Chapter Text
Normally they sit outside for their Sunday dinners. But today they unanimously agreed that it had finally gotten too cold. Sitting outside on long summer nights have been lovely, but Juliet has to admit that she likes sitting inside just as much. Maybe not so much right now, but as soon as they get rainy and stormy nights, she will love sitting indoors, drinking wine, talking, and watching the candles burn down low before they finally agree to call it a night.
When she moved into this house, Juliet wasn’t sure she would be a very social part of the neighborhood. Most of the other houses in the neighborhood were occupied by families. And she was just a single mom to be. And it turned out as she thought it would. Most of her neighbors she only knows by name. Not because she’s not social, but more because she is a very busy person. But in the years that have passed, she has grown very close to Penny and Desmond, the friendly couple that lives next door. How could she not? With the countless number of times, they’ve done babysitting for each other and borrowed so many cups of flour, milk, and sugar, that Juliet lost track of who owed who what, years ago. Not that it matters. They’re like family to her and she would gladly give them all her flour if they were ever in need.
This is why they meet up every Sunday, alternating houses each time unless something gets in the way. This Sunday it’s Juliet and Robin’s turn. For their first indoor meal of the season, Juliet couldn’t resist doing a roast and just have the whole house smell like a roast for most of the day. It turns out it was a bit too soon to do that. It’s just not cold enough outside, to justify it, and an hour before dinner time, the smell of roast is getting to be way too much, for the still relatively warm weather. To make up for it, Juliet abandons the idea of oven roasted potatoes and makes a cold pasta salad instead. Along with a few other vegetable side dishes.
It goes down easily, like it always does, along with wine, laughter, and talk. Penny talks to Maddie about the paper she handed in that Friday, while Robin and Desmond are discussing something to do with politics. Juliet isn’t really interested in that, so she listens to Roland and Charlie talk excitedly about their friends from preschool, and what they are going to play tomorrow. There are just about 5 months between the two boys, but with the way they spend almost every day together, you would think that they were twins.
The talk goes on and on, while the main leaves the table in favor of the dessert. And after that, the boys leave the table to go and play in Roland’s room, while Maddie leaves with the excuse of homework. Although Juliet suspects it’s Netflix or her friends, her daughter is really spending her time on. But it is Sunday night and she really can’t bring herself to remind the teenager, that there is school tomorrow. Maddie is more than responsible enough to keep track of her homework.
“So there I am, five minutes away from saying fuck it, and setting it on fire,” Robin tells his story, gesturing with his arms, showing off how he has had just a bit too much wine. “And then Juliet walks in, points out one tiny mistake I’ve made in my equations, and suddenly it all makes sense... For an hour I’ve been staring at this mess of number, and she takes one look at it and fixes it all.” He chuckles, taking another sip of wine, while Juliet smiles, slightly embarrassed from behind her own glass. Partly embarrassed, partly flattered, because she knows the point he’s trying to prove. “She’s the brain in the family, no matter how much she tries to deny it” Robin continues, receiving a roll of Juliet’s eyes, as the only reply. Normally one of Robin’s arguments for this point is that she went to college and has a Ph.D. in literature, whereas he never went to college. He hasn’t brought up this point tonight though, maybe because he knows that Juliet would shoot him down like she always does. Just because he doesn’t have a Ph.D., doesn’t mean it’s because he can’t do it. It just wasn’t the path he wanted to take. And Juliet is quite convinced that if he would, Robin could easily get a degree.
She loves her younger brother to the moon and back, but she has never done too well, with being the center of attention. The only reason that she’s not turning red, is because she’s among friends, who all know her very well.
“If I’m the brain, then you’re definitely the brawn,” She says instead.
“Aye, that he is” Desmond agrees. “Remember when we redid our kitchen, you had to hold up those cupboards for so long, because the wall is almost solid brick. We finished in record time because of you” Desmond smiles, leaning back in his char, with an arm around Penny, who’s resting her head on his shoulder.
“You would have gotten them up without me too, I’m sure” Robin replies, but looks more than happy, to receive the compliment.
