She stared at the television and changed the channels, but she couldn’t focus on anything. Eve felt tears fill her eyes when she thought of Julian, this was going to be extremely hard, but she just had to be brave, even as difficult as it was. She couldn’t help but cry herself to sleep that night. The bed was so cold and so lonely without Julian to keep her warm and protect her, but she tried her best to block out any feelings she had of him. She took one day at a time and before she knew it, a month had past. She had asked for her mail to be delivered to the hotel. The front desk clerk handed her a letter as she walked by and as the elevator doors opened, she looked at it, realizing it was from Julian.
 

Dear Eve,

I know that you don’t want to talk to me and I understand you need your space, but I had to write tell you how much I will always love you and I will respect whatever decision you make. I am not much on words, but I wrote this little poem to try to express my thoughts.
 

I miss you every day,
Even though we are apart,
There is no one else in this world,
That has captured my heart.

I love you more than ever,
You are my life,
But maybe we will move on,
No chance to call you my wife.

And although I am staying positive,
I can’t help the many tears,
My heart is quite shattered,
As it has been for many years.

I don’t mean to upset you,
With these words that I express,
But my love for you dear Eve,
Is always more, never less.

Whatever you decide,
I promise to give you space,
But I will always think of you,
What we shared in this time and place.

I conclude this little verse,
And hope everything is okay,
My love to you and our baby,
Best wishes to you today.
 

“Julian?” she said quietly.

He stood up, shocked to hear her voice.

“Eve, hello, how is everything, are you and the baby doing okay?” he asked concerned.

“Yes Julian, everything is fine with the baby, listen, if I give you the address of where I am staying, would you have time to stop by and see me?”

“Yes Eve, I can stop by, when would you like me there?” he asked.

“What’s good for you?”

“Anytime really Eve, I want to accommodate you.”

“Okay, how about later this evening then, say seven?”

“Sure I will be there.”

When he hung up the phone, he couldn’t believe it, Eve wanted to see him. He hoped that she wanted to take him back, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up just yet. That evening, before heading over there, he made a stop at the store. Eve was sitting in the chair when she heard the knock at the door. She took a deep breath and opened it to him. He gazed at her intensely, like he had never seen her before.
“Hi Julian.”

“Hi Eve, this is for you.” He said handing her a bag.

“Oh, okay, thank you.”

Julian watched her as she opened it, a smile upon her face.

“What a cute teddy bear.”

“I just wanted to get it for you, I mean it could be for you or the baby, whatever you wish.”

“Thanks Julian.” She said quietly.

“Your welcome.”

“So tell me how you have been then?”

“I have been okay, but I must tell you I did confront my father about everything, especially about Sheridan and Luis and what he is doing and well…what it costs me basically.” He said taking her hand.

Eve was a bit hesitant to take his hand and let go, still quite cautious.

“I’m sorry.” He said looking at her.

“It’s fine Julian, now you know I brought you here to talk.”

“Okay, we can do that, I will just sit here and listen Eve.”

“Alright Julian, well, as you know it’s been a month since you told me about Sheridan and at the time, I was very upset and shocked and in disbelief that you almost committed a crime. I have had a lot of time to think about what I want to do about us and our child.” Eve said.

“Okay Eve.”

“You know that I was hurt and I know you were scared to tell me, but that was no excuse Julian, I mean the one thing I asked for in this relationship was honesty and trust and you broke it. It’s been a bit of a struggle for me, trying to weigh out both sides of whether I should stay with you and raise our child or go it alone. I want this baby to have the best possible upbringing, I also want to be able to tell them that their father was the most loving and trusting person I know, but I haven’t been able to trust you.” Eve said.

Julian put his head down, feeling ashamed.

“So are you telling me that you want to break up permanently?” he asked quietly.

“I need to regain your trust Julian, I need for you to prove to me that I can trust you.”

“Eve, I want to prove it, but if we break up, how can I?” he asked.

