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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[dharmalady]

"But you go away," she whispers. "Other daddies at school do, too." She knows other kids who have parents in the military. And she knows something else, too. "Aiden's daddy never came back, and everybody was sad," Mia says with so much fear in her little voice. She doesn't quite get that the man died, just that her friend was never going to see him again.

"Mommy says you'll always come back."

[inthewar]

Because Mia is old enough to really articulate her thoughts and feelings now, Damien can see so clearly how much it's affected her, the way he leaves so much. Hearing that fear in her small voice just makes his heart ache.

"I will, baby. I'll always come back." But he knows as long as he goes on these missions, he can't guarantee it, not at all. So he leans in to whisper to her. "What if I just stay here, always?"

[dharmalady]

"Forever, with me?" she asks him, looking up at him in the dark as one little hand reaches out to touch the scruff on his cheek.

[inthewar]

"Yeah, honey," he smiles, kissing her little hand and trying to figure out how the hell to pull this off. But he can't stand the thought of her worrying about him and thinking he might never come back.

[dharmalady]

"I like that," she says happily, snuggling closer. She's drowsy again, not so afraid of the storm now that she's in her daddy's arms. But she whispers one last thing to him. "Now, you can keep me and mommy safe too."

[inthewar]

He doesn't really know where things stand between him and Juliet, but he'll always do everything he can to protect her, too. "You better believe it, kiddo," Damien smiles, speaking softly and stroking her hair as he tugs her to lay against his chest.

[dharmalady]

Slowly, Mia falls asleep right on top of him, so happy that he's there and that he wants to stay with her now. This is the first year she wished for anything on her birthday, and it was just for her daddy. She fully believes that's why he's staying now, and she's so happy.

The next morning, Juliet goes to wake Mia up for school and there's a brief moment of panic when she isn't in her bed. But then she checks Damien's room and Mia's right there, sleeping against him. She just watches for a few minutes, then takes a deep breath and lets it out softly, walking forward and waking Damien first, gently. "Hey. Time to get her around for school."

[inthewar]

Damien opens his eyes slowly, his head tucked to Mia's. He kisses her head and nods a little, rubbing her back. "Hey, honey. Time to wake up," he breathes out, stroking Mia's hair.

[dharmalady]

"Daddy," she murmurs, rubbing her eyes and snuggling closer to him. But she's always been good about getting up and after a minute she sits up and yawns. "Are you still staying here?"

Juliet looks at Damien at that, realizing he must have said something to her and immediately she looks wary, not sure about this being a promise Damien can keep and not that happy he's already said something to Mia.

[inthewar]

He can accept the look from Juliet because he's already messed up plenty. This is just another in a long line of fuck ups, but he knows in his heart he won't leave Mia. Whatever he needs to fucking do, he will.

"Yeah, honey," he tells her, because he won't say anything different and make her sit with that during the day.

[dharmalady]

She gives him a kiss and a hug, then gets out of bed to with Juliet and get ready. Once they're both dressed for the day, Juliet looks at Damien.

"I'm going to work, so whatever you want here is fine. Help yourself. Mia and I get home about 5:30," she tells him. "Please try working on your job situation," Juliet says pointedly, meaning how the hell he's just going to quit his military job.

[inthewar]

He really, really fucked up, and he just nods a little, sighing as he sits up. "Thanks."

He really has no idea what he's going to do, at all, but he better figure it out fast because if he leaves again, it's just another fucking promise he broke to his little girl. Too many of them.

[dharmalady]

When Mia and Juliet get home, Mia's just excited to see her daddy, and she runs to him with a grin, eagerly jumping into his arms and telling him all about her day and her friends and what she learned. She's only in pre-k because of when her birthday falls, but she goes all day already and she loves it.

Over the next few days, it's all the same, Mia on cloud nine because her daddy is there. Juliet hasn't pushed yet, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[inthewar]

When he has some time alone with just Juliet, Damien speaks quietly. "She's so happy. Because of me. Just because I'm staying."

[dharmalady]

"Damien, you have no idea how much she loves you. You might as well be the reason the sun comes up every day," Juliet says from her spot on the couch.

[inthewar]

He crosses his arms over his chest, looking down at the floor. "No. I had no idea. I was a fucking idiot because I didn't know."

[dharmalady]

"I tried to tell you," Juliet says quietly, letting out a soft breath. "But if you're really staying we have to work out...our situation."

[inthewar]

"I know. I haven't...figured it all out yet. I don't know where I'm gonna go," he says quietly.

[dharmalady]

Juliet rubs the back of her neck. "You can just stay here. The guest bedroom isn't going anywhere."

[inthewar]

"You really think that's the best idea?" He can't imagine he's her favorite person.

[dharmalady]

"Where are you going to take our daughter when she wants to stay with you?" Juliet points out. "It's not the best idea but it's the only idea I have for now."

[inthewar]

She has a point, of course. All he could afford would be a Motel Six or something, and there's no way he'd take Mia there.

"Alright. But look, I promise I won't...get in your way."

[dharmalady]

Juliet scoffs into a glass she's drinking out of. "Yeah, right." She shakes her head, sipping, then looking at him again. "I haven't been with anyone since you left. I had Mia, med school, and a dying sister. When the hell did I have time?"

[inthewar]

Damien shrugs a little, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Fair enough. How's Rachel? Hanging in there?"

[dharmalady]

She's quiet for a second, looking down, then just shakes her head. "She's tired. And she's hanging on for me."