July 10-15, 01.

いいいいい

Julianna stood in the kitchen of her house in Los Angeles, California making her lunch. The voice on the radio was talking in the background, but she was paying no attention to it. Her mind was focused elsewhere. More specifically on the man she was living with. Fighting with. She sighed and threw her salad into a huge bowl. She rummaged through the refrigerator, searching for the Italian dressing she favored. Julianna grabbed it and a Diet Coke. She placed them on the table before carrying her meal over and taking a seat.

With a sigh she picked up her fork and got ready to dig in. Her hand froze just inches from the salad and her ears perked. She glanced up at the radio on the counter as Don Henley's song "Taking You Home" came on. She sat back in her seat and placed the fork back onto the table.

George. She closed her eyes briefly and listened to the song, letting the words flow over her. With a smile she remembered the last episode of ER she had filmed with him. She lifted a hand to her mouth and pressed her fingers to it. Julianna could suddenly taste George's lips and feel his arms around her waist as he lifted her off the ground. She could feel the cool breeze coming off the lake and could smell his skin. With a sigh she let her hand drop and she opened her eyes.

It would do no good to think about him. She picked up her fork and gathered some lettuce onto it before forcing it into her mouth. God how she wished she could go back and experience that day all over again. It had been over a year ago. She swallowed and forced another bite. She hadn't seen him in nearly two months and oh, how she missed him.

She pushed the aching in her heart away and she tried not to think of him, but her mind wandered. She and Ron had been fighting a lot lately. The past six months, actually. Julianna felt a cat rub against her ankle and she pushed back from the table. She bent and picked up Twinkie, one of her and Ron's cats.

"How's my boy?" Julianna asked, rubbing her face into Twinkie's long hair. He purred and she smiled, hooking him under her arm. She walked past the radio and clicked it off, cutting Don Henley's voice off. "There we go." Julianna said and walked from the kitchen and into the living room. She picked up her pack of cigarettes and lighter from the coffee table. She placed Twinkie on the floor and headed out the back door and onto the patio. She lit up a cigarette and took a long deep puff. She sighed and blew it out. That's better, she thought.

Thinking about Ron or George, or in this case both, always kicked her nerves into high gear. She didn't know what to do about Ron. At first she had thought this bout of fighting would pass, but it hadn't. She didn't know what to do about George. She couldn't get him out of her head and knew he probably rarely thought of her. At least never as more than friends.

She stood in silence and solitude, smoking her cigarette and staring at the water of her pool. She thought about getting in and swimming a few laps. That usually helped clear her mind. She turned, finished with her cigarette and going to get rid of it. She pushed open the sliding glass door and nearly ran smack into Ron.

"I wondered where you were." He said.

"You just get in?" Julianna asked. Ron nodded and watched her as she placed her cigarette into the ashtray on the counter.

"Yeah."

"Hmm." She murmured.

"I saw your abandon lunch in the kitchen and figured you were around somewhere." She nodded.

"I needed a smoke." She said.

"Why?" He asked. She shrugged.

"Craving." He simply watched her as she headed into the kitchen. He followed behind.

"I know you well enough to know you smoke when something's bothering you." Ron said. Julianna took a seat at the table and picked up her fork. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing's bothering me." She said.

"Why can't you talk to me anymore?" He asked. She laid her fork back down, readying herself for the argument that she knew was coming.

"Because when I do, we fight." She said simply with a careless shrug of her shoulders.

"We wouldn't have to if you'd tell me what went on in your mind." Ron said. She shrugged.

"If I talk, we fight. If I don't talk, we fight about me not talking." Julianna said. "Make up your mind, Ron. I'm too tired to argue with you over something this petty."

"So don't argue." He said. She shook her head and closed her eyes briefly. When she reopened them she picked up her fork and dug into her salad, eating in silence.

いいいいい

George pulled his jeep up to Julianna's garage and parked. He noticed the open garage and decided to go in that way instead of through the front door. It was just more private. As he hopped out and headed into the garage the door leading from the house opened and Julianna stepped out, Ron on her heels.

"Goddammit, I said I would go!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, but I needed it now. You didn't make a move to get up!" Julianna said in return. He tried to grab the keys from her.

"I was watching boxing and waiting until the match was over!"

"I'll get it." Julianna exclaimed and headed to the car. Ron grabbed her wrist and pried the keys from her hand.

