Chaptered Fic: Like a... Greek Goddess
Title: Like a…
Part: Greek Goddess - 4/5
Author: Squeeka Cuomo
Rating: PG
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Shawn/Juliet, Ensemble
Warning: Prepare yourself for more than the standard amount of Buzz.
Disclaimer: No pineapples were harmed in the writing of this fic. - Not mine.
Summary: This was one of the most important things his father had taught him, and it was finally time to pass it on. “You treat a woman like a person, then a princess, then a Greek goddess, and then a person again.”
(Nominated for “Best Romance” and “Best Use of Pineapple”)
Like a… Greek Goddess
Juliet wasn’t excited about her birthday.
At all.
Usually she was but not this year. Normally the woman would spend time with her family on her birthday. She’d go out for dinner with her parents and then come home to a cake her mother had baked just for her. But not this year.
This year her parents and extended family had all traveled to her house for a traditional Scottish Christmas. And because of that, her mom and dad weren’t able to make it to Santa Barbara for her birthday. She’d begged Interim Chief Vick for a few days off, but the older woman just wouldn’t give. And so, Juliet O’Hara was stuck at home, alone on her birthday for the first time in her life. Yes, she had whatever was going on at Tom Blair’s Pub that night, if it was for her birthday even. But without her parents there, it just wouldn’t be the same.
When her alarm clock savagely ripped through her dreams that morning, all Juliet could do was roll over and curl up into a tight ball wishing that it was May 14th.
oooooooooo
“Just so you know, Shawn, I’ve already bought my own gift for Juliet. You can get your own.” Once again, Gus had left his route until the last minute and was now struggling to get through his paperwork on time. Not sparing a moment to look up from his laptop, the man missed the incredulous look on his best friend’s face.
“I can handle getting my own gift, Gus.” Truth be told, with everything he’d done the day before, Shawn had forgotten to pick out a present for Juliet. Finding a gift wouldn’t be hard exactly, but it would take time, and he still had errands to run.
“Sure you can.” If he hadn’t been lost in medicine titles, prescription amounts, and doctor’s names, Gus would have come up with a wittier comeback. But if he wanted to go to Juliet’s party that night, he really did need to get his work done.
“Hey, buddy, can I borrow your car?”
There was a rare serious note to Shawn’s voice, and Gus couldn’t help but look up from the glowing screen. “What for? Your bike’s right outside.”
“I need to pick up some things.” Rifling through some papers on his desk, Shawn made an extensive mental list of all the things he had to do before eight pm. And as the list continued to grow, he couldn’t help but think of how much faster it would go with Gus’s help.
The pharmaceutical rep eyed his best friend suspiciously before surrendering his car keys. “Just make sure you refill the tank and don’t spill anything in it.” As Shawn grabbed the keys and headed out the door with an elusive ‘course not’, Gus sighed to himself. He really did want to help with Juliet’s party, but he just didn’t have the time. He may not have been as close to her as Shawn was, but he still liked her. He just didn’t want to lose credit for all of his hard work. Which always seemed to happen when Shawn was involved.
Sighing deeply to himself, Gus turned back to the glowing laptop and his route.
oooooooooo
She didn’t look any different. Not older. Not wiser. Nothing.
It was a stupid tradition Juliet had begun on her twelfth birthday. Though she knew it was lame, the blonde refused to break the habit.
Standing before the mirror, Juliet O’Hara did her traditional birthday examination. But instead of checking for larger breasts or more shapely thighs, like she had from the ages of twelve to twenty-one, she searched for something else. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Something she couldn’t even name.
