As requested by you all, here is the next chapter of this. Writing this chapter had ignited a little something within me so I may keep it going but I have no idea where to...

I do hope you enjoy. I have no idea of a title so here goes...

The Conversation in the Garden

The heavy woollen coat which was draped over Rose's body shielded her from the afternoon chill. It wasn't windy, but the sun did seem to warm the air. Beneath her booted feet, the grass crunched. The only sign of Spring was the sun. The garden spanned out before her; lined with lovely trees, flowers and bush. One could only imagine how wonderful it would be in full bloom, or in the Summer with the feel of the warm sun upon your back as you walked the garden with a glass of cool lemonade in hand.

She softened her squint, placing both hands at her sides. Her soft curls tumbled over the fur trim of her coat. Her head raised from the grass and slowly she met Jack's gaze. Crystal blue eyes penetrated hers deeply. This was the first time they had truly been alone.

Since leaving Philadelphia their lives had become a whirling memory of travelling aboard a rickety train and learning how to cater for an infant. Sleep came easily although it was a rarity. Jack had slept only when he needed to, when his head became too blurry to stay awake and even then, it wasn't for long periods but then again, sleep wasn't something he had encountered much of this last year or so. It was only now in the bright light of the day how Rose noticed how refreshed Jack looked in comparison to when they had arrived. The corners of her mouth began to twitch into a smile.

''I can't remember a day so lovely.'' Jack pointed out, not taking his eyes from hers.

''Nor can I.'' She replied, softly.

Jack offered his arm to her, slowly she came to him and linked her arm through his. She felt the warmth of his body close to her. He held her hand as it linked through his arm, entwining their fingers so lightly. It was a small but intimate gesture on both of their parts. Both welcomed the silence as they walked slowly. Their thoughts were their own as she strolled, taking in the sights of the surroundings. If there was any discomfort, it wasn't made aware of. Every few seconds, Jack glanced sideways, his eyes watching Rose ever so carefully. She was well rested, even more so since their arrival here in Denver. Molly had ensured that Rose had been well fed and no longer under any stress. This had aided well in her recovery both from the birth and the stressful times of the last month or so.

Night after night, Jack had slept on the floor beside Rose's bed with Elizabeth's crib at the foot of him. Molly had assigned him a bedroom of his own, with a large comfortable bed, bigger than he had ever stayed in and he still chose to be with them; his family. He felt the need to be present, protective and watchful, always. Elizabeth cried rarely, perhaps mostly when hungry and never would she be left alone again. With the presence of her parents, seeing figures dot about their day as she lay comfortably within her crib had caused the child to smile, once or twice. Seeing a set of gums for another reason other than a wail had pleased both Jack and Rose, with a few tears of joy. One couldn't deny that the girl seemed happy. Molly's physician had looked the child over on the day of their arrival here and she was deemed healthy if not a little underweight. Over the course of the next three days and with her Mother's milk, she was now thriving.

Rose, although initially very quiet, had also grown stronger and more agile. He, himself felt elated at how far they had both come. But now, as he clasped Rose's cool hand in his, he found the lush garden, lovely Spring day and any other pretty thing which he had ever witnessed were dull in comparison to this single moment, Rose was alive and healthy. She was beautiful.

As she turned to him, his feet seemed to stop as her eyes were large, brimming with unshed tears. He felt the lump in his own throat rise. With his right hand he rubbed his finger along her lash line, wiping them away. He noticed that at his single touch, her breathing stopped and it took a second or two for her chest to rise and fall again. His hand lingered over her right cheek, to her ear where he gently tucked a small curl behind it. Her eyes closed, as she relished the feel of his hand, his touch. He released her arm, simply holding her other hand. He felt the soft tremble of her body. He affected her just as she did him. He knew in that moment that there was no need to question whether her feelings for him had waned. There was simply a lot of hesitance from both parts, this territory was both unfamiliar and possibly unsettling for them. Their lives had taken a route which neither of them would ever have imagined and now they were here, stood side by side still waiting for the Earth to stop spinning quite so fast, just so that they could pause for a moment.

''I don't have the words to tell you how much you mean to me.''

Her eyes searched his face, for something which she did not know. His eyes spoke volumes to her and it was though she knew this, yet she couldn't absorb anything. Could he hear just how hard her heart was hammering so?

She swallowed heavily.

''Your presence in my life has made me whole again. Elizabeth, too. When she was born I had nothing.'' Her voice cracked. ''Now, here you are.''

''I won't leave you, not again. I can't.''

She closed her eyes as she leant against his body, gaining a quiet confidence. He held her, pulling her to his body with both hands. She took her strength from him, from the vision of him with their daughter and his words of love and encouragement. He hadn't left their side, even as they slept. As she opened her eyes, she couldn't help but notice the brightness of the sky. Birds flew overhead and she thought of Spring; how the flowers would bloom, the young would be born. A new hope.

Jack lightly pressed his lips to her hair. She trembled beneath his grip.

