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

[inthewar]

"I still can't believe you did that," he laughs softly, kissing her again. "Yeah, we'll ride home. You get as close as you want, honey."

[dharmalady]

"I saw it and...I felt like you had to have it," she says with a smile, washing his back for him and kissing his skin after she rinses it clean.

[inthewar]

"I'll put it to good use," he grins , returning the favor and washing her back when she's done with him. Once they check out and pick up the motorcycle, it's a fun ride back home, with Damien clearly enjoying it.

[dharmalady]

Once they're inside, Mia's sitting at the table eating pancakes with her babysitter, but she gets up and runs to them. "Mommy, daddy! I missed you!" she says happily reaching out to be picked up by daddy.

[inthewar]

"Hey, baby," Damien grins, lifting her easily, kissing her little face all over. "We missed you, too. Were you a good girl?"

[dharmalady]

"Yes!" she says quickly, and the sitter smiles and confirms, lets them know what she had for dinner and what time she went to bed, and what she's eating for breakfast. Then, after Juliet pays her, the sitter leaves and Mia gives a lot of kisses to her mommy and daddy. There are enough pancakes for them too, so they wind up sitting together to eat, and Mia tells them all about her night.

[inthewar]

All Damien wants to do is listen to his baby talk. He's so fascinated by her, hung on every word, responding to her at various points, but mostly just listening with a bright grin on his face.

[dharmalady]

The next few weeks are incredible and it finally feels like they're getting their life together back on track. One afternoon while Mia is out with her daddy running errands, Juliet gets home and there's a man waiting on the front porch. He looks vaguely familiar, and when he introduces himself is Michael Stonebridge, she remembers exactly who he is, and her heart drops.

Inside, he explains he was hoping to find Damien first, and as Juliet gets him a glass of water, he explains that Damien's former boss had a son that was murdered and now they have a chance to capture the man, but two of their best female soldiers have been kidnapped, and he's come to personally ask Damien back for one more mission. But Juliet knows why he came to her first. This story, with children killed and women missing, she can't tell Damien no. It's a dick fucking move and the look on her face says it all, but Stonebridge makes no apologies. He needs Damien on this.

When the door opens and Damien walks through, Juliet and Michael are sitting at the kitchen table, and she looks up at him, her face saying it all.

[inthewar]

This can't be fucking good at all, and Damien knows in an instant that Mike's going to take him away from his family. And he knows it must be for a damn good reason, which hurts even more because he'll have to go. There'll be no avoiding it.

Kissing Mia and setting her down, he asks her to go paint him a picture, wanting to talk alone.

"Why the fuck are you here," Damien blurts out.

[dharmalady]

Michael stands up to actually face Damien.

"The terrorist who killed Burke's son has Kim and Julia. He wants a weaponized warhead. You know the government won't negotiate with terrorists." But it's Kim and Julia, and they have to get them back.

[inthewar]

"Fuck. Fuck, fuck...Godfuckingdammit," Damien growls under his breath, slamming his fist down on the table and sinking heavily into a chair. He runs a hand over his face, sighing heavily and then looking at Juliet, so much pain in his eyes.

[dharmalady]

"I know you have to go," she says quietly, then just gets up to go to their bedroom, closing the door. She knew this was all too good to last, and now he's going back. He might die, but at least they got one more chance to be happy if it happens.

[inthewar]

Damien glares at Michael, but they share a look that says they both know Damien will do it. Right now, though, he needs to see Juliet. He can't even face Mia yet, he just goes to her.

"Jules....God, please...please believe me. I never wanted this. I never wanted to leave you again," his voice actually breaks, tears shining in his eyes. Because they've healed so much, and now he's terrified that everything's broken again.

[dharmalady]

She's crying too, and she tries to pull herself together for him, just nodded. "I know. I know," she whispers, sniffling. "That's why he came to me first. He did it on purpose. What a fucking asshole," she says, not joking about it at all.

[inthewar]

He sits heavily on the bed, needing her right now, reaching out for her hand, just desperate to know that everything's okay between them. "The biggest fucking asshole."

[dharmalady]

"Damien, if you don't come back," she says, gripping his hand tightly. "That's what I'll never forgive you for. You can't get killed. I don't know what I'll do," she chokes out.

[inthewar]

"Don't even fucking think it," he says firmly. "You think I'm going anywhere without you and Mia now? Not a fucking chance."

[dharmalady]

"God, Mia," Juliet whispers, closing her eyes tightly. "I can tell her if you want." The only reason she's offering is because she knows Damien doesn't want this, that it's the last thing he wants.

[inthewar]

He shakes his head, closing his eyes tightly. "No. It's on me. I'll tell her."

[dharmalady]

"Tell him you're not leaving tonight. That I'll try to kill him if he makes you leave this house tonight." She's not remotely joking now, either.

[inthewar]

"I'll handle it," he nods, standing up and kissing her forehead. He goes downstairs to confront Michael, telling him they can leave tomorrow morning, but he gets this time with his family for now.

[dharmalady]

Juliet wasn't going to say anything at all to him, to Michael, but once Damien's halfway done telling Michael what he has to say she goes downstairs, and then she slaps Mike hard right across the face. "You know what you did. And if Damien doesn't come home, I'll find you and I'll fucking kill you," she threatens, tears hot in her eyes before she turns to go back upstairs.

[inthewar]

Damien can't help smirking with pride when Michael just looks dumbfounded. But he finally leaves, and Damien just goes back upstairs, needing to be with his girls. He calls Mia into their bedroom, lifting her up onto their bed. And for right now, he's quiet, just cuddling his little girl, breathing her in.

[dharmalady]

Mia smiles and snuggles with him, so completely oblivious right now. "Hi, daddy," she says as her head rests on his shoulder.

[inthewar]

"Hi, baby girl," he smiles, stroking her little cheek as they cuddle and he kisses her forehead. He looks at Juliet for a moment, not sure if he should tell Mia right now, or just let tonight be a good night and tell her in the morning when he has to leave.

"You and mommy are my favorite people in the whole world."