New Post: EPILOGUE for A Lucky Shot!

I didn't think I could do it, I thought that Mel and Sid were complete... but then QFD posted a Christmas challenge for the group site, and this just came out yesterday. Enjoy!

Chapter 44: Epilogue

I'm hoping to get some other things written now, as well! I'll keep you updated!

RebelHeart

Chapter 15, Epilogue

July 7, 2011

“Maxime, where are you??”

Juliet shouted through the second floor hallway of Sid’sgiant summer house. She needed to talk to him, now. It wasn’t like there were amillion people visiting at the moment. And she could see Sid and Marc out onthe deck, Vero and Viv were playing in the yard.

How can he hide sowell?

She was just about to yell for him once more when a handsnaked out of the bedroom she was walking by and pulled her in. She tensed andthought about how she could take out this unknown assailant when she heard himspeak.

“For the love of all things holy, do not kill me mon amour.”

Comments change!

Sooo, until recently, I hadn't realized that only registered users could comment! That's not fair to you who don't want to be known*

I just wanted to let you all know that I switched it so ANYONE can comment on the posts!

So, if there's anything you've wanted to write before, and you couldn't, feel free*

Just, please, no really mean stuff! :(

And the epilogue is almost done! Woooooot!! :D

Dear bublbabie,

Thank you for reminding me that I have been promising to get you guys this epilogue*

I have it halfway finished!

And after being at the training camp today, I think I know how I want it to finally end!!!

No, I'm not yelling at you for pestering me* I'm thanking you!

Because I did want to give this story a 'proper' ending!

Not that it would every REALLY end, unless I had him retiring, and I don't plan on that!! But I do feel that their story needs better closure!

So, hold tight, and it will be coming your way!!! (The hardest thing was I don't want to give anything away for my Sid epilogue, that hasn't been written yet either* LOL)

Lots of love,

RebelHeart

Epilogue?!

I'm currently working on an epilogue for this, and for A Lucky Shot! And if you haven't been on the short stories blog... there are some new little one-shots up there, and not just of the Pens! Go give 'em a look-see*

It's a summer of writing for me it seems*

Love you guys!

Just an update for you all!!

I have a couple new one-shots up on my Hockey Short Stories blog!

I'm working on a couple more, and I have a new B-I-G story that I'm going to be writing. But I'm not going to start posting it until it's completely done, so it will be a few months until I start posting I believe...

I would also like to do an epilogue for both this and A Lucky Shot, my Sid story.

I don't know how I want it to go though... but once it's done, you all will know, I promise!!!

Thanks for reading what I write guys!

*hugs*

Mel

Chapter 14

I hope that this comes across the way I want it to.

*~***~*

January 1, 2011

Mario wanted to talk to him about something. He didn’t know what it was, but he’d made it seem like it was extremely important. Leaning back, Max rested his head against the stall and closed his eyes. He just wanted to go home, have a drink, and go to sleep. Hearing footsteps, he knew the boss was almost to the room. The door opened and the footsteps stopped.

“Hello Maxime.”

His breath caught in his throat, memories played in his brain like a movie and he fought to keep his eyes closed. The pain he thought had finally started to dissipate came roaring back with a vengeance at the seemingly familiar tone.

Ever since that visit from Mac some six months ago, he had dreamt or thought of Juliet at least once every few days. This was the first time he’d imagined her voice while he was doing something hockey-related though. And as he felt a person come to a stop in front of him, he caught a whiff of citrus and his stomach clenched.

You’d think I was the one who got his bell rung, not Sid.

“Max… look at me… please.”

He didn’t. He couldn’t. The pain that would slice through him when he opened his eyes and found no one there… it might kill him.

“I miss you so much sometimes,” he whispered. Clearing his throat, he thought of the words he’d always wanted to tell her. “Every now and then I’ll see a woman on the street and she’ll remind me of you. We didn’t know one another for a long period of time… but I loved you enough in those few months to last three lifetimes at least.”

“Max… Maxime look at me. I. Am. Real. Open your goddamn eyes and see for yourself…”

There’s the bossy woman I remember.

He finally did as she commanded and opened his eyes. As he looked up, he stared into her familiar green gaze. Blinking a few times, he waited for her to vanish but she stayed there, in front of him, a nervous smile on her lips and a hopeful gaze.

“Juliet? How… are you… How… JULIET?!”

Max stood up and she sobbed out a breath as she launched herself into him. He caught her and his hands roamed all over her body as he tried to memorize each curve in case she disappeared again. He didn’t understand it. She was dead. He’d seen the photos. Been there in person. The building had been demolished and… deep down he’d always wondered because there was never a body found. But they had said that with the explosion and everything… no remains…

She clung to him, her arms locked around him like she was sinking at sea and he was a buoy that could keep her afloat. Mumbling something into his suit jacket, he pulled away slightly and tipped her head back. Tear-stained cheeks, a red nose and a watery gaze stared up at him.

“What did you say?”

“I’m so sorry! I never wanted to leave you! Please believe me! I didn’t have a choice.. I never had a choice!”

“I was there though. I saw the explosion… and… they faked your death?! That’s what Mac meant when he came to see me before!”

Juliet nodded slowly and he knew that he should be furious right now. He shouldn’t want to have anything to do with her. But he also knew that this woman… she had meant more to him than any of the women who came before… or after. They’d all been there as a way to get over the loss of this one.

How many nights after that horrible morning did he beg and plead for it to be a nightmare that he was living through. That she had gotten out in time. How many times had he cried out ‘Just give me one more chance!’ and not gotten a response. He’d given up thinking that God could help him in any way after that. And the year they won the Cup, he played with the shoulder injury.

Surgery, therapy… he’d done everything right but hadn’t been able to come back and play right that next season. And this year… he was better, but not where he wanted to be. And he’d cursed God for that as well. And he’s sinned. Over and over. He’d slept with too many women. Each one he’d used like a crutch to try and get over his emotional and physical pain. It hadn’t worked. They’d solved nothing.

And then Mac had come to visit him. He’d talked, asked Max to forgive him some day and told him to look inside himself to try and come back to the man he’d been before. So he’d looked at himself. And he hadn’t liked what he saw. Changing his ways, he found himself no longer angry at the world. And now, by some miracle… she was here. In front of him. Telling him she had never wanted to leave him.

“I know it’s a lot to process right now. And I know that you probably hate me right now. But… I came here for two reasons. The first one is simple. I love you. I’ve thought about you every single day that I’ve been gone. There were so many times I wanted to call you, send you a letter, ANYTHING! But it was forbidden. I kept all my thoughts in journals though. And when something would pop into my mind and I was somewhere else I used napkins, receipts… I have it all still.”

She was biting her lip, a nervous habit that he remembered. Right now, as he stared at her, it just made him want to cover her mouth with his and kiss her senseless. She was right… it was a lot to take in, but he would figure it out. They both would. The only thing that could stop them now was if she’d found someone while…

“What’s the second reason,” he asked gruffly.

“You have to know, before I explain things… I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to see you again. If it would ever be safe for me to come out from my protection detail. I have lived a sheltered life for the past three and a half years. A lot has happened since I ‘died’ and I jus…”

She was interrupted by the door crashing open and a small bundle running through it screaming ‘Momma, Momma, Momma!’

This was exactly what he had been thinking of when he’d ask what the second reason was. Juliet was a mother. He couldn’t blame her for moving on. Sure, he hated that she had just said she loved him, and now she was holding the child she’d made with some other man. But it wasn’t her fault. She had found a way to move on and make the best of this clusterfuck of a situation.

He wondered if the little, judging by the pink coat, girl looked like Juliet. He hoped so. She would be a heartbreaker when she grew up. Mac came running through the door a second later, stopping beside Juliet, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

“God she’s a little heathen,” he muttered with a smile. Then he turned to Max and the two shook hands. “This is why I hoped you’d be able to forgive me… her… our job… everything.” He turned and held out his hands. “C’mon Viv, let’s let Mommy talk.”

Max stared at the man. That’s why he’d wanted his forgiveness. Not because of ‘The Incident,’ but because he’d taken Juliet for himself. He still couldn’t see the child’s face, but he heard her mutter as she curled her arms around her mom’s neck.

“No Unca Mac. I stay here, wif Momma.”

Uncle Mac?!

His heart started beating in his chest again. He still didn’t know the whole truth, but he was breathing again. That was a good sign.

“Genevieve… what did Mommy tell you? Didn’t I say to wait until it was time to come and get you?”

The little head, covered in a Winter Classic hat, bobbed up and down.

“Well, I suppose this works too,” she said, mostly to herself, as she placed the little girl on her feet and crouched down with her. Max watched as she unbuttoned and unzipped the jacket. She tugged it off and he noticed the Talbot jersey with a smile. Then she tugged off the hat and a mass of dark brown curls fell everywhere. He watched her place a kiss on the child’s forehead.

“Mommy… Can I say it now?”

“Let me introduce you first baby.” Max watched her pick the child back up and as she spun her around, Max felt the ground drop out from underneath him. “Max, this is Genevieve. Now you can say it. Just like we practiced.”

Blue eyes stared at him. A smile so similar to his broke out over the girl’s face and she brought a hand up and waved at him excitedly.

“Hi Daddy!”

He didn’t move. He didn’t sit down, he didn’t even think he breathed. She looked just like him.

Max opened his mouth to tell her hello, to say something, anything… but no words came out. He closed his mouth and sat down on the bench, shoulders hunched. Looking up at the two of them… he couldn’t begin to think of what he could say at the moment. Juliet let her little one go and she walked over to him. Her eyes were big and bright with that child-like innocence. She had a smile on her face and she touched his cheek.

