Breaking points- A William/Julia FF

[akarana]

I made, it, this chapter is done so much sooner than the last few were. I hope you like it and thanks for still reading!

Chapter 27

„I'm really happy that we picked it up today," William commented as he put the piglet down in the hay in its new shed in Julia's garden. She had insisted in getting it the same night, so they wouldn't have to worry about it the next day before they saw her father.

"It's a female piglet and needs a name, William," Julia smiled and petted the little ears of their new pet.

"Julia, it's a pig not a dog," he said as he stood stiffly beside her.

"Oh William, don't pretend you don't care," she simply laughed about his attitude. She knew him better than that. "You were the one who saved her and brought her here so I doubt that you will let her grow and then slaughter her," she went on and stood up, wrapping one arm around his middle.

"So you really want to name her?" he asked, already giving in because he knew he didn't have a chance anyway to win this argument. Her laughing eyes gave him all the confirmation he needed. "Then go ahead," he encouraged her.

"I get the honors alone? How generous of you," she smiled and kissed his cheek. "How about… Frieda?" she asked then.

"Frieda?" he asked, wondering how she had come up with that name.

"I think she looks like a Frieda," Julia shrugged and looked at the piglet that was chewing on an apple.

"Crazy lady," he laughed heartily and pulled her tightly against his side. How much happier he felt when she was with him and everything was alright between them. That thought reminded him that they still had to talk about their fight.

"Shall we go back inside?" Julia asked and he nodded and led her out of the small shed. "You think she will be ok out here all alone?" she wondered when they closed the door and the piglet started to squeak.

"We will not take the piglet into the main house with us. I saved its life, you tended to its wounds and gave it, sorry, her, a new home, I think that's enough," William intervened before she could even think about taking the piglet inside with her. Knowing Julia he wouldn't put it past her.

"Fine," she agreed with a deep sigh and walked beside him onto the veranda and sat down on the bench. William took the blanket and spread it over her legs before he sat down beside her. Immediately she moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder and smiled when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"It's a lovely night," he started, not knowing if he wanted to have "the talk" or not.

"I missed you, William," she admitted, referring to the last few days.

"I missed you, too. But I couldn't get over myself and come over," he made his own admission.

"Did I really look that repulsing in the biking outfit?" she asked him and his eyes widened in shock at her question.

"What makes you say that?"

"You couldn't even look at me," she said, her eyes cast downwards.

"Julia, look at me," he insisted and lifted her chin up with his finger. "I was shocked, yes, but not because you looked repulsing. You never do!" He assured her. "I just didn't expect you to wear such a revealing outfit. It took me by surprise and the possessive part of me took over. I want to be the only one who sees you like this," he explained, or tried to at least.

"In knickerbockers?" she asked, raising her eyebrows playfully.

"In revealing clothes," he clarified in a whisper and kissed her softly.

"They are not revealing, they are practical. Have you ever tried riding a bike in a long skirt? It gets stuck all the time. Honestly, it's simply dangerous," she insisted.

"You should have told me that before and prepared me for what I was to expect. Your new clothes, George and the bathing suit were simply too much at once," William smiled.

"So I am officially allowed to wear the knickerbockers again?" she asked him.

"I don't want you to get hurt… and you wouldn't let a no stop you anyway," he knew.

"True," she laughed and snuggled further into him. They were silent for a while and simply enjoyed being together while they watched the stars shine in the dark sky above them.

"I was at Isaac's yesterday for an examination," Julia said quietly into the darkness and started to play with his fingers above the blanket.

"Are you alright?" he became worried instantly.

"I wanted to know if there's really no chance for us to have a child of our own," Julia's voice became even quieter, barely above a whisper. William didn't say anything, he simply placed a soft kiss on her sleeve and waited for her to go on.

"Isaac says that while my ovaries seem intact, there's just a lot of scar tissue in my uterus and the egg can't settle in as it should. I will simply miscarry before we even know I was ever pregnant," she explained and her eyes became watery with tears.

"We can always adopt. There are so many children out there seeking a new home," he tried to console her.

"Oh William, I really want to have your child, feel it grown within me, birth it, nurse it," she said and then started to sob. He hugged her to him and gently rocked her from side to side, hoping she would stop crying. It was breaking his heart, because he couldn't do anything. There was nothing in their power they could do to change it.

