Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you

[dharmalady]

Juliet Scott was married for five years. Three of them were good. She was young, Damien was too. They were in love and carefree; had fun and had a lot of sex, traveled to a lot of places. She'd been on track to start med school but when she met Damien, she wanted him instead, and she thought she'd always choose him over everything.

Until she got pregnant.

He stuck around for a few months but then, conveniently his job took him away and the stretches of time between being home and being gone were longer. He was never a bad dad to Mia, not once, but it was like a chore to be home, to be a husband and civilian again. Juliet missed him but she tried to talk to him about it and it was a fight, every time. He had a job, he had missions, he couldn't just give that up. So she decided a year and a half ago to not make him choose anymore. She sent him divorce papers, certified mail, with a letter explaining to him that she was tired of feeling like she and Mia weren't a priority. Like he didn't want to be there when he was back in the states. She wasn't surprised when she got the signed paperwork back with no note in response.

She and Mia have been solo ever since, the two of them moving to Miami to be closer to Juliet's sister. Med school finally happens, and now Juliet's an intern and Mia is five. It's been hard, harder than Juliet ever thought she'd have to do on her own, but she's doing it. She's never told Damien he can't be a part of Mia's life, she's never tried to keep him away from her. When she moves, she makes sure someone in his branch of the military, wherever he is, gets her address. She's not even angry at him anymore, just sad that it ended this way between them.

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[inthewar]

He never wanted things to turn out like this. He loved Juliet fiercely, in a way he'd never loved anyone else and would never love anyone else. But he got so fucking scared and made up excuses about his job pulling him away. It wasn't totally a lie, but he could have made it work if he'd wanted to.

He didn't.

Not because of them, because of him. He would have fucked it up sooner or later, he had to get out before he made it worse.

He thinks about them both all the time, though, and when it's Mia's birthday, he calls Juliet, not knowing how this will go, but reaching out to try and talk to his daughter.

[dharmalady]

Juliet doesn't recognize the number and almost doesn't answer, but she changes her mind at the last minute, putting the phone to her ear. There's a lingering laugh on her lips as Mia eats a cupcake messily. "Hello?"

[inthewar]

Just hearing her voice again feels so good, and a moment lingers before he finally speaks.

"Jules. It's me."

[dharmalady]

Juliet pauses and tilts her head downward a little. She can't even remember the last time she talked to him. "Oh. Hi. Where are you?" she asks, clearing her throat.

[inthewar]

"Beirut," he says simply, clearing his throat. "Look, I uh - I wanted to talk to Mia. If that's okay. I know it's her birthday. Is she...is she having fun?"

[dharmalady]

"It's always okay. I've never made it hard for you to get in touch with her. I'll let you tell her about her day." Juliet puts the phone on speaker and puts it on the table. "It's daddy, baby."

Mia, of course, doesn't think anything of Damien never being there. It's just how she's always grown up and when she does see him he gives her presents, so that's good enough for her. "Hi, daddy!"

[inthewar]

He smiles when he hears her tiny voice, sitting down on his bunk just to talk to her. "Hey, baby. Happy Birthday. You having a good birthday?"

[dharmalady]

"Uh huh! Mommy took me to the zoo! And I got to pet a baby bunny. Aunt Rachel was going but she didn't feel good but that's okay. She can go next time on my birthday. Are you coming to visit me?"

[inthewar]

"Soon, honey. In about three weeks," he tells her. Though part of him wishes he could just...be there right now. He's the only one holding himself back.

[dharmalady]

"We'll mark it on your calendar, baby," Juliet chimes in.

Mia is leaning over as she talks into the phone. "Is that when you'll give me birthday presents and kisses?"

[inthewar]

His heart just aches at such an innocent question, and he rubs at his forehead, but nods into the phone. "Lots of presents and kisses, honey. As many as you want."

[dharmalady]

She giggles, apparently happy by the answer. "Okay, daddy! I miss you."

[inthewar]

"I miss you, too, baby," he tells her softly. "I love you so much. I'll come see you soon."

[dharmalady]

"I love you!" she says sweetly before Juliet picks up the phone, taking it off of speaker and letting the silence linger for just a second.

"Three weeks? Really?"

[inthewar]

"I know, it's...I know. It's a long fucking time," he sighs a little. "But I'll be there. With presents."

[dharmalady]

"Well. Three weeks, three months, three years. I think it's all relative, Damien." Juliet pauses, letting out a breath. "She loves cows right now. Just. Heads up. Don't ask me because I honestly don't know." It's a hint, to get her cow themed things if he can.

[inthewar]

"Okay. Cows. Got it," he breathes out. "Your sister - is she okay?"

[dharmalady]

Juliet closes her eyes for a second, swallowing. "No. It's spread."

[inthewar]

"Fuck. Jules, I'm sorry," he says softly, knowing how close she is to her sister. He's about to ask if she needs anything, but stops himself, realizing how dumb that question is.

[dharmalady]

It terrifies her because Rachel's all she has. Her sister's her rock, and without her, Juliet has no one. No one but a five-year-old. "Thank you. It's about six months. On the outside. It's happening the same way it happened to my mom and..." Her voice breaks, trying to keep her composure in front of Mia.

"Anyway. I'll...get through it. She needs me to be strong."

[inthewar]

He knows that maybe he could reach out, he could offer her some more support, but he doesn't know if she really even wants that from him, not after what he did.

"She's strong," is all he can think to say. "Hang in there. I'll talk to you soon."

[dharmalady]

What he doesn't even realize is that all she wants is someone she knows to comfort her. But she just nods, clearing her throat. "Okay. Three weeks."

[inthewar]

The last time he was supposed to see Mia, he was late. By six months. And he'd had a terrible fight with Juliet over it, though he'd understood her anger completely.

He's not late this time. In fact, he gets there a day early, but he calls Juliet first, not wanting to just show up when she's not expecting him. "Hey. I'm here. Got a room at the Holiday Inn a few miles from you."

[dharmalady]

"You don't need a room. I have a guest room, it's fine. She's so excited to see you, she'd wanna go with you. That'll be hard enough when you leave again but we can put it off while you're here at least. Come over whenever you're ready," she tells him.

[inthewar]

"Okay. I'll be over there in an hour," he tells her. Then he takes a shower, changing into clean clothes and taking a cab over to Juliet's place. He knocks on the door, a backpack full of presents slung over his shoulder, suitcase in his other hand.