Not really satisfied with what she saw, but tired of looking for an answer that wasn’t there, Juliet turned on her shower. Waiting for the rushing water to warm up, the woman ran her brush through the tangled mess that was her hair. The bristles snagging on a knot occasionally, the pain was enough to keep her thoughts off of her day. Convinced that all of the snarls were gone and with the water finally warm, Juliet climbed into the shower hoping that it would wash away her sour mood.
oooooooooo
“You know, Shawn, I have to admit that I’m impressed.” Gus walked further into the private party room of Tom Blair’s Pub. Nodding his approval at the decorations, the man turned to face his best friend who was looking hurt. Holding what looked like ten colorfully bowed pineapples, Shawn’s face was mixture of mock outrage and genuine surprise.
“Don’t sound so shocked, Gus. It’s not like I can’t do anything without your help.” In his effort to emphasize his exaggerated offense, Shawn managed to jar loose the fruit in his arms. Looking desperately at Gus, he clung to the fruit slipping towards his knees. “Now… help me?”
“Ha. You do need my help.” The smug look that overtook his features would not be held back.
“Fine, I need you. Now help me.” Just as one of the spine-y fruits was about to break free, Gus ran forward and pulled it from Shawn’s grasp. With half of the load now in Gus’s capable hands, and all of them out of harm’s way, the two friends began to walk around the room placing the large Hawaiian treats on different tables.
“So Shawn, when is this party supposed to begin?” With the last pineapple in place, Gus made his way to the bar and picked up one of the pre-made smoothies complete with a fresh fruit slice and little plastic sword. Taking a sip, he wasn’t surprised to find that they too were pineapple.
oooooooooo
Her modest heels clicked on the floor of Tom Blair’s Pub, the uncertainty she felt echoed in her footsteps. Dressed in a knee length skirt and a modest v-neck top, she felt uncomfortable. Out of place despite the fact that the women around her were dressed the same way. When it came down to it, Juliet didn’t even know why she was there. Well, she knew why. It was her birthday. But beyond that, she still didn’t really know why.
Not knowing what to do, the blonde looked from the bar to the tables and their occupants for some… sign. For something, anything to tell her why she was there. But as her eyes began another sweep of the room, her heart sank even lower as she realized she didn’t know anyone in the pub. Rolling her eyes at her own gullibility, Juliet caught sight of the clock on the wall. It was 8:03 pm and so, she was going home. The note had said eight, and it was already past that. She just didn’t feel like waiting around for no one to show up.
“Jules!”
The blonde had never been so happy to hear Shawn Spencer calling her by his silly nickname. Yes, it was loud and yes, slightly obnoxious. But that didn’t stop her heart beat from speeding up at the sound of it. Turning quickly towards his voice, Juliet was surprised to see a clean-shaven and neatly dressed psychic rushing up to her. As he offered her his right arm and bowed slightly, Juliet’s face split into a wide grin.
As they walked arm in arm to the back of the pub, Juliet snuck a glance Shawn. She wanted to say thank you, to ask him how he knew. She wanted to ask him so many other things that were hidden in the back of her mind.
But she couldn’t.
All Juliet could do was follow the man next to her in silence, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers where their elbows met.
When they reached the back room, Shawn released Juliet’s arm, leaving her with an odd sense of emptiness at the lack of contact. But when he pushed open the door, she completely forgot about the spot on her arm that was tingling. She also forgot about all of her worries.
The party room at Tom Blair’s Pub was packed with her friends and colleagues. There was Interim Chief Vick looking happier than she’d been in weeks. Next to her was her partner, Carlton, trying (and failing) to look comfortable in his usual suit and tie. Juliet even managed to catch a sight of Buzz McNab who looked rather awkward in his neatly pressed t-shirt and jeans. But as she thought about it, the blonde realized that this was the first time she’d ever seen him out of uniform. The sight was oddly bizarre, almost as if civilian clothes didn’t suit him.
As Shawn took her arm once again, Juliet followed him into a sea of smiling faces that were all wishing her happy birthday. It wasn’t until the psychic had placed a smoothie in her hand that she noticed the decorations in the room. “Shawn, you did all of this?”