“Daddy… why you crying?”

He tried to respond, to give her an answer, but he choked on the words. So instead, he slid off the bench and onto his knees before wrapping her up in the tightest hug he thought he could give her without crushing her. He held her head with one hand, keeping her cheek pressed to his. The tears were still falling and he probably made a couple unintelligible noises… but he couldn’t help it.

He cried as he held his daughter for the first time. He cried for the lies Juliet had needed to live by in order to keep the two of them safe. He cried for the time lost to the two of them. Mainly, he cried for all those moments he’d missed with his daughter, watching her birth, her first steps, and her first words.

Arms wrapped around him and he looked up to see Juliet kneeling behind their daughter, trapping her between the two of them. She placed a hand on his other cheek and wiped the tears away with her thumb. He grabbed hold of her hand and held it tight as the three of them shared their first moment as a family. She murmured apology after apology and when he finally found his voice again he silenced her.

“This, all of this. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t my fault, it wasn’t Mac’s fault. None of us are to blame for this.”

Mac cleared his throat.

“I’ll take Viv out with me for a couple minutes. Give you a chance to talk some more. Come here Devil Child. We need to let Mommy and Daddy catch up, okay?”

Genevieve sighed loudly and Max couldn’t stop the laugh that he barked out.

“Daddy happy! Okay, we go Unca Mac.”

Max couldn’t help but smile at her and he gasped in surprise and joy when she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. He watched the two of them walk out and then he pulled Juliet directly onto his lap. She let out a squeak and threw an arm around his shoulder.

“I swear I have everything she ever did on film. I prayed that we could figure out a way to make something work. I don’t know if you’re seeing anyone and I know you must hate me right now bu…”

He couldn’t listen to her berate herself anymore. And he had to taste her again. Dragging her face to his, he sealed her lips with a kiss. She tasted like he remembered, and like nacho cheese. That was new. It just made him remember that he hadn’t eaten in about six hours. Instead of being romantic like he wanted to, his stomach took the time to growl as loud as possible. She pulled away with a laugh.

“Maybe we should get you some food.”

“I love you.” He watched her eyes go wide. “I do. There’s never been anyone like you in my life. Not before you held Geno at gunpoint or since. I’ve done some things that I’m not proud of… but after the crash, I just didn’t care. I wanted to make the pain stop. Nothing worked. I want you to know that there have been other women… I can’t take that back. But I’m clean. And they meant nothing. And if you wanna slap me for that, go right ahead.”

“Just tell me you don’t hate me and that you want to get to know your daughter, and I won’t remember anything else you say tonight,” she said with a smile.

“I definitely do not hate you. And I would love nothing more than getting to know my daughter!”

They talked for a few more minutes, Juliet answering all the questions he fired at her. She could tell he was getting antsy by the way his knee was twitching and she chuckled. Crawling off of him, she held out her hand to help him up and they walked toward the door.

“Are you in a hurry to get food?”

“What? No! I want to go capture her in my arms and never let her go!”

“Then let’s go get her. We’ll grab some food and you can drop us off at the hotel.”

“Hotel?? Fuck that! We’ll go to the hotel and grab your stuff… and then you and Viv are coming back to my house. No ands, ifs, or buts.”

When they came out into the lounge area, Mac was standing with Cookey and Duper and Viv was running around with the other kids. They walked up to him and Duper gave him that perfect ‘What have you been hiding from us’ look. He was just about to tell them a team explanation would be best when and eardrum-piercing scream filled the air.

“JULIET?!?!?!”

Max heard the click of heeled footsteps and turned just in time to be shoved out of the way as a little brunette blur ran past him and tackled Juliet, sending them both to the ground. When he turned again, Marc was standing there, his eyes wide and confusion clearly written on his face. Mario came in behind them, a small smile on his lips. Slowly… each of the guys came in as well. When they were all standing there, puzzled looks on their faces, Max cleared his throat.

Juliet finally extricated herself from Vero’s arms and grabbed Genevieve before coming to stand beside him. He heard some gasps as they got a look at his daughter and he saw questions ready to be asked. Max held up a hand before they could start.

“Some of you know the story about a woman named Juliet, and what she meant to me. And how I fell in love with her one summer. And how she was taken away from me. It seems that somehow, a way I haven’t really been told yet, she didn’t die. Guy… This is Miss Juliet Forbes. And the little one in her arms is Genevieve Forbes.”

“Talbot,” Juliet whispered to him. He looked at her in surprise. “Her name is Genevieve Marie Talbot.”

Tears clogged his vision again and Max wiped at his eyes before they could fall. It wouldn’t be very manly to cry in front of all the guys. Juliet grabbed his hand and he smiled.

“MY mistake. This is our daughter, Genevieve. Ladies, these are the Pittsburgh Penguins.”

Introductions were made and the next thirty minutes were spent with Juliet and Mac explaining everything that happened and why she’d been hiding and what could happen now.

“So, you can be wherever you want,” Flower asked. Max stared. Unblinking, as Juliet’s face slipt into a huge smile.

“That’s right. Wherever I want to be.”

“Which is right here with me. And that’s that.”

Max grabbed her after he said it and held her face in his hands while he plundered her mouth. When the kiss was finally over, and he’d pulled back, he realized that there were only a few people milling about the lounge. He didn’t care that he’d scared them away. He had a lot of time to make up for. And he planned on reacquainting himself with this woman. Tonight, and for the rest of his life.

*~***~*

I won't lie, I don't have a clue where to go from here, so it's going to be a few days before I decide whether or not to just end it here, or write more for it.

Chapter 13

I'm glad you ladies are so hooked on this. I have another chapter that I will post tonight. I'm going to schedule it for 6:30p.m., EST. The Pens play theyir first game tonight of the playoffs and I don't want you to miss the game because you're reading!! So Let's Go Pens!!!

*~***~*

June 17, 2010

“Jonas, I told you to come by later after I’ve gotten Viv to sleep and… OHMYGODMACWHATAREYOU… MAC!!!!”

Juliet dropped the plate of cookies she’d been holding and tackled the man standing in her doorway. He hadn’t changed much in the past twenty-eight months. A few more lines on his face, more from stress than laughter probably, and his eyes held a weariness that she hoped never to feel. But he was still her Mac.

“God, it’s so good to see you! What are you doing here though?! You said it wasn’t safe unless… you did it. You finally got them… Mac?”

“It’s over Jules. Taken care of. Finished. Done.”

“Will I have to go to a trial?”

“Now Juliet… you should know me better than that,” he chortled. She smiled, in spite of the meaning, and hugged him again.

“Wait until you see Viv. She’s getting so big. And she looks just like Max…… Oh god... Max.”

“I’ve already spoke to him.”

“You told him…”

“No! No way. I am not the right person to do that. That needs to be you.”

“How do I… Mac, he thinks I’ve been dead for three years. He’s going to hate me. Look what I’ve kept from him. Not only am I not dead… I had his baby. She’s the spitting image of him, so there’s no way he’ll doubt it… but… he won’t forgive me.”

“Haven’t you spent all this time trying to figure out a way to tell him when it was over?”

“Honestly… I didn’t know if it would ever be over. I love you Mac, and you’re tough…but what you were going up against… I figured I’d be hiding all my life.”

“Wow. The faith you had in me… that’s astounding.”

“Sarcasm does not become you.”

He smiled and pushed her aside, walking straight into the living room where Viv was currently playing with some blocks.

“Hey… you have to tell me more than that! Mac! C’mon!”

“Hey Squirt! Remember me? Of course you don’t… you haven’t seen me since you were born. And you wouldn’t remem..”

“Unca Mac.”

Juliet smiled as, for the first time she had ever seen, Luke MacDonald became speechless.

“You better sit Mac, before you fall over.”

“How… how does she know me?”

“Viv, baby… wanna show Unca Mac your room? I think he’d like it.”

She watched as her beautiful baby girl smiled the most charming Max Talbot smile in the world and grabbed Mac’s hand. She said ‘Go Unca Mac’ and dragged him from the room. Chuckling, Juliet picked up the blocks that her daughter had been playing with and put them back in the box. Then she headed upstairs to the bedroom she could hear voices in. Stepping through the doorway, she smiled.

“Pretty nifty, don’t ya think?”

Mac was sitting on one of the little pink princess chairs that Viv had. They matched her table where the two of them would have tea parties. Or Jonas. He was really good with tea parties too. She couldn’t wait to tell him that she was no longer… what was she? Not a fugitive. Not under Witness Protection. She was dead. But not dead. She would need to talk to Mac and figure out…

“Momma.”

“Yes sweetheart?”

“Daddy,” Viv said, pointing to a picture of Max and Flower and their bromance after winning the Cup. It was one of the many photos that lined one wall in her room. It was completely dedicated to Max. There were game photos, things he’d done in the community, quotes… Juliet had avoided pictures with women… she didn’t want to think about how he had moved on so easily and she was still pining for him.

“Good job Genevieve. That’s Daddy. And who’s with him?”

“Flower.”

Mac looked between the two of them.

“You’ve taught her who people are?”

“Okay… so maybe I did harbor the hope that you would get rid of the boogeymen.”

“Boogeymen?”

“That’s what I call Crawford and his… ‘Family’… She knows that it means ‘bad people’ and that’s good enough. She also understands that until they were gone, she can’t meet Max. But she knows him when he comes on the TV.”

