Eight

''Oh, Clara, please don't…'' Rose began but couldn't finish. Her eyes flicked between Jack and her friend. ''This is…''

''A man who turned down my advances and now I know why, if you're bedding him.'' She smiled softly. She lowered the knife. Rose saw her smile and somehow managed to relax in that moment.

''We're not like that.''

Jack glanced down at Rose, his heart was still beating from their kiss and he was completely unaware as to who this was.

''I'll say.'' She raised her eyebrows. ''Where is Bobby? I thought he-'' Clara scratched her short hair, pushing it away from her face, ''-oh wait, it was you, outside not Bobby.'' It was all falling together now in her mind. ''So, who is this guy?''

''I'm Jack. Rose and I we, we're old friends.''

Clara placed her milk on the windowsill and held out her left hand still clutching the knife in the other. ''Well, I am Clara; Rose's housemate and we work together as you saw earlier.''

She shook his hand. He was shaking.

''Yes.''

Rose rubbed her flushed face. ''Clara, please. I cannot even think about anything right now could you forget about this.''

''Of course, honey.'' Clara was distracted momentarily as she glanced out of the window. ''Oh, well you guys should move somewhere, I invited Steve over after he finished work and by the looks of it he's brought home half of Jesus' disciple's.''

Steve was another of Clara's 'friends', they drank together until the early morning and then slept well past noon. He was also one of Bobby's friends.

''Come, quickly.'' She grasped Jack's hand before pulling him through to the hallway to go up the stairs.

As a loud knock sounded at the door, Clara greeted them loudly, with her voice trembling through the house.

Rose entered her room and left the light off. She pulled the curtains open to allow moonlight to stream through and then, Jack removed his jacket and placed it over the chair next to her vanity unit. Bangs from downstairs could be heard and she bit her lip and pressed them together. She could still taste him all over her. When she turned, he was closer than she realised.

''I have never been alone with a man at night before.'' She whispered. The rowdiness of downstairs was forgotten and drowned out by her own loud thoughts. ''You're the only man I have been with.''

Jack could see the look on her face, her care had gone. She turned to walk around the side of the bed towards the window. She felt she had to put some distance between them. They could both feel something there, between them. Their eyes met but then they looked away, the power too much for both of them. But they didn't know what it was. Jack began to back away from her and he clicked the door closed. She realised he had more to say, this vibe between them felt much more different than it had done before. It was so much stronger and seemed to be drawing her closer and closer to him. She began to back towards the window in order to get more air. She felt so tight and breathless. He came towards her a little; he didn't know what to say.

''Oh God, Rose.'' He whispered breathlessly.

He hadn't thought of anything other than her, she had been in his head since the first day he had met her and now it seemed to be coming to a head. His feelings were almost too big and too much for him to control. He steps closed to her, running his fingers through his hair.

''What is happening here, Jack?'' She asked slowly and quietly.

He knew that she was acknowledging something too. There was so much between them. It was like an electric buzz growing louder and louder and getting stronger and stronger until it was deafening to them. They didn't know if it would go away or if it would continue. The only way it grew weaker was when they stepped closer to each other. She came towards him just once, a small and hesitant step. She was so lost in his face, those eyes that she trusted so much. His heartbeat grew stronger and quicker. He threw caution to the wind and placed his left hand on the flat of her face, she closed her eyes for just a second to take in the moment. He stroked it against her soft skin, she felt the flutters, the beautiful feeling which she knew she would only ever have with Jack.

He leant forward and kissed her just once on the lips. Barely grazing but the touch was still there. The buzz grew weaker and weaker. She sagged with relief against his body, but now she felt like she needed more.

She touched her lips with her index finger as he pulled away from her. They had opened a can of worms and it would get worse from here on out. The longing and the ache wouldn't grow duller but purer and stronger. He kept his hand on his cheek and slowly leant forward. He kissed the right side of her neck, so tenderly to the point where she shivered with weakness. Her whole body was ready to crumple beneath him.

''This feels right.''

She squeezed her eyes closed, leaning against him.