"I'm going." He said. Suddenly Julianna spotted George. When she did he noticed that all of the anger and energy seemed to just seep from her body and left her limp.

"Hey." She said softly. Ron turned back to her and followed her gaze to George.

"Ughm..Hey." George replied, fishing for something to say. Ron scowled and stalked to the car. He got in and drove off. George smiled weakly.

"Lover's dispute?" He asked. She shrugged as he came to her side.

"I guess." She said. George wrapped a companionable arm around her neck and opened the door to the house.

"Want to talk about it?" George shut the door behind them as they stepped inside. She shrugged.

"It wasn't anything." She said. He looked at her and lifted a brow. She slid from under his arm as he took off his coat and shoes.

"Looked like something." George said and followed her to the living room. They sat on the couch.

"I asked him to go get me some laundry detergent. He said he would. I wanted it now so that I could start the dishes and then have the laundry detergent when I was finished washing the dishes so I could finish the laundry. He just sat there. I wanted it now, so I went to get it myself. And of course, we argued about it. And then you came." George raised his eyebrows.

"Want to do the dishes? I'll help." He offered. She smiled weakly before standing.

"Only you, George." He chuckled and made his way to the kitchen with her. She ran the water and they started washing in silence. Finally George broke it.

"Want to talk about it?" He asked. She raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't I already?" She asked. He smiled.

"There's more, isn't there? I know you, Jules." George said. She sighed and wanted to push her hand through her hair but they were both covered in soapy water. She turned and looked at him.

"I can never decide if that's a good or a bad thing." She said. He chuckled.

"I guess it could be both." He paused. "So talk to me." He said. She kept her face turned towards the dishes as she watched them but she talked.

"For the past six months or so, all we've done is argued, y'know?" She sighed heavily. "I can count on one hand the normal conversations we've had without arguing in those six months. We either argue or have sex." Julianna said. He smirked.

"Sounds like a lot of my relationships." He said. She looked at him quickly.

"Yeah?" She asked and he nodded.

"Talia, towards the end. Celine, half the time. Lisa and I didn't argue, we just...had sex." George shook his head even as Julianna half grinned at him.

"I thought that relationship was semi-serious." Julianna said as she scrubbed a plate. He shook his head.

"She thought so." George said. George and Julianna looked at each other before laughing quietly. George's laughter died out and he became serious.

"Are you happy with Ron?" He asked. She stopped and dropped her head a bit. Then she looked back up at him and shook her head

"Not anymore." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then get out." He murmured. She sighed and closed her eyes briefly.

"I should."

"Why don't you?" She hated admitting her true feelings, even to George who she would trust with anything.

"Normally I like to pride myself as being a strong, independent person." She sighed. "But I've been dating him for the past 10 years. I've relied on him for a lot of things." She said. George nodded solemnly. "It'd just be like getting a divorce from him, y'know? I mean, after 10 years you share a lot of things. And if I break it off, we have to sort through all of that. And then in the end, I'll end up being by myself. I'd like to think I'd be alright with that, but I really don't know." She looked away from George and paused before turning and catching his gaze again. As she did, he felt a sharp ache start in his stomach.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever met, he knew. That he would ever meet. And he hated seeing this sadness in her eyes. He cleared his throat and studied her face.

"Jules, I wish I knew what to tell you. As you know, I'm not the greatest in the relationship department." He looked back down to the sink and picked up a glass to dry. "But I do know what you're feeling in a way. It was difficult getting a divorce from Talia." He sighed a bit. "I know what it's like to share and then not again so suddenly." He shrugged. "You get past it. I did. You will. That is if you decide to break it off." He paused again. "There's not much else I know to say to you. I wish, for your sake, that you didn't have to go through it, but you're unhappy with him." George looked at her. "If you're unhappy, it'd be better to break up with him and find your happiness as an individual." Julianna nodded and turned back to the dishes.

"I know you're right. It's just a big decision." She murmured.

"And I know you. You'll make the right one." He smiled and they finished washing the dishes in silence.

いいいいい

A week later, George had a favor he wanted to ask Julianna and he wanted to see how she was doing. So he picked up the phone and gave her a call.

"Hello?" Ron answered the phone.

"Hey Ron, it's George. Is Jules there? I need to ask her something." George said.

"Yeah, hold on a minute." Ron said. Good, he didn't sound angry. That must mean they've not been fighting, George thought.

"Hey George." Julianna said, taking the phone from Ron and turning her back to him.

