Chapter Text
Julie looked at the invite in front of her, she did not know what to say. She wanted to go to the wedding, Amy had been as much a friend to her as she was Chris’s, but that was the issue, there was no way that Chris would NOT be there, they would send him an invite too, she did not know if she could handle that.
For the first few weeks after the split, the paps seemed obsessed with getting photos, stories and information, in the end, when no one said anything, they settled for making up stories, he cheated while away, she cheated because he was gone. She wanted kids, he didn’t, he wanted them and she didn’t, he wanted to be single because Pratt was single, there were an incredible amount of utter nonsense stories out there and more terrifying than that were the sheer amount of idiots that believed them.
After a time, the famous Lydia made her appearance, on Chris’s arm at the Academy Awards if you don’t mind. Julie knew it would happen, she also knew he was free to do anything he wanted now, she had chosen to leave, but the loving look they shared, one of soulmates, hurt, she hid herself from the world for two days after that, the only one to get through to her was the same one to keep her from turning to drink or something worse throughout it all, Michael.
Michael made sure she got a new place, helped her get her stuff together and made sure to text her every day to make sure she knew she had someone to talk to, but she had not seen him in the few months since that. Her divorce was quick and simple, neither wanted anything from the other, there were no kids and even though it crushed her somewhat, she did not argue Chris keeping Dodger. They got him together, but he had been Chris’s idea and he had been the one the dog went to first, he was more his dog, but she missed him terribly. More than once, she almost caved and texted Chris to ask how he was getting on, but she controlled herself, now with the picture of Chris looking at Lydia adoringly, she was able to use that gut-wrenching image to stop herself before she did.
Julie looked at the invite again and grimaced. She couldn’t ignore it, she had to go, it would be incredibly rude not to, Amy had helped her with her wedding. Looking at the invite, she realised Amy had given her a plus one. She had not been spotted in the company of anyone since her marriage fell apart, yet she was offered such an invite. Amy’s wedding was a small one, she was uncertain how many she would know there, so she knew that she needed some company with her. She considered Natalie for a moment, so she called her fellow Englishwoman, hoping she could come.
‘I am going.’ Natalie’s smile was audible. ‘She invited me and Tony, we’re going. Sorry.’
‘At least you’ll be there for me to talk to.’
‘And I promise to give that slimeball loads of stink eye.’
‘Nat, don’t.’
‘Jules, Mike told me what he said, what he did.’
‘I know, but it’s not worth it.’
‘Actually, that’s not a bad idea.’
‘What?’
‘Mike.’
‘What about him?’
‘What do you mean “what about him” make him your plus one.’ Dormer scoffed. ‘You’ve always been close and he is actually fun to talk to, and he helped you through this, it’s perfect.’
Julie had to concede, it was not a bad idea. ‘I’ll see if he is free.’
‘Woohoo. This’ll be fun.’ Natalie sang. ‘We’ll make sure to book the rooms next to each other. I’ll book them now.’
‘I don’t know who my plus one is yet.’
‘Sure, you’re asking Mike now.’
‘Fine, whatever.’ She knew better than to argue, Natalie would win, either way, this way she had her dignity.
‘And who knows, maybe with a little too much wine in, he might be willing to scratch an itch or two for you.’
‘NATALIE!’
‘Oh come off it Jules, I saw the way you looked at him when he and I did The Counselor.’
‘I was not expecting a naked Irish/German man to be just walking around with everything hanging out on set.’
‘Well you got one and you didn’t seem to mind.’ Natalie laughed.
‘Get off the phone, you perv. I am getting STI’s just hearing your dirty thoughts.’ That caused Natalie to laugh more before saying her goodbye and hanging up the phone. Nervously, Julie got Michael’s number up on her phone, looking at it for a time before finally inhaling deeply and pressing the “call” button.
‘Hello, stranger.’ She could hear his smile through the phone.
‘Hi.’
‘Are you alright?’
‘Yeah, I just wanted to ask you something.’
‘Ask away, love.’
“Love” Michael had a terrible habit of using that word, but in his Kerry twang, it sounded more like “luv”.
‘I was invited to a wedding, it’s in six weeks in a vineyard in California.’
‘Right?’
‘I...would you please come with me?’
‘Really?’
