Her face suddenly lit up with a breath-taking smile. And I returned it when she replied:

'And I Love You William..'

I cant remember how long we sat there at the small table, in the golden sunlight, just basking in the glow of the morning sun and our renewed love...I couldn't think of anything that I would rather be doing...

Later on that day we had decided that we would take a picnic to the local park. The sun was still shining and I was clutching the wicker picnic basket in my left hand. I gently reached out with my right to find Julia's left, and gently twined our hands together. I saw her blush ever so slightly at my outward display of affection, but she didn't look at me just continued to watch her feet, as we neared our destination. It was the same place we had come so close to tasting the forbidden fruit nearly two years ago. I would have never have let it get that far..I don't believe...but I was close..so close to loosing my resolve...Julia was irresistible and it only took me to hear her breath catch as my shaking hands grazed the bare skin above her bodice.

I shook my head gently and took in a deep lungful of fresh air. I noticed she was smiling at me a little, was she thinking the same..?
We carefully laid out the blanket we had brought, and we set out some of the food we had made together earlier. Including some peanut butter jelly sandwiches that Julia now appeared to be quite partial to something that had made me chuckle lightly when she asked me. I looked around carefully to see if there were any other people enjoying the late afternoon sun in the park, although I saw barely anyone except a lone man sat on a bench reading the paper. I turned back around and placed my eyes on Julia. She had removed her hat and placed her long braid over one shoulder. I smiled as I took in her appearance. I still couldn't quite believe she was here. And we were engaged. I couldn't quite comprehend it. The person I had been to hell and back for was sat in front of me and smiling gently in my direction, realising I hadn't said anything the whole way here I suddenly blushed in embarrassment.

'Julia.. I apologise..I was a little lost in my thoughts...' she suddenly let out a gentle laugh and put her hand to my cheek. I smiled apologetically at her. She leant forward and pressed a kiss to my lips and we both pulled away looking around to see if anyone had seen us being so scandalous. We both laughed mischievously as we realised we were in the clear. Suddenly all those feelings from the last time we were here returned. The passion, the unguided sheer pleasure of just being together...embracing. When I looked up to her the breeze making gentle slights of hair wisp across her face and her eyes were deep with passion. Her lips parted a little and I felt my breath catch in my throat. I cleared it embarrassed and she giggled watching me squirm.

'William...your as prudent as ever I see.' She said with a laugh in her voice. She placed her hand to the side of my face and brought our faces closer together our foreheads were almost touching. Her mouth was slightly parted and I was begging in my head for her to kiss me. But she surprised me with what she said next.

'Kiss me William..'

My eyes instantly flickered up-to hers and I could see the love and passion-burning unabashed in them. I pushed all my inhibitions aside best I could and threw myself into the kiss. My arms went to her waist and I pulled her against me. We tumbled to the ground half on the grass half on the blanket. Her hands were running through my hair and our breathing was getting quicker and our eyes couldn't leave each others.

'William..' Julia said breathily as she pushed herself up away from my chest, she looked around cautiously worried that someone had seen us. Luckily by the looks of things the man that was reading his paper on the bench had left a little while ago. I couldn't help laughing a little as she leant over me and her hair fell over her shoulders and landed in a golden blonde tangle over my face, I carefully put my hands to her face and gently pulled it back behind her shoulders. She smiled and leaned into my touch as I briefly brushed her cheek with my hand. I cleared my throat and went to sit us both up in a more acceptable position. She discreetly put her hand to her cheek to calm the colour that was rising in them. I didn't pry into her embarrassment so I began packing the things back into the picnic basket. The sun was beginning to set as we walked arm in arm on the way home, we had wanted to hold each others hands but we had decided that it would be little too suspicious if we had, after all, Julia had only just broken off her engagement with Dr. Forewell, and considering the amount of press coverage she already had for her somewhat controversial job offer, and my recent...lapse in life - we thought it would be wise to keep our personal affections to our own privacy, or to a minimum at the very least.

-Julia's POV-

I kept peeking sideways glances at William on the way home, we didn't say much, both of us somewhat revelling in our newly replenished romance. We arrived outside my home and we turned to look at each other. Thinking suddenly of something I wanted to ask William but not being sure how it would be taken, I carefully formed the words in my head.

'William?' I asked quietly. He looked up to me, squinting a little as we were both stood in the main view of the beaming setting sun everything bathed in the orange-gold light and the air was heavy with the summer heat.

'How do you think, we will announce our engagement..?' I hoped he understood my somewhat cryptic question. When his brow furrowed it occurred to me it had been thinking about it too. I definitely posed us a barrier that in one fail swoop could ruin everything between us. Including our careers. To those who didn't know the full story I would look like somewhat of a heartbreaker... a common doxy, switching from man to man as I pleased. It would leave everything in tatters. William would appear as some sort of fancy-man, toying with the relationships of others. We had tried to ignore the papers that had released a full apology about his shotgun 'reported death' and we hadn't heard all that much about it, believing the press had somewhat brushed their slip-up under the carpet. It was much harder to ignore the gossip in the streets and in public places, people would stare and asked hushed questions such as- 'Is that her?' or 'Is that him?' it was unnerving to say the least. Keeping our relationship status and engagement quiet was becoming more and more of a difficulty, I had taken my engagement ring off. I kept it inside its velvet box, in my bag, not wanting to leave it at home. I wanted it close to me. We had both decided this was best. I was under the impression that William had told no-one, and knowing of his private demeanour I shouldn't have thought otherwise. Breaking the news to Ruby and my father was going to be a different story altogether. And I tried not to dwell on the thought. My thoughts suddenly returned to William, who was still stood in front of me on the porch of my home.

'I don't know Julia..' he shook his head sadly I looked around my street carefully to see if anyone was coming and when I saw it was clear, I leant forward and pressed a kiss to Williams lips. It was short and somewhat urgent but it was all that was there to give, seeing as they were more or less in the middle of the street. 'Goodnight Julia' William said as Julia carefully closed the door behind her with a saddened sigh.

A/N- Phew. Apologies to those waiting patiently for an update on this story, I have recently moved house and we have only just got internet! HOWEVER- I have 3 chapters ready to upload tonight, to make up for missed time, thanks for sitting tight everyone! :)