"Hey Jules." Julianna made her way out the sliding glass doors and onto the back patio where she had been reading before Ron had told her George was on the phone.

"What's up?" Julianna asked.

"Nothing much.." He paused. "How're things?"

"Alright. Nothing's changed. We're basically ignoring each other so we don't have to fight." Julianna said.

"Well, that's...good that you're not fighting." George said.

"Yeah." She sighed.

"So, I have a favor to ask you." George said.

"Oh?" She asked, picking at the hem on her shirt.

"I uh, as you know I was filming here in L.A. But for the next three weeks we have to go to New York City." George said. Julianna remained silent as she listened. "And I've done it before, so I was wondering if I could borrow your apartment for the three weeks. I really would rather stay in a real house than in a hotel." George said.

"Sure, you can stay. You'll need to get the key from me first." Julianna said.

"Yeah, I know. Can I get it tomorrow?" George asked. Julianna nodded.

"Sure. So, I'll see you then." She said.

"Yeah, thanks Jules."

"No problem, George."

"Bye."

"Later." They hung up the phones. Julianna sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back in her seat. "I miss you." She whispered.

いいいいい

A week later at nearly two in the morning, George was awakened by a knock at the door. He slid out of the guest bed in Julianna and Ron's apartment and padded down the hall and through the living room. He looked through the small peephole in the door and was surprised when he saw Julianna standing on the other side. He quickly opened the door.

"Jules?" He asked. Her chin trembled. He held out an arm. "C'mon." He pulled and her single duffel bag into the room. He gathered her into his arms as the first tear slid down her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I'd be so late." Julianna said as her body trembled against George's.

"Hey, shh, it's okay. It's your apartment anyway." He smiled and pulled her away, a hand on either side of her head. "What happened?" He asked.

"We fought again. I couldn't stay there." Julianna said. He nodded and pulled her against his chest. "Let go." He said. She shook her head but held on to him. She didn't want to cry like this, in front of him. He rubbed her back. "Hold on to me and let it out. I promise I won't tell anyone." He joked softly. She managed a small squeak of laughter before she started sobbing. He took her to the couch and sat down with her, letting her clutch to him and cry her way into sleep.

When she was out, he picked her up and carried her into her bedroom. He pulled the covers back and lay her down in it. He covered her up and made his way back to the living room. He picked up her bag and took it back to her room and placed it beside the bed. He watched her sleep for a few minutes before he managed to pull himself away and headed back to the guest room.

いいいいい

The next morning, George was up early, getting ready for work. He started the coffee maker just as Julianna came into the kitchen. He turned and studied her. She smiled sleepily.

"You're up early." He said. And sexier than ever, he thought.

"I'm still on California time." She said. He nodded.

"Coffee's almost ready. I have to be at the set in," He looked at the clock, "63 minutes." She nodded and yawned and stared at the coffee, willing it to go faster. Finally she turned and met George's gaze.

"About last night.."

"You don't have to explain." He said but she nodded.

"I want to thank you for what you did." She looked down, slightly embarassed. He smiled and nodded.

"Anytime and you know it." He said. She nodded again and sighed.

"We fought and so..I packed up a bag and told him I was going to New York. I don't think he knows you're here, so I think he assumed I was coming here." Julianna said. George nodded and watched her. She sighed and looked up at him. "It wasn't even anything important. I just blamed him that he never does anything, he just expects me to be his maid. Which is how I do feel, but he went on to argue that he does more than I do and that because I make more money than he does that I think I'm superior." She looked down at her hands because tears had filled her eyes and she didn't want George to believe her to be weak.

George sighed gruffly and walked to her. He gathered her against him and smoothed her hair down.

"I'm sure everything will be just fine." George said. Julianna shook her head.

"No, it won't. Not anymore." She said wearily. George nodded against her head.

"Okay, then I think you should do what would make you happy." George said.

"Leave him." Julianna said.

"Is that what would make you happy?" George asked. She shrugged. "Well, if it is, it's what you should do. If it's not, you should do what will make you happy again." George pulled her away from him and took her head into his hands, a gesture that was familiar and comforting to her. He smiled and kissed her forehead before releasing her. "So, whaddya say that I fix us some eggs and then I'll head out to work?" She nodded.

"Okay. Sounds good." She drummed up a smile for him. He noticed the effort it took and smiled in return, hoping it would reassure her.

