Night had long since fallen on the city. That night of October was cool and the rain had not ceased falling for hours. Yet the couple had wanted for anything cancel that appointment; their first dinner in town together. Julia wanted to surprise him for his birthday. She had come to the police station to get him, she had said nothing about their destination and he froze when they found themselves in front of the restaurant's facade.

-Julia it's crazy, if someone saw us? And with threats of Darcy ...

-Because of Darcy's threats, cut the young woman tenderly on his lips, I do not plan to satisfy show him I'm afraid. I am not afraid of him. Well then, you're here, nothing can happen to me.

-I'm not almighty Julia I ...

-I want to spend this evening with you, Julia nicely cut, and I can not stand to just see us at the hotel. I would love that we were having dinner in a restaurant, and we were going to the theater tonight.

-Theatre?

-I have two tickets for "King Lear", added the young woman smiling, happy birthday my love.

He just smiled and before he had time to answer, she kissed him. Then she slipped her hand in his and they rushed into the restaurant, feeling raindrops fall again after a brief lull.

They left the theater laughing, pressed against each other, flying one or another kiss.

-I want you Mr. Murdoch, gave Julia kissing his neck while she was tightly in his arms.

-You're drunk Julia, murmured William, you do not know what you say.

She laughed and stood up to steal another kiss.

-William, I'm not drunk with two glasses of wine, especially taken with meals. I drank more in the past. Believe me, she continued, by being affectionate while stroking his tie, I am perfectly aware of what I say. I really want you.

She only met his eyes and she kissed him again, hugging herself against him, feeling his hand he had slipped into the small of her back to hold her against him. Then, at the end of that kiss, when they regained their breath, they separated, exchanging a glance. William slipped his hand into Julia's opened his umbrella and the other clutching the woman near to walk in the street. They made only a few meters pressed against each other when a car quickly rushed into the street. Tires squealed on the wet, making them startled them both. Yet at the last moment they saw the armed robbery of a pistol out of the back window. The shot was fired. William drew Julia against him to protect her with his body. He felt her hug, he met her eyes and he understood. She stroked his cheek just before he felt her legs gave way. He simply accompanied her movement to the ground.

-Julia, Julia, William repeated in fear.

She stroked his cheek again without leaving his eyes, feeling the pain paralyze. William looked down her body to see a blood stain soak her clothes. He put his hand on her belly on the injury and she put hers on.

-The ... baby, Julia moaned in pain, our baby.

-He's fine, lied William throat dry, it will be okay.

-Don't lie to me, I..I feel it, Julia sobbed, it's hurt, it's hurt so much.

While leaving his hand on the belly of the young woman, William leaned over her face and looked into her.

-It will be alright my love, he murmured, the baby will be fine, and you too. We'll take you to the hospital and ...

Julia shook her head from side to side, struggling not to faint.

-I love you William, she whispered breathlessly, I wish I could ... if only I had been brave I ... I would have you said "I do".

-I do? William whispered, frowning.

-In the left pocket of your pants ... breathed Julia exhausted, if I had known ... if I had known. Take care of Olivia I beg you.

-You will do it Julia, we will do together.

-I love you, Julia whispered, closing her eyes.

William looked at her a few seconds before kissing her tenderly. He took her in his arms, not caring rain beating his face and soaked them both. There was only Julia who was important to him. He rested his forehead against hers, cradling crying softly as life left her.

-I beg you, he begged, do not leave me, I beg you. Fight my angel, beat up, for us, for him, sobbed William put his hand on her rebounded belly yet unconscious woman on the floor and whose blood continued to flow to mingle with dripping water in the gutter.

Some months later

This June was warm and sunny. The summer came apace even after a winter too long and hard even for the regulars. The train was crossing the fields lined with tall grass, the thick forests, along roads and gravel rivers with blue meanders.

William Murdoch looked out the window, unable to concentrate on the book he was holding. Recent months had been particularly long and grueling for him. They could read his fatigue and sadness on his face, he had known. Dawson's case had taken a long time to resolve. The culprit of the shot to Julia was never found, yet they were able to arrest Darcy Garland who was trying to flee to England. Sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in murder and drug trafficking, a good lawyer could get him out of jail in a few years. But after all, William didn't care the fate he was, nothing had really matter. He departed this life, he would build another away, leaving behind his past and suffering.

Alone in his compartment, he deposited his luggage on the seat across from him. There were only two dark suitcases, all his belongings . The time had come for him to take a fresh start, away from Toronto and memories. He was then asked for his resignation.

-I have nothing here, sir, he told his superior, I do not want to live in an apartment and in a city that remind me of what I went through, I will not go past the theater and feel what I felt that night.

-You are a police officer Murdoch, and you are good. You ruin your career.

-I'm sorry, William had simply answered before leaving the office to reach his own and take his business.

But Inspector Brakenreid was not fool, he knew that he was missing the woman, he saw every day how he was wasting away. He had seen him so often prostrate at his desk, staring into space and he understood that he had to think about her again. He had tried to stop him, but the words were not enough, in these cases the words are never enough. Then he wished him a pleasant journey, hoping he gives him some news when he would be installed, God knows where. But deep down he doubted hear about Detective Murdoch again one day.

The train was launched to live great and William just stared out the window, lost in memories. He was well utopian to believe that the distance would change something, even away from Toronto he could not stop thinking about her. She. That he held between his fingers a photo that never left him. Sometimes he spent hours watching her face, imagine stroking fingertips her skin, her lips. After so many months, he still remembered the softness of her kisses, her scent, the sound of her laugh, every curve of her body. He knew he loved this woman with all his heart, and he would never love another.

The train braked suddenly startling the young man. He then looked carefully to see the landscape profile the station lost in the middle of the countryside. He had arrived. He quickly arranged his affairs and he grabbed his bags to leave the compartment. He borrowed the long hallway lined with windows, having the time to watch the people on the wooden dock. Then he followed the other passengers to exit the train. A ray of sunlight dazzled the space of a moment, and he adjusted his hat. The dense crowd dispersed already around him when he saw her. She stood there in front of him, wearing a beige dress with red and blue flowers, perched on high heels, a red belt marking her slender waist, her hands clasped before her whose nails were as red as her belt and her lips. They stretched in a shy smile. He met her eyes as blue as the ocean, he saw one of her bungs curls escaping from her hairstyle to low wind. She wore a hat to protect her fair skin from the sun, yet already a few freckles stood out on the top of her chest and cheeks. This evening of October they lost their child, but after days of constant care, Julia had finally awakened. He had not lost her. William smiled, feeling his heart leap into his chest. These months of separation had been so long.

He approached her with a slow, then he dropped his bags on the floor unceremoniously, without leaving her eyes. He then placed one of his hands in the back of the young woman and he pulled her against him for a kiss. Immediately, she slipped her hand through his dark hair, savoring the slow, sensual dance of their tongues. When they came to their breath fail, they separated only to cross their eyes and smile.

-I missed you William, she whispered on his lips before kissing him again.

-I missed you too my love, but this time, we will never be separated again.

-Come, Olivia is looking forward to the ranch, she missed you terribly too.

They smiled and they kissed again, then, William took his bags and Julia slipped her hand into his. A sunshine then shone on the ring she wore on the left hand, the ring he had given her before she left, when he proposed to her, and she accepted.

End