Noticing that Viv was yawning and starting to get droopy-eyed, Juliet told Mac to go downstairs and grab something to drink while she put the little one down for a nap. He nodded and blew Viv a kiss. She giggled and waved. After tucking her in, Jules practically ran down the staircase and was sitting at the table, waiting… impatiently… for answers.

“How? When? Where? Tell me everything. Now.”

“We found them in Italy and…”

“No, not about Crawford. I don’t care about that Mac. As long as you tell me they’re dead, and I’m free to be me again… I’m good with that. I want to know about Max.”

“He was a mess before Juliet. I mean… he was devastated for the first month. And things went downhill from there.”

“Is that why the women existed? I saw different photos on the internet… I mean, I want him to be happy and if he’s moved on…”

“He loves you. Trust me. There may have been women, but they didn’t mean anything. I don’t know whether that’s better or worse.”

“He loves me? Still?”

“Juliet… I think he’s only started grieving over the past six months or so. You need to go to him.”

“What do I say?”

“I have no idea.”

“When can I leave?”

“Leave him?”

“No… leave to see him? I mean… how much paperwork will there be? I’ve been legally dead for three years. Our daughter doesn’t have official records. The original mission paperwork has to be revised… This is no easy matter. Don’t forget everything from this latest escapade. Gimme a ball park figure. Don’t sugar coat it.”

“Earliest time frame… October.”

Her face fell. Another four months?? Well, she could do it. She could wait. She would wait. She’d wait a lifetime to see Max if that’s what it took. Maybe all this extra time would give her a way to figure out how to tell him everything.

She needed to get all of Viv’s scrapbooks packed first. There were photos and videos and memorabilia that covered pretty much every second that the child had been away. And a couple funny pictures of her sleeping. All things that he had missed.

“Will he resent me Mac?”

“I think he’ll be shocked at first. Shock will lead to anger. Anger to disbelief. I’m sure a ton of other emotions… but I promise… he loves you. And he will forgive you.”

They talked more about Max, the mission, what she planned on doing now that it was safe.

“I’m going to the grocery store.”

Mac laughed and offered to take her. She shook her head no though. She would go with her goofy neighbor. He would be almost as excited as she was to go out in public and not worry. The last time they’d tried that, the hockey game when she was still pregnant… she’d been so stressed that she had to leave by the middle of the first period and had asked the hidden agents to get her safely back to the beach house.

“I’m going to call Jonas. Screw that. You stay here and listen to make sure Viv doesn’t wake up while I’m gone. I’m going to walk, alone in the middle of the day, over to his house!”

Mac laughed and told her to have fun. She shoved her feet into flip flops and sprinted out the back door. In like five seconds she was in front of her neighbor’s door, knocking loudly and yelling for him to get his scrawny ass out to see her. He came to the screen, blinking and putting his glasses on. She loved his dorky side.

“Oh god, what’s wrong? Is it Viv? Is she hurt?! What are you doing out here??”

“It’s over Hillsy! I’m free to do what I want! I can go to a club, go to the mall… I can go grocery shopping!”

He threw open the door with a yell and picked her up, spinning her around like he did with Viv. They laughed together and as he set her down he pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.

“Please tell me you’re going to fly out to see Max now!”

“As soon as Mac gives me the green light. Could be a couple months though. There’s a lot of loose ends to tie up. I swear I’m going to pack my suitcase tonight!”

“Let’s go celebrate. Anything you wanna do… Anything at all?”

“Viv’s taking a nap, Mac’s staying with her. Let’s go get groceries and I’ll cook diner!”

“Why don’t we just go out?”

“Oh, I didn’t even think about that! So much better! Let’s do that.”

That night, for the first time since that summer in Montreal, Juliet found herself out and about, mingling with other people. Jonas had a couple of the guys from the team join them, Gramps said he’d watch Viv and Mac was staying the night so he had joined them as well. It was so nice to be in public. To be with people.

The next day she started writing down what she would say to Max. How she would meet up with him. Nothing seemed right though. Showing up at his house unannounced, no. Having Mac put her up on the screen during a home game, nada. They were playing Anaheim, in Anaheim, sometime in the first half of the season. If the paperwork wouldn’t be done until October, she could meet him there… They wouldn’t have any time though.

She needed a time, after the season started… when he would have a few days off. No traveling, just down time. But even around Christmas they wouldn’t… Grabbing her phone, Juliet dialed up Jonas.

“Dude… you said that the Penguins were going to be playing the Capitals in another Winter Classic, right?”

“That’s right.”

“In Pittsburgh, or in D.C.?”

“Pittsburgh. Why?”

“That’s when I’m going to see Max.”

“You’re going to wait for six months?!”

“I know. It’s selfish, it’s wrong, it’s… I can’t do it until after Mac has everything sorted out. That will be after the start of the season. When else will he have the time to sit and be able to talk without home games or travel time???”

“But… six months… How can you make him wait?”

“I don’t really have a choice.”

“You could do it here, when they come.”

“But then he’ll have to leave… and if we need time to settle things… hell, we’re going to need time. And I want him to be in an environment where he feels comfortable. Pittsburgh is his second home.”

Jonas tried to talk her into an earlier time, but with her mind set, nothing he said could change her mind. The months dragged by. Mac contacted her regularly. Things were going smoothly and he hoped that all of the files would be done when he wanted. But like everything else with this mission. Things went wrong. More than once.

It wasn’t until December 19, 2010 that she got a phone call telling her that she could now go wherever she wanted. She could announce to the world that she was alive and healthy if she wanted. But instead, she just packed a suitcase for her, one for Viv, and tried, unsuccessfully, to get Gramps to join them.

“I’ll come out when the weather’s nicer. Or when you and he decide to come out here. I’ve grown to like this place.”

Jonas was on an away trip and wouldn’t be back for two more days. She decided to wait until he came back. Viv would be upset if she didn’t get to tell him goodbye before they flew out. When he finally returned, she had him over for dinner. They were sitting on the front porch swing, Viv already asleep.

“We’re going to fly out tomorrow. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“Are you scared?”

“Yes. Not of what he’ll do, but of what he might not do. Everyone seems so convinced that he’s just going to take m back. But I’ll be asking him to take on the responsibility of not just me, but of our almost three-year-old daughter. That’s… that’s crazy!”

“He’ll be so happy. You can’t begin to imagine what he’s going to say when he sees you.”

“He’s going to yell. Be really angry…”

“I don’t think so.”

She looked at him like he’d grown a second head.

“Explain.”

“He’s going to be too happy to see you to be mad. You were the love of his life, and now you’ve come back from the dead. And he’s never forgotten… he loves you. He’ll forgive you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because... I’d forgive you. And Max is a good man, like me.”

“Jonas… why didn’t you ever make a move?”

“Because, I could never do that to Max. I don’t really know him, but you guys deserve your second chance. But Juliet…”

“Yes?”

“If for some reason it doesn’t work out. I’ll be here. Okay?”

“I knew you’d say that.”

He hugged her and walked over to his house, telling her he’d take her to the airport in the morning. And the next day, she and Genevieve flew out to meet up with Mac. Mario Lemieux had been informed of the entire story, and he had agreed on a way to get Max alone. After the outdoor game was over. She had a week until she saw him again. The days couldn’t go by fast enough.

Chapter 12

Skipping through time more. 16 months to be exact.

*~***~*

June 15, 2009

“Mon ami. You need to stop this. You are on a crash course for disaster.”

Max heard the voice, but it sounded like it was a million miles away. And muffled. He threw his arm up as light poured into his bedroom. Blinking rapidly, he stared, bleary-eyed, up at his friends.

“What do you two want?”

“Max. This has got to stop.”

“Fuck you Sid.”

His captain didn’t even flinch. He took the comment in stride and sighed before walking into the hallway. Flower was beside him in an instant though, speaking quietly.

“I know this is a hard day for you Max. I do. Maybe you should talk to someone. You never did after… after it happened. You never really gave yourself a chance to grieve.”

“I don’t need your infernal wisdom Marc.”

“You need to listen to someone. It’s been two years. She wouldn’t want you to be like this.”

“How the hell do you know what she’d want?! You barely knew her!”

“But the different dinners and things where we talked was time well spent. I know you loved her Maxime… But she’s gone now and I thi…”

“Don’t tell me what you think she’d want me to do.”

The words were barely audible and his fists were clenched.

“I say it because no one else really knows the full story. And no one else would have the balls to tell you, to your face, that becoming the man whore you’ve become would make her ashamed. Do you honestly think she’d want to be with someone like you are now?”

“You’re this close to getting punched in the face.”

Marc stepped back but didn’t leave. Max knew he wouldn’t. That was the kind of friend he was. He wanted to help, wanted badly for something to make Max feel better. But there was nothing that could fill the aching void. He’d spent the better part of the last two years trying to forget about her.

Juliet.

It had been two years exactly since the explosion that had sent his world careening out of control. He didn’t remember driving away from the accident site, but somehow he’d ended up at Flower’s. His clothes had been a mess and the tears had been flowing non-stop. He didn’t know how he’d managed to get the words out, but he had.

Somehow he’d explained about the explosion, and that Juliet was dead… and then he’d just broke down. Inconsolable was a good word for what he had been like. Like a little girl who’d just lost her favorite teddy bear, he’s wept and sobbed and cried out. Then, as hard as it had been, he’d put the hurt and anger aside.