いいいいい

Later that night, Julianna was lying on the couch, watching an old movie on the television when George came into the apartment. He smiled at her and threw his coat over a chair before sitting in it.

"How was work?" Julianna asked, pulling her head up to look at him. He shrugged.

"Good. Normal. Long." He said. She smiled.

"Tired?" She asked him. He shook his head.

"Not too bad." He turned to the TV. "What're you watchin'?"

"Some old Audrey Hepburn movie. I don't even know which one." Julianna said. He nodded at the screen and turned back to her.

"Did you eat dinner?" He asked. She nodded.

"I ordered Chinese. I left you some in the fridge."

"Mm, that sounds good." George stood and made his way to the kitchen. When he came out minutes later, carrying his food and a drink, he sat beside Julianna on the couch and let her curl her legs against him because she was stretched out. They sat and watched the movie for an hour or so.

Just as the movie came to an end, Julianna and George heard the sound of a key in the lock before the door opened. Ron stood on the other side. When he saw George, his brow puckered a bit as he looked around the room at the empty Chinese box and George's stuff strewn about the room. Julianna let out a small sigh and shifted on the couch, but not before Ron saw how close they had been.

"What're you doing here?" Ron addressed George directly.

"Uh," George glanced at Julianna, "I've been staying here the past week."

"What?"

"I let him borrow the apartment for three weeks because he is filming here. He has borrowed it before." Julianna said and sensed an argument brewing.

"You didn't tell me he was going to be here."

"He asked me, so I let him. Why is it such a big deal, Ron?" Julianna asked.

"Is that why you came here? Because George was here?" Ron asked. Julianna nodded and stood up.

"Yes, that's why I came here. George is my friend. He's comfort to me." George winced a bit, knowing Ron was not a happy man and that comment would not help matters.

"How much comfort?" Ron asked. George couldn't see her face, but Julianna's eyes flared in anger.

"Why are you here?" Julianna asked.

"I came to see you."

"Well, you saw me. Now why don't you leave." She said, her voice clear and strong.

"Why? So you can fuck him?" Ron asked. Hurt flashed over Julianna's face before anger took over.

"Why, you bastard." She jabbed a finger into his chest. "Get the hell out of this apartment, right now!"

"If I leave, we're through." Ron said. Julianna's heart skipped.

"So go." She shrugged and turned around. George could see pain in her eyes. Ron simply stared. "I'll stay here, with George," She added just to piss Ron off more, "for the next two weeks. I have to do Letterman's show and Conan's show, so I can stay here for that. During that time, you can move your stuff out of the house."

"Wait a minute," Ron said, "that house is mine just as much as it is yours." She whirled.

"Fine, take the house. I couldn't give a damn. Take the fucking car. You'll need it, because since I'm so Goddamn rich I can buy a new house and a new car." She said and tried not to let her voice tremble with the tears that she knew would come. She just hoped to God he would be gone by then.

"I don't want the house. Or the car. I'll take my stuff and leave." Ron's voice was stiff.

"Fine." Julianna said, hoping he would leave now. Ron swallowed and glanced at George before he turned and walked out of the apartment. Julianna stared at the closed door for a moment before she crumpled. George was there immediately, his arms surrounding her. She let go, unable to do otherwise as she sobbed into his chest. "I didn't even..love..him..anymore!" Her voice hitched as she cried. George's arms simply tightened around her.

"Shhh, shhh, c'mon sweetheart, settle down." He rubbed a hand down her back, hoping to sooth. She continued to cry, letting his arms swallow her. She left her head buried against his neck and her fingers curled in his shirt as he rocked her.

Minutes later she pulled away, slightly embarassed.

"Sorry." She murmured. He took her head in his hands and tilted her face towards his in that way that made her heartbeat quicken. She always thought he would kiss her when he did that, but he never did, to her disappointment.

"I've told you a million times and I'll tell you again, I'm here when you need a shoulder to cry on." She smiled slightly and nodded.

"I know." She picked at the fuzz on his shirt so she didn't have to look at his face. "But you know I hate it." He nodded and smiled at her.

"I know." He tilted her head to him again. "Are you okay now?" He asked. She nodded and wiped a hand over her runny nose.

"I think so." She looked at him again. "Thanks, George." He smiled.

"No problem." He released her and walked back to the couch. He picked up the remote and flipped the television off. Julianna stood, watching him. Then she shook her head a bit.

"I think I'm going to go to bed now." She said. He nodded.