"I understand why I was punished this way for my sins, but you shouldn't be burdened with this. You deserve a wife who is able to give you children," she went on and he knew he needed to speak up or she would talk herself farther and farther into this.

"Julia, we talked about this and I stand by what I said. There is only one woman for me and that is you. I don't want to have children with any other woman. Only you. And if it isn't in god's plan to have us have our own children, then maybe our child is out there waiting for us to come and get it and give it the home it deserves," he told her and didn't let go of her.

"Thank you," she said, still choked up and buried her face even deeper into his neck.

"There's nothing you have to thank me for," he replied. "Except for maybe letting you name the piglet 'Frieda'," he pointed out then when he saw the opportunity to lighten the mood. When Julia lifted her head and looked at him while he felt her laughter vibrate through his own body, he knew he had found the right words.

~*~

The next afternoon they stood in front of the impressive house Julia grew up in. William had never been there before and he had to admit that now that he saw the mansion he was even more nervous about meeting her father than he had been earlier.

"And you called in advance and he said it was alright?" William wanted reassurance once more.

"Yes, I did. Just relax William. If you think about it rationally there's nothing bad that can happen. Whether he approves or not, it doesn't change a thing. He has yet to approve of all the other choices I made in my life," Julia tried to calm him and placed a hand on his when he just wouldn't stop fiddling with his sleeves. Before William could reply the door opened and they walked inside, handing their hats and coats off to the maid. Before long they were led into the sitting room where Mr. Ogden was already waiting for them.

"Julia," he smiled when he saw his daughter and she walked to him and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello father. This is detective William Murdoch, my fiancé. I have already told you about him," Julia introduced the two men and they awkwardly shook hands.

"Pleasure to finally meet you, Sir," Murdoch said and tried to sound cheerful, while he was actually shaking in his shoes under the probing eyes of Julia's father.

"I have heard a lot about you indeed. Both my daughters can't stop talking about you," Mr. Ogden replied and William wasn't sure if he should take it as a compliment or a reprimand. He didn't know what to say so he remained quiet.

"I hope it is alright that we stopped by on such a short notice. However with our job we never know what might come up," Julia spoke up.

"I hear you're an acting detective and are somewhat famous for your unusual methods," her father didn't answer her question and turned back to William instead.

"I wouldn't call my methods unusual, I just like to combine science with sleuthing," William said.

"Oh, you're a scientist?" Mr. Ogden said surprised.

"No, I wouldn't say that. I just like to read and experiment and use my knowledge for my work," he explained.

"I am sure however you would have made a great scientist, would you have had the opportunity to study at a university," Julia complimented. "You have a brilliant mind."

"Thank you, Julia. Sadly I didn't get that chance," William smiled at her and was distracted for a second when she smiled back and her eyes got that light shade of… he didn't know what color it was, but her eyes shone that way whenever she was happy.

"Julia, would you mind to check on our tea? I fear the maid has forgotten us," her father asked her and interrupted their moment.

"Of course," she nodded and squeezed William's shoulder reassuringly before she left the room.

"Detective, from everybody I heard about you I gather you are no fool. So I hope you understand that for obvious reasons I would have liked Julia to marry Dr. Garland a lot more. I can't say I am too fond of the arrangement now," Mr. Ogden stated bluntly and reminded William very much of Julia at that moment.

"Yes, I understand that, Sir," William nodded, because really there was no reason not to understand where he was coming from.

"However I know my daughter and I know that she won't rest until she gets what she wants and she would never let me stand in her way. " William nodded, knowing that it was true. "I can see that Julia is happy now. She seems more calm and content than I have ever seen her before and I believe that you are the reason for it. I am not a supporter of love marriages, but I believe in friendship and companionship and by everything Ruby told me, you have always been there for both of my daughters."

"They are extraordinary women," William stated.

"They are, so was my wife. I will give you my blessing, and if it is only because I have no other choice. Personally I have nothing against you, but I would have liked someone better off for my daughter," Mr. Ogden continued in his blunt way.

"And I wish I could offer Julia more," William said truthfully.

"And that honors you," the older man said. "Know however that living with such a forward thinking and modern woman as my daughter won't always be easy. I speak from experience," the man sighed dramatically and William couldn't help himself but chuckle.

