Oregon, 1995

"Get out!" Cal yelled, pounding on the door with his fist. "It's my turn!"

"It's still my turn!" Fabrizo yelled back.

"You don't own the bathroom!"

Downstairs in the kitchen, Rose sighed and rubbed her forehead. "It's too early for this," she said. "They're like children. Awful, spoiled children that are too big to punish."

Jack set a plate of waffles down in front of her. "I'll deal with it," he said.

As she ate, Rose listened to the same argument she had heard for years. First Jack told Cal to stop yelling; then Cal told Jack to stay out of it. A comment was made about Jack and Rose getting their own bathroom. Jack said somethings snarky. Fabrizo, finally out of the bathroom, joined in. "Three, two one," she said. A moment later Cal stomped down the stairs. He dropped into his chair, a sullen look on his face.

"Good morning," Rose said as cheerfully as she could. "I thought you wanted the bathroom."

"It's full of steam. I wanted the bathroom, not a sauna," he grumbled. "Now I'll be late."

"For what? Did you get a job?"

"Why would I do that?" he replied. ""Managing our money is my job."

"Why would you do what?" Jack asked, coming in. Fabrizo, freshly showered, his hair expertly combed, sat down opposite Cal.

"Get a job," Rose said.

"You got a job?" Jack said, turning to Cal. "Really? Where?"

"Yes, I would like to see this," Fabrizo said, between bites of waffle.

"I didn't get a job," Cal said witheringly. "I have an appointment."

"Hair?" Fabrizo said.

"Nails?" Jack said.

"Tailor," Rose said.

"All three but not until this afternoon," Cal answered. "I have an appointment with a casting agent this morning."

"An agent?" Jack laughed.

"What, you're gonna try acting again?" Fabrizo said. "You remember what happened last time, right?"

"People weren't ready for me," Cal said. "But audiences have changed."

"Not enough for whatever it is you do," Jack said. "Or," he added, in a half-British accent. "Should I say—" He tossed his head back. "For what. Ever you do."

Rose tried to hold back her laughter, but Fabrizo didn't. "Oh, shut up," Cal snapped. "I can certainly play myself."

"What?" Fabrizo said.

"Yourself?" Jack said.

"This isn't about the book being adapted, is it?" Rose said. "We agreed we'd stay away from it."

"You agreed," Cal said. "I don't see any reason to. Why would we let them do anything they like with our story? God knows you did enough to defame my character when you published it."

"If anything, I made you look better," Rose shot back. "You got inner monologues and a backstory."

"I have all those things in reality," Cal pointed out. "Why shouldn't I have them in the book?"

"Because one-dimensional villains sell better," she replied. "Or they did at the time."

"I recall you getting a nice check anyway," Cal muttered.

"Which she shared with all of us," Jack reminded him. "You gambled yours away."

"Stocks are not gambling."

"The way you played the market back then was," Fabrizo said.

"No-one could have predicted what happened," Cal said, through a clenched jaw. "Will you let it go?"

"Can we all stop, please?" Rose said. "You two, stop picking on him. You know how he gets. Eat your breakfast. Cal, stay away from this movie."

…..

"Don't you want to know?" Cal asked, later when Jack and Fabrizo were gone. "Aren't you curious?"

"About the movie? No," she lied. In fact, Rose was very curious. How faithfully would they adapt her work? She had changed some details, but it was essentially their story. Jack hadn't liked being killed, but it was for the best, she believed. It made a more compelling narrative that way.

"You know you are," he said.

"I'm not."

"They had to get your permission, didn't they? Or your granddaughter's permission, rather."

"Yes, and yes, they paid me for it. I also get a percentage of the profits, though I'm sure that won't be much."

"Where's my share?" he asked indignantly.

"All the money went into the house."

Cal frowned. "That's not fun. You never do anything interesting with your money. Do you know how boring your portfolio is? I fall asleep when I check on it."

"What would you rather I do? Spend wildly?" she asked.

"We could go to Vegas or Monte Carlo. Double the money," he suggested.

"It never works out when we try that."

"You don't have faith in me anymore," he said.

"When did I have faith in you?" Rose said. "Don't you have that appointment?"

"Come with me. You know you want to."

"No."

