Rose opened her eyes and smiled at the sight of him, standing in the middle of the room, buttoning his shirt, his face the picture of distraction, unawares of his admirer. He was still the most beautiful thing to her. The sunshine was still in his hair and the warmth of the sun still lit up his smile. He still lit up her life with his presence. Silently, she slipped out of bed and slipped behind him, sliding her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his back.

"Stay home today," She sighed, her voice pleading.

"I have to work. The rent won't pay itself and food has to be put on the table," Jack sighed, turning around in her arms. "Why do you always make leaving this house such a chore?"

It's been six months since the birth of the twins and the Dawsons have settled into their own routine of family life. A part of that routine was Jack getting up in the morning and making his way to the pier, where he would draw pictures for a dollar a piece, a price he sort of felt guilty for, but fellow artists had advised since he had a family to support. Of course, he also searched for a more stable job, but he loved drawing and for now, he was making enough to put food on table and to make the rent. Leaving Rose and their children though was hard, and Rose made it even harder by begging him to stay home every morning. He knew that it was because she missed him, but there was no choice. He had to work.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when times are gray, you never know dear how much I love you. Oh please don't take my sunshine away," Rose sang, tightening her embrace.

Jack closed his eyes, letting her love for him wash over him. "I'd stay if I could. I'd never leave your side, but I have to take care of you and our children somehow and that means that I have to leave for the pier..."

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He didn't know how it happened, they had seemed to become even closer than ever before after making Santa Monica their permanent home. He hated leaving her and their children. He kissed her red curls and stroked them lovingly. "I'll be home before you know it. I'll bring you back something nice, would you like that?"

"The nicest thing you can bring me is you," Rose sighed, pressing her cheek to his chest, breathing in his scent.

The sound of a baby's cry tore her from him. "Josephine?"

"I think that one is Joseph," Jack laughed. "Go before he wakes his sister and then you'll really have a job on your hands."

Rose glared at Jack as she pulled away. "I do think you two conspire against me. You come up with ways to distract me so you can slip away more easily."

Jack gently touched her cheek. "I don't like being away from you, but it's necessary sometimes. Besides, this way you'll never get sick of me."

"Like that could ever happen," Rose placed her hand over his, enjoying the moment a little longer.

"Joseph awaits," Jack removed his hand and stepped away. "And so does the pier."

"Fine. You win. Go," Rose sighed in resignation and moved to go retrieve their crying son. In the doorway she

turned to look back at him. "I'll be expecting that something nice you promised."

Jack just smiled and waved goodbye as she left to tend to their son. When she returned to the bedroom, nursing a hungry Joseph, Jack was gone, but a note laid on her pillow...

Dear Rose,

I must go, but you are in my thoughts therefore you are with me always, just as I am with you, even when I'm gone.

Love, Jack

She smiled, his written words comforting her. When they had first moved to Santa Monica, when she had been pregnant with only one child to care for, she had joined Jack at the pier and watched people go about their lives as he chose a subject to draw. But when the twins came, it was no longer practical to do so. So Rose stayed home and cared for the twins and Jake as Jack went to the pier to make money for them. She loved their babies, but she missed the pier with it's liveliness and ocean breezes. She was tired of the house and wanted something to do to preoccupy herself. Something other than feed babies and change diapers and make sure that Jake had enough to keep himself busy as well.

She finished nursing Joseph and then fed Josephine who woke up just as Joseph finished. She quickly changed them both and then took them downstairs, where she placed them in their playpen where their toys were. After she was finished tending to the twins she started on breakfast for herself and Jake. She had just put the oatmeal on to boil when there was a knock at the door. She went and opened it to Alice Wilson, a black girl she had befriended in Chippewa Falls.

"Alice come in! I was just putting on breakfast! Are you hungry?" Rose ushered her into the house, glad for some company.

"Some breakfast would be nice," Alice chuckled. "I left in such a hurry, I forgot to make some. Micheal will probably tell me off when I get home. He hates it when I skip breakfast."

"Well it is the most important meal of the day, or so they say," Rose chuckled.

Alice spotted the playpen as she walked past and nearly squealed in delight. "Josephine and Joseph! They are getting cuter and cuter!"

"And meaner. At least Joseph is. Josephine seems to have Jack's temperament. Sweet as bubblegum."

