Love under the Weeping Willow

Fate

Julia lunged herself at Damon, but he was too quick for her. 

He released his grip from Michael's throat and swung around to push Julia hard in the chest. 

She gasped in pain, the impact drawing her back. "Please!" she implored him, as he started to turn back around. "Please, dad. I beg of you, don't hurt him. I love him! I couldn't bear it if you took him from me."

After a moment of dead silence between them, Damon lifted himself off of Michael's still body, and turned to face her.

Julia's heart was beating so fast with fear for Michael's life that it hurt. 

She felt as though it was being torn from her chest. 

All she wanted to do was run to him. 

But her father stood in her way.

Damon was glaring at Julia, making her feel uncomfortable and sicker in the stomach. "Loving him will only kill you," he finally said with such a hoarse voice that Julia almost didn't understand him. 

For the first time since her mother had died, she could hear true pain in his voice.

"He's worth it," Julia told him, tears rolling down her cheeks. 

She was terrified of what Damon might do. 

But she was even more afraid for Michael.

"You think that now. You don't know the meaning of true pain," Damon said bitterly.

"I know the meaning of true love, and that is worth any pain I might endure."

"You naive child! I will not allow you to run away with this boy!" Damon exclaimed heatedly.

"Then you will allow me to die!" Julia cried out after him, her voice sounding almost strangled. 

"Please don't deny me the love you once had. You have been a horrible father to me, but the one thing you got right was make me strong. I don't need you anymore. Please! Let me go. Let me be free," Julia added desperately. 

"My life will be full of happiness and love with Michael by my side. For however short or long that may be, I can guarantee you that."  

Damon stared at Julia for what seemed like a painful amount of time, and then finally stepped aside. 

Julia gasped in relief and raced over to Michael. 

She knelt beside him and gently caressed his pale face. "Michael?" she said softly, desperately hoping he would respond. "Michael?" she repeated a little more earnestly when he didn't answer. 

"Yes, Michael Adler, do you hear me? I'll marry you. I've always wanted to marry you. I love you!" Julia continued tenderly, as she sobbed in heartache.

Julia bowed over him, lightly placing the side of her face over his chest, inwardly praying to god over and over again that he was alive. 

When she heard a heartbeat she inhaled sharply in deep relief. 

A hand touched the back of Julia's arm and she flinched back in surprise. 

When she looked down Michael's eyes were open and he was struggling to give her a warm smile. 

His other hand came up to rest on her lap and she realised that he still had the little blue velvet box in his hand. 

He hadn't let it go. 

"Oh, Michael," Julia said lovingly, grinning affectionately down at him. 

She would have kissed him but noticed that his breathing was shallow, and she didn't want to take his breath away for a single moment.