''Are you cold?''

She shook her head slowly. ''No.''

She pulled back from his chest so that they were almost face to face.

''I'm scared.'' She confessed, her voice small and timid. Her lashed lowered. ''Scared of how I feel for you.''

She heard his breathing quicken. Her own body continued to shake. She had tried to stall the thoughts of his lips; how they had once kissed her. The first kiss which she had ever encountered. He had seen her naked body, exposed before him to draw and then he had made love to her, in a way which she never imagined possible. Even after conceiving a child and carrying Elizabeth for nine long, lonely months, she still fell the longing for him. She was still a woman. He had awoken that side of her, and now he had ignited it again. Her body was no longer alien to her, it was waking up. The need was there.

''I love you.''

His words were so clear, so vivid and they struck her so hard. She was stunned.

''Since the day I looked up on that deck and there you were, a vision.'' He smiled. ''By some goddamned miracle you ran into my life. You-you told me that you wanted to get off that ship with me. That we had that future-'' He stuttered through his words.

''I meant that.''

Both of his hands were on her cheeks.

''Then let me look after you. Let me make a home for you and Elizabeth.''

She couldn't speak, her voice was lost amongst her own emotion. The fact that he was so close to her, so close, made her struggle with everything. Her eyes travelled to his lips. Her own mouth was dry, numb and trembling.

''Let us be a family.''

''We are.'' She finally found her voice. ''Everything I walked away from, it means nothing. You and Elizabeth, I love you both, so much.''

His heart soared. He pressed their foreheads together; his eyes didn't leave hers. ''Oh, Rose-'' He couldn't even complete the sentence for nothing more could be said.

''My heart was completely yours. All along. I just-I lost myself after I thought I had lost you.'' She held back the tears as she remembered those lonely months which she had spent mourning her loss and yet she had to remain strong for the life which she had carried. ''Elizabeth was born into such-''

''-She is thriving.'' Jack cut off her words before she would continue into any negativity. ''Rose, she wiggles, she smiles, she is no longer struggling to feed...''

''She is ours.''

''Yes.''

The power of his stare, of his words were so intense and strong that she clung to his arms just to hold up her own fragile body. The air turned ever so warm, so quiet as though the life of the garden had shushed to allow this moment between them.

When he had kissed her the first time; at the bow of the Titanic; any nerves had ceased right away. He had made her feel so secure, more than she ever believed she could feel. His mouth against hers had ignited something which she had only read about in the fairy tales hidden deep within her library. That first kiss had been wonderful. After Jack had drawn her, their kiss had deepened into something else. It was full of passion, of unknown fire and during their lovemaking he had made her feel like she hadn't known was possible. Now that was just a memory, flickering at the front of her mind while the fire was slowly igniting in her stomach. It was growing brighter...stronger. Jack closed the space between them, his lips covered hers just once. It was unexpected and she had barely taken a breath before he had stolen it away from her. Automatically her eyes closed. Everything disappeared. He was so soft, and he trembled against her. His fingers stroked the sides of her face, into her hair and she melted against him as her legs seemed to buckle. This was what she remembered most of all. The way he made her feel. She had to remember to take slow, steady breathes to calm her racing heart as she allowed him to kiss her freely, deeply. He tasted as she remembered, so much so that she wanted more. She couldn't stop now. Her hands shook as they found his shoulders, his neck and then his hair. She felt the unwavering need to remove the barriers of clothing which prevented their skin from pressing together just as it had done before. Every insecurity which she knew she would carry of her body since carrying a child just evaporated into thin air like the rest of the worries which she had kept contained within her head for months.

He needed her, too. He pulled her closer to him and yet he knew that she couldn't be any nearer to him. He had to feel that she was there, with him. He couldn't stop kissing her and she offered no hesitation at all. His hands threaded through her hair, and the other held her hips. The heat between them simmered, almost boiling over the brim. It was her who slowly pulled away from him, ever so slightly. Her eyes flickered open and it was like seeing light in the dark. They were watery. Her teeth bit into her lip before she ran her tongue across it, as though she was tasting him. She was breathless, they both were.

A boyish grin crossed his face, and she, too couldn't help but smile. Butterflies bubbled in the pit of her stomach as she clung to him still. He leant forward to kiss her lips, just once quickly.

''Well, the garden hasn't been much of an interest.'' He broke the silence and she laughed at his remark.

''No, I presume not.''

He hesitantly loosened his grip on her. ''Shall we admire the nature, whilst we have some time away from Elizabeth?''

''Yes. No doubt she will be ready for her lunch soon.''

She took his arm once more, as the grass crunched beneath their feet. Above them, from a bedroom window, Molly watched their passionate embrace with a hand placed upon her chest. Elizabeth still slept peacefully within her grip. With raised eyebrows, she placed a tender finger on the upturned pouted lip of the sleeping child.

''Well, honey, something tells me you won't be an only child.'' She whispered with amusement.