“Not bloody likely” Penny chirps back, looking like she’s half asleep, against Desmond’s shoulder. Looks like there’s another one who has had too much wine. Stretching, she sits up and looks at Desmond. “We should get going” He looks up at the clock on the mantle, before nodding. It’s nearing 11 pm, Juliet didn’t realize so much time had passed. The past few dinners, they sat outside and just went home when it got too cold. Now the time passes without any changes in temperature, so they can lose track of it. Which is not always a good thing.
They all rise, more or less at the same time, Penny and Robin to clear away the last plates, and Juliet and Desmond, to go find the boys. It’s not very good parenting to let the boys stay up this late. But when the noise from Roland’s room died down, they went up to check on them and found them asleep. Once they were safely tucked into Roland’s bed, the parents carried on talking downstairs.
Desmond carefully lifts Charlie up into his arms, as Juliet clears away a few toys, so there is a clear path, for tomorrow morning. There’s no worse way to start the day than to step barefooted on plastic toys. “They had fun” Juliet smiles, as she turns on Roland’s nightlight and leaves the door ajar before they head towards the stairs.
“They always do” Desmond replies softly. Juliet smiles and nods, before they descended the stairs. She is glad that the boys get along so well, it’s a thing that brings much joy to both families and makes the bond between them even stronger. When they arrive in the hallway, they say their hushed goodnights, before Desmond and Penny slip out the door with a sleeping Charlie.
Juliet and Robin spend a couple of minutes, loading whatever they can, into the dishwasher and clearing away the last few things before they say goodnight and Robin head into the upstairs bathroom. It’ll be a while before Juliet can get in there, so she goes up into the attic, to see if Maddie has gone to bed yet.
It was a thing of necessity, moving Maddie to the attic, but she had been quite happy to move there. When Robin had first moved back in, with a baby Roland in tow, it hadn’t been a happy occasion. Marian, Robin’s wife, had died in childbirth, and he was absolutely heartbroken. Plus it meant he was alone with a little baby Roland.
Like Robin had helped Juliet, when she first had Maddie, she stepped up to help him. He moved back in and had time to mourn the loss of his wife, while she helped him take care of his son. But it was obvious that Roland would need his own room, both for Roland and for Robin’s sake. But things were getting a bit cramped in the house, so they talked about turning the attic into a bedroom. It would take some work, but Robin was quite willing to do it, to take his mind off everything else.
Maddie has had that room since she loves the room. Which they had decorated just how she wanted it, at the time. It was quite a big room, compared to her old one, so it was natural that she should have it.
Juliet treads carefully as she walks up the steps to the attic because she knows how it creaks in some places. The room is dimly lit, when she gets far enough up the steps, Juliet can see that it is Maddie’s bedside lamp that is on. She’s under the covers, but is still awake, reading. Knocking on the banister, that separates her room from the stairs, Juliet smiles softly as Maddie looks up from her book. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah” Maddie nods, putting the bookmark back in the book and closes it.
Juliet crosses the carpeted floor and climbs into Maddie’s big bed, with the swirly-patterned headboard. She stays on top of the covers but crawls up to sit so she can lean against the headboard and Maddie, although Maddie is more lying down, than sitting up. She smiles in that indulgent way, that shows that this is something Juliet likes to do, often, especially at night. It was how they did storytime when it was just her and Maddie in their house. Juliet remembers having read Maddie so many stories. Everything from The cat in the hat, to The Hobbit and Lord of the rings. It can’t be said that being a literature professor, doesn’t have its benefits. Being able to pass on your love for books, is definitely one of them.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?”
Maddie nods, stirring her blonde locks, mixing them with Juliet’s own. It’s almost impossible to tell the difference between them now, although Maddie’s are still a bit lighter in color than Juliet’s. “I have a test in Biology on Thursday”
“Do you need any help with it?” Juliet asks, looking at her daughter. She has only just started high school, about 3 weeks ago. But apparently, they don’t waste any time, giving the students assignments and tests, right away. She admires Maddie for not stressing about it, any more than she does. Juliet probably would have, had she been in her place.
“I’m gonna study for it with Lisa on Wednesday, at her place. I already asked Rob if he would pick me up after his shift.”
Juliet nods, making a mental note of it. “Okay... Everything’s under control then?”
“Yup,” Maddie smiles, once again surprising Juliet with just how mature she is for her age. She’s fourteen, she should be rebelling and fighting her. But instead she’s a good student, with good friends, and she helps out at home too. Juliet could not be more proud of her if she tried. Turning her face, Juliet presses a kiss to Maddie’s brow.
