February 18th, 2003
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There are some SERIOUS NC-17 scenes in this fic. You HAVE been warned.
Even though the title of this fic ("Misery") doesn't seem to make sense for this chapter, it's because it shouldn't. It makes sense for the first and next chapter. You'll see.
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By the time George broke off the kiss, he was leaning over her slightly with one of his hands on her face. They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds, breathing heavily.
"What just happened?" He asked.
"We. Kissed." She said slowly. He nodded.
"Yeah." They paused. "Why?" He asked.
"I wanted to." She whispered quietly. He nodded.
"Okay."
"Why?" He repeated.
"I don't know." She said. He nodded a bit, nibbling on his lips like he did sometimes when he was thinking. "Are you mad?" He looked in her eyes.
"Not mad." He said.
"Then what?" She asked.
"Perplexed." He said and made her grin.
"Is it such a bad thing that it happened?" She asked.
"No. I'm just...perplexed." She laughed and he grinned. "No, but seriously, Jules." He paused. "Ever since I've met you, you've been dating Ron. It's natural for me think of you with Ron. And now...it ended and you came here. And that was odd, because you've never stayed with me like this before. And I enjoy having you here. And then this. Kiss. It's...Strange." He paused. "Do you understand what I mean? It's like everything is different now. Different than a week or so ago. When you were still his." She remained quiet, staring at him. "It's just a huge change and it's hard for me to....get it right in my head." Julianna sat up, staring down at the blanket.
"Do you wish I hadn't done it?" She asked quietly.
"It depends." He said.
"On?"
"If you wish you hadn't done it. Because if you wish you hadn't, then I don't want to make you feel bad or guilty about it. But I don't want to lie and tell you that I didn't enjoy it. But I don't want you to make a mistake." He said.
"I don't think it was a mistake." She said. "I wanted to do it, so I did."
"Then what do you want to do about it?" He asked quietly. She shrugged.
"I'd like to do it again." She said, smiling a bit. He chuckled.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked.
"You always take care of me, George." Is all she said and she turned to look at him over her shoulder. He reached out and squeezed her hand.
"I don't want to do something you will regret. I don't want to hurt you." And I don't want to get hurt, he repeated silently in his head. "Because if you regret anything, our friendship will never be the same." She nodded, looking down at their joined hands.
"I know." She whispered.
"And that's why you have to be sure that if we do this, that you aren't going to hate me if and when it's over."
"But what if we don't, and we miss out on something wonderful?" She asked. He sighed.
"It's your call."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because you just ended what we all thought was a life long relationship and you need to decide what you want out of your life." He said. She nodded and let go of his hand. She folded her knees up and crossed her arms over them, sitting her chin on her arms.
"Right now, all I can think about is now. I don't want to think about the future." She sighed. "Before, my life was pretty much on a straight track. I was with Ron and my life was moving ahead with my career. Now I'm not with Ron. My career is pretty much going to stay on the same track, even though right now I don't have too much planned. But as far as my personal life goes, it's not on that same track anymore, and I'm....glad, I guess. It's different. And I don't want to have to plan ahead." She looked at him. "I don't want to worry about the future. I want to live now. All my life I've been careful and I've planned things. I want to live for once."
"I understand that." George paused. "But your friendship is one of the most important ones I have outside of the boys." George said. "And I don't want to damage that."
"Maybe it won't be damaged." She said. He sighed. "But what if it is?" He asked.
"Then can't we just deal with it then?" She asked. "I understand where you are coming from. It worries me, too. But I'm so sick of just....living the same way. I want to play. I want to experience new things. I want to," She paused, "Be different."
"Do you think that what we could have would satisfy that? Would it help?" He asked. She shrugged.
"I've dated the same man for the past 12 years. Doing anything with anybody else would be a complete 360." She said. George nodded.
"If you want it and you think it would help you, then you should do what you want." He said.
"But what do you want?" She asked.
"I want you." He admitted after a moment. "If I'm honest, I'll tell you that I always have, but I always just pushed it away. I never let myself think about it." She stared at him, a little surprised. "But after being friends with you after all this time, I'm scared of what could happen to our friendship. But still, even though I know what could happen, I still want you." He said.
"So you won't hate me if I decide to take this farther?" She asked. He shook his head.
"I don't think I could ever hate you." He replied. She scooted backwards so she was right beside him.
"Because right now, I'm not being logical." She said. "I'm thinking with mostly my emotions."