"I have worked with Julia for a while, I know what you are talking about," he admitted.

"From what I was told I gathered you did more than work with her," Mr. Ogden commented dryly and wiped the smile off William's face. "My daughter thinks I know nothing and understand even less. But I know things, hear things, conclude things," he said and William got the impression that he was no longer only talking about their sleeping arrangements. He got the feeling that he knew it all, everything in Julia's past. "So I don't see a reason for you two to hurry into marriage other than the talk of the people. And I know my daughter couldn't care less about that."

"I'm a religious man, Sir, and I want Julia to become my wife in front of the world and the lord. I care about that," William pointed out and hoped to get his point across that way.

"I see," Mr. Ogden nodded and seemed to contemplate what he had just heard. "In that case I can only say that I hope Ruby will meet a man like this one day," he said then and sighed once more. William suddenly felt for him, because it must be hard having two daughters like the Ogden sisters.

"Look, they even baked a cake for us," Julia, who came back into the room just then, said joyfully.

"It looks delicious," William complimented obediently and thought he saw the young maid blush.

"Coffee or tea detective?" Mr. Ogden asked.

"Tea please. I can't seem to get used to this... coffee," William admitted, now that there was no need anymore to impress Julia with his worldly-ness.

"Me neither, William. Me neither," Mr. Ogden agreed with him and smiled approvingly for the first time.

TBC

[sandragulliver]

please write more - your story is better than the real one!

[camilla]

Yes,absolutely better than the real one!

[sandragulliver]

Just checking back for more chapters, but no more alas, is the story finished, or can we hope for more please?
the TBC at the end has left me with hope Akarana, as I say, your story is better than the real one - perhaps yours could be made into a film?

[akarana]

It just takes me a while these days to find time to write. As long as it says TBC it will BC
Thanks for your comments!

That chapter is probably the most pointless of this story, but I felt like writing pointless fluff...

Chapter 28

Julia was in an incredibly good mood that Monday morning. It was slightly after eleven and she had already completed one autopsy. She was proud of her quick but thorough work. She switched off the music that still played and hummed along until the very last tone. It was just a beautiful day and she couldn't help but smile when she remembered when she had woken up that morning and had found William still lying next to her. They had got ready together, just like they had done these past two weeks. However this morning William had stopped her when she had wanted to leave the bedroom to go to breakfast. Casually he had taken the necklace off and had finally put the ring on her finger, where it belonged. He had only smiled at her like it hadn't been a big thing at all. Still, only looking at the ring on her finger it made her eyes well up with happy tears. He had walked out of the room before she had been able to react, but when she had caught up to him in the kitchen she had kissed him, not minding that Dawson was standing two feet away from them on the stove.

With an extra jaunt to her step she left her morgue and walked the short distance to the constabulary, autopsy reports in hand. She greeted the men left and right and then knocked on Murdoch's door when she reached it.

"Ah, Dr. Ogden. Murdoch's in the stables with Crabtree doing another experiment," Brackenreid's voice startled her when it came from behind, instead of William's voice from inside the rook as she had expected.

"Oh alright. I just wanted to bring over the report," she said and showed him the files she held.

"I just wanted to go and see what they are doing… care to join me?" the inspector asked her.

"Of course," she nodded and followed him. "How are your wife and your boys doing?" she asked him then, because she hadn't heard anything about them, mainly because of her own drama.

"They're great. The lads are getting taller and taller, Bobby's now into trains," he added.

"Oh, so he has lost his fascination for pirates?" Julia smiled knowingly.

"I have to say it's easier for me to help him lay out train tracks in his room than to fight with swords," Brackenreid admitted as they reached the stables. "I hope Crabtree is not wearing a dress this time," he remarked and made them both laugh.

"Oh Inspector," Crabtree stuttered when he saw him entering and stopped whatever he was doing. His hands were completely black as were his arms. William didn't look much better, but he kept his hands in the box that was standing in front of him.

"Murdoch, what are you doing this time?" the inspector asked him.

"Checking what different coloring different kinds of earth leave on the skin. Maybe I can find out what colored the skin of our last victim," he explained and finally took his hands out, shaking off the sand.