“I’m here if you need me”
“I know” Maddie turns and meets her mother’s waiting arms. They share a long warm hug before Juliet leans back a bit and kisses her daughter again, this time on the cheek.
“We should get some sleep,” Juliet says before she sits up on the bed and scoots to the edge of it.
“Mom?” Juliet stops and turns, still sitting on the bed. “There’s this.. party next Saturday. I know I said I would go to Rob’s fundraiser. But everybody’s going and.. fundraisers are so boring”
Juliet smiles a bit, “I know.. but it’s important to Robin”
“But do I really need to be there? I mean, Roland isn’t even going, why do I have to?”
“To keep me company?” Juliet tries, knowing that it’s a pathetic excuse. But like Maddie, she knows that most of the people at fundraisers are rich old people. Some are interesting, yes. But most of them are painfully dull. And just as much as it is on Robin and all other firefighters, to get people to donate, it is also her job. Even if it is only because she wants to help. Besides, she knows she is good at smiling and laughing, and pretend to find other people interesting, even if she doesn’t. So she can help to get people to donate the money, that Robin’s fire department so desperately needs.
And he does the same for her when the university is having balls and things like that. It goes both ways, so Juliet knows she has to go, but it’s not really her favorite thing to do.
“Moooom!” Maddie laughs, crawling on top of the covers and over to sit next to her. “Please?”
“Will Thomas be at the party?” Juliet asks, smiling knowingly at her blushing daughter. She has been talking about him for weeks now. Not constantly, but she has mentioned him more than any other boy, and she has this special smile on her face when she does. Juliet isn’t blind, she knows what’s going on.
“Yes,” Maddie answers quietly, looking at the sheets and brushing some blonde locks behind her ear. It’s Juliet’s signature move when she’s insecure.
Juliet smiles, “And there will be parents present at this party?”
Maddie nods, looking up at her. “It’s at Alex’s place. Her mom will be there”
Juliet nods again, she knows Alex and her mother. Alex is a good girl, like Maddie, responsible. “I’ll talk to Robin, I’m sure it’ll be fine” Juliet knows that next Saturday night will be all the longer, without Maddie there. But she can’t force Maddie to be there. And frankly, if Juliet had a way to get out of it, she would probably use it.
Maddie lights up with a smile and Juliet is almost convinced that her boring Saturday night will be worth it if it makes Maddie this happy. “Thank you” She grins and hugs her mother.
Juliet hugs her close, “You’re welcome.” When she backs away with a kiss to Maddie’s temple, they’re both smiling. “Now – bedtime”
“Right .. Night mom” Maddie smiles at her mother before she crawls back under the covers.
“Goodnight sweetheart” Juliet gets off the bed and walks back downstairs, eager to get to bed and get some sleep.
~*~*~*~*~
Mornings always come with stress and rush. It doesn’t matter how early they get up, things still end up stressed. Even when Robin gets up before everyone else because he has to be at work at 7, for the early shift. Juliet knows he tries to leave the kitchen without a mess and with the coffee on so that she doesn’t have to worry about that. Robin sets the table and makes lunches before he rushes out the door. That way he hopes mornings are easier for Juliet when she’s alone with the kids.
But in all his rush of the morning, he forgot to grab his own lunch. Juliet sees when she stumbles into the kitchen. They have food at the station of course, but all of the firemen are men. Meaning they eat a lot, but don’t know what it means to restock a fridge. So Robin tries to always bring something. But today he didn’t.
With a light sigh, Juliet pours herself a cup of coffee, silently thanking Robin for at least remembering to put the coffee on. It’s not that he’s easily distracted, but sometimes he does forget. He is human after all. She takes a long sip of coffee, before she heads back up the stairs, to check on Maddie first. Glad to find that she’s already awake, Juliet heads to Roland’s room. Opening the door does nothing to stir the small boy, neither does sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Roland?” She calls softly, dragging the covers off of his shoulders, so she can run her hand up and down his back, slowly waking him. “It’s time to wake up sweetie.” The little boy stirs, as Juliet runs her hand through his curls. He turns his head and brings a hand up to rub at his eye, before blinking both open.
