Moment of Truth
Title: Moment of Truth
Ships: James/Georgie
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I'm not these people, I dont know these people, and everything within is a work of fiction? Didn't think so.
Summary: Some changes occur slowly, a current so gradual and constant that it is barely noticeable until one day you take a step back form your life and realise what has happened, and the truth calmly becomes clear. Some truths are realised so fast they leave you dizzy and disoriented and grasping for something to hold on to as the certainty of the situation washes over you.
Authors Notes: Dedicated to my dear friend narnialovers. V, I hope it all ends soon. Stay safe sweetie.
Moment of Truth
Some changes occur slowly, a current so gradual and constant that it is barely noticeable until one day you take a step back form your life and realise what has happened, and the truth calmly becomes clear. Some truths are realised so fast they leave you dizzy and disoriented and grasping for something to hold on to as the certainty of the situation washes over you.
James didn’t know when he started to fall for her. Could it have been the first day they met and they grinned at each other, friends in an instant? Was it when she called him up out of the blue and playfully asked him to be her date for her movie premiere, her first after Narnia? Maybe it was when they went out and celebrated her eighteenth birthday with dinner and dancing. Or maybe it was one of a million moments in between, one of the many smiles or laughs or fights or silences they have shared.
He knew there was no possibility of becoming a ‘them’. She was too young for him and he had no desire to taint her beautiful life with all the intensities and complications that come with being involved with him. And even if he wasn’t divorced and slightly bitter in his old age, and she wasn’t currently in the next room flirting with Rupert, he would not risk their friendship for the world.
Helen called everyone into the next room. The party moved as one and James sought out Will and Anna, moving to stand beside them in the crowd. Georgie was at the front of the room, conversing with Rachael as she lit the twenty one candles on Georgie’s cake.
Rachael joined Mike, Helen and Laura off to the side and the seventy people crowded into the lounge area of the Henley home sang happy birthday. Georgie smiled, scanning the crowd, and when she caught James’ eye and he winked, she winked back. Someone yelled for Georgie to make a wish so she stood there a moment, her finger to her chin, dramatically pensive, and everyone laughed. She blew out the candles, smiling bashfully at the cheers and applauds of her friends and family. She stood embarrassed as her family made a speech, both funny and sappy. James watched, transfixed, as she in turn made her speech; she was funny and self-deprecating and endearing and James’ heart broke. He was suddenly overwhelmed with the intensity of his feelings for her and he couldn’t breathe. He had to get out of there. He smiled, bright and fake with lips quivering, in an attempt to divert from his watering eyes, and he whispered to Anna that he would be right back before edging out of the room, not even staying for the cutting of the cake.
He made his way to her room, wanting to collect his jacket before stepping out into the cool night air. He gently pushed the door open and stepped into her room. He was immediately assaulted by the sense of her, from the green of the walls and the silver of her bed, to the photos and collectables covering every available flat space. He slowly meandered about the room, running fingertips along her shelves. It seemed that every time he came into her room there were more and more photos. He had never known anyone to have so many pictures in so small a space. Most were from the last five years but there were also a few from her childhood, including one of Will, Anna, Skander, Andrew, Tilda, Georgie and himself, set against a beautiful New Zealand mountain. James smiled faintly, but the smile turned into a major grin when he saw the photo in the frame on top of her TV. It was two small black and white photos of himself and Georgie, taken a few months previous in a photo booth. It was torn at the bottom, as James had the last two pics, which were currently lying on his bedside table. In the first of Georgie’s pictures they were looking at each other with mad grins and in the second they were both laughing, James with his eyes closed and head thrown back, Georgie leaning forward so you could only see the top of her head.
James headed towards the bed, feeling guilty for lingering around her private sanctuary. There was a rather large pile of coats, which he rifled through. James had been one of the first to arrive and Georgie had carefully laid his jacket on her empty bed before grabbing his hand and leading him to the bar for a drink. After scouring through the mountain of coats and jackets, James stood staring at the mess, his hands on his hips. His jacket wasn’t there.