"You could get an audition for yourself. Think about it. Who better to play Rose than Rose herself," he said.

"Maybe I am a little curious," she admitted.

"Of course you are. It's only natural," he said.

"We aren't telling Jack," she said.

"I don't want him along anyway."

…

"I can't believe we're doing this," Rose said. The lobby was full of actors going over lines. She had never seem so many blonde women in the same room. Even the men made her feel ugly. Everyone was so skinny and perfect.

"It will be fine," Cal said confidently.

"This doesn't bother you at all?"

"Why should it? I'm better looking than these people." He flashed a smile at the girl opposite them. She was half his age, or rather, half the age he was when he stopped aging—but she smiled back, clearly pleased. "And I can get any of these girls," he added.

"Cal, that's disgusting," Rose hissed. "She's a child."

"You were about that age when I almost married you."

"You did not almost marry me."

He was about to reply when they were called in. The agent, a Stephen Crawford, was a small man in his forties. He motioned for them to sit down. "So, uh, Mr.—" He peered at Cal's resume. "Valentino," he said, looking at Cal curiously.

"Yes, that's right," Cal said. "Rudolph Valentino."

Rose shot him a look. "Really?" she whispered.

Stephen turned to her. "And Miss Bow?"

Cal snorted. "Really?"

"Clara," Rose said coldly.

"Oh, that's better," Cal said, laughing now.

"Why don't we get started," Stephen said, trying to ignore their exchange. "Have either of you ever acted before?"

"Yes," Cal said, as Rose said, "No."

Stephen stared at them. "Okay," he said slowly.

"I have experience," Cal said.

"Acting in school plays isn't experience," Rose said.

"I didn't act in school plays," Cal replied, annoyed. "I was in Vaudeville. I was a headliner!"

Stephen looked at Cal like he had an extra nose. "Where did you work?"

"Vaudeville High School," Rose said quickly. "It's in Pennsylvania. Very small, private school."

Stephen stared at them even harder. "I see."

….

They didn't talk until they were back in the car. "What is wrong with you?" Rose yelled.

"Nothing," Cal said, offended. "What's wrong with you? Why are you yelling?"

"Me? I'm not the one who went in there and made us look crazy!"

"There's no need to yell," he said. "We were fine. You made us look crazy by trying to talk for me, Miss Bow."

"Oh, really, Valentino."

"People don't remember him. It's a shame, but it makes it a great stage name."

"It sounds fake," she said.

"It's a fake name. Besides, I look like him."

Rose rolled her eyes. "You do not."

"Then why did all those women say I did?"

"They wanted your money," she replied.

"You sound bitter. Regretting your choice?"

"To come with you on this mission of insanity?" she said. "Yes."

…

They were the first ones home. Grudgingly, she had accompanied him on the rest of his errands. "At least I can get my nails done and a hair trim," she said. "The whole day won't be wasted."

"And we took my car," he pointed out.

"I don't want Jack finding out I skipped work to do something so absurd," she said as they went into the house.

"Calm down. He wouldn't do anything even if we did tell him. And won't he notice your hair and nails?"

"He wouldn't be happy about it, and no, he won't notice," she said, sighing.

"Sure he won't," Cal said dryly. "I hear you two. I know you're not bored with each other yet."

"You hear us?"

"Yes," he said.

"I didn't realize," she said. "You never said anything."

"It's not like there's another room I can move to."

"You do try not to hear, right?" she said.

"No, I look forward to it," he said. "Of course I try to ignore you! What kind of person do you think I am?"

"My opinion changes all the time."

"Funny," he said.

….

Rose forgot about the day at the agent's office, but a few weeks later he called. Jack answered the phone. It was a short conversation.

"Rose," he said. "Do you know why a talent agent just called?"

"No. That's odd," she answered. "What did they want?"

"A Mr. Valentino and a Miss Bow."

"That's quite odd," she said.

He looked at her closely. "Uh-huh. He said he was calling about an audition. For the adaptation of your book. These two people came to him about it."

"Really?" she said nonchalantly.

"Rose."

"Fine. It was Cal's idea. We went down there last month."

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "I was curious. It's us. Well, it's kind of us. Doesn't that make you even a little curious, Jack?"

"No, because it's not us," he said. "It's fiction. You changed things."

