MoonBound

#04.

Juliette had been waiting for this moment for longer than she cared to admit.

Having Adriana here, within reach, within sight, it felt… unreal in the gentlest way, like something fragile she didn’t want to disturb in case it disappeared. When Juliette had first arrived in this place, nothing had felt like hers. Not the walls, not the air, not even her own choices. She felt caged, longing for her sister and the inability to resist the relentless pull toward William, an invisible thread she couldn't wrap her head around, yet couldn’t fight.

But now… Adriana was here.

And for the first time since everything changed, Juliette felt whole.

When William told her she could invite Adriana for the ceremony, she had nearly burst with excitement. She hadn’t even known what to expect… how it would feel, what Adriana would think or say, whether things would still be the same between them.

But sitting across from her now, watching her, hearing her voice again… it was enough.

It was everything.

Juliette had been in the middle of explaining, trying to soften the strangeness of what was to come, how the wedding wasn’t going to be quite like the ones they’d imagined or seen growing up, when she noticed Adriana had gone quiet.

Too quiet.

She glanced up.

And there she was.

Asleep.

Juliette blinked once, then let out a soft, breathy laugh, her shoulders relaxing as warmth spread through her chest. Of course. Adriana hadn’t changed that much after all. Give her a moment of stillness and a full stomach after a stressful day, and she’d drift off without warning.

Some things just didn’t need fixing.

Some things were comforting just the way they were.

Shaking her head fondly, Juliette stood and quietly cleared the tray, moving with care so as not to wake her. When she returned, she gently nudged Adriana awake just enough to guide her to the bed.

“Come on, sleepyhead,” she murmured softly, slipping an arm around her.

Adriana mumbled something incoherent but didn’t resist, her body heavy with exhaustion as Juliette eased her beneath the covers, tucking them around her like she had done so many times before back at the foster home, back in New Orleans, back when life was simpler, even if it hadn’t been easy.

Juliette lingered for a moment, brushing a strand of hair away from Adriana’s face.

“Everything’s gonna be okay,” she whispered, more to herself than to her sleeping sister.

Then she slipped out, closing the door with quiet care.

The house felt still as she carried the dishes back to the kitchen. The faint clink of plates against the sink echoed softly, grounding her. Everything felt… calmer tonight.

Or maybe she was finally allowing herself to feel it.

By the time she returned to her room, the weight of the day had begun to settle into her bones. She changed into her nightgown, the soft fabric brushing against her skin as she climbed into bed, pulling the covers up around her.

Her mind, however, refused to rest. How was she going to explain why she hadn't reached out since she was safe.

Her fingers curled slightly into the sheets as her thoughts spiraled, not in fear exactly, but in anticipation, in uncertainty. Everything was moving so fast, yet somehow it all felt inevitable.

Tomorrow, Adriana is going to want answers and she needs to come up with a very convincing one.

A soft creak broke through her thoughts.

The door opened just enough for him to slip inside.

“Hey, babe,” William said quietly, closing it behind him.

Juliette turned toward him, her expression softening instantly. “Hey, love.”

He crossed the room and slid into bed behind her, his presence warm and steady. The moment his arms wrapped around her, something inside her unclenched. The tension she hadn’t realized she was holding melted away as she leaned back into him.

“I could feel you brooding like the weight of the world is all on your shoulders. Did something happen? Is she all settled in?” he asked, his voice low near her ear.

“She is,” Juliette replied, a small smile curving her lips. “Out like a light, nothing happened.”

William huffed a quiet chuckle, his chin brushing lightly against her shoulder.

Juliette hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice softer now.

“You know… she hasn’t changed much. Still the same Adriana.” She paused, her gaze unfocused as she stared ahead. “Except…”

William’s hold on her tightened just slightly. “Except?”

Juliette swallowed.

“There’s this sadness in her eyes now,” she admitted. “I wouldn't normally worry cause she was a sad kid growing up and some of it stayed with her but this is more, more than before and I can't help but think it's my fault.”

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was thoughtful. Heavy, but shared.

William pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder. “She’s been through a lot,” he said quietly. “But she’s here now. And you both have each other.”

Juliette let out a slow breath. “Yes but for how long… I just hate that I wasn’t there for her and now I have to lie to her.”

“For her own good” he said. “She can't know the truth.”

She turned slightly in his arms, just enough to look at him. In the dim light, his features were softer, but his eyes held that same unwavering certainty.

“She’ll see through me, she's always been able to tell when I'm lying. She'll know that I'm lying to her and she'll hate me for it.” she said, close to tears.

“She won't, she loves you. She came here for you, didn't she?” he asked gently.

She searched for the right words, then gave up and spoke honestly. “Everything changes after tomorrow, doesn’t it?”

William didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached up, brushing his fingers lightly along her cheek.

“Some things will,” he said. “But not the important ones.”

Her brows knit slightly. “And what are the important ones?”

His lips curved faintly.

“This,” he murmured, tightening his arms around her. “Us. What we already are. Tomorrow will determine how we all move forward and I believe it will be okay.”

Juliette felt something settle in her chest at that.

Not completely gone.. the nerves, the questions, but quieter now. Manageable.

She let herself relax fully against him, her hand resting over his where it lay against her waist.

“I hope she doesn't ask too many questions, she can be very observant and inquisitive sometimes.” she said, voicing her ultimate worry.

“I pray she doesn't hate me,” she whispered.

“She won't.” he replied softly.

The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, filled only with the quiet rhythm of their breathing.

Juliette’s thoughts slowed, the edges of her worry softening as exhaustion finally began to take hold. The warmth of William behind her, the knowledge that Adriana was just down the hall, safe and close, wrapped around her like a shield.

For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel torn between worlds.

She felt… at peace.

And slowly, with that feeling cradling her, Juliette drifted off to sleep, held securely in the arms of the life she was beginning to accept as her own.