Juno was about to mention the fact she definitely didn't kiss strangers before the first date, and even then rarely after, when Jamie's cell phone rang from the depths of his pocket.

"I loathe this thing sometimes." Jamie muttered as he reluctantly released Juno's hand and flipped open the compact cell phone. "Jamie Fulham."

Juno absently listened to Jamie's end of the work conversation, her hand suddenly missing the contact of his warm skin against hers. When he hung up with a muted sigh, she looked over at him with interest. "Duty calls again?" She asked with a smile.

"Unfortunately." Jamie said with a small shrug as he took her hand in his again as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "The only problem with this lifestyle is occasionally being at the beck and call of almost anyone. Really cramps my style at times."

Juno giggled. "What do you like to do when you aren't working?"

"Oh, you know." Jamie said airily. "I run a harem, I do a lot of gambling, I beat up men in pubs for speaking too loudly, I run with loose women, I go to the movies occasionally."

Juno laughed and decided she wasn't going to be getting a straight answer from him anytime soon. "Well, good." She said easily. "I glad we've got that covered and out of the way. I feel like I know you so much better now."

Jamie nodded and grinned out the windshield. "The delivery is in Nairn, so we're still on track for getting you safely back with your friends."

Instantly, his truthful words cast a veil of gloom on both passengers of the Mini. Until that moment, they had both fooled themselves into thinking this little road trip of theirs could last forever. The cold reality was that by tomorrow Juno would be reunited with Viv and Darcy, and would be back aboard the Hebridean Shadow, steaming away from Scotland – and from Jamie.

Juno punched him in the arm lightly to break the tension. "Party pooper." She tried to joke, but her tone was more upset than she'd meant.

"My darling, I'm sorry, I just…" Jamie faltered and Juno waved her other hand to stop him.

"Don't worry about it." Juno said. "It's true. Tomorrow I…" She waved her hand absently again, unable to complete her thought.

That was about the fiftieth time Jamie had automatically called her 'darling', and her chest hurt a bit when she realized after tomorrow, she'd probably never hear him address her as his 'darling' ever again.

As though by silent agreement, they both cut off this line of conversation and began anew, discussing the improbability of China's space program reaching the moon in the next few years. They spoke of anything and everything that would take away the reminder that Juno's life would go back to screamingly normal by the next day.

**

"You know, I've been thinking about it, and I really wish I could live the way you do." Juno said during a lull in one of their many conversations on the road.

"Really?" Jamie asked with interest. "How so?"

Juno shrugged as she tried to think of what to say. "I'm not sure. I just… I really envy you all your freedom and the chance to do what ever you want, when you want. I guess I just wish I could be as carefree as you."

Jamie shot her a sideways glance. "This life of mine is not all roses and rainbows, darling."

"I know." Juno said quickly. "But my life is so… boring." She finished, her gaze cast downward at the pathetic sound of her own existence.

"You aren't boring." Jamie retaliated, immediately coming to her defense. "Not in the least."

"Okay, maybe I'm not boring, but my life is. I write about things I don't care about simply to pay the bills, I don't get out much, I don't take fabulous vacations, and my whole life just seems so methodical and boring and I just feel like so much is passing me by… like I'm missing so much by not being 'out there'." She answered, knowing how lame she must sound to this free spirited man beside her.

"Why don't you get 'out there' then, if that's what you want?" Jamie asked seriously, without a hint of mocking.

"Money for one, time for another, but mostly because I'm afraid." Juno answered softly.

"Of what?" Jamie prodded gently. "I mean, you don't have to tell me, but…"

Juno shrugged again. "I'm not sure what I'm afraid of. Of not having a plan for everything… of discovering how much I've been missing… of getting used to being carefree and then being hit with the reality of unpaid bills and lease agreements." Juno scoffed and looked out the window. "I mean, this is the most exciting vacation I've ever taken, and I couldn't even afford it. Viv had to pay for it – and Darcy was the one that suggested it for a 'girl's weekend'. I suggested that we drive to St. Louis or something for the weekend – I'm not good at thinking big, I guess. I just think on a totally different scale from my friends. And I hate that." Juno added softly. "I really envy you, Jamie. I do."

Jamie could sense that Juno was struggling with what to say, and how to say it, and chose not to prod her into revealing more about her so called methodical life. Instead, he chose to lighten the tone of the conversation a bit.

"Well, if it makes you feel better, that envy you're feeling about my lifestyle may change when you help me with my next run."

1019 / 16492 / 50000

before . after