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 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."

[inthewar]

Damien smiles a little at her, reaching to hold onto her hand now. "We're a pretty good team."

[dharmalady]

Juliet laces their fingers together and smiles at him. "Yeah, we are. I really like it." For once she doesn't bring up how it could have always been that way, or how she missed it. She's focused right now on the future only. "I like doing this with you."

[inthewar]

"Me, too, Jules," he murmurs quietly, holding onto her hand. There's so much he wants to say and do in this moment, but they're both exhausted, and Mia is sleeping in the next bed over, so instead he just clings to her hand. His eyes start to get heavy, though, and he closes them.

"Get a little sleep," he whispers to her.

[dharmalady]

Juliet hums in response, and she sleeps for about an hour before rolling over to look at her phone to check the time. Sitting up, she leans down, whispering Damien's name. "I'm gonna go pick up dinner. Bring it back here." And then, very lightly, her lips press to his temple before she gets up and slips her shoes on, leaving the room quietly.

[inthewar]

He's sleepy, but he hears her and he smiles a little when she kisses his skin. Reaching out, he grabs her wrist for a moment, kissing her knuckles briefly before letting go and just barely opening his eyes to smile again at her.

[dharmalady]

Juliet feels light in a way she hasn't since before she ever found out she was pregnant with Mia. Things with Damien were always so easy before that, they had fun, they supported each other. A lot of her hurt and anger stemmed from feeling abandoned by him, but now, the more he's here and the more he does, the more those memories of how good they were together come back. She's happy, she realizes, with him and in general, but she doesn't necessarily want to rush into anything. They've both changed over the years, she knows that. Still, she knows she loves him. He knows it, too.

When she gets back, she has chicken strips for Mia with french fries and fruit, a burger and fries for Damien, and a pasta dish with a side salad and bread for herself. They settle in to eat together, then after about an hour go to the pool. Mia has a little polka dot Minnie Mouse swimsuit, and Juliet's wearing a black bikini. She knows this will wear Mia out again and bed time will be easy.

[inthewar]

Damien is just so in love with his family, and even if he's not with Juliet the way he wishes he was, he loves what they've built together, this amazing life they have with their little girl.

Juliet is so fucking sexy, and it's hard not to stare at her as they go swimming, with Damien in Mickey Mouse boxers to match Mia.

[dharmalady]

Mia's having so much fun laughing and splashing with her daddy and she points to a slide. "Daddy, will you go on that with me?"

[inthewar]

It seems like she doesn't even remember what happened, doesn't remember him having to tell her no. It's such a relief, and he feels better about having to do that again in other situations.

"Yeah, baby," he grins at her, kissing her and scooping her up, carrying her over to the slide so they can go down it together.

[dharmalady]

She calls for mommy to watch, and then as they slide down she laughs so happily, and they do it again and again. Then she wants to do it with mommy so daddy can watch. Finally, Mia's just worn out again, though there's no tantrum this time. She just lets her daddy hold her in the water, her little cheek against his bare shoulder as they move through the water.