"Not that much. You and I stayed pretty much the same."

"Except you killed me at the end," he said grimly.

"Oh, honey, you know I didn't want to. It made the story close better, and tragedy sticks with people more."

"It was a pretty tragic situation already. You didn't have to add to it."

"Please, let's not fight," she said. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want us to fight."

"I wasn't trying to fight," he said. "When do we fight?"

"I don't know," she said. "It doesn't matter."

He sensed there was more she wanted to say, but he could tell from her face she wouldn't. Something wasn't right; it hadn't been for a while. He just didn't know what. "Are you going to audition?" he asked.

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Well, you got one. You might as well."

"Really?" she said. "I got one?" Her eyes lit up. "That guy thought we were insane. I can't believe it!"

"You've gotta be down in L.A. next week, though," he said.

"Oh. Well, I guess I can get time off work. Cal has no work, so that won't be a problem."

"I'm not sure they really want him," Jack said.

"Why do you say that?"

"The guy said they don't. He said he was weird."

"Because he is weird," Rose said.

"No, I think he meant his acting was weird. Rose, you hafta remember what he was like. I doubt he's changed in seventy years."

Rose did remember. The dramatic gestures. The bizarre inflections in his speech. The awkward way he recited lines. No, he hadn't changed. "I'm not telling him," she said. "He actually wanted this."

"Oh, no, don't tell him. We'll all go. I wanna see this train wreck happen," he said, chuckling.

"Jack," she said disapprovingly.

"What? You laugh at him too."

"I don't set him up to be laughed at. It's different when he does it to himself."

"I don't either," he said.

"You and Fabrizo set him up all the time," she said. "You're like two big brothers picking on the little one, just because you don't want to play with him."

"We told him we had enough people for soccer last week. He came along anyway."

"Maybe because he wants you two to be his friends," she said. "You're cool. Everyone loves you. Everyone has always loved you. And we're all stuck together anyway."

"Alright," Jack said. "We'll include him more, but we're still all going, and I won't promise not to laugh when he makes an ass out of himself, especially when it happens in public."

Rose kissed him. "Thank you. That's the sweetheart I married."

…..

They discussed it that night over dinner. "What do you mean we're all going?" Cal said. "You two don't care about being in the movie."

"Sure we do," Fabrizo said. "I have to make sure they get a real Italian to play me."

"They'll cast any dark skinned guy who can do an accent. No-one will care if he's Italian or not," Cal said dismissively. "You're not a main character."

"Sure I am," Fabrizo argued.

"You're a sidekick at best," Cal said.

"I am not a sidekick!"

"Guys, shut up," Jack said. "Neither of you are main characters.

"What?" Fabrizo and Cal said in unision.

"Jack, really?" Rose said.

Jack felt their stares. "Well, they're not," he said, looking down at his plate.

"After all these years, now I know how you really feel," Fabrizo said. "I guess it's good to find out."

"Fabrizo, you know I don't—" Jack began.

"You aren't perfect," Cal said cheerfully. "Finally, we get to see it. Tell us more."

"Shut up," Jack snapped. "At least I'm not the villain."

"You could be," Cal taunted. "You just hurt your best friend for no reason."

"Do you wanna be my best friend?" Fabrizo asked, turning to Cal. "Since I no longer have one."

"Fabrizo, please," Jack said. "I didn't mean it like that. Rose, help me."

"I'm staying out of this," Rose said. "I wish I'd never written that stupid book in the first place."

"It's not stupid," Cal said. "It made us famous. It brought us money."

"For the last time," Rose said, making an effort to sound calm. "It's not us. The characters are just based on us. I changed things."

"Like my surviving," Jack said.

"Picking more fights? And with your wife?" Fabrizo said. "Really?'

"She's not gonna abandon me and become best friends with him over one little comment," Jack replied.

"I might," Rose said quietly.

"What?" Jack said. "You too, Rose? I thought you were the one who'd always be there."

"I know," she said. "You've been making that very clear lately."

"What does that mean?" Jack asked.

"Yes, tell us," Cal said eagerly.

"Shut up," Jack said. "This isn't about you." He leaned closer to her. "What's wrong? What'd I do?"