A sweetly mischievous smile crossed the man’s face as he looked around the room non-committal-y. There were streamers, balloons, and a table for gifts. Not to mention the fact that there were pineapples everywhere. Real ones and crepe paper ones along with pineapple-shaped confetti and pineapple-flavored treats such as mini upside down cakes.
Deep down, she figured that Shawn must have put it together by himself. If Gus had helped, the theme would have been decidedly less… tropical. The blonde had to remind herself that it was the thought that counted. And when it came down to it, the man had put a lot of thought into the party.
“So… Wanna dance with the hippest, sexiest, and most dashing psychic at the SBPD?” Shawn stood with his hands out just waiting for her to accept. And really, with him standing there looking so sweet and feeling caught up in the moment, she just couldn’t say no.
oooooooooo
Later that night, dressed in her favorite pajamas with a glass of peach wine, Juliet sat on her bed surrounded by gifts. There was a monogrammed pen from Carlton and small charm bracelet with a cat on it from Gus. Interim Chief Vick had surprised her by giving her a really lovely vase. And Buzz had once again reminded her of how sweet he could be with the pretty picture frame he’d given her.
But it was Shawn’s gift she appreciated the most.
Picking up the basket and her wine glass, Juliet padded softly across the hall to her bathroom. After the week she’d had, she fully intended to take a long, relaxing bath with the soap set Shawn had picked out at Bath and Body Works. The gift contained various products in “Fresh Pineapple” that came complete with a pineapple-shaped sponge and rubber duckie. Nothing made the blonde feel more girly and amazing than a pampering soak in her tub.
It may not have been her favorite scent, but it was still wonderful. And it would definitely make a perfect end to what had turned out to be a really wonderful birthday.
Squeeka Cuomo’s Notes
- Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All of your comments and encouragement mean the world to me. I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the story so far!
- Katie: Thank you so much. I know that I’ve been all over the place here lately. Thank you so much for putting up with me.
- Reviews are love.
Previous Chapters
Prolouge: 1987
Chapter 1: Person
Chapter 2: Princess
Part: Greek Goddess - 4/5
Author: Squeeka Cuomo
Rating: PG
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Shawn/Juliet, Ensemble
Warning: Prepare yourself for more than the standard amount of Buzz.
Disclaimer: No pineapples were harmed in the writing of this fic. - Not mine.
Summary: This was one of the most important things his father had taught him, and it was finally time to pass it on. “You treat a woman like a person, then a princess, then a Greek goddess, and then a person again.”
(Nominated for “Best Romance” and “Best Use of Pineapple”)
Like a… Greek Goddess
Juliet wasn’t excited about her birthday.
At all.
Usually she was but not this year. Normally the woman would spend time with her family on her birthday. She’d go out for dinner with her parents and then come home to a cake her mother had baked just for her. But not this year.
This year her parents and extended family had all traveled to her house for a traditional Scottish Christmas. And because of that, her mom and dad weren’t able to make it to Santa Barbara for her birthday. She’d begged Interim Chief Vick for a few days off, but the older woman just wouldn’t give. And so, Juliet O’Hara was stuck at home, alone on her birthday for the first time in her life. Yes, she had whatever was going on at Tom Blair’s Pub that night, if it was for her birthday even. But without her parents there, it just wouldn’t be the same.
When her alarm clock savagely ripped through her dreams that morning, all Juliet could do was roll over and curl up into a tight ball wishing that it was May 14th.
oooooooooo
“Just so you know, Shawn, I’ve already bought my own gift for Juliet. You can get your own.” Once again, Gus had left his route until the last minute and was now struggling to get through his paperwork on time. Not sparing a moment to look up from his laptop, the man missed the incredulous look on his best friend’s face.
“I can handle getting my own gift, Gus.” Truth be told, with everything he’d done the day before, Shawn had forgotten to pick out a present for Juliet. Finding a gift wouldn’t be hard exactly, but it would take time, and he still had errands to run.