"I know. I am too." He said.
"I don't want us to regret this. But I don't want to regret not trying something." She said.
"Same here." He said quietly. "It's all so complicated." She leaned toward him. He opened his arms so she could come closer. She leaned her forehead against his.
"But I want this." She murmured. He nodded slightly.
"Me too."
"Don't hate me." She said.
"I can't." He whispered back. She lifted her arms until they were wrapped around his neck. Their lips were just spaces apart.
"Just live. For now." She quietly said.
"Play." He said and their lips met as they grinned. He always knew how to make the situation light again. "You know," He murmured against her lips, "I always thought you were a decent kisser." She pulled back and gave him an evil eye.
"Decent?" She asked. He smirked. "Decent my ass!" She exclaimed and leaned in, applying herself to this kiss. By the time she pulled away, he was breathless. She smirked this time.
"Mmm, maybe wonderful, amazing, terrific, perfect." He said and grinned. He leaned over and captured her lips, deciding to apply himself to the kiss and prove himself worthy. They moaned in unison. His hands sank into her hair and her arms locked around his neck. Tongues met with a passion, loving each other. Her mouth pulled away and traveled to his neck. He let his head roll back slightly as she nibbled and licked her way down. "Jules?"
"Mm?" She murmured against his neck.
"I think you better stop." He said.
"Why's that?" She asked and continued kissing.
"I think it's working a little too well." He replied.
"And?" She asked.
"And I think it could get out of hand."
"So?"
"So we haven't talked about that." He said. She pulled back.
"Yes, we did." She paused. "That entire conversation was about that, too." She said.
"Uh-huh, but not specifically." He said.
"So you don't want to?" She asked.
"Well, I wouldn't say that." He said. She smirked and leaned in, kissing him more. She deepened the kiss and pressed closer to him. She wanted to be so much closer. She sighed and ran her fingers through the hair that lay against the base of his neck, as she melted into him. His hands traveled up her back and he had the urge to touch. He wanted more. He wanted to get his hands all over her, but he also didn't want to move too fast.
After a few seconds of convincing himself it was the right thing to do, he pulled her back, away from him. She stared up at him, searching his face, wondering what he was thinking.
"Did I do something wrong?" She asked. He smiled and shook his head.
"No, you did everything completely right." He paused and pulled her away still some more. "That's the problem. I can't continue this, Jules, unless I know what you want." He said.
"George."
"If you don't want this to go....that far right now, we can't do anything else, or I won't be able to stop." He said. She grinned, understanding. She scooted closer, smiling slyly.
"So you mean if I do this," She said and brought her lips to his neck again and kissed him, before she dragged her tongue over his collarbone. "You won't be able to stop?"
"Jules.." He murmured. She crawled her fingers up under his shirt and rubbed the skin just above his jeans as she kissed her way to his ear.
"This?" She whispered and then nipped at his earlobe. He shuddered. "And this?" She licked the outer rim of his ear. He moaned and pulled her away, holding her upper body at an arm's length so she couldn't touch him. She grinned like a cat filled with cream.
"You are.....incredible." He said, for lack of a better word. She laughed a deep and throaty laugh that had even more lust curling in his belly. "But I can't let this go on unless you tell me how you feel about that. This just started right now, and I don't know what you want."
"I want you." She said. He just looked at her. "I don't need time, George. I've known you forever. I don't want to wait any longer."
"Are you sure? Because I don't want you to regret any of this." He said. She grinned.
"I'm completely sure." She said and he dropped his hands.
"Then let's go inside." He said. She nodded and stood up. He followed her up. She bent down and began to pick things up, and he followed suit. They carried the things into the house and set them carelessly aside before turning back to each other. She walked towards him, until the front of her body was pressed against his, but she didn't touch him, not with her hands. "I can feel it everywhere." She whispered. "In my body." He stared at her, nearly salivating over her beauty. He watched her for a few more seconds, watched her breath come a little faster than normal. Then he suddenly bent over, picking her up into his arms, one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around him, helping him support her body. He chuckled and she kissed his neck as he began to make his way up the stairs, to his room. When he got there, he placed her back on her feet beside his bed. She smiled at him and he reached over, cupping her cheeks in his hands.