He’d tried to forget what had happened, who she had been. No one on the outside world would be able to understand it. to the rest of the world, she’d already been dead. And Mac, who he later found out had survived the blast, had come to express his sorrow… but it wasn’t something he’d been ready to hear.

Why had he survived when Juliet had been killed? How was that fair?

“Max, you have to understand tha…”

“Get out Luke MacDonald. You have nothing to say to me that I would ever want to hear.”

“Someday… I’ll come back someday and we’ll talk Max. When that day comes, please listen to me.”

The next time he’d seen the man, right after the Philly series, he’d had not one, but two girls with him. Mac had gotten into his house somehow, and walked in at a most inappropriate moment. The look of disgust on his face had been so extreme that even Max had felt embarrassed. Mac had left without a word and Max had asked the two women to leave. And then he’d taken the longest, hottest shower ever.

Two months later, he was celebrating winning the most coveted trophy in all sports and he had no one to share it with. He was alone. Marc broke into his reverie.

“C’mon Max. We need to get ready for the parade.”

Max nodded and crawled out of bed. He got ready and went through the motions of the parade with his friends and teammates.

There were parties all summer and he had surgery to fix the shoulder that he’d messed up. He wouldn’t be coming back at the beginning of their final season at Mellon Arena. Part of him was glad for the extra time. He was starting to find himself again and while his arm might be taking longer to heal, his heart was finally starting to patch itself together.

In his home game return, right before American Thanksgiving, Max found himself looking around. He knew she wasn’t there, but he hoped that she was looking down at him from heaven and proud that he was becoming the old Max again… that he was turning into a decent person once more.

His birthday was celebrated with fanfare, his teammates going all out and making it a day that he honestly couldn’t say he had been sad. They kept him busy but mostly sober, since the next day was a game day, and he ended up sitting on Flower’s deck, telling his tragic love story to his closest friends on the team.

Geno remembered her from that initial meeting and was sad to learn that she had passed on. Marc told them stories about the few times he and Vero had joined them for dinner, recalling that final one, with the sundae.

Max teared up some, but he was too busy being lost in the good memories to really get brought down by the sadness. Sid didn’t comment much, but in the end he made a toast. He held his beer bottle up to the night sky.

“To Juliet Forbes. She’ll never know how much she touched the lives of those she knew and those she never got to meet.”

“Merci, mon ami. I wish you all would’ve been able to meet her.”

They stayed out there a little while longer, until the cold finally seeped into the porch area. Max thanked them all for such a wonderful night once more, and then they parted ways until meeting at the arena for the game the next day.

By the time the regular season came to an end, they were secure in fourth place once again in the conference and headed to the first round of the playoffs, against Ottawa. But luck didn’t shine down on them twice on a row, and they were knocked out of the conference’s semi-finals by Montreal.

He didn’t want to go home after that, so instead he took a trip down to the Bahamas for a summer of relaxation. He found himself slowly forgiving the way things happened. He still loved her, a part of him believing that somehow she could come back. And one night, while in his hotel room, alone, he dreamt of Juliet.

And for the first time, in a long time, the dream didn’t end in a horrific explosion. No, instead, she met him on the sidewalk and told him she loved him. That she would always love him, and that she’d see him when everything was over. He woke up from the most realistic dream he’d had and felt the tears running down his cheeks.

“I miss you so much mon amor... I still can’t believe you’re gone.”

He hugged the pillow close to him, trying to remember the way she felt when she had been sprawled out beside him in bed. He couldn’t remember the last goal he’d scored, but he could remember the way her hair felt between his fingers as he played with the strands while she lay sleeping on his chest. The last big win celebration was fuzzy but every moan and laugh she made was branded on his brain.

Will I ever be able to find love again?

The sun and sand tugged at his heart. He wanted to feel happy again. Maybe not fall in love, but just happy. He had his career still, and his friends. His family was healthy. Maybe they were right, maybe he did need to move on. He was walking along the shore one day, trying not to think about the date, when he heard someone clear their throat. thinking it was a fan that had recognized him, he turned and put on what he hoped was a most convincing Max Talbot smile.

“Hello Max.”

That one face took all of the shabby walls he’s been building, all the moments he thought he was getting better, and tore everything down. Two words, that was all that was said, and he felt the pain like it was this morning. The smile fell from his lips and he felt a blind anger fill his body.

“I told you to stay the hell away from me Luke.”

“I know… and I know that today of all days, you just want to be alone. And I’m the last person on earth you’d ever want to see… But I made you a promise, three years ago… that when I finished it, you’d be one of the first people to know. So here I am.”

“It’s done. You caught them all? They will be tried for what they did to her?”

“There will be no trial.”

The hard edge in his voice made Max realize that there was no need for a trial... because those responsible for Juliet’s death, and her team’s massacre, were dead. He looked at Mac, taking in the cuts on his face and the sling over his left arm. It must not have been an easy battle. Stepping up to the man, Max couldn’t stop himself from hugging him. He heard the grunt of surprise and then the good arm was patting him on the shoulder.

“I told you I’d do it Max. And I promised Juliet.”

“It doesn’t bring her back… but it helps. Also… I’m sorry for the way I have been to you… it was wrong.”

“Everyone grieves in their own way Max. Let’s go have a drink at the bar. Today, of all days, I think she would like that.”

And so, the two walked back down the beach and were sitting at the bar while Mac explained how they’d tracked down Crawford and his brother to Italy. And then, just when they thought the bastards were going to run again, they got a prime opportunity. And they took it.

“Are you sure they’re dead?”

“I shot Crawford myself and burned his fucking body. And one of the guys on my team took out his brother. We saw to the clean-up ourselves, so I know that yes, for sure, that they’re dead.”

“Then it’s truly over.”

“Yes Max. It’s over.”

“Will you do something for me Mac?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.”

They both laughed and clinked bottles. Mac gestured for him to go first.

“Will you tell her grandfather I’m sorry that I would like to meet him someday… if he’s ever up to it. I’d like to know more about Juliet’s past. She mentioned that he was the only family she had left now.”

“There’s another person she has. She didn’t know about her before she died though. And I’ll talk to Arthur when I visit him. I promised him the same thing I did to you.”

Max nodded and hoped the older man would agree to see him. It was selfish, but he wanted to ask for a photo of Juliet… just something to remember her.

“What did you want to ask Mac?”

“I wanted to know if you thought it would be possible to forgive me... for... everything.”

“It was never your fault. I know that now. I lashed out in pain and anger. There is nothing to forgive mon ami.”

“Well, just remember that in the future, okay? I want to know that I’m safe from retribution from you,” he said with a smile.

Max quirked his head to the side and asked Mac what the hell he was talking about. the other man just chuckled and said the beach and alcohol were getting to his brain. They spent the rest of the day together and Mac promised to keep in touch, for good reasons this time. The next morning, Max took him to the airport and watched him get on a flight to California. He hoped that Juliet’s grandfather would be able to rest easier now that the murdering bastards were dead. He certainly felt more light-hearted. Pulling out his phone he dialed a number quickly.

“Allo?”

“It’s finally over Flower. She can rest in peace.”

“Good my friend, and you, how are you doing?”

“I think I can come to Montreal now.”

“Come to Paris instead. Vero and I are vacationing. We will have a good time, then go back to Pittsburgh early to get ready for the season. We have Winter Classic to get ready for again. And I know that, like me, you don’t want to miss this second one.”

Max laughed and told Marc he’d be on a flight the next day. He spent the final day on the beach, staring out at the water and remembering the few months he had with the woman who had changed his life. Did she watch him? Look down at him from above? Was she disgusted with what he had done in the months following her death? He was going to be a better man now, someone that she would be proud of. He’d made the promise before, after the Cup… but he planned to stick to it this time.

*~***~*

Okay, I just want to make it clear, because I did speed things up in this chapter… It started 6/15/2009 and ended at 6/15/2010. Didn’t know you could cover a year so fast, did ya*

Chapter 11

Alright, if you remember… the story started out in April of 2007. When tragedy struck, it was June of 2007. There’s a bit of a time difference now. Read on ladies…

January 1, 2008

Juliet stared out at the scenery from the window of her kitchen. The waves were coming in from the Pacific and the sun was out even though it was early morning and the middle of winter. There was no way she’d be out in the water like her crazy neighbor… but the sun did look nice. Gramps was in the living room looking for the channel that the game was going to be on.

Max’s team, the Penguins, was playing the Buffalo Sabres today in what the NHL was calling the Winter Classic. An outdoor game, on a rink that was put up in a football stadium. Max wouldn’t be playing, he was injured. But she wanted to watch it anyway. It was as close as she could be to him, and she didn’t want to forget, even for a moment, what he looked like.

She heard a thumping out on her porch and initially she reached for the gun in the drawer by the sink. When she looked out the window though, her eyes softened and she smiled as her neighbor stomped his feet a few more times to try and get most of the sand off his sandals. In the few months since she’d moved her, she’d become fast friends with the quirky next-door neighbor and his European accent.

Mac had promised her that this was as safe as she could ever be, without feeling like her personal space was being invaded by agents. The house was constantly under surveillance, but she and her grandfather went about as if it were just the two of them.

Sure, she didn’t get to go out, but really… someone in her condition didn’t want or need to go out and drink and dance. Not exactly the smartest move she could make. But the one thing she’d asked Mac, was if she could make friends with her neighbors. He’d agreed that it wouldn’t be a bad thing, it would give her someone other than him, or Gramps, to talk to.

Tap, tap, tap.

Shutting the drawer firmly, Juliet walked over to unlock the screen door. The slightly dorky, extremely sweet neighbor stepped over the threshold and handed her a bag.