He circled on the spot, looking about the room for inspiration. His eyes fell on Georgie’s large wooden wardrobe, a present from her parents when she got the part in Narnia. He gingerly approached the wardrobe, not wanting to pry and invade her privacy, but feeling an incredible draw to it. With the same resolve as removing a band-aid, James quickly stepped forward, placed his hands on the doorknobs and opened the doors to the wardrobe.
His black jacket was hanging in the centre, with Georgie’s clothes, all blues and pinks and blacks, in the right half of the wardrobe. He took the jacket off the hanger and put it on, smiling at Georgie’s thoughtfulness.
He went to close the doors, but something caught his eye. There was a small chest of wooden draws in the left half of the cupboard, on top of which sat a thin silver photo frame. With a picture of him in it.
James tentatively picked up the frame for closer inspection. It was a picture of him from Skander’s twenty-third birthday. He was sitting on a couch, laughing, presumably at someone out of frame. With a furrowed brow, James put the frame back down and picked up the small, glass turtle which was in front of the photo. He recognised it instantly.
During the insanity that was promoting Narnia, James and Georgie took a day off together, Georgie deciding she wanted to go to the zoo and James happily obliging. It was a bitterly cold day but Georgie’s enthusiasm was unrelenting as they wandered about the park. She especially liked what James called ‘the cute animals’, such as the elephants and penguins and butterflies. His astonishment at her energy was seemingly infinite; despite working together for long days with her unwavering liveliness it still surprised him. She would grab his hand and pull him in the direction she wanted to go, or he would turn and after having her out of sight for twenty seconds she would already be at the next animal enclosure. Before they left, James bought Georgie a small, glass turtle. It wasn’t expensive, just a few pounds, but she accepted it so enthusiastically and gratefully.
And now James was holding the gift he had given Georgie eleven years previous. Holding the turtle in his hand and looking at her photo of him, James was suddenly very overwhelmed with realisation. He gasped for breath, a hand to his heart. Light-headed, he gripped the door of the wardrobe before sinking to the floor.
She loved him.
She loved him as much as he loved her. The hidden truth of every moment they had ever shared washed over him and a tear cascaded down his cheek. He sat on the floor for who knows how long, the sharp ends of the turtle pressing into his palm, willing his heart to calm, uncertain of how now to go on.
“James?”
He lifted his head at the sound of her voice. Georgie. She was standing in her doorway, concern for him obvious on her face. She truly was a vision, chocolate curls cascading down her shoulders, her hair turning scarlet in the light. Her party dress was deep purple, the top half fitted and strapless while the skirt was thick with layers. She shifted from foot to foot during his silence, fiddling with the diamond pendant at her neck.
“Are you alright?”
James stood, a little clumsily. He suddenly felt very young and inadequate, standing there, beholding her beauty. He wanted to say so many things, to verbalise the truths he had just realised. But every sentence that formed in his head seemed so … not enough.
He slowly advanced, his blue eyes locked on hers. And when he reached her, he didn’t stop, taking that final step and pressing his lips to hers.
There was no doubt, no hesitation, Georgie wrapping her arms around him and meeting his kiss with an intense passion. Her lips were waxy from her lipstick as their mouths slid together. He ran his fingers through her hair, resting one hand at the base of her throat and the other at her waist.
When the kiss ended they remained in each others arms, faces together and breathing heavily.
James’ lips brushed hers when he said, “Happy birthday, Georgie.”
She smiled, her eyelashes fluttering against his cheek. “Looks like I got my birthday wish,” she said in a whisper.
He laughed at that, and that laughter nearly turned into sobs when she traced her fingertips along his cheek and he was besieged by the love he felt for her. He leaned back, wanting to look her in the eyes. She smiled at him, with bright eyes and swollen lips, and he had never adored anyone more.
“I love you,” he said, his voice serious. “You know that, right?”
She grinned, nodding slightly in reply. “Yeah.” She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. Then she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight as she whispered in his ear, “I love you too.”
