★ but I'm going to be okay as long as you're beside me along the way

[complexguy]

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[dharmalady]

"I was just existing, you know?" she asks him quietly, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Just moving from one thing to the next. I know you understand how lonely that is. And then you asked me to stay with you," Juliet breathes out.

[complexguy]

"For whatever damn reason, you stayed." They both know why, but it still amazes him. His hold on her tightens lovingly, kissing her other shoulder.

[dharmalady]

Juliet stays in the bath with him until the water's cold, and then she gets out, dries off, and needs him. She makes love to him, they eat dinner, and then she sleeps in his arms, breathing deep and even.

Two weeks later, Horace drops by to let her know her and James will both be going on the sub to Tahiti for supplies. She's so shocked at the casualness of it, that she can just go, that she just nods and then thinks about it until she gets home, starting dinner and waiting on James, knowing Horace probably spoke with him, too.

[complexguy]

When James gets home that night, he watches her cooking for a moment before going to her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her shoulder tenderly.

"Tahiti, huh?"

[dharmalady]

"Tahiti," she says with a soft smile, leaning back against him.

"I can't believe I'm going to just...get on that sub and leave," she says quietly.

[complexguy]

"You think about not coming back?" He asks softly, gently, pressing a kiss to the shell of her ear.

[dharmalady]

"Never. Unless you're not thinking about coming back," she promises, hands finding his against her stomach.

"It's just insane to think about. How easily Horace lets us go. He has no idea."

[complexguy]

"I'm goin' wherever you are, Juliet. Wherever that is," he says firmly. It must feel so damn insane for her, though, this woman who spent so many years trying to get off the island.

[dharmalady]

"Home is you," she agrees, turning to look at him. "It's just..." She averts her gaze for a second, speaking softly.

"Just remind me that Rachel isn't out there."

[complexguy]

"She ain't out there, baby," he breathes out softly. "It's almost 1975 and she's just a kid."

[dharmalady]

Juliet nods, wrapping her arms around him and closing her eyes.

"I miss her," she whispers, but she never stops.

[complexguy]

"Wish I could bring you back to her, Juliet." He wraps her up tighter in return, kissing her forehead.

[dharmalady]

"I know. I know you do, baby," she breathes out, closing her eyes.

"This is going to be a good trip. Our first trip together," she says with a soft smile.

[complexguy]

"We'll make a good time of it, anyway," he smiles back at her. He has no idea what to expect in Tahiti, but it'll be fun just being with her.

[dharmalady]

Juliet kisses him softly, and when they get on the sub together, they're shown to a full-size cot so they can drink their orange juice and curl up.

Sitting on the edge of the bed with him, she looks at her cup.

"Don't drink it too fast. You'll pass out sooner than you think. Trust me."

[complexguy]

He's never done this before, of course, so he'll follow her instructions. "Well, you know me. Never turn down a good time." He's joking, lifting up his cup in mock salute, and then just taking a small, slow sip. He's shoulder to shoulder with her, taking another sip.

Then he gets a rush to his head, blowing out a breath with a soft laugh as he shakes his head a little. "Damn, that hits fast..."

[dharmalady]

She takes a sip of her own and she's smirks.

"I took mine like a shot. I guess Richard had to carry me to the sub from the facility we were in." Which is kind of satisfying.

[complexguy]

With one last sip, his cup is empty, and he sets it aside. "Glad they got inconvenienced," he smirks a little, closing his eyes and resting his head against her shoulder. He mumbles something that's close to I love you and then he's completely out.

[dharmalady]

Before Juliet finishes hers, she gets him situated with the blanket, then curls up close to him before finishing hers and falling asleep.

When they wake up they're in Tahiti, and after blinking away the grogginess, they go up, Juliet going ahead of James. When she's out, she looks around for the first time in almost four years now at a world outside of the island.

"Holy shit," she breathes out.

[complexguy]

Once he's up there behind her, his eyes widen as he smiles. "Well, damn, you sure you still wanna go back to the island?"

[dharmalady]

"We could really just...go," she says in awe as they begin to walk to the hotel they're staying in.

"I'm having a moment."

[complexguy]

He reaches down to take her hand, lacing their fingers together. "What if we get to our room and just take a minute?"

[dharmalady]

Juliet nods and holds onto his hand tightly.

"That'd be good, I think," she says, feeling just a little overwhelmed.

[complexguy]

After walking with her for a moment, he moves his arm to wrap it around her waist, holding on to her securely and protectively. "We don't gotta do anything you don't want to."

They're here to do a job and they don't have to do anything else if it's too much for her.

[dharmalady]

"I want to," she promises, looking up at him, though she's also trying to take in everything around her.

"It's a little bit of an overload right now." All she's known for three years is one place, always seeing the same people, always eating the same foods and doing the same things.