DISCLAIMER: Mark VII and NBC Universal own everything, but Julianna. She's my creation.

Julianna came out of her bathroom, trying to tie her bikini top around her neck. She was shocked to find Johnny, half-dressed in her bedroom.
"Johnny," she said.
Johnny turned around, dropping his shirt on the floor.

"Jules! Mike said you were downstairs and told me to change," he said.
"It's fine. I'm just a little surprised to find you in here," she said.
He pointed at her hand behind her neck. "You need help," he asked.
Julianna sighed. "Yeah." She was a bit hesitant to get help from him.
"Come on, Jules, I don't bite," Johnny said.
Julianna rolled her eyes. "Leave your sex life out of this," she said. She turned around and Johnny grabbed the strings to the top.

Julianna pulled her hair up to allow Johnny access to tie the strings. Johnny stepped closer to her and started to tie the strings on the top. He caught a whiff of her shampoo. She smelled like coconut, just like in high school.

He closed his eyes and let himself remember how happy they had been.

"You about done," she asked, pulling him out of his daydream.
"Yeah," he said, clearing his throat. He willed himself not to react to seeing her in a bikini. He'd seen her in one before, but seeing her in one as a woman was a sight. "So, Bill coming by today," he asked.
"No, he's filling in at 99 today," Julianna said, knowing exactly what he was trying to do. "What about Sheila," Julianna asked.

"She's working, too," he said.
"Wow! She does that a lot these days," Julianna said.
"What's that supposed to mean," he asked.
"Well, nothing, it's just that she's either not very sociable, doesn't like your friends or can't bear the thought of being with you in public," Julianna said, brushing out her hair.

"Maybe she happens to like to spend time with me in private," he said.

Julianna laughed.

"How serious are things with Bill," Johnny asked.

"Once again, it's not any of your business how serious my relationship with Bill is or isn't," Julianna said, facing Johnny.

Johnny grinned at her. "Not your type, huh? I could have told you that."
"Oh, really? So you're the expert on Julianna Stoker? You know exactly what I want or need. News flash, Johnny, I've changed a lot since high school," Julianna said.
"So have I and I know you better than you think," Johnny said.
"Really," Julianna challenged.
"Really," he answered back, getting close to her.

"Fine, what do you think I need right now," Julianna asked.

Johnny came close to her and stared into her eyes. "You need me," he said.

Julianna laughed in his face before turning around and facing the wall. "Wow, Gage, you're not the least bit modest, are you," she said.

Johnny came up behind her and said, "A little of the old Gage charm. That's exactly what you need."

Unable to take being close to her and not touch her, Johnny let his finger caress her collar bone.

Julianna gave a shudder. Johnny leaned closer and kissed her bare shoulder. Julianna found herself leaning back into his body and Johnny turned her around. His mouth came down on her, claiming hers with reckless abandon.

Julianna ran her fingers through his hair and pressed herself closer to him. Johnny found himself walking backward, taking Julianna to her bed. She leaned back on it and looked up at him. He leaned over and kissed her neck.

He whispered in her ear. "I want you, Jules."
Julianna, her body driven by the desire Johnny was creating in her body, whispered back, "Take me."

That was all it took before Johnny once again claimed her mouth and ran his hand along her bare stomach.

Julianna's senses were on overload. Every touch from Johnny felt like an electric shock to her system. A good shock.

The two gave into the passion that had been brewing every time they were in a room together. All the passion that manifested itself in their arguments, came to a boiling point.

Without any further words between the two, they melded together the way only soul mates could.

~~Boy, now that the tension has been released, I'm breathing easier. Of course, I had a nasty altercation with the plot bunny over this one and it looks like he might have to seek revenge.~~