“Sure you can.” If he hadn’t been lost in medicine titles, prescription amounts, and doctor’s names, Gus would have come up with a wittier comeback. But if he wanted to go to Juliet’s party that night, he really did need to get his work done.
“Hey, buddy, can I borrow your car?”
There was a rare serious note to Shawn’s voice, and Gus couldn’t help but look up from the glowing screen. “What for? Your bike’s right outside.”
“I need to pick up some things.” Rifling through some papers on his desk, Shawn made an extensive mental list of all the things he had to do before eight pm. And as the list continued to grow, he couldn’t help but think of how much faster it would go with Gus’s help.
The pharmaceutical rep eyed his best friend suspiciously before surrendering his car keys. “Just make sure you refill the tank and don’t spill anything in it.” As Shawn grabbed the keys and headed out the door with an elusive ‘course not’, Gus sighed to himself. He really did want to help with Juliet’s party, but he just didn’t have the time. He may not have been as close to her as Shawn was, but he still liked her. He just didn’t want to lose credit for all of his hard work. Which always seemed to happen when Shawn was involved.
Sighing deeply to himself, Gus turned back to the glowing laptop and his route.
oooooooooo
She didn’t look any different. Not older. Not wiser. Nothing.
It was a stupid tradition Juliet had begun on her twelfth birthday. Though she knew it was lame, the blonde refused to break the habit.
Standing before the mirror, Juliet O’Hara did her traditional birthday examination. But instead of checking for larger breasts or more shapely thighs, like she had from the ages of twelve to twenty-one, she searched for something else. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Something she couldn’t even name.
Not really satisfied with what she saw, but tired of looking for an answer that wasn’t there, Juliet turned on her shower. Waiting for the rushing water to warm up, the woman ran her brush through the tangled mess that was her hair. The bristles snagging on a knot occasionally, the pain was enough to keep her thoughts off of her day. Convinced that all of the snarls were gone and with the water finally warm, Juliet climbed into the shower hoping that it would wash away her sour mood.
oooooooooo
“You know, Shawn, I have to admit that I’m impressed.” Gus walked further into the private party room of Tom Blair’s Pub. Nodding his approval at the decorations, the man turned to face his best friend who was looking hurt. Holding what looked like ten colorfully bowed pineapples, Shawn’s face was mixture of mock outrage and genuine surprise.
“Don’t sound so shocked, Gus. It’s not like I can’t do anything without your help.” In his effort to emphasize his exaggerated offense, Shawn managed to jar loose the fruit in his arms. Looking desperately at Gus, he clung to the fruit slipping towards his knees. “Now… help me?”
“Ha. You do need my help.” The smug look that overtook his features would not be held back.
“Fine, I need you. Now help me.” Just as one of the spine-y fruits was about to break free, Gus ran forward and pulled it from Shawn’s grasp. With half of the load now in Gus’s capable hands, and all of them out of harm’s way, the two friends began to walk around the room placing the large Hawaiian treats on different tables.
“So Shawn, when is this party supposed to begin?” With the last pineapple in place, Gus made his way to the bar and picked up one of the pre-made smoothies complete with a fresh fruit slice and little plastic sword. Taking a sip, he wasn’t surprised to find that they too were pineapple.
oooooooooo
Her modest heels clicked on the floor of Tom Blair’s Pub, the uncertainty she felt echoed in her footsteps. Dressed in a knee length skirt and a modest v-neck top, she felt uncomfortable. Out of place despite the fact that the women around her were dressed the same way. When it came down to it, Juliet didn’t even know why she was there. Well, she knew why. It was her birthday. But beyond that, she still didn’t really know why.
Not knowing what to do, the blonde looked from the bar to the tables and their occupants for some… sign. For something, anything to tell her why she was there. But as her eyes began another sweep of the room, her heart sank even lower as she realized she didn’t know anyone in the pub. Rolling her eyes at her own gullibility, Juliet caught sight of the clock on the wall. It was 8:03 pm and so, she was going home. The note had said eight, and it was already past that. She just didn’t feel like waiting around for no one to show up.
