are you doing?" he questioned.

"Well.." she started, going into the freezer and sorting out the frozen goods. "Considering you actually worked up the courage to tell him, the least I can do is take care of that jaw of yours."

Sawyer watched as she pulled out a bag of frozen Dharma 'something'. String Beans he was pretty sure it said. He flinched when she held it to his jaw.

"Sorry," she stated softly. She could already see the bruise forming before she put the frozen bag of veggies on his jaw. "This should be an interesting one to explain.." she said casually. "How do you plan to explain your way out of this one?"

"Might just be me," he told her. "But I don't tend to think so well immediately after getting whacked in the face, how 'bout you?"

Juliet chuckled slightly in response.

Sawyer watched her expression now. "You didn't think I would tell him?" he finally asked.

"Honestly?" Juliet questioned. "I really wasn't sure if you would or not," she admitted.

"Guess you're not mad anymore then?" he asked.

Juliet glanced from where she was holding the frozen veggies on his jaw, up to his eyes. "We all make mistakes, James," she told him carefully. "Some of us just make downright idiotic ones."

Sawyer held back the chuckle in response to her statement. "What's your stupidest mistake?"

Juliet eyed him. "I always wonder if its most stupid, or stupidest.. either way, it sounds.."

"Stupid," Sawyer finished for her with a small laugh.

"Exactly.." Juliet replied, smiling as she shook her head.

Sawyer eyed her carefully. "Come on, that was avoiding the question," he noted. "You know mine, tell me yours."

"Alright," she said with a shrug. "I would say.. falling in love."

Sawyer raised both eyebrows up at her now. "Falling in love?" he questioned. "And how is love a stupid mistake?"

Juliet kept eye contact at a minimum now. It had been stupid to answer his question so honestly.. she should have simply said something like, coming to the island. That had been a stupid mistake as well. "Because.." she began, shrugging her shoulders. "It never lasts," she answered shamelessly. "I'm not sure I even believe in love anymore."

"Why not?" Sawyer questioned.

Juliet smiled sadly now, finally looking him in the eye. "Because each time I did, I was used, Ben sent the man I loved on this island to die, and the last was just.. one-sided. Then again," she said with some thought. "Maybe the first one was one-sided as well, now that I think about it.."

Sawyer was silent as she put the frozen veggies in his hand.

"See you tomorrow, James," Juliet stated quietly, standing up and heading back out the door.

()()END FB()()

Juliet remained a little further behind Richard and Sun, even as the rain had begun pouring and drenched them. In all honesty, she was growing weary of this island. She was tired, and she just wanted to give up. She wanted to lie down and let everything simply pass her by. She realized, vaguely, Sun had been speaking to her, but she couldn't for the life of her remember what she'd said.

Sun frowned as she glanced back at Juliet. The blonde looked lost in thought, sad.. and something she wasn't quite sure how to explain. Was it defeat? Surely she wouldn't have given up now that they were being brought to Jin and Sawyer.

Juliet never bothered to ask Sun to repeat herself. What if Richard was wrong? What if Sawyer would be safer without her? She let out an inaudible groan as she followed the two in silence. She hadn't lied, when she told Sun she would do everything all over again to be with him. But secretly she wondered if her life would ever be normal again. Or would her daughter simply be safer with her aunt, if Juliet never came back?

She didn't glance up when she saw Sun move faster. She didn't hear what the woman yelled out. She'd stopped walking because she'd nearly run right into the back of Richard.

"JIN!" Sun cried out, running to her husband and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

Sawyer watched in shock as Sun had practically come out of nowhere. He glanced over towards the direction she came from and merely saw Richard standing there through the rain. His hope died down when he didn't see Juliet. He glanced back to the side as Jin kissed his wife. He held a back a sigh, glancing back up and watched as Richard stepped aside, revealing Juliet behind him, staring down at the ground.

Juliet looked up, finally catching Sawyer's eye. She made up her mind almost instantly when she saw him standing there. She couldn't give up this fight, not now when they were so close. If she wanted normality, she realized she would have to fight for it. And she would fight.

Sawyer didn't waste any time going to her. As soon as he got in front of her he pulled her body against his, and when she laid her head down on his shoulder, he rested his against the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry.." Juliet whispered, closing her eyes and grabbing his shirt tightly in her a balled up fists. "James, I'm sorry.."

Sawyer let out a sigh of relief as he held her tightly. "Don't you ever leave me like that.." he told her gently. "You don't gotta protect me, Juliet.." he said quietly. "The only way we're gettin' outta here is together.."

Juliet felt the tears fall, and even though the rain would hide them, she knew Sawyer already knew they were there. He always knew.

"I love you.." Sawyer whispered in her ear. "And I ain't goin' anywhere without you.."

Juliet finally pulled back from the embrace and looked up into his eyes. Instead of replying, she pulled his face down to her, and kissed him full-force.

So stand in the rain, stand your ground,

Stand up when its all crashing down

You stand through the pain, you won't drown,

And one day what's lost can be found,

You stand in the rain.

()()END()()

We're getting down to the nitty gritty now! Woohoo! Actually.. it kind of makes me sad. I love writing this story. I wish I could keep it going forever. This chapter was there to make everyone happy! It's to show how much Juliet really does love Sawyer, and what she's willing to do to protect him. The finale proved she's willing to let go for him. True love!