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.

Comments

[dharmalady]

"She really does," Juliet smiles brightly, and it's pretty much the same smile. "She deserves so damn much, Damien. Things you and I didn't get to have."

[inthewar]

Both of them had to deal with their fathers just fucking running off and leaving their families behind, and Damien has unfortunately continued that pattern. He'll always be ashamed of what he did, how much he missed, but he's trying like hell to make up for it.

"I'd give her the whole damn world if I could."

[dharmalady]

"I believe you," Juliet says as she looks at him again. That's a big thing for her to say, that she believes him, believes in him. "And I know you will."

[inthewar]

Damien folds his hands together, looking over at her with gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks. I know you don't have to."

[dharmalady]

"You're right. I don't. But more than anything I want to. So I do. You're an amazing dad, Damien. One day you'll see it for yourself," Juliet tells him softly.

[inthewar]

"I'm getting there," he shrugs a little, with a small smile. "Helps learning from you."

[dharmalady]

She smiles softly, ducking her head. They could have done all of this together, but she knows he gets it, she knows he realizes he fucked up, and it doesn't seem fair to throw it in his face, not when he's trying.

A little over three months later, they take Mia to Disneyworld and the first thing they do is let her get made over to look like Moana before they start going through the Magic Kingdom, taking lots of pictures, going on all the rides and buying ice cream and candy. It's a day where the normal rules aren't applying, and it's perfect.

[inthewar]

Damien's like a big kid, right along with Mia. He loves getting on all the rides, he really gets into everything, even when Mia wants to get pictures with the characters. He's right there with her, grinning like a big, dorky kid. The heat of the afternoon is getting intense, and they're stuck in a line now for Peter Pan. It's moving so slow that they're still outside, not even in the building yet to at least be cooler.

[dharmalady]

Mia's starting to get so tired and cranky and she doesn't want to be held because it's hot, but she also doesn't want to stand because she's tired, so she just winds up crying and laying on the ground. "I don't want this anymore!" she sobs.

[inthewar]

For as long as he's been home, he's never seen Mia get cranky like this. It's a testament to what a great temperament she has, but he gets it. It's fucking hot and miserable outside, and they're not moving. The people around them give them a little space and Damien kneels down, just working on instinct.

"Honey, can you get up off the ground?" At the very least, he doesn't want her to lay there because it's disgusting and dirty. "You don't wanna go on the ride anymore?"

[dharmalady]

She lets him lift her but then she just melts down even more. "No," she says, just tired of it all and too uncomfortable right in this moment to want to do anything else.

[inthewar]

"Alright, baby," he soothes, holding her and looking at Juliet, giving her a little nod and then exiting the line through the gate nearby.

He's holding Mia in his arms so she can tuck her head to his shoulder, and looks at Juliet. "We should just go back to the hotel, get a nap or something."

[dharmalady]

It's as they're walking away and she sees the way the ride looks in full view again that she just starts sobbing. "No, daddy," she cries, reaching out toward the ride.

[inthewar]

This is the part that's always terrified Damien. Because now he has to tell her no, he has to make the decision here. And just for this moment - fleeting though it is - she won't be happy with him, she'll be sad and frustrated and he hates thinking about it. He doesn't want to make her feel that way, he doesn't want her to be upset with him for even a moment, but he knows that's just what comes with being a parent and he has to face it sooner or later.

Being upset with him doesn't mean she stops loving him, he tells himself.

Damien rubs her back a little, trying to soothe her. "No, Mia. We're gonna back to the hotel and you're gonna take a nap." He says all of this gently, but firmly. "We'll come back tomorrow."

[dharmalady]

Mia is so tired she doesn't even have an argument or protest, she just cries and drops her arm, head falling against her daddy's shoulder as she does.

While they walk and Damien has one arm around Mia, holding her, Juliet looks at Damien and then slips her hand into his, squeezing once. "Good job," she smiles at him softly. But she leaves her hand in his the entire walk through the park toward the front gates.

[inthewar]

He can't believe she's holding his hand, and he never wants to let go. Smiling softly at her, he keeps a firm hold of Mia. They find two seats together on the bus to take them back to their resort, Mia still tucked to his shoulder protectively, his lips pressing to her temple, his other hand still holding onto Juliet's.

[dharmalady]

Before they even get to their room, Mia's completely out. She was just so tired, and in the cool bus with the soothing motion, she's out like a light. "Do you really think we should come back here tomorrow, or should we take her to the Animal Kingdom?" Juliet asks him, letting him make the call.

[inthewar]

He thinks about it for a second and decides, "Animal Kingdom. She's gonna love it."

[dharmalady]

"Yeah, she will," Juliet smiles softly, and she keeps his hand in hers, only letting go when they get off the bus. Back in the room, Mia sleeps through Damien laying her down and taking her shoes off, and then Juliet kicks off her own shoes, laying down on the bed. "Mia's not the only exhausted one," she breathes out.

[inthewar]

Damien smiles softly, stripping down to just his boxers himself. He's so damn hot, bumping the AC down a few notches and kissing Mia's forehead tenderly. "Yeah. Same here."

He gets into the other bed, sprawling out on his stomach, but facing them. "Today was really fun, Jules."

[dharmalady]

Juliet turns on her side to face him too, pillowing her head on one arm. "It really was. I'm really glad you're with us." She watches him for a few moments, taking him in, looking at the tattoos he's gotten since they've been divorced. And then she sits up on the edge of the bed, seeming to think about something before making a decision and moving to lay beside him in that bed, facing him. She doesn't say anything, though, just keeps watching his face.

[inthewar]

He looks confused for a moment, but he doesn't move. He doesn't want to lose this at all, with Juliet so close to him, their skin nearly touching. He makes the first move, though, just reaching out to lightly graze her cheek with his thumb.

[dharmalady]

"I'm so damn proud of you, Damien," she whispers softly, reaching to wrap her hand around his wrist, just holding into him as he strokes her cheek.

[inthewar]

"I thought she'd...I know it sounds fucking crazy, but I thought if I told her no, she wouldn't like me," he speaks softly. "It felt okay, though."

[dharmalady]

"If that were true, she'd really hate me," Juliet says with a soft smile. "But it doesn't sound crazy. She loves you, Damien. And she needs you - us - to tell her no."