“Did you bring something for the game?”

“I bring us fresh fruit. It is still early, and so I thought that, under the circumstances, it was a good option. Your grandfather is joining us, yes?”

“I am son, and I have the perfect idea of what would go perfect with that fruit. How about I make us some pancakes?”

Juliet smiled as her grandfather, Arthur, walked into the kitchen. The thought of pancakes made her stomach roll. Max had been planning on making her pancakes that morning. Had it really been six months since that day? Sometimes it seemed like a lifetime.

“Juliet… doll… you okay?”

She nodded at her beloved family member and excused herself. She heard the two of them laughing as she walked into the living room and on the TV, there was some man talking to Max. He was so handsome. His face was scruffy, and he had on these chunky-framed glasses on. Her heart ached with her need to go to him.

Find them Mac. Find them and kill them. I miss him so much, sometimes I feel like I’ll burst.

“I did not know you were such a hockey fan. I mean, you’ve never said anything about it until now. Do you follow the sport closely?”

“No… I just… I knew a guy who played, and this game seemed like it was something special.”

“So… you’ve never seen a game before?”

Juliet shook her head.

“We could change that. Anaheim has a team. They’re pretty popular around here. What if I got you and Arthur tickets to their next home game?”

She thought about it. Wondered if it was something she could do.

Fuck it, I need something other than this damn beach house.

She decided to call Mac after the game and tell him that she’d be going, and that he either needed to get agents there, or come himself. Smiling, she nodded to her neighbor.

“We’d love to go. Would you be sitting with us too? I’ve heard you and your friends talk about hockey before. You could probably explain things to me better than if I was watching on my own.”

“That would be difficult. I kind of… work at the arena.”

“You do? Well that sounds like fun!”

“It’s amazing. Juliet… you don’t know who I am do you?”

“Should I?”

To her amusement, he blushed and stretched out his arms, cracking his knuckles in a nervous manner.

“Not to make myself seem extremely awesome, but… I play… for the Ducks.”

Juliet stared at him. He didn’t look like a hockey player. Well… he didn’t look like Max. Or Geno. He could’ve pulled off Flower’s stature… a light bulb went off and she laughed out loud. He seemed to jump at the sudden noise.

“That’s why you and Bobby are always talking about hockey. I thought that you were just an obsessed fan or something. This definitely makes more sense! Why didn’t you… How come you never told me Jonas?”

“I didn’t want you to like me because of what I do. When you moved in beside me, I wanted to get to know you because you seemed like you needed a friend. It took me three weeks to get you to look at me! I wanted to tell you, but it was refreshing to meet someone who didn’t want to talk to me because I played professional hockey. Don’t be mad, okay?”

“You’ve been a great friend to me since I moved here. I wondered what you did that had you leaving now and then, but not always the same span of days. And I’m not mad, not at all. But thank you for finally coming clean.”

Jonas smiled back at her and she could tell he wanted to say something but then Gramps hollered from the kitchen that the food was ready and they went in and grabbed food before settling in to watch the game. He explained different calls to her, what the overtime consisted of, and when it came down to a shoot out, he explained that as well.

“So if Crosby scores here, the Penguins will win?”

“Yes. And he’s young, but he’s a very talented player.”

Juliet’s eyes were glued to the television screen. She watched this Sidney person skate down toward the goalie and as he shot the puck he threw his hands in the air, screaming for joy. The announcers were beside themselves as they both shouted that the Pens had won the game and she blinked back tears.

Congratulations Max. I love you.

Turning her head, she caught Jonas looking at her thoughtfully. She quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Can I ask you a question?”

She nodded, sitting back and sinking into the couch.

“This guy that you once knew, the one who played hockey… what happened between the two of you?”

“I broke his heart.”

“Why?”

“Circumstances beyond my control forced me to leave him.”

“How long ago was this?”

“Six months.”

“Do you love him?”

“With every fiber of my being.”

“Will you ever be able to talk to him again?”

“I’d like to think so. But right now it’s out of my hands. Hopefully someday… someday I’ll be able to explain why I left the way I did.”

“You seem like a good person Juliet, so I hope you get that chance.”

“You do?”

“I do. Because one day, she’s going to want to know about her father.”

He leaned over and placed a hand on her stomach, and Juliet felt the little one inside her kick against his palm. The tears threatened to spill again and she wiped at her eyes while she told her friend as much as she dared about her past. Who she fell in love with, and how she hoped to right every wrong between them. When she was done, he pulled her into his arms and for the first time she really cried about losing Max. After the tears slowed, she looked up at her friend.

“Thank you for today.”

“You have been a good friend Juliet. I hope that our talk, and my promise of hockey tickets, has lightened your burden. And when, not if, you get to talk to this man… if he doesn’t forgive you, you come find me. I’ll get the boys together and we’ll set him straight.”

Juliet giggled at the thought of some of his teammates going after Max.

“You’re a good man Jonas Hiller.”

He smiled and kissed her hand.

“It will all work out, in the end. You of all people deserve the chance to be happy. I will see you tomorrow.”

That night, as she lay in bed thinking about everything that Jonas had said, she prayed that he was right. That it would work out. She didn’t want to have to do all of this on her own, and she wanted, more than anything, for Max to know that he was going to be a father. The baby flipped over, kicking as he or she moved.

“Don’t you worry. Uncle Mac will get rid of the bad guys. And once it’s safe, you and I are going on a little plane ride.”

But a month and a half later, in a small and private hospital room, Juliet held a tiny bundle in her arms. The little angel was sleeping peacefully and Mac was talking to the armed guards at the doors in case anyone tried anything. Gramps was down at the cafeteria getting coffee, and that left the man in the rumpled suit in the corner.

He had driven over after the team got back from Boston. He stirred slightly and she whispered to him.

“Jonas… come look.”

Waking up and shaking his head, she smiled at him as he stepped over and stared down at the baby girl.

“She’s beautiful. Did you decide on a name?”

“Yes. Genevieve. Genevieve Marie Talbot.”

“I’ll help you protect her. I promise.”

“I know. And I’m sorry that I’ve sworn you to this secrecy… but until it’s safe…”

“No one else will know her last name.”

“I want you to be her godfather. And if something happens to me… you know how to reach Max.”

“Nothing will happen to you. Mac wouldn’t let it.”

“Promise me Jonas… If not for me, then for her. You and Mac are the only two who know about Max. Please.”

“I will gladly take on the responsibilities of godfather, but you don’t freak out like this. You’re going to be fine.”

She hoped he was right. And she kept her fingers crossed that this nightmare would end soon.

Chapter 10

Updates so close together?! What is this??? :)

*~***~*

Max woke up to the sound of the shower. He smiled as he rolled over and glanced at the clock. Juliet had kept him up all night, almost to the point of complete exhaustion. And he didn’t think he had anything left in the tank that last time when she’d slid down his body and took him into her mouth. But she was like magic.

He stretched and sat up, some of his muscles complaining as he twisted back and forth. It was still early enough for some breakfast, if she was hungry. And he figured she would be. Grabbing a pair of shorts from a drawer, he pulled them up and sauntered over to the bathroom door.

“Jules, I’m going to go grab some food, you want me to bring up something for you?”

“That would be wonderful. Pancakes? I’ll be down, don’t worry about dragging it up!”

“Whatever the lady wants,” he said with a chuckle. Turning and heading downstairs, Max found himself humming.

Men don’t hum. What the fuck is wrong with me? You’re in love.

And he was. He was completely besotted. She had him ready to stand on top of the world and shout out his love.

I will tell her as soon as she comes into the kitchen.

With that decided, he set about gathering everything for breakfast. He was almost finished with the second stack when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Looking up, Max’s heart lurched in his chest.

She was beautiful. So very beautiful. Dressed in a simple Pens t-shirt and jeans, her hair pulled into a ponytail, light make up on… it was a natural look. And he blurted out the words before he could think of a suave way to say them.

“I love you.”

Juliet stopped mid-step into the kitchen. Her eyes went wide, possibly bigger than the pancakes on the plates in front of him. He watched a slow, sad smile spread across her face and his heart stopped beating. She didn’t feel it yet, didn’t love him back. Starting back up, she came to a stop in front of him and fell into his arms. He wrapped her up in a tight embrace and felt her shaking. Then he felt wetness on his chest.

“Juliet? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to just come out like that. I should’ve figured out a better way to tell you. I… tell me what to do?”

“Did you mean it?”

The question was muffled, but he heard it. Tilting her tear-stained face up to his, Max gave her a brilliant smile. He nodded and she sobbed out the words that made him feel like the luckiest man on earth.

“I love you too!”

“Why are you crying then, silly girl?”

“Because… because I am.”

He looked down at her but she was glancing sideways, not meeting his eyes.

“Juliet, what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she whispered. He didn’t believe it for a second.

“Liar. Do not keep it from me, whatever it is. Is this about the phone call yesterday?”

Max watched the expression play across her face. Shock, anger, sadness, denial, fear… he’d heard her side of the conversation though. She’d been all smiles while talking to Mac.

“Juliet… you can’t stay here can you?”

“No.”

“It didn’t go as planned yesterday, did it?”

“Max… I-I… I shouldn’t be talking about this. I don’t want to put you in any danger.”

“I knew the danger when I volunteered for this Juliet. Do not hide things from me. Don’t treat me like I’m not important.”