"And Joseph is the little spitfire like his mommy," Alice laughed, lifting Joseph out of the play pen. "Look at that hair and those eyes..."

Rose laughed. "You are going to spoil them."

"An auntie's work is never done," Alice laughed, placing the baby back in the play pen, where he went back to playing with his sister. "So Jack is at the pier again?"

"Of course," Rose sighed, just as Jake made his way downstairs, sleepily rubbing his eyes. Rose immediately went to him and lifted him up into her arms. "Good morning darling."

Alice shook her head. "I remember you accusing Jack of spoiling the boy and now here you are, won't even let him walk down the stairs."

"Hush. This is the only time I can get Jake in my arms, when Jack's not here to hog him," Rose laughed, carrying Jake over to his chair. "He's looking more and more like Jack every day, isn't he?"

"Yes he is. So...have you heard? They're looking for a new actress for a moving picture," Alice took a seat as Rose went out getting some bowls out of the cupboard.

"Really?" Interest lit up Rose's eyes then died. "That's nice..."

"Yes. They say it's going to be one of those hits. Whoever is in it, even as an extra will sure to have a great career. Rose...have you thought about it? Auditioning for the moving pictures? I mean, you're not pregnant anymore and you do have acting experience..."

Rose sighed, turning off the oatmeal and ladling some into the bowls she had just gotten from the cabinet. "No...not really. I mean, I don't really have time. I mean the twins alone are a handful and someone has to take care of Jake. Jack is at the pier working so we can live here and not depend on Molly for charity, it's just not a feasible idea right now."

"Wouldn't Jack support you if you decided to audition?"

"You know he would. Jack is always supportive of me, no matter what. He's wonderful like that, but we just have responsibilities right now. I mean, who will watch the kids?"

Alice rolled her eyes, half hurt that Rose didn't even consider asking her. "Well, I have nothing to do during the day except wait for Micheal to come home and sew my creations, something I can do while watching my best friend's children."

"Oh Alice, I couldn't possibly..."

"Just think about it. You're in this house all day everyday. It must get boring for you. This will get you out of the house and who knows, if you get the part, your dream of becoming a actress will be in the making again. You were awesome at the theater in Chippewa Falls. Just think of how great you'd be in a Hollywood moving picture," Alice encouraged.

Rose had to admit that she liked the thought of it. Appearing on the big screen in American moving picture houses. It'd bring in more money for their family and she'd be doing what she loved once again. But how would Jack really feel about it? Maybe now that they had a small family, he wouldn't want her to act anymore. Maybe he liked it better with her at home while he worked. They hadn't really talked about her finding a job. What would he say?

"I'll talk it over with Jack. I'm not even sure if he'd want me to work," Rose sighed, sweetening the oatmeal before placing a bowl before Jake, Alice, and herself.

"Well I think it's a great idea, myself. You have twice the beauty as those girls leading the pictures now a days and you have the talent. It wouldn't hurt to at least audition."

"Like I said, I'll talk it over with Jack. He'll probably be all for it. It'd at least make me stop giving him a hard time in the mornings," Rose chuckled.

"What do you do to the poor boy?" Alice laughed, loving to hear how Rose teases Jack sometimes.

Rose shrugged. "Nothing really. It's just in the morning, when he's getting ready to leave...it's hard to let him go. He's so cute when he's buttoning his shirt and I fall for him all over again and rather he be here with us than out there. I know it's horrible of me, but I can't help it. I want to be with him all the time. Isn't it the same with you and Micheal?"

"Of course, but I know that Micheal has to work and in our situation, we can't be picky. So I let him go to work and look forward to his return," Alice chuckled. She placed a hand over Roses, her eyes sympathetic. "Look, I know it's hard, but some things can't be helped. I bet when he comes home it's real sweet though, right?"

Rose blushed. "Yeah. He never leaves my side."

"This is why you need to audition for that moving picture. If you're acting, you'd be too busy to miss him all day."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes I do. Talk it over with Jack, girl and let me know. Not many women can say they have a ready babysitter," Alice winked.

Rose just giggled, grateful that she had a friend in Alice. She really would like to take a shot at the moving pictures, but she had no idea what Jack would think of it. Things were different now than they were when they had first married. They had more than one child now and responsibilities to think about. All of that could change one's whole outlook on life.

…..