"You're beautiful." He said. She grinned, a bit shyly. "I don't think I will ever get tired of looking at you." He stepped closer and pressed his lips to hers. She melted into him and he just kissed her, without touching her for a few moments, letting her get used to things, even though she had been pushing him earlier. He wanted to be slow and give her what she wanted and let her have the reigns. He trailed his lips over her jaw and towards her neck. "Tonight is your night. I want you to tell me what you like. I want to learn about you." He murmured against her neck. She shivered.
"I like that." She whispered.
"Yeah?" He asked. She nodded against him and he grinned. "I'll make sure to do it more often." He continued and moved his lips to her shoulder. He pushed her sweater aside and kissed the skin beside her bra strap. His hands slid down and he held her waist in his hands, rubbing his thumbs across her hip bones. He slid his hands up a bit, until they were filled with her soft skin. "Mm." He murmured against her neck. Then he pulled his head back so he could pull her sweater over her head. And it was his turn to sigh as he looked down at her.
"Lovely." He murmured. He reached up, fingering the silky black strap that was over her shoulder. He smiled and looked down. "I wonder," He paused and ran his finger over the zipper of her jeans, "do these match?" He asked. She looked at him through half closed eyes and nodded. "I think I need to see for myself." He said and unbuttoned her pants before sliding them down. They fell and pooled at her feet. He held out a hand and she took it, stepping out of them. Her black panties matched the black bra, just as she had said they would. He sighed.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything more appealing." He said and drew her closer to him. She snuggled into his arms, letting his warmth engulf her. He kissed her searingly, sending hotness rushing throughout her. She moaned slightly and pressed closer. He reached back and unhooked her bra, gently sliding it from her shoulders. He pulled her away a bit so he could see her breasts when they spilled from her bra. He cupped one in his left hand and had her head falling back as he rubbed his thumb across her nipple. Then he bent his head and kissed the place where her shoulder met her neck with an open, wet, hot mouth. She shivered and moved even closer to him.
He pressed her against him and pressed her towards the bed. He laid her gently on it before reaching back and taking off his own shirt. Then he bent over her, pressing her naked chest against his. They both moaned into each other's mouths at the feel of her nipples pressed against his chest. Julianna reveled in the textures of his body as her hands moved over his back when he bent his head to kiss her again. He focused there, overwhelming her with mouth to mouth, and chest to chest contact.
"George.." She murmured when he finally pulled his lips from hers.
"Yes, darling?" He asked, but she didn't answer, just sighed. He slid his lips down her shoulder, traveling downward to bring her pleasure. She buried her fingers in his hair, holding onto him as he kissed her shoulder first, and then lower. His lips skimmed over the milky skin above her nipples, and then dipped further. He rubbed his bottom lip against her nipple and heard her moan and felt her fingers move in his hair. He sighed then and opened his mouth, encasing her rosebud points in his warm mouth. She made a noise deep in her throat, and he felt his entire being respond to her sounds. He slid his right hand up and cupped her free breast in his hand, readying her other nipple for his mouth. Then he slid his tongue across her chest and gave her other breast the same attention as the first.
He stayed there for a few seconds before make his way even further down. He kissed his way to her belly button, before dipping his tongue inside and making her belly quiver. He went a little lower, giving her open mouth kisses on her lower abdomen.
"George..." She breathed, aching for so much more, but already so overwhelmed.
"What do you want, baby?" He paused, his lips brushing across her belly and his breath warming her.
"I can't.." She didn't know how to ask and the feelings were taking over, she couldn't think.
"Okay, darling, it's okay." He murmured, and moved lower still. Her hands fell from his hair and dropped to the bed. She gripped the sheets instead, as he slid his tongue over her upper thigh.
"Mm." She murmured, her eyes closed tightly as his tongue slid over her, over her lacy black underwear. He grinned when he saw her hands squeeze the sheets tighter. He trailed a fingertip down her thigh to her knee before reaching back up and gently sliding her panties off. Then his head lowered.
Nothing she could have done would have prepared her for the onslaught of sensations and pleasure that his mouth brought her. She groaned, pressing her head back into the pillow as her hands held tightly onto the sheets. Her entire world spun around and she felt like she couldn't get her grip on it. She didn't really want to. Beautiful pressure kept building, until finally everything exploded, sending wave, after hot wave of pleasure spilling throughout her. Colors danced underneath her eyelids, as the pleasure overwhelmed her. When she felt herself coming back down to earth, she slowly opened her eyes and saw George above her, smiling down at her. She felt his nakedness, realizing for an instant that he must have shed his pants when she was still glorying in what he had done to her body.