“You’re the most important person to me right now Max. They got away. And Mac thinks my ‘secret hideaway’ might not be so secret. He used the term ‘mole.’ So someone on our side is telling them things. I can’t risk you getting hurt because of me.”

“Let me go with you.”

“I don’t even know where I’m going. Mac probably won’t tell me until we’re in the air and halfway there.”

“So this is it?”

He didn’t want to believe her. He wanted her to smile and cry out ‘Gotcha!’ and laugh as he chased her back up to the bedroom. But she didn’t laugh. Pieces of his heart were breaking off, floating down his chest cavity and landing like lead in his stomach.

“I have to leave. If I stayed and something happened to you, or Marc, or Vero… I wouldn’t be able to handle it Max.”

“Promise me you’ll come back.”

“I don’t know how long it will take unt…”

“PROMISE ME.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?!”

“Even when Mac gets me to this new location… it’s still not a certainty that I’ll be any safer. Not if there’s someone telling them what’s going on. Until those two are dead, and the leak is plugged… I can’t promise I’ll make it through every new day that dawns.”

“Don’t fucking talk like that.”

Taking her hand, Max pulled her close and lifted her onto the counter. His hands were on her face, cradling her head as he pressed his lips to hers. She couldn’t stand around talking about the possibility of dying. Leaving was bad enough… if he thought about someone killing her, her life coming to an end… it tore him up.

As if sensing the turmoil within him, Juliet pulled back and tore her shirt over her head. He blazed a trail of kisses over her collarbone, dipping down and nipping at the flesh that was hidden by her bra. He heard her gasp and he stepped between her legs, placing her hand over his crotch and pressing himself into her palm. Her fingers wrapped around him and he groaned as he sucked one satin=covered nipple into his mouth.

Juliet cried out and let him go long enough o push at the waistband of his shorts. He felt them slide down his legs and he kicked them away. His fingers were ripping open her jeans at the same time and he pulled her off the counter, spinning her around as he shoved the denim and her panties down to her knees.

“Max, let me get them off and…”

He didn’t let her finish her sentence. With one hand he pulled her hips out. He growled at her to bend over and then he was back inside her tightness.

This isn’t fair. I’ve just found her. I love her. She loves me. Why is she being taken away from me?!

Since he knew she didn’t have the answer to any of the thoughts in his head, Max punished her with each thrust. All the hurt and anger he was feeling came out each time he shoved his hips against her ass. She was crying out, screaming his name, and he felt her free-flowing juices coat him as she came quickly from the rough pace he set. Staying deep within her, Max leaned in close, nipping at her ear.

“I love it when you scream my name.”

She gasped and he rolled his hips, wringing out a whimper from her. Moving her from the counter, Max pulled himself from her depths and walked over to one of the dining chairs. He sat down and grabbed her hand.

“Ride me.”

He groaned as Juliet slid down over him, encasing his entire length in heat. His fingers found her hips and he guided her at a slow pace. Her breasts were bouncing in front of him, her head thrown back in pleasure. He pulled her close, her tits now pressed against his chest. She bit her lip as he kept the steady pace.

“Max… please…”

“No, you’ll come with me this time.”

“Oh god… Max!”

The responsiveness… it was mind-blowing to him that she got so much pleasure out of their time together. He couldn’t let her go, refused to believe that this was how it had to be. Burying his face in her neck, he felt tears threatening to escape.

“Do not leave me mon Coeur… please…”

“I’m so sorry Maxime. This is how it has to be though.”

She tightened around his shaft and Max cried out in heartbreak and pleasure. He moved one hand, flicking her clit with his thumb as he listened to her shaky voice.

“Make me forget it all Max. Make it all go away baby.”

Lifting his hips, Max drilled into her again and again. She told him when she was close, as if he couldn’t tell already. They came together and he felt a tear slide down his cheek as she leaned into him and cried into his neck.

Forty minutes later, the pancakes forgotten, he held Juliet next to him in bed. She promised that Mac would keep him updated any chance he could… that he could keep the satellite phone for secure communications. And as soon as she could, she’d come back to him.

They were both fast asleep when the alarm went off. Just enough time to grab a shower and drive her to the restaurant. He refused to let her take a cab. They jumped under the spray together and then it was time to go.

He knew the place that they were meeting at and it had an outside patio that would be nice for this lunch meeting. Juliet didn’t take any of her things with her. Just her purse. She told him that it wouldn’t do to have luggage with her for a simple ‘lunch date’ and that she’d end up getting new clothes when they reached wherever it was that they were going.

Max tried one more time, while in the car, to get her to change her mind. He’d get a gun, let her teach him to shoot, protect her. Sure, he was begging. He didn’t care.

“Drop me off at this corner. The restaurant is right across the street. I’ll be careful, I’ll be back… Max… I promise you, I’ll be back.”

If it hadn’t been for the word promise, he probably would’ve tied her to the passenger seat. But he knew, deep down, he had to let her go. For her own safety, and for his.

“And Mac is going to keep me updated? You swear?”

“He’ll be like an annoying older brother.”

“I already have two of those, what’s one more.”

Juliet smiled, slightly, and then she gave him a long, loving kiss. When she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes.

“Leave the light on for me Blue Eyes. I’ll be back in no time.”

“Stay safe mon amor. Come home to me. If it’s in the fall, come to Pittsburgh… meet me there.”

She nodded her head and wiped at her eyes. Then, probably before she could change her mind, she hopped out of the car and slammed the door shut. He watched her walk through the crosswalk, sunglasses over her eyes, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world. He knew she was taking in every inch of her surroundings, making sure there wasn’t a dangerous situation. He watched her sit at a table with a man. It had tube Mac, but it didn’t look like him. They talked for a couple minutes and then she stood up and talked to the waiter before stepping into the building.

Restroom break. I need to leave before I make a fool out of myself.

Pulling back out onto the street Max drove by the bistro. He was almost a block away when it hit him that he hadn’t told her again that he loved her. He couldn’t go back now, not unless he was extremely stealthy. Pulling off the street, he was debating whether or not to get out and figure out how to see her when the ground shook. Focusing his gaze in the rearview mirror, he saw the explosion, the fire and smoke and debris.

No… no, no, no, no, NO!!!

People were running down the sidewalks and he leapt out of the car and ran toward the insanity. There were people screaming and crying, he could hear sirens already in the distance. He stopped at the rubble where the patio area had been. He could see no one. No bodies, no body parts… everything and everyone was gone.

How could they have known where she was going to be???

Max stayed there, beside the remains of the building, tears streaming down his face as he cried for the loss of the woman who’d come to mean so much to him. He screamed out in pain and anger, looking up towards the heavens. And in his fit of rage… he didn’t see the black SUV the pulled out of the alley. Nor the woman who had her hands plastered to the windows, sobbing as she silently begged him to forgive her someday.

*~***~*

I'm sorry guys. Don't hate me.

Chapter 9

My apologies. Hope you're all still waiting around to read this*

I've got more written, so it won't be so long between posts!!

Sorry again!!

*~***~*

“Oh my god… I cannot… I can’t do it. Don’t make me!”

Juliet giggled as Vero stared at the sundae in front of the four of them. It was huge, unhealthy, and she was going to make sure the four of them ate it all.

“Oh c’mon Vero. You can help me scarf this down! With the two bottomless pits here, we probably won’t even have to eat very much of it!”

The boys pretended to look hurt. But then Marc laughed and shoveled a giant bite of ice cream and brownie into his mouth. Not to be outdone, Max scooped up a dollop of hot fudge and poured it over the vanilla ice cream before shoving it past his lips. A small streak of chocolaty goodness was stuck to his lip. Completely forgetting that she wasn’t alone with him, Juliet grabbed Max’s shirt collar and pulled him close, licking the smear off of his lips.

He swallowed his bite quickly and molded his lips to hers. He was sweet and sticky, and she wanted to pour more of the dessert over other places on his body. They were making out like horny teenagers in the backseat of a car when the sound of a throat being cleared finally pierced the fog over her brain. Breaking away from him, she tucked some hair behind her ear and looked down at the bowl.

When she dared to look up, Vero was smiling hugely and Marc had an astonished but pleased expression on his face.

“So, he finally decided to do more than hold you to keep the boogeymen away, no?”

Juliet laughed at her friend’s comment and nodded as Max slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him on their bench seat. Vero was chattering on about something but Max was whispering in her ear about how he was going to drizzle chocolate sauce onto her before he licked it away. Putting her hand over her mouth to keep from moaning out loud, she closed her eyes as images popped into her head.

“You would love it Jules. I know you would. You already taste so, so sweet. I can only imagine what it would be like to lick all that syrup from your skin. Can you picture it now, ma chere?”

Unable to form a coherent thought, she just nodded her head. He was too much. Opening her eyes once more, Vero was staring at her, her gaze twinkling with mischief. Juliet coughed lightly and tried to start a normal conversation again.

“So Marc, have you always been a goalie?”

He laughed and started back at the beginning, giving her practically his entire life story. By the time he was finished, they were all holding their stomachs from laughing at things he and Max had told them about inside the locker rooms, bus rides, hotel stays.

God, it is so easy to fall in love with him.

Max took the bill before she even had a chance to look at it, and they decided on a walk around Old Montreal since the night was young still and it had cooled down with the sun setting. As they stepped onto the sidewalk from the restaurant, Juliet linked her arm through Max’s and she smiled at him. He leaned over and stole a quick kiss before starting to stroll through the throngs of people.

