When You're Gone
Disclaimer/Notes: Not mine, as usual. This chapter takes place two years after OO and the rest of the story an additional five years after this one. I'm trying to keep this as canon as possible, since, obviously, the season is only half over. Enjoy!
An exhausted Mack Hartford climbed the steps up to his apartment. He yawned loudly as he turned the key in the lock. The door clicked as he opened it and stepped inside. "Rose?" he called as he shrugged out of his jacket and kicked off his shoes.
"Bedroom!" she yelled back. Mack smiled slightly as he padded down the hallway to he and Rose's room. His girlfriend of two years was stretched out on their bed in one of his red T-shirts and a pair of pink pajama bottoms, reading a mystery novel.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Mack murmured to her as he collapsed onto the bed beside her. "What a day," he groaned, flipping over onto his belly and hiding his face in the pile of pillows. Rose shut her book and snuggled in next to him, kissing his cheek.
"What happened, Mack?" she asked softly, sitting up again and rubbing his stiff shoulders. He sighed dramatically as he relaxed into Rose's grip. "Tell me all about it."
"First of all, I was falling asleep in class this morning, and I think I forgot to turn in my paper to the professor. Then I had to go work a three hour shift at the bookstore for the 'Story Time' rush with a bunch of bratty four year olds who nearly killed each other…"
"Is that why you have glitter in your hair?" Rose asked, and Mack could practically feel her smile as one hand raked through his unruly brown curls. He groaned again, but softly this time. He nodded.
"The story was about some princess and the little girls didn't like how it ended. And as if all that weren't enough, I had to go to another stupid meeting at the stupid company because my stupid father is still on vacation with stupid Jessica." Mack looked up at Rose with tired blue eyes. "Why can't he come home already? I don't want to run Hartford Industries."
Rose continued rubbing Mack's sore back. "You're going to have to one day, you know. He's just trying to prepare you for the inevitable."
"Isn't it enough that I saved the world?" Mack demanded. "…Well, helped save the world," he corrected himself after a slight glare from Rose. "I have to be tortured every day and he's in the Bahamas."
Rose laughed. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad, Mack. Your dad's been doing it for years and he's just fine."
"You're right, Rose, it wasn't that bad. It was hell and the devil wears an Armani suit to work every day." Mack thought for a few minutes. "Maybe Jessica will get pregnant and Dad'll decide to let the poor younger sibling be in charge and I'll be free at long last."
Rose leaned down and kissed the top of Mack's head. "You know what you need, Mack?"
"A father who takes charge of his own boring company?" Mack suggested.
"No. You need some ice cream and some fresh air. Go sit out on the fire escape. I'll get the Dreyer's."
"Don't bother with bowls," Mack groaned. "I think I'm going to need a lot of frozen dairy products to make this all go away. Oh, and throw in a pretty girlfriend to cuddle with." The former pink ranger chuckled.
"I'll see what I can do," Rose promised as she headed out to the tiny kitchen. Mack slid off the bed and opened the door out onto the fire escape. He settled himself on one of the chairs he and Rose had set on the balcony.
Rose came out a few moments later, bringing with her an enormous bowl of cookie dough ice cream and two spoons. Mack grinned hugely at his girlfriend and pulled her onto his lap. He cradled her close to him, and the two slowly consumed their ice cream. She sighed contentedly when it was gone, kissed him on the cheek once more and looked out at San Angeles. "Do you ever think about what the future is going to be like?"
"The future in general or our future?" Mack asked, finding a lock of her hair and twirling it around his fingers.
"Our future," Rose replied quietly, still looking out at the brightly lit city.
"I have a few ideas as to what our lives are going to be like," he answered.
"Care to share them with me?" Rose questioned.
Mack obliged. "I want to marry you one day," he began, still playing with her hair, "And I want to travel the world, just the two of us, and maybe the Trackers in case we run into trouble."
"Marriage sounds nice," Rose said, "But we've already traveled the world, Mack."
"We were looking for the jewels," Mack corrected. "And there were four other people with us, too. This time it would be just you and me."
Rose smiled. "Anything else you've thought about, Mack? Taking over the planet perhaps?"
"When we come home from abroad and start running the company, I always kind of imagined little Roses and little Macks running around the house."
"You want children?"
Mack nodded. "Two little Roses and one little Mack." He suddenly remembered the square package sitting in his jacket pocket. "I'll be right back." He rearranged the two of them and disappeared into the apartment once more. He emerged a minute later. "And I think we should start all these plans now. Marry me, Rose?"
Her breath caught in her throat. She had not been expecting anything like this so suddenly. "Uh…um," she stuttered. This ring was a perfect diamond with a gold band, simple yet elegant, and Rose knew it had to have cost a small fortune. "Um," Rose repeated.
Mack's smile slid off of his face. "Two minutes ago 'marriage sounded nice,'" he said. "And now you can't even answer yes or no?"
Rose felt tears sting at her eyes. "I can't marry you, Mack. This is all too sudden. Yes, marrying you sounds wonderful, but I was never expecting you to pop the question in the next breath." More tears fell, "So, no, I can't marry you. I'm sorry."
Mack's face hardened. "OK then. I'll be gone tomorrow."
"Mack-" Rose said, "You don't have to leave…"
"Why stay if you don't want me?" He stormed inside again, bundled himself into his coat, shoved his feet into his shoes and slammed the door behind him. Rose collapsed onto their bed –no, just her bed now- and cried until she fell into a restless sleep.