The Turns Life Takes (Eve/Julian)- Chapter 26 - THE FINALE
by yhh
Ah, the final chapter. This has been a great journey. Thank
you to everyone that took the time to read this story.
And an extra big thanks to those who took the time to drop me a note, also.
I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
"Come in," Julian bellowed from his document filled desk. He was going to
fire this temp. Why was it every time his assistant was gone everyone felt
that his office was the place to hang out? "Yes?" he questioned, not lifting
his head.
"I'm sorry," Eve said, standing with her back against his door.
"Eve," he said, surprised. "What are you sorry for? You have nothing to
apologize for, darling." He stood up, but she stopped him.
"Stay there."
Heeding her words, Julian eased back into his chair.
"I do owe you apology. You committed yourself to finding our child and to
me and I left you floundering in the wind while I tried to breathe life into
my dying marriage. Yet, you never waivered. You loved me. You love me. You
didn't pressure me to make any decision- -"
"Eve, love- -"
"No, Julian, it's my turn to speak. You have been my rock, my foundation.
Yes, you were wrong to not stand up to Alistair all those years ago. Yes,
you were wrong for being such a poor father to Ethan, Fox, Cassie, and Fancy.
But you changed, on your own. You became the man I always knew you could be.
And you did this all by yourself. I am so in awe of you and so proud of you.
It took courage for you to do what you did."
Julian blushed at all of the undeserved praise, in his opinion, that Eve
was heaping on him.
"I imagined myself having the courage you had to tell TC the truth. To tell
him about our past, about our child, but I never could."
"Dar- -"
"Silence."
He shut his mouth.
"And when I finally did tell him, it blew up in my face. It was a million
times worse then what I envisioned, but there you were again, simply being
my friend, holding my hand. When Grace and Sam shunned me along with the majority
of my friends, there you were, encouraging me to stay strong. When I had
to leave my position at the hospital, you made staying home with Endora seem
like the job I was created for. And even after you had admitted your love
for me and I remained confused, you were my confidante when I pondered giving
TC everything in the divorce. You were my sounding board when I wondered if
maybe I should stay with a man who would never accept, tolerate or love our
daughter. You listened and held me all the nights I cried when it seemed hopeless
between Whitney, Simone, and myself. And since I don't know any other billionaires,
I know it was you who opened accounts for me in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland
and bought stocks for me, twice as much as I gave willingly and happily to
TC."
Julian shrugged his shoulders. "You know Stefan Cassadine and Alexis Davis."
"I highly doubt they would give Eve Johnson over two million dollars for
no reason at all."
"Stefan is a very giving man."
Eve smiled. "I love your generous, giving, understanding heart. I love the
fact that you put up with Simone when she's channeling TC. I love how you
are with Ethan-Martin, Endora, and now Brenda. I love how you're trying with
Ethan, Fox, Cassie, and Fancy. I love the relationship you have with Whitney
and how you kept it alive after the elevator incident. I love that you captured
my eighteen-year-old heart and soul, you treasured them and nurtured them.
You resurrected my love for you when I had finally grown up enough to admit
it, appreciate it, and fight any and everyone who tried to tear us apart.
I love you, Julian Crane. I adore you. I think you're the handsomest man I've
ever seen." Bending on one knee, Eve removed a velvet encased box from her
pocket. "Julian Linus Crane,
will you do me the honors of becoming my husband? Stepfather to Whitney
Grace and Simone Elizabeth. Father to Brenda Corinthos and Endora Johnson
Crane. Allow me to be step-mother to Ethan, Nicholas, Francesca, Cassandra,
and Ethan-Martin? And of course, put up with TC at major events and occurrences
in Whitney's and Simone's lives?" She opened the box to reveal a 14karat
gold band studded with diamonds and various other colored jewels.
He shook his head. "Mother to Ethan-Martin."
"Julian," she chastised.
"Eve, please, even Pilar will say you're more of a mother to that little
boy than Theresa has been his whole life," he responded. Julian stood up and
walked around his desk. "If I accept your ring, then what will I do with this."
He pulled out his own box and showed her a gorgeous square shaped diamond
with various colored jewel baguette on the side.
"Oh, Julian," she cried.
"Darling, I love you. I am touched beyond believe that not only have you
forgiven me for my past transgressions, but that you love me enough to create
and raise a family with me, and want to stand by my side proudly declaring
our love to the world. You are the love of my life and the greatest thing
that has ever happened to me. Will you marry me?"
The tears flowed down her face, she never expected this. She should have,
this was so Julian. She looked into his blue eyes and she clearly saw their
future. Yes, they had a lot to work through, a lot of family counseling in
their future. But she also saw all the joy and laughter, they had ahead, along
with rearing two children together and maybe more later on down the road.
Well not too far down the road, they weren't getting any younger. For the
first time since he last made love to her all those years ago, she finally
felt whole, complete, and home. "I forgot to mention one more thing I love
about you."
He raised his eyebrow.
Untying her coat and dropping it to the floor, she revealed a red, silk
charmeuse chemise which laced up on the sides, exposing a great deal of flesh
just how he liked it.
If he hadn't been more refined, his jaw would have dropped open at the sight
of his love, in nothing but a piece of material which he could see through.
She was as lovely as he remembered, more so, now that her breasts were fuller
and her hips wider from childbirth. He hadn't expected his day to end up like
this.
The sound of the door locking vibrated throughout the silent, tension-filled
room.
"I'm having lunch with Brenda and Sonny."
She shook her head. "It's dinner. And FYI, dinner is now at six o'clock
so Ethan-Martin and Endora can join us all."
"Are those all the children's birthstones?" he asked, pointing to his ring
which she still held.
She nodded. "And mine?"
He nodded. "I knew you would love it. And I thought it was a great way to
symbolize the start of our new family. I had the jeweler make simpler versions
of it for everyone."
"Oh, Julian," she cried, running to him and throwing herself into her arms.
"I love you." She was deeply touched by his thoughtfulness.
"Darling, the tears are ruining the mood," he commented, a few minutes later.
"Really," she asked, rubbing against him, "because it feels like the party
is ready to start to me."
Picking her up, Julian carried the love of his life to his brand new extra
wide sofa and laid her down. He kissed her finger and slid the ring on. "I
love you."
She took his hand, kissed it, and slipped it on his ring. "I love you."
"You are my everything," he said, as he slowly moved down her neck, leaving
wet kisses in his wake.
To really love a woman
To understand her - you gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought - see every dream
N’ give her wings - when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin’ helpless in her arms
Ya know ya really love a woman
When you love a woman you tell her
That she’s really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she’s the one
Cuz she needs somebody to tell her
That it’s gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
- really really ever loved a woman?
To really love a woman
Let her hold you -
Til ya know how she needs to be touched
You’ve gotta breathe her - really taste her
Til you can feel her in your blood
N’ when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
Ya know ya really love a woman
When you love a woman
You tell her that she’s really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she’s the one
Cuz she needs somebody to tell her
That you’ll always be together
So tell me have you ever really -
Really really ever loved a woman?
You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin’ good care of you
Ya really gotta love your woman...
Then when you find yourself lyin’ helpless in her arms
Ya know ya really love a woman
When you love a woman you tell her
That she’s really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she’s the one
Cuz she needs somebody to tell her
That it’s gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
- really really ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really,
Really, really, ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really,
Really, really, ever loved a woman?
THE END