''Jack, this is impossible.'' She tried to push him away but she couldn't. He made her weaker and she gave herself to him, to his arms.

''Listen to me-''

Rose felt the tears coming to her eyes. Jack was so open and real... not like anyone she has ever known. He took her face in his hands and she couldn't see anything except the love in his eyes. She couldn't look away from him.

''I love you, Rose.''

He had said the words. The ones he never did during their time together and she had spent the years wondering if he had loved her. His eyes mirrored hers.

Somewhere between the past and the present, she found herself weakening. This time it was she who kissed him first. Slowly and ever so gently. It was soft and he held her face so tightly so not to let her go. Just the smallest touch took her breathe away.

She pulled away from him only to move backwards to lay herself down on the bed. The exact spot where she had laid an hour ago believing that her pain would never heal but, in that moment, the pain was gone and it was replaced by just Jack. He was here with her. She laid facing the window and he climbed onto the bed behind her. His arm wrapped around her waist and then tucked under her chin where she clasped his left hand, then other he laid under her head and she took that hand also, holding it to her lips. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and then she pulled her body closer to his so that the curve of their bodies pressed together.

There they fell asleep.

Pins and needles woke Jack in the middle of the night, but he didn't move his arm, not wishing to disturb Rose and break the contact. He studied her face and just how beautiful she was. Her hair spread on the pillow around her head, those curls framing her face. He lay in the dark, not even daring to move. His thoughts were his own and they were of one person only. Rose. Wind and rain unexpectedly smashed against the windows and he realised the noise downstairs had died down. Perhaps they had drunk themselves to sleep. It was then, he realised that he hadn't woken in the night to stumble into the bar to find something strong to help him sleep, instead he had awoken to watch her and protect her. He sighed, he loved her so much.

He turned his head, rolling it back on the pillow. She faced him. Their fingers so close but not fully touching. The tiniest contact which caused such strange feelings, the feelings neither had before. His arm was still beneath her head and she had moved in her sleep onto her back also.

Another bang came on the window, the rain bashing against the glass. Rose sat up suddenly, her hair dishevelled in a lovely way. She rubbed her eyes. He was still here...

Jack, too, sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn't had much sleep; his mind ran wildly. Thoughts he couldn't share with anyone. He felt the familiar feeling of sleeping under a bridge while been very sleep deprived but he knew he had to pull through.

''What time do you leave today?'' She broke the silence. She turned to see the clock in the dark. It was almost five am.

''Midday.'' He whispered.

''Seven hours.''

He watched as she stood from the bed and smoothed out her dress. Sleep had come to her because she was in his arms and now that she wasn't asleep any longer, fear of what would happen next overcame her. They had laid out their heart to the other, but nothing further had come of it, but, what could be done?

Rose had her eyes closed and he stood from the bed, came to her and touched the small of her back with his right hand, rubbing it slightly and her eyes flickered open.

''How do you feel?''

Rose moved closer to Jack and he placed his arm around her shoulder. ''I don't know. I haven't known for days. Since you came back.''

His stomach sank. ''What do you want Rose?''

She turned to him. Their eyes locked and he couldn't do anything except leant forward and kiss her lips, just once.

''It will come to you.''

He knew in that moment that they were not meant to be. Maybe, not right now.

Kicking away her shoes, she lifted both of her feet onto the bed and laid herself down, she had barely slept and now she didn't know if she could, knowing how little time she had left with him.

''I know.'' she muttered tiredly, feeling her eyes roll around slightly.

Jack smiled, lying beside her but propping himself up on his elbow and his dark blonde hair hung in his face. Rose studied his face carefully, he appeared so young, he was beautiful. His tan skin, the cute freckles over his nose, the chicken pox scars on his forehead, his button nose and pouted lips and of course, his gorgeous light blue eyes. His hair hung in his eyes and Rose lifted her hand slightly moving the hair away. Jack ran his through her blonde locks which spread out on the pillow. She was different, lighter...

He entwined his fingers with hers and ran his thumb over her hand. They remained silent for a while just enjoying been next to each other, and before they knew it they were asleep.