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Jan. 22, 01.

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I don't like the thought of George dating Lisa Snowdon....just because I think George and Julianna should get together. :) So...I'm going to pretend like he never met her! It's my fic, ain't it? *smiles*

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Julianna hated being jealous. She couldn't help it sometimes, though. She leaned back against the wall, crossing her ankles as she watched George flirt with a young blonde. She took a swig of her second cosmopolitan. She sighed and looked down into her drink, swirling it around as she watched the liquid glide over the smooth glass. She tried as hard as she could not to focus on George, but her mind kept wandering and she looked up, watching as he reached over, brushing a stray piece of blonde hair from the young woman's face. Julianna shook her head and looked away and she saw Ron Eldard approaching her.

"Hey." He said, smiling at her. She smiled back weakly.

"Hey." She replies softly. He smiles wider.

"Are you having a good time Miss Margulies?" He asks, raising his eyebrows, trying to start a flirting fest with her. She smiles.

"Not the best." She says. His smile fades.

"What's wrong?" He asks. She smiles then, not wanting to worry him.

"Nothing, just bored." She says. His smile returns as he shimmies towards her, taking her waist into his hands.

"Want me to entertain you?" He asks, raising his eyebrows. He leans in and kisses her. She kisses him back without enthusiasm as she smells the potent odor of beer on his breath. She pulls her head away and smiles at him. He smiles back. "Wanna head home?" He asks, raising his eyebrows and suggesting much more then a quiet night at home. She looks over his shoulder as she sees George and the blonde leave, hand in hand. She sighs softly and turns her attention back to Ron and smiles slightly.

"Sure." She says. He smiles wider and turns around, taking her hand into his and pulling her towards the exit eagerly. She barely has enough time to say goodbye to everyone and get rid of her drink before slipping her coat on and being dragged out the door.

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Later that night Julianna lay on her side on the bed, listening to a snoring Ron beside her. She couldn't get to sleep. She kept thinking of George and that blonde woman and what they had probably done tonight....or were doing. She didn't want to think about it. She rolled over onto her stomach and threw her pillow over her head, muffling her moan.

She knew she would never go to sleep, so rolled out of the bed and crept out of the room, leaving a loud Ron behind her. She grabbed her robe from the bathroom door and she went down the stairs and into the living room. She flopped down on the couch and flipped the TV on. She took a throw blanket from the top of the couch and draped it over her legs. She snuggled into the couch as she flipped through the channels. She settled on a late night talk show as she let her mind wander.

Was George kissing her? Did she have her hands on his body? Was he whispering sweet words to her, making her moan? Julianna shook her head, trying to focus on the show. She kept thinking these thoughts until she fell into a restless sleep, dreaming of him and another woman, wishing she would wake up.

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Julianna woke the next morning, on the couch, a news program playing on the television. She stood up, groaning at the crick in her neck. She flipped off the TV and made her way up the stairs. As she walked by her room, she saw Ron lying on his stomach, facing the door, sleeping quietly. She stood in the doorway, watching him and knowing she wouldn't be able to stay with him. She sighed and walked into the room, getting out her clothes for the day before she headed into the bathroom connected to the bedroom.

She stepped into the hot shower, letting the stream of water massage her neck and back, kneading the muscles that ached from sleeping so uncomfortably. She sighed as she tried to think of a way to break up with Ron.

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Julianna is sitting, drinking coffee by herself at work. George walks up, flashing her his brilliant smile as he pours himself some coffee. Her stomach churns as she sees his smile.

"Hey Jules." He says. She smiles, her lips pressed against the top of her mug. He turns to her. "How are you today?" He asks. She nods.

"I'm fine." She says. He nods and takes a seat beside her. "Did you have fun last night?" She asks. He turns to her.

"What?" He asks.

"With that blonde? I saw you leave with her. Ron and I left shortly after." Julianna smiles, teasing him. He turns away from her, shifting uncomfortably, his cheeks turning a slight shade redder.

"I uh..I just gave her a ride home." He says. Julianna laughs shortly.

"Sure you did." She says, nudging his shoulder with her own.

"I did!" He protests. She smiles, shaking her head.

"You can't lie to me." She says. He smiles at her.

"Okay, so I can't." He says. She shakes her head, taking another sip of her coffee. They are silent for a few minutes, thinking. Julianna finally stands, stretching her cramped legs.

"Well...I better get in there." She says, motioning towards the door. He nods and she smiles, turning and walking out. He watches her go, his brow furrowing as he tries to figure out what the expression on her face was all about. He shrugs but it still irks him.

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Julianna pressed her lips to George's, closing her eyes as her mind whirled. He kissed her back, his warm arms surrounding her. She thought she would faint, but...

"Cut!" She was interrupted from her thoughts. She pulled away from him and he smiled at her. She smiled weakly back. "Good job! That's a wrap for today! See you all tomorrow." The director said. Julianna sighed as she and George left the lounge as they got ready to go home.

"So what are you up to tonight?" George asks, throwing his arm lazily over her shoulder.

"Going home to Ron, I guess." Julianna says. He gives her a puzzled look.

"You guess?" He asks.

"I'm not looking forward to it." She says quietly, looking away from his gaze. He pulled away from her.

"What do you mean?" He asks. She sighs and looks at him.