"You're beautiful." He murmured, overwhelmed by her. He bent his head and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips as he let his body weight slowly press against her. Julianna could feel his hard, throbbing manhood pressing against her womanhood, but he refrained from entering her.
"George." She groaned, staring up at him, willing him to hurry.
"Are you sure, Jules? I want you to be sure." He said. Her hips swung upwards, rubbing against him as a reply.
"Yes." She breathed and he sighed, sliding into her. They moaned simultaneously. Her legs wrapped around him loosely and she reached down, sliding her hands over his buttocks and pulling him deeper into her. They stayed still that way for a few moments, just staring at each other, panting. Then George pressed a hot kiss to her mouth and they began to move together in an amazing rhythm that they both felt in their souls.
"Jules." He moaned, burying his face into her neck. She turned her nose into his ear as they shared a wonderful release of pleasure tumbling throughout both of them.
-------[o]-------
Moments later, George lifted his head from her neck and moved to roll off of her. He slid out of her, but she tightened her limbs around him so he could not move from being on top of her. She wasn't sure why, but she did not want to lose this yet. Subconsciously she was scared of losing him now, and she didn't want him to go. Not to mention she didn't want to lose this feeling of the most amazing sex she had ever had.
"Stay." She murmured. He chuckled.
"I don't want to smoosh you." He said. She grinned.
"You aren't, I promise." She said. He pulled his upper body up a little, resting his forearms on either side of her head, so that he wasn't putting his entire weight on her chest, so she could breathe. He grinned.
"Did you know," He paused, "That you have the most gorgeous body I've ever seen?" She smiled bashfully.
"You're a liar."
"No, I'm not."
"Why couldn't you tell me that before?" She asked.
"Because I've never seen you completely naked, before." He said and chuckled when she blushed. "I love every part of your body. You're perfect." He said, deciding to elaborate.
"But what about my breasts?" She asked. He chuckled.
"What about them?" He asked, looking down at them, taking a thorough investigative look at them. She blushed some more.
"They're small."
"According to who?" He asked. "Society's standards? Because I think they are just the right size. Most men wouldn't admit this, and some would completely disagree, but it doesn't really have a lot to do with size." Julianna giggled.
"Oh really?" He nodded.
"You only hear about the men who like big breasts. Personally, and I know there are a lot of men like me, who think the size doesn't matter."
"Sure." He chuckled.
"It's true, believe me."
"Well, what about my other flaws?"
"What other flaws?" He asked, smirking a bit.
"My hands. I always thought they were kind of manly." She said. He reached down, pulling her arm up so he could study her hand.
"I don't see it. You don't have hairy knuckles. Your nails are short, but they aren't square, like a lot of men's fingernails. Plus they're clean." He said, threading his fingers with hers. She grinned.
"You're goofy, George."
"I know it." He said.
"Do you have any insecurities?" She asked. He nodded.
"Sure."
"What?" She asked, curious.
"I don't like my feet." He stated. She laughed and he grinned down at her.
"What's wrong with your feet?" She asked.
"I don't know. I just think they are ugly." He said and rolled over, propping his foot up on his knee.
"Well, I like your feet. But then again, I don't really think much about feet." She said. He chuckled.
"But your feet, your feet are lovely." He said, sitting up and running his hand down her calf. He gently bent her knee and examined her feet. He ran his finger over the tops of all her toes. Julianna giggled. "I always thought your feet were lovely when I would see them in sandals and whatnot." He said.
"You're strange, George."
"Mm, maybe." He said and grinned at her before he kissed her big toe. "I like women's feet. Yours are no exception."
"Weirdo." She said. He rolled over, pining her under him again.
"Say it again." He said.
"Weirdo." She said. He nipped at the skin above her nipple. She gasped.
"That's what you get." He said.
"Is that my punishment?" She asked. He nodded.
"Okay, dickhead." She joked. He laughed.
"Oh, really?" He asked and had a glint in his eye that made heat pool between her legs. He slid down her body and kissed the skin just under her breast. He nudged the underside of her breast with his nose. She sighed and he glanced up at her. She was watching him through half-closed eyes. "Didn't think it would happen again so soon, did you?" He asked. She didn't reply. He kissed her nipple, watching her. "I can do so much more." He whispered and then opened his mouth over her breast.
And he showed her for the rest of the night just what he could do.
-------[o]-------
The next morning Julianna lifted her head off of George's chest as she awoke. She looked up and met his gaze.