“Julian, I don’t have the same trust at this time. Like I said I have had a lot of time to think about everything, especially what will be best for the baby. But I do want you to prove to it to me, so I have decided that I want to stay together and work on our relationship.”

“Really Eve?” he said smiling.

“Yes Julian, I think it’s best.”

“Eve, I will make it up to you, I will be the best man I could ever be, the best lover, the best friend and the best husband and father one day. I ask you to forgive me for what I have done in the past, if you can, it would mean more to me than anything besides having your trust back again.” He said staring at her.

“Julian, I believe that I can forgive you.”

“I love you so much Eve, thank you.” He said hugging her tightly.

“I love you too Julian, I always did and always will and I was touched by the beautiful poem you wrote me.” She said smiling.

“I meant every word I said Eve, from the bottom of my heart.”

“I believe you Julian, I guess I will stay here for a while, as I don’t really have a place to live.”

“Oh sweetheart, I don’t want you to live in a hotel, come back to the mansion, I threw Rebecca out, and I had enough of her crap. Perhaps she will still try to blackmail me, but I did manage to get her to at least leave.”

“Actually Julian, I do want to take things somewhat slow at this point, I mean I still want to be together, but maybe it is best if we just don’t jump back in with both feet. I love you very much, but let’s just see how things develop. I would like your support in dealing with the hurdles, but at the same time, I want to take it slow so we can do this right.”

“I understand your caution now Eve, I will support you and be there for you, no matter how we do this.”

“So let me stay here then, you are welcome to come and visit me.” She said touching his arm.

“I would like that very much.” He said smiling.

“Have you eaten yet Julian?”

“Actually no, perhaps I could take you out?”

“Well, alright, again I don’t know what I can eat really, but it would be nice to get out for a bit.” Eve said.

“Okay Eve.”

Julian helped her on with her coat and when she got into the car, he looked at her for a minute.

“What is it Julian?”

“Nothing, sorry, anyway, do you know of any good places around this area? I mean this isn’t Harmony after all.”

“The front desk clerk told me that there is a little diner that is supposed to be really good Julian, it’s not super fancy, but maybe they will have something I can eat?”

“Okay then.”

They found the diner and Eve sat down in the booth across from Julian.

“Do you have enough room there Eve?”

“Yes, I am fine.”

The waitress came over and they ordered. Julian looked around for a minute, smiling at what he saw.

“Something funny?” Eve asked.

“No dear, not at all, it’s just that this diner reminds me somewhat of that one where we had that serious talk, you know when we had to fix T.C.’s car?”

“You mean when I poured my heart out to you.” Eve said quietly.

“And I told you how much I loved you and was sorry for everything I had done.” He said reaching for her hands across the table.

“That was almost a turning point for us Julian, almost like what we are going through now.” She said.

“Eve, we have been through so much together, I feel like we have really connected ever since we have had the chance to really talk again. I want to make up for what I have done whole-heartedly, my crazy past, abandoning you, and now for losing your trust. It seems that I always have one more hurdle to overcome. I guess because this relationship means everything to me, someone is really making me work for it.” He said looking upwards.

“I suppose so Julian, it hasn’t been an easy one to have, we have been through everything, but I do remember how different I felt for you after we shared that evening in the diner. I couldn’t believe you said you wanted to be my friend and then it went from there. It was something I never thought would happen, not even friendship and here we are now, in love with our second child on the way.” Eve said.

“I do hope we can find our son Eve, I want to be a family, to have a real family for the first time, to know what it’s like to actually use my heart this time around. I want to be there for you in every way.” He said.

“I know you do Julian.” She said playing with his fingers.

“Here’s your soup ma’am.” The waitress said to Eve, putting it down in front of her.

“Eve are you sure you don’t want anything else?” Julian asked.

“No I just can’t right now Julian, but thanks for asking.”

“It’s okay, you sure you don’t want some of my burger and fries?”

