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Title: Love's Journey
Summary: After failing at a relationship when they were teens, Dillon and Lulu find themselves becoming close again when she learns of Dante's infidelity. Will she give Dante another chance or will she turn to her childhood crush who has always secretly loved her? Dillon/Lulu endgame. Set after 11/4/2015
Chapter 2
***The Next Day***
(While making some adjustments regarding his movie on his computer, Dillon comes across a picture of Lulu smiling for the camera. He couldn't get over how carefree she was in the pose. Her everyday clothing she wore, the way she let her hair lie against her shoulders, and her perfect smile showing her white teeth. He sighs deeply as he could look at that photo for hours. He knew he shouldn't be feeling this way, He was in love with a married woman. In his heart, though, he honestly wasn't sure Lulu still felt happily married since Dante's infidelity)
(If it were up to Dillon, he would gladly kick Dante's ass for cheating on Lulu. What the hell was Dante thinking? Yes, he honestly felt Lulu was sleeping with Dillon. However, Dante didn't confront Lulu about it. He just saw clothes all over the place. Did it look bad? Yes, but Dante still should have talked to Lulu. Lulu was aware that she should have been honest with her husband the whole time. In her defense, she was just following her father's orders. Luke warned her no one could know Lucky was in danger. Being Dante is a cop, he could be forced to take action and Luke was worried about the repercussions)
(Lulu felt horrible about lying to Dante. In the end, she made the best decision she could. To Dante and Valerie, it was a bad one. Lulu felt like she cheated on Dante in a way. Even though she didn't reciprocate the kiss Dillon planted on her, she couldn't shake the feeling she momentarily had. In that split second smooch that Dillon gave her when he confessed his feelings to her, she felt something. She felt a connection with the man she briefly dated as a teen. Her and Dante have kissed millions of times throughout their marriage. Of course, it was magical. She had to admit that the last couple of weeks, she didn't feel as much passion in the kisses her and Dante shared like they used to)
(Lulu would never admit it, at least not right in that moment. She loved her husband. That much was evident. Although, in the end last couple of weeks she spent with Dillon, she couldn't admit her attraction to him. She was a married woman, after all)
(Dillon gets lost in the moment while admiring Lulu's pose. Just as he shakes his head to escape his thoughts, he hears a familiar voice)
Valerie: "You do know that you will never have her, right? She is still married to Dante. Whether you like it or not, she loves him."
(Dillon rolls his eyes in annoyance as he closes his laptop)
Dillon: "Yes, Valerie, I know. I'm well aware of that. Thank you."
(Dillon rests his laptop on the bench he was sitting on in the corner of the room and gets up, walking away from Valerie. She follows him to the bar before he turns around and faces her)
Dillon: (shakes his head) "You don't need to remind me Lulu is still technically married. You also don't need to remind me that I'll probably never win her heart."
(Valerie sighs sadly at him. Even though she took a little bit of pleasure in reminding him where he stands with Lulu, she also couldn't help but feel sorry for him. They were at odds with each other. However, she did still care for him as a friend. She tilts her head and looks at him sympathetically)
Valerie: "For what it's worth, I'm sorry you're going through this. Did you make a bad judgment call in how you exposed Dante's infidelity to Lulu? Yes." (seriously) "I'm still mad at you for that. You agreed you wouldn't say anything." (frustratedly) "Why the hell did you do it? I know you wanted Lulu to know the truth, but did you have to expose it that way? And embarrass me that way, too?"
(He slides his hands through his hair and sighs deeply, shaking his head)
Dillon: "I-I don't know what I was thinking. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing. I know I promised you I wouldn't say anything, Valerie. It's just...I was so damn frustrated because Lulu thought Dante was this freaking saint and clearly he wasn't. I know I'm not perfect. I'm far from it. I've always loved Lulu. Even though I've been away for about eight years, I never forgot about her." (sighs) "I don't think I'll ever stop loving her. In all honesty, I think she's held my heart even when neither of us realized it."
(Valerie takes a few steps towards him and folds her arms)
Valerie: "So, what are you going to do about the fact that you were the one who secretly exposed mine and Dante's affair? Yes, Dante is wrong for what he did. But, Dillon..." (points at him) "...so were you on how it came out."
(Dillon looks away from Valerie as he ponders his next move. He nods as he sighs, looking at Valerie)
Dillon: "I'm going to tell Lulu the truth. I want her to hear it from me. The next time I'm alone with her, I'll tell her."
Valerie: (raises her eyebrows) "She may not forgive you."
Dillon: (nods) "I know. I'm hoping she does, though. I love her. Just like I know you love Dante."
Valerie: (shakes her head) "I never said I did."
Dillon: (tilts his head) "You don't have to. It's written all over your face every time I see you with him or whenever I see you look at him."
(Meanwhile, at Dante and Lulu's loft, Lulu is going through a few dresser drawers when she hears the front door open, revealing Dante. He is caught off-guard to see her, but can't stop the smile from spreading)
Dante: "Hi."
(Lulu glances at him while she continues her task)
Lulu: "I'll be out of here in a little bit. I just came for a few things."
(As he walks towards her, he speaks)
Dante: "Lulu, this is your home, too. It always has been and always will be."
(She shakes her head as she continues her mission)
Lulu: "No, it's not. Ever since you said you slept with her in our bed, I-I can't stand to be here anymore."
Dante: (nods) "Then, we'll move."
(Lulu stops what she's doing and looks at him weirdly)
Lulu: "What?"
(Dante faces his wife seriously and nods)
Dante: "You heard me. Lulu, I love you. I love our family we created together. If this loft reminds you so much of my mistake with Valerie, we'll move to a different apartment where there are no bad memories. We'll start fresh."
(Lulu looks at him in shock. She never thought she would hear him suggest that. Then again, she never thought it was a possibility herself. She knew she couldn't live in this place anymore. Not with the place where Dante had sex with Valerie. She couldn't help but think of the idea he suggested. She briefly looks down before facing her husband again)
Lulu: "Are you serious? You would do that?"
(She looks around the room as she still couldn't believe it)
Lulu: "Dante, this is your home."
(Dante shakes his head as he makes a bold move, wrapping his arms around her lower back. She tearfully sniffles as he takes a strand of blonde hair that was in her face and rests it behind her ear. He looks at her tenderly)
Dante: "Baby, this was OUR home. I will miss this place, yes. But if this place holds too many sad memories for you, I'm willing to let it go. Lulu, I love you and only you. Being with Valerie was the biggest mistake of my life. If I knew you could forgive me for what happened, I'd move where you wanted to in a second."
(Lulu momentarily smiles until she's overcome with sadness again)
Lulu: "I can't ask you to do that."
Dante: "You're not asking me to. I'm offering. You say the word and we're gone."
Chapter 2 Done
Thank you for reading. Please review if you want this story to continue. I will say this. There will be times where Dante and Lulu will appear to find their way back. together. I assure you Dillon/Lulu fans, they will be endgame. It will just take time getting there as every story needs drama. Please bear with me. I want them together, too. hehe. Next chapter this story changes to 'M' rating. I'm hoping you won't mind that. If you prefer it to stay 'T', let me know. For Chapter 3 anyway, it will be rated 'M'. For those who are 'guests' on this site reading this story, please be aware that when/if it goes to M, you will need to look up the rating part on the site. Thanks for reading!