They said their goodbyes to Marc and Vero shortly after the walk began. With a kiss to her cheek, Vero made her promise to call the next day so they could make plans to hang out again. As they continued to travel down the walkway, Juliet found herself internally debating her initial reluctance to this plan. Mac had been right to agree with Max. This was really a great plan. She felt as safe as possible, considering what she was hiding from.

When she woke up this afternoon she used her secured, emergency satellite phone and called her boss. Mac told her that they’d figured out who the big fish was. A man who had a personal vendetta against Mac himself. And Crawford was his half-brother. That was how he fit into the situation. Mac said they’d closed in on the area that was being used as their ‘headquarters’ and he was waiting for the strike to be issued so they could ‘just bomb the whole fucking area’… His words, not hers.

She had asked him what would happen when the order was finally followed out. How long before she would have to leave and go back to D.C. for debriefing? Would she be able to come back to Pittsburgh? Was there protocol against sleeping with the guy who was housing her?

Mac had burst out laughing at the final question. And he had told her that he would come up to her for the debriefing, and that after that she had three choices. She could join a new team, get a desk job like he had, or she could be honorably discharged. That meant that she could go wherever she wanted, be with whomever she chose. Now she just had to tell Max that. Without being too presumptuous. She was plotting different situations in her head when she was jerked to a stop.

“You haven’t been listening to a word I’ve been saying, have you?”

Looking around, Juliet noted that they were in a less-clustered area, walking along the river now. She turned and looked at Max. He had a pained expression on his face and she felt bad for zoning out on him.

“I was thinking about what Mac said this afternoon. We discussed what would happen after this is over.”

Max’s face immediately brightened, while his eyes took on a wary gaze.

“And what did your fearless leader say?”

“That’s what I was trying to figure out how to tell you. It’s almost over. One command and they’ll be gone, and I can come back from the dead.”

“And leave?”

“No…”

“No?”

She looked at his hopeful expression and the feelings in her own heart felt like they were going to burst free from inside of her. She smiled at him.

“Mac can come up here to debrief me. So he can take my statement and close everything out.”

“After that? Do you get sent back to Washington and become part of a new team?”

“I have a choice to make actually.”

Juliet spotted a bench close to them and she tugged his arm, dragging him over to sit down. After turning so she could face him, she took his hands in hers.

“There are three options I have. First, I could go back to D.C. and become part of a new team. Second, I could do a more ‘behind-the-scenes’ job like Mac does now. Or, I could pack my bags, take my honorable discharge that’s due to me because of my time of service, and be done with the military.”

“Would you be in D.C. if you took the desk job?”

“Yes. Mac wouldn’t let them put me anywhere else. Why?”

“Well, It’s not an extremely long drive between there and Pittsburgh. And there’s always train rides… or flights… we’d still be able to see one another…”

He looked so cute, sitting there with that hopeful expression on his face. The fact that he wanted to keep this going, see where they could go from the present. She hadn’t found a guy who wanted to pursue a future with her since her first boyfriend in high school. And yes, she was young, but the feelings she had for this man… she tugged his hair to bring him close, pressing her lips to his.

“So, you would like to keep seeing me Cherie,” Max chuckled.

“I’ve been in the military since high school. I’ve done some things that men who have spent their lives in the service haven’t done. I’ve gone places, seen things… I’m twenty-two and I feel like I’m forty! Honestly, I’d always thought I would make a career out of this. But… losing my team… it’s made me seriously reconsider things. And… even with a discharge, if I wanted to rejoin later on, I know Mac could make it happen.”

“Where does that leave us?”

“I think it means that we could get to know one another more, spend more time together. I could even look for a place in Pittsburgh, if I opted to get out of the military.”

“Stay with me.”

Juliet looked up sharply. She could tell by the surprised look on his face that he hadn’t expected to say that out loud. But then he smiled and she knew he was seriously considering it.

“Maxime… do you really think that would be smart?”

“Juliet… we already live together.”

Well, he has a point.

“Can I think about it?”

“Oui. I would never push you to do something… you should know that by now.”

She nodded. She did know that. She wasn’t sure how, but she knew that this man was one she could trust and confide in. He had taken on the role of her protector like he’d been born to take care of her.

“No matter what Max, I would like to take you up on the offer to stay the summer with you. If it still stands…”

“I don’ know… I may have to think on it for a while. Okay! It’s a deal!”

Juliet let out a startled laugh at how quickly he’d made up his mind and then she was splayed over his lap on her back and he was bent over her, kissing her like it was the same thing as breathing. It was almost too awkward of an angle, not quite as bad as the Spiderman rain kiss… but definitely movie-like. When, at last, he decided to lift his head, she was positive that the dreamy look on her face would probably be etched there… permanently.

“Now that you’ve had some time out in the fresh air, visitation time with your new friends… can we go back home?”

“You make me sound like a pet.”

“You are like a tigress in bed… does that count?”

If he had been serious, she would’ve punched him. But looking up into his eyes, she saw the humor there and so she lifted one hand, twisting her fingers like claws, and then she growled at him.

“Don’t make me scratch you.”

“Oh, you’ve scratched me plenty already. But I don’t really mind it. Besides, you only do it because I make you purr with pleasure.”

“Meeeeoow,” she said with a throaty giggle as she sat up. He nuzzled his face into her neck and growled as he nipped at her skin.

“We should leave before we get arrested for indecent exposure.”

Juliet nodded and they walked back to the car. They were almost home when the emergency phone in her purse went off. She couldn’t get it out fast enough, and only one thought entered her mind as she flipped open the phone to talk.

It’s over.

“Hey Mac, when you coming up to debrief me,” she smiled as she spoke into the phone.

“Don’t let Max know what I’m saying. Make him think I’m giving you amazing news.”

Inside, Jules felt her heart fall to the floorboards. But if Max was looking at her, he’d see a smiling face. Every question she would be asking now had to sound like a good conversation, and she had to pray that Mac would be able to translate her questions.

“It went off without a hitch?” What the fuck went wrong?!

“Somehow they knew. Crawford and his brother, they got out before the airstrike.”

“And when are you getting your scrawny ass up here to debrief me?” Are you coming up here to take me away for my safety?

“I’ll be up there tomorrow. There’s mole. You aren’t safe.”

“I know a great place for lunch.” Let’s meet somewhere that Max won’t be.

“Great, make sure Max stays behind.”

“How long do you think it will take?” When will I be safe again?!

“I honestly don’t know Jules. I thought we had them… you have to get out of there when I come. You can’t stay with Max and risk his safety too.”

“I know, it’s gotta be a private lunch. He’ll have to suffer for a couple hours.” I hate this. It’s going to break his heart.

“I’ll keep an eye on him. I promise you. Now, put on a brave face and enjoy another night with him. I’ll kill them myself and hand deliver you to him, after I’ve apologized on your behalf so he doesn’t hate you.”

“Tell Gramps I’ll see him soon.” Please tell me you’ll have him with you.

“He’ll be on the plane. See you tomorrow. I’m sorry again Juliet.”

“See ya tomorrow.”

She closed the phone and steeled herself for the lie that would come out of her mouth next. When she opened her eyes, she had to blink back tears before she turned to face Max. She couldn’t tell him she had to leave now. She would tell him in the morning.

“It’s done?”

“The issue has been resolved.”

“And Mac will debrief you tomorrow and then you’re mine for the rest of the summer?”

“I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

“If I told you forever would it freak you out?”

She started to talk but the words caught in her throat and refused to come out. So she grabbed hold of his hand and held it between hers until they pulled in the driveway. Then she led him upstairs and loved him with every fiber of her being, until the sun was peeking through the blinds. Then she jumped in the shower and got ready to kiss him goodbye.

Chapter 8

Warlock? Sounds like some kind of geek with those taped up glasses… who spends all his time behind computer screens, making up girlfriends.

“I know it sounds lame, but that was the name. And the way he played us… it was like magic. We never saw it coming until it was too late.”

“And he’s still out there somewhere?”

Jules just nodded. Max didn’t like that. He didn’t like knowing that somewhere out there was a man who wanted Juliet dead. A man who would probably stop at nothing to kill her.

“Mac and a more… elite team… have found all but three of them. Crawford, his second in command, and the man pulling all the strings.”

“And do they have any idea where to look?”

“At the moment… no.”

That wasn’t good enough. She couldn’t move on until they killed the mall… or they killed her. And he refused to let that happen.

“Maybe we shouldn’t go out tonight.”

“Max, no one knows I’m here. And I need to get out of this house. I’m getting cabin fever!”

He did want to take her out. Now more than ever. He just didn’t want to put her out in the open like that. Even if she was right, and that everyone thought she was gone.

“I’ll make you a deal.”

“Oh god…”

“C’mon! You haven’t even heard the terms yet.”

“That’s what worries me.”

Max chuckled and then used a finger to tilt her face up to him.

“Do you trust me?”

She looked startled by the question, but when she told him ‘yes’ he could see the honesty on her face and the raw emotion in her eyes.

“Okay then. We’ll go out tonight like I had planned. Dinner, a walk through the streets of Old Montreal… dessert out, or maybe back here…” she growled with a smiled. “Definitely here then. All you have to do is let me help you. Finish what we’ve been talking about and let me start to help you heal.”

“Your price is very high.”

“The rewards outweigh the cost. Don’t they?”

He was being selfish. He knew that. But he had to know the rest of the story. He had to know what happened. He was actually hoping that once she started, everything would spill out and she’d be able to start really grieving for the loss of her friends. She needed to do that. And hopefully the nightmares stopped. Or at least became more infrequent.