“Jules!”
The blonde had never been so happy to hear Shawn Spencer calling her by his silly nickname. Yes, it was loud and yes, slightly obnoxious. But that didn’t stop her heart beat from speeding up at the sound of it. Turning quickly towards his voice, Juliet was surprised to see a clean-shaven and neatly dressed psychic rushing up to her. As he offered her his right arm and bowed slightly, Juliet’s face split into a wide grin.
As they walked arm in arm to the back of the pub, Juliet snuck a glance Shawn. She wanted to say thank you, to ask him how he knew. She wanted to ask him so many other things that were hidden in the back of her mind.
But she couldn’t.
All Juliet could do was follow the man next to her in silence, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers where their elbows met.
When they reached the back room, Shawn released Juliet’s arm, leaving her with an odd sense of emptiness at the lack of contact. But when he pushed open the door, she completely forgot about the spot on her arm that was tingling. She also forgot about all of her worries.
The party room at Tom Blair’s Pub was packed with her friends and colleagues. There was Interim Chief Vick looking happier than she’d been in weeks. Next to her was her partner, Carlton, trying (and failing) to look comfortable in his usual suit and tie. Juliet even managed to catch a sight of Buzz McNab who looked rather awkward in his neatly pressed t-shirt and jeans. But as she thought about it, the blonde realized that this was the first time she’d ever seen him out of uniform. The sight was oddly bizarre, almost as if civilian clothes didn’t suit him.
As Shawn took her arm once again, Juliet followed him into a sea of smiling faces that were all wishing her happy birthday. It wasn’t until the psychic had placed a smoothie in her hand that she noticed the decorations in the room. “Shawn, you did all of this?”
A sweetly mischievous smile crossed the man’s face as he looked around the room non-committal-y. There were streamers, balloons, and a table for gifts. Not to mention the fact that there were pineapples everywhere. Real ones and crepe paper ones along with pineapple-shaped confetti and pineapple-flavored treats such as mini upside down cakes.
Deep down, she figured that Shawn must have put it together by himself. If Gus had helped, the theme would have been decidedly less… tropical. The blonde had to remind herself that it was the thought that counted. And when it came down to it, the man had put a lot of thought into the party.
“So… Wanna dance with the hippest, sexiest, and most dashing psychic at the SBPD?” Shawn stood with his hands out just waiting for her to accept. And really, with him standing there looking so sweet and feeling caught up in the moment, she just couldn’t say no.
oooooooooo
Later that night, dressed in her favorite pajamas with a glass of peach wine, Juliet sat on her bed surrounded by gifts. There was a monogrammed pen from Carlton and small charm bracelet with a cat on it from Gus. Interim Chief Vick had surprised her by giving her a really lovely vase. And Buzz had once again reminded her of how sweet he could be with the pretty picture frame he’d given her.
But it was Shawn’s gift she appreciated the most.
Picking up the basket and her wine glass, Juliet padded softly across the hall to her bathroom. After the week she’d had, she fully intended to take a long, relaxing bath with the soap set Shawn had picked out at Bath and Body Works. The gift contained various products in “Fresh Pineapple” that came complete with a pineapple-shaped sponge and rubber duckie. Nothing made the blonde feel more girly and amazing than a pampering soak in her tub.
It may not have been her favorite scent, but it was still wonderful. And it would definitely make a perfect end to what had turned out to be a really wonderful birthday.
Squeeka Cuomo’s Notes
- Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All of your comments and encouragement mean the world to me. I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the story so far!
- Katie: Thank you so much. I know that I’ve been all over the place here lately. Thank you so much for putting up with me.
- Reviews are love.
Previous Chapters
Prolouge: 1987
Chapter 1: Person
Chapter 2: Princess