"I think I can save you that trouble, detective," Julia spoke up and had to smile when he came closer and she could see that he had black smudges all over his face.

"You know what colored her skin?" he asked and wiped his hands on a rug,

"Yes. It's called 'Henna'. Women in the Far East use it to color their hair and skin for marriage or other festivities. It's quite beautiful what designs they are coming up with, I've seen pictures," she explained.

"Sounds intriguing," he nodded and finally stopped wiping his hands.

"I have the report right here for you," she went on. " Cause of death was affixiation, as we already suspected," she went on and handed him the files. When he took them, she took the rag from him.

"George, I guess that means we are done here," William shrugged and Julia saw that there was some earth falling down from his hair.

"Oh, William, come here," she laughed and used the cloth she held first to wipe away the dirt on his face and then ran her fingers through his hair and tried to get as much sand out as she could. She didn't think twice about it and neither did William- at first. Then however he saw Brackenreid and Crabtree exchanging smiles and he felt his face grow hot.

"Doctor, I think it's alright…" he tried to avoid her hands, but she wouldn't have any of it.

"William, just hold still," she lectured him and even lightly slapped his hand with her left one.

"Good lord, is that what I think it is?" Crabtree asked then in his usual 'discreet' way, having noticed the engagement ring. He first smiled brightly, but then the smile vanished and he looked worried.

"I don't know what you think this is, but I know that it's an engagement ring," Julia clarified, now smoothing out William's hair because it was sticking up after her de-sanding.

"From…?" George had the guts to ask. He didn't think about how inappropriate the question was, he was just scared that the doctor had come back and Julia would get married to him after all. With Murdoch and Dr. Ogden one never knew.

"George, really," William intervened, because he didn't like the implications the question brought up.

"I'm sorry. I just fear that…." He went on, but this time Brackenreid silenced him by slapping the back of his head.

"Don't your ever know when it is better to shut up, Crabtree?" he asked him harshly and George looked at his boos like a boy who had just got a scolding from his father. It was that look that made Julia snicker.

"Honestly, I think after all your prying and heart to hearts because of our private matters I doubt that there is any decency left," she pointed out bluntly and William blushed even more. She slowed his fast beating heart by leaning slightly against him. "And to answer your question George, William asked me to marry him and I said yes," she let them know as a large smile blossomed on her face. When she looked up at William, she saw a similar smile lighting up his face and got lost in his warm brown eyes for a moment.

"About damn time, Murdoch," Brackenreid commented before he walked over to them and congratulated them.

"Not the words I would have chosen, but I agree," George agreed with his boss and then gave them his best wishes as well.

"You already set a date?" the two policemen pried even more.

"Not yet, but soon I believe," William replied after exchanging a look with Julia.

"I really hope you two will make it this time. This station couldn't take any more of a certain detective being love sick," Brackenreid topped the indiscreet comments. William quietly groaned and made Julia chuckle.

"Does your sister know?" George asked then.

"Yes, she knows and so does my father," Julia nodded and stepped away a bit from William so she wasn't leaning into him any longer. The way his fingers caressed her back just felt too intimate, even if he didn't realize that he was doing it.

"Come on Crabtree, we'll leave these love birds alone so Murdoch can finally get cleaned up," the inspector ordered with a wink in William's direction that made Julia blush.

"Does he really think we would… here?" Julia exclaimed when they were gone and turned to William, her mouth hanging open. "Oh no, don't answer that," she said then when she saw William's pained expression.

"Do I still have dirt somewhere on my face?" he asked her to change the topic.

"Yes, on your forehead. Do you have water here?" she asked.

"Yes, over there is a bowl with fresh water," he nodded and pointed in the direction of an empty horse box. Julia went over, wetted the cloth and then came back to him.

"Actually, thinking about it again, I think maybe we would…" she thought out loud while she wiped his forehead.

"Julia, are you trying to kill me?" he asked her and closed his eyes for a second.

"Sorry," she apologized half heartedly and kissed him softly when she had succeeded wiping the dirt off his face.

"Are your free for lunch?" William wanted to know and caught a lose strand of her hair between his fingers.

"Why, you have plans to return to the stables?" she teased him.

"No, I thought about going for a stroll out on the island," he grinned at her attempt to taunt him.