‘I don’t want to go to it alone and Natalie is bringing Anthony so it’s not like we won’t know anyone and we got talking about you and she pointed out you are just the most fun to be around, not to mention I haven’t seen you in a while and…’
‘Wait is this Jack Gallows wedding you are talking about?’
Julie frowned, ‘Yeah, he’s marrying Amy Michaels.’
‘I’m already going.’ Michael laughed.
‘Oh, okay.’ Julie felt somewhat downtrodden.
‘Yeah, we can go together now. Thank God, I am sick of turning up to these things stag and getting all these comments. This is perfect.’ The relief in his voice startled her.
‘Really?’
‘Yes, wait you asked me and you are asking now am I sure?’ Michael continued to laugh. ‘No, this is perfect, and Natalie to be there too, that’s great.’
‘She is booking the rooms for us.’
‘Smart girl.’ Michael smiled.
‘There’s just one thing.’ There was a pause on the phone, telling her that he was listening. ‘Chris is probably going to be there, with her.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘He knows Amy for years, he’ll be there.’
‘How are you about that?’
‘It’s none of my business.’
‘No, but considering…’
‘What do you want me to say, Mike, I am not overly happy that my ex-husband will be going to the same wedding as me with his new love, that happened to be his old love that he actually loved and only married me to try and get over her and as soon as she shows interest, he rushes back to her and lies to me about it?’
‘Yes, I do want you to say that because it is healthier to say it than to bottle it in.’
‘You’re right.’
‘I usually am, love.’
‘Cocky prick.’ She could not contain her smile. ‘God, I cannot wait to see you, Mike.’
‘Wow, that’s a declaration for you.’
‘Shut up.’ She scoffed.
‘I cannot wait to see you either Jules, honestly.’
‘Thanks, I better go here, I have to sort things before work.’
‘Okay, I’ll talk to you soon.’ When he hung up the phone, Michael stared at it for a moment, hoping and praying that his patience and allowing her to get over her marriage and healing herself was resulting in the result he could only dream of. He did not want to get ahead of himself, he knew there was still a huge chance she wanted him only as a supportive friend and he needed to be ready for that, but a part of him could not contain it to that, he knew there was a chance of more, and that glimmer is what he focused on.
*
The vineyard was beautiful, Michael had to commend Jack and Amy for their taste. He walked up the steps and into the reception.
‘Name, Sir?’ The woman with a polite smile behind the counter asked.
‘Fassbender, Michael.’
‘Your partner is already in the room, she checked in earlier.’ The woman smiled.
‘My…’ Michael looked at the woman in confusion. He was not one to have overly weird fans, but that was sending alarm bells running through his head.
‘Yes,’ She looked at him again. ‘Is there a problem, Sir?’
‘No, no problem.’ Michael turned to see Natalie Dormer standing behind him smiling. ‘Hello.’ She went in for a hug.
‘Hi. What’s this about a girl in my room?’
‘Well, it’s terribly busy because of the wedding, so you and Jules are sharing.’
‘Me and…’
‘Yep, so you’re welcome.’ Michael frowned at her. ‘Do not play coy. I know you are bananas about her, you don’t really try to hide it, it’s embarrassing really.’ She laughed as she linked arms with Michael, bringing him to the rooms, Michael just looked at her, following blindly. ‘She’s really happy now, apart from him throwing that other cow in her face like this, swearing she was nothing when clearly she is something, but she deserves someone who sees her as something to be coveted, you always did. It should have been you from the start, what were you thinking?’
‘She is ten years younger than me.’
‘So? What is age, you were both adults then, you’re both adults now, you need to be happy, both of you, so get off your ass and do something about it, there is literally no better time.’ She said nothing more before going to the end of the hall and grinning widely as she knocked on the door. ‘Jules, guess who’s here.’
Julie took only a moment before opening the door. ‘Hi.’ She immediately looked at Michael apologetically. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Why?’ He looked at her in concern.
‘You don’t mind sharing, do you, it’s really big, there are two beds so…’
‘Jules, I have filmed in some odd places, ask McAvoy, he and I were forced to share a single bed for three days once. If I can deal with his stinky Scottish feet in my face, I can handle a lovely spacious room with a lovely tidy woman.’ He gave a wide smile, the one that most people called the “Shark” one.