"Okay." He replied, looking at her. "I think I'll get a shower and then I'll hit the sack, too."

"Alright. Goodnight, George."

"G'night, Jules." He smiled at her before she walked down the hall and to her room.

Later Julianna listened to the water running in the shower as she lay in the bed she had shared with Ron, covered in blankets. She turned away from Ron's side and stared at the wall, waiting until she heard George's shower shut off. She heard him rustling around in the bathroom before she heard him walk down the hall and shut his door. Then silence. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to get to sleep.

いいいいい

When Julianna awoke the next morning, she padded through the apartment, but it was empty. George had gone to work. She tried not to be disappointed but it didn't quite work as planned. She wasn't so sure it was safe to have a new relationship when she was just out of an old one, an old one that had lasted ten years.

And hell, what am I thinking? George wouldn't want a relationship with me anyway! She thought to herself and bit her lip softly, hoping she thought wrong.

いいいいい

For the next week or so, George lived with her, gone most of the weekdays for work. They had spent the weekend together, out and about in New York. Sunday night they saw a tabloid with a picture on the front of them from Friday night when they had been out on the town together. The article had suggested a romance. They had shrugged it off, wishing but knowing the real truth was that nothing had happened.

It nearly killed George to be so close to her for such a long period of time and not touch her, not be with her in the way he wanted to. He wanted to show her how he really felt. He wanted to show her that breaking up with Ron wasn't the end of the world, that it could be the start of something amazing. But he wasn't sure how she felt, wasn't sure what she wanted. So he decided to just ask her what she wanted.

They were lying on the couch in the dark, watching another old movie on television. Julianna's head was in his lap and he was winding a lock of her hair around his finger. He noticed that lately she mostly wore her hair straight instead of letting her natural curls twist around her shoulders. It disappointed him because he loved her curls. He pondered over this as he played with her hair and she watched the movie.

He cleared his throat before he could change his mind and decide not to talk to her.

"Jules?"

"Hm?" She turned her head to look at him.

"I just wondered what you're going to do."

"When?" She asked, turning her body so she could watch him without turning her neck.

"After I'm gone. After you do the talk shows." She shrugged.

"I'll probably go visit my parents and my sisters. I've not seen my mom since my birthday and my dad even longer. Rach and Alex I've not seen for a few weeks. And since I'm not doing anything career-wise, I think I'll spend some time with them." He nodded.

"And after that?" She shrugged.

"I suppose I'll go back to L.A." He nodded.

"What do you want?" He asked. She raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you broke up with Ron because...well, besides the obvious, you were unhappy. And you are going to try and find your happiness, you said. So, what're you going to do to make yourself happy again? Y'know what I mean?" She shrugged. I am happy, she thought, here with you.

"Hopefully I'll get some work." She smiled and shrugged a little. "I'm happy now." She said. Their gazes held. They knew each other so well that they could communicate with their eyes in ways most people couldn't. But they also didn't recognize the love for each other in the other's eyes because they weren't used to seeing it there. George let his hand reach out and he trailed his finger down her cheek.

"Why?" He asked softly. She reached up and took his wrist, capturing his hand on her jaw.

"I enjoy spending so much time with you." She whispered, still holding his gaze. He smiled slightly.

"Do you?" He asked. She nodded and held her breath when she felt him bending toward her. She wanted to say something, wanting to stop him, wanted to pull him down to her, but she simply lay still, not twitching a muscle.

Then his lips were on hers and fireworks were exploding inside of her. Her eyes immediately closed and her mouth opened, yielded, to his. It had never been like this before when she kissed other men, she thought. And even though she had kissed George before, it had been acting, not quite real and hadn't felt quite like this. She let out a sigh and he swallowed it up with his own mouth.

His fingers trailed feather light over her face. Her mind cleared slightly and she squirmed under him a bit before pulling her mouth away from his.

"George.." She murmured in a barely audibly voice. Both of them were breathing a little too fast, she noticed. His hand stayed on her face as she looked up at him. Their gazes held once more before she sat up abruptly and scrubbed her face in her hands. This is what she wanted, wasn't it? She thought.

George watched her, wondering what was running through her mind. He hoped he hadn't made a huge mistake by kissing her. It sure as hell wasn't a mistake, he thought then. That kiss had been...out of this world. Nothing, no one, had ever kissed him and made him lose his mind as soon as his lips had touched theirs, as Julianna did. And he hoped to God she would feel the same.