“Come on sweetheart” Juliet bends down and kisses his forehead, before she gets up from the bed and goes over to the closet, to pick out some clothes for him to wear.
“Can I wear monster truck?” His small groggy voice asks from the bed.
Juliet smiles, looking back at him, “Of course you can” When she turns back to the closet, she soon hears the moving of sheets and the shuffle of small, bare, feet against the floor, before she feels Roland’s arms wrapping around her leg. He is slow to wake up, something that Juliet loves about him. In the moments just after waking up, he is extra cuddly and Juliet is always open for cuddles. Running a hand through his soft curls, Juliet picks out a pair of shorts to go with the monster truck t-shirt.
“Did you have a good sleep?” He doesn’t reply, but she feels him nod against her hip. She just smiles, humming softly, still running her free hand through his hair. After a moment or two, she picks him up to rest against her hip, before grabbing the clothes and heading for the bathroom.
~*~*~*~*~
A couple of hours later, Juliet has dropped off Maddie, as well as Charlie and Roland. Since the boys go to the same preschool, they take turns to drop off and pick up the boys. Juliet has dropped them off, which means either Desmond or Penny will pick them up this afternoon.
Now, with Robin’s lunch in hand, she heads into the fire department. She steps through one of the garage doors, not seeing anyone there, at first. “Hello?”
She is not a stranger here, she knows everyone Robin works with, but it isn’t her territory and she doesn’t just want to walk in, although she knows it would be perfectly fine, for her to do so.
“Hey”
Juliet jumps a bit at the sudden noise, before she spots James, stepping out from behind one of the fire trucks. “God, you scared me” She smiles, with a hand on her chest and a light shake of her head.
“Sorry” He smiles back, wiping his hands in a discolored towel. Juliet knows that he has a lot of experience as a mechanic and it’s something the fire department has been taking advantage of, since he joined the team, about 10 months ago. So she figures he has been doing some work on one of the trucks. “What can I do for you today?” He asks, stepping closer, eyes never leaving her. She can’t help but look him over, as he approaches.
James is taller than her, but not terribly so. He has broad shoulders and as far as she can tell, a lot of muscles, under his coveralls. Which she may or may not have enjoyed getting the chance to ogle, over the summer. His hair is long and most days it hangs down into his eyes, but today he has tied it into a tiny ponytail at the back of his head. Leaving his stubbles, strong jaw, and green eyes, free for her to admire.
Yes, so Juliet has a crush on him. He isn’t the first firefighter, and who wouldn’t fancy one of them at one point or another?
Before she loses herself completely, Juliet snaps out of her daydream and remembers why she’s here. “Robin forgot his lunch” She holds it up as if she needs proof.
“You just missed him” James comes to a stop in front of her, still wiping his hands. “He went out to get supplies for the fridge”
Juliet rolls her eyes a bit, it seems she has come all this way for nothing. “Typical” She’s still smiling though. It’s not really something to get upset over. “I don’t suppose you would want this?” She opens up the container, as James leans over to take a peak.
“Tempting... But Robin said something about tacos”
“You’re no help” She jokes with another smile, before closing the container again. “I suppose this will be my lunch then. It’ll save me a trip to the cafeteria”
“Oh, you poor highly-paid professor” James mocks, grinning at her.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds” She plays along.
“I’m sure you do it brilliantly”
Her smile grows at that “I do my best”
For a moment he just looks at her, with an easy smile on his lips, before he stands up straight. “I should be getting back”
“Yeah I should get going too”
“I’ll tell Robin you stopped by” He starts backing up towards the truck and Juliet finds herself mirroring him, although she is heading towards the door, not the truck.
“Give him a hard time for it, okay?”
“You got it”
Juliet grins before she turns and heads back out the garage door.
~*~*~*~*~
Locking herself into her new, furnished, apartment, is an odd feeling. It’s a foreign place, one she has only seen pictures of before today. It isn’t the ideal way to rent an apartment, but needs must. Anyway, she is here and that’s the most important thing.
She steps into the apartment, heels clicking loudly against the wooden floor, echoing in the room that desperately needs more decorating. Furnished apparently doesn’t mean decorated. But just that there’s a couch and a bed. The most needed things. Well, to her standards anyway. Regina is planning on redecorating it, as soon as her things arrive and she gets over this jetlag. Her budget isn’t big, most of it was spent on this apartment. But she can at least get some things, to make her feel more at home. There are a few pictures among the things she shipped from her previous home. Things she hopes she can bear to look at.