‘I’ll let you get settled. Anthony and I will be having dinner at seven if either or both of you two are free.’ Natalie smiled before turning and leaving, Julie opening the door properly for Michael to come in, when he settled his bag on the far bed, he turned to see her taking his suit and placing it carefully on the rail to keep it good.
‘Sorry.’ She looked at him apologetically again. ‘Force of habit.’
‘It’s fine, thank you.’ He smiled back before looking next to it. ‘Wait, this is what you are wearing?’ He looked at the dress beside it.
‘Yes. Is something wrong?’
‘No.’ He cleared his throat, his voice having gone up a few octaves. ‘No, it is beautiful, we actually match some bit, my pockerchief is red too.’
‘Really? That’s ironic.’ She laughed.
‘People might think we planned that.’
‘Yes,’ her face fell for a moment.
‘You’re not worried about…’
‘I don’t care what Chris does, or Lydia.’ There was some momentary coldness in her tone. ‘They have their lives, I have mine.’
‘Are you sure he’s here?’
‘Yeah, Amy text to tell me he had accepted, just as a heads-up I suppose. I told her just as long as I am not sitting next to them, I will be the perfect guest and I would expect him to be the same.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ll let you get yourself sorted, you don’t need to be bothered for the afternoon.’
‘Jules.’ She turned and looked at him. ‘You are not a bother, you know that.’ He walked over to her. ‘I actually would love nothing more than to get some late lunch and catch up.’
‘That sounds nice.’
‘I showered earlier, so I am good for now, just let me wash my face and splash on some aftershave and we’ll go to the restaurant.’
*
Julie’s cheeks ached from the fits of laughter Michael had her in between bites of food. She found herself incredibly happy to talk to him about different matters. She did not get to spend Christmas in Fossa, it was booked out, but she spent New Years. Michael was not there, he was filming, but his parents met hers and they had a great time. She told him of the number of times her mother made comment on how lovely his mother was.
‘I think she was dropping hints.’ Michael laughed.
‘Really, what gave that away? Julie retorted as she started to laugh again. ‘I was also told that there are twelve years between her and Roger, again.’
‘Why?’
‘Because your father made a comment that it is a pity there’s a decade between us.’
‘Jesus, really?’
‘Yeah.’ she nodded.
‘Well, he was never a subtle man.’ Michael chuckled. ‘He has been badgering me for years that you were too good for…’
‘Wow, your father realised that before I did.’ Julie stated coldly as she drank the last of her wine.
‘It would seem so.’
‘Thanks for this Mike.’
‘You deserve it.’
‘We do, don’t we?’ She smiled.
‘Yes, now, I don’t know about you, but I want a walk before meeting Nat and Anthony for dinner. Care to join me?’
‘I suppose I better, I won’t fit the dress tomorrow if I get lazy after that lunch and do nothing.’
‘You’re hardly going to balloon three sizes after a goats cheese salad.’ He scoffed.
‘No, but I saw the dinner menu and have decided on tonight’s meal and that will not help.’
Michael laughed as he rose to his feet, his gaze catching that of another in the corner of the restaurant. When Julie had gotten up, she was still smiling but noticed the look on his face so she turned around to see what had caused it. As soon as she saw her ex-husband looking at them, she gave a small head nod in salute before turning back to Michael, ‘Shall we?’
‘Yes. I think we shall.’ He linked his arm with hers and went to the counter, signing the bill onto their room before walking out of the restaurant. ‘Are you alright?’ Michael asked.
‘Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Well, they were there.’
‘I didn’t see her. Look, Michael, he’s here, he has a right to be, I’m actually okay with it, seeing him, I realise, I’m okay.’ He looked at her. ‘I...He wasn’t happy, I thought we were, but he clearly didn’t want it and now I have let go of it, I realise, I’m okay.’
Michael held her close before kissing her head, ‘Is it wrong for me to say I am happy to hear that?’
‘Do you mean it in a way like you are happy I have moved on?’
‘Of course.’
‘Then no, it is not wrong to say that.’
‘What’s your plans for the future?’
‘I’m not entirely sure. I guess try and find what I wanted with Chris with someone who wants it with me.’ She shrugged.
Michael said nothing as they walked, but he found himself hoping he could convey that he wanted to have such with her if she was interested.