“You don’t know the meaning of the phrase ‘Just let it drop,’ do you?”

Max flashed her a killer smile and shook his head back and forth slowly. Juliet sighed and sat up, keeping the blanket over her body.

“I will go downstairs. Make us something light for lunch. Some coffee… you come down when you’re ready.”

He swept in for a quick kiss and then jumped out of the bed before he could be distracted. Bounding down the stairs he started pulling things out of the fridge to make simple sandwiches and he fixed a pot of coffee. When he heard the squeak of the stairs Max wiped his hands on a towel and slid both plates over to the where he had bar stools set up along one side of the counter. Then he poured two cups from the pot and set the cream and sugar out as well.

Juliet stepped into the room and he gripped the counter to keep from running right over to her and kissing her senseless. She smiled tentatively and sat on one of the stools. He motioned for her to fix her coffee while he cleaned up and then he sat down next to her.

“Do you want to eat first? Talk first? Eat while talking?”

“Thank you for all of this Max. Not just today. The whole thing… I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“Just being here is enough. I like having you around.”

“I like being around.”

“Then promise me something.”

“Shouldn’t I do this first thing you asked before I start making your more promises and things?”

“No, this one’s even simpler than the other one.”

Her stomach growled and he motioned for her to eat while he took a deep breath.

“When Mac finishes this… don’t just pick up and leave. Tell me you’ll think about sticking around… at least for the rest of the summer.”

“You’re pretty confident that he’ll have this done in no time,” Juliet said with a smile.

“I know he will. Because it’s for you.”

Touching her hand, he waited for her to look at him.

“Just tell me you’ll think about it.”

“If he doesn’t need me to go back right away… I’d love to stay here longer. I can’t promise you that I would be able to though. But if I can…”

“That’s good enough for me. Now eat.”

They both picked up their food and made quick work of the sandwiches. He poured them both another cup of coffee and then twisted on his seat and waited for her to talk. He didn’t have to wait long.

“He sold us out. I still haven’t been able to figure out why. Why our team? I still haven’t come up with that reason yet… but… like I had told you, we were scoping out the area where they were holding the boy. Crawford had told us that they weren’t around. We knew that they didn’t have a huge security system set up yet and that we could get in, get a feel for the place… I told Frenchie to stay in the van.”

“Then we went in, light weapons and no real armor. Crawford was on point, I was behind him. The others were spread out and we circled the house. Orion and Doc came in from the back door. We had cleared the rooms and were about to take some photos for reconnaissance… Crawford had gone out of the room. I didn’t think anything of it.”

When Max looked at her, he saw the first tear fall down her cheek. It dripped onto the counter top and was quickly joined by more. He stood and stepped over to her, wrapping his arms around her and rocking her while she sobbed silently.

“I’m sorry. We can stop. I didn’t think about… I wanted to help and… We’ll let it go.”

“No. I want to talk about it. I need to.”

She wiped her eyes and sniffled.

“I heard a little tick tick noise. Romeo and I were discussing where we could place explosives now… The canister flew into the room. It clinked on the hardwood floor and rolled for a second maybe two. We all just sort of stared at it and I remember hearing Romeo yell ‘SONOFABI’ before the flash bomb went off. He’d grabbed me and pulled me against him, hiding my face from the blast. That was how I was able to move quicker.”

“There was a muffled laughter. I know I heard it. Then the door was kicked open and broken glass hit the floor in another room. I heard the first pop of gunfire and one of the girls screamed. The scream… it turned to a gurgle, I’m guessing from a knife. Romeo yelled for me to run. I stumbled as I headed back the way we had come in. There were more screams as I sprinted through the door. By the time I got to the van I was yelling for Frenchie to start the vehicle.”

“But he was gone. His throat… I grabbed my bag from the front seat and took a second to decide on which way to go. I could still her the laughter. And the taunting voice. ‘Come out, come out, wherever you are.’ It was disturbing. I turned and fled toward the tree line. I heard the shot the instant before it hit me. The pain in my shoulder was like nothing I’d ever felt before. I know I cried out. But I couldn’t… wouldn’t stop.”

“And then you broke into Geno’s house?”

“I didn’t really break in. The door was open.”

“How far were we from where this happened? I would think that we would’ve heard gunshots.”

“Silencers.”

Max nodded and took a sip of the hot liquid. It burned down his throat but he needed something to distract him from the hurt that he felt for her. All that she went through. Her entire team was demolished by a madman. And the worst part was… she still didn’t know why. He didn’t know how to help her stop him, but he knew he’d do whatever he could.

It was strange that he felt something so strong for someone he hadn’t known very long. But he’d decided not to fight it. Whatever it was… if it died out, fine. But right now it was a need burning deep within him. The urge to protect this woman at all costs was coursing through him. He didn’t want to scare her, but at the same time he wanted to pick her up and carry her to his bedroom again and never let her go.

“Tell me I did the right thing… by listening to Romeo and running. Tell me there was nothing I could’ve done to stop their deaths.”

She choked out the final few words, the tears starting again, and Max lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist and he carried her up to the bathroom, whispering comforting words in his native French as he walked. When he stepped into the bathroom he set her on the sink and peeled her limbs from his body. Slowly, ever so slowly, he started stripping her clothes from her body.

When he was down to her underwear he turned and twisted the faucets, getting a shower going. As the steam lifted up he finished helping her out of her clothes. Making quick work of his own clothes, he pulled her under the spray with him and shut the shower door. She leaned against him, her tears mixing with the water now as he held her.

“There was nothing you could’ve done chérie. No way that you could’ve stopped any of it.”

He felt her nod into his chest. They stood there for a few moments and he hoped that this was soothing. Perhaps washing away some of the guilt. Max grabbed a washcloth and poured from of that citrusy body wash that she always smelling onto the cloth before soaping it up. Piling her hair atop her head with the clip she had put around the showerhead, he turned her so she was facing away from him.

Then he started at her shoulders, running the slightly rough material over her skin. He ran it up and down both arms and over the back of her neck before bringing it back around her front and dipping it between her breasts. He didn’t spend a long period of time there, moved down to her stomach and sides so she wouldn’t think he was just trying to get in her pants… again… but Juliet ripped the washcloth from his hands, threw it down, and moved his hands back to the soapy globes.

“Mon chere, I was not doing this to make you think that I wanted…”

“Shhhh. I want this.”

“You’re very emotional right now and I thi…”

She spun around quickly, holding onto his arms to keep from slipping.

“Dammit Max. I don’t need a lecture right now. I need you to make everything go away again. Make me forget it all, everything but the way you feel inside me. The way your fingers moved over my flesh. The way I cry out your name when you suck on my…”

Max groaned and captured her lips, pressing her back against the cold tiled wall. She gasped into his mouth as her back arched against the cool sensation. He took his time learning the contours of her body, hoping that the hot water lasted as long as he planned to.

It didn’t. They made it through a rather intense orgasm for her and then he quickly twisted off the water and wrapped her in a towel. Before she could protest, he tossed her in bed and followed, slipping between her legs and burying himself inside her.

“Gah… Magnifique….”

“Stop speaking in a language I don’t understand. You could be telling me that I’m a fat, ugly, disgusting… Oh!”

He gripped her hips and slammed into her, driving as deep as he could. A series of punishing thrusts and she was clutching his shoulders and crying out his name.

“Oh god Max… please don’t stop! Harder.. yes, oh fuck! Max!!”

She quivered in his arms and threw her head back. He growled and covered her, biting down on her neck as he rocked gently. Juliet clawed at him and moaned as he started thrusting faster again. They moved in unison, the only noises to be heard were the smack of skin on skin and an occasional grunt from his lips.

He wanted to feel her fall apart once more before he came, but Max could feel his balls boiling with the need for release. He pried himself loose and backed away before flipping her body over. Juliet helped by rising up onto her knees and he found himself once again nestled in her tight little pussy. He pushed her down though, leaving her prone beneath him, unable to lift her hips. He slid out and back in with quick motions.

“Jeeeeesus you are so big!”

A surge of male pride coursed through him and Max bit his lip as he brought one hand down, snaking it between her sweat-soaked skin and the blankets. He searched for a moment, trying to find the exact spot that would make her scream. As his fingers pressed over the bundle of nerves that was drenched in her juices, Juliet was scrunching the cover in her hands.

“Right there… Max… please… oh, oh, oh… Fuuuck! Yes!”

She clamped down on his dick and Max thought he would pass out. He laid out on top of her and his hips bumped against her ass as he jerked. White hot pleasure coursed through his veins and he bellowed her name. Her hips would probably be bruised later, with the death grip he had on them, but as he felt his load fill her up Max couldn’t do anything but smile.

“Juliet… my sweet, sweet Juliet… are you okay?”

“Can’t. Talk. Dead.”

Max chuckled and whispered praises to her. He felt her shift beneath him as she turned over, bringing their bodies flush against one another.

“Can we still go to dinner Max? I’d really like to get out of here for a night.”

HE nodded at her and bent down for a brief kiss. There was no way he could deny her something as simple as a restaurant for dinner after the day they’d had. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck before closing her eyes and mumbling something about a quick nap before they had to get ready. He agreed, for her, and then slid from the bed to let her sleep in peace.

The dreams must not have been bad because she didn’t wake up until late afternoon. It gave him plenty of time to call Marc and Vero, to talk to him about this grand scheme of things. He couldn’t keep her all to himself forever, but until she left… he was going to give her the best ‘vacation’ ever… and perhaps he’d stand a chance of asking her to stay.