It was five in the afternoon and Jack was late. But he had a good excuse. He had to stop at the grocers, because he had wanted to get his Rose something nice, just as he had promised. He quietly entered the house, hoping to surprise her, but all of that was ruined by a loud "Daddy!" and Jake running to hop into his arms.

"Jake!" Jack laughed, hugging his son, hoping that Rose hadn't heard, but her appearance in the kitchen doorway told him that she had and by the look on her face, she wasn't too pleased.

"You're late," She accused.

Jack chuckled. "Well of course. I made a promise this morning that I had to keep. Keeping it meant that I was going to be late."

"Excuses excuses, Jack," Rose yawned.

Jack dug into his pocket and pulled out a tin that had the word Oreo on it. "Check out this excuse."

Rose took the tin from Jack's hand and looked at it curiously. "Oreo...what is this?"

Jack grinned. "Open it and find out."

Rose gave Jack a suspicious look and opened the tin to find chocolate cookies with a cream middle. "Jack?"

"Try them..," Jack laughed.

Rose took a cookie out of the tin and bit in it. Her eyes widened at the chocolaty goodness that filled her mouth.

"Oh my god...these are...oh my god so good..."

Jack laughed as he watched his wife devour the cookie. "I knew you'd like them. You probably like them even more than you like me."

"Sorry Jack. You are still my most favorite thing."

Jack just laughed as he carried Jack the rest of the way into the house.

"Daddy can I have some too?" Jake asked innocently.

"Yes, I have another tin, but only after you eat dinner. We don't want to ruin your appetite," He kissed his son and ruffled his hair.

Later that evening, after dinner was eaten and the kids were put to bed, Jack sat out on the porch, listening to the sounds of the ocean and enjoying the California air. It was moments like this that he was glad they had decided to leave Wisconsin and make California their permanent home. It was beautiful here and peaceful. No bad memories of Titanic or his amnesia here. It really was a new beginning.

"There you are," Rose came outside, carrying a tin half full of oreos and a bottle of coke. "Feel like some company?"

Jack smiled and held out his arms to her, knowing that she loved it best when he held her in his arms. He loved it too, knowing that she was where he could keep her safe and warm. She sighed as he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest in a warm hug.

"I hate leaving you in the mornings, you know," He kissed the top of her head.

Rose sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. "I know. It's just hard. I'm in the house all day, taking care of the kids and doing nothing but missing you terribly."

"What happened to your sculpting? Or your reading? I remember you liking to read..."

Rose just shrugged. "I don't know. Alice came by this morning. She told me that a moving picture is auditioning actresses. She thinks that I should try out for it. She even offered to watch the kids. She says it'll get me out of the house and get me busy so I won't miss you so much."

"Well that sounds like a swell idea, Rose. You should do it."

"Do you really think so? It's been ages since I've performed and what if the children miss me? What if you miss me?"

Jack laughed, hugging her close. "Sweetie, you can do anything you put your mind to. No matter how long it's been. The children will be fine. They love Alice and she's good with them. As for me missing you...well that's nothing new. I always miss you. But it'd make me feel better knowing that you're doing something that you love and not sitting at home missing me."

"What if I miss you so much I can't act anymore?" Rose giggled.

"I doubt that. You'll be great. Come on Rose. You should do it. It was part of your big dreams on Titanic, remember?" Jack thought back to that day on deck, the moment he had fallen for her, when she had exclaimed her goal to be a moving picture actress.

"Mmm...if you really think I should do it..."

"I do. We're not only in Santa Monica, Rose. We're in California. People come here to complete their dreams. You should be one of them."

She took out a Oreo from the tin and offered it to Jack. "You always think I can do anything."

"That's because you can," Jack bit into the cookie. "Audition Rose. For me. If they say no, at least it gave you something to do and gave you a break from the house for a bit and you won't be missing me so much."

"I'll always miss you," Rose sighed, rubbing her nose against his in an Eskimo kiss, causing him to laugh.

She rested her head against his shoulder once again and closed her eyes. She felt so calm and at peace. Their life here in Santa Monica...it was something that she had always wanted. Peaceful, free, and full of love. She had three beautiful children and the love of a good man and if things worked out, maybe even a career that she loved. Life couldn't get much better than this.

When thinking back on her decision to audition for the moving pictures, Rose will always associate it with her love for Oreo cookies. It was while feeding her husband the treat that she had made the decision to do so.