It’s why she let Daniel keep most of their things when they divorced. He got the house and Regina couldn’t imagine herself taking their things, but not the house. So she only took things like pictures and books, knickknacks, things like that. Memories, but only a few of Daniel. As strong as their marriage had been, it had ended quickly. Far quicker than she thought it could and she is very much still recovering.
Regina parks her suitcase at the door, closing it behind her before she kicks off her heels and walks into the apartment. She’s tired, no, exhausted. The thought of starting her life all over again, on its own is exhausting. Add jetlag, heartache, and longing, and that’s how Regina feels. She sits, almost collapses on the couch, looking around as she sits. The apartment isn’t empty, not physically. But it lacks all the things that make a home, a home. Right now, all Regina needs is to feel like she’s home, after everything, that was what she needed Washington to be. But this doesn’t feel like home, not even close.
If she had the energy, she would go visit her dad. A hug from him, would make everything okay, or at least better than it is. But as tired as she is, all she can really think of doing is to go to sleep on this couch and hope she will feel better in the morning.
During this process of moving back to DC, Regina can’t help but think back to when she moved away from here, 20 years ago. How she had packed up her belongings and driven across the country, to get to LA. But not before Robing had shown up at her door, begging her not to go.
The last box is barely packed before a knock at the door, takes her away from finishing it.
“Robin” When she had seen him at her bon voyage party, he had seemed fine, almost happy for her. But the look on his face, when she opened the door, is completely different.
“Don’t go.. Don’t go to LA... Please”
It had to come to this, sooner or later. One of them had to say something, before their paths are separated, perhaps for good. Regina steps back, letting him into the apartment. But she doesn’t get to say anything before Robin speaks again.
“Don’t go. Stay with me, leave Daniel, be with me” His blue eyes are pleading, as he backs her up against a wall. She could step away if she wanted to, she knows this. And yet she stays put.
“Robin, don’t. I love Daniel”
“But don’t you love me too?” His voice rises in volume. He is frustrated she guesses, and rightly so.
“I..” Robin takes a step closer, basically pressing himself against her, forcing her to look at him. “Don’t make me choose”
“But you are – You’re choosing him” He pleads. They’ve never been a couple and yet this feels like something ending. Like Regina leaving is the end of them. The end of something that never even began.
“Robin” She whispers, reaching up to cup his chin. All the while fighting the tears that are forming in her eyes. It doesn’t help that Robin’s eyes are already overflowing. Wiping his cheek with her thumb, she shakes her head. “Choosing him, doesn’t mean I’m rejecting you” It might feel that way, for the both of them. But she isn’t rejecting him because she can’t do that. “It’s just..”
“Bad timing” He finishes for her, with a heavy sigh, leaning his forehead against hers.
Regina sniffles, giving up on holding back the tears as she says “I’ll miss you” voice heavy with emotion, shaking with it.
Apparently, Robin gives up too, as he lets out a sob and wraps his arms tightly around her, burying his head at her neck. She hides hers as well and clings to him, as he clings to her.
“I’ll miss you too,” She thought her voice was emotional, but it’s basically normal, compared to his. He sounds heartbroken, and it doesn’t make this any easier.
"Does he make you happy?” Robin asks, after a while, when their breaths have returned to normal, and their grip on each other has slackened a bit.
Regina moves her head, to rest her chin on his shoulder. So she doesn’t have to look at him, as she says “He does... I love him, Robin”
“I know” His voice is quiet as he leans his head against hers, seemingly not quite ready to let go yet.
“I’m sorry, I never meant for things to be .. like this”
“Neither of us did” Her arms finally go slack around her, as he leans back, hands tracing down her arms, to take her hands. “Just .. take care of yourself” He lifts a hand to move a lock of her hair, behind her ear. “I won’t be there for Sunday lunches, or midnight feasts when you’re panicking over exams.. So just..” He stops and looks at her, brow furrowed, thinking god knows what. Before she can stop him (Well, that’s not true, she could if she would, but she doesn’t), he leans in and captures her lips, in what can only be described as desperation. Both his hands find their way to her hair, holding her close.