"Hey." She said softly. He smiled and brushed a curl from her cheek.
"Good morning." He said.
"How long have you been awake?" She asked.
"Only a few minutes." He said. She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair that was sticking out in every direction. She slid up and laid her head on the pillow beside his. Then she yawned, hiding it behind her hand. He smiled at her and when she lowered her hand he leaned over and kissed her. She pulled back after a few seconds.
"Doesn't my breath stink?" She asked and wrinkled her nose. He chuckled.
"I didn't notice." He said. "Why, does mine?" He asked.
"It's a little rank." She teased and he laughed.
"Uh-huh, well I just didn't want to tell you, but..."
"Hey!" She said and smacked his shoulder. He chuckled and stared at her.
"You know, this is really weird." He said. She smiled a bit.
"What?" She asked, even though she knew what he meant.
"Waking up like this. With you." He said. She nodded and wrapped her arms around him.
"Mm, but it's nice."
"I never said it wasn't." He said and smiled before kissing her again. Then he glanced at the clock behind her. "I have to get it up."
"Must you?" She asked, inching closer. He backed away, holding her away from him.
"Oh no, you don't. You are not going to get me hooked back in." He said. She laughed and held up her hands.
"Fine, fine! I won't." She said. He grinned and slid naked out of the bed.
"Good." He said. She wolf whistled at him and he grinned at her over his shoulder before entering the bathroom. She heard the water of the shower turn on and she sighed, leaning back against the pillows and smiling.
This arrangement could work out rather nicely, she thought and smiled to herself.
-------[o]-------
Later that night when George came home from work Julianna was in the kitchen cooking dinner.
"What's all this?" He asked, coming into the kitchen. She grinned at him.
"I decided to put myself to use and make us some dinner."
"Mm, it smells delicious." He said and came up behind her.
"Spaghetti." She said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I smell something else." He said.
"I baked a loaf of bread."
"Oh, really?" He asked. She laughed.
"I do cook, ya know?" She asked and glanced back at him. He kissed her quickly.
"I know." He said. "I just thought bread making takes a long time."
"Well, it's a bit of a process, but I had an entire day with nothing to do."
"Well it smells delicious and I can hear my belly growling now." He said and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"George?" She asked.
"Hmm?" He replied.
"I can't really move." He chuckled.
"And?"
"I need to." She said. He laughed and kissed the back of her neck before releasing her.
"Sorry. I won't do it again." He said, teasing her. She turned around.
"Then I won't do what I did last night....ever again."
"I'm at your mercy." He said. "Anything you want." She laughed and he grinned, wanting to gobble her all up. It was so much different now, being able to let his feelings for her show. He loved being able to touch her, and to tease in ways he couldn't before.
-------[o]-------
After a wonderful dinner they headed into the living to just watch TV and be together. George sat on the couch and Julianna sat with her back against his chest and his arms snug around her. They watched random things on the television, but the entire time Julianna felt things stirring in her mind. She wanted to talk to him, but she wasn't sure how to approach the subject. Then she sighed and decided to just do it.
"What's wrong?" George asked as she sighed.
"We need to talk." She said.
"Okay." He said and pressed the mute button on the remote to turn off the sound. She turned around to face him, and yet he still drew her close to him, so she was practically sitting in his lap, their legs overlapping and his arms still around her waist. She fiddled with the neck of his shirt.
"Now that we are...Well," She stopped.
"Dating?" He offered. She looked up and met his gaze. And then she nodded and smiled a bit.
"Now that we are dating, it changes things a little."
"What things?"
"Well, beside the obvious things we talked about the other night." She paused and he nodded. "There is this living arrangement." She said. He nodded again, realizing what she meant. "When I first came here, it was to be for a little while. Just until I could find a new place. But then it just became comfortable, and I looked, but not as much as I probably could if I had felt like a burden or something. It was nice to just live here and still have somebody coming home to you at night, ya know?" She paused as he nodded. "It's been fun. But now things are different...between us."
"I want you to stay." He said. She met his gaze.
"What?"
"I don't want you to look for a new place. I'd rather you just stayed here." He paused. "I agree that it's been fun. And you've been the exact opposite of a burden. And now that this new relationship has come to light, I don't want to lose the way it is. I don't want to have to make dates with you, I'd rather I just come home and have you here. With..dinner on the table like you did tonight, or be able to come home and order a pizza or Chinese with you and have it be us. Every night. Together. Not whenever we have time, ya know?" He asked. She nodded.