"Jules.." He trailed off, touching a tentative hand to her shoulder.

"George, I'm sorry, I don't know what..." She stopped and decided to just tell him the truth, tell him everything. "I've wanted you to do that again ever since our last episode of ER." She sighed. "But..I don't know what I want..Or what you want for that matter." He started to talk, but she held up a hand to stop him. "I don't want a one night fuck." She said and startled him with her straight-forward comment. "I don't want a week long affair." She paused. "If..If that is what you were looking for, then I can't help you." Julianna said. George sighed.

"Jules, you know me better than that." She did, she knew. She knew that wasn't what he was looking for, but she wanted to make sure. "I wouldn't use you like that, not now, not ever, but especially not now because you're more vulnerable than usual." She nodded and spoke softly.

"I know. I know that's not what you meant with that..kiss." She sighed. "But I'm scared of what it could mean."

"Do you want to know what it meant to me?" George asked. She glanced at him but didn't answer. "I wouldn't kiss you if I wasn't serious about it because you mean too much to me for me to hurt you. And since I kissed you that means I was serious about it. I want you, Jules, and I have for a long time now." She turned and looked at him for a moment before looking down at her hands. George sighed and sat back.

"I know that you've known me for a long time. Through...my younger years, after Talia, when I was pretty much...a womanizer. I was just as much Doug Ross as he was me." George compared, because he knew she would understand. "You knew me when I was at that stage and when I finally got over trying to rid myself of Talia. You knew me through Celine and Lisa and my various other short-lived girlfriends. But now I'm 40 years old and I'm ready to get my act together." He paused, hoping not to scare her off or push her away. "And...If you want to know the God's honest truth, then I'll tell you that I've wanted you since I laid eyes on you all those years ago." Her heart went into overdrive as she finally turned to look at him and watch him without looking away.

"But ever since I've met you, you've been with Ron and, and you've been happy with him, so I never tried to tell you how I felt. What I wanted more than anything was for you to be happy. And happy you were with him." George hoped to God that Julianna wouldn't kick him now that he was down and had spilled his feelings for her. "People always asked me why I hadn't settled down. Why I was such a 'big kid'. It's because I was wanting someone I couldn't have. You." He finally stopped talking, watching her, waiting for her reaction. If she rejected him now, he knew he would be crushed.

"Oh, George..I.." She trailed off and he watched her, his heart sinking with every second.

"Jules.."

"No, George. You don't know how wonderful those words sound." She closed her eyes briefly. "I love you, George." She paused and since her eyes were closed she didn't see the flicker of surprise and happiness in his eyes. But before he could reply, she spoke again. "You've been a wonderful friend to me and I'm so thankful." His heart sank again.

"Jules, you don't have to.." She opened her eyes.

"George, I just don't know what I want right now. Like you said I should find happiness in myself. I'm not sure if I want a relationship now, so soon after Ron. I.." George shrugged, shook his head, trying to brush it off.

"I understand." He didn't and it hurt. His stomach ached with rejection. He stood and looked down at her. "I'm just going to head to bed now. I've got an early morning." He turned and headed out of the living room.

"George.." She trailed off when he continued walking. "Dammit." She cursed. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She just wanted time to think about everything he had told her. He had basically told her that he was in love with her. She was thrilled, it was what she wanted, had wanted for some time, but she didn't know why she was so unsure about it. It was just that she wanted to find her happiness as an independent person, not as a couple as she had for so many years. She had thought he would understand, but she really hadn't expressed herself correctly and she knew she had hurt him.

She stayed out on the couch for nearly an hour, thinking, before she went down the hall. She hesitated at her doorway and looked down the hall at the open door to the guest room. Then she walked to it, hoping he was awake so she could have another chance at trying to explain herself.

George heard her enter the room so he shut his eyes and leveled his breathing, hoping she would think he was asleep.

"George?" She whispered. He didn't stir. Since he was lying on his stomach and facing the other direction she bent over him, trying to see if he was awake. George felt the brush of her stomach against his back as she leaned over him and his own stomach tightened in arousal. Dammit, he thought. Finally she straightened and exited the room quietly. He let out a rush of breath when he knew she was a safe distance away.

いいいいい

The rest of the week George made himself sparse, leaving the house early in the morning to avoid her and coming home later than normal. He would spend it with her on the nights she was still awake, but he kept the conversation light and friendly, never letting her try to talk seriously again. Finally she gave up trying and just went along with whatever he did.