Regina kisses him back, she knows she shouldn’t, knows she shouldn’t even want to. But this is Robin, her best friend, although they both know, they’re much more than that. Leaving him is going to be like leaving behind a part of herself. She loves Daniel and wants to be with him, but this is so hard. And it’s scary. She’s moving across the country for a guy, away from everything she knows. And part of her can’t help but wonder if she’s making a mistake. The pain of leaving Robin and her home makes staying awfully attractive.
She’s desperate to stay with Robin, to keep this kind of intimacy in her life. To have this person who knows what she’s feeling, just by looking at her. Daniel knows her, but not like Robin does. Robin has been her person all through college, the one she called when the shit was really hitting the fan. Always the one she turned to. And now she is leaving him. It hurts, more than she had thought it would. So she kisses him back, grabs a tight hold of his shirt and holds him close to her, while their lips tangle with each other like their lives depend on it.
“Promise me you’ll be okay” He whispers when they part, foreheads pressed together.
Well, she’s not is she? Not now, hasn’t been for a while. She is glad to be back, in a way. Not because she wants to get together with Robin. It’s been 20 years since they lived in the same city. Only seeing each other, at special events. Like weddings or funerals. He could be a completely different man now. But she knows that she misses the boy she knew. That boy she would willingly risk her already broken heart for. But he might not even exist anymore.
She is glad to be home though, and nearer the people she loves, like her dad and Mary. It feels like things might get better here. Like LA was just some kind of nightmare and now she has woken up. 20 years later, but at least she’s awake now. That’s a start.
~*~*~*~*~
The much-anticipated fundraiser arrives too soon, for James’ liking. Spending the night in a tuxedo isn’t exactly his idea of a good time. But he has to admit that he’s looking forward to seeing Juliet in a dress. Not that he hasn’t yet. There was the occasional summer dress when the weather was still warm enough for that. But that’s not quite the same as a dress for an event, such as this.
Unfortunately, they are seated far from each other, during the dinner. He only gets short glimpses of her. And before dessert, he is called away, because the people who were supposed to wash the dishes, left before they should, and there weren’t enough clean plates for the dessert. Still being the newbie at the station, it fell to James to take care of the problem.
He has been washing plates for about 15 minutes when he is interrupted by the sound of approaching high heels. Turning around, he can’t help but smile, when he gets the first real look of Juliet in her midnight-blue dress. She looks gorgeous, she always does of course. But with her hair up, fastened at the back of her head, like that, and with the dark dress, hugging her curves from her shoulders to her hips, and then continuing down to her feet, it’s completely on another level. “Come to join the real party?” he asks, holding up a soapy plate.
“Robin told me you were out here. It didn’t seem fair to let you have all the fun to yourself” she leaves her purse at the same table, where he put the jacket of his tuxedo.
“You don’t have to – really. I’ll be done in no time” She’s dressed up for a party, looking like a million bucks, she shouldn’t be stuck out here with him.
“And you’ll be done twice as fast if I help” She just says, blue eyes on him, as she steps up to him, snatching the dish towel from his shoulder. Without another word, she starts picking up and drying off the dishes. After a while in silence, with the occasional caterer coming in to refill a tray, Juliet speaks up. “Besides.. there’s this slightly creepy guy out there. I could use a break”
“Creepy?” James straightens for a moment, immediately ready to punch whoever it is. But when he realizes it, he slouches a bit again, trying to act casual. “Creepy how?”
“Just..” She keeps her eyes on the plate in her hands. “Flirting too much and making inappropriate complements” Juliet looks up at him. “Plus I think he’s at least 60”
“Oh,” James relaxes and cracks a smile.
”He was here last year too and did the same thing. He’s harmless, it’s just uncomfortable” Juliet shrugs and puts a plate away. That doesn’t make it okay, that he’s harmless. If he’s making her uncomfortable, he should know to stop. James doesn’t say this, but he regains the feeling of wanting to punch the guy.
“So you’d rather be doing dishes with me?” He says instead, to change the subject.
“Any day” She smiles, while James tries to tame the smile on his own lips.
“Well, you’re always welcome to do my dishes”
Juliet laughs shortly. “Thanks?”
