One. [[closed to friends]]

[island_juliet]

Juliet really can't believe that a year - an entire year - has gone by this fast. It's been up and down, up mostly because of Jonah. The universe, she's almost convinced, has a thing againt her. Dying really should have been enough. Losing James once should have been enough. But now she's lost him twice, and she knows that the only reason she's

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[yippiekiyaymf]

John and Margaret exchanged glances. Then John started pretending to show Maddie one of the picture books he'd gotten the birthday boy, and Jonah climbed up next to him, then plunked himself on John's lap to get read to.

Margaret, with Sonny in her arms, approached Juliet, after giving her a moment.

"Need a hand?" Not that Margaret had any to spare with Sonny in her arms. "Need a baby?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Kids his age, it's all about the animal noises," John chuckles,
"and the pictures of people falling in messy things."

[island_juliet]

"I'm glad I have someone in the know about kid's books," Juliet says with an affectionate smile. Still small though.

"I just kind of wish I could pause this moment until..."

She trails off, because she could keep this moment paused forever, and James might not ever come back.

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Yeah." He put his hand on her shoulder.

"It sucks. It's better than not paying attention, and realizing too late you've missed everything."

[island_juliet]

Her breath hitches, but she keeps a strong face, just nodding.

"I'm really glad you guys came over. Everyone doing okay on your end?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Everything's great, right now." He knows that Juliet knows that he feels a weird sort of survivor's guilt over that; he doesn't have to say it.

"I try to appreciate it, every damned day."

[island_juliet]

Juliet just nods, reaching over to put a hand on his arm.

Then, she shifts Sonny, kissing the top of her head. "We should all have dinner some night. All of us. Big and chaotic and happy."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"In, with pizza, veggie sticks, and baby wipes for all. Sounds good." He grins.

[island_juliet]

Juliet watches Jonah with Margaret and Erica for a second, then makes a wistful sound. "Sometimes I look at him, and he looks more like a little man than a baby now."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"One crying jag at three am seems to last a fucking week, and you just wish there were someone else to take the kid so you can get some sleep, but suddenly, you're walking them into school, and it seems incredible that you're just supposed to turn around and leave them there."

[island_juliet]

"He pushed my face away the other day. I went to give him a kiss." Juliet lets her head lean on John's shoulder for a second before she sits up straight again. "So it begins."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"They eat all our food, and break our hearts, and we love them. And want them to give us grandchildren, so we can watch it happen to them."

[island_juliet]

Juliet smirks, then laughs outright. "Isn't that the truth?" She relinquishes Sonny to John, so that he can get his fill, and it's just in time for Jonah to come over to babble at her, and she picks him up.

"Is it your birthday? Did you get lots of presents from everyone?" She kisses his forehead before he's wriggling down and away.

[yippiekiyaymf]

John's arms enfold Sonny.

"Hey there, little girl," he croons, then shakes his head at Jonah. "At least we know he's normal and healthy...the little shit."

[island_juliet]

Juliet laughs loud again. "That's a great point you make."

Then, she looks around a little, before looking at John. "Have you talked to Laura lately? I think maybe Margaret has, I don't know."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Just a little. She's been kinda quiet - eager to talk about the kids, but not herself. You think I should push?"