"That sounds delightful," she agreed immediately and held his look. "Are you ok with the station knowing about our engagement?" she asked then.

"You mean am I alright with it after I was finally able to put the ring on your finger that you had been wearing on your necklace for months?" he returned the question and raised his eyebrows.

"They are really nosy," she pointed out, but smiled, knowing deep down that he was as relieved about their engagement being out in the open as she was.

"That they are," he agreed without hesitation. "Will you stay at the station until I cleaned up here? Then we can leave for our lunch," he wanted to know. There was no point in her going back to the morgue and working for twenty minutes so he could pick her up again.

"Let me help you," she agreed. "But we have to stop at the morgue before we leave. I need to get my jacket and hat. It's not as warm as the sunny sky suggests," she let him know.

"Alright, then let's get started. If we leave a bit early maybe we can stop at home and look after Frieda," he suggested.

"Aw, you do love her and care about her," Julia awed exaggeratedly.

"Julia," William sighed, because Julia had become way too attached to the piglet and was treating it like other people treated their dogs. Weird thing was that the piglet seem to learn even faster than dogs did and he had to say he was impressed by it.

"Don't pretend that you don't care. You've exposed yourself," she continued teasing him with a smile. She giggled when he wrapped his arms around her waist when she had turned around to close one of the boxes with earth in them.

"The only woman I love is the one I'm going to marry very soon. If you see her, tell her to please stop teasing me. I'm sure I will get enough of it already here at the station in the weeks to come," he spoke directly in her ear, which gave her goose bumps.

"I will make it up to you later," she told him then with a sassy wink, when she had her feelings under control again and wasn't tempted anymore to kiss him senseless and make use of what Brackenreid had suggested.

"I'm looking forward to it," he winked back and then they continued cleaning up.

TBC

[sandragulliver]

Thank you so much for keeping this going akarana, it will be a very sad day when I don't see a TBC at the end
xx

[camilla]

great chapter again Akarana!hope to see a new chapter too because I love read fanfic in the summer,especially great fanfic like yours!

[sandragulliver]

just checking in for more of your fantastic story................

[sandragulliver]

hi akarana
PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please PLEASE please write more chapters- its all we have till William comes back!!!!!!!!!

[akarana]

I am so sorry that I haven't updated in forever. I just don't have the time or the muse to write at the moment. Real life is crazy and I am working all the time. As soon as I have a moment to breathe I will update. Hopefully september will be calmer

[camilla]

Hope to' read more soon Akarana,I miss your story!!

[akarana]

This took my wayyyyy longer than I thought and I apologize for that. Real life can be tough sometimes and I get my fair share of that at the moment which sometimes simply robs me of any kind of creativity. I took a vacation lately and now that I am back I'm feeling a bit better.

Finding inspiration for this chapter was hard because I haven't seen MM in a long time. I can't bring myself to re-watch season 4 and I've seen the first three seasons at least a hundred times.

Someone pointed out that there are typos and mistakes in the chapters. I apologize for both. Usually, in other fandoms, I always work with beta readers, but sadly I don't have one this time. So I finish the chapter and then post it. Directly after writing I can't find the typos, so I usually only find them if I re-read my own chapters days later- which is something I basically never do. I try my hardest to avoid typos and mistakes, I promise. Please keep in mind however that I am not an English native.

Chapter 29

„William, my shoes and socks are still wet from this afternoon," Julia complained when she entered the living room where he was sitting, reading the newspaper.

"You should hang them up so they can dry," he answered without looking up from the paper.

"And I was thinking you would be more apologetic or helpful," she said in an offended tone, but playful enough so one knew she wasn't serious. After all he had been the one who had pushed her halfway in the river during their stroll.

"Mmh?" he made and kept reading. Julia put her hands on her hips and shook her head. He really wasn't listening to her. She closed the door behind her and then made her way over to the sofa. She simply pushed the newspaper out of the way and placed herself sideways in his lap- that made him look up and pay attention.

"William, we are not even married yet and you ignore me because of the newspaper?" she asked, half laughing and half worried.

"I'm sorry. I was just reading this article about our last case," he replied and put the newspaper down on the cushion beside them.

"And how bad was it?" she asked, because usually the reports about the police were only newsworthy if they were negative.