They’re quite a while after that, but it’s a comfortable silence. Until James looks up and notices that the catering people have stopped coming in and picking up the clean plates. He can tell by the fact that they’re alone and have been so for a while, and by the ever-growing stack of plates next to Juliet. “I think we’re done”
Juliet looks up and around. “Oh.. right” She put away the towel as James lets the soapy water out of the sink and dries off his hands. “Do you think they saved any dessert for us?”
“Probably not” James doesn’t mean to be a party-pooper, but it is dessert after all.
“Let’s go look anyway” Juliet grabs her purse and leads the way. James has to fold down the sleeves of his shirt and put the jacket of his tux back on before he follows her. The first two courses had been served at the tables, but since the music started playing after the main course and people started mingling, the dessert is a buffet thing.
It’s a surprise to at least James when it turns out that there is actually something left. And not just of the cake that looks a bit dry, but pretty much a bit of everything.
Juliet looks at him with a smile, James just shrugs in reply, but also with a smile of his own. They both grab one of the plates they have just cleaned and start putting this and that on it. Juliet puts mostly fruit on her plate until he spots her taking a big scoop of the chocolate ice cream. He is glad that she doesn’t seem to be one of those women, who will only eat salads.
“I wondered where you had gotten to” A voice comes from across the buffet table, just as James is serving himself a slice of pie. He looks up, first to Juliet, who doesn’t look happy to see whoever it is. Looking across the table, he sees an older, but certainly not old, man, with long dark brown hair, leaning against a cane. His eyes are only on Juliet, James is pretty sure he hasn’t even noticed him.
“We had a crisis to see to” Juliet smiles, polite as ever.
“We?” The man asks, proving James’ suspicion.
“James and I” Juliet replies, gesturing towards James. He takes it as a cue and takes a few steps closer to her. “James, this is Mr. Gold, Mr. Gold, this is James”
James makes sure to reach out a hand before the other man has a chance to do so. “Pleasure” He smiles, as the other man takes his hand. All he gets in return is a stiff smile, much colder than the ones he gives Juliet. Slimy bastard. James has no trouble seeing why Juliet feels uncomfortable, with him flirting with her. When he leans back from the handshake, he places his free hand at the small of Juliet’s back. He knows that Juliet deserves much better than him, but she certainly also deserves much better than this creep. And if he can help her scare him off, then he will.
Juliet seems surprised for about a glimpse of a second before she plays along and leans into the touch. It makes James smile, as he looks back to the older male. “You were looking for Juliet?” He asks curiously. His hand snakes around Juliet’s back, finding rest on her hip and pulling her a bit closer, so she’s pressed up against his side, as he looks at her with a flirtatious smile, purposely letting his eyes linger at her lips before he looks back to Mr. Gold. It’s only slightly unsettling that this only feels like half an act. It feels good, to have her pressed into his side like this, so close that he can smell her perfume and close enough so that he has to stop himself, from leaning closer and capturing her slender lips with his.
But it’s all worth it when he’s met by a slightly repulsed look, on Mr Gold’s face. Or maybe that’s wishful thinking, but that’s how James interprets it. There is definitely a frown there, that much is obvious. “No no, I just noticed that she was gone, that’s all” It’s clearly not all. “But I’ll leave you to it” The look he gives James before he turns to leave, is anything but friendly. James doesn’t care, he’s just glad Juliet won’t have to deal with him anymore tonight.
As soon as he is out of sight, James lets his arm fall from her waist and takes a step back. “You didn’t have to do that” Juliet says, looking at him.
“You were right, that guy’s a creep” He just says in reply, with a light shrug.
“I could have handled him”
“I’m sure you could, but this way was much faster” James smirks.
Juliet shakes her head at him, with a soft smile. “But now you’re stuck with me for the rest of the night” James wouldn’t say he was stuck with her, but he supposes she’s right. If Mr. Gold isn’t going to return, they have to make it look like they’re a couple. What a shame.. not.
“How will I ever survive?” He jokes with a crooked smile. She just smiles in reply, her blue eyes meeting his for a moment before they pick up their plates and head to a table with a few empty chairs.
Once they’re seated and have started eating their dessert, Juliet looks to him and says a sincere “Thank you” Eyes resting in his once again.
James smiles back warmly “Anytime” He means that but just how much, he won’t say.