I know Loafer will probably kill me for this, but I'm posting it anyway! I just got the new Taylor Swift CD, and the idea to do a collection of oneshots based on the tracks just demanded to be written. There will be a nice mix of Lassiet, Shules, and even hints of Shabigail and others. The pairing will be listed with each oneshot. I have over half of these written, so the posting should go fairly quickly. So here we go with track one, State of Grace. Enjoy.

Title: State of Grace

Summary: The first time she saw Carlton Lassiter, Juliet O'Hara knew she would never be the same.

Genre: Romance/Friendship

Pairing: Lassiet

Word Count: 474

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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I never saw you coming

And I'll never be the same

-State of Grace

The first time she saw Carlton Lassiter, Juliet O'Hara knew she would never be the same.

When she was transferred to the Santa Barbara Police Department, all she was told about her partner was he was older and had just lost a partner. She had immediately pictured a greying, overweight, fifty-something year old man who smoked cigars and monopolized the radio on stakeouts. As soon as she arrived at the precinct, she heard whispers of this Detective Lassiter, of his anger and the affair he'd carried on with the partner Juliet was replacing. With every step she took, she felt more and more wary of her future partner.

She was called into the Chief's office shortly after, and when she was introduced to Carlton Lassiter, her new partner, something inside of her changed. His eyes were electrifying, and his gruff but utterly masculine voice was… she couldn't even begin to describe it. From that moment, she knew she was in trouble, and she didn't even care.

It took almost seven years of fighting him, fighting her feelings and fighting herself for her to admit what she wanted. They were both emerging from serious relationships; hers being with Shawn Spencer and his being with a convict named Marlowe. It was a Saturday afternoon, and all she could remember was how blue his eyes were when she kissed him for the first time. In that kiss, he changed her once again.

Now, almost a decade after the first time she met Carlton, they were sitting in their backyard beneath a beautiful tree. In her arms was their six week old son, Carlton Michael Lassiter, and Juliet was certain she had never loved anyone more in her entire life. Little Carlton was a perfect blend of both of his parents. He had his father's brilliant blue eyes, his nose and her lips. He had been an unexpected but welcomed surprise, a beautiful product of his parents' love.

Juliet looked up and realized Carlton was watching them. She smiled. "What is it, Carlton?"

He just shook his head and smiled. "I'm the luckiest man alive."

"I'm the lucky one," she argued gently, looking down at their tiny son. Carlton and their son were her entire world. "I have the two of you."

"We have each other." He wrapped his arm around her and drew both of them into his side. Then he kissed the side of her head.

With a smile, she snuggled into him, mindful of the baby, and rested her head on his broad shoulder.

The first time she saw Carlton Lassiter, Juliet O'Hara knew she would never be the same. She just never suspected all the ways he would change her life, and all the ways she would change his.

The End.

A/N: Don't worry, Shules fans. It's coming. Thanks for reading, everyone, and please review!