They said their friendly good byes when the three weeks were up and George had to go to another location to film. Julianna's heart ached when he had left her alone at the apartment and she had wept in the silence of her bedroom, not really knowing why she was so upset.

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Julianna had spent the last two weeks with her family, visiting Rachel's family first, then Alexandra's, then her mother and stepfather, and then her father. And now she was at home in L.A. surveying the house void of all of Ron's things.

She sighed and sat on the couch, burying her face in her hands. "Fuck." She muttered. Spending two weeks with her family hadn't sorted out any of her thoughts about George and their relationship. Her mother had asked her what was wrong and Julianna had finally spilled her guts and told her mother everything that had happened. Francesca had tried not to influence her daughter's decision but she really hoped Julianna would realize what she wanted, for George's and her own sake.

Julianna still didn't know what she wanted. She lifted her head out of her hands and looked around. What she wanted right now was to make her house a home again. Her home. Not Ron and her's. Her's only. She smiled and stood up before her smile turned into a frown.

The cats were gone. Ron took both of the cats. She sighed and sat on the couch again. She'd miss Twinkie a lot, she knew. Well, I'll just have to buy myself my own kitten, she thought to herself and stood again, ready to tackle the house.

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Days later Julianna walked into a movie premiere for a new movie that was coming out. She was partly there because she hoped George would be too and partly because she was bored and wished for something to do. She wasn't even sure what the movie was about.

Julianna saw her friend, Cate Blanchett and rushed to her side.

"Cate!" Julianna exclaimed, taking Cate's hand into hers and squeezing. Cate grinned.

"Jules, hey! How're you?" Cate asked. Julianna grinned.

"I'm great. And how are you?" Julianna asked, raising her eyebrows and gazing at Cate's slightly expanded belly. Cate giggled.

"We're doing great." Julianna smiled.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you." Julianna said. Cate smiled.

"I'm happy for me, too." Cate grinned and Julianna felt a pain of her own as she wished that she had a child of her own. She and Ron had never really talked about it, but she had always yearned for a baby. And she supposed it was best that they never had talked about it because then she would have a child also caught in the middle of this break-up. She wanted a child with the man she wanted to spend her entire life with. And she realized suddenly that the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with and wanted to have children with, wanted her in return. She wasn't sure if he wanted children, but she'd have to find out.

She talked to Cate for a few more minutes before she caught sight of George. She wasn't sure whether George knew she was there, but she was going to show herself in a minute.

"Cate?"

"Hm?" Cate asked.

"I'm going to go talk to George. I've not seen him in awhile." Julianna said, motioning towards George. Cate nodded.

"Okay."

"Call me soon, okay? We can get together, hang out." Julianna said. Cate nodded.

"Great. I'll do that." Cate said. They kissed cheeks before Julianna slipped through the crowd. She came up to George and linked her arm with his. He stopped talking to a writer Julianna recognized and looked down at her.

"Oh, hey Julianna." He said. She smiled.

"Hey George. Hello." She said to the producer. He smiled.

"You're just the woman I wanted to talk to." Julianna raised her eyebrows.

"Oh?"

"Yes. For the past few months I've been working on a movie script. It's nearly finished now. And I was trying to put actors in the place of my characters to see who would fit. Well, while I was trying to figure it out, my wife was watching a rerun of ER and I saw you. You fit perfectly for the character in my book, Natasha." Julianna grinned and continued listening, her arm still linked with George's as they both paid attention to the writer. "The movie is about two siblings who end up involved in a case. The daughter is a homicide detective. A woman gets murdered and happens to be her brother's girlfriend. The prime suspect is the brother and the sister knows, because he is her brother, that he didn't do it. So she has to solve the crime and prove her brother didn't do it."

"That sounds great. When it's finished, send me the script." Julianna said. He smiled brightly.

"Really?" He asked. She nodded.

"I've never been a detective before." She grinned. He chuckled.

"Great. The movie won't be a big budget film because, well frankly, I'm not one of the top writers in Hollywood, yet," he smiled, "but I'm hoping."

"Oh, that doesn't matter. I actually prefer low-budget films." Julianna looked at George. "I don't know if I could handle the fame as well as George does." The writer chuckled.

"Well, I'll send you the script as soon as the editing and other small details are finished."

"Great, thank you." Julianna said. The man excused himself and Julianna smiled warmly up at George.

"I may be back in business." She said. He couldn't help but smile himself.