"But I don't want to rush this." She said. "I know we sort of jumped into it feet first, but I don't want you to feel pressured and rushed. I don't want this to burn out really quick." She said.
"It won't." He paused. "Let me put it this way. When you start dating somebody, you usually haven't known them for very long. You're getting to know them." He looked at her. "We've known each other for years. I know you almost as well as I know myself. We're best friends, Jules. That's the entire reason why we dove into this so quickly. Normally we wouldn't have made love that fast, but we know each other. We trust each other. It's the same way with living together. You don't want to live with somebody unless you know them, trust them, and think you can stand to be with them that much. We know and trust each other and we spent so much time together during ER that we spend even less time together now that we live together. Do you see what I mean?" He asked. She nodded.
"Yeah. I feel the same way. I just wanted to make sure you didn't want me out." She said. He smiled and cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb under her eye.
"I do feel the same. Friendships like this don't just burn out, so why should our new relationship burn out?" He asked. She nodded.
"That makes sense." He chuckled and leaned forward, kissing her quickly.
"Good. So you're going to stay?" He asked. She nodded.
"Of course." She replied. He smiled.
"Great." She grinned back at him, happy that they had the newest problem resolved.
-------[o]-------
A few days later George came home to find Julianna crying on the couch. He rushed to her side and sat beside her, pulling her into his arms.
"What's the matter, baby?" He asked, immediately concerned. She hiccuped into his shoulder.
"This." Julianna said and pointed towards a magazine on the coffee table. He looks towards it and sees a US Weekly magazine. There is a picture of Ron and Julianna on the front of it. The headline read 'The Truth About Their Breakup: His Point of View'.
"Oh, honey." He murmured. She kept her head buried in his shoulder as he spread the magazine across his lap, quickly flipping through it to find the article. She continued crying in his shoulder as he read the entire article. Ron claimed that they had broken up amicably, but he made it out to seem like it was Julianna's fault and he really was heartbroken. "Bastard." Julianna only cried harder. George threw the magazine off to the side and turned to her, wrapping both of his arms around her. George held her, hoping to comfort, but all he could think about was how much of a dickhead Ron was. And here Julianna was crying her heart out over him, even though he wasn't worth it. "He's not worth it, Jules." George said softly because he couldn't hold it in.
"George, please." She hiccuped. "It only makes it worse." She said.
"Okay, okay." He murmured and rubbed her back. "I just hate seeing you like this. Over him." She didn't reply. He sighed. He pulled her back a bit and leaned in, kissing her gently.
"Why don't we go out?" He suggested.
"What?" She replied.
"Well, you two are officially out with your break-up now....So I think we should go out and enjoy the night." He said.
"But.."
"But what?" He paused. "Are you not ready to let people know about us? Ron already hinted that he may have a new girlfriend, and you know he does. Unless he broke it off with the woman who called." Julianna stared at George, feeling a fresh fit of crying coming on. He saw it coming, also, so he quickly continued. "I love having you here when I come home, but we haven't left. You've barely been out of the house since you moved in. Aren't you ready to go out, get out of this house?" He asked. She nodded just slightly. Julianna took a deep, shuddering breath and straightened her shoulders.
"Okay." She said.
"Thatta girl." He paused, smiling at her. "Why don't you go upstairs and take a shower and do what you need to get ready. I'll stay down here and take a shower, and get ready. How's that sound?" He asked.
"Good." She said. She shuddered once more. "It shouldn't take me too long."
"Take your time." He said and kissed her gently.
"Where are we going? So I know what to wear." She said.
"Where'd you like to go?" He asked.
"I'm hungry, so I wanna go to a restaurant. But I also feel like dancing." She said. He chuckled.
"How about Fabricio's?" He suggested. Her eyes lit up.
"I haven't been there forever." She said. And she had never been there with Ron, so that was a plus.
"Alright, that's where we will go then. You dress how you want." She nodded.
"I have just the outfit in mind." She said. He grinned and she smiled, kissing him once more, happily now, before she stood and made her way up the stairs.
-------[o]-------
When they pulled up to the restaurant and George shut off the car, Julianna stopped him with her voice.
"George?"
"Yes?" He asked, turning to look at her.
"I don't care who knows." She said.
"What?" He asked.
"I don't care if the entire world knows we are together. Tonight I don't want you to hold back, okay?" She asked. He nodded, understanding her need to try and erase Ron from her mind.