"Promise to keep a secret?" She asks. He nods.

"Sure." He says.

"I'm going to tell him I don't think we should be together anymore." Julianna says quietly.

"What?" George asks, not believing it. "I thought he was 'the one'." George says. Julianna gives him a look.

"I don't know who told you that." She says. He shrugs.

"It's been..what? 6 years?" George asks. She sighs and nods, running her fingers through her hair.

"Yeah, something like that." She says. He looks at her like she only has one eye and no nose.

"Something like that? Jules, when did this all start?" He asks. When I fell for you. Julianna answers silently.

"I dunno. I just...I don't love him. I don't want to be untruthful to him." Julianna says, then instantly regretting it.

"You're cheating on him?" George asks, raising his eyebrows. She shakes her head.

"No..no. I mean..I can't let him think I love him. I can't tell him that I love him.....If I don't. I can't do it anymore, George." She says. He nods, his eyebrows raised.

"Well...that was unexpected." George says. She smiles.

"Yeah, and you're not even Ron. I don't think he even has a clue." Julianna says.

"Have you told him? If you haven't, how can you expect him to have a clue?" George asks.

"I don't expect him to. I don't know. It's not that big of a deal, George." She says. He raises his eyebrows.

"Not that big a deal, Jules? You'll be single after 6 years.....6 years of dating the SAME guy. That's a big deal, Jules. Especially when this guy thinks you still love him." George says. She sighs.

"Okay, so maybe it is a big deal, I just don't want it to be!" Julianna says, getting annoyed. He senses this and decides to back off. He nods and throws his arm over her shoulder once again and continues walking.

"So," He raises his eyebrows, "got your eye on someone else?" He teases. She punches his stomach playfully and he chuckles as they walk along.

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Julianna sits on the couch at home, no TV on as she sits and waits nervously for Ron to come home. She bites her nails anxiously until she hears his key in the door. Her body freezes and her heart begins to pound. He walks into the house, kicking off his shoes and his coat. He sees her on the couch and he smiles, walking over to her. He leans over to kiss her, but she moves, surprising him as his lips brush against her jaw. He gives her a questioning look.

"Jules, you okay?" He asks. She looks down, away from his gaze.

"Maybe you should sit." She says. He nods, sitting down beside her, watching her curiously. She is silent for a few seconds and he becomes concerned.

"Jules?" He asks, but she interrupts him as she begins talking.

"I don't think that this is working, Ron." Julianna says.

"What?" He asks, becoming confused.

"This," She motions between them, "Us." She says. He leans away from her.

"What?" He asks, completely stunned. She sighs and looks away from him.

"I don't...I can't lie to you. I don't love you the way you love me, Ron. I don't want to be untruthful to you." She looks at him, his face emotionless. "I do love you, Ron. You've been one of my closest friends for 6 years..my lover...you've supported me and I wouldn't take it all back for anything. I just don't think we want the same things out of this relationship anymore. I'm sorry." Julianna says. He looks at her for a few seconds, before shaking his head.

"I...uh..I wasn't expecting this." He says. She nods.

"I know..I'm sorry that I didn't give you any forewarning." She says. He nods.

"But..if that's the way you feel..then I can't change your mind, as much as I'd like to." He says, smiling. She smiles, blushing uncomfortably. "I guess..I'll just take some of my stuff and go to a hotel tonight. I'll get myself an apartment, since this is your house, and I'll get my stuff from here sometime soon. I'll let you know, okay?" He asks. She nods, her curls falling in front of her face. He reaches over, brushing her hair away and he leans over, kissing her cheek. She smiles slightly as he stands. She looks up at him.

"I am sorry." She whispers. He nods his head.

"If you change your mind...call me." He says. She nods, knowing she won't change her mind. He knows it too. "I'm going to go pack up a little." He says. She nods and he smiles before turning and heading back towards the bedroom that they would no longer share. She sighs and leans back on the couch, a single tear falling from her cheek. She smiles through her tear.

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The next day Julianna walk into work and is immediately met up with George.

"So?" He asks. She smiles.

"I did it." She says. He nods, a small smile on his lips.

"Was it bad?" He asks. She shakes her head.

"He took it surprisingly well. He said he wasn't expecting it and if I ever changed my mind to call him." She says.

"And will you?" George asks. She shakes her head.

"No. I don't love him like that. He gave some of the best years of my life, I couldn't have asked for someone better to spend those years with, but it's not the same anymore. I couldn't do it and I am glad I ended it. I'm just glad there were no hard feelings. He took most of his clothes last night..to a hotel. He said he'll get himself an apartment and get the rest of his stuff soon." Julianna says. George nods.

"Press can't squeeze much out of that." George teases, wanting to lighten up the situation. She nods, smiling.

"Nope. Doesn't matter too much. Our relationship wasn't one of the top relationships in Hollywood. Nobody gossiped about us." She says. He nods.

"Lucky you." He jokes. She giggles quietly.

"That's your own fault, Superstar." She teases him. He rolls his eyes, but smiles at her. "So..are you dating a young blonde you might know? Or do you even remember her name?" She teased some more. He blushed slightly.

"No...I'm not dating her. I don't think either of us expected to, either." He says. She giggles some more.

"I was just teasing you, George." She says. He smiles and nods, acknowledging that he knew she was.

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