(A/N: Thank you for the replies:) This is the first Saturday Post of November and the last Independence Day part Hope you enjoy:))

Jack and Rose watched the scene, not having any idea what was said, but getting the gist of what had just been decided. Rose held Jack's hand tightly in hers. She knew that he was worried for his friend, maybe even scared for him.

"He'll be alright Jack," Rose smiled, raising one of his hands to her lips.

"I can't help but be worried, Rose. I know the consequences of getting involved with her. What damage her mother is capable of. I'm still paying for it, five years later," Jack sighed, looking over to where Jake and his new friend were now joined by two little girls. "I don't want Fabrizio to have to go through all of that. Titanic and losing Helga was enough."

"Well, he obviously disagrees. Who knows, maybe it will work out with them. Cecily has a soul mate somewhere. Maybe it is Fabrizio. Maybe the whole point of your relationship with her was to bring them two together, just like you two breaking up brought you to me," Rose smiled. She surprised herself with her belief in destiny, but how else could she explain how her life had turned out? If fate hadn't stepped in, she'd be married to Cal right now. A trophy wife, only let out to attend balls and galas on his arm and to be shown off and perhaps have a heir or two. Her dreams and opinions would have been void. They wouldn't matter, because they were things that she was not raised to have. Her duty was to be the perfect wife, not to have a mind of her own. But here she was with Jack, a man that she loved beyond all reason and her hopes and dreams and opinions did matter. She wasn't just a trophy wife to Jack. She was a person to share his life with and that was what she wanted and needed in a husband. Not someone like Cal, who believed that women should be seen and not heard. So yeah, she believed in destiny and perhaps, Fabrizio's was Cecily's.

'So you think they're soul mates?" Jack looked skeptical, but Rose could only laugh and wrap her arms around him.

"They could be. It wouldn't be the first time that a first class girl found her soul mate in a poor wanderer," Rose giggled.

"I just don't want him to get hurt is all. Or else I'd be cheering him on."

"Don't think of it as him getting hurt. Think of it as your friend taking inspiration from you and helping her get free from that life. Of your friend moving on with his life after losing someone he had cared about."

Jack sighed, relenting. "You're right. Fabri is an adult. I can't put him in a bubble."

"No you can't. Just like I can't put you in a bubble to keep you from getting hurt by that Mabel Baker or anyone else for that matter," She rested her head against his shoulder. "Just be here for him Jack."

Jack nodded and sighed at the sight of the cool water of the lake. He had been hoping to take Rose for a swim, but she wasn't wearing a suit. She claimed that she just didn't feel comfortable in wearing one right now. So he had relented and agreed that he'd hold off on the swimming lessons for the day.

"You want to go swimming, don't you?"

"And leave your side? Not at all," Jack shook his head, just as Jake came running up. "Daddy! I want to swim like Andy and his daddy!"

Rose laughed when she saw Jack's eyes light up. "Go on. Take Jake swimming. It'll give me time to actually enjoy this food you've brought me."

"You weren't eating?"

"I was being distracted by my husband. I can't seem to keep my hands off him."

Jack laughed. "And that is a problem?"

"When I'm trying to enjoy this delicious barbecue it is," Rose giggled, picking up the chicken leg Jack had gotten for her.

Jack laughed. "Alright, alright. Off to swimming we go," He scooped Jake up and took him down to the lake. Rose smiled as she watched them laugh and play in the water, splashing about.

"There you are, Rosie. We were hoping to find you here," Molly arrived, followed by Ruth who looked rather uncomfortable.

Rose tried not to roll her eyes at the sight of her mother. "And with my mother. I must say that I am surprised."

"Oh I talked Ruth into coming and having a little fun instead of attending that boring function that Baker woman had planned," Molly chuckled. "Care if we join you?"

"Not at all. I was just watching Jack and Jake in the water."

Molly lowered herself onto the spread blanket, along with Ruth, who was trying to be as proper as can be. Molly looked out to the water and smiled as she saw Jack with Jake in his arms, laughing joyfully. "It's good to see Jack smile like that again. I was wondering if that smile was gone for good."

"Today is the first day of visitation. They both are just so happy to be together. I can't wait until we get Jake back for good. Have we thanked you yet, Molly? If it wasn't for you, today would never have happened," Rose turned her attention away from the lake.

"Darlin', you and Jack have both thanked me more than I deserved to be thanked. It was my pleasure, really. Like I said, you and Jack are family."

Rose smiled and picked up her chicken she had been eating and suddenly felt her mother's hard glare on her. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "What is it now, mother?"

"That's unladylike, Rose," Ruth stared.

"Oh please, Ruth. Lighten up. It's a drumstick. You eat them with your hands. Heck, this is a barbecue, you eat most of everything here with your hands. Stop being so uptight for once," Molly waved away her concerns.

"Molly is right, mother. Besides, I'm through caring about what is and is not ladylike. Today is about fun and games and food, not about being the perfect little lady," Rose shrugged, wishing that Molly had let Ruth attend the Baker's get together after all. "Why are you still here in Chippewa Falls anyway? I was sure that you'd be on the first train back to Philadelphia."

"Molly talked me into staying a little while more. She thinks that our relationship is worth working on," Ruth coldly stated.

Rose shrugged. She really didn't have any interest at this point in working on her relationship with her mother, but if Ruth showed signs of changing, maybe she would consider it. "You'll have to change mother, and let me tell you tea with Mabel Baker is not going to make me any more open to letting you back into my life."

"I do not understand you, Rose. You look to women like Molly, no offense to you Mrs. Brown, and snub women like Mabel Baker and Madeline Astor..."