Ships: James/Georgie
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I'm not these people, I dont know these people, and everything within is a work of fiction? Didn't think so.
Summary: Some changes occur slowly, a current so gradual and constant that it is barely noticeable until one day you take a step back form your life and realise what has happened, and the truth calmly becomes clear. Some truths are realised so fast they leave you dizzy and disoriented and grasping for something to hold on to as the certainty of the situation washes over you.
Authors Notes: Dedicated to my dear friend narnialovers. V, I hope it all ends soon. Stay safe sweetie.
Moment of Truth
Some changes occur slowly, a current so gradual and constant that it is barely noticeable until one day you take a step back form your life and realise what has happened, and the truth calmly becomes clear. Some truths are realised so fast they leave you dizzy and disoriented and grasping for something to hold on to as the certainty of the situation washes over you.
James didn’t know when he started to fall for her. Could it have been the first day they met and they grinned at each other, friends in an instant? Was it when she called him up out of the blue and playfully asked him to be her date for her movie premiere, her first after Narnia? Maybe it was when they went out and celebrated her eighteenth birthday with dinner and dancing. Or maybe it was one of a million moments in between, one of the many smiles or laughs or fights or silences they have shared.
He knew there was no possibility of becoming a ‘them’. She was too young for him and he had no desire to taint her beautiful life with all the intensities and complications that come with being involved with him. And even if he wasn’t divorced and slightly bitter in his old age, and she wasn’t currently in the next room flirting with Rupert, he would not risk their friendship for the world.
Helen called everyone into the next room. The party moved as one and James sought out Will and Anna, moving to stand beside them in the crowd. Georgie was at the front of the room, conversing with Rachael as she lit the twenty one candles on Georgie’s cake.
Rachael joined Mike, Helen and Laura off to the side and the seventy people crowded into the lounge area of the Henley home sang happy birthday. Georgie smiled, scanning the crowd, and when she caught James’ eye and he winked, she winked back. Someone yelled for Georgie to make a wish so she stood there a moment, her finger to her chin, dramatically pensive, and everyone laughed. She blew out the candles, smiling bashfully at the cheers and applauds of her friends and family. She stood embarrassed as her family made a speech, both funny and sappy. James watched, transfixed, as she in turn made her speech; she was funny and self-deprecating and endearing and James’ heart broke. He was suddenly overwhelmed with the intensity of his feelings for her and he couldn’t breathe. He had to get out of there. He smiled, bright and fake with lips quivering, in an attempt to divert from his watering eyes, and he whispered to Anna that he would be right back before edging out of the room, not even staying for the cutting of the cake.
He made his way to her room, wanting to collect his jacket before stepping out into the cool night air. He gently pushed the door open and stepped into her room. He was immediately assaulted by the sense of her, from the green of the walls and the silver of her bed, to the photos and collectables covering every available flat space. He slowly meandered about the room, running fingertips along her shelves. It seemed that every time he came into her room there were more and more photos. He had never known anyone to have so many pictures in so small a space. Most were from the last five years but there were also a few from her childhood, including one of Will, Anna, Skander, Andrew, Tilda, Georgie and himself, set against a beautiful New Zealand mountain. James smiled faintly, but the smile turned into a major grin when he saw the photo in the frame on top of her TV. It was two small black and white photos of himself and Georgie, taken a few months previous in a photo booth. It was torn at the bottom, as James had the last two pics, which were currently lying on his bedside table. In the first of Georgie’s pictures they were looking at each other with mad grins and in the second they were both laughing, James with his eyes closed and head thrown back, Georgie leaning forward so you could only see the top of her head.
James headed towards the bed, feeling guilty for lingering around her private sanctuary. There was a rather large pile of coats, which he rifled through. James had been one of the first to arrive and Georgie had carefully laid his jacket on her empty bed before grabbing his hand and leading him to the bar for a drink. After scouring through the mountain of coats and jackets, James stood staring at the mess, his hands on his hips. His jacket wasn’t there.
