I'll come up with a clever title later

[whatsbackup]

[While he lived and worked in Attleton, Ronan was finding his work taking him all over the place, like now, into Genessia city to pick up something. Whenever he visited the place, he made it a point to pass by the bay. It was weird, though. He'd been here for months now and no one else from his world had ever shown up.

Other people, they got visitors from home all the time, but not him. Maybe this was just another part of the Bridge Jules was talking about.

That was a depressing thought.]

Comments

[needsbackup]

[She’d been waiting so long. Two men were talking nearby though she hardly gave them notice.

Where was he?

One of the men took a swing at the other and she turns to see the conflict unfold. Without thinking of her own safety Julia steps forward, her arms reaching out…

Her sight blurs and she blinks, now sitting in some sort of coffin? She doesn’t remember dying but then she doesn’t remember how she got here. A weight presses against her side and she finds the chest and a few other things. Where ever she is, she needs to find Ronan.

She slowly stands glancing around at the cave walls before walking out to see what’s just outside. A city isn’t what she expected, she supposed she could be a ghost but this isn’t Salem. Her eyes follow the skyline and then turn down the street. It’s only then that she sees Ronan. Her expression is a mixture of relief and annoyance.]

Ronan? [Her tone is soft and while many questions rose in her mind she wasn’t sure which to ask first. Where are they? Why was he late? How do they get back to Salem?]

[whatsbackup]

[That voice. He couldn't have possibly heard that voice from the direction of the bay, could he? Of course he could, his rational mind screamed. People came from different points in time, and even if they didn't, he was dragged here after he died, too. Why not Julia? Why had the idea never even occurred to him.

Thoughts for later. He doubled back quickly, looking around.]

Jules? Julia? Is that you?

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[Her brows furrow slight, her expression shifting to one of worry.]

Of course it's me Ronan. What's going on?

[She's always been able to read him and now she gets the sense that he hasn't seen her in a while. Except that doesn't make sense.]

What kept you?

[Perhaps this place? Wherever this place is?]

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Oh my God, Julia. [He moves to her side, and even hesitates a moment before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. She smells like her, the same perfume he remembers, the same shampoo. The same...everything. He can't keep his voice from breaking.] ...it's really you...

[Probably the most emotion she's ever seen him display.]

[needsbackup]

[Any angry or annoyance instantly melts away. She hasn't ever heard that tone in Ronan's voice before which means something must have shaken him up. Her arms wrap around him, her face pressing against his shoulder and inhaling the scent of fabrics and cigarettes.]

Of course it's me Ronan.

[She doesn't understand and seeing Ronan like this only makes her worried. She always feels safe around him but... its unsettling.]

Please tell me what's happening.

[whatsbackup]

[He didn't know what to start, and that bothered him more than anything. Julia didn't know what happened. She...she didn't know. He doesn't pull away from her as he nods.]

I will, Jules, I promise, but....first, I need to know what you remember.

[needsbackup]

[If she wasn’t confused before, she was now. She tries to pull away, to look at Ronan but when she can’t she simply holds him tighter.]

I was waiting for you… two men started to argue and then I woke up here.

[Saying it again made it feel so surreal but Ronan is here and he’s real. As long as he’s here she’ll be safe.]

[whatsbackup]

[At the new information, Ronan just swallows. That was the last thing he wanted to hear, but then again, he's also glad she doesn't remember dying. That's not exactly a fun thing to recall.]

Jules...I'm so glad to see you.

Let's...how about a coffee?

[needsbackup]

[Julia finally pulls away though her hands rest lightly at Ronan’s side. She looks up at him attempting to read the expressions of the man who has been her everything. He’s always a little closed off, even after their years together but Julia always managed to read him and what she sees now worries her.

Something isn’t right.]

Coffee sounds good. [She smiles hoping it might ease his discomfort.] I’d like to know what’s going on Ronan. What happened?

[A pause.]

Are we dead?

[Not knowing of her own death or Ronan’s, she doesn’t realize the irony of her own question.]

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I...I'll fill you in, Jules. I promise. [Promises weren't something Ronan made lightly.]

[And her question wasn't easy to answer.]

It's a long story.

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[Her eyebrows furrow slightly but she doesn't question Ronan. For some unexplainable reason she trusts him and that isn't about to change now. Her lips tug into a warm smile as she pulls away for their embrace.]

Then lead the way. [She doesn't know her way around or she'd lead.]

We have time Ronan.

[She doesn't realize how much time they really have.]

[whatsbackup]

[You got no idea, Jules, he thought as he finally let her go, taking her hand as he walked off toward the coffee shop. Time I thought I'd never get again.]

I missed you.

[They were words that came without his express permission, but he didn't regret saying them.]

[needsbackup]

[Julia’s brows furrowed together, her head turned to look over at Ronan. It isn’t really like him to be so sentimental when, last she knew, they saw each other that morning. At this point Julia knows that something is wrong, that something had happened.

A story that would be too long to tell on the street.

She smiles at him, lacing her fingers through his and then lightly squeezing his hand.]

I’m not going anywhere.

[She assures him in a soft but confident voice. She doesn’t know what happened but when she agreed to marry Ronan it meant forever. She isn’t going to leave him now.]