Julia was making her way to the Brackenrieds for dinner. She was leaving for Vienna the next day and Margaret had invited her and William over. The last week had been surreal. Her thoughts drifted back to New Year's eve…..

Julia took a few seconds to react to Darcy's statement….. "… to be with who she wished…" She quickly got up and ran after him: "Darcy wait…I don't understand…."

He stopped and turned to her: "Oh yes you do Julia. You know perfectly well what I am saying."

Julia did not know how to respond: "But it's New Year's eve. I should be with you."

"Yes you should." He said. "But you should be with me because you want to be, not because you have to."

She tried to answer: "But I do want…." Darcy did not let her finish.

"Stop lying to me and to yourself Julia. Just go… "

He stopped and looked at her for a second before continuing. "You always do what you want anyway. Just now, a few hours ago you inform me that you are off to Vienna for six months. Don't you think you should have consulted me on this? "

Julia bowed her head, ashamed of her actions. "Yes, Yes. I should have. But I have been so busy working that case….."

Darcy interrupted her: "…with Murdoch."

Julia whispered back: "Yes with William." She looked at her husband for a second before she continued:

"But going to Vienna Darcy. That has nothing to do with William. For weeks now I have known that I had come along as far as I could with Dr. Roberts; both personally and professionally. I am much better now, but I want to stay better. I don't want to go back to where I was…."

Darcy looked at his wife: "Oh Julia it's more than Vienna and you know it. You have to decide what it is you want. I am off to the Lamonts. Come if you want. If you show up, I'll know…and if you don't, well….. "

Julia had watched him leave. Even now a week later, she could not believe she had actually done it. She had agonized over the decision for hours. So long, that she had barely made it to the New Year 's Eve ball on time for the midnight count. Even despite having rehearsed what to say to William a dozen times, she had still babbled nervously about nothing and everything. Had he not taken the initiative and questioned her motives for being there, she was not sure she would have had the courage to come out and say it. After she told him, she was so nervous, so worried. Worried that he would respond like he had when she had told him of her sterility; when he had silently stood there, seemingly judging her and finding her lacking. This time though, had been different. She still blushed at what he had done. Kissing her like that in front of everyone. They had barely talked that night, both of them knew that time for talking would come later. It hadn't come. A murder had been committed and she had been busy making last minute arrangements for her trip.

Finally, she arrived at the Brackenrieds. Margaret let her in. They settled themselves in the drawing room.

Margaret asked Julia: Have you had time to…. settle everything?"

Julia looked worriedly at Margaret: "Yes and No… I've only seen William briefly and in public, so having a frank discussion has been impossible. And to be honest Margaret, I'm so unsure of everything. New Year's eve was wonderful, romantic, but not really real was it? What does he want with me anyway… ? Me, a barren pigheaded woman on the wrong side of thirty and married to another man at that….." Julia stopped. These things she knew; had known them before joining William that night, but saying them out loud made them so much more real, so much bigger to overcome, Margaret took a long look at Julia.

"Julia. I can't lie to you. Obviously William and you have not chosen the easy path. You will have challenges ahead of you but that is what real relationships are all about; sharing obstacles and coming through. William and you will find a way."

Julia looked at Margaret with hope: "You think? You think we can?"

Margaret smiled and hugged her just as they heard the front door open. Julia looked at the door, nervously re-arranging her hair as the two men walked in. Neither William nor Julia spoke. They just looked at each other. They barely noticed Margaret dragging her husband away. William spoke first.

"I wish you wouldn't go away, so far for so long."

Julia agreed: "Yes I know, but perhaps this time it is really for the best. What we will be doing William, it will be hard. You have to be sure. This will give you time to think."

William came to her. "I am sure now Julia."

She smiled sadly back at him. "I know you are, but everything has gone so fast. I've not changed William. I'm still me. What drove us apart before is still there….. " . She stopped talking because her abortion and its horrible consequences had always seemed impossible to overcome. Each time, she had to talk about it, the words never came, but it needed saying.

"William. There will be no miracles. I will never be able to have children. You must understand that if we are to have a chance."

William then did what she wished he would have done in her morgue two years ago. He took her in his arms and held her for the longest time. Finally he spoke:

"Julia. I meant what I wrote then. It does not matter. I will be proud and happy to adopt children with you. I just wish I would have had the courage to come to Buffalo and …"

"William please stop… say no more. I should have stayed. Let you have time to take it all in….We are both at fault."

She stopped talking and he took her in his arms and held her for a long long time. Finally Julia lifted her head and smiled at William as she said: "Margaret's dinner invitation was just for show you know. " Julia looked at the door. "They won't be back. She left some food for us in the kitchen should we need some."

It took a few seconds for William to figure it out. He smiled.

"Hmm …I could skip dinner." He started kissing her. "You will be gone for many months after all…."

Julia smiled. Maybe they did have a chance after all.