"You're just—you've been—You kind of take me for granted," she said. "Lately. We've been together a long time. Maybe it's natural. Maybe it was bound to happen. But you don't really try anymore."

"No, he doesn't," Cal agreed. "I've heard."

"Shut up, you pervert," Jack cried. "Rose, can we talk about this alone? Please?"

"Fine," she said. "You two stay here," she ordered.

When they were upstairs Jack said, "Do you really feel that way? You think I don't care anymore?"

"I never said you don't care. I said you weren't trying anymore. There's a difference."

"What do I need to do?" he asked.

"Jack, I shouldn't have to tell you what to do. That's the point."

"I'm sorry," he said. "Help me, please. You're right. We've been together a long time. A very long time. And I thought things were fine, mostly." He put an arm around her waist. "I still love you as much as I ever did."

"I love you too. But don't things feel a little routine to you?" she asked.

"Sometimes. Is that bad?"

"It can be," she said, giving him a look.

"You mean—"

"Not just that. Though, it is, a little."

"It is?" he said. "Oh. Huh. Well, then. I didn't realize."

"It's my fault too," Rose said. "We've stopped being adventurous in other ways. Remember when we'd pack a bag and leave in the middle of the night without telling anyone? We'd be gone for weeks, just quit our jobs?"

"Yeah, I remember." He grinned. "That was fun."

"And when we camped on the beach? Or when we spent that year sailing around the world? We weren't alone, but it was still a great year."

"We managed to do a lotta things on that beach and that boat," he said, pulling her closer.

"I know. We don't do things like that anymore. I can't remember when we stopped. We don't even go out together anymore. You never notice when I get new clothes or cut my hair."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I love you. I see when you do things like that. I just didn't realize I needed to mention it. You aren't doing it for me."

"Yes, I am. Not entirely. My whole life isn't based around pleasing you, but I do want to know you think I'm beautiful still."

"I do," he said. "We'll start doing things again. Right now."

"Now?" she said.

He gently pushed her against the wall, pinning her with his body. He kissed her slowly, not stopping until he felt her knees begin to buckle. "Get your scarves," he whispered.

…..

They were gone when Cal and Fabrizo got up the next morning. "Where are they?" Cal asked coming into the kitchen. "Where's breakfast? Or did they just finally go to sleep?"

Fabrizo laughed. "They went to L.A. Probably. Or they'll get there by the time we do."

"So, we're going by ourselves."

"Got a problem with that?" Fabrizo said.

"No," Cal said. "We're best friends now." He didn't sound entirely happy about it.

"Not really," Fabrizo said. "I just wanted to annoy Jack. He's been kinda taking me for granted lately too. I'm glad Rose finally said something. I didn't want to bring it up first. His wife should, you know?"

"I was under the impression you two thought he was perfect."

"He's a great guy," Fabrizo replied. "That's the problem. He puts a lotta effort into his relationships, even when he's not really trying anymore, so you feel like you can't say anything."

"Of course he does," Cal said sourly.

"You asked."

"Pretend I didn't," Cal replied.

Fabrizo clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "So much bitterness. You must learn to let go and heal. That's what Oprah says."

"You watch Oprah?"

"Yeah. I watch the episodes you tape every day," Fabrizo said. "Good stuff."

…

Jack and Rose were on their way to L.A, but they weren't in a hurry to get three. They still hadn't made it out of Oregon. They left sometime after midnight, and by ten A.M. they had to stop for breakfast and a nap.

"Do you think I should quit my job?" Rose asked.

Jack hesitated. "Is that a trick question?"

"No."

"Do you want to?" he said.

"Is it irresponsible to say yes?" she said.

"We don't really need money, so no," he said. "Just don't become like Cal."

"You don't want me to be spoiled and vain? Jack, I thought you loved me!" she said, feigning outrage.

"Do I need to show you again?" he asked quietly, stroking her palm. His eyes met hers.

She nodded. "Yes."

"Oh, really? Not convinced, Miss?"

Rose held in her smile. "No."

AN: I hope people like this one. I've been thinking about it for a while. The whole immortality thing will be explained, probably in the next chapter. But it's not meant to be important. I just wanted to play with the idea of the four of them spending so much time together. And other characters from the movie will probably appear at some point.