"Don't you dare lump dear Madeline in with Mabel Baker mother! Madeline is a kind hearted woman that didn't deserve to lose the man she loved! She's done more for the world than Mabel Baker had ever thought of doing! Mabel Baker is a bully and a kidnapper! She is not the paragon of virtue that you think she is! And leave Molly alone! She is a fine role model with all the charity work she does and how she supports women and children education! What have you done for society mother? What makes you and Mabel Baker any better than Molly? All you two do is sit in your tea rooms and gossip and make fun of people less fortunate or more outgoing than you!"

"Well, I can see when I'm not wanted," Ruth sniffed, hurt by Rose's angry tirade.

Rose couldn't help feel a little guilty, but her mother most know that her current attitude was not going to make anything better between them. "You know mother, I would love it if you were a part of our lives. I would love for you to be a real grandmother to my children, but not as you are. You need to make a change before I even consider letting you near my children. Jake is frightened of his maternal grandmother. Do you want your grandchildren to feel that way towards you?"

"Of course not!"

"Well then give some real thought to what I said mother and think about the reasons why we don't get along. Really think about them. I'm not expecting an overnight change, but I am expecting some effort on your part," Rose sniffed, looking out towards the lake where Jack was just returning from with Jake in his arms. They were both dripping wet. Rose grabbed the towels out of the bag she had brought and handed them to him. "Here you go, darlings."

"Thank you, Rose," Jack grinned, settling down next to her and beginning to dry Jake off first. "Hello again, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater. It's interesting to see you here."

"Mr. Dawson," Ruth nodded in reserved greeting. "Mrs. Brown thought it'd be more pleasant here than at the Baker's Cotillion."

"Jake, this is Rose's mommy, Ruth," Jack introduced the little boy.

Jake looked at Ruth with big curious blue eyes. "Hello. Your hair is like Rose's! I like Rose's hair."

Jack and Molly chuckled as Ruth blushed. "Why thank you, young man."

"Well at least one Dawson is able to charm, Ruth," Molly laughed.

Jack just smiled as he dried himself off before fishing Jake's dry clothes out of the bag. "He's a whole new generation. Is Mr. Lewis and Mr. Lane joining us? I really would like to thank them for today?"

"Oh they went back to spend the holiday in Philadelphia and to check up on their other ongoing cases. They will be back by the end of the week," Molly smiled. "It is good to see you two together, Jack."

"He's an amazing father," Rose proudly smiled.

"It takes more to being a parent, I hope you are aware. There's more to it than picnics and swimming in lakes," Ruth warned.

"I'm very much aware of that, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater," Jack politely replied. "I don't want only the fun times, but the other times as well. Which is why I'm fighting for him. Jake belongs with us, not with the Bakers."

"Let's not talk about that today," Rose interrupted. "Today is our first visitation. No talk of custody battles are allowed."

"Yes ma'am," Jack agreed with a chuckle.

Later that evening, Ruth and Molly had returned to the bed and breakfast, with Ruth having her fill of the festivities. Rose didn't mind saying good-bye to her mother. Her presence had put a bit of a damper on her day, but the fact that Ruth did seem to be trying to accept Rose's decisions and take part in her life did mean something, even though Rose loathed to admit it. Fabrizio and Cecily were still up by the lake, sitting close together. Fabrizio had his arms around her shoulders as she leaned against him, fully content. She hadn't given her mother a thought all day. She was just enjoying being with Fabrizio.

As for Jack and Rose. They sat at the edge of the lake as well, Jake situated between them. The little boy was sound asleep, exhausted from running around and playing all day. His head was pillowed on Rose's lap. Rose had her fingers interlocked with Jack's as they looked up at the night's sky.

"It's so peaceful right now," Rose sighed, perfectly content.

"Of course. We're all waiting," Jack replied, his eyes never leaving the sky.

"For what?"

Suddenly there's a loud whistle, then a sparkling burst of colors in the night sky over the lake. Rose gasped, her eyes widened in excitement.

"Fireworks," Jack grinned as more colors burst into the sky, rivaling the stars in their beauty.

"Fireworks. I had completely forgotten," Rose giggled. She looked down at the sleeping Jake. "Should I wake him? He shouldn't miss this..."

"Yeah, unfortunately, she's going to have to take him back after the fireworks, so it's best he's awake."

Rose gently shook Jake's shoulder. "Jake, wake up. The fireworks have started. You'll miss them if you don't wake up."

For a minute, it looked like the little boy was going to remain asleep, but his eyes finally blinked open. "Rose?"

"Look up at the sky Jake," Rose pointed, just as another burst of color filled the evening sky. She laughed as Jake's eyes widened with wonder at the sight as he sat up.

Laughing as well, Jack slid the boy onto his lap so he could get an even better view. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Can we draw it, daddy?" Jake asked, looking up at Jack with hopeful eyes.

"Of course! On your next visit, we'll sit down and draw it together," Jack cuddled his son, kissing the top of his head.

Rose smiled, touched by the sight. Jack was a wonderful father. "And I'll make cookies!"

"Do you even know how to make cookies, Rose?" Jack chuckled.

"I will have learned by time Jake comes for a visit," Rose sniffed in indignation. "Ye of little faith Jack."

"Hey, I have all the faith in the world. I am sure that your cookies will be delicious," Jack laughed, leaning over to kiss her cheek, just for Rose to turn her head to capture his lips with her own. Jack smiled as they parted.

"Thank you for such a lovely day, Jack," Rose sighed, breathlessly.

Jack just smiled and kissed her again as more color exploded over the lake, marking the end of Rose and Jack's first independence day together. Right now they felt as if things couldn't get any better than this. They were alive, free, and together. Little did they know that tragedy once again awaited them right around the corner.