Reunion

Author's Note: I know my last chapter had a mean cliff hanger so I tried to update sooner. Hope you all enjoy!

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Julie's POV:

The fire escape continued to rattle and shake. I looked over the edge, but I couldn't see anything in the darkness. It sounded like somebody was climbing up. It was probably one of those crazy reporters who followed Cameron's van to the apartment building. I threw the comforter over my shoulder and went into my room.

I set Hunter down on my pillow and set one of his stuffed animals into his arms. I pulled the curtain across my large glass door. The fire escape continued to rattle, so I stayed by the edge of the curtain. I listened to the stranger climb up. My heart was pounding in my chest when I heard the stranger walking across my balcony.

Biting down on my lip, I peered passed the curtain. A man was standing on the balcony. He was tall, and he was looking up at the balcony above mine. He was wearing a dark sweater and jeans, and he seemed to almost blend in the black of night.

The man let his chin drop, and I pulled my head back past the curtain. I tried my best to control my breathing, I felt like it was too loud and he'd hear me. I threw my hand over my mouth to stop myself from panting.

I waited another minute before looking back past the curtain. The man was still standing on the balcony. His dark hair flew out from his hood with the wind. He pulled back his hood, so that he could tuck his hair behind his ears.

It felt like my heart dropped into my stomach. I couldn't believe it.

That scar.

It was Jimmy.

I pulled the door open, and he raised his head to look at me. My knees were shaking as I stepped out onto the balcony. Jimmy's lips curled into a smile, he ran toward me and wrapped his arms around me. My chest burned, but it felt so good to be in his arms that I ignored it.

"Julie, I can't believe it," he said.

"Sshhh," I whispered to him. "Nobody can know you're here."

Jimmy gave me a tight squeeze before loosening his grip. He lowered his face down so that he could press the bridge of his nose against mine. I got up on my toes to close the distance between us. His hands ran up my back as we kissed. I never thought that this was going to happen again.

"Come inside," I whispered. "I don't want anyone to see us."

"Isn't Carrie home?"

"She's asleep. We just need to be quiet."

I laced my fingers through his and pulled him inside. I pulled the curtain over the door as Jimmy pulled his sweater over his head. I ran over to my bed and picked up Hunter. Jimmy's face light up when he saw him.

"Hunter?" he asked, reaching out for him. I handed Hunter over, he still had his stuffed elephant in his hand and his mouth. "He's gotten so big. I barely recognized him."

"Really?" I whispered. "He looks so much like you."

Jimmy sat down on the edge of my bed and started to quietly coo at Hunter. It looked like there were bag under Jimmy's large eyes. I wondered where he was staying. He looked like he wasn't getting much sleep. He probably stays up all night making sure no one finds him. I sat down next to him.

"I've missed you two so much," Jimmy told me as he leaned in for another kiss. I felt a tug on my hair and I looked down to see Hunter pulling on my hair. I bit down on my cheeks to stop myself from giggling.

"How do you feel?" he asked me.

"Sore, but I'm okay," I said. "How did you know where to find me?"

"Tommy and I have been watching a lot of news."

"You're with Tommy?" Saying his name made my stomach twist into a knot.

"Yeah, but I left him at the house we are staying at."

Hunter started to get fussy and kick his legs out. Jimmy handed him over to me. I bounced him in my arms until he calmed down.

"I'm going to put him to bed," I whispered. "Wait here."

I didn't want to leave Jimmy, but I knew I had to put Hunter to bed. My leg screamed out in agony as I pushed myself too hard. I was walking too fast, but I couldn't wait to get back to my room. I kissed Hunter's cheek, and set him down in his crib. I checked that his baby monitor was working before I left the room.

When I got back to my room, Jimmy was stretched out across my bed. I carefully let the door click shut. If Carrie knew that Jimmy was in the apartment, she'd call the cops right away. I couldn't let Jimmy get arrested.

"This feels like a dream," I said crawling into the bed. I slid my arm over his chest and rested my head on him. I closed my eyes as I listened to his strong heartbeat. My skin tingled as he ran his fingers up my back. Jimmy rested his cheek against my head.

"I'm so sorry," he told me. "This should have never happened. I was supposed to take care of you."

"You did," I said. "You called for an ambulance and got me help."

"But Tommy should have never hurt you."

"Where are you two staying?"

"Some abandoned house." I felt him kiss my temple. "I want to bring you and Hunter there."

"But Tommy-"

"I'll figure something out with Tommy. Don't worry about it."

Jimmy had a house. Jimmy, Hunter, and I could live as a family in the same house. Our own house. This was just like when Jimmy talked about moving into that house down the street. We would be free to live our lives the way we wanted.

"Why don't you use that wheelchair you have?" Jimmy asked.

He must have noticed the large, clunky wheelchair that I parked in the corner of my room.

"I hate it," I said. "I'd rather just hobble everywhere."

"Are you sure that's okay with your leg? I don't want you hurting yourself."

"I'll be okay."

Jimmy slipped his fingers under the material of my sweater and tank top. My eyes heavy and I had to stop myself from falling asleep. I propped myself up on my elbow so that I was looking down at Jimmy.

"I've missed you so much," I said. "I never thought I was going to see you again."

"Same. I watched the news all the time. I wanted to make sure you were okay and as soon as I saw you were out of the hospital I came here looking for you."

"Tommy came to the hospital."

I felt Jimmy tense up. I was torn away from Jimmy once because I was terrified of Tommy's threats. I wasn't going to let that happen again.

"When?" he asked.

"About a week before I left," I told him. "He said that I was going to be his."

"I'm going to kill him."

I couldn't tell if he was serious, but I hoped he was.

"I'm going to have to leave while it's still dark," he said.

"You can still stay for another hour."

I cupped his face with my hands and ran my finger along his scar. I leaned down and kissed him. He slid his hand farther up my back and pulled me closer to him, deepening the kiss. He rolled us over so that he was on top of me. He balanced his weight on his elbows so he didn't crush me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and grabbed for handfuls of shirt. He pulled it over his head. It was weird not to see the key on the chain dangling down. I unzipped my sweater and threw it onto the ground.

"Just remember," I said. "We have to be quiet."

"I'll try my best not to make a noise."

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Jimmy's POV:

I stretched my arms up over my head as I yawned. When I finally managed to pry my eyes open, I could see the sun peering through Julie's curtains. I rolled over to see her curled up on her side. She was wrapped up in her blanket, and her long hair was over her face. I tucked her long, dark hair over her ear.

Her skin seemed to be even paler than when we were at the house. Now, she looked like she had lost a bunch of weight. Her ribs protruded from her skin even more and her green eyes seemed to be sunken in. I watched her chest slowly rise and fall.

It was morning. I had fallen asleep with Julie and now I was stuck in the apartment. If I left in broad daylight, I would be recognized within seconds.

Somebody, most likely Carrie, was walking down the hallway. If she knew I was here, I would be locked up so quickly.

I kissed her on the shoulder and waited for her to wake up.


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