"Not bad at all. However the article stated and I quote "Detective William Murdoch was investigating with the help of his fiancée Dr. Julia Ogden"," he told her.

"So, it's out," Julia stated and covered his hand with one of hers.

"Yes, it's out," he nodded and laced his fingers through hers. "Have you already thought about the wedding?"

"About the ceremony or my dress?" Julia wanted clarification.

"Both," he just said and seemed distracted by her hair. His eyes were fixated on her curls, which were pulled into a ponytail. He seemed to contemplate it for a second and then he started pulling the needles out of her hair so the blonde strands came down.

"No, not really. We agreed to have a small ceremony, we have the date already and I will go dress shopping with Ruby this weekend. You think I missed something?" she asked and tried to avoid his fingers which were tickling the skin of her neck as he combed through her hair.

"Dunno," he muttered, barely listening to her by then. He brushed her hair back behind her ear once he had it all down and then moved closer to her and placed soft kisses on her neck.

"Do you already have your suit for the wedding?" she wanted to know and tilted her head to the side to give him better access.

"Yes, your father made me buy one last weekend," he mumbled against her skin.

"Oh, right, I forgot," Julia said and smiled because of the feelings he was evoking in her. "William!" she squealed when he suddenly scraped her skin with his teeth. "Have you read the Dracula novel?" she laughed.

"No, I haven't," he said and kissed her neck one more time before he pulled back and laughingly pulled her fully in his arms. "With the invitations sent out there is not much more for us to do. It looks like we get everything ready just in time," he went on then.

"Yes. Too soon for you?" Julia asked, because she couldn't place the contemplative look he suddenly had on his face. Now it was her turn to comb with her fingers through his hair while she was still sitting on his lap.

"No, Julia, no," William shook his head. "It just came to me again that no one of my family will be there. My sister is dead, so is my mother and my father is out somewhere west," he admitted.

"We could try and find him," Julia offered.

"I don't even know if I would want him there," William shrugged.

"I hope it will still be a happy day for you, William," she replied with compassion. It made her sad hearing him talk like that about the day that was supposed to be the happiest of their lives.

"Oh, Julia, of course it will be. Don't ever doubt that," he assured her and was rewarded with a heated kiss. He responded in kind and they had already forgotten place and time when someone cleared her throat and caused them to pull back somewhat guiltily.

"Dawson?" Julia addressed the spoil-sport, but had yet to turn around and get off William's lap.

"No wonder the city is talking," the voice of Mr. Ogden echoed through the room- and it made Julia jump off William's lap.

"Mr. Ogden, sir," William said embarrassed and stroked through his hair before straightening his shirt and getting off the couch.

"Father, we weren't expecting you," Julia was equally mortified.

"I gathered that," he nodded and still looked disapprovingly at the two of them. "And let me express that I am happy once you two are married and can't cause any more scandal."

"Father, we are hardly causing any scandal in our own living-room," Julia disagreed unnerved.

"Our living-room, that's what's causing scandal," he pointed out and referred to their living situation. It wasn't really official yet but somehow William had managed to move in without really ever moving in. He had brought a shirt here and a book there and had accumulated more and more things that way at Julia's place. And there really wasn't a point in bringing it back to Mrs. Kitchen since he would move in anyway.

William and Julia remained silent, because really there simply wasn't much they could say to defend themselves. He was right after all.

"The next time you want to make your engagement known however I would like to know, so I can put it in the newspaper and not find it mentioned in an article about a gruesome murder," Mr. Ogden pointed out the reason of his visit.

"Mr. Ogden this article, or the part about our personal connection, came to a surprise to us as well. We had no idea," William apologized.

"So far only our families and friends know about the engagement and the upcoming wedding. We never wanted it published," Julia clarified.

"Then someone couldn't keep his mouth shut, it seems," her father knew. William and Julia looked at each other and exchanged a knowing look. There really only was one person who would nlab out their secret.

"George," they said in unison.

"Mr. Murdoch, there is another visitor. He says he's family," Dawson announced then and before he could reply a familiar figure limped into the salon.

"Lordy, William my boy. That house ain't shabby," he drawled.

"Henry," William said shocked and grabbed Julia's hand without realizing it. This was a nightmare come true. There stood his drunkard father beside the respected Mr. Ogden, his future father in law.