“I didn’t know you even ate stuff like that.” Eve said.

“Sometimes, besides who wants all this fancy stuff all the time? If I am going to be an average Joe, then I have to eat average food.” He said smiling.

“Do you want to be average?” Eve asked.

“Maybe average isn’t the word Eve, I mean my father will cut me loose, money wise since I am going to stay with you, but I would be happy in a normal sized house, having a family car, a nice yard, you know some place to sit out and oh I don’t know, just cuddle with the ones you love.” He said smiling.

“Julian, that’s so sweet.”

“Eve, it doesn’t matter where we live, what we do, I just want to be with you and our baby, I just want to give my child the normal upbringing I never really had. The life where I can spoil them, but not too crazy, just where they will appreciate what they have of course. I am not thrilled to have had all this money, okay so it was nice and all, but I never had real happiness and my other kids suffered because I was miserable. It’s time I led a happy life, a normal one.” Julian said.

“You are certainly not selfish anymore.”

“No I am not Eve, I am no longer the Julian Crane I used to be, I am a completely different person and every experience I have been given lately, good and bad, is a learning one, I need this honey. For the first time, I was able to know what real happiness was, along with real sadness, you brought my heart back and I love you for it Eve.”

“I do think we are going to be okay Julian, we just have to take it one day at a time.”

“I hope so Eve, I hoped and prayed that you would take me back, but don’t you worry I will still give you the space you need so you can get to know and trust me all over again.”

They finished their meal and went for a drive, being careful of the winter weather, the roads rather icy. Julian decided to stop and park for a few minutes just so Eve could relax a bit. He kept the heat on full blast, not wanting her to catch cold.

“Would you like the blanket from the back seat?” he asked.

“Yes please Julian.”

She wrapped it around herself and just put the seat back, closing her eyes for one moment. He stared at her, so happy to have this chance to have Eve back, he had been so lost without her and he was going to do everything in his power to make things right again between them. Julian played with her hair, touching it ever so slightly as he didn’t want to do anything out of place, he was rather nervous right now, not wanting to upset her in anyway or have her change her mind about them as a couple.

“I am glad you came over.” She said softly.

“Me too Eve, I am glad I was able to see you again.”

“We can see each other here and there right now okay Julian? I have to go back to work soon, I have been off for quite some time.”

“Is your job safe dear?”

“As far as I know, I may have lost my family, but I think I still do have my job to go to, unless I walk in and they say you are fired.”

“I don’t think they would Eve, you are such a wonderful doctor, regardless of whether it’s in Harmony, you still need to help people.” Julian said.

“Very true, I just don’t know what to expect from work, or anyone I know, it scares me actually.”

“I know it does, but you can count on me for support Eve, you know that.” He said touching her chin.

Eve looked at him, not sure what else to say, she had missed Julian so much, but she was still a bit leery of the whole situation. Her head was telling her to keep her distance and be cautious, yet her heart wanted more than ever to be close to him. She wasn’t sure which one to follow; her mind raced with thoughts of which one would she regret more. Julian stared at her, she could always get lost in his warm hazel eyes. But she quickly looked down, knowing if she stared at him long enough, something might happen.

“Eve, are you okay?”

“Yes Julian.”

“You look a bit nervous, have I upset you?”

“No, everything is fine.” She said touching his hand.

“I just don’t want to do anything to jeopardize this, I can’t help but feel that I am walking on pins and needles a bit here, not wanting to screw anything up. It’s hard to just relax and be myself anymore, I know who that is, yet because I don’t want to ruin anything, I am not sure if being myself is the best decision.”

“Julian, I want you to be yourself, you always told me to be myself and I don’t want you feeling like you are going to do or say the wrong thing. I don’t mean to be on the colder side with you, but this is just new for me to and I am trying to deal with issues as well. I know that I want to be careful, but still I know you love me.”

“I do Eve. So very much.”