"If you are sure that is what you want, then I won't hold back." He said.
"I'm sure." She said. He smiled and leaned over, kissing her gently.
"Alright." He said. They walked into the restaurant holding hands.
-------[o]-------
"George?" Julianna murmured lazily against his shoulder as they slow danced, their bodies pressed closely together.
"Hmm?" He asked.
"I think I see a reporter." She said. He chuckled.
"Do they have a camera?" He asked.
"Nope." She replied.
"Damn." She grinned.
"I think he has a pencil in his hand, though." She said. George laughed.
"Why don't we put on a show?" He asked. She pulled her head back a bit, grinning saucily.
"Oh yeah? Like what?" She asked. He lowered his head closer to hers, his lips just a tiny space from hers.
"Like this." He murmured and kissed her. She sighed, melting into it, not even caring that all the juicy details would be on the front page news the next day. She knew she was playing with fire, but she didn't care. And to be perfectly honest she was doing it to piss Ron off. George pulled away, smiling at her.
"You're in for a long night tonight." He said. She threw her head back and laughed, delighted by him. As he watched her he knew that he was in love with her. Head over heels in love with her. And he wasn't sure what to do about it.
-------[o]-------
Later that night George held Julianna in his arms as she was sound asleep. He watched her breathing, knowing there was no where else he would rather be. It partially scared him, because he had never felt that way before, but at the same time he loved it because it was the most intense feeling he had ever experienced and it was good. He was just scared of what could happen if something went wrong.
He wasn't sure whether or not he should tell her that he loved her, but he thought that maybe it would be too soon. Maybe he should wait awhile until they were even more adjusted in their relationship together, if that was possible. Just further into it and more comfortable.
Another problem he had to face was what he would do after he told her. Would they end up being like Jules and Ron had, dating forever but never having kids or getting married? Or did George want to marry her and have babies with her? He wasn't sure how he felt about that yet, but he knew he could work it out in time.
That's why he decided to wait before he told her he loved her, let alone anything else.
-------[o]-------
The next morning after George went to work Julianna decided to go newspaper shopping. She went to the city and went to a newspaper stand and looked around. She figured there would be something about her date with George last night on one of the front covers somewhere. She hoped so anyway. She was getting impatient, not finding anything, until she bent slightly and saw a smile picture of her and George off to the side of the main columns. She grinned and picked it up, reading the small headline under it about a new romance. She quickly bought the magazine and headed back to her car to read it.
The article said exactly what she thought it would. It was written by a man, presumably the man from the restaurant. It talked about how they had been dancing closely, kissing, and everything else they had done the night before. Julianna grinned, hoping Ron would see it, and even if he didn't see this particular article, he'd eventually hear about it because more magazines would probably start trying to uncover their own details about it.
She smiled and tucked the paper into her bag before heading to the grocery store.
-------[o]-------
Two days later Julianna's cell phone rang as she was sitting on the couch at George's house waiting for him to come home.
"Hello?" She asked, picking up the phone.
"Hey Jules." Julianna froze. Ron.
"Uh, hi." She said.
"How have you been?" He asked after a short pause.
"Great." She said, trying her best to sound chipper even though the sound of his voice made her heart thump hard in her chest. "And yourself?" She asked.
"Um, not so swell." Ron said. Her heart tripped.
"Why?" She asked.
"I miss you." He said. Julianna felt her heart clench. He missed her. She didn't say anything. She didn't want to admit to herself or him, for that matter, that she missed him. Missed who he used to be. He cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry about what I did, Jules." He said.
"I...It's okay." She whispered softly, closing her eyes.
"I ended things with that woman. She, uh, she's not you, Jules."
"Ron, why..." She cut herself off, afraid she was going to fall apart. She had to think of George.
"I don't know why I did it. I was crazy. I wasn't thinking right. I just...I strayed and I shouldn't have and I feel awful about it." He sighed gruffly. "You are the most wonderful woman I have ever met. And I miss what we had together."
"Ron, I can't do this. I can't....It's over." She said, begging him to stop telling her these things.
"I know you're dating Clooney now, but is he really what you want?" Ron asked. Julianna nodded, not saying a word. I do want him, I want George. He's better. "Honestly, Jules, is it him?" But I also want Ron. I miss what we had. We were so good together, Julianna thought quietly. I still love him. Oh God. "Jules, I want you back, I want you to come home to me."
-------[o]-------