"I read that ya getting' married, so I thought I'd come by. Was just in the area for business. My only boy…" Henry grinned proudly and showed his crooked, dirty teeth. "And to such a beautiful lady." Instinctively William stepped closer to Julia while Mr. Ogden stepped a bit away from Henry.

"I will kill this reporter," William hissed at Julia.

"I will help you hide the body," she whispered back. This was going to be a huge mess.

TBC

And if my karma goes down further because of this story I will stop posting it here

[camilla]

finally a new chapter,thank you Akarana and please don't stop write the fanfic,I love it too much!!the end of Murdoch and the end of my favorite fic,I can't resist!
I want see them married in your fanfic and in the 5th season too!

[anneb]

Wonderful, only started reading it today but couldn't stop myself.

Hope to see more soon.

[akarana]

Chapter 30:

„Whoever would have thought that my father and your father would find common ground on something," Julia sighed and let herself fall onto the sofa exhaustedly.

"I am not sure that that is a good thing," William commented and sat down beside her. It had been three days since Henry had arrived in Toronto and he had caused nothing but trouble since then. Until that afternoon that was when he and Mr. Ogden had started talking investments in the west and had surprisingly found themselves on the same side of the argument, while Julia and William had been on the other.

"It's a good thing we finally have an evening to ourselves again," Julia smiled and leaned sideways against her fiancé.

"Oh yes, without my father's comments on everything we say or do." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"He even commented on my wedding gown."

"Why did you show it to him?" William grinned.

""He can be quite charming an convincing when he wants to. Just like someone else I know," she teased. A second later she yawned widely.

"You're tired," William observed.

"Yes, the preparations for the wedding and your father's presence added to our workload at the moment… why do all these people have to die now? Can't they wait until we are back from our honeymoon?" she asked and yawned again.

"Come on, let's go to bed then. I am tired as well," he offered but when he wanted to move off the sofa Julia held onto him.

"Don't move. I am so comfortable," she whined and hugged his arm while leaning her cheek against his upper arm.

"You want me to continue reading the book to you that we started?" he asked and once against pulled the needles out of her hair so the strands came tumbling down. He loved doing it, because it always meant that there wouldn't be any guests or work- just the two of them. Seeing her with her hair down meant intimacy to him, something that was only theirs. Just like when he was getting comfortable himself and lost the dress shirt and the jacket until he was only left with his undershirt and trousers.

"Yes, please," she agreed with a tired smile and handed him the book from the table beside the couch. He had barely started reading when he felt her head getting heavier and heavier against hi arm and when he looked down he found her fast asleep. He continued reading for a few minutes and then fell silent so he could watch her more intently. She looked so peaceful as she lay snuggled against his side with her hair falling down over her shoulders. He couldn't believe that in less than a week he would get married to her. Julia would be his wife. When he had been a young man and had fantasized about his future wife, he had always pictured someone as pretty as Julia, but totally different otherwise. He had dreamed of an obedient wife, catholic, who would stay at home with their kids and spend all day cleaning and decorating their home, baking and cooking for him so when he would get home everything would be perfect. The kids would be dressed perfectly and dinner would be on the table. They would all hang on his lips and believe everything he told them. He would teach them and they would think him to be the smartest father and husband on earth. And now he had Julia. He smiled at the thought. Character wise she couldn't be father from his childhood dream. She was feisty, always up for a good debate and constantly challenging him. She couldn't cook to save her life and was better educated than he was. She was working, self-reliant and would probably be shocked if he ever told her what he imagined his future wife to be like. And yet, there he was and he couldn't be happier. Sure, kids would always be a sore point but he was sure that once they had adopted a child or two which they would love just as much, then everything would be perfect. Julia sighed in her sleep and snuggled more into him while sliding a bit down.

"Come on, Julia, we'll get you to bed," William whispered and carefully untangled her from him and then lifted her up in his arms. He was just walking towards the door when it opened and Henry stepped in. He was supposed to stay at Mr. Ogden's place but it looked like he had changed his mind.

"Is she alright, Wills?" his father asked a tad too loud.

"Shhh, she's just asleep," he shushed his father. "Could you open the door for me please?" he asked him then.