He circled on the spot, looking about the room for inspiration. His eyes fell on Georgie’s large wooden wardrobe, a present from her parents when she got the part in Narnia. He gingerly approached the wardrobe, not wanting to pry and invade her privacy, but feeling an incredible draw to it. With the same resolve as removing a band-aid, James quickly stepped forward, placed his hands on the doorknobs and opened the doors to the wardrobe.
His black jacket was hanging in the centre, with Georgie’s clothes, all blues and pinks and blacks, in the right half of the wardrobe. He took the jacket off the hanger and put it on, smiling at Georgie’s thoughtfulness.
He went to close the doors, but something caught his eye. There was a small chest of wooden draws in the left half of the cupboard, on top of which sat a thin silver photo frame. With a picture of him in it.
James tentatively picked up the frame for closer inspection. It was a picture of him from Skander’s twenty-third birthday. He was sitting on a couch, laughing, presumably at someone out of frame. With a furrowed brow, James put the frame back down and picked up the small, glass turtle which was in front of the photo. He recognised it instantly.
During the insanity that was promoting Narnia, James and Georgie took a day off together, Georgie deciding she wanted to go to the zoo and James happily obliging. It was a bitterly cold day but Georgie’s enthusiasm was unrelenting as they wandered about the park. She especially liked what James called ‘the cute animals’, such as the elephants and penguins and butterflies. His astonishment at her energy was seemingly infinite; despite working together for long days with her unwavering liveliness it still surprised him. She would grab his hand and pull him in the direction she wanted to go, or he would turn and after having her out of sight for twenty seconds she would already be at the next animal enclosure. Before they left, James bought Georgie a small, glass turtle. It wasn’t expensive, just a few pounds, but she accepted it so enthusiastically and gratefully.
And now James was holding the gift he had given Georgie eleven years previous. Holding the turtle in his hand and looking at her photo of him, James was suddenly very overwhelmed with realisation. He gasped for breath, a hand to his heart. Light-headed, he gripped the door of the wardrobe before sinking to the floor.
She loved him.
She loved him as much as he loved her. The hidden truth of every moment they had ever shared washed over him and a tear cascaded down his cheek. He sat on the floor for who knows how long, the sharp ends of the turtle pressing into his palm, willing his heart to calm, uncertain of how now to go on.
“James?”
He lifted his head at the sound of her voice. Georgie. She was standing in her doorway, concern for him obvious on her face. She truly was a vision, chocolate curls cascading down her shoulders, her hair turning scarlet in the light. Her party dress was deep purple, the top half fitted and strapless while the skirt was thick with layers. She shifted from foot to foot during his silence, fiddling with the diamond pendant at her neck.
“Are you alright?”
James stood, a little clumsily. He suddenly felt very young and inadequate, standing there, beholding her beauty. He wanted to say so many things, to verbalise the truths he had just realised. But every sentence that formed in his head seemed so … not enough.
He slowly advanced, his blue eyes locked on hers. And when he reached her, he didn’t stop, taking that final step and pressing his lips to hers.
There was no doubt, no hesitation, Georgie wrapping her arms around him and meeting his kiss with an intense passion. Her lips were waxy from her lipstick as their mouths slid together. He ran his fingers through her hair, resting one hand at the base of her throat and the other at her waist.
When the kiss ended they remained in each others arms, faces together and breathing heavily.
James’ lips brushed hers when he said, “Happy birthday, Georgie.”
She smiled, her eyelashes fluttering against his cheek. “Looks like I got my birthday wish,” she said in a whisper.
He laughed at that, and that laughter nearly turned into sobs when she traced her fingertips along his cheek and he was besieged by the love he felt for her. He leaned back, wanting to look her in the eyes. She smiled at him, with bright eyes and swollen lips, and he had never adored anyone more.
“I love you,” he said, his voice serious. “You know that, right?”
She grinned, nodding slightly in reply. “Yeah.” She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. Then she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight as she whispered in his ear, “I love you too.”