"Looks that way." He said. She laughed softly.

"George, I was wondering if you would come over to my house after this is over."

"Jules.." He started to protest but she just continued like he hadn't spoken.

"I want to talk to you about something. It's important." She smiled. "Please." She asked, tilting her head a bit. He sighed.

"When you do that, how can I resist?" He asked. She grinned and giggled despite herself.

"I'll remember that." He chuckled.

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"Ahh.." Julianna groaned as she slipped out of her heeled boots. George laughed.

"I'll never understand why women put themselves through the torture." George said.

"Elegance, George, elegance." He chuckled and drew off his jacket. He slipped his shoes off and watched as she took her earrings out and laid them on the side table beside the couch where he was now sitting. She reached behind her and released her hair from the band that had it captured. He watched as her curls spilled over her shoulder and she shook her head back. When she looked back at George she saw the desire in his eyes and had to suppress a grin. She slid to the couch, relaxed now in her jeans and tank top.

"Much better." Julianna said. George reached out and touched the tip of her hair, despite himself.

"It's curly tonight." He said. She nodded.

"Yeah, I've had it straight a lot these past few months, so I decided to go curly again tonight." She said.

"I like it that way." He said. She shivered as she felt the brush of his hand against her neck. A small knot of arousal entered her belly. Finally he withdrew his hand, realizing he wasn't helping matters any.

"George.." He met her gaze. "I wanted to talk to you about something." He nodded. "It's really important because..well, it is." She let out a small breath. "As you've probably guessed, I've been thinking about what you said back at the apartment." George looked away but she reached out and took his hand into hers. "I couldn't get it out of my head." She sighed. "And tonight, I still wasn't sure what I wanted when I went into that premiere. I just hoped you were there, because I wanted to see you. And then I saw Cate. Blanchett. And I'm sure you've heard that she's pregnant." George nodded.

"Yeah, I talked to her a bit." George said. She nodded.

"Anyway, when I talked to her she made me think." Julianna shifted, a bit nervous. "She made me want things that...that I never really let myself think about. Or want. And I realized that what I wanted was you." Julianna said. George met Julianna's gaze and held it.

"I know I said that I wasn't sure what I wanted that night. And then I spent close to a month away from you and I was unhappy. I was too busy trying to figure out what I wanted as a person, as an independent person, than to realize that I wanted you all along. That you made me happy." Julianna looked down at his hand. Her head lifted when his other hand was on her jaw, tilting her face towards his. He smiled and kissed her gently. Relieved, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held.

"George, when I told you I loved you, I did it all wrong." She pulled away from him a few inches. "I love you, as a woman to a man. And I love you as a friend to a friend." George smiled then and drew her closer so that their lips were but a whisper apart.

"I love you more than anything or anyone I have ever loved or will love." Her eyes brimmed with happy tears as he kissed her, really kissed her, like that night on the couch.

"George.." She tried to pull him up so she could lead him to her bedroom, but he held her down on the couch.

"Wait, I'm not done yet." He took her face into his hands in that endearing way she loved. "I want to marry you." Her mouth dropped open. "It doesn't have to be tomorrow, or soon. But I want you to be my wife. I don't want to wait ten years. And I want to have children with you, Julianna. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you forever." He paused. "Say yes."

"Before I say yes," She smiled, "how many kids are we talking about here?" She asked. He chuckled.

"Two..Maybe three." She laughed and threw her arms around his neck.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" She exclaimed. He chuckled and stood, lifting her up off the ground a few inches. She laughed and kissed the side of his neck as he carried her through the house and up the stairs.

"And now what I want is to make love to you all throughout the night." He said. She grinned.

"Sounds like a plan. A great one!" She said. He chuckled and fastened his lips to hers as he lay her gently on the bed.

"I love you." He said and watched her face light.

"And I love you, George." Then she pulled his mouth to hers once more.

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-I don't know what salad dressing Julianna 'favors'.
-Ron and Julianna do have two cats, last I read (I don't know the names, though. So Twinkie is probably WAY off).
-She does smoke.
-I know I do a lot of fics where Julianna and Ron break-up, but this time I was hoping to show more of it. You know like, details of the fight and less about George and Julianna. And I even like Ron and Julianna as a couple in real life. I feel bad now! Lol. And then after they broke up I went into the Julianna and George thing.
-The writer thing didn't happen in real life, it was my own idea.
-I hope you enjoyed!

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GJ Standalones