"Sure, son," Henry nodded and opened the door wide. "I'm gonna wait right here for you," he added then and William sighed inwardly. Why could his father not just leave him alone?

"I'll be right back," he said instead and then made his way through the hallway, up the stairs and into Julia's bedroom. He lay her down on the bed before he lit a lamp and closed the door. He didn't want her to sleep in her corset. Carefully he unbuttoned the blouse she wore, but he had to sit her up to get her out of it. That's when she woke up.

"You're taking advantage of me when I'm asleep?" she smiled sleepily and then pulled him close and kissed him softly.

"No, I prefer you awake for that," he smiled. "I merely wanted to change you so you wouldn't have to sleep in your work clothes and corset," he clarified.

"That's very thoughtful of you, however I am awake now," she smiled back at him and then kissed him again. William kissed her back and kept unbuttoning her blouse at the same time. When she started to unbutton his shirt however he stopped her and pulled back.

"Henry is downstairs and waiting for me," he informed her when he saw her confused look.

"Does that mean that you will go home again?" she asked, already pouting because she knew his answer. There was no way he was sharing a bed with her while not being married, while his father was living under the same roof. Henry had taken one of the guest bedrooms and William could have easily done the same, but there was just no logical explanation for it. He had a bed of his own, even if he hadn't slept in it for a while before his father had come along.

"Yes," he confirmed it and had to smile about the pout that formed on her face. "But let's get you changed first," he added and finally got her out of her blouse. Julia just sat there and let him undress her. It was her way of silent protest while she was still too tired and sleepy to argue with him about it. He unlaced her corset next and took off her undershirt before he got up and got her nightgown from the drawer. She leaned into him when she had to get up to step out of her skirts. William pulled her nightgown over her head and then gently put her in bed again and tucked her in.

"Please stay! I don't like sleeping without you," Julia complained when he leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead and then wanted to leave.

"I don't like it either. But just five more days and then we never have to sleep apart ever again," he tried to give her hope.

"That won't help me sleep tonight," she pointed out.

"You're half asleep already," William chuckled and leaned down once again to give her a kiss, because she was just adorable. "Sleep well and see you tomorrow," he said and by the time he turned off the lamp she was already asleep again.

When he was back downstairs he braced himself before he entered the living room, fearing that his father had found the brandy again. He found him reading the book he had read to Julia earlier though.

"There you are. Thought for a second you had gone home," Henry greeted him and put the book down when he saw him.

"No, I just wanted to make sure Julia is alright," he avoided lying.

"You really love her, your Julia," Henry nodded. William looked for any sign of amusement or teasing on his father's face, but there wasn't.

"I do," William nodded and finally sat down in the armchair across from the couch.

"Mr. Ogden and I talked a bit today, from father to father and I can't say that we have much in common," Henry started and William prepared himself to apologize to Julia's father the next day. "However we agree that you two care a great deal about each other. You understand one another in a way we fathers can't. Ogden can't understand his independent and modern daughter any more than I get your catholic and copper ways," Henry grinned. "You two make a great couple, no matter what people say. So don't let anyone ruin it and always treat her right. Take this advice from someone who knows how to make every mistake possible."

"I do intend to make her happy," William nodded and was surprised by the serious talk he and his father were having.

"You know, I loved your mother and you and your sister very much. And still the alcohol and I messed it up so badly that you thought for years that I had killed her," William wrinkled his forehead upon remembering his mother's death. "My weakness is the alcohol, yours, my son, is living in your own head and focusing too much on justice and propriety. From what Mr. Ogden and Miss Ruby told me tonight I think it's what made you lose Julia. I can only tell you to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them. Give a shit about anything but making you're the woman happy that you love," Henry finished his speech. William contemplated it for a while, aware of Henry's probing gaze.

"For once I think you're right, father," he nodded then. "I should be going to bed," he added and got up, suddenly in a hurry.

"I will do that too. See you tomorrow William," Henry nodded and together they left the living room. Henry started going up the stairs and waited for the sound of the front door opening and closing, but then he heard steps behind him. He started laughing when he saw William climbing the stairs as well and he knew that his son wouldn't sleep in one of the guestrooms.

"I am glad to see you taking my advice," he laughed and William closed the bedroom door behind him with a smile of his own on his face. His job was to make his fiancée happy, after all.

TBC